Jeffrey Zweig II's Blog, page 8
February 26, 2012
Rising Volume 2, Issue 7 - "The only way evil triumphs is for the good to do nothing at all."
Elliot woke up on the cold hard floor of a warehouse. His head ached as he rolled around on the floor, unable to hold back a painful grunt as he came up from air out from a dream.
"Elliot! you're alive!" Sofia said and she came over to him. Slowly he opens his eyes to look up at Sofia. She was without her mask and had a bruise on the side of her head.
He touched his own face, the middle of his face that hurt - he also had no mask.
"Where are we?" Elliot asked.
"A warehouse on the West side. Close to home I think. They had blinded folded me, but not very well. I recognized some of the billboards I caught passing glances of when I tried to fight back."
"Robert? Ryan?"
"I'm here El." Robert said in the corner of the room, huddled scared. Slowly Elliot stood up to see him. "We're in deep shit now."
"Not helping." Elliot said trying to push out the headache that was coming over my head as Sofia helped him to sit up. They were in a small room, most likely an office at one point in time. But the windows were boarded up - this room hadn't been occupied in a long time.
"They got you hard El. I wasn't sure if they had killed you or put you into a coma or what!" Sofia continued.
"Who..."
"Who do you think?" Robert cut him off.
"Adam. So what else has happened?"
"Nothing. They stashed us in here. Been an hour, I think." Sofia said.
Then the door swung open. Bullet Heads walked in with military stride as they collected the heroes and brought them into the main storage room at the heart of the warehouse. It was barren with empty shelves with the occasiona propate tank for the small cooking burners that were there. There was also a pletehra of used office furniture. This was another hangout of theirs, as thre were at least a dozen gang members surrounding them of various ages, all disguised by the stark black mask with highlits of their brows like a cartoon character.
There was nothing cartoonish about this situation though.
Then there was Adam, in uniform - a new uniform thought modeled after the old one. It was a black suit with a white 'A' on his chest and on his mask that sported reflective lenses in his mask. He had a utiliy belt with different pocket that he could access with both his regular left arm, and the gimp right harm that set nudged against his chect like a t-rex hand.
Elliot remember - he smashed the hand against a brick wall - the police car that ran him over as he fled did the rest.
"What did I say to you when I saw you the other day in the clubhouse, Elliot?"
He didn't answer.
"I said stay out of my way. I warned you fairly. And off you went with the little nubile Sofia. Getting youselves in all sorts of trouble."
"Nubile is a complex wod for you, Adam."
"Shut your mouth Robert. For being the "genious" of the little group, you're not being very smart right."
"Where's Mary Jane?" Sofia asked.
"Safe. She doesn't need to be a part of this." Adam-man said as more Bullet Heads came from the front door of the warehouse, led by Ryan, and gathered around their leader.
"So what now, Adam?" Elliot asked.
"What now?" Adam-Man began pacing back and fourn in front of his cerw, his right arm twitching. Each step was rough, omnious and dominating. "I don't know. This was one of those things I hoped to never come to do. Cause are you going to stop? Like we stopped before?"
"You've made yourself the villain Adam. I can't help you if you won't let me."
"I think you did enough helping, El." Adam looked down at his gimp hand, then looked backat Elliot. "No, we're past that."
"Don't act so tough!" Elliot stood. Bullet Head body guards moved to intercept, but Adam dismissed them. "You're a kingpin now. And I have a duty to stop you."
There was a chorous of laughter among the Bullet Heads.
Ryan was not. He was only looking more paranoid than ever. His mask cuoldn't hide that fact.
"El, reconsider." Adam said.
"You dug your own grave, Adam."
Adam paced again. "No. You dug yours." Then he waived his left arn forward. Members of the gang grabbed Robert. Elliot was held as Sofia was grabbed too, just as she got up to her feet.
"Robert had nothing to do with this, Adam!" Elliot said.
"The moment Ryan was tied up in his house, he was involved! He pays the concequences like all of you will."
"Adam!" Ryan stepped out from the group behind his brother. "You can't! They were your friends!"
"No! They stopped being that when they turned their back on our cause. To put an end to the crime in this city. The Heroes Club was suppose to do that. I'm just picking up where we left off."
"No Adam. you've just made it worse. You firebombed Robert's house for crying out loud! Mom and Dad can't look past that."
"They'll never know, will they?" Adam nodded, and Ryan was added to the group now on deaths row.
Ryan faced his brother, went under his jacket, and pulled out a gun and pointed it at his brother.
"We're going to have to have another talk about bringing guns here, boys." Adam said.
"Stop it Adam. Before you kill someone!"
Adam stands there, deadlpan stare at his brother. "You're pathetic Ryan! Always have been! You don't have the balls to shoot your only brother."
Adam jolted forward on his right foot and threw a triad of ball and chain at Ryan's hand and knocked out the gun with frightening proficiancy.
Like slow motion, we all watched as the gun fell to the concrete. It hit the floor - and went off. A bullet went into the wall of a propane tank and exploded, setting the surrounding furniture aflame.
A large group of the Bullet Heads went down in flame as the debris from the wall and the surrounding furniture hit them. The frame of the wall went weak, being made of little more than aluminum and steel.
