Smithy grabbed Mass by the arm and pulled him away from the bus. “Keep moving, remember?”
Mass raised his Benelli and opened a hole in a demon’s chest. The burnt man continued standing for a moment before collapsing backwards. Smithy started popping shots from his handguns, hitting targets like he was at a fairground. Addy took out demons left and right with her shotgun. Slowly, the other Vampires converged on their location, and they became a team again.
The wall around the docks was twenty feet away. The driver had parked them almost on the doorstep. Mass looked for him, wanting to bring him in and keep him safe, but he was already dead. His body lay slumped against the bus’s front tyre. The driver had been one of the first out of the door. The guy had been one brave bastard.
Men fired from atop the wall, trying to clear a gap in the line of demons large enough for the two hundred survivors to get through. Thomas led his men in an assault, ordering them to concentrate their fire in the right places and hold their line at all times. He was in his element, and Mass had to admit the old man had courage. It was easy to see why men followed him.
The fighting raged on and men fell in their dozens. The demons were everywhere. The wall was right ahead, only a stone’s throw away.
“We’re not gonna make it,” said Mass. “Damn it, we’re so close, but we’re not gonna make it.”
Smithy still fought beside him. “What should we do? Make a run for it?”
Mass thought about the gate, and his chances of making it there. Could he run now and manage to reach it? More likely he would be dead before he made it half a mile.
More gunfire erupted. It came from behind them, lighting up a shadowy side street. Demons fell in droves, blindsided.
Cullen appeared with the other remaining Urban Vampires. They unleashed hell, putting to use the heavy weaponry Wanstead had supplied them. The demons were hit from three sides, forcing them close up. It made hitting them even easier, and within seconds, a gap appeared in the centre of their ranks.
“Come on,” said Addy. “There’s our ticket.” She turned to Mass, taking her eye off the fight for a single second.
Mass called out a warning, but it was too late.
A primate lunged for Addy’s throat.
Smithy shoved her aside and filled the primate full of bullets. He popped off shots with both handguns until the thing was lying in a bloody puddle on the floor, then he blew away the smoke from his barrels. “You can thank me later, sweetheart.”
Addy looked sick, but she nodded. “We live through this and I’ll thank you twice.”
Smithy blushed, but they all got moving. Cullen and the others fought their way in from the side while Thomas led his surviving men from the front. The men on the walls fired continuously, working to keep the gap open. More demons came from the ruins.
Guards threw open a small gate in the wall. If any demons got through, Portsmouth would spring a permanent leak. They could only afford to open it for a matter of seconds, and only while the demons were kept at bay.
We need to move.
Mass hung back and secured the rear as the first group made it through the gate. Thomas disappeared inside with them, surviving yet again.
Cullen and his team reached Mass and they formed up into a team of over twenty. Cullen gave Mass a wink. “Looks like I came just in time.”
“We wouldn’t have made it without you. Cheers.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The demons began to recover. One of Cullen’s men fell as a primate pounced on him. Mass took the demon out with his Benelli, but it was too late to save the Vampire. “Get inside before they close the gate.”
Everyone sprinted for safety, forgetting the fight and focusing only on reaching the gate. The question was whether the guards would wait long enough for them to make it through.
Thomas stood behind the guards, a smile on his face as he patted them on the back.
Crimolok reaches the edge of the city, where the buildings and pathways give way to the sea. Floating vessels wait there, perhaps unreachable, but there are still enough humans left in the city to feast on. Blood stains the city of Portsmouth and it will never again see the sun. Night falls, and this time it will be everlasting.
Humanity’s last battle has arrived. Once Portsmouth falls, God’s power will finally be at an end. Too few souls remain to keep his barrier in place. The tipping point has been reached.
Only one last push is needed.
And then the universe shall burn.
16
Men screamed for mercy as the gate closed on them, but Mass and his team had made it through. For a moment he had feared Thomas would betray them and leave them stranded outside the wall, but he hadn’t done so. A dozen or more had been too late, though, and they now wailed to be let inside. Their pleas ended seconds later.
