The Way Back (Book 2): The Way Back, Part II

by Giancioppo, Danny

  “Why do they have to do this right now?” Chris complained. “Like, I get it, but come on, we’re unpacking right now.”

  “They need it, man. We can give them this much,” Cody defended, though he didn’t do so with any malice toward Chris.

  Chris just gazed outward at them, and slowly nodded, making his way back to the rear of the van.

  “You… remember when we first met them?” Luke asked, smiling a little. Nolan smiled back, and nodded his head softly.

  “Of course I do,” he chuckled. “We were going to see all the guys and their ‘new friends,’ and then they were both standing there. We both just kind of stopped, and then, almost at the same time, we said–”

  “I need to talk to you about something,” they both repeated lightly, then laughing a bit more.

  “I knew, Nolan, right then and there. I knew she was my girl,” Luke said.

  “Me too,” Nolan agreed.

  They were quiet then, for a good while, looking down at the girls’ grave in fond remembrance of all that came before it.

  It was dark out by the time they had gotten back to the house, and luckily for Luke– for all of them at that point, really– the stars were out in full, shining display.

  “Did I ever tell you about the time Emily and I went out on our first official date?” Luke asked. Nolan smiled, and looked over to Luke.

  “Yeah, about a thousand times,” he said. “Tell me again, though.”

  “Right, well we went out to go get dinner, and it was something like November, so the sun went down really fast as the night went on, you know?” Luke regaled. “So after we ate at that fancy restaurant in town… what was it? The uh… the italian one?”

  “Mario’s?” Nolan offered. Luke nodded.

  “Right, Mario’s, right in the center of town. So we eat there, and afterward, because I insisted on paying, she insisted we do something I wanted to do afterward.”

  “Pretty risky thing to ask of someone like you,” Nolan laughed. Luke just gave him a light shove, and laughed a little.

  “Yeah, well believe it or not, I just wanted to take a walk with her. So we went to the pond… God, I can’t remember the name… and we walked on the beach by the water,” Luke continued. “The moon and the stars were perfect that night, and they reflected off the water like a portrait of the sky. We were walking for a while, and then we just sat down on the beach and started looking up at the sky. She told me to look at the stars, and asked me what they meant. I told her, ‘they’re what I use to keep me centered. To bring me down from anxiety. They’re something so far away that just doesn’t care about my problems.’”

  “And she was blown away, right?” Nolan remembered.

  “Completely,” Luke agreed. “She said something like, ‘No, you idiot! That’s not what they are at all!’” he laughed, and then paused for a moment, recomposing himself. “She said, ‘The stars are like thousands of people, or just beings, who choose to watch over us every night. Even though they may be far, far away, they still glimmer at us and look at all the things we do; all the things we are.’”

  “And then you kissed her,” Nolan said. “Way too soon.”

  “Well, it ended up working, didn’t it?” Luke countered, Nolan just nodding with a small smile. “Best first kiss of my life.”

  “First first kiss of your life,” Nolan distinguished. Luke just raised his eyebrows, and tilted his head to the side.

  They stayed there for a long while afterwards, and soon enough the others all joined them too. The spoke of memories: Of the girls, Zack, and everything before and after, and when they ran out of things to say, they all ended up just looking out at the stars.

  “It’s good to be home,” Luke said at one point. All the others made soft sounds of agreement, and really, that was all that needed to be said.

  In time, people started going back inside, and off to their respective beds, until eventually it was only Luke outside. He wasn’t nervous for his own safety, but they insisted he keep a gun on him anyway, and to be sure not to fall asleep outside. He never fell asleep anyway, so it wasn’t on his list of things to worry about.

  “Em,” he said, “I’m…I’m sorry you haven’t been able to be with us, on this whole journey. I know if you were, you would’ve probably veered us off course from danger and hating each other long before we ever got there. You and Lily both.”

  Luke stopped himself, and looked back up into the night sky. There were a vast number of stars out that night. They were beautiful.