The lights flickered as the power died in the room. That was our chance, Elliot thought. He darted out of the grasp of the man that held him, snapped out his eltrctro rod, kicked the knee of the guy that held Robert, then slapped them in the face with the rod.
When he turned back in the same instant as he saw the Bullet Head lackies fleeing the scene, was when he saw Adam's fist going into his eye.
One-on-one, even with Adam's gimp arm, he was formitable, he had been training even in his offtime, where as Elliot had not. In fact didn't take long for Adam to best Elliot, dodging and counter striking on almost every move Elliot made and soon had Elliot at his throat by a black and silver jagged knife.
There were no words. Adam was ready to finish it. Elliot could see himself in teh reflective lense s of ADam's mask as the fear settled in. He as about to die.
Then a bullet broke through Adam's ribs. He felt the bullet hit the bullet-proof vest that Sofia had given him as Adam fell on top of him. Elliot was freaking out as he pushed Adam's still alive body off of him. He looked up, there was Ryan, with the gun, ready with another round. His hadn was still on the weapon, he was a natural.
"Ryan!" Elliot called out to him, but another explosion prevented them.
He looked to Adam, who looked at Elliot, his mask had partially come off. He could see his lonely eye poking out. There was a sense of defeat, yet no sign of regret. A faint smile spread across his face.
Sad as it was, the The fire was sperading - they had to get out. They could hear the metal of the warehouse moaning around them.
"Grab Adam!" Elliot said to Sofia and Robert who were nearby. Robert and Elliot quickly scooped him up, one under each arm, and headed for the back door. With Sofia behind them, they marched toward the back. It was just the old gang. The bullet head folk had abanonbed their leader after the first exploson. Seemed fitting, to Elliot anyway, how they would all go down in a blaze of glory.
They got to the back door and Robert shows surprising strength when he kicked it open.
The gang fell upon the grass afterwards, escaped from death, watching as the flimsy warehouse burned from the inside out.
"Elliot! you're alive!" Sofia said and she came over to him. Slowly he opens his eyes to look up at Sofia. She was without her mask and had a bruise on the side of her head.
He touched his own face, the middle of his face that hurt - he also had no mask.
"Where are we?" Elliot asked.
"A warehouse on the West side. Close to home I think. They had blinded folded me, but not very well. I recognized some of the billboards I caught passing glances of when I tried to fight back."
"Robert? Ryan?"
"I'm here El." Robert said in the corner of the room, huddled scared. Slowly Elliot stood up to see him. "We're in deep shit now."
"Not helping." Elliot said trying to push out the headache that was coming over my head as Sofia helped him to sit up. They were in a small room, most likely an office at one point in time. But the windows were boarded up - this room hadn't been occupied in a long time.
"They got you hard El. I wasn't sure if they had killed you or put you into a coma or what!" Sofia continued.
"Who..."
"Who do you think?" Robert cut him off.
"Adam. So what else has happened?"
"Nothing. They stashed us in here. Been an hour, I think." Sofia said.
Then the door swung open. Bullet Heads walked in with military stride as they collected the heroes and brought them into the main storage room at the heart of the warehouse. It was barren with empty shelves with the occasiona propate tank for the small cooking burners that were there. There was also a pletehra of used office furniture. This was another hangout of theirs, as thre were at least a dozen gang members surrounding them of various ages, all disguised by the stark black mask with highlits of their brows like a cartoon character.
There was nothing cartoonish about this situation though.
Then there was Adam, in uniform - a new uniform thought modeled after the old one. It was a black suit with a white 'A' on his chest and on his mask that sported reflective lenses in his mask. He had a utiliy belt with different pocket that he could access with both his regular left arm, and the gimp right harm that set nudged against his chect like a t-rex hand.
Elliot remember - he smashed the hand against a brick wall - the police car that ran him over as he fled did the rest.
"What did I say to you when I saw you the other day in the clubhouse, Elliot?"
He didn't answer.
"I said stay out of my way. I warned you fairly. And off you went with the little nubile Sofia. Getting youselves in all sorts of trouble."
"Nubile is a complex wod for you, Adam."
"Shut your mouth Robert. For being the "genious" of the little group, you're not being very smart right."
"Where's Mary Jane?" Sofia asked.
"Safe. She doesn't need to be a part of this." Adam-man said as more Bullet Heads came from the front door of the warehouse, led by Ryan, and gathered around their leader.
"So what now, Adam?" Elliot asked.
"What now?" Adam-Man began pacing back and fourn in front of his cerw, his right arm twitching. Each step was rough, omnious and dominating. "I don't know. This was one of those things I hoped to never come to do. Cause are you going to stop? Like we stopped before?"
"You've made yourself the villain Adam. I can't help you if you won't let me."
"I think you did enough helping, El." Adam looked down at his gimp hand, then looked backat Elliot. "No, we're past that."
"Don't act so tough!" Elliot stood. Bullet Head body guards moved to intercept, but Adam dismissed them. "You're a kingpin now. And I have a duty to stop you."
There was a chorous of laughter among the Bullet Heads.
Ryan was not. He was only looking more paranoid than ever. His mask cuoldn't hide that fact.
"El, reconsider." Adam said.
"You dug your own grave, Adam."
