The Corin Chronicles Volume I: The Light and the Dark (25 page)

Karl looked into the faces of the officers, who had their guns pointed at the injured man. “Whatever you do,” he said to the others. “You must not shoot.” He returned his gaze to Siroco. “And what would she think of me if I killed you right now?” Karl clenched his left fist. “You’re coming with us. Your reign of terror ends today.”

“No, Karl.” Siroco smiled broadly. “It’s just beginning.”

The officers looked at each other, still shaking with fear, when a white light suddenly appeared, blinding Karl and everyone around him. Shaken, he just barely saw the frame of Siroco leap out of the building, leaving a gaping hole in his wake. Still disoriented by the white glow, Karl tried to maintain a visual on the escaping fugitive. The sound in his ear, however, kept him from moving, slowly causing a deep drowsiness. Along with the others, he soon found himself on the floor, dazed.

Moments passed before he regained complete control of his senses. He noticed that nobody had been injured by the blast, but they all remained uncoordinated. He could not be sure how long he had been lying there, but it felt like an eternity.

“Agent Hobbs,” Inspector Donovan said through the radio. “Are you all right?”

“We’re all fine,” Karl replied. “What happened with the suspect?”

“He escaped on foot, but Agent Sharpe gave chase.”

Karl immediately frowned. “What, on his own?”

“Yes,” replied the inspector. “He insisted that no one follow him.”

“What way did they go?” Karl started to make his way down the stairs, with William close behind him.

“I believe they’re headed for Rymill Park. And, Agent Hobbs!”

The tone in Inspector Donovan’s voice made Karl stop in his tracks. “What is it, Inspector?”

“We lost five civilians when he leapt out of the building.” Donovan stopped to cough. “There was nothing we could do for them.”

Following a glance at William, Karl continued to rush down the stairs. “You’re right—there’s nothing we can do for them now, but we must get to Andrew at once. Is there a car ready for me downstairs?”

“The SUV is ready and waiting.”

Karl started to charge down the stairs, when he felt William tugging on his shoulder.

“Why didn’t he kill us?” William asked. “That’s twice now he’s dazed us before using his powers, and yet he let us live.”

Karl slowed down. “What’re you trying to say?” he asked. “That he’s getting remorseful?”

William shrugged. “I don’t know what I’m saying,” he said. “All I know is that on the two occasions he got ready to use his powers, the light from his body stunned us, and yet we’re still alive. I’m just saying that it’s weird, is all.”

Karl pondered his partner’s words for a second, but then he quickly dismissed them from his mind and continued down the stairs. Upon his arrival at the lobby, Karl saw that the order and control he had seen previously had erupted into chaos. The press shuffled about outside, trying to get photos and video of the unfolding event. He flinched at the sight of the mangled bodies of those killed during Siroco’s escape, but his resolve remained as strong as ever.

“Agent Hobbs,” said Inspector Donovan, rushing toward him. “I have Agent Sharpe on the line. He’s in Rymill Park right now.”

Karl snatched the phone from Donovan and let out a couple of deep breaths before speaking. “Where are you, Andrew? I told you to never hunt him alone.”

“Relax,” replied Andrew. He whispered his words, much to the surprise of Karl. “I’m in the park. He’s a few yards in front of me, on the swings.”

“What? What do you mean he’s on the swings?”

“Just as I said, boss. He’s right here. He’s got a mother and her child with him. We have to assume it’s another hostage situation.”

“Are they okay?”

“It’s weird,” Andrew replied. “They’re laughing and joking, yet Siroco’s got blood all over him. It’s almost like they’re hypnotized or something.”

Karl paused and looked at William for a few seconds. “How long have you been there?” he asked worriedly. “Has he noticed you yet?”

“No, I doubt he knows I’m here,” replied Andrew. “He’s just sitting there, still clutching his stomach wound, but I think… I think it’s
healing
.”

“Okay. Stay put until we get there, okay?”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Karl.” Andrew spoke firmly.

“Come again.” Karl growled his words out. “Listen, this is a direct order. You must not engage him. Do you understand?”

“I understand this guy is evil, and I’ll be damned if he escapes and disappears for another few years because I was too scared to do my job.”

