| General Fiction posted July 26, 2022 | Chapters: |
...9 10 -11- 12... 
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This section of the journey is almost over.
A chapter in the book The Walkers
The Time For Battle is Now
by papa55mike
| Background Gabriel Hope leads a formidable team of Angels and Walkers through the Spirit Realm on a dangerous mission to India. |
Part~1
The upbeat mood around the fantastic meal with Nathanial subsides a little when the Heavenly Warriors quietly enter the Memphis city limits. Nathanial had to return to his duties, but the group felt they were not alone in this strange land of evil. Miles away, the jagged Memphis skyline fills the horizon.
Suddenly, the radiant light of heaven peers through a gap in the hideous clouds. All eyes turn to the glow of love radiating from the throne of God, Himself. It fills their spirit within until their hearts swell with courage.
The blackened clouds race to fill the gap.
Cal turns to Michael and asks, "I thought there was no wind here?"
"Only if Satan wishes it."
Cris asks, "How far to the bridge, Gabe?"
"Less than ten miles."
"That won't take long," Cris sighs. "I can't believe the distance we've traveled in what feels like a short time. As you said, Gabe, time doesn't matter here."
"Now that's just how I pictured it," Cal smiles. "Every home is burned and flattened for miles, but that strip club stands tall."
"It's full of demons tempting men to sin in every conceivable way in the physical realm," Gabe shakes his head. "How many souls have been lost to ungodly sex?"
"Too many," Cal frowns. "That's a reminder of why we're on this mission."
Cris asks, "Where are the red eyes that always watch us, Gabe?"
"They're waiting for us at the bridge."
"That may be true," Cal exclaims, "But I still feel that someone is watching us. It's like the buildings have eyes on every step we take."
Michael steps beside Cal and says, "It wouldn't surprise me. There are spells in witchcraft that accomplish such things."
"A girl can't get a moment of privacy around here," Cal grins at her attempt at a joke. "Do you know much about witchcraft, Michael?"
"Let me say this," Michael flinches. "To defeat one's enemy, he must know his enemy."
"Interesting," Cal replies.
The group continues along the battered road lined with the bare skeletons of trees. Large chunks of concrete and asphalt are missing as if the demons ripped from the ground. The steeple of a Baptist Church touches the clouds, but that's all the remains of the building.
Cal is the first to see the battered remnants of the I-240 bypass with its gaping holes. Parts of the overpass lay scattered along the exit. "I hope we're not going this way."
"That's okay," Gabe smiles. "About a mile further is Poplar Avenue, and it will take us straight to the Mississippi River, and the bridge is just a mile away from there."
"Great, I'm ready to finish this part of the journey," Cal replies.
"My trigger finger has been itchy lately," Cris stops and shoulders his AR-15 to check the sight, then pops out the clip to slam in a new one. "Ready, here."
"Well," Gabe smiles, "Let's see what we're up against first."
"Actually," Michael interjects. "I think Cal has the right idea. We will need a vehicle to cross the bridge, and is there anything close by?"
Cal shakes her head, then says, "I've never been to Memphis."
Cris asks, "How did you cross the Mississippi?"
"I crossed the river at Dyersburg, then worked my way south. Fewer people that way."
"If I remember rightly," Gabe runs his thick fingers through his gray hair. "The Greyhound Bus terminal is beside the downtown police department; it's across the street from the Pyramid and less than a mile from the bridge."
"Yeah, but who can work on a bus for us?" Cris asks.
"There ain't nothing I can't get running," Gabe grins. "If it's got some fuel and battery power."
"Sounds like a plan, big man," Cal punches Gabe on the shoulder. "Ow!"
"Solid has a rock, Cal," Gabe chuckles.
"I believe you."
The miles pass quickly as the group strolls down Poplar Avenue. There's no sign of any buildings along the road, only the remnants of cinder blocks etching out a shape from the Physical Realm.
"Now that's nasty," Cal announces. The stench of Brimstone increases the closer they get to Beale Street.
"There are thousands of demons tempting souls to sin in that area."
Cal turns to Cris and asks, "And how many sins did you commit while visiting the demons on Beale Street?"
"Oh, maybe one or two."
"Were you married then?"
"Uh, nooo."
"Oh, so how many of those little southern cuties did you lust after, Cris?"
"Well, it's all under the blood of Jesus. So, there's no use dwelling on the past, Cal."
Gabe walks over to say, "That's what I like about you, Cal. You keep everybody on their toes."
"It's a gift," she smiles.
Cris speaks up, "Straight out of hell."
Poplar Avenue finally ends at the Mississippi River, which looms before them. The vast scar of darkness upon the land extends out of sight, but to the right, the red light of pure evil dances against the thick clouds not far away.
"The party is just starting, and they know we're close," Gabe's voice deepens. "Let's cut over a block but be on high alert. Sentries might be stationed along the way."
Cal nudges Cris, saying, "Give me your field glasses."
"Here, the night vision should be on."
Cal studies the alley, "There's nothing here, big man."
"Gotcha, I got the point." Gabe unholsters his Rugers with an evil grin.
The tiny group moves forward in formation. Gabe in front, Cal and Cris flanked behind him, with Michael covering the rear for the first time in his existence.
Cal stands at the corner of Second Avenue, scanning the following two blocks. "The way eerily clean as far as I can see."
Michael steps into the street and narrows his eyes, projecting his spirit ahead of them. "She's right; I feel no presence of evil on the street, and it's all concentrated ahead."
Cris steps forward and says, "That's arrogance."
"That is Lucifer, Cris," Michael interjects. "The essence of superior pride."
Suddenly Cal exclaims, "Oh, dear Lord," then falls to her knees. She let go of the binoculars wrapped around her neck to grab both sides of her head. "Get these evil voices out of my head."
"Where is she, Michael?" Gabe asks with weapons ready to fire.
Michael pulls his whip of lightning and cracks it beside a warehouse across the street. It enlightens a shapely figure of a woman hidden in the darkness. "There, Gabriel."
