Page 89 of Wild Oblivion

Klaus twisted a dial on the device. The energy of the crystal intensified, emitting a blinding white light. Plasma bolts arced wildly. The flow of energy began to pulse in rhythm.

Concern filled Henrik’s eyes. "You could instigate a gravitational collapse. The negative energy could spiral out of control. You risk instability. There are countless ways this could go wrong.”

"Fortune favors the bold, my friend," Klaus said, intoxicated by the moment.

The glowing sphere distorted the air, like a mirage in a hot desert.

Something was happening, but I wasn't sure what. I knew I didn't want to be around for it.

Henrik lifted his cane. Like a sword, he stabbed it into the chaotic field of energy around the crystal.

Negative energy crackled down the cane and enveloped him like a bolt of lightning. His hair stood tall, and his body twitched and convulsed. He reached his free hand out and grabbed Klaus by the arm, completing the circuit. Negative energy engulfed the two of them, sparking and crackling.

Giselle's eyes rounded, and she screamed with terror.

In a flash, the two men disintegrated before our eyes, vaporized by negative energy, which acted like antimatter.

The energy level of the Vrilkristall kept spiraling out of control, just as Henrik had warned. It grew brighter, and the pulsing rhythm of the energy intensified and sped up.

"I think it's time we get out of here," I said to Giselle.

The two goons turned around and sprinted to the door.

I replaced the pin, securing the grenade, rendering it safe. With the lever depressed, the fuse had never been triggered.

We followed, running toward the exit as the pulse of energy ramped up. We burst outside onto the loading dock, then jumped down to the asphalt below. We sprinted across the parking lot toward the gate.

The goons were already there, unlocking it.

Giselle and I ran as fast as we could, hearts pumping, chests heaving for breath.

KABOOM!

The explosion blasted apart the warehouse, sending a pulse of debris in all directions.

It knocked us to the ground. We hit the hard asphalt.

A blue glow filled the sky.

I sucked in a breath of air, but it was like a vacuum.

Bits of debris rained down.

I finally managed to steal a breath, then pushed off the ground, dazed by the explosion.

I looked Giselle over for injuries. Frazzled and distraught, she was unharmed. I helped her to her feet as the two thugs sprinted away, racing down Industry Avenue.

When I looked back at the warehouse, the structure was gone. Completely obliterated. There was nothing left but rubble and a few bricks here and there where the walls had once been.

It wasn’t the same, but oddly similar to a quantum pulse bomb. That sharp smell of charged particles filled the air. It made the fine hairs on my arms and the back of my neck stand tall.

Giselle looked at the destruction, mouth agape, eyes wet with tears. She broke down into sobs, and the tears streamed down her dirty cheeks.

The stars twinkled overhead, and the air was eerily still.

“Stay here,” I said to her, then walked back toward the loading dock. I climbed the steps, then crossed over a few bricks that were all that was left of the exterior wall. My eyes scanned the dust and debris. There was hardly anything recognizable left, except for a glowing source of blue light on the floor in the middle of the room.

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