Sixth Seal

by Thornbrugh, Josh

  “This woman disobeyed curfew. I caught her coming out of the church.” The soldier sounded like a proud child telling his father of a good deed.

  The Lieutenant eyed Hannah. “Is this true, Miss Klein?”

  “No—“

  “You know this woman, sir?” Hannah thought a little of the soldier’s bravado had left him.

  The Lieutenant shot the man a look. “Yes, soldier. Miss Klein is a protégé of Doctor Altman.” He turned his attention back to Hannah. “So tell me, Miss Klein, what were you doing in the church?”

  She looked him in the eyes, those dark, piercing eyes. “I told you. I wasn’t in the church.”

  “That’s a lie, sir. I saw her myself. Should I go question the Bishop, Lieutenant?” The soldier took a step toward the church.

  “No.”

  Hannah thought she picked up a brief note of panic in the Lieutenant’s reply. The soldier stopped and resumed his previous position. Before Hannah could say another word, the car door opened and the Lieutenant stepped out.

  “Take Miss Klein back to her apartment. I’ll deal with the Bishop personally.”

  The Lieutenant held the door and ushered Hannah inside. She glanced over at the river, but quickly thought better of any attempt at escape. At this range, they wouldn’t have any trouble cutting her down. She slid into the back seat. The Lieutenant motioned for the soldier to get in beside her.

  “See that she doesn’t wander out again.”

  The soldier got in the car beside her, pushing her toward the other door. The Lieutenant bent down and spoke to the driver.

  “Come back for me in an hour.”

  He shut the door and strode up the steps of the church. Hannah watched him pound on the green doors as the car pulled away and headed for the bridge. She hoped the Bishop’s book would serve him better than hers had.

  Into the Fire

  Just as Lee suspected, the man who had been following them boarded their plane. Ana chanced a few brief glances back down the aisle, but each time he avoided her gaze. There were quite a few passengers between them, but Ana and Lee were reaching their seats.

  Ana slid into the row and took the seat by the window. Lee took up the seat next to her, and leaned in close.

  "I'm pretty sure he's alone."

  "How do you know?" Ana examined the man coming down the aisle.

  "I don't know for sure, but I haven't seen him making contact with anyone else. So, either he's alone, or he's very good."

  "I hope it's the former."

  "Doesn't matter either way. He won't make a move until we're on the ground." Lee sat back in his seat. "We have plenty of time to think. About nine hours to be exact."

  Ana nodded and continued to study the man coming down the aisle. He didn't look particularly intimidating, but there was an air of readiness about him. His eyes roved over each passenger as he made his way down the aisle. As if he was studying them, sizing them up, assessing potential threats. A chilling thought occurred to her. He was looking for sky marshals. Was it possible that Lee was wrong, and he might make his move on the plane? She pushed the thought out of her mind. It just didn't make sense. He'd have to hijack the plane if he took down a sky marshal on an international flight.

  When the man reached their seat, he gave them a cursory glance. Ana wasn't certain, but she thought he had winked at her. She smiled, but the man had probably missed it.

  She turned in her seat and watched as he took an aisle seat in the middle section five rows behind them.

  "He's behind us." Ana turned back to Lee. He was leaning back in the seat with his eyes closed.

  "Very good."

  "What's the plan?"

  “Meditate.”

  “Meditate? What kind of plan is that?” Ana sat back in her seat. She fidgeted with the in-flight magazine as the other passengers took their seats.

  “Meditation isn’t a plan. It is the means to a plan.” Lee kept his eyes closed.

  “But how are we going to lose this guy once we land?” Ana was beginning to get irritated with Lee’s casual demeanor.

  Without opening his eyes, he placed his hand over hers and whispered. “Don’t worry, there is a plan. I just need to meditate to fill in the details.”

  His touch calmed and soothed her. She felt the tension release as though his energy were flowing through her, gently guiding and reassuring her. Ana’s breathing steadied and fell into a gentle pattern pushing away panic and doubt. The plane rocked backward and then moved steadily away from the gate. Ana closed her eyes and did her best to meditate as the flight attendant began unceremoniously giving the flight safety speech.

  ***

  A slight shift in the floor beneath her brought Ana out of her meditation. Lee smiled and pointed out the window.

  “It’s quite a site. We’re approaching our destination.”

  Ana looked out the window down to the scene below. The clean, parallel lines of the sprawling airport were in sharp contrast to the sea of green that enveloped it. A vast forest stretched in all directions, its advance halted by a wide river that separated the airport from the city.

  “Frankfurt on the Main,” said Lee.

  Ana gave him a quizzical look. “What?”

  “The Main River. It’s a tributary of the Rhine. Is it bringing back any memories?”

