The following morning was greeted with filled stomachs and an eagerness in the eyes of all except a solitary angel.
Constantine and Mephistopheles were outside in the parking lot, stretching and moving around, while Evan sat inside with Wrath, attempting to make some coffee with the leftover machinery. Unsuccessful as of yet. But she just sat inside the car, staring at the dirty windscreen. Apathy clung to her mind and was not letting go. Neither was the fear that had gripped her since her battle with the pale shadow. Fear of the evils that were hunting her and her friends, but also fear of herself. An old memory resurfaced, a memory she thought she had long stippled from her mind, and now this memory was giving her mind no ease.
In purgatory, she had been forced by her mother, Cassandra, to hide her powers from all except in the most dire of situations. Even the slightest release would shine like a star within that blackest cavern. Thus she grew afraid of it. Only once did she accidentally let go. Down there, she lived with Cassandra on a faraway hill hidden behind an endless thicket of trees with flaming red leaves, away from the crowded eyes of demons and phantoms. Few dared venture near them, as Cassandra’s ruthlessness was mythical even among the other denizens of that limbo. But it was not bravery that drove that young demoness to find her. When Uriel was ten years of age, she was greeted by a young demon girl in the forest near their home. Her name was Ajey. A young fearful girl, small in stature with glowing black skin and large red eyes. A demon not by desire, but consequence. Her horns were barely poking through her skull. Their blooming friendship ended tragically when Cassandra found them. Uriel remembered how her mother arched herself, ready to end the girl and how she screamed towards her, frightened and distressed, with her arms reaching out towards her and friend. Moments later, the entire room was ablaze with volatile light. A shiver ran through Uriel when the memory faded back. That of Ajey's scream when her power seared and boiled her very soul. She didn’t remember how long she was unconscious after the event. In the meantime, Cassandra took her out of the house and ran, abandoning all they had managed to acquire over time. The next years Uriel spent on the run alongside her adoptive mother, wary of the phantasms that lurked just out of the corners of her eyes, hunting her every step. The knock on the window pulled her out of her trance. Constantine opened the door and sat on her right.
“Hungry?” He asked, pointing a plate full of long golden sticks at her. There were two miniature plastic forks stuck into the dish.
“What is this?”
“Plumin fries, remember?” He said, still eating one. “Basically the most amazing thing we humans have ever invented. You had some back on your birthday.”
Realizing that the growl she heard came from her stomach, Uriel accepted Constantine’s offer and ate a couple. The surprisingly delicious taste brought back the memory. “Oh right, the sandwich thing we had… that day feels like forever ago.”
Constantine nodded. “Evan and Wrath managed to cook some, this gas station is surprisingly undamaged. Here you can have them all.”
“Thank you. Thank you...” She said, stuffing a bunch in her mouth as her ravenous hunger took charge.
“You can use the fork.” Constantine laughed. She blushed. “If we had more time I’d have shown you lots of other things in our world. And of course, if we didn’t have that whole ‘being hunted by demons’ thing.“
Uriel looked away with sadness.“Maybe when all of this is over you can still show me?” She turned, asking with a smile on her lips. “But if I had to guess, this will never be over will it…?”
“It will all come to an end someday. I’ll make sure of it. I made a promise to myself. I will fix all of this if it’s the last thing I do. I’ll kill every demon that’s after you, I’ll seal the gates of hell once again and I’ll bring Nikolai and Katherine back too, mark my words. We can do it together, if your power was the catalyst for this great evil, it can surely be a catalyst for great good as well.” Constantine said as he leaned forward, his eyes glinting with a fiery desire. “And then I will show you the beauty of our world, Uriel.” He turned to her with a grin. Their faces were close enough to feel each other’s breaths.
Uriel turned quickly back to her meal, hiding her blush. “Where did Mephistopheles go?” She asked, pretending to eat.
“Said he had to take a piss.” He said leaning back into the seat.
Uriel finished eating her fry and looked out the back window. There was a sign on the wall near the right side of the building. A stick figure man and woman followed by an arrow, same signs she remembered seeing in Nikolai’s house on her bathroom doors. She turned back to her fries.
“I’m gonna go tell Evan we should get going soon.” Constantine said.
“W-wait.” She said putting a hand on his chest, pushing him back down. Her echo trembled with anxiety.
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh, Don’t go just yet. I like talking to you, being here with you.”
“A-alright.”
The two stared at each other for a few moments before Uriel realized her hand was still on his chest. She slowly pulled it back in a fist and muttered a quiet ‘Sorry’ to herself. They both turned away from each other, their cheeks a shade of red. Another knock came on the window in front of her. This time it was Mephistopheles. Constantine rolled down the window for him.
“You two ready to go? Wrath and Evan are coming in a bit too.”
“Yeah we should be ready for another exciting day of driving.” Constantine muttered.
Uriel said nothing while moving back into her seat, careful with her wing around Constantine. She shot a quick glance at Mephistopheles as he sat beside the driver’s seat. She’d seen him come from the left side of the building just now. She thought nothing more of it.
Soon enough Evan and Wrath made their appearance with a couple bags, which they placed in the trunk. Both sat down in their respective seats and soon the car was off.
“Quite a bit of food and water left over, would be a shame to leave all of it to waste.” Evan told them later.
The drive was just as quiet as the one of the previous day, but the atmosphere felt lighter today. After a couple of hours passed, Evan opened his mouth and said: “This is the second set of houses we’ve passed that aren’t damaged in the slightest, just abandoned. Have you all noticed that?”
Uriel jumped awake and looked out the window. Constantine and Wrath followed suit.
“Yes I have.” Said Mephisto. “I guess that means these places have just been evacuated, I wonder if we’ll come up on some people within a day or so. Wrath?”
“I haven’t noticed anything yet, and I can’t check what lies ahead while driving.”
“You want to switch?”
“No it’s alright.”
“People?” Exclaimed Evan. “What’re we gonna do?”
