Until The End Of Time

Chapter 20.1. Endgame

Warning: Suicidal Triggers.

The sudden decrease in numbers at the camps didn't raise any alarm at first, but soon, everyone noticed. Everyone talked about it. Fear and speculations spread like a virus. The director board tried everything in their power, but it wasn't easy to cover the fact that hundreds of people had simply disappeared. Gone without a trace. Those missing people's loved ones naturally kept their mouths shut.

It had been two depressing and worry-filled weeks for Ruby. Both her sister and angel were gone. That day when Kye didn't come back, Ruby knew something was up. Strange natural phenomena happened all day, and it wasn't like her sister to leave the camp without telling her about it. She talked to Gadreel, who gave her a grave look that Ruby had rarely seen before.

"He's back," he said. "He needs us."

"Who?" Ruby was deeply confused.

"Michael. Your sister is with him. I have to go with my brothers and sisters, but we will come back. Soon, I hope... I will come back to you."

That was basically all he said, but where would they go? What would they do? When would they be back? He didn't say.

Ruby decided to pull the ultimately shameless move. Tears, a lot of them, and some petty, empty threats. She needed Gadreel to spill a little more. After a lot of back and forth, he told her that they—the angels—had been summoned to a mission led by Michael. They would save everyone in Ayham and other places Raphael had laid claim. Still not as specific as she liked, but at least something. It was not like she could help or stop him from doing it.

And Ruby knew the situation in the city had gotten worse every day. She had lost contact with her family a while back. Many had been killed trying to get in or out of Ayham. The camp policies had changed to ensure that people didn't sneak out. Many still had families or friends in Ayham so it was understandable that everyone was sitting on fire. Ruby wanted to, so badly, to disregard the rules, but Bobby and Gadreel had kept a close eye on her. Before he left, Gadreel had also made her promise not to do anything rash. Such as following him. He would know and, that would distract him greatly. Ruby had been through enough to know that distraction could be deadly. So, here she waited, like a good fool.

***

Their footsteps crunching on dried leaves broke the forest's silence. It was quiet, a little too much to Kye's liking. It set her nerves on hyper-alert and made her jumpy. The only good thing was she had Michael, who clutched her hand tightly every time he sensed her fear or anxiety.

Kye looked around in wonderment. It seemed that they were in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but miles of green in all directions. She could tell that they were far from the camp. The vegetation looked very different. It must be somewhere up north with this many lush deciduous trees. The air was also dryer, and the temperature was lower. Kye shivered as she spotted an animal with huge antlers which she knew had gone extinct around Ayham. What a sight.

They stood together for a few minutes before Kye spotted some movements. By Michael's body language, he wasn't surprised. Out of the thick tree line, hundreds of people appeared and approached them. Zaaphiel was in front of the group. Everyone was walking in complete silence and order; no one talked or even looked at the others, but somehow, they all stopped at the exact same time.

Michael scanned the group and nodded.

"Brother."

They all said at once. Their voice was powerful, but it was still English. Kye knew that if they had spoken in Enochian, her eardrums would have ruptured. It would not be the filtered version Michael had used with her before.