by Caleb Smith
Chapter 34
Marcus, Shawn, and Henry pushed their way through the thick brush, pine needles sticking to their forms. The demonic energies had begun to stink and rot the skin and biochemistry of their hosts, but they still moved with supernatural energy. They blazed through the woods, the only place they knew that could shield them from public eye, and it wasn’t long before they found a path to an open trail, faint voices lightening their gait.
Blue and green tarps colored the spaces between the trees, and whiffs of smoke gathered in their blackened nostrils. As they made their way closer to the fabric display, they saw a congregating space. It was a place where the homeless gathered.
The three walked the through the tent village, looking upon others with feasting eyes. It would be a great spot for them to lie low and take advantage of those unable to properly care for themselves. A few dozen people sprawled about, and cloths, tarps, and ripped tents had strewn the area.
They honed in on a large open space and lean-to, the roof made of sticks and thin plastic and tarps. And then they zeroed in on its inhabitant. It was an older man, likely in his sixties, who was lying back in a chair in an apparent drunken stupor. The three closed in on the poor soul with their vicious smiles and deranged eyes.
Shawn approached the man with a blade he had pulled from his pocket. He peered at him, cocked his head, and declared, “Ain’t no one gonna miss you.” He then thrust the blade into the man’s chest, piercing his heart. Shawn took him by the back of the shoulder and threw him fifteen feet into the air, and the body landed with a thud. No one in the tent village cared enough to notice. The evil trio were surrounded by drug users and alcoholics – those who truly sought a better existence were housed at the downtown shelter and working temporary, laborious jobs.
Marcus, Shawn, and Henry now sat comfortably in the make-shift shelter, furnished only by a cot and kerosene lamp atop a small, wooden table. Pleased with their new housing, they began to discuss plans to wreak havoc on the town.
Meanwhile, the black bears slowly dragged their gorged, massive bodies through the pines and thickets, moving further and further from any human contact, their mouths and snouts dripping in blood. Yet, somehow, they were still hungry. The beasts still craved human blood and organs, and this hunger would not dissipate. Eventually, the beasts happened upon wild blackberry patches, and while this would be a treat for most bears, they had no interest. They craved only the taste of human flesh and blood, it was their curse.
Stomping through the patch, they pressed on into the muggy day, swatting flies away from their hides. Just as the bears came upon a clearing, they saw a bucket set under a pine tree in which food scraps seemed to be brimming over the top. They instantly smelled human blood and stopped and sniffed around. Something then came shooting out of the trees, striking one bear in the shoulder. The beast stood up looking around for a culprit. He saw a figure in the trees aiming another arrow at him before letting it loose.
The bear reverted to an all-four-legged stance just as the arrow grazed the top of his head. He ran, wildly grunting. His partner bear was close behind, using her razor-sharp claws to dig into the wide tree trunk, and then she scaled the tree on the hunt for the perpetrator. Her claws found the target and raked into cloth, skin and bone, ripping into soft human tissue.
The victim’s screams were loud, and blood trickled down onto the nose of the angry bear, who stood on her hind legs. The wounded bowman panicked and tried to pull another arrow with his injured arm, but the bear attacked from the other side, extending her arm around the front of the tree and striking his chin, and then chest. The claws dug into any soft surface in which they came in contact.
The bow was knocked out of the victim’s hands and toppled to the ground. The man’s only chance rested on his buck knife on his hip.
“You bastard,” he yelled, the bear on the ground roaring and shaking the tree. He saw a black, furred arm swipe for him from around the tree, and he thrust the blade out and drove it into the paw. The young hunter told himself that if he somehow made it out of this mess, he would never hunt again.
Just then, the bear lunged forward, canines shining brightly. She collided with her target, losing her grip of the tree and falling forward in a massive heap. The man, too, fell thirty feet to the ground in her grip with a thud, but now also faced the onslaught of the other bear. Both bears now fought angrily over their prey. They slowly pulled and ripped the man from either direction, as his blood-curdling screams echoed off the trees. No help would come today, just as no help had ever come for any animal he had previously shot for sport. This would be his last hunt.
When the feast was over, the bears were satisfied with their efforts, and the smell of smoke permeated their nostrils. They followed the odor, which brought them east – a change in direction. They knew the fire would lead them to human flesh.
They followed its trail, which led them through thickets away from the bog lands and into a dense pine forest. Finally, the bears began to see the smoke wafting in the air above the tree line. The sound of voices and people moving around drew them closer. They crept closer, hiding themselves in low-growing vegetation, to gain a better look. There were several campsites in view. Their senses began to run wild, and they stepped out into the open without much thought. This site now belonged to them.
Moving onward and heading east, they at last came in contact with three people sitting under a makeshift canopy. The men grew wide-eyed, but only for a moment, as both forces began to recognize the other for what it really was.
After a minute, Henry stood and moved to the male bear, who remained on all fours grunting and panting with blood-stained drool dripping from his mouth. He locked eyes with the beast in a moment of mutual understanding.
Henry then slowly placed his hand atop the bear’s head, murmuring words of praise. The bear shook his head and enjoyed the gesture. They understood their shared demonic nature.
