CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Clarion, PA
They came. They saw. They conquered. Those were the words Herbie reiterated over and over in the quick and painless battle.
In the aftermath and fulfillment of the victory, Herbie spoke in a high cartoon voice as he waved an amputated dervan-hand. “Hi Reggie!”
Reggie snickered and swatted him away. “Stop that.”
“Hey, Michael.” Herbie scratched his belly with the hand. “Let me ask you a question.”
“Could you...” Michael blinked. “Could you drop the hand?”
“Whoops. Sorry.” He tossed it away. “Anyhow. How come these things don’t shrivel up and disintegrate like the zombie that came to Seville?”
“They will. If we came back tomorrow, they would be gone.”
“No way.” Herbie smiled, impressed. “That’s helpful to know. Well, I’m gonna go help the injured. I’ve been putting it off ‘cause I ain’t found Bart’s arm yet.” His foot squished on something as he took a step away. After cringing, Herbie continued on.
Reggie looked at Michael. “Were we supposed to be looking for Bart’s arm?”
“I did not think we would find it.”
“Will it grow back?”
“Reggie.” Michael breathed out her name in disbelief. “Please, healing is one thing. Limb regeneration is another.”
“So he’s out of the battle.”
“Not really. He should be fine. He lost his right arm. He’s left-handed.”
“True.” Reggie paused. “Michael. Maybe it’s me, but something didn’t seem right today. We didn’t lose anyone. Thank God.”
“Thank God.” Michael lowered his head.
“Yeah. And our injuries were minor, with the exception of Bart’s arm. Plus, we went into the prison with ease.”
“Too much ease.”
“You’re thinking the same thing, aren’t you?”
“Reggie.” Michael laid his hands on her arms. “We are one. We think alike.”
“No, we don’t. That’s impossible. Tell me what I was thinking about.”
“All right,” Michael spoke. “You are thinking this win was handed to us… a victory given to make us ill-prepared for what lies ahead.”
Reggie stared for a second, hesitated and sniffed. “Nope. Wasn’t what I was thinking.”
“It was not?”
“Well, yeah it was. I lied.”
“Woman!” Michael grunted. “You play these trick-games with me.”
“If we thought alike, you would know what I was thinking. Therefore, you wouldn’t be tricked.”
“Your words sometimes confuse me.”
“Point taken.” Reggie crossed her arms. “Of course I’d be less confusing if I had my own sword.”
“What does your sword have to do with speaking?”
“Nothing, really. I just needed to bitch. So, shall we join the others?” Reggie peered out. A distance far and wide, filled with demon carcasses, separated them from the others. With a slight shudder of disgust, Reggie started across, stepping on the remains like stones in a creek.
Fort Knox, Kentucky
Devante’s hands gripped the edge of the window as he leaned near the pane of glass, watching his protective dervans moved like a swarm of bees below him. “They arrived and won before an hour’s time had passed. Impossible.” He gripped tighter. “They gained.”
Leonard tried to stand up from the couch. “You have to...” he grunted and plopped back down to his seat when a dervan lunged on him like a dog. Kicking his leg to the side, the dervan yelped. “Why is this thing in here?” Leonard complained.
Devante snapped his finger. “Come here, George.” When the dervan arrived, Devante patted his head. “He is faithful. He stays here.”
Leonard muttered the word, “George?” then cleared his throat. “Is that General…?”
“What was it you were saying?”
Regaining composure, Leonard made his way to Devante. “You have to see this as a loss today.”
“It was nothing.”
“How can you say that?” Leonard asked. “It was a loss. How can you not see that it may be time to think about my plan?”
“Why do you push this so much?” Devante stepped from the window. “Is it the fear of battle that makes you dwell on this?”
“No,” Leonard answered strongly. “It is the hunger for the win. This will make us win.”
“This plan sends warnings off in my head.”
“It sends warnings off because you think it has to go down one way. It doesn’t. When the stories of the end battles were told, they were told from a small, old-world perspective. Things are different.”
“Not in war,” Devante argued. “Just as you have a plan, so do I. They will not win the next battle.”
“How can you be so sure? They took this one with ease. Quickly too, before we even knew they were there.”
“Exactly. Therefore, they grow confident. One must never be too confident. Especially when weary.”
“They plan on resting. They’ll go into the next battle strong.”
“Yes, but they will never be rested enough. They move with too much haste and power, and now, too much confidence.”
5th Sub-Basement, United States Steel Building
Pittsburgh, PA
Michael moved across the medic area. He glanced with pride at Eliza, working on Darryl’s arm. “How is it going?” he asked.
“Very well.” Eliza smiled. She peered up from her bandaging. “You look tired.”
“I tire in battle. More than I would like.”
“You battle hard, and with so much fury.”
“I battle evil. And that is the only way to do so. You do a fine job, Eliza.”
“Thank you.” She laid down Darryl’s arm. “You do too.”
“Thank you. I shall go to Reggie now. Have you seen her?”
“She’s with the children.” Eliza pointed.
Michael looked and smiled. “I will leave you to do your ritual kissing of boo-boos.”
