School of Angels

Chapter 16 - The End of Everything

Jim looked for Mortimer, but it was as if the earth had swallowed him up. Not a trace. He hadn't returned to Brian's house, and Jim didn't find him in his human apartment either. Maybe Mortimer had gone back to the demons without telling him, Jim thought. Maybe there was something important that needed his immediate attention.

But why didn't he tell me? Jim wondered as he paced around Brian's living room. I would've gone with him. Or did he want me to stay here with Brian, Sally, and Adam for a little longer?

These thoughts buzzed around Jim's head on a foggy Tuesday morning. By then, Jim had already made up his mind. He was going back to the lair of the demons. He dressed in his familiar black clothes - black shirt, black pants, black boots - and prepared for the dangers ahead. The sky was still overcast, as it had been for days. The sun hadn't appeared in what seemed like forever, and Jim took it as a bad omen. He didn't tell anyone where he was going, not even Gabriel. He didn't want to face a barrage of questions or arguments. Gabriel probably wouldn't agree with his decision anyway, and Jim wasn't ready to oppose him directly.

He left with mixed feelings. On the one hand, the moment he stepped outside, he missed the warmth and safety of home - the sense of security that came with being a child. But on the other hand, he longed for adventure again. He wondered how the demons would react to his sudden return. Did they know by now that he had never really been on their side? Or were they so busy with their plans that they wouldn't notice?

Can I just walk in, pretend nothing's changed, and continue my role? Or will they see right through me? Jim knew this was a dangerous game. If they suspected him, he'd be in for a brutal fight. They'd probably try to interrogate him, find out how much the Angels knew about their plans. But Mortimer wouldn't risk that without a good reason. If there was danger, Jim had to help. They had been partners for years - friends, even.

I'll have to be extremely careful, Jim told himself as he approached the familiar hidden entrance. He crouched down and waited, hoping to overhear something useful. The rain dripped steadily around him, soaking his clothes, but he didn't move. Hours passed before two demons finally appeared, deep in conversation.

Jim held his breath and remained completely still.

"Everything's going perfectly according to plan," said one of the demons, a tall, scarred brute. His companion nodded silently.

"It's going well, yeah."

"Sending a spy back to the Angels was a smart move. Now we know exactly what to expect," the demon added with a grin as they disappeared into the lair.

Jim felt his blood run cold.

A spy?

His mind raced. We didn't expect that. Why would the demons send a spy to us? What could they possibly gain?

Then it hit him. Of course! They want to know how much we know about their plan, what we're going to do to stop it.

Panic gripped him. This is bad. They know everything. But who's the spy?

Suddenly, the realization hit Jim like a punch in the gut. If there is a spy, why haven't they discovered our mission in the first place? Maybe because we told no one.

Mortimer had warned me not to reveal our true purpose. If we had, we'd be dead by now. Jim felt a brief sense of relief knowing that Gabriel hadn't told anyone the source of their information.

But if they have a spy, they may already suspect Mortimer and me. And if that's true, then Mortimer is in serious danger right now. Maybe he's being interrogated as I stand here.