Talent storm, p.35
Talent Storm, page 35
We walked down the dim, musty tunnel. Our torch sparked and flickered, bouncing light along the dusty walls. The amount of dirt that lined the surfaces worried me. It was surely unhealthy to live down here. I couldn’t wait until we were free to live in the open air and walk in forests. Looking over at Sofia, I noticed her lighthearted smile. It seemed as if she didn't have a care in the world. How did she do it? We nearly died a few days ago, and we might die in the next few days. Anxiety built up in me and weighed me down. I shook my head thinking about how exceptional she was. I always admired people who had abilities beyond my own. Ben’s social prowess, Lilly’s duty and optimism, and Sofia’s strong mind and tough spirit were all skills I wished to possess.
I sighed. “I can’t stop worrying. I just wish this war was over,” I said, throwing my hands up in front of me.
She giggled, making the torch bounce up and down. A cluster of sparks shimmered to the ground. “You get so worked up. Maybe you should try this other technique. It’s important to realize that the past and future are not here, only the present is. All that’s here is a beautiful, intelligent, strong woman.”
“You forgot modest,” I said.
“Ha, how astute of you. The past is gone and will never affect you again unless you let it. The future is yet to exist and therefore can only assail your thoughts. Anywhere I am and anything that I'm doing, I put myself into it completely. I focus only on the present, concentrating on the sounds, sights, and smells of the now. When experiencing only the present, instead of terrible past events or worrisome future events, you can achieve a relaxed focused state where time fades away. Try thought pushing and then refocusing on your surroundings.”
“Hmm, and you can do that all the time?”
“Well, at first it was more difficult, but the longer I practiced, the easier it got. Plus, sometimes I lose focus and give myself up to hurtful events, like Kevin's death for instance. I also never fully learned to control my temper despite all my techniques and talent.”
“You can’t be perfect all the time.”
She smiled, meeting my eyes. “So you think I’m perfect some of the time?”
I matched her smile. “Yeah, I do.”
She leaned in and kissed me slow and sensually.
“Ahh, the feel of perfection,” I said.
She giggled. “So what do you think about the technique?”
“It sounds rather liberating. It's a lot like the meditation that they taught us at the Academy to relax our bodies and increase our talent control. I just can’t do that constantly.”
“Yeah, I look at it like a form of continuous meditation, but rather than focusing on breathing, you focus on whatever is going on around you. When most people hear footsteps, they know they are footsteps and move their attention to other thoughts. I experience things with my senses and then continue to focus on the sensations. It helped me eliminate feelings of anxiety a long time ago.”
“All right, let me see what I can do.” I laid my hands on her waist, holding her at a distance, admiring her toned, but curvy physique.
Behind me, a cool breeze blew through the surface grate, its soft touch soothing me. Sunlight poured in and warmed my back. Besides the tunnel’s mustiness, I smelled a hint of soap from my recent shower mixed with the light aroma of Sofia's vanilla perfume. Everything was tied together by the warm feel of her waist slowly expanding and contracting. For an unknown period, I experienced my present more thoroughly than ever before. I was never someone who focused on the details of my surroundings, but now I gained a new appreciation for the practice.
“See what it can be like?” she asked, her lively voice mingling with the other sounds of the present. “It's not just useful to relax yourself either. Being tuned into the sounds around you makes you better prepared for an attack, like when I heard that mouse.”
I whipped my brow. “Yeah. That was a close one.”
She tapped my arm and rolled her eyes. “You joker. You never know. People who don’t pay attention are the ones who find themselves surrounded by enemies.”
She was right. Even though we were around the same age, she was much wiser, and I admired her for it.
We laid down a red and green wool blanket in the sunlight from the grate, and sat cross-legged on the scratchy surface. Another breeze blew in, bringing in fresh air. It was almost like being outside. I closed my eyes, imagining that I was back at my childhood creek, with the sun warming my skin and the water bubbling before me. When I opened my eyes, the image of beauty didn't fade. Instead, it changed into the breathtaking Sofia. The sunlight illuminated her eyes, making them even more radiant and alluring. I enjoyed the simplicity of the moment until a translucent green bottle in her hands pulled my eyes away.
