Zombies (9 page)

“It’s too late.”

“I can’t believe you would stand here and let this happen,” said Michael.

“It’s out of my hands.  There must be a reason for this that I don’t know about.”

“I have never understood this mess, and this only complicates matters,” said Michael.

“Tell me about it.  But the decision has been made
, and we have our answer.”

“So whoever sent you is just going to let this happen?  What if they do the same thing to us?” asked Michael.

“If that happens, you can trust me on this: there is a very good reason.”

“How am I supposed to trust you when you are keeping things from me?” asked Michael.
  When she didn’t answer, Michael continued.  “What do you propose we do now?”

“We go back to the cabin and wait for further instructions.”

“Why can’t they just provide those instructions right now?”

“Who?” asked Angelica in deep thought.

“Whoever sent you, Angelica,” he replied in a loud tone.

“Hold it down or they will spot us,” said Angelica.

“Now who are you referring to?” asked Michael, becoming frustrated.

“The demons!  Who did
you think I was talking about?”

“Well
, I wasn’t real sure.  And to be candid with you, I don’t know which one is worse,” said Michael.  A chill in the air was followed by the fierce look in the eyes of his companion.  “I apologize for saying that.  I know I shouldn’t be questioning your motives or the one that sent you.  But I hope you understand my concerns,” said Michael.

“That does surprise me after what you have witnessed,” said Angelica
with her jaws clinched.  Obviously she was losing patience with her companion.

“I said I was sorry
, didn’t I?” asked Michael, attempting to apologize for spouting off.

“You are going to have to do better than that
,” said Angelica, turning her back to her friend.

“What do you expect of me?” asked Michael, totally frustrated.
  He grabbed her by the arm and wheeled her back around to face him.

“I expect you to help me save the world.  Now follow me back to the cabin
, and keep your eyes peeled for anything unusual,” she hissed as she removed herself from his grip.  With no further explanation, Angelica strode off in the direction of their shelter; and Michael fell in behind her as instructed, but with many doubts. 

Chapter 8

After being cast in
to a world unknown to exist until now, Michael wasn’t really sure what to believe.  Maybe his friend would enlighten him at a later time, but that did not make up for the fact that right now he was more confused than ever.  Being distracted by those thoughts, Michael was disturbed and jumped out of his skin at the sound of gunfire in the direction of the campus.  “What was that?” he asked, already knowing the answer.  Rapid gunfire indicated something tragic was happening nearby. 

Immediately the two ran in the direction of the frightening sound.  Then it ended.
  “It’s over.  There is nothing we can do for them now,” said Angelica, turning toward the cabin once again.

“Shouldn’t we at least try?”

“I already know what has happened.  The demons entered the soul of a susceptible human and created havoc on the students and teachers gathering for school.”

“Then we need to find this demon and stop him before it hurts others,” pleaded Michael.

“It’s too late, Michael.  The work of the demon is finished, and it has turned the weapon on itself.”

“How do you know this?”

“That is how they do it, leaving no way for investigators to determine motive or who was behind this tragedy,” said Angelica, sadly.

“Would it matter anyway?  What could they do about it?”

“There is nothing they can do unless the person is apprehended and the demon cast out,” said Angelica, pausing to consider the matter.  “Even then who would ever believe it?  The person would be sent to jail with no idea why he or she did such a terrible thing.”

“So the demons are allowed to do this?  Something doesn’t sound right about this arrangement,” said Michael.

“It hasn’t always been this way, although good and evil has existed since the beginning of time.”

“So the thousand
-year reign is behind this?  Why would these evil powers be allowed to roam the earth?  Why couldn’t they just leave them in the chains of darkness as you already mentioned?” asked Michael.

“This was set in motion from the beginning
of time.  The world is a testing ground to separate the good spirits from the evil.”

“I hate to bring it up, but which one will win?” asked Michael.

“If you have to ask, then you are not the person I thought.” 

As they arrived at the cabin, the sight of the lonely abode created all sorts of emotions.  The absence of the professor was at the center of those concerns.
  “What will happen to him?” asked Michael.

“I only wish I knew, and then again I am not sure I want to know.”

“Was the professor good or bad?” asked Michael, testing her.

“He was a good person, but the mind was weak.”

“Are you kidding?  The professor was a genius,” argued Michael.

