‘This was supposed to bring them hope! But I have brought them only destruction from those vipers!’
Jaydyn struck his palm against a rocky boulder, threw his rifle to the ground in a rage. Then lowered his head and shoulders under the heavy weight of the world and exhaled.
‘Who are these monsters? That they could destroy this city full of sick and starving innocents!’ Stellar’s voice trembled as she spoke.
The detachment of tanks rolled back towards the Tower triumphantly. Leaving only a few scouts to watch the smoking ruins.
David sat in the dim, smoky tavern in the Sprawl. He stared with melancholy at his cup of motor oil.
‘You look miserable David. So, no sign of the girl ay?’
Cripple asked him.
‘No. I’ve been looking everywhere.’
‘Look boy… I know you liked each other. But this is a wasteland, no one but a mad woman would leave the Tower for this place.’
And suddenly Dawn stood at the tavern door. She wore a grey hood and breathing mask, one hand rested on the doorway and she hesitated nervously for a moment. David strode over towards her and they met in the middle. She took off her hood and mask to reveal her pretty and mischievous face, burned and scarred on one side from her cheek to her chin.
‘How could they do this!? Why did they do this to you?’
‘Because I ran away from my wedding.’
‘Who did this to you! What’s his name!?’
‘It doesn’t matter David. I’m here now.’
Some drunks stirred from the shadowy, smoky portions of the tavern.
‘Hey she is one of them!’
‘She’s an Eagle! Throw her out of here!’
David turned towards the drunks.
‘You just try it and see what happens.’
Muttering and grumbling was the half-hearted response. Half of the drunks got up and left in protest, half the patrons stayed, staring at Dawn.
‘Grab those gifts I left in your safe, would you Cripple?’
‘Sure thing.’ Cripple smiled and hobbled off to the safe. He came back with a black bag and handed it to his friend.
The city ranger took two items out of the black bag.
The first was a violet wreathe of flowers that he placed in her hair, and the second was a rough looking diamond in a tarnished gold ring.
‘Dawn, will you be my wife?’
Her eyes lit up and her face flushed with emotion.
‘I wouldn’t be anyone else’s!’
He took her hand gently and placed the ring on her finger slowly.
‘You may kiss the bride, David.’
Cripple announced. And he kissed her. The tavern drunks cheered and clapped.
‘Brings a tear to the eye it does.’ One tavern regular slurred happily.
The squad of five Black Eagle soldiers moved rapidly through the Sprawl, their visors on their helmets down, their weapons raised. They moved confidently down a main street with grey building on either side towards the bridge up ahead.
‘The Wolf is dead! Long live the Eagle!’ The young sergeant bellowed out at the ruins filled with shadowy faces and hushed whispers. They shot a few shells aimed vaguely towards the terrified survivors and then laughed amongst themselves.
‘Long live the Eagle.’ The conquered masses echoed back sullenly.
‘Dirty Sprawlrats!’ a soldier muttered.
The Black Eagle increased their pace towards the bridge, looking for a victim. Under the bridge a tattered tent came into view and next to it sat an old white haired man. The man held a white dove on his right arm and with his left he was cooking on a small fire. The sergeant arrowed towards his chosen victim and his soldiers followed eagerly. The old man didn’t bother standing up or trying to run.
‘The Wolf is dead! Long live the Eagle!’
‘Ah to hell with your Eagle.’ The old man muttered and coughed up phlegm and spat.
The soldiers looked to their sergeant. The sergeant crossed his arms and looked down at him.
‘Very well then. Sprawlrat. You asked for it!’
The Black Eagle tasered the old man, electrocuting his body, sending his limbs jerking and burning his skin and nerves. The old man screamed involuntarily and the dove screeched and flew away. The Black Eagle tasered the old man until he was shuddering and smoking and then he stopped moving.
Dawn covered her tattoo of the Black Eagle with her nurse’s uniform. She had gotten a job at the hospital, she was more than qualified from her old job. She brushed her blonde hair and buttoned up her uniform, warm sunlight spilled in through a small window and she smiled. She walked down the green hospital corridor into a patient’s room.
