Chapter 11- Soiree Incident PT.2

Malachi assessed the chaotic battlefield, his mind racing. *Why tonight of all nights?* The weight of the situation pressed heavily on his chest, the acrid scent of smoke and sweat filling the air.

He turned, spotting the duo unleashing their powers, flashes of light and bursts of energy crackling around him. while others screamed in terror, desperately trying to escape.

In the midst of the chaos, he saw the guy man with the mini Afro, trapped in the clutches of a monstrous creature, its grip tightening like a vice.

With a determined grunt, Malachi shot forward, a blue streak blurring through the air. The world became a whirlwind of colors, the wind howling past him. Adrenaline surged, sharpening his senses as he weaved through obstacles, closing in on the struggle ahead with razor-sharp focus.

In one swift motion, Malachi cleaved the creature in half, black, viscous blood splattering across the ground, a putrid scent rising as it howled in agony. Just then, a man's scream pierced the air. Without hesitation, Malachi dashed up the stairs, his heart racing.

He spotted the creature looming over the man, monstrous and menacing. With fierce determination, Malachi charged forward, using his sheer strength to grapple with the beast. He wrestled it away from the man.

Malachi reached for the man, grabbing his arm, but he was struck by the shock of how frail the guy was—skinny to the bone, his skin clammy and pale, eyes hollow and vacant, reflecting a haunting despair.

As he pulled, the man's arm tore off in Malachi's hand, the sickening sound of flesh ripping filling the air. Stunned, Malachi stared at the severed limb, the warmth of blood coating his palm.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed, the weight of the moment crashing down on him, a mixture of fury and helplessness surging within.

Malachi looked up just as a massive tail slammed into him, sending him sprawling into the ballroom.

He crashed hard against a pillar, the impact shattering the stone and sending debris flying. Dazed, he lay there for a moment, the echoes of chaos ringing in his ears.

As Malachi lay against the shattered pillar, he muttered, "I didn't sign up for this."

Panic flickered in his mind as he wondered, **where is Miguel?** Just then, he realized he was surrounded by the creatures, their menacing forms closing in, cutting off any chance of escape.

Suddenly, the creatures stopped fighting and focused solely on him. Noah shouted, "No! They're going after Malachi!"

In the heat of battle, a bolt of yellow lightning split the sky, bringing two fearsome creatures to the ground. Malachi turned, catching sight of Noah, who gave a nod to confirm his role in the sudden strike.

Revitalized, Malachi moved with a fierce, unyielding energy. He darted through the fray, each movement a blend of speed and precision, striking down foes with unmatched agility and strength.

In just thirteen minutes, the chaos subsided. Malachi stood amid the quiet aftermath, his eyes scanning the horizon, ready and resolute for the challenges that awaited beyond this hard-fought victory.

The defeated creatures began to disintegrate, their forms dissolving into ashes that spiraled upward like specters finally at peace.

Breathless, he stood by the window, his chest burning with fierce exertion. The figures on the floor watched in wide-eyed awe, glimpsing the transformation of creatures into nothing more than smoldering fragments.

The haunting silence of their end enveloped the room, swallowing the night's chaos whole.

The braided hair guy broke the silence, his voice shaky. "Okay, what was that?"

At that moment, transparent blue orbs began to rise and float through the walls, casting a soft glow across the battlefield.

Everyone paused, captivated by the ethereal sight.

The orbs danced gracefully, illuminating their expressions of awe and confusion, as they waited for what would happen next in this surreal encounter.

The guy, with the braids , watched in disbelief, whispering, "Is this real?" as he crossed himself.

The man in the blue suit, usually unflappable, loosened his tie and muttered, "I've seen some things, but nothing like this."

Noah, regaining his senses, was frozen in awe. "How... do you explain this?" he wondered aloud, his voice tinged with fear and wonder.

The room remained hushed, filled only with the soft rustle of spirits ascending, leaving the group bound in shared awe at the extraordinary sight.

Malachi, still huffing from the battle, raised his gaze to the shimmering forms ascending through the air.

Narrowing his eyes, he tried to pierce the mystery of what he was witnessing.

*What on earth are these?* he pondered, his mind grappling with the reality of the souls drifting beyond.

The scene unfolded like a dream—otherworldly and profoundly unsettling—casting a shadow over the night's already incredulous events.

As Noah spoke, two guys walked up to him—one sporting braids , the other in a white shirt.

"What's up, yo!" the guy in the braids called as he approached Noah, giving a quick hand clap before pulling Noah in for a one-armed hug.

