Arrow Hawk: Battle for the Ice - The Great NHL War (Book 4)

Battle #16: Reilly Smith vs Thomas Vanek

In the player's lot ("Lot G"),

Reilly Smith gave off a battle cry, whipping around a long black and white cane in his hands. From the end, a long strand of black and red licorice streamed out like a whip. He lashed it in from of him and then whipped it at another figure a few feet away. It wrapped around him and Reilly yanked the stick toward him, pulling the figure with it.

"What the hell is this?" the person groaned.

"Licorice rope construct, Vanek."

"Oh Reilly Smith...Reilly, Reilly, Reilly. You should know better. You really think for one moment I am actually helpless to your cute candy powers?!"

Reilly smacked him with the stick. "Are you anything more than a 'Bruins killer'? That won't get your team to the Cup. Especially if you can't even generate goals against the Blackhawks!"

Vanek laughed. "You're a fool Reilly. I'm so much more." He dissolved into a pile of sand, slipping the licorice bondage, which shocked the hero and then he instantly morphed into a sand-man and shot a hand out and grabbed Reilly by the throat.

"Sand." Reilly cussed to himself.

"Is sand a problem, Candy Boy?" Vanek sneered.

Reilly kicked out and was able to tear free. He flicked his white coat to the sides of him, out of his way, as he launched upward and did a perfect backflip into the air. He landed on the lot on his feet, with one hand planted in front of him on the black gravel. He faced the United Center, his eyes flashing a brilliant emerald green candy color. He stood back up and tossed the stick to the side.

"You're gonna throw your powers away that easily? I didn't know you to be so weak Reilly...geez." Vanek laughed as he finished gradually morphing back into a normal human, minus the fact that some sand sprinkled off of him.

Reilly spat on the ground and then threw his hands out before him. He blasted Vanek with puffy white marshmallow substance. The villain was soon covered in it and looked like Baymax from Big Hero 6. Except Vanek wasn't a loveable Marvel science project. He roared with fury and blasted the marshmallow fluff off of him with sand.

Then he blasted Reilly back with the sand, however the hero dodged the blast, leaping into the air. He created a candy path, gliding along like a surfer on a chocolate-y wave to safety near the Madison Street side of the small gated lot.

He jumped off and flashed Vanek a smile. "What's the matter Vanek, Candy Boy too fast for ya?"

"Konopka and Rupp shoulda pummelled you harder!" Vanek spat, before constructing a sandy blaster gun. He pulled the "trigger" and sent blasts of sand out at Reilly, who brought his hands up and created a gumdrop-shaped shield around him.

The sand hit and bounced off, leaving Reilly safe and unharmed. But as he looked out to see where Vanek was, a sandy fist punched through the jelly dome and punctured it. Reilly gasped and dove to the side.

He ran to the back of the lot now, where Damen Street ran. He vigorously waved his hands around, drawing up a cotton candy shield now. However that was soon punctured by Vanek, who blasted sand through it with ease.

Reilly kicked his leg out and slew-footed the villain, sending him crashing to the ground. Then, as he attempted to run off again, Vanek grabbed him and stopped him. Reilly panicked and kicked back at him and managed to pull free. He scrambled to his feet and started off, before Vanek halted him again, lassoing him with sand. Reilly screamed as he was tossed across the lot and into the fence.

Reilly smacked against it and crumbled to the ground. He glanced up and rapidly got back to his feet once again. Vanek stalked toward him. Reilly was cornered back in the Madison Street side in the small lot by the villain. Reilly tried to produce a hard candy with which to blast Vanek with, but his panic was clouding his abilities. He was pinned against the fence and Vanek blasted him with sand.

"Vanek, please!" Reilly pleaded. "I--" He coughed hoarsely as some of the grains got in his mouth.

Suddenly Vanek's smile twisted darkly and he aimed sand at Reilly's head. Reilly gasped, but he tried to keep his mouth shut. If he opened it, it wouldn't be good. Reilly was soon buried under the sand, which was too immense for him to break out of. Panic rose in him and he finally couldn't help it, he opened his mouth to scream, but sand filled his mouth instantly and he felt himself loose consciousness, as he heard the muffled cackling from Thomas Vanek, who'd won his fight.

"Someone help me!" Reilly thought out of panic. He had tried his best to combat a sandman, but like always, Vanek had the last laugh against the Bruins...

Eventually the sand dissipated from him and he fell forward onto his hands and knees, gasping for air and spitting out sand grains. He looked up to find Torey Krug standing, swinging his hammer around. His hair was dripping wet as though from a rainstorm. He smiled and helped Reilly to his feet.

"You okay, Reilly?"

"Yeah, where's Vanek?"

"Blasted him with lightning. He can't terrorize you with his sunakinesis anymore." Torey patted Reilly on the shoulder.

"Thanks."

"No problem buddy." He put an arm around the grainy hero. Reilly could feel the rain water drench him, luckily he was able to tap into his powers now and he blocked the wetness from getting on him.

Torey passed him his stick. "Let's go find the others. Brandon was fatefully stabbed, so Gabe, Nate, and Nesty are getting him to the UC. Hopefully Kaner and Tazer are still there. He needs Kaner's help badly."

"What happened?" Reilly asked.

"Dorsett punctured him with his spikes. Brandon vastly underestimated the villain, but I have faith that Blackhawk will be just fine."

Torey and Reilly walked out of the parking lot, down the sidewalk, toward the grand building and entered it. Immediately upon entering the building, Reilly halted Torey and faced him.

"How'd you find me and save me?"

"A massive pile sand, plus a laughing Thomas Vanek, it wasn't too hard. You're lucky I found you though." Torey flipped the hammer in his hand as though showing off.

"Yeah, thanks again."

They continued into the arena, finding a large group of players huddled on the ice. A pink and purple glow was coming from the center of the group.