The fighting continued atop the wall, men slapping in new magazines and firing hundreds of rounds a minute. Portsmouth wasn’t toothless yet, but there was no amount of ammunition that could harm Crimolok. Once the giant monster arrived, it was all over.
Mass estimated that a hundred or so had made it back from the fort. As rescue missions went, it was abysmal, yet it still felt like a miracle. Mass and Cullen still had most of their Vampires. Along with Smithy and Addy, there was eighteen of them. Was it enough to get him to the gate? On foot, it would take them two days at least to get there, and probably with demons to fight the entire way. It seemed impossible, but the only thing Mass could do was close the gate. He could keep Crimolok from destroying whatever worlds were left, and from destroying Heaven and all the good souls that had earned their place there.
Mass needed to get to the gate. There had to be a way.
Wanstead arrived to meet them, unable to hide his surprise when he saw Thomas alive and well. “General, your safe return is” – he seemed lost for words – “remarkable.”
“A miracle is what it is,” said Thomas. “You’ve done a fine job holding down the fort here, Colonel. How go our defences?”
“We’re shelling the city, hoping to thin the demons out, but they keep on coming. Their attacks were lighter at first, but now it’s a full-on assault. I’m not sure how much longer our ammunition can last at this rate.”
“I shall lead us to victory, Colonel, mark my words. An angel brought me back to life so that I can ensure mankind’s survival.”
“You’re shitting me,” said Smithy, rolling his eyes.
Wanstead seemed confused, but he didn’t say anything. Thomas glared at Smithy, but Mass stood in front of his friend and took on the ire for himself. “Join the club, Thomas. Same angel healed me, so what does that mean?”
“That you were needed in order to safeguard my return. Without your help, Mass, I would be a dead man, no doubt about it. I am grateful for your courage, but your mission is complete.”
Wanstead nodded. “Your mission was, indeed, to rescue Thomas and his people. I see very few of the thousand I hoped for, however.”
“You’re lucky to get this many,” said Addy.
“Enough talk,” said Thomas. “I have orders for the men.”
Wanstead glanced at Mass for a moment – it was a gesture of uncertainty – but Mass gave him a subtle nod. When Wanstead turned back to Thomas, he spoke nervously. “I’m afraid I must insist you leave the city’s defences in my hands, General Thomas. The men are following orders, and to change them now would cause disruption we cannot afford.”
Thomas’s cheeks reddened. “I beg your pardon?”
“I’m afraid, for now, sir, you are not in charge. I must remain in charge of our defence.”
“Ha!” Thomas turned to one of the soldiers who had refused to abandon him back at the fort. Immediately, the man raised a handgun to Wanstead’s head. Several others did the same. The guards with Wanstead seemed uncertain of what to do, but Mass noticed something about them that would help. They were all Wickstaff’s people. They had no loyalty to Thomas.
Smart m
an.
Mass whipped his Benelli up and aimed it at Thomas’s chest. “Wanstead calls the shots until this is over. He and I have unfinished business after that, but no matter what happens, your time in charge is done, Thomas. You murdered Amanda Wickstaff.”
The men with Wanstead looked at each other. Several raised their weapons, pointing them at Thomas’s men.
“I did no such thing.”
“You murdered Amanda Wickstaff,” said Mass again, louder. “You murdered the woman who saved this city so that you could take it for yourself. It’s time you paid for it.”
Thomas’s men were nervous. Their eyes darted back and forth, weighing up the odds. So far it was an even split between them and Wanstead’s people, but then the Urban Vampires raised their weapons in support of Wanstead. Those wavering finally raised their weapons against Thomas too.
Mass smiled. “Looks like the vote is in. You lose.”
Thomas shook his head, eyes wide, mouth twisted in a cruel smile. “You fools. I’ve been chosen by God to save us. Any who oppose me shall burn in Hell.”
