by Caleb Smith
Chapter 51
“The manhunt continues this evening for a group of men who killed six people today at Doug’s Grocery Mart in Easton. This same group is believed to be behind a string of recent murders in Mid-Town, including the recent slayings at Gifford’s ice cream shop and the local police precinct there. In today’s incident, eye witnesses have reported that the men arrived at the scene just after three p.m. and that two men were dressed as police officers. The terrorist group is said to have ransacked the store before turning their attention to their victims. They managed to flee the scene in a blue pickup truck before the authorities arrived.”
Noah glanced up at the television in time to see sketches of the motley group on the screen. His leg was shaking nervously. He got up and shut off the television just before his mother entered the living room. He didn’t want her to see it; she’d been through enough.
Evelyn gently rubbed his shoulders and then the top of his head before reaching down to kiss his temple. “I’m going to the hospital for a little while to see Earl. Would you like to come with me?”
“I think I’ll stay here,” he replied, happy to now have an opportunity to begin his own manhunt for the demons.
“OK. Well, I’ll be back in a little while. Probably within a couple of hours. If you need me, call me on my cell phone.”
“Sounds good, Mom. Be careful.”
“I sure will. You will be here in case I need to get hold of you, right?”
“Yes, Mom,” he replied.
“OK. Good.”
She left the house. It appeared that her extreme terror had subsided, and Noah was relieved. As soon as she was gone, he moved into his room and grabbed his tools: the sword, the wooden figurine, and the holy water. He was already wearing the necklace. He also found an old sling bag that was perfect for carrying Keeper at his side while on foot. He threw on his gray sweatshirt and his dark blue jeans, then laced up his steel toes. He adjusted his square eyeglasses, ran his fingers through his black hair, and looked at his reflection in the mirror. Noah’s eyes shown back, convincing himself that he was ready. Keeper was mewing on his bed as she watched him. She too, knew it was time, and as much as she feared what was to come, they would be in it together.
It was still early evening, and the sun was sinking in the sky. Noah hopped on his bike, strapped on his gear, and made his way for the streets, with Keeper in the basket. He didn’t know what he was looking for. He just needed to get out in the open world and let it come to him. He knew the demons had last been seen in a blue pickup truck in the next town over, but that was at least a twenty minute car ride from his house.
Noah hoped that they were leaving the state, and maybe the country, so he would never have to see them again. A decaying part of him wished that he didn’t have to search for them to bring them to eternal justice, but the newly born warrior in him embraced the opportunity. One thing was for certain, he was no longer frightened.
The roads became dark as he rode on. Noah knew the group had already struck the downtown area, and he didn’t think they would be found anywhere near that area. They had also gone on a murdering spree at the city forest, and he didn’t think they’d be there, either. Authorities from all over were hunting for the five men, but it didn’t seem to be making a difference. Noah knew the group would keep killing until someone stopped them – until he stopped them.
Noah switched his bike light on, and it was dim compared to car headlights flashing by. He looked at Keeper and was glad for her company, though he knew she couldn’t help him find the assailants. His thoughts then turned to Earl. He wondered how he was doing with his recovery and whether things could ever work between him and his mother. He also thought about his father – who he was and what he might have been like, other than the few details he had garnered from his mother while growing up. Noah wondered what it might be like to do something as simple as playing catch or shooting hoops with his father, or going fishing or hiking, or doing anything for that matter.
He had been daydreaming, and it almost got him hit by an oncoming car, which swerved toward him on the road’s shoulder where he was riding. Noah panicked, and his bike veered off the road and down into a ditch. He came just inches from smacking a tree, fell off the bike and rolled around on the ground in the darkness. He gasped in pain as he banged his knee on the frame of his bike. Lying on the ground, he started patting himself all over to make sure everything was intact. Then, looking up, he noticed Keeper floating above. She appeared worried and uncomfortable as if something were picking her up by the skin of her neck. His necklace began to glow underneath his shirt, and his eyes darted around. But it was dark, and he couldn’t see well.
“Keeper, it’s OK. You can come here.”
She tried to move her paws, but she couldn’t go anywhere.
“Keeper!” he yelled louder. But she was still unable to move.
With a shaking hand, he pulled his necklace out from beneath his shirt. It was shining brightly and casting beams of light on the dark, black-cloaked figure holding his cat by the scruff of the neck. She was trying to free herself, but the grip was too tight.
“I must say, you have spirit little one! Hahaha.” The deep voice echoed in the tree-lined gulley, and seemingly through Noah’s whole body. He could feel the dark powers.
“Let my cat go. She’s done nothing to you!”
The figure laughed again. “We both know she is more than a cat, silly child, and I cannot let you have her back. But what I can do for you is this; I can share some information that might pique your interest.”
Noah interrupted the dark entity; “You’re that thing I saw at the book shop. You tried to attack me but left when the twins came. You were fearful of them!”
Noah had become a little too brave in attempting to frighten the demon duke. Furfur flew at him with great velocity, and even though the light of the necklace shined brightly, it was not bright enough. The monster threw Noah twenty feet through the air and up against a tree, while still maintaining his grip on Keeper.
