Carson turned to face the others.
“You have to go,” he said.
“What?”
“You guys need to get out of here before this thing kills you.”
“What do you mean? We can’t just leave you,” Abigail shouted.
“You have to,” Carson said. “This entire time it’s me he’s been after. I need to be the one that ends this.”
Abigail pleaded with sad eyes.
“I don’t want to lose you too,” she cried. “It was wrong for me to talk you into this.”
“No. You were right. You were always right. Jacob saved us so that we could stop him. I’m not going to let him die in vain. I’m going to protect you. For him.” Carson pulled her into a hug.
Abigail hugged him back, not wanting to let go.
“Take care of her,” he told Matt.
He nodded and grabbed Carson by the arm. “You better find a way out of this or I’m going to kick your ass.”
Carson smiled. For once he preferred that to the alternative. “Go on,” he shouted. “Get as far away as you can.”
With the others finally gone Carson refocused his attention on the growing beam.
“Alright,” Carson shouted. He couldn’t tell whether or not Nick could hear him.
“It’s just you and me. That’s all you wanted right? Well here I am!”
Carson walked up to the edge of the beam.
“This is for you Jacob,” he whispered and stepped inside.
Inside the beam Carson felt immense energy surge over his skin. He could feel his powers being amplified. The God Complex still lay on the ground. Nick floated above it. He was now completely transformed into something monstrous. His hair was completely gone and his skin had been fully replaced by a hard black substance. His eyes glew a blue that was brighter than the beam around them.
“Woah,” Carson said to himself.
Everything told him to leave, that this was going to be the last thing he would do. He pushed the voice into the back of his mind.
Carson took a step forward and then another. With each step it got harder to push forward. The beam continued to intensify as it fed on both of their energies.
The ground around Carson cracked. Chunks of rock floated in the air around them. As one piece floated by his hand it had stuck to his skin as if it had been glued there. With a wave of his hand he brought the broken pieces towards himself. Each one clung tightly to him. He willed the pieces to cover his entire body. A suit of rock armor formed around him as he made his way to Nick. The force of the beam was almost too strong for him. He pushed with everything he had. Once he made it to the machine he reached down and picked it up. It felt surprisingly light in his hand.
The metal moved as if it were alive. Carson could feel the immense power it contained. He had enough power to wipe out the world in the palm of his hand.
Carson looked up at Nick. His eyes stared lifelessly back at him.
With the Cod Complex in his hand Carson started to talk to Nick.
“I’m sorry that I stopped talking to you. I’m sorry that I didn’t notice that you were in so much pain. I’m sorry that I turned my back on you and I missed the signs. I’m sorry that I didn’t save you at the museum and I’m sorry that I couldn’t save you now.”
Carson looked back down at the machine that was writhing in his hand. He wondered how such a small thing could cause so much trouble in so many lives.
“I do understand what you mean now. I know why you’re doing all of this. It’s because you’re alone, isn’t it? You just want someone to notice you for who you really are. I didn’t see that at first and I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I left you when you needed me the most. But this time I promise I’m not going anywhere. This time it’s going to be just you and me.”
Carson felt an overwhelming sadness take over him. He didn’t know if it was him or the energy of the God Complex but he felt a connection to Nick. He felt sadness as he realized that there wasn’t going to be a graduation. That Nick wouldn’t be there to play for all of them. That their futures were going to be cut short.
“You and I fought hard but there isn’t going to be a winner today, Nick, because I have to stop this thing and you and I are both probably going to die from that. But you know what? You won’t be alone.”
With his stone armor giving him the strength he needed, Carson closed his hand as tightly as he could and crushed the God Complex.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
|||||
CARSON WINCED, A LIGHTNING bolt of pain traveling through his arm and into his shoulder. His red tie slid through his fingers and onto the floor.
“Let me help,” Ellie said. She picked up the tie and threw the small end around his neck. Carson’s hands instinctively went up in defense. The tie wrapped around the cast that he wore on his wrist.
“Sorry,” Carson said, dropping his hands. Nick may have been gone but the lingering fear was still haunting him. Nightmares still plagued him at night, only instead of seeing the smoke monster or the never ending street he was greeted by Nick. Every night he woke up in a cold sweat, his powers begging to be released.
Ellie expertly spun the tie around her own hands.
“I still don’t understand why you guys were out there.”
“I already told you. We were just walking and talking about graduation when it happened.”
“I’m sure you were,” Ellie said, only half believing him.
The past few days had been full of nothing but police questioning and hospital visits. At first they had been blamed for causing the explosion and subsequent fire which destroyed the entire pier. It wasn’t until the investigation that they were finally let off the hook. Carson had never been more relieved in his entire life. Of course the fight had left him with two broken wrists and too many cuts and bruises to count. Not to mention that if Abigail hadn’t been there to pull him out of the hole that was made when the God Complex was destroyed then he would have been dead for sure.
