Welcome To The Jungle

by Michael Todd

  The leader, or one of them. T’Chezz. He is trying to kill me, Melneck replied.

  I thought you couldn’t be killed? she queried.

  I could be sent into the depths of hell, not to reemerge for centuries, or there are others—beings I don’t wish to take notice of me—who might give me a permanent death. I’m told dying with you might accomplish that as well. And permanent death—just disappearing from life altogether, never coming back, poof, my dark and ominous soul lost forever—nope, not happening

  Well, that sounds fun, Ella replied. I mean, can’t you fight him?

  “Oh, sure…fight a demon who has three times my power and a lust for torture and destruction? Melneck shot back. I don’t think I would come out on top. So, stiff upper lip and all that, my dear. Tally-ho. My ass is going to stay right here in your body until he is dead or I can get away safely.

  “I hate my fucking life,” Ella griped out loud, slamming her fists on the table. “Seriously, this is my body and my life. Why can’t I make his dumb ass do what I want it to?”

  Katie lifted her eyebrows. “I bet that was exactly what your parents wondered when you did it to them.”

  “I hate you, and I hate this fucking place,” Ella grumbled. “I want to go home.”

  “You are home,” Damian told her quietly. There was compassion in his voice. “Get used to it.”

  Damian looked down at his phone. John was calling him. He took the blood pressure cuff off Ella’s arm and turned to Katie, holding up his phone. Katie nodded and came over, sitting down next to Ella. She tried to continue the conversation as Damian stepped out of the room and answered the phone.

  “John. What’s up?”

  “A government chopper is going to be arriving, so you and Katie need to pack up,” John told him. “You are headed to Virginia for an incursion with the military.”

  “Understood,” Damian acknowledged and pressed End just as Katie walked up behind him.

  He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, shaking his head.

  “Son of a bitch.”

  “What?” Katie said startling him.

  “Shit,” he replied whirling around. “The government is coming to pick us up to go on a raid with them.”

  Katie stared at him. “I don’t understand. What does that mean? I’ve never been on one before.”

  “Well,” Damian growled, putting his phone back in his pocket, “usually it means that One, we get to be told what to do. Two, they are never in the right place at the right time to help us. Three, our butts are on the line. Four, they don’t have any Damned on their teams. Five, we are the ones who get stuck on the front part of the spear. Six, it just continues to get worse, and seven, should anything work well they will get all the credit. Everything else is on us.”

  “Fantastic.” Katie sighed.

  22

  When the chopper arrived, Katie and Damian were already on top of the building waiting for them. They ducked as they ran forward, climbing in and taking the headsets from the pilot. They sat down on the floor in the back and braced themselves as a support person shut the doors and the chopper climbed into the air. Katie looked at Damian and shook her head. They couldn’t even fly to Virginia in a damn seat.

  “I am Warrant Officer Thomas. I will be flying you to the site,” the pilot told them over the headset. “It shouldn’t take long to get there. There will be a strike team of four there to meet you, and your commander on site will be Sergeant Michael McKay.”

  “Thank you,” Damian replied loudly into the mic.

  The pilot flipped some switches on the dash above him and rose higher into the air, flying quickly away from their Jersey base.

  Katie held on tightly, looking out the plastic windows and wondering exactly what kind of hell they were in for.

  She had always been good at following orders as a civilian, but once Damned she was less compliant. She hated taking orders from assholes who had no idea what they were doing. She hated taking orders from anyone anymore, but that was just her demon talking. She knew that, because she greatly respected Korbin…and John, for that matter.

  They were true leaders; always informed, never missing a beat, and fighting for their team every step of the way. Katie appreciated them, because she knew that if she had to answer to the higher-ups she would be research in a heartbeat.

  When they landed the soldiers were standing in the tall grasses holding their helmets on and clutching their M16s in one hand. The sergeant was standing tall at the front with a smug look on his face.

  Katie rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what kind of guy he was before she even exited the helicopter. She was not going to walk his walk, that was for damn sure, and if he wanted her help, he was going to have to damn well earn it.

  She climbed out of the chopper and ducked until it disappeared into the sky. Katie and Damian walked quickly over to the sergeant.

  “Sergeant McKay,” he introduced himself. “The building to your left,” he pointed like she couldn’t figure out what the hell he was talking about, “is the one in question. Three cops were originally called out for ‘funny noises,’ and they are now down. There are more police here, but they will not be engaging. From there…well, we have found ourselves a large group of possessed, and none of them seem salvageable.”

  “’Salvageable?’” Katie repeated, turning to Damian, who shushed her and shook his head.

  She already didn’t like this guy. He was a know-it-all who liked being in charge, and in order to separate his feelings from his duty he referred to people as “salvageable” or not.

  Like they were old fruits and veggies in the back of the fridge that he was trying to decide whether to throw out. It was a disgrace…but at the same time, none of these guys were Damned. None of them knew the trauma and the trials that people like Katie and Damian and the rest of the teams went through on a regular basis.

  He and his team could do their jobs and go home to their families at the end of the day.

