Fallen

Chapter 20

Eliza

Just like that, Gavin had disappeared again! I snarled in frustration, kicking a bench and immediately regretting it when my toe screamed out in pain. Nathan just looked at me, appearing mildly amused by the scene.

"What?" I challenged. Nathan quickly looked away and started whistling. Like that wasn't suspicious. The pain in my toe receded to a dull throb. Immediately after that, I began marching toward the door.

"Where are you going?" he called after me. 

"Where do you think?" I asked defiantly. I pointed to the door and the world outside. "Those fires have got to be other demons, right? I'm going to take a few down."

"Gavin told us to stay out of it," Nathan reminded. I scoffed at the mention of the fallen angel.

"And when did I say I was going to follow his orders?" I asked, challenging the priest to do something to stop me. I was more than a little surprised when all he did was smile back.

"I had a feeling you'd be hard to tie down," he said wearily, shaking his head. He quickly became serious once again. "There will be innocents caught in the crossfire. Send them here and I will place them under my protection until this night has passed."

"Will do," I said, still a little in shock from how fast Nathan had agreed with my course of action. I headed for the door, shoving it open roughly.

"Good luck!" Nathan shouted. I nodded, it was all I could do before I started jogging down the sidewalk, leaving the church behind. Of course, I hadn't thought of where to go, but it wasn't hard to figure it out. Sirens were blaring out from all directions. I just had to pick one and roll with it.

I jogged down streets and alleys, following the sound of sirens through the unfamiliar city. After a while, I could feel the air beginning to warm up as I neared a fire. Not too long after, I found the source of the heat. A team of fireman were combating a roaring mountain of light and heat exploding out of a low, brick building. The massive jets of water they commanded didn't put a dent in the dense flames. They couldn't know the true cause of the fire, but it was all too apparent to me. I could taste it in the air, the sulfur and the ash so like the monster that I'd failed to face earlier that night. I clenched my hands into fists, silently swearing that I would never be so afraid again right before I charged forward, rushing past the firemen and into the searing blaze.

Looking back, it wasn't the smartest course of action. The clouds of smoke inside the building clawed into my throat and stung my eyes, and the heat took what little breath I had left away quickly, knocking me to my knees. I cursed my stupidity, but at the same time my stubborn streak took over and forced me to my feet once again. I tore a strip of cloth from the bottom of my shirt and tied it around my mouth to block out some of the billowing smoke and trudge further through the sparking fires. I could already hear the howl of the demon within, its terrible hunger consuming the building and anything else within its reach. It was the same time that I heard the crying.

It was weak, barely audible over the crackle and roar of the flames, but it was there. A baby's cry, here in the middle of this complete and utter destruction. I paused, feeling my heart drop. I couldn't leave it. I ran as fast as I could, dodging through debris as the building's interior crumbled around me. Despite the smoke, the baby was still finding enough air to cry loud enough to give off a signal for me to follow, but I heard the demon getting louder as well. Clearly I wasn't the only one looking for the newborn. Anger and fear surged through my body, forcing my legs to move faster and faster. I'd be damned if I was going to allow that creature to lay a hand on that child!