Evil in the Beginning (The God Tools Book 2)

by Gary Williams

  Suddenly, Scott fell away from Curt, and the light faded quickly, immersing Curt in darkness. A moment later, Curt was sliding down the tunnel, which banked sharply. He heard a crush, a grunt, and a moment later, a thud. He was suddenly free of the tunnel, falling through darkness, landing hard on his side in shallow water. The impact knocked the breath from his chest. He felt something move underneath him, but he was too busy gasping to react.

  “Do you mind getting off me before I drown?” Scott gurgled from underneath.

  Curt finally got a breath. He shook off his confusion and slowly rolled off his friend.

  Scott grabbed the flashlight, which was miraculously still working, even under water. Curt sat up, panting. They had landed in the outer cave, but it was quickly filling with water. Curt saw pieces of wood floating around them. A dim light came from the tunnel opening that led to the surface.

  “How did you know the shaft was there?” Scott said, standing.

  “There had to be another way out for the builders who constructed the pyramid. I figured they sealed the shaft in the ceiling of the fifth level after they left. I didn’t know it would lead here, though.”

  Above, they felt a trembling, then a murmur. A stream of pebbles slid down on Curt and Scott as they scurried away to avoid the falling matter. They stumbled through the water toward the opening. A series of loud clicks echoed in the cave, cascading from above. Then the stream of falling debris intensified into a downpour of rock.

  The Serpent was pushing through the same small escape shaft. It would be on them in no time.

  “It’s coming,” Scott yelled.

  They started to climb through the tunnel using the rope. The river had breached the opening above, and water was pouring down on them. The climb was grueling as the water sloshed in their faces. Curt quickly learned to keep his mouth closed so he didn’t drown. The surge of the falling water seemed to intensify with each second. Soaked to the bone, they finally reached the surface and pushed out of the tunnel. Curt was exhausted, but he led Scott over to the nearby boat, which was still tied to the tree, but floating freely. It took tremendous effort to scale the gunwale and fling themselves into the boat. The two men fell harshly to the floorboard, panting.

  A loud clicking noise shot up from the tunnel.

  Curt felt his skin crawl.

  In the boat, dripping with water and mud, Scott stood. He snatched open the seat compartment. With the flashlight, he found a knife. He quickly removed it from the sheath and moved to the front of the boat.

  “Get this thing started,” he called back to Curt.

  Scott used the knife to saw through the rope. With the ingress of the river water continuing, the boat floated high above the vegetation. A fogbank had grown thick over the landscape.

  A tremendous crash came from inside the cave, and water spewed from the tunnel opening, spraying the boat’s console.

  Curt turned the key, and the engine fired up, gargling water and sending a puff of smoke billowing into the fog. He gunned the motor, steering hard to the left, and whipped the boat around. With visibility reduced, he weaved through the flooded treetops just as they heard a massive gurgling sound behind. The creature, with its lone red eye, had breached the tunnel and was pushing water hard as it came straight at them.

  Scott was panting wildly. “I hope you have a Plan B.”

  “Not so much,” Curt responded, never looking back. In absolute fear, Curt sent the lever all the way forward, and the bow reared from the water. The propeller sent a heavy stream of spray trailing behind. Within a matter of seconds, they blindly jumped the remaining section of flooded land and broke through the bank and into the river, pushing deeper into the channel.

  And deeper into the fog bank.

  CHAPTER 72

  Curt aimed for the riverhome across the wide channel. The fog drifted in pockets, and they ran in and out of it as the craft skimmed along the surface. It was nerve-wracking traveling this fast with limited sight distance, but it was worth the risk to get away from the Serpent. Fortunately, with the river flooded, the multitude of crab trap markers floated well below the surface and were no longer a threat to the prop.

  Scott turned around. “I don’t see any sign of the Serpent. Let’s get back to the others at the riverhome, get in a car, and get the hell out of here.”

  “My plan exactly,” Curt remarked.

