The Grounds Keeper

Chapter 14 Indomitable Spirit

Chapter 14: Indomitable Spirit

Theo let go at once as he jumped back just in time to avoid a monstrous shadowy uppercut that lashed out from where his own shadow had been moments before. Another hand of shadow was wrapped protectively around the little girl, and a third pulled Eathon from the floor onto unsteady feet.

"Never lay a hand on my kids," Eathon said clearly, even as blood and broken teeth spilled from his mouth.

A series of shadowy wraps animated themselves around his jaw, realigning the shattered bones and holding them together. Theo blinked. This guy wasn't human. He laughed—more in shock than joy—and flicked the timer back on. Placing a hand over his ribs, he winced and froze the area to numb the searing pain.

"Let's fight with everything we have, Groundskeeper. My ice, your shadows. My spirit vs. yours."

Eathon dropped the shadows and released Sophia, ruffling her hair before nodding with his eyes. He looked outside to see the children holding out their arms, Dinko shouting, "Take our powers, Uncle! Take all our magic and kick his butt!"

He waved back, raising a fist. He couldn't let them down.

Both fighters waited for Sophia to safely walk away. Then they turned to each other. Eathon had only this round left.

They shuffled into range, visibly wincing. Neither could take more damage. This would come down to who landed the cleanest hit first. Magic was now in play. Eathon had to adapt his shadows to close-quarters combat—a terrible time to learn.

Theo shot forward, sliding low on a floor suddenly frozen into an ice rink. Eathon barely dodged using a shadow-arm to pull himself aside. He countered with a barrage of fists, shattering the ice into splinters. But Theo wasn't there. Something grabbed Eathon's leg—a hand from the ice.

Theo had sunk into his own ice and reemerged beneath Eathon. Eathon scrambled with shadow arms, smashing ice everywhere to flush Theo out. He left a single square untouched—a trap.

Theo burst out, an icy uppercut leading the way. Eathon leaned back and countered, punching hard. But the form shattered like glass. It was a statue.

The real Theo emerged from behind it, slamming a fist into Eathon's jaw. Agony exploded as the already-broken bones collapsed again. His concentration faltered. Shadow-arms flickered and vanished.

Theo clasped Eathon's shoulders gently, grinning. "You did well. I want you to know that."

Instantly, a freezing wave overtook Eathon. Solidified into Everfrost, his body frozen like a statue.

Theo sighed. "Even a man like you can't break that."

Then he heard laughter. From the children.

His eyes widened. The shadowy fist slammed into his ice armor. Then another. And another. Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface.

Of all places, Theo had frozen Eathon in the most shadow-drenched part of the warehouse. Eathon had slipped into the shadows beneath the floor, reappearing behind the statue for a surprise counterattack. Only the kids' laughter had warned Theo in time.

Theo panicked. He was being driven backward, armor shattering faster than he could reinforce it. He concentrated, trying to hold the shell together, trying to buy time.

But Eathon kept swinging.

His jaw hung uselessly. His arms burned. Muscles tore. His breath came sharp and ragged. But he didn't stop.

A voice whispered in his mind.

"You've done well, Eathon. But you need to push harder. Those kids haven't lowered their arms for a second. You gave them hope. You can change this whole world. And on a personal note: win this, and I'll let you take me on a date. Lose... and I never want to speak to you again."

Eathon groaned.

"So wind up that core, swing those arms, and smash that oyster out of its damned shell!"

With a roar, all his shadows converged into one massive fist. He swung.

The impact shattered the ice armor and blew Theo straight through the wall of the warehouse and into the adjacent bathhouse. People screamed and scattered.

Eathon collapsed to his knees. His mouth dripped blood. His body was ruined.

It had to be enough.

Then he saw it: no steam.

He tried to warn the children, gesturing frantically. They froze in place, worried.

Theo limped into view, using an ice cane. His face was pulped. Shoulder dislocated. Leg broken. Skin blackened and bruised.

And still, he came.

Eathon couldn't move.

He watched helplessly, wondering if this was the end.

But then, finally, Theo's cane cracked and dissolved. The ice vanished. He crumpled forward and passed out.

Eathon exhaled. Relief flooded him. His body lifted gently into the teleportation system. He collapsed into the infirmary bed. His last thought before sleep:

I'll see him again one day. I'm sure of it.