Before Micheal finishes his sentence, two 9mm bullets search for their target's forehead, and the Succubus howls and then explodes into a fiery red mist.
"What the crap was that, Michael?" Cal asks while Cris helps her to stand.
"It was a Succubus; they attack the mind with wicked thoughts. Are you all right, Cal?"
"I think so. That was so much evil trying to invade my mind at once."
"They're usually not here," Gabe exclaims. "Succubus mainly stay in the extreme dark regions waiting to invade people's dreams in the Physical Realm."
Cris asks, "How do you know about all this evil that exists here, Gabe?"
"Through the many visits with Michael. But I learn something new every time I'm here, the Garrote, for instance."
"We need to get off the street before something else wants to torment us," Cal looks up the street again. "We're still clear if that means anything."
"Let's move out," Gabe says, then retakes the point.
Cris draws close to Cal when she stumbles a little. "Are you feeling okay, sweetie?"
"I'll be all right," Cal answers, then asks, "Sweetie?"
"Don't knock it," Cris chuckles. "It's a southern thing, and people from California wouldn't understand it."
Cal laughs, "Okay, honnnney."
"That's the worst southern drawl I've ever heard."
"I'll have to practice," Cal's radiant smile lights her face.
"Hey, look," Gabe quietly says. "They left the Greyhound sign up."
The hard beat of evil tribal music blares in the distance. Heinous howls and screeches are coming from the northwest while the flames from the firepits dance in the black sky.
Cris asks, "Can we see the bridge from the roof, Gabe?" He points to the second floor of the Greyhound building.
"Let's see," Gabe turns to Micheal. "Can you open the gate for us?"
"It would be my pleasure, Gabriel," He walks over to the log chain holding the gate closed, snaps the padlock with a twist of his hand, and swings the gate open. "After you, my friends."
When Cal walks by Michael, she says, "I love it when you get all strong."
Walking through the lot full of buses, Cris picks one out. "Hey, this one looks good, and it's a double-decker."
Cal shouts, "Hey guys, here's a ladder to the roof."
"Great," Gabe walks over. "Let me go first."
Cris says, "After you, my lady."
"Not a chance, Cris," Cal grins. "These gym shorts aren't made for climbing ladders."
Cris smirks, then climbs the ladder with Cal following close behind.
"I don't need the ladder, Cal," and Micheal leaps to the second-floor roof with a slight bend of his knees. "Is the roof solid, Gabriel?"
"Yes, from what I can tell, but you might stay on the edges."
Cris joins the party, and Cal finally makes it up the ladder. Quietly, Gabe and Cris begin to study the path across the bridge through their binoculars. Firepits line the sides of the bridge, and their smoke swirls while reaching for the clouds above.
Cris speaks up, "Count the platoons of Legions, Gabe, and I'll get a rough count on how many are in them."
Cal walks up to the edge and says, "Wow, they mean business!"
"Yes, they do," Michael exclaims. "You were right, Cal. We would have never made it across on foot."
Cal sees movement at the bridge span's top and focuses her field glasses. "Hey, Gabe, your friend is on top of the bridge in the middle barking out orders."
"Well, if it isn't, Asmodeus, this might be some fun after all. I count twenty platoons, Cris."
"Yeah, and there's about five-hundred per. That's ten thousand Legions,
not counting the Familiars dancing around."
Cal asks, "You don't see the Garrotes, Cris?"
"No."
"Look in the darkness in between fire pits."
Gabe and Cris refocus then Cris answers, "Trying to hide, big man. How many do you see with the night vision, Cal?"
"At least ten, but I can't see across the bridge."
"Yeah, night vision is limited by distance," Cris chuckles. "My friends, with the odds roughly 12,000 to 4, we need a good plan and a lot of prayers."
A few minutes later, nestled between busses, the group begins to share ideas. Cal says, "We need the biggest bus in this lot if Gabe can get it running."
"We'll need more than that, or they'll rip that bus open and kill all of us," Cris shakes his head. "We need to keep them so distracted that none of them know what's coming next, then hit them with the bus."
"So," Gabe speaks up, "By the time they figure out what's going on, we could be halfway across the bridge."
"Hopefully," Cris smiles at Gabe.
"Well, that's great," Cal has a puzzled look on her face. "What about the other half."
"That's when the fun begins," Gabe grins. "We fight the rest of the way across."
"You have some serious thrill issues, big man," Cal laughs.
"I'd rather flatten them the bus," Cris interjects. "But you're right; we'll be in the thick of it."
"Have faith, my friends. The Lord is watching, and we'll do fine." Michael studies each face for a moment. "I now see why He chose each of you to be His warriors."
~
Part~2
No one knows how much time has passed, but the need to get moving is wearing on them. Cal is on the roof, keeping an eye on the preparations at the bridge. Cris and Gabe are going over the double-decker bus while Michael intently watches their every move, then says, "Amazing, I never knew how much goes into making one of these devices."
Cris speaks up, "It seems that everything is in working order, Gabe, and there's fuel in the tank. We need some battery power to fire it up."
Gabe adds, "Even if we had a battery charger, there's no electricity."
"Will lightning do?" Michael asks.
Gabe and Cris slowly turn to him, and both answer simultaneously, "Maybe."
Michael climbs inside the bus and asks, "Where do you need it installed?"
Gabe asks, "Is the ignition on, Cris?"
"Yes, sir."
"Every electrical system runs through the switch. It sounds like the only choice, and I hope it doesn't blow us up."
Michael smiles and says, "Have faith, Gabriel."
"I do, but I'm backing up a little."
Cris cringes a little in the driver's seat and says, "Okay, here we go. Right there, Michael."
He takes the blue lightning whip from his belt, then turns the power end toward the ignition switch. The lightning reaches out and connects, drawing the shaft to its destination. Streams of blue energy crackle throughout the frame, and sparks explode from the gauges. Gabe gets hit by a bolt that knocks him backward. Suddenly, the bus lights spring to life while the motor roars. Cris guns the accelerator and hollers, "I think that's enough, Michael."
