Sky of Dust: The Last Weapon (24 page)

My heart sank at the
sight
of him.

He was no longer the ox that we had once met. Instead he was skinny, with eyes sunken in an
d cracking lips. His
eyes begged for release, but he had no control.

How could I kill a man that I thought was dead, and happen
ed
to be my friend’s father?

“
Paul!
”
I called in a shaky voice.
“
It’s me, Dalyn. You helped us escape!
”

Paul continued to walk forward with a blank stare.

His skin rippled as a glow started to form in the palm of his outstretched hand.

I slowed down reality as I ran towards him as hard as I could. My head started to spin as I got closer, as if my mind realized what this guy had done to me before.

I
rammed
into him with all my weight and let reality slip back as we both slammed into the floor.

I punched him in the face and then
smashed
his head into the ground, hoping it would jog his memory.

I felt a hand on my chest
,
and it was too late.

Crack
!

I felt electricity pulse through my veins as I was thrown backwards.

Other than my hair standing up, I felt fine. I guess the suit was able to absorb some of the energy, but I did not want to try it again.

Paul pushed himself to his feet and raised his hand again
, firing
another bolt that
raced
across the floor. I managed to roll out of its path and get to my feet.

My only chance to take him out was to get close. But once I did, I had no idea what I would do. I couldn’t kill him.

Paul turned
,
grabbed a chain from the weapon stash
,
and
swung it towards me, catching me around the leg.

I could feel my ankle snap, just as he started to channel electricity through my body.

All I saw was colored light flash through my eyes. I saw nothing in shapes, just color. Dancing color
s
. I could just make out the screams of the others as
they
called to me.

Then calmness. My eyes came back into focus, my body still stiff.

I lifted my head and saw Paul on one knee, exhausted.

I slowly reached down to the chain and unwrapped it from my leg, careful not to tug it or make a sound. Just as my leg was free
,
Paul looked up and pulled the chain towards him, ready to swing again. Luckily
,
he swung too far back and the chain wrapped around a rack of weapons.

Not
fazed, Paul dropped
the chain and limped towards me.

My body was still in the process of waking up, so all I could do
was
push myself back with my good foot.

Paul leaned over me, placing a knee on the ground
to
my right and
his foot to my left. He grabbed me by my
collar
, his wild eyes looking into mine.

I could hear his body buzz as he began to build up what he needed to finish me off.

“
P-Paul
,
”
I struggled to whisper.
“
Your girl is alive. Annie is alive.
”

For a second, Paul’s face relaxed.

I slowly started to reach into my leg pocket.

“
She is beautiful
,
”
I continued, trying to hold hi
s attention while my hand worked to free the necklace Annie gave to me.
“
She wanted to come help us, but I wanted her to stay safe.
”

Paul’s grip loosened, but his body continued to charge.

I pulled the necklace up between our faces; the sun pendant shimmered as Paul’s eyes focused on it.

“
She isn’t mad at you
,
”
I told him.
“
She told me about your game. She beats me too.
”

Paul’s mouth began to twist in a smile, and a tear formed in his eye.

He pulled me close to his face.

“
Dalyn, when I let you go, you need to run as fast as you can
,
”
Paul forced out, like he was struggling for his own voice.
“
Tell her I love her.
”

Paul grabbed the necklace from my hand and stood up
, walking
towards the audience.
His body started to spark, his skin expanding, trying to contain a great energy.

I did what I was told and began to push myself as far back as I could.

Paul shot an arc of electricity at the barrier, shattering a
hole
where some of the spectators stood.

Paul looked back at me and smiled. He ran towards the area just under the barrier
,
and electricity burst from his body. Anything it connected with exploded. The barrier continued to crack. Arcs flew in through the gaps in the barrier, connecting with several observers.

Then the electricity stopped. Paul fell to his knees, staring at the necklace in his hand
, and then he fell to the ground motionless.

The crowd was in chaos, but I soon noticed not in a way that would make them flee. They were crowd
ing
Aaric,
asking
how much he wanted for the vial.

Aaric waived his hands and told everyone to just be patient.

“
We have a few more contestants
,
”
Aaric announced.
“
Besides, I do not want you to bid without knowing all that is possible.
”

Aaric scanned the remaining cells.

