Wyatt Hughes: The Terminal of Terror: Wyatt Hughes

By Paul Kasprzak

Wyett Hughes and his friends continue on their quest to find all six jewels in order to stop Lucifer from unleashing Hell's army on Earth. After finding the second jewel, Billy Livedson carried out a plan that gave them the upper hand. Now, Wyett and his friends must choose what to do, and neither option is good.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Kasprzak
• Release date: Jun 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201518677

Book preview

Chapter 1: Getting in the Grove Again

After returning home from Fort New Amsterdam, Wyett and his friends got a lot of questions from the local police and various government agencies about their parents’ location and if they had any knowledge of what happened. Fortunately, Father Jonah and Mr. and Mrs. Sato gave the kids alibies for the authorities to cover what happened to their parents.

Father Jonah explained that the kids’ parents undertook various missions for the Church oversees and would be unreachable for weeks, possibly. Various government agencies didn’t believe at first that they were unreachable. The three explained that in Church locations throughout the world, magic spells blocked cellular and satellite communication. Also, that once on a top priority mission, no contact was permitted when outside of Church locations.

Even the local branch in New Amsterdam could only use a landline and the internet was a hard-wired cable network. The reason for these precautions was to prevent various safehouse and other secret branches from being located via a device’s GPS location data if it were to fall into the wrong hands. Lastly, they explained the fingerprint and retinal scans were required to just gain access to the Church’s network and communication equipment.

As for why they’re there at the military base, the three explained the kids were there getting an inside look at some stuff their parents had to go through to attain their positions. As for the fires, luckily, Antonio’s uncle was captain of the local fire department, and knew about his brother and Antonio’s involvement in the church, along with the underground tunnels.

He informed the authorities about the underground tunnels and how their houses were connected. He explained New Amsterdam was built on a massive shale rock plateau and the Livedson’s home explosion caused fissures in the ground and rock, causing methane to leak and fill up tunnels and the houses. Finally, they exploded when timer turned the lights on in Mrs. Ito’s house. With that explanation, the authorities went home and left Wyett and the gang alone as they chalked everything off to one big accident.

Eventually, the gang went back to their normal routine of practice and lessons in magic. The next couple of weeks became a blur as they dove into practicing and getting better, so they can get their parents back without having to give the jewels. However, summer faded into fall and the gang had to get back into the grove of managing school and life in the Church.

Can’t believe the first day of school is here, Pat muttered as he walked into school.

I know and we’re nowhere near getting our parents back, Valeri followed.

Hey, don’t say that here, Wyett whispered back. As far as everyone else is concerned, our parents are overseas doing work for the Church. Get it together, because if people find out the truth about what happened, our parents are going to be dead.

Exactly, John followed up. We don’t know how far the Livedson’s reach is. There could be teachers here that could be a part of Livedson’s group, and tasked to spy on us. So, watch what you say.

Sorry, Valeri apologized. It’s just frustrating that we cannot do anything right now to help.

We all are, Hailey replied. We have to stay cool and just keep things moving along like normal.

Let’s talk about this stuff later, Antonio followed up. The best place is going to be lunch with the noise in the cafeteria. There we can talk more freely.

The gang agreed with Antonio and was quiet for the rest of the walk. They went to their first period class, which was gym. With the practice and events that have happened over the last couple of weeks, the gang was happy to blow off a little steam in gym class. The gang went to their first period class, which was gym.

When they got to the gymnasium for class, they realized that Alan, Naoki, Marco, and Mark Williams. They realized they may not get their parents back soon, but they could make their lives a little harder. The activity that day was dodge ball. Wyett and Marco were selected as captains, which of course meant they took their own people. That way, they could minimize the potential fighting and draw attention to them.

When the game started, Wyett and the rest concentrated on the three. Pat and Antonio had the strongest arms of the group, so the group kept passing the balls to them. The pair thoroughly enjoyed it, as typically the four were usually on the run, dodging the pairs’ throws. The throws hit half the time throughout the class, as there were multiple games. By the end of the game, the four were very sore from dodge balls hitting their body. After class in the locker room, Wyett and Marco ran into each other.

Have fun out there Wyett, Marco remarked.

Why wouldn’t I, Wyett replied. Making your life miserable is so much fun.

Well, enjoy it while it lasts, Marco followed up. Remember what you must do, because the clock is ticking.

Remember, if anything happens to them, Wyett said as he got into Marco’s face. There’s going to be a price to pay.

I’m so scared, Wyett, Marco laughed as he turned and walked to his locker.