She held the liquid filled container up before me. “It's a special drink that we ferment. Pavel has been making it for years. I think that he uses potatoes... at least when he can find some. I have no idea what he uses the other times.”
She uncorked it, took a swig, and passed the bottle to me. I thought of Ben by the creek. I shook my head, refocusing on the present, not wanting to diminish its perfection. The bottle was cool and heavy in my hands. I raised it to my mouth and took a healthy gulp, instantly regretting it. The harsh abrasive liquid puckered my face, setting my throat on fire.
“It's good,” I said when I could manage it, my voice sounding like a rasp.
She giggled. “You might want to sip it. Pavel likes a stiff drink.” She took the bottle again and gulped it, her smile unwavering.
Sometime later, we finished eating our assorted dried fruits and hard bread meal. By the time our special brew was half-gone, we lay on the ground like fools, laughing at nothing. I loved it.
After our latest laughing fit, I propped myself up on my elbow. “I need to tell you something,” I said, trying hard not to slur my words. “Before I met you, I was in love, just like now.”
She faced me and beamed a drunken smile. “You love me.” She ran a single finger down my chest.
My skin warmed and tingled under her trailing finger. I glanced down at her hand, smiling, then looked up and admired her caramel-colored thighs that extended from her mini skirt. I imagined running my tongue along her smooth skin, tasting its sweetness. I longed to kiss and nibble her toned stomach, to hear her moan and feel her writhe beneath me.... Wait. I shook my head, scrunching my brow. Wasn’t I about to say something important?
Sofia waved in my face. “Hi.”
My head shot up to meet her eyes, my face blushing. I felt my stomach tense and burn.
“Oh don’t be shy. I like the way you’re looking at me. Touch me.”
Suddenly I felt my muscles relax as if under some spell. Anxiety gone, my confidence soared. I smiled, my shoulders settling. I lived for moments like these. Even if I only had a few, I wasn’t some inexperienced boy. I had talent tricks that would make her shudder with pleasure and beg for more. Wait, how did I just get so relaxed?
I met her eyes. “Did you...”
“Why? You don’t want me to?”
“No, I enjoyed it. Just let me know when you’re going to do it. When I’m relaxed, I feel like I can do anything.”
“I love making people feel good.” Her eyes seduced mine as she traced the tip of her finger down my arm. “Want more?”
Whoa. “Yes.” She leaned in until I raised my hand. “First, I need to make a point.”
She leaned back smiling. “All right. It must be important.”
Talent, I hoped I wasn’t just being a dumb drunk. “It is. Over the last few months, we’ve spent nearly every day together. I’m drawn to your kindness, boldness, loyalty, and sass. No one’s tougher than you, and I admire you for it. I adore everything about you. You’re worth more to me than everyone in Liberty combined. I would leave with you in a second, if you asked, not caring about anything.”
She hugged her hands close to her chin and tilted her head, her curls bouncing. “Aww,” she said.
I smiled. She could be so cute, when she wasn’t slashing people in half. “I know you want to save your people, and I’m glad because so do I. You awakened ideals and morals inside me. I won’t stand by and let innocent people be abused, cheated, stolen, raped, or killed by Goldwater and his men. They need me; they need us. We can protect them all. We’ll win, and then we’ll be free to love.”
“Oh Jaden, I love you too.”
I felt bold, unworried about any consequences. “I don’t believe that’s exactly what I said.”
She furrowed her brow, throwing her hands down to her sides and huffing.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “This liquor’s making me silly.” I took her hand, caressing it softly and gazing into her eyes. “I want to say it though. I love you.”
Her hard stare softened as she smiled. “I could tell. I knew you liked me as soon as you saw me.”