“
Hmmm. The pretty lady will do.
”
Aaric snapped his fingers
,
and her door opened.

Mary ran and knelt down next to me.

“
Are you okay?
”
s
he asked with a trembling voice.

“
My ankle
,
”
I winced.
“
I think it’s broken.
”

Mary put her hands on my ankle.

“
Let me try
,
”
s
he said as I felt a tingling run through my leg.

The pain started to dissipate, and I could feel my bones begin to align.

“
Mary, it’s working
,
”
I stammered.

I looked up and saw a drip of blood
slide
down from her nose.

“
Mary, stop.
”
I tried to get her attent
ion, but she was lost in focus.

I grabbed her hands and pried them off my leg.

She looked up with shock.

“
What
…
what happened?
”
Mary muttered rubbing her head.

“
You were healing my ankle
,
and your nose started to bleed
,
”
I told her.
“
My ankle feels fine. I don’t think it’s broken
anymore
.
"

Mary looked confused.
“
I can’t fix bones.
”

“
That’s very touching
,
”
Aaric called down.
“
Thank you for demonstrating that for us. Now boy, get back in your cell.

Aaric tapped his chin.

“
Now, I want to end this demonstration with our best. We are known for our Guards, so why not demonstrate an ex-Guard with an ability
,
”
Aaric mused.
“
I know he will not fight one of his own people though, so….let’s make him listen
,
shall we?
”

Aaric spun his fingers in the air
,
and I heard a click then the sound of pressurized air.

I looked over to my dad, and he was trying to hold his breath. His face was bright red.

“
They must be pumping in some form of Aaric’s mind control
chemical
,
”
Mary whispered.
“
Dalyn, get back in your cell.
”

“
No, I’m not going to leave you
,
”
I replied.

I stood up; my ankle was still a little sore after all.

“
I will fight him!
”
I shouted up to Aaric.
“
He’s my dad
,
so I will fight him! Just let everyone else go! You don’t need them anymore!
”

Aaric smiled broadly.

“
This is interesting.
”
Aaric tapped his chin.
”
Why not?
”

My dad’s cell door clicked open
,
and he took a step out.

Mary looked at me
;
tears filled her eyes.

“
Good luck…I
'm so sorry
…
”
Mary started.

“
I have a plan
,
”
I lied.
“
Don’t worry about me.
”

Mary looked stunned, then took a breath and shook her head.

Mary walked back towards her cell
,
and the door closed behind her.

“
Bret
,
”
Aaric said with enjoyment in his voice.
“
Kill your son.
”

“
Dad listen, you can fight it!
”
I called to my dad.

Dad took a step forward and disappeared, only to reappear next to me, ramming his fist into my side.

I slammed to the floor, gasping for air that would not come.

My dad turned calmly and walked towards the weapons. He picked up a six inch curved blade and turned towards me.

“
Make it slow
,
will you Bret?
”
Aaric called down.
“
We want the fun to last!
”

Everyone began to laugh.

I stood up,
my
knees wobbling from fatigue.

Dad disappeared again,
and then
re
appeared, slicing at my left leg
before
disappearing again.

I fell to a knee and looked around, spotting
D
ad pacing back and forth, trying to figure out a way to kill me slowly.

I got to my feet and bolted towards the weapons. I had just grabbed a dagger when I heard a pop
, as
a knife handle slam
med
into the back of my head.

Pain echoed through my body as I
fell
face first
onto
the ground. Blood filled my mouth as I rolled over. My ears were ringing
,
and my
sight
was hazy.

I pushed myself up and focused on my dad
, who was standing
in front of me.

He was just toying with me, I knew.

I slowed down time and ran towards him, but
,
as I inched closer
,
I watched as his body began to fold and shrink down into a tiny vortex until he was gone.

I released time and felt a blade slice through my side. I jumped back to face my dad.

My mind started processing what I had just seen. If he actually took time to disappear, and I could see when it happens, then I should be able to do the same when he reappears.

I
held my breath and focused on D
ad. I slowed down time again, and pretended to take a step forward. Right on cue,
D
ad began to fold away
,
and the vortex shrank.