Thoughts of what could have happened if hr had lost raced through his head as Ellie finished tightening the tie.
“Are you excited,” she asked, oblivious to what was going on in his mind.
“Mostly nervous,” he confessed.
“Don’t be nervous. Today should be an exciting day for you. Enjoy it. You only graduate high school once.”
Carson sighed.
“What,” she asked.
“It’s nothing.”
She crossed her arms. “Tell me.”
“I talked to the admissions department at the University of Maine. I got accepted.”
Ellie’s smile was contagious. Carson couldn’t resist copying it himself.
She hugged him carefully as to not to hurt him any further.
“You are going to love it there,” she said. “Plus I’ll be able to visit you and bring you some home cooked food.”
“Just don’t embarrass me,” Carson laughed.
“I can’t promise anything.”
Ellie left the room, talking as she went. “I have something for you.”
When she returned she held a small black box in her hands.
“We got it the first day you started high school.”
“We?”
Ellie motioned to the box. Carson took it from her and slowly pulled back the soft velvet lid.
“Your father and I were in New York one weekend and he saw it in a store window,” Ellie explained.
“He always talked about how you reminded him of himself when he was younger. He saw so much of himself in you.”
Carson looked over the silver watch that sat perfectly in the center of the case.
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, I do,” Carson said. He brushed his finger over the face of the watch. The gears were on full display, intricately moving in perfect unison.
He carefully pulled the watch out of the box and tilted it in the light.
As he flipped it to put it on his wrist he noticed small words engraved on the back.
Congrats son.
The school’s parking lot was already full by the time they arrived. A sea of green robes flowed in between the parked cars. Ellie parked the car and turned it off. The loud chorus of voices outside bled into the car despite all of the windows being closed.
“Ready?”
Carson nodded, a nervous smile pulling at the edge of his mouth. “Ready.”
“Well then, I guess I will see you up there.”
Ellie left the car and disappeared into the blur of green.
Carson stayed behind in the car. He focused on his breathing, trying to mentally prepare himself for what was going to come next. He had just calmed himself when he was startled by a loud knock on the window. Abigail beckoned for him to come out. She looked stunning in her gown. Her graduation cap sat on her head at an awkward angle. The tassel bounced in time with her laughs. Carson pushed the door open and hugged her.
“How are you feeling,” he asked her.
“I’m ok,” she said, brushing the hair from her eyes.
“You?”
Carson held up his casts. “Taking it one day at a time.”
“How long?”
“The doctor said at least a couple of months. What about you?”
Abigail showed off her own cast. “Just a few weeks. Nothing too bad.”
They followed the crowd towards the field.
“You know, I never really got the chance to thank you.”
“For what,” Carson asked.
“For saving my life. For saving all of our lives.”
Abigail gestured towards everyone.
“You really stepped in at the right time.”
Carson brushed her off. “It was nothing.”
“I don’t think it was,” Matt said coming up behind them. He was wearing the same gown as everyone else. His face was covered in bandages and even a few stitches were sewn into his cheek. He wrapped his arms around their shoulders.
“Abigail’s right you know. You really saved everyone in Bishop Bay and no one even knows how close they were to the end. I never expected something like that from you. You’re a real hero.”
“Thanks,” Carson said.
He had expected to like being called a hero. Only he was feeling more sad than happy. He wished things could have ended differently with Nick.
“I’m sorry,” Carson said. “About Cade and Tyler. I’m sorry they didn’t make it.”
Matt’s expression softened for a moment. “We wouldn’t be here without them so just remember them, ok?”
“I will,” Abigail and Carson both promised.
“Great! Let’s do this then,” Matt cheered.
A giant stage had been set up in the middle of the field. It was far enough away from the rubble of the collapsed building but close enough for them to still see it. Carson’s stomach was in knots. Rows and rows of uncomfortable looking silver chairs had been placed in front of the stage. A flowery song flowed from large speakers that assaulted their ears. Carson already hated it by the time it repeated for the third time.
Matt was the first to leave their small group, waving goodbye to them as he found his seat.
Abigail was the next to go. She paused at the steps that led up to the stage. “See you after?”
“Yeah,” Carson replied.
Carson’s heart was rapidly beating. He was both excited and nervous to get graduation over with.
After all the chairs had been filled Mr. Mars stepped up to the podum. He took a few moments to look out at the students that were seated in front of him. He composed himself and began his speech.
“Good afternoon students, parents, friends, and faculty of Bishop Bay High School, and welcome to the graduation for the class of 2025.”
The crowd cheered.
“Before we officially get started today there are a few things that I feel that I need to address.”
Carson swallowed hard. He knew what was coming next.
