Judas (The Iscariot Warrior Series Book 1)

by Roy Bright

  The police radio squelches into life as Captain Banks’ voice cuts through requesting that Gary answer, putting a welcome end to where the conversation had been leading. It has been twenty minutes since Judas rejoined the group and up until now, all have sat in silence within the vehicle. The strange event surrounding Charlotte’s revelation had left many questions, questions as of yet unanswered.

  Judas knows that Father Keel would be able to help them understand what was happening to her, he was sure of it; they just need to get through the city without incident and hunker down at Father Keel’s church for the next twelve hours or so and they would be home free. He keeps telling himself to remain positive, to stay focused no matter what. However, deep down inside of him, he knows there is no way whatsoever that the Dark One would let this happen without a fight. Things are going to get very dangerous for them indeed, as Lucifer begins to play his final hand; of that, he is sure.

  The radio calls out again. “Gary, you reading me?”

  He picks up the handset. “Go ahead, Captain, I read you, over.”

  “Are you guys hearing what we are hearing on the NYPD frequencies?”

  “No, Captain, should we be?”

  “Well, I have just been doing a scan and I passed over Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan frequencies and, well, quite frankly, all goddamn hell seems to be breaking loose and knowing what I now know it may very well be... literally.”

  Judas and Gary share a concerned look.

  He speaks into the handset again. “Err, copy that, gimme a sec, Captain, I’m gonna scan through myself.”

  “Okay, copy, there is some freaky shit going down and I think we are gonna have trouble getting through the city.”

  Judas slams the steering wheel with the palm of his right hand. “Dammit!”

  Gary stares at him for a second, and is about to ask what is going on but decides to have a listen for himself. He cycles through the frequencies until he hits one of the Manhattan precinct bands.

  A female dispatch operator struggles with a fierce entanglement of multiple calls streaming in at once. Officers from all over Manhattan are calling for backup and assistance for civil unrest incidents that seem to be erupting out of nowhere. Some report that gangs of civilians are roaming the streets as though they were packs of wild animals, attacking other people on sight. In all cases, the strangeness of the reports centers on the fact that the groups consist of people from all occupations and not the archetypal mobs associated with riot behavior. Businessmen and women roam alongside waitresses and construction workers; there are even reports of NYPD Officers associating themselves with the marauding groups. The unaffected are unable to make sense of it all and panic is beginning to spread like wildfire throughout Manhattan.

  Judas, Gary and Abi listen with intent as the chaos unfurls over the airwaves.

  Gary and Abi sit open-mouthed, stunned by the shocking events pouring out of the radio scanner, overlapping one another; there is total chaos on the streets.

  Judas takes a deep breath. Without looking at Gary, he states, “Turn it off, let me think for a moment.” He contemplates their next move. He had been noticing a steady thinning of the traffic ahead of him for the last ten minutes, and the weight of traffic on the opposite side of the road increasing. It seems that word is getting out. A traffic sign looms up ahead signaling that they are close to the Williamsburg Bridge. The remaining vehicles ahead begin to slow and he wonders if they are unaware of the carnage erupting in the city or maybe they feel the reports are exaggerated and that they won’t be affected if they make the trip. He prepares to align the vehicle into the correct lane to enable them to take the bridge route, aware that he needs to make a quick decision. Do they take the city or turn back? He taps the steering wheel with his right hand as he muses over his choices.

  Gary attempts to speed up the decision-making process. “Judas, we going through the city or what? Are we gonna be able to get through safely?”

  He takes another deep breath and looks out of the driver’s window then turns back to Gary. “We stick to the original plan and get through the city as quickly as possible, yeah?” He glances at Abi who in turn looks at Gary, then back at Judas.

  She shrugs her shoulders, “Listen, you’re the badass with the killing skills, I’m sticking close to you so, whatever, man.”

  He looks at Gary once again and then back to the road, “You good with this?”

