Chapter Two
Gabriel's eye's opened to those familiar stars in the sky. They were as unfriendly as the townsfolk in Axal. He regained movement in his body during his slumber but his whole body ached. His throat was so dry that even small breathes burned. He was soaked in water and the night had turned calm and cool. Everything seemed perfect besides the pain and cold trembling of his body.
The peak was cold enough to give any exposed man hypothermia on a July night. Unfortunately for Gabriel he was also electrically fried and soaked. Death was becoming a pressing factor but more excruciating than he had thought. Sitting up he grabbed his water with trembling hands. The cool liquid first burned his throat and then soothed it.
Getting to his feet was a difficult task but he was too exposed at this point. He had to get back to his truck or his death would be too unbearable. His instincts to live were far greater then the will to die. His first steps were like learning to walk again and they were very painful.
He did not want to look at his flesh but he was sure it was burnt and now freezing. Each step felt like he was going to rip apart all over the mountain. As he slowly stepped down the peak he looked ahead for his truck. It was light enough to see the area where he had parked but the truck was not within his line of sight.
Making his way down he was feet away from being on the flat area where he parked but his faithful truck was not there. How could it be he thought, no one would come up in that storm or in the dark to steal his shitty old truck. Most people would not even consider it worth putting gas in the tank. The keys were left in it but the odds of someone taking it up here were as slim as being struck by lightning.
He scanned all around but it was gone, his last hope of escaping the death he was searching for. He sat down on a broken timber. In his painful haste off the peak he forgot his water and food. All he had was the lighter in his pocket that he had been playing with. He knew it was there because he could feel the sore from where it burnt into his leg.
Pulling the lighter from his pocket it was clear that the wood was all drenched in the rain. He grimaced as he tried to flick the lighter but no flame came from it. The plastic had melted around the metal and the fluid leaked out. The wind was still blowing heavy and he would not last much longer without some form of solid shelter.
On his way up not far from his location was a partially caved in mineshaft. He figured he would make his way there and if he found a better shelter on the way he would stop. The moon lit the jeep trail ahead of him. It was like everything around him wanted him to go towards that mineshaft. Even the wind blew at his back as he walked the trail.
The entrance to the shaft was a shorter distance away then Gabriel remembered on his way up. Everything seemed so out of place, like he walked into a backwards dimension of the world. It was also less caved in and the opening much larger. Even the air around the entrance was warmer than the rest of the mountain.
Walking in the shaft things went completely dark. He turned to look back at the way out but there was nothing. Everything around him was dark, like endless space. Feeling the wall, he walked back the direction he came. The only problem was he only made it a few steps in and now he should be outside again but was in fact going deeper into the mountain.
It was now apparent that he was lost and the way was hidden from him. Just like most of his life, everything seemed to be covered up with a lie. He finally gave up on walking or seeking any way out. He fell to the jagged rock floor and went into the fetal position.
Cold was no longer a issue though he wished it was. Death by hypothermia would be better than dehydration in a black abyss. No one was coming to save him, not even his ignorance would let him escape the grasps of death. The air in the shaft was similar to his house. But instead of the smell of ancient dust it was more of ancient dead, and he would be joining the club. If only some horror would come from the darkness and shred him to pieces. Anything would be better than dwindling away in the dark. Now he just had to wait until his body had enough and gave out on his sick mind.
Hours passed, possibly a day, as seconds of agony lasted an eternity. Gabriel normally over thought every situation but now he dreaded the sound of his thoughts. Thinking was just a survival tool anyways and he was beyond the point of thought. It did not even matter if he closed or opened his eyes, it was all the same. Though sleep would make his passing easier. Thirst was becoming an issue again as his throat burned and his lungs choked on dust.
More empty time went by and he had delusions of death off and on. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath like it was the last. Then the annoyance of another breath came. Soon he would no longer have to fake it and it would all be over for him. No flashbacks of life, or thoughts of his wife. His imagination could not even muster up the movie ending of the dead loved one waiting there with you.
With eyes plastered shut light hit the screen of his eyelids. Was it finally over, it couldn't be though because he had no strength to pull open his eyes. But then loud and humble laughter was echoing through the shaft. It frightened him, so he knew he was not yet dead.