Eliza chuckled and shook her head. “I won’t be kissing any of these. I’ll just clean them and do what I can. Make sure you rest.”
“I will.” He backed up.
“Michael,” Eliza called. “When you radio home, can you get me? I’d like to speak to Marcus.”
“Certainly.” Michael moved toward Reggie. She sat on a cot watching the children play around her. Her just-washed hair dangled in her face. She looked up, poking her blue eyes through the strands.
“Join me?” She patted the cot next to her.
Michael smiled at the children. “You find peace here. Tell me, Reggie. Is this the spot you have chosen to sleep?”
“No.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “Rest for a while. Sleep, no. I’m taking in the kids.” Reggie folded her hands, leaning her elbows on her knees. “They’re so... oblivious.”
“Happy in any circumstance. That is what makes them so special. They heal and go on.”
“There aren’t many left, are there?”
“No. Unfortunately, they are small and easily preyed upon. It will be up to man to create many more.”
Reggie paused. She sat up and placed a hand on her stomach. “They will,” she whispered.
“Reggie?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. I was just saying, man will. I mean, there’s not much else they can do. There won’t be cable for a while. The world will be so boring.”
“I will regret missing that.”
“And I’m gonna regret you not being there.”
Surprised, Michael looked at her. “Really? You will miss me?”
“Big time. Actually, it’s gonna hurt to say goodbye to you. But I am grateful for our time together. I’ve learned so much from you.”
“And I have learned from you. Remember, I am an angel. I’m never too far from you.”
“Just a prayer away?”
Michael smiled and placed his face near to hers.
“No. A breath away. Now… we were speaking of man rebuilding this world. I believe this world will come together again, easily and much better.”
“The good will remain,” Reggie said. “We’ll do it right this time.”
“I am sure you will.” Michael stood up. “However, I think that, as you sit amongst these children, you need to hear your son’s voice. Let us go.” He held out his hand.
Reggie stood. She took a moment to run her hand over a boy’s head as she passed him. Like everyone else, she was tired; her body felt restless. A radio call home would be just the dose of comfort she needed.
Seville, Ohio
Armed with his shotgun and a dagger, Kyle made his way to Marcus’ bedroom. The door was ajar, the light still on. Knocking once, Kyle pushed it open. “Hey,” he said softly, stepping into the room.
Marcus sat up, leaning against his pillows. He held a book as Seth slept, resting his head on Marcus’ thigh. “On your way out?” he asked Kyle.
“Yep. Gonna go sit watch Lillian and Todd like Michael wanted.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“So does that book.” Kyle pointed. “You bored my grandson to sleep.”
Marcus looked down at Seth with a smile. “He wouldn’t fall asleep on his own.”
“So you read him Moby Dick?”
Snickering, Marcus set the book down. “I relaxed him. When I was young, and hyper, my father would read something that he thought I would find boring. Actually, it wasn’t the story at all that made me sleep. I believe it was my father’s voice. Soothing. You know?”
“Comforting,” Kyle added. “You want me to carry him to bed before I take off?”
Marcus glanced at Seth. “No. Just let him stay here. He’ll be fine. I’d rather have him close.”
Kyle nodded with a smile. “Yeah, that’s a good idea. Anyhow, I’m off.” He took a step back and stopped. “It was good hearing from Reggie tonight.”
“Yes it was.”
“‘Night Marcus.”
“‘Night Kyle.” Marcus reached for his book.
“One more thing,” Kyle said. “I want to tell you something. I know I don’t act it, but I need you to know, Marcus, I am really glad you and Reggie decided to make a family for Seth. It’s about damn time.”
Marcus laughed. “Thanks.”
“And... I know it seems like I don’t like you or never have, and that you get under my skin, okay, you do, but... I’m very proud to have you as a son.”
Marcus couldn’t speak. He closed his eyes. “Thank you.”
“Yep.” Kyle cleared his throat. “Enough mush. I’m out of here.” He let out a breath. “See you in the morning.”
“See you in the morning.” Marcus watched Kyle leave. After peering down, Marcus leaned forward and kissed Seth on the cheek. Then, getting more comfortable against his pillow, hand on Seth’s back, Marcus picked up his book, and began reading again.
Fort Knox, Kentucky
“Did you come here to bow out?” Devante asked. He and the man they call James stood outside of the secured base, far from everything.
“I’m really not in the mood for jokes, but thanks for trying.”
“You annoy me.”
“I’m supposed to. I didn’t ask you to follow me out here.”
“Why did you come?” Devante asked again.
“To spy. That’s it. To find out what’s going on.”
“And yet you find out nothing.”
“I found out some.”
“Not enough,” Devante said. “I block you.”
“I’ll break it. I just haven’t tried, because I really don’t think you have anything worth seeing.”
Devante laughed with crossed arms. “That is what you think.”
“That is what I know. Yes, you have this plan of Leonard’s. What it is, I haven’t figured out. But even you scoff at it, so it must be bad.”
“It is not within the realm of this war. Of course you would not know this, because you, of the good, favor cheating so much.”
