Ted shook his head. “I can’t leave until I know everyone that can be saved has been saved. That includes you, Sorrow. Please, just go!”
Sorrow bowed. “Goodbye, Ted. You will die. This displeases me.”
“Thank you. It displeases me too.”
The massive demon bounded away and leapt through the gate. Ted continued searching for more survivors. Angela stood ten feet away, obliterating demons with her chanting. She was holding her own, but further away a group of people fought back to back to keep the demons at bay. Ted ran in their direction, crushing the demons that were blocking their retreat. When he reached them, panting and covered in demon blood, they merely stared at him, wide-eyed and terrified. He had to yell at them to run. Next, he rescued a couple backed up against the castle’s rear wall. He swung his hammer and created an opening. They too made it to the gate.
Ted doubled over, gasping for breath as he looked for more people to save, but all he saw were demons. They surrounded him on all sides, cutting off any chance he had of making it to the gate himself. He peered over and saw Nancy leaping through into safety, sobbing for her daughter who was so close and yet so far away. Damien remained with his friends, Steph and Harry, powering the gate like a trio of batteries. Tosco and Maddy stood beside them, the American yelling into his radio, Maddy popping off shots from her handgun. Ted knew what Tosco was doing.
He’s calling in the big guns.
The fact Kielder was about to be razed to the ground broke Ted’s heart, but it pleased him that so many demons would die – and hopefully Lord Amon too. It had all gone to shit so quickly. This place that had been home for an entire year was gone – reduced to blood and splinters, and soon to be cinders. It was time to give up.
“Piss off, yow bastards. I’ll ’ave every one of yow. Soddin’ Villa supporters!”
Ted searched for the voice and couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Frank still alive. His diminutive friend was holding a wooden shield that had once hung on the wall of the Great Hall. It was almost as big as Frank, which made it difficult for the demons to get at him behind it. Ted’s weary mind conjured images of a gull trying to murder a hairy crab and he couldn’t stop himself from laughing.
Ted had been about to give up, but seeing his friend in peril gave him one last energy boost. He swung his hammer and took out two more demons, their skulls knocking together like conkers, but as he attempted to replant his footing, a primate slashed at his arm. White-hot pain erupted from his elbow to his wrist, and when he looked down he saw his own blood. The primate pounced. Ted brought his hammer around and crushed its sinewy thigh. Several more demons stood between him and Frank, but it didn’t matter. Ted kept his hammer moving, even as his shoulders turned to lead.
Frank saw Ted coming for him, and for a horrifying moment it looked like he might leave the safety of his shield and wave. Fortunately, a burnt man collided with the wood and reminded him to stay in safety.
Ted took out another demon and was suddenly standing next to Frank. He swung his hammer at the burnt man attacking the shield and then announced, “It’s time to leave, Frank.”
Frank grunted from beneath his shield. “How yow doing, mucker? I’ve had better days to be honest.”
“After three, you’re going to run towards that gate as fast as your little legs can take you.”
“Hey, less of that!”
Ted gave his friend a smile and started counting. “One…”
“Ted, what are you doing?”
“Two…”
“Ted, get out of here. I’ll just slow you—”
“Three! Run, goddamn it!”
“Jesus Christ!” Frank bolted like a jackrabbit, letting go of the shield and almost being crushed by it. The burnt man lunged for him and went a pisser, landing on its face. Ted kicked it in the head and swung his hammer at another that was approaching. There were demons everywhere now. Ted had done all he could. He glanced back to check on Frank and saw him waddling for his life. Tosco and the American soldiers saw him coming and fought to clear a path.
Ted considered making a run for safety himself, but too many demons had got around behind him now. Even if he fought, it would only delay the others from leaving. He couldn’t risk them being killed while they waited for him to reach them.
Maddy called out to Ted, but Ted turned his back and braced himself to absorb the impact as a pair of burnt men crashed into him. His hammer fell from his grasp, so he headbutted the first and kneed the second. A primate grabbed Ted’s shoulder and sliced his flesh. Another slashed his thigh.
He fell to one knee, no more fight left in him.
Time’s up.
“Pater Noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum.”
Ted turned his head and saw Angela gliding towards him. She parted the throngs of demons as if they were mere fronds on a palm tree. Her eyes were still rolled back in her head, yet she seemed to see Ted clearly. She placed a hand on his shoulder, a friendly reassurance.
I’m not alone.
The demons surrounding Ted exploded. He had to shield his eyes from the ludicrous amount of gibs raining down on him. He didn’t want to interrupt the woman’s flow, so he didn’t say anything to distract her. He just grabbed Angela’s arm and started pulling her in the direction of the gate. Maybe there was still a chance for both of them to get out of there.
But the gate was gone.
No!
Demons swarmed the
