The Uprisen

Chapter 16

Devin and Max patiently wait outside of the warehouse for what seems like hours.  Once Riley and Ryan were done with the girl, they ordered the two younger elementals to wait outside to set off the explosives.  Of course, waiting for the Lurwicks’ could take all night or even into the next day depending on how slow they are, which means there’s plenty of time for Devin and Max to talk.

“You okay?” Max asks.

Devin keeps his attention on the back doors of the warehouse.

Max sighs.  “Come on.  You can't ignore me forever.”

Devin clenches his jaw.  “How’d you do it, Max?”

“Do what?”

He laughs half-heartedly.  “You know what you did.  Torture that girl, kill her like it was nothing.”

Max watches the door.  “I did what I had to do.”

“Killing innocent girls is suddenly something we have to do?  And that doesn't bother you?”

“She wasn’t innocent,” Max snaps.  “She’s with the Lurwick’s, and last I checked, we’re at war with them.  She’s a casualty.”

“She was a girl who probably didn’t get the chance to graduate high school, much less be a part of a war.  From what it sounded like, she didn’t really know what was going on.”

Max stares at Devin.  “You were listening?”

Devin rolls his eyes.  “Yes, Max.  It’s a little difficult to ignore the screams of a girl that I was supposed to be torturing.  The fact that you don’t seem effected by it should worry you more, though.”

“Look, Devin.  I didn’t want to, but I had to.  James, he--"

Across the parking lot, three people walk up to the back door of the warehouse.

“Shut up!  They’re here,” Devin whispers hastily.

The two elementals watch in silence as the three elementals a few yards away enter their death trap.  Devin can’t help but think that killing those three would be just as bad if not worse than killing the girl earlier.

“Devin, you need to know--”

“When did you become a killer, Max?” Devin blurts. 

Max stares at the guy who used to be one of his best friends, but something has changed.  Devin doesn’t trust him anymore; he doesn't even look at him.

“There’s a lot about me you don’t know, Devin.”

“Yeah, clearly.”

Max looks at Devin in disbelief.  “Hey, man, do you have something to say?  ‘Cause if you do, just say it now.”

Devin looks at Max challengingly.  “Yeah, maybe I do.  Let’s start with the fact that you killed an innocent girl in there all but two hours ago!”

“Oh please, you've killed, what, five men?  At least?”

“What are you talking about?” Devin asks.

Max snickers.  “What, you thought that word didn’t spread around about the new guy?  Everyone knows what you did to those people who killed your family.”

Devin shoots Max a deadly look.  “What did you just say?”

“I know your dirty little secret, Devin,” Max threatens.

Devin’s vision turns red.  He holds out a hand, and within a second a foot-long blade flies into his grip from a nearby tree.  He turns the blade on Max and wrestles him to the ground.  For a little bit, the element of surprise is enough to give Devin leverage, but Max is taller and stronger.  In one smooth movement, Max disarms Devin and pins him against the cool ground.