"I'm Jermaine!" He then stepped back and gestured toward Fabian. "This is my homeboy, Fabian."

Noah said, giving them fist bumps. "What a night, huh?"

Jermaine nodded, a grin spreading across his face. "Tell me about it."

Malachi, within earshot, listened in, curious about their introductions.

Impressed by their skills, Noah said, "You guys were doing your thing out there! What powers do you have?".

Jermaine nodded, a confident grin spreading across his face. "Yeah, I'm pretty strong, and my body feels tougher than usual. It's kinda wild."

His eyes momentarily blazed a glowing yellow before reverting to their usual deep black.

"Well, at least my senses are better," he said with a hint of a wry smile, "so I ain't mad at it."

Suddenly, as if it were his turn to speak, Fabian jumped in with animated gestures. "I just realized I can grab energy, soak it up, and use it. It's wild, and I'm still figuring it out!"

The guy in the singed blue suit approached, his distinct features a harmonious blend of African and Chinese descent.

Noah glanced to the side, doing a double-take at the guy in the blue suit. "Ronaldo, is that you?" he finally said. The guy turned to look at him, and Noah wiped the corners of his lips in disbelief. "Holy crap, it's you! It's me, Noah. We used to go to the same primary school."

Ronaldo clicked his tongue in recognition. "Oh, Noah Power, what's good, man?" They pulled each other into a one-arm hug, and Noah patted his back, laughing.

As they separated, Ronaldo grinned and said, "Of course, you were the fastest kid in our club! How you've been, though?"

Noah chuckled, replying, "I've seen better days, bro."

Jermaine, curious, chimed in, "So, Ronaldo, what powers you got?"

Ronaldo flexed his fingers, and an orb of fiery energy crackled to life in his palm, shimmering with intensity before it diffused and vanished, leaving the group in stunned silence.

Ronaldo chuckled, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Man, I'm not entirely sure what it is, but whatever it does, it definitely goes boom."

Jermaine leaned in, a hint of envy mixed with curiosity in his eyes. "Man, I'm the only one here without any cool powers."

Malachi approached the group, his expression betraying a hint of frustration.

"You've been awakened," he stated matter-of-factly. "It's nothing out of the ordinary these days - like half the world is going through this same thing."

He let that sink in before adding, "You've tapped into a deeper level of awareness. Those abilities you're noticing? They're part of this change."

The easygoing way they handled the news surprised him. Malachi still disliked being thrust into the role of mentor, but here he was, once again, guiding them through the unexpected.

Malachi sighed, a hint of frustration in his voice. "I know this is overwhelming. You're not alone—this awakening is happening to many people."

"You've reached a higher state of consciousness, with all its responsibilities," he continued, pausing to push his locs out of his face.

Fabian chimed in, "What causes it?"

Malachi met his gaze, his voice steady. "The near-death experience you just went through. That's often what triggers it."

Jermaine perked up and asked, "Wait, do you mean a spiritual awakening?"

Noah chuckled, "Yup, that's one way to put it."

Jermaine's face lit up. "Man, I've been on my spiritual journey for a while now.

"I was once a soccer player," he began, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "But an injury changed everything. After losing my brother, I sought solace in St. Catherine, where I ultimately found God."

Now, all this is happening!"

The guys around him nodded, understanding his struggles. Noah and Fabian offered their sympathy, and Malachi, though itching to leave, realized he had to step up and take some responsibility, even though he wasn't thrilled about it.

Ronaldo took a deep breath, trying to maintain focus. "Alright, we've got powers now, which is cool. But what I really want to know is why those lizard things were after us and what the heck they are."

Noah nodded in agreement. "You're right. I think they wanted our powers, but once they spotted Malachi, they all turned on him."

Everyone turned their glares toward Malachi.

Malachi glanced around at them, meeting their stares with a calm demeanor. "What?" he said, raising an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by their scrutiny.

Suddenly, a girl crashed through the ballroom's glass doors, tripping over bodies scattered in her way.

"Somebody help, me!" she shouted, her voice filled with panic.

She glanced back just in time to see two creatures burst through the doors, shattering them into pieces. She screamed and fell to the floor, terror evident in her eyes.

In a sudden burst of motion, Malachi vanished, leaving behind a luminous streak of blue that rippled like a wave through the air.

A gust of wind tousled the group as Noah approached, his face lit up with an infectious grin.

"Did you guys see that?" he exclaimed, laughter bubbling up and escaping through his partly covered mouth, eyes wide with astonished disbelief.

