Hear the Crickets

by BJ Sheldon

  “Did you sleep okay?” I asked.

  “About as good as one can sleep on the ground sitting up, leaning back against a large rock.”

  “So that’s a yes then.”

  Dorian shook his head and laughed at me. He reached back and dusted off the rear of his jeans.

  “I’ve been wearing the same shirt for days. Let’s head back to camp so I can change. And we should probably make sure that Lillith hasn’t killed Sean yet while we’re at it.”

  “Good idea,” I said.

  Dorian opened up a portal and we stepped through, landing at the campground. We were immediately met with shouting. Sam sat in one of the lawn chairs eating a granola bar for breakfast and watched the entertainment that was Lillith and Sean.

  “Hey guys,” Sam said, refusing to look away from the drama unfolding before him.

  “Hey there yourself. You enjoying the show?” Dorian asked, glancing over at Lillith and Sean. Their combined shouts grew continually louder.

  “Yep. They’ve pretty much been going at it since they got up.”

  “What are they fighting about?” I asked.

  “Lillith is trying to get him to leave.”

  “Leave? Why?” I stared over at the commotion.

  “Not sure. She keeps telling him that he’s just getting in the way, and after yesterday, it proves that he’s a liability.” Sam leaned forward and lowered his voice. “But to be honest, I think it’s just a ruse. Personally, I think she’s worried that something will happen to him and doesn’t want him to get hurt.”

  I chuckled quietly to myself and shook my head.

  Dorian grinned and headed toward his tent to grab a change of clothes, disappearing inside.

  I turned my direction toward Sam.

  “Quiet last night?” I asked.

  “Yep. Nothing happened. All was quiet.”

  “Good.”

  I stared off into the distance, past an arguing Lillith and Sean, and let out a long sigh.

  The day in which everything was about to change had come. Our seventy-two hours was nearly up. We had the Spear of Azazel, but we couldn’t let Raja know. If we gave him the sword, mankind would be destroyed. But if we continued to lie about its location, his people would hunt us all down. The lives of Sean and Sam were in our hands. And yet, I knew they’d both sacrifice themselves to save the world in a heartbeat.

  “Worried about Raja?”

  Sam snapped me out of my daze.

  “How did you know?” I asked.

  “It’s written all over your face.”

  “Yeah. I’m worried. I’d be an idiot if I wasn’t.”

  A topless Dorian crawled out of his tent with a fresh t-shirt in his hand. He stood upright and stretched his arms over his head, arching his back. He was near perfect, his abs and shoulders cut like a Greek god’s. My experience with guys was seriously lacking; actually, it was non-existent. Coming face-to-face with men was a rarity, let alone a half-naked one with a body like his.

  “Your tongue’s showing,” chuckled Sam.

  “Huh?”

  “Could you be any more obvious?”

  “What? It’s not my fault he’s built like that.” I forced myself to turn away but glanced back over just as Dorian slipped his clean shirt over his head. His arms slid into the sleeves, and he pulled the shirt down over his torso. It was so tight that it almost seemed pointless for him to be wearing it at all. It still showed every indent and every muscle in his chest, abs, and arms. I had a difficult time looking away.

  “You’ve got it bad,” Sam quipped.

  “Shut up,” I snapped.

  I watched Sam attempt to hold back a smile, grabbing his knives from the canvas bag where all the weapons were stored.

  “I’m going to go do some target practice.” And with that, he headed for a tree behind his tent and disappeared around the corner.

  Dorian busied himself by cleaning up the campsite, picking up trash, and clearing out the fire pit.

  “Fine!” I suddenly heard Lillith shout.

  “Fine!” Sean shouted back.

  Lillith stormed off, away from the campsite.

  Sean finally noticed me and trudged over.

  “She’ll be back,” he said.

  “What was all that about?” I asked.

  “She loves me. She just doesn’t know it, yet.”

  “Would you be serious for a sec? If that’s even possible.”

  “Fine. She told me I needed to leave. The fact that Raja was able to use me against you means I’m just a liability to the entire group.”

  “And what did you say?” I asked.

  “I told her to stick it.”

