The Gathering (31 page)

Lisa looked at him.

“It was funny.”

“Yeah,” Brandon added and shrugged.

Jerry walked up and poked Brandon hard in the shoulder.
 
He had a headache and hadn't slept well.

“No, it wasn’t.”

Brandon reached up where Jerry had poked him and rubbed his shoulder, while Lisa looked at him with frightened eyes.
 
Brian shifted nervously in his shoes.

“Just don’t do it again.
 
Let’s go, Guys,” Brian told them.

Brian motioned for them to leave, but Jerry and Liam just stood there and looked at each other and then at Brian.

“That’s it?
 
That’s the scare?" Jerry asked.

“Yeah, that’s it, let’s go," Brian said.

Jerry shook his head.

“I don’t think so, Brian.
 
I want some payback.”

Jerry started to punch his hand and looked at the twins.
 
Brandon and Lisa stared at the thirteen-year-old terrified.
 
Jerry took a step towards them, but Brian was suddenly in front of them.
 
They were only supposed to scare them, but Jerry was making Brian nervous.
 
He wasn't acting like himself.

“I said let’s go, Jerry.
 
If you think I’m gonna let you beat on my brother and sister, you’re wrong.”

Liam started to look nervous.
 
Joe Levine moved to stand by Brian.

“Yeah, Jerry, it was joke and they're just little kids.”

Jerry looked at Brian and Joe and gave them a little crooked smile.
 
The pain in Jerry's head was getting stronger by the minute and he just wanted to hurt someone.
 
Liam started to glance around, looking desperately for an adult he knew.

“Then maybe I just beat on you, Stark.”

Liam took a step away from his brother.

“What’s wrong with you, Jerry?
 
Brian's your friend.”

Without warning, Jerry spun around and backhanded Liam across the face, knocking him down.
 
He towered over him.

“Whose side are you on, Liam?
 
Huh?”

Liam began to tear up.
 
He grabbed his face and began to crawl away from Jerry, who started after him.
 
Lisa and Brandon were now watching from behind Brian and Joe, stunned by what they saw.

Brian’s stomach was in knots, but he ignored the fear and moved forward, grabbing Jerry’s arm before he was able to hit Liam again.
 
Jerry turned his head, smiled and struck.
 
He felt like he wasn't in control of his body as his fist connected with Brian's face.

The pain and heat were immediate, but Brian shook his head, touched his nose and pulled his hand back to see it was covered with blood.
 
He wanted to cry and looked up as another fist came towards him.
 
It connected with is right eye.
 
He flinched, feeling the throbbing begin on the side of his head, and then he struck.
 
His arms were flying and he could feel each time his fist connected with Jerry's body.

He could hear the yelling and he thought he heard Lisa crying, but he just kept punching.
 
He body ached and every blow felt like pins in his skin.
 
He wasn't sure how long his hands would hold up, but then he felt someone grab his shoulders from behind and he struggled against them, his eyes closed tight.
 
The next thing he knew he was being dragged backwards, so he opened his eyes.
 
He saw Ian Turner dragging Jerry off in the opposite direction and he looked up and behind him to see the angry face of Kaley.

“Stop it!”

He stopped struggling and she let him go, then she spun him around and grimaced at his face, which was now bruised and swollen and bloody.

“What in God’s name…”

"He started it!" Brian explained.
 
"He was gonna beat up Brandon and Lisa for some stupid prank they played on us last night."

Kaley looked over at Jerry and Ian.
 
Jerry was out of control.
 
He was clawing at Ian and growling.
 
Then it hit Kaley.
 
The imp, he was acting like the imp!
 
Sean came up behind Kaley, with Myron.

"What the hell is going on?"

He looked down at Brian and took his face his hand.

"Christ!
 
Your mom is gonna to flip!"

Kaley grabbed Sean and nodded towards the screaming Jerry.

"Doesn't he look like something we saw last night?"

Sean glanced over and watched Jerry.
 

"Damn it!"

Sean took a deep breath and looked at Myron.

"Ok, Myron, grab Brian, Kaley, grab the other kids.
 
I'll help Ian with Jerry.
 
Joe, are you ok?"

