| Chapter 12 Nick was standing just at the boundary of the oasis. He knew the two were in there, and he waited for them to appear. "Nick, this is pointless, you standing out here," one said, from behind him. Nick turned around to face him. His vision was still blurred, and he rubbed his eyes. "Why won't you let me see you? Are you afraid or something?" Nick spat. "Not at all, why would I be afraid of you?" he laughed. "Then why not show yourself?" Nick asked. "Because it's not time yet," he said. "When the hell is it gonna be time then?" Nick yelled. "Soon enough," he answered. Nick shook his head, "I'm sick of this," and with that he started walking. "Just where do you think you're going?" the one asked. "Anywhere but here," Nick said, not looking back. He walked for a long time. He was starting to think they were gonna let him leave this time, when the other one appeared in front of him. Nick stopped and glared at him, "What do you want?" "You know what we want," he replied. "Well you're not getting it, so why don't you go pick on someone else," Nick said. He laughed, "You are going to be fun." "Fun?" Nick asked. "Yeah, most of you hold no challenge for us. You on the other hand, are going to be fun to break," he replied. Nick crossed his arms over his chest, "Not gonna happen." "Oh yes it will. It's just gonna take a little longer," he said confidently. Nick laughed at him, "Little full of yourself there aren't you?" "Like I said, fun," he said, stepping closer to Nick. Nick watched him like a hawk. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, but he wanted to be ready for anything. Nick kept blinking his eyes, hoping he would get a moment of clarity, so he could see his assailant. "What are you doing?" Nick asked, taking a step back. He didn't answer, but Nick heard something that sent chills down his back. It sounded like a sword being pulled from its sheath. Nick stared at the man, seeing the glint from the sun on the metal blade. Nick closed his eyes, reaching out with his feelings. He could see him better this way. Nick focused on his every move, as the man circled him, swinging the sword dangerously close to him. "If you're gonna do something, then do it," Nick said through clenched teeth. Suddenly the man lunged forward, and Nick stepped to the side to avoid the blade. As Nick stepped backwards, dodging each strike, he wished he had his sword with him. He knew this wasn't going to end well if he couldn't find something to protect himself with. Nick took another step backwards, bumping into something. He had been so focused on the one, he completely forgot about the other. Nick looked back as two large hands came around to pin his arms to his sides and hold him still. "Like I said, it is pointless for you to keep resisting us," the man said. "You're gonna have to kill me, cause I'm not giving in," Nick said. "We'll see about that," the one in front of him said. Nick felt the sword come down on him. He screamed as the most immense pain shot through his side. The man let Nick drop to his knees. He held his side, feeling the warmth of the blood on his hands. Nick looked up, seeing the two over him. He knew the final blow was coming when he caught the light from the sword. He closed his eyes, and screamed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everyone on the bus was awakened at the same time. The screams filling every corner in the moving vehicle. Tara quickly got out of her bunk, reaching over and pulling the curtain on Nicks back. She gasped at what she saw. Nick was holding his side, blood spilling over his hands. He was still alseep, and screaming at the top of his lungs. Brian and Lyn were instantly by her side, shocked at the scene. "Nick, wake up!" Tara yelled, shaking him. "God Tara, he's bleeding!" Lyn said, looking at her friend in a panic. "Get some towels or something," Tara said, still trying to wake Nick. "Nick!" Brian yelled, grabbing his face and forcefully pulling his eyes open. Nick jerked, then looked at Brian. Then the pain hit him, "Shit, that hurts!" Lyn came back with as many towels as she could find. Tara took them and held them to Nick's side. "Ouch!" Nick yelled, trying to get out of the bunk. "Nick, you shouldn't move," Brian said. "What happened?" Tara asked. Nick stood up and pulled his shirt off, looking down at his side, "They attacked me." Tara looked at him dumbfounded, "They tried to kill you?" Nick took one of the towels from Lyn