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.

Pt 2-Three

3

“How long do we have to stand out here man?” Andy asked his friend who had been standing beside him for almost two days, “Are you sure she’s even still alive? Those were some pretty intense noises coming from inside there last night.”

“We have orders Andrew,” Mark answered using his full name purposefully because he knew he hated it, “we don’t go in and we stand her until she comes out and…”

“I know I know make sure no one gets in,” Andy interrupted flustered, he hated being called Andrew. These two men had been a team even before the disaster occurred. They had both worked for a private mercenary group that handled all sorts of jobs ranging from body guard work to government contracts; wherever there was money they were there. Until now of course because money in America was obsolete. Now power was the currency and these two men were with whom they felt was one of the most powerful people in the country or whatever was left of it.

For the first couple months after the incident had occurred they had wandered the east coast killing whatever had come their way surviving in any way possible. They had killed regular people who were just looking for protection, and they had taken advantage of women who had no way to defend themselves. They had been in a small town one night sitting around a campfire drinking some booze they had stolen from some guy they killed when she had showed up. She just walked up to the fire with no care in the world.

“Well what do we have here?” Mark had asked slurring as he spoke, “Is someone a little lost?”

“I think so Mark,” Andy had answered just as drunk as his friend, “Maybe she needs some help finding her way home.”

She had just stood there staring at the fire moving her lips muttering under her breath some language that none of them had understood. Mark stood up and walked over to her putting his hand on her shoulder.

“Hey there beautiful how’s bout me and you have a little one on one time?”

Andy started coming at her from the front running one of his hands through her hair. It was a little dirty, it was tangled and it looked like it had some dried mud or something in it.

“Or maybe some two on one time,” Andy said starting to bring his hand lower towards her chest. Her hand jumped up suddenly grabbing his wrist, with a grip unlike any he had ever felt.

“Ouch, Mark she is hurting me man!” He cried in pain.

“Now that’s not nice!” Mark said raising his voice, “I think someone needs a lesson in manners.” He went to put his arm around her neck but her free arm shot up her elbow striking him square in the nose, he felt the blood start to run down his face and he began to swear loudly.

“Do you not realize what’s around you right now?” the woman had asked tossing Andy to the side like a rag doll. “You two idiots were sitting here without a care in the world and I walked up on you with ease, look around you.”

She put both her hands out and spun around in a circle motioning to the area around her. Both the men looked around wondering what the crazy woman was talking about when they saw them. Dozens of zombies were around them in a very wide perimeter but they weren’t moving at all. They were standing still watching with patient eyes.

“What the hell is going on?” Andy had asked.

“Why aren’t they coming at us?” Mark asked.

Tabitha grinned at them; the light from the fire made it look like her head was on fire.

“Power gentlemen,” she said calmly “powers like you have never seen. I have been watching you two for awhile now I could use some muscle in my operation and you two seem to be quite capable.”

Andy and Mark looked at each other then back at her and then at the zombies surrounding them.

“And what if we refuse?” Mark asked.

“Well….” As the words left her lips the circle of zombies began to move towards the two men, “You end up zombie chow and I go get someone else to help me change the world, your choice gentlemen.”

The choice had been a simple one. There was no way that the two of them would have been able to fight off that many zombies plus who knew at the time what other tricks she had up her sleeve plus they liked her and she seemed to be ahead of the food chain. Many had joined them since then but Tabitha never went anywhere without the two of them by her side, they were her personal guard and reaped the benefits of everything she did. And now here they were standing outside of a shack in the middle of nowhere waiting for her to get done with her little séance or whatever it was called. They left the particulars to her they were only the muscle after all.

“I hope she gets done soon,” Andy said “I don’t really like it out here at night.”

“You’re such a baby.” Mark said laughing and then stopped suddenly looking to the road. Someone was walking towards them. “Who’s this fool?”

********

The traveler had been walking since the sun came up. He had awoken to the warmth of the sun on his skin. A joy had been inside him this morning that he had not had before. Picking up his backpack he had started out earlier then he usually did knowing that today was going to be an eventful day. During his lovely stroll he had come across a few roaming zombies that he had easily dispatched without breaking a sweat, everything seemed to be lining up perfectly leading him to where he needed to be. The voice of his master in his head pressing him forward and the amazing familiar breeze that seemed to be a constant these past couple of days were keeping him motivated walking through the morning.

