The sledgehammers pounded at the next set of doors, into the sanctuary of those who watched, the all-but extinct Inquisitors.
This final area would be breached, any remaining figures of leadership would be taken, and the battle would end.
A satisfied smile crossed Nigel's lips. The city, and everyone in it, will be mine, very soon.
******
The terror in Davidson's heart rose to a crescendo as the pounding on the doors to the Inquisition lobby grew more urgent.
Gottfried stood next to him, his expression hard as iron.
We've failed. By God, we've lost everything! Davidson's mind cried. This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't-
A crash resounded from above. Davidson threw his arms over his head as shattered glass from the skylight spilled over him. He cried out in fear, and a dark shape thudded into the ground in front of the desk.
Dear lord, what now?
******
Hatred, intense anger spilled into Rick's midsection as he watched the monitors. That smug, murdering bastard, Nigel, strolled into the Institute lobby without a care in the world. The stinking reverence his thugs displayed sickened Rick, but there was nothing left to be done. A few of the cultists hammered on the door to the Inquisition section, and it wouldn't take long for them break through.
By God, I should get down there. Won't amount to much, but maybe I can strangle the life out of that sadistic, filthy-
The stream of insults died as the camera in the Inquisition lobby, including a stone-faced Gottfried and a cowering Davidson, displayed a shower of glass. A dark form Rick immediately recognized as Malcolm dropped and rolled onto the marble floor.
Ignoring everyone else in the room, the creature sprang to his feet and walked over the entry door which threatened to give way at any moment.
"So you woke him up, Michaels, but what good can one guy do?" Rick muttered, squinting at the screen. "I guess it's worth a shot, but I don't know..."
Holy crap.
An idea tore into Rick's mind, burning by all of the building despair.
Eyes wide, he turned toward Elijah. "Do you trust me?" he asked.
Elijah blinked, surprised at being addressed. "Odd question. I suppose I do, but I still must refuse to-"
"Shut up," Rick interrupted, nerves vibrating with hope and possibility. "Have I ever, in any of my years serving your purpose, ever, ever, ever given you any reason to doubt my judgment?"
"Well, no, but..." the other man stammered, taken aback by the sudden intensity of Rick's demeanor.
"You must trust me. There's no time to explain it all." Not looking away, keeping his expression of pure sincerity burning into Elijah's eyes, he pointed at the monitor. "There is one chance here. One moment where timing could change all of this."
Elijah flicked his gaze over to the screens. Doubt formed on his face.
"This is what you've been waiting for. This is where your actions can break this terrible cycle. This is where you can repay everyone you've betrayed, and where you prove the lives lost due to your actions are not forgotten!" Rick could see him caving, ready to relent. "I promise you can reverse it if anything goes wrong. Hell, we might not even get the chance to use it, but none of that matters. You need to get it ready, now!"
Drawing in a deep breath, eyes wide, Elijah hesitated for an agonizing moment.
With a nod, he stepped over to the console, pressing some sequence of commands.
Rick didn't pay attention to it, his gaze fixed upon the monitor.
******
The door cracked and splintered. Whatever obstacles behind it slid backwards.
"Yes, more!" Nigel shouted to the several individuals hammering and shouldering against it. They backed off to get momentum behind them, one last push to open the door. This is it, Nigel thought, excitement pounding in his temples.
An inhuman bellow tore into Nigel's ears as the double doors burst toward him, shattered by some unknown force. Nigel's followers were hurled backwards, a massive creature smashing into them and sending them flying.
Nigel jumped to the side, avoiding being knocked down by shards of the door or his people. Rolling, he leapt nimbly to his feet, ready to face whatever pathetic last attempt these fools-
His jaw dropped open. The demon!
The inhuman monster stood in front of him, brutish and alien, muscles rippling and body shaking with clear fury.
"Kill it!" Nigel screamed, thrusting his finger toward the beast.
Without hesitation, the many followers in the lobby descended upon the creature, hacking, stabbing, and overwhelming.
Another deafening roar cut loose from the monster, shaking the room. Bodies of cultists flew in all directions as it burst free, a whirlwind of brutal strikes smashing Nigel's resilient people.
The sounds of cracking bones filled the air, and blood spattered upon the floor. One by one, the beast smashed, pounded, flung, and in several ways destroyed every individual near him.
Nigel's people, those not yet unconscious or dead, fell back in wonder, terrified by the monster's ferocity.
Blood dripping from its hands and splashed across its form, the creature fixed a gaze upon Nigel. Stalking forward, its breath hissed in and out, accompanied by a predatory growl.
The cult leader snatched up a sledgehammer. Brandishing the weapon, he shouted. "Come then, demon! You cannot hope to-"
Roaring in fury, the demon launched itself at Nigel. Before the cult leader could even begin to swing the weapon, the monster's shoulder smashed into his chest. An audible crack resounded, and Nigel let loose a scream of pain as his sternum and ribs gave way under the impact.
