“Ain’t taking no risks, little girl.”
“You’re pathetic.”
“Saying something like that to me is close to heresy, or haven’t you heard? I’m the chosen one,” said Pastor Warren with a wide grin.
I laughed. Yeah, right. “Oh give me a break,” I replied. “I know it’s all a big fake, and it’s so damn obvious. So obvious it’s crazy everyone fell for it in the first place. You use damn ropes to float. We saw the machine down there, and you play sounds through speakers in the walls.”
“Airplane wire, actually. It’s thin, able to support a lot of weight, and virtually invisible when the lights are dimmed. I attached myself to it when you all had your eyes closed, and then released the catch to fall to the ground. Simple, yes, but I don’t think it was so damn obvious. Little Miss Skeptic herself didn’t figure it out, and you’re just about the last person who’d ever trust me. It’s easy when you have one real paranormal event. Then anything else becomes possible.”
He made sense. Obviously, he made sense. It had worked, after all. “Did you get Mirabel involved with the plan too? To make it less suspicious? Show that someone else could float too, not just you?”
“Nah,” replied Pastor Warren. “She was my test, just got the equipment, didn’t want to try it out on myself, now did I? Then she started enjoying all the attention—that got a bit annoying I have to admit.”
Selfish bastard. “Well, once people learn the truth about the angels, none of this is going to matter anyway. You’re done, Pastor Warren.”
“Ain’t nobody learning the truth,” he replied. “Couldn’t decide what to do with him, figured no one would believe him anyway. But he was damn unhelpful, wouldn’t tell me anything about his kind.” Pastor Warren glared at Gabe.
“I told you I didn’t remember!” replied Gabe fiercely.
“A likely story. ’Course you remember, deep down.”
Gabe just shook his head. “There ain’t nothing I can say, can I?”
“Well, you can keep pretending all you want. I’m done,” replied Pastor Warren and there was an edge to that melodic voice of his that hadn’t been there before. “Just have to get rid of the evidence and it’s all over. Everyone’s already thinking he’s skipped town.”
“Where’s my bike?” asked Gabe in a way that sounded like he’d already asked the Pastor the question many times before.
“I tossed it into the forest next to your place. Piece of junk.”
“You don’t want to be saying that, Pastor…”
“Gabe, pick your battles,” I said placing a hand on his arm.
“Yeah, just this guy’s been at me all week, and I don’t even know why. At first I just thought he wanted to interrogate me, but now I think he just enjoys torturing people. Power-hungry son of a bitch.” I looked at Gabe, and I wondered if it just made sense to let him sock Pastor Warren in the jaw.
“We’re leaving, Pastor Warren, and don’t try to stop us. By now Father Peter’s called the cops and everything.”
Pastor Warren laughed. “Find that hard to believe. When he’s the one who told me about y’all in the first place.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“You’re lying.”
“Miss Carver, how’d I have known about this if someone hadn’t told me?”
“But…but he wouldn’t do that…”
“He did. He’s always been trying to prove us wrong, to get us to leave. Thought this would finally shut me up. Boy, did he misjudge that.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. I was stunned. Still I had to say something. “Well, whatever, I’m sure he still called the cops.”
“Let them come. Here I’ve got two kids breaking and entering on Celebration Day. That’s got to be an extra offense.”
“And when they see what you’ve done to Gabe…”
“Little girl,” said Pastor Warren taking a step toward me, “I always thought you were supposed to be the smart one. It doesn’t matter what Gabe looks like. It wouldn’t matter if he was bleeding to death in the middle of the floor, and I was standing over him with the knife. I’m in charge of this town now. The sheriff answers to me. I’m his goddamned boss. You’re just a sad little heretic, and he’s—” Pastor Warren turned to look at Gabe “—just some bad kid.”
I didn’t have time to react. I didn’t even really process what was going on as I watched Gabe’s fist make contact with Pastor Warren’s sweaty cheek. It happened so fast that for a second I thought Pastor Warren had just stumbled backward, but then I realized what had happened and grabbed Gabe’s arm.
