Matt jumped at the sound. They had dozed off unexpectedly. His sudden movement woke up Casey too. He quickly covered her mouth just in case she yelled out. There was someone in the house. Were they all back? He cursed himself for being so careless. Any slip up could cost them.
Casey's eyes were wide with fear, waking up from a deep sleep she feared the worst. Matt quietly assured her they were fine.
They heard footsteps, lots of them. The cult WAS back. Matt removed his hand from Casey's mouth and put a finger up to his lips telling her to stay quiet. He looked at his phone, 11:02, the cult were right on time.
Matt and Casey needed to wait for the sound of the members going down to the basement before they even thought of moving. They listened closely and could hear some muffled chatter. If they went into any of the closets down there Matt knew he and Casey were dead. The cult would see the gas and propane tanks then search the house, and it would be over.
Luckily, at 11:25, the cult descended to the basement. They were in the clear. Matt and Casey got up and stood beside the open door. He slung the backpack over his shoulder and peered down the staircase, making sure they were good to go. He signaled two more minutes to Casey. They needed to be sure there were no stragglers milling around downstairs.
Matt led the way down. They could now hear the voices in the basement through the closed door, chanting in unison. Matt and Casey communicated through hand gestures. Almost immediately they got out the tanks and spread them out throughout the living room, trying to be as quiet as possible. Matt put one right next to the basement door and another in front of the front door.
The others they spread out. Next was the gas. They would have to be careful now. The smell would be strong, once they poured it things would move fast. They would also have to push the two big wooden pieces of furniture in front of the basement door. They each held a can, Matt gave Casey a nod and they poured........ everywhere.
"Jesus, that stinks." Casey whispered.
The whole first floor was covered in it.
"Help me move these two things." Matt said to her in a whisper.
Together they pushed the two pieces in front of the door. The furniture they used had to weigh over five hundred pounds each. A week ago they would not have been able to move it, but their newfound chosen one strength was coming in handy. Those two pieces along with the amount of fire that would soon be consuming the door would keep the cult in the basement for sure.
But just in case, Matt took the rope he had in his backpack and tied the doorknob to the railing that led upstairs, which would make it even harder for anyone to get out.
They were almost home. The smell of gas would soon be creeping down the basement stairs. Matt held a match as they both backed up to the stairs that led to the second floor. Throw the match, run upstairs, head for the tree outside the window, climb down, watch the house blow sky high, then go home. Simple.
Matt looked at Casey who nodded to him. It was time. He struck the match, raised his hand to throw it, and then..... bang! His hand was covered by a black glove, snuffing out the flame. He was then punched in the face by the same black glove.
Before she could react Casey was hit also, by the same man, sending her on her back against the stairs, covering her in gasoline.
Matt got to his feet. There he was now, face to face with what they thought was the leader of the cult. The tall man stood before them, his long black hair hung wildly in his eyes now.
Matt knew he couldn't let the man open the basement. He went to move on Matt but was too late. He lit another match, and this time he didn't hesitate. He threw it and the room immediately went up in flames. Not the way he had planned it but it would have to do.
"Go!" Matt screamed to Casey. "Go now!"
She hesitated for a second. She didn't want to leave him, but the house was already engulfed in flames and her clothes were covered in gas.
She reluctantly ran up the stairs and headed for the window, praying Matt would be close behind.
Matt lunged for the man, who easily had six inches on him. The guy grabbed him and tossed him aside into the wall, putting a hole in the drywall. He tried to get up. Through the burning fire he could hear the other members of the cult screaming from the basement. The heat was getting unbearable. The basement door was on fire.
He COULD NOT let them get out. Matt knew he had to attack his enemy at the knees. The leader moved to let the others out but Matt dove across the floor. Leading with his legs he delivered a kick to the side of the big man's knee, sending him to the ground in pain.
The propane tanks would soon be going off like bombs any minute. He needed to get out of there. Matt pounced on the man, punching him in the face over and over, breaking his own knuckles as he felt the man's nose and cheek bones break under his blows. He was a worthy adversary though, as he kicked Matt off of him, sending him into the far wall. Matt's sleeve caught fire and he had to snuff it out with his bare hand.
They both stood, staring at each other for a second, gasping for air. The smoke was getting to both of them. If the fire didn't get them they would be unconscious from smoke inhalation soon. Again, they charged each other, it was going to be a fight to the death.
If Matt knew one thing, it was that this guy couldn't get out of this house alive, even if that meant he didn't either. A sacrifice he knew he might have to make.
The man used his height advantage to get Matt in a choke hold from behind, mix that with the smoke and Matt felt himself fading out of consciousness.
The thought of Tyler and Casey gave him one last burst. He wasn't going out like this. He leaned his head forward and jerked it back, delivering a crushing headbutt that sent the man staggering back as he released Matt, who in turn smashed his fist into the man's face, shattering it.
Matt moved for the stairs, smoke now filled the top floor too. He turned to the man one last time as he reached into his backpack that was on the first step of the staircase. He pulled out both grenades. The man had gotten to his feet and eyed up Matt, daring him.
There was no way he thought Matt would do it, if he did he would die too. Only this man and his fellow cult members were willing to die for what they wanted, or so he thought. Matt pulled both pins and stared at the man.
"You lose." Matt dropped the grenades and headed for the stairs.
YOU ARE READING
The Chosen Ones
Fantastique"I'm going to tell you a story." The beautiful stranger said. "But before I do, I need you to clear your mind, and be open to everything I'm going to say." Matt nodded. Something had brought her here, and he needed to find out what it was. Little di...
