Homeward Bound (Journeyman Book 1)

by Golden Czermak

  Gage felt his blood pressure rising, hand tightening around the grip of the MK23. This fucker was there!?

  “So were you the one that did it?” he asked in a low, near indecipherable tone.

  “Did what?” Lawrence asked sneeringly, shrugging his shoulders and raising his palms upward in a mocking fashion.

  Blake erupted in a fit of derisive laughter.

  Gage raised his weapon, pointed it at Blake, and pulled the trigger. A shining bullet emerged from the barrel and struck him directly in the previous head wound. He spasmed for a moment as if being electrocuted before slumping on the floor, lifeless.

  Adrienne looked to Gage and his expression was alarming, as if he himself were possessed by something dreadful. “Did what?!” he yelled. “Take my parents’ lives just like I took your fucking demon brother’s.”

  Lawrence cackled garishly and clapped his grubby hands.

  “So, I ask you again, did you do it?” asked Gage, his stare barren.

  Lawrence’s lips spread garishly wide, curving upward into a sick smile. “Yes.”

  With that Gage leapt at him, grabbing him by the collar. He lifted him clear off the floor and bashed him into the window frame a couple of times. He then lowered his feet back to the ground in order to batter him relentlessly with more powerful blows across his face and stomach.

  Lawrence wasn't putting up much of a fight. In fact, he wasn’t fighting at all, instead standing there like a mannequin. Had Gage released his grip, he would likely collapse.

  “Gage,” Adrienne interrupted, looking past the two of them out the window. She sensed something off in the distance beyond the tree line. “He’s baiting you. I think something else is on its way.”

  Gage paid her no mind and continued his assault, nearly in tears. “I'm gonna beat the fucking smoke out of you!”

  His foe stayed eerily quiet, those roughened teeth smiling at him through a thick coat of fresh blood.

  “Gage!” shouted Adrienne. “Enough! Just finish him!”

  Without a word back to her, Gage held out a hand, the other firmly around Lawrence’s throat as he secured him against the wall.

  Adrienne looked anxiously at his quivering palm and then up to his still barren stare, fixed on the demon’s face. She slowly placed her blade in his hand and his fingers closed around the handle.

  Gage leaned in extremely close to his foe’s face, so close that their noses nearly touched. A bead of sweat was able to exchange between the two of them before dripping to the floor.

  Lawrence’s demonic eyes had shifted back to a more human looking shade of blue.

  “I know you’re in there smoky,” Gage said as he teased the knife edge on Lawrence’s neck. He pricked it and blood flowed out along the blade. “Let’s talk… eye to eye.”

  “It’s too late, you arrogant prick. They are coming for you and those two magnificent treasures around your filthy neck.”

  “I’ll deal with ‘them’ when they get here,” said Gage confidently. “Right now it’s our party. Just you…” he flicked the knife again, “and me.”

  Lawrence cackled and Gage swiped the blade hard across his chest to shut him up. Those soothing blue eyes bolted, replaced by the foul colors of a crimson midnight.

  “Ah now that you’re back! Your name,” commanded Gage.

  There was no reply.

  “Your name,” he repeated, slicing the blade across the demon’s chest again, forming a cross-like shape.

  Still no words came. The smell of burning flesh pervaded the room and the demon’s feet began to smolder as if he were standing on a pile of searing ashes.

  “Your… fucking… name!” shouted Gage as he stabbed the knife into his shoulder.

  Adrienne shut her eyes, taking a step back. Never before had she seen Gage like this. As she opened them again, she could have sworn the things around his neck gleamed briefly. As much as she wanted to, she didn’t have time to think on it as she caught distant shapes in the window, emerging from the tree line.

  “Camio,” the demon said, its smoking flesh damn near overbearing. “My name is Camio.”

  Gage tilted his head slightly and leaned in toward his ear and whispered, “Well, Camio, please accept this parting gift with kindest regards from the Crosse family.” He raised the dagger and slowly drug it across his neck from end to end.