“I like him even less now he’s found God,” said Smithy.
“I agree,” said Addy. “He was less of a prick when he was dying.”
“I almost gave up,” said Thomas, “but it was a test. I did the right thing and I was healed for my sacrifices. We are wasting time here, Wanstead, so order your misguided men to stand down.”
Mass raised his Benelli so it was pointing at Thomas’s head. “You ain’t in charge no more, Thomas. If you don’t stand down, I’m going to blow your fucking head off.”
Wanstead raised his sidearm and pointed it at Thomas’s face. “I’m sorry to have to do this, sir, but I insist you do as Mr Mass says.”
“I shall do no such thing. Lower your weapons now and I promise the matter will go no further.”
No one lowered their weapons. Nobody moved. With the number of people involved, no one wanted to be the first to pull the trigger. Thomas’s men were outnumbered, but they showed no sign of stepping down.
Mass wanted to shoot Thomas in the face and be done with it, consequences be damned, but that would erase any hope of getting to the gate and destroying it. There were too many guns on him to get out of the Mexican stand-off alive. Thomas might think he was mankind’s saviour, but Mass felt like he was the one with the divine task. He had to walk away from this in one piece. He didn’t see any other choice. Thomas was too arrogant – or deluded – to give in, and meanwhile Portsmouth was being attacked.
Someone has to be in charge, even if it’s Thomas. Goddamn it, I don’t want to do this.
But what choice do I have?
The air cracked like a whip, making everyone flinch. Luckily, no weapons were discharged. The hair on Mass’s arms rose. Thomas’s white mop of hair stood on end. The world seemed to split apart. The air imploded, forming a swirling kaleidoscope of colour.
A blast of air sent everyone for cover. No one knew what was happening.
A gate appeared right in front of them.
“This can’t be good,” said Smithy.
“Get those handguns loaded,” said Addy, crouching beside him.
Demons were about to spawn behind their defences. They would tear the docks apart from the inside. It was the worst thing that could’ve have happened.
But Mass was wrong.
A person stepped through the gate, someone Mass recognised. His mouth fell open. The person was Maddy.
Where the hell has she been?
Maddy walked out of the gate and marched right up to Thomas. The old man was shaking his head, utterly confused. “What? How did you?”
Maddy lifted a handgun and aimed it at Thomas’s head. She pulled the trigger and splattered his brains all over the men standing behind him.
“That was for Amanda.”
The stand-off resumed, Thomas’s shocked men drawing weapons on Maddy while Mass’s people pulled weapons on them. Wanstead’s people took cover and aimed their rifles at the people coming through the mysterious gate that had appeared right inside their walls.
It was chaotic.
Maddy stood over Thomas’s corpse, not seeming to care about all of the guns being pointed at her. Commander Tosco appeared behind her and placed an arm around her. He whispered something in her ear, and slowly her body relaxed until she lowered the still smoking handgun to her side.
Wanstead broke the silence. His voice was respectful and curious rather than authoritative or demanding. “You’re Maddy, correct? Commander Tosco, I believe we’ve met several times. Where exactly have you come from?”
Maddy glared. “We just got our backsides handed to us in a fight with the demons. We’ve come here to make sure the same doesn’t happen to Portsmouth.”
Everyone panicked. At first Mass didn’t know why, but then he saw that a huge demon had emerged from the gate. It was the real deal, with horns, hooves and wings.
Tosco threw a hand up and barked in his officer’s voice, “Nobody do a thing. He’s a friend. You can call him Sorrow, but he likely won’t respond.”
The men looked at each other nervously, but mostly they were confused.
A young girl appeared next, sidling up behind the demon and clutching her stomach like she needed to run to the toilet. She waved a hand and smiled. “Please don’t shoot Sorrow. He’s a big fluffy kitten really. Also, if you shoot him, he’ll kill you all.”
The big demon bowed. “That is correct. I will.”