“Silly boy. You cannot frighten me. I fear nothing, your twins included. I could snap your little neck right now, but I would rather watch you suffer. You see, my friends should be arriving at the hospital right now to feast, and they will destroy all who stand in their way. But they go primarily for a special snack. The first arm was just too good, and they didn’t want to stop there. They have been patient, but now I’ve ordered them to finish what they started. They will devour Earl Sherman and his caring heart!”
The demon laughed deeply and was proud to demonstrate his ruling power to the boy. “Now, if you think you are brave enough to stop them, then be my guest. But you will have to do it without your cat.” The light from Noah’s necklace was too bright for the demon and he had to lower his hood to shield his eyes. “You best hurry, though. Time is not in your favor.” The dark force laughed once more as Noah watched his cat slowly disappear, dragged off into the shadows of night.
“Keeper!” He shouted. “Come back! Please, come back!”
He reached for his wooden figurine in his sweatshirt pocket. He wanted to slam it on the ground and call the twins to his aid, wishing this all to be over, but something stopped him. The voice of the newborn warrior inside pulled him up off the ground. He brushed himself off, climbed on his bike, and quickly started its motor. Within moments, he was back on the road and heading to the Mid-Town’s only hospital. His next hope was that his mother’s visit to Earl had been quick and that she was no longer there.
Chapter 52
The ride to the hospital was fierce; Noah held his thumb on the throttle the entire way, thoughts about the welfare of his mother and Keeper weighing heavily on his mind. When he arrived at the emergency room entrance, he dumped his bike without locking it up and ran through the sliding lobby doors.
“Hello?” He called. “Is there anyone here?”
There was no answer. He walked past the front desk and continued down the hall corridor, peek
ing inside any windows that allowed him. Still nothing. He needed to get to Earl’s room, which was on the third floor, if he remembered correctly. Finding a staircase that brought him to a main lobby was quick, and he walked through the doors, noticing several dead and bloodied bodies strewn across the floor. Windows had been smashed, and walls were cracked.
He walked through another door, which led him to a bank of elevators. A few more dead bodies were splayed across the floor, and there was still no sign of activity. He pushed the elevator button and looked up to see if the light was registering. As he waited, he stayed on guard, and then he heard the sound of feet running down the hall. A nurse approached, her eyes wide and terrified. She stopped when she saw Noah and yelled to him.
“You’ve got to get out of here! There have been attacks in this hospital, and you must leave. You can’t go up there.”
Noah didn’t know what to say. She had moved closer and was attempting now to lead him out by the hand. Just then, the elevator door opened up and a bloody man lunged out and threw himself on Noah.
“Get me out of here! Get me out of here! We all need to go.”
The boy shifted, allowing the man to fall in the nurse’s hands, and then Noah sidled around them and scurried into the elevator. Before the door closed, he said, “I’m sorry. My mom is up there. I have to go get her.”
Though nervous, Noah began controlling his breathing, something he needed to do to get into battle mode. He reached behind his back and pulled his sword. He no longer wanted to trap these evil forces back into a tablet; he planned to slice them into cosmic dust and rid the world of them forever. Noah believed this story would be better left untold and forgotten. He held the blade out in front of him and pulled his necklace over his sweatshirt, making it visible. He felt naked without Keeper and didn’t know yet how he was going to get her back. Closing his eyes, Noah prayed silently, “If you can hear me, please protect me as I go into battle – a battle for humanity. Grant me the power to protect the innocent and the strength to rid evil from this place. Let my mother and Earl and Keeper be OK. Oh, and feel free to send the twins at any time. Thanks.”
He kissed the flaming star that dangled from his necklace and gripped his sword with both hands. Noah then closed his eyes and took another deep breath as the elevator came to a stop. The doors retracted and the halls were dark as he stepped out. The ceiling tiles and lights had been ripped apart and smashed. Bodies were littered everywhere, as if a tornado of rage had cycled through the third- floor wing. Yet, he heard nothing.
Noah slowly inched forward until he came to a crossing. Instead of walking down the corridor to his left or right, he moved forward. Earl’s room was near the circular nurses’ station. As he approached, he noticed several hospital staff members lying on the floor behind the counter, among the structural and equipment wreckage. One appeared to be lifeless, but the other looked up and slowly reached his hand out for help.
“Get help,” the man whispered.
The problem was that Noah was the help. Noah nodded and gripped the man’s hand. “I will,” he promised. And then he continued on his quest. Finally, he came to Earl’s room and spoke loudly.
“Earl? Mom? Are you here? Is there anyone here?”
The room appeared to be empty, and there were two beds that had been upturned. He walked over to the bathroom door and tried the handle. It was locked.
“Hello? Mom and Earl, are you guys in there?”
Finally, the lock unlatched and opened slightly. Evelyn’s head emerged from behind the door, and she looked horrified to see Noah there.
“Noah! What are you doing here? You need to go. Some men are killing people randomly.” And then her expression changed to one of terror. “Watch out behind you!” she shrieked.
Without thinking about his actions and in warrior fashion, Noah lifted his sword above his head and blocked a swinging downward assault from one of the demons, now dressed as a hospital employee. Noah spun around to face the man’s evil eyes. The demon growled at Noah and lunged at him with his sword. The young boy stepped back, but blocked the blows with his own blade.
