DarkLight Redemption: Post-Human Universe - Book One

Chapter Thirty-Two

"Why is it still here?" Olive yells with desperation.

"The natural pull between dimensions must not be strong enough," I tell her and look over to see Charles and LightBlast come to the same realization.

"Then make it pull harder," she says.

"We can't!" I reply as my previously numb muscles begin throbbing. "The only thing I can think of is that we have to physically push the Eldritch through the portal."

"Great!" Olive says. "Let's do that."

"I can't," I admit. "I'm not strong enough physically. Neither are the others. Our powers are energy-based, remember?"

I watch as Olive recognizes the extreme strain my body is under. She then looks over at the others and sees them both fighting a losing battle against themselves as well.

"What about me?" she asks.

"What about you?"

"I'm strong enough," she states plainly.

"No way!" I exclaim. "Absolutely not! We don't even know what's on the other side of that portal."

"But we know what's out here," she argues. "Look around you, Tom."

I look at Charles and LightBlast burning themselves up. I then look below and see the streets still engulfed in an inferno of madness, death and chaos. Finally I look back at Olive.

"This is our only shot," she proclaims, knowing that she's right.

"Alright," I say, finally succumbing to the truth.

I redirect some of the juice I was blasting toward the portal and fashion it into a construct that looks like an actual giant, flat shield. The shield is two stories high and equally as wide.

Olive looks over her shoulder and sees the energy construct right behind her.

"I'm giving it enough surface area so that, hopefully, it won't just pass through that thing's body like my other attacks did," I explain. "We're going to be connected the whole time," I continue, trying to be as comforting as possible. "My energy field will protect you, and I'll be holding the other end of the tether. All you have to do is push. I'll pull you back."

"Right." She looks from the Eldritch back to me. "Just don't let go, okay?" she says with a brave smile and a barely disguised tremble in her voice.

"Never," I tell her.

She just nods and then launches herself at the Eldritch. The giant shield construct does what it's supposed to, and Olive begins forcing the creature back toward the portal.

I take a quick glance at Charles and LightBlast, who are both doubling over in agony. I notice some confusion on the kid's face, but I can tell that Charles understands.

The Eldritch is nearly halfway through the portal by now. I've gone from feeling like I'm aflame to feeling frozen. I honestly don't think I could move from this position if the world depended on it. Fortunately the world actually depends on my not moving.

I can't help but be amazed by Olive's determination. Moving the Eldritch is like moving a mountain, but she's doing it. I almost manage a smile, when things start falling apart.

The Eldritch's body finally gives, and my giant shield construct pushes through its tar-like surface. Olive blasts through and is now behind the creature, which means she's between it and the portal.

I make the adjustment that I need to and build a new, bigger shield in front of the Eldritch that covers half of its body. With the tether still attached to Olive, she is now pulling the behemoth into the portal.

My focus begins to waver. The last thing I wanted was for Olive to have to cross over between dimensions. I can no longer see her, but the Eldritch is visibly being dragged through the crack in the sky.

There's a roar of defiance and agony that reverberates inside my head as the last of the Eldritch being disappears into the void.

But there's no time to celebrate as Olive has also vanished from sight. Charles, LightBlast and I are still feeding our energy into the portal, and it begins to reseal itself. I can see my tether extending into the Eldritch's dimension, so I know I'm still attached to Olive.

The speed at which the portal is closing is jarring, like someone zipping up their jacket. I fly toward it as fast as I can. At the same time, I keep reeling in the tether. But Olive must had gone further into the other dimension than I thought; there's still no sign of her.

By the time I have a chance to think about it, the portal is as narrow as an alleyway between buildings. I've almost reached it myself -- and I swear, if I can't get Olive back from the other side, then I'm sure as hell not leaving her alone over there.

That's when I see her. Her body is limp, but I finally grab her hand and pull her out, just as the portal seals itself up completely.