“What do you mean Evan?” Constantine asked.
“Well they’re gonna see Uriel won’t they? I don’t know about you but if the apocalypse took place and I saw a couple of guys driving a car with an angel inside I’d wanna hop along for the ride.”
“The windows on this car are one-way, no one will see anything.” His friend said.
“Oh right. Sorry, I’m just a little stressed out about the idea.” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “These towns are just abandoned you said right?” He asked again after a moment of respite.
“Yes, it seems that way.” Mephisto said.
“See if you can find any public phones, I never got to call my dad. He’s probably rabid with worry.”
“How far away does he live?”
“Gausville.” He answered.
“Sorry, I skipped Belial’s geography lessons back in demon academy, how long would that be to get to?” The demon responded, mildly miffed.
“Uh, its a city far up the Danaway, it would take a few hours by train, maybe a day by boat or a couple by car. Unfortunately we’re going in the other direction, so it’ll take longer.”
“Thank you.” He muttered. “I’m surprised you converted so fast.”
“I’ve done the trip a few times. I’ve always been good at math.” Evan pointed a finger at Constantine. “It’s this idiot that always failed the class.”
“Hey how about, fuck you?” Constantine laughed, flipping Evan off. Uriel laughed at them and Evan grinned back at his friend.
“What, you mean to tell me you don’t suck ass at geometry?”
“The first thing I’m doing if I ever become king of the world is ban that unholy mess. No wait, second thing, first thing is shoving a boot up your ass.”
“You can do that even without being king of the world, you know.” Uriel said coyly.
“Well damn you’re right.” Constantine giggled. ”Wrath, stop the car, I gotta shove a boot in my friend's ass.”
“Play nice you tw-” Wrath wanted to say, before suddenly slamming on the brakes, sending her other four passengers flying into the chairs and headboard in front of them.
“The fuck Wrath? It was only a joke.” Evan said, massaging his forehead.
“People. There’s a lot of them. About ten kilometers away. I can see them faintly, but there’s no doubt.” She started the engine of the car again. “All of them seem to be going in the same direction we are, I’m guessing they’re inside cars. But they’re all moving very slowly.”
“Was slamming the car to a stop so far away really necessary… Nevermind.” Evan continued whining. “Must be a lot of traffic, everyone’s gunning to get out still. How the hell are people still in the area? I thought they’d evacuate everything in this region a week ago.” He asked.
“Authorities must have thought it was containable, evacuation order was probably given just a day or two ago. Still, I didn’t expect we’d run into life again so soon.” Constantine said.
About ten minutes later, Constantine grasped just how much life he ran into. The entire highway strip was overflowing with vehicles. The sound was infernal, thousands of honks and people screaming and swearing at each other, fighting like animals in metallic cages for the chance of escaping. Many cars decided to jump the safety strip and drive on the opposite lane. All cars except theirs were driving away from the city.
“At least this lane is easier to drive through.” Mephisto said.
“Everyone is scurrying away like rats.” Wrath said, her voice hoarse with her echo sharp.
“Can you blame them Wrath? I mean, we’re doing the same aren’t we?” He said back.
She shot him a look filled with discontempt. “At your behest.” Wrath said bitterly.
“I will not let my daughter be sacrificed again just so you have a chance of vengeance on Katherine. Besides, who knows what she’s even up to. She could be dead for all we know.”
“Uh guys, Police up ahead.” Constantine interrupted their quarrel.
Two cars were positioned on either side of the lane, in front of which were a couple militarized men with weapons at the ready.
“Well... shit.” Wrath looked at the back seats. She saw Evan, Constantine and Uriel stare back at her with worried faces. “Huddle up, try to hide Uriel’s wings as much as you can. I can make it a bit dark back there, but the sun’s out, my powers are stifled. Hopefully they don't notice anything.” The trio complied, and Wrath closed her eyes. Black mist flooded around the back of the car, clouding the view of the angel’s wings. Evan and Constantine both heaved and coughed. “Quiet you.” She shot back at them.
The car slowed down as the soldier motioned a hand while walking towards them. His partner followed his lead, going to the left side of the car while he went to the right. The man knocked on Wrath’s window. He was greeted by the beautiful smile of a pretty woman with pale eyes as the window rolled down.
“Greetings ma’am.”
“Hello.” Wrath said, trying to sound warm.
The soldier leaned down, glancing at the other passengers. What he presumed to be the husband and three children glanced back at him. “There’s been orders given. No one is allowed to enter the city. Everyone is to leave as soon as possible.”
“We heard, that’s why we came as fast as possible. This is the nearest city from where we lived.”
“Well I’m sorry ma’am but I can't let you, or your family come inside the city…” His voice trailed off and stopped reaching Wrath’s ears. The only thing she heard were the footsteps of the other soldiers walking closer towards the car, his hand pushing on the ammo clip on his weapon and his finger coiling around the trigger. Uriel heard that same sound.
“WRATH, DRIVE!” The angel screamed and Wrath slammed her foot on the pedal.
Bullets rang out and ricocheted off the car. The soldier jumped back, tripping and falling against a small roadbump.
“What are you doing man stand dow-HURG.” They could all hear while driving away. The sound of bullets then again drowned out all noise. The demon looked on as the Cadillac drove further and further away from his range. He pulled out his phone from his back pocket and clicked the speed dial.
“Baal.” He said, his voice deep and calm. “They’re here. Black Cadillac, twenty seven, twenty-seven G, H, B, license plate.” A powerful voice boomed at the other end, and the soldier turned and walked away.
Back in the car, the group was in disarray. “Is that-” Constantine said.
“Demon. Azazel’s no doubt.” Mephisto answered him. “Wrath, we can’t stay here. We have to ditch the car.”
“You’re serious?”
“Wrath, they know we’re here, and they know the car, we have to get out the city fast.”
“How do you expect to do that without a car?”
