Attrition of the Gods: Book 1 of the Mystery Thriller series Gods Toys. (25 page)

The man restrains Adam then addresses both the youngsters. “If I explain everything to you both, then by the time I am finished we won’t have time to get away. Ember, you can see it’s me, I know you can.”

She nods slowly as she watches the smoky snake dance around his head. Adam opens his mouth to ask her how but a loud scream startles him. All of them recognise Freya Mortensson’s voice.

“Whoa? Already? We’d better go.” Raphael pushes a side door open. “Quick, this way.”

More scared of Freya than this guy, Ember and Adam glance at each other with a resigned look before following him down a set of rickety stairs and out into a courtyard. Ember vaults up an eight-foot wall then reaches down to help pull Adam up, the recent adrenaline surge pushing the remains of the toxin through his system faster. Raphael looks down at the fat belly he has just inherited and with a groan runs at the wall and manages to grab the top before scrambling up.

The Protection Squadron officers can be heard crashing into the yard. The three fugitives leap to the other side and sprint down a narrow alley. Two shots are fired then one guard shouts, “The captain is with them, hold your fire, radio for the dogs.”

Adam recognises their location when he spots the jeep. They have come out the back of the building and circled around to the front. Raphael leaps into the driver’s seat, Ember and Adam jump in the back. Dogs can be heard gaining on them as Raphael attempts to turn the key.

“We won’t get away in this old thing,” Ember shouts.

“I told you, don’t dis the Raff-mobile!” replies Raphael, as the motor turns and the car’s wheels spin away from the attack hounds.

A police Volkswagen S690 with a top speed of 230mph and armed with CSV net technology, two hyper modules and an ultrasound drum, approaches at high speed and is soon hanging on the tail of the jeep. A Superfly Aircopter dives from the sky and hovers above them and up ahead two more VW S690s block the road.

“Pull over or we will be forced to fire upon you,” the amplified voice yells to them.

“We can’t escape, pull over,” Ember advises Raphael. Adam looks at her like she is bat-shit crazy but every instinct in her body is screaming out for them to follow instructions, to get back to the safety of her father and the world of comfort and luxury that she knows so well. She never knew she would yearn for conformity quite so much.

Instead Raphael says, “Hold on tight!” as he floors the accelerator and points the surprisingly rapid old banger at the blockade ahead. Ember screams and Adam freezes as they see their lives flash before them. They both have a feeling that this is only the beginning and that their comfortable childhoods are definitely coming to an end.

The car hurtles towards the road block and the four PS officers standing behind the cars scurry away, realising the inevitable collision. Raphael has a manic look on his face as he focuses on the task of hitting the red switch at the very same time that the jeep hits the two VWs.

“Hold on and don’t die!” he cries out.

The observing officers witness a massive explosion on impact. The Aircopter is thrown around by a disproportionately powerful aftershock, the pilot struggling to regain control. Freya Mortensson’s vehicle pulls up next to the smoking carnage. She exits the VW and walks as close to the scene as possible. Heat slows her progress as she tries to ascertain the damage. Clearly all occupants of the old car will be dead. Freya is sad that her captain is dead, sad because she will not be able to torture him while seeking an explanation of why, after years of loyal service, he turned on his own to protect enemies of the state. She is glad she broke protocol and played the disc though and has seen some idiot boy from the twenty-first-century singing some song that just repeats the word ‘baby’ instead of the message from the Antihost, Shane Mills, otherwise she would not have returned and seen the prisoners escaping with her captain.

Freya frowns as the smoke clears. Her expression changes to one of utter confusion as she sees only the two VWs smashed up. She looks around frantically.

“Where the hell are they?”



“Are we dead?” asks Adam, as he looks at the bright white light surrounding the three of them.

The jeep seems to be melting away and they are being carried by pure light over Jinn City. He feels disembodied, as if he is dreaming. He knows that Ember is next to him but cannot see her. He also knows that Raphael is with them. He hears Ember ask, “What is happening?” A whirling prism of colour veils the scene below, then stillness. Everything freezes. Adam feels calm as he imagines he is stuck in a still-life photo, then, for a few seconds, they gently drift.

