***

The Mercedes was speeding down the highway. Sam sat half-naked behind the wheel, nervously trying to control the car. Annie was lying unconscious in the backseat, Jim was sitting next to her in a semi-reclining position.

“You’re driving too fast, Sam” Jim said in a weak voice.

Sam wasn’t listening to his friend. He couldn’t hear anything at all. The recent events had turned him into a robot who simply acted instinctively. And now he wanted only one thing. Very urgent to find someone who would help them.

In the darkness of the night, Sam noticed a humanoid creature appear on the road, directly in front of the car. The big black wings disappeared behind the man and he stood right in the middle of the road.

Sam hit the brakes with all his might. The engine of the car began to howl loudly, and the tires blackened the asphalt with a squeal. The car stopped directly in front of the man, just a few inches from his legs.

It was he, the winged stranger who had rescued the trio the night before and then left them to their own devices.

Opening the car door, Sam jumped out of it and headed towards the stranger saying in a nervous voice.

“Where were you? What the fuck you leave us there?”

“Calm down boy. What’s wrong with you?”

Sam’s chest was totally naked, dried blood was everywhere on him, his pants were torn, and his long hair was scattered on his forehead.

“They attacked us, again. Those monsters. Jim almost died, Annie is unconscious, she needs help.”

“Have you been to that gas station? There was real carnage there. It’s strange that you managed to get fit.

“Don’t you hear me?” Annie could die.” – Sam was getting more and more excited.

The man looked in through the window of the car, then said in a very calm tone.

“Nothing threatens them. There is no one with them.”

“WHAT? THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL?”

“Calm down and listen to me carefully, boy, I won’t repeat it a second time. You saw what happened to the gas station when you stopped there. Can you imagine what will happen when you go to the hospital? How many people will be slaughtered then? And besides, if a person dying, an angel of death appears next to him to take his soul. Everything is fine with your friends, there is no one next to them, therefore, nothing threatens their lives either.”

“What are you talking about? How do you know that?” Sam’s nervous tone began to disappear, the boy calmed down a little. Perhaps it was because he met someone who understood what was happening and could help them.

“It’s time to officially get to know each other, isn’t it?” the man smiled. “You can call me William. How do I know all that? Once I was one of those angels, and I can see my former colleagues. If I tell you everything is fine, then it is.”

Sam stood silently. He was no longer surprised. As unbelievable as William’s story was, Sam believed him. If those hideous monsters were real, then the flying man could really be an angel.

“But we can’t leave them in this state either, they need rest at the first aid.”

“We will think of something, there is someone nearby who can help us.”

“Is it too far?”

“No, you will get there quickly by car.”

“Then let’s go, there is no time.”

Sam got behind the wheel, Will beside him, and the black Mercedes continued on its way down the seemingly desolate highway.

***

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

The car stopped in front of a small wooden house. Leaving the main highway, Sam followed a bumpy road that became more and more impassable, and then turned into a sparse forest altogether. The cabin was located on the semi-sloping slope of a small ravine. It took some serious driving skills from Sam to get there, he even seemed to lose control of the wheel for a moment. But everything went well, and despite the very inconvenient location of the cabin, Mercedes managed to park right in front of the house. The valley was very small, autumn had already turned yellow the surrounding grass, and there was no trace of any other settlement nearby.

“What kind of crazy person lives here?” said Sam, looking around in surprise.

“The lost man. But he can now help your friends and not burden you with unnecessary questions.”

Getting out of the car, Will called out to the host.

“Mick? Are you at home? Come out, you have guests.”

The wooden door creaked open and a middle-aged man appeared. His brown hair, which had not been cut for a long time, gave him an unkempt look, his face was unshaven, he was wearing an old suit, and he was holding a cane in his hand.

Seeing Will, he was surprised, Mick was not expecting him.

“Are you deaf boy? Hurry up, these people need to be taken in.”

Mick tossed the cane aside and ran to the car, helping Sam get Jim out. Will hugged Annie and they went inside.

As strange as the landlord was, as strange was the house itself. The interior was completely trashed, mixed things were piled on top of each other, clothes, work tools, books…

The room was very small and uncomfortable, the windows were closed with curtains, which gave the room a semi-dark appearance. In general, the atmosphere in that house was quite oppressive.

With quick and careless movements, Mick tossed aside the clothes piled on the sofa, making room for Jim, who was laid across it. Will led Annie into the other room that served as a bedroom and carefully laid her down on the bed.

“I’ll find something for them to eat,” said Mick, leaving the house.

Going out into the yard, Will lit a cigarette, and Sam came up to him and said.

“Who was that man?” Why didn’t he find all this strange?’’

“He’s seen far stranger and scarier things, boy, he’s a madman, but he can be trusted.”

“The other day at the gas station, one of that mosters looked like a human, how do we know who to trust when marags can take on any form?”

