Rise of the Beast (72 page)

Yet in the distance, she heard the unmistakable sound of a particle beam blast, then another. Their element of surprise was gone.

Lielani slipped back out of the chamber of fire and into the corridor, summoned by the radio on her belt. The news was bad. One of the patrols had found the bodies of two of their fellows, both dead. And now, from the woods just beyond building one, they were under fire. But it wasn’t just any sort of weapon; it was a beam weapon of a type they knew only too well. The last time any of them had seen it was during the great war in Heaven. They were being invaded, but not by any Earthly force. These invaders were from beyond, most likely saints from Heaven. They were in serious trouble. Lielani had to tell the master.

By now the cage containing Serena had been dropped to within ten feet of the black maelstrom. The flames were licking at her heels, yet she was too weak to move. Serena turned her head, blood oozing from the side of her mouth. “I want my mommy,” she gasped, tears flowing from her eyes. Then she collapsed as far as was possible within the cage. Satan eyed her over carefully. Yes, she was still breathing, but the entertainment was almost certainly coming to a close.

Chris was on his knees, weeping bitterly. He had never imagined it coming to this. How could he live without Serena? The answer was that he wouldn’t, at least not long.

It was then that Lielani broke the news to her master. He was positively livid. “Always interruptions,” he raved. “No, I shall see her last breath, but I will not rush it, I will not be deprived! Raise the cage, move it off to the side for the moment. We will allow Serena to regain a bit of her strength, then continue later.”

Satan and Lielani departed even as Serena was raised once more from the pit and moved to the side. A moment later, the cage had been set down at the edge of the pit. Still Serena barely responded.

The physical body of Krissie walked over to Leland. She smiled at her former husband. “I’m looking forward to seeing you in that cage, my love. It will be just so thrilling.”

Leland was leaning against the back wall. He looked into Krissie’s eyes. “You’ll never live to see it.”

Krissie continued to taunt him, but he wouldn’t respond. It was an attitude that made her all the more belligerent. He just didn’t seem interested in listening to her.

From the shadows of the dormitory, Bedillia looked on in amazement as Satan and his entourage emerged from the chapel. He didn’t appear to be in a good mood. She found it difficult to resist the temptation of taking him out here and now. Yes, it was a long shot, but she’d made tougher ones. No, she couldn’t; she’d stick with the plan. A minute later, the coast was clear. She felt the compelling urge to head out. The team was on the move.

They were somewhat amazed to find the chapel door unlocked and even more amazed to find the door to the inner sanctum ajar. No, this was just too easy. Could Satan really be that stupid? When he was angry, he certainly could. The team moved on through the chapel door.

Bedillia turned to the open air, reaching out with her mind. A minute later 18 ACs entered the chapel. Bedillia locked the door from the inside. Then she thought better of that decision. She unlocked the door, leaving it just as it was. Then they made their way through the great inner door and down into the depths.

They moved silently, yet their strength was failing them. They reached the
branch in the tunnel, taking the left route. The smell was growing ever stronger, the smell of a sea only found in Hell.

They made their final plans. This was their ultimate goal. They could not falter now.

Within the terrible chamber, Leland rose to his feet and approached the bars of his cell. He gazed into Krissie’s eyes. “The moment of deliverance is at hand, wife.”

A fraction of a second later, a particle weapon beam hit one of the two demonic guards, tossing what was left of him back into the infernal pit. It erupted with flaming fury as it accepted yet another sacrifice.

Then the real Krissie burst into the room to encounter herself. She rushed headlong into her, pushing her against the bars of Leland’s cell. Immediately Leland wrapped his arms around her, trapping her between the two people who most wanted the body freed of this demon.

The ACs lit into the other demon viciously. He tried to defend himself, but it was a futile effort. His adversaries were far too fast and numerous. Yet it was Bedillia who dealt the final blow. Drawing out her dagger, she plunged it into the demon’s chest and then pushed him backward. He too plunged into the now flaming maelstrom. For a minute he flailed around wildly. Then he sank quietly into the depths.

On the other side of the chamber, Leland Senior had joined in the family circle about the possessed body of Krissie. A family circle encompassing a full century prayed together.

“Demon, we cast you out in the name of Jesus,” commanded Leland Senior. “You have no place in this woman.”

The others in the circle agreed. Then there came the terrible shriek from the woman in the center. A green glowing mist seemed to rise from her even as a gentle, white glow passed from the one Krissie to the other.

Both Lelands felt Krissie’s hand grow limp; then she was gone. All that remained was her black power suit and her equipment, but she was gone. The other Krissie looked into Leland’s eyes; tears appeared in hers. She embraced
him. There were tears of joy all around as the family was truly united.

The ACs had now gone to work on the bars of Serena’s cage and on the bars of the cells. A moment later, Bedillia pulled her daughter from her cage and laid her on the floor. For a time, Serena lay motionless; then she opened her eyes.

“Mommy?” she said in a quiet voice.

