The Raven Flies At Night

by Janine R Pestel

  Johann got up from his bed and went to the closet. He took out the long, black case the contained his shotgun and placed it on the bed. Robert almost winced at the sound of the locks on the casing, as they sprang open. Guns made him very nervous, and the thought that one would most likely be needed made his stomach churn. He became almost transfixed, with much anxiety in his eyes, as Johann took his weapon out of the case, and checked it over.

  “Do you think we really -,” Robert said.

  “Yes,” Johann interrupted, “Yes, we will definitely need this.”

  “Okay,” said Robert, weakly. Johann placed the gun back in the box and closed it.

  “Did you ever shoot a gun,” Johann asked, as he unbuckled, and removed, the shoulder holster he still wore.

  “Once, or twice. A long time ago, when I was a boy.” Robert answered.

  “Here. Put this on,” Johann said, as he handed the leather pouch to Robert. Robert turned away from him, as though doing so would make the weapon go away. Johann walked over to his timid friend, and almost had to force the leathery sheath into his hands.

  “I don't want you to go there unarmed,” said Johann, “I promised your brother that I wouldn't let anything happen to you. War is about to start, and like it or not, we've been drafted. If we don't fight and do everything we can, the bad guy's gonna win. Now, please; put this on.”

  Robert dropped his eyes to the holster. While he started the process to put the small leather pocket on, Johann's words echoed in his mind. He buckled the straps that held the pistol pocket tight to his body. He knew his demon hunting partner was right. The time had come for him to become less of a pacifist, and more of a fighter.

  He stood as tall as he could, and studied himself in the mirror. Robert almost thought a surge of power came over him. He wanted to walk, and act, invincible. He made his posture as straight as possible, and pulled in his stomach, as best he could. Johann picked up his flask of holy water that was sitting on the end table and put it in his pocket. He then retrieved the case, which contained his shotgun, and glanced at Robert. He smiled at the sight of Robert with his chest puffed out.

  “Let's go kill these sons of bitches,” Robert said.

  “Let's go, partner,” Johann answered.

  A thought came to Robert, as the two exited the room, and boarded the elevator.

  “Uh…You do still have that thing Father Nelson gave you, right,” Robert asked.

  “You mean the talisman,” Johann said, as he patted his shirt pocket, “Yep. Got it right here. We're well protected, buddy.”

  The lift arrived at the ground floor, and the door opened. They exited, and the sound of their footsteps echoed in the lobby, which now appeared to be deserted. They closely guarded themselves against any surprise attack from the check-in desk, as they made their way to the front door.

  “Where the hell did everyone go,” asked Bob, as he surveyed the area.

  “Most likely, in Hell,” answered Johann, “Getting ready to fight.”

  They reached the car, and Johann placed the case containing his shotgun in the back seat. He started the motor, as Robert got in and closed his door.

  “Let's go kick some demon ass,” Johann said, as he put the Mustang in gear and slammed his foot down hard on the accelerator pedal.

  The engine growled, tires squealed, and thick, putrid smoke filled the air. Johann and Robert had begun their short journey to Sharon's apartment. As the vehicle exited the parking lot, Johann didn't see the oncoming car that had to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The tires screamed and left thick, black marks on the asphalt. Johann turned his head toward the high pitched sound in time to see the careening vehicle. Its front end was nose-down to the road. Its driver's eyes wide, and his mouth open.

  The automobile came to a stop, and the driver began to yell something to Johann. Not having time for a conversation, Johann simply waved his hand in acknowledgment and sped off on his way.

  “Jesus, Johann,” Robert said, as he gripped, tight as he could, onto the dashboard, “I think we'll be more help to her if we arrive alive, okay?”

  “Hey,” answered Johann, calmly, “These things happen.” His calm and cool demeanor belied the fact that his heart was beating wildly in his chest.

  They made their way to the apartment, while the town had just started to wake up for the day. The sun had been up for almost a half hour now, and people milled about, minding their own business.

