Free The Light, the Dark and the Ugly by Bryan Cohen

panel of lights switched on from floor to ceiling. Weapons from multiple generations glistened in the brightness. Several of them seemed mystical in origin.
    Redican gaped at one crossbow in particular. "I've seen this before." He touched the base like it was a precious work of art. "How'd they get their hands on it?"
    She shrugged. "The government has its ways, I suppose." Her eyes settled on the two halves of the gatekeeper's staff. "Got it."
    She pulled the weapon from the wall. Despite the condition of the staff, she could feel the ancient power pulse through her fingers. Erica stowed it and gestured for Redican to stop browsing.
    He took one last look at the room and led the way out. "Do you really think it'll work?"
    Erica sped up her pace. "If it doesn't, or if Jennifer and the others can't come through, there's only one other option."
    Redican's eyes said it all. If Erica sacrificed herself to go back to the Realm of Souls, then he'd be free of her. She'd probably have to kill him before she did the deed. Who knows what havoc the mind-reader would cause, otherwise?
    Redican opened the door, but before Erica could walk through he blocked her exit. "Wait."
    "What is it?" Erica peered through the door and saw him.
    It was the man she'd trusted to keep Ted safe. The one who'd unloaded bullets into her, Sheriff Norris and Travis.
    Agent Vott chuckled as the dozen men behind him placed their hands on their weapons. "Isn't this a pleasant surprise?"
     
     

Chapter 12
     
    Jennifer watched as Travis slammed his fist into the punching bag over and over again. Natalie's boyfriend was sweating profusely, but he didn't appear to be anywhere close to stopping. He'd done everything right. He'd even taken a bullet so that Erica could pull Ted and Natalie back through the portal. What had happened to him wasn't fair in the slightest. Nothing that happened to any of them could be considered remotely fair.
    Travis' shirt came up slightly, revealing the scar on his side. Kelly had said he was lucky the bullet hadn't hit any vital organs. Her father had been in the same boat, though everything was taking much longer to heal in his case.
    Jennifer spun her seat to look toward the other side of the lair. She was amazed that nobody had discovered it since they'd left. She was even more amazed that they'd been able to sneak back into Treasure undetected. The dim lights made the cavernous basement room look more like a creepy cave than a secret hideout. It was split into two halves: one for training and the other for research. While Travis took full advantage of the former, Dhiraj had been a fixture on the latter since they'd arrived. He typed with the speed of a grand pianist in front of a massive computer screen. It was a good thing he was cute when he was working, because it seemed like that's all he'd done since the rally. He'd told her that if the world was going to label him a fugitive, then he'd play the part. Dhiraj and a few of his shadier contacts had hacked a blueprint to help Erica and Redican on their mission, and now he was figuring out exactly when they could slip through the patrolling DHS squadron and into the Treasure Sheriff's Department.
     
    Five days earlier, Jennifer was on Kelly's farm reading a book about World War II history when Erica had gathered them to carry out her plan. Her father limped in and sat beside her while Dhiraj took the arm of the couch.
    Erica cleared her throat. "Kelly says we need another week of healing, but there just isn't enough time." She looked around the room. "I've already told all of you about the fastest option for finding Ted."
    Jennifer's face twitched. She didn't know how she'd possibly cope with Erica dead and her friend's consciousness back in the Realm of Souls.
    Jennifer shut her book with a thump. "And we all agreed that was a terrible idea."
    The entire room gave its assent. Except for Redican, of course.
    Erica nodded. "I can't say that idea's off the table, but there is one