I lunged to help Jr., and was stopped by Zataya and Valoel. “Caleb!” Jr. yelled.
My veins. I felt something surging through them and glowed. I felt stronger.
What’s this? What’s happening to me here?
My anger fueled me.
A surge shot through me and I swung, hitting the two sisters next to me and they flew back. I was quickly knocked to the ground by the others. I struggled to break free. They bound me with ties and taped my mouth. All I could hear were grunts and thuds as bodies flew everywhere as Jr. fought them all. Wham! Wham! Over and over I heard the hits of vicious sounds of pounding of flesh. Jr. noticed I was in trouble.
Max Jr., the mad man, thwarted and dodged blow after blow, countering with flying kicks and brutal punches to the head and faces of his attackers while trying to reach and help me.
Through the busted-out bedroom door, three of the other hurt and bloodied brothers from downstairs hobbled in, carrying bats, knives, and chains to aid the others. Jr. was somehow able to absorb many blows. I looked at Dain and noticed he was not fighting, for some reason.
Blood gushed everywhere as Jr. dismantled his attackers. Jr. clenched his hands and double-hammer down, pounding all in his sight as fatigue began to set in. The sound of crushing blows and bones breaking was disturbing to hear. Jr., the madman, wrecked them all.
Suddenly the room went quite.
Dain remained in a meditative trance. His tattoos began glowing and illuminating light-blue beams that lit up the dark room. Dain opened his eyes, which were now again solid white. Dain’s sisters began chanting in an unknown language.
All I could hear was Jr.’s heavy panting from the many hard-fought battles.
In a faint voice, Jr. said, “Caleb, dammit! I need your help. I know you feel it too. You can do it. They can’t stop you. Help…”
I saw Jr. fall to one knee, from his wounds and fatigue.
I kicked and turned and tried to break free. I couldn’t.
Three of the sisters picked up their wounded brothers and took them into the next room. Zitaya picked me up over her shoulder and followed. I watched Jr. on the way out. My Dad… It was if I relived it again. Sadness and anger were all I felt inside. They shut the door behind us.
Jr. was now in the room with Dain, alone.
No! He can’t fight anymore! He can’t even stand! I thought.
Dain is going to kill him!
There was a pause. Then I heard it. A shrieking roar and a loud thud. The sounds of vicious fighting echoed outside the door.
My heart sank.
The fighting in the other room stopped. Not a sound was heard as all eyes were fixed on the bedroom door. The doorknob turned a few times as the others look around with uncertainty.
The door opened. It was Dain.
Blood seeped in from the floor behind him. The room erupted in celebrations praising Dain.
Dain looked at me with a wicked grin. “Oh, Caleb. You broke my heart,” said Dain.
They blindfolded me. Whack! I was hit on the head and knocked out cold.
27
A sacrifice
Oh, my head, I thought. I can’t see!
Realizing I was still blindfolded, I was able to remove it. I stood up and I found myself in some kind of large graveled area.
A construction site?
“Well, hello, Caleb,” a familiar voice said, behind me. I slowly turned around and to my horror, on a platform, stood Dain, Joxel, and Zitaya, with Tiana and Taylor kneeling in front, bound and tied.
“No!” I screamed and charged at them. Then I stopped in my tracks. On the ground ahead were the two vicious dogs, Vex and Rue. On leashes, they lunged and pulled toward me, held back by Sorush. “No! Take me! Leave them out of this! Please!” I yelled.
“Oh no. After all I have done for you. So ungrateful. You betrayed me. You have chosen wrong just like your dead friend did. I saved your precious family for you. Remember? And now I’m taking them back!” replied Dain.
Out from behind Dain, and below and out of the darkness, emerged the entire Mirtaza family gang. All of Dain’s brothers and sisters stood before me.
Dain looked down with an evil. sarcastic smirk, with Tiana and Taylor bound on their knees in front of him. Tiana began to cry as she held her head low with closed eyes. My little girl looked at me, helplessly crying, unable to speak, as she struggled against her restraints.
I was completely helpless. I had never felt such anger as I ground my teeth and clenched my fists. I began to convulse, writhing in anger and agony.
