Pt Two-Seven

7

Tons of questions were going through the travelers head as he walked with Emily. How long had they been here? Who were the people that they were fighting with? And lastly,

“Why is a girl out looking for supplies unarmed?” the traveler asked suspiciously.

“I look completely harmless don’t I?” she asked smiling. “Those who get a little too close are the ones who learn the hard way.”

Emily went on to explain that over the years almost all the people at the camp had been taught basic combat. There were several former soldiers who had come through and offered a point or two about how to survive in this new America that they lived in. Emily had tried very hard to learn how to work guns; the truth was she was just horrible at it. During target practice they would line up several old cans, bottles and other now useless items for people to shoot at and she was the only one who never learned anything. She gave up guns altogether and found something else that she was a dead natural at.

“Check these out,” Emily exclaimed as she opened the coat she was wearing to show off her hidden treasures. There had to be at least twenty different knifes, daggers, or swords strapped either to the inside of her coat or resting in scabbards on the vest she was wearing. She was the scout of the group not only did she go out to look for supplies but when Eli need something done she was the one to do it. She was the quickest and deadliest up close and she could run away before a zombie could even think to blink.

“Pretty impressive,” the traveler said. “What were you out doing today?”

“I told you I was getting supplies.” Emily said with a little hesitation in her voice.

The traveler could tell there was something else she wasn’t telling him. He didn’t know if it was because she didn’t trust him or if she simply just didn’t want him to know. He decided to drop it for now but not before making a pretty obvious observation.

“Not much luck today huh? You look a little empty handed.”

“I hadn’t been out long before I ran into you. I can’t just have you prancing around with me collecting firewood. If Eli found out that I discovered a visitor and didn’t bring them to him immediately he would be disappointed.”

This was the first time she had mentioned this man Eli. The traveler figured he was the leader of their camp like a mayor or something.

“Is Eli your leader?” the traveler asked.

“Sort of,” Emily began, “He’s more like a prophet if you ask me. He knows things before they happen. It’s because of him that most of us are still here and the witches people only got five of us.”

A sense of sadness came over Emily’s face when she mentioned the five people being taken. That was what was bugging her. Someone she was close with must have been taken in the raid. The traveler guessed that she had not been out on a supply run as she led him to believe. She was probably out tracking the people, trying to find out where they might be. And then she had run into him and then her focus had been shifted. The traveler was going through all this in his head paying no mind to anything around him when suddenly he felt a hand reach out and stop him from walking.

“Stop,” Emily whispered and pointed ahead. There were three zombies maybe about twenty feet from where they stood with their backs to the two of them.

“Oh a little detour,” the traveler whispered withdrawing the machete from his jacket. Before he even finished his sentence Emily was already running forward halfway to the zombies. The traveler immediately ran to try to catch up to her. She was fast that was for sure, really fast. Not even halfway to where the zombies were, Emily quickly withdrew three throwing knives and chucked them at one of the zombies. All three knives struck the closest zombie in the head with accurate precision and it quickly fell to the ground dead. God she is quick, the traveler thought to himself. He wasn’t even close to catching up to her; she would probably finish the other two off before he even got there.

She had two daggers in her hand suddenly, a little smaller then the machete that the traveler wielded. Suddenly she was airborne, flipping over the second zombie while bringing the left dagger down in an arch, severing its head from the body, blood squirting from the neck as the corpse fell to the ground. The third zombie, realizing that its two friends were dead quickly came to the offensive, spinning around not realizing that Emily had landed on the opposite side that it was facing. Emily took both the daggers and thrust them through its back. The zombie fell to its knees with both the blades still sticking out the front. Emily didn’t even withdraw the two daggers as she reached into her coat bringing out a sword that the traveler hadn’t even noticed. How had she fit that in there and still moved so fast? She was grasping it with both hands and brought it back in a stance similar to what Mark McGwire would stand in before he hit a home run. She brought it straight down on the zombies head once, then twice and a third time until there was nothing left but skull fragments and brain decorating the ground.

The traveler stopped as he got to her. Blood stained her face; hate and grief were in her eyes as she studied the carnage around her. She was a warrior, plain and simple and she was taking out her frustration on these undead creatures, helpless to stop her. She stuffed the sword in its hiding place, withdrew the daggers from the zombie’s lungs and then retrieved her three throwing knives never saying a word to the man that was with her until she had cleaned the blood from her face and was ready to go on.

“Glad to see you can handle yourself.” The traveler told her a smile on his face.

She smiled back at him, “I have never taken more than three at a time. You took on five today and lived to tell the tale. I have never seen anyone do that before.” She paused and looked at the dead zombies. “This was nothing.”

The traveler had no idea what to say. It was definitely not nothing the way she had handled the three of them. She had been precise and delicate. And the skill, dear Lord her skill was amazing he wish he had someone like her earlier on would have saved him a lot of work.

“It’s not too much further,” she said pointing up the road. “Only a couple of more miles we should get going it’s going to be dark soon.”

*********

The rest of the trip had been remarkably quiet. The traveler was glad that it was a short one he didn’t know if he could handle the silence with two people present. He was use to the quiet though he had endured three years of quiet and now that he had found someone else he was expecting it to be well, less quiet. They walked for about an hour when Emily signaled him to stop and gave a shrill whistle three times. A direct response with two shrill whistles came from a group of trees to the left. Emily answered back with one shrill whistle in reply.