“The train station!” Evan exclaimed. “Its about twenty minutes away. We can take a train straight to Gausville.”
A siren rang out behind them. Gunfire echoed after it. The sound of metal hitting metal resonated through the car. Wrath’s foot pressed the pedal down to the floor. The city streets were filled with vehicles all striving to get out. Few had the same idea as them, so next to no cars were in the same lane as them, save for the police car currently chasing them down.
“Turn left here Wrath!” Constantine shouted from the back. She obeyed. “We have to lose these bastards.”
“You know the way?” Uriel asked meekly, laying her head low for fear of any stray bullet.
“Yes, remember when we came here for spring break Evan?” Constantine said.
“Maybe!” His friend shouted, scared of the gunfire.
“Wrath, listen to Constantine, and try to keep the car straight.” Mephistopheles told her while rolling down his window.
Wrath cackled loudly. “You’re mad! But I like it. Don’t get yourself killed now and get these worms off our asses.”
Constantine, Uriel and Evan all watched dumbfounded as Mephisto pulled himself out of the car and started shooting towards their attackers. Where he pulled the guns out from, none of them knew. Bullets shot through the air, tearing into the white and blue casing of the car. Even more retaliated back towards them, some narrowly missing Mephistopheles’ head. All the while, Constantine was shouting directions for Wrath to follow. Uriel held her head trying to drown out the chaotic noise around her. In a blink, fortune smiled on both ends. One of Mephisto’s stray bullets landed in the neck of the opposite shooter. His body fell like a log on the side of the car, headfirst into the asphalt. The driver, trying to pull away his partner back in, made a sharp left, straight into an oncoming car. The collision resounded with a deafening blast.
“That should keep them off of us for a while. How much longer Constantine?” The inanimaliat said sitting back down in the car.
“We’re nearly there.” He glanced down at the red trail gathering down on the car seat. ”Mephisto, you’re bleeding.”
He looked down at his left arm, a massive hole adorned his biceps.
“Fuck.” He muttered. He then tore off his shirt sleeve with his other hand, grunting at the pain. Then he wrapped it around his hand with the help of his mouth.
“The bullet’s still in there, but this should stop the bleeding for now.”
“Next time, you drive, and I take the demon-killing business, got it?” Wrath told him mildly agitated.
“Looks like you missed your chance, I won’t be able to drive for a while.”
“We’re here.” Constantine interrupted them, pointing at the massive building in front of them. The Grand Malpha Station, as it was called, was empty of cars or any military vehicles. It was a large dull structure with an arching aesthetic decorated with dozens of yellow-tinged windows.
The five of them quickly got out of the car. Wrath rushed to help Mephisto but he pushed her away, pointing towards the trunk. Evan understood and took out a backpack and a small suitcase, Constantine took out the largest one, and Uriel grabbed the last one. Constantine quickly took it away from her, as she stumbled trying to carry it. Uriel’s face turned a deep red, ashamed that she could barely walk, let alone carry luggage. The pain in her leg seared along with her cheeks.
“You guys got them?” Wrath asked and they nodded. She then turned back to Mephisto and helped him along despite his unwillingness.
The train station was chock full of people. Families, stranded survivors, soldiers trying to keep order and evacuate everyone. A long hangar stood all between them and Constantine. At its very end were three stairs, two on each side leading to an upper floor and one leading down to the platforms. A few policemen noticed the newcomers and made their way towards them, their hands on their firearms.
“Stop right there!” One of them shouted as they got close. “Who are you people?”
“We’re just a family trying to get out of the city like everyone else.” Mephisto addressed them walking forward towards the cops. “I’m sure you fine gentlemen can help us there.”
“The evacuation order was given for a couple days now, what took you lot so long-” The man continued saying before being interrupted by the other.
“You’re bleeding sir, we have a first aid section set up further inside the station, come with us.” He paused and glanced at the others. “The boys and the girl look like they could use some professional help too.” The officer turned back and motioned them to follow.
“Thank you very much sir, we could do with some help.”
“Wait just a minute.” The first man stepped forward, drawing his weapon. “You there, girl, come forward. What’d you got on your back?”
Everyone’s eyes lit up with worry. Constantine looked back at Uriel, her startled gaze lining up with his. Her eyes were begging him to think of something, and fast.
“She’s carrying a backpack.” He spoke up, gulping slightly too obviously. The policeman shot him a piercing look and opened his mouth to speak when suddenly gunfire rang out from a faraway corridor behind them. Screaming followed. Everyone turned to see what was happening. Policemen and soldiers ran out from the large opening shouting orders and appearing distraught.
Constantine immediately took the initiative and rushed past the guards. Everyone followed. The policemen were caught between chasing them and rushing to help their fellow soldiers. The group ran forward across the large open station, everyone’s eyes glued on the faraway corridor as more and more people rushed out, more and more screaming and shouting echoed through the station. Luckily in all the chaos, nobody paid any attention to the five runaways scurrying towards an escape. Suddenly, Constantine stopped, before him a massive crowd of people pushing, shoving, trampling over each other to escape. His mind raced fast, eyes shooting between the crowd and the corridor. A pulsating thumping in his mind as he heard the grotesque screeching of what hellish creature was rushing towards them. He dropped the two suitcases on the ground and pulled out his dagger from the holster strapped to the pocket on his chest.
“Mephisto!” He yelled, trying to make himself heard through all the commotion. “Take these and get Evan and Uriel on a train, doesn't matter where to just get them out of here!”
“What are you doing Constantine?” Uriel shouted back at him, her face cloaked in worry and fear.
“Wrath and I will have to hold this thing off, whatever it fucking is. We need to get you, and all these people here to safety, now!”
“And you think you’re some big fucking fighter all of a sudden?” The angel continued, distraught. “I can fight it-”
“NO! You three are in absolutely NO position to fight it!” Constantine lashed out, stepping towards her, his hand pointing towards her peg-leg. “Especially you!”