The traveler was just about to stop for a little mid-day break when he saw something in the distance. A small structure constructed out of some kind of sheet metal he thought he could make out two figures standing by it. He then started to debate whether he should stand back and plan out a strategy or just walk up to the building and see what happened. There will be men, the boys words came back to him, they will try to kill you. The traveler looked towards the building and started walking again. He already knew what was going to happen there was no need for strategy.

As he drew closer to the building he could see that the men were both talking in hushed voices. They had already spotted him from down the road by no doubt and were deciding how to handle him. Both of them were wearing dark sunglasses, were clothed in black vests which had numerous pockets for various little goodies and were wearing blue jeans which seemed a little too perfect considering the living conditions these days. One of them was carrying what looked to be an M-16 the traveler wasn’t quite sure, all assault rifles looked the same to him. The other one held a combat knife, one like Rambo had in the movies, he was picking at his hand with the tip probably trying to get a splinter out by the looks of it. They had to be some sort of ex-military he had seen a lot of people since the world fell apart and none of them had looked as neat as these two. He got closer and closer to them until he was standing in front of the building. He turned and faced the door that the two men were guarding. They were talking to each other not even paying the traveler any mind. He started to walk toward them.

“I don’t think so,” Mark finally broke the silence pointing his gun in the direction of the traveler. “I think you must be lost stranger. There is nothing in here you need so you need to keep walking.”

The traveler stood there head down saying nothing. There was no point in speaking he already knew what he would be doing it was just a matter of how and when he would be doing it. The second man with the knife pointed it at him and started to walk towards him.

“Hey are you deaf?” Andy asked, “He said beat it and I would listen to him if I were you. You don’t know who you are messing with.” Andy brought his free hand up to grab the traveler and quickly regretted it. Just as he was about to touch him the traveler reached out with lightning quick speed grabbing Andy’s free arm twisting him around while bring his forearm up against Andy’s neck knocking the knife from his hand. Andy had never been beaten before and now here he was at the mercy of some stranger Mark pointing his M-16 at him.

“Mark come on and do something!” Andy yelled he could feel the man’s grip tighten against his throat pretty soon he would be passed out if the man continued to press upon his windpipe. Mark was crouched in his combat stance looking down at the sights waiting for a clear shot at the man’s head when the stranger spoke for the first time.

“Drop the gun, walk away and I promise I will let your friend go. I don’t want to hurt you my business is with whoever is in that building.” He was good he wasn’t letting Mark get a clean shot at his head he kept moving closer and closer towards the building.

“STOP MOVING!” Mark yelled at him. He thought he spotted a weak spot so he shot. Andy yelled in pain as the bullet tore into his thigh blood splattered onto the concrete.

“What the hell Mark???” Andy screamed, “You freaking shot me!”

“Quit your whining it’s only a flesh wound,” Mark assured his friend. He didn’t know what had happened he swore he saw an open spot and in a quick second it was gone. That was like inhuman super fast the only person he had seen move even close to that speed was Tabitha. And then he heard something coming from his right, he looked over and saw two zombies coming at him. Of course they heard the gunshot, and Tabitha was too far into her trance to help hold them back.

Mark decided it would be best to handle the zombies first because he would rather just be dead then to die and come back as one of them. He turned quickly to the right aiming for the closest first; he pulled the trigger twice sending two bullets into its head. The zombie fell to the ground as its friend continued to come towards Mark. He repeated the same pattern with the second one and was satisfied when this one’s head exploded sending chunks of gore flying into the air. He spun back around to put his attention back to the stranger; Andy was on the ground unconscious the man wasn’t there. He caught something coming out of the corner of his eye. Had he flanked him that quick? A machete was coming at his face, in a split second he brought the assault rifle up to block the blade before the man buried it into his skull. Mark kicked out with his leg aiming for the traveler’s midsection but he stepped back pulling the M-16 from Mark’s grasp as he did throwing it to the ground.