  “But… at the same time… I’m glad you didn’t have to be there, either. I’m glad you didn’t have to go through the pains this world brought on all of us, and that you didn’t have to try and cope with all of it like we have. I try to be so strong for all the guys, but nowadays I can’t even manage to do that for very long before I slip into another moment, you know? And even before that, I could make it seem like we were all on the up-and-up, but the truth is Em… this world is weighing me down. I don’t know how I could manage it without them.”

  Luke paused again, and then slowly stood up, placing his hand gently on the cross.

  “I love you Emily. You know you were, and always are my girl, and one day… one day we’ll be together again. I know it,” Luke spoke softly, closing his eyes. “Goodnight, girl.” He stayed there for a few more seconds, before eventually making his way inside the house, shutting the door behind him, and the lights off around him.

  Times were bound to be hard, sure, but he was home. They all were. And so long as they were together, Luke had to be strong for them.

  He just had to.

  Day 2010 – Pt II

  “Brothers, Always"

  The guys pulled back up to the house, everyone piling out of the van to get a better view of the destruction before them.

  The entire house and all its additions were engulfed in flames. The front walls guarding their home were torn down, ropes strewn all around– which the guys assumed the cultists used to tear it to the ground.

  “How is it still on fire? It’s snowing!” Chris questioned.

  “They must’ve used kerosene, gasoline, whatever they had on hand,” Adam guessed.

  “Yeah, or whatever we had laying around,” Derrick said, running toward where the van once sat. “Goddammit…”

  “Der, stop! What are you doing!?” Cody shouted in protest, trying to stop him from running out of the van and literally into the fire.

  The group all followed close behind to make sure he did nothing too drastic, but he simply stopped when he saw the empty cans of gasoline all lying around.

  “God damn, dude…” Derrick muttered. “Those assholes really did whatever they could to totally and utterly screw us over, huh?”

  “Yeah, well, I wouldn’t worry about them for too much longer, bud,” Jeremy said. It was a twisted sort of comfort, but still, it helped.

  Luke and Nolan looked at one another, and instantly knew what the other was thinking.

  “Snow, stay here with the guys, okay? We’ll be back in a minute,” Nolan said, turning her toward Cody specifically.

  “W-Why? What are you–?” Snow protested.

  “We just… We have to see something important,” Luke interrupted, not wanting to explain.

  “Yeah, stay here Red, we got you,” Cody insisted, giving her a thumbs up. She agreed, but not very contently. Not that it mattered all that much to Nolan or Luke, not at the moment.

  “Don’t take too long, this thing is making a huge-ass smoke signal for the Goliaths!” Jeremy warned. The two simply nodded, and walked off.

  They made their way through the snow– of which was melted a fair amount by the house– and toward the graves.

  There was a massive piece of burning wood that had just missed the graves and crosses by about a foot. Upon seeing it, Luke and Nolan both had initially felt intense fear that the grave of their two loves were tarnished beyond their repair, but were relieved to find that they were still in fact fine.<
br />
  “Thank God…” Luke sighed.

  “No shit,” Nolan agreed, then pausing. “I hate the thought of leaving them again…”

  “I know… me too,” Luke said. “But, it’s not the graves we ever take with us, you know? It’s them. The idea of them, and the memories we have. That can never leave us… you know?”

  “Yeah, I know. Still though, I…I like being close to her.”

  “I know.”

  They stood silently for a few moments while the snow fell gently in the breeze, and then they both knelt down at the cross.

  “Bye, Lil. I’ll keep you close in heart and mind, baby, always,” Nolan whispered.

  “Em, don’t you think for a second you’re getting away from me, grave or no grave,” Luke said, smiling a bit as he did. “You’re stuck with me, sweetheart.”

  The two men got up, and after another small pause, somberly made their way back to the front of the house, where they were greeted with a sight they had not expected to see.

  Abraham held Snow, his knife pressed to her throat. The others were all holding their guns at him, but behind Abraham, still on horseback, was Jonah– beaten and bloodied– holding a rifle out at the others.

  “What the fuck…” Luke muttered, running forward, as did Nolan. “Abraham, what are you doing!?”