Two figures appeared from the group of trees and were walking towards them. Two men both brandishing assault rifles stopped in front of them.

“What you got here Em?” the man on the left said. He was tall at least six four and had a moppy red head. The fish mark clearly visible on his forehead.

“A visitor Marcus,” Emily said calmly. “And he is marked that’s the first thing I checked. Eli will want to see him, quit staring Luke.”

The other man was only slightly shorter then Marcus and had blonde hair plus a beard that covered most of his face. The traveler knew that if the beard was shaved that a young boy would be revealed he had to be no older then eighteen. A fish mark also decorated his forehead.

“Sorry Em,” Luke said apologetically then stretched out his hand to the traveler. “My name’s Luke.”

The traveler took the man’s hand and shook it not replying at all just looking at him with a smile on his face. Luke was about to ask his name when Emily interrupted him.

“Don’t ask he doesn’t have a name.”

A look of confusion was on Luke’s face he sat there thinking for a couple minutes and then finally shrugged his shoulders and walked back towards the trees.

“Alright let’s get going then,” Marcus said turning around in the direction that Luke was going in. “They’re getting ready to tighten up the camp for nightfall. We just got here we don’t want any more surprise visitors.”

The traveler walked close behind Marcus with Emily following behind him. He didn’t know what to expect from these people. They all had the same mark on them and claimed that he bared the same. Both the men had looked at him and check his forehead and had not shown any question of this foreign person entering their environment. As they entered the trees he couldn’t help but have the feeling that maybe finally after all these years of walking that he might have found somewhere that he belonged.

********

Eli sat in the tent that he had pitched a little ways from the rest of the camp. He had to have a quiet place for himself where he could go to concentrate and pray without the noises of the place distracting him. This wasn’t quite as good as the place he had at the last camp but it did its job nicely. His eyes were closed and his tongue was dancing behind his lips lost in the language of the wind all his concentration focused on a single item that he found helped him wash all the cares of the current world away. He imagined a cross, standing alone on a hill complete calm all around it. He imagined all of his doubts, failures and sins lying in a pile at the foot of the old rugged cross. As he did he felt a weight lift off him and a certain peace come into the room along with the breeze that was all too familiar.

“Hello Eli.” A voice came from in front of him. It was that of a young child but Eli knew that was just the form that he was in at the moment. He could be a lamb, a lion or a warrior on a horse but the boy was the most common one. It showed the childlike innocence that he loved so much. He opened his eyes and was greeted with a smile from the boy sitting across from him in the identical pattern that he himself was sitting in. Eli bent down on his face to show the respect and love that his Savior deserved.

“Oh Eli, get up it’s alright I know your heart young one.” The boy said

“I am sorry Lord,” Eli said using all his strength to sit back up again. “I can’t help but be amazed and thankful to be in your presence. I am awestruck.”

The boy bowed his head the smile never leaving his face.

“Well I am thankful for children like you Eli.” His voice suddenly took a serious tone, “Dark times are coming and we need to have as much hope, love and faith as we can. And grace is needed now more than ever. Evil is getting reading to make the final strike, this was only the beginning. My cover will soon be lifted off the rest of the world and the Evil One will have his time to reign.”

Tears began to pour down the boys face as he began to sob. Eli couldn’t help himself and soon he was crying along with the boy unable to hold the pain and grief that the Creator of the world must feel for his children that would soon be put to the greatest test just as they were being tested even now.

“There is a man,” the boy stopped crying but tears were still coming from his eyes. “He is coming into your camp now even as we speak. He will do great things in this time of sorrow. These last three years I have been preparing him for what is to come and that time is now. He will carry my light into the darkness and defend my people in their time of great need though many will still fall.”

The boy put his hand on one of Eli’s knees and looked into the old man’s eyes.

“Your people that were taken are with me now. There is no need to mourn over them anymore. Rejoice for they are in a better place. But their loss will not come without payment. The traveler will tell you his story and eventually all answers will be revealed.”

The boy stood up walked over to Eli and kissed him on the forehead and looked at the man with nothing but love in his eyes. Tears were coming down the man’s face from the touch of the One. He closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened them again the boy was gone but he could still feel his presence all around him. Eli wiped his face, removing all traces of the tears that had been there minutes before. Marcus entered the tent just seconds after he had cleaned the last of the tears.

“Emily is back and she brought company.”

“Oh right on time,” Eli said shifting a little in his seat grabbing two glasses from a box on his left hand side and then a pitcher of water pouring the liquid into the glasses preparing for the visit of this special man. “Bring him in.”

Marcus left the tent and for the last few minutes that Eli had alone he closed his eyes and prayed for the times that were coming. He was thankful that the time was coming where he could suffer for the benefit of no one but himself and the one he served. As he opened his eyes the entrance to the tent lifted up and there was a man standing before him.

“Eli?” The man asked.

“Yes,” Eli answered, “Please sit we have much to discuss. Here, have some water.”

Eli pushed the glass over to the man as he sat down where the boy had been sitting merely minutes before. The mark of agape clearly stamped on his forehead showing clearly that he was a believer of The Way. He smelled of blood and death though a peaceful calm seemed to surround him. This man had been through a lot, it was written all over him. Pictures came into Eli’s mind of a group of people many years ago, a betrayal and a loss. There was much to be told.

“So,” the traveler spoke.

“So,” Eli repeated.

