Available Darkness Season 2

their souls and use the power to finally kill Jacob.
    A sudden horror struck him.
    Perhaps he’s not here for me. Maybe Hope is already here.
    That thought sent John into action. He ran at the door and slammed his body hard against it.
    “Jacob!” he screamed. “I’m here, you fucker. Come and get me!”
    John closed his eyes and tried reaching his brother, finding him, somewhere on the bottom floor, fighting agents, killing them with glee.
    Jacob stopped for a moment, turning his thoughts to John.
    “Well, hello there, brother, fancy meeting you here.”
    “I’m on the 10th floor, you fucker, come and get me,” John said, knowing his words would travel to his brother alongside his thoughts.
    “Perhaps, I’ll visit you later, John. Right now, I’m here to see someone else. Perhaps you’ve heard of her. She shares her name with something of yours which will surely continue to dim by the second.”
    Jacob laughed like a monster.
    “You fucker,” John screamed. “Stay away from her!”
    “Aw, Johnny, you amuse me so with your bravado. Ta-ta, brother. Be seeing you soon. Is there any final message you’d like me to give her?”
    Jacob killed the connection before John could respond.
    “Jacob!” John screamed into the silence.
    John paced his cell, determined to find a way out. “Mathews!” He looked up at the camera, screaming. “Let me out! Now, goddamn it!”
    “Mathews!”
    The screams outside seemed almost louder than the gunshots. John closed his eyes and tapped into streaming thoughts, searching for Hope somewhere in the din.
    So much death. Despair. Horror.
    John’s door suddenly clicked and began to slide open.
    Here comes death.
    He balled his fists, waiting to spring on anyone who entered, hoping he was up to the task and wasn’t staring down a squad of armed, suited men immune to his touch.
    John’s heart felt as if it dropped as Skinner stepped into the room, carrying an unconscious Hope in his arms.
    “What did you do to her?” John said, stepping closer, cautiously, hoping she was OK. His chin quivered, thinking she’d been hurt.
    “She’s not hurt,” Skinner said. “I took her away when all hell rained down on this place. I’ll help you both escape into the service elevator and then to the roof. You can jump from there, yes?”
    John nodded as Skinner set Hope lengthwise on the cot.
    John said, “I’ll need some more clothes so I don’t touch her.”
    “Take my coat,” Skinner said, removing his suit. It was long on John, but fine for the moment.
    “Thank you,” John said, slipping his arms through the sleeves. He moved closer, desperately wanting to touch Hope, to open her eyes and say “Hello.”
    It had been so long since he’d seen her. And despite the fact that Adam had said he’d change her appearance, she looked the same as he remembered her, not a day older, in fact. So beautiful. So sweet. His heart melted, ached, and exploded all at once. He wanted to pause the moment so it was just he and she in the world, and the ensuing violence outside could never permeate their bubble of forever.
    But the continued gunshots killed that hope immediately, sending urgency into John’s limbs.
    John turned to Skinner. “Why are you helping us?”
    “Because Mathews is drunk with power. Now that Jacob is here, you are the only one standing between him and the end of this world as we know it. Come, we must go. Are you strong enough to carry her?”
    “Yes,” John said, unsure if he was, but knowing as he stared down at his love that he’d find a way no matter what.

    **

    John wasn’t sure if there was something different about Hope, or whether he was simply too weakened to properly handle her. She felt far heavier than she should have. Hope should have been a pillow in his arms, but John was limping heavily from his cell into the hallway, then every step after that as they crossed the long hallway, strides behind Skinner.
    “We have to go faster,” Skinner urged, his eyes wide and panicked. “Are you sure you’re OK? I’d be happy to help you carry her.”
    John could hear the kindness through Skinner’s thick accent, which surprised him considering how eager the German had seemed to help the bad guys a short while before.
    “No,” John said. “I’m fine.” He took a second to readjust Hope in his arms. It was awkward since he had to keep her body up past his forearms and away from the naked flesh of his hands in case they slipped from Skinner’s long