Children of the Apocalypse Complete Trilogy, page 31
part #1 of Children of the Apocalypse Series
“And with other angels at our back.” Ruthie smiled. “Pete went to meet Kaleb at the City. We can head that way as soon as you’re up to going.”
I rolled my eyes. It always seemed to be me who was holding everyone back. I lifted up my shirt and noticed the red lines had faded some. “Well, now that I don’t look like I’m infected with the plague, I think we’re good to go.”
“We can make it there well before sundown.” Aeron stood up and picked up the blankets around us. He shoved them in his bag. “We need to try to find water and boil it before we get to the city. We’re almost out.”
I stood and grabbed my bag, trying not to cringe as it pressed on the wound in my shoulder. “There’s a stream not far from the church. I remember seeing it on the map when Kaleb and I first came out here.”
We walked out of the house and headed down the road. The three of us were quiet as we made our way. There wasn’t much to say between us as we thought about the battle ahead.
After a couple miles through the destroyed city and the surrounding dead woods the bubbling of the stream could be heard and we all quickened our step.
“Aeron, if you can get the fire going, I’ll get the water.” I almost ran towards the sound, dreaming of quenching my thirst.
“Deal.” Aeron came up behind me, Ruthie at his side. I went to the bank of the river and dipped an empty canteen in. It could be heated to a boil over the flames as long as it didn’t touch the fire. Ruthie filled up a couple more and we moved between the river and the fire Aeron was making. By the end of it we had enough to last us until we got to the city and probably some extra.
We sat by the fire while the containers hung over it. Aeron nudged Ruthie. “So how much did you have to flirt with Michael to get him to agree?”
“I have to go on a date with him and consider his previous offers.” She hid her face in her hands. “Really, he’s an angel, he shouldn’t get to demand things like that. It’s blackmail, blackmail, I say.”
I held my hands out to the fire. “Really? What was his previous offer?”
“Well, you know that an angel can’t have children unless they are with another angel or a horseman right?”
I nodded. It was those terms that had resulted in me, when neither party was aware of what the other one was. “Yes.”
“Well, Michael wants me to be the one to bear him a child.” She leaned back on her hands and dug her fingers into the dirt. “He’s asked me several times, but I keep turning him down. I don’t think I want a child.” She looked at me. “You’ve seen the world from both points of view. Do you want to bring a child into this?”
“I’m not sure, I haven’t really considered it. As it is, I’m still trying to figure out who I am as a person.” I ran a hand through my hair and watched the fire dance.
Aeron started to pull down the canteens and put them in the bags. “It’s simple, you’re Little Death.”
“No, I’m more than that. Just like you’re more than the son of War. I just have to figure out what exactly that more is.” I gave a frustrated growl. “I don’t really expect you to understand because you’ve been alive for centuries. I’ve been alive for eighteen years. I don’t know if I want a kid, I don’t even know what I want to do with the rest of my human life.”
Ruthie stood and tossed some water on the fire, watching it hiss and steam as it killed the flames. “And you’ll figure that out in time.”
“I’m sure I will. Probably right before a Sin decides to take my head.” I made sure the sarcasm was clear in my voice. Unlike usual, Aeron didn’t say anything about the sarcasm. He just picked up his bag and started back towards the road.
Ruthie and I followed him. “Have you two been getting along better?” Ruthie kept her voice low. Aeron stalked forward a few yards ahead of us.
I nodded. “For the most part. I think he’s just too up front for me and I’m pretty sure that he’s not a fan of my sarcasm.”
“He’s not one for sarcasm, but I was surprised when he said Kaleb went before you guys.” She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. “Pete wanted to stay behind until you woke, but I thought it was best that he go forward and meet Kaleb. Maybe give the city a heads up that there are three more people coming.”
“I wish I could have seen him before he headed off, but that’s okay. All of us will be together again soon.” I skipped a little bit. “We’re off to the Sins...”
“The deadliest Sins of all.” Ruthie chimed in and skipped with me.
