Sanders gestured to the circle on the floor. “I think you know what will happen next.”
Matt nodded. He knew what he hoped would happen. Much of it hinged on whether or not what had popped into his head earlier played out. Instead of walking to the center of the circle as directed he assumed a boxing stance.
Sanders shook his head. “This is pointless. If I have to I’ll break your legs and arms and put you in that circle myself.”
“You’re welcome to try.” Matt knew that Sanders was right. In no way was he a physical match for the huge thing, even though he was damaged.
Grunting in frustration, Sanders lunged at him. The shotgun blasts hadn’t hurt his strength but he was a bit slower. Matt managed to sidestep and let Sanders move carry him past. He then leapt onto Sanders back and locked his legs around the larger man’s chest and one arm around his throat. With his free hand he pulled long blond hair away form Sander’s neck. There he saw what he had hoped, the word “truth” written in Hebrew script.
Sanders howled as he realized what was going on. He reached back, trying to get a hold on Matt, but the damp leather made that difficult.
Matt sent up a brief prayer and spat on the script. “From dust you were taken and to dust will you return.” He shouted the line from Genesis in its original tongue and viciously scrubbed at the last letter. It came away, though not easily and changed the word from “truth” to “death”. The struggle under his weight gradually lessened and after a few moments Sanders fell and Matt went with him.
His ribs complained at drop onto hard floor and the roll free didn’t help matters. When Matt stood he looked back at where Sanders was. Now there was a mound of clay filled clothing. It seemed to pulse once or twice with electricity and then nothing but silence. He looked at the clocks that counted down the impending explosion and found that he had a comfortable lead. He was about to take advantage of that and get out of the shop before he was buried when he saw the air above Sanders’ body shimmer. Looked like he wasn’t out of the woods quite yet. Sanders had been a golem as he had suspected, but it looked like the animating force, the passenger that the golem carried had been able to hang around.
The demon was horrid all the worst parts of the reptilian and insectoid world fused together in a pulsing mass. It had seven irregularly misplaced eyes, a mix of black and red. Some had vertical slits for pupils and others were simply raised pustules. Nubs of horns jutted from its forehead and its mouth was a vortex of teeth and dripped thick black mucus. He didn’t think that it existed physically, but in no way did he want to find out. “Depart, then, transgressor. Depart, seducer, full of lies and cunning, foe of virtue, persecutor of the innocent. Give place, abominable creature, give way, you monster, give way to Christ, in whom you found none of your works. For He has already stripped you of your powers and laid waste your kingdom, bound you prisoner and plundered your weapons. He has cast you forth into the outer darkness, where everlasting ruin awaits you and your abettors.” The words sprang from his lips.
Grating laughter rang through his head. “Your little words hold no meaning.” Matt noticed that the creature didn’t come any closer though and didn’t look entirely solid. If he squinted he could almost see the wall beyond.
“Then say your peace and move on. You can’t affect me, fetid spirit.”
“Don’t be so sure about that, York.” The rank hole in the center of its face didn’t move in sync with the words.
Matt’s mind was suddenly filled with a hungry buzzing. His head began to hurt. Matt closed his eyes, genuflected, and said “May the holy cross be my light, step back from me Satan.” The buzzing in his head subsided and as he opened his eyes he swore he could almost see a white haze in the air before him.
“Quaint. Very quaint.” The creature known as Sanders hovered in the air and moved back a few feet. “You’ve managed to do more than you know and as such have earned the ire of forces unimaginable to you. Count your days man. They will be fewer in number than may wish.” A noise that sounded somewhat like a steam whistle mixed with fingernails on a chalkboard ran through Matt’s head and he felt that sick twist at his center again. The air behind Sanders rent open, revealing a black tear in space. It swallowed the hideous thing and snapped shut.
A chorus of beeping was the next thing Matt heard. He looked up and the clocks had advanced significantly. He had only seconds to get out. The back door offered to put a thicker portion of wall between him and the explosion once he was out. Doors banged open in front of him as he ran with his hands outstretched. He made it into the alley and a good piece beyond before the explosion pushed him to his knees. Leather shredded on the pavement and he left a few layers of skin behind. Somehow he got to his feet and continued running.
He stopped at the mouth of the alley and looked out. Police and fire trucks would be all over this area in about two minutes. It would be near impossible for him to get out without being seen. Going on foot was his only option right now though, so he stepped out from cover. After a block he heard the whine of a motorcycle behind him. It shot past and then geared down quickly and came to a stop about thirty yards up. It was a bright yellow Kawasaki with red lightning bolts running up the sides. The rider was wearing matching yellow leathers and a red helmet. It was one of Jose’s buddies. Matt ran to him. “Thanks for stopping.” Matt clapped him on his shoulder.
“Carla sent me back to make sure you were all okay. Get on.”
Matt slung his leg over. “Did you see Jose?”
“No. Thank Our Lady that I saw you. We need to get out of here before the police show up. Hold on.” The nameless rider kicked the bike into high gear.
Wind blew through Matt’s hair. He didn’t have his helmet, so he kept his head down and held on. The ride was mercifully short and when they stopped and got off he only vaguely recognized where they were. It was one of those home grown used car lots that seemed to grow like rank weeds in the poorer parts of town. He and the biker were the only two home. “Thanks for the ride…” Matt waited.
“Ernesto.” He reached into a slit pocket in his jacket and produced a key. “This will fit that red hatchback.” He tossed Matt the key and spun the bike around.
Matt watched the man drive off. “Ernesto.” He said musing out loud. Then he remembered that that was the name of the biker gang’s leader. “Nah, couldn’t be.”, though why he doubted it after a day like today he couldn’t say. He turned and walked to the beat-up Dodge. It started easily and he pulled out of the lot, heading for their first rendezvous point. It would be a hell of a drive as worn out and with as much pain as he was in. The time would be well spent coming up with where to go from here. He didn’t expect any of his friends to stick with him in this. It would be a painful and perhaps impossibly difficult road without them, but he hoped and believed that they would. His head buzzed with questions as he drove through the chill November evening into the uncertain future.
End of Book One