“I am not referring to his intelligence
, Michael.  He was brilliant, but his weakness lay in his ability to resist the evil spirits.  I am thinking that was his downfall in this case, and that is why we were not allowed to intervene,” said Angelica.

“What if that happens to us?  Will your sources abandon us?”

“It won’t happen to me, but I can only hope you will be able to resist their power,” said Angelica.

“Don’t worry about me.  I have already proven myself, in fact,
twice,” said Michael, boastfully.

“If you have a weakness
, it is your pride.  Many a great leader has fallen because of that flaw.”  This jolted the young man back to reality.  Like many his age and gender, he was subject to allowing the excessive high opinion of himself to become a stumbling block; this was no exception.  While in deep thought, he was encouraged by the wisdom of his companion.  “That is why I was chosen to protect you.  Just listen to me and you can do this, Michael.”

“I am ready to listen.”

“You say that, but I am not convinced,” said Angelica.

“Don’t underestimate me
, my friend.  I can be as stubborn as any demon you have ever crossed paths with.”

“Oh, I can see that already
; but being stubborn can work against you, especially if you are wrong,” warned Angelica.

“Then since you are my mentor, just make sure I am right.”

“I am trying, Michael.  Heavens knows I am trying,” said Angelica, stepping through the door to the cabin.  Once inside, they both stared at the walls of the lonely abode and wondered what it would be like to be in Dr. Blanchard’s shoes at that very moment.  However, there was no comfort in the thoughts of what could be going on with both body and soul.  Angelica didn’t have all the answers to the mystery, and Michael knew even less.  For the time being, they could only deal with the emotions created by the absence of their friend. 

Suddenly, while standing in silence with those thoughts occupying their minds, Angelica went into action.
  “Grab the professor’s laptop while I use this one.  We are going to find out what is going on here.”

“Do you expect to find the answers on the internet?  I know it contains everything, but the demons and angels are not going to lay open their souls on the web,” said Michael.

“I realize that, but we can study the past and tie that to predictions for the future.  If my sources won’t reveal the answers, we will search out the mystery using these more unorthodox methods.”

“Is that allowed?  We don’t want to tick off your boss
, do we?”

“You don’t see it lightening
, do you?” asked Angelica.  The concerned young man walked to the window to look outside.  “Relax, Michael, I was just kidding.”  The sound of that admission startled him.  She had never told a lie as she so adamantly professed.  Wasn’t kidding a mild form of a lie?  Now he was really becoming disturbed, and the feeling showed on his face.  “What is wrong, Michael?  You look like you have seen a ghost.”

“You are scaring me.  What have you done with my friend?” asked Michael, staring into her eyes.  No sooner had those words left his mouth; Angelica’s eyes glowed in a bright red display similar to that of the demons.
  The frightening sight sent him leaping backwards about ten feet.  Now he could only watch the drama unfold.  All sorts of questions came up.  Had she succumbed to the evil spirits, or was she evil all along?  Being both frightened and confused, Michael prepared to fight.  Then suddenly, the creature came out of his friend in the form of a bright red demon, similar to those he and his companion had confronted earlier.  The familiar appearance of the demonic creature confirmed his expectations.  She was in trouble and now he would be attacked too.  But, Michael was in for another surprise. 

Just as quickly as this came about, it abruptly ended, leaving
behind his beautiful friend.  Seeing that she had collapsed on the sofa, Michael quickly approached her.  However, was it okay to touch her in this condition?  He had already been warned against it more times than he could count.  Yet, her beautiful face seemed to glow, and he became convinced she was indeed an angel.  With mixed feelings, he leaned over his friend.  Slowly he reached for her eyelid to open it.  He needed to see for himself if they were back to normal.  She seemed to be resting comfortably, but the glow was still visible.  Remembering the warning, he almost backed out.  Yet, he had to know the truth. 

Suddenly her eyes popped wide open,
being large as saucers.  “Don’t you dare!” yelled Angelica. 

He jumped backwards, knocking over the lamp sitting on the end table.  Now lying flat of his back, Michael sought to rise up to make a run for his life.
  Before he could do that, his friend stood over him, at least he thought she was his friend.  After what he had just witnessed, he wasn’t really sure.  As he stared up at the beautiful creature, he prepared to die.  Maybe this was for the best.  If he was going to die anyway why not just get it over with? “Before you kill me, tell me what in the devil is going on.”

