by Alex Siegel
"How did you escape?" Orcus said.
Diana had rehearsed the answer to this question, and she spoke immediately, "The PEA agents interrogated me from the moment I arrived. I was tortured, but I kept my mouth shut. The only thing they got out of me was my name. Eventually, they tried tear gas on me. They sprayed it right in my face."
She glanced at the rearview mirror to check his reaction. His face showed no emotion.
"Go on," Orcus said.
"I pretended to pass out. When the guards tried to move me, I attacked and killed two of them. Then I used my claws to tear open the cover of a ventilation duct. I squeezed through and eventually reached the roof. The prison is built next to a bay. I jumped off, landed in the water, and swam away before anybody saw me."
The story sounded somewhat ridiculous to Diana's own ears. The PEA would never be so sloppy. The prison wasn't that close to the water. Ventilation ducts could be used for escape only in Hollywood movies.
She checked the mirror. Orcus was nodding and yawning.
"Nicely done," he said. "It's good to have you serving me again. Now turn on the radio. I want to hear the news."
* * *
Stony crouched in the shadows, uncertain about whether he should move. If he made a mistake, Diana might pay for it with her life. He had no idea whether she and Orcus were still in the zoo.
Footsteps made him spin around. A man in a white suit and black tie was approaching, and he had wings.
Stony, Mia, Brian, and Veronica stood up.
"They have left the zoo," Rathanael said. "They're headed northwest."
"Diana is OK?" Stony said.
"She is unharmed for the moment. A brave woman. Your bus is waiting at the main entrance. I will be in touch." The angel faded away.
The team ran north, unconcerned about how much noise they made. They reached the main gate after a couple of minutes, climbed over, and proceeded to a parking lot. A white bus was parked on the far side with the lights off. Everybody ran to it.
The door opened as they approached, and they climbed inside. The driver was a woman in the standard blue suit of a PEA agent. She started the engine.
"Go northwest," Stony said.
She nodded. "Yes, sir."
In addition to regular seating, the interior of the bus had four Murphy beds. Stony smiled. Very considerate, he thought. As the bus drove away, he prepared for sleep. He expected it would be a long ride to wherever they were going.
* * *
A rising sun reflected off the rearview mirror straight into Diana's eyes. She tilted the mirror to stop the glare.
Even though she loved the night, she was glad to see the sun. It gave her hope that she might live another day.
Orcus was sleeping in the back seat and snoring like a bear. She considered killing him. Reaching back with her claws and slashing his throat would be easy. Two things kept her hands on the wheel though. First, only Orcus knew the location of the kidnapped children. Diana had no idea where Thorn lived, and finding the cannibal would be difficult at best. He might eat the kids in the meantime. Second, Orcus might not really be asleep. He could just be testing her loyalty, and as soon as she reached for him, he would break her arm.
Diana was driving on Interstate 20, an extremely boring highway. Two lanes in each direction went straight to the horizon. The landscape was just grass and low hills all around. Despite her best efforts, her eyes drooped. After fleeing across the country with only a few hours of sleep, she was completely exhausted. She accidently swerved onto the shoulder and had to jerk the steering wheel back.
Orcus snorted. "What happened?"
"My apologies, master," she said. "I almost fell asleep."
"You're weak."
"Yes, master. I failed."
"That's two demerits so far," he said. "Disappointing. Remind me to whip you later, but we can't afford to stop now. Just pull over. You can sleep while I drive. I can understand why you're tired."
"Thank you, master."
Diana stopped the car on the side of the highway and traded places with Orcus. The seat was warm where he had lain on it. She settled down for a much-needed nap, even though it meant trusting her life to Orcus completely. He could take her anywhere. As soon as she relaxed, her eyelids closed.
After what seemed like just a few seconds, she opened her eyes again. She was still in the Mercedes, but it was different. The world was a little hazy. She looked out the windows and saw only white fog. Then she noticed Rathanael was driving instead of Orcus.
"Huh?" she said. "How did you get here? What happened to Orcus?"
