Candice is on the ground, nervous and sweating while staring at Albert. Albert and Kindra are standing in front of Candice. Candice looks to her side to notice Josaline still unconscious.
CANDICE
Josaline!
Candice spots someone on the ground behind Albert.
CANDICE
Who is that?
Albert looks behind himself.
ALBERT
Oh, that''s right. I almost forgot about him. I''m surprised you did, though.
CANDICE
Forget about who?
ALBERT
I''ll go get him for you. I''m sure you''ll remember once you get a closer look.
Albert walks over to Charlie, picks him up by the back of his shirt, and drags him over to Candice. He throws Charlie beside Candice.
CHARLIE
Ooof.
Candice looks at Charlie.
CANDICE
Charlie!
Charlie is barely moving.
CANDICE
Charlie, are you OK?!
CHARLIE
Candice...is that...you?
CANDICE
(worried)
It''s me, Charlie.
CHARLIE
It''s been...so long. Frank...and I...missed you. Also...Frank is...still a dick.
CANDICE
(upset)
I know. He''s the one who brought me here.
ALBERT
Frank...he''s still alive?!
Albert turns away from Candice.
ALBERT
I guess he wasn''t a failure after all.
Albert looks at the moon while laughing uncontrollably evil. Candice gets angry and looks at Albert.
ALBERT
Breao!
Albert stops laughing.
CANDICE
How could you do this? To your son? To the city? What made you want to do all this?
Albert turns his head toward Candice while smiling.
ALBERT
Isn''t it obvious? Control.
CANDICE
Control? Over what?
Albert turns to Candice.
ALBERT
The world, of course.
Charlie begins to slowly stand up, staggering and in pain while doing so.
CANDICE
Don''t force yourself to get up. You''re still in pain.
CHARLIE
Don''t worry, Candice...I''ll be fine.
He turns around to face Albert and as he turns, Candice notice Charlie wearing an eye patch.
CANDICE
Charlie, what happened to your eye?
Charlie does not respond to Candice''s question.
CHARLIE
Dad...You don''t have to do this.
Albert looks at Charlie.
ALBERT
Look who finally decides to join us.
Charlie looks at Albert and begins to walk toward him, staggering along the way.
CHARLIE
You''re so much better than this.
Kindra looks at Charlie and retaliates against him by cocking her leg back and thrusting it toward Charlie''s head.
ALBERT
STOP!
Kindra stops her kick inches away from Charlie''s face. Charlie stops walking, but is not fazed by the attempted attack by Kindra.
ALBERT
There''s no point, Kindra. He''s already a goner.
Kindra puts her leg down and allows Charlie to walk toward Albert.
CHARLIE
Think about what you''re doing. Think about the people you''re hurting. Think about your family.
ALBERT
Family? I don''t need a family and having one is a nuisance; a waste of time.
Charlie stops walking and gets angry.
CHARLIE
If you really think that way, then why have one?!
ALBERT
It was a distraction to cover up my true intentions; to take control of this world. Why would I want to have a family when I can have power? Power is the only essential key to living a happy life. Without it, your life is meaningless. You may as well never existed.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
CHARLIE
But dad...
Charlie puts his hands over his left eye in pain and drops to his knees.
ALBERT
It''s beginning to take affect.
CHARLIE
What is?! What did you do to me?!
ALBERT
It was so long ago, but I guess it wouldn''t hurt to explain it since you will be drawing your last breath soon. I''m a scientist, you see. I have to run test on things that peak my interest. I''ve decided to look into what makes the human body function properly. While doing so, I stumbled upon an idea; why not figure out how to control people against their will? While researching, I created a drug that would turn people into brainless, hopeless human beings. Your mother was away during the time and your sister wasn''t born yet, so you were going to be my guinea pig for the experiment. I injected you with the drug, but nothing happened. Of course, I waited a few weeks, but still nothing. So, I abandoned the drug until I found a way to amplify it''s effect on a greater scale. This, I achieved some years ago. But I couldn''t use you because I thought you would be immune to it from the last experiment. Thus, your friends were next in line.
Charlie and Candice are shocked to hear this.
ALBERT
Of course, different people will have different side effects. First was Frank; when I injected him with the drug, he freaked out and then he just stopped moving. I considered him a failure and thought he was dead. So, I threw him away. Next was Candice; I injected her with the drug and she showed signs that it was working. So, I tossed her in a room. I was going to use her for further experiments, but she managed to escape. Next was Logan; he grew blades from out of his fists. With this, I didn''t need any more test subjects, but I couldn''t just let Josaline go.
CHARLIE
(shocked)
Josaline!
ALBERT
That''s right. Your precious Josaline was not injected with the drug, but she did become my subordinate and have been for all these years. And there you have it.
CHARLIE
You still didn''t explain what''s happening to my left eye!
ALBERT
You still don''t get it, do you?