His vision pulsed red. Nigel tasted blood on his lips as the creature lifted him from the ground and continued charging, crossing through the broken lobby doors. A rush of wind coursed over the cult leader's body as he flew through the air outside of the Institute, the demon hurling him downward. Bones cracked and shattered as he slammed onto and rolled down the steps, and Nigel released another shriek of agony.
Smashed to ruins, innumerable bones broken, he stared in terror at the beast at the top of the steps. Glowing, hateful eyes bored into Nigel's very soul.
All fell to silence, the demon taking the steps one at a time. Slowly, the monster advanced, blood dripping from its hands and its hellish breath hissing in and out. No sounds of the conflict in the Institute continued, and Nigel caught a glimpse of his followers surrounding him.
They stood all around, watching in pure awe.
"Help me!" he cried in a horrid rasp, blood issuing from his throat.
No one moved. They looked on as the creature finished its approach and stood over their leader.
"You cannot win!" Nigel screamed, the pain in his body unimaginable. "I have the power of the Light! I cannot be defea-"
The beast lunged down and seized him by the throat, cutting off any continuation of his speech. Gagging, vision blurring, Nigel struggled in vain against the strength of the creature.
The monster drew back its other fist, preparing to strike. Nigel tried without success to squeeze out a scream as it propelled toward him.
******
"Now!" Rick pounded against the arm of the chair, not caring about the corpse next to him. "Do it now!"
******
A sickening crack filled the air as the bones in Nigel's neck shattered under the impact of Malcolm's fist. The cult leader flew several feet and crumpled outside the Institute without sound or further movement.
The instant Nigel hit the ground, blinding morning light burst from the heavens, bathing the Institute and entire city within its warmth and glory. Walking to stand over the body, Malcolm passed his gaze around the immediate area. Raising his arms to the sky, he released a deafening roar.
All of the cultists who hadn't yet entered the Institute watched, eyes wide. Those inside had ceased fighting at Malcolm's first bellow, turning back to the windows to see Nigel's end. Everyone had stared at the monstrous creat
ure, forgetting about their conflict as he crushed the cult leader.
Their eyes then turned to the forgotten sky and its miraculous reappearance. After the echoes from the creature's roar faded, silence fell over the city.
Malcolm stared down at the body. He turned his head, revolving a piecing gaze across the remaining followers. Those inside and out of the Institute watched, speechless. Malcolm gave a grunt of contempt, ferocity radiating from his unstoppable form.
One by one, those outside fell to their knees. Person by person, a murmur swept throughout the stunned denizens in and out of the Institute. None of the fighting continued, all of the combatants too awestruck and surprised by the sudden return of the sun.
Time passed, and one by one the followers of Nigel made their way to the square outside. Never more certain of anything, they knelt before the creature who defeated their former prophet:
The monster whose actions returned the sun.
After a time, growing irritated with their scrutiny, Malcolm departed. The cultists abandoned the battle and left their broken, fallen leader behind. With a few Old Havenites and Citizens joining alongside, they all followed the demon instead.
Epilogue: Exodus
"Your departure comes as somewhat of a surprise," Gottfried said to Rick, shaking his hand. "The city finally knows a measure of peace, and you decide to abandon it in favor of the unknown?"
"Hell. Freakin'. Yes," Kaylee said with conviction. "You couldn't pay me enough to stay in this dump."
Two days had passed.
An instant of terror had been wiped clean by infinite relief and joy when Rick discovered Kaylee's body, noting a second later that she was alive. Since then, the two had become inseparable. More than that, upon discovering the dissipation of the threat and finding out that other people were handling the aftermath, the two of them immediately gathered provisions and prepared to leave Haven.
Rick drew in a breath of fresh, clean air, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his skin. "I can't argue with the lady, Herman." The High Inquisitor frowned at the informality. "There's a helluva lot of work to be done fixing all the broken crap, and we sure don't feel like pitching in. Plus, I'd bet we won't be the only ones to leave, and we definitely want to beat the rush."
They stood at the western wall, its exit no longer blocked by the impenetrable and deadly sterilization field. Rick had his arm around Kaylee, and they were both eager to depart.
"Yeah," Kaylee chimed in, "and I don't wanna be around for all of the walking dead stuff. Explaining this miracle of alien technology and symbiotic organism crap hurts my head. Yeah, I guess it'd be nice to see some of the people we lost over the years, but quite frankly..." she trailed off, looking toward Rick.
"We just want to get the hell out before something else goes wrong," he said with a grin. "Honestly, I'm surprised you're staying."
"It served as the best option before, but now with unity among the population..." The High Inquisitor gave a shrug.
