The Acolytes of Crane Updated Edition

by Tew, J. D.

  ‘Hey Linc, let’s go hit the bumper cars. Dude, what was that? Who was that person?’ I inquired.

  ‘Don’t worry about it,’ he said lowering his voice to say something under his breath.

  ‘What?’ I asked. I didn’t hear what he had said.

  He shouted, ‘I said, it is none of your damn business. Back off!’

  ‘Okay,’ I said, and stepped back out of respect.

  This wasn’t working well. Lincoln was pissed off, and we didn’t even find…

  Then, my heart froze. There, standing near the entrance, was Mariah. Pumped up with anticipation, I worked up my nerve and walked up to her. Seeing me, she smiled at me, settling my anxiety somewhat. I saw her moving her lips as she spoke to me, but I couldn’t hear. All the beeps, blasts, and laughs within the arcade were creating a din.

  ‘What?’ I yelled, pointing to my right ear.

  ‘I said, it is nice to see you,’ Mariah shouted.

  I knew what to do. Weeks before, I had studied Spanish in the library’s reference section at school, because it would improve my chances with her.

  ‘Hola Mariah, como estas?’ I then asked her how she was, and she told me that she didn’t feel well. Her mother was going to pick her up in ten minutes. My heart sank as I realized that our task for today likely was not going to bring the accomplishment we had sought. Still, I thought she looked damn good, even if she was feeling under the weather. I thought I detected a hint of dejection on her face as she turned away. ‘Excuse me,’ she said as she walked over to the coat check attendant.

  As she walked away like a vision, I started daydreaming about Mariah and I, holding hands as we bravely dodged laser shots together. Then I jerked myself back to reality.

  I had to inform Lincoln what was going on, and I needed to do it quickly.

  I zinged around the arcade frantically in search of my friend. When I found him, I rattled off everything I was thinking—in a sentence that sounded like it was strung together into one giant word. I said, ‘Dude-we-have-to-go-the-girl-she-is-leaving-Mariah’s-leaving-c’mon-c’mon-let’s-go-let’s-go!”

  Lincoln got the hint right away. Returning his rented bowling shoes, he rendezvoused with me near the building’s entrance. As Lincoln and I rushed out to look for Mariah, it was as if a do-or-die dilemma had harshly slapped us in our faces.

  The scene for a free-for-all confrontation was set. Jack Winters, the leader of the rogue pack that had shot paper wads our way earlier, was now grabbing Mariah around her waist, from behind. She was shouting angrily at Jack to let her go. Jack’s minions cheered him on. Lincoln and I glanced around desperately: there were no adults around.

  Mariah was in trouble. My Mariah, even if it wasn’t politically correct for me to say so. Without a thought in the world, I spontaneously hollered at the bully. ‘Hey, get your hands off her, Jack, what is your problem?’

  Jack gleefully retorted as he laughed for show. ‘My problem? I don’t think I have a problem, do you, Mariah?’

  ‘Let me go!’ she yelled.

  I hesitated to take action, fully conscious that if something unexpected happened, I could derail the intentions of Zane.

  Lincoln solved my dilemma for me. My impression of Lincoln as a quiet, studious guy was forever shattered as he came tearing forward like a beast unchained. He took three swift strides toward Jack and ferociously punched his shoulder. I gasped at his bravery.

  Unhurt but aggravated by the sudden move, Jack threw his elbow in the direction of Lincoln’s nose and blasted his nostrils flat. My friend looked like he had been drilled with a croquet hammer. Jack laughed at all of us.

  Jack let Mariah go and hopped toward me, extending his fists outwards like a prize fighter. He took jabs through the air with absolutely no fear, closing in on to me.

  ‘Huh? Huh?’ he sneered, dripping sarcasm. ‘You want some too, Ted? Your girlfriend Lincoln has a bloody nose. What is the matter, you wishing Jason were here to defend you? Everyone knows it was you that pushed him off that cliff!’

  As the other kids, including Mariah, physically shrank away from our altercation, I stood there, breathing heavy. My peripheral vision collapsed, and a force within strangled my throat. Jack was about to move in for the kill.