“Very easy. Marags transform into the appearance of a person who never existed, the people you know cannot be marags. Monsters themselves invent a human appearance for themselves, so beware of strangers.”

“But what are they, those marags?”

“I cannot give you a clear answer. They do not exist in nature, they are the results of various genetic mutations and experiments.”

Will looked at Sam. The poor boy looked completely tormented. It seemed that he had gone through terrible events in the last few days.

“Sam, I understand that everything that has happened, has completely changed your and your friends’ ideas about life, but nothing can be changed anymore. You have faced a horror, that called reality. Most people live their entire lives believing that the world is a terribly cruel place, but they have no idea how right they are. You saw the real world without being ready for it, but the sooner you come to terms with it…”

“… we’ll survive for so long, I remember,” Sam continued, smiling.

“Well, go to your friends, boy, and try to get some rest.”

“And did you find the witch who was supposed to help Annie?”

“Yes, it will all be over soon.”

Sam walked in, feeling strangely relieved. How good it is when there is someone who will take responsibility for the work.

Lying down on the armchair, Sam fell asleep at once, hoping that when he woke up, this bad dream would be over.

***

It was already dark when Mick returned. He looked tired, it could be seen that he had been standing all day. Entering the house, he took off his suit, poured himself a cup of tea, and went out into the backyard, where Will was waiting for him.

“You’re late, buddy.”

“There are too many of them, almost the whole forest is full of them.”

“Why aren’t they attacking?”

“I don’t know, as if something doesn’t allow them to do that. Those marags became even more furious than that.”

“Interesting,” Will said and lit another cigarette. “Take care of these kids, they’ve been through too much already.”

“Why are you helping them? When did people start taking an interest in you?”

“I am not interested in them. But the one who started hunting them…Mick, I’m pretty sure it’s him.”

Mick froze.

“It’s been a long time since there’s been any news from him, are you sure Will?”

“Until a week ago, they were just suspicions, but I saw something that confirmed those suspicions.”

Mick looked at Will questioningly.

“When the girl, as far as I remember her name was Jessica, committed suicide, her soul was kidnapped. At first I didn’t understand who it was, but the tracks led me to Frost.

“That castle is destroyed, he destroyed Frost himself.”

“And now he has restored it. I couldn’t get close to it, much less get inside, but I’m sure it’s back up and running.”

“Then we’re all in danger, Will. This time everything will be much more difficult.”

Will let out a deep sigh, then looked back at the house. Through the open door of the backyard, the teenagers could be seen sleeping peacefully, not even having the slightest idea of what was waiting for them.

“Their condition is very serious,” said Mick, “and it will take a long time for them to recover.”

“They don’t have that long, Mick. Sam is just overtired. A good sleep and breakfast will completely revive the boy. Jim has lost a lot of blood, but the wound is no longer bleeding, and that’s the most important thing, and Annie…”

“Annie’s condition is much more complicated,” Mick interrupted him, “the girl does not regains consciousness.”

“The black rose does its job. Sam was able to find the right direction. Rose petals will cheer up the girl, she just needs a little rest.”

Will put out his cigarette and went inside and approached Annie. The girl was lying peacefully on the bed. Will slowly and carefully put his fingers into the girl’s pocket and took out the rose. Turning to Mick, Will said.

“Marags are coming after this. The girl picked the rose, her blood is mixed with it, but monsters don’t smell blood, but flowers.”

“Will, what flower is that? Have you ever come across anything like this before?’

“Never. It is strange that after being out of the ground for so long, squeezed in the girl’s pocket, separated from water and sun, not only has it not dried up, but it is also fresh and shines like before. He who was able to create such a thing is a dangerous person to say the least.”

“What are you going to do with it?”

“I will take it with me. When they wake up, you must lead them to ArShamell.’’

“Excuse me? And where are you going?”

“I already said that the marags are chasing the rose. By taking it with me, I will distract them from you and you will have a little time. You will quickly get them to that witch. Unfortunately, only he can help them.”

“But where is that ArShamell? How will I find him?’

“He is in the Old Forest. I know it will be difficult, but you have to find him.”

Mick said nothing. In silence, he complied with Will’s instructions.

“You’ll keep the Mercedes,” Will continued. “It’s Sam’s father’s car, if the father contacted the police about his son’s disappearance, now they will be looking for that car everywhere. Find something else to get them there.”

“I got it. Don’t worry, everything will be fine,” answered Mick.

Stepping back out into the backyard, Will spread his wings. The large and long wings would be two feet each, fully feathered and black wings that inspired terror and admiration to the beholder.

After a few vigorous flaps of his wings, Will rose into the air. Looking down at Mick below, Will said one last time.

“For now, they will depend on you for a while, help them survive, Michael.”

Mick nodded in agreement.

Lifting his hood, Will dashed off into the darkness of the night. Mick looked after him for a long time, and when wild howls and strange screams began to be heard in the distance, Mick went inside, closing the doors, and deciding that it was time for him to sleep as well.