  The yellow glow from the fatal wound soaked into his vacant eyes and Camio drew his final, garbled breath. Having lived for several millennia, he was no more.

  GAGE HANDED THE BLADE back to Adrienne, his hands no longer shaking from whatever rage had overtaken him.

  “Gage, are you okay?” she asked as she took it from him. “You weren’t yourself just now.”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied, unsure if he believed that himself. “Just repaying someone that took my old life away. Gimme a few, darlin’ and I’ll be good.”

  “Sadly babe, we don’t have a minute,” she replied, pointing out the back window to the shapes by the distant trees.

  There were now thirteen dark forms standing in the pale moonlight, lining up against the forest wall.

  “Oh my God,” he said, unable to make out what they were at this distance.

  Without warning, they all screeched in unison, the sound both ghastly and new. Neither Gage nor Adrienne had encountered these terrors, whatever they were, before.

  They then broke away from the trees in turn and sprinted toward the house on all fours, scattering like flies waved away at a picnic. As they came closer, their abominable nature became apparent.

  They were bipedal, no larger than an average human, though they could run on all their limbs at great speed. Their ebony skin was tight and smooth but non-reflective, capable of absorbing the moonlight to hide their athletic bodies. From the tips of their whip-like tails to the crown of their tentacled heads ran a ridge of sharp, spiny bone.

  They were at the house in no time, rising on their hind legs and using their tails for balance. Lifting their heads high they sniffed, faces otherwise encased in bands of chunky leather sewn directly to their flesh. Their eyes, if they had any, were covered but massive jaws were able to move unhindered. Several large and serrated teeth jutted out from their lipless mouths while sharp claws rasped the air.

  “What are they?” whispered Adrienne, forcing her hand into Gage’s.

  “I have no idea what those… abominations are,” he answered. “I don't even recall seeing anything remotely like them in lore.” Definitely worried by the unknown, he swallowed hard before continuing. “We have to try and get out of here… head for the truck.”

  The two of them made their way toward the front door, but were stopped dead in their tracks when one of the creatures stepped inside. It hadn't detected them, stooping down and smelling Preston’s body. A long tongue writhed its way out of its mouth and no sooner than the slimy appendage touched human skin, the creature lurched forward. It took Preston’s head into its mouth, pulverizing the bone in its jaws while grating on the residual meat.

  Adrienne gasped, hand lifting to her mouth to suppress the urge to vomit. Gage guided her into position behind him for added protection and checked his pistol; there was a single demon killing round left. He had absolutely no idea if it would even be effective against these things, but it was all they had and judging by the diabolical appearance of their enemies it could work, in theory.

  The only other thing at their immediate disposal was Adrienne’s dagger. It was a sure bet thanks to the sigils engraved upon it, but being a knife it would require him to get way too close for comfort. That luxury he would save as their last resort.

  The creature continued mindlessly consuming Preston, as a dog would a bowl of food, while Gage and Adrienne repositioned themselves. They were looking for the prime position to make a run for it.

  Matters soon went from bad to worse: two more beasts noisily stumbled their way over the debris accumulated at the back door. There they found the bodies of Lawrence and Blake, wa
sting no time in devouring them along with Gage’s hopes for escape.

  The odds were just not in their favor. Three creatures had made their way into the house and blocked the exits, the truck was parked at least a hundred fifty feet away from the closest door, while ten other abominations had dispersed and could be anywhere in between.

  He pivoted Adrienne toward him, coming to grips with the reality they faced. Brushing a hand through that luxurious hair of hers, he came to rest it on her cheek, cupping it affectionately.

  “Darlin’, I can clear you a path out the front door and hold those two at the back. I don’t know where the rest of ‘em are but at least it’ll give you a chance to get yourself to the truck and your ass out of here.”

  “No!” she said, fighting the very notion of it. “I can’t leave you here.”