  “The cops have the place locked down,” McKay informed them as they walked toward the building. “There is a perimeter around the building, and all the streets are completely blocked. Air travel has been suspended for five miles around the building, so there is no chance of the press getting wind.”

  “Okay.” Katie wanted to say something about priorities, but bit her tongue. She really didn’t give a shit about the press when there were lives at stake, but she tried to understand it was part of his job.

  “We go in, we do our jobs, and we come out,” McKay said to those assembled. “Katie, Damian, you’re Team One. Work the demons between us and the end monster. They always have end monsters, right?”

  Damian and Katie rolled their eyes, although they looked at the ground first. What a complete moron. Katie wondered if this guy had ever even faced a demon before, much less led a group of unsuspecting soldiers into the middle of an incursion.

  “Yeah, sure,” Katie mumbled. “Just like a video game—boss man at the end of the level. Maybe we’ll even find a magic mushroom to eat and grow bigger.”

  Damian elbowed Katie and smiled, holding his laughter in. Luckily none of the others noticed their taunting. Damian could barely keep the smile off his face. Katie knew this was going to be one hell of a ride with this idiot in charge.

  She didn’t know whether to be scared for them or to feel like she had won the fucking lottery with this asshole.

  She was going to go in there with all guns blazing and show them a thing or two about fighting demons, that was for damn sure. None of them, including Captain Crunch there at the front, were going to be the same when they came back out.

  “So, wait…I just want to make sure I have this straight,” she said to McKay. “You know, just to be on the same page as you valiant soldiers.”

  “Okay.” He smiled, not catching her sarcasm.

  “Your strategy is that we,” she waved a finger between herself and Damian, “me and my partner, kick everything’s ass until the end.
Then you guys roll in, fresh as fuck, and take on the bad boss-guy to level up?”

  Damian cleared his throat, trying to hold back new laughter. He had a sudden desire to look the other direction.

  “Yep, though I’m not sure what leveling up means,” McKay replied. “Must be a mercenary term. But sure…you guys roll in ahead of us, so we are ready to take on the big guy. Then we can give you a little break while we take him down and tie up the loose ends. We wouldn’t want to send the two of you into the boss and endanger your lives any more than we have to.”

  “No, no of course not,” Katie agreed, nodding her head.

  “All right, team, let’s make sure our vests are secure and our eyes are peeled,” McKay ordered, clapping his hands.

  Damian grabbed Katie by the arm and led her off to the side, covering his mouth with his clenched fist. As they walked toward the front door of the building Damian took a deep breath, still trying to stifle his laughter.

  Katie shook her head. She still didn’t believe the shit they got into on a regular basis.

  “So,” Damian clarified, “they get all the glory for taking down the ‘boss,’ and then receive the highest payout for the biggest demon. They are playing us hardcore, and that sergeant knows it.”

  Ella walked through the base house and out to the front balcony. She sat down and looked out over the New York City skyline. She used to climb to the top of her parent’s apartment complex almost every morning after a long night of drinking and watch the sun shine through the different glass buildings as it rose. It looked different now; almost more realistic than before.

  Why so glum? Melneck asked.

  I just don’t know how to get used to this, she told him. I mean, I’m never going to be alone again, I can’t go out, I can’t see my parents, and everything I ever wanted to do has been squashed.

  You need to start looking at the world differently, he suggested. There is a huge difference between positive and negative. Though it may seem all these things are negatives in your life, they don’t have to be.

  Right. She scoffed. And how can I see differently?

  Well, from being in here I have learned that before you always felt alone and you only went to those parties and things to be surrounded by people, he explained. Now you don’t need that part, because I am here to kick your ass.

  Great. She rolled her eyes.

  You miss your parents. I’m sure that sucks, but it is what it is. You have freedom now, and that is a positive, he continued. And as far as your dreams for the future… Well, change them. Make them center around a world where you will have money, no identity, and the ability to do almost anything you want. There is no reason you can’t take a vacation and see the world. You will be a badass bitch, and from what I hear, badass bitches are in high demand. You always wanted to be someone important, so here is your chance.

  Yeah, maybe, Ella said doubtfully. Maybe you’re right. I mean, people die all the time, and instead of it being my parents it was me— at least to them. I can know they are safe and secure without going through the hell that they put me through on a regular basis.

  Yep, Melneck agreed. That is exactly right. And when all is said and done I’ll let you exorcise me, and you can do whatever you want after that. For now, just enjoy being a badass bitch for a while.

  Melneck? Ella asked.

  Yeah?

  Can I go to the store down the street? she asked. I really want to buy a bottle of water and some fruit chews.

  Yeah, sure, why the hell not? But if you beat feet I’m freezing you again, he warned.

  Yeah, yeah. She chuckled. No fucking privacy.

  Ella headed downstairs and grabbed her bag, figuring there was no one there to tell anyway. She pulled her hood up over her head and shoved her hands in her sweatshirt pockets, walking alone through the neighborhood.

  It was the Greek District so there were families everywhere, but she just didn’t feel like looking at any of them. As she turned the corner, she walked past a school. There were kids out and about, playing sports, talking, and hanging out in the parking lot.

  At first she didn’t even look over at them, remembering how torturous her high school days had been, but as she passed them she heard a kid telling someone to get off and leave him alone.