“Where do we start?” the traveler asked even though he had a million different questions he somehow sensed that it would be better if he came in neutral.

“Well my dear friend I feel like you have a lot to tell me,” Eli began. “I can see that you walk with the wind and that the boy guides you.”

“You have seen the boy?”

“Yes on more than one occasion. He comes to me when we are in need of salvation. Or if someone unexpected shows up.”

The traveler laughed knowing that was aimed towards him.

“Well sorry to inconvenience you old man I only go where the wind takes me.”

“Don’t we all?”

The traveler nodded in agreement taking a sip of water. He hadn’t had a drink in a couple of days and the water was refreshing as it went down his throat. He knew what had to be done he had been holding in a lot of things for a long time and had been waiting for the right person to talk to. He could sense that this man was special and was put here to help him find where he needed to go. Eli as if sensing what the man was thinking broke the silence.

“Where do you want to start then young traveler?”

The traveler thought back once again to a time that seemed like it was so long ago. A time where everyone he loved or cared about had been taken from him by the undead and he was left with a group of several different people who had one goal in mind. To survive at all costs.

“Let me take you back,” the traveler began, “To three years ago in a small Idaho town.”

Pt Two-Six

6

These people were getting under his skin. Ray looked into the room at the occupants who were unaware that the mirror in it was a two way and he could see everything they were doing. They probably suspected no doubt with all the experiments that had been done on them in the last twenty four hours of course they had to figure that someone was watching them. This particular group had been caught during a raid on the camp of the unwilling. Yes the few remaining in this section of the country that had yet to indulge in what was being offered and it looked like it would stay that way.

They had tried to introduce the newly created agent to these individuals several different ways. First, they had gassed the room shortly after they had gotten here. None of them had any symptoms or had the mark anywhere on their body after the room had cleared. Second, they had injected each individual person a portion of the agent directly into their bloodstream, they should have had the mark within minutes of injection yet they showed nothing. They were in the same shape as when they got here save a few broken noses and black eyes from resisting.

Furious that these people could not be forced to partake in the splendor of his attempt to make the country a better place the leader then demanded that they be gassed with the original Agent 666 which they only had a few vials left over from their own personal study. If they weren’t going to be on their side then they could be zombies and be controlled by the arts that were practiced by more than a few of the occupants of this compound. Ray had immediately complied with the leaders wishes of course not wanting to be turned into a zombie himself.

The gas had filled the entire room for a full half hour. Ray had left no room for air or error when the gas settled there would be five zombies where five normal people use to stand. The room had cleared and the people were there clear as day normal standing in a circle holding hands. Their eyes were closed and their lips were moving praying to their unseen god who must have been listening. Ray was afraid. The leader would be back any minute now and Ray did not know how he would take this new turn of events. Right on cue the door knob turned and Ray could feel the man behind him stop and then suddenly begin to breathe heavily.

“What the hell is this?” The leader asked.

“I don’t know sir,” Ray began, “I let the gas fill the room for thirty minutes before I turned it off just like you ordered. The room cleared and they were standing like this.”

“Well then it looks like you have failed me Ray. And now I have to get my hands dirty because someone can’t figure out what the hell is going on. All the science adds up on paper, all the equations are perfect but yet these people are standing here as if they have been breathing in pretty flowers all day instead of biological agents! Look at me!”

Ray was trembling as he turned around in his chair and looked up at the man who was now the most powerful man in the now zombie ridden United States. Anger was clearly written on his face and the Mark of Unity stood out proudly on his forehead. Proof that the chemicals these people had been exposed to worked and that they should now wear the same symbol but instead bare skin was visible. Ray thought the man was going to kill him he had that look in his eyes. Ray fell from his chair and planted his face on the floor.

“I am so sorry sir,” tears started to pour from his eyes; “I have tried everything there is nothing left to do. It’s like they are protected somehow.”

“There is no need for that,” the leader walked over and placed a hand on Ray’s head, “It’s really not your fault I am just frustrated that’s all. These so called righteous ones are following the wrong god. He is leading them to believe that this is all in his plan and that I am the bad one in all of this. When all I want to do is make life better for everybody well you know what? They don’t deserve it.”

The leader paused for a moment as he took his hand off of Ray’s head and reached behind his back removing a .45 caliber pistol that he always kept tucked under his shirt. Though they had learned to control the zombies through the rituals and practices that the leader believed in, every once in awhile a zombie or two would lunge at someone and had to be put down so the leader carried it for just that reason. Or if he wasn’t satisfied with someone’s performance which had been know to happen as well. Ray’s fear was renewed at the sight of the gun and the leader could read it on his face.

“Don’t worry it’s not for you.” An evil smile spread across his face. “Let’s see if their god can stop a bullet.”

The leader walked right past Ray and entered the room through a door on the right side of the mirror. Ray breathed a sigh of relief as he realized his life was safe. Five gunshots one right after another blared from the room and about thirty seconds later the leader walked back into the viewing room a smile still on his face several drops of blood were visible as well clashing with the light green of the mark on his forehead.

“Well,” the leader said tucking the gun back behind his pants, “looks like bullets do the trick. I am tired of trying to force these people to come around to my way of thinking. It’s a new world we live in Ray a new world that demands new guidelines that must be followed. So there is only one thing left to do.”

The leader looked through the glass into the room that now was decorated with blood and brain matter the five bodies sprawled across the floor. A sense of satisfaction and malice could be heard as the next words left his lips.

