The Ark of Power
Page 23
"Stop this!" Harrison screams.
Sebastian knees Gavin's side continuously and throws him the ground, kicking him right in front of Harrison, multiple times.
"Stop what?" Sebastian asks staring at Harrison, while still kicking Gavin.
Harrison squints in anger as Gavin screeches in pain. Sebastian stops, squatting down to his level.
"I told you that you are going to pay. There are consequences to the decisions we make, kid, and I am going to show you that,” he says, gently slapping Harrison on his face.
Standing up quickly, he picks back up the pitchfork, walks over to Joseph, and stares down at him. "You walked in with this pitchfork. Ghost over there looks like he was stabbed with a pitchfork. Did you stab him?"
Ghost interrupts before Joseph can answer. "I can tell you who did everything."
Sebastian raises his hand to Ghost, signaling him to stop. "Shhhhh. I want to hear it from them. It's a little bit more fun that way.”
Joseph looks up at him. "It's not mine. We met a farmer. It belongs to him," Joseph says.
Sebastian paces a couple steps.
"Okay. How about you?" Sebastian says, gazing down at JT. "I heard that you have Ghost's blood on your clothes. He took a pretty bad beating from one of you, I was told. It must have been you since you have his blood on you. And whoever did that to him is going to pay."
JT looks Tommy's way for a second. Tommy remains still, on his knees, watching Sebastian.
"I did it. I beat him so he wouldn't talk," JT says.
Harrison lifts up on his hands and knees.
"Well now, you must pay," Sebastian yells.
"It was me. He is lying to cover for me. I beat him so he wouldn't talk. They didn't want to. He was against it. It was me," Tommy announces.
Sebastian walks over and stands in front of him.
"Norman Drake's son. You really thought you were going to be able to protect him? From me? From us?" Sebastian says angrily. "See this is why the Destines are so stupid and weak. The Elder and the Ragnar Council truly believed that they could train you and you would be able to protect him. Well, you just helped me prove how wrong they were.”
Unexpectedly, he lifts the pitchfork in the air and runs it into Tommy's chest. The pitchfork drives through him and sticks out of his back. Tommy's mouth drops in pain as he tries to grab the pitchfork.
Sebastian pushes it harder into him. Tommy gasps for air as blood runs from his mouth and hits the floor. Sebastian yanks it out of him. Tommy drops lifeless on his side.
"Noooooooooooooo," Harrison yells trying to stand. Rena pushes him back down. JT stares at him with a scared expression. Jaylen and Joseph lower their heads with tears running down their faces.
Sebastian drops the pitchfork in front of Tommy's body. He closes his eyes, raising his hand straight up in the air. His followers chant emphatically.
"MAR... THAR."
"MAR... THAR."
They repeat it continuously.
Sebastian walks in front of Harrison. Rena backs off smiling at Sebastian.
"Feel how out of control you really are? No one can protect you from me. So why don't you just stand up and go open the Ark for me,” Sebastian whispers down to Harrison.
Harrison rises slowly, grabbing his right wrist with his right palm facing up.
Sebastian giggles. "Really? Okay, try to hit me with those little attacks that Drake taught you. I want to see how pathetic it is.”
Harrison squats slightly as he forces the energy from his Power Flow into his palm. Green energy circles around him causing the dust on the floor to blow around. Harrison screams as green electricity zaps from his hand. Sebastian and everyone kneeling stare in amazement.
"You want me to show you. I will show you what I learned from Drake. From his son," Harrison yells.
He screams louder as wind from him powering up gusts Sebastian next to the Ark and the others sliding on their backs. Suddenly, a giant green energy ball the size of a watermelon forms, hovering above his hand.
"What the heck is that?" Sebastian says.
"POWER LIGHT EXPLOSION,” Harrison screams.
Harrison steps right in front of Sebastian, launching it at him. The giant green energy attack flies at him. He turns quickly to the side escaping the attack. It soars and crashes into the wall blowing the top part of the mountain up.
A giant chunk falls, crashing into the Purhara City. They all can hear the sound of destruction outside.
Harrison feels the floor start to shake. More parts of the mountain begin to crumble and tumble down. Sebastian's followers fall with parts of it as some run for safety past them. Finally, a giant part of the room crumbles and falls right behind Sebastian leaving him and the Ark on the edge of the opening.
Harrison runs at him throwing a punch, trying to punch him off the mountain. Sebastian grabs his hand, launching a punch of his own. Harrison pushes it down and hits him in the face with the other one.
Sebastian grabs Harrison’s neck and hangs him towards the opening. Sebastian's back is facing the inside of the mountain as Harrison tries to keep his footing on the edge.
"I am going to drop you and pick up your dead body and open the Ark myself," Sebastian says, about to push him.
All of a sudden, Harrison sees the pitchfork burst through Sebastian’s chest. Sebastian's eyes widen in pain as he starts to lose his grip on Harrison. Behind Sebastian stands Gavin, pushing the pitchfork in him harder. He pulls it out. Sebastian let's go of Harrison and falls off.
"Gavin," Harrison says confused.
Suddenly, the edge they are standing on starts leaning. The Ark slides towards them.
"Watch out," Harrison yells.
He pushes Gavin out the way as the Ark slams into Harrison. He grabs a hold of it. Green energy blasts in all different directions as he holds on for dear life. Harrison slides off with the Ark towards the ground. Slamming into the ground, Harrison sees everything go black.
Chapter 33
Things Looking Up
Opening his eyes, Harrison sees parts of the mountain surrounding him. Sebastian's followers lay around him, lifeless. Harrison's eyes shut and open every couple of minutes. Harrison notices the Ark next to him cracked and opened slightly. Lifting his head up, some of the Red Hawks walk towards him.
"We found him."