‘Hi. I’m Dawn.’
‘Johnny.’
‘Hi Johnny. What have you done to your arm there?’
‘I think I broke it. I was climbing a tree in Oslo Forest.’
‘What were you doing in the forest?’
‘My sister and I, we live there. I like climbing trees. It’s fun.’
‘Does that hurt?’
‘Yes.’ Johnny grunted through clenched teeth.
‘Okay, I think your right. I’ll give you a scan and we’ll probably have to put it in a cast.’
‘Okay. Thanks.’
‘You just be careful when you travel back to Oslo Forest. Venice is a war zone at the moment.’
‘Yeah I know, because of the Messenger, he stole a helicopter from the Tower and he gave food and medicine to everybody… He is going to save us!’
‘I don’t know about that Johnny, but I really hope you’re right.’
Jaydyn and Stellar returned to the ruins of Venice against common sense as there were still tanks and soldiers keeping watch. They approached the smoky ruins stricken with guilt, looking to help the wounded. The people turned against Jaydyn because they had lost their homes, the crowd surged against him, yelling and pelting him with stones. A wave of people carried Stellar away and dragged her down into the underground as they sought for a safe hiding place. Jaydyn would not raise his hands against them, so he fled into the ruins of the Spire. He entered through the huge timber doors. Half the ceiling had caved in, and one wall had crumbled down.
The Griffinman flew down from his perch in the ceiling arches, towering above Jaydyn, he carried an antique spear he had found. He was a strange beast, with the body of a man, the wings of an eagle and a face that was humanoid. With the holy spear, he barred the front doors, shutting out the surge of the furious mob.
‘That will keep them out... Did you think I was going to spear you?’
‘No, I know you are sick and weary of the bloodshed, that's why you ran away from the Cube. That’s why you deserted the Black Eagle. And that's why you are hiding out in this church.’
‘You’re the Boatbuilder? The Messenger?’
‘Yes.’
‘They do not believe in you?’
‘No, they have lost everything and carry much sorrow. Fear is their master, and always we must choose between fear and faith…Do you believe?’
‘Yes, I do, but I'm Mutanti. I'm evil. I’m a freak. Can you make me human? Maybe then I can be good.’
‘Yes, I could ask my God to change you. But do you really want me to? Do you see that angel in that stain glass window? It has wings just like you, and it's a noble creature.’
The Griffinman was silent for a moment.
‘What shall I do then, Jaydyn?’
‘I won’t ask you to fight. I will only ask you to do three things.’
‘Anything.’
‘I want you to make these ruins your home, to care for the holy spear and to light a single candle here every night.’
‘I can do that.’ The Griffinman smiled.
Stellar found herself underground in a labyrinth of cylindrical tunnels made of dark blue stone and filled with puddles of water and shadows. Occasionally, light splintered down through a sewer grate. The people of Dead Venice remembered her gifts of food and medicine a
nd they blamed Jaydyn for bringing the Black Eagle against them. She tended to the wounded and gave words of comfort and hope to the ragged survivors. Until she was startled by yelling and snarling. The people had stumbled across the hideout of the Wolfman.
‘Kill the Mutanti! He's an evil beast! He's a murderer!’
They speared at him with sticks and pulled at him with ropes. The Wolfman broke their spears with his massive claws and pulled against the ropes with his huge muscles. He was wild and close to breaking free. And when he did, they would all be dead. Stellar intervened, her small, slender white figure standing alone against the enraged crowd.
‘Let him go.’
The people lowered their spears and their ropes. The Wolfman was still raging and insane, bending bars of steel and slashing claw marks in stone. The healer stepped towards the mad beast. Stellar sang to him melodies of spring, of newborn things and gentleness and tenderness that he had never seen. And the Wolfman was suddenly soothed, tamed and completely harmless. He lowered his claws and looked at Stellar.
The people were astonished.
In the tower, the shelling of Dead Venice did not satisfy the mad fury of the President after he learned of the Messenger’s escape. He ordered an investigation, as well as a public execution. The President threw and smashed his whisky glass upon one of his soldiers. His victim staggered back in shock and humiliation.
