Hunting Heroes: A Superhero Novel (22 page)

Patriot’s lips flattened. “They were down there for a reason. They were too dangerous to control their powers. It was either the Hotels or they kill someone.”

“It wasn’t your choice to make for them,” Walter said.

“It wasn’t strictly my call,” Patriot said. “The Homeland and the CIA both knew they were there and agreed to house them. You never had the courage to make the tough decisions.”

“Did they know Garrett was there and could’ve helped them?” Walter said.

Patriot’s back stiffened and he snorted. “Of course not, you think I would allow them to get their greedy hands on someone like him? I might not be as smart as you used to be, but I’m not an idiot.”

Walter leaned forward in his chair. “Why didn’t you help them?”

“Because I needed them,” Patriot said in a calm even tone. “He was the way to control them. Having him would allow us to help them learn how to use their gifts.”

Walter dropped his head. “And now everyone in that base is dead. Don’t let the actions of one man erase the good you have done.”

Patriot’s hazel eyes drifted to the sky. “I know, more people to add to the guilt. It doesn’t change the fact he’s too much of a threat, to all the Afflicted, not only me. They’ll use him as leverage against us and I won’t stand for it. I will not give up my gifts without a fight.”

“What happened to you? You used him like he’s a tool you can just throw away.” Walter swallowed hard. “You’ve changed. You’re not the man I stood side by side when we faced the enemy.”

“I didn’t run away and give up my gifts when I faced him like you did,” Patriot said.

“You’ve never faced him,” Walter rose from his seat. “You sent Crimson, Obsidian and Falling Star after him and almost got them killed. You’re afraid he’ll be able to beat you.”

Silence and stares filled the void between the two former friends.

“He never will. I know his weaknesses now,” Patriot said. “I won’t allow some kid to take everything away I have built for half my life.”

“You did it to yourself,” Walter said, “and you’re going to lose Zoe because of it.”

Patriot’s head jerked back. “Don’t you dare bring her into this. She has nothing to do with any of this.”

“She has everything to do with this,” Walter rolled his eyes. “I know who she was and what she meant to him. You gave him hope by telling him she was still alive.”

“What did you say?” Patriot narrowed his eyes.

Walter stepped forward. “I said, you gave the man you hates you for killing his first love hope. I know Zoe is an Afflicted. I know what she can do. I never put it together until the other day.”

Patriot’s lips curled into a snarl. “You don’t know the half of it. If only you knew what I saved her from. If you knew what they did to her because of her abilities, you wouldn’t be judging me right now. She was their guinea pig for unlocking the secrets of the Afflicted. I saved her from that life and I gave her a life people dream about.”

“She was never yours to take though,” Walter said. “She could have had her life back. Maybe Granite would still be alive if you had.”

Patriot dug his fingernails into the palms of his hands. “I did what I thought was right.”

“But it was wrong,” Walter moved closer to Patriot. “You were wrong and it cost lives.”

The veins in Patriot’s grew thick and his face flushed to crimson. “I know and it was worth it. It was worth Granite, Shadow Guard and it was worth losing you.”

Their eyes locked and they did not say a word. The world stood still around them, except for a calm breeze that snaked around them.

Patriot lowered his eyes. “Don’t judge me for what I’ve done. I have sacrificed so much for this city, for this country. I deserve happiness, don’t I?”

Walter stood in silence.

“That’s what I thought,” Patriot raised his eyes. “My vow to protect the people of the country and Zoe is all I have left. Everyone wants to take away my team and now my family. I won’t let it happen.”

“You still have me,” Walter said.

“No, I don’t. I know you have been hiding him,” Patriot said. “It’s only a matter of time before we find him. He’s not here right now or he would have attacked me like the rabid dog he is.”

“Jo-” Walter began to say.

“Shut your mouth,” Patriot’s right arm flew forward and he wrapped his fingers around Walter’s neck. With uncanny strength, he lifted Walter off his feet. Walter’s face grew red while he clawed at Patriot’s hand.

Patriot watched his former friend struggle for air. “You betrayed me, you betrayed the people of the Assembly who looked up to you. You betrayed my daughter for a man you don’t even know.”