Michael pulls his whip away while Gabe picks himself off of the floor.
Gabe says, "Don't gun the motor too much, Cris. It needs to get us across the bridge, and the motor sounds like it has a cylinder not firing all the way."
Cris slowly lets up on the throttle, and the motor begins to idle. "Well, it seems like we have a ride!"
Cal runs to the bus door and yells, "That sounds great! Are we about to put this plan in motion?"
Gabe's face looks locked in, and he says, "Yes, ma'am."
"Awesome! Come on, Cris, let's go unleash some fury."
Gabe exclaims, "Don't forget those hollow-point shells, Cris. They explode on contact."
"Ah, yes. There's nothing like exploding demons on a Saturday afternoon."
Michael speaks up, "Remember, my friends. The Lord is with us."
They all shout, "Amen!"
~
Suddenly, there's a quiet growing among the throng inhabiting the bridge. Asmodeus barks out an order to be ready, causing thousands of red eyes to peer into the city.
Gabe puts the bus in reverse, then slowly backs onto Second Avenue. The darkness seems to muffle the sound of the Greyhound creaking out the lot. It's been a long time since this massive tank rolled down a highway. He puts the shifter into Drive and says, "Let's see if this thing goes forward, Michael."
The drums of the demons begin to pound out a slow, steady beat that resonates throughout the area. The Legions take a battle stance with swords drawn and spears at the ready.
Cal and Cris take their positions on top of some shipping containers that block Riverside Drive on both sides. Once Cal is in place, she scans the other side for Cris, and he's in a firing position waiting for Cal's signal. With an evil grin, Cal pulls an arrow from her quiver, sites her target then lets it fly. The silent missile passes in front of Cris's nose, with the last feather barely touching the tip. Cris smiles and says to himself, "What a woman."
Gabe and Michael stop at the Poplar Avenue intersection, waiting for the first shot from Cris's AR-15. Michael asks, "Do you think Cal and Cris will be up to the challenge, Gabriel?"
"Yes, I do. Are we?"
"Let us find out, Gabriel."
Gabe starts to laugh, turning the bus onto the intersection.
Cal scans the area picking out her first targets, and says to herself, "I love it when they line up in a row." With her bow pulled, she slowly rises from her crouching position, thinking, "Let me see if I can empty my quiver. Michael said I couldn't do it." They decided that Cal should be the first to fire in silence.
Suddenly, Legions begin to shriek before exploding in a red haze. Death for the Legions is raining down from the sky. Row after row begins to fade into the darkness. Asmodeus barks out another order, and Familiars start the search for the attacker while the Legions begin to break formation.
It's time for Cris to take action. He opens fire on the Familiars at fifteen rounds per second. They begin to dance and explode at a furious pace. Cal is almost through the first wave of legions, and she hasn't made a dent in her quiver full of arrows.
Gabe pulls the bus to the front of the bridge, opens the door, and says, "It's your turn, Michael."
He quickly hops off the bus and pulls off his lightning whip from his belt, and with a mighty flip of his wrist, it connects with the suspension cable spanning the bridge. Blue lightning begins to crackle along the entire structure, and red sprites shoot through the dark clouds while the fingers of lightning cascade downward to unsuspecting victims.
Michael's play signals Cal and Cris to find the bus. They both begin to climb down the containers.
Cris's plan has worked to perfection so far. The demons on the bridge are in total disarray; while Asmodeus is knocked off his perch by a bolt of lightning, two Garrotes fly to his aid lowering him to the bridge.
Cris is already down, and he watches Cal on the last few steps when he sees movement to her right. Two Legions are sneaking up beside her, and she doesn't see them. He shoulders his rifle when they pull their swords. Two shots fired, exploding the demons beside Cal taking her last step down. She smiles and then says, "I owe you one."
"Believe me," Cris laughs. "I plan on collecting." They both run to the bus.
Michael sees them coming and releases his whip with a flick of his wrist.
"Great show, Michael," Cal exclaims, running past him. "You even knocked that big one off of the tower."
"Well, that's an added pleasure."
They file onto the bus, and Cris takes the wheel. He hollers, "Everybody, hold on," then slams the door and floors it. The bus surges forward. "I'm turning the lights on, Gabe; they already know we're here."
"They sure do, Cris, because of you and Cal."
The bridge between Memphis and Arkansas is a mile across, with four lanes for traffic. In the Physical Realm, it carries thousands of cars and trucks across every day.
In the Spiritual Realm it's currently occupied by thousands of demons going in every direction. Asmodeus barks out orders but cannot bring his charges to order when the next wave hits the demons.
Cris roars onto the bridge at seventy miles per hour, crushing everything in his path. Legions and Familiars hit the air while tortuous screams erupt beneath the bus—all eyes on the bus scan the way ahead of them. The bus is almost half a mile across.
The demons begin to regroup. Suddenly, spears fly through the windshield. Shattered glass sprays everywhere, causing Cris to swerve the bus a little, smashing three of their fire pits. Fire pours off the back of the bus for a moment.
The second pit sprayed over the road engulfing many Legions. With their bodies burning, they rise slowly and begin chasing the bus. Red eyes encased in fire run shrieking down the road.
Five Garrotes land in front of the bus when a thud on the bus's roof knocks Cal to the floor. The two back tires blow out, and Cris has no choice but to slow down.
"I know who that is. Open the door, Cris," and he obliges. Gabe grabs the frame, then swings his large frame out the door in a circle and lands, standing on the roof. He smiles and says, "I believe I owe you something!" Asmodeus steps back in fear then Gabe opens fire, pelting his body in a circle around his heart and one final shot to the head. Asmodeus explodes in the red stench of a demon General.
Cal can see the fiery Legions are catching up and yells, "Throw me you Forty-five, Cris."
He quickly tosses it to her and asks. "I didn't know you could shoot a handgun?"
"You didn't ask." She turns when the back window explodes. Several flaming faces peer through the window with hideous smiles, and Cal opens fire, sending them back to oblivion.
