Purge: Book Three: Last Days Trilogy (10 page)

Marcus shook his head and laughed. “You won’t be damned. Reg, it was a dream. A stupid dream.”

“You don’t believe that any more than I do.”

Marcus exhaled. “It was a dream. I’m not saying it was normal, I’m just saying you have to look at it as a dream. This is the end of the world here, and you and him have to keep together to help us stop it.”

“I can do that without him touching me.”

“Listen to you,” Marcus said. “When are you going to see it? It’s much more than fooling around. He has to connect to you. You’re the one. He has to experience humanity, so he can save humanity.”

Reggie paused and changed demeanor. “Oh, Geez. That’s... I never thought of that.”

“It’s the best one of my theories as to why you two have to be together.”

“That’s pretty good, considering he couldn’t care less about Man.”

“But he doesn’t care less about you.”

“You wonder why I’m so… so…” Reggie stared out.

Marcus saw the look on Reggie’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“Does Michael look like he’s heading this way awfully fast?” Reggie backed up. “Shit. I know that run. I better go.”

“Run, Reg!” Marcus cheered her, then felt the whip of wind as Michael seared past.

Reggie shrieked when Michael blasted forth, grabbed hold and lifted her into the air. She pounded her fist on Michael’s back, the wind rushing in her ears. “Michael!”

“Silence, woman.”

High altitude or not, Reggie had to mouth the words, “Silence, woman?” She squirmed and struck at him until they settled to the ground. Then she screamed, “Asshole! What the hell!”

Michael spoke firmly. “Reggie, you will listen.”

“I could have listened to you over there!” she yelled.

“The man they call James said I must…”

“Who?”

“James. He said…”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass what some James guy has to say.”

Michael gasped. “He is very important. He said to be firm. To explain to you.”

“Explain what?” Reggie asked. “What is this guy, some kinda caveman?”

Michael’s mouth fell open.

“I’m heading back.”

“Reggie, please, we need to speak.”

“Then you speak to me in front of Marcus or my father. I trust them.” Folding her arms, Reggie walked off.

Standing alone, Michael whispered aloud to himself. “Trust them? What about me?” He followed, but didn’t get far.

James stood there.

Michael bowed his head. “Forgive me, but if it was not such an insult, I would tell you that you have misled me.”

“Sorry.”

Michael’s head bounced up like a spring. “Sorry?”

James shrugged. “I thought it would be funny. And that it would work. It runs deeper than I thought.”

“How, James?” Michael took a step toward him and spoke passionately. “How are we to battle as one, when we cannot even stand in companionship as one?”

“I can’t stress enough that there must be no riffs between the two of you. Not going into a battle. This, Michael, must be resolved.”

“Tell me, will we fail if we do not mend what seems to be broken?”

“There will not be a second battle if you cannot fix it before the first.”

Michael nodded and exhaled. “Well, then I must make it right. I must make her see that this small problem has grown bigger than it should. She will see the error in her thinking and fears. Time is our ally right now.”

James shook his head. “See, there’s a problem. Unfortunately, it’s not.”

Mt Vernon, Illinois

The blood from her scraped knees laced the pavement, but her screams were more of terror than pain. A demon had hold of her. With the exception of his two arms and legs, he only slightly resembled a man. His distorted figure swayed ape-like, and he sported a devilish grin. He dragged the woman by her hair toward the fire and tossed her to the ground. Her body flopped like a rag doll as he ripped off her clothes. She screamed and scurried to get away, but he grabbed onto her. Clawed hands gripping her thighs, he brought her buttocks to his lower waist and thrust into her four times before lifting and tossing her into the fire... alive.

“They, uh...” Leonard cleared his throat, “do that quite a bit.” They watched the burning of the small city and its occupants.

“You mean capture the pleasures of the flesh?” Devante nodded. “The dervan are notorious for that. They are sometimes perverted, and the gender of their prey is not important. Yet the demonlings, they differ. They are more, as you can see, torturous.” Devante pointed to a different species of demon.

It was difficult to determine whether a demonling was male or female. Pale amber, leather-like skin covered their small, muscular bodies. They walked with a straight posture, and used their small wings for short flights. Their faces held no emotional definition.

The demonling that Devante pointed out was pulling a screaming man across the concrete toward the bonfire, using the man’s penis like a tow-rope.

“Nasty little devils,” said Leonard, nervously.

“That was amusing.” Devante smiled. “Yes, they are. It is good to have them as workers when we come into smaller towns like this; towns where Christians gather and hide.”

“And die.” Leonard indicated the fire and the multitudes of dervan and demonlings who hopped about excitedly. “What’s the difference between these demons?”

