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Wanted Hero
Wanted Hero
Category:
Science Fiction
Publisher: On The Fly Publications
ISBN-10: 1614630542
Type: Fiction
Pages: 480
Copyright: 2013
ISBN-13: 9781614630548
Price: $6.97 (eBook)
Exposed, hunted and separated from his friends, Wendell must save those he cares about...or die trying.
Through a simple mishap of chance, Wendell's true nature is revealed to more than a billion gnomes. Clockworks City is thrown into chaos as citizens panic and both Wendell and Dax are captured by the Centurions and labeled invaders. What's worse, Dax is soon scheduled for execution. Wendell now has days to free himself, convert the city and save his friends…
His choices will ultimately bring the gnome population into the light…or plunge their fair city into the darkness
Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
AWWW, CRAP!
Being the center of attention isn’t always a good thing.
The loudest noise was the incessant pulsing of blood through his ears. No, it was more of a pounding, like huge drums of war, resonating the coming of danger. It was another moment before he realized it was his heartbeat…and he was sorely afraid.
Wendell blinked as the rain drizzled down his face.
The Trench Wars stadium wrapped around him, a monumental gnome creation, where fans stood in front of their seats, watching.
Two million…eerily quiet gnomes.
Wendell, Dax and a bloody, unconscious Alhannah stood atop the champion platform. Moments ago they’d won the greatest extreme sport in the country. A moment after that, the charms they were wearing, hiding their true identities, had failed. The cameras now burned their faces onto screens and into the minds of a billion more viewers at home. A human and an evolu that looked more like a vallen with a vertical growth problem.
“Psst!” Dax grunted nervously. With his shoulder in a sling, it was near impossible to hold up Alhannah. She was drooped over his hip, her hands now scraping the ground. “Wendell!” he grunted again, this time louder. He finally had to let the girl slip out of his grasp. Kneeling down with her, Dax prevented Alhannah from hitting her head. “Hang in there kiddo…” he said softer.
But Wendell wasn’t paying attention to his companions. Instead, the hero watched Dusty Beckworth and Pip Flocker, the Trench Wars announcers, sprinting across the arena floor towards the nearest exit. He had the funny feeling that he wasn’t going to retain the title of Grand Champion for much longer.
Wendell swallowed, gulping air with saliva, which could be heard several feet away. His eyes slowly lowered to locate the microphone at his feet.
What do I do? Say something. Yeah, I need to say something. Reassure the fans? They look…well, stunned. Are they scared? No one’s moving out there—they’re just staring at us. Is…that a good thing? The beat of his heart continued to pound through his head and chest. Why are they all so quiet?
THA-THUMP-THUMP!
“Port us out of here, Dax.”
The elf looked up, confused. “What?”
To the west of the platform, one of the pilot pit door opened and Centurions, clad in their mirrored helmet and black leather riot suits, marched out. Two lines with a dozen gnomes each. In their hands they carried long, blue rods that sparkled at the ends.
THA-THUMP-THUMP!
“I said get us out of here, Dax—port us! Hurry!”
The gigantic ears twitched as the sound of heavy boots stomping in unity, resonated through the stadium. Distant thunder, drifting towards the podium.
“Right,” Dax said, unsure, “get close kid, I don’t know how much strength I got.”
Wendell knelt down, curling his body as close to Alhannah as he could. Clenching his eyes tight, he waited for the loud crack that followed the elf’s teleportation magic.
“Ungh…”
Dax slumped over and collapsed, sliding off Wendell’s back. He hit the platform with a thud. For several moments the elf lay there, blood pumping fiercely from under his bandage across his forehead. The red liquid snuck out and trailed between his oversized brows, across his tiny nose and over his cheekbone onto the ground.
“Dax!”
“I’m alright,” he winced. “Just can’t port. It’s too much.”
“It’s ok, I’ve got you,” Wendell grunted, lifting the elf up and flinging him over a boney shoulder. Reaching down, he scooped Alhannah up in the other arm, cradling her smaller body like an infant to his chest.
Wendell ran.
Help me, he gasped silently, trying not to jar his friends. But he was desperate to put distance between his pursuers, taking four and five steps at a time. The warm tingle of the Ithari’s power coursed through his veins, lending him strength. The Centurions sprinted after him. There was no time to stop. I don’t know what I’m doing, Ithari—so, he almost felt stupid asking—help me get us out of here…
Was it silly to be talking to something that never really seemed to talk back? Wendell ran towards the west wall of the arena. He needed a way out. An exit. Any exit.
Someone in the stands, overhead, screamed.
It was a high pitch shriek, that carried across the bleachers. A sound of sheer and utter terror.
That was all it took. The stadium erupted into an sea of gnome panic.
Starting along the wall where Wendell was closest, fans jumped from their seats and fled. Scrambling up and over one another, gnomes clawed their way towards the nearest exits—stomping, crushing and knocking over anything and anyone in their path.
“He’s coming to get us!”
“They’ll eat us for certain!”
“Flee for your lives!”
“It’s another invasion!!”
“Well that’s more like it,” Dax chuckled between grunts, “For a second there, I thought these folks grew a backbone!”
“What’s wrong with them?” Wendell was already breathing hard. Trying to run with Dax was no easy task. For such a small frame, it felt like the elf weighed a ton!
“You kiddin’ me? They’re terrified of big folk. Most of ‘em, anyway. Doesn’t matter how many of them there are—you just gotta be double their size and most think you want ‘em for dinner! Strangest thing I’ve seen.”
Door! Wendell smiled and pushed himself forward. One of the pit doors had been left open. A microphone was lying near the opening. It was the door both Dusty and Pip had fled through.
Almost there! You can do this Wendell…push! Legs burned with exertion, even with Ithari’s help. Wendell was still tired from the Trench fight. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself to run faster. Almost there, almost free. Wendell knew he’d have another set of problems on the other side of that door—but he’d deal with that once he had a wall between himself and twenty four armed midgets. It wouldn’t be much, but locking the pit door could buy him time.
Blood trickled down Wendell’s neck. The sensation made him flinch and he almost stumbled forward. Dax and Alhannah’s blood rolled down his chest and jumped from the surface of his mägoweave, but the elf’s own soaked outfit still rubbed against his neck. It was cold and sticky.
Almost there….no, no, no… “NO!” he cried aloud.
The pit door slammed shut.
“Was that?” Dax gulped.
“Yeah.”
Dax’s head went limp. “Fairy farts.”
Now they could both hear the grunting of Centurions marching up from behind. Soldiers fanned out, creating a semi-circle around Wendell and his companions, pinning them against the wall of the arena.
Gasping for air, Wendell gently set Alhannah’s tiny body down. He set Dax next to her. He then set himself between the Centurions and his friends.
Dax’s oversized eyes looked up weakly, “They ain’t gonna be nice to us, ya know.”
Wendell did his best not to be scared and what he knew came next. He produced a weak smile. “Yeah, I know.”
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