Their laughter turned to silence. Michael’s arm “whooshed” as he hurled a fireball into the back wall. It crashed with a clamor, yet the spreading fire was contained. The outpour of flames singed forth a vision for all of them to see.
No jukebox, no tables, no door to the bathroom; everything disappeared but that one sight. A large stone building smoldered in the background. Before it, mound upon mound of burning bodies. Moans and cries seeped through the vision.
Reggie looked at Michael, who stared intently at the wall, stone-faced. She stepped forward. “This is what is happening. Why isn’t it happening here? I’ll tell you. We’re on chosen ground. We’re protected. But we won’t be protected if we don’t fight. What you see.” Reggie pointed to the vision. “This is small-time. The bodies that perish in the flames are the true believers. And those who remain with Devante… well, they sold their soul to the deceiver. But he didn’t get you or me, did he? And we can bring him down. Help us.” The vision disappeared.
Michael nodded, folding his arms with a grunt.
Astounded, Buzz stumbled and pointed at Michael. “That is a scary dude.”
“No.” Reggie shook her head with a smile. “He’s genuine, and the epitome of good. He’s here to help. But like I said, Buzz, we need you. All of you. What do you say?”
Buzz stared at the stunned faces. He picked up a bottle of whiskey. “I think, Reggie, we need to sit down, have a drink, and talk.”
Reggie let her shoulders drop, and sighed in relief. She took a step toward Buzz, snatched up the bottle and joined him at the table.
St. Louis, Missouri
In the darkness of the night, before the flames, he stood like a lone, tall tree in a field of wildflowers. Only, the wildflowers were wilted. Twelve small children stood around Devante. With his miniature companions, he peered at the burning mounds of bodies, the smoldering prison, the moans and cries of tormented souls fading with each crackling pop.
Devante watched with a cold stare, while each child held the same expression: wide-eyed, silent and soulless.
It caught Devante’s attention, but not the children’s. A figure walked from the flames. Devante rolled his eyes as the man approached.
“If it isn’t the man they call James,” Devante said. “Collecting refuse?”
“Nope. Collecting what’s ours. Thank you for forfeiting them. They are a loss to you.”
“A small sacrifice for what I’ll have in the end.”
James looked back to the flames. “Like what’s left of the prison, you’ll have nothing.”
“Ha.” Devante folded his arms tighter.
“And what have you done to these children?” James rested his hand on a child’s head. The child snarled and snapped like an animal. James looked at Devante. “Wasting time on the minds of children.”
“Practicing.”
“They weaken you.”
“Doubtful.”
“Eliza shunned you,” he taunted. “You tired to taint her mind, to hate her son. It failed.”
“It worked. I just released her,” Devante said with certainty.
“Right.” He scoffed. “You know nothing. That’s why you stand here like this. You’re trying to find out, aren’t you?”
Devante glared. “I will know soon enough.”
“With what?” He laughed. “Lillian? Oh, good pick.” James gave a thumbs-up.
“You think your taunts affect my mind. They do not. I may not be able to read the angel’s thoughts. Nor do I dare to read Regina’s, but I can read the thoughts of all those around them. I will know all. And your warrior will fail because of it.”
James laughed loudly. “You think he’s that stupid? Come now, you of all people know he’s not. He knows you’ll slip into thoughts and find out what he’s doing. You may know the plan, but you will never know the force until it strikes you time and time again, weakening you for the final battle.”
“Enough!”
“I’m leaving.” James chuckled. “I’ve done my job. You’ve told me what I need to know. Thanks. Keep in mind, though, you may read their thoughts. You may even see through their eyes. But the soldiers, once they join... you will never control them.”
“I can shake them.” Devante sneered as the man walked away. “Through the weak. I can always control the weak.”
James tossed his hands in the air. “If you wanna cheat to get it, go on. Me, personally, I’d rather not. Winning is better that way.”
“The win is good no matter how one acquires it.”
“So you think.” James walked backwards. “Let me leave you with this: the soldiers gather. The armies will grow. The battles begin and the Great War nears. When that happens, you... will fall forever.”
Devante rolled his eyes in annoyance as the man called James disappeared into the fire. He huffed a short breath and looked down to the children. “See the arrogance I have spared you from?” Shaking his head, he returned to watching the destruction.
Seville, Ohio
It was the first dreamless night’s sleep Marcus had enjoyed in a long time. Until Michael shook him, that is, and said, “Reggie does not move. Hurry, I fear for her.”
Marcus sprang from the bed and flew to Reggie’s room. When he entered, Reggie was lying face-down on the bed.
“See?” Michael asked. “She breathes heavy. And watch.” Michael shook her. “Reggie. Reggie.”
Reggie groaned.
“Marcus, what ails her?”
Marcus needed only to crouch before her. “Michael, she’s drunk.”
“What does that mean?”
“That means she drank too much tonight.” Marcus stood straight.
“But no, I was there. She only shared a bottle of brown water with Chester.”
“The brown water makes a person’s head fuzzy,” Marcus explained. “And who is Chester?”
“You call him Buzz.”