"I think he is still alive."
Harrison's head falls back.
◆◆◆
Cool air blows his hair into his face from the cracked window, itching his forehead. Harrison blinks rapidly and is surprised. He is laying in the hospital back in his hometown. His mom lays next to him asleep in the chair holding his hand tightly. Moving gently, he wakes his mom up.
"Harrison, baby, take it easy," she says putting her other hand on his hand.
"Where is everyone?" Harrison asks trying to sit up.
"Honey, take it easy," she says. "Someone has been waiting here to talk to you about everything."
All of a sudden, the door opens and the Destine Elder walks in.
"Harrison. It's good to see you are finally awake. You sleep well?" he asks with a warm smile.
"Elder Dirk, are my friends okay?" Harrison says concerned.
Putting his hand on Harrison's chest, he eases him back down to the bed. "Would you mind excusing us, Ms. Grady?"
"Yes, Your Honor,” she replies.
Getting up, she kisses Harrison's forehead, grinning with a tear running down her face.
"I am so glad you are okay," she says, walking out.
The Elder stands in front of the window and takes his hat off holding it against his chest. The breeze rushes through his thin hair making small strands in the front blow.
"Your friends are okay. The Red Hawks arrived the same time you fell with the Ark. They were able to get them and take them back safe and sound." Elder Dirk stares out the window.
"How did they know where to find us," Harrison asks.
"Tommy contacted the Red Hawks when he
figured you all were about to run into trouble," he replies, glancing at Harrison.
Harrison closes his eyes trying to hold back the tears. "Were you able to bring back-"
"Yes, we were able to bring back Tommy's body. His family has it and is making preparations for his funeral."
He begins to sob. "It's all my fault.”
"A lot of things played into Tommy's unfortunate death. You should not bear all the blame," he says looking back out the window.
"I was blind to the fact that Sebastian was part of that group. I should have been more observant,” he says.
"I want to share something with you that I probably should have before,” he pulls up a chair and sits beside him, laying his hat on his lap.
"We believe your father is still alive and we have pretty good evidence to prove that. He has gone rogue we believe, and we haven't figured out why yet. We haven’t even old your mother this. I think personally, he knew something about this group forming years ago and wanted to take them out."
Harrison sits up slowly. "Yeah but my mom has the note that you slid underneath the door for him the night he left. You told him to leave early and to remain quiet."
"I did not write that note. I didn't even send your dad on the silent mission."
"What...what do you mean?"
"Your dad covered it up. I believe the Silver Falcons went on a mission that he had planned. He used me as a decoy to throw your mom off. I respect your dad too much to make him look like he was disobeying me and the Destine nation, so I took responsibility and covered it up,” he stands up.
"You know for sure he is alive?" Harrison asks.
Turning back towards him, the Elder smiles softly at him.
"I do. And I want to help you out. You don't need to go rogue anymore either. We can bring your dad back, together."
He extends his hand. Harrison looks at it for a couple of seconds. He lifts his hand from under the covers and shakes his hand as firm as he can.
"We will talk about everything else when you get back to the academy after the summer break. But till then, rest up.”
"Thanks. Sounds great," Harrison replies.
Harrison closes his eyes and goes back to sleep when the door shuts.
Harrison sits in the front seat of his mom's car feeling every bruise on each bump of the road. His neighborhood looks different.
"You know I didn't get to ask The Elder some of questions I had. I want to know-"
His mom interrupts him. "Harrison. You will have time to ask him in a couple of months. As of now, since you are home you aren't going to worry about anything like that. You understand me?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
They pull up to their house. JT, Joseph, Jaylen, Victoria, and Gavin are standing in the front yard waiting for them. Harrison sits up smiling as big as he can. Parking in the driveway, he bursts open the door and runs to them. They all embrace him, all trying to hug him tightly.
"I am so glad you guys are okay," Harrison says.
"We say the same thing about you," JT says pulling him close.
His mom walks past them. "I will go make some tea and we can sit inside and enjoy it.”
Gavin latches onto him. Harrison hugs him tightly.
"Gavin. Thank you so much. I can't thank you enough for saving me,” he says.
"Hey. What are neighbors for?" Gavin replies.
Laughter bursts out of each of them. Harrison walks over to Victoria. She pulls him close and cries.
"I am so sorry that you had to be part of this. I wish I would have listened to you in the fall,” Harrison whispers in her ear.
She kisses him on the cheek. "I am just glad you’re okay.”
Harrison's mom slings the door open. "C' mon guys. I got the tea ready." They all march into the house. Harrison gets his bags off the floor where his mom dropped them and takes them to his room. His room looks the same. Dropping his bags on the floor he walks over to his nightstand.
His family picture from when he was two is still facing down. Slowly he picks it up staring at him and his dad. He rubs the glass on the picture smiling back at it.
"Harrison, hurry up and get in here. Your family is waiting,” his mom yells.
"Okay," Harrison responds back.
He places the picture back on the nightstand, with his father looking up at him.
"You are right. My family is waiting," Harrison whispers to himself. Harrison exits his room, shutting the door behind him.
DAVID BARCO
David Barco was born and raised in Fayetteville, NC. He was a teacher and basketball coach at a high school in Fayetteville, NC for four years. In 2016 he was voted Best Teacher and Best School Coach in The Fayetteville Observer Reader’s Choice Awards. He currently lives in Van Wert, Ohio and is a Student Director. He is married to his wife Danielle and they have a daughter named Peyton. DESTINES: THE ARK OF POWER is his debut novel.
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Facebook: @AuthorDavidBarco
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Twitter: @davidbarco90
Author photo taken by Trey Snipes of Snipes Media. Follow him on Instagram @snipesmedia
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Harrison’s story will continue in:
Destines: The Temple of Destiny