  Over the sound of the drumming motor, Curt heard shots ring out from one of the fog banks ahead of him. He cut the wheel hard to the right, barely missing a second boat flying toward them that veered to the left.

  The bald man was at the helm as the larger man fired at them as they passed.

  “Get down,” Curt yelled, straightening the boat as it skipped harshly over the wake of the other craft.

  Both men squatted in the floorboard, with Curt staying high enough to see the water ahead as he increased speed. Curt heard tink, tink, tink and turned to see that bullets had struck the outboard motor head. The engine emitted a high-pitched whine.

  “The engine’s been hit,” Scott yelled to Curt, “and they’re still coming.”

  They pressed on and cleared the fog bank, Curt racing the vessel as fast as it would go in the new direction to the east. He turned to see the second craft in pursuit. They reached Palmo Cove, and Curt decided to aim for Six Mile Creek. The river was so flooded that the creek was probably twice its normal width. With any luck, he might be able to lead the other boat over the submerged hardwoods along the original edges of the creek and use his knowledge of the area to his advantage.

  Curt pushed the boat through the cove. The ample moonlight allowed him to judge the influx of river water, and he entered Six Mile Creek, staying to the original deep-water channel. It was remarkable how much the waterway had ballooned.

  “Are they gaining on us?” Curt asked.

  Scott whipped his head around. “No, and for some reason they’ve stopped firing.”

  The motor spit and sputtered, and the boat lost velocity.

  “Uh oh,” Curt said. He turned to see black smoke seeping from one of the bullet holes in the motor head. His stomach knotted. “We’re not going to make it much further,” he said glumly.

  Ahead the banks had been obscured. The wetlands on either side were gone; now merely an extension of the creek. A long, dark object stretched out on the left following the contour of the creek. Curt realized it was the 1500-foot floating dock that paralleled the creek channel and ended ahead at the Outback Crab Shack restaurant. The conjoined sections of the floating dock were held in place by steel U-shaped rings that fit over the stout piles buried in the creek bed. With the surge in the water level, the rings were threatening to push over the top of the piles. Once they did, the entire dock would float free like a long snake.

  CHAPTER 73

  Carr Nash and Jed Rassle maintained their pursuit of Marks and his friend into Six Mile Creek. Their intent was not to catch them.

  “Look,” Rassle pointed behind them.

  Nash swung around and saw a lone red ball of light knifing just underneath the surface of the water headed straight for them. Amazingly, it was outpacing the boat. Nash turned hard to the left. He brought the vessel about, and the red light shot past them.

  Nash smiled. “Mr. Rassle, our work is almost done.” With that, he powered the boat down, and allowed it to idle.

  They would watch from here.

  CHAPTER 74

  The vessel continued to sputter and limp down the creek.

  “I think they’ve stopped,” Scott said, looking behind. There was mild relief in his voice. It was quickly gone. “Oh God, look!”

  Curt turned to see a brilliant, focused red glow skimming just underneath the surface of the water, creating a wake as it moved at a tremendous speed.

  “Curt, that’s the Serpent. It’ll be here in seconds.”

 
Curt continued to press the sluggish, spitting motor, aiming for the end of the floating dock a hundred feet away. If they could just get there before the motor gave out, they might be able to reach safety at the restaurant; if the restaurant wasn’t under water.

  “C’mon, boat, just a little farther,” Curt begged. The engine now rattled and revved in and out. They were still about 50 feet shy of the floating dock when the motor gasped, shot a new cloud of black smoke, and died.

  Curt looked behind. The red light was streaking just beneath the surface. It was well inside the creek now, drawing a bead on them, moving at a phenomenal speed. The boat was still coasting forward, but there was no way they were going to reach the dock in time. It had turned oddly quiet. Curt turned to Scott. The stark reality of their situation was etched on his friend’s face.