Finally prying his eyes open he saw the light shining from a hole in the rock that looked miles away. With his last strengths he rolled his body over to see where the beam of light landed. The light crashed onto an old wooden door with cast iron hinges. It looked like it belonged in a medieval castle and not in this endless mineshaft.
He stared at the door completely dumbfounded. Was he dead, alive, delusional, what the fuck was going on? lacking the strength to get to his feet, he crawled pulling his body to the door. It was only a few feet away from him but it took him a long time to get to the door.
His hand rubbed the wood on the door. The grain in it was a sight to be seen. Metal straps ran through it and carved in the metal were skulls. It was no factory made door, it was the door made for a king. Gabriel was faced with the choice of seeing what was beyond it. He almost did not feel worthy to see what was on the other side. Maybe he was better off just dying there and being the floor mat of what laid beyond. The door alone felt more valuable than anything he had touched.
With one finger he pushed and the door opened as though someone was waiting to pull it from the other side. What he saw next was truly out of this world. There was a small room with a hand laid rock fireplace. It was blazing bright and the flames danced around the iron grate inside. A rug made from a lions hide was on the ground in front of it with two lion heads attached to it. This was no normal lion but a massive and amazing creature. Their mouths were open exposing the fangs of soul eaters. Looking into their eyes it was as if they would pounce from the floor.
An oak table and two chairs made from another era were placed just to the side of the fireplace. Beyond that was a person with their back turned, wearing a red and black cape. He quickly turned around, the man was not from this time period. He was young but his dark eyes showed a prehistoric age. He was of average build with short dark hair and a dark perfectly groomed beard that framed his cunning lips. A velvet tunic of perfect quality covered his chest.
“Hello and welcome, I was waiting for you!” The man said in a cunning voice with a humble smile.
“Please come take a seat with me.... I have waited a long time to be in your council” The man said. Even the way he spoke was not from modern times. Of course Gabriel could barley crawl to the table, but the man stood and waited in front of his chair. Gabriel was too proud even in his deathly state to ask for help and it was clear the man would not press the issue. Gabriel placed his hand on the oak chair that was more like a throne. He struggled to pull himself up and into the chair but it did not budge in his struggle.
The chair was magnificent but did not look comfortable. Though it embraced his sore and broken body like welcoming arms. On the table in front of him was a massive golden grail ornate with red, blue, and green jewels. The flames glistened on the sides of the grail. Gabriel's eye's could not help but fixate on it. Just a glimpse of it was worth many deaths and its
story was one that begged to be told.
The man smiled and sat down in his chair with elegance and grace no longer seen. For a moment he just looked on at Gabriel and smiled. The man placed his elbows on the table and he clasped his hands in a pyramid figure. Gold bulky rings shined to the flames but even they bowed before the grail. Gabriel looked at the man and felt as though he was looking at a salesman of souls. It was all beyond belief and magical.
“So, Gabriel you are a man seeking death?” The man said. Gabriel coughed and cleared his throat as he struggled to relay the words his mind was saying.
“Mmmo mo most, people start with a name, sir.” Gabriel painstakingly said.
“Its apparent that time is pressing, the life is fading from you Gabriel. Normally I would introduce myself but the time for small talk has passed and I need no introduction.” The man said with a crooked smile.
“Now, Gabriel you have a choice to make and at the moment we lack the time for me to explain. But I have a proposition for you” The man said in a stern voice. The man paused for a moment and looked into Gabriel's eyes to see if he was interested in any proposition at this point. Gabriel saw the mans hands were still making an inquisitive pyramid as though he was strategically planning a battle that he was not about to lose.
“So, on to my proposal. I can give you everything you desire with a simple drink.” The man dramatically stopped.
“Or...You can die here at my table. But you must know after that death you will be added to the book of life. You will go to the heaven that would only be your hell. It would be bliss and happiness for all eternity, not even fake but willingly forced.” Gabriel was slumped over looking around the room closing in around him. In his state it was hard to think about the proposal or how this strange man knew such information.
“The time is now, you choose. Drink from the grail on the table or die and go to heaven.” The man said with a urgency in his voice.
Gabriel's family was mostly atheist and he never had much exposure to religion. Except from the kids in school telling him he would go to hell because he was unwillingly born in a family that was not religious. Even what he did know was limited and heaven was such a vague term for such a important phase in the life cycle. He knew he was about to die, and like always if there was a chance to live he would take it though it was against everything he believed in. The man got up from his chair pushing the cup closer to Gabriel.