“The dervan were once men, like you. God condemned them. They are the grunts. What you see of man walking about now is the beginning of the dervan. During transformation, they exist in a walking-dead state. Dervan and demonlings are loyal; rarely do they leave my side. That is why I utilize the walking dead to torment our opposition. Amongst other things.”

“And what are the demonlings?”

“The demonlings are the spawn of damnation. Born in hell, they are offspring of fallen angels. Angels who lust for the flesh and fall from grace.”

“Wait a second.” Leonard held up his hand. “If angels fall from grace because they lust, then why aren’t you using that? Get to this Reggie, have her come on to Michael. Let him fall from grace.”

“I wish it were that easy. But God has given Michael man’s form and feeling. So the warrior is immune from falling from grace. He does not lust, he… he...”

“Loves?”

Devante grunted in disgust.

“But really, love can work for you. Because love turned bad can tear two people apart more than anything.”

“Be that as it…” He paused. A far-off look glazed his eyes, and he glanced to the side. “Leonard, you have given me an idea. Excuse me.” Devante walked off.

“And he just leaves.” Leonard shook his head, then stepped away from the dark circus of Devante’s creatures.

Seville, Ohio

“And that would be a parable.” Marcus paused to take a drink of water. He set the glass on the table where Seth sat with open books. His head cocked to the sounds of training flowing through the open kitchen widow. It was musical. The grunts, charges, cheers, followed up by the occasional flap of the kitchen curtain.

“Marcus?” Seth questioned.

“Sorry.” Marcus sat. “Where were we?”

“Parables. I don’t get it. Why don’t you just say ‘story?’”

“Because it’s not a story, it’s a lesson. Plus, a parable is predictable, and applies in a general way to life.”

Seth scratched his head. “Why is this important?”

Marcus laughed. “You sound like your mother. Every time she doesn’t understand something, she questions the importance. Like…” Marcus snapped his fingers. “Like when your pap insisted that she learn how to drive a stick shift. She had a hard time using both feet, working the clutch, the gear. Pap used to make her drive around the property constantly. She fought tooth-and-nail, said she’d just buy an automatic. Eventually she learned. And you know what?”

“My mom only likes to drive sticks now.”

“Exactly. And that story teaches us that you never know what you’ll like until you try it. You’ll never understand something until you learn it.”

“A parable.”

“Exactly.” Marcus smiled.

Seth shook his head. “I still don’t understand the difference.”

The kitchen door opened, and Kyle walked in.

“Ask your pap,” Marcus said.

“Pap? What’s a parable?”

“A waste of time.” Kyle walked to the sink to clean up. “I can’t find Reggie. Anyone know where she’s at?”

Michael spoke out, “I too would like to know,” as he entered the kitchen.

Marcus leafed through a textbook and said, casually, “She needed time alone.”

“Yeah,” Seth added. “And I’d let her be alone, too. She’s not in a very good mood.”

“Took a walk, I think.” Marcus handed Seth the book. “Here, look at that.”

Speaking sternly, Michael moved further into the kitchen. “It is imperative that I speak to her now. Right now. We must make amends to this situation between us.”

Drying his hands, Kyle turned from the sink. “Michael, she’ll be back.”

“But I need to find her now, Kyle.” Michael was insistent. “This petty rift cannot continue one moment longer.”

“Let me tell you something about women.” Kyle tossed the towel. “They don’t let things go so easily. If she’s upset, let her cool down. I know what’s causing this rift, Marcus told me, and she’ll realize in time that it’s an error. Let her work it out.”

“I cannot,” Michael said. “The first battle is at a prison not far from here. She and I must be as one. We must not have any tension between us when we embark upon this battle.”

“Okay,” Kyle nodded. “I understand, but the first battle isn’t for a few days.”

“No, Kyle.” Michael shook his head. “I have just found out. Our first battle is at sundown… tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” said Kyle.

Marcus stood up. “Tomorrow? We’re nowhere near ready to battle…”

“Guys!” Buzz stormed in. “We have a problem.” Waiting until all eyes were on him, he explained. “James Lincoln was working the gate. Reg blasted him about minding his own business or something, and then she stormed off. He couldn’t stop her.”

Kyle exhaled, “And the problem?”

“She stormed… off the property.”

“I must find her.” Michael flew from the kitchen.

<><><><>

Tarantula Creek was half a mile east of Kyle’s property. It was a childhood hangout of Reggie’s and Marcus’; they gave it the name for no specific reason other than it sounded neat.

