Ascension by Christopher De Sousa Page B

hurt her deeply.
    â€œI wanted for the longest time to tell you, but I couldn’t find the words,” he said. “An organisation shall soon arrive, and you needn’t be afraid. They will be the ones to help you from here on out. You must go with them. I love you Kat.”
    These were the last words she heard him utter before he quietly died. Her father, like her mother before him, had died in the defence of one whom he loved most dear. But this organisation, she had thought, has a lot to answer for. As of right now, she could only think about how to move forward, and whether it was even worth it. Soon after, numerous armed operatives arrived on the scene and a fair number hustled over to her father’s aid.
    Sadly, he was already gone, and once more she felt entirely useless. It was only seconds before that she’d experienced such indescribable energy bubble from within. But she knew deep down that all the power in the world could not bring her father back.

Chapter 8
    Officer’s armed to the hilt and dressed in blue special force attire, scoured the property of eleven Delphi Crescent, searching for anything the corrupted pairing may or may not have left behind in their wake. Amongst them, Blake and Kulullu found themselves trudging across the yard, disoriented and blind to the circumstances as they’d evolved. Before they reached the front door of the property, a black van pulled up past them, and a couple of other operatives ran over to open its back hatch. A ramp then swiftly descended, and out rolled Walter in his wheelchair.
    Kulullu looked to Blake. “Have you any idea how we are to approach this?”
    â€œWe’ve little choice but to report only what we know,” he responded, speculating on the likely reaction they’d receive from Walter. “Unfortunately, we know very little, so make sure you brace yourself for his routine scolding.”
    He glanced over at Walter; the organisation’s leader was amidst evaluating the surrounding environment. While adjusting the pair of spectacles that loosely hung on the end of his nose, he slowly steered his mobile wheelchair toward the property’s porch, and engaged a lone soldier who stood attentive before its front door. Once Walter arrived, Lance removed his black combat mask, and addressed him with a formal salute.
    â€œSir, we’ve successfully secured the perimeter,” he said. “But we were unable to track-”
    â€œ-Soldier, why were we not here sooner,” Walter had been quick to interrupt.
    Blake watched as Lance stuttered his response, but he too felt entirely baffled from trying to comprehend this night’s events. For less than a few hours ago when on duty within the Anabasis city’s centre, he’d received a call about the presence of a celestial disturbance running along Delphi Crescent, from his direct superior. Suspecting it would in some way involve Katherine, he’d thought the gryphon had finally acted. But when they reached the home, he sensed an unusual pair of energies without physical shape.
    Once Walter spun round in his chair, his narrow grey eyes locked upon both he and Kulullu, Blake sought to explain what they’d experienced as best he could.
    â€œWe were under the control of another once we entered within the property’s perimeter, that much I’m sure of,” he said. “But all we witnessed was clearly contrary to the events as they truly occurred.”
    Walter rubbed his temple. “What exactly did you see?”
    â€œAn empty yard, there was nothing that looked out of the ordinary,” Blake responded.
    â€œAnd this was once you stepped into the shadows?” Walter asked.
    â€œYes,” he replied, indignant.
    â€œIt would seem we still have much work to do,” said Walter, before he turned his back to Blake, and focused his attentions upon Lance, “We must be more vigilant in gathering intelligence about our enemies.