“Alright,” Mark said withdrawing a combat knife from a scabbard on his vest. “A good old fashioned fight I can handle that.”

Andy was still out on the concrete blood was pouring from his leg. Mark rushed the man bringing his knife in low for the gut. The traveler brought his machete down almost knocking the knife from Mark’s hand. Mark then retaliated with a swipe to his head only to be greeted with air. This continued for several minutes every time Mark thought he had an opening in less than a second the man had closed it with lightning quick reflexes that Mark had not seen before. This man is special, Mark thought to himself, he has a purpose and nothing is going to stop him unless I do right now. There was another opening. His neck had been wide open for most of the fight and Mark had not even thought of going for it until now. Little did he know that the traveler was baiting him for the final blow. Mark brought his knife down in a swift arc towards the traveler’s neck with the most force and speed he could muster just as it was about to cut into flesh the traveler dropped to his knees bringing his machete across Mark’s abdomen. Mark stepped back dropping the knife putting his hands to his stomach trying to keep his insides from falling out, blood started coming out of his mouth and he fell to his knees dropping his hands to his side letting his vitals come out as he looked up at the man who had killed him. The traveler rushed in with his machete and brought it down and across decapitating him, sending his head bouncing across the hot ground the last look of shock and amazement still locked on his face.

The traveler looked over at Andy who had woken up and was looking up at him with tears in his eyes. He knew he was going to die and the reality of all the horrible things he had done were setting in. The traveler walked over to him holding his blood stained machete up ready to claim another soul.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Andy cried. The traveler looked down at him an emotionless look on his face but somehow it calmed Andy and he quit crying finding some resolve before he died. “I hope you know what you are getting yourself into,” Andy said looking towards the building.

“I don’t have the slightest clue but I am ready for whatever lies behind that door.” The traveler said putting two hands on the handle of his machete bringing it up over his head and down on Andy’s neck severing his head with one clean blow sending it rolling over to rest next to his friends. The traveler looked at the portrait he had just painted then closed his eyes saying a silent prayer for them. He had killed regular people before but it was hard every time he did because they had choices they weren’t mindless monsters. But still people had free will to decide for themselves and those decisions led them to horrible lives and early ends.

The traveler looked to the building still holding the machete tight in his hand. So far everything that had been told to him had come to past. And the biggest part now lied behind the door of this building. He walked forward his weapon in one hand and with the other he put it on the knob of the door and turned it walking into a nightmare.

Pt 2-Two

2

Is he coming this way? The voice came from the corner of the room. The woman looked up at the sound of the voice. She had been in a trance for what seemed like hours and now it appeared to her she ignored him for a quick minute not seeming like she was too desperate looking down at the table she had been sitting at waiting for this thing to appear. Various tools of her craft decorated the table. Various different knives and blood covered scalpels decorated the table top as well as ancient scribble along with a pentagram taking up most of the center of it. The victim of her latest ritual, a decent sized rat decorated the center of the pentagram cut down the middle its insides decorated with small incisions; they always required blood that was the price to be paid for a look into the darkness. A never ending price, the woman thought to herself.

Do not ignore me girl! The creature demanded with a shout the woman looked over to the thing in the corner. It was unseen by all but a few chosen people her being one of them. The creature was about nine feet tall, clothed in black rags and smelled of sulfur. Its eyes were blood red and hundreds of razor sharp teeth decorated its smile. She had felt the sting of those teeth on many occasions the price for failure. Remember sweet Tabitha what you are and where you came from, the creature hissed, it will be just as easy to take away what we have done and you will be just another mindless corpse walking out there waiting for its next meal.

“Forgive me dark one,” Tabitha bowed her head, “I am fresh from meditation my mind has yet to recover.”

The demon seemed to float from the corner as it came to the table looking down at the work the girl had created. She was the best at what she did that was for sure. Every incision on the rat was perfect all the required cuts were precise and the formulas scratched on the table held no errors. I trust your practices went well, the creature hissed.