Joe Levine nodded and looked at Sean.

"I need you to go get Mrs. Petrulengo.
 
Do you remember her from last night?"

Joe nodded again.

"Take her to Healer Hall, ok?"

Joe nodded and ran off.
 
Myron moved to pick up Brian who was beginning to wane.
 
Sean ran over to Ian and grabbed Jerry from him.
 
He told Ian to go get Alia.

"Meet us at the Hall, Ian.
 
Go now!"

Ian took off running and Sean called for Kaley to gather up Liam, who was still sitting on the ground, crying.
 
They all ran for the Hall and Sean prayed for the first time in thirteen years.
 
He prayed that they could save this boy, too.

39

Edward Nyland had struggled with leaving the others back at St. Viviana’s.
 
What if the killers returned?
 
Alex Galindo had insisted that Edward and the others get to Lia Fail and warn everyone about what had happened.
 
Whoever had committed this horrible crime had been wise enough to smash the radio.
 
The roads were now more treacherous then they had ever been and they would have to make haste.

Alex was the vice-president of Salt Lake II.
 
He was a proud man, who was devoted to the Lord, and due to his faith, he couldn’t bear the thought of leaving those of St. Viviana’s without the proper ritual of burial.
 
There were others who felt the same as Alex and they had volunteered to remain as well.

Edward had tried to convince them to come, but to no avail.
 
The silence of the ride was more than Edward could stand.
 
He looked over at his son, still pale, even in the bright sun.
 
Bill felt his father’s eyes on him and turned to look at him.
 
He forced a weak smile to quell his father’s fears.
 

Edward smiled back at his son and sighed heavily.

“Do you know how much farther, Dad?”

“At this speed, we won’t be there until tomorrow.
 
I just hope that whatever’s out there doesn’t pick us up on its radar.”

“Why would they do that, Dad?
 
Why would they kill all of those people?”

Edward shook his head.

“For the same reason they started the War and destroyed the world, Son.
 
Someone wants to hold all the cards and the cards they don't need or want get thrown away.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Avarice and pride, son.
 
There’s a reason why the Heavenly Father decreed them sins.”

Bill shook his head and looked at the top of his horse’s head.

“Do you think Mr. Galindo and the others will be safe?”

Edward looked to the horizon and sighed.

“I hope so, Billy.”

The train of wagons and horses moved as quickly as they could through the desert into the mountains, making their way to the Fail.

40

Ian had found Alia and explained what had happened.
 
They, along with Janeen, ran to Healer Hall and as they arrived Alia saw Sean running towards her with Jerry Turner.

She ran to meet him as Joe and Elena came around the corner.
 
Sean was trying to subdue Jerry so he wouldn't hurt anyone else.

Alia stared in disbelief, as she recognized his behavior.
 
She looked at Elena, who nodded towards Healer Hall.
 
Alia turned back to Sean and Myron.

"Take them all inside!
 
Now!"

They all entered the great hall and moved to the center of the room.
 
Standing before the altar, she raised her hands and, save for Jerry's screams, the hall fell silent.
 
The healers moved towards the altar to see the commotion.

"Everyone, please listen to me.
 
I know that Rona has told you she has stepped down as head healer.”

Rona moved silently to the side of the crowd, listening to the queen with interest.

“I would like to ask that Beverly Watson take over as head healer."

The crowd nodded their approval of the choice, as Rona and her assistant Darla Hatchett looked on.
 
Darla was short and stocky, shaped like a barrel, but not heavy.
 
Her short brown hair was cut in a bob and her black-rimmed glasses sat in the middle of her round face, making her large eyes seem even bigger than they already were.

Beverly Watson, a black woman in her mid-sixties, moved forward, and as she did the group parted to make way for her.
 
She was refined and elegant, a true southern belle straight out of Savannah, and she carried a staff almost as long as she was tall.
 
It was obvious that the majority of the healers had the utmost respect for her.

Alia continued.

"Although this would normally be a time of celebration, right now, this boy needs our help."

She motioned to Sean and Ian who were holding Jerry.
 
He was snarling at all of them.
 
His eyes had a yellow haze about them.
 
His fingers were long and his nails sharp.