Chapter Seventeen
One minute I’m on my feet. The next I’m on the ground. Brodie takes out Ravana with one punch. So intent was he on shooting the first person he saw beyond the doorway that he didn’t even notice her or Dan.
I’m on the floor, but I don’t know what has hurt more. The bullet wound or Brodie’s shove. It was like being hit by a truck. Grabbing my side, I struggle to my feet. I’m bleeding, but I’m alive. It’s only a flesh wound. Brodie has saved my life.
I want to thank her, but we’re running out of time. We’re surrounded by a pile of wounded men. There could be more guards on the way. Plus Ravana is recovering quickly. He’s motionless on the floor, but his eyes are beginning to flutter.
The teenagers on the other side of the glass are pointing at the door. Dan focuses on the door. It groans within its housing, but doesn’t move. After a few seconds he looks at me in despair.
“It’s too big,” he says. “I can’t move it.”
“Stand back,” I tell Brodie and Dan.
They wave the teens away from the glass. It’s obviously a number of inches thick. Obviously Ravana was determined to keep them at bay. I imagine an invisible spear. It only takes a few seconds before I can see it clearly in the air. Drawing it back I force all my will into throwing it at the glass.
Nothing happens.
“Oh hell,” I say in dismay.
Brodie laughs and grabs something off Ravana’s waist. It’s a set of keys.
“It’s all break and smash with you boys,” she says cheekily. “Isn’t it?”
She opens the door using the second key on the chain. The boy and the girl exit the cell. The guy grabs my shoulder.
“Who are you people?” he asks. “What’s going on?”
“Later,” I tell him. “Just tell us your names.”
“I’m Chad,” he introduces himself. “And this girl is Ebony. I think she’s my sister. I know that sounds weird, but –”
“Don’t worry about it,” I wave him off. “Weird is our version of normal.”
I immediately notice Chad has a slight accent. European. It’s impossible to determine his origin.
Chad’s eyes shift to Ravana. The sadist is fully awake now and staring at us fearfully. Absolute terror fills his eyes as he sees the expression on Chad’s face.
“No...please…I was under orders –”
“You want mercy?” Chad asks incredulously. “After hurting us with that implement for days? You want mercy?”
He draws back his fist. I’m not sure if he has some amazing power – which he probably does – or if he just intends to pummel Ravana. Either way, we don’t have the time to deal with it. Ebony grabs his arm.
“Don’t,” she says. Her voice is soft. She seems so frail. I can’t help but wonder if Ravana has harmed more than her body over the last few days. “He’s a monster, but killing is wrong.”
Chad looks like he wants to argue, but he bites his tongue. Thankfully Brodie is already heading through the first security door.
“Come on!” she says impatiently. “Axel, I need you up here.”
I take up my position and throw a barrier around us. This is going to take more concentration than before. I’m trying to protect us both front and rear. Dan is first. Me second. Then Chad and Ebony and finally Brodie. Ebony seems dazed and unable to make sense of what’s going on.
“We’ll need your help,” Chad says to her.
She nods. “What do we need?”
“Carbon,” he says.
I have no idea what they’re talking about. We head down a corridor. By the time we’ve reached the end we can hear the sound of footsteps from behind us.
“There are more guards coming!” I tell Brodie.
“It’s okay,” Chad says. “Ebony.”
She nods. Then she kneels down and touches the carpeted floor behind us. It takes about three seconds for it to turn from beige carpet to black.
“What the –?” I start.
“Keep moving,” Chad urges. He points at the carpet and then a trail of fire leaps from his fingers and hits the floor. What used to be carpet bursts into flames. Guards appear at the other end, but they’re driven back by the flames. At the same time, the sprinkler system activates and water starts pouring from the ceiling.
Still, it’s going to take a while to put out the fire.
More by luck than intention, we find the exit door and start up the stairs. The alarm system has activated and people are heading down the stairs to evacuate. Some of them look curiously at us as we head to the roof, but no one stops to question us.
We push the door open and seconds later we’re outside. It’s still raining. Now we’ve just got to get across to the other building and this whole ordeal will be over. I need to ferry everyone across. I take Ebony across and then Dan.
By the time I get back for Chad and Brodie, I notice the pain in my side is worse. My shirt is stained with blood and the wound is stinging as if it’s on fire. As I land, I see the door burst open from the fire escape. Two of Ravana’s men appear in the doorway. Chad holds out a hand and suddenly they are both enveloped in flame.
“No!” I cry.
Both the guards disappear from sight.
“Why stop me?” Chad snaps. “They would kill us without a thought!”
“Because it’s wrong!” I draw back a fist. “There’ll be no killing while I’m here!”
“Don’t touch me, you –”
Then Brodie is between us. “This is no time for testosterone wars! We’ve got to get out of here.”
She’s right. Of course. But I can’t take both of them at once. I don’t dare. The pain in my side is so bad I’m feeling sick.
I give them the bad news.
“Take Chad first,” Brodie tells me. “After Chad’s little fire display it’ll be a while before anyone else comes up.”
“Okay.”
I grab him by the arm and within seconds we’re zooming between the two buildings. I’m really not feeling well by now. Our landing is anything, but graceful. By the time I’m heading back for Brodie the opposite building is reverberating like it’s splitting into two.
Landing, I grab Brodie by the arm and drag her over to the edge. The street is filled with fire brigade and police. It looks like the whole city is falling to pieces at the seams. I give myself a couple of seconds to focus.
That’s it, I think. Just form the platform. Make it strong.
We start between the buildings. I dare not look down; my stomach is swishing about uncomfortably already. I might be sick at any moment. The bang of a door diverts my attention. I glance back to see Ravana on the other side. A bolt of flame hurls past my vision aimed directly at the madman.
At the same time I see Ravana has a weapon in his hand. It’s not a normal gun. It’s about three times the size. He pulls the trigger just as the flame hits him. A second later he is engulfed by fire.
A beam of light from the weapon hits us. The effect is instantaneous. I’m still focused on the invisible platform beneath my feet, but it evaporates into nothing. I see the expression of horror on Brodie’s face.
I want to explain to Brodie, but there’s no time. Whatever was in that beam just wiped out my powers.
We begin to fall.