Michael sees the path ahead and says, "I believe I need to clear a path, Cris."
"It would be helpful."
Michael takes off his coat, then steps back. Suddenly, he bursts through the busted windshield, unfurling his ten-foot wings. With his whip in hand, he hovers for a second, then cracks it. The decapitated Garrotes detonate into nothingness. He continues his wrath on any victim that lies ahead.
The bus slows again when the rest of the Legions hang on from behind. The other back tires blow, and sparks fly. They're running on the rims now. The end is just ahead, and Michael has cleared the way.
Gabe runs to the back of the bus picking off Legions with every shot. He hears someone firing inside and wonders who it is.
The Legions keep coming from everywhere; they have busted out the side windows and are ripping the frames wider to get in. Cal slowly backs her way to the front, firing away, and asks, "Where are we?"
"Just a few hundred more feet, and we'll be off the bridge. The problem is, we're doing only twenty miles an hour."
Michael lands beside Gabriel and says, "We need to get inside." Michael kneels, rips the air conditioning unit from the roof, then throws it at a Legion climbing on top. Using his bare hands, he widens the hole for both of them to drop in. Michael first, then Gabe.
Cris yells at Gabe, "Where's the portal?"
"It's at a Marathon station just ahead, and the portal is beside it."
The bus suddenly bounces hard when the bus exits the bridge. Everybody standing catches themselves before falling.
Cal is still blasting away and says, "I could use a little help!"
Gabe pulls both off his Rugers from his duty belt and blasts away in rapid fire. He empties his guns, then slams in new clips.
"I see the station; everybody, brace yourself. I'm going to try and stop this thing," Cris yells over the gunshots.
The back wheels lock up, spinning the back of the bus in a complete circle, shaking demons off in every direction. It slowly stops in front of the station.
Gabe shakes the cobwebs from the G-force and exclaims, "Let's get out of this thing!"
Cris opens the door and says, "Thank you for riding Greyhound. Enjoy your stay."
Cal scoots past him and says, "I'm not staying that long and neither are you."
Gabe scans the area stepping off the bus, announcing, "It looks clear."
The group exits quickly, seeing the swirling darkness before them. The howls and screams are just over the hill, and Michael smiles. He hands his jacket to Gabe then suddenly; he grows to thirty feet in height. Giant, Micheal sees the mass of forces about to top the hill; he picks the bus up with a mighty heave; throws it. The multitude of demons sees the hulk of steel flying at them and try to escape with little success. A massive cloud of red mist rises beyond the hill.
Almost instantly, Michael takes his jacket from Gabe.
Before they can take a step, half of a fiery demon raises himself with his sword in hand. He stands on his torso; its legs were taken off by the bus. Hatred fills his rotting face. With its last amount of strength, he heaves the sword like a spear.
Before the Warriors can take a step, the weapon strikes Cal in the back, piercing her kidneys and stomach before the tip penetrates her abdomen. Cal collapses in a heap on the barren ground with a deep moan.
Cris turns to find the laughing demon across the road, then obliterates the Legion in a hail of bullets.
Michael unwraps his Tallit from around his waist.
Gabe walks behind Cal, then yells for Cris, "Help us, Cris." He yanks the sword from Cal's back.
Cris turns and asks, "Is she going to die?"
"Not if we get my Tallit around her wound. Gabriel and I will raise her off the ground while you wrap this around her." Michael tosses Cris his garment, then grabs her feet, and Gabe slips his hands under her arms. They raise her, and blood pours from the wound. Cris wraps her body with the garment. "Make sure the tassels are under her near the wound."
"Gotcha!"
Gabe interjects, "Now, take her in your arms and let's get through that portal before they regroup."
Tears drip from Cris's eyes while taking her gently in his arms.
"I know it's hard, Cris. But we've got to move!"
"You're right, Gabe. Let's go."
Three, carrying one, dive into the portal.
The upbeat mood around the fantastic meal with Nathanial subsides a little when the Heavenly Warriors quietly enter the Memphis city limits. Nathanial had to return to his duties, but the group felt they were not alone in this strange land of evil. Miles away, the jagged Memphis skyline fills the horizon.
Suddenly, the radiant light of heaven peers through a gap in the hideous clouds. All eyes turn to the glow of love radiating from the throne of God, Himself. It fills their spirit within until their hearts swell with courage.
The blackened clouds race to fill the gap.
Cal turns to Michael and asks, "I thought there was no wind here?"
"Only if Satan wishes it."
Cris asks, "How far to the bridge, Gabe?"
"Less than ten miles."
"That won't take long," Cris sighs. "I can't believe the distance we've traveled in what feels like a short time. As you said, Gabe, time doesn't matter here."
"Now that's just how I pictured it," Cal smiles. "Every home is burned and flattened for miles, but that strip club stands tall."
"It's full of demons tempting men to sin in every conceivable way in the physical realm," Gabe shakes his head. "How many souls have been lost to ungodly sex?"
"Too many," Cal frowns. "That's a reminder of why we're on this mission."
Cris asks, "Where are the red eyes that always watch us, Gabe?"
"They're waiting for us at the bridge."
"That may be true," Cal exclaims, "But I still feel that someone is watching us. It's like the buildings have eyes on every step we take."
Michael steps beside Cal and says, "It wouldn't surprise me. There are spells in witchcraft that accomplish such things."
"A girl can't get a moment of privacy around here," Cal grins at her attempt at a joke. "Do you know much about witchcraft, Michael?"
"Let me say this," Michael flinches. "To defeat one's enemy, he must know his enemy."
"Interesting," Cal replies.
The group continues along the battered road lined with the bare skeletons of trees. Large chunks of concrete and asphalt are missing as if the demons ripped from the ground. The steeple of a Baptist Church touches the clouds, but that's all the remains of the building.
Cal is the first to see the battered remnants of the I-240 bypass with its gaping holes. Parts of the overpass lay scattered along the exit. "I hope we're not going this way."
