John stood still as the lights flickered and then went out altogether. When his eyes adjusted, he groped for the chair, and sat down, not knowing what to do. He yelled out, “Mom! Oh Mom!” He cried his heart out. How could this have happened!

Alex gritted his teeth. “Daniel,” he said through them, “let go of all this. I will allow you to go back safely, if you just agree to leave us alone!”

“You really think I would do that? You have too much mercy, Falsifier. That is your flaw.”

Alex released a spurt of extra strength and pushed him. “And stubbornness is yours!” He quickly shot six green energy balls at Daniel. The unleashed energy flew past its target and smashed a hole in the wall. Alex head butted Daniel in his chest. He grabbed his right arm and squeezed it tightly, until Daniel’s sword fell to the ground, making a crater. With his free hand Alex choked him.

He wrestled Daniel’s arm behind his back and threw him into space, away from the Regnum. He swung his sword at Daniel’s chest. Daniel used his will to pull his sword from the crater and into his hand and blocked. The impact created bursts of lightning and wild raging energy. As the swords locked, light came from each finger of Alex’s left hand. The small lights swirled and converged together creating one mass of energy. The mass collided with Daniel’s abdomen. In surprise, he let go of Alex, staring at the deadly energy touching him. I can’t,Alex thought.

You must,slithered a voice in his head. Do it!

No! He’s my blood, my cousin!

Do it!

And he did. The balls solidified and pushed Daniel farther away from him. The light surrounded him until finally he was consumed by raw, uncontrolled energy. This indestructible force ripped him apart from limb to limb. His body turned into a mess of raw flesh, then into a fiery black skeleton. Finally, it crumbled and dissolved away to nothing.

Oh my God!He screamed at the top of his lungs into the black emptiness that was peppered faintly with sparkles of diamond dust. But he could no longer hear or make any noise. Was he even alive?

No,he thought. This was space. The eternal.

Grandma!She was still there, suspended in limbo. She wasn’t fully gone yet. He could save her, bring her back. But he felt himself weak now. He was afraid. He had used all the strength that he gained on his first kill. This last thought lingered in his mind like a worm cut in half and still fighting for its life, before it faded into nothingness.

Enough! I have to try and get her back.

He flew to the Regnum, which now had its power reconnected. The lights had turned back on and there was life once again.

He floated down amongst the crowd. Seeing him slouching as he walked and with tears of blood flowing down his cheeks, they said nothing. Nikolas broke the silence. “It’s alright.”

Alex shook his head, knowing it wasn’t.

Nikolas embraced him and said, “I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

“I...I killed someone?” He looked at his hands with disgust. “I killed him with these hands.”

Nikolas sighed, “We’ll talk about this later. It’s time we get you rested and cleaned up.”

“No! I have to go to Central Hospital!”

The doctors and nurses returned. They saw John sitting in the chair with his head in his hands; around him, chaos. “Sir, what is it we can do for you?” the doctor said, trying to keep his cool. This was after all the Supreme Leader.

“I want to see Dr. Wallace.”

“I am Dr. Wallace,” the doctor replied.

“Why couldn’t you have saved her? Who do youthink you are, telling me she’s dead, telling me you can’t do anything about it? You’re a doctor!”

“Exactly. I am a doctor, but I am not a miracle-worker. Now I suggest you leave, before I call the authorities!”

“Do you know who I am?” John said getting up suddenly and making them jump. “I’m the Leader of this World. I am the authority of all authorities!”

The door banged open, almost splintered at the hinges. Alex entered, panting and tired. His face was sullen and black bags were forming under his eyes. “Wait! Everyone...” he was out of breath, “...remain calm.”

“Catch your breath, son,” John said, “Wouldn’t want to lose you to these frauds!”

“That’s quite enough, Mr. Howe!”

“You’re too late,” John continued, ignoring Wallace. “She’s gone,” he said silently. His hard, straight face, worn out by grief, made him look like he had aged another twenty years. “She’s gone, damn it!” he shouted, “Damn you all!” He jumped up and rushed to the doctor as though he was going to attack him.

“Uncle John!” Alex came between the doctor and his uncle, “Calm down. I can bring her back.”

“Oh, so we have another messiah-complex. Suffering from an unhealthy lack of humility,” said the doctor. “What do you think kid, that you’re the next Christ?”

“Listen,” said Alex. “I am warning you, before...”

“Like uncle, like nephew, I suppose.”

“Back off!” Alex said and hissed at him, suddenly showing his fangs. “Get out of my sight!”

Fearing for their lives, the entire team of medical personnel ran out. “Uncle John,” said Alex softly, “Just sit and relax. I have just enough energy to resurrect her. I need to, for all our sakes.”

“But how?” John asked, his voice like that of a child’s.

Alex shook his head, “No time to explain. For now, trust me.”

John sat down and let the heavy lids of his eyes close, as if he was falling asleep.

The door opened again and this time Richard and the twelve Rebels entered the room. “So?” Nick asked. He saw her corpse. He nodded slowly and went to John. “Don’t worry about a thing, old friend. We’ll bring her back. Or rather,” Nikolas watched as Alex joined the tips of his fingers to form a ball, “he will.”

Blue light emerged from within his hands and emanated a sense of peace and tranquility around. Alex breathed deeply, and exhaled slowly. He closed his eyes and went into a trance.

His consciousness was all that there was. Nothing more, nothing less. “Grandma,” he said, his voice echoing in the deep void of nothingness. What is this?

“This,” the familiar voice said, “is what we call limbo.” The voice was Grandma Howe’s. He could see himself as a spiritual body, floating in the void. His grandmother’s body materialized.

He embraced her and she kissed him on the cheek, “You don’t have to do this,” he said, holding her at arm’s length. “What about Uncle John?”

She sighed, “It will be painful to leave him, but leave I must.”

“But you have things you need to tell me and show me.”

“Your father is the best person to show you.”

“I know you have something my father doesn’t, some secret knowledge. When I was in meditation, I saw you dying. I also saw Angel being murdered.”

“That is why I have to go, Alex.”

“What?” He furrowed his brow. “Look Grandma, I haven’t much time. My energy is waning and I want you alive again. What is it that’s bothering you?”

“Alex, if I don’t die, Angel will.”

“What? How will she die? From childbirth?”

“No. It will be as you saw in your vision.”

He remained quiet. His heart stopped. “What can I do to change all this?”

“I have decided for you, Alex. I am going for Angel’s sake.”

“Uncle John won’t be able to handle it. You have to stay longer; you have to come back.”

“And Angel? What about her life? My time has come. I am old and she is young. She is the mother of your child, Alex. And that child will be the continuation of your heritage.”