The Orphans (Orphans Trilogy Book 1) (13 page)

“There are no such plans,” Malika said, matter-of-factly.

All of the wind was instantly knocked out of Charlie and the other orphans’ lungs. They didn’t consider Malika’s disclosure to be the minor detail that she treated it as. No, this wasn’t the kind of information that was just slipped in the back section of the daily paper. This was front-page news—and terrible news, at that.

“It is much too risky,” Malika added. “Because of the work of Lucifer and his army, there has not been an angel created in over one hundred years. Any meaningful loss suffered would only tip the scales in the balance of good and evil even further, and ensure that Lucifer would be victorious when he eventually attacks. It was for this reason that Michael the Archangel barred any angels from coming to Earth.”

Antony was the first to get his breath and voice back. “I don’t get it,” he said. “If angels are barred from coming to Earth, how did you get here?”

“I broke the rules to save all of you. I will face severe punishment upon my return, and possible expulsion. It was a choice that I made, but I do not expect any of my brethren to do the same.”

“So what are you saying?” Charlie said, choking on his words as he struggled to get the clarification that they all needed. “That all the other angels are just gonna sit this one out. That, besides you, we’re on our own.”

Malika didn’t say a word; she simply nodded.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The orphans were
speechless. None of them could believe that they were expected to take on Lucifer’s army alone. That more than just the fate of their parents was depending on them. That potentially, the weight of the world and the heavens above rested firmly on their shoulders. It was unfathomable. It was unrealistic. It was—

“Bullshit!” JP snapped. “This is bullshit!”

“Yeah,” Eddie said.

Charlie was about to agree when JP chimed in again.

“I didn’t sign up for this,” JP griped.

“Me, either,” Naomi added.

Charlie zipped his lips. He knew that if he spoke, the attention would shift to him, and most likely so would the anger. After all, he was the one who had gotten them into this situation. It was his post that had brought the orphans together. He was the one who deserved their vitriol and blame, not Malika.

Charlie couldn’t blame the others for being upset, either. None of them had officially agreed to his proposal before they were forced from his house. And even Charlie wasn’t sure if he would have agreed to the mission if he’d known then everything that he knew at that moment. A large part of him regretted ever making the post and reaching out to the others. He wished he could just take it all back.

“You realize we don’t stand a chance, right?” JP said.

“You are correct,” Malika said. “If you believe you do not stand a chance, you most certainly will not stand a chance.”

“Great pep talk,” Eddie said, sarcastically clapping his hands. “You’re a regular Vince Lombardi.”

“I am not giving you a pep talk. I am merely giving you the truth.”

“Well, for future reference, in situations like this, most people prefer pep talks.”

“What makes you think we can even do this?” Naomi said.

“I have seen it done,” Malika said.

“So there were other kids like us?”

“Not kids, and many years ago, but yes.”

“So they were older than us and they still lost, right?” JP said. “Obviously, they had to—otherwise we wouldn’t be here right now, and our parents would still be alive.”

“Their past holds no bearing on your present or your future,” Malika said. “I will teach you everything you need to know to rescue your parents’ souls. I will teach you to believe.”

“This is crazy,” JP said. “We should just quit while we’re ahead. Or at least before we get even further behind.”

“No,” Antony said, finally jumping into the conversation with authority. “We should let Malika finish explaining. I don’t like this any more than you guys, but she was right about what she said before, there is no going back. So we might as well go forward and at least hear what she has to say.”

JP, Eddie, and Naomi quieted.

Charlie sighed inwardly, relieved that the tension seemed to be subsiding and that the finger-pointing had not made it in his direction.

Antony nodded for Malika to continue.

“Thank you,” Malika said. “Each and every one of you has the potential to unleash unlimited powers that will allow you not only to battle Lucifer’s Beasts, but to be victorious.”

“Let me guess,” Eddie said flippantly, “everything we need is inside us, right?”

“Actually, it is. There is no better way to doom someone to failure than to convince them that they do not have control over their success. The world you live in has done this many times over. However, the reality is that you are the most important factor in determining your success. When you come to accept this much as fact and truly believe in yourself, it creates the opportunity for unlimited potential, and you can do wonders.” Malika surveyed the orphans’ faces, all of which showed varying degrees of uncertainty and skepticism. “Right now, the path as you see it may appear to be unnavigable. But I implore you to focus on the first step that you must take and not the last. For the road ahead is anything but static and will most certainly change course many times along the way.”

“What’s the first step?” Naomi said.