"That's okay," Gabe smiles. "About a mile further is Poplar Avenue, and it will take us straight to the Mississippi River, and the bridge is just a mile away from there."
"Great, I'm ready to finish this part of the journey," Cal replies.
"My trigger finger has been itchy lately," Cris stops and shoulders his AR-15 to check the sight, then pops out the clip to slam in a new one. "Ready, here."
"Well," Gabe smiles, "Let's see what we're up against first."
"Actually," Michael interjects. "I think Cal has the right idea. We will need a vehicle to cross the bridge, and is there anything close by?"
Cal shakes her head, then says, "I've never been to Memphis."
Cris asks, "How did you cross the Mississippi?"
"I crossed the river at Dyersburg, then worked my way south. Fewer people that way."
"If I remember rightly," Gabe runs his thick fingers through his gray hair. "The Greyhound Bus terminal is beside the downtown police department; it's across the street from the Pyramid and less than a mile from the bridge."
"Yeah, but who can work on a bus for us?" Cris asks.
"There ain't nothing I can't get running," Gabe grins. "If it's got some fuel and battery power."
"Sounds like a plan, big man," Cal punches Gabe on the shoulder. "Ow!"
"Solid has a rock, Cal," Gabe chuckles.
"I believe you."
The miles pass quickly as the group strolls down Poplar Avenue. There's no sign of any buildings along the road, only the remnants of cinder blocks etching out a shape from the Physical Realm.
"Now that's nasty," Cal announces. The stench of Brimstone increases the closer they get to Beale Street.
"There are thousands of demons tempting souls to sin in that area."
Cal turns to Cris and asks, "And how many sins did you commit while visiting the demons on Beale Street?"
"Oh, maybe one or two."
"Were you married then?"
"Uh, nooo."
"Oh, so how many of those little southern cuties did you lust after, Cris?"
"Well, it's all under the blood of Jesus. So, there's no use dwelling on the past, Cal."
Gabe walks over to say, "That's what I like about you, Cal. You keep everybody on their toes."
"It's a gift," she smiles.
Cris speaks up, "Straight out of hell."
Poplar Avenue finally ends at the Mississippi River, which looms before them. The vast scar of darkness upon the land extends out of sight, but to the right, the red light of pure evil dances against the thick clouds not far away.
"The party is just starting, and they know we're close," Gabe's voice deepens. "Let's cut over a block but be on high alert. Sentries might be stationed along the way."
Cal nudges Cris, saying, "Give me your field glasses."
"Here, the night vision should be on."
Cal studies the alley, "There's nothing here, big man."
"Gotcha, I got the point." Gabe unholsters his Rugers with an evil grin.
The tiny group moves forward in formation. Gabe in front, Cal and Cris flanked behind him, with Michael covering the rear for the first time in his existence.
Cal stands at the corner of Second Avenue, scanning the following two blocks. "The way eerily clean as far as I can see."
Michael steps into the street and narrows his eyes, projecting his spirit ahead of them. "She's right; I feel no presence of evil on the street, and it's all concentrated ahead."
Cris steps forward and says, "That's arrogance."
"That is Lucifer, Cris," Michael interjects. "The essence of superior pride."
Suddenly Cal exclaims, "Oh, dear Lord," then falls to her knees. She let go of the binoculars wrapped around her neck to grab both sides of her head. "Get these evil voices out of my head."
"Where is she, Michael?" Gabe asks with weapons ready to fire.
Michael pulls his whip of lightning and cracks it beside a warehouse across the street. It enlightens a shapely figure of a woman hidden in the darkness. "There, Gabriel."
Before Micheal finishes his sentence, two 9mm bullets search for their target's forehead, and the Succubus howls and then explodes into a fiery red mist.
"What the crap was that, Michael?" Cal asks while Cris helps her to stand.
"It was a Succubus; they attack the mind with wicked thoughts. Are you all right, Cal?"
"I think so. That was so much evil trying to invade my mind at once."
"They're usually not here," Gabe exclaims. "Succubus mainly stay in the extreme dark regions waiting to invade people's dreams in the Physical Realm."
Cris asks, "How do you know about all this evil that exists here, Gabe?"
"Through the many visits with Michael. But I learn something new every time I'm here, the Garrote, for instance."
"We need to get off the street before something else wants to torment us," Cal looks up the street again. "We're still clear if that means anything."
"Let's move out," Gabe says, then retakes the point.
Cris draws close to Cal when she stumbles a little. "Are you feeling okay, sweetie?"
"I'll be all right," Cal answers, then asks, "Sweetie?"
"Don't knock it," Cris chuckles. "It's a southern thing, and people from California wouldn't understand it."
Cal laughs, "Okay, honnnney."
"That's the worst southern drawl I've ever heard."
"I'll have to practice," Cal's radiant smile lights her face.
"Hey, look," Gabe quietly says. "They left the Greyhound sign up."
The hard beat of evil tribal music blares in the distance. Heinous howls and screeches are coming from the northwest while the flames from the firepits dance in the black sky.
Cris asks, "Can we see the bridge from the roof, Gabe?" He points to the second floor of the Greyhound building.
"Let's see," Gabe turns to Micheal. "Can you open the gate for us?"
"It would be my pleasure, Gabriel," He walks over to the log chain holding the gate closed, snaps the padlock with a twist of his hand, and swings the gate open. "After you, my friends."
When Cal walks by Michael, she says, "I love it when you get all strong."
Walking through the lot full of buses, Cris picks one out. "Hey, this one looks good, and it's a double-decker."
Cal shouts, "Hey guys, here's a ladder to the roof."
"Great," Gabe walks over. "Let me go first."
Cris says, "After you, my lady."
"Not a chance, Cris," Cal grins. "These gym shorts aren't made for climbing ladders."
Cris smirks, then climbs the ladder with Cal following close behind.
"I don't need the ladder, Cal," and Micheal leaps to the second-floor roof with a slight bend of his knees. "Is the roof solid, Gabriel?"
"Yes, from what I can tell, but you might stay on the edges."
