Battle Scream (The Battle Series Book 1)

by Mark Romang

  When the helicopter slowed to a stable hover, he looked over at Sara. She smiled at him. It was one of the cutest smiles he’d ever seen, a little girl’s smile, innocent and heartwarming. He smiled back. Just then Kyle Miller’s voice came over the headsets in their helmets. “Deploy the rope.”

  “Roger, deploying the rope,” Maddix said and flung the coiled forty foot length out the starboard door. He looked at the ropers. “Unbuckle and take position,” he ordered. They all unbuckled and lined up behind Sara. He placed an arm around her shoulders and helped her to the door. She grabbed the rope and stepped out onto the special operations platform. A second later she stepped off the platform as if she’d done it a hundred times before. Maddix returned for Cody. The kid was no longer grinning. His grim face had lost its color. He looked like a cadaver.

  Maddix grabbed Cody’s shoulders like he had Sara’s and walked him over to the door. “You’ll be okay, Cody. Sara’s already on the ground. It doesn’t take long.”

  Cody nodded weakly and took the rope and stepped out onto the platform. He clung to the rope with a death grip. He hesitated for a brief moment but then dropped. Webb was already at the door and grabbing the rope. A toothy grin gashed his rawboned face. “Just like old times, Mad Dog. Old times are the best times,” he said and dropped into the darkness.

  “Last man on deck,” Maddix said into his helmet mike for Kyle Miller’s benefit. He grabbed the rope and stepped out onto the platform. Tomorrow night at this time they would fast rope for real and drop into hell on Earth.

  Maddix stepped off the platform and into the darkness. And as the rope slid through his hands, he thought of Declan Cooper facing down the demons with nothing more than his unwavering faith and a small crucifix.

  Maddix hoped he could challenge the demons as bravely as the little priest had. If he couldn’t, the resistance he was supposed to lead wouldn’t last long. It would fizzle out with barely a whimper.

  Chapter 15

  The next afternoon, downtown Felicity

  Sara Kendall hummed as she worked. She was hanging locking carabineers on hooks, restocking her store for the fall climbing and canyoneering season.

  Her store was long and skinny with one register and a tiny backroom. On the walls hung climbing ropes and harnesses, helmets, canteens, backpacks, t-shirts and caps. Wetsuits hung on racks positioned on the floor, while river shoes and climbing shoes filled a nook in one corner. Organic granola bars and freeze-dried camping food took up space by the cash register. Behind the register a whiteboard displayed guided trips into the slot canyons, along with her fees.

  Sara heard the door jingle open and turned to see Andrew Maddix enter the store. Her heart jumped for just a second. She quickly noted Maddix was wearing a muscle shirt and basketball shorts. She’d never seen him in shorts before and found herself staring at his prosthetic leg. She’d often seen Maddix running the country roads outside of town, and he was such a fluid runner she forgot he was missing his lower right leg.

  Sara set her half-empty box down and met him at the store’s center. She fought back an urge to fluff her hair. “Hi, Andrew, everything ok?” She could see a frown working its way across his clean-shaven face.

  Maddix shrugged. “Not really. I’m being audited by the IRS. It’s not the end of the world or nothing. But it sure is aggravating.”

  “Sorry about that. That doesn’t sound like much fun. Did the audit just start today?”

  Maddix glanced over his shoulder toward the storefront window. He turned back around after an extended moment and nodded. “The IRS agent showed up out of the blue about nine this morning.”

  “That’s odd. Usually they call and set up an appointment thirty days out. You did save your past few tax returns didn’t you?” Sara asked gently. Being an ex-accountant, and now an entrepreneur, she was a stickler about keeping records.

  “The past three are on my laptop. I printed them out. It’s weird that I’m even being audited. I’ve filed a 1040EZ form for the past six years and haven’t taken any deductions.”

  “You’ll come out okay, I’m sure of it,” Sara said. Once more Maddix turned to look out the storefront.

  “Why do you keep looking out my front window?”

  Maddix faced her. “Please don’t think I’m being paranoid, but I think I’m being followed. You see that black Escalade?”

