Zombies (8 page)

“We have already
experienced such incidences, garnering the title of ‘going postal’,” said Michael.

“Those were test and now they are ready for the full scale riot,” said the professor.

“How do you know all this?  Have you two met before?” asked Michael, eyeing both the professor and Angelica.

“The three of us met the same day, but the professor is the reason I came to his classroom.  You
r meeting us on the stairwell was purely coincidental, yet I had already planned on contacting you.  That incident just made it much easier, although I don’t know if something divine was at work when it occurred,” said Angelica in deep thought.

“Who sent you anyway?  You never told us,” said Michael.

“You won’t be getting an answer to that question, Michael.  Am I right, Angelica?” asked the professor.  Again, her answer was a nod.

“Look, if I am going to put my life on the line
, I deserve to know who is behind this,” said Michael.

“Let’s just say
He is a powerful spirit, and He despises Beelzebub,” said Angelica.  Immediately Michael came to a conclusion about who she was referring to.

“Have you met him?” asked Michael.  She turned away without answering.
  The remainder of the meal was eaten in silence.

Chapter 7

Later that evening
Michael joined Angelica as she stared out the window into the darkened night.  “Why is it things seem much more frightening at night?”

“
Because darkness has always been associated with evil,” said Angelica, continuing to search through the shadows.

Putting
aside his usual devious attitude, in a serious tone, Michael asked, “Are you an angel?”

“I am not at liberty to say.  You will just have to trust me on this one,” said Angelica.

“When we were fighting the demons, you looked like an angel, at least to me.” 

This pleased her.
  “I didn’t know how I would appear to you, but I am happy to hear it,” said Angelica.

“How did I
look to you?” asked Michael.  That question made her slightly nervous, something that rarely happened.  Not expecting an answer, Michael was surprised by her blunt remark.

“You looked just like
an Archangel in my eyes.”  She walked away before being asked to explain. 

So Michael decided to look it up on the laptop.
  “You were right.  We do have internet connection out here,” he said, busy at work.  Being somewhat pleased that Michael would make the effort to research her answer on the web, Angelica grinned.  The smile on his face indicated he too was delighted with what he discovered.  “So that is how I looked to her,” he whispered.  No one heard him or so he thought.  However, Angelica did and was delighted. 

“We need to get some sleep.  Morning will be here before you know it,” said Angelica
, walking toward the bedroom.

“I think I will call it a night as well
.  How about you, Professor?”

“You two go ahead
.  I think I’ll sit out here and enjoy the view for a bit before turning in,” said the professor.

“Suit yourself.”  As his thoughts turned toward the morning’s events,
Michael wheeled around and asked, “Do you really see any need in holding classes tomorrow?”

The professor chuckled before saying, “
They will show up, if for no other reason except out of curiosity,” said the professor.

“Then we shall see you bright and early in the morning,” said Michael, closing the laptop.  The professor smiled
as Michael entered the bedroom.  He knew what was on the boy’s mind, but it wasn’t happening.  Only disappointment awaited the smitten young man.  The smile disappeared when the professor approached the window to gaze into the valley.  He could sense a host of spirits nearby—some good, but mostly evil.

“Are you asleep?” asked Michael in a pleasant tone
as he approached the bed.

“No, but I must remind you of our agreement,” said Angelica.

“I promised I would stay on my side of the bed, and I fully intend to keep my word,” said Michael.

“I know you want to, but you are only human.  Those urges are normal for a young man in your position.  Just remember that our relationship is that of friendship and nothing more,” said Angelica.

“Are you insinuating I would try to hit on you?” asked Michael.

“Yep, now be a good little boy and lay down.  It will be morning soon
, and only heaven knows what awaits us tomorrow,” said Angelica. 