  “Look at them,” Johann said, “They're oblivious to the hell this son of a bitch is about to bring.”

  “I feel sorry for them,” Robert answered.

  “They're the reason we have to win,” Johann said, his eyes reflected his steely determination.

  A few minutes later, as they started down the street St. Paul's was on, they began to hear the sound of birds above them. They both peered up, through the windshield, at what appeared to be an enormous, black cloud, but in actuality, was hundreds of huge winged creatures. All Ravens, and all flying toward the house of worship. Johann glanced at Robert and raised an eyebrow.

  “Holy shit,” Robert said, “What are we up against?”

  “Hell,” Johann answered, “All of Hell.”

  They reached their destination. Johann slammed his foot on the brake. The coarse asphalt made the tires squeal as the rubber was worn off. Robert started to turn his head to peer at the embattled church, but Johann stopped him.

  “No,” Johann said, as he grabbed Robert's arm, “Don't look at it. It'll distract us. We need to get to Sharon first. Then, we'll help Father Nelson.” Robert nodded in agreement, and the two ran into the building.

  The old building wasn't equipped with an elevator. Robert struggled to keep pace with Johann as they ran up the stairs. At the landing between the second and third floors, Robert had to stop. He held onto the stair banister with one hand and clutched his chest with his other. Johann turned and saw this. He became frightened that his friend was having a heart attack, and ran back down to him.

  “Bob,” Johann shouted, “Bob, you alright?” He placed one arm around his partner.

  “Yeah,” Robert answered, out of breath, “I'm okay. Just need a bit of a breather. Now, you know one reason why I don't smoke anymore. Didn't meant to scare you.”

  “As long as you're ok,” Johann said. “I'm going on ahead. Meet me at her apartment.”

  Johann ran the rest of the way up the steps. When he reached the third floor, he knocked on the door of the one, and only, apartment on the floor.

  “Sharon,” Johann yelled, “Sharon, it's Robert and me. Open up. Let us in.”

  The sound of footsteps, which fast approached the door, brought some relief to the demon hunter. Then came an even more welcomed sound; the door being unlocked, and at last, opened. A very frightened, and trembling, Sharon almost collapsed into his arms. She was in her pajamas. Her hair was a mess, and she wore no makeup. Johann held her as tightly as he could to comfort her and thought to himself that she was beautiful the way she was.

  “Are you okay,” he asked, gently while he wiped a tear from her cheek.

  “Yes,” she answered, as she took herself out of his protective arms, “I think so. But, I don't know about my uncle.” She walked toward her window, which overlooked the front of the church. Johann walked over and stood next to her. About that time, Robert made his entrance. He came over and leaned against a wall near Johann. The two demon hunters weren't quite ready for the site that greeted them at the window.

  The face of the building, covered by hundreds of Ravens, sent a chill up their spines. They took up every square inch of the sidewalk. They lined the top of the structure. The holy building was covered with so many Ravens; it almost appeared to be more like a quivering mass of feathers, than a building. The noise of all the crowing birds was loud and overpowering. Even with Sharon's windows closed, the three had to shout at each other, to be heard.

  Fortunately, no people walked on the sidewalks and no cars passed in the stre
et. The whole immediate area had the appearance of having been abandoned.

  “How long ago did this start,” Johann asked.

  “I don't know. I was asleep,” Sharon answered, “The sound of all the birds woke me up. As soon as I saw them, I knew that I had to call you.”

  “How do you know your uncle is still in there,” Robert asked.

  “I know him. He lives in that church. There's more of a chance that he would be there, than anywhere else.” She turned to Johann and clutched at his shirt. “You have to save him,” she began to cry again.

  “We will,” Johann said, as he held her, “Bob and I will get him out of there.”

  “Yeah,” said Robert, “And, we'll get rid of these damned demons, too.”

  The three became horrified, as another dark avian cloud descended on their target. The huge birds darted about in chaotic directions. Almost seeming as though to be of one mind, and yet not.

