by Michael Todd
Juntto ran from the backyard of the house, his hands huge and formed into rough, thick spears. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes changed colors rapidly. He rushed past Angie, who was reloading. She had heard the reverberating sound of his bellow, and could now see the anger flowing through him. She wasn’t sure what had happened in that backyard, but he was apparently on a mission to take down everything in his path.
Juntto growled and slammed his shoulder straight into an approaching demon she hadn’t seen. The demon flew back thirty feet and Juntto followed it. He stabbed the beast with both of his spear hands, then ripped it apart. Angie looked away as the blood spattered and checked her gun. She was good.
She pushed down the fear that was radiating through her. It wasn’t as bad as it had been at the subway, but it was still almost paralyzing. To the left, a demon burst out of a house and into the yard, carrying a half-eaten cat. She raised her gun and pulled the trigger three times, striking the demon dead. To the right was another demon who saw the falling corpse of the cat and dove for it.
Angie stepped onto the curb and put one bullet right between the beast’s eyes. “Poor kitty. Nothing is safe here.”
She continued down the street and around the corner. The immediate area was mostly clear, but at the end of the block a church was burning brightly. The front of the building was all but gone, so she could see all the way to the pulpit. A demon had a priest by the neck and was slashing at him. Angie took off running, pulling up her gun and aiming carefully. She leaped through the broken debris of the church and jumped on top of a pile of shattered pews.
The demon turned just enough for her to get a shot off. The bullet flew through the air, going through the demon’s brain, out the other side, and into the wooden cross behind him. He dropped the priest and burst into dust. Angie ran up and went to her knees, cradling the priest’s head in her arms.
He looked at her and reached his hand to her forehead, making the symbol of a cross in his blood. “God will protect you. You are his warrior.”
With that, the priest quietly left the world. Angie sat there in the rubble and flames, holding the priest and looking at the crucifix above her.
She slowly stood up and wiped the blood across the front of her shirt. “It seems that God has abandoned us.”
“Go left, Turner. Take the other two with you. I’ll go right, and we’ll meet on the other side of the building,” Brock yelled as they walked toward the historic building.
The heat from the portal radiated, sending waves across the street like it was high summer. Turner and the others moved low to the ground, their guns ready. They knew there was a group of demons on the other side, and they were about to ambush them. As Brock glanced into the open door of the historical building, he spotted an older woman curled up under a table. He put his finger to his lips
He stepped to the edge of the door and took a deep breath. Turner, Eddie, and Sean fanned out, ready to demolish the bastards. Before Brock could give the signal, Juntto dropped from the roof of the building right on top of the beasts and began tearing them apart. Brock could see that he was almost rabid. His eyes were glazed and spittle flew from his mouth. His clothing, his face, and even his hair were stained with black blood.
When the last of the demons was gone, Brock took a step forward and reached for Juntto’s shoulder. Juntto spun around, grabbing his arm and slamming him to the ground. Brock’s gun flew up and Juntto’s spear-shaped arm angled toward the soldier’s eye. “Juntto, wait. It’s me. It’s Brock. I’m on your team.”
Juntto shook his head and recognition came over his face. Slowly he lowered his arm, still pinning Brock to the ground. “It’s okay, buddy. There is a lot of death here. I know what it’s like to lose control. You can’t hurt your own people, though.”
“Juntto!” Katie yelled as she landed next to them. Her wings folded back.
Juntto swung his head around to Katie and backed off Brock. Katie held Tom and Harry loosely, ready to take on the Leviathan if she had to.
Juntto wiped blood from his face. “Same team. I got it. Just had a moment.”
Katie looked the soldier over. “You okay?”
Brock nodded. “Fine. I’m fine.”
Turner gave Brock a hand up. “Wow, so you almost get killed by demons and a Leviathan at the same time. Do you ever do anything low-key?”
Brock laughed and slapped Turner on the back. “It’s okay, buddy. I promise you will have your day.”