‘Execute someone! Anyone! Everyone!’ The President yelled.
His soldiers rushed off and rounded up whoever loitered on the street, two of which were David and Dawn. The soldiers locked them up in the Tower basement for questioning. Johnny and Adelaide, who had visited the hospital and were trading their wares, were captured and selected to be executed by firing squad.
The Griffinman led Jaydyn to a sewer grate.
‘The Wolfman will lead you through the tunnels, just tell him you’re a friend of mine. By the way, I hear your family are fine.’
‘Thanks.’ Jaydyn smiled and sighed in relief.
‘Remember the candle.’ Jaydyn reminded him of the essential and precious ritual. The Griffinman watched the Messenger disappear into the sewers, then he went back to his new home. It was very quiet and peaceful. He found a sharpening stone and some oil and sharpened the rusty, antique spearhead and oiled the timber shaft before placing it back on the wall. The Griffinman lit a single candle upon the altar in reverence and the sweet incense rose to Heaven. He considered the angel in the stain glass window, his eagle eyes wet and glassy and he wondered.
Jaydyn ran through the wet and shadowy cylindrical tunnels towards Stellar and the Wolfman.
‘Stellar, are you okay?’
‘Yes, I'm fine. I just got dragged along with the crowd. And this wolf is friendly once you get to know him.’
The Wolfman regarded the Messenger with bright eyes and tilted his head.
‘I'm Jaydyn, a friend of the Griffinman’s. He said you could lead us through the sewers and out into Oslo Forest?’
The Wolfman had engraved a map on the stone walls with his claws, it was a very comprehensive map.
‘Yes ok. I know the way. Come, follow me. Follow me.’
He led them down many tunnels for a long time. Eventually, they came to an exit near the Ash River. They climbed out and ran towards cover. Soldiers yelled and ran towards them, and a tank turned its gun turret around to target them.
‘Run! I'll hold them back!’
The Wolfman charged in, growling. Jaydyn and Stellar tried to call him back, but it was useless. They ran towards the river. The Wolfman struck down several soldiers without breaking his stride, he leapt up on top of the tank and tore the gun turret off with a growl and a shriek of tearing metal. The rest of the soldiers turned and fled in terror.
Having defeated his former allies and captors, the Mutanti crawled back into the sewers. After he washed the blood off his claws. He ran and splashed through the puddles and flowing waters, running madly like a caged animal released, and he let loose a guttural beastly laugh. Then he danced and skipped as he ran because he was free. He went to visit his brother, the Griffinman.
In the lightning zone, the Messenger slept. He fought his dreams, Jaydyn saw the murder of the old man under the bridge. He saw Anna, struck across the eye and thrust from the Tower as she fell a hundred floors. He felt her pain, her fear, in his dreams.
He awoke, his eye bruised and taser burns all over his body. He was grieved deeply, in agony of body and spirit. This was the second miracle.
Stellar Dove, with tears streaming from her eyes, brought him his sniper rifle, her face furious and her knuckles clenched around the barrel. They set out towards the Tower, side by side, grim and determined.
They travelled into the devastated city ruins. As they neared the centre of the ruined city, Stellar looked up at Jaydyn who stared straight ahead.
‘Be careful.’
She opened her carry pack and took out a small bottle of blue ink and a pen. She dipped the tip in the ink and drew a pattern of glowing coils and waves of blue on his arm.
‘This will keep you safe.’
‘This will definitely keep me safe.’ He grinned at her.
In a courtyard, in the centre of the slums, an eerie silence fell over the crowd, their dirty faces looking up with glassy eyes. The firing squad had the orphans tied up in full view of the people. The courtyard was built with stone blocks that were cracked and covered with weeds and climbing vines. A raised platform with a crumbling archway rose above the centre. The soldiers pushed their visors down and raised their guns. Malcolm read out the official death sentence of the President with hesitation and his voice faltered. Johnny held Adelaide's hand.
‘Just close your eyes...Imagine we are in Oslo Forest. Sitting on the highest branch of the tallest tree.’
