Eight and ancients

Chapter 13 Destiny March 16 2026

I walked through the trees bits of mud squirting so far up it got to my face. I use the bark of the tree next to me to stable myself. I've been out here for almost an hour, no one has called or texted.

My head was pounding from the heat, it probably didn't help that I was straining myself to think of only the number seven. If there was well is seven dead bodies that means we have the seven lamp stands but we still need seven stars. I'm determined to find whatever the seven stars are.

I sat down on a tree stump trying to catch my breath and slow my breathing. I grabbed the book of revelation from my bag knowing that I read it more than 40 and words on a page can't change. I keep looking for something I missed. There has to be something I missed. I person or something that happens when a seal breaks.

My phone rings from within my bag.
Caller ID : unknown I hesitate then side the phone answer button.

"Hello"
"Destiny, is this you."
"Who's asking?"
"It me Alex."
"Oh yeah It's Destiny. So why are you calling."
"I just need to know how everything is going."
"What you are over watch now."
"Yeah give me a pink shirt and call me Felicity."
"Oh my god you got the Reference, anyway not good. At least not on my end, we found seven dead bodies and like nothing else besides some blood stained leaves."
"Depressing. So anyone else having more luck."
"I don't know we split up that way of this is a magic war zone we wouldn't kill each other."
"Makes sense. So now what the eight of you Wander around the woods for 4 hours."
"It's been less than that." I roll my eyes as I hear a twig snap behind me.
"Alex I got to go why don't you check in with Harper."

I hang up the phone and grab my gun. I release the safety with a soft click. Turning around I pull the gun up in the air.

"Come out whoever you are." I wanted to run but I knew I had no place to go. But I have two advantages I have a gun, that I can shoot. And well I can move things with my mind.

I turned back around to face the trees in front of me. I saw the sweep of fabric in between them.

"Who the hell are you." I my voiced bounced off the trees echoing back to me. I spun around again hoping to see someone.

Then on the stump I was sitting on was a gold piece of silk wrapped around someone I couldn't figure out.

"Do you think this is funny!" Funny funny funny. The words sounded harsh so I think I got the point across. I wonder if anyone can hear me. Then it dawned on me the "one who looks like a son of man." He wore a golden sash and delivered the message of the seals.

I walked over to the little bit of fabric. Clicking the safety back on I kneeled down the mud soaking into my jeans making my body shiver. I unwrapped the piece of silk, and there it was the scroll of angles. Broken open sliver and blue wax still visible. The pages cracked in my hands, like dry skin I saw bit fall of.

My eyes widened, I slowly placed the scroll back onto the silk. I moved the corner of the golden fabric back over the paper. I placed my gun back in my bag.

Sighing I whisper, "thank you."
With my head to the sky, I pull out my phone. The screen froze my fingers. I didn't even know I was holding my breath till exhaled. I scrolled through my contacts trying to find his name.

I ringing echos louder than my voice did.
"Destiny are you okay."
"Yeah Alex I'm fine, I have news."
"Yeah, okay I'm listening."
"I got the scroll of the once dead man."
"That's amazing did you find anything else, did you find the next set of seven?"
"No all I have is the scroll."
"Okay well get the gang together and start to head back to the city."
"We have a couple of hotel room so we will probably leave tomorrow morning."
"Okay see you soon."

I was panting and deflated fear replacing the adrenaline that kept me going. I fell back so I was sitting as I searched from Harper's name in my contacts.
"Hello des did you find anything."
"Yeah the scroll of the once dead, we can head back to the hotel. Why don't you make your way back to the parking lot."
"Okay see you there."

I picked myself off the ground carful placing the scroll in my bag I headed the direction I came trying call everyone. My words slurred but I got the point across. We would meet back in the parking lot same car arrangements as we have been.

I practically feel into Thorne's Jeep.
"DESTINY!" Throne's voice rang in my ear.

Little black dots cloud my vision. I swallow some spit. "I'm fine." I don't know why I'm so exhausted maybe it was from touching the scroll, maybe I'm just a wimp. I felt Georgia's hand on my back. It was like the world went pink. Then I was fine, completely fine. I wasn't tried and my legs ache.
"Does it always feel like that." My voice was as in aww as I was.
"Most of the time." Georgia give me a reassuring and sweet smile. I buckled myself in then we were on the road.

xXx

I closed the door to the hotel room feel like what I assume a hangover is like. Maybe it was an affect from Georgia's little healing magic. I took one look at the bed and feel into the cushions. I turned my head to the right so I could see Harper's bed. I heard the soft thump of Harper's Converse. The handle on the door clicked and she walking in the room. The pair of jeans she wore were distressed and tattered, matching the orange present blouse she was wearing. Her pin straight hair hung to her shoulders. I smiled we did it, well did this.

The bed stared to vibrate. I looked to my left my phone practically jumping in the air. I didn't bother to check Caller ID.
"Hello."
"Destiny is anyone else there."
"Yeah Alex.. Harper's here." I hung on Alex's name to see if I could get a reaction from Harper. And I did, a smirk spread over my face as a wintery pink shade spread over hers.
"Can you put me on speaker."
"Sure but it's just the two of us." I took the phone away from my ear and pressed speaker button.
"Okay we're both here."
"So what can you tell me about what happened today."
"What like a report."
"Exactly like a report Destiny."
"Touchy." Harper rolled her eyes at me.
"Well Zoey found seven dead bodies, so all eight of us split up in case there was something that made people want to kill each other. I wandered around in the woods behind the clubhouse for about an hour then you called me." I took a breath and then stared again. "Then I heard something break behind me so I hung up on you, I did a few double takes then I found the scroll warped in a gold piece of silk." I heard some clicking on the other side as if Alex was typing.
"Harper what happened for you."
"Ummmm well we got the news from Zoey, then I sorts just walked around the woods for an hour and a half."
"That's it."
"Yeah that's it."
"Uhh okay that was a waste of a day." More clicking
I huff, "your telling us."
"Well thanks guys see you tomorrow hopefully."

With that I think I made a new friend. I look over at Harper the pink in her cheeks still very visible.
"Did something happen between you and pretty boy." I smirk as her skin gets pinker.
"What no."
"Then why so defensive." The pink goes away, being replace by eye rolls and sarcasm.

We order pizza for the two of us straight to the hotel room. Thorne and Seb were pretty mad we didn't let them have any. The night was fun and sleep was short but everything felt right.

My head sunk down on the memory foam. I felt myself start drift, until I remembered something. I sat bolt up right, close to a sweat. I raced over to my bag grabbing the scroll. Removing the silk I payed close attention to the seals, except there were none. In the book of revelation when each seal breaks, we get closer to the apocalypse. But there wasn't any seals to break. If the seals were broken that mean we are living the apocalypse. So it's up to God to explain what the hell the apocalypse even is.

Then it hit me.

The apocalypse is already happening. Are job, End it. And find whoever stared it.