“Ah, yes, Buzz.” Marcus sat on the bed. “What happened? How did it go tonight? Are they going to join us?”
“Yes. They will be here at sunrise,” Michael said. “We will build a wall of protection in the morning before we start to train.”
“You’re going to build a wall in the morning?” Marcus asked. “Must be a small wall.”
“No, it will be mighty and will encompass the training area. We will…” Michael smiled. “We will have some unseen help.”
“So I guess this means things will start to happen.”
Michael breathed out. “With more haste than we can anticipate.” He spoke heavily. “You see, when the soldiers arrive, everything will change. Devante will worry, and he may become desperate.”
Marcus chuckled. “You make that sound like a bad thing.”
“It is. For I fear what his desperation might bring.”
SANITY…
Something is different.
The feel. The mood. The moon. Everything. I didn’t notice any of it until I returned to my bedroom after checking on Reggie. Suddenly, I wasn’t quite tired anymore, and I grabbed something to read. No big deal. Seth had pulled a “Reggie” and tossed himself out of his covers. I tucked him in, and just as I went to kiss him good night, I caught a glimpse of the moon.
It was strangely dull. No other way to describe it. A red hue, not atmospheric, had formed a thin red line around it. It looked as if the moon was bleeding.
Walking to the window was a revelation. I felt an internal warning system going off. A bone-chill raced from the base of my spine to the top of my head and I knew. I just knew.
Things were happening behind the scenes, and it wasn’t our side making changes. Then came the confirmation, in two parts.
First, Michael was restless. It wasn’t about Reggie. That wouldn’t cause him to pace. Not that he ever sleeps, anyway, but he was never quite this mobile. Typically, if he had the need to relieve his boredom while Reggie slumbered, he’d come into mine and Seth’s bedroom. Without realizing it was a disturbance, he’d sit on the floor, and turn on
the video games. This newfound mind-training exercise intrigued him.
But not this night. He walked around heavily until I heard him on the roof with Kyle. They talked. Michael’s words were whispered, inaudible, but Kyle’s responses were not.
“Are you sure?” Kyle asked. “Son of a bitch. What does it mean? What can we do? This doesn’t sound good. What do you mean ‘summoned’?”
That’s all. Admittedly, I was playing a guessing game. For all I knew, they could have been talking about Reggie’s drunkenness, but that was unlikely. Kyle would have just laughed.
The feel of their rooftop conversation fit into the feel of the night. Then came the second confirmation. Michael knocked once on the bedroom door, poked his head in and said, “Marcus I have to go. Watch Reggie.”
He left before I could question him. But his mysterious and abrupt departure left behind a wave of energy that reeked with concern.
Left alone with my thoughts and worries, I went back to looking out the window. I knew within a few short hours the first leg of our army would arrive, and the sun would rise. I felt strongly it not only would mark a new day, but a new chapter in this war of damnation.
CHAPTER FIVE
Seville, Ohio
Kyle did his morning broadcast and followed it up with some old-school country music. He figured it would add a little upbeat noise as Buzz and his gang built the wall of protection around his property. He was amazed how quickly and easily it went up. It should have reinforced Kyle’s faith in Michael. But he was beginning to doubt him a bit because he had yet to return from the night before.
The rooftop talk was vague. Michael mentioned Devante pulling out all stops, which was hardly news to Kyle. But Michael said this would be different; the world was about to change, and the Earth would be transformed until the final battle was won or lost.
Kyle finished his broadcast at half past six, allowing the music to continue for a little longer. Coffee in hand, he left his broadcast room in search of Reggie. He thought for sure she’d be up and in a tizzy over Michael’s disappearance. But Reggie hadn’t noticed, because Reggie was still asleep. Buzz and the others had arrived hours earlier, and their only greeter was Marcus. The mighty warriors had gathered the army but somehow forgotten they were showing up.
Kyle took care of that. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to awaken Reggie with the news that Michael had flown the coop. Nonetheless, it sent Reggie scurrying in a search. Kyle kept a good “no need to worry” exterior, when the truth was, he did worry. Where was their angel?
<><><><>
Marcus’ old Aunt Rose was supposed to be helping Eliza with the canning. Instead she did what she liked to do best in her long years, sit at the kitchen table and spin yarns, each one better than the last.
Seth was the recipient of her morning tales, and enjoyed them immensely. She was teaching Seth about black history, the same way she used to do with Marcus. Only when Aunt Rose told of black history, whether it was 1780 or present-day, she was there. When Kyle entered the kitchen, she was talking about the time she met President Lincoln.
He poured another cup of coffee, a newspaper tucked under his arm. The look on Eliza’s face all but asked, “Did he find out anything?” Kyle, wagering on his ability to read minds, shook his head and walked to the table.
“Now, see, I thought you were there when good ol’ Abe got shot,” said Kyle, sitting at the table.
“Was,” Aunt Rose answered. “But I ain’t there yet. I’m still on our love affair. What’s that you’re reading, Kyle?”
“Check this out.” Kyle held up the paper. “About eight months old. I bought a few copies because Marcus was mentioned on page three. Cut the article out of another copy, but never read the paper. I am today.” He opened a page. “Holy shit! The Pittsburgh Pirates were sold to Salt Lake City.”