  I laughed hysterically and held out my arms to give him a hug. His face developed an uncomfortable grin, but he reciprocated, throwing his arms around my waist. We stood there awkwardly and swayed a bit, back and forth. Sean wasn’t a hugger, and honestly, neither was I.

  “I’m really glad you’re okay,” I whispered into his ear.

  Sean stepped back and smiled.

  “So, you do care. Who woulda thunk?”

  “Oh shut up. You’ve always known I’ve cared. You’re like the big, geeky, grotesquely sloppy, older-slash-younger brother that I never wanted.”

  Sean wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.

  “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

  I shoved him backward, and Sean began to laugh loudly.

  I could see Dorian smiling at our exchange from where he stood. He winked and grabbed a water from the cooler.

  My cheeks grew warm.

  “So, what’s the plan?” Sean asked.

  “The plan?”

  “Raja’s coming tonight. What’s the plan?”

  I shrugged and looked at Dorian who’d joined us, water bottle in hand. He took a big swig and wiped off his mouth with the back of his hand.

  “Dorian?” I wasn’t the warrior he was, and it was going to take the mind of a warrior to figure out how we were going to succeed.

  “I don’t know,” he said.

  “Well, that was incredibly insightful. Maybe I should track Lillith down and have her come up with a way not to get us all killed,” I replied.

  “Look,” Dorian began. “We can plan all we want, but Raja’s good at anticipating anything and everything. Planning isn’t going to work. All we can do is make sure we’re prepared for whatever he and his leather-clad henchmen throw at us.”

  “Well, we know Lillith can kick some ass,” I said, gesturing at Dorian. “Plus, you’re pretty handy in a fight. And I don’t necessarily suck with a sword. And we saw firsthand yesterday that Sam’s pretty decent with knives. So, the real question is how do we keep Sean alive?”

  “Huh.” Dorian rubbed the back of his neck and stared down at the ground. “That’s a good question.”

  Sean’s expression grew solemn, his stare darting between Dorian and me.

  “Let me ask you something,” Sean began. “Hybrids like you can die, right? They’re not indestructible like Skyy or like the angels? You get cut, you bleed.”

  “Uh, yeah. We’re strong. We’re fast. But, yeah. We can be killed just as easily as any mortal if wounded severely enough,” Dorian replied.

  Sean stood still for a few seconds, nodding his head, taking in what Dorian had just said. Then, without a word, he turned and made his way to the tent he shared with the guys and disappeared inside.

  Dorian and I glanced at each other, trying to figure out what had just happened.

  Sean emerged with something in his hand.

  As he drew closer, I recognized it immediately.

  “You brought Gladys?” I asked, my tone gradually rising an octave.

  “Who’s Gladys?” Dorian asked.

  “Gladys isn’t a who. She’s a what,” I replied.

  Sean held out the .50 caliber handgun that lay in his hand.

  “Dorian. Meet Gladys. Gladys, this is Dorian.”

  “Is he for real?” D
orian asked in a hushed tone as he leaned toward me.

  “He’s for real all right.” I turned my attention back to Sean. “So, allow me to reiterate. You brought Gladys?”

  “I figured we were possibly going into battle, and I couldn’t go into it empty-handed, right? How else is someone like me supposed to protect himself against ancient evil?”

  Dorian shoved his hands in his back pockets and leaned back. “Huh. He’s got a point.”

  “Did you bring bullets?” I asked.

  “Of course. I even brought extra clips. I mean, how big of a moron do you think I am?”

  I opened my mouth, but Sean pinched my lips shut with lighting speed.

  “Don’t answer that,” he said.

  “I guess the next question is are you any good with that thing? Or do you just use it to impress women with its size?” Dorian asked.

  I snorted up into my nose in an attempt to hold back the eruptive laugher trying to escape my lips. Instead, I gave Dorian a thumbs up and rocked on my heels.

  Sean glared at me before directing his attention back to Dorian.

  “I’ll have you know that I’m a former Marine. And yes, I’m very good with this thing,” he said with derision.

  “Wait. You? You were a Marine? You?” Dorian asked.

  I stepped forward.

  “Yeah. He was. And he’s actually pretty good with Gladys. He used to do target practice out at my place. Don’t let his mild-mannered baby face fool ya. He’s accurate. I think he could do some real damage,” I said convincingly.