  Rather than be intimidated, I instead became resolute. There were only two issues that mattered to me now. First, he had accosted Mariah, the girl of my dreams. Secondly, this bully had directly challenged my manhood, and I had to defend it at all costs. I kicked my foot forward to take a blow at Jack, whatever the consequences.

  Something froze my action. Instinctively, I remembered The Intervention. It was back. The Dietons, unseen to the others, wrangled me completely still. Someone was definitely monitoring me with a rolesk. I groaned inwardly.

  Jack hooted at me with derision. As he was about to take a swing at me, there was another intervention. No, not the Dietons. It was Liam McCaffrey! Like a wild buffalo snorting and blowing hot air from his nostrils, he had grabbed Jack with two hands and elevated him into the air.

  Showing no weakening as he lifted Jack like a pro hockey player would hoist the Stanley Cup in celebration, Liam growled at him. ‘You remind me of a grape I stepped on yesterday. I picked it up and ate it.’

  ‘Don’t do anything Liam, it isn’t worth it; he isn’t worth it,’ Mariah cried out.

  Very reluctantly, Liam lowered Jack safely. Jack’s legs began to stride before they even hit the ground. He, and his posse, were gone in a blink. Released from my Dieton shackles, I ran over to Liam as if to give him a hug, but instead we slapped a high-five. Then we both tended to Lincoln.

  ‘What were you guys thinking, messing with Jack? That guy has been acting weird lately,’ Liam said, while we helped Lincoln recover.

  Mariah stepped up to Lincoln, and placed her hand on his shoulder. ‘That was brave of you, Lincoln. Thank you.’

  Lincoln’s face turned a crimson red.

  I was next. As I dreamily observed her delicate features, she gazed at me in the eyes and said, ‘Thank you, Ted.’

  I averted my eyes. ‘No problem.’ In the next instant, she touched my shoulder, sending an electric tingling running up and down my body.

  ‘Bye bye,’ she waved. Mariah’s mom arrived and like that, the object of my crush was gone. We had to act fast with what we had left. There was a chance to invite Liam to our group, and I wasn’t going to miss it. To my chagrin, Liam started walking toward Fun Haven.

  ‘Ted, why didn’t you stop Jack?’ Lincoln asked me, while he rubbed his nose that was probably stinging from the blow.

  Now was not a time to discuss old battles. We had to get Liam.

  ‘Hold on, Lincoln,’ I said, and he understood the delay. I ran after Liam before he entered the building. ‘Liam, do you work here?’ I asked in a rush. He stopped and looked at me.

  ‘I sure do, they hired me to keep control of this outside area. I am supposed to keep kids from loitering,’ he said as he pointed up to the No Loitering sign hanging over his head. ‘If you don’t need anything else I will just get back to work. I get off at six.’

  I checked my watch. ‘In about fifteen minutes.’ I looked up at him. ‘Didn’t you work at Miller Industrial?’

  ‘Yeah, that job was lame,’ he said.

  ‘I want to invite you over to my house for dinner. You finish soon. Then you can just ride home with me and Lincoln.’

  ‘No thanks, I would not want to impose. Besides, you have not even asked your parents yet.’

  ‘Liam, what you did for us back there was awesome. No one ever looks out for us, but you did. Please come over to my house for dinner, I insist.’

  Lincoln quickly added, ‘We owe it to ya.’

  Upon reflection, Liam accepted my invitation and walked back inside the building to finish his shift. We called Dan from the pay phone to see if he could help us out in recruiting Liam, but his mom told us he wasn’t home at the moment.

  Liam was unique. He was number one on a short lis
t of gifted individuals. He was adeptly equipped with fortitude, compassion, and obvious physical superiority. We had to try.

  We next phoned my grandpa to pick us up, and in twenty minutes, he arrived. ‘Hey grandpa, is it okay if Lincoln comes over for dinner?’

  ‘Not a problem. We’re used to him chowing over at our place.’

  I tested my grandpa further, pushing his boundaries. ‘And my friend Liam too?’ I asked.

  My grandpa spun around with a disconcerted expression. ‘McCaffrey? I told you to drop that. I’m on the verge of a major breakthrough with my research. I don’t want to be disturbed.’

  Picking up his cue, Lincoln backed me up. He said, ‘I know how you feel, Marv.’ Lincoln didn’t know my grandpa’s last name, so he winged it. ‘I think what Ted means is that we owe him one. You see, Liam saved us tonight from getting our butts kicked by Jack Winters.’