“Just a few months ago Bishop Bay, along with the rest of the state, was affected by the tragedy that occured at the Aldridge museum. We lost several excellent students and faculty members that day that we will never forget.”
Mr. Mars wiped away the tears that managed to escape his eye.
“We are here today together as a tribute to those who are not able to be.”
Mr. Mars paused again and removed his glasses. He left them on the podium. His voice wavered when he started talking again.
“Use what happened at the museum as a lesson. None of us are guaranteed another day. We don’t know when our time will come and with how the world is today, that time may come sooner rather than later. So, before I kick this graduation ceremony off I would like you all to ask yourselves one thing. Are you living your life to your best abilities? Or are you missing out because you’re scared of the unknown? Think about that.”
A soft wind blew around Carson. He watched the leaves on the tree rustle. He wished that Jacob could be there with him. Nick too.
Mr. Mars grabbed his glasses and stepped back. Ellie replaced him at the podium. She smiled and cleared her throat.
“Good afternoon and congratulations to the Bishop Bay High graduates.”
She waited for the scattered applause to die down.
“Let me be the first of many who will tell you just how proud we are of all of you. Most of you have lived here in Bishop Bay all of your lives and because of that I have had the opportunity to watch each and every one of you grow into the amazing adults that you are today.”
Ellie looked at Carson, talking to him directly.
“The world is a mean and scary place. You can try and prepare all you want but you can never be fully ready for whatever life throws at you. All I can say is be ready for anything and everything. Ride the wave and enjoy every single minute of it, no matter how harsh the waters are. Enjoy today. It’s only the first day of the rest of your lives.”
Once again thunderous applause filled the air.
“And now, your Valedictorian, Abigail Clarke.”
Abigail gleefully took Ellie’s spot. She took a deep breath, looked out on the crowd, and started her speech.
“Good morning family and fellow students. Congratulations on making it to the final day of your high school career. I think it’s safe to say that we all have been through a lot to make it to today. We’ve been through both good days and bad days, through new friendships and heartbreak. Just getting through all that should be celebrated.”
Abigail paused and turned her paper over. She took a second to look at everyone in the crowd. She found Carson and eventually found her parents hidden in the back. She missed Jacob more than ever.
Abigail continued. “Everything that has happened these last twelve years was to prepare us for what is to come. The future is uncertain but that’s what makes life so exciting. Who knows what is next for us? Some of us will go off to college while some of us will stay closer to home. There are a million different paths that we can take. The only certain thing in life is that we don’t know where it’s going to take us. The only piece of advice I can give you right now is to ride the waves as they come. Live your life with no regrets. Go to your dream school. Tell the girl you like how you feel. Be the person you always wanted to be. All our lives we’ve looked up to people as our heroes. Whenever we were in trouble or felt alone or scared all we had to do was call out to our heroes to help rescue us. Well now, we are those heroes. And you know what? I’ve learned that you don’t need money or superpowers to be a hero. You just need to be brave, to stand up for what you believe in, even if everything is fighting back against you. So, it’s all up to us now. From this day forward we are the heroes of our stories. Congratulations again, Class of 2025.”
Carson along with many of the other students stood up and clapped as Abigail left the stage. He caught a tear with his finger b
efore it escaped his finger. He couldn’t have said it any better.
After Mr. Mars quieted them down, the students moved to the back of the stage. One by one they made their way up the steep metal steps to the stage to where their diplomas awaited them. As he got closer to the podium he thought about everything that had happened during his years at Bishop Bay High. So much has changed since the first day of freshman year. His father died and he grew distant from almost everyone. He survived one of the worst disasters in the state and emerged from it with powers behind his wildest dreams. He lost his closest friend and nearly lost the only girl he had ever had feelings for. But most importantly he survived Nick.
“Carson Noble,” Mr. Mars said.
Carson walked across the stage to receive his diploma. He felt strange. No shortness of breath, no sweating. It was a feeling that he hadn’t felt in a very long time, a feeling that he didn’t think he would ever feel again. The feeling felt warm in the pit of his stomach.
Alien but not unwelcome.
It wasn’t happiness but rather optimism.
Carson was greeted by the english teacher he had a couple years prior. After shaking her hand he looked out at the crowd. At least a hundred faces were staring back at him. He shook the hands of an entire group of people, the last one being Mr. Mars.
“I told you that you could do it,” he said.
Carson shook his hand and took the diploma from him.
“Thank you, sir.”
Once the last of the students had received their diploma Mr.Mars took to the podium once again. He looked relieved that it was almost over. With a wave of his hand he motioned for the students to stand.
“And now, without further ado, I give you Bishop Bay High School Class of 2025!”
The students cheered and threw their caps into the air. Carson watched his cap disappear with all the others. He was relieved that it was finally all over.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Inversion Page 18