Part Three
"So, what exactly happened here?" Alpha asked.
"Not exactly sure,” said Reedy.
Reedy was clean-shaven, fit but lean next to Alpha’s bulk. His uniform was crisp, hat spotless.
"We got a call saying it was an explosion. When we got here, there was a pillar of fire coming up out of a busted gas main, and this huge crater here. Judging by the pieces, we suspect the casualties to be somewhere between five and ten," he said, voice flat.
"Have you talked to any witnesses?" Alpha asked.
"Not yet, but I was just about to," Reedy said, grabbing the walkie talkie. "This is officer Reedy requesting permission to speak with the Commander."
"This is Rose," came a voice over the speaker. "What do you need?"
"I've got Alpha down here asking questions—" he started.
"It's okay," she cut in. "Let the hero help. Tell him to be in my office tomorrow morning."
"Roger," Reedy said. He looked back up at the hero, ready to speak.
Alpha nodded, acknowledging her request.
"This lady over here says she knows something," Reedy said, walking over to a woman standing behind the yellow police tape. She stood with her hands clasped under her chin, a man’s arm wrapped around her shoulders. She giggled, pushing at his chest with both hands.
"Ma'am, can you explain to us what happened here?" Reedy asked, flipping open a note pad.
"It's you," she said, looking up at Alpha, her bottom lip quivering. "Why didn't you save them?"
"Ma'am, I'm sorry," he replied. “I didn't know it was happening until it was too late."
"Where were you?" she screamed, trying to lunge at him. The man tightened his arm, pulling her close and she started crying on his chest.
He looked down. "I'm–I'm sorry."
"Look," the man said. "My wife and I saw it happen. You'll have to forgive her. We’ve never seen anything like this before. We have our own daughter at home, and seeing that girl in trouble..." his words trailed off as she bawled into his blue button-up shirt.
"I...we understand,” Reedy said, flashing Alpha a glance. "Please, tell us what you saw."
"We were heading to the store when we heard this rumbling. The ground sank—then boom. A naked man shot out, followed by two others—deformed, maybe not even human. The three of them fought for a few moments, then the naked man took off. Those things followed him and that’s when the gas main exploded. The people standing nearby were..."
"Bill...don't," she said, looking up at him. "Don't."
“Anyway... you see what happened.” He gestured at the crater. Reedy scribbled on his pad while Alpha looked at the man.
"You saw three of them?” Alpha asked, his tone sharpening.
"I don't know if you can call them men. They were more like monsters," he said, and his wife started sobbing again. Alpha started looking around, examining the place.
"Which way did they go? Are you sure you saw…monsters?"
"I don't know what else to call them," the man said.
"We have to get home," the wife said. "I need to see Hannah.”
"Do you have a number where we can reach you?" Reedy asked. The man pulled out a business card and handed it to the officer. Reedy gave it a quick glance. "Thank you Mr…Weir."
Mr. and Mrs. Weir walked off. He was still cradling her as they pushed through the crowd. Reedy turned back to Alpha and was about to speak when he noticed the hero was already gone.
"Asshole," Reedy said, walking towards his next witness.
Alpha flew over the buildings, looking down on the city streets for any signs of the fleeing men. With smoke billowing into the air, it didn't take long before he saw their destructive path. A police car was parked near an overturned van, while the officer stood by the wrecked vehicle, motioning to the growing crowd of people to stay away.
He flew in for a closer look, but didn't bother to stop when he saw more wreckage further down the street. People huddled against the building walls. Some were scared and confused, but some were filming with their cell phones in hand. He watched as the onlookers waved him along, yelling "That way!" their faces brightening up as he passed.
He stopped at a small grocery, examining the wreckage that had been left there. Whatever he was chasing had smashed through the building’s corner, scattering debris across the sidewalk. An unconscious woman was pinned beneath a large section of fallen brick. A small group of men were trying their hardest to lift it off of her. Blood ran from her mouth, but she was still breathing.
"‘Let me,” he said.
The men stepped back without a word. With little effort, he lifted the rubble and pulled her free. His head shot around, looking for an ambulance, or police officer–but saw no one.
"Call 911," he snapped at the boy filming. The boy didn't respond though. Instead, he moved in closer, trying to record every detail.
"Give me that!" Alpha snapped, snatching the phone.
"You asshole! That’s mine!" he said as Alpha dialed the three numbers.
"Go ahead. Try. ” Alpha stared him down.
"Don't worry about him," one of the men replied. "We’re gonna teach him a lesson on being a Good Samaritan."
"Let him go. He’s just a kid," Alpha responded. “Leave him be.” A voice on the other end picked up. “We need an ambulance at the corner of 5th and Main. She's been crushed. Send someone quick."
Alpha tossed the phone back to the boy.
"Tell her who you are. Give her whatever she needs. Does anyone know CPR or basic first aid?"
One of the men, a balding, blue collar type in jeans and a mechanics shirt walked up. "I do," he said. "My son's a boy scout. We do this stuff together."
"She’s in your hands," Alpha said, patting the man's shoulder. He jumped up and flew down the alleyway as even more people began to gather around.
He darted down the narrow passage, dodging dumpsters and debris. Exiting onto the next street, he didn't need to stop. Burning vehicles and shops could be seen for blocks, while jets of water sprayed up from the destroyed hydrants. More breadcrumbs for him to follow. Shooting up above the cars, he followed the mess until it stopped. Hovering in the air, he looked around, searching for some clue to follow, but finding none.
"Where did they go?" he asked, landing on the sidewalk near a group of teenagers.
"In there," they said, pointing down another dark alleyway.
Alpha rushed in, and stopped.
"Goddamn it!" he said.
Just a trash-strewn dead end, with the manhole cover flung aside. Without a moment's hesitation, he jumped down the hole and into the dark. Pulling his cell phone from his belt, he turned on its flashlight. The strong glow of the LED light gave him enough illumination to see by, but there was no clear path to take. He dropped into a four-way junction. No clues to follow.
"God damn it.”
Jumping out the hole, he hovered for a moment, surveying the area. He saw the teens standing at the end of the alley, watching him.
"Tell me," he said. "Were there three?"
One kid, a skater punk with long dreads, took a step forward and said, "Nah, man. Just two freaky-ass naked dudes."
Another girl giggled a little and spoke up saying, "They were definitely guys."
"Great," Alpha said with a sigh, and shot into the air.
He flew back, retracing his path, but the police and EMTs were now everywhere. He watched them work, doing what they could. He felt the pull to stop. To help. But there were more pressing issues.