  Gary also takes a deep breath. His intuition is going crazy telling him that this is a very bad idea indeed and he can see in Judas’ eyes that, even though this plan is the only plan, it is likely to be a very dangerous one. He turns his gaze away from him and looks to the road ahead. “We’d better be on our ‘A’ game.” He looks at him once again. “In fact, you’d better be on your ‘A’ plus game.”

  Judas nods. “Right then, let’s do it. Radio to the guys and tell them to remain one car length behind us and provide rear guard. They see anything, and I mean, anything, that looks remotely suspicious they get onto us, hook up to our tail and we move like a train, got it?”

  “Got it.” He picks up the receiver and passes the message onto the rear team.

  Judas looks into his rear-view mirror. “Abi, I know this has been one fucked up couple of days, I know you are sat there wondering how in the name of the Lord himself did you end up in this vehicle with all this crazy shit going on, but I need you now more than ever. I now know why Charlotte insisted you be here. Gary and I protect and fight and you take care of her. Don’t you let go of her, don’t you let go of her for a single second. You are now entrusted with the salvation of the human race.” He pauses, smiles and adds, “No pressure, eh!”

  She laughs and looks out of the window. “No pressure!” She says, then laughs again. She turns back to him. “I won’t let you down, Judas. Unless a massive demonic entity pulls my frail little body apart, eats it then shits me out in the process, I’m your girl!”

  It is now his turn to laugh.

  Gary has finished coordinating the rear team’s duties and turns to him. “Okay, they are up to speed and know their job. Martin is shitting himself of course but hey, Martin always has something to say; he’s good in a fight though.”

  They both smile.

  They are almost at the bridge and Judas yet again, draws in a deep breath. “Okay people, here we go. I have to tell you this now because it’s only fair. The shit going down here is Lucifer literally going nuts. He is approaching his final solution and it would appear the beast’s confidence is very high, as he clearly does not seem to care if man is aware of him or not. The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn’t exist. Well today, quite frankly, he doesn’t give a shit.” He looks at them all in turn. “There is no way we will get through Manhattan unchallenged. He knows what we are planning to do of that I am sure, and that means that those under his influence and command will know also. But I swear to you, that child will not be harmed as long as I draw breath and in turn if I can offer you the same promise of protection without compromising her, I will do so, but Charlotte is the priority. Do you both understand?” Neither Gary nor Abi speak and he takes their silence as full confirmation of their understanding. He moves the car onto the Williamsburg Bridge. The traffic in front of them has thinned to almost nothing as they begin their journey back into the city. He checks the time displayed on the in-car computer, it reads 20:17.

  No one speaks for the next ten minutes as the vehicle crosses the bridge. A mere handful of cars remain in front of them, traffic on the opposite side has ceased; the bridge now clear on that side.

  Both Judas and Gary bring themselves to a high status of alert, checking in all directions including above, for any signs of trouble. As they trundle across the bridge, the tension mounts.

  Abi realizes she is tapping her right foot incessantly and, annoyed with herself, stops it with her right hand. She looks down at Charlotte, still passed out from the event earlier and strokes her hair with her
left hand.

  Her hair feels soft and warm and Abi smiles as she watches her sleep. A pureness radiates from Charlotte that reminds her of better days, of better times. She recognizes it as the same sensation she experienced when they were cowering beneath the desk in the station as Judas fought Balthazar, although it was short-lived as they were forced to exit from their hiding spot in a hurry. She cannot help but think that anyone caught in her radiance would feel any ill will or anger fade from them, to be replaced with a sense of tranquility and peace. She feels herself drifting; wanting to close her eyes and fade away into this bliss. The familiar sensation of the beginnings of a narcotic taking effect hits her and she sits up, forcing herself out of the trance. She rubs her face and takes a couple of deep breaths. She isn’t sure what has just happened, but she feels that she may have just had first-hand experience of the effect that Charlotte will have on people if she makes it through the next day. It was the most amazing thing she had ever felt, and an understanding of the child’s importance had just revealed itself to her in one swift moment, a moment that she knew she would never forget. She takes another deep breath. “Oh my God!” she declares.