The phone went dead, and Karl looked at the faces around him before shouting into the phone. “Andrew! Andrew!” No response came. He looked at William and gritted his teeth. “We’ve got to go now, or we might lose him.” He turned around and faced Inspector Donovan. “How far to Rymill Park?”

“Ten minutes tops.”

“I want a driver, but that’s it. The rest of you trail behind, but don’t get too close. Understand?” Donovan nodded. “Then let’s go and finish this.” Karl jogged outside the building, trying his utmost to avoid eye contact with the numerous onlookers and news cameras that crowded the entrance.

Hiding in the bushes, Andrew found it difficult to hear the conversation between Siroco and the woman on the swing beside him. She looked relatively young, he thought. Her long, dark hair and green eyes made her striking to look at, and he saw the same qualities in her young daughter, who could not have been a day older than five. Their conversation appeared pleasant, and every so often, a burst of laughter came from the mouth of both mother and daughter.

Occasionally looking at his watch, Andrew knew that the full backup would soon be arriving, and he desperately prayed that Siroco would continue doing the same thing he had been for the last few minutes. He began to worry when Siroco looked around intently, as if trying to find an escape route.

With care, Andrew pulled out his gun and laid it on the ground by his side. He knew that there was no risk of being seen, as he was well hidden, but a high-pitched sound started to ring in his ear. Then he heard what sounded like a voice. It seemed to be calling out to him.

“You. Yes, you,” said the voice. Although a whisper at first, it grew louder and louder. “I see you watching me. I know why you’re here, but do you understand what part you have to play in this?”

Andrew immediately looked at Siroco, who was no longer talking to either the mother or child. Instead, he stared straight ahead into empty space.

“How is this possible?” Andrew said softly to himself.

“It’s okay,” replied the voice. “You can speak up. No one will know that you’re speaking to me. Besides, your ridiculous hiding space is hardly inconspicuous. I’ve known you were there the whole time.”

“So if you knew that I was here, then why the charade?” Andrew covered his mouth as he spoke.

“Before we get to that, don’t you think we should at least even the playing field? You know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

Andrew continued to watch Siroco’s lips, but they did not move. “I’m Agent Sharpe,” he said. “I know exactly who you are, and rest assured, if you try to escape, you’re going down.”

Siroco laughed. The tone was harsh but playful. Andrew still did not see his lips move. “And what makes you think you can succeed, where Karl has failed for five years?” he said. “If I told you the number of people who have tried to kill, maim, or simply capture me, we’d be here all day. I could have killed everyone in that apartment building, but I chose not to. I am not the bad guy here, Agent Sharpe. But you must know that you stand no chance against me.”

Siroco glanced at the mother and child and smiled menacingly. “Ask yourself,” he said. “Does this nice family deserve to die, just for the sake of your pride?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I can be a generous person, when people are generous to me,” Siroco said, with still not even a flicker of movement from his mouth. “All that I ask is that you walk away now, and I’ll let them go. Don’t tell your partners where I am. It will be our little secret.”

The sound of a number of cars pulling up around the park suddenly rang in Andrew’s ear, and a smile appeared on the agent’s face.

“You’re running out of time, Agent Sharpe.” Siroco’s voice had now lost its playful tone. “Walk away now, or you’ll be responsible for what happens to them.”

Andrew looked back toward the area where the cars had parked. He knew they were still a fair distance away from where he was, but he prayed they would find him quickly. In an instant, however, a loud scream drew his attention back to Siroco, who had his hands around the woman’s neck. Her daughter stood by, crying. Unable to stay hidden any longer, Andrew emerged from the bushes, with his gun pointed at Siroco, who smiled uneasily.

“Put it down, Agent Sharpe.” Siroco’s lips started to move as he spoke. He continued to edge backward, with his left hand gripping the woman’s neck. His right hand firmly held the little girl’s arm. “You know that your bullets will only slow me down temporarily, but the damage to these two will be permanent.”

The screams from the young girl continued to disorient Andrew. He remembered the warning Karl had given him and started to consider whether he should let Siroco escape to secure the safety of the civilians. “Let them go at once,” he said, trying to remain stern.

“Come on now, Agent Sharpe. I see it in your eyes. You’re not a killer—certainly not a person that will let innocents die, even for little old me. I know exactly what Karl would have told you, but I see you’re stubborn. You want to be the hero; you’re worried that no one takes you seriously, that they all see you as a joke.”