  “Yes you can!” he said sharply under his breath. “You have to go. I… I care about you too much.”

  A tear streamed down her face and was caught by his thumb. He gingerly wiped it away.

  “Gage, no,” she insisted, making no moves except to get closer to him. “Absolutely no. We’re a team… a family, all the way to the end.”

  He smiled and for once didn’t know what to say.

  “Now,” she said. “Let’s get out of here, together.”

  With a new found resolve, Gage aimed at the creature blocking the front door. “Hey ugly!” he shouted at the top of his lungs, drawing the ire of all three beasts. “Get the hell out of our way!”

  It reared up tall and shrieked, gore flecking off of its teeth.

  “I sure hope this does something,” he whispered, pulling the trigger with a silent prayer. The last of his slayer ammo soared from the barrel and gracefully through the air, straight into the fiend’s mouth and out the other side. It stood in front of them frozen in place as if it were stunned.

  “Fuck!” said Gage, realizing the bullet didn’t kill it. “We gotta head upstairs and -”

  A delayed whimper leached out from the abomination as it fell over in answer to their prayers. The bullet succeeded in slaying the foul beast.

  Together they dashed toward the front door, the freedom of wider spaces just a few more precious steps away.

  However, the universe decided now was not the time for such niceties and threw another curve ball their way. Their feeling of elation was short lived as two more of the things crossed the threshold into the house.

  Gage and Adrienne had no choice but to fall back into the center of the living room. He pushed her behind him yet again, but soon the two monsters that had been behind them encroached and were within a couple feet.

  They were surrounded.

  One of the beasts approaching from the back leapt at them and Gage pushed Adrienne out of the way just as it swiped upwards across his chest with its long talons. They scratched a series of deep, parallel cuts into his right pec. As the nails cut Gage, they struck the chain and its sheer power shattered the petrified keratin like glass.

  The beast cringed in misery, retreating to the kitchen as the other one took its turn and lunged. It got a solid kick in the stomach as a reward, sending it crashing to the floor.

  Gage strode over to the dazed monster, Adrienne in tow, and placed a foot on its head before pressing down. He could hear the bone start to crunch under foot and feel it buckle, fueling him to press down even harder with his full weight.

  “Ady, I want you -”

  His words were cut forcibly short when she was wrenched from his grip by the two other monstrosities.

  He felt her fingers slipping through his own and he turned, realizing then that the situation had grown dire.

  She tried to stab at her attackers, but they were able to keep the dagger from making any sort of contact. Incensed, one slapped at her hand and with an indignant growl sent the silver blade pirouetting through the room. It landed tip first into the hardwood some distance away from either of them. There it wavered for a moment before becoming still.

  Time slipped into unwelcome slow motion as the brute viciously pulled back Adrienne’s neck and bit into her shoulder, taking a good chunk out of it. Her face contorted from the horrendous pain that blazed its way through her entire body. While still latched on, it walked her around the room as one would a trophy, looping around to the other side as she seared in pain.

  There, the previously injured beast stepped out from the dark corner where it was recuperating and made its way over to them. It inhaled the air just above the wound, tasting her warm blood with its probing tongue. It made sure to turn its face toward Gage, who was still standing over the fallen beast. Without warning it thrust the claws of its unbroken hand into her side before slowly twisting it back out.

  She screamed as the remaining creatures poured in at the sound of her cries, screeching themselves in approval.

  Gage watched in horror as she bled out over her once soft and beautiful skin, her legs marred by the blood and viscera flowing down to the floor. A massive deluge of emotions overtook him and his anger grew to a level so intense that it literally sparked a fire within him. Light and flame blazed from his eyes as if he were Hell Incarnate. The metal trembled as the chain scorched his skin, sending plumes of deathly smoke around him like a twisted hood and cape.

  He utterly crushed the beast’s head that was beneath his heel, kicking its body away with a thunderous crack. He then focused all of his attention on the group of foul creatures that still stood ahead of him.