“Kill them all.”

********

Legion sat in the little room that the five people had been in. They had been watching the whole time as the five had been exposed to dose after dose of the newest concoction. Each time with no result making them all the more joyful, holding hands and praying to their god. Free will, Legion was disgusted at the words. Free will supposedly was the greatest gift that had been given to all mankind. You either decide to live a good life, also believing that the One is the only Way. Or you decide to live for yourself and you end up in the pit which was made for someone else. Legion shuddered at the thought of the place that they had been promised. They would go through great lengths to make sure they did not end up in that place.

Legion had been sitting there still totally disgusted when the man had walked in holding the gun in his hand. Legion had enjoyed every pull of the trigger as each one of the praying fools fell to the ground dead with holes blown out the back of their head. They couldn’t help but feel proud at the man that they had chosen to lead the world into this new age of darkness. Soon, not just America would be under his fist but the whole world in time would be brought around to their way of thinking. And chaos would reign for a season but then when it seemed like all was lost he would appear holding the key.

The man did not know that he was watching. He probably suspected but he would not know. Legion did not like to let him know that he was watching it made for a better performance. Here soon they would speak to him for they had to tell him of the one that come this way. Legion had only implanted a portion of himself inside of Tabitha. The virus that had been introduced to her the day she was bitten had never left her body. It remained inside dormant, mutating waiting to be released. Unfortunately the One had protected the man and sent that piece of Legion back to its main core. Legion was just getting ready to speak to the man when he felt a presence enter the room and immediately he stopped and turned around.

It was the glorious one standing before him. Long blonde hair hung from his head and he was wearing a white robe that was not overly bright but white none the less. For he was the morning star the most wondrous of all creations and he was a sight to behold.

Greetings Lucifer, Legion rasped bowing his head, what an honor to be in your presence it’s been so long-

“Silence Legion I have no time for your groveling,” Lucifer said with a sense of pride and haughtiness in his voice, “We have important things to discuss. You have been playing around for three years the time draws near what’s our progress.”

The final pieces are being put together Lord, Legion reasoned, by next week a shipment of Agent 666 should be on the way overseas to be introduced to a new target. It will ravage the land and when it seems like it will spread even more then he will appear offering a solution to the problem. The new serum proves to be a true vaccine to the virus while marking the subjects in the process.

“So then the ones that take the vaccine will be the flock?” Lucifer asked

Yes. He will offer it to them in their time of most need in exchange for a seat of power. And also anyone who doesn’t take the vaccine will have no access to trade, goods and valuables. Which we will be able to tell by-

“The mark?” Lucifer asked not seeming to care that he interrupted.

Yes. And this will all start to take place in the coming weeks. The overall process could take a little longer giving the virus needs time to spread we can’t stop it too early or the reveal of the vaccine would be pointless, it has to be at the perfect time.

“Very well see that it gets done. The time is soon at hand I can feel it, his covering of the world is starting to lift a little more and more every day. America was only a stepping stone on the way to something much bigger. Imagine all it took was pulling a few strings here and there. It started off so innocent first taking prayer out of school; I worked a long time on that.”

Yes you did, Legion commended they knew better then to argue or interrupt. Lucifer loved being praised for his accomplishments.

“Then abortion, nothing better than a woman’s right to choose.”

That’s for sure.

“Then one of the last straws, letting homosexuals unite in marriage destroying the sanctity of it being between a man and a woman. Once America as a nation turned its back on its so-called Christian principles I sneaked my way in. Now here we are and the rest of the world awaits and my time as prince will be over and I shall rule over the entire world.”

What a glorious day that will be my lord, Legion chanted.

Lucifer looked over at the foul creature before him. He was so glad he did not turn like that disgusting creature. True on the inside he was the most foul, perverse and inhumane creation ever to grace any dimension in the natural and spiritual but on the outside he was still a beauty to behold. That had worked in his favor on more than one occasion and it would certainly be a big part of things to come.

“Is there anything else I need to know before I leave?”

Legion thought to the traveling man and wondered if they should trouble his master with such a trivial matter. They could easily handle it themselves but better to let him know now then for him to find out later.

There is only one thing my lord. We ran into a traveler today that appears to come from the same place as the other. We placed ourselves in a vessel and waited for him so we could take care of him ourselves. We were about to finish him we had him in our grasp but…

Legion paused unsure of the consequences that he would face should he continue.

“Well spit it out idiot.” Lucifer demanded.

Legion looked down at the ground and muttered a few words that were totally inaudible.

“I can’t hear you say it again.”

The boy walks with him, Legion said still looking at the ground.

“WHAT? EVEN NOW HE MOCKS ME?” Lucifer screamed furiously. As his anger grew his appearance also changed, his beauty quickly faded. His robe turned to a light grey color the same as ash you might see during a volcano. His blonde hair turned to dark black and dark scales replaced his skin as he uttered the most vulgar disgusting words that even the vilest man would never say.

“WHERE IS HE NOW?” Lucifer’s voice boomed his appearance not changing as he glared at Legion.

We don’t know, Legion whined in fear, he could be coming this way or he could find the group of others like him we don’t know.

Lucifer jumped at the demon which immediately broke into several different entities trying to escape his grasp but Lucifer immediately grabbed them all and forced them back into one body. He grabbed them by the throat and lifted Legion in the air.