James laughed. “And you don’t? Fair is fair. You spy, I spy. You, Devante, use the world’s few remaining children for your benefit. It is your only choice. You are too weak and frightened to try the minds of men. Men who believe in God and hold faith. They will not break, and you know that.”
“They won’t need to. When I defeat Michael and his army, their protective walls will tumble. I will enter and their souls will be mine. I will have succeeded in doing what I set out to do: destroy everything your Father created.”
“And then what?” James asked. “Do you think that makes you the winner?”
“I’ve destroyed all of God’s things.”
James raised an eyebrow. “And what of heaven?”
“It’s next.”
James laughed. “You really think that’s possible? My father is all good. All powerful. And to speak in modern man’s terms, he’ll kick your ass in a heartbeat.”
“But his pathetic heavenly souls cannot.”
“You underestimate how badly they all want to see you defeated.”
“They won’t defend a God who abandons their earthly brothers,” Devante taunted.
“God will not abandon Earth.”
“Then he will destroy it.”
“Nope,” James said confidently.
“It is written in the prophecy.”
“You changed that prophecy the minute you pulled your soul exchange.” James began to anger. “You decided to go against the realms of the prophecy. Now, all bets are off! Even if, by some minuscule chance, you succeed in taking all life from this planet, do not think for a second that it is over. God will not give up. And every soul, every being, every heavenly angel will hunt you down. They will battle you until you cease to exist. It will be a war you’re ill-prepared to fight. It will be a war you will lose.”
Devante stared at James with a stone face and then, slowly, he applauded.
James did not let Devante shake him. He said all that he had come to say. He turned his head and walked on.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Interstate 79 South
Clarksburg, West Virginia
Michael was irritated, and showed it by the way he continuously rubbed his temples. The big yellow bus was far from comfortable. The seats were hard and small, but Buzz did his best to drive. None of the soldiers seemed to mind the rough ride. They bounced with the bumpy road and sang “A Hundred Bottles of Beer on the Wall.”
Buzz stopped before they got to “forty.” He couldn’t speak except to call out, “Michael.”
Michael stood and made his way up the aisle of singing men. “What’s wrong?”
Buzz shifted gears, slowing the bus. “Check out ahead.”
The highway stopped. The road was no more. What appeared to be a long red tidal wave headed their way. It spread wide, too wide for Buzz to attempt an evasion.
“What is that?” Buzz asked.
“Trouble. Our next confrontation. Buzz,” Michael spoke while staring out. “Stop the bus, then use the communication device to alert the vehicle behind us. Tell them to stay inside and brace themselves.”
“Will do.” Buzz picked up the microphone to the radio.
“Silence!” Michael commanded. There was mumbling toward the back of the bus. “Brace yourselves and arm up.”
Reggie stood. “What’s wrong?”
“It appears our opponent has searched us out this time.”
The microphone dropped from Buzz’s hand. “Oh my God. Michael.”
The first hit was a “smack” against the windshield. Before long, the bus shook violently. Numerous thumps banged against the metal. Demon after demon pelted the vehicle until the windows were nearly buried beneath the bodies.
“Listen to me.” Michael looked at the shocked faces. “This is nothing but a trap. We can do this easily! They are demons. Dervan and demonlings. Unarmed. Evil. We are good and skilled.”
Momentum filling her voice, Reggie called
out, “We can do this!”
“Hell yeah!” Paul pulled out his sword. “Weak little bastards.”
Herbie nodded and charged to the front of the bus. “Annoying, too. Let’s go.”
Michael smiled and lifted his sword. Buzz opened the door, and like a football team running out onto the field, the warriors charged from the bus.
Seville, Ohio
“They said the ambush was easy. Me? I think they’re just good,” Kyle spoke into his microphone. “We keep our prayers with them today. These two battles are so close together. It’s got to be tiring. Well, that’s all for this hourly update. I rambled on long enough. Guess I’m tired. This is Kyle Stevens, until next hour. Here’s some Garth.” Kyle turned the microphone and pressed the “play” button. As soon as the music started, he stretched, yawned and rubbed his eyes.
“As a doctor...” Marcus moved into the small room. “I’m telling you to sleep. You didn’t sleep all night.”
“Marcus.” Kyle swiveled in his chair. “How many times do I have to keep telling you? You’re not a real doctor. You’re a mad scientist who creates monsters.”
“Very good. Sleep.”
“I have to do the update next hour.”
“What’s there to update?”
“Life. If they keep hearing us, they’ll know someone up top is fighting for them. That’s updating life,” Kyle explained. “If they stop hearing from me, they’ll think it’s over. Besides that... I have all these reports Aunt Rose took when she manned the radio. They come from all over the world. Attempts at their safe shelters. Deaths. People that turned. It’s a lot.”
“Okay, so let me do the update next hour.”
Kyle laughed. “Right. You don’t have the voice for it. I’ll get Aunt Rose.”
“Oh, sure. She’s much better.”
“Yeah, I think so.” Kyle stood up. “But you’re right. I need to sleep. Especially if I’m gonna watch the gate for a few hours before I spy on Lil and Todd.”
Purge: Book Three: Last Days Trilogy Page 16