New Zion

“Say, Cole. Do you want to go to the park today?” Cole looked up at a man whose face he couldn’t remember.

“We can go check out the Rift while we’re there,” Cole looked up at a woman, her face perfectly clear to him. Cole nodded and stood up. They put on their coats and left their house. After reaching the park, Cole ran ahead of these people. He felt that they were his parents. He was only a little ways away from the Rift when the ground started shaking. Cole’s eyes widened.

“No! Not again! Stop!” Cole screamed as his parents were killed in front of him by the crazy man. Suddenly a flash of red appeared. Cole looked up at her. Please, let me die this time, Cole tried to say, but all he did was cry. The girl grabbed his hand and took him to the Rift. Cole heard her say something about finding her, and then he was lifted into the air.

“Don’t forget me!” she yelled. Cole opened his eyes. There was a bloodstained white tile floor in front of him. So I’m face down, he thought.

Welcome back to the real world, Cole, Alfred said, genuine relief in his voice.

How long was I out? Cole asked.

I’d say probably seven days, Elder answered.

You’ve regained my respect Cole. Not many people would have been able to do what you did, Dojo said admiringly.

I’m glad that you’ve woken up, Cole, Abra said. Cole could almost feel her hugging him. Cole blinked.

Where are the others? Cole asked.

They were beaten out of you. Your father has a tool than can temporarily stop your healing attributes by getting rid of your Rift particles, and it’d seem that it also released a lot of us. We’re the only ones left, Abra explained. Cole blinked.

I knew about the tools, but they free you guys? Cole asked. Elder seemed to shake his head.

We don’t really know, but it would be the one thing that makes the most sense. After all, we’re only tied to you because of the Rift, so when those ties are cut we’d leave, Alfred stated. Cole gave a slight nod.

Then how about I release the rest? Cole proposed. The voices were silent. Don’t you all want to go? Cole asked.

It’s not that we don’t want to go, Cole. It’s that we don’t really know what will happen to us when we leave you, Dojo said. Alfred seemed to nod. Cole grit his teeth.

I promised to find a way to release all of you, and here’s the chance to do so, and you don’t want it? Cole asked.

Don’t you have more to worry about right now, Cole? Abra asked. Cole blinked. Flex your right hand, gently, Cole did so, and he finally felt that his hand was surrounded by something smooth and soft. Cole lifted his head and looked over. There was crimson hair covering the side of the bed and his arm, and he could see two delicate hands holding his own. Cole began to push himself up with his left hand, but lightning shot up his spine, and he lay back down. Carefully and slowly, he twisted around so that he was on his back.

“Don’t go. I want to stay like this for a little longer,” Aria murmured, still asleep. Cole smiled and slid his hand between hers.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere,” Cole whispered back. Aria smiled and moved his hand closer to her head. He quickly looked around the room. There was nothing out of place except for a vase of flowers on the table next to him.

How long has she been here? Cole asked. Abra seemed to smile.

She was here pretty much since the beginning, she said.

She’s the one you’ve been searching for, isn’t she? Dojo asked. Cole nodded.

Terra age slower, right? Elder asked. Cole nodded. She may be too old for you Cole, Elder admonished.

She’s Terra with Berg Leute mixed in. She’s ageing like her late Grandmother. She really is seventeen years old, Alfred laughed.

And you’re a hundred and seventeen. She’s too young for you either way, my boy, he said. Cole inwardly sighed as Elder and Alfred laughed. Aria’s ears twitched. Cole lifted his hand and started stroking her hair. Cole looked up as the door to the infirmary opened. Summer walked in with Sophie in tow. Summer silently walked over and checked the monitors, then turned to him.

“How are you feeling?” she whispered. Cole looked up at her.

“My spine hurts when I try to sit up,” he whispered back. Summer nodded.

“Well, that’s a whole lot better than it could be. I need to check the wounds on your back, so could I roll you back over?” Cole nodded as she did so. Aria stirred as Cole’s hand left her head. Summer began undoing the bandages and pulling them off. Aria sat up as the final bandage was pulled off. She looked down at his back and gasped.

“They did all of that?” she exclaimed. Cole shook his head.

“No. The fresher ones, yeah, but the other ones are just wear and tear over the years,” Cole said. Aria kept staring at his back. Cole smiled. “That’s not even all of it,” Cole grabbed her hand. “Don’t worry so much,” he admonished.

“Cole, are you ok?” Cole looked over at Sophie. She was standing on the other side of the bed. Cole smiled.

“I’m fine, don’t you worry. It’s just gonna take longer for me to get better than normal,” he said. Sophie nodded.

“Daddy says that he needed to do what he did,” Sophie said. Cole nodded.

“I know. He did. I’d done something really bad, and the Family needed to be reminded that no one is above the rules,” Cole explained. He looked up at Summer. “When do I get to be vertical?” Summer thought for a moment.

“One more day of rest, then you can start moving around again. A day after that and you’ll be back to normal,” Cole nodded.

“Well then, I should get back to resting. Thank you for everything, mom, and thanks for the flowers, Sophie,” Sophie smiled and nodded. Cole returned the smile, and patted her head.

“C’mon Sophie, let’s go,” Summer said as she grabbed her hand.

“Why does she get to stay?” Sophie asked, irritated. Summer smiled.

“That’s a secret,” She said as she led Sophie out of the room. Sophie huffed and left the room. Summer turned back to them and smiled.