“FIND HIM! FIND HIM NO MATTER WHAT! I WANT THE BASTARD DEAD! DEAD! I WILL NOT BE MADE A FOOL OF!”

Y-ye-yes my lord what-what-whatever you say, Legion said gasping for air. Lucifer released his grip dropping them to the floor. The deceiving appearance of beauty and perfection was beginning to appear again as he gained his resolve. Before he left the room to return to whatever dark corner of the world he came from he turned around and glared at Legion a look of calm anger on his face.

“You better see to it that this traveler does not live to see the end of the week or else I will send you to the pit myself. All of you.”

The words hung in the air as Lucifer dissolved into nothingness leaving Legion to come to terms with his assignment. As they prepared to leave the room they knew for certain that this time the master of lies was being dead honest.

Pt Two-Five

5

Breathing in the air around him the traveler felt peace come over him. He knew that he had the two white ones at least by his side and that made him feel even more confident then he had been before. Looking over to where the girl had been he saw the pile of flesh that the beast had torn itself out of. Poor foolish girl, the traveler thought, she was merely a tool to be used in a battle that could never be won.

Something came to his mind suddenly something he had seen on her earlier. He walked over to the heaping pile of empty skin and bent down to examine it. Running his hands through the gore he tried to find her top half or what had been her head. He finally found it with little clumps of matted red hair still attached to it. What he wanted was on her forehead a mark of some sort that he had seen in the shack which he now saw still showing on the skin.

There were still some chunks of skull behind the skin, making it hard to fully make out what kind of marking it was so the traveler reached up where her mouth had been and removed the pieces of skull throwing them into the grass. He then took his machete and carefully cut around the mark being very careful not to damage any of the scribbling. Once he had removed it he threw the useless hunk of gore to the ground and then laid out the skin that he had removed stretching it flat over the ground so he could get a good look at it.

It had a faint green color, he couldn’t remember what color it had been when she had been alive earlier, and that had been the least of his worries at the time. It was not carved into the flesh and it wasn’t a scar or a brand it could have been a tattoo. It kind of resembled a goal post that you would see in a football stadium but it had two lines going down before the middle parallel to each other in perfect unison. The traveler had never seen anything like this before, this was something new.

He opened up his backpack and grabbed some tissue paper that he had been saving for an emergency and picked up the skin from the ground. He wrapped it carefully in the flimsy material and placed it into his bag for careful consideration at a later time. He put his pack on the ground and then got on his knees and bowed his head.

“Thank you Lord,” he began to pray, “For keeping me safe under your wing. Please continue to give me strength and guidance on the road ahead leading me to where I need to be.”

He continued to pray for several minutes lavishing praise and adoration to the one that he served who had kept him safe. He finished, stood up and put his pack on hoping to get some miles in before nightfall. He was about to continue to walk in the direction that he had been going when something caught his attention out of the corner of his eyes. Was that a human head? Before he could get a good look it quickly disappeared behind the bush it had been poking over. Was someone watching him?

The traveler did not know what he should do. He could just ignore it and keep walking but something inside told him that would be unwise. He didn’t know if this person was a friend or foe but he knew he had to find out what their intentions were. Finally, he called out hoping to catch their attention.

“I know you are there. You can stop hiding. Come out and introduce yourself.”

********

She had been watching him for quite awhile now. She had seen him easily dispatch the five zombies that the witch had called to take care of him and then had watched as the evil demon had clawed itself out of her body. Then she had watched as Legion had charged the man in front of her intending on destroying him. Then it had stopped suddenly as if hitting a wall of air its feet were continuing to move but it was going nowhere. The man had fallen to his face, the creature had started screaming about its time and whatnot then its arm fell from its body.

Legion had continued screaming and then was suddenly quiet as it seemed to be sucking into some sort of invisible hole and then it was gone. No trace of the creature to be found and the man was still on his face it sounded like he was crying. She had watched for several more minutes as the man had walked over and examined the pile of flesh that use to be the girl. She had no idea why she was here now but something had drawn her to this place, to this man and she wasn’t taking it for granted.

She had lost track of the time and was completely oblivious when she realized the man was standing still and was turning in her direction, she dropped back behind the bush instantly not knowing if she had been seen or not. She prayed to God that if she had been seen that this man was a good man and wouldn’t just shoot at the bushes. He had dropped his gun earlier anyway and it was still lying on the ground by him the last time she had seen anyway. Suddenly a voice came from the other side of the bush.

“I know you are there. You can stop hiding. Come out and introduce yourself.”

The woman did not know what to do. She could run, but he would definitely catch her and if he were bad then, well, she didn’t really want to think about that. But if she got up, talked to him and he ended up being great then she could take him back to the others and then Eli could talk to him. They could definitely use someone like him at the camp and now with the witch gone who knows what will happen to their friends that she had taken. She shuddered at the thoughts of all the horrible things that they could be going through right now.

“Don’t make me come over there and drag you out.” The voice persisted. That was all she needed. She got up from behind the bush stepped over it and dove into her destiny head first.

********

The traveler had been growing impatient. He knew there was someone over there so he had called out again and almost immediately a figure had emerged from the bushes. The traveler was caught off guard a little. She had blonde hair and was very attractive. This was the last thing he expected to come from the bushes but he could deal with it. The girl had her hands up over her head showing she was not a threat and was about ten feet from him.

“That’s far enough for now.” The traveler said raising a hand signaling the woman to stop.