Aeron looked over his shoulders. “This is the apocalypse, do you really think you should be singing?”
“Lighten up some.” Ruthie laughed. “We’re trying to make this walk a little more interesting.”
We caught up with Aeron and he rolled his eyes. “You never did say, who’s the archangel who’s going into Hell with Sammy?”
And just like that, my mood wavered. Ruthie tugged on her bag to adjust it a bit. “Zachariah. He said he had met you guys a few cities over and was willing to help you with your cause.”
I paused at that. “I think that’s interesting, seeing as Aeron didn’t think he would want to help at all.”
“I didn’t think he’d agree with sealing the Sins away, that’s all. I never said that he wouldn’t be willing to undo the seals.”
“At least I know I’ll be in good hands. Are you sure you can’t come to Hell with us?” I looked at Ruthie. She shook her head. “No. I was told I needed to stay here and that I could come to your aid if you needed me, but with so many others with you, you should be fine.”
Except Ruthie was the one who had saved my skin last time. “Great, and what gateway are we going to use? I don’t think we can make a trip to the City of Fire without a car.”
“Archangels don’t need a gateway.” Ruthie patted my shoulder. “You’re just going to be dragged through that realm and plop...wherever you happen to be.”
The thought sent a shock through my system. Images of landing right in the midst of all the Sins popped into my mind. Or worse, in front of Lucile herself. “Here’s hoping they have good luck, because I really don’t want to end up right in the heart of Hell.”
“But you can take them to the seals.” Aeron stopped in a shadow that fell across the ground. “Which means if you’re lucky you’ll be able to get in and out without any conflict.”
We looked up at the makeshift wall in front of us. Plates of metal had been welded together some with bolts and others without. Rust covered some while others still held a shine. Two guards in military fatigues stood guarding the bars fashioned into a frame that I assumed was the entrance.
I glanced at Aeron as the guards marched up to us, guns up.
Aeron held his hands up. “We’ve traveled from Mesa City and we seek shelter.”
I tried to imagine how we looked. Aeron and I both had blood covering parts of our clothing, holes and worn areas dotted our clothes and mixed in all that was dirt and sweat.
“No one is allowed in without passing quarantine and inspection.” One of them crossed his arms and stared right at Aeron. “It’s twenty-four hours in the hut and then one of our doctors will come see you in the morning. Do you have any immediate needs?”
Aeron glanced back at us and I shook my head. He turned back to the guards. “No, show us to the hut and we’ll be happy to speak to your doctors when our twenty-four hours are over.”
The guard whistled and three more came from farther down the wall. “Take these guys and put them in the hut, one of their companions came earlier. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see them.”
My heart leapt. That had to be Pete that he was talking about. Kaleb would have been out of quarantine already. They grabbed us by the top of the arms and it took everything I had not to summon my weapon. “You don’t have to force us. We’re coming willingly.”
He jerked me a little in the direction that we came from. “Shut it.”
I glanced at Aeron wondering if I should attack, but he gave me a subtle shake of his head. They led us into a grove of dying evergreens and to a small house resembling one made by one of the three little pigs. Slanted walls barely held up the badly thatched roof and empty holes served as windows.
“I’ll huff and I’ll puff.” I whispered as the guard shoved me forward.
“You’ll stay in here, and if you show no signs of infection, you’ll be granted access to the city.” He pushed opened the door and motioned for us to enter.
Light spilled from the squares that acted as windows. I wrinkled my nose and took a step back as the scent of rotting flesh assaulted me. “You can’t be serious. You’ve got infected people in here.”
“Now you know why it’s such a hard task.” He shoved me forward and my foot caught on the lip of the doorway. I crashed down and tried to catch myself with my good arm, but cried out when instinct had me put both arms down. The impact against the packed dirt floor echoed through my body.
Ruthie came to my side and she turned to the guard. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“Lady, my job is to escort you here. That’s it. You have problems with how our quarantine is run, take it up with the leaders. If you make it in there.”