Suddenly the sensation of dropping seizes him and as if woken from a deep slumber, fear takes over. A building is hurtling towards him. They will surely smash into the rapidly nearing ground! He hears a clunking sound and can see the components of the car reassemble around him, only this time it is an electric-blue 1950s-style Chevy. He looks down at his hands. They are half formed with tiny shards of light emanating from them. He sees both Ember and Raphael in their seats but they are made up of colours still swirling, gradually becoming solid and then another shift sees them all regain full physical presence. A shooting pain slices across his back and Ember’s screams of agony confirm they are awake and thankfully alive. The car is now complete around them, and, as if it had just driven down a bumpy steep ramp, it throws the passengers about before landing fully formed on a long stretch of road.

“Holy fucking moly! That was awesome!” cries out Raphael.

Adam holds on to the side door, breathing erratically and experiencing his first panic attack. He feels as if there is no oxygen. As if he is emerging from beneath the sea, his lungs fill several deep breaths and he frantically looks around for Ember. She too is gasping for air, unable to speak. He looks at Raphael who seems more interested in checking his car’s metamorphosis

“You gotta love a Chevy.”

Eventually Raphael looks around and checks his passengers are also okay. Both sit staring at him with their mouths open. Shock has taken over. Raphael slowly drives into a side street then gets out, opening the back doors.

“Hurry, we need to move,” he tells them. “Be careful though, you’ve just passed through a vortex wormhole and your bodies will need time to realign.”

Dazed, both teenagers follow his instructions without question as they struggle to gather their thoughts and find they can barely walk.

“Bambi on ice,” remarks Raphael as he takes Ember’s arm to prevent her from collapsing. “Take deep breaths and close your eyes. It’ll all be fine in a few minutes.”

As promised, Ember feels her faculties return and Adam looks steady.

The two follow Raphael down a side street and into a dingy-looking bar. Adam suspects that they are in the Oriental sector of the city, but can’t fathom how they got here; this part of the city is at least an hour away from the road block. They continue past the bar area and out the back through the kitchens, the staff appearing unconcerned. A door at the back of the kitchen leads them into a candlelit room. Both the youngsters are instantly aware of unfamiliar but pleasant odours.

A very fat, tattoo-covered man who is of East Asian descent sits smoking from a large multi-stemmed glass pipe. Several differently coloured plumes of smoke pour from its many ports and each seems to carry its own essence, creating a strangely calming environment. He looks up casually as the door opens and nods towards Raphael. The room has the appearance of a small Buddhist temple and there is a bench attached to the wall. The large man points to the seat and indicates for his new guests to sit.

“Hello, Raphael. I was not expecting you.”

“Hello, Baal,” responds Raphael. “We need your help.”

As the two men become locked in muted conversation, Ember and Adam look at each other, trying to think of what to say, where to start.

“Are you okay?” asks Adam foolishly.

She stares at him, wide-eyed for a moment. “Am I okay?”

Adam instantly regrets asking and is about to backtrack before Ember cuts him off.

“Let me think.” She is animated, channelling all her fear and exhaustion into her tirade of abuse at Adam. “I don’t even know if I’m alive or dead! I have no idea what the hell has just happened. I was planning on completing an assignment for school, not becoming part of some weird messed-up cult or whatever the hell is going on here. So in answer to your question, am I okay? No, I am far from okay. I may never be okay again! I have been beaten, nearly raped and murdered, chased by the law and crashed head on into a blockade at full speed.” Ember taps her hands around her body. “I seem to be none the worse for wear physically but my mind is reeling. We’re sat here with your mate, Raphael, who has possessed that captain’s body and is now in a conference with Buddha…”

Ember bursts into laughter but all too soon it turns into tears. She begins to shake uncontrollably. Adam stares for a moment, completely taken aback by Ember’s response. He moves towards her awkwardly and contemplates putting his arm around her. The large man stands and walks over to the overawed girl. He places his huge hand under her chin, raising it so she can see into his eyes.

“Shush, you have had a traumatic experience, little bird, and you are right to be upset. But you are safe now. I will protect you.” A warm smile beams across his face and somehow Ember feels she can trust him. Baal gently squeezes her shoulder and then turns to Adam. “You need to sleep, the both of you have just passed through a collider formed vortex wormhole, and this is a hard thing for a human’s physical form. You need to rest. Come with me.”