I heard Vex and Rue, walk toward me, growling with saliva dripping from their sharp teeth. I shook my head in a daze as the dogs got closer. I looked at Tiana and Taylor, bound and frightened.
“Now a sacrifice,” Dain said.
“Oh my God! No!” I yelled.
As he spoke, Tiana and Taylor began to rise, strapped to a crane lift. They rose over the edge of the half-built building with long straps. “For your betrayal and defiance, a sacrifice I’m going to make. Since, I’m now the rightful owner of Tiana and Taylor, I’m offering only one of them as a sacrifice to my god, Lucio. Which one shall I choose?”
I ran toward them and screamed, “No! You fuck! I said take me! Don’t hurt them!”
I was stopped in my tracks by Vex and Rue. “Caleb, oh God!” Tiana cried out.
Dain laughed.
I replied, “No, I beg you, please!”
With an evil smirk, Dain waived his finger at me, while he shook his head. He looked up to where Tiana and Taylor dangled above, and reached behind his back and pulled out an axe. He threw it. It hit the strap holding Taylor, cutting it off.
“No!” I screamed, with an outstretched hand. All I could do was watch in horror as Taylor fell seventy feet, behind a big dump truck.
I yelled again, helplessly, at the top of my lungs. Tiana screamed, crying hysterically. Everything began spinning around me. I fell to my knees.
I became lightheaded and everything was a blur. I tasted blood from my mouth from grinding my teeth. I knelt, motionless, staring at the ground.
“Caleb! No!” I heard.
I looked up and there was Dain, still holding Tiana by her hair. “Caleb! Taylor? No! Ah!” Tiana screamed. “Help her, Caleb! Oh, God!” she said.
I looked at Tiana, who was bound, crying uncontrollably.
28
The awakening
How can any god allow such things to happen? Who was I kidding? There is no God. We were truly alone. I was not going to take it lying down another second.
I looked at Tiana one last time as she looked back and nodded. I could feel Tiana’s heart. I knew we had nothing left. It was up to me. I knew what I had to do. I would fight.
I got up and I looked at Dain. With all my anger and rage I charged. I was quickly knocked down by Vex and Rue. They foamed at their mouths as they barked and snapped their jaws in my face. Sorush called them back and they returned to their master.
“Careful, there, Caleb. I failed to mention my dogs love to play fetch with flesh,” said Dain, and chuckled.
From the half-built structure above where Dain stood, to the ground below, Dain’s brothers and sisters jumped, climbed, and swung down and headed for me. Straight ahead, out of the shadows, emerged Joxel and Zitaya.
All I could do was watch as they all headed for me. From the other direction came Kasbiel, Stadiel, Gibborim, and Rahmiel, along with all the others, as they got closer and closer.
I began backpedaling. Suddenly they all charged right at me.
“No!” Tiana screamed.
I backed up faster and backed into something behind me.
“What the fuck?” Dain’s brother, Kasbiel, said.
I looked up and noticed all of Dain’s brethren had stopped dead in their tracks. I turned around, and it was Max Jr., standing right behind me, bloodied with a look of rage in his eyes as he stared down all of Dain’s brethren.
“Caleb! Look…Taylor!” Tiana sc
reamed while pointing to the loader truck where little Taylor had fallen.
I looked and I couldn’t believe it. It was my little girl! Taylor was sitting peacefully on top of the truck as she reached her arms out to me.
“This bitch fuck still?” Dain said.
“You really think this weak piece of shit is going to save you, Caleb? He’s a pathetic joke!”
All I could see were thirteen or so psychopaths of the Mirtaza family gang in front of us. I was so scared for Tiana and Taylor; they’re going to kill them! I don’t care about me; I just couldn’t take losing my wife or daughter again.
I looked at Max Jr., confused. He shook his head and said, “C’mon now already Caleb, don’t look at me. You’re the most powerful one here. I told you, you’re one true badass. And, damn it, where were you at back there, huh? I think my arm is broke. Damn, I hate this prick Dain so bad.”