Ruthie helped me up and I turned towards the guard. “We’ll see you there.” I couldn’t help the smirk that quirked my lips up. “There’s no way we’re getting infected.”
They turned and marched out of sight. I turned back towards the cabin and tried to see what I could. “Pete?”
“Little Death.” He came out from the shadows. Wounds crossed his face, darting over one eye. The marks reminded me of the trail Lucile’s claws had once left across my face.
I glanced at Ruthie and she shook her head. “What on Earth happened?” I went to him and touched his cheek.
“I ran into Wrath.” He shook his head. “Zachariah should be here tonight and we need to make sure we get Wrath sealed and quickly.”
Ruthie shook her head. “No, Wrath hasn’t been seen around here. It should have been Sloth, Envy and Gluttony.”
“That’s who we fought before.” Aeron glanced at me. “We also ran into Camille, but she won’t be a problem anymore.”
If I didn’t know better, I would have thought I heard some pride in his voice. “One thing at a time. Let’s just get past this test and get into the city. Did Zachariah already make it in there?”
“As far as I know, yes. He’s supposed to find Kaleb and they are going to see if they can’t figure out where the Sins are and how many there are.” I couldn’t imagine that all seven Sins would constantly hang out at a city in the middle of nowhere.
Here in the hut the moaning bodies of walking dead, or not so walking in this case, were scattered around. Souls trapped in bodies long eaten by the plague. With the lack of light, it was hard to make out their black and boiled skin but the smell clung to my nostrils. “Do you think they’d notice if we sat outside all night?” I raised an arm to cover my nose.
“They come and check, they’d send us back in. I think it’s because they don’t want any new people in their city.” Pete shrugged. I cleared a spot big enough for us to sleep tonight.
I shook my head. “I’m not sleeping tonight. Not in here.”
“Why not?” Ruthie asked.
I motioned to all the walking dead around us. “I can’t because if I do, I open my mind to their souls and I’ll have nothing but nightmares all night.”
“What?” Pete’s brows drew in.
Ruthie hugged me with a smile on her face. “You’ve finally come into your abilities.”
I tried to push her off. “Yes, I have, and it’s not pretty. So I’ll just stay up for the twenty-four hours. I’ve done nothing really but rest the last week or so because I keep getting injured.” Which was getting old, but it wasn’t like there was much else I could do about it.
Aeron looked around. “Do you think you could read each one? Without being bombarded with memories? Like you did with the priest?”
“I don’t know, I haven’t been around this many walking dead.” I cringed at the thought of having to touch one. “I could try, but what information do you think they have?”
“They could let us know what the reasoning behind this mad test is. Maybe show us what happens to those who are put in here if they become infected. They might even have seen a Sin.” Aeron shrugged. “Just a thought, some of that would be useful information.”
I could try and if he was right, we could have some really useful information, but if I was wrong...I had no idea what would happen. I walked over to the nearest lump that was a body, the black skin glistened in what sunlight was left. The body had yet to swell and bloat and it was probably the cleanest arm I was going to get in a cabin full of infected people.
“Here it goes.” I closed my eyes and touched my hand to the arm.
Images crashed into me hard enough that I wanted to stumble back from the metal blow. I saw the haz-mat crew and the need to hide filled me with panic. The mind of the victim flooded over me. Hiding was the only option because I was infected. I’d seen the first signs that day. I ran through the fields, the dying corn stalks brushed against me but provided a little shelter from those who raided the houses. I launched myself over the cattle gate that divided the property. My lungs burned and I buckled in half to cough. Blood splattered the ground but I forced myself to keep moving forward. Voices filled the air around me, but there was no time to stop, cries of grief and agony echoed no matter where I turned.
The church came into view and my feet carried me down the street, but a black cargo van blocked my path. Bright yellow letters stood out against the van: HAZMAT. I spun on my heels to run the other direction, but found the road blocked with men aiming shotguns at me. I held my hands up and wished they’d shoot me, but rumors said that wouldn’t work, that people were walking around despite deadly aliments or force. A new fear of living forever with the plague consumed me.
