Disclaimers: This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real people are coincidental. If you are under the legal age in your area to read erotic literature, please stop reading this and go somewhere age appropriate. If you are offended by homosexual material, please stop reading this and go somewhere your bigoted little mind can handle. If you're looking for pure sex, and plot/character development only get in your way, this story is definitely not for you. The rest of you, please enjoy chapter nine of this tale.
----------------------- Godsend Chapter 9:
Dad was pissed. Mom was crying. I was in too much shock to do either. It was Hebe who took my arm. "I'm going to take you home now," she said softly. Her aspect had changed. She was no longer dressed as the cop she had been impersonating. Now she was wearing a simple yellow sundress. She was actually very pretty, with long light brown hair and bright blue eyes. She also looked to be about my age. I could see the sorrow in her face, though.
"You don't have to," I said, trying to soften my voice as much as I could. "I can just go home with my parents if you need some time."
"No," she said with half of a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I need to be doing something right now. Besides, I have to return the cop to her home and work on clearing her name for helping you escape. I'm not sure how yet. I was in too much of a hurry to bring you here to actually think things through."
I patted her hand and walked with her toward the exit. I thought about telling her that it really didn't matter what we did at that point, since we were all doomed, but I needed her to be calm right then as much as she needed to be calm. We walked down to the stolen police car and got in. The drive was silent. I willed my energy to Hebe to give her strength, and I felt her doing the same for me. I couldn't cry. I wouldn't. Even though I barely knew her, I needed to do this for her. I needed a purpose so I wouldn't feel so...
Helpless.
A tear rolled down my cheek, then another. I began sobbing. Hebe slowed the car to a stop and her tears began as well. All of the fear, all of the loss, all of the hopelessness, it all poured out. I cried like I never had before, fully and completely, with all of my being. With this girl who was virtually a stranger, I let my most raw emotions flow out of me.
I cried until there was nothing left to cry. Then I sat in silence. "Stefan?" Hebe said after a while.
"Hmm?" I asked.
"Thank you," she said. "I don't think I could have done that with anyone else."
"I needed it, too," I said, putting my hand over hers on the gear shift. I looked up at her and saw her blue eyes rimmed with red. There was still sadness in them, but a weary one. She was done crying. She was beautiful.
I darted my head over and kissed her.
"Stefan, I..."
"Shh," I interrupted. "Just let it be. Let's go home." She nodded with half of a smile and started the car again.
She giggled a bit as she drove off. "Thanks, Stefan, you're sweet." Within moments, we were pulling in through the back driveway at my house. When we arrived, there were no police or media present, but there was another car that hadn't been there before. Outside Cade sat with Mike and Kelly.
When we stopped and I got out of the car, Kelly stood up and ran to me. "I was so worried about you, Stef," she said. "The car just vanished. Where did you go?"
"I can't talk with..." I nodded over to Mike.
"We told him everything," Cade said.
"No, you told him everything, blabbermouth," Kelly said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"It's not like you had a choice," Mike put in. "I wasn't going anywhere, and you two couldn't have talked if he hadn't."
"He still didn't have to just spill everything out like that," Kelly retorted.
"Apollo and Artemis are dead!" I blurted. All three faces turned to me. Mike and Cade tried to comprehend, but Kelly caught the significance immediately. She became deathly white and turned herself into the arms of Cade. Then the two boys understood and their faces were filled with pity.
"I'm so sorry, man," Mike said. "They were like family, weren't they?" Cade just gave me a sympathetic look. I knew he wanted to give me a hug, but was holding back.
"I didn't know them," I said. "But it doesn't matter. Watching them die was horrible, and we all had to do it." I told them everything that happened from getting into the cop car to the point when Hebe and I left the forum. I left out the car ride. It wouldn't help things, and it was a private moment Hebe and I would always have.
"Wow," Mike said after a stunned pause from all of them. "I don't even know how to begin helping with that one."
