by K. A. Lange
Mir’s alert pulled me from my revelry letting me know that Smith was slightly ahead of schedule forcing me to adjust my plan on the fly. Given the fact I couldn’t make the original point of interception, ‘Barb’s Ice Cream Shop’, I fell back on plan B. This meant that I would need to take my chances of being crushed if the supports for the coaster gave way as I passed under the crippled beast to the ‘Funhouse’.
Given the state of decay and the creepy jester that lay broken and slumped over the opening as it desperately clung to its prized Mardi Gras beads, the place was closer akin to a haunted house. From what I saw there wasn’t anything fun left to the entire park let alone the rotting building that had once brought such joy to its visitors. Quietly I made my way through the broken door crouching in the darkness as I waited for Smith to pass.
Focusing on the feed Mir was streaming in my minds eye I was able to watch his progress through the virtual reality overlaid in real time with the world around me. It was the longest five minutes of my life as Ryker took his time strolling through the devastated theme park with hardly a care in the world. As he approached he slowed, seeming to sense my presence.
“I can feel you...” Smith taunted. “Come out and play, I’ve been waiting a long time for this.” He made a show of pulling off his jacket and hanging it on the broken ticket stand just a few feet from where I stood. “I always wanted to know which of us was better.”
Stepping out of the shadow I shimmered back into reality with my shields in tact as I closed the distance between us then hammering his jaw with a hard right hook. “Considering I’m not a pedifile the answer is simple really.”
Even though he rolled with the punch he still hit the ground hard enough to draw blood from several scrapes. Pushing himself to his feet he wiped the blood from his cheek as he gave me an appraising look. “Cheap shot, on both accounts.” Spitting blood as he gave me a wicked smile. “I like girls of all ages. Hell, your daughter is a pretty little thing!”
Now that’s a just good way to piss me off! In response to his smartass remark I threw a kick to his midsection doubling him over as I grabbed the back of his head and slamming it into my knee. His nose bloomed crimson as blood ran freely. As he staggered back and fell on his ass I slowly took a step forward.
Wiping his nose he chuckled. “I hope that’s not the best you got to offer.”
He swept his long legs out quickly catching me at the knee as he took my legs out from under me. Landing hard against the pavement I felt him scramble atop me as he pummeled my face and chest with quick heavy blows.
Throwing my weight to one side I pushed him off of me. Getting to my feet first I kicked him hard in the ribs and cracking a couple of them, though unfortunately the propulsion of the kick helped him to his feet. He was stronger and tougher than he looked which meant I was in for a long hard fight.
He went on the offensive as he launched himself at me, catching me in the throat with an elbow, causing my shields to give slightly under the pressure of the blow. He quickly followed with a knee to the midsection lifting me off the ground as he pushed me away, causing me to skid across the asphalt.
“You’re what’s she’s afraid of?” He advanced on me kicking hard against my midsection. “Pathetic! Your shields won't last forever and when their down, I’m going to enjoy making you bleed.”
Rolling to my knees I blocked his next kick using its force to help me up. Wrapping fire around my right fist I slammed it hard against his jaw causing it to blister as the skin burned away.
His amusement was suddenly gone as he grimaced in pain. He kicked me hard in the midsection throwing me back a few feet, allowing him room to work. Spreading his fingers on his left hand darkness filled the empty space until his whole hand was shrouded in an inky residue. Diving to the side as he flung the ichor toward me, it landed on the metal door frame where it became animated. The darkness oozed around the frame, disintegrating everything it touched including several inches of the cinderblock wall before winking out of existence. Quickly making a mental note for future reference, the black, inky, whatever the hell you call it, was something I should probably avoid.
From the stunned look on his face I suspected most people were not quick enough to avoid his inky little friend. I got to my feet as he stumbled back a few steps trying to call forth more of the darkness. Luckily it didn’t appear he had the ability to repeat the action again so quickly. Closing the gap between us I threw an elbow at his throat. Even though he was obviously taxed from the effort of calling forth the darkness he was able to move to one side causing me to only catch him in the shoulder.
He fell back against the wall of the ‘funhouse’ and his hands suddenly glowed. The blue paint of the wall behind him turned black from the heat of his body. The sudden lack of oxygen burned my lungs as the air superheated around me. Forcing more of my will into my shields I pulled a knife from its sheath and drove it through his right shoulder and was rewarded as he screamed out in pain.
He caught me hard in the face with his elbow, throwing me to one side as he quickly pulled the blade from his flesh. “You’re going to pay for that!” He grunted as he threw the knife to the side. “When I finish with you I’m going to find that pretty little daughter of yours, Kira I think her name is, and she and I are going to have some fun!” Licking his lips he lost himself to the thought. “She will beg for death before its all over, and who knows, you might wind up with a grandchild out of the deal! What do you think of that? She’ll like...”
He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence as I slammed my will against his chest sending him through the weakened cinderblock wall.