Cris joins the party, and Cal finally makes it up the ladder. Quietly, Gabe and Cris begin to study the path across the bridge through their binoculars. Firepits line the sides of the bridge, and their smoke swirls while reaching for the clouds above.
Cris speaks up, "Count the platoons of Legions, Gabe, and I'll get a rough count on how many are in them."
Cal walks up to the edge and says, "Wow, they mean business!"
"Yes, they do," Michael exclaims. "You were right, Cal. We would have never made it across on foot."
Cal sees movement at the bridge span's top and focuses her field glasses. "Hey, Gabe, your friend is on top of the bridge in the middle barking out orders."
"Well, if it isn't, Asmodeus, this might be some fun after all. I count twenty platoons, Cris."
"Yeah, and there's about five-hundred per. That's ten thousand Legions,
not counting the Familiars dancing around."
Cal asks, "You don't see the Garrotes, Cris?"
"No."
"Look in the darkness in between fire pits."
Gabe and Cris refocus then Cris answers, "Trying to hide, big man. How many do you see with the night vision, Cal?"
"At least ten, but I can't see across the bridge."
"Yeah, night vision is limited by distance," Cris chuckles. "My friends, with the odds roughly 12,000 to 4, we need a good plan and a lot of prayers."
A few minutes later, nestled between busses, the group begins to share ideas. Cal says, "We need the biggest bus in this lot if Gabe can get it running."
"We'll need more than that, or they'll rip that bus open and kill all of us," Cris shakes his head. "We need to keep them so distracted that none of them know what's coming next, then hit them with the bus."
"So," Gabe speaks up, "By the time they figure out what's going on, we could be halfway across the bridge."
"Hopefully," Cris smiles at Gabe.
"Well, that's great," Cal has a puzzled look on her face. "What about the other half."
"That's when the fun begins," Gabe grins. "We fight the rest of the way across."
"You have some serious thrill issues, big man," Cal laughs.
"I'd rather flatten them the bus," Cris interjects. "But you're right; we'll be in the thick of it."
"Have faith, my friends. The Lord is watching, and we'll do fine." Michael studies each face for a moment. "I now see why He chose each of you to be His warriors."
~
Part~2
No one knows how much time has passed, but the need to get moving is wearing on them. Cal is on the roof, keeping an eye on the preparations at the bridge. Cris and Gabe are going over the double-decker bus while Michael intently watches their every move, then says, "Amazing, I never knew how much goes into making one of these devices."
Cris speaks up, "It seems that everything is in working order, Gabe, and there's fuel in the tank. We need some battery power to fire it up."
Gabe adds, "Even if we had a battery charger, there's no electricity."
"Will lightning do?" Michael asks.
Gabe and Cris slowly turn to him, and both answer simultaneously, "Maybe."
Michael climbs inside the bus and asks, "Where do you need it installed?"
Gabe asks, "Is the ignition on, Cris?"
"Yes, sir."
"Every electrical system runs through the switch. It sounds like the only choice, and I hope it doesn't blow us up."
Michael smiles and says, "Have faith, Gabriel."
"I do, but I'm backing up a little."
Cris cringes a little in the driver's seat and says, "Okay, here we go. Right there, Michael."
He takes the blue lightning whip from his belt, then turns the power end toward the ignition switch. The lightning reaches out and connects, drawing the shaft to its destination. Streams of blue energy crackle throughout the frame, and sparks explode from the gauges. Gabe gets hit by a bolt that knocks him backward. Suddenly, the bus lights spring to life while the motor roars. Cris guns the accelerator and hollers, "I think that's enough, Michael."
Michael pulls his whip away while Gabe picks himself off of the floor.
Gabe says, "Don't gun the motor too much, Cris. It needs to get us across the bridge, and the motor sounds like it has a cylinder not firing all the way."
Cris slowly lets up on the throttle, and the motor begins to idle. "Well, it seems like we have a ride!"
Cal runs to the bus door and yells, "That sounds great! Are we about to put this plan in motion?"
Gabe's face looks locked in, and he says, "Yes, ma'am."
"Awesome! Come on, Cris, let's go unleash some fury."
Gabe exclaims, "Don't forget those hollow-point shells, Cris. They explode on contact."
"Ah, yes. There's nothing like exploding demons on a Saturday afternoon."
Michael speaks up, "Remember, my friends. The Lord is with us."
They all shout, "Amen!"
~
Suddenly, there's a quiet growing among the throng inhabiting the bridge. Asmodeus barks out an order to be ready, causing thousands of red eyes to peer into the city.
Gabe puts the bus in reverse, then slowly backs onto Second Avenue. The darkness seems to muffle the sound of the Greyhound creaking out the lot. It's been a long time since this massive tank rolled down a highway. He puts the shifter into Drive and says, "Let's see if this thing goes forward, Michael."
The drums of the demons begin to pound out a slow, steady beat that resonates throughout the area. The Legions take a battle stance with swords drawn and spears at the ready.
Cal and Cris take their positions on top of some shipping containers that block Riverside Drive on both sides. Once Cal is in place, she scans the other side for Cris, and he's in a firing position waiting for Cal's signal. With an evil grin, Cal pulls an arrow from her quiver, sites her target then lets it fly. The silent missile passes in front of Cris's nose, with the last feather barely touching the tip. Cris smiles and says to himself, "What a woman."
Gabe and Michael stop at the Poplar Avenue intersection, waiting for the first shot from Cris's AR-15. Michael asks, "Do you think Cal and Cris will be up to the challenge, Gabriel?"
"Yes, I do. Are we?"
"Let us find out, Gabriel."
Gabe starts to laugh, turning the bus onto the intersection.
Cal scans the area picking out her first targets, and says to herself, "I love it when they line up in a row." With her bow pulled, she slowly rises from her crouching position, thinking, "Let me see if I can empty my quiver. Michael said I couldn't do it." They decided that Cal should be the first to fire in silence.