Calvin turned the corner with Angie in tow. Katie looked at all of them. “One last push. You guys finish up the demons out here, and I’m going to close the portals. You ready?”
They were more than ready.
21
Katie stood on top of the main courthouse building, looking out over the town. Her wings were spread wide, and her angel armor sparkled in the sunlight. The gold threads of her sash gleamed with their holy nature. The gauntlets on her wrists glittered, sending flickers of light on the dome below her. She could feel the energy pulsing around her and see all her friends fighting the last of the demons below. The wind whipped wildly through her hair as she scanned the town, spotting all the portals.
Pandora broke the silence. Hold up. Aren’t you being just a tad dramatic here? I mean, seriously. You are acting like a damn diva. Just close the fucking portals.
Katie stood boldly with both hands on the hilt of her sword. Can I not have one shining moment on this pillar of justice?
No. Close the damn portals.
Katie rolled her eyes. Fine, whatever.
Katie sheathed her sword and closed her eyes, pulling energy from all around her. It pulsed down her arms and pooled in her palms, ready to explode. She pulled her arms way back and then flung them forward, slapping her hands together. An enormous surge of energy blasted outward, and when it slammed into the portals they wavered, shimmered, and dissolved.
Katie opened one eye and looked around. Did it work?
Pandora scoffed. Are you telling me you just did all that bullshit and you didn’t even know if it would work? In the amount of time you did that, you could have leisurely walked around and had me shut the damn things. I seriously think you have issues.
I don’t know, it was in my gut. I figured since that worked before I got my armor, it would work again. Hey, look, the portals are shut!
Pandora let out an exhausted sigh. Yes, dear. The portals are shut, and the last of the demons are being slain as we speak. This incursion is clear, although the damage isn’t something they will be able to clean up anytime soon. It looks like a bomb went off in this town.
It kind of did.
Katie took a seat on the roof, watching the energy waves ripple outward, then calm. The sounds of battle stopped, and there was no more screaming. The seagulls returned to the ocean’s shores, and for a moment, if you closed your eyes, you wouldn’t know anything had happened there. However, the destruction was deep, deeper than any town had seen before. Katie took off and set herself down on the ground next to the rest of her team.
Calvin chuckled. “That was pretty sweet, closing those portals like that.”
Katie looked around, stunned by the violence that surrounded her. “Are the demons taken care of?”
Calvin put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. “They are. We can help look for survivors if you want. I know this is one of those battles that is not easily walked away from. I could barely look down when I was fighting earlier. I think every one of us felt that anger at some point.”
Katie nodded absentmindedly, not really hearing anything he said. She stood at the end of the street, with fires burning and bodies stretched all the way to the ocean.
Families began to slowly emerge from their homes, turning their children’s eyes away from the carnage. They may have ended the battle, but they hadn’t won it; that was for damn sure. The demons would regroup. As far as the people lying dead in the streets went, the demons had won. Their souls had already departed.
Katie sc
anned the yards, hearing a quiet, muffled sound. A small child’s cry. A tiny four-year-old girl wandered into the bloody street, still wearing a nightgown stained with syrup from that morning’s pancakes. Her feet were bare but red with whatever blood she had trekked through. She looked lost and scared, and there wasn’t a sound coming from inside her house.
The girl’s tight blonde curls floated around her as she looked back and forth. “Momma? Daddy?”
Tears began to stream down Katie’s face and she grabbed her chest, feeling unbearable heartbreak. She opened her mouth and cried out, the sound echoing like a voice from the heavens. Everyone stopped and watched the angel run through the bodies toward the little girl. She didn’t even stop, just scooped the small child into her arms and lifted her high into the sky, covering her eyes from the carnage. Katie’s glistening tears flowed over her cheeks and down onto the girl, creating a spark of light.
