by Bryan Davis
Billy clutched the rope and rode the Mustang’s pull to the top. When he reached the surface, Walter and Gabriel hauled him to solid ground.
“That was quick,” Walter said as Bonnie and Ashley joined them. “Did you find something?”
“I think so.” Billy retrieved the knife from his dangling shoe. “Ashley, have a look at this.”
Ashley squinted at the blade. “Looks like blood.”
“I found it in one of those shallow caves. There was no way out, but maybe it means one of them didn’t fall right away.”
Ashley took the knife. “I’m sure we can find DNA samples for both Matt and Darcy, but I don’t have any equipment here to do a comparison.” She blew hair out of her eyes. “Without electricity, maybe I can’t do it at all.”
“Let’s call Larry,” Bonnie said. “He’ll know what’s available.”
“If I can get through.” Ashley pulled Elam’s phone from her pocket and walked away.
“While you’re doing that . . .” Letting out a groan, Billy lowered himself to a sitting position and extended his bare foot. “I need to rest a minute.”
Bonnie sat next to him and held his hand. “Blood is good news and bad news.”
“Right. Someone’s hurt, but the location means that person rested there. He or she was safe, at least temporarily.” He shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe a portal opened up and let someone through. Stranger things have happened.”
“I can’t argue with that.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I refuse to give up hope.”
“Same here.” Billy read the words on the door—Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here. Maybe that message would intimidate most who saw it, including himself back in the days of the seven circles, but not anymore. After what they had been through, this was just another bump in the road. They would find Matt and Darcy . . . somehow.
Framed by the scarlet rays of the setting sun, Ashley walked toward them, her expression grave. “No messages are going through at all. Looks like everything’s shut down. Civilization is history. I guess Abaddon and the locusts have had their way.”
Elam and Sapphira approached, walking hand in hand. “Then we’re on our own,” Elam said. “It’s probably best to go back to Second Eden, assuming the portal’s still open.”
Sapphira snapped her fingers and created a fireball in her palm. “If not, I’m getting stronger. By the time we get there, I should be fine. I’ll open it again.”
“We cannot leave immediately,” Roxil said. “We should give Yereq the burial he deserves. Doing so would provide the added benefit of giving Makaidos and Thigocia more time to arrive, assuming they are coming.”
“Right on both counts.” Bonnie leaned over and examined Billy’s broken toes. “And a little rest will do our warriors some good.”
Walter found a shovel at the bus depot. He, Elam, and Gabriel took turns digging a hole—shallow but acceptable. When they finished, Roxil lifted Yereq’s huge body and laid him gently at the bottom. With the company gathered around the burial plot, Sapphira spoke of her love for the gentle giant and how she nurtured him when he was just a weakling spawn. She wept at times, some tears from fond memories and others from the bitter pain of loss.
Elam suggested honoring all of their fallen allies, especially those who had perished recently, seeing that they had not yet received proper memorials. He began with a eulogy for Valiant in which he recounted the great leader’s faith, passion, and love. Roxil recalled Legossi’s brilliance in battle, her sacrificial courage, and her unsurpassed warrior’s heart. One by one, they added their thoughts about departed heroes—Acacia, Merlin, Naamah, Karen, Eagle, Abraham, Angel, and others.
Finally, Billy ended with a tribute to Professor Charles Hamilton, who died while saving people from Devin’s fury. Without exception, the heroes had risked life and limb in sacrificial valor. Most succeeded in saving lives. A few failed, though their willingness to spill blood for the sake of others infused courage in those who remained. Without these brave souls, Arramos and his minions would have triumphed long ago.
Yet, no one mentioned Lauren, Matt, or Darcy. It seemed that a silent vow had passed from mind to mind that these loved ones still had hope for life or resurrection. Eulogizing them would feel like a faithless act.
A few minutes after the memorial, a gibbous moon rose at the horizon, hazy and blood red. While Roxil smashed the instruments of torture at the center of the yard, Elam and Gabriel added lumber from the remnants of the houses while the others tended to wounds.
After Billy and Roxil ignited the pile of wood with their fiery breath, everyone, including Thomas and Mariel, seated themselves at the fire. Bonnie found snacks and soft drinks at the guard house and passed them around.
Soon, two dragon silhouettes appeared in the moon’s disk. Moments later, Makaidos and Thigocia descended and slid to a stop at the circle. Everyone rose and gathered around them. Again summarized stories flew back and forth until the two dragons had been updated on the recent events. According to Makaidos, since they had lost communications with Lois after her summons to come, he and Thigocia had to stop and ask directions from various police and military personnel. Although many refused to help and even became belligerent, the dragons received enough information from others to find the address.
Makaidos lifted his head and looked at the sky. “It seems that nuclear war has been averted, at least for the time being, but during our flight here, we witnessed great suffering. This world is quickly being swallowed in a whirlpool of judgment. I suggest that we go to Second Eden and allow the Maker to have his way. I do not think we can be of service here any longer.”
“You’re probably right.” Elam patted Thigocia’s scales. “Who knows? Maybe Matt and Darcy found their way into Abaddon’s Lair and are even now working their way toward Second Eden. Matt’s only form of communication is tuned to Second Eden’s frequency, so we’re better off waiting for word from him there.”
Makaidos bobbed his head. “Then we will go to the portal.”
Billy climbed to his feet. “Okay. We have several modes of transportation, but I’m guessing that bus guzzles gas like Walter eats hamburgers. Gabriel told me the bus shack has a gas tank and some plastic containers, so we’ll fill them up and load as many as possible. Thomas and Mariel should ride in the Mustang, I can drive the bus, and Walter and Ashley can drive her solar-powered car, assuming that the battery’s charged well enough to run at night.”
“It should be,” Ashley said. “We’ll see how far it can go.”
