Expiration: The GAME, #4

By Tuff Gartin

Zeke's magical abilities are expired to prevent dark magic overtaking him. Stone faces tough decisions regarding the expiration of his comatose brother. Arke receives pieces of a prophecy. Will he get all three pieces before time expires? Tough decisions are made about potential spies and double agents. The wrong decision would give Alpha 50 the access he needs to expire the Mountaineers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tuff Gartin
• Release date: Sep 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781947903050

Tuff Gartin

Tuff Gartin lives in the Nashville, Tennessee area. He has a wonderful and supporting family that encourages him always, despite what they may be thinking about crazy authorpreneurs. Tuff enjoys spending time with his family and, otherwise, writing for his Tuff Readers and watching sports. As long as there are Tuff Readers out there, Tuff will stay committed to giving his readers the best reading experiences he and his Muse can create. Are you a Tuff Reader? Visit www.tuffgartin.com/myreaders.html to find out. If you are, please sign up for Tuff’s email list to get the latest info on Tuff and his books. Author website: www.tuffgartin.com

Book preview

Expiration

The GAME Episode 4

TUFF GARTIN

Published by Tuff Gartin

Cover design: Tuff Gartin

Copyright © 2020 by Tuff Gartin

ISBN: 978-1-947903-05-0

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Tuff Gartin

P.O. Box 218294

Nashville, TN 37221

PUBLISHER'S NOTICE

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Dedication

To Aunt Sandy, my second mom, whose expiration was much too soon!

Acknowledgments

Thank you, Jeanne, for your considerable contributions to this story. Your insight, questions, and editing skills overpower my thick head every time — well, most of the time:)

Stone - DAY 94 - 11AM

Stone entered Arke's office. Arke stood and reached out to welcome his ally. Hello, Stone. Please come in. You look much better than you did the last couple of times I saw you. How are you feeling?

Stone was amazed this man could treat him so kindly after all that had transpired overnight. Arke had dried tears on his face from crying over the death of his father, Alpha 48. Arke's eyes were still bloodshot. And his long, white hair shed the appearance of locks gone dreadfully wrong. Stone felt a little uncomfortable visiting Arke. Just a few hours ago, Arke's father had taken him to visit a great dragon through a mirror portal in the Dark Rooms. And he had done so knowing that he would be sacrificing his own life to help Stone and his best friend, Zeke — or would Zeke still consider Stone his friend at all?

To be honest, I'm feeling some guilt about your father. I'm deeply sorry — .

Arke raised his hands and waved them vigorously to stop Stone from going any further with that line of thinking. Please do not feel any guilt about the death of my father, Stone. He died so that you could control your dark magic and so that Zeke could be revived. He died because he knew that you too were our best hope of defeating Alpha 50. He died because he was a loving, selfless man. So please honor his death by doing everything you can to help us destroy Alpha 50. Arke then lifted Stone's chin from his chest and forced him to look eye-to-eye. Please, Stone.

Stone gazed back into Arke's tender and caring eyes and said, You're right. Of course I will. It's the least I can do for such a hero.

Arke rubbed Stone's head, knowing it was a gesture Zeke had done many times in the past as a special act within their friendship. Stone smiled and attempted to roll his eyes to complete his half of the act, only to cut it short to wipe the tears that had suddenly trickled out of his eyes. Arke said, Now we must focus all our energy on gaining, then understanding, the prophecy. I have sources who have told me that my brother may have access to something that could gain him entrance to the Banished Mountains any moment. It is imperative we get the prophecy.

After an embrace, Stone reached into his pocket and pulled out a red gem and handed it to Arke. He said, Would you please give this to Zeke? Sobk, the Queen of the Dragons, told me that Zeke must hold it in his palm and all his magic will be erased, including his dark magic. But — , Stone hesitated.

Arke interrupted. Why do you give the gem to me? Do you not wish to hand it to him yourself?

To be honest, I believe it is best that you give him the gem. I could not lie to Zeke. Yet, after all that has transpired, I do not wish to tell him that he will lose his Consigned powers forever by holding the gem. I could not withhold that information from him. That would be a lie. I also worry that should the full truth start spilling from my mouth, I would also be unable to withhold that I tried to heal him with my own dark magic as a payback for what he had done to me. Arke also knew that even though all the dark magic would be removed temporarily, the gem would not kill the part of Erinyes' soul residing in Zeke. It was very possible the dark magic could still overtake Zeke someday. But Sobk felt certain that Zeke's Booster and Healer powers would keep it at bay.

Arke took the coin and said, I can appreciate your position and cannot truthfully tell you I would not do the same thing if I were faced with your situation. However, I sense there is something else troubling you.

Stone took a deep breath and said, There is a favor I would like to ask of you.

Please do. I want you to feel free to ask me anything at any time.

Thank you, sir. Well, since Paul is my brother, I would like to be the one to rescue him from LONE.

Stone, as it turns out — , Arke started to tell him that Paul lay safely within the infirmary not far from where they currently spoke before being interrupted.

Thinking Arke was making an excuse to protect him, Stone persisted, Please here me out first.

Arke acquiesced.

Stone continued, I've given this a lot of thought. And after I rescue him, I would really like to take my brother directly to our home in Ashen, to allow him to die naturally again, and then be buried in front of our family. That would mean a tremendous amount to my family. I admit, I do not know the dangers involved with such an act. But if it is remotely a possibility, I want to do it.

Arke, already an emotional wreck, was touched by Stone's plea. New tears formed in his eyes. Arke said, "I am touched. Of course, I will make it happen. This is important to you and would be proper closure for you and your family. That being said, there are a few things you must know. First, I believe your family to be in danger. I believe Alpha 50 will soon hunt your family down to get to you. I mentioned a prophecy earlier.