“Shut it,” shouted Andrew. “You don’t know me.”

“On the contrary, Agent Sharpe, I know all about you,” Siroco tightened his grip on the woman, drawing even louder screams. “I know what it’s like to be different, thinking you don’t belong. Karl feels he is the only one who cares about catching me. Did he tell you about his family? Did he tell you how I saved his daughter from being attacked? No, I bet he didn’t. Karl is a poisonous man. He always holds on to the bad in people rather than seeking the good, but you don’t have to be that way. I’m not all bad. Let me go right now, and I’ll prove it by letting this woman and her daughter go.”

“Stop it.” Andrew moved forward at a quicker pace, but in an uncoordinated fashion. “I will never let you go. You’re scum, and I won’t stop until I take you down.”

Siroco looked in the distance and saw that a number of men had started to approach them. “You leave me no choice then,” he said.

Andrew extended his gun, signaling his intent, but within a few seconds, a bright light stabbed at his eyes, and he had to shield them. With the bright glow fading quickly, he saw that the woman now stood alone, sobbing and holding on to her child.

Shocked that Siroco had allowed them to live, Andrew saw the suspect a few yards ahead, running through the park, but the gap between them was not great. With a glance backward, he noticed Karl and William rushing toward him. They were still too far away, and he knew it was up to him to stop Siroco. “Stay right there,” he said to the woman. “Help is on its way.” Then he chased after Siroco, firing whenever he could get a clear shot.

As he ran, Andrew could hear a commotion behind him. He turned to see Karl and William arriving just behind him, where the mother and daughter knelt trembling on the ground. Karl motioned William to tend to the hostages and then signaled Andrew that he was right behind him. Knowing he had backup, Andrew bolted deeper into the park after Siroco.

He ran for a full minute, quickly outpacing Karl, before he finally caught sight of Siroco again. He noticed that the wound in Siroco’s stomach had started to hamper his movements again, and he hoped that the few shots he’d gotten off might have further injured him. With the distance between them shortening with each stride, Andrew let off another flurry of shots, reloading his weapon even as he ran.

A group of onlookers was gathering at the far end of the park, and he desperately wanted to end the chase before Siroco got any closer to them. When Siroco reached a fence and started to climb over, Andrew stopped, braced, and took steady aim. He held his breath and smoothly squeezed the trigger four times, feeling the gun jump in his hand with each shot. With a wail, Siroco dropped from the fence and hit the ground, writhing in agony. The blue force field triggered by the bullets slowly faded. Andrew approached, his blood coursing with adrenaline, and looked down at Siroco, who only stared up at the stern-faced agent directly above him.

“So now you think you have me?” Siroco said. In spite of the obvious pain, a smile was etched on his face.

Andrew kept his gun trained on him. “You know,” he said. “You’re not a bad-looking boy, but you seriously need to do something about that scar. It’s hideous up close.”

“Oh, Agent Sharpe.” Siroco let out a chuckle. “That’s your problem. Your cockiness. That’s why Karl will always be better than you. At least he wants revenge. All you want is glory.”

“You don’t know me, and it doesn’t matter what I want. You’ve been caught.”

“Andrew! Andrew!” a voice in the distance shouted. Andrew glanced behind to see Karl approaching from several yards away, with his gun leveled at the fallen Siroco.

Diverting his attention back to Siroco, Andrew saw him reaching his left hand behind his back. “Place your hands where I can see them,” he said.

“Oh, please.” Siroco suddenly lost the smile. “You still don’t get it,” he said. “You’re nothing. You pale into insignificance. No,” he paused and tensed up his face. “You more likely fade into obscurity. Do me a favor, and get out of my way.” He slowly edged his hand from behind his back.

Andrew started to sweat. “I said leave your hands where they are!”

“Which is it? First you want to see my hand, and now you want me to leave it there?”

“You move your hands anymore, and I’ll shoot you.”

“Really, you’ll shoot me? I don’t think you can, I don’t think you have the guts. Karl, maybe, but you? Nah, you’re just a punk that got lucky to be hunting the baddest and best criminal out there.” Siroco started laughing uncontrollably as his hands continued to edge out even farther.