Gottfried had escorted them to the wall, the only individual to do so. Normally at his side, Isaac did not accompany them, still clinging to the slightest bit of a grudge against Rick. Quinton was dead but, like many others, clearly recovering by the miracle of Malcolm's plague. Tanya, injured yet again but having survived the attack, bid them farewell, and Eugene regained muddy consciousness long enough to do the same. Sergei seemed almost ready to wake as well, but neither Rick nor Kaylee cared enough to see his return.
Michaels bid them a curt farewell, and Cass hugged both with tears in her eyes. Rick offered for her to come with, but the girl hooked a thumb and said that the doc and others had been growing on her. "Plus," she had said, "the guy needs a lab assistant something awful, and the old man's gonna need help once he gets back up and about."
Davidson reluctantly allowed the son of Citizen One to take on an important role in the city's reconstruction efforts. Though wide-eyed, paranoid, and still convinced he was stuck in Hell, Elijah provided a great deal of useful advice and information. He and the bodies were taken out of the spire, the area and its control over Haven stripped away.
Rick wondered if Victor would ever recover from the damage done by the field. He also wondered what would happen to Franklin Lange, if the new administration would allow him to return to any prominence or even a normal existence once the inevitable resurrection kicked in.
More yet he wondered at others, if those left in pieces by battles fought long ago would see recovery. If those reduced to naught but bones and ash would rise again. If he and Kaylee, if everyone, would remain young forever, if those old would revert back to their prime, if this infection of immortality would spread to the rest of the world...
It all hurt his head to think about.
Malcolm, with a cadre of worshippers behind him, disappeared into Old Haven. Rick would've liked to say goodbye to the new prophet, to thank him or anything else. However, no part of him wished to return to that terrible place. God only knew what would happen: if Malcolm would lead them out of the city, stay in the darkness, or return someday to finish the job.
In truth, Rick didn't care much. The near future in Haven was bound to be chaotic, and knowing the city, he figured it wouldn't take long at all before people started fighting again. As much as he wanted to go beyond his promise to see Desmond and Olivia's people past Nigel's threat, he felt his time in Haven to be at its end.
Rick hoped the situation in the city would stay peaceful, but he and Kaylee agreed right away that it wasn't worth sticking around to find out. Exploring the wilderness, surviving on their own... it was what they both wanted.
Gottfried bid them a crisp farewell, turning on his heel and walking away.
"Maybe we can check in sometime to see if everything's gone back to shit," he said, opening the door which led out of the city.
"Like hell," Kaylee replied, punching him on the shoulder.
Staring at the landscape and bathing in the glorious mid-morning sun, they stepped out into the unknown world, ready to face its mysteries together.
******
Citizen Gregory Michaels hesitated, not injecting the latest sedative into Claudia's body.
The past two days had seen him reluctant, too afraid to allow her awakening. Cassandra badgered and urged him to cease being such a coward, but it didn't stop him from keeping her under.
He insisted more time would be beneficial, allowing opportunity for her mind to heal without strain. This excuse continued far longer than reason dictated, and even Michaels admitted as much to himself.
"What will I do if she's still the same?" he had asked, tears in his eyes.
"You'll keep trying, that's what. You'll keep working until you figure out how to bring her and all the others back." Cass scowled at him. "Right?"
Those words echoed in his mind, and with a deep breath, he put the needle with sedative away. Sitting by Claudia's bedside, his hands shook, his heart raced, and he waited for her to awaken.
What felt like hours passed, and when Michaels didn't think he could stand another second of it, she stirred.
Holding his breath, gripping her hand, he watched as her eyes fluttered open. She met his gaze.
An eternity of ambiguous expressions crossed her face, beginning with confusion. The brief uncertainty tore at Michaels' heart, but warmth and cautious happiness flooded through him when a genuine smile spread across her face.
"Gregory," she whispered.
######
Author's Note:
Thank you very much for reading the conclusion to The Fall of Haven series. I apologize for the delay in its creation, and I certainly hope you found it worth the wait. I have a couple of other books available (listed below) if you're at all interested, and my catalogue will do naught but expand in the coming months and years.
As an independent author, I don't have a team of marketing gurus around to spread the word about this novel. You won't see me on any talk shows, and the news won't mention my name. I'm just a writer, chai
ned to my desk while searching endlessly for more readers like you. If you enjoyed Exodus, then tell a friend, maybe check out my other books. If you really enjoyed it and are so inclined, you can post reviews, ratings, or comments on Amazon, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Shelfari, LibraryThing, Kobo, my website (link below), and anywhere else your heart desires.
It truly does mean the world to me when readers help out and provide feedback, so thank you very much to any who do and again to all who spared the time to read Exodus.
Cheers!
Justin Kemppainen
http://www.kempenovels.com
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Other books:
-Uprising (The Fall of Haven)-
-A Fickle Fate-
-The Legend of Ivan-
Exodus (The Fall of Haven) Page 38
