“That’s excellent news. At least we won’t die of thirst,” said Adam.
“We are running short of medical supplies,” said Doctor Eade. The doctor made a much more favourable impression on Sam than Evan. The small man was quiet and composed, and looked highly competent; someone he would trust his life with. “With the growing rate of casualties, I’m going to need more space. And I could do with some more trained medical personnel.”
Adam sighed. “You don’t ask for much, do you, Doc?” He held up a hand to silence any argument. “Yes, yes. I’ll see what I can do. I’ll tell the next search party to make sure they keep an eye out for your medical supplies. As for the other things; with the rate of demons coming at us, don’t expect the casualty rate to go down any time soon. You’ll just have to cope and pray that the good Lord drops a few more nurses or doctors in our laps. And I do mean pray.”
“You don’t mean …” stuttered Tesara.
“I mean exactly what I just said,” replied Adam, in a tone that would brook no argument. “I didn’t have much faith before, but I certainly do now. The Rapture changed everything for me. If that wasn’t proof enough for you that God and the Devil exist, check out the fighting tonight. If those aren’t demons we’re fighting, then I’m a twelve year old girl in a pink dress. I’m gonna start praying and I suggest the rest of you do likewise. It might be the only way we’re going to survive this mess.”
“And what about him?” asked Tesara, nodding her head in Sam’s direction. “Surely it isn’t just a coincidence that on the night he shows up, so do a great flock of demons. And those big ugly horned brutes too.”
“Sam?” asked Adam gravely.
This was the key moment. The moment that Sam had been waiting for. It was when he knew they would turn on him. This always happened — it was only a matter of time. He lowered his head, unwilling to meet the accusing eyes of the others in the room.
“I … I guess that might be true. I was sent to help you here, though.”
“By who?” asked Tesara.
“An Archangel by the name of Gabriel. You might have heard of her.”
The others, with the exception of Joshua, looked stunned.
Suddenly, Adam laughed in a deep boom that bounced off the walls. “Well, if that doesn’t beat all.” He chuckled low in his throat. “A couple of months ago, I would’ve kicked your arse out of here for lying through your teeth, but now, after all that I’ve seen, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jesus Christ himself sat down with me for a cup of Joe.”
“What did this archangel want?” asked Doctor Eade.
“She said you would need my help.”
Adam raised his eyebrows. “That’s true. You certainly turned the tide last night. Without you, we would’ve been goners.”
“It also turns out that I need yours.”
“How so?” asked Evan.
Sam suddenly looked a little embarrassed. “I don’t know how to get to Los Angeles. I’ve studied some maps but I haven’t got them with me.”
“Why do you need to get to Los Angeles for?” asked Adam.
Sam paused, unsure how this was going to sound. He shrugged inwardly. It didn’t matter; he’d told them most of it by now, what difference would this make. “I need to fight the Antichrist.”
If Sam had thought he’d stunned them with the revelation of Gabriel, this was a whole new level of shock. Even Evan looked a little taken aback by this.
“Fight the Antichrist? Whatever for?” asked Tesara, looking thoroughly bewildered.
“Gabriel told me I have to confront him. For the souls of the innocents who remain behind.”
“That changes things,” said Adam, stroking his beard thoughtfully. “So what you need are some supplies and a guide to get you to Los Angeles. Does that sound about right?”
Feeling pleasantly surprised by how well negotiations were proceeding, Sam nodded again.
“Ok. We might be able to manage that,” said Adam. “I’ll have to go around and ask for a volunteer. Don’t be surprised if no-one puts their hand up though. It sounds like a suicide mission to me.”
“There won’t be any need for that,” said Joshua, surprising everyone by speaking for the first time. “I’ll go with him.”
Sam turned towards the other boy, gratitude welling up in his chest.
Joshua waved off the others responses. “It’s fine,” he said. “I’ve driven there a couple of times with my uncle. I know the way.”
“Good,”said Adam, clapping his hands onto his thighs. “That’s settled. Obviously, whatever has been said in this room stays between us. I don’t think the rest of the people here need to know there’s a demon in their midst. Now about tonight; I have a plan. Listen up, Sam, Josh. You’re probably not gonna like this … “
It was well after dark when Sam heard the first unmistakeable sounds of approaching demons. He’d been sensing them for a while but now had no doubt that they were heading their way. Beside him, he saw Joshua shiver.
“Don’t worry,” he said, sounding far calmer than he felt. “I’m sure this will go smoothly.”
Josh grinned back at him but he could tell the other boy was scared. They’d sat together in the darkness for the last hour, just waiting. It was a comfortable silence. Conversation wasn’t something Sam did particularly well and Josh looked too frightened to speak himself.
Sam still felt elated that Joshua had decided to come with him. It was the first time that he’d ever felt like he had a friend. He hadn’t realized how lonely he was; just being here in Black Ridge with other humans who accepted him was fantastic. But now that he had Josh, he felt like anything was possible.
There was no moon tonight. Sam felt relieved by that. It wasn’t often that the blood moon was hidden by the swirling clouds. It would have almost been pleasant outside, listening to the wind rustling in amongst the half-dead trees, if it wasn’t for the impending threat of a demon attack.
Glimpsed through the swaying limbs of the surrounding trees, Sam could just make out the killing ground, now brightly lit by arc light. Above the area, he caught fleeting shapes dancing in the warm upswells of air. One of them swept lower, revealing the massive form of an Astaroth swooping low over the trees. “Not long now,” he said.
No sooner had the words left his lips than he saw the first wave of Lemure surge through the outer tree line, heading directly towards the palisade. His heart sank as he saw a group of horned demons, towering amongst their lesser brethren. The survivors of Black Ridge had their work cut out for them this night.
He and Joshua had positioned themselves carefully so that they had a clear line of sight to where Adam waited on the fighting platform. As the defenders opened up with their heavy machine guns, Adam turned in his direction and waved. The signal.
“Hit it,” said Sam.
Joshua turned the key on the jeep. A juddering, coughing sound emerged from the engine and then nothing.
“Try it again.”
Joshua turned it again. This time, with a splutter and then a great roar as the engine burst into life. Josh gunned it and they took off. They got about ten feet before they jerked to an abrupt halt. In the dim light, Sam could make out the trunk of a tree in front of them.
“Turn on the lights,” Sam ordered.
“Yeah, yeah,” said Joshua testily. He hit the lights, suddenly bathing the bare limbs of tree trunks in a wash of stark illumination. He reversed quickly and then accelerated down the dirt track.
Sam felt rather than saw some of the Lemure and other demons suddenly swerve from their attack on the palisade and head in their direction. Adam’s plan was working. They were drawing at least some of the attackers off.
Joshua drove on, far too quickly for the pock-marked dirt trail. The jeep bounced and juddered along, almost throwing Sam out. He had to release his grip on his longer sword just to hang on. To call what they were on a track or trail was an exaggeration. It was just a thin line of clear space in between the trees, still heavily overgrown. It had seen some traffic though — Sam could see tyre marks which Joshua was using to navigate.