“Constantine is right.” Wrath intervened between them, sparing Uriel from getting too hurt at his reaction. “You three need to get out of here, fast. Mephy, take this.” She said, picking up a suitcase and handing it to him with a nod. The demon took it in his right arm. Evan quickly rushed forward and picked up the other suitcase, holding both it and the small luggage in his one hand.
“Buncha cripples can hold some bags I'm sure, c’mon let's go.” He said cheerfully, nodding towards Constantine. He and Mephisto then nudged into Uriel, who was still unmoving and staring at Constantine, before she too turned around without a word and limped toward the exits alongside the waves of people.
Constantine sighed as he watched them leave before he turned to Wrath, who nodded at him. Her horns, wings, and blades slowly revealed themselves beneath a black mist as night had long fallen over the city. The two then calmly walked towards the corridor where the sounds of gunshots, screeching, and people shouting and screaming still rang out.
“Any idea what that might be Wrath?”
“No, but whatever it is, its a nasty piece of work.”
“Just what I wanted to hear.” He said, leaning his head left and right with his neck cracking loudly.
Time to be the sacrificial lamb. He thought.
A large explosion could be heard coming from the section of the building in front of them, as if a massive wall had just collapsed. Both Wrath and Constantine’s bodies were on edge, ready and waiting for a sign of anything out of the dark smog that seeped out of the corridor. Constantine swallowed and peered into the darkness, hoping to finally get a glimpse of the creature. Suddenly, a massive being crashed from above them through the ceiling. Glass, wood and cement shattering underneath its dive. Constantine’s head shot up and saw death coming straight towards him. Instinct alone forced his body to move and he tackled into Wrath, pushing both of them just barely out of the way. He lay on top of her, covering his head as glass shards and debris rained down on them. Somehow, the white jacket he wore was untouched, uncut by the glass. Nothing except a few light scratches on his hands and legs.
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“Are you ok?” He asked as he got off of her.
“Yes, I’m fine, t-thank you. I see Azazel’s goons have kept busy.” She said, stumbling to her feet and pointing her left sword towards the monster that had just collapsed into the station. Dozens of bodies were crushed beneath its massive body. It unfurled itself. Long spindly limbs reached out and supported itself, its skin a sickening white. A set of massive black feathered wings sprouted from its back, stretching upwards to the ceiling before it howled a dreadful howl from its beak. Its entire head was that of a massive crow with tall elongated spiraling antlers sprouting from the back of its skull. Hundreds of thick red nails were driven into its flesh, each nail holding a white parchment paper with bloodied pentagrams scrawled on them. Its head was covered in these seals, with excessive amounts driven into its eyes. As the creature stood on its hind legs, screeching and howling in rage, its head extended upward, with its neck lengthening like a serpent covered in feathers.
“Where do demons find this shit…” Constantine sighed, trying to fight through his fear.
Without warning, the abomination lurched forward and swiped down towards them. Wrath and Constantine both leapt out of the way of the attack before she rushed to its arm and sliced it cleanly off. The beast let out a piercing shriek that shattered the windows all around it. Constantine covered his ears to block the sound before he too began sprinting towards the creature’s body. Its head snapped towards him, and another limb sprouted from the elbow of the one Wrath had just cut off. He was too slow to notice this second attack and the decrepit hand wrapped around him, pulling him into the air.
“Gaaaaah!” He yelled as the surprisingly thin fingers tightened around his body, its claws digging into his chest and stomach. In a blur, Wrath had sprinted towards the beast’s legs and was violently hacking away at it, tearing its sinew and muscles with her claws and her violet swords.
It turned its serpentine head towards Wrath, seemingly annoyed rather than hurt, and lifted its arm high into the air with the intent to bring it down onto her. From his new vantage point, Constantine was directly on top of the behemoth’s head. He was filled with fear, and his limbs felt weak, slowly getting crushed in the beast’s palm.
His dagger fell out of his hand. It fell straight down, and a strange sensation overwhelmed Constantine. Time was slowing to a crawl around him. It felt as if he was floating in the air. The limbs did not cling to him as tightly anymore. The entire train station faded into a black haze around him. Something was floating in front of his eyes, just barely out of reach. It was the dagger he had dropped mere moments ago. His hand moved towards it and grabbed it, and the instant he touched the handle it seemed to pull him back into reality. He screamed in fear and confusion and pain. He was now falling along with the dagger, his previous body fading into mist. The creature’s head was rapidly approaching towards him and in a quick motion Constantine activated the mechanism on his weapon, turning it into a lance. His hands both gripped it tightly as gravity pulled the tip of the blade deep into the crow’s head. As the beast screamed in anguish it arched back its entire body, its wings and limbs thrashing and wildly beating into the floor and nearby walls. Hands still gripping onto the lance, Constantine was now standing at a near right angle to the ground underneath and a wild idea shot through his mind. He ran. He ran down the monster’s neck, pulling the spear through its foul meat. He sliced open its neck, and then its spine, as he ran all the way down in one mad dash. When he was getting dangerously close to running out of creature, he yanked the spear out of the crow-beast and leapt towards a tall piece of debris in front of him. He fell against it with a groan followed by him tumbling off of it and face first onto the floor beneath. In a similar manner, the behemoth collapsed to its knees, its shrill shriek dying down to a mere groan as its entire body slowly fell down onto the main hall of the train station with a powerful thud and shake of the earth.
Constantine tried to push himself up on his legs but his body gave out. He managed to lift his body up on his hands and knees. His eyes found thousands of glass shards on the ground before him. His face reflected in each and every one of them and at the center of all was the holy spear. His mind was racing.
“W-what… what the… the hell…” He mumbled, gasping for air. A hand grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him up. He was startled and almost punched the figure before he realized it was only Wrath.
“Relax! Come on, we have to get out of here.” Wrath said short on breath.
“Did, did you just... Did you just see what I did? W-what the hell, what the fuck was that?” Constantine asked her, his mind racing and distraught.
