Free To Kill a Priest - The Priors, Episode 1 by Weston Kincade Page B

misty
existence and phased through them. Without anyone realizing, the
anomaly solidified on the other side and continued as though
nothing had happened.
    Daniel halted mid-step as his heart skipped
a beat. “Whoa, this guy can’t be Black Force,” he muttered. “He’s
like their hopped-up, crooked cousin.”
    The possibilities tumbled
through his mind. Either way, this guy’s
looking for trouble.
    He was tired of waiting for them to find
him. He had to act. “There’s no such thing as coincidence,” he
whispered with renewed confidence.
    The retired mercenary redoubled his pace and
began gaining on the fedora. The old courthouse was around the next
bend, and the sidewalk grew more congested. His broad shoulders
cowed some people, but others he cast aside like scattered chess
pieces. Faces whizzed by in a blur, man… man… woman… man … child,
but his attention remained on the armed stranger.
    Daniel made his way to the corner, but was
unable to reach his prey before the man entered the busy street.
Stepping out of the packed sidewalk, the ex-mercenary stopped at
the curb edge to watch the man cross. The armed apparition passed
through cars undetected, heading for the municipal building. The
muzzle of his rapid-fire gun came up as he approached the building
front, but still no one reacted.
    The veteran’s gaze followed the apparition
across as the sun peeked over the mountainous horizon, but his eyes
stopped abruptly when the courthouse came into view. Around it was
a dimly outlined building, much larger than the courthouse of his
reality. It stood overtop the historic building like a spectral
shadow. He tilted his head, attempting to find the pinnacle, but
its towering peak disappeared into the dawn sky. The building was
enormous, like those in larger cities. It was a phantom skyscraper
attempting to exist in an already occupied space. Its edges stood
out against the stone structure of the courthouse, glistening blue
like the threads of shimmering spiderwebs.
    He stood motionless, in awe of the sight.
Much like the man he had followed, it gave no one else reason for
pause. He looked around, but even the fedora in the distance didn’t
break its casual stride. A moment later, the man disappeared into
the miasmic building.
    “ How could such a thing
exist?”
    At the base of one luminescent thread
appeared a woman dressed in an outlandish, white-belted kimono. She
finished thumbing the wall before turning around. Daniel peered at
the block wall, searching for what she had been holding, but
nothing was there. He could have sworn something had moved under
her hand, but it was gone. Unlike the man in the fedora and the
spectral building, her presence didn’t go unnoticed. She stood out
in her tattered, oriental gown. The shredded kimono swirled about
her with every intention of hiding her graceful curves, but failed
utterly.
    Her auburn hair shone in the sun’s morning
rays, framing a pale face and wild eyes. Over the years, Daniel had
come to know the look of fear in others. Judging by her face and
the way people avoided her, she was in full flight. His brain went
into overdrive as he remembered that people were looking for him.
He had made a huge display and left disgruntled pedestrians in his
wake. They would have no problem identifying him now.
    “ Dammit!” he spat. He had
to do something… He had to move. And right now, this woman needed
his help.
    Entering the road, Daniel allowed morality
to guide his search for redemption.

Chapter One
    Keeping Promises

     
    Two days earlier, Jedd Altran slid an ID
badge over the petroleum tank at a local gas station. The words,
“Thank you for your patronage, Bradley Thomas,” scrolled by on the
monitor, and he selected premium fuel for his new Kamota Speedster.
It wasn’t like he was paying for the gas. Besides, insurance would
cover the cost.
    His friend Koiyo had put together the ID
badge, and so far, it had proven invaluable. The new technology
accessed the