Wyett wanted to hit him in the face, but didn't want to draw attention to himself. Wyett turned, walked to his locker, sat down on a bench, and sighed. It was nice to be back at school and among other kids, but the frustration of his parents being held hostage was always there, waiting to gush out like a geyser.

You got to cool it, Wyett, John advised.

I know, Wyett replied as he got up and grabbed his gym clothes to take back to his locker. I just want to make sure they know if something happens, there will be consequences.

That’s right, Antonio followed up as they walked out of the locker room. I know our parents won’t be there forever, but it should be when it’s supposed to be. Whether it’s an accident, illness, or something else, but not at the hands of another.

Just as Antonio finished, the boys met up with Hailey and Valeri in the hallway outside the gym, waiting for them.

What you guys talking about, Hailey asked

Wyett ran into Marco in the locker room, John answered. Of course, they almost went at it like usual.

I was just clarifying that if they tried to do anything, there will be consequences, Wyett reassured the girls. Then Antonio said our parents won’t always be there, but they shouldn’t be taken away by another person.

That leads me to my next questions, Pat asked. What’s the difference if we, do it? Doesn’t that make us no better than them?

There is a difference, Wyett answered. Taking a life out of sheer joy or for personal gain is just wrong. Taking a life to prevent another from doing it to someone else that is defenseless is totally different.

Good point, Pat replied. Death is a part of what we do. All our parents know the risk-taking positions associated with the Church. However, everyday people haven’t and if they’ll do this to our parents, where will they stop?

They never won’t until they get what they want, John replied. Our parents already told us they all decided if they were captured that we aren’t to do what they want.

The gang grew quiet as they proceeded to their next class. The realization they may have to proceed on without their parents from now on was hard to swallow. On their way to their next class, Hailey remembered an old Japanese expression that her father used to tell her.

Makeru ga kachi, Hailey blurted out. It’s an old Japanese expression that my father told me several times before he was killed. It means in English to lose means to win. Some fights you must walk away from.

So, no matter what we do, Valeri followed up. The Livedson’s will still kill them any which way.

Exactly, Hailey replied.

Our parents to that to us as well, Wyett said. Even if we keep our end of the deal, the Livedsons will still kill our parents. I pose this question to be answered at lunchtime. What do we do now?

Wyett finished as they came up to their regular school lockers where all the kids were. They continued with their classes the rest of that morning without incident. The gang were also unusually quiet as they went through the school halls as they went on their day until lunch. It was at lunch that someone finally spoke up.

Once again, Wyett spoke up, as he was the last to sit down at their lunch table. What are we going to do?

We do what they say, Hailey answered as she ate.

Wait, Pat interrupted. I thought we will not give them the jewels?

We’re not, Hailey answered after she finished chewing. We are going to meet them on the Winter Solstice at the New Amsterdam Central Terminal with the third jewel. However, when it’s time to make the transaction, we attack them.

My dad said not to try any escape attempt, Wyett followed up. Any attempt will just get them killed.

Even if we give them the jewel, they’ll kill them anyway, Hailey replied. Not out of revenge, or a way to settle a score, but to cripple us little by little until they can strike the killing blow, which will end this all.

A hit-and-run attack, John followed up. They’ll expect some type of diversion during the exchange to free our parents. However, they won’t expect a full-frontal attack on them right there might surprise them, and free some of our parents.

We’re going to do a little scouting of the area to figure out how we go about it. Antonio interjected. There are two wings and the terminal. So, if the exchange were in a wing, there would be more options and space to maneuver. If it were held in the tower, then our options will be limited, because of the limited space there.

They selected the terminal for a reason, Valeri interjected. They may already have a plan set for the transaction. Also, there could be some operations already taking place there.

For years, it wasn’t used by anyone and just sat there abandoned, Wyett interjected. Right not it is owned by the New Amsterdam Central Terminal Restoration Corporation and is now an office building and warehouse. Dad is big into the historical architecture of the city, so he’s been following the repairs and events going on there.

I’m thinking that dad was following it for another reason, John replied. Come to think about it, dad never did mention who the principal individuals behind the corporation are. Maybe the Livedson’s used an alias to get the property.

My dad told me that before the corporation, some guy bought it and started selling off all the stuff in it. Antonio answered. After so many complaints from people, the owner gave in said and sold it to the corporation for a buck, along with the responsibility to pay back taxes on the property.