As she flew toward the medical area, the little girl looked up in wonder and curiosity at Katie. She wasn’t like everyone else; she had never seen Katie on television. She accepted Katie for who she was immediately. The girl touched Katie’s cheek. “Are you an angel?”
Katie smiled, the tears still coming. “Partly.”
The girl tilted her head. “Why do you cry? Mommy says angels are our guardians. Are you taking me to heaven to see Jesus?”
A lump built in Katie’s throat, but she held it back. Even Pandora could be heard in the background sniffling and trying to keep herself together. Katie gently floated to the ground and looked into the girl’s eyes. “Not today. You have a long time left here on Earth. I cry for those whose time is done.”
The girl kissed Katie’s cheek and whispered in her ear, “Don’t cry for them. They are in the great kingdom.”
Katie pulled back and looked into the little girl’s eyes. A woman from the rescue team came over and put out her arms for the girl, but Katie stared into her bright blue eyes until she disappeared into the tent. She let out a deep breath and felt her knees buckle beneath her. Two strong hands grabbed her elbows and slowly guided her to the ground. Her wings collapsed behind her, but they did not disappear.
Calvin pulled her to him and hugged her tightly. Katie was wracked by sobs as she let out all the anguish and terror of that day.
As Katie wept, the angel in her was free to mourn. Her great angel wings wrapped around her and Calvin as the reality of it all beat into her heart. A crack in the clouds sent a ray of light cascading over them, and for just a moment every foot and every voice froze in remembrance.
Everyone went to work helping to clean up the small town.
They searched for buried bodies in the fallen buildings, swept sidewalks after the bodies were removed, and counseled families with the support teams that had arrived. None of them—not Juntto, not Angie, Brock, Calvin or the rest of the team—were comfortable leaving the town to be cleaned up by anyone else.
They felt responsible.
Katie soared through the town doing an aerial survey, trying to find any signs of life from above. She felt better after letting go, but she was slightly embarrassed. I’m sorry for losing it, Pandora. I don’t know what happened. I have never felt sadness that great before. I felt like I was breaking.
Pandora spoke gently. It was the angel in you. Angels break when they watch the suffering of humans. They are God’s angels because they loved humans as much as God did. You have part of that in you, and let me tell you, it is strong.
Katie narrowed her eyes. So that was why you were upset?
Pandora cleared her throat. I wasn’t upset. I was having an allergic reaction.
To what?
Shellfish.
Katie chuckled. Oh, okay. Gotcha. Sorry, didn’t mean to confuse you with someone who cared.
Pandora yawned. It’s all right. It happens from time to time. I’m a demon, though. Evil, horny—the whole bit.
I’ll remember next time.
People forget, and all of a sudden they’re projecting onto me.
Katie’s phone began to vibrate in her pocket, so she landed on a rooftop and answered it.
“Katie, are you all right? I saw footage of you on the hill.” The general’s voice was concerned and sincere.
Katie took in a deep breath. “I’m okay now. It’s an angel thing, I’m told.”
General Brushwood’s voice was as tired as she had ever heard it. “No, Katie. It’s a heart thing. We all cried. The whole country gave a collective sob watching the footage of this battle. I’m sorry you had to see all of it, walk through it, and clean up after it.”
Katie looked at the sun setting over the water. “It’s my job.”
The general cleared his throat. “That’s right. And it’s my job to push you, as much as I might not want to. Moloch and his crew have devastated our country. They have taken the lives of thousands today, and countless others in the past. We can no longer sit by in good conscience and allow it to continue without rallying our troops and striking back at them. These demons need to know they will not break us with one blow, or two, or even a hundred. The American spirit is stronger than it has been in decades. We face our enemies, and we don’t allow ourselves to be bullied into submission. I know you just got done with this, but we need to move quickly into retaliation mode.”
Katie stood up and gathered herself. “General, I couldn’t agree with you more. I not only want this world to be safe from demons, but I want revenge for every ounce of blood spilled, for every life taken, and for every animal sacrificed. I want Moloch to know we will not back down from his advances. We will not cower under his tyranny. No one has ever been more ready and willing to take this fight to that bastard.”