  She slowed down and watched as some bullies picked on a smaller, thinner boy. He didn’t have the most fashionable clothes or the newest shoes, his haircut was like a bowl, and his glasses were broken on one corner. Below his feet his books were strewn everywhere, pages flapping in the breeze.

  Those stupid motherfuckers, she grumbled to Melneck. I fucking hate bullies. Why can’t they find something better to do with their time?

  I don’t know why you are bitching to me, Melneck replied. You could be handling it right now. Why are you hesitating?

  I’m a girl, and I’m much smaller than those guys, she explained.

  Seriously, I wonder if you are awake half the time when you are with everyone else, he mused. You aren’t paying attention to anything the Damned are trying to tell you, are you?

  I am, but I don’t know what you mean, she replied.

  Your practicing and training is what helps me adjust to you, he explained. I can’t help you in fights and I can’t help you against demons if our bodies aren’t aligned in some way or another. We have to do things like this to get more in sync. Now, just trust me this one time and go over there…

  23

  Ella took a deep breath and walked toward the kids. When she reached them she pushed one of the big ones off the smaller kid. “Move it, asshole!”

  They all stepped back, whistling and chuckling, Ella stood between them and the kid, fists clenched and jaw tight. She looked at the kid and then back at them.

  “Leave him alone.” She flicked her hair out of her eyes.

  “Uh oh, look at the big girl,” the leader of the boys taunted, cracking a smile to the others. “What, you just get out of school yourself? Think you are an adult and everything? I bet you are the type of girl who does everything your parents want you to. You trying to look tough with that streaked hair and goth makeup? It isn’t working!”

  Bwahahaha! Melneck laughed. Boy, this kid has it all wrong. Not only do you despise authority, but you do the complete opposite of what your parents tell you. What an idiot! No, you fool, she is much worse than you could ever imagine.

  Shut the hell up, Ella yelled at Melneck. I’m not that bad.

  You are right. He sighed, then started to laugh again. You’re worse! You are the stain on the bottom of a condom when the guy decides to watch two dogs getting it on rather than sleep with you! You are the reason there are only three people trying to console your parents. You sucked so bad as a daughter most people are congratulating them!

  I swear, if you don’t shut up… Ella warned him.

  You’ll do what? He chuckled. You are the worst example of human flesh I’ve ever been inside, and trust me—I’ve done this plenty of times. There are sloths that work at a higher level than you. In fact, I’ve met mental patients who have a better ability to function and stand up for themselves.

  “Stop,” she shouted, her temperature rising.

  Aw, am I hurting your wittle feewings? Is wittle Miss Ella gonna run home and cry? Or are you going to stand up like a true fucking demon fighter and do your goddamn DUTY?

  The soldiers watched as Damian pulled out his large glimmering cross, holding it tightly in his fingerless-gloved hand.

  They noticed that Katie’s weapons were special as well, the blades of her knives shimmering in the dim light as she ran them effortlessly across the throats of the demons just inside the door.

  When the blade touched flesh, it sizzled and crackled. Like individual tornados Damian and Katie whirled through the building, beating the shit out of everything that got in their way. While Damian blocked Katie kicked, sending demons flying backward in a ball of dust or blood.

  They made their way through the halls in a dance of
death with knives, crosses, punches, kicks, blocks, and bullets. It was the most amazing thing any of the military team had ever seen, and at the end of the cleared hallway—or rather, at the end of a trail of demon carcasses and piles of dust—was the room where their boss resided.

  Katie and Damian stopped outside the door as the sergeant marched through their debris, with his three men shuffling clumsily behind him. When he reached the door he cleared his throat, obviously nervous but trying to hide it.

  He looked at his men, then at Katie and Damian.

  “We got this,” he told the redshirts. “Good work.”

  Katie shrugged and stepped to the side as the men ran into the room. She skipped over to a couple of wooden containers against the wall, hopping up and patting the one next to her for Damian. He smiled and climbed up, groaning as he wiped off his cross and stuck it back in the inside pocket of his coat.

  Katie smiled. “So, how is life? What do you think the new base is like? Meet any cool priests lately?”

  “Well,” Damian paused to let the sudden screams from the other room die down, “I am hoping there is a big place for a sanctuary, and a—”

  A loud roar followed by rapid gunfire and further screaming made him pause again.

  “Big room for me to relax in,” Damian finished. “How about you?”

  “I am hoping for a place I can make my own donuts,” Katie told him. “Save me a lot of money.”

  “Ha-ha. I’m—”

  They paused as one of the men came flying back through the door, landed on the ground and slid all the way to their feet. Katie looked down and shook her head in disgust, not understanding how they could possibly be screwing this one up.

  She looked at Damian and they both nodded, then jumped down and picked the military guy up by his arms and legs.

  “We’ll just clean this up,” Katie murmured as the two of them tossed him back through the door into the fight. She yelled after the soldier, “No lying down on the job!”

  He screamed as he landed on his ass and skidded to the demon’s feet. She flinched and then smiled, dusting off her hands and walking back over to the crate. They hopped back up and continued their conversation.