  Both Gary and Judas turn their attention to her and Gary engages her with concern. “What? What’s wrong? Is Charlotte okay?”

  “Yeah, she’s fine, I’ve just had a… I dunno, I can’t explain it properly. It was like, I was swimming in bliss, and nothing else mattered. Just staring at Charlotte made me feel good and pure. I can’t explain it.”

  Judas focuses his attention on the road ahead whilst at the same time offering up an explanation. “It’s called Divinity Traction.”

  Abi and Gary both look at him, intrigued.

  “It happens when you are around creatures of an angelic nature. You find yourself pulled into them and feel like you are on the most wonderful drug. It’s like taking crack without the fear of dying in your own vomit.”

  Gary frowns at him.

  “What, Gary, you think I have never taken drugs? You kidding me? Let’s see how you relieve the boredom of being around for two thousand years if you ever have the displeasure of such a thing.”

  Gary smirks at his reaction.

  He glances back at Gary and a faint smile creeps over his face.

  Abi scoffs, “Oh great, our Protector and Savior is the guy who betrayed Jesus Christ and an ex-junkie. I feel safer already.”

  She laughs and they join in.

  “Anyway, continuing,” Judas says, as he looks at her in the rear-view mirror causing Abi to smirk once again, “if Charlotte is exhibiting the traction, then it is happening.”

  Gary looks puzzled, “What’s happening?”

  “The Awakening. What happened in the car before I arrived was the trigger and now it seems that it’s happening within her subconscious, she is radiating the traction. It’s not the only power she possesses. Since I met her she has been infusing me with a raw energy that has turned me into, well, Superman to be frank.”

  The both look at him, confused.

  “Since the motel I have been receiving waves of a masses of holy power that has had me make short work of the demons we have encountered. I have been successful many times in the past dispatching demons and stuff, but not like today. Seems when I am around Charlotte, man, am I kick- ass and lately just being next to her, even without us making physical contact has been enough for her to transfer that power to me. I can now see why I was given the job. With my immortality and her gift, well, you do the math.”

  “It’s a good thing then, right?” Gary questions.

  “Hell yeah, it’s a good thing, Gary, as is Divinity Traction. But whether she is aware that she is radiating it, is another matter and I guess we will have to wait until she comes round to know for sure.”

  Abi shuffles closer to the partition in the car, taking her left hand off Charlotte for a moment and gripping the mesh. “What are you saying? She will be a different person when she wakes up, not a little girl, like she was?”

  “I don’t know, Abi, really I don’t. The one who gave me this mission said that on her seventh birthday she will have a revelation and it will be an Awakening. She will know her purpose and more importantly, what she must do, but as much as I can gather from his vagueness and believe me, Angels excel at being vague; she will still need to grow into it all and develop her gifts. I am assuming this is the first phase of whatever enlightenment she is going through, but hey, I’m no expert, that’s what we need Father Keel for, so let’s just get there in one piece.”

  The cars have finished crossing the bridge and Judas drives his onto Delancey Street.

  Abi deliberates on what he has said for a second then sits back. She cries out in fright and almost jumps out of her skin as she looks to her left to see Charlotte sat up, staring at her. “Oh my God, sweetie, you frightened the life out of me. You were sleeping a second ago and I didn’t hear you wake up.” She looks at her for a second with concern, “Are you okay, honey?”

  Both Gary and Judas turn their attention to the rear of the vehicle with Judas’ attention flitting between the back of the car and the road ahead.

  Charlotte looks at them each in turn shaking her head, indicating her confusion.

  Gary takes his turn at trying to reach the child. “Charlotte, are you okay? Do you remember anything?”

  She still doesn’t speak. She just stares at him with a glazed expression.

  Judas thunders into the conversation, which makes not only Charlotte jump, but Gary and Abi also. “Charlotte, are you with us, child?”