Albert pulls out a remote control from out of his pants pocket and presses a button on it. City Hall begins to mildly tremble, making Charlie and Candice lose their balance. The part of the roof that is behind Albert, opens up and a giant machine slowly rises from out of the building. Charlie and Candice are even more shocked to see something of this magnitude being held here at City Hall. When the machine stops moving, City Hall stops trembling.
ALBERT
Behold, my creation. Witness your utter demise
The machine stands 20 feet tall and is 10 feet wide. It is directly behind Albert.
ALBERT
WITNESS AND BE AMAZED!
Kindra looks at Albert and starts clapping.
CANDICE
WHY ARE YOU CLAPPING?!
Kindra stops clapping, turns to Candice, and kicks her in the side.
CANDICE
OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Candice grabs her side in pain and Charlie looks at Candice.
CHARLIE
Candice!
KINDRA
Only speak when you are spoken too.
CANDICE
(Cough) ...fuck you.
ALBERT
Now, now. Let''s not start before the party begins.
Charlie looks at Albert.
CHARLIE
Shut up and tell me what''s going on?!
ALBERT
You will know in good time, Charlie.
Kindra notice something in the corner of her eye. She jumps back, avoiding a bullet and lands beside Albert. She looks at the roof''s entrance.
KINDRA
Show yourself.
Charlie and Candice turn their attention to the roof''s entrance. Someone opens the door and walks onto the roof. In their hand is a pistol with a silencer attachment. Charlie and Candice are shocked to see who it is.
CANDICE
Cindy?!
CINDY
It''s been a while, hasn''t it?
CHARLIE
Cindy! What are you doing here?
Cindy looks at Charlie.
CINDY
What do you think I''m doing here?
CHARLIE
To give me another manga book?
CINDY
Are you nuts? I''m here to save you.
CHARLIE
That''s gre-
CINDY
And to give you another manga.
CHARLIE
I knew it.
CANDICE
We don''t have time for this, guys.
Cindy runs to Candice and helps her back on her feet .
CANDICE
Don''t think that this changes any.
CINDY
Good to know because you still get on my nerves.
ALBERT
Kindra, please deal with them.
KINDRA
Yes, sir.
Charlie looks at Albert and Kindra.
CHARLIE
What?!
Kindra begins to run toward Candice and Cindy.
CANDICE
Let''s put our differences aside for now. We have a bigger threat to deal with.
CINDY
For now, anyway.
CANDICE
I''ll take the lead.
Candice charges toward Kindra while Cindy aims her pistol at Kindra. When Candice and Kindra gets close enough to each other, Kindra throws a kick toward Candice''s head.
CANDICE
NOW!
Cindy shoots at Kindra. At the last second, Kindra dodges the bullet, but her kick misses Candice, leaving her off balance. Candice takes the opportunity and punches Kindra in the stomach. Kindra flies back, but regains her balance and lands on her feet.
CINDY
Damn! She''s fast!
CANDICE
I know. Earlier, I fought her and got my ass handed to me. In order to have a chance at beating her, we have to work together.
Kindra starts patting her stomach.
KINDRA
That was a pretty strong punch.
CANDICE
(worried)
She probably didn''t even feel that.
CINDY
What is she?
CANDICE
I don''t know, but we have to beat her in order to get to Albert.
KINDRA
Round 2, ladies. Don''t disappoint me.
Kindra charges toward Candice and Cindy again.
CINDY
She''s coming again. Be careful.
CANDICE
Right.
Kindra engages Cindy and Candice in battle.
CHARLIE
Candice! Cindy!
ALBERT
You have bigger problems to worry about.
Charlie looks at Albert.
CHARLIE
What do you mean?
Charlie continues to have his hands over his left eye.
ALBERT
This is...SPECTACULAR! Soon, that eye of yours will help me achieve my goal.
CHARLIE
NO! I will not help you!
ALBERT
You actually believe I need your approval? You are going to help me whether you want to or not.
The pain in Charlie''s eye worsen.
CHARLIE
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
ALBERT
Yes. Just face the fact that you''re too helpless to do anything.
Suddenly, Frank bursts through the roof. He lands beside Charlie, but Charlie''s in too much pain to notice him. Afterwards, Frank charges toward Albert and throws a punch at him. Logan appears in between Frank and Albert and blocks Frank''s punch with his head. He retaliates with a punch of his own, but Frank jumps back, avoiding the attack and lands beside Charlie. Kindra stops her fight with Candice and Cindy and charges toward Frank. Frank looks behind himself and sees Kindra running toward him. Kindra attacks Frank with a flying kick, but he ducks, causing Kindra to fly over his head. He quickly grabs Charlie and makes his way over to Candice and Cindy. He drops Charlie on the ground, breaking Charlie out of his painful state.
CHARLIE
Why the hell...
Charlie is shocked to see Frank beside him. Frank looks at Charlie and smiles at him.
FRANK
Long time, no see, buddy.
CHARLIE
FRANK?!