One of the men came up and started lifting my sleeves and my pant legs. I wanted to kick him, I wanted to fight, but what was the point? I was infected and they had caught up with me when I ran. They saw the blackness taking over my skin and shoved me towards the van. “Take this one with the others. We’ll round the rest up.”
The images swarmed and changed to a concrete facility. Armed men in gas masks ushered us in like criminals. Our feet chained to the other person in front of us, marching past the tall iron gates of the place. A prison for infected people. They shoved us into cells, leaving us hardly any room to move.
The scene switched to show him in the hut as person after person was shoved inside and infected.
My own mind tried to swim to the surface as I felt people brushing and pushing against me. My heart sped up and I panicked. I pulled away from the person with a gasp and scrubbed my hand on my pants.
“This one, he’s from a facility that they were keeping the infected at.” I wiped an arm across my forehead, trying to get rid of the sweat that beaded there. I could still feel the pressure of other people around me and my throat tried to close up in terror. “I think they are finding ways to use infected people. Like this.”
Aeron cursed. “Humans are so screwed up. When this is over, it’s going to take years for them to move past all the scary stuff the government has done.” He paced the small hut, being careful to avoid the walking dead. “Do you want to try another?”
“Hopefully one that’s not from the facility. So many people in one cell.” I rubbed my arms and Pete gave me a knowing look. Ruthie sat next to me on the floor. “There’s not much I can do to protect you in this case, but I’m right here.”
I turned to another body and touched their blackened fingers. Closing my eyes, I tried to will a newer memory to come up.
The images came in waves instead of flashes this time, one crashing in right after another. They stopped when the person approached the gate, the same way we did. I became her and we were led to the hut in the same manner and tossed in. The click of a lock could be heard and the amount of people in the hut was astonishing. They were all in various stages of the plague and of rot. I covered my mouth as a sob bubbled up in my throat. They were infecting people on purpose, locking them in here so the city didn’t have to take in any more stragglers.
The lock clicked again and I turned around, prepared to beg for my life. I'd rather risk my life outside of the city walls than be turned into a walking creature like those infected. A man with dark hair and a sharp jaw walked in. His gray eyes met my gaze and instantly I wanted everything he had to offer. I’d do anything to have him. Except, he was disappointed when he laid eyes on me.
He walked out and slammed the door shut. The lock clicked into place and all my hope faded.
I pulled my hand away and clenched my fist. “Lust was here. I think he was looking for someone in particular, because he left the moment he laid eyes on this woman. They used to lock the door here.”
“Maybe they worried less about people running off. One less person for them to worry about.” Pete had joined Aeron in the pacing of the hut. “But who was Lust looking for?”
Ruthie’s eyes landed on me and I knew she was thinking the same thing. I wasn’t going to say it out loud, Lust was probably looking for me. He always wanted to have his way with me, but Lucile hadn’t let him when I was being tortured. There was no way I was going to let him now. I couldn’t kill him, but if we could just get inside the city and with Zachariah we’d be able to seal him away.
“Sammy?” Ruthie’s voice brought my attention back to her. “Aeron wants to look at your shoulder.”
“I just want to check on the progress of the healing. I know you have movement back in it now, which is good because it means you can use your weapon if need be. But I want to look.”
I pulled my shirt off and started to unwind the bandage. “It still hurts, but movement is good.”
He pulled the gauze off and it came away with a rip as it pulled away from the dried blood. I let him examine it while I watched Pete pace. I didn’t want to be away from the group again and I certainly didn’t want to go back to Hell. But maybe, just maybe when this was all done, we could be a normal group of friends hanging out together. Maybe even back at the college. Once my father was free, I would have years before I’d have to take over for him, which meant that I could finish up school. I could still get a degree, maybe in healthcare or something I could have a nice long career in.