"You don't," Hebe said. "O'onerut can kill gods, and he wants to enslave humans. Nothing you can do can help us at this point.
"You are?" Mike asked, his voice slightly annoyed.
"Hebe, Goddess of Youth," she replied. "You are?" she mimicked in the same tone of voice, making Mike step back.
"Sorry," he said after shaking his head. "Things have been tense here since Stefan left."
"Tell me," I said. "Might as well have all the bad news."
"When you two went racing off," Mike said, "the police went chasing after you, and the reporters went chasing after the police. After a while, some of the police came back, but without the reporters. They said your car had vanished and that they would be waiting here for you to come back. They kept asking us how you did it, but I didn't know, and your sister and Kelly pretended they didn't, too."
"We didn't," Kelly added. "Now I know, since you told me, but I didn't know she was there when you left."
"So how did you get them to leave?" I asked.
"Cade did it," Mike said. I looked over to Cade.
"I saw what happened on the news," Cade said. "I came over as soon as I heard they were hunting for you. When I got here, they were waiting. I told them that what you did was disgusting and that I`d call them if you came here."
"Cade?" I asked.
"It'll only work on them once," Cade said. "After this, they'll know I'm not on their side and won't trust me. By the way, Stef, what did you do to those guys in the locker room?"
"Do you mind if I say, Mike?" I asked him.
"Cade, you better swear you won't tell anyone about this," Mike said, making himself as imposing as possible.
"OK," Cade said, uncertainly.
"Every guy that pulse hit is now at least a bisexual, if not gay," I told him, and Kelly and Hebe, since they were still there.
"You like guys now, Mike?" Cade asked.
"And girls, too," Mike said. "Stefan didn't take that from me, just added something new. Do you have a problem with me liking guys, man?"
Cade looked at him and snorted out a laugh. "Put the thug act away," he said. "I'm into guys, too."
I turned on my heel to face him as soon as the words were out of his mouth. "You're ok with telling him that?" I asked.
"Mike's an ally now," Cade said. "No secrets. Right Mike?"
"And maybe the two of you can get together and become - " Kelly began.
"No!" they both exclaimed in unison.
"Why not?" she asked. "You're both attractive. I think you'd make a cute couple."
"You know why I can't Kelly," Cade told her.
"You'll have to get over that, Cade," she said. "Stef's straight and won't be anything else."
"He could use his power on himself," Mike interjected. His voice was soft, almost hopeful. "I know you fed me a crock when you said you didn't think you could do it again," he told me. "I also think you could make yourself like guys by sending the pulse through your own body."
I stood silent. I hadn't thought of that. I reached inside to touch my power and feel my control over it. I could, in fact, do just what he was saying. I could make myself bisexual and be done with it. I'd still hurt Mike, though. I cared for Cade, and would definitely go to him if I were to change. I wouldn't have to hurt him any more that way.
But then, I'd also never be normal again. I'd never again know what it was like to fit in, like I had in the past few days. Sure, now that the world knew my powers, I'd never really fit in. Yet, I wasn't ready to give up who I was for other people.
"I'm sorry, Mike," I said. "I can't."
"That's bullshit, Stefan," Mike said. "You know you could if you wanted to."
I held my hand up to stop him. "By can't," I said, "I mean I won't. As far as I know, that's a permanent change. I don't want to make that sort of a commitment right now, if ever. I don't want to change who and what I am." Mike scowled, but I knew he'd be ok. Cade, on the other hand, looked like I'd just burned up his winning lottery ticket. "I'm sorry, Cade," I said softly, "but that's the truth. I can't help that I was born straight, but I was, and it became a part of who I am. I'm not gay. It's just not who I am inside. I really hope you can understand that and still be my friend."
"Jackass," Cade said. "Why would I stop being your friend for you liking who you are. I've been trying to get you to do that since I met you. It's biting me in the ass now, sure, but I'm not that easy to get rid of. I still love you, Stef, but I'm not going to get psycho over it."
"And you're not getting in trouble over it, either," Kelly said. "Call the cops."
"What are you talking about, Kel?" Cade asked, his confused expression mirrored in Mike's face, and probably in my own as well.
"Mike and I are going to take Stef out the back way," she said. "You're calling the cops back to tell them Stef is here, but you don't think you can keep him here. You'll still be helping us, but you'll be helping yourself as well."
"I'll stay as well," Hebe said. "I can impersonate Stefan's voice in the background. Want a fake girlfriend to show to the police, Cade?" I felt a sharp tinge of jealousy, but it was minor.
Cade smiled at her. "Sure," he said. "They'll definitely believe me if I have a strong moral Christian girl at my side, who's completely opposed to otherworldly powers and thinks gays are a sin."
Hebe laughed. "You're so cute," she said. "Too bad you're gay, or I'd definitely have a thing for you." Once again, the jealousy kicked in, a little stronger this time. It wasn't unmanageable, however.
I did, however, disagree with their plan. "I don't want to run from the cops, guys," I told them. They're just going to get angrier."
"What they're doing is wrong, Stefan," Mike said. "Stop being a pussy and get into the car." I looked at Mike with a bit of a glare beginning and he shook his head. "No. You're not backing out of this." He grabbed my arm and pulled me to him. Then he lifted me and carried me like a child to his car. Kelly followed and got in the back seat after opening the passenger door for me. I didn't bother trying to get out. Mike would just catch me and put me back.
"When they catch us, I'm telling them you kidnapped me," I told him.
"Fine," he said. "They already know which side I'm on."
He didn't say much else until we reached the gate. "I'm faster than you," he said. If you run instead of opening the gate, I'll catch you and bring you back. I don't have a problem carrying you like a baby again." Being unable to think of a way out, I did as he said. Part of me said to run when the gate opened, but it was the part that didn't like being told what to do.
Mike and the others just wanted to rescue me.
"Wasn't what I did wrong?" I reminded Mike.
"Forcing me to grope those guys? Yes," Mike said. "But not that wrong. They're all overreacting."
"You're missing the obvious," Kelly said to both of us. "Only the Reverend and a select few even care that much about a simple prank. You have powers, Stef. You're not human. Most of them are fixated on that and just want to have you under some sort of control. Until you come into your full powers, that's going to be possible for them to do. Right now, to them, you're just a freaky kid with magic tricks."
"I still think I should go back and sort this out the legal way," I told her.
"Which is why we're kidnapping you," she replied. "When you come to your senses, you'll thank us."
Mike took a turn into what looked like forest, but which gave away when his car touched it. I looked behind us and the greenery snapped back into place when the car was through. "The hell?" I asked.
"You're not the only one with secret places on this road," Mike said. "The team made this path because they were caught too many times at the outcropping overlooking the city. No one besides us and our girlfriends know about this place." We drove along this path, which was scarcely wide enough for the car, and was little more than two dirt trails along the weeds, for about five minutes before Mike slowed us down and approached a clearing where nothing grew but waist high grass. There was another car there as well, Jacob's.
We got out of the car and Jacob stepped out of his, eyeing us. Rona left her side as well, straightening her shirt. "You brought them here?" Jacob asked Mike.
"Emergency," Mike said. "Cops are after Stefan and we needed a place they wouldn't find us."
"Why would they be after Stefan?" he asked.
"Wait," Mike said, "you don't know already? It was all over the news. James got Stefan to make me grope the wrestling team a bit, then James double-crossed Stefan and I punched him, which sent out a wave of light. So far only the people we trust know what the wave did, though I think the wrestling team my be starting to realize it by now. When James told us that his dad was recording what was going on and sending it to all of the local news stations, I grabbed Stefan and ran."
"I was in the parking lot when they got out and I came with them," Kelly said, bending the truth. We didn't yet know if Jacob and Rona could be trusted. I looked over to Mike and caught his eye. He nodded and I knew he understood what Kelly was doing. "We tried to take Stef home, but it was crawling with police, so Mike brought us here."