  Sara peered over his shoulder and spotted the luxury SUV parked across the street. “I see it.”

  “That same vehicle followed me all the way to Provo and back. I’ve also seen it parked across from the church and in front of my apartment.”

  “You think it’s a news crew?”

  “I’m not sure. I’d think if they wanted to talk they would’ve done it by now. At some point I’m going to have to introduce myself.”

  “Be careful when you do that.”

  “I will, Sara. I promise.” Maddix touched her shoulder. “Are you ready for tonight?”

  She looked him in the eyes. His eyes were dark like black granite, and they danced with mystery. “Ready as I will ever be. I have all our gear ready to go.”

  “You know you don’t have to do this. I’ll understand.”

  “Are you kidding? After eating manna and seeing angels and demons, and fast roping and shooting flamethrowers, how could I not go? Plus you need my knowledge of the canyons.”

  Maddix grinned at her. “I agree. We would probably get lost without you, Sara,” he said. “It’s just going to be dangerous. We’ll be operating in the dark against an enemy we know nothing about. I’d hate for something to happen to you or Cody. I’d never forgive myself.”

  Sara felt her face flush. A part of her wanted to think Maddix actually cared about her. “We’ll be okay, Andrew. God sent an angel to instruct us what to do. He’ll be with us every step of the way. We have to believe that.”

  Maddix nodded. “You want me to pick you up tonight? I’ll have Cody with me. Webb is meeting us at the Hurricane airport around ten-thirty. We need to be inside the canyon around midnight.”

  “That would be great. I’ll be ready.”

  Maddix nodded. “I would advise you to pray as much as you can until then. Prayer is our best weapon against the enemy we’ll face tonight.”

  “I have been praying all day as I’ve worked.”

  “Good deal. I’ll pick you up around nine, Sara.”

  “I’ll be ready, Andrew.” Sara watched Maddix leave her store. She then walked over to her storefront and placed the “closed” sign in the window. Business was slow today and, considering what she would be doing tonight, she figured she should spend more time praying and reading the Bible.

  She hadn’t been totally truthful to Maddix. She was scared. Petrified might be a better word for it. What happened at the exorcism still resonated in her mind. She couldn’t erase it from her thoughts no matter how hard she tried. And now they were going back for more.

  God help us. Go before us and after us. We love you and need you, she prayed as she reached for her Bible.

  Chapter 16

  Outside Sara Kendall’s canyoneering store, Maddix pretended to read a USA Today newspaper he bought from a curbside machine. He casually watched the Escalade from the corner of his eye as he flipped through the paper. He felt a little silly reading a paper in the heat. Sunlight reflected off the pages and onto his face. But he didn’t want to openly stare at the Escalade and alert whoever was inside that he was on to them.

  Questions brewed in his mind. But answers remained distant. As far as he could tell, he didn’t think feds were shadowing him. From his experience, feds usually drive nondescript, neutral colored sedans. Escalades are pricey even for free-spending government agencies. Which meant whoever monitored him possessed money.

  Screw it. I’m going over there.

  Maddix waited for a motorcyclist to pass by before sprinting across the street and up to the Escalade. The vehicle idled with its windows rolled up. He rapped on the driver’s window.


  The window slid down. A handsome man in his forties peered back at him. The man wore a suit, as did the other three men in the vehicle. “Can I help you?” the driver asked.

  “Maybe you can. It depends on how forthcoming you are. You’ve been following me. I want to know why?” Maddix asked. He was a little pumped up but managed to keep his voice calm and amiable.

  “Back off from my door so I can get out and properly introduce myself,” the driver said.

  Maddix complied. The door swung open and the man climbed out. He was shorter than Maddix by three or four inches. A finely tailored charcoal suit hid a stocky build.

  “My name is Aeton Lasko. I am an attorney and a member of the Skeptikos Alliance. Are you familiar with us, Mr. Maddix?”

  “As a matter of fact I am. The Skeptikos Alliance is an atheist group famous for suing small towns over nativity scenes, crosses, and ten commandment displays.”

  Lasko smiled. “Given your profession, I should’ve known you would be familiar with us. We have a lot in common in a way, Mr. Maddix.”