Adam paced again. "No. You dug yours." Then he waived his left arn forward. Members of the gang grabbed Robert. Elliot was held as Sofia was grabbed too, just as she got up to her feet.
"Robert had nothing to do with this, Adam!" Elliot said.
"The moment Ryan was tied up in his house, he was involved! He pays the concequences like all of you will."
"Adam!" Ryan stepped out from the group behind his brother. "You can't! They were your friends!"
"No! They stopped being that when they turned their back on our cause. To put an end to the crime in this city. The Heroes Club was suppose to do that. I'm just picking up where we left off."
"No Adam. you've just made it worse. You firebombed Robert's house for crying out loud! Mom and Dad can't look past that."
"They'll never know, will they?" Adam nodded, and Ryan was added to the group now on deaths row.
Ryan faced his brother, went under his jacket, and pulled out a gun and pointed it at his brother.
"We're going to have to have another talk about bringing guns here, boys." Adam said.
"Stop it Adam. Before you kill someone!"
Adam stands there, deadlpan stare at his brother. "You're pathetic Ryan! Always have been! You don't have the balls to shoot your only brother."
Adam jolted forward on his right foot and threw a triad of ball and chain at Ryan's hand and knocked out the gun with frightening proficiancy.
Like slow motion, we all watched as the gun fell to the concrete. It hit the floor - and went off. A bullet went into the wall of a propane tank and exploded, setting the surrounding furniture aflame.
A large group of the Bullet Heads went down in flame as the debris from the wall and the surrounding furniture hit them. The frame of the wall went weak, being made of little more than aluminum and steel.
The lights flickered as the power died in the room. That was our chance, Elliot thought. He darted out of the grasp of the man that held him, snapped out his eltrctro rod, kicked the knee of the guy that held Robert, then slapped them in the face with the rod.
When he turned back in the same instant as he saw the Bullet Head lackies fleeing the scene, was when he saw Adam's fist going into his eye.
One-on-one, even with Adam's gimp arm, he was formitable, he had been training even in his offtime, where as Elliot had not. In fact didn't take long for Adam to best Elliot, dodging and counter striking on almost every move Elliot made and soon had Elliot at his throat by a black and silver jagged knife.
There were no words. Adam was ready to finish it. Elliot could see himself in teh reflective lense s of ADam's mask as the fear settled in. He as about to die.
Then a bullet broke through Adam's ribs. He felt the bullet hit the bullet-proof vest that Sofia had given him as Adam fell on top of him. Elliot was freaking out as he pushed Adam's still alive body off of him. He looked up, there was Ryan, with the gun, ready with another round. His hadn was still on the weapon, he was a natural.
"Ryan!" Elliot called out to him, but another explosion prevented them.
He looked to Adam, who looked at Elliot, his mask had partially come off. He could see his lonely eye poking out. There was a sense of defeat, yet no sign of regret. A faint smile spread across his face.
Sad as it was, the The fire was sperading - they had to get out. They could hear the metal of the warehouse moaning around them.
"Grab Adam!" Elliot said to Sofia and Robert who were nearby. Robert and Elliot quickly scooped him up, one under each arm, and headed for the back door. With Sofia behind them, they marched toward the back. It was just the old gang. The bullet head folk had abanonbed their leader after the first exploson. Seemed fitting, to Elliot anyway, how they would all go down in a blaze of glory.
They got to the back door and Robert shows surprising strength when he kicked it open.
The gang fell upon the grass afterwards, escaped from death, watching as the flimsy warehouse burned from the inside out.
February 23, 2012
Link Fixed!
Also a maintenance update, getting to the createspace store on the left side has been blocked by a password. Through my own inexperience it was that way, but now I've changed it, and is now immediately available!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
A Weapon of Warrior Wisdom
I was browsing Warrior's earlier blog post and found this little gem. Hope that, if you are having a rough day getting inspired, it helps you out.
I feel, as an self published author and aspiring creative person in general, this gave me a little perspective today. But this could be for anyone.
I feel, as an self published author and aspiring creative person in general, this gave me a little perspective today. But this could be for anyone.
February 22, 2012
Rising Volume 2, Issue 6
Gauntlet and Rose waited until late in the night. The Bullet Head post went relatively unchanged until about one in the morning, so Gauntlet checked by the watch he kept in his pocket. Around that time a few more gang members left, which left Ryan and a couple others alone to man it. It was either very organized or lax - Elliot wasn't sure. But now was as good as any time to act before the rest came back if they just went to get something to eat.
They snuck across the street up to the front door which was a set of double doors that led to a hallway that separated the apartments. There was no one outside guarding the hall thankfully.
Gauntlet knocked on the door as Rose was on standby with her bat.
The door opened. The man on the otherwise was wearing the mask and stared down at Gauntlet.
"What the fuck do you want?" They said as Rose came around and hit them in the nads with the bat.
They curled up as a loud moan droned out of their body. Gauntlet stepped over them and entered the room, which was a messy living room with two couches.
Another gang member came along, and Gauntlet had to reach to jab them in the throat, nearly breaking their Adam's apple.
Ryan got up next but froze in fear.
"You have to go." He said.
"You're coming with us." Gauntlet said.
"You're nuts. Just like my brother."