  The stillness was disrupted by the sound of low, gurgling clicks coming from behind. Curt wheeled around. The surface of the water behind them swelled and boiled, driving forward at an incredible speed, sending large waves in either direction. The Serpent slammed into the hull, lifting the bow. There was a tremendous explosion that propelled Curt into the air, and he felt his body go weightless. He struck the dark water an instant before Scott landed beside him. He went under, but quickly clawed his way to the surface in mortal fear. Through watery eyes, Curt saw a huge fireball balloon into the sky. Pieces of the boat rained down around him. He spotted the nearby floating dock and made for it. Scott was swimming beside him. Curt didn’t chance another look back. Their only hope now was to reach the dock.

  Fueled by fear, both men reached it in seconds. Curt clambered onto the floating deck, pulling his entire body from the water, breathing heavily. He scurried to his feet just as Scott rose, too.

  ****

  The fog had subsided, clearing the view for Kay as she kept a watchful eye in the direction she had last seen Scott and Curt. There was barely a breath of wind, and she, Sherri and the kids remained anchored in calm water offshore from the flooded riverhome.

  A short time earlier, they heard the sound of boat engines and a series of sharp pops. The sounds had originated from the direction of Bayard Point then faded into Palmo Cove. Kay was extremely concerned, as was Sherri, for the men’s safety. Each woman now sat on the bow holding her respective child.

  A tremendous boom rocked the air.

  “Look,” Sherri shouted, pointing in the direction of Palmo Cove.

  A large ball of fire lit the night, swelling above the treeline somewhere inside Six Mile Creek.

  “Oh my God.” Kay felt her chest constrict. Her mind spun, wanting to take action, yet not registering anything beyond fear for her husband’s life. “Get the anchor up. Let’s go!”

  The women scurried, easing the children into the rear seats and trying not to upset them. Neither Cody nor Tina said a word or showed the first sign of fear. Kay started the motor as Sherri tried to lift anchor.

  She was struggling. “It’s stuck!”

  Kay rose from the bench seat and lifted the lid, desperate to find something to cut the rope. She checked the glove box where she found a sheathed knife. She pulled it free and climbed onto the bow. Lying flat on her stomach, she sawed through the anchor rope as the boat ran in idle.

  “Sit down and hold on,” Kay said to Sherri and the kids, resuming her seat at the wheel. She thrust the boat into drive and gunned the motor. With the damaged prop, the boat jerked up on plane, and Kay frantically steered toward Six Mile Creek and the direction of the blast.

  ****

  Curt stood beside Scott on the cement-layered floating dock, their clothes soaked with water. His entire body ached from the explosion. Flotsam had disbursed across the surface in a wide radius. Near the other side of the wide creek, what was left of their boat was burning. A red light underwater marked the Serpent’s position moving briskly toward the dock. Curt knew it was useless to run. The creature was approaching at blinding speed.

  “Do you still have the emerald?” Curt asked.

  “Yes,” Scott said, fishing it from his pocket.

  “Tolen believes the creature only wants its other eye; that it’s out of balance without it. We have no other choice but to give it to that thing, Scott.”

  Scott didn’t hesitate. He tossed the emerald directly at the red light, which had closed to within a dozen feet of them.

  The Serpent was moving so fast that the emerald flew right past it, striking the water in the creature’s wake.

  Curt felt all hope dissolve. With morbid horror he braced for impact.

  The red light suddenly disappeared, and a massive swell of water struck the floating dock, toppling both men onto the deck. Staggering to his feet, his knees aching, Curt scanned the water.

  The moonlit surface had gone absolutely still.

  “Did we do it?” Scott asked, rubbing his leg and standing.

  “Hot damn, Tolen was right. It only wanted its other eye. It’s gone.” Curt felt unbridled elation. The sound of a boat approaching changed his attitude. “Oh, God, not those guys again. Go!”

  Curt had turned to run when Scott put a restraining hand on his shoulder. “Wait. It’s not the Cult of the End guys. I think it’s….it is! It’s Kay, Sherri, and the kids!”