  This form of shock treatment seems to do the trick and she begins to take deep breaths and survey her surroundings. Looking out of the side windows, she asks, “Where… where are we? What happened? I don’t remember getting here. I just remember running from the bad people in the police station.” She looks at Judas and smiles. “You kept your promise, you kept it and you are here. You kept your promise.”

  He adjusts the rear-view mirror so that he can see her and smiles back. “I sure did, kiddo.”

  She looks down to her lap where the bear lays. She grabs hold of it and pulls it close to her face. “Mr. Tumble, you’re okay as well.”

  Gary can’t help but smile at her beautiful innocence, at her wonderful need for comfort from a soft and cuddly toy. He starts to feel the sensation as described by Abi.

  She notices and smiles at him. “You feel it too?”

  “Yeah!” He laughs, “Yeah I do!”

  Charlotte looks up at Abi. “I’m thirsty, I’m really thirsty.”

  Abi looks towards the two men in the front of the car, “I think there is some water in the bags in the trunk, isn’t there? Can we stop a second and I’ll get her some?”

  There is no answer from either of them.

  Irritated, she bangs on the mesh in an attempt to grab their attention. “Hello, guys, are you listening to me?

  Judas answers her with a deep concern. “I don’t think you are going to want to get out here, Abi, and I sure as hell don’t wanna stop this car now for any reason.”

  The police radio once again squelches into life as Captain Banks’ voice calls out. “Are you guys seeing this? My god, what the hell is going on?”

  Abi looks through the mesh and out of the front windscreen. She gasps in horror as her eyes take in the devastation and carnage before her.

  The Streets are awash with stationary vehicles on fire. Litter and wreckage are strewn everywhere across Delancey Street and groups of people can be seen running in the distance. The entire area looks like a warzone. The few cars that had crossed the bridge with them stop, and people get out of their vehicles, surveying the scene. Others have turned around and are attempting to get back onto the exit road towards the bridge.

  Captain Banks fires up again on the radio. “Guys, can you hear me? This is a bad place to be, we need a fresh route.”

  Gary grabs the handset. “Copy that, Captain, wait one.” He turns to Judas. “Now what?”

 
Judas surveys the madness and makes an immediate decision. “Right, we need to get to the Holland Tunnel, no matter what. It looks blocked further up ahead so hang on tight, I’m gonna keep taking side roads until we get through. I don’t care what is in our way be it friend or foe, this vehicle is getting to that tunnel. Gary, get on the radio and tell them to train up.”

  Gary acknowledges: “Train up, get tight on our six, alternative routes at high speed, stay sharp, copy?”

  Banks responds, “Copy that and gentlemen, weapons free, everything is a hostile, Charlotte is the priority package, nothing and nobody else matters. Good luck, gentlemen, Banks out.”

  Judas feels a slight nudge as the second squad car eases itself onto his rear bumper and he puts his foot down on the accelerator. Both cars move forward, slow at first then charging up to a high speed as they eat up the yards.

  They race along Delancey and power through abandoned cars, the force of the second car helping the lead one along and through any small barricades. As Judas stated, the path ahead though the Bowery and onto Kenmare is blocked and no amount of shunting from the rear car is going to get them through.

  He snaps the indicator to the left and Gary calls it out on the radio, “Left onto Chrystie.”

  Both cars turn as one, Pete’s ability to move with the car in front demonstrating his solid evasive driving skills. They thunder down Chrystie Street and all are thankful that it is clear enough for them to get through. Judas signals right and Gary once again calls the change in direction. They turn right into the one-way system of Grand Street, tires screeching as Judas and Pete wrestle their respective steering wheels around.

  Abi and Charlotte slide to the left side of the car and Abi reaches out and grabs her, pulling her in close to her own body.

  The vehicle train realigns and powers down Grand with their ferocious engines roaring as Judas bobs his car from side to side, avoiding obstructions in the road, Pete glued to him with expert precision, following his every move.

  Gary spies trouble and screams into the radio, “Blockage ahead!”