"Nothing happened to that beast," the angel said. "You're asleep. I'm visiting you in a dream."
"Oh. That's why everything is weird."
"Exactly. Just relax. You're safe for now."
Diana leaned back in her seat. The car purred like a cat, and the sound soothed her. She was enjoying the surreal feeling of being asleep and awake at the same time.
"I came to congratulate you," Rathanael said. "Your performance so far has been excellent. Your road to redemption might be short. I was right to put my faith in you."
"It was hard."
"I know. I saw how you suffered, but you met the challenge bravely."
Diana smiled. She wasn't used to receiving compliments. Orcus certainly never said anything nice to her.
"Oh," she said. "Orcus told me we're going to meet a guy named Thorn. Pomona and the kidnapped kids are with him."
"Do you know where Thorn lives?" Rathanael said.
"Out west somewhere is all I know. I met him once. A violent psycho who likes the taste of human flesh. The kids are in grave danger."
"I see the memory in your mind. This information might be useful. Thank you."
Diana relaxed for a moment. Then she said, "I have a question."
"What, my child?
"You have powers. Why don't you do more of the fighting? You should be out in the field with Stony and Mia. You should help search for Thorn."
"I have to keep headquarters safe," Rathanael said. "My presence prevents demons from sneaking in. I can't risk being away for long. Besides, hunting and killing humans is not my purpose. I'm a defender, not a slayer. A shepherd, not a soldier."
"But I'm sure you know how to kill," Diana said. "You don't strike me as an angel of sweetness and light. You're more of an Old Testament, 'vengeance is mine' kind of angel."
"I have killed in the past."
"Ooh! I want to hear that story."
The angel didn't answer at first. He had his hands on the steering wheel, but he didn't seem to be driving anywhere. Opaque fog completely surrounded the car. Diana waited patiently.
"No angel would choose to live permanently on Earth," Rathanael finally said. "Our home is the Kingdom of Heaven and the City of God. I was... sent down."
"You're a fallen angel?"
"No. I'm in temporary exile until my superiors decide I'm fit to return home."
"You got into trouble?" Diana said.
"I committed the sin of wrath. Like you, I have a temper."
"So you're not perfect."
"Only the Lord is perfect," Rathanael said. "I have made mistakes in the past, and I will make them in the future. Even after thousands of years, I have more to learn. In fact, the older I get, the less I seem to know."
"You're humble. I like that in a boss. I wish I could see you fight."
"I hope that wish is never granted. Rest now. Goodbye."
Her eyes closed again, and this time, she stayed asleep.
Chapter Twenty
Stony woke up. Bright sunlight forced him to squint as his memories slowly came into focus.
He was riding a bus with a white interior. Judging by the angle of the sun, it was mid-day. He and his teammates were chasing after Diana.
He rolled out of his narrow Murphy bed. Wearing just underwear, he staggered to the front of the bus.
"Where are we?" he grunted at the female driver.
&nbs
p; She glanced at him with a hint of fear in her eyes. "We just passed through Abilene, Texas, sir."
He looked out the front window at a grassy plain. Everything was shades of yellow and brown. Only a few scattered trees broke up the straight horizon.
"Where is Diana?" Stony said.
"About ten miles ahead. She's in a black Mercedes."
"How do we know that?"
"Rathanael told us," the driver said. "A high-altitude surveillance plane is tailing the car now. We have its exact location in real-time."
"That's convenient, but I hope Orcus doesn't see it."
"He won't. The Air Force jet is flying at fifty thousand feet. It would be hard to see with a telescope."
Stony smiled. The PEA's partnership with the Air Force was useful at times.
"Director Robertson wants you to call him," the driver added.
Stony shuffled back to where he had slept. His black clothing, weapons, and equipment were in a sloppy pile on the floor. He hadn't wasted any time getting into bed. He dug through the pile until he found his phone.
Mia, Brian, and Veronica were still asleep. Stony took a moment to admire Mia's beautiful face and blonde hair. The bandage covering her ear caused him to feel sympathetic pain.