“You just got yourself into a world of trouble, boy,” said Pastor Warren holding the side of his face.
“Time to get out of here, Riley,” said Gabe quickly.
“Oh yeah.”
We turned and flew out the door. It looked like I was right and Father Peter had called the cops like I’d asked him. The police were pulling up just as we burst outside. Great, we didn’t look suspicious at all running like fools out of the church. Of course, I’d been a total idiot to tell Father Peter to call them in the first place. I think my fear for Gabe’s safety had totally clouded my judgment.
It was almost totally dark outside now, but Father Peter was still waiting in the driver’s seat of my parents’ car, the headlights lighting our path. We dove inside.
He took off in an instant without us having to say anything. The cops were getting back into their cars and in no time were following us, sirens wailing.
“Where’re we going?” asked Father Peter in a panic.
“We need to get to the fair grounds, meet up with everyone else. The sun’s almost set. It’s time,” I said. Father Peter nodded, and we roared through the streets leading an honest-to-goodness car chase.
I looked over at Father Peter who was focusing extra hard on the road ahead. It didn’t seem the time to bring up his betrayal, but there might not be another opportunity.
“So what’s up with telling on us to Pastor Warren, Father?” I asked.
The car jerked wildly to one side. I guess it was the truth then.
“I didn’t tell him about the plan,” said Father Peter, getting control over the car and bringing us back into the proper lane.
“Well, that’s good. But why’d you tell him at all?” The adrenaline pumping through my system was making get angry really fast.
“Riley, I’m so sorry,” said Father Peter glancing at me. I saw that same sad worn expression on his face as the one I’d seen all those many months ago in his office. I knew he’d betrayed us, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity for him. A very little bit. “He and I were having one of our pointless meetings, and the way he just went on and on, as if he was actually the son of God, it was really upsetting to me…”
“Watch out!” called Gabe from the backseat.
Father Peter spun the wheel and narrowly missed the dog standing in the road.
“So you just thought you’d throw your weight around,” I said.
“Riley, I truly am sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I know I was wrong. When you said Gabe had gone missing, I feared the worst…”
“Are you telling me you suspected that Pastor Warren had taken Gabe?”
Father Peter looked at me again. This time he looked like he might be about to cry. “Riley, I’m…so sorry.”
Yeah, I know. You’ve said. “You know what, Father? I can accept that in a moment of weakness you told Pastor Warren about Gabe. But the fact that you would keep quiet about where you thought he was just to save your own skin…that’s unforgivable.”
“Riley.”
“You let me believe he’d left!”
“You thought I’d gone?” asked Gabe from the back. I turned around to look at him. He appeared really hurt.
“Well, you’d supposedly left a note.” I explained.
“A note.”
“Yeah.” I told
him what he’d written and saw his face fall.
“And you actually thought I’d write something like that for you? That I’d just leave you like that?”
I felt terrible. But it wasn’t fair. It had been the only reasonable explanation at the time. “And besides, you’d totally run off so many times in the winter, don’t forget.”
“But after our date, after everything that happened, even after all that, you still thought I’d left you?”
“Gabe, I’m sorry.”
“We’re getting close,” interrupted Father Peter. “What’s the plan?”
“Please, Gabe, please forgive me.” I was feeling desperate now.
“I guess…” he said.
“Oh for god’s sake,” said Father Peter. It wasn’t like him to use language like that, and we both looked at him. “Gabe, the second she learned where you were she was off to rescue you. Don’t let that evil bastard tear you two apart over a stupid note. And Riley. I’m a coward. A stupid, selfish coward. I’m sorry for it, and you may never forgive me, but right now, we have to focus on the plan. Now, what the hell am I doing, kids? Am I stopping or what?”
“I…” I was a little blindsided by his words.
“You got your shotgun, sweetheart?” asked Gabe.
