Paranormals (Book 1) (42 page)

Authors: Christopher Andrews

Tags: #Science Fiction/Superheroes

"He promised he’d make me paranormal," Christine told them miserably. "If I helped him. He’d give me power and make me special ..."

But the man shook his head. "What Richard never told this young woman was that the conditions were
not
right for her." He looked down into her shocked face. "Richard used that promise like a carrot on a stick, but you were
never
going to receive your wish, my dear."

Christine moaned and folded in on herself, crying quietly.

Mark, for one, had precious little sympathy for her. "So what’s happened to him now? Did he blow a gasket or something?"

"Close enough." He addressed Vortex once more. "When you were fighting Khalkha, you were actually fighting Richard. And when you overpowered Khalkha, Richard suffered. Powerhouse can release his hold — that man is no longer a paranormal threat. You’ll find that true of many of us here. So, you see ... you killed him before you ever set foot in that room. You crushed him with your own power just as if you’d been using it on him directly."

Steve looked back into the hidden room, at the immobile figure sitting in the chair, staring aimlessly up at the ceiling now.

You already killed him, Steve.

But ... that’s not right! I mean, I
wanted
to kill him, but not like this! I wanted to
execute
him, to make him to pay, to force him to recognize the horror of—!

It doesn’t matter. He’s dead, Steve. And
you
killed him. Doesn’t the irony just make you want to choke?

McLane was dead. The choice had ultimately been taken out of Steve’s hands ...
by himself.

It was going to take him a long, long time to figure out how to feel about that ...

PARANORMALS

Sarah?

Sarah Roberts stirred in her sleep. She’d been dreaming of her older brother, Lincoln. As time had gone by, she and Tommy had slowly figured out that something was wrong. All the fun had gone out of playing with the horses, but what were they to do?

The voice called to her again,
Sarah?

"Who are you?" she asked.

Her dream had become formless, and yet she was not awake. She stood in a void, not quite scared, but almost. An odd, watery ripple appeared before her ... and then a woman stepped through it! The woman was strikingly beautiful, with a body like a magazine model. She approached Sarah and knelt before her in the nebulous expanse.

"Hello, Sarah," the woman said. "How are you?"

"I’m fine, I guess," the girl answered uncertainly. "Who are you?"

"My name is Sarah, too. Sarah Baxter. I’ve been helping your brother look for you."

"
Lincoln?!
" the younger Sarah cried.

"Yes. I need you to do something for me. Tomorrow, when you and Tommy are taken out for your horseback-riding lesson, you’ll see a dog. A big, old dog by the name of Winston. You and Tommy need to follow that dog into the meadow."

"Why?"

"Your brother is coming for you, Sarah. But he needs you and Tommy to be a safe distance from the ranch house and stables when he gets there."

"Why?"

"He’s bringing friends with him. And they’re not going to treat your kidnappers very nice ..."

Both Sarahs knew what that meant. The little girl thought of her protective big brother, and smiled ...

PCA

Construction had begun on the new PCA headquarters. Normally, such destruction would have taken much longer to clear away, but with the paranormal help that Shockwave, Powerhouse, and others could provide, things were moving along much quicker. Powerhouse was a full-fledged agent of the PCA now, and he’d embraced his new job with gusto — they even let him keep wearing his ski mask. He was
also
Tommy and Sarah’s new legal guardian.

In a temporary office set up nearby, Michael sat and considered the costumed man before him.

"Congratulations on your promotion," Steve told him. "I understand it’s ‘Lieutenant Takayasu’ now.
Full
lieutenant, right?"

"Yep," Michael confirmed. "Normally, I’d be required to hold the rank of ensign for a minimum of a year before making lieutenant
junior grade
. Circumstances have changed. And don’t try to change the subject."

Steve sighed, wishing he could take off his mask. But the lieutenant still had not voiced his knowledge of Vortex’s true identity, and Steve was reluctant to cross that line first. "I’m not trying to change the subject. I told you, I ... I’m just not prepared to join the PCA at this time."

"Which leaves me in a bit of a dilemma, doesn’t it?" Reaching into his desk drawer, he produced a copy of the local newspaper. He didn’t bother reading the article or headlines aloud — the grainy-but-recognizable photograph of Vortex (obviously posing) upon a rooftop spoke volumes for itself. "I can’t afford to lose your help, but I can’t have you running around outside of the law."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Vigilantism is still
illegal
, Vortex. Technically, that makes
you
a rogue."

"I know that, but think about it. Think about the reaction Lincoln had to the
idea
of Vortex. If I can inspire more people that way—"

"That’s something you could do from within the PCA."

"Maybe, maybe not. I have something I want you to read ..."

Fishing into a recently-added pocket on the inside of his cape, Steve produced Jeffrey Lawrence’s now-crumpled essay.

Michael read it. Read it again. Thought about it, for several long minutes.

Steve waited.

"All right. You’re on your own,
for now
, and I’ll look the other way as best I can. If some other agency goes after you, I can’t help you, but for now I’ll keep the PCA off your back."

"Thank you."

"Just don’t go too far, Vortex," Michael warned. "Always remember: We’re supposed to be the
good guys
."

Steve chuckled and made a show of slipping the essay back into his cape. "I think that was the point
I
was trying to make."

Michael smiled in return. "Yes, I suppose it was. Just don’t expect me to shine some ridiculous ‘Vortex-signal’ into the clouds when I need your help."

Steve laughed openly. "No, we don’t have to take it
that
far. But ... if you do need to reach me ... I think you’ll know how."

Michael said nothing, merely nodded very slightly.

Vortex stood. Lieutenant Takayasu joined him.

And they shook hands.

Be sure to watch for

PARANORMALS

We Are Not Alone

About the Author

Christopher Andrews lives in California with his wife, Yvonne Isaak-Andrews, and their Pug, PJ. He is working on his next novels, and continues to work as an actor and screenwriter. He and his wife are expecting their first child at the end of this year.

Excerpts from all of Christopher’s novels can be found at
www.ChristopherAndrews.com
.

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