“What about Salt Lake?” Marcus asked as he walked in.
“Pittsburgh sold the Pirates to them,” Kyle said.
“I never knew that.” Marcus sat down. “Search update: nothing yet. Herbie is looking, too.”
“That’s reassuring,” Kyle said sarcastically. He slid the paper to Marcus. “Here, read, you’re on page three.”
“Really?”
“Who’s everyone lookin’ for?” Aunt Rose asked.
Seth replied, “Michael.”
“Oh, him.” Aunt Rose nodded.
A pot lid dropped from Eliza’s hand. “Oh him? Aunt Rose, it’s Michael the Archangel.”
“Why’s everyone looking for him?” Aunt Rose asked.
“He left last night and hasn’t come back,” said Eliza. “We’re concerned. The new soldiers are here. He made them come, now he’s supposed to train them.”
Seth spoke up. “I think he’s here. I think he’s just sitting somewhere thinking.”
Kyle tilted his head. “If so, your mom will find him.”
Aunt Rose shrugged. “Maybe he ain’t coming back. Maybe his job was to get the soldiers, and it’s Marcus’ job to train them.”
Silence. Kyle laughed.
“Sweet Lord,” Eliza gasped. “Please.”
Offended, Marcus shifted his eyes. “What? I don’t think it’s so funny. Not that…”
“Guys!” Herbie burst into the kitchen, out of breath. “Reggie said we should head to the training field. She’s found Michael.”
<><><><>
“It was not something we expected...” the male voice echoed. Michael walked over the rugged ground. The emptiness of it was cave-like, dark, the walls of stone burnt, the earth crumbling with every step he took. “He strikes through his fear...”
Michael’s breathing reflected his concern as he moved through the huge, cold place. The only sound was air blasting from his mouth.
“Seven thousand years of damned souls... gone in an instant.”
“Michael. Michael!” Reggie called.
Michael ran his hand down his face and looked up at her.
“Are you all right?” She walked to him. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“Reggie.” Michael stood and laid his hands on her shoulders.
He wore a look she had never seen. It lacked confidence. “Michael? Everyone’s waiting.”
Michael slid his hands from her. He walked past her in the direction of the training area.
“Michael, wait.” Reggie grabbed his hand.
“Reggie, we must go. They wait.”
“No, they can wait a little bit more.” She pulled him back. “What’s wrong?”
Michael shook his head and closed his eyes.
“I’ve been looking for you for a while. Can you at least tell me where you’ve been?”
Frightened, he opened his eyes. “Hell.” A pause. “And it is empty.” Michael walked off.
St. Louis, Missouri
Since dawn, Leonard had been gathering volunteers to man the front line of defense. The first place Michael would strike was a prison full of captured souls who could not be freed. The plan was pretty basic. During transportation of the volunteers to the prison, they would pick up more volunteers, then, once there, he and General Adman would train them. But those plans would soon change.
Leonard found Devante standing outside of a van that was being hastily packed.
“Wanna tell me why you’re rushing us out?” Leonard asked.
“There have been some changes,” Devante answered.
“What kind of changes? We leave for New Orleans tomorrow, and we’re supposed to send Todd and Lillian off today.”
“They will have to take a detour. They can leave tomorrow.”
“What about the men I gathered for the front lines? I’ve selected hundreds. They’re ready to go.”
“They won’t be needed.”
“Something’s happening.”
“Yes.” Devante nodded. “That is why we must leave. Leave now. I must get you to safety. When it happens, if you are not isolated with me, you will not be safe.”
“Safe from what?” Leon
ard asked.
“The change.”
Leonard closed his eyes. “The change? I’m lost. I thought we were fighting. Are we running?”
“No. Just staying out of the way,” Devante explained. “This great battle is too serious for me to leave in the hands of those who still need to train.”
Leonard chuckled. “Yeah, well we don’t have much of a choice now, do we?”
“Yes we do. I will not play mortal games with this. This is my being at stake. I have waited too long to win. Those we fight will be strong. Man has served me well, but man must step aside. You said to use our advantages. Exercise our options. I am replacing mortal warriors...” Devante smiled. “With my own.”
Seville, Ohio
Nine of the new men decided to take the same fashion route as Herbie, donning “warrior” skirts constructed from old draperies. Michael looked impressed. Reggie called them drones.
“I’m not wearing a skirt, Marcus.” Reggie sulked and sat on the ground.
“No one says you have to.” Marcus extended his hand. “Come on, get up. We have to train. Now, what is wrong with you?”
“Nervous, maybe.” Reggie shrugged as she stood. They began to walk toward the others. “Michael is worried.”
“About our new soldiers?”
“No. About where he was.” She stopped walking. “Marcus,” Reggie whispered. “He said he went to hell. He said… that hell is empty. And judging by that comment, and how he said it, I’m guessing that, at one time, hell was full.”
“Where did all the souls go?”
“Well, they certainly didn’t go to heaven. I bet they’re somewhere in between.”
“That would mean they’re…”
Purge: Book Three: Last Days Trilogy Page 5