Tabitha was afraid to tell the creature what she had seen. They had been known to be very harsh when it came to news they did not want to hear, but then again if she lied the punishment would be ten times worse. Oh to dance again, Tabitha thought her mind drifting away to the life she used to have. She had been a part of a traveling expose of ballet. Almost since she was able to walk her parents had drove her towards the fierce lifestyle of ballet and dance sparing no expense along the way hiring the best coaches and teacher’s money could buy. She had not disappointed them excelling in every possible way and when she was eighteen and out of high school she auditioned to be part of Galics Ballet Circus a showcase that traveled the whole world with the best in the world of dance. She had been everywhere imaginable from Rome to Moscow and was praised by critics everywhere.

Three years ago, the ballet had started a United States tour which was very rare because most of the ballet audience was in a foreign market. America was not refined enough for ballet, cited the foreign press but none the less you had to start somewhere. They were nearing the end of the tour in one of the last stops on the schedule. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was the second to last stop with Philadelphia and Washington D.C. being the last two. They had just finished up for the evening and were leaving the theater as a cast to go out and celebrate.

“You were amazing Tabitha,” one of her fellow dancers Brett had declared, “I would probably rank that as one of your top performances.”

“Oh your just saying that Brett,” she had waved him off blushing, “you are way too nice to me.”

“Well that might be but the critics don’t believe in being nice and they have been raving about you this whole tour. You are going to the top girl, the big bucks.”

“Let’s finish this trip first before I start getting my hopes up.”

They had started the evening at a local wine bar, tasting various different wines from around the world. After they had built up a nice buzz from the wine they hit a nice little cozy local pub that featured local folk music all night long. They had a blast and were totally plastered by the time last call has hollered across and they were forced out of the bar. They hit the streets walking towards their hotel yelling, laughing and having a good time. And then everything changed. They were coming to a corner and a man was walking towards them. They thought he was a hobo or something at first but as he got closer they could tell he was sick or something.

“Are you alright man?” Brett had asked as the guy fell onto him suddenly vomiting.

“Oh sick,” Tabitha had said.

He had begun to scream and started to flail his arms around striking Tabitha in the face she fell back against the wall of a building hitting her head tremendously hard she was seeing little pinpricks of light as the blow to her head added to her already clouded consciousness as she slid down into a sitting position watching the chaos unfold before her.

“Dude that’s not cool,” Brett and a couple other guys from the group tried to grab the guy who in return bit the closest one to him.

“Ouch he bit my shoulder,” the one man said jumping back in pain.

The crazy deranged man threw Brett to the ground as the rest of the group ran away from the corner and towards the hotel. The man then saw Tabitha and began to walk towards her. She couldn’t move and couldn’t fight as the man bent down and took a chunk out of her throat, she screamed as she felt the flesh rip away and blood began to pour out quickly from the wound dripping down her side soaking her shirt, the man continued to rip at her neck and then Brett appeared out of nowhere tackling him to the ground. Tabitha’s vision was beginning to cloud she could feel herself slipping away slowly. She heard Brett begin to scream and felt something hit her face and drop to the ground. It was half a human arm, Brett’s arm torn at the elbow stringy flesh hanging from the end. She was going to die, here on the street like an animal. She continued to cry and was just about to lose consciousness when a she heard a voice.

Hello Tabitha, she opened her eyes hazy white greeted her she could barely make out a black shape looking down at her. The voice was audible but I sounded like it was coming from inside her head. We have been watching you girl, the voice continued to speak her vision become more and clearer she could feel fear begin to seep into her. The thing in front of her was not a man it was black and at moments it appeared to be more than one shifting back and forth from a single entity one minute to what seemed like multiple ones the next. It smiled at her with razor sharp teeth and green liquid dripped from its mouth.

“What do you want from me?” She asked the creature.

A raspy laugh escaped the creature’s throat. You have been chosen for something girl, but we cannot make the decision for you. You have to choose for yourself. The creature spit suddenly sounding disgusted, you have the gift of free will and must decide whether you live, the creature motioned to the man eating Brett, and become like him walking with a never ending hunger or, he paused smiling as he gazed at her, we mark you and you will live a normal life the disease will still be in you but will be held at bay by our influence. And you will owe us a favor or two.

Tabitha looked up at the creature and then back at the man throwing pieces of Brett into the street and felt fear of death and fear of turning into a monster creep into her as she hastily made the decision that would affect the rest of her life.