"I think we're all off the deep end. Whatever Adam is doing, isn't good." Gauntlet continued as Rose cautiously entered the room with her bat ready to go.
"Don't you think I know that? but at least I'm on the winning team."
"I don't see it that way."
"Then I'm sorry El. But you and Sofia have to go. Now."
In a split second, a pain screaming out of the side of his neck, where Rose landed the bat. He just about blacked out when he heard Rose speaking.
"Sorry Ryan. It's for the best. So now what?"
"Now we're leaving and taking him with us."
"But where are we going?"
***
"What in the world are you doing here?" Robert said as he and Rose dragged the barely conscious Ryan into the room. Rose took a chair from the kitchen. Gauntlet popped out some rope and tied Ryan's arms and legs to the chair as he came around.
"We need to find Adam. Ryan doesn't want to cooperate." Gauntlet said as he backed away from Ryan.
"So your solution was to drag me into this? What the Joe?"
"Robert, shut up." As Ryan finally came around and started fighting the chair he was strapped to.
"Now we're really in it." Robert walked away.
"So, are you willing to talk now? Is is safe?" Gauntlet said as he stood before Ryan.
"Just what do you plan to do when you see him, El?" Ryan said. "What will this solve? The Bullet Heads have done nothing too you."
"On the contrary, they have already broken into my house once. And now they are terrorizing my town and are making us victims of our own environment. This ends." Gauntlet said.
"It won't end." Robert said from the corner of the living room. "We've made an unstoppable freight train. It won't end til we're dead!"
"Robert! Shut up! You wanted to help before - here's your chance." Gauntlet said.
Gauntlet walked away giving Robert some breathing space.
"How did you guys even get him here?" Robert asked.
"Back roads. Plus it is late at night. Where are your parents, Robert?" Rose asked.
"Out of town, thankfully. I don't know how I would explain this crap to them! I had to see a psychiatrist after that stuff! For four months!"
"You should have thought about all that before offering to help in the first place, Robert! It's too late now to back out!"
Then the lights go out throughout the entire house. Only the light of the street lamps were coming through.
"What the fuck?" Sofia said.
"Watch your mouth, Sofia!" Robert said.
"I think we have bigger problems than my language, Rob."
"Watch out!" Ryan said. "Something is coming through the window!"
Gauntlet barely had the time to react when a Molotov cocktail crashed through the living room window and set the rug ablaze and orange light washed over half the room. A second and third cocktail crashed through a window in the kitchen and another in one of the bedrooms. Then another followed in the living room, and by now there was no way to get out the front door. They had to go out the back. Gauntlet quickly released Ryan from his seat and led them to the back, past erupting flames of the kitchen, down a long hallway that led into the backyard.
Gauntlet opened the door, and the flat steels face of a garbage can lid was the last thing he remember seeing.
They snuck across the street up to the front door which was a set of double doors that led to a hallway that separated the apartments. There was no one outside guarding the hall thankfully.
Gauntlet knocked on the door as Rose was on standby with her bat.
The door opened. The man on the otherwise was wearing the mask and stared down at Gauntlet.
"What the fuck do you want?" They said as Rose came around and hit them in the nads with the bat.
They curled up as a loud moan droned out of their body. Gauntlet stepped over them and entered the room, which was a messy living room with two couches.
Another gang member came along, and Gauntlet had to reach to jab them in the throat, nearly breaking their Adam's apple.
Ryan got up next but froze in fear.
"You have to go." He said.
"You're coming with us." Gauntlet said.
"You're nuts. Just like my brother."
"I think we're all off the deep end. Whatever Adam is doing, isn't good." Gauntlet continued as Rose cautiously entered the room with her bat ready to go.
"Don't you think I know that? but at least I'm on the winning team."
"I don't see it that way."
"Then I'm sorry El. But you and Sofia have to go. Now."
In a split second, a pain screaming out of the side of his neck, where Rose landed the bat. He just about blacked out when he heard Rose speaking.
"Sorry Ryan. It's for the best. So now what?"
"Now we're leaving and taking him with us."
"But where are we going?"
***
"What in the world are you doing here?" Robert said as he and Rose dragged the barely conscious Ryan into the room. Rose took a chair from the kitchen. Gauntlet popped out some rope and tied Ryan's arms and legs to the chair as he came around.
"We need to find Adam. Ryan doesn't want to cooperate." Gauntlet said as he backed away from Ryan.
"So your solution was to drag me into this? What the Joe?"
"Robert, shut up." As Ryan finally came around and started fighting the chair he was strapped to.
"Now we're really in it." Robert walked away.
"So, are you willing to talk now? Is is safe?" Gauntlet said as he stood before Ryan.
"Just what do you plan to do when you see him, El?" Ryan said. "What will this solve? The Bullet Heads have done nothing too you."
"On the contrary, they have already broken into my house once. And now they are terrorizing my town and are making us victims of our own environment. This ends." Gauntlet said.
"It won't end." Robert said from the corner of the living room. "We've made an unstoppable freight train. It won't end til we're dead!"
"Robert! Shut up! You wanted to help before - here's your chance." Gauntlet said.
Gauntlet walked away giving Robert some breathing space.
"How did you guys even get him here?" Robert asked.
"Back roads. Plus it is late at night. Where are your parents, Robert?" Rose asked.