and placed it over his side, "Yeah, they did. Can you help me with this?" Tara nodded her head, and put her hand over Nick's that was holding the towel. They both closed their eyes for a moment. Brian and Lyn watched as Nick pulled the towel away, wiping off the remaining blood from his side. The wound was completely healed, not even a mark as to where it had been. Nick turned and headed to the back of the bus. He made it into the �entertainment room' and sat down on the couch. "You alright?" Lyn asked, sitting next to him. He nodded his head as Brian handed him a bottled water. Nick took it and drank the whole thing before he looked at them. "Nick, why would they try to kill you?" Tara asked. "I dunno, they said I was going to be fun," he replied, "Then one of them took out his sword and attacked me. I was doing OK dodging him, until the other one grabbed me and held me." Just then the three appeared in the room. "Hi guys," Nick said. "Nick, you just said that one of them said you were gonna be fun?" Gideon asked. "Yeah, that's what he said," Nick replied. Jade and Tracy exchanged glances. "I think I know who it is," Jade said. Nick and Tara looked at her, shocked. "Who?" Nick asked. "His name is Jered, and he's bad news," she said. "Jered? As in his name means descent or to fall?" Brian asked. "Yes," Tracy said, smiling at how much Brian really did know about the origin of names in the Bible. Nick put his hand up, "Hold on. You're telling me I'm being tormented by someone who's name means to fall?" They all nodded their heads. Nick sank into the couch, putting his hand over his eyes, "Oh that's just great." "Oh it gets better," Tracy said. Nick looked at her, "I don't like the sound of that." "Jered never works without a partner, and I have a good guess as to who that is too," Jade said. "Who?" Tara asked. "Ephah, and he's just as bad as Jered," she answered. Nick looked at Brian. "It means darkness," Brian said. Nick leaned forward and put his face in his hands. "Jade, how do you know it's them?" Lyn asked. "Because we've lost several to them. And it's Jered's M.O. to tell his victim that he's gonna be fun," she answered. "So, how do I fight them?" Nick asked. Jade, Tracy, and Gideon all glanced at each other, none of them wanting to say what they all knew. Nick watched them, "No, don't tell me what I think you're thinking." "I'm sorry Nick, but no one that has faced them as come back to us," Gideon said, sadness in his eyes. "I told you not to tell me that," Nick said, feeling the despair grow inside him. "Nick, if anyone can fight them, you can," Tracy said. Nick shook his head, "How am I supposed to do that? I mean, damn, if was by myself just now, I probably would have bled to death before I even woke up! And how the hell did they do that to me from a dream?" "Nick, Jered likes to play with his subjects. This is something he does, routinely. He will never hurt you to where you can't help yourself, that's not what he wants," Jade said. "That still didn't answer my question," Nick said, "How'd he do that?" "We all have the ability to work through dreams. In fact that's mostly how we do it," Gideon said. "Jered has found a way to take that a step further, make the dream reality," Tracy said. "Can you guys do that?" Lyn asked. "When we need to, yes," Tracy answered. Nick looked at Tara, "Why haven't I learned that?" "Because it's something that you don't learn until after your trial," she answered. Nick looked frustrated, "But I could really use it now." He and Tara stared at each other for a few minutes. Finally Nick got up and went back to his bunk, pulling the blood soaked blanket and sheets off. Tara sighed, watching as Nick threw the whole mess into the trash, and went in search of some clean linens. "Honey, don't let him get to you like this," Brian said. Tara looked at him, and he could see the hurt in her eyes. Before he could say another word, she got up and went back to her bunk, climbing in and pulling the curtain shut. "Guys, what's going on here?" Lyn asked. Brian looked at them, waiting for their answer. All three shrugged their shoulders and disappeared. "Oh that's helpful," Brian said, sarcastically. Lyn looked down the isle of the bus. Nick had finished making his bed, and wiped the blood from the floor. He threw the towels away, then climbed in his own bunk, pulling the curtain shut. "I've got a bad feeling about this," Lyn said. Brian looked at her, "So do I." Chapter 13 |