  Dorian’s face was still frozen in shock.

  “You were a Marine?” he repeated.

  “I think we just covered that,” said Sean.

  “Sorry. It’s just that when I look at you, I don’t get the Marine vibe from you.”

  “Yeah, well, neither did the Marines. I’ve never been very good with authority. But I am pretty good with guns.”

  Dorian smirked and shook his head. “A Marine. Huh. Who would’ve thought?”

  “Would you put Gladys away please? You know she makes me nervous,” I said.

  “In a minute. But first, I have a question. Let’s say we win this thing. We win the battle and we come out on top, sending Raja and his minions running for the hills. Then what?” Sean looked at us and waited for an answer.

  I tossed Dorian a sideways glance and shrugged.

  “I mean, what’s to prevent Azazel from returning to the site to try and raise the Fallen later? There’s only one way this can end successfully. Azazel has to die. There’s no other way. But the only thing that can kill an angel is the spear. So, we’re back to square one, right?” Sean tucked Gladys into the back of his belt.

  I started to open my mouth to speak when Dorian interrupted.

  “No, don’t. He can’t know about the sword.” I shot Dorian a look, but his lips never moved. He was in my head.

  “Why not? I think he needs to know that we have a shot at winning this thing,” I replied in turn.

  “It’s safer this way. You have to trust me.”

  I opened my eyes wide and jerked my head a bit telling Dorian “fine” without uttering a word.

  “I’m sure we’ll figure something out, Sean,” I said aloud.

  “You better hope so,” he replied. “Or we’re all dead.”

  Chapter 16

  Everyone silently prepared for the battle ahead.

  Weapons were sharpened and cleaned. Sean loaded his clips with ammunition and cleaned his gun.

  Sitting cross-legged at the edge of the campsite, I meditated and allowed myself to feel an inner calm before the storm. I’d need a clear head to fight, and the fight was inevitable. It wasn’t something I could run away from like I had for most of my life. The fear that had been bubbling deep down inside me tried to come to the surface, but I couldn’t allow it to control my actions. I had to face what frightened me for the sake of every mortal soul on Earth and for Sean.

  The sun began to set, and we made our way to the Fallen’s burial site. Sam and Sean were armed and semi-capable of defending themselves against supernatural beings, but we still wanted them out of harm’s way. After conferring, Dorian and I decided it would be best to have Sam and Sean hide out of sight until it was absolutely necessary for them to get involved. So, they both hunkered down in the brush and waited with the rest of us for Raja and his warriors to arrive.

  Dorian, Lillith, and I stood with our backs to one another and kept our eyes peeled on the outer perimeter.

  No one spoke.

  No one made a noise.

  We all stayed vigilant, waiting for the battle to begin.

  An hour passed.

  Then two.

  It neared the midnight hour when I spotted a fiery light in the sky headed in our direction. I knew immediately that Raja was on his way, his wings glowing against the darkness of the sky.

  He landed on the ledge above us, sword in hand, prepared to fight. His face was fierce, but his lips were curved upward as if he was looking forward to the looming conflict.

  I watched a portal open up just a few yards away from Lillith. The void swirled as if a hole had been punctured in the Badlands itself. We waited, anticipating a deluge of Hybrids. One eventually emerged from the portal dressed in the usual leather get-up, and then one right after the other came until we were surrounded by seven Hybrids all dressed in black. Each held a sword at their side, prepared to defend their leader and their beliefs.

  But so were we.

  “It seems you are outnumbered,” Raja called out from above. “Where are your mortal friends? Too cowardly to take on my soldiers?”

  “We didn’t want any distractions,” I said defiantly. “They’ve already proven they’re nothing but a liability. So, you’re stuck with us.”

  “But I like our odds,” said Lillith, pointing her sabre at the Hybrid standing directly in front of her.

  “Well then. We all know why we’ve gathered here at this late hour. I’ve come for the spear,” said Raja as he spread out his fiery wings.

  He was an intimidating sight, and my heart began to beat a little faster. But I couldn’t allow him to see fear, so I took a long, deep breath and did my best to calm my nerves.

  “Where is it?” he demanded.