"Out of town, thankfully. I don't know how I would explain this crap to them! I had to see a psychiatrist after that stuff! For four months!"
"You should have thought about all that before offering to help in the first place, Robert! It's too late now to back out!"
Then the lights go out throughout the entire house. Only the light of the street lamps were coming through.
"What the fuck?" Sofia said.
"Watch your mouth, Sofia!" Robert said.
"I think we have bigger problems than my language, Rob."
"Watch out!" Ryan said. "Something is coming through the window!"
Gauntlet barely had the time to react when a Molotov cocktail crashed through the living room window and set the rug ablaze and orange light washed over half the room. A second and third cocktail crashed through a window in the kitchen and another in one of the bedrooms. Then another followed in the living room, and by now there was no way to get out the front door. They had to go out the back. Gauntlet quickly released Ryan from his seat and led them to the back, past erupting flames of the kitchen, down a long hallway that led into the backyard.
Gauntlet opened the door, and the flat steels face of a garbage can lid was the last thing he remember seeing.
February 18, 2012
Rising Volume 2, Issue 5
Gauntlet and Rose set off into the evening. With the weekend on, there were few questions where either of them would be - friends houses, sleep overs, all night gaming binges, all the usual kid stuff. Anything else but what they weer actually doing right now - going into the lion's den in Northern Indiana.
The neighborhood was managed well enough by the resident, but there was a slow creeping of decay creeping in from weather exposure as well as neglect. The trees made it a shady area, the areas was torn between urban and rural area, and that made it dangerous for scoping out and trying to make a plan. If the Bullet Heads were any good at protecting their turf, it made going there even more dangerous.
Wisely, after being dropped off by bus as the cusp of night, and changing into their uniforms, Gauntlet and Rose took the back alley's to avoid any police entanglements- he wasn't sure if the police were out looking for him, but Gauntlet wasn't going to give them any free opportunities to scoop him up.
The house that was details in the uncle's folder was two stories, for for small families. The Bullet heads took up at least the entire bottom floor, but there was relatively little activity, it was more of an outpost for parties and to let people know of anything happening on the turn before the main HQ, which that little detail was not in the file. Just as well, though it would have been nice to know so it wasn't next door. Unlikely, but possible.
There was a front door and a back. they went via the back door, which went into the kitchen. There was one of them cooking on a stove that was out of sight of the window sill.
"Looks calm - no parties or anything. So there should be only a few people." Rose said. "I just hope Springer is there today. So how do you want to do it?"
"I think - the direct approach. Stay here."
"What are you doing?"
"Just stay out of sight. Keep the bat handy."
Gauntlet stepped up out of the bush, his hand on the baton on his belt. He saw beer cans litter the ground. He was already seating, and the nerves were on edge as he kicked the can knocking onto there before hitting the wall of the house.
When the cook turned to look out the window, his heart skipped a beat. They disappeared into the house. A few moments later, three guys in Bullet Head attire stepped out. They stopped at the bottom of the staircase.
"You lost, kid?"
"Nope. I'm not here for trouble."
"You come up here, dressed like that, not looking for trouble? You have a sense of humor."
"I'm looking for Ryan Johnson."
They look at each other.
"What makes you think we know who that is?"
"I know who Adam is, and I know he loves his brother. Plus Ryan has been collared before. So, is here or or not?"
They stood there, silently taunting, perhaps waiting to see if a move was made. But there wasn't. Their leader, a taller man than the rest, nodded to one of his buddies, who went back inside for a few moments before the brought a kid half their size out, groggy as if he just woke up.
"You know this kid?"
Ryan took a moment before realizing who was standing before him. "El?"
"Gauntlet - Ryan."
The men behind Ryan chuckled.
"What are you doing here?"
"I need a few moments with you, if that's alright."
"Sure. I guess."
"Hey Ryan, I don't think you should be going anywhere with him."
"I'll stay in sight. Relax" Ryan said then approached Gauntlet, who did not flinch.
"Are you alone?" asked Ryan.
"Not going to answer that."
"I see. what do you want?"
"Is Alex really in charge of the Bullet Heads?"
"How did you know?"
"He intervened on one of Rose's routes."
"Sofia is in on this too? Where is she?"
"Focus, Ryan. What is Adam doing with the Bullet Heads? Is he out for blood, or trying to start another Heroes Club with criminals?"
"That's... how he made it sound." Ryan said, losing confidence quickly. "I really shouldn't talk about him though, with the other guys around. They're loyal - fiercely. It will get back that you were here, E... Gauntlet."
"I think he was counting on that, thus why he let Rose walk. I just want to avoid a war or something."
"You think he still holds a grudge?"
"I know he does - i just didn't think he would go this route."
"Well, you're back at it, right? I bet Robert is too, right?"
"No. He's... a civilian. Don't involve him in this."
"Looks like sooner or later he will be - no mater what. It's all coming around."
"What are you talking about? How bent is your brother now?"
"Since we disbanded. Seriously bent - I barely know him anymore."
"Is he planning something? You have to tell me, Ryan."
"I don't know, but you should keep away from him, for your own good."
"Not if he is going to cause harm to people." Gauntlet said, slowly walking towards Ryan. "he knows about us already, we could be in trouble, for one. And what about Robert? He's a civilian."