He touched her shoulder. "Hey."
Her hand snaked out and grabbed his wrist with the speed of a viper. She opened her eyes, and when she saw his face, she let go of him.
"What's going on?" she mumbled.
Stony woke up the rest of the team. While he explained the situation, they sat on the edges of their beds and listened.
Stony finally called Director Robertson with his phone in speaker-mode.
"Yes?" Robertson said.
"This is Stony. You wanted me to call?"
"Rathanael secretly spoke with Diana and got some interesting information. She and Orcus are going to meet a cannibal named Thorn. Pomona and the kids are with him."
Stony leaned forward. "Do we have a file on Thorn?"
"The PEA has heard rumors about him for years, but we never launched a full investigation. Obviously, that was a mistake. All we know is that he is a recluse with mysterious capabilities. He is most likely in New Mexico or Arizona."
"That's a big area."
"Yes," Robertson said, "but Diana will lead us to him. I'm sending all available units to the Southwest. Get ready for a fight. That bus should have some extra weapons in back if you need them. That's all."
Stony hung up his phone. He went to the back of the bus and opened what looked like a closet door. The small room beyond was packed with weapons, ranging from pistols to assault rifles to rocket-propelled grenades. Time to go bear hunting, he thought.
* * *
"Wake up, you lazy slug!" Orcus yelled. "Time to eat."
Diana opened her eyes. She was still in the back of the Mercedes, and she didn't know how long she had slept, but she felt much better. She got out of the car and looked around.
Orcus had parked at a truck stop in the middle of the desert. A flat, brown wasteland stretched to the horizon in all directions. Just the occasional dry bush broke up the otherwise perfect desolation.
The truck stop was like most others though. One row of gas pumps served cars and another served trucks. A large lot in back provided space for truckers to park at night. The facilities included a sit-down restaurant, a sandwich shop, a gift shop, a convenience store, a tire shop, and even a chapel.
"Move. I'm hungry." Orcus rudely shoved Diana towards the restaurant.
She ran ahead to hold the door for him. After he went inside, she pulled out a chair so he could sit at a table.
After he had settled in, she said, "May I sit, master?"
"Yes."
Diana sat across from him. She kept her eyes down as she checked out the restaurant. The interior was meant to look like a classic diner. Red vinyl chairs went along a long counter. Tables stood in the center, and booths were on the other side. A colorful jukebox was playing rock and roll from decades before she had been born.
A waitress handed out menus. Orcus read his, but Diana kept her hands on her lap. He always ordered for her.
The waitress returned a few minutes later.
"I'll have the all-you-can-eat catfish platter," Orcus said. "The lady will have a chicken salad. And extra water for both of us." He gave back the menus.
Diana had an odd feeling. Until recently, she had lived in terror of Orcus. He had abused her whenever he had felt like it. The slightest act of defiance had resulted in sadistic punishments. She had been powerless to protect herself from his cruel whims.
Now an angel was watching over her, and friends were close behind. She was leading Orcus to his demise, and he didn't even know it. She had never felt so empowered, so in control. Her feet were finally on the path to salvation.
The waitress brought two water glasses for each of them. Diana drank one entire glass immediately and half of the other. Orcus drank both glasses and demanded another.
"You're different," he said.
"In what way, master?" Diana said.
"It's hard to put my finger on it. You're bolder, stronger."
"Perhaps my traumatic experiences during the last few days have made me tougher."
"Maybe." Orcus paused and then picked up a full bottle of hot sauce. "Drink this. Every drop."
Diana took the bottle. According to the label, the sauce was made from habanero peppers.
"You're hesitating," he said, "almost defying me. That's what I'm talking about. You've changed. The Diana I knew would drink the sauce without even looking at it."
She unscrewed the cap and poured the sauce down her throat. It burned like lava, and she needed every bit of her self-control to finish the bottle. Tears were pouring from her eyes. Her tongue and throat felt like they were on fire. Her stomach churned, and she fought an urge to vomit.