She stopped with no hesitation and looked over at the man. The traveler looked her over again and immediately something on her forehead caught his eye. It was a mark though it looked nothing like the other woman’s it almost looked like a-

“It’s not polite to stare you know.” The woman suddenly spoke. The traveler collected his thoughts quickly and focused on the task at hand.

“Sorry about that. I have been through a lot today hence the edginess. How long have you been watching me?”

“Since the witch sent her zombies at you,” the woman said lowering her hands now knowing that the man was not going to harm her, “You handled them very well.”

“So you saw everything?”

“I saw the beast and I saw him stop suddenly as if hitting a wall and then get sucked into some sort of invisible hole.”

She had not seen them. The traveler had been the only one who saw the boy and the two angels. That didn’t necessarily mean anything this girl seemed harmless enough.

“What’s your name?” the girl asked.

The traveler shook his head.

“I no longer have a name. I forsook it a long time ago when I started out on my journey. I have no need for it anymore.”

The woman reached out her hand to the man as if to offer it for a handshake.

“Well man with no name. My name is Emily and it’s nice to meet you.”

The traveler hesitated for a second and then walked up and grasped her hand accepting her greeting getting a closer look at her forehead. It was a fish, almost identical to the ones that you use to see on the back of the cars. The traveler looked away quickly not wanting to burn a hole into the girl’s forehead from his stare.

“What’s up with the mark on your forehead?” The traveler asked.

“You’ve never seen one?” Emily said smiling.

“No I haven’t,” the traveler said shaking his head. “The witch had a mark on her forehead as well but it wasn’t as lovely as yours.”

The girl continued to smile as she looked at him. She knew that he was a good man beyond a shadow of a doubt.

“Yours looks quite lovely also.” She said.

The traveler looked at her with puzzlement and confusion on his face, his hand immediately went to his forehead.

“I don’t have one. I think I would have noticed it by now.”

Emily giggled unable to contain herself. He had no idea at all what was going on.

“You can’t see it,” she began. “I can’t see mine either, but yours is clear as day. It’s a mark showing that we belong to the One and only. It’s a mark of his love and grace for us and it shows us who we are and who you can trust.”

The traveler looked at this girl in amazement still with his hand on his forehead. The boy? Were there still others that held the same beliefs as him? Of course there were he had been so stupid to think he had been the only one. This was why he was here. He had been led here to find this girl and hopefully find others like himself. As for the marking he couldn’t be sure until he saw someone else like him but for some reason he felt completely safe with the idea. He thought back to his dream when the boy had kissed him on the forehead and the warmth had spread through his body? Had he done it then or had it been there all along.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Emily broke his personal thinking time laughing as she spoke.

“It would cost you more than that.” The traveler told her as serious as he could.

“Sorry,” the girl said the smile disappearing. “Anyway, I was out looking for some supplies when I felt a breeze pick up out of nowhere. It had been calm all day so I knew there was something special about it. I followed the direction it was blowing and it led me to that bush over there just as you sliced into the first zombie.”

Emily paused for moment looking up at the man who had just been thrown into her path. She knew that it was more than just coincidence they had been brought together for a reason and she could tell the man knew that as well.

“I think we were meant to find each other.” Emily continued, “God led us here so that you could come with me. There are others not far from here and one of them will be very interested in you.”

The traveler knew that she was right. He could feel it in his spirit. Go with her, the voice said, you will find what you are looking for. The traveler looked at Emily a smile on his face realizing he was getting closer and closer to learning the truth.

“Okay. Take me to your leader.”

Emily laughed at the cliché comment as she spoke.

“Alright, don’t forget your gun we have ammunition at the camp for it. Our arsenal isn’t as good as it use to be since the raid but it will do.”

The traveler walked over and picked up his shotgun from the ground putting it in its familiar spot under his coat. He quickly cleaned the blood and chunks of flesh off his machete then slipped it back into its place as well. It sounded like there was a battle going on. A battle, between these people, who were believers of The Way and followers of the evil one who not only had weapons but also an army of undead at their disposal. As the traveler and Emily headed towards the camp she was thinking only one thing. Their people had hope now in the form of a traveler, who had no name.

Pt Two-Four

4

Tabitha snapped back into consciousness at the sound of the doorknob turning. She had been deep inside the realm of darkness exploring for clues to this coming confrontation. Regrettably she had only been greeted with the same pictures as before this traveler with a mysterious presence accompanying him as he headed in her direction. She looked up as the door fully opened, sunlight pouring into the room temporarily clouding her vision, barely being able to make out the shape of the man before her.

She studied the shape closely as he entered and closed the door holding a bloody machete in his hand. It felt like he was staring a hole into her soul. She could feel a boldness emanating from him unlike anything she had ever felt before there was definitely something otherworldly supporting him. It was clouding her senses she could not get a direct read. Usually she had a firm grasp on her powers and had no difficulty controlling herself but as soon as he walked into the room she felt the presence inside her go crazy wanting to break out and consume this poor soul. Patience, she thought to herself, all in time.

"Hello," she broke the silence, "We've been expecting you."

The man looked around the building searching for other possible assailants which obviously there was no room for.

"Looks like it's only you from what I see." The traveler said.

The woman laughed, the traveler could feel something coming from her. He knew that this was no regular woman there was something else here, something evil.

"I am no more alone here then you are my dear traveler. The question is who has the advantage? And also, who will make the first move?"

The traveler shook his head pointing the bloody machete at the woman.