After school, we must find out who’s the founder of the corporation that currently owns the building, Wyett explained. From there, we scout the building and see what’s going on in there. If there’s something going on, we’ll get the blueprints and layout of the building for an entrance we can use. As for the details about how, we and will go in and scout the building will be put together later.

Makes sense, Hailey replied. Why try to sneak into something if there’s a camera or computer system in there? Mac can hack into it if there’s one. If not, then we must do it the hard way.

So, after school, we ask Mac to do some digging behind the corporation, get the blueprints of the building, and the sewer system, Wyett continued. As he is doing that, we go to practice and do whatever we have to until Mac gets back to us with the information.

The rest of the gang agreed to it, as it felt like a solid start in the next leg of their journey. They didn’t know what the end results of, but to them, that didn’t matter. All that mattered was they were getting back into their normal grove of taking matters into their own hands again.

Chapter 2: Practice Gets Rough

After school, the gang head straight back to the church with their friend Mark Macalby, who was also with the church. They referred to Mark as Mac, as he was their computer and science guy. Also, one of his favorite television shows was MacGyver, so the name fit very well with him. On the way back, they filled him in on what they’re going to need as Mac’s school schedule and lunch was different as the school loaded him up on advance classes.

Mac, we decided at lunch what we’re going to do about our situation, Wyett disclosed as he looked around to make sure they weren’t being followed or spied on by one of their enemies.

What’s that? Mac asked after Wyett gave the all clear to answer.

We’ll not give them the jewels, John answered.

You’re joking right, Mac asked. Also, don’t worry about anyone hearing us with an electronic device. I have a signal scrambler installed in my backpack just in case I’m carrying sensitive information on an electronic device outside of the Church.

No, we’re not, Hailey replied. Our parents don’t want us to give them the jewels, no matter what happens to them.

That means they will die then, Mac replied

They knew there was a chance something could get them killed when they signed up for the Church, Antonio replied. It’s no different from being a police officer, firefighter or a member of the military. So, they knew there was the possibility of this happening.

I can’t imagine life without those guys, Mac followed up. It took a long time just to get over the fact Grandpa Hughes was gone. Now, there’s the reality that all your parents are gone. How can you guys deal with that?

Because there’s the possibility they won’t die, Valeri answered. What we’re going to do is at the exchange, instead of giving them the jewels, is we’re going to go on the offensive and attack Billy and his cronies?

I see catch them off guard when they think they have an advantage, Mac replied. It could work, but you guys are obviously going to need some stuff to pull it off.

Which is where you come in, Pat finished as they got to a back entrance that led to the lower levels where the primary operation of the Church was.

You guys said that the exchange is happening at the New Amsterdam Central Terminal? Mac asked.

Yes, we need to first know who is behind the New Amsterdam Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, Wyett answered as he unlocked the door and entered inside. We suspect that it’s an alias that is being used by the Livedsons or it’s owned by one of their followers.

Makes sense, Mac followed up. Why use a building you’ve no ties to and wouldn’t know the layout of?

Exactly, John confirmed. You would leave an opening for your enemies to exploit. So, they’ve something to do with it. The only question is what?

So, not only do you need information about the company, Mac followed up. You also need the blueprints for the building and the surrounding area, which would include the blueprints to the sewer system and other utilities. Put that together, and it’s obvious that you guys are going on a scouting mission. So, I got a request.

Don’t tell me, Wyett replied as they entered the training area. You want in on the mission?

Yes, I cannot stand by and sit behind a desk anymore, Mac answered. I’m done cowering and being scared about something happening. I realized that no matter how many precautions you take, you can still get captured, hurt, or killed.

Exactly, Wyett followed up. I’ll tell you the same thing I told the others. It’s not a matter of if something bad happens. What matters is what you do after something bad happens. You’re ready.

My sentiments exactly, a voice bellowed out from the back of the room.

At the back of the room meditating were Mr. and Mrs. Sato. They were meditating to prepare for the practice session that was coming up. Hearing the end of their conversation, Mr. and Mrs. Sato knew what they had decided at school.

You’ve done all you can behind the scenes, Mac, Mr. Sato said as he turned the corner and entered the training room. Realizing no matter what you do, there’s always the risk of something bad happening is a big step forward. You could be electrocuted just by sitting behind a computer, you know.

Never thought of that, Mac replied. So, what equipment will I be using?

That will come in time, Mac, Mrs. Sato answered. What you need right now is some hand-to-hand combat training to defend yourself in close quarter situations.

A basic hand gun and martial arts should work for now, Antonio followed up. "They aren’t hard to use and with Mac’s smarts, he should