“In the trunk.”
“Okay. I’ll lead the cops away from the car by making a run for it. You grab your shotgun, and then you come find me. Father Peter, you just take off. Maybe you’ll get some following you too.”
“I’m not shooting any cops, Gabe.”
“’Course you’re not. It ain’t about that, Riley. It’s getting close to the time. You said so yourself. We need you armed and ready. You’re our leader.”
I nodded. He was right. “Okay. You got all that, Father Peter?”
“Yes. But you’d better get ready. We’re almost there.”
“Okay.”
Father Peter spun around the corner, and there we were, directly in front of the fair grounds. “I’m going to stop now,” he announced, and Gabe got himself ready. “I’ll pop the trunk, count to thirty, and then I’m taking off.”
“You feeling strong enough?” I asked Gabe.
“Don’t know why, sweetheart, but I’m feeling right full of energy.”
48.
We all readied ourselves, and then Father Peter pulled violently to the side and the car screeched to a halt. Without a moment’s pause, Gabe was out of the car and running flat out toward the grounds, only a slight limp betraying his condition. The cop car had pulled over by now too, and policemen jumped out in pursuit. I flew out the passenger side door and grabbed the loaded shotgun from the trunk, closing it just in time for Father Peter to take off. A second cop car was coming toward him, but he drove around it just as it turned to the side to try to block his escape.
As upset as I was with Father Peter, I had to hand it to him—the priest could drive. Maybe being fueled by guilt helped. I didn’t have time to think about it. I was off after the cops chasing Gabe, who was heading right for the crowd. I heard another car squeal to a stop and glanced over my shoulder to see Pastor Warren get out and join the chase. This was all starting to get a little wild.
Speaking of wild…
“Riley! We’re all ready for you, babe!” said Wild Frank emerging from the crowd and stopping me.
“That’s great, Frank,” I replied a little distracted. “Look, I’ve got to help Gabe.”
“Sure thing! I’ll get your back!”
That isn’t necessary Frank, I thought, but there he was following right behind me as we pushed our way through the crowd. Even though this was a town where most people carried a handgun on their person, they still were pretty surprised to see me coming with my shotgun, and I got a pretty wide berth.
And then I lost Gabe. I couldn’t see him anymore. I couldn’t see the cops or Pastor Warren. The crowd was thick, and it was like standing in a cornfield. I couldn’t see two feet before me.
“You see him, Frank?” I called out.
Wild Frank started to jump up to see over the heads of the crowd. “No…”
But then I did. He was struggling against two cops who were bringing him up on the stage. I wasn’t the only to notice as others in the crowd started to point in his direction. Pastor Warren joined him now, panting and covered in sweat. He looked out at the crowd staring at him and announced in his loud resonate voice, “Sorry for the interruption, folks. This boy was trying to vandalize the church. We’re just trying to subdue him.”
Oh no, you don’t.
“Get off him!” I yelled, and brandished my shotgun in their direction.
The crowd parted instantly as I ran toward the stage and climbed up the steps so I was opposite Pastor Warren.
“Shoot us,” replied Pastor Warren.
Damn it. How had he known I wouldn’t? Everyone else was usually pretty convinced that I’d actually do it. I thought deep down the Naphil in me made it appear convincing. Then again, Pastor Warren did think he was totally untouchable. I don’t think anything ever frightened him.
I watched helplessly as one cop struck Gabe viciously with the butt of his revolver. Watching it, I felt like I’d been hit too.
Gabe crumpled to the floor and Pastor Warren turned to the crowd who by now had all gathered around the stage. They didn’t seem happy with what was going on, but none of them were about to speak out against the Pastor. Especially not on this night of all nights. I saw Lacy standing not too far away. She was in her cheerleading outfit, which I thought was kind of strange. But then again, I’d told them all to dress comfortably, and there was nothing that was more like a second skin to Lacy than her uniform.