  Maddix tilted his head enough to see inside the Escalade. The other dark-haired men wore suits as well. Younger than Lasko, they had a Southern European look about them, or maybe Grecian. “You still haven’t answered my question, Mr. Lasko. Why are you shadowing me?”

  “I’ll put it to you bluntly, Mr. Maddix. We are here in Felicity to investigate the videotaped exorcism that took place in your church and was posted on the internet. We are sure it’s a hoax, a fraud to solicit donations,” Lasko said in a clipped voice.

  “And why do you think the exorcism was a hoax?”

  Lasko rolled his slate-colored eyes. “God doesn’t exist. Neither do angels and demons. For this reason my colleagues and I believe you are bilking simpleminded people out of their hard-earned money.”

  Help me keep my cool with this guy, Lord. Don’t let me say anything stupid, Maddix prayed to himself. “I can assure you, Mr. Lasko, God does indeed exist, as do angels and fallen angels.”

  Lasko took a step forward. “There is no scientific proof that God exists. Until someone can produce evidence that He does exist, the Skeptikos Alliance will continue to fight back against overt displays of religious symbols in government locales,” Lasko said hotly.

  Maddix took a half step backward. “You’re somewhat correct in saying that science cannot prove that there is a God, Mr. Lasko. Faith in God is a matter of the heart. It goes beyond intellectual understanding. But there is evidence of God all around you. Just look at the blue sky above your head and the mountains surrounding us. His handiwork is everywhere.”

  Lasko jabbed a finger into Maddix’s chest. “If the God you boast about truly exists he is more evil than Hitler and all of history’s despots combined. No loving God would allow this much suffering.”

  Maddix fought off a powerful urge to snap Lasko’s finger into pieces. Rage boiled inside his guts. He could hurt Lasko so many ways. Help me love this man, Lord. I can’t do it on my own. Please give me the right words to say. “The world has been in a fallen state since Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, Mr. Lasko. But that doesn’t mean God is indifferent to our sufferings. God aches when we ache. He cries when we cry. The Psalmist says in chapter 56 that God keeps track of our tossing and turning at night, that he keeps our tears in a bottle.

  “God loves every person equally. Whether you choose to believe it or not, Mr. Lasko, God loves you. He rejoices over you with gladness and exults over you with loud singing. Think about that for a minute, God loves you so much he sings over you.”

  Lasko jabbed his finger harder into Maddix’s chest, not just once but several times. “Don’t proselytize me, Mr. Maddix! I’m not one of your weak-minded, superstitious congregants!”

  He should’ve known better, but couldn’t stop himself in time. Maddix instinctively placed his open palm gently on Lasko’s chest to keep him at bay. Lasko immediately snapped his head back and flung himself violently backward into the Escalade. He thudded into the SUV, his momentum taking him to the ground. Only on a basketball court or soccer field had Maddix seen such an intentional flop.

  Lasko slowly pulled himself up. He leered at Maddix. His lips curled over bared teeth. “Thank you for assaulting me, Pastor. You’ve just given me a reason to press charges. Before you know it, you’ll be preaching to convicts at a state penitentiary for years to come.” Lasko climbed back into the Escalade and buckled up. “I’ll see you in court, Maddix,” Lasko said just before he put the SUV into gear and backed into the street.

  His mind reeling and his legs suddenly feeling like overcooked spaghetti noodles, Maddix lurched down the sidewalk toward the hardware store and his apartment. He couldn’t believe what just happened. He’d been set up. And like a fool, he swallowed the bait.

  “Pastor, why did you hit that man?” an elderly voice called out.

  Maddix looked up and saw Sophie Gengler heading toward him from the post office. Gengler gave new meaning to the word difficult. Even though she only attended Zion Baptist Church sporadically, she took great pleasure critiquing his sermons, sending him detailed letters that pinpointed sermon flaws.

  “It only looked that way, Sophie,” Maddix said, not bothering to stop walking.

  “Now don’t fib to me, Pastor. I know what I saw. It was plain as day. I saw it all from the post office window,” Gengler said, following after him.