It was a frequent place for Reggie to seek solace while growing up, and into her adulthood. She felt safe and secure there, and could bitch about anything under the sun as she skimmed pebbles across the water.

“Always a troublemaker.” Reggie tossed a rock. “I remember you, James, when you were a second-string basketball player.” Another tossed stone. “And used to agitate the other players just so you could take their place.” She threw hard. “God! You’re still doing it.” She took a moment to breath, and placed her hands on her hips. “What am I doing?” She kicked out her foot. “Reggie, get it together. This is ridiculous. Marcus is right. It was a dream. But… what was the dream telling me? Maybe it wasn’t a dream.”

“What was the dream?”

Startled, Reggie spun around to find Michael walking her way.

He held up his hand. “I know you wish to be alone. But I must speak to you.”

“Yeah, we need to talk.” Reggie backed up, found a spot and sat. She patted the ground next to her.

Michael smiled. “Thank you.” He joined her on the grass. “So what is this place?”

“Marcus and I used to come here when we were kids. A place to think. To hide.”

“Have you thought, Reggie? For you certainly have hidden.”

Reggie snickered. “Yes, I have done some thinking.”

“About this dream that disturbs you so.”

“Michael, it’s more than that.” Reggie turned to face him. “It’s a bunch of things.”

“Maybe if you share with me.”

“It’s embarrassing.” She lowered her head.

“Reggie, there is nothing that you should be ashamed to tell me.”

Reggie nodded and exhaled. She raised her eyes. “I was dreaming that you and I were being very…
very
affectionate. We were at a point, I was, that it felt so good...”

“Ah, I was giving you pleasure.”

Reggie mumbled, “To say the least.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing. Anyhow... suddenly, you weren’t you. You were this demon. Then Devante was there. He said if I got too close to you, you would fall, and I would be damned.”

“That is an untruth.”

Reggie tilted her head. “I kinda figured that. But the dream disturbed me, and the fact that Devante… he got to me.”

The corners of Michael’s mouth lifted. “Reggie, Devante only wants us apart because together we are invincible. By allowing him to frighten you, you are allowing him to win. And allowing him to win has removed a certain amount of trust from me. You are frightened of me.”

“No.” Reggie shook her head.

“Yes, Reggie you are.” Michael inched to her. “I feel it.”

“Really, Michael, after doing my walk, talk, rock and bitch.” She shrugged. “I don’t fear you.”

“Then show me.” He moved even closer.

“What?” She snickered. “What do you mean?”

“Allow me to give you affection, Reggie.” Michael brought his face to hers. He lifted his hand to her cheek.

“Michael…”

He silenced her with a soft kiss.

Reggie jerked her head back. She brought her fingers to her lips and studied them.

“See, the blood of evil is not there.” Again, he inched closer. “I liked very much when we kissed the other night. I know you did, too.” Michael lowered his lips and kissed her again.

She hadn’t any time to pull back or whisper. Michael moved his mouth to her neck, from the base to her ear. “Reggie, is this… what you want?” His words hardened, and he shoved his hand between her legs. Reggie tried to squirm away, but he gripped her throat, and yanked her forward, as his fingers tried to dig through the fabric of her jeans.

Gasping for air, Reggie’s arm swung out as she choked his name, “Michael.”

He laughed. Reggie fought with all that she had, but it wasn’t enough. With the weight of his body, he forced her back to the ground.

Reggie cried out a painful “No!”

Years of knowing Reggie told Marcus more than anything. He knew exactly where to find her. Kyle advised him to stay within the perimeter, but Marcus refused.

He was glad he did. At a mere short distance from Tarantula Creek, Marcus heard Reggie scream, and he raced in her direction. Just as he made it through the clearing, he found her in a struggle. Was that Michael trying to pin her down?

“Reg!” Marcus screamed and ran across the creek.

At that instant, Reggie flipped Michael. He rolled into a stand, looked at Marcus and took off.

Marcus intended to chase him, but Michael’s wings emerged and he soared quickly away.

“Fuck!” Marcus shouted. He hurried back to Reggie. “Reg. Reg.”

Reggie tried to stand, but lost her balance. “I’m okay.”

Laying his hand on her chin, Marcus studied Reggie’s face. She had an abrasion on her cheek, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. “Are you sure…?”

“I’m fine.” She closed her eyes, ran the back of her hand across her mouth, stepped back and stomped. “Fuck! I can’t fuckin’ believe this! I’m better than this, Marcus!”

“Reg…”

“I can’t believe he tried to do this to me.”

Marcus pulled Reggie into his arms. As he held her close, he looked into the empty woods and mouthed the name “Michael.”