The Last Saint

21: Candlelight

Lacking a home to set up camp, and fearing for what was left of their families, Eve instructed the group to return to the house in the woods that the Fourth once used. Ryan wanted to go and check on his parents, so he couldn't go with them.

As they stood around the park, Eve asked Adam and Liz to go on their own. Adam asked why, and Eve simply replied that she was going to go scouting, believing there were many constructs around the city, watching them. She planned to take them out.

Adam volunteered to go with her, but she refused, and left on her own. So Adam and Liz looked at each other.

"I guess we should go then?" She said.

"I guess so." 

Driving to the cabin took only an hour, but getting there on their own took the better part of 4. They took a bus as close as they could, and walked the rest of the distance. Memories began to return. Memories of their first trip to that forest.

They climbed the fence, and walked through the woods, each step bringing back images of their fight against the Fourth.

Suddenly he recalled several things.

When Eve joined the battle at the house, she was wounded in the hip.

Someone in the woods attacked Beth, and was shot in the hip by Garamond.

River and the mysterious swordsman were both uninjured.

Eve attacked Beth in the woods.

They approached the cabin, to see the Fourth leaning against the tree, similar to how he was when Adam first saw him. This time, the tree was dead. Adam and Liz both gripped their swords.

"I was expecting you, Adam," he said. "Don't worry, this time it's just me. Shadow and the others aren't here."

"Like I'm gonna listen to you?" Adam replied, drawing his sword.

"Eve's not here, is she?" Baum asked. 

"No, she's not," Liz answered.

Baum smiled. "The first time we spoke, I told you that you had things backwards. Eve wishes to protect your life, but she goes off alone somewhere and sends you away. Doesn't that strike you as odd?"

Adam scowled. "She's hunting constructs!"

"Is she now?"

Liz took a step forward. "What are you trying to say?"

"Eve fears one Saint more than any other," Baum replied, his smile fading.

"The Eleventh. You said that last time too," Adam said. "But why should I trust anything you say?"

The Fourth simply shrugged. "Fate is at the hospital. Third floor, room 317."

Liz looked at him with a distrustful gaze. "Why are you telling us?"

Baum looked Adam right in the eyes. "Fate saved your life just as many times as Eve. What are you going to do, Adam? Kill her? Or maybe you'll simply close your eyes while Eve kills more and more of the people who care about you."

Why would Fate be at the hospital? Adam thought to himself. And then something occurred to him, and he took off running. Liz followed him closely, confused and calling out to Adam for an explanation, but he just kept running.

He pulled out his phone, and called Ryan's number, but Ryan's phone was off. Liz caught up to Adam, asking a barrage of questions, but he ignored them all. When they got back to the city, it was already late. They grabbed a bus that took them a block away from the hospital, only to find it swarming with police.

Adam cursed under his breath, and asked a bystander what happened. The man replied that a woman charged in with a sword and assaulted another girl.

For several moments, he was unsure of what to do, but then an idea came to him. The school.

He started off running, Liz behind him, going towards the school. People stared as he ran, sword at his hip, but he ignored them all, getting closer and closer. He passed by his old house, and cut down the path where he first met Eve. But as he ran, the earth started to shake, so much so that both he and Liz lost their balance.

The rattling of the planet subsided after a few minutes, and Liz and Adam struggled to their feet. A portal opened right in the way of the path they needed to take, and out stepped a man.

He was tall, wearing white Japanese style clothing, an umanori hakama. He had two katanas at his left him, on his belt, one normal length, the other longer. His hair was long and snow white, and his face was calm and handsome. He looked at Adam with his purple eyes, expressionlessly.

Adam drew his sword, and charged, swinging it as much as he could, but try as he might he was unable to land at hit on the Saint. The man dodged continuously and effortlessly. Liz became unnerved by how calm he appeared to be, as if dealing with a child. Finally, Adam swung, and the man caught his wrist, twisting it. Adam yelped in pain, and dropped his sword, and the man released him.

Liz charged forwards, but an invisible barrier prevented her from getting close. It shocked her and flung her back, and she landed on her bottom.

Adam reached for his sword, but the man swung his hand upward in an arc, creating a stream of light that struck Adam like a fist, knocking him flat on his back. Suddenly footsteps echoed from behind the man, and both Adam and Liz's eyes opened wider as they saw her.

Fate stopped dead, and stared at the tall man. Eve stopped behind her as well, and a look of terror flashed across her face.

"Taiyang," Fate stuttered. 

Eve gripped her sword tighter, and ran forwards. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person, First!"