“Accepting the challenge. You must willingly choose to follow your path.”

“We can’t go home,” Eddie said. “And the other angels are in Heaven picking their butts. So it looks like we don’t have much of a choice, do we?”

“Yes, you do,” Malika said. “You always have a choice.”

“Well, not a good one.”

“That is a matter of perception, which in itself is also a choice. There is only one way for all of you to succeed at this, or at anything that you truly desire to accomplish in your lifetimes: You must be 100 percent committed, and you must be willing to put in the necessary work.”

“I’ve already made up my mind,” Antony said. “I’m gonna save my dad. I’ll put in the work. I’m 100 percent.”

One by one, the others mustered up the resolve to commit to the challenge before them. First Naomi, then Charlie, and then JP. Eddie was last.

“I’m 100 percent with all you guys,” Eddie said. “I just—” He was interrupted by a low rumbling. He looked down to his belly, the source of the noise, and gave it a couple pats. “I just think my stomach has some thoughts of his own. There isn’t any chance we could grab some food before we get started?”

All of the others agreed. It had been a long time since any of them had eaten even so much as a snack.

“There’s gotta be a town with a little shop or something somewhere down the road that we can go to,” JP said.

Malika grinned. “There is something that is much better and much closer.”

“It can’t be a McDonald’s,” Eddie said. “My nose can usually pick up any fries within a five-mile radius.”

Malika led the group out of the church. “There,” she said as she gestured to vast wilderness before them.

Charlie scratched his head and then looked to the others, who were equally perplexed. “Uh, you realize you’re just pointing to the woods, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

“And how’s that better?”

“Anything you can take from the land is infinitely better than that which you can buy from a store,” Malika said.

“Seriously?” Naomi said.

“Yeah,” JP said. “We really gotta pick our food?”

“Pick, hunt, forage, whatever you must do,” Malika said. “Few things boost your belief of self more than the knowledge that you can provide with your own two hands.”

“I definitely agree with you,” Eddie said. “But I think the reason everyone else might be struggling to digest your sage-like advice is because you look like a third-grader. I just think that maybe if you were, I don’t know, thirties-ish and super sexy, it would probably help them see the bigger picture.”

Naomi rolled her eyes. “Come on,” she said as she yanked Eddie by his shirt collar and started for the woods.

“Just think about it,” Eddie shouted to Malika as he was dragged away.

◆
◆
◆

Twigs snapped and dried pine needles crackled with every step as the orphans trekked through the mountainous terrain. They didn’t hear the sounds they made or even the birds chirping in the trees. All of their attention was concentrated on the grumbling in their own stomachs and their mutual annoyance of having to search for their own food.

“I can’t believe there could be an attack any second and we’re roaming the freaking forest,” JP complained.

“Does anyone even know what the heck we’re looking for?” Naomi said.

“I’m looking for a Doritos tree,” Eddie said, dead serious. “Preferably Cool Ranch, but I’ll settle for Nacho Cheesier.”

Charlie and the others couldn’t tell if he was kidding or not. “You know chips don’t grow on trees, right?” Charlie said.

“Of course,” Eddie said. “I’m just trying to be optimistic. Didn’t Malika say something about believing in stuff? Well, I choose to believe that Doritos and bear claw pastries naturally occur in the wild.”

“Good luck with that,” Naomi said.

“I was actually a Cub Scout back in the day,” Antony said. “We never left the city, but we learned a little about surviving in the wild, how to find edible wild plants and whatnot.”

“Perfect,” JP said. “How about you Webelos go look for berries and nuts, and Naomi and I will go find some meat.”

“Webelos, like we blow,” Eddie said. “Good one.”

JP smirked.

“You guys don’t think we should stick together?” Charlie said. “What if we get lost?”

“The church is just at the top of that hill,” JP said. “If you can get lost, we’ve got bigger problems than finding food. Besides, we’ll be more efficient if we split up.”

“He’s right,” Antony said.

“Okay,” Charlie reluctantly agreed. He watched Naomi and JP as they started down the slope, focusing on Naomi as they continued on their descent.

Antony scanned the forest. “We need to find a spot that gets good light and is close to a water source. That’s gonna be our best bet.” He turned his gaze to the sky, traced the sun’s path, and then headed in the opposite direction of JP and Naomi.

Eddie followed Antony.

After a moment, Charlie tagged along, too.

“Now that it’s just us guys,” Eddie said, “can we talk about how hot Malika is?”

Antony shot Eddie a disturbed sidelong glance.