Suddenly, Legions begin to shriek before exploding in a red haze. Death for the Legions is raining down from the sky. Row after row begins to fade into the darkness. Asmodeus barks out another order, and Familiars start the search for the attacker while the Legions begin to break formation.
It's time for Cris to take action. He opens fire on the Familiars at fifteen rounds per second. They begin to dance and explode at a furious pace. Cal is almost through the first wave of legions, and she hasn't made a dent in her quiver full of arrows.
Gabe pulls the bus to the front of the bridge, opens the door, and says, "It's your turn, Michael."
He quickly hops off the bus and pulls off his lightning whip from his belt, and with a mighty flip of his wrist, it connects with the suspension cable spanning the bridge. Blue lightning begins to crackle along the entire structure, and red sprites shoot through the dark clouds while the fingers of lightning cascade downward to unsuspecting victims.
Michael's play signals Cal and Cris to find the bus. They both begin to climb down the containers.
Cris's plan has worked to perfection so far. The demons on the bridge are in total disarray; while Asmodeus is knocked off his perch by a bolt of lightning, two Garrotes fly to his aid lowering him to the bridge.
Cris is already down, and he watches Cal on the last few steps when he sees movement to her right. Two Legions are sneaking up beside her, and she doesn't see them. He shoulders his rifle when they pull their swords. Two shots fired, exploding the demons beside Cal taking her last step down. She smiles and then says, "I owe you one."
"Believe me," Cris laughs. "I plan on collecting." They both run to the bus.
Michael sees them coming and releases his whip with a flick of his wrist.
"Great show, Michael," Cal exclaims, running past him. "You even knocked that big one off of the tower."
"Well, that's an added pleasure."
They file onto the bus, and Cris takes the wheel. He hollers, "Everybody, hold on," then slams the door and floors it. The bus surges forward. "I'm turning the lights on, Gabe; they already know we're here."
"They sure do, Cris, because of you and Cal."
The bridge between Memphis and Arkansas is a mile across, with four lanes for traffic. In the Physical Realm, it carries thousands of cars and trucks across every day.
In the Spiritual Realm it's currently occupied by thousands of demons going in every direction. Asmodeus barks out orders but cannot bring his charges to order when the next wave hits the demons.
Cris roars onto the bridge at seventy miles per hour, crushing everything in his path. Legions and Familiars hit the air while tortuous screams erupt beneath the bus—all eyes on the bus scan the way ahead of them. The bus is almost half a mile across.
The demons begin to regroup. Suddenly, spears fly through the windshield. Shattered glass sprays everywhere, causing Cris to swerve the bus a little, smashing three of their fire pits. Fire pours off the back of the bus for a moment.
The second pit sprayed over the road engulfing many Legions. With their bodies burning, they rise slowly and begin chasing the bus. Red eyes encased in fire run shrieking down the road.
Five Garrotes land in front of the bus when a thud on the bus's roof knocks Cal to the floor. The two back tires blow out, and Cris has no choice but to slow down.
"I know who that is. Open the door, Cris," and he obliges. Gabe grabs the frame, then swings his large frame out the door in a circle and lands, standing on the roof. He smiles and says, "I believe I owe you something!" Asmodeus steps back in fear then Gabe opens fire, pelting his body in a circle around his heart and one final shot to the head. Asmodeus explodes in the red stench of a demon General.
Cal can see the fiery Legions are catching up and yells, "Throw me you Forty-five, Cris."
He quickly tosses it to her and asks. "I didn't know you could shoot a handgun?"
"You didn't ask." She turns when the back window explodes. Several flaming faces peer through the window with hideous smiles, and Cal opens fire, sending them back to oblivion.
Michael sees the path ahead and says, "I believe I need to clear a path, Cris."
"It would be helpful."
Michael takes off his coat, then steps back. Suddenly, he bursts through the busted windshield, unfurling his ten-foot wings. With his whip in hand, he hovers for a second, then cracks it. The decapitated Garrotes detonate into nothingness. He continues his wrath on any victim that lies ahead.
The bus slows again when the rest of the Legions hang on from behind. The other back tires blow, and sparks fly. They're running on the rims now. The end is just ahead, and Michael has cleared the way.
Gabe runs to the back of the bus picking off Legions with every shot. He hears someone firing inside and wonders who it is.
The Legions keep coming from everywhere; they have busted out the side windows and are ripping the frames wider to get in. Cal slowly backs her way to the front, firing away, and asks, "Where are we?"
"Just a few hundred more feet, and we'll be off the bridge. The problem is, we're doing only twenty miles an hour."
Michael lands beside Gabriel and says, "We need to get inside." Michael kneels, rips the air conditioning unit from the roof, then throws it at a Legion climbing on top. Using his bare hands, he widens the hole for both of them to drop in. Michael first, then Gabe.
Cris yells at Gabe, "Where's the portal?"
"It's at a Marathon station just ahead, and the portal is beside it."
The bus suddenly bounces hard when the bus exits the bridge. Everybody standing catches themselves before falling.
Cal is still blasting away and says, "I could use a little help!"
Gabe pulls both off his Rugers from his duty belt and blasts away in rapid fire. He empties his guns, then slams in new clips.
"I see the station; everybody, brace yourself. I'm going to try and stop this thing," Cris yells over the gunshots.
The back wheels lock up, spinning the back of the bus in a complete circle, shaking demons off in every direction. It slowly stops in front of the station.
Gabe shakes the cobwebs from the G-force and exclaims, "Let's get out of this thing!"
Cris opens the door and says, "Thank you for riding Greyhound. Enjoy your stay."
Cal scoots past him and says, "I'm not staying that long and neither are you."
Gabe scans the area stepping off the bus, announcing, "It looks clear."
The group exits quickly, seeing the swirling darkness before them. The howls and screams are just over the hill, and Michael smiles. He hands his jacket to Gabe then suddenly; he grows to thirty feet in height. Giant, Micheal sees the mass of forces about to top the hill; he picks the bus up with a mighty heave; throws it. The multitude of demons sees the hulk of steel flying at them and try to escape with little success. A massive cloud of red mist rises beyond the hill.