  “Luke! There you are, and with Nolan, no less! Now all seven of you are at last out in the open, ready to bring us to the final steps of our redemption.”

  “Put down Snow, right now!” Nolan threatened. “If you touch her, I swear on my life, you will die.”

  “Nolan, the others already covered that, there’s no need to pile on,” Abraham said plainly.

  “What do you expect us to do, Abraham? None of us have powers, and we cannot help you get to heaven!” Luke repeated.

  “That’s what this guys wants!?” Cody asked, bewildered. “Dude, are you insane!?”

  “I am not insane!” Abraham barked back. “I am a man of faith, and I know what I have seen. I know what I can do, and what that means!”

  “So you can see things too! Big fucking whoop!” Luke persisted. “I’ve got news for you, Abraham, it does not make us any more human than anybody else. If anything, it just makes us sick!”

  “Luke, after my encounter with the Pack I too had visions in my sleep. I could see my people– my flock– and where they were. I could have a much more intimate connection with them with the simple touch of my hand, and understand their innermost thoughts; all it took was a small portion of their blood. I understood not long after that this was the gift from the heavenly father, that he was telling me I was doing the right thing. I was saving my people, and simply needed to work harder to get closer. And they’ve followed me without question, ever since,” Abraham explained. “Tell me that isn’t a gift.”

  Everyone stood in silence. The sound of the fire crackling, and the wood falling from the house’s framing the only real noise breaking through the tensity of the bitter winter environment.

  Abraham breathed heavy, and his chin started to shake.

  “You took my people away from me– my people!” he screamed, tears falling down his face. “Turned my own brother against me…!”

  He seemed to break down more and more by the word. The others all just stared at him, confused. Jonah winced at the sight of him, and Luke just continued to stare him down.

  “I thought God had a plan for me…” Abraham stammered out through pained breaths. “I thought he…he was guiding me to our salvation… but I was wrong…” He paused, and tightened his grip on Snow. “But I see now… I need to forge my own path to salvation. And you all will be a part of it.”

  “And what? You think by killing a little girl, who wants nothing to do with you or your cause, you’re going to convince us to join you, and help you get to your final transition into being raptured?” Luke asked coldly. Abraham looked shakily at Luke, and then down at Snow, who fearfully stared to Nolan.

  Then, Abraham dropped Snow, and gazed down reluctantly. She ran over to Nolan, who clung onto her tight, and the others all just lowered their weapons hesitantly, Jonah then doing the same. Luke however, still had his pistol cocked, and stepped closer to Abraham.

  “No, of course not,” Abraham confessed. “I could never kill a child, especially not one of my own. I can’t…I can’t afford to lose anymore…”

  “Abraham…” Luke said, very close to him now. “You need to go, both of you. I don’t care where, but you need to leave. This is your one, and only warning.” Abraham said nothing, and Luke turned around. Then though, Abraham grabbed Luke, so fast that Luke dropped his gun, and Abraham held the knife up to Luke’s heart.

  “No. I’m sorry Luke, but no,” Abraham said. He whistled, and a small number of men and women– only five or so– came out from the woods, and held rifles of their own out at the others.

  “What the fuck!?” Chris shouted in shock.

  “This is getting way too fucking intense!” Derrick yelled.

  “I am going to sacrifice you seven to the lord, and in doing so, our journey to the heavens will be completed. I sincerely hope you understand, but if you don’t… I will accept your hatred…” Abraham explained. “If it will save my people…”

  “Hey!” Adam yelled anxiously, staring at Jonah “Y-You, on the horse do something! You can’t seriously want this to happen!? This is insane!” There was a roar off in the distance. The Goliaths were coming; they must have seen the plume of smoke rising from the fire. And to make matters worse, Luke’s eyes were flickering blue.

  “There’s no time to waste, we have to act now,” Abraham said, cokcing his arm, getting ready to stab into Luke’s heart.

