Ryder's Angel

Chapter Twenty-One: Time: Danny

Chapter Twenty-One: Time: Danny

At first the humans just looked at the place in astonishment. Why was an old bookstore suddenly something completely different? The mutants arrived in swarms. Helicopters, vans, some appeared out of nowhere. Armed and dangerous. They frightened away the humans with bared teeth and claws, snarling at the orphanage like a pack of angry wolves. They came faster than we imagined, in greater numbers. How had the humans caught this many?

We barred the doors, built up our defenses as quickly as we could. Like bees in a hive, we ran around crazily, shouting directions at one another. Angeline took the innocents to the infirmary, where Blu and the others would watch them. Veronica stayed by Kendall in full fighting gear instead of her usual white lab coat. The able-bodied stood everywhere, with Angeline and I at the front, frightened yet determined to protect their home. As was I – my home, my friends… I looked at Angeline and squeezed her hand… My family.

The first mutant banged against the door, his vicious snarling on the other side.

“Brace yourselves!” cried Angeline in her commanding voice, echoing along the halls.

They did as they were told. I took a deep breath, and felt the rush of battle, cold like freezing water.

They came. They came and came and came, more mutants than I ever saw in my life. Flashes of yellowed fangs, red, crazed eyes, swipe of claws or the swing of a sword was all I saw. They were just blurs. I heard the screams, the snarls and the grunts, but above all I heard my own heart beating like a war drum. I tore and slashed; I leaped over mutants, good and bad alike, and landed on top of the enemy. I struck them in their hearts with whatever I had; I smiled in their faces and plunged a fallen sword in their stomachs. I was forced upstairs, killed the future-teller, and jumped off the top ledge, kicking one in the face. I grabbed Angeline and threw her in the air so she crashed down with a battle cry on top of a mutant who had a knife to Kayla’s neck. I snapped a mutant’s arm off with my teeth and threw it at another.

All the while, my heart raced with adrenaline. I felt powerful, I felt immortal, as I was. I felt great, the rush of battle coursing through my veins. I didn’t care if I was a killer – so were they, brainwashed or not, they threatened my family, and they would pay – the mutants and the humans. I was a murderer, and I didn’t care.

What kind of father am I?

Time slowed down. Everything was in slow-motion. I could see every detail: every chipped fang, every drop of blood flying through the air. Angeline twisting above the crowd, Kayla half invisible, a shadow knife led astray toward the blood splattered wall. Everything was frozen where it was. The clock’s hands weren’t moving – I was the only one breathing.

And then I saw him.

I saw my son at the top of the stairs, standing and watching with terrified green eyes. He stood there – and took a step down. His eyes were on his mother’s frozen form, twisting in the air, her skin splitting and her wings forming. Her face contorted in an ugly grimace of hate and rage – a killer angel. Another step he took, toward the battle and merciless mutants.

I had to get to him.

Time unfroze. I ducked a poisoned dagger, still staring at my son. Angeline brought herself down with an inhuman snarl, and Ethan’s eyes widened. Another step. The screams and cries were deafening. Blow by blow, mutants fell. There was Penelope and Jason, side by side; Kayla with a sword; Veronica raised her hands and a handful of mutants were swallowed up by the earth. Kendall ran down some with his wheelchair. Another step closer to his own death.

Suddenly, all I saw was one mutant. She was only a silhouette, a shadow with red eyes and two blood coated swords at her side. She bared her black fangs, and pointed at the top of the stairs – straight at my son. “Look!” she snarled. Her voice was deafening, like nails across a chalkboard. All eyes followed her shadowed hand. Damn it! Damn it all, she was too far away from me!