She was good. I barely finished my thought before she kissed me. My desire only intensified when I felt her soft breasts press against me. I reached down and massaged her bare thighs while our lips danced. When she kissed my neck, I shivered, wanting more. She obliged, kissing me until I pushed her on her back. I interlaced my hands with hers and lowered her arms to the ground above her head. She smiled, winked, and then mouthed a kiss. I leaned in before giving her one, loving the feel of her lips caressing mine. She moaned, breathing heavy.
I gasped, when she pushed me back. “Man, you’re aggressive,” she said.
“What... I thought you...”
Her lips stretched into a wide smile and her eyes sparkled.
I shook my head, laughing.
“I enjoyed it,” she said. “And I want more of it. I just think we should take it slow. It will make it more fun.”
“That's hard to agree with now,” I said, glancing down.
She laughed. “You’ll find a way.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Let’s go back.”
☼☼☼
Sofia’s Journal:
For so long, my life has been about revenge. I’ve killed, planned, trained, and killed again. It never stops and it has shaped me. When I was younger, I was nice gentle girl. Sure, I had my temper, but I controlled it well. I loved my sister and parents and helped whenever I could. It was about having fun then and being a family, not just killing. Now I’m a killer who has lived underground for years. I want to learn to be more.
I’ll keep fighting until Goldwater is dead, but now that I have Jaden, I have more of a reason to fight. I need to make things safe so that we can be happy and have a life afterward.
I knew immediately that he was attracted to me. When he rescued me, I knew he loved me. I loved him too but I was scared of losing him, scared of him finding out that I’m nothing more than a murderer. When I almost killed him, everything changed. I won’t live in fear. I won’t do it. I love him, and I’ll be with him. I love his bashfulness, his worry, his resilience, his power, and his passion, for me and the cause. I love his sultry kisses, his soft deliberate touch, and his longing looks. I’ve never been more worried or more excited about my future.
☼☼☼
The next day, the evening of our second strike had arrived. We exited our underground hideout into the darkness of night, dressed in full battle gear. Valleri had found an old steel breastplate for me to wear. Pavel stood in chain mail, Valleri in a green breastplate, and Barid in brown leather. Sofia wore her studded black leather armor and carried her serrated sword. I missed sunshine, relaxing days by the river, and walking without watching my back. Soon I would enjoy those days again.
We set out toward the grand duke's location at the primary supply depot of Liberty City. Our main objective was to assassinate Sharpe and our secondary objective was to destroy the supply depot. Not only would we be weakening the territories leadership, we would be depriving them of arms, armor, and ammunition.
We jogged down streets in a tight unit. Just as we turned a corner, someone screamed. In the distance, a mob of people shouted and broke windows, fires burning behind them.
“Jaden, Sofia.” Valleri pointed at the mob. “I don’t want them to get hurt. Have them wait in their homes.”
I nodded. “We’re on our way.”
I was glad that she was taking the time to help them. Sofia and I jogged to the mob. It was no surprise people were angry. Not only were they seeing the world as it really was, the Joy Drug must have worn off by now. The people’s fairytale was over.
A red-faced man, wearing nearly rags, brandished a metal pipe. “Where did you take my daughter? Murderers!”
Off to his right, on the street curb, sat a half-starved boy rocking and sobbing uncontrollably.
A woman screamed and smashed her fists into the ground while another yelled, “We’re starving!”
A little blonde girl, holding a mud-spattered teddy bear, tugged at her mother’s arm. “Mommy, I’m scared. Why won’t you help me?”
Her mother continued to stare expressionlessly at the wall.
A woman pointed to a pile of bodies, sobbing. “Why are these dead people here?”
“Down with Goldwater, the tyrant!” someone yelled. The mob continued to shout in anger and confusion.
A line of Liberty soldiers rounded the corner wielding clubs and shields.
“You will return to your homes,” a soldier said.
“Die scum,” a man yelled.
A bottle sailed through the air and shattered on the soldier’s head. He collapsed, dropping his club. The rest of the soldiers ran forward with weapons raised and began clubbing the crowd. One of the soldiers smashed a child in the face, crumpling her to the ground. The burly man stepped up and shattered a chair on one soldier.
“Jaden!” Sofia yanked on my arm.