“Okay,” she said holding a hand to the wound on her neck warmness greeting her touch, “Anything, as long as I am not a monster, I’ll do whatever you ask.”

So, the creature floated towards her, you will let us in?

“YES!” Tabitha screamed, she could feel her insides churning she hoped it wasn’t too late.

Very well, it said as it reached one of its hands out towards her forehead. It had claws on its hand not fingers and Tabitha could feel them break her skin as they touch her. An intense painful fire entered her body as she began to yell out in agony. Her body began to convulse as she felt something enter her body the place where the man had bitten her began to burn and then suddenly it was over. She was standing up, she did not know how she put a hand to her neck and felt skin, it felt like a scar but still it was done. The creature was staring at her smiling, come daughter, it had said holding a hand out, we have work to do.

That seemed like such a long time ago. Tabitha looked up at the creature that had saved her life. She owed it everything, her life, her gratitude and loyalty. She could feel a tears start to form in her eyes, she always felt bad when she took all this for granted. It was her choice after all she had chosen to serve them instead of turning into one of the nameless ones. She shuddered at the thought of always being hunger never being able to satisfy your hunger.

“Forgive me for being ungrateful master,” she said, “Sometimes I forget why I am here.”

Very well, they said, but one of these days our patience might wear thin and you might just find yourself on the nameless one’s buffet tray. Now what have you learned girl? I know he comes this way but my knowledge of him is very vague other then the place that he came from. He does come from the same place as the other does he not?

Tabitha nodded but she didn’t know why. Her vision had been vague as well. She had seen a small town to the west of here and had seen a group of people. And true she had thought she had recognized the other one that they spoke of but as far as the true identity of this so called traveler she had no idea. The darkness had shown her little but enough to make her afraid.

“He is coming this way but he is not alone master,” she started pulling her red hair from in front of her eyes revealing the mark on her forehead that showed she was set apart from the rest of the world “One travels with him, almost like the wind in the shape of a horse but yet with the voice of a lion….” She paused for a moment looking down at the rat tracing a pattern in its intestines with a finger trying to read the pattern with complete accuracy leaving no room for error, “clothed in white.”

The creature began to scream, all its personalities giving voice swearing uttering dirty and foul curses that were unimaginable. Tabitha cowered in her seat afraid for her life. She had never seen them like this, whatever or whoever this white one was she felt sorry for them for her master would take care of them whoever they were. They had begun to calm down forcing themselves back down into one entity. They glared at Tabitha with hate in their eyes, he must not leave here alive. You have men outside yes?

“Yes two of my best,” she answered, “He will never get through the door.”

The creature nodded approvingly; yes still precautions must be taken just the same, they walked around the table placing both of their clawed hands on Tabitha’s shoulders she didn’t even flinch as the claws pierced her skin she was too used to it no longer bothered her, he must by no means find out the location of the other everything we have worked for so far depends on him, they leaned over and began to whisper instructions into Tabitha’s ear. Tears began to form at the corner of her eyes as the silent instructions and incantations went into her head. The moment she had been chosen for was soon drawing near, she must protect the other, and nothing else mattered. As her master slipped back into the corner he came from and disappeared into the darkness a smile begun to form on her lips. She reached down to the bag at her feet withdrawing a wriggling rat that began biting her hand trying to escape her grasp, she ignored the pain for it was temporary. She swept the previous rat from the table, took one of her scalpels and slit its throat watching as the blood squirted onto the table, when she felt the last of the rodent’s life leave its body she flipped it onto its back and made a single incision across its abdomen. She began to chant softly as the day outside once again turned to night and the traveler got ever closer to her lair.

“Come and see,” she said softly, “Come and see what the beast has waiting.”

Tabitha closed her eyes and once again left to search the darkness for more answers to the coming day.

Pt 2-One

Part Two: Peace in Chaos

1

He opened his eyes, awaking to the sound of what seemed like a gentle, peaceful and calm meadow stream. Blue sky greeted him and he could feel grass beneath him as he sat up. He was in some sort of forest; a small brook was beside him, he could see various different types of fish swimming around. Some were just swimming in circles and others were swimming upstream against the gentle current. He could feel a sense of peace and security in this place and he realized he could stay here forever. Just as he was about to lay back down into the grass is when he sensed something behind him. He turned around slowly and was startled by what he saw there not knowing whether to panic or embrace it.