  “WAIT!” Nolan screamed out, pushing away from Snow, and stepping forward. “Just…! Just wait…”

  “Nolan…” Luke said. “Stop it.” He knew what he was doing. What he was trying to do.

  “Take me first,” Nolan offered.

  “WHAT!?” Jeremy yelled out.

  “NO!” Snow screamed.

  “Are you insane!?” Cody shouted.

  “Nolan, shut the fuck up!” Adam yelled.

  “Do it,” Nolan repeated. “Take me first. I’m the reason Luke’s like that; without me he never would have gotten those gifts. I’m the start to all this, not him, so take me first.”

  “Nolan, stop,” Luke ordered. “Please…” His heart felt like it was pounding out of his chest. Were that knife any closer, it might have stabbed itself on it.

  Abraham paused, and considered Nolan’s offer. Then, he pushed Luke forward, and grabbed the pistol on the ground, tossing it back toward his own people so that Luke couldn’t grab ahold of it.

  “Okay,” he said, regaining his composure, “come forward.”

  Nolan tried to walk past Luke, but Luke grabbed him, not letting him move forward. The tension around them was electric; it cut through the falling snow like a knife, and Nolan knew Luke meant for it.

  “You are not doing this. I will not let you,” Luke demanded. Nolan tried to break out of Luke’s grasp, but he wouldn’t ease up. Nolan just smiled, and tried to hold back the tears in his eyes.

  “We don’t have time for this,” he said, pulling Luke into a hug. “Get them out of here. As soon as he gets me, shoot the others. The numbers are about even… you just need to be quick enough,” he whispered.

  Nolan let go, and moved closer to Abraham. Luke turned around, but found himself unable to speak. He was hardly even able to stay standing. His vision was fading, fast.

  The others all were crying at this point, still trying to convince Nolan to back away. Nolan wasn’t happy, but he had allowed himself to be as content with this fate as he could. Even still, he was crying quite a bit too.

  “It’ll be okay guys, I…I promise…” Nolan said through tears. The others all shook in fear, and their crying became more and more wild and audible by the second.

  Nolan stepped closer to Abraham, and Abraham took hold of him, putting th
e knife back into position near Nolan’s chest.

  “Thank you, for your sacrifice,” Abraham said, raising the knife into the air. Just as he did, the Goliaths burst from the trees, and screeched their horrible cry. Everyone, including Abraham, jumped in terror, and things both slowed, and moved all too fast.

  As the Goliaths’ let loose their battle-cry, Abraham shot his hand down in fear, swinging down into Nolan’s chest with his knife. He missed his original target, but he still managed to stab him.

  “STOP!” Cody screamed.

  “NO!” Adam shouted.

  “FUCK YOU!” Jeremy yelled at Abraham, shooting around him wildly.

  “PLEASE!” Chris burst out in pain.

  “GOD, NO!” Derrick cried out, cokcing his gun and taking out one of the soldiers.

  “NOLAN!” Snow screeched.

  Nolan fell to the ground, and the guys all took out most of the remaining soldiers in seconds. Then, moments later, they all fell quiet. From the Goliath’s arrival to that moment, everything happened almost all at once. To Luke however, time came to a literal grinding halt.

  He saw everything happening around him nearly a hundred times longer than he was meant to, and could hear the sounds of hearts beating. Which hearts, he wasn’t sure, but he knew the sound. They almost seemed to beat in unison with his own.

  As soon as the knife pierced into Nolan’s chest however, everything changed, and time reared back into place. Luke’s eyes went completely blue, and had no sign of silver, or even the detail of pupils within them.

  The Goliaths now also had their numerous eyes light up blue– to the exact shade of Luke’s.

  Luke dropped to his knees, and he screamed as loud as he could, for as long as his lungs would allow. As he did, the Goliath’s roared out in unison, and did not move from where they stood.

  Everyone jumped, once again, at the sound of all three roaring into the night sky such as they did, and nobody did anything then but listen. Jonah stared at the Goliath’s in horror, and the guys all watched Luke in fear. Eventually, he stood, and stared at Abraham. The Goliath’s heads turned as well, and glared down at him.