“Drink and this dilemma will all be over.” The man said in a pressing way. Gabriel hated not having control of his fate and what use to be unknown was now the vaguely known unknown. This is what most people must feel when they die, except now he was taking a strangers word for where he would go after he died.
Now the strange man looked like he was growing angry, as if he was going to dump the cup down Gabriel's throat and breathe life back into him. The choice was clear, he had no choice. So he grabbed the skinny portion of the grail and guided it to his lips. It glowed brighter the closer it came to his mouth.
Inside the grail was a thick almost black liquid. As he tilted it to drain the contents in his mouth he could see the dark red halo it left as it slanted to the side of the cup. The liquid hit his tongue and it was repulsive yet refreshing. The more he chugged the better he felt but now there was whispering and cries coming from the grail.
The more he drank the louder the cries got but he could not stop. It was like an addiction he had, and it had not been fulfilled in too long. As if morphine or a heavy painkiller was flowing through his veins. It was almost gone and he felt more alive than ever before. He tilted his head back as the last drop rolled down the grail. As it entered his mouth the glow of the grail faded. The once magnificent grail now looked like a cheap dollar store cup from china. Gabriel placed it back down on the table. His once burned flesh was now more vibrant like it was a few days before his electrocution. The thirst and hunger was gone with the pain. The man sat back down in his chair with more of an arrogant slouch and less grace than before.
“So who are you and what the fuck just happened?” Gabriel said.
“Yes, now that we have nothing but time allow me to....introduce myself.” The man said in a violent tone.
“I came from roaming the earth and going back and forth on it. I was there at Sodom and Gomorrah, I witnessed the destruction of many great kings and queens of my legion. Khan, Caesar, Alexander, Elizabeth, Charlemagne, Washington, and Hitler to name just a few.” The man paused for a moment. Gabriel was speechless, he knew who he was without the man even having to say it. The thought horrified Gabriel but he was now in the web of the greatest trickster of all time.
“I bare witness to man kinds greatest feats. The massacre of the Mongolian tribes folk. I basked in the rumbling of their horseman’s hoofs as their madness trampled through innocent women and children. The glorious legion of the golden eagle as it spilled blood all throughout Europe. The great but small British isle, how such a small space could be such a death machine of plague starvation and war. From the sea to shinning sea of your homeland. Oh your forefathers spilled the blood of the native tribes and smashed their newborn baby's into the soil. Right over to the ashes of flesh from the death camps of the Nazi's and so.....so many places that I even cannot keep track of!” The man said with a carefree smile. Gabriel was bewildered with the information.
“So...uh, what do I call you because if I have to say all that to get your attention then I might need to write it down..” Gabriel said with a scared smile across his face.
“Hahaha........ha, you can call me Apollyon. Now I am sure you have many questions for me, but they all will be answered in due time and it's best that I show you.” Apollyon got up from his chair as though he had urgent business to attend and Gabriel's pathetic problems and questions meant nothing.
“Now I must beg my leave, you had a choice and you choose your desires. For that I am very grateful, all you have to do is call my name and I will be there.” Apollyon said as he walked past Gabriel and out the door.
Gabriel's mind was racing, was he stood up by the devil? He felt as though he had just poured his heart and soul out to a women that simply walked away. Now he wished it had been Dracula in the room. At least Dracula would mentor the soul he took. He looked around seeing if it was really empty and just him. The fire was burning out, the beast of kings fur now looked tattered and torn. Nothing in the room seemed appealing anymore.
As he got up from his chair he took one last look at the room. Again he had to go through the door but this time what waited was the same thing he hoped to leave behind. Now Gabriel had to force the door open as the now bent hinges squeaked. He walked through and could see the daylight from the mine entrance shining in. He walked out of the mine and looked back to see nothing but a black hole.
Was his truck still gone, he thought. Did this really happen or was it just a dream. He walked back up the jeep trail and to no surprise his truck was waiting right where he left it. He fired the truck up and headed down the trail. Now it seemed wider and much smoother than before. There was no risk of his truck sliding off unless he had a suicidal laps in judgment and turned the wheel as hard as he could. Though that would not be out of the realms of normality for Gabriel.