A lion was sitting on the edge of some trees beyond the brook watching him curiously. The man stood up quickly trying not to show fear so that the beast would not attack, but he knew that if the animal had wanted him dead he would be torn into a thousand pieces already. He was going over a plan in his head deciding what to do when a small voice interrupted his thoughts.

“It’s okay he won’t bite,” the man turned around. A boy probably somewhere between ten or twelve years of age was kneeling at the brook. He looked back at the grown man with clear blue eyes that seemed to pierce the soul, “he knows you’re with me.”

The man felt a gentle breeze brush against his face as the boy stood up to come over to him. He had seen this boy before, only once many years ago which had been one of the most important days of his life and now here he was again when it seemed like nothing was going to change. He felt nothing but love emanating from the child; he jumped slightly as he felt something nudge him from behind. The lion that had been only watching earlier was nudging him with its nose begging for some attention.

“He likes you,” the boy said smiling, “he’s a good judge of character.”

The man put his hand on the lions head and began to pet it gently, the lion began to purr.

“Am I dreaming?” The man asked the boy.

“Yes and no. You are sleeping in your physical body but you are truly here with me and our feline friend here. I wanted to see you and give you some encouragement it has been quite awhile since the last time we saw each other.”

The man nodded as a tear started to fall down his cheek. He had felt an overwhelming sense of peace and love the moment he had awoken in this place and had been trying to fight it but now standing here with the Savior of his life he could no longer contain himself he broke down falling to his knees tears pouring from his eyes and he crawled and wrapped himself around the boys legs.

“I thought I wouldn’t see you again it had been so long.” The man bawled.

“Shhhhh, it’s alright child,” the boy said as he placed a hand on the man’s head. He could feel energy enter his body at the touch of the Master’s hand, “I have not forgotten you or forsaken you. My timing is beyond mortal understanding. I am never late or early I arrive precisely when I am needed. Things in the world may not be the same but I am never changing.”

The man looked up with tear stained eyes into eyes of love and understanding and felt a resolve like no other he had felt. He stood up to his feet and walked over to the brook cleansing his face with the water. It felt like all his cares and worries washed away with his tears into the calm gentle stream. The man looked over to the boy.

“What would you have me do? I have been walking a long time, I have always felt you there by my side leading me to where I need to go, but I haven’t come any closer to finding what I am looking for. If I knew what it was I am looking for it would be easier.”

The boy walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

“All in good time my child; soon many questions will be answered. The Great Devourer anxiously plans his next move and soon, very soon the world will be plunged into a time of great peril. True things now are bad for you here in this land, the sickness has yet to spread to anywhere else in the world but hardship awaits the rest of them. But as for you, I have an important task for you.”

The man nodded as he dried his face of the last of the water.

“Of course anything you need.”

The boy looked up at him with a somber look on his face; the man could tell that this was really important.

“You will continue to go in the direction you are going. Do not change course, do not change roads stay on the path. Tomorrow afternoon you will come to a small structure, there will be men in front of it, they are not sick they are normal men. They will try to kill you; you must do what you do best. Inside the structure is a woman,” the boy paused, “she is one of the keys that you seek. Beware, the evil one influences her but you will be protected I will be with you as I always have been.” The boy embraced the man as he finished, the man began to weep again.

“Will it ever end?” the man asked, “It seems like there is only chaos and that peace is dead.”

“Oh my son,” the boy said as he kissed the man on his forehead he could feel a warmth spread through his whole body and the boy smiled as he finished his sentence, “I am peace in chaos when it seems like all is lost I am always there and I will never leave.”

***********

The traveler awoke. He felt cramped and tight but he felt peace from his dream. He was beginning to feel like he was going to walk forever until he died and that there was no format to what he was doing. But, the one he served was faithful and would always provide a way even when it seemed like all hope was lost. He sat up in the seat of the minivan stretching out his arms he felt his elbows pop as they did every day during his morning stretch. He grabbed his twelve gauge from the other seat, tossed on his backpack, opened the side door and greeted the wonderful sunny morning and almost stepped into one of the piles of gore from his encounter the day before. Almost forgot about that, he thought to himself.

