The In-Between

Chapter 3

The three men can hear a commotion coming from the courtyard and some are shouting. Soon the person yelling arrives within the courtyard.

Daniel practically jumps off the couch.

"What are they saying?"

John understood he was directing the question at him; he focuses on the source.

"They need help. Their team's been attacked. He can't describe what it is though."

Daniel and Desmond look at each other.

"Who is it?"

"Um...its the guy with the afro..." John says nervously.

"Its Wade."

Both leaders move towards the doors. John quickly follows. They jog down the hallway and hastily make their way down the staircase and through the doors that connect the courtyard.

There they find Wade in bad shape. He is sitting on a bench to the right, trying to regain control of his breathing. There are a few people around him, Tim included.

"Wade, what's going on?" Desmond asks.

Wade appears immediately relieved to see his leader.

"Oh, thank god! You can make it to them in time. They need help now."

"Sure. Where are they?"

"Follow Main Street down to Orange Grove, then make a right and —"

John is suddenly overwhelmed by static noises in his head. He yells out in pain and covers his ears. This does not help however and continues to blast his brain for a minute before it slowly dissipates.

Breathing heavily, John straightens back up to find everyone staring at him. Desmond takes a step towards him and grabs his shoulder.

"John, that was the static, wasn't it?"

John nods. This has really become a shit day for him.

Desmond turns to everyone.

"Daniel, Tim, you come with me. Wade, stay here and recover. Where is Patricia?"

A young girl sitting next to Wade responds. "She went home a while ago, sir."

Desmond lets out a quick sigh of frustration.

"Okay, lets go. John, you too. Try and keep up."

Desmond is the first to move. One second he is there, the next second he is gone. A blast of air hits all of them on the third second. Daniel sighs, and he and Tim sprint out of the courtyard, heading for Main Street, doing their best to catch up to Desmond.

It takes John a few seconds to react to having been included. But as soon as he starts to run, another blast of static hits his consciousness. Another minute goes by. Then it dissipates. He wipes sweat from his brow. He can barely see his superiors down the road. At least he can still see them.

John sprints after them.