“Yes it was amazing, now move it.” Wrath replied, worriedly looking back at the creature’s carcass. She stretched her hand towards the spear and picked it up with a shadow tentacle that sprouted from her hand. “Here, take this and go.” She continued, handing it to him.
Constatine hesitated for a second to touch the blade, but he shook his head hard and gave himself a cursory slap to wake up. He then picked it up and turned it back into a dagger. He stumbled forward a step or two but his strength quickly returned to him. Wrath followed him but paused for an extra step, her eyes glued to the monster that lay dead on the floor. Its limbs and wings twitched like a dying rat. She did not like the way the black blood that seeped from its wound bubbled and boiled. Had she waited a second longer, she would have seen the bloodied hand that shot out from the pool of ebon liquid.
Down on the platforms Evan and Mephistopheles were waiting. They took Uriel to the train cabin and told her to wait inside with the luggage and save some spaces for everyone. Despite protests, she agreed. The train itself stood a couple meters away from there, ready and waiting to go as the last few people scurried inside. Fate smiled at them just a touch, as they managed to get the last train to Gausville. It was an older train model that still had wagons separated by a couple of hooks and chains and plastic covering that masked it and made a small tunnel for passing through. The railroad car at the back had people shoving past each other to get through the tiny one man door. Evan’s eyes were peeled on the stairways to the back of the platform, waiting with bated breath for Constantine and Wrath. Their distinct shapes finally took form in the dimmed light as they sprinted towards them.
“Thank God!” Evan shouted excitedly, running to meet them halfway. Mephisto lingered behind to keep an eye on the train, and the increasingly small number of people that still had to board it. Constantine rushed ahead and wrapped his arms around his friend's neck tightly and quickly before patting him on the back and moving on ahead. Evan then turned to Wrath who was slightly behind still.
“Are you two ok? You look ok.” He worriedly asked, gently grabbing her right wrist with his hand.
Wrath was taken with mild surprise at his care. “Y-yes, I’m fine. We’re both fine. Just a bit shaken up. Quick let's get onto that train bef-”
Her thought went unfinished, as the walls that lead up to the higher level of the station exploded outward, sending chunks of brick, cement and glass flying towards her and Evan. Her eyes shot to her left, and the dark silhouette of that same earlier abomination charged toward them, shrieking an ungodly shriek that made them all tremble with terror. It was the sound of a thousand cursed nails scraping against bone, as flesh and meat gets torn with cruel intent. It echoed throughout the station like the damned bells of Hell itself letting fear coursed like poison through the veins of all who heard it.
Wrath acted quickly to protect herself and Evan from the shower of lethal debris, but as the blood-soaked beast kept barrelling towards them, she was not fast enough. The creature lunged towards both of them. One of its hands, covered and dripping with an ink-like substance, reached out and ensnared Evan before she could push him out of the way. The monster raised him high into the air and continued charging, uncaring of the other wall, through the layer of cement and earth behind it and the street on top of that. It kept mindlessly bulldozing forward.
“NO!” Wrath’s feral voice rang out, her dark bat wings unfolding as she chased after the creature, clinging to one of its flailing legs with the help of her purplish tentacles.
Constantine turned around having been tossed forward when the creature broke through the wall. His eyes were wide, and every muscle in his body was tense, ready to give chase after Evan and Wrath. Before he could spring forward however, Mephistopheles yanked him by the jacket, holding him by the shirt as their gazes met. Mephisto looked with a mixture of dread, worry and gritting teeth.
“THE TRAIN! URIEL IS ON THE TRAIN!” He shouted, motioning towards the train that was slowly rearing its engine to leave the station. “Get her out of here Constantine! You have to keep her safe! GO, NOW!”
Constantine blinked, his eyes rapidly moving between the massive hole in the wall on the other side of the rails and the train that was slowly beginning to move away from him. His mind raced, sweat and blood dripping down his forehead. He had to act, he had to make a move. His hands gripped Mephisto’s shoulders and his voice spoke fast, trembling.
“We’ll meet you in Gausville! You take care of them Mephisto, God damn it!” He said. The instant he finished talking his body sprang forward, running on the platform before jumping down onto the railway. His legs pumped along with his heartbeat, chasing after the train. Faster and faster it went, faster and faster he went. His mind devoid of thought, praying that Evan would be safe. He shut his eyes and screamed as his legs kept running, ripping into the rocks under the train tracks. He had to protect Uriel, he had to get on that train, but no matter how hard he sprinted, his goal slowly accelerated away. The distance between them inched further and further apart. Constantine’s eyes went wider and wider, his breath heavier and heavier as his lungs were burning until a single idea shot through his mind. The same wild thought that had saved him against the creature mere minutes ago. He quickly activated the pommel on his dagger, transforming it into a lance. His legs kept running, but his body arched back, his right arm reaching behind him and holding onto the length of his spear. In one desperate motion, the entire momentum of his marathon coursed through his body as his arm propelled the weapon forward. As soon as he let go of the holy spear it coursed through the air like a bolt of divine lightning, accompanied by a powerful thunder that echoed through the tunnel. The unnatural excessive force of the throw slowed his body to a complete stop. His eyes shot up with dread, watching the blade slice the air itself.
And the spear hit.
Its blade sunk into the back door of the wagon as if through silk, stopping halfway through the length of the pole. With it, time began to crawl for Constantine. His eyes glued to the train as the blackness of the tunnel he was in faded and seeped all around. Space seemed to warp as the train slowed down, and seemed to move slightly back towards him. He began to run again, his feet moving as if through tar. The spear shone like a beacon in that abyss, and he jumped towards it, air and gravity proving to offer little resistance as he soared in his arc. He reached out his hand, stretching every bone and muscle in it to reach the holy lance. When his fingers gripped the polearm, the light of the world around him blinded him. The force of his body jumping through the air in such a manner still carried over, and he smashed into the door, breaking it down as he collapsed on top of it. He was on his knees, still gripping the blade stuck in the metal door. His eyes went from terror to unbridled joy as he madly began laughing to himself. He looked back at the rail tracks, and in the distance he caught a phantom glimpse of himself, still arched as if he had just thrown the dagger. A mirage that faded as soon as his eyes focused on it.