As the faint streams of moonlight filtered in through the window, he couldn’t help but notice her beautiful countenance; and fighting off the urge to kiss her didn’t prevent him from thinking about it. 
Then as if to read his mind, his friend spoke.  “A kiss on the cheek would be nice,” said Angelica.  Being startled, he sat up in the bed and stared at the gorgeous girl.  Then his eyes wandered.  “Michael, stop staring at my body, or you will get yourself in more trouble than you could ever imagine.”

“I can’t help it.”

“Yes you can.  Now focus on my face, and then kiss me as you would a dear friend,” said Angelica.  He accepted her offer; and as his lips tenderly touched her cheek, he felt something he had never experienced before.  “See.  Wasn’t that much better than what you were thinking about a moment ago?” asked Angelica.

“I suppose, but do you really know what I was thinking?”

“Certainly, I know everything,” said Angelica.

“Then I am already in a heap of trouble
.”

“You
’re safe for now.  Just don’t ever try to act upon those thoughts,” said Angelica.  It became obvious that the young man was embarrassed by having this conversation.  Was she in fact an angel?  That thought did cross his mind; and since she refused to settle the matter, Michael could only guess.  If she were to be an angel, thoughts of a carnal nature were taboo; or were they?  But, on the other hand, if he looked like an angel to her in spiritual form, could this possibly work for them?  With those thoughts oozing from his brain, he got his answer.  “The answer is no, Michael, but there is something grand awaiting you—that is if you can control your thoughts in the meantime.  Believe me.  You will not be disappointed,” said Angelica.

“The last time a girl told me that was when we
. . .”

“Michael
, please.  I don’t want to hear it,” said Angelica.

“I was just going to say a beautiful girl offered to kiss me on the lips.  It was my first and we were nine.” 

Thinking it was much more earth shattering, Angelica could not contain her amusement.  “Well, were you disappointed?”

“Nope
.  It was all I could have ever imagined,” said Michael, lying back down on his side of the bed.

“What happened after th
at?  You know . . . as you became older?” asked Angelica, instantly regretting having posed the question.

“She moved away
right after that, and I never saw her again.  But I will never forget that kiss,” said Michael, sighing.

“Oh, then you have never been with anyone?” asked Angelica.  Again, she bit her lip, w
ondering why in the world she had asked such a personal question.

“If you are asking if I have ever been intimate with a girl
. . .”

“Mich
ael, you don’t have to answer.  It was wrong of me to ask that of you.”

“I don’t mind at all.  You are not the only angel
in this bed,” said Michael, proudly. 

A smile came over the beautiful face of the young lady.  Then she realized something.
  “I didn’t say I was an angel.”

“You didn’t have to.  Any girl as beautiful as you is an angel in my eyes.  Now stop talking so I can get some sleep,” said Michael.  A pillow across the face was to be expected
, and he was not disappointed.

“Good night
, Michael.”

“Good night
, Angelica.”

“You had better watch what you are insinuating.  The big guy won’t like it.”

“Then give him my humble apology the next time you see him,” said Michael.

Silence followed and the young man still didn’t know who or what Angelica was.  He desperately wanted to know the answer and had tried everything
he could think of to get it out of her.  But, that would have to wait.  However, unknown to Michael, the beautiful face of his friend was sporting a smile, only her back was to him.  With closed eyes, she cherished the moment, leaving Michael to deal with his own thoughts.  Soon the rhythm of her breathing indicated she was sleeping soundly.  Quietly listening by her side, Michael also soon drifted off into a land of slumber.

* * * *

Morning came much too quickly for Michael.  As usual, he was the last of the trio to awaken.  When the sound of a familiar voice shouted his name, it was anything but that of an angel.  “Michael, get your lazy butt out of the bed.  We will be late,” said Angelica.

“You were much nicer last night.  What did you do with my little angel?”

“Stop calling me that, or you will begin to believe it,” said Angelica, smiling.

“Well until this morning I considered the possibility.  However, at the moment
, I am convinced otherwise,” teased Michael, dragging himself from the bed. 

When a towel landed in his face, it came with an order.  “Get that bath and don’t make
me have to tell you again.”