I shook my head to jar myself to action. Sofia was already charging the men. A soldier raised his club in the face of a cowering woman. With a thought from me, his arm and then neck snapped. Another soldier grappled with the burly man. I held back the soldier’s arms. The burly man’s fist slammed into the soldier’s ribs, cracking them. Sofia’s sword ripped through a soldiers arm, then tore into another attacker’s chest. I focused on the shattered chair on the ground. Wooden shards blazed green, then sailed into the air. Five attackers fell limp, the shards sticking from their necks. The remaining attackers fled, but the crowd didn’t calm. People screamed, cried, or shouted curses.
Sofia stepped up. “Everyone calm down,” she said while unleashing her talent.
The crowd immediately quieted and relaxed.
“Go home and tell others to do the same. Stay indoors. People are fighting for your rights so that you don’t have to.”
The people shared hesitant looks as if embarrassed, then lowered their heads and left. We jogged back to where the other rebels stood.
“Good work guys,” said Valleri. “Let’s go.”
We trekked down several more streets. I was amazed by the level of destruction the nightly riots had yielded. Buildings that were previously missing chunks of walls were now leveled entirely. Fresh, black burn marks from explosions marred other standing structures. The wind blew smoke from a nearby burned building. I coughed, waving my hand in front of my stinging eyes. The worst part of the destruction was the countless bodies littering the streets. Men, women, children... it didn't matter; they were all targets of the violence.
Some bodies were charred, unrecognizable messes with burned out eyes. Others were riddled with bullet holes, lacerated by blades, or crushed with maces or clubs. Every corpse with a recognizable face wore frozen expressions of horror and pain. Hordes of flies landed on and buzzed around the bodies. The air was thick with the metallic smell of blood and the sulfuric odor of explosions. I wrinkled my nose and turned away to find a stray dog gnawing on a dead man’s arm. Unable to take the scene, I mentally pushed the dog. It scurried away with a yelp. I looked over at Pavel. His expression was neutral, his arms crossed.
“I hope what we're trying to achieve is worth it,” I said.
Pavel turned toward me, his muscular jaw bunched in uncharacteristic anger. “It will be... the way this government responds to difficulties of the people's demands is unacceptable. If we don't end their tyranny now, we will see scenes like this one endlessly. The leaders are no better than a bunch of Wilders.”
Barid turned to him, smiling. “I didn’t even think you knew that many words.”
Sofia laughed and even Valleri smiled. I just squinted at Pavel as he scowled and rubbed his temples.
“I guess this destruction could make anyone act strange,” said Sofia, shaking her head.
“He's right though, Jaden,” said Valleri. “Sometimes the state of things has to get worse before it gets better. Nieri’s death moves us one step closer to saving Liberty.”
I grunted. “We better win or all these deaths will be for nothing.”
Sofia squeezed my hand before meeting my eyes and nodding.
Pavel shook his head, his eyes locked on a crumbled building. “There will be an end. It’s inevitable, and it’s coming soon.”
☼☼☼
We jogged the remaining few miles into an old, rusted warehouse that Pavel led us to, and we entered.
Valleri addressed the group, “All right everyone, we’re a mile from the depot. Check your gear, ready the explosives, and take a short rest. We’ll strike in approximately a half-an-hour.” She shrugged out of her green armor before laying it down, then walked to the corner near the back entrance. “Jaden, come have a word with me,” she said, waving to me.
I followed while looking over the other rebels. Sofia sat along the wall, rubbing black grease paint onto her sword to prevent reflection. Barid was busy checking over and readying the explosives.
When I arrived at the backdoor, Pavel walked by me. “I need to use the outdoor facilities. I'll be right outside the door,” he said.
Valleri regarded him for a moment, then shook her head and turned back to me. “Jaden, this is going to be a very dangerous mission. Sharpe is an insane maniac and you’ll find her talent very difficult to block. Until she is eliminated, this fight could go very badly. If we can disable her, then her guards will fall quickly. But if she gets control of the situation, it might be our last fight. We are so close now, close to a free Liberty. It's up to you to—”