  ‘Please grandpa, it is the least we could do for him, I will not mention anything about what we talked about earlier, and we will stay out of your hair. I promise.’

  ‘Will I have to call this Jack Winters’ parents, or did you boys handle it like gentleman?’

  ‘No it is fine. We handled it, so can Liam come for dinner?’

  My grandpa thought briefly, then said yes, and I went to fetch Liam from inside.

  We were now three strong. We all hopped into my grandpa’s tan car. The seats were leather and were cold to the touch. It took at least five minutes to warm up to them. We finally ended up at home, and dinner was just about ready for us when we arrived in the kitchen.

  ‘Grandma, this is Liam McCaffrey. He helped us out with a bully tonight, and we invited him to dinner to thank him. I hope you don’t mind.’

  ‘Well, luckily I had extra, next time you and grandpa need to ask me first. I am glad the older kids are looking out for the younger kids. It is a fine line, Liam. If you are not careful when you get involved in a situation, you may become the bully yourself. I appreciate you helping these boys. I hope you like liver,” she said.

  Liver. My face fell. I should’ve been able to tell from the odor that greeted my nose when I entered the kitchen. Of all the meals that I could have invited Liam over for, this was definitely the worst. I hoped that wouldn’t deter Liam later on.

  As we ate, I looked over at my friends, and I noticed we had an agreement with our eyes of disgust, while we gnashed at the dry “delicacy.”

  Even though the food was gross, the company was great and one could see by the looks on our faces that we were laughing inside about the dish. Dinner was quick. I think we all figured the faster we ate, the quicker it might be over. We fled to my bedroom to chat.

  ‘Liam, there is a different reason why we brought you here. You have to promise you will not freak out when we tell you,’ I said.

  ‘Yeah, you have to promise, at least listen. Maybe I should do the talking this time, Ted,’ Lincoln added.

  Liam’s face changed in that one second. He went from his usual jolly self, to a mood of melancholy. He hung his face. ‘I already know what you guys are going to say. My mom told me that you stopped over when my dad and I were gone. So yeah, it is true. My mom is having an affair with another man. I know that is what you guys wanted to tell me. My dad and I already know about it. She left us last night. It is really tough and I don’t want to talk about it, so can we just do something else?’ Now he was fighting back tears.

  Lincoln jumped in, and said, ‘You’re right. We did expect something, but that isn’t why we brought you here. What we wanted to discuss is out of this world as we know it.’

  ‘Are you guys about to sell me something?’ Liam asked.

  I couldn’t hold myself back. ‘Okay stop! I am going to tell him because you are taking too long.’ I pled with Liam. ‘Liam, we were chosen by a demigod named Zane to save the world and Sephera from these Dacturon devils. There, I said it. We need you to leave with us into space to help fight evil. That is as simple as I can make this.’

  ‘That’s it, you guys are nuts!’ Liam exclaimed. ‘I had to put up with liver for this?’ He stomped out of my bedroom, accidentally knocking over a couple of trophies to the floor. ‘Sorry,’ Liam muttered, but he continued his stride.

  ‘Please give us a chance,’ I begged him. ‘We are under attack. The Dacturons are at our doorstep, and if we don’t do something, they are going to consign Earth to the dustbin. You have to help us.’

  ‘Dacterrians? Earth?’ Liam spat out, unable to emulate the exact pronunciation of the alien race. ‘I did help you, and now you expect me to believe this nonsense. You guys are weird! I am outta here,’ Liam said, as he marched out the front door. He darted to the cul-de-sac, and down the road.

  I cupped my mouth with my hands and yelled after him, ‘Dude, if you change your mind, be at County Hearth on Saturday at noon!’ trying not to be a disturbance to the rest of the neighborhood. I just hoped that he would change his mind, although that was a very long shot.

  I looked over at Lincoln, ‘That really didn’t go as planned.’

  ‘Yeah, I think you need more patience. Please, next time let me do the talking. You cannot just shove the end of the world down someone’s throat like that . . .’ Lincoln said, as he was obviously angry with me. He continued to ramble, and I was just too shocked to think.

  ‘Why didn’t you just give him a taste of your powers?’ Lincoln spurted out.