“No,” Walter mouthed the words.

With a flip of his wrist Patriot sent Walter flying through the backyard. With a loud thud Walter slammed into the ground and rolled into the tall bushes which surrounded his sanctuary. Walter’s head wobbled and his eyes rolled up into the back of his head.

Patriot did not move and stared at his outstretched arm. He curled his fingers into a fist before he lowered it to his side.

“You did this to yourself. I’m going to stop him,” Patriots said. He shifted his eyes to his former friend. “I’m sorry, but this is the way it has to be you traitor.” Patriot walked back across the patio and left Walter unconscious in the dirt.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Puffy white clouds dusted the blue sky through the canopy of tree branches above Garrett’s head. His heavy feet sank into the muddy soil from the previous nights rainfall. The musty scent of the forest attacked his nostrils while his eyes peered ahead. His mind continued to wrap around his meeting with Zoe. Half a day later, his thoughts were still scattered.

Garrett reached into his dark navy jeans and pulled free a cell phone to check the time, he was late as usual. He stepped into the small clearing and into the blinding sunlight, the opposite of his last visit here.

“Finally,” a voice chirped from his left, causing him to smirk. ”Thought you disappeared on me again.” Ethan stood underneath the same tree Garrett sat under after his attack on Shadow Guard.

“You should be so lucky to be rid of me already,” Garrett wrestled out of the trench coat he borrowed from Walter. The black bulletproof vest snugly fit over his gray tee shirt. He noticed Ethan dressed rather casual in tan cargo shorts, white muddy gym shoes and a white tee-shirt.

“There would be less excitement in my life if you were gone,” Ethan said. “You look like less of a hobo now too. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Thanks buddy,” Garrett ran his hand across his face. “Can’t hide sexy.”

The two friends laughed so hard birds jumped from the trees into the air.

“Were you followed?” Garrett peeked around. “I don’t feel any Afflicted around.”

“I don’t think so,” Ethan said. “Walter taught me a few things while you were on vacation.”

“Vacation? Is that what you’re calling being in an Afflicted prison,” Garrett stood in front of Ethan with his arms folded across his chest. “Well, I did catch up on sleep I guess.”

Ethan looked Garrett up and down. “Why are you wearing Shadow Guard’s gauntlet and a bulletproof vest?”             

“Protection, I have a big target painted on my back, remember,” Garrett said. “They know I’m pretty much vulnerable to regular people things. This should help.” He patted the vest. “It’s Walter’s design, super strong and light. I found it in the prison. Whoever wore it doesn’t need it now.”

“That’s a bit morbid. Has it been that many already?” Ethan pointed with his chin to the tallies on the vest.

“More I’m guessing,” Garrett lowered his eyes.

“What do you mean?” Ethan asked.

“I’ll tell you later, those don’t count,” Garrett’s voice grew quiet. He plopped down under the tree next to where Ethan stood with a thud. Ethan sat down next to him.

The friends sat shoulder to shoulder in silence. Garrett rested his head back against the trees and closed his eyes to let the calm sounds of the forest envelop him.

“Run away,” Ethan broke the serenity they bathed in. “Denise and I have money saved up for the baby. We talked about it and we want to give it to you so you can get away from here. You can start over. Please don’t argue with me about it.”

Garrett sighed and opened his eyes. “I can’t,” he whispered. “I can’t stop now, not after everything we’ve been through. It’s too late to start over.”

“It’s not too late,” Ethan said.

“He’s not going to stop until he finds me,” Garrett said.

Ethan placed a hand on Garrett’s shoulder. “Please, run.” The sadness and sincerity in Ethan’s soft brown eyes caused a lump of guilt to form in Garrett’s throat.

“I’m sorry, I can’t,” Garrett said. “Everyone wants me to run. Why? Does everyone think I’m going to fail?”

“We’re worried, we don’t want to lose you again,” Ethan said. “The next time you might not be waking up in a strange bed. You’ll be dead.”

“If I run away, then everything I did will be for nothing,” Garrett said. “He has to be accountable for everything he’s done. I can’t let him get away with what he did to Emma and to me.” Garrett looked his best friend in the eyes. “Thank you for the offer, but no. The money is for your baby. You have been through enough because of me and I can’t take anymore from you.”