He searched the bodies of the zombies he had killed looking for anything that he might find useful on his quest. The girl had a lighter in one of her pockets that might come in useful later; you never knew when you might need to light something on fire. One of the other zombies had a sweet Leatherman knife that would definitely come in handy. After he had searched the remains and was assured that he would find nothing else useful he set his eyes to the road ahead. He had a long day ahead of him and tomorrow he would find one of the pieces to the puzzle he was trying to solve.

Do not fear, he heard the voice of the boy and with it the soft breeze against his face, I am here with you always. The traveler made some last adjustments to his equipment securing his machete and shotgun securely beneath his coat and then started walking up the road, closer to his destiny then ever before.

Six

6

Legion swam through the night sky, looking down at the small Idaho town. The creation that they had spawned was in the process of being spread over the North American continent, but here, something important was happening. Their dark unseen tendrils were reaching through the night sky whispering and pulling pieces together that would form a larger puzzle that would usher in the beginning of the end and a new world would be born. They were proud; the Master had chosen them specifically for this task knowing that uncontrollable chaos was their specialty.

The beings that made up this massive, black and evil combination of consciousness had always believed that they were meant for bigger and better things. When the Master had decided to start the Great Rebellion they had been some of the first to join his side eager for a chance to make things in their image. Unfortunately they had been met with a rather large setback and had been sent to on this wretched rock as punishment. They had all bided their time, putting their hands into various evil moments in history. They had caused the downfall of many and now their time had come.

Looking towards the outskirts of town they saw a man who had just been thrown from his car laying on the road the virus eating him up inside, on the verge of changing. They had plans for him, which did not include turning just yet. They reached through the sky and put a piece of themselves into him, holding back the disease long enough for it to cause some damage at the right place and right time. Not far from him they spotted a bon-fire a ways from the main road but within walking distance from the crash site. They could hear the people, enjoying themselves having a good time not knowing what was happening around them. But two voices were talking about something of interest. They spoke of a noise that one of them had heard a few minutes earlier and were debating about whether to go check it out or not.

Through the noise of the party around them Legion whispered urging the young mans curiosity to leave the party and to investigate what he had just heard. Little did they know that they were helping add to the already building climate of the events around them. Legion felt the pride consume them as they shifted their focus on the next job on their checklist. They saw the three wandering creatures that were around the gas station, stationary not heading in any direction just going in circles around the building.

No that wouldn’t do, they weren’t doing any good there. Legion wrapped itself around them and pointed them in the direction of the town, where several other targets awaited to meet their future. History was waiting to be made and after tonight, the world would never be the same.

********

“Come on dude lets go check it out. I swore I heard something over there towards the road.” Aaron pleaded with his friend. “It won’t take that long like five minutes that’s all.”

Dave had a hard time telling Aaron no, he always had. The whole reason he was here now in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of strangers was Aarons fault, and then again Dave hadn’t put up much of a fight. Aaron had showed up at Dave’s house earlier that night with a thirty pack telling Dave that a bunch of people from another school were having a party out in the boonies, pretty much a zero chance that cops would show up. Dave had refused at first but after continuing persistence and an assurance that there would be plenty of single women he obliged. Dave had just started having fun, was actually talking to a cute little blonde named Kailee when Aaron had come up to him, rudely mind you, demanding they investigate this so called noise he had heard.

“Aaron we are having a good time here why should we leave? You are probably just hearing things it’s almost midnight no one drives on these roads this late.”

“Come on man it will only take like five minutes and then we can come back and keep partying. I just want to go see what it is. I sounded like some sort of collision or something and when I looked over in that direction I am pretty sure I saw sparks man.”

“Ohhhh sparks?” Kailee interrupted, “I want to go look, I want to come with you guys.”

Now Dave pretty much didn’t have a choice. His date for the evening was now intrigued and he couldn’t chance her being disappointed.

“Alright,” Dave gave in. “I’ll go get the truck. But so help me God Aaron if it turns out being in your head I am going to pound you.”

