The Next Dark Age: book 1 beginning

Chapter 25: Hestia

Harris was able to sidestep the sign in time, and began to run away from Nydia. As he looked back he was surprised to see that she could keep up really well. People with super strength mainly had enhanced upper body strength, but they had increased running speed too, now whether she did have strength or was just really good at running was unknown to Harris. As he ran he made many twists and turns hoping to lose her so he could retreat to the shelter, but eventually he ended up at a dead-end with Nydia close behind him.

Hoping Nydia was more exhausted than him, he quickly turned and jumped at her, after all his superior size should intimidate her enough to help him get away. Instead she punched him square in the face. Nothing was broken, which meant that she did not have strength.

Harris found that he was slow getting up due to his exhaustion, and was taken by surprise when Nydia took full advantage of this by kicking his stomach, which put him flat on his stomach again. how could she have so much energy despite her chasing after someone with modified strength?

When he tried to get up again, she kicked him in the stomach once more. This time he flew over onto his back, and he saw Michael in the distance as he flew. Thank god, Michael should be able to help a lot. Then Harris looked up to see a metal sign pole over him that was was broken to form a sharp edge, which Nydia must have found. The pole came down and stabbed him plain in the eye, which led to him screaming in pain, and his other eye being covered in blood.

Soon he heard someone scream in the distance, "WE FOUND A HIDEOUT!" and when he wiped away the blood he saw Nydia walking away from him, and more importantly, away from Michael.

Harris took the pole out of his eye and stood up, but when he took a step he learned that he was too weak to do that, and hit the ground, causing his wounded eye to hit the dirt, which went into the wound, and caused the pain to even worse. This would not stop him though, he started to crawl towards michael, but he found even that difficult, and again he hit the dirt. He had to reach Michael, HE HAD TO. He saw how far Michal was, and told himself that if he survived for another minute, Michael would reach him. One minute, thats all he needed.

He used the last of his energy to painfully roll over. In the sky, he saw his father, with angelic wings, "Come with me Harris, we can be a family, a real family." his Father told him

"I Don't deserve to be with you." harris croaked.

His father continued his descent, until his hand was at arm's reach from Harris, "Yes, you do."

Harris cried silent tears, "I don't want to die."

"All the pain will stop, so please stop fighting, you'll be okay. I Promise"

Harris grabbed his father hand. He was joyed to learn that it was solid, and with that confirmation, looked up at the starry night sky one last time, mouthed "Sorry" to Michael, who was standing above him, and finally succumbed to the pain, exhaustion, and blood loss.

...

Michael swore he saw an angel in the sky, but he didn't care. All that mattered was getting to Harris. He saw Harris reach up to the angel, why Michael did not know, and didn't care why.

Right as Michael reached Harris, Harris grabbed the angel hand and whispered "Sorry."

The angel let go of Harris hand, and whispered solemnly, "You're welcome." Michael ignored the angel, and used the pole to hastily cut his shirt sleeve, cutting himself in the process, but he did not flinch at the pain, or even feel the pain. Instead, Michael stuffed his sleeve in Harris's eye to stop the bleeding.

"You're not dead." Michael choked as he checked Harris pulse, nothing, "You will not die" he said, his throat becoming dry as he checked Harris breathing, nothing, "You cannot die!" he cried as he checked Harris's heart-rate, nothing, "Please... don't... die, for me" Michael looked at Harris once warm eyes, and told himself that it was all his fault.

Michael remembered Harris's words earlier, "I suppose you could blame Nydia" and ignored the rest of what Harris had said. This was all Nydia's fault. She killed Harris, her indoctrination of his mom was also the reason why Harris was out in the first place. She was the reason behind all of this.

Stephanie finally found Michael asked, "What happened?"

Michael stood up and screamed, "IM GOING TO MURDER THAT PSYCHO!"