Rage rolled over me as it washed away the pain, leaving only the burning desire to ensure the man wouldn’t be a threat to anyone ever again. “You should’ve kept your mouth shut!”
The biggest mistake people make during a fight is talking instead of finishing the job. Second biggest mistake is saying something to piss the other guy off and Smith just made both. Allowing my anger to fuel my abilities I stalked through the broken wall. Smith was on all fours, trying to get to his feet when I put all my strength in a hard right kick to his ribs spinning him in the air and landing hard on his back. Holding out my right hand I summoned the discarded blade and caught it by the hilt a half second later. Two or three of Smith’s ribs were broken and at least one of them punctured his lung, causing him to cough blood as he tried to right himself.
He tried to summon fire once more as I swatted his hands aside and slid my blade through the nook of his elbow making him to scream in agony. My fury had fully taken hold of me. I slammed my knee against his face knocking out a couple of teeth in the process. Blood ran freely across his burned and blistered face as I continued to advance on him. He crab walked away from me but it was of no use. I slammed my boot into his left knee shattering it.
He screamed again as he flailed uselessly on the floor. His sharp intake of breath caused him to choke on his own fluids. He was slowly drowning to death but I didn’t care. I wanted to make him pay for his sins.
“You’re not supposed to do this, you’re one of the good guys.” He pleaded.
Slamming my boot against his right ankle I felt it give way under the pressure. “That’s a matter of perspective...” I sent a hard kick to his groin causing him to choke as he got the dry heaves. “I lose perspective when you start talking about my daughter.”
Kneeling beside him I slowly slipped my blade through the iliacus, which is that soft spot between your pubic bone and hip. His lungs refused him enough air to scream so he mostly gurgled and choked as the blood frothed on his lips.
“You’re going to die here, in this god awful place, very shortly.” Twisting the blade as I yanked it free his body tensed in pain. “We have a few minutes.” I slammed my fist into his already broken ribs sending another one through his already ragged lung. “Make peace with whatever god you believe in.”
“That’s the man I remember.” A smile crossed his lip
s before another wave of pain hit him. “I remember that look when you killed my father during your raid twenty years ago.”
The thought of him destroying Gregory’s daughter filled my mind. “Is that why you molested Gregory’s daughter?”
“That’s such an ugly term.” He coughed again as I slowly forced my blade through the palm of his right hand. “She liked it!”
Turning the blade I pulled it towards me splitting his hand in two as it exited between the ring and middle finger. “You shouldn’t threaten a man’s daughter.”
Slamming the hilt into his wrist it shattered. “Just kill me!”
That was too simple and much too easy for a man such as he! He had threatened to harm Kira and that was more than I could bear. “Not yet.” Moving around his prone form I dropped to my right knee, quickly breaking two more ribs on his uninjured side. “You have yet to pay for the sins I know about, let alone the ones that I don’t.”
His eyes glazed over as he convulsed as his body continued to starve from oxygen deprivation.
“Dad, please!” Kira’s voice broken as I could see her wipe tears from her eyes. “Please stop.”
Anger continued to course through me but I pulled it back as I spun the knife in my hand before driving it through Smith’s left eye. He convulsed as his body objected to this last grievous insult before going still.
“Thank you.” Kira whimpered.
“He deserved worse.” Nicholas growled as he opened the car door. “Let’s move.”
Nicholas was angry and he had every right to be, Smith had cut his mother open and Gullveig had made him watch. Kira was confused and angry. She had never been baptized in the heat of battle and as such didn’t realize that to fight monsters you sometimes had to become one. She was a healer not a warrior and it showed through her mercy toward a man who threatened her harm. I could only hope that she would one day gain a balance between the two.
Nicholas looked back at Kira who was still sitting in the drivers seat. “We need to go!” His voice was hard and reserved. “We have a job to do.”
Kira looked back at him. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
“You can stay back if you need to.” It was a lot to ask of someone to force them into a situation they weren’t ready for. “Nicholas and I can handle this alone. Make sure the others stay put till we're done.”
“Thank you.” Kira whispered as she adjusted herself before getting out of the car to meet with Gregory.
“I’m coming through the gate now.” Nicholas strode through the turnstiles breaking the arms off one as he passed through. “We end this today!”
With barely a thought I faded into the background as I hurried through the haunting remains of the park to catch up with the wrathful young man intent on finding justice for the wrongs heaped upon him. Justice doesn’t always fall in line with the law of the land. For example O. J. Simpson was able to buy a not guilty verdict. What I did to Smith was more akin to justice even though it went against the letter of the law. He was owed a very long and painful death which he was denied. My daughter had granted the man a small mercy which was more than he deserved.
Nicholas paused as he entered the park reading a heavily graffitied welcome sign which read, ‘Welcome to Zombieland Kids’. Shaking his head he continued through the eerily empty streets. Kicking a half rotted teddybear out of his way as he passed the Cosmopolitan Hotel and Metropolitan building to the pathetic inoperable fountain.