Constantine turned back, his body aching and his breath shallow. He coughed, gasping for air as if he had held his breath for too long underwater. Despite this, he had a dumb grin on his face along with tears welling up in his eyes. His mouth opened to speak: “I can teleport… I can... I can… telep... holy... fuck!” Was all that he could think to say.
He finally looked up at the other doorway of the railcar, and saw Uriel standing in its frame. Her hands were cupped over her mouth, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her massive black wings spread wide across the width of the traincar. She understood what had happened. She witnessed Constantine crashing through the door, and the howl before, as well as the noticeable absence of the other three friends. Her wings beat inside the wagon, carrying her forward as she rushed towards Constantine and collapsed on her knees before him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tightly pulled him in, unable to keep herself from sobbing on his shoulder. He reciprocated, pulling her in a warm embrace, his right hand patting her head.
“Hey, hey its fine, we’re going to be fine!” He told her, gritting his teeth.
After a few long minutes of silent crying and embracing, the two got up from the broken door with Constantine turning his spear into a dagger again for ease of retrieval. Shoulder over shoulder, they stumbled forward. Uriel limped on her prosthetic and Constantine limped on his left leg, still weak from that bullet he took so long ago now, especially after exerting himself like this. The two made their way forward through the empty back wagon into the next.
“We found an empty cabin about four wagons in earlier.” Uriel told him, wiping away her puffy red eyes. Constantine only nodded in acceptance. The corridor on the right side of each wagon after the railcar was pretty cramped, making room for the cabins where people stood huddled together. Few paid much notice to the two making their way down the train, many were crying about loved ones that could not make it onboard or too despair-ridden at what had happened to the world to care. A couple noticed Uriel especially, her wings still massive even folded in on her back. They scraped against the doors and windows as she walked behind Constantine, hands gripped to his jacket, but the people didn’t react in any significant manner. Except for a strange older man in a suit that smiled a bit too widely when he saw Uriel walk past. His teeth were bloody. She shuddered. Finally, they reached their cabin and both collapsed on their backs on the softish benches, shutting the door behind them. Their legs dangled symmetrically to the side. In the middle was their luggage and at their heads were some windows through which they could see trees and buildings whizzing by.
“Haah…” Constantine breathed a deep sigh of relief. He turned to Uriel, who was wistfully wrapped with her wings, gently breathing. He wished he could let her sleep and maybe get some himself, but he couldn’t as his mind raced with other worries. He then got up and pulled open one of the suitcases on the floor. He was greeted with a variety of guns, different sizes and types with accompanying ammo.
“What are you doing?” The Angel questioned with a tired voice, now sitting up on her elbows.
“There were demons among the military in the city, there’s a chance there’s some on the train right now.” He responded, strapping a gun and its holster to his belt. “Besides, we’re gonna have to get to Gausville as soon as we can, and we’re gonna need to travel light. You can’t carry this stuff and if I try to carry it all it’ll just slow us down. I'm gonna pack food and water in the backpack and whatever guns I can carry.”
“Give me some too. I can help you carry more.” She said, her eyes glinting with determination. Constantine thought about it for a half-second then nodded, handing her a few weapons.
“This one goes around your ankle, not that one the other one.” He pointed out to her as the angel carefully placed the weapons around her waist belt. Constantine then helped her put the one around her ankle, startling her when he grabbed her leg. “We should get you a jacket, you could carry more ammo that way, actually.” He pulled open another one of the cases and began searching for clothing.
“I saw this earlier, thought you might want it, but then… stuff happened.” Constantine showed Uriel a long overcoat, similar to his, only colored dark black.
“How am I gonna wear that?” She said, pouting and flapping one of her wings.
“G-good point.” He furrowed his brow. His eyebrows then shot up followed by him pulling out his dagger and cutting two large holes near the shoulder area of the jacket. “Here! Try it.”
Uriel nodded, getting up and putting one hand through the sleeve with him holding her as she balanced on her leg. Constantine helped her put her wing through a hole and then the other, accidentally getting a faceful of black feathers.
“Heh, sorry.” She giggled. “So, how’d I look? Its.. comfortable.”
Constantine stared with wide eyes. The coat fit Uriel’s form perfectly, and its dark color matched her wings while contrasting with her sky-blue hair and pale eyes. She looked divine.
“You look .. amazing.” He said, voice awfully quiet. Realizing he had been staring for a bit too long, he blushed and dropped back on his knees and continued handing Uriel different weapons and ammo. He ended with the only rifle they had whose strap she tossed over her shoulder and kept between her wings.
The two continued to pack bullet cases into their pockets for the few guns they had among them. Uriel ended up with three small handguns on her belt, a revolver around her ankle and the rifle on her back. Constantine, on the other hand, was carrying two deagles on his belt, a small submachine gun on a strap on the right side of his coat with a sawed-off shotgun on his back and a single grenade on another holster on his belt. There were a few other guns left in the case but they decided that was enough. As he began packing everything else, one of the guns underneath it all caught his eye. It was an intimidating, ominous revolver. It was covered in a shiny black metal with a skull symbol on each side of the handle. Flowery symbols flowed from the skull as well as a couple playing cards that Constantine recognized as numerous aces of spades. The build looked completely different from the variety of modern guns that he had just piled through, older, and yet strangely alien due to the numerous and strange runic markings all over the weapon. A name that Constantine could read was carved onto the barrel of the gun with sharp, jagged lines: The Death Rose.
“Out of all of them, that one definitely looks like the one that would be most useful against demonic creatures.” Uriel commented.