The man pushed forward again with forceful strikes until Noah found a better position. He rolled forward on the ground and then knelt, taking advantage of an opening to strike the demon’s right leg. Noah slashed through pants and flesh, and the disguised creature howled in pain. Noah didn’t stop there, though. He drove his sword then through the man’s torso. The victim slowed his attack and dropped his weapon.
Noah retracted the blade, which had burned a large hole in the slain enemy, and with a spinning movement, sliced the creature’s head off. The body immediately turned to ashes.
His mother had been watching the whole incident with wide eyes.
“Noah,” she said slowly, biting her lip. “Where did you learn how to do that? And where did you get that sword?”
There was not time for him to explain. “Come on, Mom. We have to get out of here. Is Earl with you?”
“Yes, he’s in here.”
“You must get him. I will protect you.”
She looked at him uncertainly.
“Come on! Let’s go!” Noah needed to light a fire under her to get moving.
Evelyn sprang into action and began dragging Earl from the bathroom. He was still sedated, but she managed to clothe him in sweats, a t-shirt and slippers.
“Were Wendy and Josh here with you guys tonight?” Noah asked, his eyes trained on the halls now for intruders.
“They were here earlier, but they had already left by the time I got here.”
“OK. We have to get to the elevators. Be quiet and stay behind me.”
The huddled group crept out of the room and past the nurses’ station. They stopped at all corners so that Noah could check out the hall ahead. When it looked clear, they shuffled forward. But just as the elevators were in sight, another crazed man, this time wielding an axe, appeared from a corridor.
Noah saw him approach and pushed Earl and his mother out of the way in just enough time to raise his sword and block the oncoming blow. The impact drove him to the ground. The crazy man was now on top of him swinging his axe downward, but Noah quickly rolled to the left and right and avoided the strikes. He then kicked the legs out from beneath the man, causing the creature to topple. Noah jumped up and kicked the man in the head to buy enough time to get his group into the elevator.
They made it into the elevator car just as the attacker was back on his feet, swinging the axe on the doors as they closed. When the door opened again, the group was faced with yet another demon who swung a cast iron blade freely at Noah. The boy charged the man and slashed his stomach. As the demon clutched his wound, Noah drove his blade of fire straight through his neck, causing the demon to ultimately burst into ashes.
All too soon after, another creature was advancing upon the group, axe in hand. Evelyn screamed, and Noah lunged ahead to grab her hand.
“Let’s go!” He yelled. He pulled her, and she pulled Earl, and like a chain link, they ran out into the lobby.
“Do you remember where you parked?” Noah whispered.
“I think so,” her voice quivered.
“You think so? Or do you know so?” Noah pulled them down the hall and toward the front entrance as fast as he could. He looked back as he dragged them along. The demon man with the axe was now in sight, running after them. Evelyn screamed again, which didn’t help matters.
“Come on. We have to move faster.” Noah urged. He glanced again over his shoulder, and the axe man was closing in. But the front doors were just ahead. They were nearly out.
Just as they reached the front door, however, two policemen stepped out in front of them with bloodied mouths and crazy eyes. Noah didn’t stop. Instead, he let go of his mother’s hand and ran toward the two men. He jumped up in the air and dropped kicked them, using both feet. With his speed, leverage, and blinding light, he knocked them on their backs. This gave the group of three enough time to move out
into the parking lot.
When they finally approached the car, a black-hooded demon appeared in front of the hood, holding Keeper by the scruff of the neck.
Noah yelled, “Keeper! You let her go!”
There was a commotion. Evelyn once again became hysterical as she tried to get the key into the ignition while Noah helped Earl in the back seat. Noah tried to grab Keeper but was unsuccessful, and he jumped into the fleeing car.
The demon started laughing “Haha! You think you can run, fools? We will come for you. There is no escape.” His voice shattered the windows.
Evelyn slammed the car into reverse just as the demonic axeman arrived. The car struck him back to the ground, but it wasn’t enough. One of the bloody mouthed cops jumped and reached his hands around the window frame on the back end of the car, holding on as she accelerated. The car ripped through the parking lot, but he started to pull himself up in an effort to grab Earl.
With his shining light, Noah lunged forward from the front seat and drove his sword into the incoming Nephilim. His blade stuck him in the upper arm, and though the beast was injured, he still clung to the window frame with the opposite hand. But Noah held tight to his blade and waited for its eternal fires to work. The hollow cop finally let go and rolled behind the vehicle. Evelyn headed for the closest exit. She was frantic.
“What the hell is going on, Noah? Where did you get that sword?” She had seen the flames and had been unable to comprehend what she had witnessed.
“If I told you, Mom, you would not believe me. All I can tell you is this; we need to get to the ranch – to Wendy and Josh before the demons do. This all ends tonight, though. I promise.”
“I don’t understand. What are you saying? Are you saying that you know what those things were? Why are they after us? I’m scared Noah.” She blew through a red light and had to swerve around a car driving perpendicularly through the intersection. “I just don’t understand, Noah. Where did it all come from?”