by Unknown
The gang turned as one to look daggers at him.
‘Dante’s not here,’ said Alex, scrambling to his feet.
‘You know that for sure?’ asked Cherry.
‘Of course I do. He’ll be at home watching the telly or something.’
Alex didn’t sound very convincing, even to himself.
At last the gang were back on their feet and edging forward until they came to the end of the stairs and into a short corridor that ended in a rusty iron door.
‘Through there. I didn’t go very far last time, but it’s through that door.’
The fear in Inchy’s voice was more than a little obvious.
Before they moved any further, Alex turned to face his friends.
‘We have to agree something before we go on.’
‘What’s that?’ asked Spit. ‘Not to smack you in the face when this all goes horribly wrong?’
Cherry punched Spit in the leg.
‘Ow!’
‘We have to agree that, no matter what happens, we’re all in this together, OK?’ Alex looked at the team.
Almost everyone nodded.
‘We may fall out now and again, but we’re friends, and the only way we can get through this – the only way we can beat Dante – is by sticking together.’
‘Nice speech,’ said Spit. ‘Now can we get this over with?’
As they edged forward, the air became heavy. Beyond the iron door, a warren of rooms was lit by a strange red glow that seemed to be coming from somewhere off in the distance. Several of the rooms had strange scratch marks on the walls, similar to the ones in Dante’s secret room upstairs. Alex led the gang on, always trying to head towards the red light, but it never seemed to get any closer.
‘Maybe we should turn back before we get lost?’ suggested Cherry.
‘We can’t,’ said Alex. ‘We haven’t found anything yet.’
‘Got any string?’ asked House. ‘We could tie one end here and then unwind it as we go, so that we know which way to come back.’
‘You know,’ said Spit, patting his pockets, ‘this is the first day I’ve ever come out without at least one ball of string. What are the odds, eh?’
Alex let out a muffled curse. ‘And I forgot the Lucky Dip.’
‘How can it get this hot?’ muttered Cherry, wiping sweat from her eyes.
‘We’re underground,’ said Inchy, ‘so the earth around us is acting like insulation. The heat’s got nowhere to escape to, so it just keeps getting hotter and hotter.’
‘Are you really clever, or are you just good at making stuff up?’ asked Spit.
‘But why?’ asked Cherry, ignoring Spit. ‘I mean, this is just a cellar. What’s the point of keeping it hot?’
With a clatter, House pitched forward against a door and crashed through it into the next room.
‘Sorry,’ said House from the floor. ‘Tripped over.’
‘But there was nothing to trip over,’ replied Inchy.
‘You’re forgetting his own feet,’ said Spit.
The gang edged over towards where House had disappeared.
‘It’s cooler in here. There’s a draught,’ said Cherry.
‘Let’s just stick to the plan and follow the red light,’ suggested Alex. ‘I’ve got a feeling that’s where we’ll find out what’s going on down here.’
The gang crept on. After what felt like an age, the red light seemed to be getting close. Finally, the maze of rooms opened out into a larger cellar. The light was stronger still – it seemed to lick up and down the walls.
‘Well, if you’re from Hell,’ observed Inchy, ‘I guess this is a home from home.’
‘It’s even hotter in here,’ panted Cherry, trying to catch her breath. ‘I’m not sure how long I can stand it. What on Earth is making it so warm?’
‘That is,’ said House.
An enormous beast sat glaring at them from the far end of the cavern. Its face was a mass of glowing eyes. Explosive tongues of flame shot out from a growling mouth of black teeth. And from its body stretched numerous spider‐like legs, reaching round the walls.
‘We’re dead,’ said Spit, backing away.
The flames licked forward across the floor of the cavern, seeming to taste their way towards the gang.
‘Let’s get out of here,’ Cherry whimpered, her eyes wide.
‘I’m with you on that,’ said Alex. ‘Being eaten by a Fire Demon wasn’t part of my plan.’
Slowly, the gang started to back away.
All except Inchy.
‘What are you doing?’ hissed Alex. ‘Move!’
But Inchy didn’t move.