  “Jesus,” said Bob, “Have you ever seen such a thing?”

  “No,” said Johann, very solemnly, “Never.”

  Movement on the sidewalk below caught Johann's attention. A small crowd had started to gather. This added another element of danger, and he had to do something quick. Innocents now became involved, and that was not acceptable.

  “Come on, Bob,” Johann said, as he turned to leave, “We need to be down there. This can't go on any longer.” When he got to the door, Johann stopped and glanced over his shoulder to Sharon. “Call your uncle. Tell him we're coming over to help.”

  The two left the apartment, and Sharon picked up the telephone receiver and dialed her uncle's number. After several tense, heartbreaking minutes of listening to the other phone ring, without an answer, she hung up the phone and began to cry. She returned to the window, and gazed out at the Raven covered church.

  “Uncle,” she whispered, “Please be ok. Johann's coming, and so is Robert.”

  Downstairs, the two demon hunters made their way out into the small crowd that had gathered. Johann walked to his car, and removed his shotgun from its case, then walked back there Robert stood. The few people who realized the two men were armed, regarded them with great apprehension. Johann made eye contact with each person he could, as he and Robert passed through the crowd, and tried to give a reassuring smile.

  Without any warning, the sound of bricks crashing to the sidewalk across the street took Johann by surprise. He turned his head in time to witness a few more bricks fall from the building.

  “Jesus,” Johann said, “They're trying to tear the place down.”

  Robert leered, in silence, at the atrocity that happened before him. Some motion from high on the structure got his attention, and he looked up.

  “Look out,” Robert shouted, as the cross on top wobbled back and forth, “It's coming loose. It's gonna fall.”

  The sounds of cracking wood, breaking concrete, and bending steel pierced the morning air. The beautifully ornate crucifix on the top of the steeple toppled and fell from its perch. It hit the ground with a thunderous crash, and everyone in the area jumped back several feet to avoid all the shrapnel that hurtled through the air.

  Johann stared at the house of worship; his eyes reflected the steely determination which now filled his heart. Robert's eyes widened, as he recalled the premonition he had in the hotel parking lot.

  “Johann,” said Robert, “I saw this. A cross. Shattered on the sidewalk.” Johann glanced at him, and the coroner continued, “In the parking lot at the hotel, when all those Ravens were there. I saw this cross shattered on the ground.”

  Johann peered at the cross, and anger took over.

  “Okay, you mother,” he shouted to no one in particular, “You're goin' down.”

  With that, Johann decided it was time to cross the street, and go into the building, that was now a battle zone, to rescue Father Nelson. He gestured to Robert and nodded. Robert glanced back, and he nodded as well. Together, the two men slowly, and deliberately walked across the road. A man who was standing next to them reached out and grabbed Johann's shoulder.

  “No,” the man said, “Don't go there. Those things will kill you.”

  Johann stopped for a moment and turned to face the man. His, and the man's, eyes met, and he pumped the shotgun so it would be loaded and ready for action.

  “We'll be okay,” he said to the man. Johann then turned and began walking to the other side of the street. Once he and Robert made it across, Johann raised his shotgun and pointed the barrel up. Not quite straight up, but at an angle that would take the projectile up, above the structure, and hopefully land on the roof. He glanced over at Robert, to let him know that he was about to fire his favorite weapon. Robert put his hands over his ears to protect them from the concussion of the blast. Johann braced the gun stock on his shoulder and pulled the trigger.

  The weapon went off with a loud explosion. It was even heard over the noise of the Ravens. The gunshot echoed in the distance and caused hundreds of the enormous, black birds to take flight at the same time. The wind generated by the flapping of so many wings moved the hair on the two demon hunters' heads. Each one of the birds produced the shrill call that a Raven produces, as it took flight.

  “Son of a bitch,” Johann said, as he shook the hand that still bore the bandage from his earlier escapades. The kick of the shot pushed the butt of the gun into Johann's shoulder. This caused a sharp pain in the hand he had injured a few hours earlier, and he winced.