"then that's what he is. go home, Gauntlet. I can't help you."
Ryan turned away and went back his side, his homeboys watching as they went inside the house. Gauntlet turned back and returned to Rose, who was still waiting with her bat ready.
"So now what?"
"Looks like we're going to have to prod the cow."
"You're crazy."
"Yeah. But we have to make it clear we can't be toyed with. Come on, I have a plan."
The neighborhood was managed well enough by the resident, but there was a slow creeping of decay creeping in from weather exposure as well as neglect. The trees made it a shady area, the areas was torn between urban and rural area, and that made it dangerous for scoping out and trying to make a plan. If the Bullet Heads were any good at protecting their turf, it made going there even more dangerous.
Wisely, after being dropped off by bus as the cusp of night, and changing into their uniforms, Gauntlet and Rose took the back alley's to avoid any police entanglements- he wasn't sure if the police were out looking for him, but Gauntlet wasn't going to give them any free opportunities to scoop him up.
The house that was details in the uncle's folder was two stories, for for small families. The Bullet heads took up at least the entire bottom floor, but there was relatively little activity, it was more of an outpost for parties and to let people know of anything happening on the turn before the main HQ, which that little detail was not in the file. Just as well, though it would have been nice to know so it wasn't next door. Unlikely, but possible.
There was a front door and a back. they went via the back door, which went into the kitchen. There was one of them cooking on a stove that was out of sight of the window sill.
"Looks calm - no parties or anything. So there should be only a few people." Rose said. "I just hope Springer is there today. So how do you want to do it?"
"I think - the direct approach. Stay here."
"What are you doing?"
"Just stay out of sight. Keep the bat handy."
Gauntlet stepped up out of the bush, his hand on the baton on his belt. He saw beer cans litter the ground. He was already seating, and the nerves were on edge as he kicked the can knocking onto there before hitting the wall of the house.
When the cook turned to look out the window, his heart skipped a beat. They disappeared into the house. A few moments later, three guys in Bullet Head attire stepped out. They stopped at the bottom of the staircase.
"You lost, kid?"
"Nope. I'm not here for trouble."
"You come up here, dressed like that, not looking for trouble? You have a sense of humor."
"I'm looking for Ryan Johnson."
They look at each other.
"What makes you think we know who that is?"
"I know who Adam is, and I know he loves his brother. Plus Ryan has been collared before. So, is here or or not?"
They stood there, silently taunting, perhaps waiting to see if a move was made. But there wasn't. Their leader, a taller man than the rest, nodded to one of his buddies, who went back inside for a few moments before the brought a kid half their size out, groggy as if he just woke up.
"You know this kid?"
Ryan took a moment before realizing who was standing before him. "El?"
"Gauntlet - Ryan."
The men behind Ryan chuckled.
"What are you doing here?"
"I need a few moments with you, if that's alright."
"Sure. I guess."
"Hey Ryan, I don't think you should be going anywhere with him."
"I'll stay in sight. Relax" Ryan said then approached Gauntlet, who did not flinch.
"Are you alone?" asked Ryan.
"Not going to answer that."
"I see. what do you want?"
"Is Alex really in charge of the Bullet Heads?"
"How did you know?"
"He intervened on one of Rose's routes."
"Sofia is in on this too? Where is she?"
"Focus, Ryan. What is Adam doing with the Bullet Heads? Is he out for blood, or trying to start another Heroes Club with criminals?"
"That's... how he made it sound." Ryan said, losing confidence quickly. "I really shouldn't talk about him though, with the other guys around. They're loyal - fiercely. It will get back that you were here, E... Gauntlet."
"I think he was counting on that, thus why he let Rose walk. I just want to avoid a war or something."
"You think he still holds a grudge?"
"I know he does - i just didn't think he would go this route."
"Well, you're back at it, right? I bet Robert is too, right?"
"No. He's... a civilian. Don't involve him in this."
"Looks like sooner or later he will be - no mater what. It's all coming around."
"What are you talking about? How bent is your brother now?"
"Since we disbanded. Seriously bent - I barely know him anymore."
"Is he planning something? You have to tell me, Ryan."
"I don't know, but you should keep away from him, for your own good."
"Not if he is going to cause harm to people." Gauntlet said, slowly walking towards Ryan. "he knows about us already, we could be in trouble, for one. And what about Robert? He's a civilian."
"then that's what he is. go home, Gauntlet. I can't help you."
Ryan turned away and went back his side, his homeboys watching as they went inside the house. Gauntlet turned back and returned to Rose, who was still waiting with her bat ready.
"So now what?"
"Looks like we're going to have to prod the cow."
"You're crazy."
"Yeah. But we have to make it clear we can't be toyed with. Come on, I have a plan."
February 14, 2012
Rising Vol. 2 Issue 4
I tried to at the hero thing alone, but alas, I just wasn't strong enough, or prepared for something like this. There are times I forget that, I was still a kid back then. When I tried going at it alone, I had broken up a small drug deal going down. I wasn't interested in the buyer, the seller was my goal.
Let's face it, I had no goal. I realized going up against them, on their own turf, was suicide.
And almost landed me in jail for a second time.
