by Caleb Smith
As Evelyn and Noah made their way to the hospital, Noah kept shooting his mother worried looks. She was clearly tired from weeping, and her eyes were red and bothered. The look of pain and sadness covered her face. Evelyn, meanwhile, was praying for Earl’s recovery, but it was difficult for her to dismiss the graphic images of violence that were etched into her mind. She stared at the road ahead, looking at structures that passed by.
The walk from the parking lot was short. They stopped at the front desk to see what floor Earl was on. The side elevator brought them up to the third-floor surgery recovery unit, and after they stopped at the nurses’ station, they learned he was still in surgery.
Noah caught sight of Wendy staring through a window into a room. She stood still, without expression on her face, like a robot frozen in time. Josh stood next to her in his bloody jeans, though he had at least changed his shirt. He looked weary too. Surgeons were doing their job and operating on Earl’s limb – or what was left of it. The most important part was that he still had a heartbeat.
Noah walked over to Wendy and stood silently. No words were exchanged – just looks. Wendy’s facial expressions revealed pain and confusion. Noah’s glances were gentle and accommodating. She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him and began to sob. At that moment, Noah knew why he was her friend and why they had a great friendship. For all that had happened to Wendy, she needed someone in her life other than her father with whom she could share her emotions. Her mother was gone. Her brother was a late teen gear-head. But Wendy was a growing girl with raging hormones, and she needed emotional contact at times like this. Noah had become her go-to person. Evelyn stood back and wept at the scene.
Josh had filled Wendy in on the way to the hospital, providing as few details as possible – but he had stressed that Evelyn had helped him every step of the way. For the first time since Earl and Evelyn had started dating, Wendy was grateful. She looked over at Evelyn, who was standing in the distance and quietly crying, and she apologized to Noah. She was sorry – sorry for everything.
The girl had been exposed once again to the harsh realities of life, and in that time, she had identified the people who loved her and were there for her. Her list was short. So was Noah’s. He felt her pain in waves. It pulled tears from his eyes without effort. He loved her, and he hugged her back, tightly.
Then, Wendy disentangled herself from Noah’s grip and walked over to Evelyn. There was awkward silence in the air.
“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for helping save my dad’s life.”
She hugged Evelyn, impulsively, and Evelyn responded: “I would do anything for you, sweetie.” And kissed the top of her head. Wendy was more at ease now and walked back over to the window beyond which her father was in surgery, striving to stay alive.
“He’s been in there for the last hour-and-a-half. They had to do a blood transfusion and stop the bleeding. His arteries were in pretty bad shape, but it looks like they have a good handle on him.”
The recent show of affection had almost returned her to normalcy, and Noah and Wendy were once again on good terms.
“It doesn’t matter – any of it.”
“Come again?” Noah was confused.
“None of it. It’s a crock of bull. The only thing that matters is right here and now. Not tomorrow, not yesterday, and not next week. Right here and now, this present time is what matters. When my dad gets better, I want us to go explore, and to see, taste, and touch. I don’t want to waste any more time.”
Noah responded with a smile and a tearing eye. A few hours later, Earl emerged from surgery and was wheeled into a recovery room on the third floor, heavily sedated. Wendy asked Noah if he would accompany her to the cafeteria; she knew it would be a long time before her father was conscious, and she had a hankering for a milkshake. There were only a few people walking about in the hospital in those early morning hours. The cafeteria was near empty. They sat and talked, reclaiming and reaffirming their friendship.
Chapter 41
The bears and their riders had left a bloody aftermath. But they were nowhere to be found, and the news crews had arrived on the scene.
The Gifford’s ice cream massacre was now well known. The police, too, had come and taped the scene off in impending investigation. Everyone wanted answers. But with no immediate answers forthcoming, pressure was high.
They had gone back into the woods as soon as the sirens sounded. With plenty of woods in which to hide, they had moved further along the trails and deep into the forest.
Now, it was the evening after the massacre, but the moon was magnificent. The pack of terror finally came out of the trees into an opening. A small cabin appeared in a man-made clearing; standing solo among the trees in the pine forest – an old hunting camp.
It seemed unused; the door was locked shut with a steel bolt lock. The bears took a seat near the front porch and began licking the dried blood off their paws and arms. The three demons kicked the door open after a few tries, splinters scattering.
Inside, a wooden table and chairs were set squarely in a kitchen, and there was a cast iron stove and chimney, along with two sets of bunk beds; a good place to hide out for the night. The motley group hunkered down.
“What do we do now?” Shawn asked.
“We hide out here for the night and start again on our voyage in the morning.” Henry was anxious to move on.
“What voyage?” Marcus replied from the bed.
“The one where we are not trapped in cell walls, or in dark cages. We are free right now; let’s keep doing it.”
“Let our pets rest tonight. At first light, we will get back to roaming. We will go in a different direction. I’m sure people will be looking for us.”
