by Caleb Smith
“Well to be honest, Mom. I’m not sure I fully understand, myself, but I’m getting there. I know it is up to me to stop what we just saw. There are powerful beings of light that have given me these tools to ensure my success. And they are depending on me.”
“Why you? Why us?”
Noah didn’t answer. He wanted to avoid driving her further into this hysterical state. Evelyn peered over at him, and suddenly the answer hit her – the one she had been avoiding all along. She had always known her son was special; she just had no idea to what extent this was true. But after what she had just witnessed at the hospital, she was beginning to get an idea.
Finally, Evelyn pulled into the large, gravel driveway and slammed the car into park.
“Take Earl inside,” Noah directed. “I have to prepare to call the twins to our aid. It’s time.”
She didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, but she trusted that he knew what to do to ensure their safety.
“Lock the door, Mom, and keep everyone inside. Don’t worry about me; I am well protected.”
She looked at him with tears in her eyes as she helped Earl out of the back seat.
“Under no circumstances are you to come outside. It’s me they want, and it’s me that they’ll get.”
Evelyn began to cry again, knowing the evil that would be coming for her son. She couldn’t bear the thought of it, but she listened to him. She took Earl inside and locked the door.
Noah, meanwhile, made his way over to the junkyard gates and opened them wide. He then walked into the middle of the yard and stood with his sword clenched tight in his left hand. He dug into his pocket and retrieved the palm-sized carved figurine that now held the shape of what appeared to be a saint. Noah rubbed his thumb up and down the talisman and awaited the arrival of the beasts. He would wait until they were in front of him before slamming the statue down on the ground to call the twins into action. His hope was that the dark-hooded demon would show as well, with Keeper. He feared for her safety and needed the twins to help get her back.
Chapter 53
“What do you mean that Noah is out there waiting for evil men to show up so he can protect us? Are you serious?” Wendy said, incredulously. She glared at Evelyn.
Showing up at the house unexpectedly with Earl had been enough to get her riled up, especially when she knew that he still needed to be in the hospital. He remained out of it, and Josh placed him gently on the couch. “What the hell is going on?” Wendy screamed.
“The men who attacked us at the ice cream shop, though they looked different tonight, came to the hospital and killed people. Noah showed up unexpectedly and helped us escape and get here. Don’t ask me how he did it, but he did.”
“So, he’s outside now? Where is he? He should be in here with us!” Wendy looked out the window, her heart beating rapidly.
“He’s in the yard; he has a sword for protection, though I’m not sure where he got it.”
Wendy looked at Evelyn with astonishment. “Is this a bad dream? This has to be a bad dream, because this can’t be real.”
Josh remained quiet, listening to the story. He was further inclined to believe the tale, having had first-hand experience with the blood-thirsty creatures. Yet, he couldn’t grasp how scrawny Noah would be able to stop these evil forces. Logic told him to get the gun and load it.
“I’m going to get the gun,” he put his thoughts into words.
“Well, if Noah is out there all alone, then I’m going to help him,” Wendy added and made a dash for the front door, grabbing a baseball bat on her way.
“You can’t go out there Wendy,” Evelyn shook her head slowly. “They will kill you.”
“Oh, you mean like what they will probably do to Noah?” She was angry. She opened the door and stormed out onto the front porch.
Evelyn put her hands to her face. This was all just too much. Wendy was chastising her for allowing her son to confront the evil alone. Yet, she alone now understood that her son had powers beyond her comprehension. She trusted him to do what he said he was going to do.
As the door slammed, Josh came down the stairs with a hand cannon and loaded the chamber with three-inch shells. Where is Wendy?” He scanned the room for his sister.
“She stormed outside to go find Noah. I just don’t know what to do anymore!”
“Stay here with Dad. I’ll go out and help them. At least I have this.” He clicked the chamber shut and swung the gun up to his shoulder.