Jr. added, “Caleb! Listen for the last time. Just shut your mind up and listen to what’s filled inside of you. You can do this. You still have yet to complete your mission here and we have your family to save. Now stop the bullshit and fucking help me!”
“Damn, this is frustrating as hell. I’m going to need a drink after this before we head back home. This shit here sucks,” added Jr.
I have no damn powers! What the fuck? I thought. I could not handle anymore. Tiana and Taylor need help! I needed something more. I need help!
I eased my mind and I listened to Jr.
For the first time, I released it all and I fully listened within.
“Mate ele!” Dain yelled, which I knew meant “Kill him!” in Portuguese.
I looked at Dain’s family and they walked toward me and Max Jr.
From the depths of my heart and spirit, I uttered, “If you can hear me…I don’t care about me. All I ask is to please save my little girl, and my wife. I’m so sorry. I feel what you have put inside me. I hear you. Please… I need you,” I prayed.
A jolt surged through my body, jerking me back. I opened my eyes and fell to the ground in shock. I was in awe of what I was now looking at.
All that was before me a bit ago changed. It was as if I was in an entirely different place. Everything around me illuminated with bright white and yellow light. All of Dain’s henchmen, even Vex and Rue, were bigger, and they glowed darkly.
They had eyes that beamed with red rays of light. They wore battle armor that was dark and sinister. They had large blue wings while others had white wings, with all having a trim of fire. Joxel’s wings were blue with a trim of white fire. What is all this? What’s happening? I wondered
Dain’s now transformed mighty brethren were a lot bigger, in dark, enchanted, black battle armor. They displayed mighty weaponry, firing it into the air as they displayed great powers. Dain’s brethren had shields of fire-breathing dragon heads. The dragon heads were actually alive on their shields!
Dain’s dark brethren had slingshots that fired black scorpions of fire. Some of the dark brethren had enchanted staves of live serpents that fired smaller black, live fire serpents from their mouths. Some brethren were casting black fire orbs. Others had surging lightning shields around them and fired bolts of lightening.
I was paralyzed at the sight as they wielded their enchanted weapons. I realized I could see everything in the far distance as if it were close. I looked over and saw little Taylor also looked different. Her body had a greyish blur about her, and yet I could still see her face plain as day as she continued to cry.
“Remember, Caleb, nothing beats a smile,” a familiar sarcastic voice said from above.
I looked up and my jaw dropped. There stood the transformed Dain, with an evil smirk, looking down at me. Dain’s dark armor was epic, compared to the others. His eyes beamed red flames and his striking armor was of black fire. His wings were red and transparent, with a black fiery trim that lined his wings as he held a sword of black flames.
I looked at Tiana and noticed she was trying to tell me something. I couldn’t make it out. Dain grasped the chains that bound Tiana, along with her long hair, and jerked the chains hard. Dain pointed down at me as his brothers advanced towards us, and sent others to little Taylor. “No!” I screamed with outstretched hands. I dropped to my knees and felt completely helpless.
“Don’t be afraid. We got you, Caleb, my brother,” a calm voice said behind me.
We? I repeated to myself and looked up.
Dain’s brothers were all standing there with looks of horror on their faces. I turned around slowly and I was baffled. It was, the now calm Maximino Jr. I heard. Jr. also looked completely different. He was glowing with pure radiance, and much larger, with beaming eyes of blue fire. His majestic armor was enchanted, with red and white flames. It was so stunning and brilliant; I could barely look.
His breathtaking red wings were also transparent, with black fiery trim. Standing behind Max Jr. stood six of his brothers and his sister: Michael, Kyra, Arron, Camden, Logan, and Jaden, who were all in glowing white and gold battle-hardened armor with eyes of beaming blue rays and radiant, blue wings with a trim of fire. Michael’s blue wings had a trim of white fire.
They really are angels! I thought in excitement.
Max Jr.’s light angelic brethren had shields of roaring lion heads that were also alive, with eyes of beaming white light. And, just like their enemy counterparts, Max Jr. and his angelic siblings possessed great powers and weaponry.