‘Come on!’ cried Cherry, panic edging into her voice.
Inchy turned to the gang.
‘It’s not a demon,’ he shouted. ‘Look at it!’
The gang all stared at the hideous thing.
‘It’s a furnace,’ said Inchy, his voice quieter. ‘That’s all it is; an old‐fashioned furnace.’
And sure enough, now they looked closer, the angels could see that the bulky beast wasn’t alive at all. It was made of metal. Sooty rusty metal. Its ‘legs’ were just a collection of pipes that ran off in all directions. The black teeth that had seemed so terrifying were just the bars of a grate. It was the flickering red glare of the cellar that had made it seem alive.
‘It doesn’t make much sense, though.’
‘What doesn’t?’
‘Well, look at it,’ said Inchy. ‘That’s a coal furnace. It’s ancient! It must have been here since the school was first built. But the heating must be run on oil or electricity now.’
Alex shrugged, looking around the cellar.
‘But what’s really weird is the fact that it’s going full blast in the middle of the night. For it to be this hot, someone should be down here stuffing coal into it non‐stop. But there’s no one here. No one!’
‘What are you saying?’ asked Cherry.
‘I’m not saying anything,’ Alex replied. ‘All I know is that a furnace can’t keep going all by itself.’
‘Something else is weird too,’ chipped in House. ‘That strange green blob on top of it.’
Everyone gazed at where House was pointing.
‘It looks like a rugby ball,’ said Cherry.
‘And you’ve seen a lot of rugby balls that glow green, have you?’
Inchy edged forward, his eyes fixed on the strange object.
‘Be careful,’ shouted Alex. ‘That furnace looks like it might explode at any moment.’
But Inchy wasn’t listening. He was getting close to the furnace. Too close – he could smell something burning now. But he could almost see what the strange object was…
‘Inchy! Come back!’ called Cherry. ‘What is he doing?’
The tiny angel had edged almost right up to the roaring furnace, peering towards the glowing green ball. Suddenly, without warning, he leapt upright as if he’d been stung and hared back to the others.
‘It’s not a rugby ball,’ he puffed, skidding to a halt, his face red with the heat and his hair and clothes smouldering slightly. ‘And I’d like to suggest we run away right now and as far as possible.’
‘Why?’ asked Alex. ‘What’s up? What’s wrong? What is it?’
‘It’s a demon egg.’
12
Cat and Mouse
‘Whoa!’ Alex whistled. ‘A demon egg. Looks like Dante’s going to be a daddy!’
‘Can you stop cracking jokes for ten seconds,’ snarled Spit, ‘and listen to Inchy – let’s get as far away from it as possible!’
‘What, and just leave it here and pretend we never saw it? We can’t walk around school knowing there’s a demon egg under our feet and not do anything about it!’
‘I can,’ said Spit.
‘Me too,’ agreed Inchy.
Alex turned.
‘Spit’s got a point,’ shrugged Cherry. ‘This has got too big for us. We have to get help. Let’s tell Gabriel.’
Alex c
ouldn’t believe what he was hearing.
‘Are you serious?’ he snapped. ‘This just makes it even more likely that he’d hog all the glory for himself. Remember the plan? We’re going to sort this out ourselves and go back to Heaven as heroes. Besides, why should Gabriel believe anything we say? We’re down here on Earth because he thinks we’re troublemakers. If we turn up with some story about a Level Four Demon and a big green egg, do you really think he’ll believe us? Well, do you?’
Alex could feel anger rising in him. It was a feeling he didn’t like. There was something about it, a mixture of excitement and adrenaline, but also a sense that he was losing control. And angels weren’t supposed to lose control. They’d definitely been on Earth for far too long. It was time to go.
For a few seconds the gang faced each other in utter silence. The air hummed and throbbed as the furnace continued to pump out heat into its rattling tentacle‐like pipes. The shadows around them seemed to grow thicker, pressing in on them, almost as if they were trying to listen.
House cracked his knuckles.
‘Let’s smash it.’
Everyone turned.