Almost instantly, Michael takes his jacket from Gabe.
Before they can take a step, half of a fiery demon raises himself with his sword in hand. He stands on his torso; its legs were taken off by the bus. Hatred fills his rotting face. With its last amount of strength, he heaves the sword like a spear.
Before the Warriors can take a step, the weapon strikes Cal in the back, piercing her kidneys and stomach before the tip penetrates her abdomen. Cal collapses in a heap on the barren ground with a deep moan.
Cris turns to find the laughing demon across the road, then obliterates the Legion in a hail of bullets.
Michael unwraps his Tallit from around his waist.
Gabe walks behind Cal, then yells for Cris, "Help us, Cris." He yanks the sword from Cal's back.
Cris turns and asks, "Is she going to die?"
"Not if we get my Tallit around her wound. Gabriel and I will raise her off the ground while you wrap this around her." Michael tosses Cris his garment, then grabs her feet, and Gabe slips his hands under her arms. They raise her, and blood pours from the wound. Cris wraps her body with the garment. "Make sure the tassels are under her near the wound."
"Gotcha!"
Gabe interjects, "Now, take her in your arms and let's get through that portal before they regroup."
Tears drip from Cris's eyes while taking her gently in his arms.
"I know it's hard, Cris. But we've got to move!"
"You're right, Gabe. Let's go."
Three, carrying one, dive into the portal.
To all readers, I humbly apologize that it has been four months since posting anything in this book. With school starting in two weeks, I hope to do much better.
The Cast of Characters.
Prisha
The twelve-year-old girl who her father sold to the Dealer in the prologue.
The Angelic Warriors
Gabriel Hope
At six feet six inches tall and 295 pounds, Gabe is a 20-year veteran of the Army Rangers, and he's been walking for the Lord for 23 years.
Michael
The Arch Angel of Heaven, Prince of God, Commander of the Lord's Armies. His massive size varies depending on the situation. Michael has been friends with Gabe for many years after recruiting him for battles in the Spirit Realm.
Cal Cummings
At six feet two inches tall and 200 pounds, Cal graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Master's degree in Theology. She also starred in Volleyball and is an Olympic Champion Archer. Five years ago, she was working in the mission fields of Africa when bandits killed her Mother and Father in a brutal attack, and Cal barely escaped.
Cris Turner
At six feet tall and 200 pounds, Cris has a Master's degree in Criminal Science and Theology from North Carolina University. He is also an excellent shot with his Colt 45 model #1911. Three years ago, he started walking for the Lord when his wife and son were killed in a plane crash, but Cris missed the flight.
The Enemy
Lucifer, Satan, or the Evil One
He is the Supreme Commander of all the demon armies and ruler of the Spirit Realm.
Beelzebub
2nd in command under Lucifer, all of the other generals report to him. He uses pride to tempt others.
Asmodeus
Commander of the North American army of demons, he tempts others with burning desire.
Leviathon
Commander of the Western Asian army of demons, and he tempts others with heresy.
Legions
The slow marching skeletal soldiers in Satan's armies - Legions vary in size from five to seven feet tall. They are known for their ability to leap upon their prey and are mighty in battle.
Familiars
They are much smaller than the Legions, but quick soldiers hunt in packs. They cling to the dried-up riverbeds, oceans, lakes, and streams, and Familiars carry short swords and slingshots.
Cambions
Cambions are one to two-foot-tall demons with oversized reproductive organs. Cambions are created in the Spirit realm when a demon mates with a male or female human while dreaming.
Garrote
A Super demon that's created in the Spirit realm when Satan or one of his generals has sex with a young virgin girl in the Earthly Realm.
Succubus
A demon that hides in the darker realms waiting on humans to sleep so they can invade their dreams and have sex with them.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. The Cast of Characters.
Prisha
The twelve-year-old girl who her father sold to the Dealer in the prologue.
The Angelic Warriors
Gabriel Hope
At six feet six inches tall and 295 pounds, Gabe is a 20-year veteran of the Army Rangers, and he's been walking for the Lord for 23 years.
Michael
The Arch Angel of Heaven, Prince of God, Commander of the Lord's Armies. His massive size varies depending on the situation. Michael has been friends with Gabe for many years after recruiting him for battles in the Spirit Realm.
Cal Cummings
At six feet two inches tall and 200 pounds, Cal graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Master's degree in Theology. She also starred in Volleyball and is an Olympic Champion Archer. Five years ago, she was working in the mission fields of Africa when bandits killed her Mother and Father in a brutal attack, and Cal barely escaped.
Cris Turner
At six feet tall and 200 pounds, Cris has a Master's degree in Criminal Science and Theology from North Carolina University. He is also an excellent shot with his Colt 45 model #1911. Three years ago, he started walking for the Lord when his wife and son were killed in a plane crash, but Cris missed the flight.
The Enemy
Lucifer, Satan, or the Evil One
He is the Supreme Commander of all the demon armies and ruler of the Spirit Realm.
Beelzebub
2nd in command under Lucifer, all of the other generals report to him. He uses pride to tempt others.
Asmodeus
Commander of the North American army of demons, he tempts others with burning desire.
Leviathon
Commander of the Western Asian army of demons, and he tempts others with heresy.
Legions
The slow marching skeletal soldiers in Satan's armies - Legions vary in size from five to seven feet tall. They are known for their ability to leap upon their prey and are mighty in battle.
Familiars
They are much smaller than the Legions, but quick soldiers hunt in packs. They cling to the dried-up riverbeds, oceans, lakes, and streams, and Familiars carry short swords and slingshots.
Cambions
Cambions are one to two-foot-tall demons with oversized reproductive organs. Cambions are created in the Spirit realm when a demon mates with a male or female human while dreaming.
Garrote
A Super demon that's created in the Spirit realm when Satan or one of his generals has sex with a young virgin girl in the Earthly Realm.
Succubus
A demon that hides in the darker realms waiting on humans to sleep so they can invade their dreams and have sex with them.
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