Once back on the highway Gabriel headed for home. Everything seemed normal, nothing stood out. He had no special powers, or anything that he was aware of. He was completely clueless, should he chain himself up on a full moon. Drink only blood, stay away from kryptonite, would setting foot in a church turn him to ash?
What was he now, was he still that same delusional social recluse he was before he drank whatever that shit was? His mind kept searching for answers. Was he now a member of Satan's legion, did it include a golf membership or what the fuck..
Just then a station wagon came into view. There was a old man and woman who looked to be on their Sunday drive except for some reason they had red shit all over them. They jolted past him without even looking at Gabriel, as if nothing strange was happe
ning. What was that on them he thought? Great my super power is seeing blood on people.
Then another vehicle came by, this time some college kids with blood on them. Every car he passed had the same thing, blood. It was almost horrific, some had more blood on them, others less. He looked into his review mirror to see if maybe he had blood on himself, but there was none.
The road to his house came as a relief, Apollyon's gift of seeing blood on people was disgusting. He parked in his usual spot and went inside. The old house and the smell of chloroform never felt so great to be a part of again. He looked at the mess all around him and started cleaning up the dirty dishes and trash. It was something he had not done since he bought the place and now he had some sick reason to live. If only to figure out the tricks of the trickster.
How did Gabriel stand any chance against him. Should he run to the church, read the bible, pray, what was it and would it even help. As he cleaned he struggled for answers. There really was no way around it he needed answers and there was only one way to get them.
He finished cleaning the old house and put the trash in his truck. It was now evening and he had not ate or drank anything since Apollyon's screaming grail juice, or at least that's what Gabriel now called it. He sat on his couch and stared at the blank TV screen.
“Fuck it!” He said as he got out of his chair and headed out to the now night sky.
“APOLLYON!” He shouted off his porch. Followed by the silence of the night. He sat down on the steps and waited. The time went by and he thought, so much for calling me and I will be there. It was as if he sent a text to a girl who showed that she liked him and she didn't respond back.
It was getting late and it was becoming apparent that his super powers were not that of an insomniac. He was getting tired and Apollyon was not going to show. Gabriel went back inside the house, up to his room and collapsed in exhaustion.
Awaking in the night due to many incoherent dreams, now Gabriel laid in bed looking into the haunting black space. Outside he could hear rustling in the woods, at first he just assumed it was one of the many creatures of the night. Then he realized maybe it was thee creature of the night and looked out his window.
At first he scanned the area around his house, then his eyes caught a chilling figure and he jolted and looked away. Was it really what he thought it was, he looked back again. At the edge of the woods was a young woman. She was youthful and on a normal occasion she would be easy on the eyes. But standing at the edge of his woods with a blank expression on her face in the middle of the night was horrific.
She had no blood on her, and did not appear as a apparition. He studied her as he contemplated his next move. She was skinny with long brown hair tied back in a blue bow. She had on a pastel polka dot dress, one you would see at church on Easter Sunday. She looked up at him and slightly tilted her head and appeared harmless.
Tucking his head back behind the towels covering the window Gabriel laid back down. Part of him was afraid of this innocent figure at the edge of the woods. The smell of chloroform was sickening in the air. He thought, what do I have to loose. Not like things could possibly get much worse.
Getting out of bed he grabbed a few shotgun shells off his dresser from the box that was still there. With haste he ran down the old steps and grabbed a flashlight from the kitchen. Just before bursting open the door he clicked the light on then went out on his porch. The woman seemed farther in the distance now.
“Hello, you there!” Gabriel shouted. There was no response from the woman and he could no longer read her facial expressions. The night was cool with a light fog that started just inside the thick forest. Gabriel opened the door of his truck and grabbed that untrustworthy shotgun and cracked it open.
The empty shell was still inside. Pulling it out he threw it on the ground and loaded the shotgun with armed rounds. Clicking it shut he headed to the woman with less hesitation than he did before having the gun. The closer he got to her he could once again see her beauty. He was just within reach of her when she turned and started walking away into the dense woods.
“Hey wait where are you going..” Gabriel said. For a moment there was no response.
“Come with me.” The woman said. Reluctantly Gabriel followed her through the woods. They were walking on a old overgrown path that Gabriel never noticed before. He knew the place was old and he never had the need to venture into the woods that came with the home.