“Heh, you think?” Constantine chuckled back. “Doesn't seem to have any ammo though...” He then attached the gun to an empty holster on his belt before closing the trunk and sitting back on the bench.
“You know Constantine, we just packed a bunch of weapons on ourselves, but I don't think I have any idea how to use any of them.“ She said blushing.
Constantine could only laugh. “Well, that makes two of us.” He turned to look out the window. “In any case, if things get bad you can just use your light swords or… whatever they are… Haha...”
Uriel’s smile suddenly faded, and Constantine mentally scolded himself for his failed attempt at a joke.
“I wished you would have let me fight with you, we could have killed that.,. thing.”
“No. No we... I… couldn't risk it. Azazel and everyone of those fuckers want you dead. If you die, its over for all of us.”
“So now its only over for three of us?”
Constantine was taken aback by her statement. He stuttered for a second before continuing, his voice noticeably louder. “They’re not dead, Uriel. Wrath is there, and if a bumbling idiot like me can down that... that fucking Wendicrow once, then surely someone on her measure can turn it into minced meat. Especially when angry. They’re not dead, and we’re going to meet them again. In Gausville.”
Uriel was impressed at hearing Constantine’s feat, but before she could ask more she heard something. Constantine heard it as well. He immediately rushed to the cabin door, sliding it and peeking outside. He was startled by a couple men in military gear rushing past him. A distant yelling echoed through the corridor, and a chill ran through Constantine alongside the creeping feeling of deja vu.
“No, no, no, no, NO, not again!” He wailed. He readied his knife and moved forward before Uriel called out to him.
“You’re not leaving me behind again are you?”
“Uriel, please, stay inside. We don't know what this is.”
“God damn it Constantine… you’re gonna get yourself killed!” She said, with sorrow and anger in her echoing voice..
“No, no...” He turned to her and placed his hands gently on her cheeks, staring into her eyes. “I trust you, and you trust me, yes? I protect you and you protect me. Until we get back to everyone, we have to rely on each other. I’m sorry I didn’t before even though you’re clearly much stronger than any of us. I was scared then, and I’m really scared now.” He turned his head and stared down the length of the train as the screaming and shouting started getting louder and louder. “I’ll go see what it is, you stay here until I get back. Even if you came with me, this train is too narrow for you, we might hurt each other in the chaos, ok?” Reluctantly, she put her hands on his and nodded. “Ok, stay here.”
Constantine then gave her a quick kiss on her forehead before sprinting down the passageway. Uriel stepped back into her cabin, pushing aside the baggage on the ground with her foot. She looked out the window and heard the same distraught screaming from before, alongside the yell of people giving order and then gunfire. She couldn’t just sit there. The voices of people desperate for help echoed in her mind. Her blood boiled in her veins and her eyes lit up with golden fire. She placed her hand on the window and it shattered into a thousand pieces. Uriel then climbed out of the train, using her wings to jump on top of the moving machine. Her hands gripped against the grating as she looked on in the back. In the distance she could see the back wagons of the train covered in something that was moving. As her eyes adjusted to the night light she could see them. Dozens of monstrosities, hunched over, their eyes like those of wolves and their skins a crimson bloodied red. Their heads were those of hounds with rabid snarling snouts and their hands clawed at the train ripping it apart and crawling inside to the terrified victims below. They trampled and jumped over each other as they seemed to spring out of nowhere.
They’ll kill everyone, I have to get their attention somehow. Uriel quickly thought to herself. Then the idea struck her. She first embedded her prosthetic leg in between two grates on top of the wagon, allowing her to stand up. The powerful winds at that speed pushed against her, knocking her down a few times. Finally, she was able to stand, and she pulled the long rifle from her back. Left arm under the barrel, right on the trigger, and the gun pressed loosely against her shoulder. She took a deep breath and pulled the trigger, the sudden unexpected recoil sending her flying back almost ripping her leg again, but she caught onto a metallic protrusion before that could happen. Unfortunately, the gun wasn't as lucky, as it slowly fell off the side of the train.
“Fuck.” She muttered. “Well, at least it got the job done.” Uriel told herself, watching as countless hellbeasts were now rushing towards her, clawing at the train and pulling themselves rapidly towards her.
The angel stood up again, unfolding her massive black wings. She put up her arms, crossing them at the elbows as white light emanated from her wrists. Power coursed through her, and her body began to glow in response as her blazing swords of holy fire manifested themselves around her.
Who needs guns anyway?
Down in the train, Constantine shoved past people all trying to run away from danger. He pushed them forward yelling at them:
“MOVE, MOVE UP THE TRAIN!” All while he himself kept moving down the corridor, chasing the few soldiers that were pushing forward as well. Those few soldiers proved to be the first unfortunate victims that Constantine saw. A massive beast leapt as if out of nowhere, its teeth bearing down on the soldier’s face and in an instant its jaws ripped its head entirely clean off, tossing it from side to side before howling a freakish, unnatural howl. Constantine watched, his eyes wide and skin white. With a moment of hesitation, he pulled out the shotgun from his back and shot the beast square in the neck. He blew its head clean off and its body fell limp on the ground. But then it twitched again, as if getting ready to get back up again. With quick thinking, Constantine remembered Katherine’s words from so long ago, and rushed to it, stabbing it over and over with his dagger in the back. Every stab caused a singing whistle to echo from the beast’s flesh, as it began to boil and sear at the holy blade’s touch. With one dead, too quickly three more took its place, and their yellow eyes were fixed on Constantine.
“Come on you bitches.” He said, reloading and shooting again while slowly moving forward.
It didn't matter where the shotgun shells hit, as long as he could knock the beasts down he could finish them off with his bladed weapon. Slowly, one at a time, he cleared the way down the wagons. One by one, he shot his weapons, swung his blade, and reloaded. When he ran out of shells for the shotgun, he switched to one of his deagles, a much less effective weapon as the Hellhounds needed multiple shots to be put down.