  Adrienne was dropped without compassion there in the kitchen as the remaining creatures encircled Gage. She convulsed, her body in shock as it still clung onto what little life she had left.

  Without an ounce of fear Gage stepped forward, the talisman now floating in front of him, vibrating so rapidly that it was nearly invisible. Smoke continued to cascade around him and his eyes shone brightly from behind the veil.

  The monsters roared, deafening in their sick melody. They all leapt toward him in the center of their circle of death, baring all manner of sharpness to tear him to shreds.

  His eyes became slices of razor thin hatred and there was another sound like thunder that exploded through the room, knocking pictures off the walls and shattering keepsakes. The amulet immediately stopped and waves of hellfire coursed out of it, wrecking the ceiling entirely and most of the back wall. Great chunks of rubble crashed atop the creatures, impaling some while crushing others without pity.

  As the ones that survived climbed out from beneath the wreckage, death was set upon them. There was absolutely no hope, for Gage would not let them have an ounce of it. With lash upon fiery lash they were blown back and away, each violent tendril chasing them as if alive and hungry for destruction and torment. The burning whips endlessly beat charred chunks out of their bodies, which disappeared in satisfying whorls of char.

  As the last body was obliterated in the raging inferno, its tortured cries were swiftly muted and carried off by the wind. The fires then faded away, receding back into the silver disc from where they came.

  Nothing now remained of Gage’s enemies, except for the peaceful flutter of ash.

  WHEN HE OPENED HIS eyes, he was lost, unable to comprehend what had just happened or how much time had gone by. The ringing in his ears was still deafening and his vision muddy. Instinctively, he felt his neck expecting to have massive injuries everywhere yet there were no signs of any. Amidst the cacophony a figure lay still, focused, and broken on a kitchen floor which had seen much better days.

  Adrienne! I’m so sorry, he thought to himself as he rushed to her side. He checked her for signs of life.

  Oh thank God.

  They were there, but were mere embers. Her eyes slowly opened upon feeling his touch.

  “You look like shit,” he managed to say, barely even a whisper across his lips. Pulling a hand through her ever-soft hair, he closed his eyes and tried forcing himself to believe the wetness he felt was from the shower they shared earlier.

  He couldn’t do it.

&nbs
p; “Yup,” she whispered through a labored breath and a weak, blood stained smile.

  “Oh my dear Adrienne,” Gage began. “We’ll be sure to get you fixed up. Yeah. Fixed up right away. Joey probably has something - ”

  She winced, taking all her strength to lift a shaky finger up to his lips. “Shhh. Liar.”

  Gage knew what was coming, fast, and was ill prepared for it. “I love you, darlin’.”

  “I… know… always,” she replied, her voice feeble and still failing. She stared up and out through the hole in the roof. “The stars… look prettier than… last night.”

  Gage looked up too and saw the vast expanse of starlight twinkling in the heavens. His eyes welled with regret as he looked back down to find those same stars reflected in her eyes, now full of tears.

  “When I… saw you this morning. I knew… that today… would be… a perfect day.”

  An anemic smile formed. “Was it?” he asked.

  “Yes. You're here… with me… at the end . I lo- ”

  A hard cough came and her hand fell back, eyes widening in an aimless search. “Gage!” she whimpered before the deafening sound of silence took over.

  She lay still.

  “Ady?”

  There was no reply.

  “Ady?” he repeated.

  There was no way to describe what Gage felt as she still didn’t respond; desolate and barren was a vast understatement. His heart might as well have been torn out by one of those monstrous things as it would have been far less excruciating.

  His lips turned down and became a thin line as the realization finally settled in. Gently, he pressed his fingers on his lips, then brought them to hers before using them to slide her eyelids closed.

  “Sleep well, gorgeous. You’ll forever be the brightest star in my sky.”

  A FEW QUIET MOMENTS passed as Gage sat with eyes closed in the midst of the ruined kitchen, holding firmly onto Adrienne’s body.