Gabriel looked at the woman not far ahead of him who was disappearing in and out of tree's. The dress was perfectly fit on her body displaying her elegant curves from behind. He was drawn to her as any man would be to a young woman.
“Whats your name, and could you slow down?” Gabriel said as he struggled to keep up.
“We're almost there, just come!” They came to an opening in the trees. Gabriel could see there was once a house there. Parts of the crumbling foundation glowed in the night. The woman stopped and bent down opening what appeared to be a cellar or basement door just at the edge of the foundation.
Dirt and debris rolled off of it. The door laid down in the overgrowth and the girl headed in. Gabriel was just catching up and it took him a few moments to reach the cellar. Shining the light down inside he saw the woman. Light green eyes, and plump lips matching the pastel in her dress.
The same smell of chloroform hit Gabriel like a wave. He waited just outside looking in at the woman. There was cobwebs and dust floating around the light shining in on her. She gazed at Gabriel and smiled as her hands reached up to the straps of the dress at her shoulders.
With one motion she pulled them to the sides and it fell down at her feet. The light from Gabriel willingly wondered down to her now naked body. Revealing her small but perky breasts. She had a small not groomed bush that is rarely seen in women these days.
The whole situation was confusing, Gabriel's mind raced. Part of him wanted no part of this twisted midnight hidden cellar romance. The stronger half of his judgment pulled him down into the cellar to be with this figure of beauty. He felt so wrong for watching this young woman. Though it would be a crime against humanity to close the cellar door and walk away.
The steps cracked as he stumbled down. He almost fell down like a clumsy kid drunk on lust. keeping on his feet he took the last step down to the woman. As he placed the shotgun on the ground no questions were needed at this point. Her name, what was happening, where they were, none of it.
After setting down the gun he clinched down on the flashlight and prepared to go in for a kiss. Before his confidence allowed him to kiss her she turned her back to him. Her body curved and swayed in his light. When he was following her through the woods watching the curves in the dress part of his brain had already imagined this moment.
On the floor at her feet was a old torn mattress covered in dirt. Most women would not set foot on such a horrid looking thing. But not this beauty of the night, none of what was in the cellar phased her like it would most women. She laid down on her back on the mattress and spread her legs before him.
His conscience on one side made him feel like uncle creepy. The other side was already pulling at his shirt. Shining his light on her to be sure this was really happening. She looked at him and smiled, as if it say it is. Before Gabriel could processes it she flashed before his eyes. One moment he saw her, then an absolutely horrific seen.
The once body of perfection was now stabbed and mangled before him. Her eyes open, cold and dead. Blood on her face and gruesome gashes throughout her flesh. His heart jolted and he almost fell to the floor. Not in lust but horror and disgust. Turning away he ran up the steps, leaving the gun behind in the cellar.
Gasping for air he ran down the path back to his house. Once he wished it was haunted and now he wished it wasn't even there. The house came into view, its image was now tainted. Looking away he focused on his truck. Jumping in it he cranked it over and kicked it in reverse before he even turned on the lights.
Squealing his tires onto the highway the
image of the mangled girl was still in his head. What a monstrosity, sadness swept over him as he drove to Axal. One car passed and he was relieved to not see its inhabitants. Sadness turned to anger and confusion. What happened to that woman he wondered. Why did she lead him on to such a sickening scene. Was his new found powers letting him see the naked dead. Were they trying to get into his pants or nightmares?
Lights of Axal were welcoming to him like never before. Only Axal could save him now, and Apollyon was a distant memory. The streets and town were desolate as always this time of the night. Gabriel headed to the towns church to seek meaning in what was happening to him.
The church was an old once rebuilt version of itself. The first church there burned down just a few short years after it was built. The only remains was the original bell that stood in the tower. Kids would tell scarey story's about the burning of the church but even the old men of Morlov's did not exist when it burnt and no one knew the real story behind it.
As a kid he remembered driving past it on his way to school. He always looked up at the old black bell at the top. He never set foot inside the church though. The parking lot was empty and Gabriel went to a spot in the back. Turning off the truck, he collapsed into it's bench seat and struggled with the woman's image until he fell asleep.
Apollyon's Saint The Collection: Books One through Ten Page 2