inFAMOUS: Legacy of the Beast

Chapter 4

"Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have—life itself."

~Walter Anderson

The last Conduit was located directly down the street from the marina, in the square where the city's iconic clock tower once stood high above the rest of the town.

On more than one occasion, Cole dared himself to reach the top of the tower's needle using only his skill in parkour. The view had been a sight to behold, looking over every building and street in New Marais, all the way into the swamps and marshes beyond.

The citizens who saw him perched on the spire had called him a guardian angel as he passed by. They had felt safe with him watching over them from up high, like he could see any crime on every corner in the city and swoop in to serve righteous justice like a real-life superhero.

After the blast, the clock tower had been sliced in half and toppled down into the length of the street below. Undoubtedly, citizens in panic had been caught beneath the wreckage and were more than likely given a quick death before being incinerated.

Evidently, a Conduit had been activated. The entire square was overgrown by plants and vines, snaking through the asphalt and surrounding buildings. Some structures even seemed to be unnaturally invaded by enormous trees with branches extending out through the windows.

In a disturbing way, it was the most peaceful thing the Conduits had seen since the Beast had begun his rampage. But even something that seemed so innocent had the power to be destructive; a point that was proven as vines continued to grow and swallow a whole car before crushing it like a giant squid and its prey.

"That'll be us if we stay here too long...." warned Kuo.

Eddy shivered. "Yeah, I'd rather not be plant food."

"Over here." Cole followed his additional sense in the direction of the new Conduit. His mouth became dry the closer it led him to the fallen tower. He feared that the person they were looking for had not been as fortunate as they were.

However, the increased activity of the plants and vines around it reassured him that there was still a chance to save them.

The trail ended at one of the clock's faces, where the five could make out the shape of a small woman pounding her fist against the other side of the opaque glass. Although they were relieved to see her alive, there was still the daunting fact that she had been so close to being crushed.

Without wasting a second, Cole ionized his limbs with electrified blades. He held his breath, taking a hefty swing with his right arm and was met with the cacophony of shattering glass.

He stepped inside slowly, calling that it was safe to come outside. But to his surprise, it wasn't a woman inside of the condemned tower. Rather it was a young girl, hardly in her teenage years.

She had spent a good amount of time crying judging from the red tint in her green eyes and the rosy color to her cheeks. Her chestnut hair was covered in dust and her freckled skin was tattered with tiny cuts.

When he held out his hand to help her safely past the glass scattered on the ground, she instead broke into a run.

As she passed, he took her by the arm. "Wait, it's alright. We're here to help you."