The general slapped his hands together. “There you are. Damn right, Katie. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Now, tell me what you need.”
Katie thought about it for a minute. “Give me twenty troops to start with, then I need a shipment of RPG-7s with PG-7VL ammunition, and an RPG-18, although I know it’s hard to find. I will also need a shit-ton of frag grenades, obviously using our metal if we have them. Also stick grenades, and whatever we have left of the special metal smoke grenades. Make sure we get our usual barrage of automatic rifles, shotguns, and submachine guns. Those will be put to use by the troops I am taking with me.”
The general stopped writing. “I thought we were teaching them a lesson, not invading the place.”
Katie grimaced. “If I have learned anything over the past few years, it’s that plans only go so far. When the fighting starts, things change quickly. I don’t want to be caught with my pants down this time. I want everyone to be able to defend themselves, no matter what. We have lost enough good people over the years. If we do this, we’re going to do it right. If that means being overly-fucking-prepared, so be it.”
The general wrote down the rest of the list. “Good thinking. Now, what about the major explosive?”
“Get with Joshua; he has already started on that. It’s going to look like a hodgepodge mess when you see it, but trust me, it’s built to do the job. My main concern is detonating that thing after we get our infected troops out. I don’t want to come back to you with an order for coffins, General.”
“And I don’t want you to.”
Katie clapped her hands. “Oh, and I want drones that can shoot video and send it across a portal. I’ll teach these motherfucking demons they can’t play with Earth. Doctor Thorough and Alice should be able to help with that, since we already have similar drones in hell. He may even be able to reroute some of the ones he has, which would make it a lot easier.”
Pandora laughed. The fire has been lit under your ass. I like it.
Just wait for the explosion. It’s going to be a showstopper.
Katie dropped a large piece of broken lumber into a pile of rubble and rolled her neck from side to side. It was late, and they had been helping clean up for hours. All of the rubble had been gone through, and the bodies they found had been taken away for id
entification. Katie had checked on the little girl, but her parents still hadn’t been found.
She walked over and grabbed Juntto by the arm. “Can I talk to you?”
Juntto smiled and tossed a large stone onto the pile. “That was some damn good demon-killing today. I think I took out over a few hundred of those little bastards. I just kept picturing them like my games and went to town.”
Katie nodded. “Listen, you went a little wild out there. Angie said she can pinpoint the moment you lost it. Now I don’t know what happened to set you off, but you got Hulk tunnel-vision hardcore. You went absolutely berserk. You turned on one of my friends.”
Juntto held up both hands in protest. “But I didn’t. I heard his voice, saw his face, and stopped myself. That has never happened to me, or probably any of my kind, before. There is a difference between making a mistake and almost making a mistake.”
Katie let out a deep breath. “I know. Trust me, I’ve been there. I’ve been so blinded by the hate flowing through my veins that it wouldn’t have mattered who I killed as long as everyone was dead. Of course, I felt differently when I came out of it, but those moments are incredibly dangerous. We have to worry about what demons are going to attack us, and how many of them there will be. We have to worry about whether we are strong enough to face them. In the midst of that, we have to worry about getting innocent people to safety. We can’t be worried that one of our own is going to trample us in a blind rage.”
Juntto shook his head angrily. “It wasn’t a blind rage. Besides, I’m not one of you. I’m a ward. I was brought here to kill, and that is it. You give me nice clothes and housing, but I know better than that. I am not one of you. I see it in everyone’s eyes.”
Katie spoke fiercely. “Listen to me. If we fight beside you, celebrate with you, and cry next to you, then you are one of us. We don’t discriminate, and we have all gone out of our way to leave your past in the past. We have all stepped up and started looking at you for what you do now, not what you did yesterday. That is how our team works. We all have secrets or pasts, but none of that matters here.”