The Cupid War by Timothy Carter Read Free Book Online Page B

around it, neutralizing it.”
    â€œNeutralizing it,” Fallon said. “Is that just a pretty way of saying we kill them?”
    â€œThey are already dead, Fallon,” Caleb said, “just like us. And our power can render them helpless, just as the Suicide rendered you helpless.”
    â€œOh,” said Fallon. “So we just knock them out cold?”
    â€œEnough Love,” Caleb said, “will destroy their bodies, leaving only their souls behind. A Soul Reaper will then collect them and take them away.”
    â€œIs that what would have happened to me?” Fallon asked. “When that Suicide attacked me outside my house?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Caleb said. “Your body would have been destroyed, yes, but then your soul would have taken on the Suicide’s aspect. You would have become one of them.”
    â€œYikes,” Fallon said.
    â€œAh,” Caleb said, pointing. “He’s leaving.”
    The man stood up and headed for the closest exit at the front of the theater. Fallon followed, but Caleb held him back at the exit door.
    â€œWait a moment,” he said. “Then we’ll follow. We’ll have our best chance of catching the Suicide if we conceal our presence from it until the last possible second.”
    A moment or two later, they hurried through the door and found themselves on the top floor of a parking garage. The lot was roughly three-quarters full with cars, trucks, and SUVs—plenty of places for the Suicide to hide. Caleb crouched down inside the nearest car, then pulled Fallon in with him.
    â€œDo you see it?” Caleb asked.
    â€œNo,” said Fallon. “You?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhat?” Fallon turned to his mentor. “Where?”
    â€œQuiet,” Caleb said. “We don’t want it to know we are here. Watch that man. Look around him, and you’ll see it.”
    Fallon looked hard, his eyes fixed on the depressed man as he unlocked the door of a maroon Honda. There didn’t seem to be anything following him …
    â€œI see it,” Fallon said. “It’s in the back of his car!”
    â€œVery good,” Caleb said. “Follow me. Quickly.”
    Caleb took off like a shot, and caught up to the man’s Honda as he was pulling out of his parking space. Fallon lagged a meter or so behind and watched as Caleb fired a full burst of Love into the Honda’s back seat.
    The Suicide flew out the other side of the car and tumbled along the pavement. You’re in for it now, Fallon mused as he got his first good look at a Suicide.
    It was a person in a uniform, like him. It wasn’t the same pink costume—the Suicide’s one-piece outfit was a dark blue robe. As it stood back up, a shadowlike afterimage followed its movements. It turned to face Fallon; a gray hood hid its face, but Fallon could tell it was staring at him.
    â€œYou again,” it said. There was no hint, in its voice or appearance, what gender it was.
    I nearly became one of those, Fallon thought. And then the words it had spoken sank in.
    â€œWhat?” he said.
    The Suicide leapt at him, but a blast of Love from Caleb’s fingertips knocked it down.
    â€œNever hesitate,” Caleb said as he strode over to the Suicide and fired again. “They will take advantage of any opening.”
    â€œIt knew me,” Fallon said, watching as the Suicide crumbled under Caleb’s onslaught.
    â€œIt’s probably the same one that attacked you earlier today,” Caleb said. “Possibly even the one who infected you during your life.”
    The Suicide disintegrated completely, and a dim gray blob of light rose up from the dust.
    â€œIs that … ?”
    â€œ … its soul? Yes,” Caleb said.
    Fallon stared at the Suicide’s soul, fascinated. He’d only caught a reflection of himself in this state. So this was the eternal part of every human being?
    â€œIt’s