“Yes. Please help them, Josh. I’m so scared.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” he said, cramming a fistful of loose shells in his greased jeans pocket before heading for the door. Once he was gone, Evelyn went to the kitchen and found a large knife and joined Earl on the couch. She gripped the weapon tightly and tried to calm her anxiety.
Meanwhile, Wendy stormed through the gates holding the aluminum baseball bat tight in her grip. “Noah!” She yelled. “What the hell are you doing out here, and where did you find that sword?”
Noah couldn’t help grinning. It seemed the old, bossy Wendy was back; but as glad as he was to see her, he knew it wasn’t safe for her to be outside. “You really have to leave Wendy; go back inside, because when they come, they will kill. And, I’m the only person who can stop them.”
“What the heck are you taking about? Who are they? And where did you get that sword?”
“They’re creatures of the damned, Wendy, the same ones who tried to kill my mother and your father. They are the group you’ve seen on the news, and they massacred many more tonight at the hospital. This has to end, and I’ll stand and fight until I’ve eradicated this evil force. But you need to go inside where it is safe.”
They both heard sound of feet crunching on gravel, and shortly after, Josh came into view, sauntering toward them with his oversized hand gun. “What are you guys doing? Why don’t you come back to the house” He looked at Noah closely. “If what I think might be coming here actually shows up, then we are going to want as much protection as possible.” He looked around. “We are sitting ducks out here, and it’s dark. They could come attack us from any direction. If they are coming, then we should, at least, be a little better prepared for them.”
What Josh proposed made perfect sense, but neither he nor Wendy understood the extent of Noah’s new found capabilities. They didn’t know the extent of the situation, and they surely wouldn’t understand his summoning call to the twins. Noah wanted to stick to his own plan.
“If the both of you don’t leave now, then you will most likely die.”
Wendy lowered her brow and glared at him. “Well what about you, stupid? Do you think you will fend them off single-handedly? That everything will turn out fine?”
Noah answered with his inner samurai. “Yes, I do. I’ve already killed two tonight, and now I plan to send the rest back to hell.”
“Well, this is my property, and I’m not going anywhere,” she said, defiantly.
Noah shook his head and shot a look of appeal to Josh. Josh looked resigned and tired and unwilling to weigh in on the matter.
“Suit yourself,” Noah finally sighed. “Just promise me one thing? If you make it out alive, don’t ask me how or why, because I won’t be explaining it to you.”
Wendy glanced at him with a questioning look. She didn’t know what he was referring to, but she soon would.
“Let’s all just go back up to the house; I think it’s the safest thing to do,” Josh said in a last-ditch effort to sway the kids.
“I can’t, Josh, I have to stay here. This is where I have to be,” Noah replied. He then looked at Wendy.
“I’m not going anywhere, and I really don’t care who is coming.”
“Oh, but you will, Wendy.”
Chapter 54
The demonic men had gotten more violent and primal. They were now as close to wild animals than ever before, and they had a singular goal right now; to stop the boy and rid him of his powers. The Nephilim siblings were in the front of the pac
k as they made their way to the Sherman ranch. They were close.
Once the house was in distant view, they slowed their step to a crawl. Hungry for the next meal, they let their noses lead the way toward the gates of the junkyard. And, as they approached, they jumped the fence with relative ease, landing like cats in front of the wall. Stealthily, they crept though the rusted metal heaps that scattered the landscape
They circled their prey undetected, stalkers in the night. The moon was full, yet cloud covered. The evil group silently fell in as they spotted their three targets. They smiled to see that these little lambs had come with weapons. At least they would have a little fun before their feast. They then stepped out of the shadows.
Noah was the first to spot the demons.
“Ah, guys? We have company.”
Josh and Wendy spun around. They saw hideous monsters advancing in their direction. Wendy gripped her bat tightly, and for the first time in years, she was frightened.
Then the dogs appeared – hounds of hell with sharp teeth and massive heads. There were four of them, all with darkened features, led by minions, who trailed behind the black-hooded demon.