  I felt as if the ground would swallow me. ‘Oh, right. I never thought of that,’ I said meekly.

  ‘Just like you did with me!’ Lincoln retorted.

  ‘Well, you could have thought of that too, Mr. Smarty Pants!’

  ‘I’m leaving now!’

  We heard my grandmother’s concerned voice from downstairs. ‘Are you boys all right up there?’

  ‘We’re fine, grandma!’ I shouted though my door.

  Lincoln glared at me, then stormed out of my room, leaving me alone to collect my thoughts.

  Sunday was almost gone, and the clock was ticking. I heard was the ticking from the grandfather clock in the living room. Tick, tick, tick, tick, ding-dong-ding-dong, it was nine-o-clock, and the chiming from the clock snagged me back toward reality.

  I felt like I was ruining the adventure for everyone, and we weren’t even close to assembling a full team. I ran into my room, and cried into my pillow.

  There was a knock at my room, and my grandma was standing there.

  ‘What’s wrong, honey? You okay?’

  I continued to cry. ‘Honey, listen to me,’ she said, as she sat down beside me and ran her fingers through my hair, ‘You have been living a tough life. I know, but it is only going to get worse if you don’t sit down and try to figure things out right from the beginning. You cannot fix everything around you before forgiving yourself. I know that you are holding yourself responsible for many things. The reason why you are crying right now is because you are trying to understand things that you are not even capable of understanding . . . Am I right?’

  ‘Yes, but you don’t understand. There is a battle going on right now, in my head. There are many tough things for me right now. You wouldn’t understand, because you and grandpa are not my parents. Please, just leave!’ I yelled.

  Tears welling in her eyes, Laverne drew in her lips. She was about to say something, but stopped herself just in time. Jolting up from her sitting position on my bed, she abruptly left my room. She was such a saint, because even after her obvious upset, she took great pain to ease up on my door as she closed it behind her.

  I knew that what I said was wrong and unfair. A scream of frustration stayed throttled in the back of my throat, and a whiplash of trauma seared my mind. Taking deep breaths, I composed myself and calmed down. I needed to understand more about what I was fighting for, so I dug deeper. I held up my hand to consult my IPU.

  I thought—Nezatron, what is this war all about?

  Nezatron said, ‘Sephera, clearance level three. In the beginning, space was deep, black, and infinitely
sparse. There was a universe, planets and stars were few, and living beings evolved over billions of years from a single cell . . .’

  I could have sat and listened to Nezatron’s historical account about the Dacturon creation of two Omnians—Odion and Zane—all night. Sure. If I wanted my mind to grow so numb that it would think no better than a slab of particleboard. I turned off the nanocom so that I could finally get some sleep.

  In the middle of the night, as I lay tossing and turning in my bed, dreaming, I was soaked with sweat. In my fitful dream, I saw myself sitting in a strange room in what appeared to be an industrial warehouse. The smell of dust and oiled machinery hung about in the air like a heavy mist. Moonlight shone through a shattered window; several shadows emerged from the large-scale machinery inside, as well as from the gigantic oak tree just outside.

  In the dark, a vile, demonic figure arose from the gloom, directly blocking my view of the window. The moonlight bathed his dark maroon frock. The manner in which he emerged, the sinister pose he assumed—there was no doubt his intention was to frighten, to intimidate, and to terrify.

  He stood inside that cold, dark, and condemned room with the shadows as his army.

  The brisk chill felt real; goose bumps ribbed my arms, and crept to my shoulders.

  Although I had never seen this monstrosity before, I instinctively knew who it was.

  ‘Odion,’ I said.

  The evil Dacturon Omnian didn’t even introduce himself. In one powerful swoop, he grasped me around the throat, and lifted me to the ceiling. I screamed, but no sound escaped my lips.

  It was if I was drifting away from my own body. My heart rallied with a pounding ferocity upon the throat grip, but slowed to a faint murmur, as if readying me for death. I felt light and woozy. For some unknown reason, my skin glowed with yellow and green fluorescence. Perhaps the Dietons were frantically attempting to signal protest against Odion’s villainy? Repeatedly squeezing in and then withdrawing his thumb and fingers into my neck, he finally spoke to me as he hissed: