Twenty minutes had passed and, after testing his endurance by running as far as he could, albeit with a couple breathers in between, Nathan leaned against a wall, gasping for breath. Darting his eyes around, his adrenaline began to wane as he realized that no one in the area seemed to take notice of him. With this brief respite, his mind involuntarily flashed back to the carnage he had just unleashed on innocent civilians, the same civilians he had once made an oath to protect. The screams. The panic. The sheer destruction of it all. He knew this was the correct course…no, the only course he could take.
Clenching his fists and steeling his resolve, Nathan pushed himself off the wall and began walking down the street, listening to the multiple sirens of first responders approaching the scene of destruction. He felt a dull ache in his chest as his legs trudged slowly, taking step after agonizing step. Surely by now they’re either already in town or going to be. If they’re here…if they’re responding to what he just did, he would need to find and make his way towards a suitable location to have a chat with them.
Closing his eyes, he pictured several locations he had seen while on patrol, locations that would provide multiple avenues for escape should they not be prone to chatting. He bitterly chuckled. He wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case. Hell, if he were still in the force and this was happening, he’d do everything in his power to stop the destruction. Nathan chuckled, the bitter irony not lost on him.
However, as soon as he thought of a suitable location, the sound of shoes slapping against the concrete rang out behind him. Looking back, he spotted a man and a woman quickly charging towards him. His eyes widened, instantly recognizing them. They had indeed arrived in the city, just like he had hoped. Don’t fail me now legs! He thought as he began sprinting away. Not until I reach that spot!
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“There he is!” Joren shouted as he and Nia ran in stride towards the man who matched the description of the suspect, who had just turned around and began fleeing. Ignoring the pain in his legs, he picked up the pace, increasing his strides as much as he possibly could. Nia changed her location, being just slightly behind Joren as he charged ahead.
“Keep an eye out! Just because he casts doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have a weapon on him!”
Joren nodded as his body slightly glowed. “Should that happen, I’ll be ready!”
Civilians, who were already confused by a man running down the street, stood in place as they watched him, unknowingly creating obstacles for the two of them. Despite the increase of pace, the man was putting some more distance between his pursuers. However, instead of staying on the street, he slowed down, turned left, and sprinted down an alley. Following suit, Nia and Joren slowed before continuing their pursuit down the alley.
At the end of the alleyway was a large square, used as a makeshift aetherball court. Four buildings stood on each side, creating three other alleys for the man to run down. However, to their surprise, there he stood, breathing heavily as he faced them. “So…you’ve arrived…” He breathed out, placing his hands on his thighs for support.
Nia and Joren, both breathing heavily as well, stopped just feet away, alert and prepared for a sudden conflict. “So, you’re Nathan, right? Nathan Anderson?”
Nathan nodded. “I am, and yes…I’m the one who just destroyed that business.”
Nia’s head bobbed slightly. “Don’t have very many criminals openly admit to their crimes, especially right after committing them.”
“That’s because they were just a means to an end. I needed your group here, and the only way I could think of to get you here was this…”
Joren clicked his tongue. “So, you’ve hurt innocents…you’ve killed an innocent woman, just to lure us here?!” His voice raised as his temper flared. “THAT was your goal?!”
Nathan’s eyes widened slightly as Joren spoke. “Wait…what–what did you say?” His voice changed pitch, wavering ever so slightly. “I didn’t kill a woman. Everyone that has been affected has–”
“She just died minutes ago, and it’s all thanks to you.” Joren spat out, his voice low and threatening. “She died protecting her child from a falling light fixture.”
Nathan took a deep and shaky breath. “I…see…I didn’t know…but…even still…I don’t have any regrets in my decisions. I achieved my goal in bringing your group here, and while I may have lost everything…at least I can prevent others from experiencing the same fate as me and warn you about what is to come.”
Nia took a small step forward. “‘Warn’ us? About what?”
“I know you’ve all been informed of those who have lost their minds. It’s been a steadily increasing phenomenon, and I know what…or rather who is indirectly causing them.”
“So, it IS caused by a caster?” Nia asked, her voice remaining calm as she placed a hand on Joren’s shoulder in an effort to calm him down. Nathan nodded.
“I know no one believes me, but I was once a part of the HPD. Graduated from the academy with top scores and was assigned a partner, Darius. He and I spent a few years together on the force, but one day, I decided to start looking into the mind breaks that had just started occurring in the city on my own. That was a mistake that has ruined my life forever.”
His hands trembling, he continued speaking. “I was approached by a woman who acted as if she needed help, and as soon as I approached her, she grabbed onto my arm and cast. Immediately, I felt something that I can only describe as a noxious course through my body, and to my horror, I noticed my wedding ring disappear right from my finger into nothingness. She then pushed me away and taunted me, stating that she wishes me luck with what remains of my life before running away. I chased after her and caught up, but in a physical confrontation…she absolutely destroyed me. Every technique I was taught was powerless against her and soon enough, she had knocked me unconscious.”
Closing his eyes, he shook his head. “When I awoke, the first thing I could think of was to head to the station to report what had happened, but I ran into a colleague on the way. However, he didn’t know who I was. When I pressed him, he immediately drove me away. That happened with each and every person…including my own wife. When I approached my mother…I tried to force her to remember me. I spoke of my childhood, our vacations we took, my father. However, as I tried to get her to remember, something…happened.”
Looking down and away, as if he was a kicked puppy, he swallowed a lump in his throat and continued, his voice cracking. “Suddenly, she grasped her head and began screaming in pain. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head before her body went limp, her pupils dilated before having a seizure. When she came to, she just…started speaking gibberish, not knowing even who she was. It was then that she fell unconscious again, and from what I can gather, she’s still in the hospital and still incoherent. It was then that I put two and two together.”
Looking at Nia and Joren, he continued. “I then approached Darius, hoping beyond hope that maybe he could remember me, but when he drove me away, I knew I needed to do something drastic. I knew of your existence, and that your job is to apprehend casters who are a threat to others. It was then that I decided to use my powers to bring you here…and I’ve succeeded.”
Nia and Joren looked at each other before glancing back at him. “You have my sympathies…genuinly, you do. However, we can’t just overlook what you’ve done. A mother is DEAD because of you! If you come with us, you can tell the council what you’ve told us and–”
Nathan shook his head. “I’m not going with you. Now that I’ve warned you all, my goal has now changed: revenge. I won’t let anyone get in the way of that goal, just like I didn’t let anything get in the way of warning you all.”
Joren scoffed before shifting into a battle stance. “So, you’re resisting arrest?”
Nathan nodded. “Indeed, I am.”
Nia shook her head and glowed, sticking her hand out. Immediately, Nathan was on the ground, getting crushed by increased gravity. However, as she approached him, Nathan opened his mouth, began to glow, and shouted. Joren and Nia were both immediately thrown backwards by the sheer force of it all, backs slamming against a wall. Nathan scrambled back up and began dashing towards the right alley.
Nia immediately stood up and charged in that direction, cutting him off from his escape. Joren took up position behind Nathan, glowing. Sighing, Nathan got into a fighting stance. “Fine then…if you won’t let me escape, then don’t blame me for whatever happens next!”
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