“You can’t boss me around.  You sound like my wife,” said Michael.

“In your dreams, buster.  Right now I feel like your mother.”

“
Then you didn’t follow me in my dreams,” teased Michael.  Immediately he wished he had not said it.  “I am sorry, Angelica.”

“For what?  You haven’t done anything to be ashamed of, yet.”

“Then you definitely didn’t see my dreams,” said Michael.

“I am going to pretend I didn’t hear that, although that may not satisfy the big guy.”

“It sounds like this big guy is someone to fear,” said Michael.  She ignored him again.  Since he wasn’t making any progress in the quest to find out who Angelica really was, he decided to get that bath out of the way.  Moments later the loud yelling indicated he was in the water.  The professor laughed and sat quietly while going over his notes with a cup of coffee.

“Don’t waste your time
, Professor.  You and I both know there will be no classes today,” said Angelica.

“They will show up and I will be ready
,” he replied confidently.

“I am not talking about the students.  Today will be filled with violence
, and who knows how that will turn out,” said Angelica.

“Oh
?  It has gotten to that level?”

“We are expecting the arrival of
a host of demons shortly, and this time they will most likely enter humans.  So be on your guard for any signs of a person that is possessed.  Maybe we can head off this tragedy,” said Angelica, attempting to be hopeful. 

Standing just out of view,
Michael had overheard the conversation.  They became startled when he stepped through the door, drying his hair with the towel.  Looking up at his friend, he asked, “Aren’t you going to bathe?”

“I bathed while you guys were asleep,” said Angelica
, shrugging her shoulders.

“So how much time do we have?”

“We need to leave immediately,” said Angelica.  While she spoke truthfully, none of them fully expected to arrive at the campus.

“Are you go
ing dressed like that?” asked Angelica, staring at Michael’s clothes.  Those were the very same duds he had worn since they first met.

“This is all I have,
remember?  We could always go by my place to get some more.”

“Why don’t you and Michael swing by there on the way
, and I will meet you at the campus?” suggested the professor.

“I don’t know if that is such a good idea,” said Angelica
, reluctantly.

“I am deeply hurt.  You don’t trust me, do you?” asked Michael.

“Nonsense, we have been sleeping in the same bed, haven’t we?” asked Angelica.

“Then it’s settled.  We will meet you at the building
, Professor.”  Feeling manipulated, Angelica finally consented, although against her better judgment.  They left together and only separated at the last minute to avoid being apart any longer than was absolutely necessary. 

The lengthy journey provided ample opportunities for them to discuss their plans.  However, those discussions were
quickly interrupted with the dreaded discovery.  “They are following us,” whispered Angelica.  Yet when her companion searched the area, he spotted nothing out of the ordinary.  In fact, there was not a soul anywhere to be seen.  “You can’t see them, but they are there.  I can feel them.”

“Are you referring to people o
r something else?” asked Michael.

“It’s the demons and they are getting ready to make their move.  We need to go back and warn the professor.”

“There is no time,” replied Michael, checking his wristwatch.

“Forget about classes.  This is more important.”  When she turned back to locate the professor, Michael was forced to follow her.
  Sensing danger, Angelica picked up the pace.  The further they traveled the faster she ran.  It was all Michael could do to keep up with her.  Fear overtook the novice as he had not witnessed this type panic being displayed by his new acquaintance—that is until now.  Suddenly her actions were justified by the sight of the professor being carried away by a host of unrecognizable creatures.  These were unusual in that none of them resembled any of the previous encounters.  They had the body of a man and the head of a beast.  Their teeth were like tusk and a huge eye was positioned in the center of their forehead.  Michael waited, expecting to be transformed into a mighty warrior as before.  It didn’t happen.

“This is where you do your thing
, Angelica,” said Michael, anxiously.

“If it were up to me
, I would.”

“You did it before
.  Now, do it again so we can help the professor,” pleaded Michael.