“Take care of him for me, ok?” Summer requested before closing the door. Aria nodded and turned back to Cole after the door had closed.

“You can come up here on the bed with me if you’d like,” Cole offered. Aria blinked.

“W-What?” She stammered.

“Well, I’m sure it’ll be more comfortable than what you’ve been doing up till this point,” he said. Aria looked at the bed for a moment.

“But, I don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” she said. Cole smiled.

“I don’t think it’ll be a problem,” he said. He grabbed her hand and gave a slight tug. Aria finally hopped up onto the bed. “It’s also cold, so it’ll help me stay warm,” he said as he pulled her close. Cole’s breathing became shallow as he drifted off. Aria stayed awake for a while before slowly falling asleep.

“Huh. I didn’t take you for the kind to hop into bed with a guy you’ve only been with for a short while,” Aria cracked open one eye to see Ryan sitting in her chair. She quickly opened her mouth to respond, but Ryan held up his hand. “I’m just kidding,” he said. He looked back at Cole. “Have you heard him?” Aria looked at Ryan, confused.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she said. Ryan shrugged.

“He talks in his sleep sometimes. I came in here two days ago and he was saying ‘No, not again, stop!’ But I haven’t heard a peep out of him for the last two hours,” he said. Aria’s face went as red as her hair.

“You’ve been watching us sleep for two hours?” she hissed. Ryan shook his head.

“I was watching my son sleep out of concern for him. You just happened to be there with him,” Ryan stated, smiling. Aria looked back at him.

“What did he mean by ‘No, not again, stop’? I was never awake when he said anything in his sleep,” Ryan looked out the window.

“Well, you do know where he came from, right?” he asked. Aria nodded.

“He is the sole surviving human from earth,” she said. Ryan looked back at her.

“He must’ve been dreaming about his final moments on Earth before getting stuck in the Rift. I don’t know exactly what happened to his parents though. They never made it to the Rift, and Cole says he doesn’t remember, but that’s obviously a lie,” Ryan said, looking down at Cole. “Well, enjoy your time with him. I need him as soon as he’s ready to fight,” Aria looked up at Ryan.

“To fight? What the heck is wrong with you? He’s only just barely recovering and you want him to fight?” Aria exclaimed. Cole stirred.

“Aria, it’s ok,” he said. Cole looked up at Ryan. “Just, give me a few more hours,” Cole requested. Ryan nodded.

“Five hours,” Cole gave a single nod and fell back to sleep.

“Five hours?” Aria asked. “What is wrong with you? He still has...” Ryan held up his hand.

“He only has five hours. Let him sleep,” Ryan said, standing up. “I need him now more than ever,” he said as he walked out of the room.

Ryan closed the door behind him. Peter and Simon were sitting in the hallway. They stood up.

“So, what are you two doing here?” Ryan asked. Peter stepped forward.

“We’d like to officially join the Avalon Family,” Peter said. Ryan looked him in the eye.

“Just because I asked the two of you to look after him through his school years doesn’t mean that you’re suddenly unofficially part of the Mafia,” Ryan stated. Simon took a step forward.

“Training isn’t an issue. Both of us have been learning and training under your people for a while now,” Ryan raised on eyebrow.

“This is the first I’ve ever heard of it,” Peter smiled.

“That’s probably cause we do it at night,” Peter said. Ryan sighed.

“Find Harry. He should be in the field out back,” Ryan said with a wave of his hand. Peter and Simon nodded and started to move. “Where’s the third one?” both looked back at Ryan.

“He has the simple basics of fighting down, so he’s already out there,” Ryan sighed.

“So he’s trying to get himself killed? See if you can’t get him back here in five hours,” Ryan said moving towards a terrace that opened into the back field. He stood in front of the Family members; a microphone was connected to loudspeakers throughout the city. He tapped the microphone and all the people in the field turned to him.

“Central City, this is Don Avalon. The Avalon Family has been fighting for your sakes the past three days against the gang menace. We are doing everything in our power to push them back. However, more are on their way, so I ask that any citizen in the city that thinks that they can do something to help, please approach a Family member and inform them of your skills. We will welcome any help that we can get, whether it is welcoming us into your homes, tending to our wounded, or constructing defenses.

“I also request that any who are not able to help please either remain in your homes, or move to either the Avalon Residence or to Central High, for your own safety. I thank you in advance for your time, understanding, and support. Stay safe,” Ryan turned from the microphone and made his way down to the Field. Harry walked over with a megaphone that was connected to the radios of the Family members.

“Good work at repelling those pieces of filth,” he said. There were cheers, but Harry quieted them. “But now’s not the time to celebrate. We need to get our wounded treatment, and repair the damage to the city as best we can. Any people left over will patrol the streets, polishing off any Gang members that remain. Move out!” The army in front of him cheered and ran out. Ryan turned to Harry. “Do not let the men breach in the warehouse until after this whole thing is over,” Harry nodded.

“Yes Don. Also, Zuri says that she’s finished making everything, and she thinks that she should start in on the next batch of projectiles,” Ryan shook his head.

“Tell her that we need the weapons that we already have to be repaired and re-distributed, and those special items moved to Bastion before the next wave of lowlifes gets here. We aren’t going to tip our hand yet,” Ryan said. Harry nodded and ran towards the smithy. Ryan looked out to the emptying field. “This should be a good test of our abilities,”

©2017