Ethan nodded. “Ok.” He slid his hand off Garrett’s shoulder. “Garrett, I can’t help you in this anymore. I cannot put my family in danger. When it was just me and you, I didn’t care what happened to me.” He rubbed the scar on his left shoulder Crimson had given him.

Garrett sat in complete silence and played with the grass in front of him. “You’re not involved in this anymore. This is between me and Patriot now. You have the life you deserve now. You have helped me more than I should have let you. But thank you for believing in me.”

“Remember the first night?” Ethan said. “There’s the tree you blew up,” Ethan pointed across the clearing. “It feels like we were out here yesterday in the dark. We were completely clueless about what you were able to do.”

“Yeah, we were. I made the poor tree explode,” Garrett said and nudged Ethan. “I have never seen you run so fast in my life.”

“Yeah, I did. I was scared. I’m scared now,” Ethan said.

“A lot’s happened since then. Ethan, I found her.” Garrett whispered.

Ethan’s head spun around to face Garrett. “What do you mean you found her? You don’t mean…”

A smile cracked across Garrett’s stern face. “Yeah, I do.”

“You’re kidding right?” Ethan said. “You found her and she’s alive.”

“You think I would joke about this? She’s alive,” Garrett’s words hung in the air.

Ethan jumped to his feet and stood over Garrett. “Why did you wait to tell me? Where is she? Is she ok?” Ethan asked.

Garrett tilted his head up to look at Ethan. The bright sunlight drowned out the dark circles underneath his dark blue eyes. “She’s alive and she’s better than fine. She grew up to be a beautiful woman.”

“Where is she? I have to see her,” Ethan crouched down to look Garrett face to face.

Garrett hesitated to answer. “There’s a catch.”

“What is it?” Ethan said. “Is there something wrong with her?”

Garrett rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “She’s most likely an Afflicted. It’s the only way she could be alive today.”

“Wait, what?” Ethan sat and fell back onto the grass. “You’re not kidding are you?

“Nope,” Garrett said. “I know how you feel.” Garrett leaned back against the tree exhausted. After he saw Zoe and Greg he walked the streets of Chicago for hours to wrap his head and heart around everything that happened. It didn’t help.

“Best way to describe her power,” Garrett exhaled through his mouth. “She can pretty much die and come back to life. I think she loses her memory in the process. That’s the only thing I can think of why she doesn’t remember anything from before she died.”

The color from Ethan’s face drained.

“It gets more complicated,” Garrett said. “Patriot saved her and raised her as his daughter.”

“I don’t believe you,” Ethan said. “He killed her, how could he save her?”

Garrett shrugged. “It’s a weird world we live in. But she calls him dad.”

“What!” Ethan raised his voice to a screech. “You’re telling me he raised her as his daughter,”

Garrett rubbed his brow. “It makes your brain hurt doesn’t it. I’ve been trying to figure this out since last night.”

“Is there any chance she’ll get her memory back? How is she?” Ethan asked.

Garrett managed a smile for his friend. “Her name’s Zoe and she still looks like your mother. She said she wants to meet you. However, I think she is going to need some time. I did turn her world upside down last night.”

Ethan’s gentle eyes began to moisten.

“She won’t remember me or my mom and dad, right?” Ethan asked.

Garrett drew his lips tight and shook his head. “I don’t know, it doesn’t mean anything though. I bet she wants to know where she came from and who she is. That’s why I asked you for those pictures, in case I did find her.”

“I want to see her,” Ethan wiped away a runaway tear when it rolled down his cheeks. “I want to see my little sister.”

Garrett placed a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “I think you will pretty soon. Here’s the funny thing, you already know her fiancée.”

“She’s getting married?” Ethan looked up and leaned in closer to Garrett. “How do I know him?”

Garrett patted Ethan’s shoulder where Crimson stabbed him.

Ethan’s eyes shot open. “I hope you’re kidding.”

“Nope, his name is Greg,” Garrett said. “What are the odds of the guy who stabs you, then me, ends up being your brother-in-law. You couldn’t write something like that.”

“What the hell,” Ethan said.

