The Revelation Chronicles

  “I think you’re ready for some live sparring,” Robert said after watching me for a few minutes. “Put these on.”

  He tossed me a padded helmet and a soft blue vinyl vest. I fumbled with the straps as I wondered nervously what was next.

  “Wait, what do you mean live sparring?” I asked. I figured a proper explanation for what I was about to get myself into was in order. I didn’t know much about boxing or martial arts, but the term ‘live sparring’ sounded extremely unpleasant and not something I wanted to be a part of.

  “You have excelled in everything I have instructed you on so far. Now, you need live sparring to develop the reflexes and timing that will be essential during the chaos of real combat. The goal is to gain that experience while also perfecting your technique. Kara is one of the best. Don’t worry; I won’t let her hurt you.”

  That made me feel so much better.

  Kara stepped in front of me and assumed a ready stance. She had a blank expression on her face, and whatever fleeting moment we’d shared previously was long gone. Before I even knew what happened, she threw two lightning quick strikes to my temple which I was too slow to block. Dazed, I staggered back a few paces.

  She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and feigning a kick with her left foot, she struck me hard in my rib cage with the right. I doubled over in pain, struggling to draw a breath. Once recovered, I slowly raised my hands in front of me. This was much different than hitting a stuffed bag.

  And a lot more painful.

  “You need to understand that fear is normal, Charlie,” Robert said, watching us from a short distance away. “Use it to your advantage; let it motivate you. Don’t let it stand in your way.”

  I tried focusing on his words as I blocked an incoming barrage of punches, but it was a little difficult considering the beating I was taking. Kara was absolutely relentless, circling after each attack like a predator before advancing to deliver another sequence of blows.

  She swayed back and forth as if her nimble body was a young sapling in the wind. Then, a bizarre thing happened. As I watched her, she appeared to move slower and slower until she was barely moving at all. I maintained my defensive stance and waited for her to attack once more.

  She threw a combination of punches, and I dodged each one successfully. Then I connected with a solid blow of my own to her right temple. Kara quickly recovered and countered with a high kick to the head, which I ducked underneath, dropped to the ground, and executed a perfectly-timed leg sweep that caught her off balance, sending her flying through the air. In an instant, I was behind her, catching her in my arms before she could even hit the ground. She stared at me with a look of total disbelief. I’d definitely seen that look before.

  “Bravo! Well done, Charlie!” Robert exclaimed as he clapped his hands repeatedly. “I knew you could do it!”

  Kara was still in my arms, her pale gray eyes locked onto mine. But, the amazement and disbelief had disappeared, and was replaced by something else. Something completely unexpected that made my insides feel like Jell-O pudding. A feeling I’d only ever experienced with one other person.

  Chapter 27

  Training the following day was much different. In fact, I had been looking forward to this part for quite a while. Arthur was to be our instructor for this critical phase.

  “Today, we will focus on your other skills,” he said softly.

  “Finally!” Nick shouted with enthusiasm. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

  “Each of you have only recently Ascended, so learning to control your unique abilities is paramount,” Arthur continued. “As you have probably experienced already, turning them on and off is not as easy as it sounds. I want each of you to perform a brief demonstration of your abilities so that the others here will know and appreciate your particular skill set. You were all carefully selected for that particular reason. Together, you will hopefully form our greatest weapon against the Chirac. Michael, you first.”

  Michael stepped forward, his shoulders heaving up and down with each drawn breath in excited anticipation. He was about my height with higher than average looks I’d say. Lustrous chestnut-brown hair flowed to just below his collar. He scrunched his brow and focused his attention on a lone haystack in the distance.

  “Concentrate. Visualize what you desire to happen; let the power flow through you,” Arthur said, barely above a whisper. He sounded like a bizarre cross between Yoda and an overzealous golf announcer.

  Michael stood tall with a look of determination in his eyes. I hoped I could summon that sort of fortitude when my turn came around.

  All of a sudden, his hands just sort of ignited in blue-white flame, and he hurled a blast of burning hot fire into the haystack about twenty yards away, engulfing it instantly in flames. Mildred the butler appeared, unannounced as usual. This time he held a fire extinguisher in his hands and calmly doused the fire.

  “That was very good, Michael,” Arthur said. “You showed great poise and control. We will work on your targeting and accuracy a bit more later on.”

  I slapped him on the shoulder and congratulated him as he walked over and stood next to me.

  “Nick, you’re up.”

  “Showtime,” Nick said. He stood calmly with his arms folded across his chest. I felt a swift gust of wind blow through the area where Michael, Kara, and I stood watching him. Either his unique ability had something to do with the weather, or it was going to be a very breezy day.

  “Did you guys see that?” Nick asked with a wicked smirk glued to his face.

  “See what?” I asked a bit confused.