"No one is going anywhere or doing anything until-"

Laughter once again filled the small room echoing off the walls ringing in the traveler's ears.

"You mean to tell me," the woman began, "that you came all this way without knowing what you were getting into? You have no idea?" She continued to laugh almost hysterically.

The traveler was speechless. True he had been wandering for three years, almost like a nomad not really knowing where he was going or what he was doing. Was it all for nothing? Doubt suddenly overcame him as he started to second guess why he was even here in the first place and then the voice tiny and almost inaudible spoke. I am the way that you have been following. I have been here all along and I am here even now in the doubt. Do not waver, do not give into fear, I am peace in the chaos, the calm in the storm. The doors were closed and yet the traveler felt like he could still feel a cool gentle breeze brushing against his face easing all his doubts.

The traveler locked his eyes onto the laughing woman showing no fear and purpose in his eyes. And suddenly he began to laugh. Tabitha began to glare at the man and suddenly felt discomfort came over her. She suddenly did not want to be here anymore with this man. Then she saw something like a white mist barely visible surround the man who continued to laugh profusely. Why was he laughing? A moment ago he was quivering in fear and here he was now making a fool out of her.

"SHUT UP!!!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, "SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" She jumped up from the chair she was sitting at, holding the small knife in her hand pointing it in the traveler’s direction.

"You laugh at things you do not and cannot possibly understand," she said to the man with hate in her eyes which were now starting to burn with pain probably from this weird mist coming from the man. Suddenly he was quiet, looking at her with a smile on his face.

"The one who lives within the wind is the one who leads me to where I need to be." The traveler said, "he knows all things whether they be hidden or visible. And darkness trembles at the sound of his footsteps." He pointed a finger at Tabitha without a trace of fear or doubt in his eyes. "You are a piece of a puzzle that I have been working on for a long time and I am not leaving until I am satisfied."

Tabitha stood like a statue fear and anger both were going through her at the moment. The beast inside of her was quiet for the moment. The final words that her master had left her with echoed through her ears as she concentrated as hard as she could reaching out with the powers that she possessed.

"So dear traveler," She began, "Your so called wind maker has had you walking over the land running errands for him? How long have you been searching for answers traveler?" She walked from behind the table walking towards him. "What if I told you that your master was a liar, deceiver and that his time is soon coming to an end? What if..." She paused looking at him with a fire in her eyes for the first time the traveler noticed a strange mark on her forehead that he had not seen before. Tabitha continued, "I told you that I could provide you with not only the answers that you seek but powers beyond all human comprehension."

"I will not believe your lies! Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth. I serve the Creator of all life, the giver of the ultimate gift that has already been paid for. And I know the story for it has already been written and I know the ending." he paused looking at her with a determined look on his face. "You lose."

Tabitha suddenly jumped at him an inhuman growl coming from her mouth as she lunged with the knife in her hand. The traveler quickly jumped to the side and rolled under her swipe.
She tried to stab down while he was on the ground but he kicked out striking her in the stomach sending her crashing back over the bloody table. She quickly jumped back up to her feet and struck the table with almost godly force like you would see in one of those old movies about Hercules sending it flying towards the traveler. It hit him full force but he had come to his feet and seen it coming so he had braced himself for the impact it fell harmlessly to the floor. The woman came at him once again already almost upon him the knife coming towards his face. The traveler quickly spun in a three hundred and sixty degree circle slashing out with his machete at her non knife wielding arm cutting it off at the shoulder her arm flew across the room crashing against the wall. Blood squirted from the wound as Tabitha turned around still holding the knife showing no sign of falling or pain with an evil grin on her face.

"Is that all you got?" she asked blood continuing to pour from her wound as she took her other hand still holding the knife and opened the door to the shack. The traveler not knowing what was going on but not surprised charged her as she slipped out the door and into the afternoon day.

********

Tabitha ran out of the shack into the sunlight showing no concern that she was missing an arm. She could feel the beast beginning to take over when it would happen she did not know maybe a little more blood needed to be shed for the ritual to be complete and then the man was in for a surprise. She just wanted to even the odds a little bit so she came out in the open so she could introduce him to a few of her friends she turned to face the man running at her. She quickly threw out her arm sending the knife towards her enemy it flew through the air at its target. He batted it away with his machete sending it away to the side of the road harmlessly and was only a few feet away from her when he stopped in his tracks looking back behind her.

Five zombies were coming from some trees not too far behind her. The traveler thought that the woman was oblivious to the zombies but was soon proven wrong when they walked past her and continued towards him. Now things were getting interesting. He reached into his coat removing his twelve gauge holding it with his left hand and the machete with the other prepared to face the horde that came his way. They were in a staggered line all leading back to the witch that was most definitely pulling their strings. Was this what the boy had wanted him to see? That the zombies were not just mindless creatures that had been some crazy lab experiment gone wrong? That this was being manipulated by forces of pure evil and hate of man? These were all the questions that were going through his head as the first zombie reached him.

It lunged at him arms extended trying to grab his head. The traveler immediately put the shotgun out and pulled the trigger. The blast hit the zombie, half its face exploding into the air as the traveler spun around and greeted the second zombie with his machete across its midsection. Metal met rotten flesh as it easily cut through in entirety sending the zombies top half to the ground still alive and fully functional crawling with its arms trying to get to the travelers legs but was in vain as the traveler put the barrel of the gun against its cranium and pulled the trigger sending chunks of skull and brain tissue all over the road. Tossing the empty shotgun aside he stood to meet the remaining three zombies as they drew closer to him the woman still in the background waiting for an opening to make her next attack.

