One-Way Ticket to Midnight by Gary Jonas

Author:Gary Jonas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Horror
Publisher: Denton & White
Published: 2014-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“I ain’t nobody’s pet!” Roy said.

“Have it your way,” Ken said. “You’re still going to be the first to die in my reign.”

Roy stepped forward. His anger chased away the fear, along with all common sense. Jim put an arm out, blocking him. “I’ll handle this,” Jim said.

Roy realized what he’d been about to do and gladly let Jim take charge.

“Put out the candles, Ken.”

“Oh, shut up. You’ve been a real pain in the ass, you know that? Why don’t you just sit back and thank me for not killing you.”

Jim stood out in the open with his hands behind his back. His ring glowed as he put on his commanding voice. “It’s over.”

“Piss off.” Ken stood up. His hands seemed to glow, but Roy decided that must be due to the candlelight. Then Roy noticed the candles. More specifically, he noticed the flames. The flames leaned out as if they were trying to leap free of the wicks and run away.

Roy didn’t feel safe standing anywhere near the two men, so he backed up. But he stayed close enough to watch what happened. He knew they were biding their time, baiting each other while they summoned up enough raw energy to lay the other to waste. Roy prayed Jim would have the greater strength.

Jim and Ken leaned toward each other. Only a few feet separated them. The air grew hot. Roy wanted to attribute that to the candles even though he knew better. Static electricity crackled around them. Strands of Jim’s hair lifted. The stench of burning flesh filled the room.

For a time, there were no words. Ken leaned forward and Jim leaned back; then Jim forced himself forward and Ken staggered back. It was a contest of wills, a test of power. Jim winced as if something hit him, but then Ken shook his head as if shaking off a punch.

“Not bad, Jimbo. But mental arm wrestling doesn’t intrigue me.”

“Bastard.”

Jim strained and threw his arms toward Ken in a violent thrust. Ken took a few steps back but then recovered and raised his own arms. The candles blew out, and a discordant shriek blasted through the room. Lightning flickered from the networks of pipe and jolted Ken. The light seemed odd—like a strobe light casting off its last few flashes. Ken drew the lightning to him then screamed and threw it at Jim.

Ken fell to the floor, convulsing. Jim jumped to one side, and the energy slammed into the wall with a brilliant flash. The room shuddered as the lightning blasts flashed around, ricocheting. Each time they smashed into a wall, concrete and brick cracked and crumbled. The light slammed harder each time. Roy tried to run but tripped and fell. He rolled over as the light howled and flashed like a sun going supernova.

The walls blew into chunks of gravel and rock. The network of pipes shook, creaked, then broke. Steam hissed out. The ceiling gave way. Debris rained down on everything. Stones slammed into Roy’s back.

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