While Elam, Gabriel, and Sapphira discussed their travel options with the dragons, Billy grasped Bonnie’s hand and whispered, “I said I would drive the bus, but I didn’t mention that I have to stay here on Earth.”
“I know. You’re going to West Virginia to find your father and mother. You also have to check on Walter’s family, Adam and Carly, and a few others.” She compressed his hand. “And I’m going with you.”
“It’ll be a dangerous journey—corruption everywhere, suffering from coast to coast, nuclear war threatening. Not only that, your song might get snuffed out. And you won’t be in Second Eden if . . . I mean when they get word from Matt.”
“I know, but even though this doesn’t feel like my world anymore, I still love these people no matter how corrupt they are. They need the Lord, and they need my song. Besides, we were apart for fifteen years. Nothing’s going to separate us again.”
Billy smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
For the next several minutes, they gathered the gas containers, filled them to the brim, and stowed them—some in the Mustang and some in the bus. After everyone settled on their travel plans and said their good-byes with handshakes and tearful embraces, Makaidos, Thigocia, and Roxil flew away with Gabriel riding on Makaidos. Now that the tooth transmitters no longer worked, Gabriel planned to fly between the conveyances to deliver messages back and forth. A few moments after the dragons departed, Ela
m drove the Mustang toward the prison exit with Sapphira, Thomas, and Mariel aboard.
As the Mustang’s engine faded, Billy, Bonnie, Walter, and Ashley watched it disappear in the dimness of late evening.
“I guess we’d better stay close,” Walter said as he climbed into the driver’s side of the solar-powered vehicle. “Ashley found enough hairs in the Mustang to do the DNA testing, so we’re good to go. Of course, I have to be her lab assistant. She said if I left her side for a minute, she’d tear my hair out.”
Ashley slid into the passenger’s seat. “I did not!”
“Well, you thought it.” He tapped her forehead with a finger. “It leaked out right there.”
“Oh, did it?” She swatted his arm playfully. “I’m the mind reader, not you.”
“If you say so.” Walter turned to Billy and displayed a grenade on his palm. “This is an egg laid by a very special chicken, guaranteed to cause explosive gas in whoever eats it. It’s the only one I have left, so if you want it . . .”
Billy waved a hand. “We’ll be all right. I don’t think a prison bus is going to attract much suspicion. You two are a lot more vulnerable.”
Ashley gave Walter a light shove. “Cut the comedy. Their hearts are broken.”
“I know. Mine, too. Laughing is keeping me from crying.” Walter bit his lip and looked down for a moment. When he refocused on Billy, tears welled in his eyes. “Listen, Billy, I don’t know about you, but this whole end-of-the-world thing isn’t like any danger we’ve ever faced. I mean, nuclear war. It doesn’t get any worse.”
Billy tilted his head. “What are you saying? You don’t want me to stay here?”
“Not even close. I’m saying I wish I could join you. It’s going to be a wild ride.” He grasped Billy’s hand and gave it a hearty shake. “Check on my family. All right?”
“Already planning on it. We’ll get them all to Second Eden if we can.”
“Good. If you don’t show up there soon, I’m coming after you. Got it?”
Billy nodded. “Got it.”
After a final wave, Walter drove the vehicle toward the prison exit. As it faded in the darkness, the solar engine’s purr slowly diminished. Seconds later, every sound died except for the rustle of a slight breeze brushing through the nearby forest.
Billy took Bonnie’s hand. “Ready to go?”
She turned toward the abyss and sighed deeply. “It feels like leaving a burial site after a funeral.”
“I know what you mean.” Billy kissed the back of her hand. “So we go in faith and leave our children in God’s embrace.”
Her lips trembling, Bonnie nodded. “We go in faith.”
Billy and Bonnie strolled hand in hand to the bus’s door. Billy guided Bonnie’s wings through the narrow opening while she climbed three stairs to the floor level. Bonnie settled on the bench directly behind Billy as he sat in the driver’s chair. Soon, he navigated the rattling bus out of the prison and onto the access road.
Bonnie hummed for a while, then added words.
By faith we stand in dangerous lands;
By faith we walk in the dark.
By faith we know that light will arise;
By faith we search for a spark.
O God of my song, let me shine a true light;
Let me be a lamp for their way.
Let me glow from the valleys to the tops of the hills;
Let me reflect the light of new day.
Billy joined in. As the dark countryside passed, they repeated the verses again and again. Tears flowed. Sobs shook their pain-streaked words. Yet, soothing comfort massaged their hearts— God’s spirit, riding with them every mile.
During a break between verses, Billy glanced back at Bonnie and whispered, “It’s going to be all right.”
She scooted to the space next to him and crouched. Tears shining on her cheeks, she grasped his hand and held it tightly. “I know. Maybe not in this world, but . . . I know.”
Billy drove on. Yes, this dark world was no longer theirs. A brighter world awaited. But for now, hand in hand, they had to try to rescue those who longed for the light of day.
Other Books by Bryan Davis
http://www.daviscrossing.com
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Dragons in our Midst:
Raising Dragons
The Candlestone
Circles of Seven
Tears of a Dragon
Oracles of Fire:
Eye of the Oracle
Enoch’s Ghost
Last of the Nephilim
The Bones of Makaidos
Children of the Bard:
Song of the Ovulum
From the Mouth of Elijah
The Seventh Door
Omega Dragon
The Reapers Trilogy:
Reapers
Beyond the Gateway
Reaper Reborn
The Time Echoes Trilogy:
Time Echoes
Interfinity
Fatal Convergence
Tales of Starlight:
Masters & Slayers
Third Starlighter
Exodus Rising
Dragons of Starlight:
Starlighter
Warrior
Liberator
Diviner
I Know Why the Angels Dance