Chapter 35
She sat contently with her eyes on him, as he slept soundly with frail arms wrapped around a cotton pillow. He was curled in fetal position as the early morning hours crept in. The sun had begun poking through the shades, and she purred, quietly, while all else was still.
His eyes had been sealed shut, but he gradually stirred and slowly started to waken. With eyelids half-drawn, he caught a glimpse of her tender face, at peace and watching over his every move. He felt safe with her near, primarily because he had apparently been drawn into a new warfare of good versus evil and heaven against hell.
The white cat now named Keeper, seemed to be a guardian for Noah’s cause. Empowered by light, the cat seemed to be another angel incarnate whose role was to help Noah on some quest. Noah felt an instant connection with the cat from the start, and she looked at him with complete devotion.
He wished he could read her thoughts. Suddenly, this seemed imperative. He patted the bed for her to come closer, and he reached out his arms. He wanted to feel her soft fur against his hands and fingertips. She did not react to his command; instead, she remained at the foot of his bed lumped in a warm pile of tenderness.
Once he realized he would get nowhere with this tactic, he threw his covers aside and lied traverse across the bed, gently stroking the cat across its ears and back. She closed her eyes and purred more loudly, welcoming this loving gesture.
“Thank you for saving my life yesterday,” Noah said into the cat’s ear. “I’d be roadkill right now if it weren’t for you. We are going to be good friends. I just need to find a way to communicate with you. Maybe the twins can help.”
Keeper stood and stretched slowly, nuzzling her head against Noah’s hand and brushing her body against him softly. Noah instinctively sensed that she had understood him. His next thoughts were of the twins and of their whereabouts. He had not heard from them in some time and had vital questions that needed answers, starting with who the cat was and how the two seemed celestially linked.
He decided to make a trip to the boo
k shop for answers. He didn’t think about calling Wendy or going back to work anytime soon. The situation was complicated beyond his repair. He felt bad that everything had gotten so mixed up between his mother and Earl, but his gut was telling him to focus on his spiritual developments, and that’s where his mind followed.
His mother was working, so he would be able to leave the house without hassle. Noah didn’t bother showering; instead, he slapped some water on his face and brushed his teeth, throwing some clean clothes on before exiting the house with Keeper in his arms. He placed her up front in the basket where she seemed comfortable enough. He gassed up before bringing his bike to a power start. The bottle of mixed solution was now half full. The ride to the shop had become second nature to him, and he enjoyed the ride with his new pet.
Upon arrival, he noticed nothing had changed. The shop seemed empty once again. As he parked the bike, he peered through the window, wondering how the twins were able to stay in business legitimately. He knew of their importance and position among the higher dimensions, but still, he saw a perfectly fine book shop without customers once again.
He swung the door open with a jingling of bells but was greeted by no one. He held Keeper in his arm and gently stroked her as he strolled around, occasionally calling out the names of the two magnificent twins. There was no answer to his calls. He hung his head and said out loud: “Where are you guys when I need you?”
Suddenly, one of them catapulted out of the twisting slide and ran through the aisle of the store. The other twin was close on his heels and landed in a somersault, surprising both Noah and Keeper.
“I wasn’t sure if I would ever see you guys again!. No one is ever here when I come by. I just figured you two would always be here when I needed you.”
“But we are here now, dear boy, with no intent to annoy.” The twin handed Noah a carved wooden angel.
“Business has been demanding lately. We were recently down in the southern part of the planet on assignment. As we finished, I whittled this figurine as a token and remembrance of the visit, and now I’d like to give it to you.”
Noah held the figure between his thumb and pointer finger. “Thank you,” He replied. “That’s very kind; I appreciate it.”
“As you can see, dear boy, my brother and I have responsibilities that are stringent. We govern affairs of creation in multiple dimensions. When we are called, we go. The greater forces depend on our involvement,” Enoch said.
“We know not where we are slated to go, but we always act quickly. Timing plays an important role,” Elijah continued.
“We are acutely aware of your concerns, Noah, and it is imperative that we settle business here in Mid-Town,” Enoch added. “But, we are also counting on you to give us a hand.”
Noah was apprehensive, but not baffled. He knew by now that he would be called upon to help undo what had happened in his bedroom.
“It is why we have paired you with an angel – one we call Malik, but to whom you now refer as Keeper.”
The cat brushed up against the giant’s leg, aware of its role in this conversation. Noah looked down at the cat intently and with gratitude.
“She saved my life, and I feel connected to her… it’s like I have known her my whole life.”
“She has been a staple and protector of your whole life,” Enoch went on. “You are her continuous assignment and an important one. Noah, you are entering the beginning stages of your purpose-driven existence. It is imperative that you remain wary and watchful. We cannot be here at all times. You have proven to be both remarkable and responsible, and now it is your quest to help us locate the dark energies that escaped from your window.”
Elijah went on, “This is where Malik – I mean, Keeper – comes into play.” He smiled.