“You really are fools, all of you,” Furfur mocked. “What did you think you could possibly do? It would have been better for you to have fallen in line with the rest and not have attempted a fight. But now, because of your resistance, I will take your souls.”
Furfur then pulled the cat from beneath his cloak. Her eyes were big and full of fear. She looked over to Noah beseechingly. Noah’s heart ached, but he needed to appear strong. He narrowed his eyes and said, “Is that all you’ve got?”
Surprised by the boy’s reaction, Furfur laughed. “Well, do you think I should call for more?”
Noah was quick to reply; “Yeah, I’m thinking you might need to.”
Wendy took in the scene, amazed at Noah’s gumption. If she could have run, she would have, but she had nowhere to go.
Noah felt around in his pocket for the small wooden statue of the saint, and then slammed it down it into the gravel upright. Wendy and Josh looked at him like he had lost his mind.
Furfur laughed out loud. He had no idea what would ensue by this action. But soon enough, the ground started to shake around the figurine. A bright beam of light appeared, extending to the sky. The dark creatures were compelled to look away, and they covered their eyes. Furfur, however, knew now what it was – a signaling device for the twins. He swiftly tried to kick the statue over.
But lightning had gathered in the sky, and thunder cracked. The night sky opened up and two large figures fell from its midst. When they landed holding two battle axes, the earth shook. Enoch landed in front of the small group of three humans. Elijah fell behind the demon Furfur.
Elijah reached out and snatched Keeper from the demon’s arms. Furfur now had much more on his plate than merely holding a guardian hostage. Elijah calmed her and telepathically reassured her that everything was fine. He instructed Keeper to build a safety field and go to Noah, and she did so, faithfully. At last, the two were reunited and Noah felt her protective light.
“Furfur, I see you deem it necessary to bring guests. Did you not think three on three would be sufficient?” Enoch’s voice was powerful.
“The boy has no rights on the physical surface. This plane belongs to us and you know that. I am only doing what has been instructed of me, just like you.”
“The boy will not be going anywhere with you tonight. My brother and I are here to guarantee that, and there is nothing you or your group of dogs can do about it.”
Furfur became agitated, but suppressed his anger. He knew the powers that the twins emitted; he knew the odds.
“Since this seems to be mostly about the boy, then why don’t we let the boy prove himself. After all, he was the one who let my friends here out of your precious tablet. If you believe in your boy, why don’t you let him prove his worth?”
Furfur knew the path on which the boy walked, as well as the path that the twins wanted for him in gaining spiritual supremacy. The demon used it to his advantage, the only leverage he could conjure. At least this way he still might come out on the winning end.
“Your minions and their dogs came from the ground, and they have nothing to do with this,” Elijah said. “If this is to be as it was destined, then the boy shall face the three covered by flesh. Capture is no longer in the cards; these rogue spirits have inflicted too much pain and death. Their existence becomes a new tablet in the life of Noah Thomas, whether his body dies here and tonight, or they will be extinguished by his sword and refined to dust and ash, never to be thought of or seen again.”
Enoch stood by, battle axe ready, but he agreed with his brother.
Furfur smiled. He liked the odds. “Then, so be it.”
Wendy’s jaw now dragged, and Josh shook his head, trying to rid his mind of impossible thoughts.
“Back your minions up, and give them space. Come with me, dear children,” Enoch said, gathering this innocent flock with a big arm. Noah stood in the center circle, three pieces of rotting flesh spread around him.
Elijah spoke next, “Revert to your inner warrior, Noah, and focus. Keeper will help protect you. Hold your sword tight, and use it with authority. Keeper is a symbol of your faith in protection. You will now be on your own until your opponents stand no more. Good luck.”
“What about his cat,” Furfur added. “He shouldn’t be able to use his cat – it’s an unfair advantage. My soldiers don’t have weapons.”
“The cat stays. The boy has earned her protection. If your minions need weapons, then arm them, and let’s get started.”
“You heard him,” Furfur boasted, “Toss them over to your comrades.”
Keeper was returned to Noah, and he set her on the ground gently.