Though relaxed, the dark energies controlling human and animal bodies were restless. The moon drove their dark spirits and put them on edge, even though their flesh and bone saw otherwise. Lying outside, the bears grumbled and moaned until Henry kicked the door open and yelled abruptly for their silence. Like children, they obeyed, even though they had the stronger hand.
In the morning light, all forces rose. All of a sudden the cabin doors and windows shook when a force blew the door open and heathens back. A black-hooded figure made its way in.
“Are you here to take us back?” Henry asked.
“They made me do it,” Shawn yelled.
The figure wore a hood; his face was shadowed.
“Shut up, you idiots. I’m not here to collect; I’m here to delegate.” He paused for a moment before he spoke again; “Your master is proud of your efforts, but you have more to accomplish. We need you to strike at the center of this town and bring absolute fear to all that stand in your way. Kill soon and often, and don’t stop until you are crippled.”
The three were dumbfounded until Henry spoke again; “So, this will be suicide?”
“You will have the opportunity to jump bodies and claim them as captives, but the twins will be on the hunt, and they are fierce warriors for the light. You won’t get too far if they arrive.”
“And who are the twins?” Shawn asked.
“They are the ones who will lock you back up or eliminate you from existence – either way.”
“Now that I recall our night of escape, it was a boy that let us out. A feeble, young boy,” Henry boasted.
“A boy, you say?” The governing demon replied with his snake-like tongue “What did he look like?”
“He was of slender build with black hair and thick, black-rimmed glasses,” Henry explained. “Our escape happened so fast that once we hit the air, we shot out the window and didn’t look back. I just caught a glimpse.”
“Here in this place?” The demon inquired.
“Yes, it was here.”
“OK. Good. As I was saying, we need you to strike at the heart of town.”
“Where would that be?” Marcus chimed in.
“The police station. Take them all out and lead with the two bears.
Take as many as you can; our retrievers will be ready to drag those souls to hell.”
“OK, and how are we going to do that without weaponry?” Henry was concerned.
“I’m glad you asked.” The demonic figure opened his robe, and hidden beneath his dark cloak were swords, axes, daggers, and shields, all of which fell to the floor. The weapons were heavy and were constructed from hell’s finest iron ore, a toxic glaze baked into the metal. This glaze would instantly infect anything pure that it came in slicing contact with. The shields were thick enough to stop bullets. The three misfits were pleased.
Henry finally asked: “And who are you, friend?”
The demon chuckled. “I am Furfur, a duke of our underworld. I was sent to direct you here and now, and if you fail, your punishment will be great. Your master is watching and his minions are ready to replace you. Do not fail.”
“Who’s our master?” Shawn replied.
Furfur laughed deeply. “Who do you think? Hahaha! We will be watching!” He backed away, shaking the air and cabin, and when he stepped on the ground outside, he spun like a drill bit into the earth’s surface, disappearing from sight.
The bears led the way through the thick pines back toward civilization. It was early morning, and so would the assault be. The group knew what was ahead and what had to be done. Shawn carried an axe; Henry and Marcus chose swords and daggers.
The morning dew dripped from the trees as the forest once again came to life. Birds were chirping, but squirrels froze when the death pack strolled through. The crunching of dry leaves resting on the forest floor signaled their location to any nearby listening critters.
The bears picked up on the scent of the police station first. They had known it was near the south side of Main Street, which was north of the ice cream parlor. They walked in this direction until they saw the traffic. A couple of joggers ran by a few hundred yards below, and the bears instantly became agitated. The three demons had to hold them back and assure them that the time to feast would be soon. The group pushed on, moving up the tree line, north in the direction of the police station. The rear parking lots of most stores held dumpsters and cars of merchants looking to open their businesses for the day. City Hall was up on a hill, off to the right side of Main Street, and behind it, was the police station. Once the station came into sight, the pack held back, staying hidden in the trees. They stood and watched, remaining as still as the trees around them.
Chapter 42
It was 8 a.m. He couldn’t wait any longer. He had to keep gathering and looking for anything to add to his growing arsenal of protective tools. The holy water would only take him so far. He needed to arm his hands for close combat. The first idea was a machete or something light that he could swing. Luckily, the hardware store was close to the book shop in the center of town. He knew the route well.
Noah and his mother had gotten home rather late the night before. Their visit to the hospital was cathartic. He had spent some solid time with Wendy and rekindled their relationship. She had needed to vent, and he was there for support, a role he played well. Evelyn spent most of her time standing with Josh, keeping the conversation minimal. Josh lacked the gift of gab, and Evelyn was too tired to make idle conversation. But they had all been there for Earl.
By the time Noah and his mother had arrived home, it was well after midnight, and they eagerly found their beds. Yet, other matters occupied the boy’s mind. He knew he had a job to do.
On this morning, he woke to the sun poking through his window blinds and warming his face. He was used to it. After a quick wash, a granola bar, and a cold glass of milk, he was out the door, having first checked on Evelyn, who was still soundly asleep.