‘I mean it. Let’s smash it. That way, whatever Dante is planning is ruined, we’ve won, and Gabriel will have to let us back into Heaven. Simple.’
He took a step towards the furnace and the egg.
‘Just so you know, House,’ interrupted Inchy, ‘before you try to smash it: demon eggs aren’t like normal eggs. You can’t break them and dip bits of toast in. Not only are the shells really hard, they’re filled with acid strong enough to melt through absolutely anything.’
‘So not a good idea, then?’
Inchy shook his head.
‘We could steal it,’ suggested Alex, ‘and take it to Tabbris. He’ll contact Gabriel and before we know it, we’ll be back at Cloud Nine and up to our old tricks!’
‘And when Dante turns up in a few hours to check on his precious egg,’ said Spit, ‘what do you think will happen then?’
‘Dante wouldn’t stand a chance. Tabbris was in Special Operations – he’s got the Order of Raphael, for Heaven’s sake. He’d wipe the floor with him.’
‘Why are you always so confident?’ asked Cherry. ‘Tabbris is old – he’s retired, isn’t he? He can’t be as tough as he used to be. We got past him tonight, didn’t we? And anyway, who’s to say that Dante hasn’t got the egg rigged with some kind of alarm system?’
‘An egg alarm?’ exclaimed Alex. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Let’s just leave it where it is.’
The gang stared at Spit.
‘Well, it’s not like anyone’s come up with a decent alternative, is it? I say leave it. It’s the safest plan.’
Alex felt his blood rising. Bubbling up inside him like milk boiling over in a microwave. He wanted to grab Spit and –
‘Ssssh!’
Cherry hissed out the warning.
‘I heard something.’
The gang fell quiet. For a long moment, silence reigned. Then they all heard it – the terrifying sound of firm, measured footsteps, each one louder and closer than the last.
‘There’s someone down here,’ moaned House.
‘We’re trapped,’ said Cherry. ‘We can’t go back the way we came. What if we bump into whoever’s coming?’
‘Stay calm. This place is like a labyrinth. We’ll have to leave the egg and find another way out,’ Alex muttered through clenched teeth. ‘Come on!’
Ducking through a low doorway, they left the big cellar, the red light of the furnace fading behind them. Soon the gang were tiptoeing through what seemed like pitch blackness, hands stretched out in the dark.
‘That’s me,’ hissed Inchy.
‘No, it’s me,’ squealed Cherry indignantly. ‘Sorry,’ muttered House.
‘Do that again and you will be,’ said Spit.
‘Quiet!’ shushed Alex. ‘The footsteps are getting close!’
Silence fell over them like a thick blanket. The angels hardly dared to breathe. There was no sound anywhere. Except for the footsteps. Coming closer, closer. Until they were right outside the room the gang were hiding in.
And then they stopped.
It was all Alex could do to stop himself screaming. He could hear the sound of ragged breathing now. It sounded so close, almost close enough to –
Warm air brushed through his hair.
‘Someone’s here,’ oozed a voice they all recognized. It was Dante. ‘Yes, I know you’re down here. What are you doing, I wonder? And where are you, hmm?’
Alex froze as a darker shadow appeared in the doorway, its slick blackness edging towards him. He could barely breathe. He wanted to run, but he couldn’t move.
The voice came again.
‘Is that you, Cloud?’
Alex’s heart stopped.
‘Are you the one who’s stolen my book? Are you down here now? Oh, that would be delicious…’
For a moment, the shadow paused in the doorway and every one of the angels held their breath. Then, unbearably slowly, it turned away. The sound of footsteps echoed out again, slowly fading away as Mr Dante headed towards the furnace room.
For a few moments the gang stood like statues, unmoving.
Then Big House leaned over to Alex.
‘Dante knows you’re here.’
‘Not yet he doesn’t,’ Alex whispered back. ‘He’s just guessing. He didn’t see any of us.’
‘But he knows somebody’s here,’ breathed Spit.
‘We’ve got to get out,’ said Cherry. ‘Now.’
‘But how?’