“Kill you!  Why would you even think such a thing?” 

He was more confused than ever.  “Do you not remember anything about what just happened?” asked Michael.

“I remember being in the spirit
; and while fighting demons, you almost touched me.”

“There was more to it than that.  Wait a minute
.  Were you fighting demons like we did last night and the night before?” asked Michael, running his hands through his hair.

“Exactly and I searched for you, but you were nowhere to be found.  Thankfully I handled it
, but why were you going to touch me?  Don’t you listen to anything I say?”

“You scared the crap out of me when a demon came out of you,” said Michael.

“Are you sure about that?” asked Angelica, being distraught.

“I know what I saw.  That beast looked just like the ones you and I battled, at least that is the way it appeared.  Now I am not so sure.  Are you
certain you are not possessed?”

“I am positive, but you should never touch me when I am like that,” said Angelica.

“If you had witnessed what I did, you would understand why I had to see for myself.  Your eyes were bright red, and all of a sudden that ugly creature came out of you.  Then you collapsed on the sofa with your eyes closed.  All I intended to do was open you eyes to see for myself,” said Michael.

“You should never do that,” warned Angelica.  She took him by the arm to lead him to the sofa.

“Why is it you can touch me now?”

“Look at me and tell me what you see
, Michael.”

“I see a beautiful girl with enchanting eyes and a body to die for.”

“I give up,” said Angelica.  A bright flash of lightening followed by a loud clap of thunder caused her to gaze upward.  “Sorry, it was just an expression.”

“I forgive you,” said Michael, placing his arms around her.

“I wasn’t talking to you.  In fact, I am still angry with you, Michael.”

“What did I do now?”

“You keep mentioning my anatomy, and you know how I feel about that,” said Angelica.

“Well then don’t ask me to describe what I see when I look at you,” said Michael. 

She shook her head, wondering if the young man would ever learn.  “Just stop talking and get to work.  We need to find answers for what is going on,” said Angelica.

“We already know what
’s going.  We are getting our butts kicked by those ugly little creatures.”  She shook her head, refusing to comment, and began searching the internet.  “Could you please answer one question?”

“The answer is no,” said Angelica.

“I haven’t even asked the question.”

“You were going to ask me if we would be sleeping in the same bed, now that the sofa is free.”

“No I wasn’t.  Get your mind out of the gutter,” said Michael.  The clap of lightening and the rumbling of the ground beneath them caused him to recant his statement.  “Okay, I admit it!  Jesus!”

“Don’t you dare use his name in that manner,” said Angelica.

“Sorry, I will try to remember that in the future.”

“You do that
.  And while you are at it, work toward focusing on my face and not my butt,” said Angelica.

“How can I when you keep bringing it up?” argued Michael.

“I keep bringing it up because you keep staring at it.  Now just accept it.  We are not going to have an intimate relationship, at least not physically.”  She bit her lip afterwards.  Had she revealed something about another relationship, maybe in a spiritual form?  The stares of the young man sent a signal.  Then with a smile on his face, he logged onto the internet.  However, they soon became distracted by breaking news.  It revealed that flesh eating people we plaguing the city.  In fact, it was rapidly getting out of control.

“Are you reading this?” asked Michael.

“I am all over it.  This is really bad news,” said Angelica as her eyes rapidly scanned the screen on the laptop.

“Then it has begun?”

“Yes, and evidently I messed up,” said Angelica.

“How so?” asked Michael.

“I should have never agreed to become separated from the professor.  Now they have a key element out of the way.  You and I are all that’s left, and I just hope it will be enough to prevent chaos.”  Continuing to read, she had an answer to that question.  “We already have chaos.  The zombies have risen!”

“I can see that, but do they
not realize what is happening?” asked Michael, looking up from his screen.

“People have no clue as to what is going on.  By the time they figure out
what this is all about, it will be too late.  This could be contained if only someone knew what to do.”

“We know what to do
, don’t we?” asked Michael.

“Yes, but we will have to be discrete about it.”

“Would you care to share it with me?” asked Michael.

“We must destroy the zombies be
fore it becomes an epidemic.”

“
Okay, how do we do that?” asked Michael.

“
I already told you, there is only one sure way—a bullet or knife to the brain,” said Angelica.