“Stay with me,” he said. “I’m so happy to have you back. I need you now more than ever, my friend.” She gazed up at him and meowed in admiration.
“Let it begin!” The demon duke shouted.
Chapter 55
They came swiftly, just as Noah had anticipated. And Noah himself was transformed, having become one with his past life. He moved like a samurai, both offensively and defensively, without skipping a beat. The whip lashed out first, its reach slicing targets twenty or more feet away. Keeper suddenly threw her protective light-bubble around herself and the boy. As the bubble was struck by the whip, it was temporarily sliced, but the protective light quickly repaired the damage – at least for a while. But then swordsmen closed in, driving their weapons at the boy and his cat. The repeated slashes took their toll on the integrity of the bubble, and it started to wear away. The poisoned demonic weapon tips at last seemed to be working in hell’s favor.
Noah rolled away from the action, placing all three enemies in front of him, and the light from his necklace rendered his enemies temporarily blind. Keeper was still by his side. As they came at him, he intercepted their strikes with his own blade, his expert maneuvering the result of a lifetime of practice long ago. Yet, he still had his hands full.
Wendy watched him worriedly. “Come on, Noah,” she said under her tongue, her own fists clenched and simulating punches. The twins, too, watched, but with stony faces that were contemplating his every move. Hell’s minions on the sidelines howled and cheered, and the dogs barked and lunged forward, wanting in on the action. At one point, a dog broke free of its chain and charged toward Noah’s throat. Elijah saw this and immediately threw his axe, intercepting the dog en route.
Furfur saw the incident and told the minions not to let the dogs interfere. Noah focused only on those who looked to end his existence with their poisoned blades. He was able to keep himself in front of them using the light of his necklace to his advantage. It wasn’t until the whip-wielding Henry got behind him and cut the tip through the protective light force and nicked the boy’s back that Noah felt vulnerable. The mild strike instantly hurt and stung him, and he lost concentration. He fell to a knee, holding the swo
rd above his head to fend off whatever subsequent strikes he could. He was losing faith, and he would soon fall if he did not quickly regain it.
“Noah, pick yourself up. Believe in this battle that you have wrought. Your soul and this earth depend on your unbreakable faith at this moment. Block out the pain and become one with all things that surround you. Contemplate every strike – see it coming and react accordingly. If you can do this, then you will triumph.” Noah had read Enoch’s thoughts loud and clear, and he now dug deep into his mind.
He began moving with a certain rhythm. His mind entered a clear, meditative state. All the boy had needed was a little guidance, and now he would do the rest. He was now finding his way into their assaulting future, and he was ten strikes ahead of theirs before they could swing their blades in real time.
With his next move, he stepped to the side and sliced the leg off one Nephilim. Noah then leaped off the ground, stepped on the creature cop’s head, and turned his attention to the oncoming sibling. For the brief moment that he jumped away from Keeper, he had lost her protection, but he felt unstoppable.
In his next move, he slashed the beast across the chest and stomach as it fell forward. He reached for his vial of holy water and poured it on the Nephilims head, melting the being before chopping the rest of its head clean off. Noah took a breath, but it wasn’t for long. The first Nephilim, now on one leg, was on his heels.
Noah took his sword and slashed down on the beast from over his head. The flesh-rotting cop intercepted the strike with his sword, but it was not enough. Noah’s force and fire blade cut and snapped the demonic weapon in half as he kicked the creature to the ground. He rolled forward coming to a kneeling position next to the creature, who was lying flat on his back. He held the sword up to his side and drove it down through the stomach while twisting it back and forth. The savage roared in great pain, attempting to reach out to bite Noah on the arm, who was still holding the handle of the sword. The boy then dumped the rest of holy water on the attacking face of the possessed man. It melted his head, giving his sword time to finish the job. Ultimately, the remaining Nephilim combusted into particles of ash and cosmic dust. Noah didn’t linger in his position. Keeper had come to his aid just in time, as the whip from close by extended and slashed the bubble near his head.
