When the newcomers finally came into view, Felix was surprised to find it was exactly as Andrea said, and yet not at all.
They really were glowing, but not in the way he had been expecting. Each person had auras shining out from their bodies. Right from the very center of their chests.
They all came to a sudden stop, in a much more organized fashion than the other group.
“I don’t even—” Felix started to say, but fell silent quickly when he saw someone step out from the new group.
It was a woman with a bright glow coming out of her. She took several steps forward and held her fist up above her head.
A thick white miasma that made Felix’s eyes water spun up around the woman’s hand.
Flinging that same hand forward, the white ball spiraled off towards the other group.
It detonated on impact.
Fresh screams and the crackle of power filled the street.
Men and women with weapons in their hands charged out from the bonfire group. Their hands burst into orange flames.
Flames that twisted and licked up their arms and flared with light.
“I’m only getting snatches but… I think… I think they’re all being powered by faith magic. I know we’d seen and heard that there’d been a change but… this is far beyond what anyone had even hinted at,” Eva said.
“I imagine not. This would change the game for religions. Some of the biggest ones would now have an army inspired by their beliefs. No… this is…” Felix paused as he thought for a second. “This might just be all the world needed to finally go up in flames.”
The weight of those words seemed to drive everyone into the floor. Everyone immediately thought about the ramifications of what was likely to happen as these kinds of scenarios escalated.
Grew larger.
Took on the guises of a country that’s entire military would be its own belief.
“I think we’re going to find many a deity at the head of a nation here real soon,” Felix said softly. “Or so my worst fears tell me.”
In the street below, the fiery armed worshipers had now clashed with those who glowed from within.
It seemed to be a low power fight between supers. Some threw their faith, others wielded weapons, but it was obvious they were all using a similar energy.
“Maybe,” Steve said. “I think you’re misjudging the situation a bit. There are quite a few deities who preach peace and benevolence.”
“And you’d be right. As I said, my worst fears. Let’s hope it’s exactly as you said. And let’s use this and get across the street while we can.” Turning from the window, Felix moved to the rear stairwell and made his way quickly to ground level.
Taking their positions, his people got back into their original formation.
Looking at the crates of supplies, Felix realized this wasn’t going to work. They were simply weighed down too much by it all. Luck and fortune had been on their side so far, but there was no guarantee it’d continue.
If they ended up with a sudden need to fight, four of his people would be scrambling to drop crates and ready weapons.
“Pack what you can into your kits. Leave the crates. Plan on being safe in two days, or finding a new source of food and water. Ammo is harder to come by than food and water right now, I’d wager. Pack accordingly. You got three minutes,” Felix said.
Moving into the alley Steve had led them in from, Felix posted up near the wall and waited.
Adriana followed him out immediately, her eyes bright, scanning in every direction.
“Felix,” Adriana said softly, coming up to him.
“Mm?”
“Your hands are shaking.”
Looking down to his hands, he found they were shuddering and jerking every which way. He hadn’t even noticed it.
“Put them in your pockets for now or hold your rifle. You’re starting to lose it,” Adriana murmured for his ears alone.
Laying his hands to his rifle, he gripped it tightly. Trying to stop the shaking by force of will alone. He could feel his mind threatening to unravel as he began to consider what his mind didn’t want him to.
“It’s normal. Very normal. You’re under a lot of stress. Training doesn’t prepare the mind for being surrounded by it,” Adriana said, getting closer to him.
Her hands pressed to his neck and jaw. Cool fingers gently stroked his skin, her eyes digging through his own.
“You’re doing fine. There’s nothing wrong. It’s a perfectly normal response,” she said, her tone soothing and light. “No one ever walks away from things like this the same. Nothing compares to a life being lived in a heightened sense of fight or flight all day, every day. It’s not something you can be ready for.”
Staring into Adriana’s face, hearing her words, her very reasonable and accepting words, Felix nodded.
“It’s just anxiety. It’ll pass and only you will remain.”
Laughing at that, Felix felt his lips curve into a strange smile. “Anxiety? I’ve never had anxiety like this before.”
“And you’ve never been dumped into a live or die situation where everyone wants to kill you for a candy bar, either.”
That brought him up short. He was a planner. Someone who was almost always in the rear with the gear, so to speak. His excursions to the front of the action were limited and far between.
“Do you feel this way?” Felix asked.
“Sometimes. We’ve learned to control it. When we get home, I’ll make you a nice batch of blueberry pancakes. I know you like those best,” Adriana promised. “Then we can relax, talk about it, and have Kit maybe do a bit of spring cleaning in your head.”
Soft and feathery, her fingers trailed up and down the sides of his neck and lower jaw. Briefly moving upward to trace the line of his ear and back down.
“Okay. I like that plan.”
Adriana snickered at that, her eyes watching him. “We’re well aware of what you like, darling. Just get us out of here, and we’ll take care of the rest.”
“Ready,” Steve called from the front of their small column. Julia had sidled up next to him, preparing to walk point a step behind him.
Adriana gave him a charming smile and then patted his cheek.
“Nn, we’re ready,” Adriana said, turning around and lifting her rifle up to her shoulder. “Lead on.”
By the time the team took three steps, Felix had caught up and was walking beside Adriana. He’d pulled his rifle up to his shoulder and was back to where he’d been before the brief stop.
The ongoing sounds of the battle a street over were ever present. A lot of it sounded like small arms fire and low yield explosives.
Focus on the now. Focus on here. You can fall apart after.
“Contact!” Steve shouted from up ahead.
Both Steve and Julia went to one knee and two bursts of gunfire crackled down the alley.
With so many people in between himself and the front line, Felix didn’t feel confident that he could get a solid sight on the target without risking his own people.
A streak of bright red fire came from ahead of them and passed screaming over their heads, going wide.
Nancy, Lauren, and Amy started to fire off rounds as well, as they moved to the sides of the alley.
Then almost as quick as it had kicked off, it was over.
“Forward,” Adriana called out. “We need to get out of this alley double-quick. Let’s get across. Fast.”
No one argued that the order didn’t come from Felix. They were all off at a trot and moving.
As they went by, Felix slowed only for a second to get a look at who’d they had just exchanged fire with.
They were clearly from the bonfire group of people, as flames were now covering their bodies. Burning them from the inside out it seemed.
Not sparing any more time for his curiosity, Felix kept his head on a swivel as they exited the alley.
“Intruders!” called a voice off to their left.
Felix pivoted as he went, sighting his rifle at who’d called out.