While he was finishing off one, another caught him by surprise, pouncing on him and clawing at his neck. His dagger was faster however, and it shot through the beast as it transformed into a spear. It ripped its still beating heart out of its body as the beast made a simple gurgled whimper. Constantine stumbled to his feet, clutching at his neck. Luckily, it was only a mild shallow scratch that stretched down to his chest. He lost his gun. But that wouldn't stop him as he pulled out the next one. It took a half-second to realize it was The Death Rose as he grasped it firmly in his left arm. A hellbeast charged towards him with a killing intent in its rabid yellow eyes.
The beast leapt.
He pulled the trigger.
Thorns lashed out from the handle of the weapon, painfully wrapping around his wrist and stabbing into his veins. His blood flowed into the weapon, and it went alight with righteous flame. A single piercing bullet shot through the creature’s mouth and out of its skull like a ray of glorious light. The beast erupted in flames, consumed by the holy bullet almost instantly. Its body vaporized while still airborne into a wet red mist that lingered. When the other beasts mindlessly charged after him, they were purified by the blood vapors. Their skin turned black and burned as they howled in pain. They thrashed wildly, tearing off their flesh only to expose the muscles beneath to the same agony. Constantine counted five beasts that died from the savage tearing of their own limbs off in pain or by melting from the purifying mist. It could have been more, he couldn't tell through his own misery. His left wrist was bleeding profusely when the thorns receded. He was on his knees, pressing down on his arm to quell the bleeding. For a brief moment he saw the beasts take pause, not daring to cross the slurry of molten bones and flesh that lay between them and Constantine. He looked down the rest of the corridor, an unending wave of beasts still barrelling towards him. Too many. With determined thought, Constantine placed the hallowed weapon back in its holster and looked down at his belt.
Uriel’s swords shot through the air, in wide arcing motions, following the almost dance-like movement of her hands. The fire blades sliced through swathes after swathes of sinew, flesh, and guts igniting the cursed bodies of the beasts. Their dying howls echoed through the night and wind howled with them. But the waves kept coming. Some were getting dangerously close to her, but just in the nick of time she shot her hand forward. Uriel sent a flaming sword straight through the creature’s head, slicing it in half. She was vulnerable from her unmoving position, but if she started flying she risked falling off the train.
“How about this then?” Uriel shouted, her mind brimming with an idea. She placed her hands on her shoulders, gathering her swords around her and jumped. As her body floated in the air, the train moved unstopping further ahead. The movement brought the hellish dogs closer to her, and her blades. Uriel flew closer into the middle of them all, chopping and dicing dozens as she spiraled through the air on her way before she stuck her foot down and stopped her momentum with the help of her wings. She was surrounded. Without breath the beasts leapt at her, and her eyes shined with glorious light as a rain of blades fell down around her pinning the beasts to the train. Their burning carcasses evaporated to dust and ashes and Uriel kept dancing on their graves. Her holy swords danced with her as the horde kept coming. She was powerful, agile, but not yet untouchable.
A hellhound snuck up on her, pouncing with its claws outstretched and meeting their marks, her face. Uriel was slammed head first into the roof of the train. A yell escaped her lips before the beast was ripped to shreds by her swords. But this blow was enough to make her head dizzy as she got back on her feet. Her movements were slurried now, not quick enough to prevent every single blow anymore. First a few creatures managed to get scratches on her, then another got close enough to pounce on her before Uriel killed it as well. One managed to land a particularly deep gash in her right side above her hips. There were too many of them. Fear gripped her as her breath got shallower and shallower. The beasts seemed to get closer and closer to her.
Uriel heard it before she saw it. And felt it after that as it knocked her on her back. A massive explosion ripped apart the train wagon in front of her. Wood, iron and glass along with flesh, muscles and bones flew up into the air, before raining down. Dozens upon dozens of beasts fell down on the tracks and were rapidly run over, a massive hole now rested on the side of the wagon. But still it remained connected, wobbling over but still moving forward despite the missing wheels. A familiar voice called out to Uriel, but it was faded and quiet. Her hearing was blown by the thundering noise. Slowly the constant ringing faded and she could hear Constantine calling out to her.
“URIEL, CUT THE TRAIN!” She finally heard him yelling his lungs out from down on the train.
Her eyes went wide, and lit up with righteous fury. She clasped her hands together coalescing her swords into one, massive singular sacred flame. It was the dead of night, and yet the light from this fire shone like the dawn. Her right hand shot up in the air and then the angel brought it down onto the roof of the train. The blade fell like a guillotine, crushing what remained of the wagon after the grenade explosion. More pieces of wood, glass and iron shot everywhere, but the deed was done. When the sword evaporated to white mist, both Uriel from on top of the wagon and Constantine from within could see the fruits of their labor.
The train had been cut in half, and the hellbeasts were on the wrong half. The wagons that had been cut off slowed down further and further, no longer having any engine to pull it along. Smaller and smaller they looked as they fruitlessly stopped to a crawl and began sprinting down the rail tracks. But the train kept moving forward and soon, they were too far to see. The holy glow around Uriel’s eyes faded, and the night claimed all once more. She took deep, long breaths, clutching at her side. She heard Constantined do the same, collapsing on his back as he was. She laughed, and then her laughter turned to tears in desperation. How much longer was she going to dance with death as she did now. How much longer would she risk the lives of those she cared about as they tried to protect her?
Her worries faded as she heard Constantine scream and yell triumphantly. A mixture of “WOOOO!” and “FUCK YES!” could be heard. “You’re fucking amazing Uriel” was the one that made her smile and wipe away her tears. With renewed vigor, the angel quickly made her way back down into the wagon down the side of the wall she had just cut through, with Constantine noticing and helping her get inside. No words were necessary as both sat on the floor away from the edge and faced each other. They were still bleeding, in agonizing pain, and beyond exhausted but their success gave both the strength to chuckle. They turned and stared at the crescent moon, the distant howling of the defeated hellhounds echoing through the night.