He grabbed his bike and scooped Keeper up into his arms. Sitting in the basket on his bike had by now become Keeper’s routine. They were mentally synched. When Noah spoke to her, she listened, even though she didn’t have to. Their minds were connected on a higher dimensional level. She read and understood his thoughts, and at times, he was catching fragments of hers.
His mind was evolving, slowly and surely. The walls were expanding by the day. He thought he should start meditating on a daily basis, but he didn’t really know where to start. Maybe if he saw the twins again, he would ask for their advice.
But, first things first. He needed to arm himself against the evil forces that had leaked out of the book in his room that night. He did not take his task lightly.
The ride into town was quick. It did not take him long to arrive on Main Street, and by the time he got there, the sun was blinding on his naked eyes. He looked at Keeper. She didn’t need his protection; he needed hers.
Now he cranked his throttle high; there was no slowing, and he wanted to get to the store just as it opened. But then he noticed a pack of beings crossing the street, and clearly, something was off. He slowed his bike to rest behind a parked car.
Noah wanted to stay out of sight, and Keeper had started to glow. He sensed something was not right, and the fact that she was lighting up proved that the three weird men walking in the distance did not jive with his gut. He sensed danger, and his intuition told him there would be great peril.
This would be spiritual warfare, and he knew this when he saw two large black bears stroll behind the posse. They were headed in the direction of the station. What was this? Were these his targets? The story from the night before when Earl had lost his arm instantly clicked. Seeing the group armed with shields and swords, Noah was nervous.
He remained hidden. The group of demons had not yet detected him or Keeper’s light. He laid his bike down on the sidewalk, and Keeper began to glow brighter. Together they watched from a crouching position.
The death pack finally crossed Main Street, sticking out like a sore thumb. They walked without fear across the street and right up to the police station. Many members of the force were still at the scene of the murder, so only a couple of cruisers were parked out front, and there were only a handful of cops working inside.
A unit getting ready to work their beat were just pulling out on their route when they saw the group. They slammed on the brakes. Officer Barrow, who was sitting shotgun, grabbed the radio mic hanging in the car and sent out a message: “Ahh, Captain … you’re going to want to send units to the station immediately.”
The captain responded quickly from his field position. “What do you have for a code?”
“We’re under attack, I think.”
“What the hell’s going on?”
“I think we found our perps. They’re walking into the station now, and the bears are following.”
“All units! All units; please be advised. We’ve got a situation at the station. All assistance is needed.”
Barrow’s partner, Officer Whitman, got out of the car and with his gun ready, started walking toward the front door of his station. When he got closer, he yelled.
“Stop!”
The pack turned to face him, but Henry had already made his way through the front door. The bears then turned and faced the cop, who was just fifty feet away. They growled, and Shawn and Marcus stood before the front door. Marcus looked at Whitman and smirked.
“Attack!” he cried. The bears lunged at the officer who instantly started shooting from his 9mm into the heads of the oncoming bears. The bullets did not slow their movement, however. Whitman now knew the gun wouldn’t do any good in slowing down the enemy. He back-pedaled but tripped.
The bears pounced and started ripping and tearing with their teeth and sharp claws. Reacting as if they were amped up on steroids, the bears exhibited immense strength, and it only took a few moments to dismember the officer.
Shots were then heard from inside the station. Henry had made his way in and hadn’t wasted any time. Shawn and Marcus sauntered in shortly after, and when Officer Barrow reached the horrific scene on the sidewalk, he started blasting holes into the sides of the bears. The wounds were evident as the first large bear pulled back in pain and had to shake it off befor
e another blast entered into his stomach. When Barrow shot off the third round in the right shoulder of the big bear, the female came unglued and sprung at him, knocking the gun out of his hands. She naturally used her claws to slash his throat, effectively decapitating him.
Noah was horrified by the blood-curdling screams and gruesome sights, all of which were audible and visible from his crouched position. He felt inside his pockets for the small wooden figurine, but it was not there. He was armed with nothing! Fortunately, he still had Keeper by his side, but he felt as if there was not much she could do to help. He needed the small, carved statue to signal the twins. He hadn’t thought this morning would amount to anything more than a trip to the hardware store, especially after last night’s commotion. He needed to be better prepared, and at all times.
More shots rang out from inside the precinct where Henry was on a killing spree. He had been wounded in his legs, but not enough to slow him down. He peered out the window just as two more police cars arrived and parked strategically to block off traffic.
All four officers got out and started firing rounds into both bears. The bullets were more like bee bites from their distance. The big bear picked himself up, dripping in blood from his wounds, and charged at the cars with all that he had left. Bullets continued to fire. As the beast neared the first car, he trapped the cop against the side of it and lunged for his throat.
Another officer grabbed a shot gun and came around to the side, behind the attacking beast, and shot it at point-blank range in the back of the neck. The body of the bear eventually gave out, blood quickly pooling in the street. The Nephilim’s sibling saw this and knocked over the attacking officer from the side, detaching the man’s scalp from his skull. The cop screamed in pain before his neck was slashed. The remaining two cops came back from around the car to get into better position to fend off the attacking monster.
