Joseph sat alone in his bedroom, his back up against the headboard, one knee tucked up to his chest, the other in a cast hanging off the mattress. All he wanted just then was a little sleep, the real kind, but he knew what was waiting for him when he closed his eyes. There was no need to revisit that.

  Besides, he needed to know.

  It had been hours since he quit siphoning energy into his new workings. Since he stopped drawing energy from the other world and channeling it through his pen.

  Yet, there it was.

  His thoughts flowed like thick sludge. It would do him some good to rest his eyes for a while, at least. He'd check on it in the morning.

  Choking smoke.

  Pressure around his waist.

  Don't come any closer.

  He jolted awake, dismissing his fire then checking around himself for anything he'd burned. Mercifully, the bed hadn't ignited. His heart hammered furiously in his chest.

  Bringing his hands up to rub his eyes, Joseph blew out a calming breath through his lips. He could feel it there in front of him, a tiny stream of energy trickling into the room.

  He needed to know. He couldn't ignore it.

  Letting his hands slide down his face, he looked down at the thing on the bed.

  It was still there. Even several hours after he’d closed his connection with the other world, the tip of his trusty pen still glowed a faint sunset red, the light fueled by an aperture, stable and completely separate from Joseph’s own. He knew from experience that it would be warm to the touch.

  A permanent aperture.

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  Impossible. Previously impossible at least.

  *BANG**BANG*BANG*

  The sudden noise smashed Joseph's little moment and sent Tash scurrying for the bathroom with a yowl.

  *BANG**BANG*BANG*

  Downstairs, someone was pounding heavily on the Tower’s front door with enough force to rattle the windows and fixtures.

  Clutching a nasty force working in his hand, Joseph was up on his feet and halfway to the door before it occurred to him to throw a blanket over his new, glowing wizard pen. That would need to be revisited later.

  He’d be kidding himself if he didn’t admit he wanted a distraction anyway. The constant nightmares that felt like memories and the new aspect to his powers were just too much to deal with right now, at least at the same time. A mysterious presence at the door was just the kind of thing that could keep a man occupied at night and not thinking about his new ability to poke little holes in reality.

  *BANG**BANG*BANG*

  He hobbled down the iron staircase and through the nerd labyrinth, his cast *thup*thup*thup*ing on the carpet. The only light to see by streamed in through the foggy storefront window, suffusing the shop with a yellowing glow.

  *BANG**BANG*  

  The door shook in its frame. 

  Joseph clutched the working in his hand and held it behind his back as he removed the security flashpaper from the jamb then disengaged the deadbolt. Reaching down, he turned the knob and flung the door open, his fire on the edge of manifestation again.

  On Joseph’s front step, stood the hulking form of Hugh, utterly filling the doorway with his body. He’d traded in his scrubs for street clothes, but it seemed that he was rough on everything he wore. His white shirt and jeans were practically shredded, blood seeped from multiple wounds on his chest and stomach, and he had an angry burn on his temple. His bald head was streaked with black dirt and dried blood.

  Hugh’s eyes were hazy, unfocused, but he was aware enough to notice that there was no door in his way anymore. Then it was just a second of contemplation before he looked down to see Joseph there. The giant seemed relieved to see the man he'd once attempted to kill, allowing himself to lean tiredly on the Tower's outer wall, leaving a crimson smear where his shoulder made contact with the brick.

  In his arms, Hugh cradled something wrapped in a blanket, so very small against the super's expansive chest. A thin, pale arm slipped limply down from the bundle, its delicate hand sporting painted nails and a charm bracelet with little silver horses.

  Hugh opened his mouth, and his rumbling voice formed words Joseph's sleep deprived brain was slow to process.

  “We need your help.”

  End of Firebreak - Issue #1 - Angel

  Joseph Jaeger will return in Firebreak - Issue #2 - Devil