  Nick just stood there with his chest pumped out like a proud peacock, grinning from ear to ear. He really had some great looking teeth, I thought as I ran my tongue across my own less than stellar set. He was tall and quite the physical specimen, with arms that could possibly wrap the entire circumference of a full grown elm tree. He had a head of wavy blond hair that framed his handsome face. He looked like he could be a professional wrestler. And not the flabby, slow-moving guys from the 70s and early 80s, but the god-like wrestlers of today. I was no female, but even I had to marvel at his physique. There was no doubting he knew just how attractive and handsome he was; he possessed the usual arrogance and brashness of a mindless hunk I was all too familiar with in my dealings with Matt Mitchell. Now, there was a guy I’d love to hogtie to a bale of hay and have Michael go to town on.

  The roast of Matt Mitchell.

  It had a nice ring to it.

  “I only ran around you guys like seven times,” Nick replied, then laughed.

  “That’s impossible,” I countered. “I never once saw you move.”

  I looked to the others for support, but they declined to offer any, only smiling amongst themselves. Michael looked as though he might burst at the seams any moment from laughter. I guess the joke was on me.

  “Then how do you explain this?” Nick asked, holding up a wallet that looked strikingly similar to my own. I instinctively reached for my back pocket, but it was empty.

  “How did you do that,” I asked, dumbfounded.

  “Easy,” Nick said. “Just like this.”

  I felt another gust of wind.

  “Now check your pocket again.”

  I reached for my wallet again and felt its familiar shape against my backside. He’d replaced it in the very same manner in which it was removed.

  While I was looking right at him.

  Chapter 28

  “That’s pretty impressive,” I said. “So, what was that, some sort of teleportation?

  “No, I can just run really fast,” Nick said. “Like really fast.”

  “So I see,” I remarked, patting my back pocket for emphasis.

  “Very nicely done, Nick,” said Arthur. “However, it appears we need to work on curbing your ego instead of working on your skills.”

  “I don’t think I have an ego problem at all,” Nick said defensively.

  “My point exactly. Each
and every one of you has an ability that is spectacular in itself, but you will not succeed on your own. You will have to learn to rely on each other at all times. There is no room here for a cavalier attitude,” Arthur said, glaring at Nick. “Offhand, arrogant behavior is neither beneficial nor welcome in this house.”

  Nick said nothing in response, but I could tell he was fuming.

  “Now, where were we?” Arthur said, changing the subject. “Kara, my dear. I do believe you are up.”

  After everything else I’d seen, I wondered what cool ability she might possess. It was like watching Saturday morning cartoons. Then, the weirdest thing happened. I heard a voice answer the very same question I’d just posed to myself.

  Why don’t you just ask me?

  Words fail to describe the shock and bewilderment I experienced at that particular moment. The voice was very familiar, I realized. I looked around me and finally over to Kara, who gave me a warm, innocent smile. I didn’t know exactly how it happened or how it worked, but what the heck? I decided to give it a try.

  How did you do that?

  I’m a telepath.

  A what?

  A person who can communicate with others through the mind. And, apparently you are too because you are only the second person besides my late mother that has been able to hear me.

  “Kara?” asked Arthur, looking at his daughter with concern. “Are you OK?”

  She ignored him and continued our internal conversation.

  Watch this.

  Michael’s hands began to ignite again, much to his apparent surprise.

  “Hey, what’s going on,” he asked with a look of absolute terror. He turned toward Nick with rather jerky and uncoordinated movements, almost as though he had no control of his body. Then, noticing the devilish smile spread across Kara’ face, I realized that he wasn’t. She had pulled his strings like a skilled ventriloquist, forcing him to fling the ball of fire at Nick.

  “Hey man, what’s your problem?” Nick asked, more than a little perturbed and using his super speed to veer away from the path of the fire ball.

  Kara giggled, and we made eye contact. I could feel my cheeks flush.

  That was awesome!

  Thank you, Charlie.

  “What just happened?” Nick asked, seething at Michael with his fists clenched.

  “That was my daughter Kara in a rather childish display of her own abilities,” Arthur said. His eyes filled with a mixture of scorn and disappointment.

  “What do you mean?” Michael asked. He was a bit irritated himself as he eyed Nick cautiously. And he had every right to, seeing how he was basically just possessed and all.

  “Kara has the ability to manipulate other’s thoughts and actions mentally. It is a very dangerous ability and not one to be taken lightly,” Arthur responded sharply. It was obvious he was more than just a little upset at his daughter.

  I felt overwhelming guilt and sorrow rush over me like cold waves from the ocean, then realized the feelings were not my own. Whatever had allowed me to hear Kara’s thoughts had also allowed me to sense her feelings. It was as though we were connected somehow.

  She looked at me abruptly with a blank stare as she must have either heard my thoughts or come to the same realization herself. I tried not to think of anything else. I didn’t want my thoughts to be an open book to anyone, regardless of how drop-dead gorgeous they were.

  “Stay out of my head, and we won’t have any problems,” Nick warned.

  “Not much up there anyways, believe me,” Kara said in return.

  “Yeah, that’s not cool K,” added Michael.

  “I’m sorry, but how else was I supposed to show you whiners what I could do? Just be glad I didn’t make you do something to really embarrass yourself.”