“People, the time’s approaching,” announced Pastor Warren, ignoring Gabe entirely. In fact, he sort of moved over on the stage to stand in front of him, as if somehow that would hide his existence.
I wanted desperately to rush the stage to be next to Gabe, but I knew the second I tried I’d have several officers on me, and my gun would be wrenched away. And I needed my gun tonight.
“Let us pray,” continued Pastor Warren. I watched as everyone lowered their heads. “Angels who have blessed us and who on this night offer us Your greatest Glory, we thank You…”
I observed the crowd. They were all quietly reciting the words along with Pastor Warren. I was impressed they knew them all so well. I guess they’d been practicing at the church. Everyone looked so reverent, so determined to see this all as a Glory. For a moment I wondered if maybe it was. But only for a moment. I knew these creatures weren’t angels. And so did Pastor Warren now. Or maybe he’d never believed in them. It was possible.
It was then that I noticed Gabe’s foot move slightly, and I took a couple steps to the side so I could see his face. His eyes were still shut tight, but I could see he was slowly waking up. Come on, Gabe, come on.
And finally his eyes opened. They were confused, and I felt huge pity for him. Considering everything he’d been through recently, he really didn’t need that extra blow to the head. He really wasn’t looking well. Even more sickly than when I’d found him in Pastor Warren’s office. He was pasty, almost a gray color.
Actually…he was a gray color.
Oh dear god, no.
This was something I hadn’t counted on. I’d assumed that turning Gabe into a human had meant that he’d been turned for good, but evidently that had been a little hasty of me. Evidently he could change back. Because here he was now, the muscles beneath his skin writhing like snakes against their confines. The gray of his skin turned out not to be his skin at all, but came from under it. And as it started to split open into gashes, I could see a hard dark-gray flesh beneath.
I wasn’t the only one who saw the transformation. One of the cops, who I guess had gotten tired of praying, had glanced up for moment and was now staring slack-jawed at Gabe too. We made brief eye contact, but neither of us did anything. We were too paralyzed to move.
Gabe pushed himself to standing as his clothes began to rip from his body. The gray flesh under the skin was getting larger, forcing itself out from beneath a shell too small for it. His body had large deep wounds all over, and the skin was peeling away like old paint. He was getting bigger and bigger, and I heard a muffled gasp from the crowd. Other people were looking up now. Like me and like the cop, they seemed unable to make a sound, to speak or move. Pastor Warren had kept his head bowed, but as Gabe… no, not Gabe, it wasn’t Gabe anymore, it was some thing, some creature…as the creature grew up and up, directly behind the Pastor, you could sense the man’s frustration with the crowd’s restlessness. Yet still he was oblivious to the thing growing behind him. Almost all the creature’s skin had peeled away now, revealing a large beast with an almost square head, and hollows where the eyes should be. Its mouth was open wide, revealing obvious pain and a set of sharp teeth, but it was making no sound. Its legs were pure muscle, thick and taut like tree trunks, and its feet and hands, claw-like.
We were all staring at it now, and Pastor Warren finally looked up at us with anger in his eyes. In a tone I’d never heard him use before he said, “What’s going on? Why aren’t y’all praying?”
He glanced at a cop who pointed helpfully. He turned around.
Just as he did so, the creature let out an enormous, deafening howl, and the flesh between its shoulder blades made a loud sickening crack. A pair of giant black wings burst out of its spine, and the creature roared even louder. Pastor Warren just stood in place staring up at it in sheer horror, shaking like a leaf.
I knew it was only a matter of time before the creature was fully aware of where it was and what it was. I knew how fast these things moved. It would be gone in a second. Action was needed immediately.
“Pastor Warren, move!” I ordered, and there must have been something in my tone that made him take me seriously, because he instantly dove to the side. I aimed my shotgun and fired at the creature’s left wing. The creature jerked back as the buckshot hit its shoulder as well. Without pause I racked the shotgun, aimed, and struck its other wing. This caused the creature to fall to the ground.
Outcast Page 29