  Ana returned her attention to the water below. There was something familiar about the river, the way it cut through the land and kept the forest at bay. Was it a memory? She couldn’t be certain, but something inside her said that she had stood on those banks before the city had defeated the forest on the other side. There had been an army on her trail that day.

  “Ana?” Lee’s voice brought her back to the present.

  She looked at Lee and shook her head. “Nothing useful I’m afraid. Now, how are those details coming along?”

  “I’m still pretty certain the Horsemen won’t try anything with too many witnesses around.”

  “So what, we just take our chances and walk casually out of the airport?”

  Lee hesitated a moment. “Not exactly. Once we get through security, I want to split up.”

  Ana gave him an incredulous look, but he continued before she could argue. He held up a hand.

  “Hear me out.” Ana felt the plane level out and the landing gear descend. “I’ll give you the keys to the car, and you’ll head for the garage. I’ll get our bags and see which one of us he follows. It will also give me an opportunity to see how organized they are on this end.”

  “What if I’m followed? We don’t have any weapons.”

  Lee chuckled. “You’re about all the weapon that you need.” He probably noticed she wasn’t convinced, so he continued. “Don’t worry. If you feel you’re being followed, run for the car. There’s a gun in the glove box. It’s loaded and ready to go. There’s also a small arsenal in the trunk.”

  Ana shook her head again. “I don’t know, Lee. I think we should stay together. I don’t even know what the car looks like.”

  Lee took a set of keys out of his pocket and placed them in her palm. Again, his touch was reassuring.

  “Don’t be afraid. I’ll be right behind you. The car is a silver BMW on the ground floor of the parking garage. It’s in the first row. Just press this button when you get close and the lights will flash.” He smiled at her again.

  She returned his smile, but she wasn’t convinced that she was ready. The wheels touching the ground let her know that, ready or not, the time had come.

  ***

  Again, Lee’s estimation appeared to be correct. The man kept an ample distance behind them as they got off the plane. When they arrived at the security counter and presented their passports, Ana noticed that the man had taken up a spot in another line. He didn’t even appear to be too interested in them. She wondered if that was because there were others waiting for them on the other side. Ana thought it a little more than likely.

  Lee nudged her. T
he man behind the counter was looking at her.

  “Your passport, ma’am.”

  She smiled and handed over her passport. He eyed her up and down, and then scrutinized the little blue book. She wondered if she looked as nervous as she felt.

  “Business or pleasure?” The man asked, looking up from behind thick glasses.

  “Pleasure,” Lee interrupted. He winked at the man. “All pleasure.”

  The man gave him a brief smile that seemed to indicate he got his meaning, but wasn’t amused. He handed Ana her passport and waved them through. “Welcome to Frankfurt.”

  Lee took her arm gently, and guided her toward the nearest wall. He glanced behind them and then turned back to Ana.

  “Our friend is coming this way.” Ana looked behind Lee. She returned her attention back to him after she caught sight of their pursuer. “He’ll probably stick close to us, so I want to put on a little show for his benefit.”

  “What kind of show?” Ana smiled knowingly.

  “Not that kind of show.” Lee chuckled. “I’m going to point you in the direction of the car, and then I’m going to point toward baggage claim. Then I’ll duck into the bathroom up ahead and see which way he goes.”

  “What if he follows me?”

  “Then I’ll leave the bags where they are, and follow him. Otherwise, I’ll pick up our luggage and see if I can spot any more agents. Are you ready?”

  Ana nodded. Lee did just as he had said, making motions toward the parking garage and the baggage claim. He even pretended to hand her the car keys again. He kissed her on the cheek and left her on her own.

  She made her way through a sea of people across a gleaming, white expanse toward a corridor that led to the garage. She felt a little safer in the midst of so many people, but she still wished that Lee was by her side.

  The signs hanging high above clearly delineated the correct path with bright arrows and abbreviated directions. She realized for the first time that she could read all of them, even the ones written in German. Not just like a tourist with a guide book either. She recognized every word, its meaning, its context. Had her parents taught her? She didn’t remember learning any foreign languages, and she certainly hadn’t been taught at the hospital.

  She stole a glance behind to see if anyone was following her. There was no sign of the man who had followed them on the plane, but it was difficult to tell with so many people around. She quickened her pace, taking the next hallway as indicated by the signs.

  This corridor appeared to be slanted downward ever so slightly. It also seemed to taper inward as though it was attempting to funnel those heading for their cars into an orderly column. There were less people here.

  A sign at the end of the corridor pointed down toward ground level. Another indicated a set of stairs leading to the upper garage levels. Ana pushed her hand in her pocket and dug out the car keys. Her palm was sweaty. Something about the smaller space and the thinning of the crowds made her apprehensive. The area was still well lit, but it was artificial and hollow. A set of sliding glass doors swished open as she approached, ushering her out into the drab gray concrete of the garage. Where the airport had been gleaming and serene, the garage was worn and desolate.