*********

The train had finally passed and Rick had never been in a bigger hurry then now. He had never come across anything like this before and he was definitely over his head. As soon as he got to the station he was going to call all the deputies in and call in some favors with the guys in Boise. He knew a couple guys from the academy who would come and lend him a hand and that’s exactly what he planned to do if he had to. He also had to get the CDC in here because whatever it was they were dealing with it was definitely contagious. Rick was finishing up the final stages of his plan when he pulled up to the station and a sense of dread came over him. The door was wide open, no one in sight. Rick opened his door slowly drawing his gun as he entered the station.

It was empty. There was some blood on his desk not a lot but more than should have been there from Sharon’s wound on her arm. Then he felt something under his boot, he stepped back and looked down. It looked like….no it couldn’t be. Rick bent down and picked up the object that was on the ground, and felt his stomach turn when he realized what it was. A human finger, probably the index and definitely male, and then he spotted another finger about a foot from his desk lying in a small pool of blood. He then spotted several drops leading out the door out into the night. And then the worst thing that could happen did. The power went out. Rick swore loudly as he picked up the phone only to be greeted by dead silence. No tone, no static, absolutely dead.

Fear came over Rick unlike any he had ever felt before. He had no way to get a call out he would have to drive and warn every person in town. He dropped the receiver and walked towards the door and was about to exit when he saw them. Several of them were in the middle of the road walking in his direction. Rick slammed the door shut and locked it then crawled under his desk. He was powerless he couldn’t take these things by himself especially at night if he had any chance at all he had to wait for morning and then he could get out there and gather the people. He hoped that they would make it until then.

**********

“Oh my God,” Kailee declared as they got out of the truck seeing the fallen telephone on top of the car. “It looks like someone flew out.”

“Thank you Captain Obvious” Aaron said in a deep sarcastic voice as he surveyed the crash scene trying to avoided the downed power lines, “the world is a safer place thanks to your keen sense of attention to detail.”

Kailee smiled as the joke obviously went over her head. “Thanks.”

Aaron just shook his head as he continued to study the damaged vehicle. Dave noticed the body first lying a few feet in front of the car.

“Hey over there,” he said pointing in the direction as he rushed over to the body, the other two members of his group following closely behind him. The bodying way laying face down on the road a puddle of red spreading out from underneath.

“Is he dead?” Kailee asked.

“I don’t know,” Dave said, “Aaron check him.”

“No way man I don’t do dead bodies.”

“You are the one that wanted to come out here man. Now you can check to see if he is still breathing.”

Aaron shook his head and started backing up from the body.

“Fine you little wimp.” Dave said as he bent down to check the bodies pulse. Just as he was about to touch his neck the body began to convulse. Kailee started to scream and began to run back to the truck but then the body stopped and was once again still.

“Come on Aaron help me get him in the truck so we can take him to the doctors at least.” Dave pleaded with his friend.

“The nearest doctor is twenty miles away,” Aaron reasoned, “he would be dead before we got there.”

“No there is one closer,” Kailee interrupted, “There is a clinic in the town five miles up the road. Just opened last week, it’s part of their new expansion process. They are trying to provide better medical coverage for people from the military base who live in town so they don’t have to drive out to the hospital every time they need help.”

The two boys looked at her.

“What?” She asked, “One of the interns who works there buys me booze all the time otherwise I would be as clueless as you right now.”

“Alright,” Aaron said as he bent down to help Dave lift the body up, as they turned him over Aaron felt his burrito from Taco Bell start to come back up but he stopped himself fortunately. You couldn’t even see the man’s face it was covered with blood and just as they were placing him in the truck bed he coughed sending it flying into Aarons face.

“Ewww gross man.” Aaron let go of him wiping the blood off with his shirt sleeve. “It got in my eye I hope he doesn’t have any STD’s or anything sick man.”

“Quit your bitching and get in the truck.” Dave said.

As the three of them got in the truck and drove towards the small town, the unseen presence above them couldn’t help but laugh as they’re plan got even closer to fruition. Little did the Legion know that though it might seem like the war was about to be won that it was only the beginning of something much bigger.