Cutting through the grass I was forced to jump over one of the fallen bungee swing arms. From there I took the long way around the broken parachute ride which littered the ground with several rusted chains and broken plastic seats. Shimmering into view a few feet away from Nicholas I slowed my pace to an easy walk as he turned to greet me with hardened steel in his eyes. His resolve to see this to its end was clearly seen in his demeanour. He was hardly at peace with it but understood what had to be done. I had to admire his tenacious nature in one so young.
Chapter 29
A strong north wind churned the gray skies above as thunder rolled in the distance. The chill in the air had less to do with the temperature and more to do with a deep foreboding sense of an impending doom. I could smell the muddy waters of the lake as Mother Nature put on a spectacular display of her powers as a steady wind seemed to push us toward our destiny. Shivering as the adrenaline rush subsided from my encounter with Smith I studied the virtual overlay of the Metropolitan Building.
Communicating with Nicholas via the Nexus we formulated our plan of attack. Once inside we would split up and attack Gullveig from different directions in the hopes of gaining the upperhand. Even now I was able to feel her power through the broken building before us. Her anger and hatred rolled through the land in waves like some sort of perverted heartbeat. Nicholas could feel it whether or not he realized it as he swayed in time with its rhythm.
As we entered the building through the side entrance we kept a close eye on the glowing figure of Gullveig at the heart of the dilapidated structure’s virtual overlay. My senses were nearly overwhelmed as the scent of rotting meat, mold and feces hung heavily in the air. For a moment I thought Nicholas would pass out, but he quickly regained control of his body.
Without Mir's visual guidance we would have been hopelessly lost. The place was barely recognizable. The flood waters of Katrina had collapsed walls, filling the hallways with debris. Add to that the fact that the trespassers had been less than kind as they vandalized what little remained. Piles of trash, broken sheetrock and left over mud made our progress tedious. As we approached the first intersection Nicholas found his path blocked by part of the roof that had collapsed. He was forced to backtrack through one of the broken offices, cutting through one of the many gaping holes.
Officially on my own I steadied my nerves, focusing on the task at hand. Allowing my senses to stretch out before me the only life force I could detect was Gullveig’s. As a side note, when even the rodents have left the building you might want to reconsider your destination. I however didn't have that particular luxury. Keeping an eye on Nicholas I was able to monitor his progress, what little there was. He was being forced to take alternate routes due to the copious amount of debris.
Considering my history with Gullveig I wasn’t sure she would expect me to bring anyone along for the ride. I was really hoping that would be all the extra edge we'd need to put her down once and for all. If she were expecting me to try and take her alive to be brought to some type of justice... Well she was sadly mistaken. Things had gone much too far and she was too dangerous for anything but her eminent demise to be an option.
I couldn't wait all day for Nicholas to get in position so I proceeded on my own. Quickly able to traverse the path she and Smith probably used during their tenure here, I was soon at one of the last working doors. The filth covered rusty door was all that stood between my ancient enemy and myself. Taking one last deep breath to steady my nerves, I pulled the door from its hinges. This had once been a overly large room for private parties but now the bare cement floors were covered in dried mud from the lake and recently discarded food containers. Obviously she had been living here for sometime now.
Gullveig on the other hand looked as if she had taken a bath or three since she'd kidnapped Galvez. Someone had trimmed her hair, applied makeup and dressed her in the latest tactical gear. If it weren't for the fact she was a remorseless killer I could have appreciated her supermodel beauty. Damn, I had to give Helena extra credit for birthing such attractive children. She stood there in middle of the room smiling at me. It was the type of smile that sent shivers up your spine. Pulling off her jacket she tossed it to the side.
"You haven’t changed in all these years!" Giving me a wide berth she slowly started to circle the room. "However do you do it?"
Dropping my coat I fell in sync with her movements. "I dunno, good living, eating right and not being a total douchebag psycho killer?"
She gave me a quick smile while cracking her knu
ckles. "Oh don't be like that. I remember when you couldn't get enough of me!"
My mind was flooded with clouded thoughts and strong lust filled emotions. What the fuck was that? Shaking free of the carnal fog I gave her the finger. "Cute trick, but let's try to stay out of the fiction section."
She moved so quickly that it barely registered that she was behind me before she tenderly kissed my neck. "I'm hurt that you don't remember." I felt a sharp pain on my face as her blade dug into the soft flesh of my right cheek before she returned to her position opposite me.
I was definitely feeling out classed and I was clearly fighting out of my league. She held the advantage since she seemed fully aware of her abilities and I was only just now beginning to see my potential.
She adopted a condescending tone as she gave me a less than sincere frown. "Ahh, honey don't be like that."
"Be like what?" I growled.
"You always had that sour little look when you were worried about something."
Before I could blink she sped towards me as she produced her signature weapon. She planted the cane's blunted surface into my abdomen like a speeding truck. Doubling over I flew across the room, landing in a heap as pain coursed through me.
"You needn't worry too much just yet." She added
Picking myself up off the ground, I grunted in pain from the freshly broken rib. "Yeah? Why's that?"