Perhaps the buyer called the police, I don;t know but they showed up, and I didn't risk getting caught, especially after the heroes club. I had a record, and it could get expunged on the condition I never did the hero thing again.
God. I was dumb.
I ran, and they chased me a good mile. There were a couple fences I hopped, and eventually, I eluded him by pulling a Rose - hiding in a trash can - actually it was a dumpster. It helped that I had banging my knee the last allie-oop over the last fence, and I was able to crawl in and avoid their detection.
I must had fallen asleep inside, cause the sun was up by the time I had gotten up, dressed, and was leaving for home.
Had to figure out an excuse for that night.
Thanks Robert.
***
Home alone, Elliot nurses his knee at the kitchen table. There's a knock at the front door. He ignores it. Moments later, Sofia is at the back sliding door. She knocks on it. Elliot pauses to ignore her for a moment before he limps over to the door.
Before Elliot can speak - "I'm sorry." blurted out of her mouth, nervously twitching her backpack.
"Are you alright?" Elliot asked.
"Can I come in?"
"You know your uncle threatened me with - like - death, and arrest, right?"
"I got the gist of that after being grounded. Thankfully he didn't find my gear."
"Well I'm happy for you, but I like staying alive, if it's all the same to you."
"I'm sure - Elliot - I'm in trouble."
Elliot looked at her with a sideways glance. "What kid of trouble?"
"Please, let me in - I'll tell you everything."
"Like, the followed kind of trouble?"
"No, like, little mentor gone all rouge kind of trouble."
The rocks sunk into the pit of Elliot's stomach as he let her pass into the house. "What did you do, Sofia?"
She set her bag down on the table. "Well, after our argument, I got to thinking - if you could start a Hero Club - so could I."
"You do remember what happened last time, right?"
"Yeah. Anyway, i had joined a new karate class when I got back, since our old instructor retired and all. There was this girl I met, not much younger than I am, but she was a smaller frame, she'd only just started but had a lot of power - raw anger, potential."
"You didn't...?"
"I gave her my old uniform, and told her about us. She was so excited for the possibility of being a hero, I couldn't refuse to take her under my wing. I was splitting my time between us, then after we split, I devoted myself to mentor her, like you did to me."
"I wasn't reaching anyone, Sofia, we all were doing out own thing at the same time. We just happened to do it together."
"Regardless, i started taking her out on my route. I carved a small one out on the south side. Low risk, most people don't want confrontation when they see us. But then, one day she showed more anger than I realize she had, she nearly killed someone."
"Sounds like someone I know."
"No, this is worse-"
"When you're seeing if from the other side"
"Enough Elliot!"
Sofia buried her head in her hands, possibly to keep from crying, breaking down in front of Elliot.
"So what happened?"
"Adam happened."
Elliot's posture straightened up instantly. "What?"
"Two nights ago, we cornered a Bullet Head drug dealer. Small time guy, third rate, middle school-aged."
"How did you know he was with them?"
"He dropped the mask while running from us."
"So what happened after you cornered him?"
"Adam came in behind us - in costume. I wasn't sure what he was going to do. He walked past us to the kid, and said he was with him."
"What did me mean?"
"Exactly that. He's running the bullet heads. Said that he was taking control of crime from the inside out. Apparently, that rang with Mary Jane."
"Mary Jane?"
"The girl under my wing. Boy, she flipped sides faster than I could blink."
"And you didn't?"
"There was something about him - i don't trust him, and I said that plainly."
"And he let you go?"
"Yeah. He said as I left, to tell you, he said hi."
Elliot flopped into his chair."now he's taunting us."
"For what purpose?"
"I have no idea. Maybe he's screwed in the head. You have to be for something like this?"
"So what do we do?" Elliot turned to Sofia, starting at her. "Like it or not, he knows about us - and if he has some kind of private gang all his own, he could sick them after us. I don't know what to do if he does that."
"Your uncle is a cop - they aren't going to mess with that unless they want the whole city coming down on them.I doubt his parents have the money to stave off the entire police force if something happened to one of their own.Still - we can't ignore this."
"So we going after them?"
"We have no choice. Unfortunately - I don't know where to start."
"I think I do." Sofia pulled out a police file from her backpack. "I had a feeling this conversation was going to go this direction - so I pulled some of my uncles files to see if there was someone we could lean on - for something - I don't know what. And guess who I found."
Sofia slid the file over to Elliot. He glanced over the file - his eyes went wide.
"You're kidding?"
"Wish I was. He was last seen at a residence on the north side. A lot of Bullet Head activity in that area. It's not going to be easy getting to him."
"Well. Looks like we got our first objective." Elliot closed the file. "Let's go pick up Springer."
Let's face it, I had no goal. I realized going up against them, on their own turf, was suicide.
And almost landed me in jail for a second time.
Perhaps the buyer called the police, I don;t know but they showed up, and I didn't risk getting caught, especially after the heroes club. I had a record, and it could get expunged on the condition I never did the hero thing again.
God. I was dumb.
I ran, and they chased me a good mile. There were a couple fences I hopped, and eventually, I eluded him by pulling a Rose - hiding in a trash can - actually it was a dumpster. It helped that I had banging my knee the last allie-oop over the last fence, and I was able to crawl in and avoid their detection.
