I watched, holding my breath, while the large group of what I could only describe as dead people moved down the empty street. They'd come from the direction we'd come from. My heart was beating a thousand miles a minute. There were too many to risk getting into an engagement with. A more concerning worry was that more of those flaming demons would appear if they noticed us. Bob McMahon, one of the former Sergeants in our unit, gripped his pump shotgun tightly. Eddie was just as on edge as he was. I wasn't too keen on-going hand to hand with those things either. My phone buzzed quietly in my pants pocket. It's good that I had the situational awareness to put my phone in the lowest vibration setting possible.
Quietly I looked down at the phone. A notification telling me a system message awaited me.
"That has to wait a moment," I whispered to myself, trying but failing to stay quiet.
Bob and Eddie nodded, understanding the urgent situation. The dead that were once people were still getting closer, and the threat of demons was growing bigger and bigger.
Once the fiends were out of sight, I pulled out my iPhone. The message was from Hannah. Some Colonel named Hawk had recruited them for some mission. I cussed at this new information. She was supposed to be safe in Bellevue. Another text came from Ben. It was an update on the case upstate. The survivors said we needed to get to hallowed ground like a church or bless our building. To do that, Ben said to find a Priest or Father. Really any person that knew holy scriptures. Even other faiths would work. That was all he had for me. From Eddie's expression, he'd got the same message. The info was better than nothing. Our only problem was Fathers and Priests were currently in short supply. However, it was worth a try. 'Maybe our new friends may know someone.' I waved over to Ted Bradford. The man quietly made his way over to me.
I quietly filled Ted Bradford in on the new information. Ted, a well-built man of tall height with short hair and a face full of freckles, was the former owner of this pharmacy. He already displayed that he was intelligent and level-headed.
"Do you know any Priests or churches in the area? Any kind will do; even a mosque will work," I said.
"I know a Priest that lives close by. Why do you need one?" Ted asked.
"Cause these things won't die without holy artifacts. My brother is with the FBI. He's advising us to find one and bless the apartment building our people are held in," I explained.
Ted sighed, staring off into the distance.
"So, we need to find somewhere hallowed ground. Either a church or somewhere similar. Ted said. "That means the local channel wasn't bullshitting about that. Shit, that's a game-changer," Ted countered.
"Well, let's make sure it doesn't come to that. At least not until we get everyone safe," I said. "Bob and Eddie will watch our backs as we travel. Henry can keep the others calm. You just hang with me," I added.
Ted nods as he agrees with my instructions. The others looked like they were close to being ready to go. I watched as they gathered what they could in backpacks, sacks, and purses. We'd need all this to survive, and we couldn't afford to leave any behind, but it wasn't possible to bring everything. I made a mental note of this address.
Ted and I were now leading the whole group. Bob and Eddie were close by, keeping watch on the rear. Together, Ted and I quickly rallied everyone ready, Henry keeping everyone calm and collected. It was now that I realized just how scared the younger ones were. They didn't know the horrors of what we'd already seen today and probably never experienced so much as a scary movie. However, they were brave and kept up with the group, with no one complaining or fussing. I felt some respect for these people. They were practically still kids. Barely out of high school and now faced a life-or-death situation that may have no end.
I kept a close watch as the group continued to move. Everyone was in high spirits, despite the threat of imminent death. Henry whispered to the young group, keeping them from being scared despite the odds. Some of the kids were still shaken up from hearing the news we told them, but for the most part, they were ok.
As I was walking, I caught a noise behind us. As I turned around quickly, my heart was racing. The kid who fell over a pile of trash, knocking them over. I could see the wild fear in his eyes. Out of nowhere, a few feet behind our group. A trio of men emerged from an alleyway. I'd just cleared that section as we passed by not more than a few minutes before. They weren't those dead things we had already encountered. No, they were alive but twisted somehow in a way my mind couldn't understand. Bob and Henry pulled the young man up. With Henry's help, Eddie and Bob aid the wounded and start running. Ted and I let them pass as the three insane men charge at our rear.
"Cindy, take the group to Mr. Sanchez's apartment!" Ted shouted as quietly as he could.
The young firebrand nodded her head and ran in front, brandishing a pistol. Ted brought up the rear while I quickly faced off against the trio of men. They were alive but seemed distorted and twisted. 'What in the world were these things?' I readied up to attack, holding back any fear or emotion. I was now facing an unknown threat, and I had no idea if they could even be killed. Ted took up a fighting stance, ready to face off the dangers alongside me, but I pointed for him to go. The group needed all the fighters we had. I wrap one of the crosses I'd collected before leaving around the barrel of my rifle and let off a series of rounds into the incoming threats. The goal was to cripple them, so I aimed for the knees. Even a grazing wound would slow down the living. The sensation of pain was universal to every living creature, regardless of its species. The only thing I hoped was that they weren't sadomasochists.
I shot quickly and accurately, each round hitting the men's legs, slowing them but not taking them out entirely. They were screaming in pain, looking at me with hateful eyes. As I feared, they didn't seem to care for the pain. They only wanted to hunt me and my group down.
Ted quickly followed my lead, firing a couple shots. He'd ignored my order to leave with the others, but I was glad he stayed with me right now.
The group of men was getting closer and closer now. Ted's pump action shotgun put one of them down hard and fast. The broken man still tried to move, his eyes burning with a crazed rage. Despite his chest having a gaping hole in it, he still persisted but was out of the fight. Ted fell back first while I sprayed the other two with bullets. They tumbled together in a pathetic roll across the ground. More came from further down the street, and I knew we had to book it soon. I patted Ted to move his ass, and he obliged, running down the night streets. He was an elderly man, but that didn't mean he wasn't in excellent condition.
I spotted the tail end of the group turn off a block ahead. That was good because we had threats two blocks and more behind us. Breaking the line of sight was our only chance to lose these fanatics. As Ted and I turned, Bob awaited and tossed something down the street. It had to be grenades, as I heard the metal rattling on the concrete sidewalk. A second later, the explosives went off. By the time the attackers rounded the corner, we were already on another street. This Cindy gal was brilliant. She hadn't led us straight to where Ted told her to go. Bob, Ted, and I hurry inside the apartment building and close the front entrance behind us.
"Seventh floor," Ted whispered.
The others were already racing up the stairs as the elevators were out of commission. Someone here had done the exact same thing we did at Hillcrest Apartments. I stayed on the ground floor as the crazed lunatics flashed by with lightning speed. They had yet to see us enter the building. I waited a little long when a group of armed people came out of the stairwell. I put my finger up to keep them quiet. The strangers were aware enough to stay silent as more flew by the front doors. Another narrow escape was in the books. I looked at my watch; we'd already been gone for two hours. I texted Eddie, letting him know we needed to check in with Madison. The dark-skinned man looked in charge of the group. He looked like a weathered construction worker.
His dark eyes kept a close eye on the front door as he addressed me.
"Let me guess. You're here for Father Sanchez?" the man said.
"Yeah," I said.
"I'm Jack; you better follow me," Jack said.
I shook my head and followed the group.