  Rows and rows of cars sat in orderly lines awaiting their owners. Several people fanned out from the garage entrance and made their way toward their vehicles. Ana pressed the button on the keychain, but nothing happened. She stood still and pointed the keys at the first row of cars. Before she could press the button again, a man grabbed her arm.

  Ana pulled back reflexively, locking eyes with the man. It wasn’t the same man from the plane. This man was stockier. His hair was buzzed short and his green eyes didn’t back down from her glare. A thin white wire snaked up from beneath a navy turtleneck and ended in his ear. His grip was firm.

  “I’ve got her.” He spoke into the air.

  Ana noticed his eyes focusing somewhere behind her. She pulled again, and swiveled around so that she could see behind her. Another man similarly dressed was coming straight for her from the opposite side of the garage.

  “No use struggling, little one.” The man’s accent was thick, but his resolve was clear.

  She screamed, but none of the other people in the garage seemed to want to get involved. Several of them scurried toward their cars, or ushered children away. She could hardly blame them. These two men were quite intimidating, even to her.

  She pushed her back into the man that held her arm. He placed an arm around her chest and locked her upper body in an iron grip. The other man smiled and pulled a set of handcuffs from a pocket in his trench coat.

  “Good work, Johan—“

  Ana kicked him in the throat before he could complete his sentence. His eyes went wide as he dropped the handcuffs to the cold, concrete floor. They skittered along the ground right before he fell on top of them gasping for air. The man who was holding her tightened his grip and lifted her off the ground a little.

  It was getting harder to breathe, and her vision was blurring. She could still feel the keys in her sweaty palm. With the last bit of energy she had, she gripped the key, allowing the metal shaft to slip between her fingers. She thrust it down into the meaty part of the man’s upper leg, pressing it in like a dagger. She could feel his grip loosen. It was enough.

  She turned around and brought her knee up into his groin. He screamed, released his grip, and then slapped her hard across the face. The force of the blow sent Ana sprawling to the floor. She hit the ground hard and rolled up against the tire of the nearest car. Her head swam and she tasted metal. She realized it was the blood in her mouth. She lifted her upper body off the floor and spat, dotting the concrete with her blood. The sight of it infuriated her.

  Johan was still grabbing at his manhood when Ana stood up. Apparently he had picked up on the white-hot fire in her eyes, because he started to back away. He spoke rapidly into the air while holding a hand over his ear.

  “I need backup. I repeat, I need backup. Garage—“

  He didn’t get the chance to finish his distress call. Ana punched him in the throat, kneed him in the groin a second time, and finally raked her nails across his eyes. Johan fell to the floor in a heap, murmuring and gurgling. When she heard the other man on the ground behind her begin to stir, she walked to him. She winced slightly when she saw the realization of what she was about to do in his eyes. It didn’t stop her. She brought her foot down hard on the man’s throat, feeling it give easily beneath the force.

  From the opposite side of the garage she heard a man shouting at her. She turned to see a man in uniform walking toward her. What was she going to do now? She had nearly beaten two men to death, and now a policeman was drawing his gun and barking orders. Ana sighed and slowly raised her arms over her head.

  He stopped before he reached her, and motioned for Ana to get on her knees. Just as he was fumbling for his radio, Lee rounded the corner with a desperate look in his eyes. He was pumping his arms in a flat-out run, a briefcase in one hand. The policeman must have heard the commotion, because he dropped his radio, brought up his gun and turned. He didn’t have a chance. Lee clipped the man in the head with the briefcase, and sent him barreling over the hood of a bright yellow sports car. Immediately a piercing alarm sounded, sending wild echoes through the garage.

  “Keys!”

  Ana looked around furiously. Lee skidded to a stop in front of her. He grabbed her arm.

  “Where are the keys?”

  She pointed to the man on the ground. “There. In his leg.”

  Lee shook his head, handed her the briefcase, and then pulled the keys out of the man’s leg. A little fountain of blood erupted before settling into a slow trickle.

  “Get in the car!” He pointed behind her and pushed the button on the keychain. She turned to see lights flashing on the silver BMW.

  Ana raced to the passenger side and fumbled with the door handle. Her hand slipped, and for the
first time, she realized her hand was covered in blood. What had she done in her rage?

  Gunshots rose above the din of the car alarm, before setting off another wave. She looked to Lee, who was pulling a handgun out of Johan’s pocket. He returned fire, pinning down a couple of men near the entrance.

  She finally got the door opened, but she didn’t get in. Instead, she opened the glove box and retrieved the gun inside. She flicked off the safety, turned, and unleashed a barrage of fire toward their attackers. They kept low behind a row of cars, giving Lee enough time to make it to the car and slide into the driver’s seat. She was still firing when Lee started the engine.

  “Get in!”