Michael wielded a mighty sword of blue flame. I saw him teleport around us to different positions and ready for battle. Arron had an axe of black and blue fire. He conjured up water from a nearby water tank. He manipulated the water into small elemental warriors. Logan had a slingshot of white fire who displayed the ability to call upon the winds around us.
Camden had an electric cloud bow that fired electric cloud arrows, who could manipulate electricity from the nearby power lines. Kyra wielded a blue flaming boomerang that multiplied when thrown and reunited as one upon its return. She leapt into the air and morphed into a blue transparent battle eagle.
Jaden smashed the ground with both fists and shook it. He had the strength of a machine. He wielded an enchanted, white, flaming double-sided war hammer. They all glared and swayed back and forth and were ready for battle.
My legs became weak at the sight of them all. Like Jr.’s other brethren, they were all decked out in gleaming white and gold enchanted plating with glowing blue and other’s white, wings trimmed with fire. They all stood in fighting stances, swaying back and forth with fierce, glowing weapons.
A tense standoff ensued.
“Morte ao traidor!” Dain yelled from on top of the construction building. Somehow, I knew it meant “Death to the traitor.”
“Morte ao traidor!” the others chanted.
They have all spoken in Portuguese the whole time. How the hell do I even know that? I thought, confused.
“No, Dain. It is you that is the traitor. You betrayed us,” Max Jr. replied, while he pounded his chest. “Trazem!” Max Jr. yelled, which I again knew meant, “Bring it!”
Dain betrayed? I wondered.
Max Jr. reached behind his back, grasping his two mighty swords. The second he grasped them, the swords ignited into bursting red swords of flame, with black flaming centers. There I stood in the midst of these giant angelic warriors. I was so terrified, I pissed myself.
I heard mighty roars overhead. I looked up to see Max Jr.’s brothers, Michael and Camden, charge over my head as Arron led the others. Dain’s dark brethren roared as they dashed ahead, engaging them in battle. Beams of intense light and fire soared back and forth. Grunts of pain echoed loudly through the vicious clashes of the mighty weapons.
Standing in the midst of it all, in a battle stance, was Maximino Jr., who never left my side. “I’m ready when you are Caleb. Let me know when you’re ready to attack,” Jr. said. I looked at Jr., confused. I tried to comprehend what was happening around me.
High above, on the half-built structure, stood
Dain, watching as the battle unfolded before him as he grasped Tiana’s hair. Suddenly all the other angelics leapt up with great velocity, fiercely battling each other in midair. I was scared as hell.
The chaos and brutality overhead, was overwhelming. There was hacking and slashing of brute weaponry. Red blood splattered everywhere, from the golden angelic warriors, with each crushing blow. Black blood gushed from the dark angelics.
How can they withstand such devastating blows? I wondered.
Jr.’s family of light angelics were outnumbered, yet, they continued to fight relentlessly.
I turned to run but I couldn’t move. My feet were literally stuck to the ground. “Ah!” I yelled. “What’s going on here? Jr. help me!”
“My brother, we don’t run. We can’t. We fight,” said Jr.
His words pierced me and began to trigger something. I felt something stir inside.
I heard sounds of bone breaking and grunts of pain. Dain’s dark brethren gained the upper hand. I felt antsy. There was a struggle with me and my breathing intensified.
It was disturbing to witness such chaos and brutality. Until it wasn’t.
It hit me. I felt what Jr. had said. A flash back from my high school fighting days reminded me, I don’t run. This all looked familiar. This carnage did not bother me. It fueled me. I loved it. My hands began to feel heavy and hot.
Michael, the elder of light angelics, surged with fierce rage, swiftly taking out three of the dark angelics. Camden and Logan vigorously fought the others as the light angelics gained control. Kyra swooped down from above and fired her talons, striking the enemy below. From above, Kyra guarded Arron who commanded his vicious water elemental’s as they attacked.
Jaden dove into the ground like a drill and emerged up through the ground, plowing through the stumbling wounded enemy below, catching them off guard. I looked at the bloody massacre before me, and I realized the light angelics were winning.
Out of nowhere, Dain dashed through the air, plowing through Logan and Jaden, knocking them out. Dain dismantled the other light angelics, quickly regaining control of the battle.
Embaixador Page 12