37. The Stand

3.15.20

Kody's POV

I held onto James hand before calling everyone to attention. "After careful strategic planning, we came up with an idea," I began.

"We need anyone who's willing to fight that's over the age of 15 to please step forward." A large sum of people stood forward. I watched as men kissed families goodbye and people from the streets surprisingly stand together. I watched a few 15 year old boys and girls slowly stepped away from emotional parents. It seems that a lot of people were willing to take a stand for what they believe in which was very needed for my idea to work.

"Please follow me," I commanded before walking out of the square. I lead them to the castle's lawn where I had those that were already in the military littered. "The first part of my plan leads us here. I need us all to train as if we are preparing for the worse because we might be!" I shouted, and training commenced around me.

"That means you too, James," I commanded my boyfriend. He groaned before walking away to meet someone that would hopefully give him a clue about hand to hand fighting. I think the only thing that James can do successfully is shoot a gun, but that was something I couldn't do. Pretty much the only strength I had was physical brawling without weapons.

"Sir! There's someone at the border trying to get into Carbuos. They're very insistent that you let them in," one of the border guards warned me. One of the first things I did was shut down the borders so that no one could get in or out.

"I'll check it out, lead me there," I responded lowly. We walked through the streets, and I had to wonder who needed to get in so badly. As soon as we rounded a corner to the outpost, I saw a man in a black car. Everything about this was sketchy, so I was extremely nervous enough to fiddle with my hands.

I walked towards the driver's side window and knocked roughly against the glass; first mistake. As soon as the window rolled down far enough, a hand stuck out and grabbed my collar. I was dragged down into this man's face, but I shockingly didn't feel any fear. His breath was noxious when he shouted, "You are worth basically nothing now to keep me from entering!"

"With all the respect in the world, sir, I have more authority than you over the borders of my kingdom," I retorted.

"You don't remember me, do you? You're a fucking idiot, Kody Lamark." In that moment, everything came back to me. This is the person that we're trying to prevent from entering and destroying everything. "You will let me into this gate or you will regret it."

"I deny you entry. Tell me, why the hell would I let you in?"

"Because I won't hesitate to end your life and that of everyone else in the world. I have all of the power now, Kody Lamark," he threatened.

"Yes, but I have people who stand behind me. You can kill me if you want, but they will find you."

"The only way you can get your powers back is to have a child; that's impossible because your pairing is a guy. Admit it, you have nothing you can do!"

"Anything can be better than you having it," I snarled in response. Just then, the guards finally caught up to me and pulled my face from the car.

Suddenly, Nick forced the pedal to the metal and drove out of the outpost. I leapt into one of the cars slightly off to the side while shouting, "get everyone that's unprepared into the castle! This. Is. An. Emergency!"

I don't really know how to drive like a normal person, but now isn't the time to think about that. I pushed the gas, and the car lurched forward faster than I expected it to. I followed the trail of dust that was left behind Nick's car as quickly as possible, and I just barely saw him on the horizon. He's driving to the castle.

James's POV

Sweat slowly dribbled down my face, and I had to wonder where Kody had gone. I haven't seen him since this morning. Before I could finish my train of thought, we were suddenly being bundled into the castle. Most of us were going in, but those who were training us and people who were already proficient in fighting were staying on the lawn. They're gearing up to make a stand. The guardian got in.

I tried to leap out of the line, but someone pushed me back into it. They didn't want me fighting, but I had to. Then again, maybe my strength was keeping people safe if the guardian got past the lawn.

I watched from the front window as a black car sped around a corner. I sprinted into my bedroom to find Koda sitting on my bed playing with a toy.

"Daddy?" he asked.

"Koda!" I panted, "I need you to get into the secret hatch in the closet! Don't open it for anyone but me or Kody," I commanded while rushing over to my dresser.

Koda seemed to sense my distress and moved quickly into the little place that had been around since I was a child. I didn't know why there was an extremely safe, totally hidden hole in my childhood closet, yet I didn't have time to think about it right now. I tore the hidden gun out my pile of clothes before hearing the closet door slam shut.

I ran back to the front door, and there were bodies littering the front lawn. I saw the man I always see in my nightmares hit someone in the face with a blast of power, and I had to wonder how some normal person such as myself could defeat him. Maybe I can't. Maybe this whole thing is a lost cause.

I made sure that my firearm was loaded while I watched the monstrosity on the field. Where is Kody? Bodies were falling left and right, and they took my hope with them.

Then, in the distance, I saw another car speed around the corner, and it was obvious that the person driving wasn't super great at operating vehicles. The exterior was dented and scratched, so I knew that the car had hit many, many things.

I watched as it stopped, and a disheveled Kody leapt from the vehicle. I saw his mouth moving wildly while he gestured around. His face told me a story of his struggles and pure anger. The Kody I see right now isn't the same one that I had seen a few minutes ago.

His face was totally red while his posture showed his true feelings like a see through mirror. I swear I can hear him shouting from yards away with the door closed, and I could taste the staleness of air in the castle right now. I opened the door just slightly and my nose was assaulted by the salty scent of blood all across the grass. My heart was beating out of my chest, and when I saw the gun Nick was holding I burst out of the castle. My legs couldn't move fast enough, and I aimed my gun at Nick's back with tears flowing from my eyes.

I slammed my eyes shut before a loud- bang!