“Seems like a nice guy. Except for the whole stabbing thing, it could be a problem at Christmas,” Garrett said.

“I’m glad you find this funny,” Ethan said. “It’s good to see the old you back.”

“You have always been good at pulling me back from the dark abyss,” Garrett said.

Ethan sat in silence, his eyes turned up to the sky.

Garrett picked at the grass and let the cool breeze wash over him.

“I’ll miss this,” Garrett said.

“Miss what?” Ethan asked out of the corner of his mouth.

“Sitting here with you, talking,” Garrett said.

“It doesn’t have to end,” Ethan said.

Garrett groaned in his throat. “We can’t go back and I don’t know what the future holds for me quite yet.”

“Garrett, how are you handling this?” Ethan asked.

“As well as I can be,” Garrett said. “At least I’m not numb anymore. Seeing her sitting right there in front of me was surreal. My wishes came true I guess because she is alive. But it still hurts. She’s still gone at the same time. Knowing the same person killed her and then raised her when she came back to life blows my mind. One thing is still the same.”

“What’s the same?” Ethan asked.

“I’m going to get that bastard,” Garrett said with a calm expression across his face. “There are more prisons and more little girls like Amanda locked away. I have to stand for them. I can’t let him do to someone what he did to me.”

“You’re going to be their voice,” Ethan said.

Garrett inhaled through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. “You’re damn right I am and he’s going to hear them roar.”

“I’m not going to try to stop you,” Ethan said.

“Thank you, for everything,” Garrett said. “When this is over, make sure my spot on the couch is there waiting for me.”

“I will,” Ethan looked away. “You’re my hero. You have done too much for me and my family.”

Garrett held up his hand. “Stop, I haven’t done anything besides getting you pulled into this.”

“I helped you,” Ethan said.

“No, the blood is on my hands,” Garrett lifted his right hand. “I did it to myself. You tried to talk me out of it and I didn’t listen. You tried to make me a good man, but it’s not in me I guess.”

“You are a good man. One day, I hope you can see what I do,” Ethan said.

“There can’t be heroes without villains, right?” Garrett raised an eyebrow.

“Which one are you?” Ethan said.

“I haven’t decided yet,” The corner of Garrett’s mouth curved upward. “I’ll find out later.”

“You already know the answer,” Ethan said.

“Go home and tell Denise the good news.” Garrett pulled his friend in for a hug. “Give Denise and the baby a kiss from me when he or she is born.” Garrett broke away from his best friend. They both had tears in their eyes.

“You know she only married you because she couldn’t have me right?” Garrett said.

“You keep believing that,” Ethan patted the side of Garrett’s face. “I’ll make sure I tell her. Don’t do anything stupid.”

Garrett reached down, grabbed Walter’s coat, and slid his arms into the sleeves. “It’s too late.” He spun on his heels to walk away. “Tell my family I miss them and I’m sorry about everything. I wish I could tell them myself, but I can’t risk anything happening to them. Goodbye.”

“I will Garrett. Goodbye,” Ethan watched his friend walk away.

“I like the name Emmett, if it’s a boy,” Garrett said over his shoulder.

Ethan paused, let the name sink in, and yelled back. “So do I.” He saw a sliver of folded paper on the ground and reached over to pick it up. He unfolded the paper and saw the name Zoe written on it. There was a phone number written in Garrett’s crude handwriting and a message. It said goodbye and thank you.

Ethan’s eyes swelled with tears once again. “Come home to us,” he said to the wind.

Garrett walked into a row of trees and watched Ethan for a bit before his friend left. He leaned back against an oak tree and whistled a soft tune on his lips. The same old afflicted sensation crawled up his back.

“Took you long enough to show yourself,” Garrett said.

“You knew I was here?” a woman’s voice answered from a tree behind him.

Garrett peeked around the tree and noticed brilliant white ribbons fluttering in the nonexistent breeze. His heart raced and the palms of his hands began to grow sweaty.

“Valkyrie,” Garrett whispered her name and turned to face her. He swallowed hard when she approached him. Her long auburn hair swayed back and forth with each step. Her intense gray eyes focused on him. She wore tight blue jeans and a simple black sweater.