Meanwhile, Malachi swiftly scooped up the girl. Ronaldo vanished with a series of crackling pops, reappearing in front of the creatures.

He extended his hands, unleashing small explosions from his palms that obliterated them completely. Simultaneously, Malachi flickered away, the girl secured in his arms.

Malachi landed gracefully on the staircase with the girl in tow, glancing up to where Bianca and the others were.

The young woman sat trembling with fear, tears streaming down her face, unable to hide her terror.

Her dark skin and unraveled braids told of her struggles, as did the blood-smeared black dress.

Tear-streaked makeup evidenced her distress, while her shining lip gloss highlighted the contrast of her striking gray eyes.

Malachi, with gentle calmness, assured her, "It's alright, you're safe now," feeling deep sympathy for her plight.

He sensed a powerful shift in the air, as her Spiritual Energy spiked, mirroring her emotional turmoil.

As the group gathered, Jermaine asked quietly, "What happened?" Fighting to speak through her shock, she replied, "Those things... they killed my sister right in front of me. I... I..." Her voice broke with grief.

Noah interjected, firm yet comforting, "Hey, everything's going to be alright. We'll get you out of here," offering a promise of safety and hope.

Malachi felt the energy around her intensify, each pulse echoing her profound sorrow and fear.

Malachi watched as Alexis's eyes shifted, turning white with a sharp slit down the middle. Confused, she asked, "What's happening?" The guys instinctively stepped back, and Fabian muttered, "She got powers too?"

Alexis waved her hands animatedly, trying to express what she felt inside. "There's this thing," she struggled, almost as if she could touch it. "It's like... right there, but I can't quite get hold of it."

She looked at the others with wide eyes, her voice tinged with panic. "I'm hearing everything, guys—the wind, cars, even your breathing. It's overwhelming, like a war zone in my head!"

In her rising panic, she clutched her head and shouted, "I can't take it anymore!" Her voice exploded outward in a sonic blast, sending ripples through the air.

Malachi's eyes widened in alarm. "Run!" he shouted to the guys, urgency lacing his tone. "Now! We can't stay here!"

The force was staggering, shaking the walls of the ballroom and sending a wave of dust falling from the ceiling.

Jermaine muttered, "Damn!" as they raced down the stairs. Malachi felt urgency; they weren't moving fast enough. He turned, extending his hand, and an air wall shimmered into existence.

When the sonic scream hit, the wall rippled violently, pushing him back. He staggered, his hand jerking as the blast reverberated through him.

Alexis looked around at everyone, her eyes wide with concern. "I'm so sorry, guys! I didn't mean to do that!"

Fabian said, "Nah, you're good. Just warn us next time, alright?" He chuckled, and the girl replied with a smile, "Okay!"

He chuckled, a nervous sound that didn't quite reach his eyes. Malachi glanced at Alexis, concern etched on his face. "You alright?" he asked softly.

Meanwhile, Jermaine was complaining about his ears, covering them repeatedly. "Man, that was way too loud!"

Fabian rolled his eyes and replied, "Man, You'll live."

Jermaine suddenly stiffened. "Shh, I hear something," he said, turning toward the side wall. Just then, it exploded inward, debris flying as chaos erupted once more.

A man flew backward into the room, tumbling and crashing into a pile of rubble.

Right behind him, Miguel and Deon rushed in. Deon's locs hung in his face, giving him a wild look, and his left sleeve was ripped, showing some skin.

Miguel wasn't wearing much, just white pants, but glowing fire markings covered his upper body, and his arms radiated a fiery orange light. His locs and eyes blazed with the same intense heat.

The man was a mess—burnt, slashed, clearly injured. He was on one knee, clutching at his hip, black blood welling between his fingers.

Despite the horrific wounds, a chilling laugh erupted from him.

He rose, his movements surprisingly fluid despite his condition, and his gaze fell upon Malachi.

His eyes, glowing with an unnatural, crimson light—like the eyes of a goat—fixed on Malachi, who instinctively ushered Alexis behind him.

The other guys, Fabian, Jermaine, Ronaldo and Noah, automatically flanked Malachi, forming a protective circle.

Malachi's eyes widened in recognition as he realized the man was the valet from earlier. Disbelief crossed his face, and he narrowed his gaze, recalling the valet's flirtation with Bianca. His expression hardened.

The red, goat-like eyes, the black blood—it wasn't human. It was something else entirely, something far more dangerous than he had anticipated.

To be continued