‘Wait a minute,’ said House, raising his hand. ‘Can you feel the draught? We’re back in that room I found earlier!’
‘You didn’t find it,’ said Spit. ‘You fell into it.’
‘Same difference. There’s still a draught – and a draught has to come from somewhere, right? It might be a way out.’
‘OK,’ replied Alex decisively. ‘House, you lead. Follow that draught.’
The gang filed off, trying to muffle the sound of their footsteps. It was a terrifying journey through room after room. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, strange shapes seemed to loom out of the shadows to block their way – only to be revealed as stacks of old chairs, or piles of rubbish. Finally, after what seemed like an age, a faint glimmer appeared in front of them. Moonlight!
‘Almost there,’ whispered Alex. ‘House, whatever you do, don’t –’
House walked straight into a pile of cardboard boxes. With a thunderous crash of breaking glass, old test tubes and beakers went flying in all directions.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, from somewhere behind them came the sound of footsteps again. But this time they were running.
‘Move!’
The gang bolted.
‘Don’t push!’ yelled Inchy, as Spit jostled against him.
‘Well, shift it!’
Behind him, Alex could almost feel the suffocating darkness closing in. But ahead of them, the gang could finally see the source of the draught – a window set high in the wall. Moonlight spilled in through the broken glass like milk.
House pointed.
‘Look – I was right. There is a way out!’
Before Inchy had a chance to reply, House leapt into the air and grabbed the ledge, swinging the window open and squeezing through. It would be a tight fit, but he reckoned he could… he could…
‘Why have you stopped?’ squeaked Inchy.
‘It’s the window,’ said House. ‘It’s too small.’
‘But this is the only way out! You brought us here, and now either we get out or something terrible happens.’
As if in reply, a hoarse, rasping laugh echoed through the cellar.
‘I am coming for you!’
Puffing, Alex reached the window only to find Inchy, Spit and Cherry milling around underneath it.
‘What’s going on?’
‘House is stuck.’
‘Stuck?
!’
‘Yep,’ repeated Inchy. ‘Any last requests?’
Dante’s pursuing footsteps were closer now. Any moment, he would catch sight of them, and that would be the end.
‘House, mate,’ said Alex. ‘Listen to me. We’ve got to get through this window.’
‘I know,’ came the muffled reply. ‘But I’m really, really stuck.’
Alex glanced over his shoulder again, and his heart skipped a beat.
In the distance, a shadow, huge and oily, was moving through the darkness towards them. And in the centre of that shadow, glowing like Hell’s own fire, were two burning eyes.
Alex cracked.
‘House, you big idiot! Get your enormous bulk out of the way or we’re all dead, get it?’
‘I’m trying! I can’t move!’
‘You’re just giving up!’ yelled Alex. ‘What are you, a loser? Someone who just sacks it when the going gets tough? Some Guardian Angel you’ll be!’
‘What did you say?’
Alex took a deep lungful of breath.
‘I said there’s no way the Guardian Angels will ever take you on. You’re just a clumsy, useless wimp!’
It was the longest silence of Alex’s life. Then, slowly, House’s enormous muscles began to twitch, straining harder than ever before. Suddenly, with a sound of splintering wood, the window frame exploded and House pitched forward and out into the cool night air.
‘Go!’ screamed Alex.
The gang didn’t need telling twice. Scrambling up the wall, they threw themselves through the window. Picking themselves up off the gravelly playground, all five angels sprinted away, faster than they’d ever run, and they didn’t stop until they were back home.
‘I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,’ said Cherry, wiping sweat from her eyes.
‘You laugh, I’ll cry,’ said Inchy, slumping down on to the front doorstep.
‘Are you sure he didn’t follow us?’ asked Spit, with a nervous glance over his shoulder.
‘Don’t think so,’ puffed Cherry. ‘He’d never’ve fitted through that window.’
Alex cautiously approached House.
‘I’m sorry for what I said back there.’
House stared back, his face impassive. Alex was suddenly acutely aware of just how much bigger than him House was.
‘Erm, I didn’t mean it, House, really… It was just… Well…’ Alex’s voice faded away.