Annabelle sits in a field painting the sea on a pedestal. She happens to finally look up after an hour of painting from memory and see smoke billowing into the air. She gets up from her seat to take a look only to run right into Paul O’Connor.
He smiles at her. She looks in fear then turns to run the other way. She is blocked off by Marcia who gives a simple smile, depicting the pleasure she found from trapping humans like rats.
Annabelle turns to her side then takes off running. Marcia looks at Paul for permission. Paul nods to her and Marcia throws her fingers out towards Annabelle. Annabelle is hit in the back by needles that paralyze her instantly. She hits the dirt…falling to sleep.
Paul walks to her. He stands over her shaking his head. “Such a talented young girl. Shame she’s involved with such seedy people.” Paul said stepping over her limp body. Marcia chuckles and follows Paul towards the city.
Tony and Madison were in Big Lucy’s café drinking a coffee together. She had finished telling him all that had happened to Joseph. Of course they were very quiet about it so as not to alarm anyone and keep them in the dark.
Tony was pretty shocked to hear the story that was related to him. Madison looked a bit solemn as she stared out of the window. She didn’t like to see Joseph like he was. He used to be so much more…calm and collected. At times, he was something that she had never seen before.
Tony had gotten a glimpse of that beast…that inhumanity in Joseph when he told him that his grandfather had died. However, he was knowing now and any other news of the same sort that came up would be sealed away…to protect Joseph from…being anything other than himself.
Tony was about to ask Madison a question, one of a personal nature when something however caught his eye. Movement, one that he recognized and practiced himself. He got up looking out of the window.
“Something wrong honey?” Big Lucy asked Tony. Tony was however focused on what was happening outside of the window. Madison followed his eyes out of the window trying to find what caught his attention.
The first bullet strikes the glass and Tony knocks Madison on the ground. He holds her down as the bullets fly overhead. Big Lucy ducks down going for her shotgun. She grabs it holding it close to her, ready for someone to come.
Tony stuck his head up after the bullets stop coming in. He saw a man standing on a pedestal. He was smiling as he took the megaphone.
“Good citizens of New Heights, Virginia. You are holding a hostage in your midst, the one named Joseph Arlington. He is mine and I want him back. Until I see him…cuffed well…this town is under siege.” Paul said. His eyes cross over into the café seeing Madison and Tony. He stops smiling jumping down from the pedestal. He motions his men to point their weapons at them.
Tony tenses up but Madison places her hand in his. It seemed to have a calming effect. Paul gets in front of them both.
“I forgot that Joseph had one remaining guy friend alive and well left in this world. Tony Kingston…the man who worked for his grandfather’s Secret British Service. Nice to see you here, so I can pull your guts out in front of the little lady here.” Paul said to him. “You’re going to pay for this.” Madison said to him defiantly.
“Who’s going to make me pay…oh wait…don’t tell me…Joseph Arlington?!” Paul said laughing.
There was a hitting sound. Paul spins around seeing his men were all on the ground knocked out. He turns to the roof to see Joseph standing there with his staff out. Paul frowns at Joseph.
“You’re in my city.” Joseph said coldly. “I’m in the IOSTA’s city. You’re trespassing.” Paul told him. Big Lucy rolls out firing her shotgun. The shot doesn’t do a thing. In a swift maneuver, Paul’s blade spun the bullets away from him and return to its holster in the blink of an eye.
“Did he…” Big Lucy asked. Tony runs at Paul. Joseph’s eyes widen. Tony swings at Paul who leans to the side out of the slow blow. Paul grabs him by his neck then jabs him in the gut with his knee. He wrings his hand on Tony’s neck then forces his strength on Tony spinning him in the air. Tony was thrown flat onto the ground by the spin.
Paul places his foot on Tony’s spine. He was going to break it with the twist of his foot. Joseph throws his staff at Paul. It hits Paul right in the foot which knocks him off balance. Joseph leaps down from the top of the building.
“Get out of this city!” Joseph said in a crude voice. Madison runs to Tony to help him up. Paul runs at Joseph unsheathing his blade. Joseph spins his staff and blocks the attack. Joseph spins around Paul hitting him in the back.
Paul starts swinging his blade in a blur of strikes. Joseph blocks the flurry of attacks. HT only thing that can be seen is sparks from the metal clashing. Joseph finally gets the upper hand. He smashes Paul in the gut, then in the arm, then a straight shot into the head. Paul slides back defeated once again.
“You know…there’s an awful pretty girl out at the cliffs.” Paul said with a smile. Joseph’s eyes widen and squint. He snorts as he bares his teeth with a low growl in his voice. Paul’s smile widens on one side into a smirk. Joseph leaps on Paul and they roll on the ground.
“JOSEPH! DON’T!” Madison yelled. Tony gets up. He looks at the shotgun that Big Lucy had dropped as she escaped. He grabs it and points at them both.
Joseph was beating Paul senseless. Paul was completely surprised by the ferocity of the beast within. Completely surprised that the anger did not work to his advantage. Joseph was faster, stronger, even more skilled than he normally…now it was doubled with the formula.
“GET OFF HIM SOLDIER!” Tony said with a commanding voice reminiscent of Joseph’s grandfather. Joseph stops for a moment looking at Tony. “I SAID GET OFF BEFORE I BLAST THE BOTG OF YOU.” “Are you faster?” Joseph snarled. “Tony don’t.” Madison warned backing away.
Paul sees it as his opportunity to get away. Today was not his day. He still had the girl as a bargaining chip. He slips away unnoticed by Joseph as he rises up. Tony keeps the gun aimed at Joseph.
“STAND DOWN!” Tony orders. “You don’t give the orders!” Joseph said leaping at him. Tony fires the gun only to find himself on his back. Joseph raised his hands to strike.691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFxXkl4Mvk
“NO!” a voice said weakly. Paul stops crawling off looking back. Mr. Johnston had Annabelle at his side. He also held a pistol in his hand ready for anything.
Joseph stops his arms. He doesn’t turn around though. “Annabelle, keep going.” Madison said in barely a voice that could be heard. “Joseph…you don’t want to hurt this man. He did nothing wrong. It’s over…we’re all safe now. Don’t hurt the ones your trying to save.” Annabelle finished.
Joseph drew himself off of Tony. He blinked a few times as the yellow comes out of his eyes. He looks at the scared townsfolk in shame. He grabs his staff and leaps to the top of a building. He disappears from sight.
“He’ll be fine.” Madison said, knowing he was only going off to brood again. “Will he?” Tony asked. “He will.” She told him. “Are you okay Annabelle?” Madison asked. “I will be.”
They all leave that area. Nearby, Paul crawled to the Library that once was. He looked at the pink building and screamed to himself. It was gone…what he wanted at the moment. He continues his crawl out of the town.
Back in the field, his many troops were regrouping tending to the wounds that Joseph had inflicted on them all across New Heights. Marcia had not gone with the men…preferring to watch yet another plan burn into nothing.
“Did you find what you wanted?” she asked him. “No…the library was burned down.” Paul said. He turns to see electrical energy flying at them. Joseph had set up the cliff defense. It was time to go.
“We’re done here…” Paul said. He walks to the edge jumping onto his huge boat. Marcia walks to him. He grabs her hand and brings her on board. “This is far from over Marcia.” “He beat you up again.” “Not over…”691Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY3JYNJr0G