“Yes sweetie, it’s me,” said Bedillia, going for her canteen. “Here drink this.”

Bedillia helped Serena raise her head and take a sip of the water. Serena took a few gulps before coughing up a grotesque mixture of partially clotted blood. She seemed to be struggling for every breath.

“I knew you’d come,” said Serena. “When I was in that cage I cried for you. Now, here you are.”

By now, the ACs had eaten away the lock upon Chris’s cell. Chris rushed to Serena’s side.

“Hello, Chris,” gasped Serena. “See, she came, my mommy came.”

Tears were streaming from Chris’s eyes. “Yes, she came.”

One of the ACs landed on Serena’s shoulder. She looked over at him. Somehow she recognized him. “Hello, you,” she gasped. “I’ve missed you.”

The AC seemed so sad. He nodded and then rubbed up against her affectionately.

Now Leland also was free, joining the circle about Serena with his wife and Leland Senior. He looked at her closely. He shook his head, but said nothing.

“We need to get her out of here,” said Krissie.

“I’m not so sure we can move her,” said Chris.

For a moment Bedillia turned away, holding her hand to her right ear. “It’s Tom. He made it back to the ring. He’ll try and cover us from there.” Bedillia paused. “He got one of their radios and has been listening in on them. Satan has just brought a bunch of reinforcements through the gate on the other side of the island. Tom is not sure how many. But if we’re going to move, it’s got to be now, while they’re still getting organized.”

“So, what do we do?” asked Leland Senior.

Bedillia glanced at her watch. “We can’t wait. It will be almost another nine hours before we can expect any help, and that’s assuming that the main gate doesn’t get captured or disabled. We have to go now.” She turned to Leland and Chris. “Get some water from the canteens; you’ll need it.”

Bedillia turned back to her daughter. “We’re going to get you out of here, sweetheart. I promise.”

“No, I don’t think so,” gasped Serena. “You need to leave me behind. I’ll just slow you down.”

“Don’t talk that way, dear,” said Bedillia, stroking her daughter’s forehead. “I came all the way from Hell to rescue you. I’m not leaving you behind now. I’ll carry you myself if I have to.”

“No, I’ll carry her,” said Leland Senior.

Krissie picked up her power suit. She’d have to put it on all over again. Examining it, she discovered that there was not so much as a trace of her previous body to be found. The whole concept gave her chills. She was also thankful to be free of that sick, feverish feeling that had plagued her for the past hour or so. Then the realization hit her. “Bedillia, how are you feeling?”

“Not too bad,” was the reply. “Not much worse.”

She turned to Leland Senior. “What about you?”

“I’ve felt better,” he said.

“What’s going on?” asked Chris. “Why should they be sick?”

“Because there was a danger that our bodies wouldn’t adapt or something like that,” said Krissie. “I feel fine now, but we need to get Bedillia and Leland Senior back to Refuge, and soon. They can’t survive on Earth for very much longer. If they die here, their spirits could be lost forever.”

Serena’s eyes grew big. “Mommy, you came here to save me even though you knew it could be the end of you?”

Bedillia nodded. “You’re my daughter, Serena. I would give up anything to save you. But I’m not going to die here. We’re all going to get out of here. The four of you are going to New Zealand, and the rest of us will be heading back
to Refuge. We have a lot of work to do.”

“You mean going back to Hell,” said Serena.

“Yes, dear, it’s where we belong.” Bedillia unholstered her particle pistol and handed it to Chris. “Your good friend, Nikola Tesla, developed this weapon for us. Here you will probably need this. The power setting is here on the left side, the safety on the right. It’s all set; just release the safety and pull the trigger. This model should give you about ten rounds before reloading. I have plenty of ammo for it.”

“Even if we’re all armed, there is a lot of open country to cross to get to the ring,” said Leland Senior. “Just getting to the other side of that fence is going to be a challenge.”

“We can’t stay here and hope to hold out until the cavalry arrives,” said Bedillia. “If we’ve got to fight them. I’d rather that it be on the outside, not here.”

“Makes sense,” confirmed Chris.

“So, what are we doing?” said Krissie, who again was wearing her powered armor. “Maybe I should carry Serena. I think I’m feeling better than anyone else here. Anyway, this suit will make her seem very light.”

“I say we wait,” said Leland, stepping forward. “Satan doesn’t know what’s just happened down here. He doesn’t realize we’ve been rescued.”

The others stood there silently.

“Well, don’t you see?” continued Leland. “He’ll come down here planning to finish what he started. If we could pop him right here, destroy him, this whole plan of his would fall apart. Maybe we could rewrite future history.”

“How could we possibly do that?” objected Chris. “What is going to happen in the last days is recorded in the Book of Revelation. It doesn’t say that Satan gets blasted into a billion pieces by a Tesla death ray. After tonight, after what he did to my Serena, nothing would make me happier, but I don’t think we can get away with it. It’s just not in the book.”

“Maybe not, but I’m up to trying,” said Krissie.