Salvation : Book 3

CHAPTER 36 : Man Or A Monster

The portal to Alon was open and I turned to face my team, they all stood tall as they stared straight ahead. We were all dressed in the same black and navy blue gear, it was made of a stretchy, light but hardy fabric. Malek came, and stood in front of us, he was dressed in a pair of black jeans and a matching shirt. He looked us over then nodded.

    "I hope you're all ready," he started and we all nodded. "You know the plan," we nodded again.  "This goes without saying, stick with your team and avoid getting caught. And if anything goes wrong alert the others and get to safety, this isn't about risking your lives," he finished. "See you on the other side," and with those last words he stepped through the portal. Paige, Abby and Jack moved after him and my group was last through the portal.

    I felt the familiar tug as my body swirled through space and time in a motion so fast I felt every molecule in me tingle. I landed on my feet with Adrian and Kane on either side of me.

   "So... This is Alon?" Kane asked. Both Adrian and I looked up.

   "What's left of it," Adrian said.

    Plumes of black smoke curled up from the city of Alon, rising to the gathering storm clouds. Green flames towered the buildings, they hissed and crackled as the buildings cracked and crumbled. The air smelt of sulfur, the putrid stench of the demons that ravaged the realm. A loud ragged shriek tore through the night and Kane turned to me. The sound was familiar and it made my heart wrench and my breath hitch.

    "What was that?" Kane asked.

   "Demons," I told him as I turned to Adrian. His eyes met mine, we shared the same worried gaze.

    "We should start moving," He said and I nodded in agreement. He looked apprehensively at Kane. "Keep close," he ordered. We ducked behind the ruins of a fallen building, it provided us with cover, keeping us hidden from the winged demons that patrolled the city. They shirked even louder, their shill tones resounding through the chaotic night.

     "Wait," Adrian said stretching his arm over my chest. I stopped and so did Kane who moved behind me. Three black skinned, razor clawed, sharp teethed grotesque and macabre creatures, moved past the desecrated street ahead of us. They were growling and snarling as they prowled, searching for their next victims.

    "They're coming," Adrian whispered before he turned himself invisible. I grabbed hold of Kane's hand and cloaked the both of us. They couldn't see us, but my heart still spiked when one of them turned it's blood red eyes in our direction, I held my breath as it scanned the area. Finding no one it turned away and I sighed deeply.

     "Okay, let's go," Adrian said once the demons were out of sight. The street was evidence to scenes of sudden and hideous violence. Blood was spluttered on the walls, bodies crumbled and sprawled on the paved streets. It was exactly the way I'd seen it in my vision and the thought sent a chill down my spine.

    "Do you think he's still there?" I asked as I checked behind us. There was no one there but I couldn't shake the feeling we were being followed. A tingling went down the back of my neck and I rubbed it nervously.

    Adrian frowned, his eyes narrow as he peered out to the next street. "He has to be. We need him," he said and I nodded. I really hoped it wasn't too late. It couldn't be too late.

    We made it out of the city, and into the woods. Ash fell from the sky like snow and coated the floor of the woods. We moved fast, leaving our footprints in the ash. The sky was in a right state, clouds darkening by the minute. Streaks of bright flashes of white were the only reprieve from the darkness. I kept close to Adrian and Kane kept close to me and soon we stood by the edge of the woods.