  “That’s enough, Kara,” Arthur scolded. “We will talk about this later. You four are supposed to be a team, and so far, I’m not getting that warm and fuzzy feeling like you really want to be here. That’s OK. It’s only the lives of about 8 billion humans and the lives of our own remaining race that hang in the balance. But, you guys go ahead and bicker. It’s not that important, right?”

  There was a powerful silence while his words resonated among us. Words that couldn’t have been spoken more eloquently.

  Chapter 29

  “Charlie, step forward.”

  I moved toward Arthur as instructed. I was a complete ball of nerves now. I tried to take deep breaths and calm myself to no avail.

  “I don’t really know what I can do,” I said, embarrassed.

  “Oh, there is no reason to be timid, Charlie. It is perfectly understandable in your case,” Arthur reassured me.

  “Let’s think back. What was the first thing out of the ordinary that you remember?”

  I thought back to Ms. Parkman’s lab report that I’d completed in record time. I had to admit it was more than just a little out of the ordinary. So, I mentioned the incident to Arthur.

  “Interesting. So, your cognitive skills are off the chart. You have the ability to process massive amounts of information in a relatively short period of time. What else?”

  “I dismantled a gun with my mind and destroyed a vehicle just by thinking about it,” I said with more authority. I was actually proud of that.

  “Really?” Nick asked. “That’s awesome dude! I bet you’re real handy in a bar fight.”

  “So, you have the gift of telekinesis, though on a much larger scale than I have ever witnessed, save one other,” Arthur mused. I wondered who the ‘one other’ could be as his gaze drifted off in thought.

  “So, is there anything else?” he asked, finally.

  “That’s it. That’s all I’ve experienced so far.”

  “I don’t think you are being very forthcoming with us, Charlie. I saw what you did yesterday. You knew exactly what move Kara was going to make even before she did. Then, you planned your moves accordingly, did you not?”

  He was right, but I didn’t want Kara to find out that I’d used my abilities to overcome her. I wanted her to believe I was capable of doing it on my own, without a competitive edge.

  It’s OK, Charlie. I’ll get you next time.

  I glanced over at Kara, and she winked, her lips curved upwards slightly in a roguish smile.

  “It is an extrasensory perception called precognition. Some refer to it as future sight or second sight. It allows you to see things others cannot. You can use this ability at will and accelerate your movements, similar to Nick, along the path of causality in order to ensure a positive outcome for yourself. This ability alone makes you virtually unstoppable, not to mention your other gifts. Still, there are things you are capable of that you haven’t even discovered yet. And that makes you a very special person.”

  “Did you understand anything he just said?” Nick whispered. Michael rolled his eyes and sighed. It was difficult to tell when Nick was being serious and when he was just being a complete and total douche bag.

  “But, as with any ability, you have to be prepared at all times,” said Arthur. He pulled a gun from the small of his back and aimed it directly at my head.

  Here we go again, I thought.

  While my mind instantly became aware of everything around me, I felt the tingling sensation I was starting to grow accustomed to.

  Every item.

  Every minute detail.

  I focused on the gun. I could practically feel the trigger as Arthur squeezed it to the rear, and the hammer began to fall.

  I moved to my left slightly, just before the first shot whizzed by. To the left next while another shot sliced the air, barely missing my right shoulder. Inches from Arthur now, I honed in on the weapon itself and simply took it from his grasp with my mind. It floated harmlessly in the air before dropping into my outstretched hand.

  “That has got to be the coolest thing I have ever seen!” Nick exclaimed.

  “That was very impressive,” said Arthur, smiling as I handed the gun back to him.

  ??
?How did you know? What if you were wrong?” I asked. Coming back down from the adrenaline rush I took stock of what had just happened.

  He shot at me!

  “I took a chance,” said Arthur calmly. “Everything has been as predicted. You keep looking for evidence that will confirm your doubts that this is all unreal -- a dream. That you are not who we all think you are instead of just accepting your fate.”

  “But, what if I don’t want to be a part of this so-called fate?”

  I hated the way everyone wanted to make it appear as if I was the one who would make or break this upcoming war. Like I was the missing piece to the puzzle that would bring a swift and decisive end to a struggle I still didn’t quite understand. I didn’t ask for any of this, nor did I want it. OK, so maybe I wanted the superpowers. They were actually kind of cool. But, not the unrealistic expectations.

  Arthur placed the gun on safe and replied in words I will not soon forget.

  “Then, we are all doomed. It’s as simple as that.”

  Chapter 30

  After dinner that evening, I decided to go for a swim. My muscles and joints were killing me from the training, and I figured I could benefit from some time in the hot tub as well. Freddy joined me, and we headed to the pool. My abductors had been thoughtful enough to grab the swim trunks from my dorm room as well, so that was a plus. It was cool out and not your typical swimming weather, but thankfully, the pool was heated.

  “So how is your training going?”

  “Good I guess. Still trying to get used to all this you know.”

  “Dude, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the idea of you being from outer space. But I will say that if I were you, I would be enjoying every minute of this place instead of walking around with that sour face of yours. What gives?”