  Curt felt his euphoria return. He and Scott jumped up and down on the floating dock waving for their attention, causing it to bounce. The boat turned and headed straight for them. Curt was surprised to find that the dock was now floating free, the large metal rings had floated over the piles, probably expedited by their movement. It began to drift toward the middle of the channel, taking Curt and Scott for a slow ride.

  He didn’t care. It was over.

  Between the approaching vessel and the floating dock, the surface of the water suddenly exploded in a violent spray. The dark Serpent, replete with one red eye and one green eye, raised its massive head toward Scott and Curt, releasing a series of sharp clicks. It opened its massive maw to reveal a fiery pit of molten fluid churning inside.

  Curt could barely believe what he was seeing.

  The women and children in the boat screamed. Drawn to the sound, the creature spun, churning the water. It moved toward the boat.

  “No! No!” Scott shouted.

  It was too late. The beast slugged into the side of the boat, sending bodies flying. It happened so fast. Curt saw that Kay and the two children were thrown clear. Sherri had somehow remained in the vessel.

  Before Curt realized what his friend was doing, Scott dove into the river. He surfaced, swimming with determination. Kay was nowhere to be found, but Curt saw that Cody and Tina, although separated by a wide margin, were treading water. Scott swam with vigor toward Cody.

  Curt dove into the water, aiming for Tina. It was certain death and he knew it, but he swam anyway. He had to try.

  Scott reached Cody just as radiant red and green light shot up from below them. Curt watched in terror as Scott hugged Cody and looked toward Curt with an expression of resignation. “Save Kay!” Scott shouted just before the water erupted around them. Scott and Cody disappeared as the Serpent broke the surface, catching them both in its mighty jaws. It stretched its neck straight up. Curt could see the ghastly outline of Scott’s and Cody’s embrace slither down the creature’s gullet. Then the Serpent flexed its massive jaw, once again exposing the fiery inside of scorching fluid as it bent its neck this way and that, turning and craning.

  Curt watched in disbelief. His insides went numb.

  Ahead, Tina was struggling to stay afloat. Focusing on saving the little girl, he swam hard, finally reaching her and pulling Tina into his arms. Tina, who had witnessed the Serpent eating Scott and Cody, was oddly calm. As he fought through the terrible vision of what had just occurred, Curt turned to swim clutching onto Tina. The Serpent surfaced nearby. Curt’s only hope was to get aboard the vessel that drifted nearby. Unlike the other boat, the craft ha
d not sustained substantial damage. They swam alongside, and Curt lifted Tina from the water, tossing her over the gunwale.

  The Serpent remained stationary, as if waiting to strike.

  An object floating nearby caught Curt’s attention. At first he thought it was debris from their boat.

  Then he realized it was a body. With a heavy heart, Curt reached out to the floating figure and rolled it over.

  It was Kay. He pulled her up on the transom and started CPR but saw that she had already turned pale in the moonlight.

  She was too far gone. With a heavy heart, not wanting Tina to see, Curt eased her body out and allowed it to drift away from the boat.

  The entire Marks family had been killed, and it was his fault.

  Curt moved to the stern and struggled to climb over near the damaged motor. He flopped into the boat out of breath, still sickened from what had happened. He knew their fate was also inevitable. The Serpent would come for them momentarily.

  Curt looked down and saw Sherri lying still on the floorboard. Tina was huddled by her mother’s side. Without emotion, Tina turned to Curt and gave him a small smile. Her words were strangely solemn. “Mommy’s pregnant. You’re going to be a daddy.”

  It didn’t register. His mind was a ball of confusion and grief. Curt dropped down beside her, keeping one eye on the Serpent, which remained in place. He felt for a pulse, praying she was alive. It was beating strongly. He saw that she was breathing. “Sherri! Sherri, are you okay?” No matter how hard he tried, he was unable to wake her. He brushed the matted red hair from her face and found a severe gash on her forehead.

  As if waiting for Curt to finish, the Serpent suddenly dove into the water. Curt stood, watching the red and green light approach beneath the murky water, knowing there wasn’t a thing he could do to save them. Just before reaching them, the creature turned off, moving deeper into the creek.