“I meant the older her,” Eddie quickly corrected himself. “Not the younger her, obviously. You’re messed up for even going there.” Eddie nodded to Charlie. “What do you think?”

“I agree,” Charlie said. “She’s really pretty.”

“Really pretty?” Eddie said, taken aback. It wasn’t half the enthusiasm he had been expecting. “On a ten-point scale, she’s a twenty. Status update: You guys are certifiably crazy.”

“Dislike,” Antony said.

“You can’t dislike stuff. That wasn’t the deal. And it’s not even an option online.” Eddie turned back to Charlie. “And your vote doesn’t count, anyway. You’re obviously biased.”

“What are talking about?” Charlie said.

“Don’t act like you don’t have a thing for Naomi.”

Charlie had never been called out for liking anyone before. His throat cinched, and his heart fluttered from the accusation. Did he have feelings for her? Of course he did. But Charlie’s instincts quickly took over and told him to deny it. “What? No, I don’t.”

“Sure you don’t. And the Pope’s a Protestant.” Eddie shook his head. “It’s cool. She’s pretty, in that angry, tough girl that probably likes to punch guys kind of way.”

“I, uh, don’t know what you’re talking about,” Charlie stammered.

“That she likes to punch guys, or that you like her?”

“Both.”

“Dude, I just saw you watch her leave,” Eddie said. “Not to mention the way you totally froze up earlier in the van. Plus, you’re way too defensive right now. It’s a dead giveaway.”

Charlie said nothing. He didn’t have a comeback.

“I’ll take your silence as an admission of guilt,” Eddie said. “All right, Antony, you get to break the tie. What do you think? Malika, and by that I mean older Malika, or Naomi?”

“I think we need to focus our attention on finding food,” Antony said.

“I can multitask,” Eddie joked. He waited for a response that never came. “Fine. I’ll count that as a non-vote. And I’m not gonna bother asking JP ‘cause it seems like he has a thing for Naomi, too. Which I guess breaks the tie. Naomi wins.” Eddie considered the results and shrugged. “But hey, that actually works better for me, less competition. I doubt I could compete with JP, anyway.” He patted Charlie on the shoulder. “But good luck with that, buddy.”

“Thanks,” Charlie said.

Eddie grinned. “Look at that, he admits it!” He playfully shook Charlie by his shoulders.

Charlie smiled. It was the first time he had ever admitted to liking anyone, either directly or indirectly. His thoughts drifted to Naomi. A rush of warmth started in his chest and expanded outward. But Charlie’s sense of elation was quickly dashed, replaced by an aching tightness in his stomach, as he considered the questions that arose from this admission. Did Naomi know? What did she think? Was he really competing with JP? If so, did he even stand a chance?

“Enough messing around,” Antony said, getting the others back on track. “Let’s focus on finding food.”

The three continued deep into the woods, traversing over a mile before they found what they were searching for: a large clearing in the trees. In the clearing, were vines upon vines of wild grapes and bushes filled with all sorts of ripe berries. They plucked what they could as fast as they could, with much of their early pickings conveniently finding their way into their open mouths. Once they had harvested all that their arms could carry, they began their hike back to the church.

◆
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Charlie and the guys were the first to return. Antony had the idea of removing the van’s bench seats so they would have somewhere to lounge. They situated the seats around a small fire pit that they built.

JP and Naomi arrived not long after the guys had finished setting up. With them, they carried fifteen squirrels. JP had used rocks and his cannon of an arm to hunt the little critters.

They all pitched in to prep the squirrels, which they roasted over the open fire with skewers. When they were fully cooked, no one wanted to take the first bite.

JP jokingly volunteered Malika, who informed the group that angels did not require human food for sustenance.

“Screw it,” Eddie said. “I’m too hungry, and I can’t eat any more fruit.” He bit the bullet and took the first taste.

The others waited for his reaction.

Eddie finished chewing the meat and considered it for a second. “Status update,” he said. “Does everything taste like chicken, or does chicken just taste like everything?” He turned to Antony.

“Does it really taste like chicken, or are you just saying that?” Antony said.

“It did to me. Not
kfc
, but regular grilled chicken.”

“Then like.” Antony flashed two thumbs up, and then grabbed a skewer and took a bite. “You’re right. It’s not bad.”

After the others got past their psychological hang-ups, they, too, found the meat to be more than tolerable. Chewy, but tolerable. All in all, it made for a more than satisfactory meal, and they made quick work of the skewers.

“How do you feel?” Malika asked the orphans as they wrapped up their squirrel brunch.