"Look man," Mike said. "You gonna turn us in or help us?"
"We're brothers, man," Jacob said. "What do you think?"
Mike shook his head. "James is our brother, and look what he did. Do you think Stefan should be arrested for making me grope a few seventeen year olds?"
Jacob paused, but Rona spoke instead. "No way," she said. "James used you.
He knew you would say no to him because you wanted to be liked so much. He set you up. He should be the one arrested for what happened, not you. You may have forced Mike, but James forced you."
I didn't speak. I hadn't thought about it that way. James was as much at fault as I was for this, and they weren't arresting him. It was completely unfair.
I was about to say as much when there was a terrible screeching noise in my skull. I groaned and covered my ears, and I noticed everyone else was, too.
"What is that?" I asked, but it was doubtful anyone heard me.
Turning my head, I saw a vertical slash of gold appear across the clearing, and something jumped out so quickly all I could tell was that it was yellow.
Then the slash vanished and the sound stopped.
"Fuck, man!" Mike yelled. "That hurt!"
I heard him, but I didn't look at him. I was too busy scanning the area for the yellow thing that popped out of the gold slash. Whatever it was, I couldn't see it.
"Ah!" Jacob yelled and fell to the ground. The yellow figure was standing in his place. It was a man, as far as I could tell. At least, the size and shape were those of an physically fit adult male. However, I couldn't make out anything else because of the yellow leathery skintight bodysuit that covered every inch of his body, from his toes to the top of his neck. On his head was a black clawed structure, that looked like some sort of spider attached to the back of his skull, with its legs wrapping around to the edges of the face. Here was no hair evident. The skin that was showing was a fierce blood red color. Only his eyes were untouched by the outfit or paint, and they were open so wide that the whites were the most prominent part. He looked like he was going to kill soon, but since Jacob was trying to stand back up, I knew the man wasn't there for killing.
Rona shrieked. Mike took a defensive stance, and the creature jumped at him. Swinging his fist, Mike landed a solid blow on its chest, deflecting the flight path and sending it flying at Kelly. It landed on her, knocking her to the ground, then stood right back up, ignoring her. It started running for Mike, but Jacob jumped in front.
"You jumped me, you bastard," Jacob growled. "Lets see how you like a little one on one."
Mike lowered his fists and stood to the side. I assumed it was some sort of unwritten code between them to let them fight their own battles. The creature saw Mike drop stance and Jacob take it up. Apparently it knew what was happening, because it went for Jacob. This time, however, it didn't catch him by surprise. It took a swing and Jacob ducked it, coming back up with an uppercut to the stomach. The creature was knocked back, but otherwise showed no signs of even being hit.
It raised it's right hand and I saw claws extending from the tips. "Watch the claws!" I yelled to Jacob. He glanced at the hand and nodded briefly: noted. When the hand swung down at him, he jumped back, then jumped forward in a tackle, bringing the creature down to the ground. The creature contracted quickly, then send its legs out, kicking Jacob a good ten feet away, then jumped back up to its feet. Jacob landed on his heels and the momentum kept him falling. His back hit and his legs continued moving past his head, rolling him feet over head until he finally stopped by crashing on his stomach.
He coughed a bit and got back up, spitting grass and dirt out of his mouth. The creature nodded and began walking toward Jacob in a deliberate manner. Jacob readied himself, but the creature didn't attack. Instead, it quickly threw something into the air I couldn't make out because it was so small. It sent out a flash of light that filled the entire clearing. It felt like I had just grazed my finger against a live wire. There was a buzzing, tingling feeling, but it was too quick to be painful. Then realization hit.
I couldn't move. No one could. The creature closed the final distance to Jacob and put it's arms around him. Then both of them faded into thin air.
Questions? Comments? Do you eat beans? Do you like George Wendt? Contact me (Joe) at academygm@hotmail.com .