“You will need Keeper as a protective light. She will help guide and protect you from dark forces. Play an investigative role, but keep your distance. Find where the darkness has congregated, but be careful. When the time has come and the moment is right, use the figurine I whittled for you. Place it on the ground, upright. It will mark the spot where we can later locate you – but, I stress, it must be placed upright. If it is not, then we will not know to come for you.”
Noah took a deep, worried breath; the responsibility felt immense. Would this be the start of his new secret life? Had his imagination and dedication to faith led him here to this moment? Had it been so strong that he could walk among the pages of books, summon angels, and be granted a guardian of his own? He didn’t know. But this was his chance to chase evil forces that escaped due to his own egotistical intent to know more. This was his chance to clean up the mess he made, and he felt ready to do so. He would not prove the twins or higher powers wrong. He just couldn’t.
“Do you have any idea on where to start?” The boy blurted, worried they would disappear again before he had some answers.
“Let your heart and mind align. Spin back the wheel of time. Look for clues and correlations that intertwine while hidden in trees thick as pine.”
The rhyming sequence of the twins’ doubly soothing voices relaxed his mind and brought belief and motivation to his spirit. As they slowly faded out of sight, their speech echoed in the halls of his head: “Lead with your heart and you will find one beautiful impeccable mind capable of solving any crime; let not the dark forces in to dine. Keeper will protect what you lack now but that which you will gain in time.”
The message was enigmatic, and Noah had no idea what to expect. But, he would begin a new day creating a heroic persona. The notion seemed laughable – still, he knew almost anything was possible. He needed a signature look. His square glasses stood out, and so did his gray zip-up hoodie with jeans and chucks. Then again, he could just be … Noah.
Keeper would help shield him from demonic discharge, but now he needed weapons – physical weapons to combat the invading bodies that would most definitely try to destroy him. Now armed with the wooden angel figurine, he thought about the money he had saved and what weapons he might be able to purchase. He thought he might need a utility belt, at least.
Despite his anxiety, he was excited. It was his time to shine and help bring order back to the inter dimensional world.
Chapter 36
Evelyn Thomas had lost all hope of knowing what it would feel like to love again. Instead, she had poured her heart and soul into her only son, and she hadn’t regretted it; Noah had been her life’s blessing.
It had been a while since Evelyn had felt anything that resembled love or romance. With Earl, there was friendship and a common interest in their children. She had not felt immediate chemistry with Earl, but she felt comfortable around him. They laughed, and he was easy to talk to. Earl was a talented mechanic – as was his father and grandfather – and he apparently passed this skill set along to his kin.
Evelyn admired Earl’s work ethic and ability to manage a house as a single father. She had lost interest in men after the last year spent with her late husband. It had been a rough year for her, and she was emotionally broken on different levels. She had felt like a failure in losing her husband’s attention to gambling, and he had been unwilling to accept her help in fixing the situation. In short, she had lost trust and felt undesirable. She also felt partially responsible for his death. What kind of woman couldn’t woo her own husband? When Noah was born, he took priority in her life. She thought of nothing but his constant care. Now, she didn’t quite know what to make of her feelings for Earl – she felt like a giggly school girl uneducated in love. Yet, Earl seemed to be making it easy.
Earl too, had been crushed by his ex-wife who had up and bailed on him and his children in the middle of the night. He had never come to terms with it and never knew her reasoning. No one had spoken with her after, and communication had been minimal, save for a few birthday cards that came Wendy’s way during the first couple years. Earl, too, held himself partially accountable for his wife’s disappearance. He put his heart and soul into everything he did and ever
yone he loved. He’d give the shirt off his back to help a stranger. As much as it tore him up inside, when his wife had left, he knew his greatest responsibility was in caring for his children. He had focus his efforts on their well-being and reassure them that he would never abandon them. Days went on and there was one less seat at the dinner table each night. The small family had moved on without her. It was sad, but it also made them tough. Especially Wendy.
This was why Wendy had become so protective over her father and didn’t want to see him with another woman. What she didn’t realize was that love always finds a way when least expected. This, she had yet to realize.
Evelyn and Earl’s friendship had matured to a point where they could no longer deny their feelings for each other. They had found a spark during and after their first kiss. But Earl had made the mistake of kissing her in her car, not realizing Wendy was watching from the window.
The main hurdle in Earl’s corner was that he was not yet officially divorced – he had no idea where his ex-wife lived, and he could not serve her divorce documents.
In any case, on this day, the couple decided to meet after work. Earl was in the garage trying to finish his service repairs, as more and more vehicles filtered in – mostly regulars who had conducted business with the prior owner. They found Earl to be fair and reasonably priced. Despite the lack of jobs in Mid-Town, and against all odds, Earl was off to a great start with his business. His income was steadily growing, and having the junkyard helped.
Evelyn was picking up extra shifts at the diner, and her work ethic, too, was greatly valued, especially when it came to covering shifts from call-ins. She worked hard and was very personable. Customers tipped well because she was on top of her tables. Though she had been upset by the loss of her secretarial job, she had adapted to the change and was making it work thus far. Today, she kept an eye on the clock, keenly aware of the time and looking forward to meeting Earl after her shift.