The next person who came through the gate shocked Mass. It was Damien. At least… sort of. Same face, same height, a little skinnier, but definitely Damien – or his twin brother. “D-Damien?”
The doppelgänger raised an eyebrow. “Do I know you?”
“In a way. Your name is Damien?”
“Yeah. How did you know that?”
Mass shook his head. “It doesn’t matter, but be prepared for a shock.”
“Um, okay.”
“We need to get back in the fight,” said Addy. “Can we sort out everything else later?”
One of Thomas’s men pointed at the old man’s headless corpse. “She just executed our leader.”
“He might be your leader,” said Maddy, “but he was never mine.”
“Mine neither,” said Mass, nodding at his friend. It was good to see her.
“Or mine,” said Tosco.
“There’s no time to fight each other,” said Smithy. “Can’t we just get along. For the love of all that’s holy?”
Wanstead stomped a foot. “With Thomas out of the picture, I am the commanding officer in Portsmouth. I order everyone to focus solely on the only thing that matters right now – defending the walls and preventing our extinction. Leave your grievances aside and get to it. Now!”
Many of the men scattered, seemingly glad to escape the tense situation. More people were coming through the gate. They nearly all lacked weapons.
Wanstead moved in front of Mass. “I will leave you with these newcomers as you seem to know them. Do whatever you can, I beg you.”
“I’ll do what I can. Good luck, Colonel.”
Wanstead took off, leaving Mass with his Urban Vampires and the people from the gate. They were a right mix. Although there were a few dozen fit, young fighters, most were children or the elderly, the wounded and weak. Now that he looked at them, he saw burdens instead of reinforcements. “These people can’t fight.”
“Speak for yowself,” said a small man in the crowd. His face was almost completely covered in thick black hair.
“Some of us can fight,” said Maddy. “The others are who we are fighting for. If we have any chance of surviving as a species, these children need to live.”
Mass nodded.
Smithy pulled a face at a little girl, but he stopped when Addy elbowed him in the ribs. Mass shook his head and sighed. Seeing the immediate effect the children had on those around them, even during a siege, made him realise that Maddy was right. A world without children was no world at a
ll.
“Okay,” said Mass, “we’ll keep these children safe. Cullen, you and your team are on permanent guard duty. Protect them with your lives.”
Cullen was likely unhappy receiving babysitting duties, but he nodded all the same. “Nothing’ll get past us, I promise.”
Maddy squeezed Mass’s biceps. “It’s good to see you, Mass. Still working out, I see.”
He chuckled. “Just getting up in the morning is a workout lately. It’s good to see you too, Maddy. Shall we go and kill some demons?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
Maddy couldn’t believe how much things had changed in the time she’d been away. Portsmouth was under siege and half its inhabitants were dead, led to slaughter by Thomas. At least the bastard was dead now.
And at my hand. How do I feel about that?
And she couldn’t believe Thomas had been the very first person she’d seen after stepping through the gate. She’d been floating in a void, unable to see anyone or anything for so long that she feared it would never end. Then the world had come rushing back and she was staring at the man who had killed her lover. It was like nothing else existed but anger, and she’d been unable to stop herself from doing anything except taking a step forward and shooting Thomas in the face. It was too fine a gift to ignore.
She was glad Thomas was dead, but it didn’t bring back any of the people she’d lost. That was why it was so good to see Mass and Addy again. Portsmouth had changed, but there were still plenty of familiar faces. It was her home and she would fight for it.
Now, atop a firing platform on the east wall, she unleashed round after round at the incoming hordes. She had survived countless battles but had never encountered anything like this. The sheer number of demons racing through the ruined city was demoralising; she could see it on the faces of all those around her. No one expected to win. They were fighting only because there was no other choice. There would be no prisoners of war, no signing of peace treaties. This was a war of extermination, and you fought until you died, not just for yourself but for anyone who managed to survive longer than you.
Hell On Earth Box Set | Books 1-6 Page 163
