The Gospel of the Font

Chapter 14

I don't know who this fucker is, but the extent he and his pals went to in order to completely screw us is astounding. We thought we were being clever by having Walter and Karen in amongst the crowd to keep an eye out for trouble. We didn't count on an entire group of assholes doing the same thing. These guys blended perfectly into the crowd, not tipping off anyone.

We've come across violent groups before, but never anything this well-orchestrated. These guys came in with a plan. I hear guns cocking all around me, so I know I'm surrounded. The smirk on this guy's face indicates this is probably checkmate.

The crowd has dispersed, leaving only me, my friends, this guy, and the thugs he came with. Dr. Keller ran off with the crowd, leaving the notebook on the ground. The shotgun guy is still smiling at me, glaring like a cat that's cornered a mouse. His hands twist slowly around the body of the weapon like he's trying to get to second base with it or something.

"Faith Meade," he says in his booming voice. His muscles push against his tight, red shirt, making it look like someone just covered him with red paint. "I finally get to see you up close." He laughs to himself. "Well, up close without the use of a scope."

My heart was already in my stomach, but what he just said is making it do cartwheels. "What do you mean by that?" I ask, trying not to let my voice shake.

He grins bigger. His white teeth contrast brightly against his very dark skin. "I must say, you look better without a cross-hair over your head."

"It was you," Tim says softly, but sternly. "You're the asshole that... that..."

"Tried to take her out after the flood," the man says, finishing Tim's sentence for him. "I was upset when that plan failed, but it was worth it to get to see you here, face to face."

"Just who the fuck are you?" I ask.

The man takes the shotgun in his left hand and extends his arms out. "I am Samuel Greer," he says. "And we are the Red Letter Redeemers."

My eyes go wide. I've heard that name before. There was a website we came across not too long ago for a group called the Red Letter Redeemers. It didn't seem like a big deal at the time; well, no bigger than all the other anti-me websites that had been popping up like weeds all over the web.

"I take it you've heard of us," Samuel says.

"Just another group of nut-jobs," I reply. "Nothing I haven't seen before."

Samuel takes his shotgun in both hands again and points it right at my forehead. There is no more smile on his face. This shit-head is serious now. "I'm not like anything you've seen before, soldier of Satan!" he shouts.

"Why?!" I hear Molly shout from my left.

We all turn to look at her. She looks both scared and flustered, wanting to cry but too angry to spare the tears. "Why are you doing this?!"

"You should know that better than anyone," replies a newcomer.

It's been a long time since I've heard that voice. I haven't had to listen to his annoying ramblings since that day on the highway right before the flood. I turn to face Samuel again as Allustar emerges from behind him. The Angel of Annoyance is dressed in a solid white suit with a bright, white trench coat. He's carrying a silver cane topped with a gold ball.

"Shit," Tim says. "Not this guy again."

Allustar is facing Molly, his eyes filled with a sort of calm anger. Molly, on the other hand, looks fucking terrified.

"A... Allustar..." she manages to squeak out.

"The task was given to you first, was it not?" Allustar asks. His tone is like a parent scolding his child, but there's a big difference between missing your curfew and failing to commit murder. "You already failed your assignment from the Lord and it was passed to another follower; one of stronger faith."