Alan Price and the Colossus of Rhodes

Chapters 27 and 28

Chapter 27

 “Don’t worry about packing things like a toothbrush or shampoo, we have all of that,” Danielle said as she wandered around Alan’s penthouse. “Sweet place by the way. You really went all out with that stolen money thing.”

Alan was in his room throwing clothes into a dark duffle bag. He smirked as he was reminded of how he had thrown money into the same bag years before. Then a thought crossed his mind. “Danielle?” he said over his shoulder as he threw another pair of jeans and socks into his bag.

Danielle popped her head into his room. “You have a home gym and a library?”

Alan looked up at her and smiled. “Yep. Lifting and reading—two great things to do to pass time when you’re a loner. Hey, I’ve been wondering about something. What about all the money I took?”

“What about it?”

“I mean, am I going to get punished for stealing all those years? I can’t imagine Angels are big on things like theft.”

Danielle crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Don’t worry, they aren’t going to lynch you or make you pay everything back. Sure, they would rather you started to use your gifts for something constructive but as long as your thieving ways are behind you, you’ll be fine.”

Alan nodded and continued to pack. He was reminded of his conscience that would speak to him when he was about to steal. The whispers convicting him that he knew deep down he was using his gift for self-gain when he could be helping others. “These years they were watching me, they wanted me to make the right choice. They wanted me to stop stealing and look deeper into why I was given my gifts.”

Danielle’s face was solemn. It was clear she did not enjoy the topic. “I don’t want to beat you up about it but, yes. They were giving you a chance to make the right decision before they stepped in and nudged you along. Who knows? They might have given you a few more years to find your way if it hadn’t been for all the recent demonic activity. But you’re here now and that’s what’s important.”

 

Chapter 28

“No way. This is it?”

 “Sure is.”

“And you’re sure there is no way we could have just used my penthouse?”

“Nope. Trust me; it’s not much to look at but it’s safe and wait till you see the inside.”

Alan was trying to imagine living in a warehouse as Danielle pulled to a stop. The building looked as though it would fall apart during the next storm. Rust covered the steel outside paneling from warped roof to bent door.

Danielle had taken him to the city’s warehouse district outside of town. “It’s perfect,” she said. “With your speed, the distance from the city won’t be an issue.”

Alan shouldered his duffle bag as he followed Danielle to the door. “Am I being punished?”

“What? No.”

“This feels like some kind of punishment.”

“Easy there, give it a minute.”

Danielle walked right to the corroded front door. From what Alan could see, it was an ordinary looking warehouse panel with a rusty knob and a worn hole for a key. Danielle looked up to the roof. Alan followed her gaze but saw nothing. “Agent Danielle Turner, code name Valkyrie.”

There was a brief pause before the door slid open with a puff of steam. Alan jumped back surprised by the motion and steam rising from the door.

“Welcome to your new home,” Danielle smirked and walked inside.

Alan coughed, embarrassed. He gathered himself and slowly walked inside. Danielle was right. The interior of the place was nothing like the outside.

The warehouse was massive with a high-domed ceiling and intense bright lights spread all around. Alan steadied himself so he didn’t jump as the steel door hissed close behind him. The warehouse walls which looked like they were ready to crumble at a moment’s notice from the outside, were actually camouflage. Thick steel paneling met his gaze on all sides.

“Come on, roomie,” Danielle said, “I’ll give you a tour of the place.”

Alan followed her through the large building as she pointed out specific rooms and areas on the way to his own living quarters. “So, this is the training room. You’ll be spending a lot of time in there. Over here is the communication room, that’s where I do the bulk of my work. Kitchen is on the left, conference room on the right and you’ll have your own private bathroom attached to your room.”

Alan nodded, taking in the scene. The inside of the warehouse is what he imagined the future to be. Everything was brightly lit with sparse decoration and large amounts of free space in every room. White mats covered the training room floor; the conference room was one large area with an oval table, chairs and a monitor on one side of the room.

“And here you go.”

Alan nearly ran into Danielle, still looking over his shoulder at the spotless kitchen area. He stepped through a door into a mid-size room furnished with a bed, dresser, closet and a door leading to his bathroom. “Ange—I mean, our organization isn’t too fond of decorations, are they?”

“Nope, but there aren’t any rules on what you can or can’t put up.” Alan threw his bag on the bed and turned. Danielle was smiling to herself looking around the room. “I don’t know. I kind of like the look. There’s something about simplicity. I think a lot of people trade the idea for material things they don’t really need.”

Alan nodded thinking about her statement. “So, what’s first?”

Danielle snapped back to reality from wherever her mind was traveling. “Oh right. After you settle in, you’ll start your training.”

“Right, training.” Alan crossed his large arms and looked Danielle up and down. “I don’t want to seem rude. I mean you can heal people so who knows maybe you can do all kinds of other things too, but how are you going to train me? And in what?”

Danielle adjusted her glasses and looked down on her slender but not necessarily athletic frame. “Hey, what are you trying to say? I’m tough.”

Alan opened his mouth to apologize but Danielle threw a punch that glanced off Alan’s shoulder. Her fist was half the size of Alan’s and felt more like someone tapping him to get his attention, than trying to hit him.

“Just kidding,” Danielle laughed. “I’m not the one that is going to train you.”

Before Alan could ask another question, the sound of the warehouse’s front door sliding open met his ears. Danielle looked at Alan with a smile as he squinted over her shoulder to see who was walking towards them. All he could see was a group of massive figures descending the hall.

Danielle threw a casual thumb over her shoulder clearly enjoying the moment. “They’re going to train you. Good luck.”