They closed their eyes.
The soldiers aimed their guns. A few people watched intently, horrified, but most people looked away.
Jaydyn the boat builder had hidden himself on a rooftop with his sniper rifle, his laser focused on Malcolm's chest. He had a clear shot...But Jaydyn Oslo spared the Centurion’s life. He chose a new target and shot through the wind and rain, bursting the orphans’ bonds. Quickly, he hurled a smoke grenade into the firing squad. Johnny and Adelaide fled into the chaos of the crowd and the smoke, and the Boatbuilder disappeared as if he were smoke himself.
The soldiers knew it was him, but they never caught a glimpse of him as they coughed and choked and cursed.
Malcolm stood motionless, but the Alien who had been watching from the shadows gave chase. The Black Eagle leapt from his hiding place at astounding speed. Jaydyn leapt off the rooftop, down onto a lower level rooftop and continued running.
The Messenger heard his enemies machine gun shoot out a hail of bullets. Jaydyn dived down through a skylight in a spray of bullets and glass and metal and hit the floor, saving his fall. He charged out of the building towards the street. He noticed a Black Eagle helicopter circled above, and the Alien’s harpoon shot into the helicopter and pulled it down out of the sky hurling it at the Messenger. The blades hit the building and the impact caused an explosion. The blast took out the building and a pillar of flame rose skyward, throwing Jaydyn into the middle of the street. Pain shot though his nerves as fire and shrapnel hit him. He got up again and kept running. The Alien shot off the rest of his bullets, Jaydyn evaded the fire, changing direction rapidly. He heard the machine gun click and knew his enemy needed to reload. Over his shoulder he saw the grinning silver skull mask of the Alien gaining on him.
My soldiers caught your friend. Stellar. They are putting the knife to her right now.
The Messenger took a deep breath and gazed skyward, questions shimmering in his eyes, his feet pounded the pavement and then suddenly he unslung his rifle.
You’re a liar!
Jaydyn turned suddenly in an arc and struck out with his rifle, connecting with the Aliens face and cracking his mask. Jaydyn booted him in the chest, sending the sold
ier crashing down some stairs. Jaydyn turned away and kept running, but his enemy got up again and closed in on him with even more speed and fury than before.
Your bloody corpse is mine Jaydyn! I know a demon who will be glad to claw into your mind and claim your soul!
The Messenger turned down an alleyway and vaulted over a chain wire fence. A burst of flame flew out of the Aliens flamethrower and incinerated the chain wire fence. The Black Eagle’s electric sword hurtled towards the Messenger. Jaydyn dodged the strike, the sword hit the concrete wall behind him and showered them both in blue sparks.
I don’t think so! Eagle!
The Messenger struck his enemy in the stomach, catapulting the soldier backwards, winded and choking and off balance.
The Alien sprayed Jaydyn with his flamethrower, but Stellar’s blessing protected him through the blue waves inscribed on his arms. The fire hit the blue painted symbol and flared out around him harmlessly. The Alien charged forward and struck him with his fist and then threw him, smashing the Messenger through a wall of what used to be a café. Then, abruptly, Jaydyn vanished.
‘Where are you, Boatbuilder?’
The Alien stood alone inside the old war torn building.
The Alien returned to the Tower for a debriefing with the President.
‘What happened?’ The President asked impatiently.
‘He got away.’
‘What do you mean he got away? How could he get away? You’re a superhuman, cyber Mutanti with a million-dollar arsenal. How could he possibly get away!’ The President raised his hands in disbelief.
The Alien raised his own fist in anger, threatening the President, then lowered it and reconsidered, grunting with contempt. He stalked back to his luxurious and spacious apartment and threw down his machine gun and flamethrower. Took off his mask to reveal a thin, elongated face with pale flesh and black eyes. Suddenly, a spinning blade tore through his door like an angle grinder, sending sparks flying. A robotic scorpion tore through the door, it scuttled rapidly towards the Alien with its metal pincers raised to strike.
Mystic Angels and Cyber Demons Page 3