Baal opens a trapdoor beneath the altar and leads them down some steps into a luxurious-looking chamber with floating hammocks. Happy to finally leave all responsibility in the hands of this big, warm stranger, the two teenagers follow willingly. Neither Ember nor Adam can keep their eyes open and almost on contact with the pillows, they fall into a deep sleep. Baal returns to the small room where Raphael waits.

“But we haven’t viewed the disc yet. She could have slept later,” complains Raphael.

Baal opens the door back to the noodle bar and the two make their way to a window seat.

“The message is for her. She has had a long and traumatic day and she needs rest. Heaven knows what will be required of her once she sees it. Let her have this one last night as an innocent,” suggests Baal.

Raphael nods in agreement and pours tea from an urn that has been placed on the table.

“So, it seems the Host is on to us and will soon know about the disc. He will move heaven and earth once he realises what it is and who Ember really is.”

Baal takes the tea and replies, “Yes, we must be careful. We all know what he is capable of. I will take the two of them to Chamuel but you will need to create a distraction.”

The chambers of the High Council of Jinn City

Freya is not a woman known for her nervousness. She is steely and strong, never showing any emotion. This is how she rose from the fat, ugly kid who was bullied at school and whose attempt to kill herself was thwarted by the Host Himself. That was forty long years ago. Now she is the one who is feared, she is the one doing the bullying.

Freya is not sure how her lord and master will react to the news about the Procurator’s daughter and the events of today. She knows even mentioning the disc could mean her death, but she is going to face her fate and tell him everything. If he chooses to exterminate her then so be it; her life is his to do with as he wants.

Freya enters the temple through the corridors that link to her own office in the security hub. Even as she approaches what could be her doom, Freya feels awestruck by the grandeur of the temple. Huge halls draped in the red and black banners bearing the symbol of the Crucifix and Eagle. Oak doors almost reach the ceiling and reveal the entrance to the great hall, which occupies the centre of the temple, giant steel sculptures of the Host adorning the four corners. Freya notices in the distance at the end of the hall the Host sits on his throne. He wears the golden robes and crown that he favours.

“Come, dear Freya,” calls the voice of Reuben. “What news have you?” Black conjoined twins sit at his feet. One boy and one girl connected perfectly asymmetrically, something not achieved by nature. A small blonde girl, who is perhaps four or five years old, sits on his lap.

Freya slaps her hand across her chest in salute and bows. “My Lord, I bring grave news. During our surveillance of the reprobate known as Raphael we were alerted to the fact that he had made a new acquaintance, which made us suspicious of his actions.”

Reuben dismisses the three children who are led away by an old woman. He holds his hands steeple to his chin and leans forward in his chair, his curiosity piqued.

“Who was this new acquaintance?”             

“We saw Raphael enter the old warehouse with his Caucasian apprentice, Adam Costello. Also with them was Ember Jones, the Procurator’s daughter.”

Reuben pulls a stiletto blade from his cloak and casually picks at the long nail that protrudes from his forefinger. “And what, pray tell, followed?”

“Master, I ordered that officers apprehend the three suspects and question them. However, when we came across the two youngsters I discovered that Raphael had retrieved a disc. I was concerned this may be the message you warned me of and my first thought was to acquire the disc and eliminate any witnesses.”

Reuben nods in agreement.

“I killed the traitor Raphael myself but unfortunately, for some reason that I cannot fathom, Captain Cameron turned his gun on his own guards and aided the two teenagers in escaping.”

Freya looks at the Host expecting to see anger reflected in his face.

“Continue,” he says calmly, still using the blade as an instrument to manicure his nails.

“We pursued the captain and the two delinquents as they attempted to escape in the old car that Raphael was seen using. I did not foresee any problems in catching them as they were in such an antiquated vehicle. A road block barred their way and several of our vehicles surrounded them. The driver of the car seemed to deliberately crash it into the blockade causing an explosion. When I searched the debris for any remains of the car and its occupants, there were none, not a speck was left. Only the wreckage of two SC90s remained.”