  “I didn’t hit him, Sophie, I promise you,” Maddix said firmly. He could hear Sophie’s shuffling feet struggling to keep up with him.

  “I’ve never seen those people before. Do you know them?” Sophie asked, still following him.

  Maddix shook his head. “They’re just tourists. They won’t be here much longer, I’m sure,” he said, breaking into a run. He wanted to get home. His life spun crazily like a planet out of orbit. He needed a safe place to think, a refuge where he could plan. Most of all he needed to figure out who Aeton Lasko was and why the Skeptikos Alliance wanted to take him down so badly.

  But more than anything he needed to catch a nap. He wouldn’t be getting any sleep tonight. And exhaustion fosters sloppiness. Sloppiness causes failures. And he couldn’t fail. Not tonight anyway.

  As he ran a new thought attacked his senses, a disturbing thought that made his spine shiver. The past few hours he’d buoyed his resolve by convincing himself that if he could just “neutralize” the demons in Perdition Canyon his life would return to normal. He could resume giving sermons on Sundays and Wednesdays at the church, and visiting shut-ins and sick members during the week. But what if the prophecy went beyond that? Gabriel never said the resistance would end at Perdition Canyon.

  Maddix sprinted down the sidewalk, shouldering aside unsuspecting pedestrians. He was suddenly fearful that once he entered the spiritual realm he would never be allowed back into the human realm. He would be a wandering soul, cursed with the ability to see spirits, forced to lead a resistance he never asked for, a man without a place to call home.

  ****

  Moments later Aeton Lasko pulled the Escalade into the Best Western parking lot. In front of their adjoining rooms, he eased the Escalade into a parking stall and shut off the SUV’s motor. He turned to face his colleagues. “How did the video turn out, Alexander?”

  “The video is inconclusive, Aeton. From the angle I shot the video it looks like you simply fell down. It’s impossible to tell whether Andrew Maddix hit you,” Kritikos said. “Here, check it out for yourself.” Kritikos handed his Nikon camera to Lasko.

  Lasko examined the video closely. He frowned as he watched the footage, displeased with the outcome. He was hoping for damning evidence Maddix would never be able to wriggle out from. Nonetheless, with Henrik Skymolt’s money bankrolling their litigation efforts, Maddix was going to prison. It wasn’t a question of “if,” it was a question of “for how long.”

  Chapter 17

  That same day—11:30 PM

  They flew low and tight to the valley floor. Maddix looked out t
he cockpit window and saw nothing but blackness. Far from any town, impenetrable darkness cloaked Zion Valley. Maddix hadn’t experienced darkness this intense since he lost his leg in the Afghan cave.

  Not even a hint of light could be found anywhere outside the helicopter. Maddix knew that inside the narrow crack in the earth called Perdition Canyon, the blackness would be even more widespread, more palpable, and more…hell-like.

  Five minutes from the drop zone, Maddix directed his gaze onto his teammates. There was just enough light reflecting from Miller’s instrument panel to illuminate their faces. Cody looked pale, green around the gills as if he could hurl at any moment. He was a kid way too young to be fighting a battle so dangerous, a war so full of eternal implications. Maddix felt a little guilty for allowing him to come along. But the kid wanted to do this. And his future as a son of two meth heads loomed like a dropping anvil over his head.

  Maddix shifted his eyes to Sara. She was a paradox in the truest sense: beautiful yet down to earth, petite yet strong, delicate yet rugged. But tonight at this moment she looked unnerved and vulnerable, like a flower wilting in the heat. Maddix knew he could easily fall hard for her. She was an amazing woman with all the qualities he longed for. If anything happened to her he would never forgive himself.

  And finally, there was Webb. His old buddy looked up at him and winked. With chiseled muscles filling out his frame from head to toe, Webb looked indestructible. Confidence dripped off him like raindrops. Webb rocked his head up and down rhythmically. A Metallica song blared from his MP3 ear buds. Before every SEAL mission, Webb listened to Metallica’s for whom the bell tolls. He said the song calmed him somehow. That was Webb, the consummate warrior, the toughest man alive.