I must had fallen asleep inside, cause the sun was up by the time I had gotten up, dressed, and was leaving for home.
Had to figure out an excuse for that night.
Thanks Robert.
***
Home alone, Elliot nurses his knee at the kitchen table. There's a knock at the front door. He ignores it. Moments later, Sofia is at the back sliding door. She knocks on it. Elliot pauses to ignore her for a moment before he limps over to the door.
Before Elliot can speak - "I'm sorry." blurted out of her mouth, nervously twitching her backpack.
"Are you alright?" Elliot asked.
"Can I come in?"
"You know your uncle threatened me with - like - death, and arrest, right?"
"I got the gist of that after being grounded. Thankfully he didn't find my gear."
"Well I'm happy for you, but I like staying alive, if it's all the same to you."
"I'm sure - Elliot - I'm in trouble."
Elliot looked at her with a sideways glance. "What kid of trouble?"
"Please, let me in - I'll tell you everything."
"Like, the followed kind of trouble?"
"No, like, little mentor gone all rouge kind of trouble."
The rocks sunk into the pit of Elliot's stomach as he let her pass into the house. "What did you do, Sofia?"
She set her bag down on the table. "Well, after our argument, I got to thinking - if you could start a Hero Club - so could I."
"You do remember what happened last time, right?"
"Yeah. Anyway, i had joined a new karate class when I got back, since our old instructor retired and all. There was this girl I met, not much younger than I am, but she was a smaller frame, she'd only just started but had a lot of power - raw anger, potential."
"You didn't...?"
"I gave her my old uniform, and told her about us. She was so excited for the possibility of being a hero, I couldn't refuse to take her under my wing. I was splitting my time between us, then after we split, I devoted myself to mentor her, like you did to me."
"I wasn't reaching anyone, Sofia, we all were doing out own thing at the same time. We just happened to do it together."
"Regardless, i started taking her out on my route. I carved a small one out on the south side. Low risk, most people don't want confrontation when they see us. But then, one day she showed more anger than I realize she had, she nearly killed someone."
"Sounds like someone I know."
"No, this is worse-"
"When you're seeing if from the other side"
"Enough Elliot!"
Sofia buried her head in her hands, possibly to keep from crying, breaking down in front of Elliot.
"So what happened?"
"Adam happened."
Elliot's posture straightened up instantly. "What?"
"Two nights ago, we cornered a Bullet Head drug dealer. Small time guy, third rate, middle school-aged."
"How did you know he was with them?"
"He dropped the mask while running from us."
"So what happened after you cornered him?"
"Adam came in behind us - in costume. I wasn't sure what he was going to do. He walked past us to the kid, and said he was with him."
"What did me mean?"
"Exactly that. He's running the bullet heads. Said that he was taking control of crime from the inside out. Apparently, that rang with Mary Jane."
"Mary Jane?"
"The girl under my wing. Boy, she flipped sides faster than I could blink."
"And you didn't?"
"There was something about him - i don't trust him, and I said that plainly."
"And he let you go?"
"Yeah. He said as I left, to tell you, he said hi."
Elliot flopped into his chair."now he's taunting us."
"For what purpose?"
"I have no idea. Maybe he's screwed in the head. You have to be for something like this?"
"So what do we do?" Elliot turned to Sofia, starting at her. "Like it or not, he knows about us - and if he has some kind of private gang all his own, he could sick them after us. I don't know what to do if he does that."
"Your uncle is a cop - they aren't going to mess with that unless they want the whole city coming down on them.I doubt his parents have the money to stave off the entire police force if something happened to one of their own.Still - we can't ignore this."
"So we going after them?"
"We have no choice. Unfortunately - I don't know where to start."
"I think I do." Sofia pulled out a police file from her backpack. "I had a feeling this conversation was going to go this direction - so I pulled some of my uncles files to see if there was someone we could lean on - for something - I don't know what. And guess who I found."
Sofia slid the file over to Elliot. He glanced over the file - his eyes went wide.
"You're kidding?"
"Wish I was. He was last seen at a residence on the north side. A lot of Bullet Head activity in that area. It's not going to be easy getting to him."
"Well. Looks like we got our first objective." Elliot closed the file. "Let's go pick up Springer."
February 11, 2012
February 4, 2012
February 3, 2012
Thought of the Day, Your Injection of Inspiration
Ya know. You find the strangest motivators sometimes surfing the internet.
Some of you out there are familiar with The Ultimate Warrior from the WWF's heyday (now the WWE).
He has since left the wrestling world and now seems committed to improving other peoples lives - in his own unique way.
Just check out this video, he has nine similar ones like it on his YouTube page. He has a website too.
Some of you out there are familiar with The Ultimate Warrior from the WWF's heyday (now the WWE).
He has since left the wrestling world and now seems committed to improving other peoples lives - in his own unique way.
Just check out this video, he has nine similar ones like it on his YouTube page. He has a website too.
February 2, 2012
Poll for Project Nine!
For the anticipated release of my anthology Project Nine: A Road of Fate in printed form, I'm conducting a facebook poll to determine which version to use.
Go to this link to check out your options.
Go to this link to Vote.
Thanks!
Go to this link to check out your options.
Go to this link to Vote.
Thanks!