She put the empty bottle down. "I apologize for my hesitation, master. It won't happen again."
Orcus took away her remaining glass of water and finished it himself. She licked her burning lips. Terrible pain was making her sweat.
"As punishment," he said, "you will have no food or water until we arrive at Thorn's house. That hot sauce will be your only meal."
A few minutes later, Diana received her salad, but she could only stare at it. Orcus, on the other hand, ate a big lunch.
* * *
The bus drove through La Loma, New Mexico. It happened so quickly that Stony almost missed it. The village was just a few buildings clustered around an intersection without even a stop sign. The bus continued onwards through the wilderness.
As Stony and his teammates had traveled north, the landscape had become more rugged. Mountains stood in the distance, but dust in the air made them hazy. Thin, high clouds formed stripes across the blue sky.
Stony liked New Mexico. The vast, arid spaces forced one to confront nature's laws of survival. There was no slack here, no laziness. Plants, insects, and birds struggled to live in a land where every drop of water was precious. Rain might not come for months at a time. Only the most cunning creatures made it.
The bus slowed down and pulled over to the side of the highway.
Stony stood up. "What's wrong?"
"Hitchhiker, sir," the driver said from the front.
"We don't pick up hitchhikers."
"We pick up this one."
The door opened, and Rathanael walked onto the bus. The angel's wings were out in the open.
"Drive," he told the driver.
"Yes, sir!"
The bus started moving again.
Rathanael walked back to where Stony, Mia, Veronica, and Brian were sitting on padded benches. The team was already wearing their body armor, pistols, and essential gear. They would grab the big weapons when it was time to fight.
"How is Diana doing?" Stony said.
"She is suffering but unharmed," Rathanael said. "She has a wonderful strength of will. I see greatness in her future."
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sp; Everybody smiled.
"Did you come here for a specific reason?" Mia said.
"Not really," the angel said. "I just came to share a bit of esprit de corps before you go into battle. I envy you."
"You do?" Stony said.
Rathanael reached down and took a pistol from a holster on Stony's belt. The gun was a meaty .45 caliber Desert Eagle loaded with magnum rounds. It made nice, big holes in people. The angel sighted down the gun barrel and played with the trigger action. Then he covered the muzzle with his hand.
"Hey," Stony said, "what are you...?"
Rathanael fired the gun into his own hand. The gunshot sounded like a cannon blast in the enclosed space, and Stony's ears were ringing afterwards. The angel held up a squashed bullet between his fingers and examined it.
"Is everybody OK?" the driver yelled.
"We're fine," Stony said. "Keep driving."
"I used to fight all the time," Rathanael said. "I was a master of all weapons. I enjoyed seeing the blood of God's enemies spilled upon the sand. Those were good days." He sighed.
"Then what happened?"
"Times changed, but I unfortunately did not. I was stubborn. Have fun today. I wish I could join you." The angel put down the gun and faded away.
Mia sighed. She took a doll with blonde hair out of a pouch on her belt. Stony recognized it as the doll he had recovered from the bus with the bomb.
"You're still carrying that around?" he said.
She nodded. "I'm going to return it to its owner."
"Assuming the owner is still alive."
She gave him a dirty look.
"But I'm sure she is," he added lamely.
Stony turned his attention back to the majestic landscape surrounding the bus. They had left the interstate an hour ago and had driven on narrow state roads ever since. Their destination had to be close.
* * *
"Turn here," Orcus ordered.
Diana turned the steering wheel of the black Mercedes. The car slid on loose dirt but managed to stay out of the weeds. She drove down a private, unmarked driveway which cut straight through the wasteland.
She saw two buildings in the distance. One was a large, single-story home with adobe walls and a red tile roof. Brown paint covered the walls which had small, square windows. The surrounding yard was just native desert with no obvious landscaping. A windmill with a generator appeared to be the source of electricity. A remarkably tall antenna stood on the roof of the house.