Chapter Twenty-Three

He shook his head in disgust and dropped the newspaper down on the table. There was no way Vince could believe some vicious animal came out of the dark and slaughtered some poor hunter. Why weren’t there any witnesses to the attack? Surely if this man was killed in a campsite at the foot of the mountains, someone must have seen the animal as well.

No, this was no normal animal. In his gut, he knew the death-bringer was nothing short of a Dreamkiller. Just as his mother had warned, the killings have already begun. The difference between then and now is that back then Orion was waging a war to reclaim his book and now he wants to claim the Forbidden Realms.

He had deliberately avoided making contact with Mykella last night. He didn’t want to tell her that hell had risen and that mankind would end sooner than they had expected.

He had decided that he would leave Pigeon Forge later today and head out west in an attempt to make the gap between them and Samantha larger. If he had to go to Miami, then so be it. If he had to go to Hawaii, then that’s where he’ll go. No matter how far he had to go, he must not let the Dreamkillers near the women he loved.

There were plenty of times last night when all he could think about was finding ways to strike against Orion. All he had to do was find where the bastard is staying and then slit the fucker’s throat in his sleep.

But he had kept his word. He would not go back on his promise to his mother and wage a war against Orion when it is really not his war to be waged. Unfortunately, he did not make the rules in this sick game.

He tossed what clothes he had used into a bag with the intent to wash them later, went down to the dining room and shoved down a quick breakfast of two bagels and cream cheese; he would get a coffee at a gas station on the way. He stood and tossed down several dollars for a tip and left the hotel.

Once he sat down in his car he glanced in the rearview mirror and saw what he expected to see. Orion was sitting in his car across the street watching every move he made and when he saw that Vince had started his car, he did the same. “This is going to be fun,” Vince whispered and drove out of the parking lot in the direction of the interstate.

He glanced down at the fuel needle and saw that he still had more than half a tank and so he decided on avoiding the gas station until later. He could do without his morning coffee for one day. The day.

Vince took in as much of the sights as he could. He paid attention not to the attractions but to the people and noticed how happy they appeared. He expected to see the mushroom cloud on the horizon killing millions within a few seconds.

How happy they looked. How naive.

He looked in his mirror and saw that Orion was still on his tail and he smiled as he turned onto the entrance ramp. “Okay, motherfucker, let’s see if you can keep up with my ass now.” The grip on his steering wheel loosened and his right foot floored the accelerator.

Vince had been swerving in and out of the cars in front of him going better than a hundred miles per hour. Every now and then he would look in his mirror and keep track of where Orion was. He had been able to keep up but he was pretty far back, perhaps eight or nine cars back.

He looked and saw that Orion had slowed and he was about to contemplate this action, but when he looked forward, he realized his mistake. He must have passed the State Patrol going at least ninety and it took him a while to slow his car down to be able to safely pull off the road.

When he stopped, “Shit!” he said and shook his head in disgust – with himself – and watched the patrolman exit his car and approach him.

“In a hurry?”

Vince looked up and shook his head.

“License and registration and proof of insurance, please.”

Vince leaned forward and pulled his wallet from his back pocket and before he could do anything else, he happened to glance once in the mirror. He saw Orion cut over three lanes, taking out the police officer before the poor man could see what was coming.

Vince was still staring out his window, hands trembling on the steering wheel, as he watched the dead man fly into the air and come crashing down several yards away into the middle lane like a rag doll. If Orion did not kill him, the other cars that hit him before realizing what it was surely did the job.

He closed his eyes for a moment (this is not the way he wanted to begin the day) and then opened them with a new-formed hatred in his soul. He had never realized what kind of hate he could have for this being until now. Yes, Orion would bring the end of the human race as everyone knew it, but when he saw the bastard actually kill an innocent man in cold blood,

He opened his eyes and saw Orion’s car up ahead and let his foot drop on the accelerator. Whatever he had promised his mother – and maybe even to God – he had to break. Orion must be stopped; he could not bear to see more people die like this.

He crossed over into the middle lane and caught up with Orion; and when they were side by side, Vince looked over and glared at Orion. He had every intention of pushing Orion’s car off the side of the road, but when Orion began yelling at him, he changed his mind. He wanted to hear what the beast had to say.

“Take me to the Forbidden Realms, Vincent!” Orion was grinning; he never once looked in front of him. “I will let the human race live if only you take me there now.”

Vince looked and saw that Orion wasn’t even driving the car. Where the bastard’s hands were, he didn’t know.

Orion was staring hard at Vince for a short time and then smiled. “I will not harm Mykella or her mother. I give you my word in the name of the god Orion.”

He was staring back at the monster with tears in his eyes as he knew he betrayed the ones he loved. In his peripheral vision he saw an exit coming up and so he slammed on his brakes, nearly avoiding getting hit in the rear, and crossed over and pulled his car onto the exit ramp.

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If this had been Vincent’s mother, Orion would have been irate at what had just happened. Instead he laughed out loud and took the next exit without so much as a further thought, turned his car around, and went back to where he broke from Vincent.

At the moment, Vince didn’t know where he was. He scanned the area and saw a gas station and headed in that direction.

He pulled the car up to a pump and sat there for a moment. He knew that he had to call Krieger and warn him of what’s coming his way. He should probably call Karl and tell him what’s going on and ask him if he could be persuaded into helping Krieger if the worst was to happen.

