Catalyst_A Superhero Urban Fantasy Thrillride by CM Raymond & LE Barbant

Author:CM Raymond & LE Barbant [Raymond, CM & Barbant, LE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Smoke and Steel Press
Published: 2019-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Brooke leaned back in the leather chair, staring out of her 40th-floor window. The sky was clear. Bright sunlight filtered through the cold air, reflecting off the gleaming city. She always loved winter, loved the brutal clarity it brought with it.

But the view held little interest for her today. Instead, her focus lay entirely on what she saw the night before.

Hell breaking loose in the form of a man.

At her desk lay an editorial discussing Mount Washington’s amusing “monster problem.” The Trib placed the blame on a boring election cycle and the Steelers’ postseason failures. Above the fold, the writer even reported a list of nicknames for the allegedly freak of nature. The Molten Menace won out in Brooke’s mind for best in show. The editorial went on to decry the whole incident as a hoax propagated by over-imaginative gossip columns and a faked YouTube video.

She folded the paper and dropped it on the desk. Brooke knew better. She had a first-hand account.

Armageddon.

Having just been ditched on a date for the first time in her entire life—and by Elijah Branton of all people—she was present when the screams came.

Everyone ran to find shelter in the back of the restaurant, but not Brooke. She walked straight to the window, almost drawn to the destruction. The beast was a monstrous blend of fire and iron. But there was beauty in it as well.

Power.

Purpose.

And then it was gone. By the time she made it outside the thing had fled around the corner. And Rex—her ever faithful bodyguard—refused to let her go near. He had her bundled in the car and off the mountain before the cops arrived.

But that didn’t change the fact that she had seen it.

She turned to her computer and played the video. It was a short grainy thing. Panicked hands shook the camera. But just for a second, the beast came into focus. A creature, screaming to the heavens.

She played it again and again.

In the comments, someone complained that the video was clearly a composite, splicing together a B Grade monster movie with footage of an old foundry. Someone replied that it looked like a foundry that had grown legs.

Brooke was inclined to agree. The thing was a steel mill come to life. She pressed play again.

Despite the poor quality of the video and the changing form of the monster itself, she couldn’t take her eyes off the blurred shape stamped on its chest. Almost like a brand.

She paused the video and leaned close, squinting at the fiery lines, convinced she recognized them.

“Ms. Alarawn!”

Brooke jumped. Her assistant Laurie stood before her.

“I have that report you asked for.”

Brooke forced a smile. “Thanks, just drop it there.”

The young woman nodded, then left gracefully. Brooke looked at the document and sighed.

No way in hell it would be good news.

She scanned the top few pages, assessing the damage. Another failed quarter. The board wouldn’t be happy—except for Van Pelt. She could almost imagine his glee. One more nail in the coffin of her leadership.

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