“Oh, God, please! No!” He pushed himself off the ground and ran across the stunned scene. No one moved to stop him.
“No more fighting,” her brow furrowed with her extraordinary effort.
“No more hurting,” she released Maze’s fur and raised her fist to the sky. It trembled with effort, fatigue gripping her by the throat.
“No more evil,” she opened her hand and the air around her and as far as anyone could see vibrated as though a sonic blast surged from the girl crying tears of blood.
Creed had to brace himself to stay upright against the waves of energy coursing from the small girl standing alone against the world.
He cried in anguish when he felt her psychic strength weaken. He closed the distance between him and the girl he loved in time to catch her crumpling body before it hit the ground.
“Meg! Oh, God, no! Please, Meggie! Why?” He shook her rag-doll body. “Why would you do that, Meg? Why?” He pleaded to her pale face.
Meg’s eyes fluttered open, the light that always danced there was fading fast.
“Peace. God wanted peace.”
Margo, Alik and Evan had rushed to her side in time to hear her whisper her last words.
“I love you.”
74 Check Mate
“Weak-minded fools!” Kenneth Williams ranted, breaking the silence left in Meg’s sacrificial wake. “Fight!” he screamed.
Evan had collapsed at his sister’s side, taking her still warm hand in his. At the sound of Williams’ voice he ripped his eyes away from his sister’s ashen face and stood. The scene was surreal—dazed expressions on enemy faces.
“Get her to Danny. Now!” Alik shook Creed from his shocked horror. “Go!”
“What about him,” Margo nodded toward Williams.
“Leave him to us.” Evan never looked away from the enraged man. “Cover them,” he ordered the 17th Company soldiers who had gathered around the leader of the Original Three.
“About face!” Rhett barked.
Immediately, the soldiers spun on their heels, turning their backs to the heartbreaking scene and protected them with their silence and loyalty. Several hardened soldiers felt the first salty stings of real tears—most for the first time in their lives.
Across the camp, a collective clattering of metal crunching to the ground began until every hand was empty. Boots kicked weapons away. The ground looked like a weapons bunker exploded.
A low murmur rumbled softly as voices were found in the forced peace.
“What are you doing?” Williams screeched, waving his arms frantically. “She’s just a girl! A little useless girl! Obey my orders immediately! Don’t listen to her!”
Some soldiers looked at Williams as if he were insane. Others just ignored him entirely as they turned and started walking away from the scene. Several climbed calmly into the cabs of the military trucks and waited patiently as others jumped into the back.
Williams was incensed.
He reached down to pick up one of the guns himself only to stop inches from it unable to finish the task.
Maze had appeared in front of him. His teeth glistened wet with blood-tinged saliva. The fur on muzzle was darkened, brackish red. Arkdone’s blood stained his face—evidence of his brutality.
Williams’ wide, obsidian eyes locked onto the canine’s.
Evan calculated his move and began walking purposefully toward the devil of a man. As he walked he reached into the zippered pocket of his cargo pants.
Alik used his body to shield Creed as he stood cradling his sister. Margo moved quickly, falling into step behind while Rhett raced ahead with the keys to their truck.
He pulled his eyes away from his sister’s pale face jostling against Creed’s biceps and focused on Evan’s determined expression. With a slow, deep breath he prayed for calm and jumped into the scene.
“It’s over, Williams,” Alik hollered, catching crazed scientist’s attention from across the emptying space.
Out of the corner of his eye, Alik saw his little brother shift his route so his approach was just beyond Williams’ peripheral vision.
“You have lost everything: your metahumans, your power, your control and your quest for blood and violence. You lost.”
Williams narrowed his eyes at Alik as he drew near. His body had returned to its normal state of muscular. He walked with his wide shoulders back, but relaxed. He exuded a sense of calm and peace, infuriating Williams even more than his words.
“This isn’t over!” he spat His fingers twitched as he tried again to retrieve the pistol. Maze burst into a series of ear-piercing barks punctuated by the snapping of his powerful jaw. The scent of his Meg’s blood shoved the devoted coydog to the edge of control. Only the sound of Alik’s voice stayed the coydog’s gnashing, bloodstained fangs.
“Even you with all your demonic hatred—even you can’t go against her will.” He nodded toward the gun Williams could not grasp.