Seizure(108)

And when had it worked?

We were together in the submerged tunnel. We were together fighting the Fletchers on Boneyard Beach.

The power fails when a Viral is missing. When the pack isn’t whole.

As Hi closed in, his image grew crisper. The walls separating us weakened.

“Feeling faint?” Short scoffed. “Talk, or you’ll have reason to be.”

Descending to my id, I projected with all the strength I could muster. Ben and Shelton shivered in response.

“Enough playin’,” said Marlo. “Time to get serious.”

Duncan’s eyes bored into me. “I’ll make her talk.” First words.

Beyond the church walls, Hi crossed a tipping point.

The barrier collapsed. My thoughts exploded outward.

I yanked the fiery lines and spread my flare to the other Virals.

I sensed Hi double over in shock. Shelton and Ben gasped. Inside my head, their figures now burned with yellow light.

“See?” Marlo taunted. “They scared of Dunc.”

Dispensing with words, I beamed images directly to their brains.

In seconds, my plan was in place.

I sensed Hi stop, then circle to the front of the church.

“Better yet,” Marlo said. “Shoot one of them boys and the chick will sing.”


“Yes, of course.” Short gestured at Ben, whose eyes were averted. “This one will do.”

Marlo’s pistol rose.

Now!

Faster than thought, Shelton winged the coin pouch at Marlo’s head.

Marlo deflected the bag with a contemptuous smirk. Then his eyes widened at the sight of doubloons scattering over the stones.

Dropping to a knee, he snatched up a coin. “Gold, baby!”

“Look out!” Short shouted.

Too late. Marlo glanced up just as Ben’s foot connected with his head. The two rolled backward in a tangle, limbs flailing.

Short aimed his gun at Shelton, who dove behind the stone altar.

Crack! Crack!

Bullets ricocheted. Shards flew.

Crack!

Duncan’s shot barely missed Ben’s back.

A blur streaked into the chapel and slammed Duncan from behind, knocking him to the ground. Duncan’s breath expelled with an audible “Oof!”

With an agility belying his poundage, Hi then whirled and shoved Short with both hands.

Short flew sideways toward me.

I grabbed the Beretta, but couldn’t pry it from his fingers.

“Get away!” Short struggled, desperate to free his weapon for a clean shot.

Duncan struggled to his knees. Hi wrapped himself around one enormous leg like an angry badger. Shelton lunged from behind the altar wielding an iron candlestick. Swung with all his strength.

Iron hit bone.

Thunk.

The big man tumbled backward holding his forehead.

In the corner, Ben and Marlo grappled on the floor.

“You have no right!” Short screamed. “You haven’t earned it! Bonny’s treasure belongs to me!”

I grunted, struggling to wrench the gun from his grip. But Short’s rage was equal to my flare strength. With a growl he began wildly squeezing the trigger.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Bullets sparked against stone.

Things were spiraling out of control.





DESPERATE, I LAUNCHED forward in a wicked head butt.

Stars exploded behind my eyes, but the impact left Short momentarily stunned. Seizing the opportunity, I clawed the pistol free and slammed my knee into his gut. The old man collapsed, gagging and grasping his belly.

I spun, Beretta in hand.

But the fight was over.

Ben was on his feet, aiming a gun at Marlo’s head.

“Do we understand each other?” Ben asked quietly.

Marlo nodded.

Ben pointed to the first row of pews. Marlo rose slowly, hands high, eyes never straying from the muzzle pointed at his chest.

When Ben turned, his eyes no longer glowed.

Duncan lay groaning on the floor. Hi and Shelton had backed away to lean against the battered altar.

Hi held a pistol in one shaky hand, panting and wheezing. “You da man, Shelton. Next trip to Chick-fil-A is on me.”

“That was my modified judo chop.” Shelton’s voice cracked as he set his glasses back in place. “Thank my mom. Those lessons really paid off. The candlestick helped, too.”

The boys pounded fists, golden light fading from their eyes.

SNUP.

I shuddered as my own senses powered down. As usual after the canine surge, I felt weak and vulnerable. I did my best to hide it.

Short glared at me with a look of pure hatred.

“Bench.” I motioned to the spot beside Marlo. “Now.”

“How dare you, you little miscreant!”

Wordlessly, I aimed the Beretta directly at Short’s nose. He rose and took the seat I’d indicated.

Duncan was on his knees, a blank look on his face.

“Sit beside Short and Marlo,” I said. “Now.”

Ignoring me, Duncan got to his feet and brushed off his jersey.

“Hey!” I flicked the gun for emphasis. “That wasn’t a request.”

Duncan extended a palm. “Gun.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Now.”