Maybe I could surprise the bastard after all, he thought and then grinned. A decoy in the west and the slaughter of Dreamkillers in the east. If he pisses Orion off enough, surely he would send his Dreamkillers to attack Samantha. But what if they were waiting? What if they launched a counter-offensive before those damned Dreamkillers knew what was hitting them?

While he was standing beside his car, letting the Total Gallons/Total Price meter on the pump roll past the forty dollar mark, he was planning what to tell Karl; he did not expect to stay away from Orion for very long. As he thought about this, he began regretting their last departure.

He had not trusted his best friend. He didn’t want to believe that a spirit – the innocent girl he was destined to protect – would desire anything of the flesh. Doesn’t matter now; Dreamkillers on the rise and the Forbidden Realms to protect.

He returned the pump and happened to glance into the side mirror and spotted Orion standing across the street, arms folded in front of his chest, leaning against his car.

“You kinda look like the Grim Reaper, the way you’re staring at me!” Vince grinned and shook his head. He slid his credit card back into his wallet and then put it into his back pocket. He opened the door and sat down and remained still for a moment. He didn’t know where he should go from here. Perhaps he should drive to Miami; at least he would have a good amount of distance between everyone.

No, he thought. This is not a vacation. This is war.

He looked into the mirror and saw that Orion had returned to the seat of his car as well.

And the enemy is right behind me.

He slammed the door, turned the ignition, and drove out of the station and passed Orion. Upon passing, “I don’t have to be in Chicago just to get to them. You know that, right?”

Vince slammed his fist into the dashboard. “Shit!” He was already ready for the onslaught there and Orion followed him here. He had forgotten that the bastard could just simply go into Samantha’s dreams whenever he wanted to.

He drove past without saying a word. One swing. Just one; then I’d be happy. He shook his head in disgust and began training his brain to think of alternate scenarios. Now he had to come up with a way to keep Orion with him. He had to find a hotel so he could call his friends and prepare them for battle.

He would also have to confront Mykella on this issue. Maybe she would have a suggestion or two. He glanced up from his thoughts and, as if God had listened to his silent prayers, he noticed a small motel off to the left.

As he pulled into the dirt parking lot he grinned and saw that he didn’t have any trouble finding a parking space in this deserted lot. He remembered an old movie his father used to watch a lot. Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock. Lovely little film, really.

He stepped out of the car and headed for the admissions desk. “Norman? Is that you?” he whispered behind a grin and found the desk but did not find anyone to book him a room.

He saw one of those loud and obnoxious silver bells with “Ring for Service” stickers attached to it. He put his finger on the top and pressed the bell and no more than a minute later a tall man in suspenders came walking into the room.

“What can I do ya for?”

Vince had to admit that when the man would speak, he thought he would smell the foulness of either alcohol or something he had eaten just before. He was pleasantly mistaken when all he could detect was a breath mint.

“I need a room for the night – maybe more.”

The man nodded and looked past Vince. “Anyone else stayin’ with you? Lady friends?”

Vince shook his head with a smile. “No. She’s back in Chicago right now. It’s just me.”

The man reached below the counter and pulled up a large book and opened it. He turned it to face Vince and laid a pen down on the page. “I’ll need you to sign this log,” he said and Vince nodded as he took the pen and signed his name below the name above his. “Will it be cash or charge?”

With his head looking down at the book, “Charge,” he replied and the man went into a small room behind the counter.

He laid the pen down and looked around the room. This was a motel in the middle of Nowhere USA. There were no posters advertising anything on the dark-paneled walls. As he looked, he also noticed that there weren't even any stuffed heads hanging for all to see. Like the fictitious Norman Bates, this poor soul probably lives here at this motel.

He happened to look over his shoulder and caught a glimpse of Orion’s car as it drove up into the parking lot next to Vince’s.

When the man came back, carrying a small credit card carbon copier, Vince gestured out the door without looking too suspicious. “There’s a man going to ask for a room after me. Please don’t put him next to my room.”

“There isn’t going to be trouble, is there?” the man replied as he took a glance over Vince’s shoulder.

At that Vince caught a fraction of a glance at the crucifix dangling around the man’s neck which he hadn’t seen before because of the man’s high-collared checkered flannel shirt. He looked up into the man’s face. “I didn’t bring trouble. I can’t say anything for that man.” He paused and handed over his card and the man copied it and handed it back with a room key. He took it and turned. “If I were you, I’d pray that everything will be alright. If we both live tomorrow, it will be a blessing from the Lord.”

The man smiled and nodded. “Amen to that.” And just as Vince pushed open the door, “You have a good day, Sir.”

Once he was safe inside his room he locked the door and went over to the phone and plopped his tired body down on the bed. He dialed the number and waited for Krieger to answer his call.

When he heard the tired voice of his professor on the other end, “It’s Vince. I think you’ve got hell coming your way.”

Krieger cleared both his throat and his thoughts. “Vince. What are you talking about?”

“Orion has been busy making new Dreamkillers and I think they may be coming after Samantha.” He didn’t waste time with any pleasantries; he didn’t have time. “I’m still letting Orion follow me and we’re pretty far from you guys now. But the creatures could be used in his place.

I’m going to call Karl and see if he’ll help and by the time they get to you two, they won’t know what hit them.”

“What? Now wait just a damned minute! You wanted me to watch over Samantha – that’s it. And that’s what I’m doing. I’m no warrior.”

Vince smiled in spite of his heavy thoughts. “I don’t think the creatures are strong enough for any serious fighting. I don’t think it would be hard to fight them.” He looked out the window and saw the shadow of Orion walk past his window. “Besides, we’ve all got to learn to be warriors. The battle has begun.”