Tabitha watched as the zombies circled the man hungry for their next meal. He was definitely beyond skilled when it came to killing, he moved liked the wind. It was almost like a dance as she watched him slice into the flesh of the zombies, limbs flying the smell of blood and death filling the air. It kind of reminded her of her ballet days as he gracefully dodged the final zombies attack disemboweling it with one swipe and then quickly following it with a swipe to its neck decapitating it in the process its head spinning around almost in slow motion and falling to the ground then shifting his focus to his main target.

She couldn't contain herself anymore. She rushed him immediately, coming at him with a hunger in her soul. She could feel the barriers that her master had put up in her body began to fade as he swung his machete over his head intending to bury it into her skull. It seemed like an eternity as it hung in the air coming down to meet her. She rushed to meet her fate knowing that even though she would be gone that the beast inside her would live on.

********

The traveler had not expected her to come at him unarmed like an animal. He had just decapitated the last zombie and was turning to face her when he realized she was already coming at him. He reacted quickly running at her with both hands on the machete lifting it over his head so he could bring it down with some force. She would not be walking away this time. The traveler brought it down meeting her skull as she got to him. It went in deep right in between her eyes which immediately rolled into the back of her head and blood began to drip down her face. The traveler withdrew the machete as she began to convulse violently a green substance began to come from her mouth almost like a mist. She continued to shake as the mist surrounded her and then she began to change right before the travelers eyes.

Where her arm used to be, something suddenly protruded from it. Black, leathery flesh replaced her white skin. Sharp white spikes began to pop out from the new limb. Her knees suddenly popped out, sharp white bones replaced them. She began to grow as something began to appear from her mouth almost crawling out of it escaping from its prison. A sound unlike any he had heard escaped from the creature as the rest of the human flesh fell away to the ground in a bloody heap and something directly from the pit of hell was left looking at the traveler with blood red eyes.

"Hello Son of Adam," the creature spoke in a deep dark voice. "We've been looking forward to meeting you." Green saliva dripped from its mouth and an intense smell of sulfur emanated from it. Do not fear, the voice said, I am with you.

"Where is the girl?" the traveler asked the demon who immediately laughed.

"Dead as you can plainly see. When we knew you were coming this way we knew that you must be taken care of so we left a little piece of our self inside her waiting like a cobra springing for the kill."

"Who are you?"

"We are Legion, we are many. We usher the way for the arrival of the chosen one who will lead this world into the age promised to us in a time of old. The time of this world is coming to an end and darkness shall spread across the land."

Peace continued to be with the traveler as he held his ground showing no sign of backing down. He knew he was not alone and that he would be leaving alive. How he knew that he did not know but he was certain that this creature was only a small obstacle in his path.

"So," the traveler began. "The spiritual meets the natural and the puppet master is revealed." He brought the machete down to his side and looked up at his adversary.

"I will fear no evil," the traveler said, "for you are with me."

The creature howled and backed up a bit.

"SILENCE!" It screamed.

"Greater is He!" The traveler rose his voice he felt something inside him driving him forward. "Then he who is in the world."

Legion reared back and suddenly began to charge. The traveler closed his eyes as the wind began to pick up around him.

"Please Lord," he silently prayed. "Come to my aid."

Everything went quiet. The traveler opened his eyes and what he saw was so amazing he fell to his knees in awe. Legion had stopped dead in their tracks no sound coming from their mouth. Standing in front of him was a small boy with beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes who was looking at him a look of fierce anger on his face.

"This is my witness," he said with boldness looking up at the demon. "You have no power over him."

The traveler knelt face down on the ground not being able to contain actually being in front of his master her in the real world in the flesh where the spiritual realm had crashed to meet the natural one. He could feel the presence of multiple entities around him but he did not think could look up to see. With great determination he managed to barely lift his eyes and spotted two beings beside the boy clothed in white. Broad expansive wings protruded from their backs and they carried swords of fire that seemed to burn the very atmosphere around them. The creature before them snarled as the two beings got closer and closer to him.

"You can't do this," Legion yelled, ""This is our time! We have the right!"

"Shut your mouth demon!" one of the white ones said bringing its sword down it severing one of the beasts arms who yelled in pain as it fell to the ground dark black liquid pouring from its wound.

"The time is close at hand but is not yet upon us," the boy said looking up at the demon. "Even then, I still protect the ones that call my name." He looked back to the traveler with love in his eyes.

"Jesus," the traveler whispered planting his face back into the ground a sudden wave of unknown power sweeping over him.

The creature yelled in pain at the mention of the name as both the angels rose their swords above their heads.

"We banish you foul creature, back to the one who spawned you." They sang in unison bringing down their swords as they chanted. As they struck the beast their weapon seemed to rip the very air around them. The creature continued to scream as it was sucked into this miniature rip in the dimension between our reality and the spiritual.

"YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF US! WE ARE ONLY A PIECE OF LEGION! YOU HAVEN'T SEEN-"

Everything went quiet. The traveler looked up and realized he was once again alone. He then felt something brushing by him on his side and for a quick moment he thought he saw something standing beside him. A smile appeared on the travelers face as he realized the greatest truth that he had ever known. He was never alone.