  “I bet that hurt,” said Robert. Johann just looked at him, then back at Saint Paul's.

  The people on the other side of the street all seemed to duck in unison at the sound of the blast. A baby that was being held by a woman started to cry from being startled by the loud sound. She brought the baby's head next hers to try and quiet the infant.

  “Well, that got rid of a bunch of 'em,” Robert said.

  “Yeah,” answered Johann, “But you can bet your ass, the ones we want are still here.”

  Johann turned to the crowd, the size of which, had expanded in the last few minutes. The mob of onlookers began to grow, as people on their way to work became distracted by the spectacle, and stopped to spectate. Johann became all too aware that if he and his partner didn't go inside the church right away, they risked the onlookers becoming unmanageable, which would place even more people in danger.

  He turned his attention to Robert and made a motion to the oak door. Robert nodded slightly, and the two started their walk to the entrance to the holy building. The two almost appeared to be part of a military operation, and in effect, that was truly the case.

  While they walked through the birds, they came under attack. All the winged beasts started to let out their shrill call and darted at the demon hunters. Johann and Robert had to put their arms up to protect their faces from the onslaught.

  They could feel birds peck at their legs, arms, and torsos, but it didn't deter them. They kept walking toward the doors. The attack became more fierce as they got closer to the church entrance. Pain gripped the two men, as sharp talons ripped at their flesh, and tried to get at their eyes. Johann realized that the avian creatures tried to get to their eyes.

  “I'm sure, I don't need to tell you this,” Johann shouted above the increasing noise, “But don't let them move your arms.”

  “I pretty much gathered that would be a bad idea,” answered Robert, a little sarcastic.

  They climbed the steps to the church doors, as the huge black birds started to fly into them, almost knocking Johann off his feet. Robert instinctively reached out to help his friend. He was instantly rewarded for his efforts with a Raven's beak biting down on his cheek. He quickly shook his head to try and dislodge the beast. When that failed, he grabbed the bird with the hand that he used to assist Johann and tore the avian off his face. He threw his attacker to the ground and crushed its skull with his foot. The skull crushed like an eggshell, and red ooze shot everywhere.

  Another bird started its attack, and Robert covered his face with
both arms. The blood from the wound dripped down his neck, and into his shirt. The warm, sticky liquid made a small, red river on his chest, Robert thought to himself, “Christ. I probably need stitches now. Not to mention, a tetanus shot.”

  After what seemed like hours, the two demon hunters found themselves standing at the heavy oak doors. Johann tried to open one of the doors, but it would not open. He glanced at Robert.

  “When I count three,” Johann said, “We both hit the door. One…two…three.”

  The two men jammed their shoulders into the door with all their might. The hinges groaned as the door opened just enough for the two to enter the house of worship. They entered, and Johann immediately examined the area, hardly able to believe the sight his eyes beheld.

  -13-

  They entered the dark church, and the stench of Raven droppings almost caused them to gag. The air inside the church was decidedly warmer, compared to outside. Even with the darkness inside, Father Gunter was able to make out some of the extensive damage to the house of worship. This was painful to Johann, and he found it hard to look at it.

  As he surveyed the massive damage, his eyes watered with tears, and his heart filled with rage. Raven waste covered everything. One would have thought a vandal had gotten into the structure with a can of light grey paint, and spattered it everywhere. The strong odor caused the two demon hunters to use their shirts as filters over their noses, as they tried to breathe.

  With their sharp talons, the Ravens scratched and splintered the once beautifully varnished wooden pews. Carcasses of dead Ravens littered the nave; the main aisle that led to the sanctuary. Johann at least derived a little pleasure from seeing that some of the birds didn't survive the attack.

  The closer they got to the altar, the more severe the damage appeared to be. The impression was as though a bomb had been set off. Pews were upended and scattered around. Statues had fallen from their pedestals, and some lay, shattered, on the concrete floor. Johann looked up and observed whatever stained-glass windows remained intact, were smeared with Raven dung.