Differential

Differential: Division Six

Differential: Division Six

Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.

― Terry Pratchett

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There was an uncomfortable iciness running through my limbs when I regained consciousness.

I slowly opened my eyes and realized I was being carried. I looked up into Seth's silver eyes.

Wind was whipping at my hair and biting my nose.

I twisted around and noticed the trees flying by at an impossible rate. Seth was running.

"We need to put as much distance between us and them as we can."

"How'd you get away?" I asked. I had blacked out, and I remembered seeing Seth in about the same state I was. I had thought the Bræum had us, that we were dead already.

"I used the manipulation. It worked, but just barley. Our powers dont always work on Bræum sometimes. Their darkness counteracts them. Anyway I made him stop using the empath ability and I got us the heck out of dodge. Sadly I had to ditch the car."

Seth slowed to a jog, but it was still twice the speed of a human all out running.

"I know a place near-by. It's a church, I knew the pastor's father back in the day."

Ok I found two things about that weird. First, he said he 'near-by' which with the way he was running was probably another thirty miles or so. And second, he knew the pastor's father. What if the pastor remembered him? What explanation could he give fire looking exactly the same as he had umpteen years ago.

"The only problem is the church is made of Hematite. At least the walls and foundation are. As long as you don't touch anything you should be fine, other than a lightheadedness. The good thing is that the church also weakens the Bræum. They are made of darkness, and God's light so fills the church that it sickens them. Neither of us will be able to use our powers inside."

"Isn't that kind of coincidental? That it weakens BOTH of our kinds?"

Seth nodded, "It was made like that. Have you ever heard of St. Peter? He knew of our kind, and knew the challenges we would face avoiding the Bræum. So he devoted his churches to offering shelter for any Aduroum who seek it."

I was deep in my thoughts when I realized Seth was still carrying me.

"Um would you mind putting me down?"

I saw the mischief in Seth's eyes and knew his response would be bad.

"No can do, Sunshine. Besides I'm faster than you."

I was so stuck on the mushy nickname that I didn't register the last part for a moment.

"You are NOT faster than me! And Sunshine? Really?"

Seth laughed and ran faster pushing his limits. I can't believe we were almost dead fifteen minutes ago and now we were joking.

"Yeah, I think it's kind of appropriate."

I frowned.

"I hate it."

"And so it stays. Sunshine. I think it fits."

I pushed myself out of Seth's arms and took off running. He's faster than me my ass.

"It's the other way Sunshine!"