The Last Crusader

9

Chris arrived at the harbor, one of the few privately owned ports left in Nadia. Unfettered by The Mafia's theft of property after Sameera's death. The Regulators occupy the rest. The trade to the region almost ceased due to the inability to use their ports. No one had the fighting force to beat both armies. The hope was for the two massive forces to destroy each other but it wasn't happening anytime soon.

Chris lifted the heavy metal grate indicating the gym was closed. He needed to use his earth kinesis to lift the grate himself. Inside he found Devlin wearing nothing but his boxer shorts going crazy on the heavy bag, swiftly dodging and rolling around before landing decisive strikes without tearing open the bag. If Devlin felt Chris' presence, he didn't greet him or acknowledge it. Instead, Devlin stopped dodging around the bag and locked in delivering heavy knees and elbow strikes completely changing his style into a violent display of punishment.

When the two made eye contact Chris gulped. He didn't recognize Devlin without his mask anymore. Devlin's eyes are sullen as if he hadn't slept in weeks. His cheeks sunken as though he hadn't eaten. Running off of little more than his spirit energy and a ruthless determination to gain revenge.

"I'm sorry to hear about your mother." Chris pulled his mask off, squeezing it tightly in his hand as he bowed his head.

"Just another dead Nadian, right?" Devlin muttered unsympathetically.

"Dude, it's your mother." Chris was shocked, almost disgusted by Devlin's response.

"And who was she to you, to care so much?" Devlin challenged.

"Dude, what's up with you?" Chris asked.

"You came here for a fight?" Devlin ignored his question.

"I came here for my friend." Chris raised his hands.

"Get lost, Chris."

"I wish I could with how you're acting. I have to get you out of here. Everyone is looking for you man. Regulators, Masks, and Mafia. Everyone wants Zenith. Either keep your mask off and fly straight or come with us."

"Who is us?"

"I brought your dad with me."

"My dad?" Devlin growled shoving Chris, "Stay out of my fucking life, Chris!"

"How when you're the one disrupting the entire region! It's you, man! You're the reason the suits and dogs are racking up so many guns. They think it's every mask, they're killing kids dead and arresting every boy in a mask. When they are looking for you and only you the whole time. And you're here. What getting ready for more?" Chris challenges.

"I am. Tonight. We end this by going straight to the Regulator base."

"That's suicide."

"It's revenge."

"The mafia killed your mother, Devlin."

Devlin looked away, "I'm not working with the mafia."

"I didn't say you were... why would you even add that?"

"I didn't add anything! I said I am NOT working with them." Devlin threw his hands up marching away from Chris trying to gather his thoughts.

"Devlin, what's the matter, bro?" Chris asked reaching out for Devlin.

Devlin couldn't match Chris' stare. Unable to make eye contact at all, his hands shaking as he looked up to Chris finally with burning red eyes. Chris' split second of action saved his life, lifting a wall of concrete from the floor and breaking Devlin's hand upon contact as Devlin manages to shatter the wall entirely. Chris scooted back on his butt and hands trying to escape Devlin.