  “You know, we looked everywhere and just couldn’t find it,” I replied. “Actually, I’m lying. We didn’t look. And frankly, I’m a little offended that you’d think we’d stoop low enough to help you find a weapon that could destroy mankind. So instead, we decided to allow the spear to stay hidden and to tell you to go to Hell.”

  Raja showed amusement at my outburst, his expression lightening. He scratched the side of his face and laughed quietly, seemingly in deep thought.

  “You’re funny, Skyy. I wonder if your counterparts there truly share in your conviction.” Raja directed his gaze at the siblings who stood at my back. “This is your last chance to join our side. We raise the Fallen and take this place for our own. Exterminate the filth that has ravaged this world—destroyed it, actually—and live out a life of peace and dominance with your own kind. The mortals no longer deserve the life they were given here after taking this place for granted. So, the offer stands. Fight with us.”

  I turned my head toward Dorian and watched the muscles on the back of his neck twitch. He held the pieces of his Chakram in each hand, his fingers gripping the handles tightly in anticipation.

  “You know, Raja. I hear what you’re saying. But I think I speak for my sister when I say…not a chance. We know which side we fight for and why we fight. The mortals aren’t perfect and you are correct. They’ve taken this world for granted, slowly destroying it. But not all of them are a waste to the human race. And regardless of what they’ve done or what you and your kind think you deserve, it doesn’t justify the fact that genocide is wrong in any form. So, we’re going to decline your kind offer and defend this world. Besides, truth be told, I don’t really like you.” Dorian glanced over at his sister. “H
ow ’bout you?”

  “Nope. Can’t stand him,” Lillith replied calmly. “Skyy? You?”

  “I find him arrogant, conceited, and frankly he smells a bit like rotten eggs,” I said with sarcasm dripping from my voice.

  “Guess it’s unanimous then,” said Dorian, directing his attention back toward our fiery-winged opponent. “We hate your guts.”

  Raja dropped his head mockingly. “I’m sorry to hear that. I really am.” The fire from his wings licked the air, creating an eerie glow around him. Finally, he lifted his head and addressed his warriors. “Kill them.”

  It was seven against three. The odds weren’t in our favor, but we weren’t going down without a fight.

  Immediately, there were two Hybrids coming at me, swords raised for the kill. I sprang into action, leaping high into the air at the last possible moment, and unfurled my wings. My pursuers missed me completely, skidding to a stop where I’d once stood. They remained there for a second, assessing the situation, and then leapt up in an attempt to drag me back down.

  But I quickly tucked my wings back behind me, and with one swift movement, I swung my sword and dropped down to the earth below. The stunned Hybrids fell back to the ground without their heads.

  I joined Lillith to fight off the three attackers who’d come at her all at once. She was an experienced fighter, but three against one weren’t great odds, even for someone as skilled as she was.

  A Hybrid with long, straight blonde hair decided to face off with me. I could see a bit of fear when her eyes glanced over at the bodies I’d just decapitated. My feathers ruffled out in anticipation.

  My foe managed to gather her courage and lunged at me. I countered and blocked her trajectory, shoving her backward with the force of my sword. I pushed ahead and quickly put my enemy at the defensive. Her balance off kilter, she struggled to get her feet back under her. I was unrelenting as I swung my sword hard and fast. She continued to defend herself rigorously, blocking everything I could muster.

  Lillith’s fight was in my direct line of sight as she continued to fend off her opponents with the strength of ten men. She was incredible to watch. Confident and skilled, she wielded her sabre as if it were a mere extension of her arm. No matter how hard or fast the enemy before her advanced, she was just as quick to halt their blows and strike back twice as hard. They both came at her with swords raised. Lillith held up her sabre, resting the blade flat in her free hand. Both swords came down, aimed at her head and were stopped cold with a clang of steel, the sabre blocking their trajectories. She kicked forward with one leg, sending the warrior on her left flying backward. He landed hard on the ground and struggled to get up after having the air knocked out of him. That gave her enough time to use the force of her blade to shove her closest opponent back a bit, and with speed that only she could muster, she plunged her sabre into his chest as he tried to attack. His expression was filled with disbelief as he dropped to his knees.