Chapter 10: Dash
1047 Words
The further I moved away from the center of the kingdom, the less gloomy things became. Something at its center was radiating despair and stealing people's hope. But that wasn't the only thing bugging me. There was also a feeling of mistrust between the people in the kingdom. I trusted none of the residence.
I turned the next corner and saw the library two blocks ahead. A ray of sunlight seeped through the clouds and made the front doors glow. Maybe not all hope was lost. I started forward, but something shiny caught my attention.
The man stopped and stared at me for a moment, his hands clasping the piece of relic that had been found the day before. I motioned for him to come to me. Instead, he took off.
I raced down the street between buildings too close to drive a car between. A woman carrying her laundry stepped out from a doorway nearly bowling me over, and her laundry went flying. Any other time I would have stopped to help, but I needed to find the man who'd stolen the relic.
Taking the next left, I saw the man running away between buildings. "Stop!"
He did, but only to see if I would keep chasing him. He took off again and made a quick left. I had no idea where I was heading, but I took the first left and then a right, barreling into the man and knocking him to the ground. We both sat on the concrete stunned, each of us eyeing the relic.
"Touch it and you're a dead man," I said. He started to move, and I shook my head. "You run and I'll catch your ass and beat you to a pulp."
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to cause any harm."
I stood and grabbed the relic and then helped the man up, grabbing his arm and dragging him along with me to the library where I was supposed to meet Kyler and Oliver. We entered the library, and I led the man to the basement where Kyler and Oliver were reading through ancient writings.
"Who the hell is he?" Kyler asked.
Oliver nodded at the relic in my hand. "Why do you have that?"
I shoved the man forward. "This asshole was stealing it. I caught him trying to leave the kingdom." I sat the relic on the desk between Kyler and Oliver, happy to put the damned thing down. It had an aura to it that sucked the life from anyone who touched it.
Oliver approached the man. "Who are you?"
"Look at his robe," Kyler said. "He's one of the professors."
"You have no right to the relic," the man said. "It belongs to academia."
I laughed and shook my head. "You're kidding, right? Because what, your type will study it and not use it for evil?" That's bullshit, and I'm not buying it, asshole." I shoved him against one of the book stacks and pressed my forearm against his throat. "Let's try this again. Why'd you steal the f*****g relic?"
"Dash." Kyler put his hand on my arm. "Only hurt him a little bit."
"I'll turn you in for assault," the man threatened. "I'll have you all thrown in jail."
"He's kidding, right?" I chuckled and pushed against his throat.
"Okay!" he said. "Just back off." I moved back, and the man cleared his throat and adjusted his collar.
Oliver moved in front of the man. "Who really sent you to steal the relic? I know it wasn't for assholes like you to study."
"I was paid to steal the damned thing." His eyes grew wide. "If you turn me in, I'm a dead man."
"Talk," I said and moved behind Oliver, reaching over him to poke the man in the chest.
"A man name Stein. He works for Edius." He nodded at the relic. "You got it back; can I go now?"
"What's going on?" Cassandra put her hand on Oliver's shoulder and moved him back. Braeden joined her and moved her away.
"What do you know about Stein?" Braeden asked.
The man chuckled. "All I know is that he was recruited by Edius to do his dirty work. I'm already a dead man for letting you catch me."
"Let him go," I said. "We've got what we need."
"We don't." Braeden moved the man against the stacks again.
"Braeden, let him go," I insisted.
Braeden backed away, his jaws clenched, his face red. He shoved the man to the side, and the guy took off running up the steps. "Why the f**k did you let him go?"
"Chill out, Braeden. He doesn't have a chance anyway. Stein's going to kill him as soon as he finds out the guy failed."
"Yeah, and maybe he knew where the other pieces are. Or, maybe, he knew where we could find Stein and Edius." He walked away and then turned back. "You can be such an i***t sometimes."
"Braeden!" Cassandra said.
I went after Braeden and grabbed him by the shirt. "You should know better, Braeden. We both know I could kick your ass all around this place."
"Stop it!" Cassandra screamed, and I pushed Braeden away.
I pointed at Braeden. "You need to get your head out of your ass and quit worrying about your f*****g visions." Kyler stepped between us, but that didn't stop my mouth. "You control you. If you really had a vision, then you know how to prevent it from coming true. Quit dragging the rest of us down with you."
"Oh, that's just great, Dash. Like you never f*****g caused any problems." He came at me, but lucky for him Oliver got in the way.
"You're the one being an i***t, Braeden." I lowered my tone. "You can't even see that you have the power to change whatever you think is going to happen."
"I've had enough," Cassandra said. "I can't cope with all the fighting. We have too much other crap to deal with than deal with petty squabbles. I'm sticking to the plan. You four can stand here and argue all you want." She turned away and headed up the steps.
"f**k, guys," Kyler said.
"You're both idiots." Oliver sighed and followed Kyler up the stairs.
- Writer
