Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Somewhere in London in an alleyway unaffected by Dervish’s rampage, yet uninhabited. there is silence. Suddenly from out of nowhere wind starts to gather. Reality blurs as a bright glowing light shines in the alley, from it Matius drops into the alleyway. He looks behind him lost as the bright light fades away, then looking ahead cursing himself, knowing he is too late. He should have known this would happen, Dervish isn’t one to let something be forgiven. Knowing him he’s already killing people left right centre.
  Matius looks down at the cross, giving a smile. Thanks to the cross he was able to escape from that desolate place, it was a good thing too otherwise. He would have already failed, everyone would have died. He closes his eyes whispering, “Thank you”. Finished he rises himself looking up straight ahead, unaware of his surroundings. "Where are you," Matius mutters, making a move from the alley. He then heads of into London hoping to come face to face with the evil that did this.

 Elsewhere in London on a railway a train is heading towards Birmingham. Inside there are very little people on the train, many people are just asleep on there on their long journey, and others look for company. Some of the people watch the surroundings go by. On one part of the train, near the far end a mother and boy sit together as the train rumbles on. The mother dozed off due to tiredness, in boredom the boy looks into the window. um... What's going on outside?" the boy asks with a puzzled expression, looking outside again as his mother awakens from her slumber. Lazily moves out of her position. Peering out she is horrified at what she see.
  Outside a large cloud of black dense smoke is following the train covering the landscape as it goes spreading across the surroundings, turning all scenery ash like. The grass and wildlife withers away to its touch. She looks to the air seeing birds fly away from the smoke in fear flying in the opposite direction. Her attention is soon diverted when suddenly there is a scream at the far end of the train. In reaction both turn their heads down the asile, more screams follow getting closer.

 "Come on James, follow me", His mum says comfortingly, tinged with anxiety, looking back down the aisle again. James sighs pushing himself of the seat, grabbing his mum’s hand rubbing his eyes as they hurrily walk down the aisle away from the sound. Another scream is heard this time much closer, from hearing this they feel threatened and start into a jog, going past people seated. His mother looking behind all the time, checking upon James. She hears another scream as tears start to develop, trying very hard to ignore it. Then loud noises follow as the supports on the train crack and the screams get louder.
  "Mummy, what's going on?" James asks completely unafraid, totally unaware of what's happening behind them. She ignores him as they overtake people also running along the aisle. One of the people casually relaxes in the asile when she knocks into him. “Hey watch where your going!” The man burst out in anger, watching her run in fear. Confused he goes back to listening to his music. Suddenly he turns his head back seeing the huge wave of ash spreading quickly down the carriage, turning everything into ash. “Dear god!!”

They continue running now catching up with people down more carriages, casually minding their business. She quickly runs past them, noticing her sobbing in fear. Confused several seated people look back down the aisle hearing a hissing sound beyond the carriage door growing louder.
  Two carriages behind them the black smoke appears at a door, blackening it, from this door ends up cracking under its presence, the smoke seeping through. It heads for James and his mum, breaking windows as it passes, everything it touches blackens. People all around her turning into ash with little chance of escape. She turns around only to quickly face the other way, and she grabs James running faster shaking the floor as she goes, the breaking of windows getting loud. It’s almost close to them now. Then in the corner of her eye she finds an emergency glass door, the scenery flashing past. With no time to lose she tries slamming herself against the glass to no avail. Panting she notices an axe in a glass

seeing black smoke at the far end, breaking the windows. Using the axe she breaks the glass door, with one quick glance she looks back down the train corridor the ash clouds getting closer. She grabs James, taking several steps back, the train still moving she runs without hesitation at the now broken door, with James in her hands.

 She leaps into the air, the train speeding past them. Both of them roll down the bank several times, James tightly around her and rests. They both rest for a bit, the wind feels good, calm. The danger passed she slowly rises up noticing the train has gone by, relieved she looks to James. “James, honey are you alright?”, she questions rubbing his hair. “I’m okay mum, where are we?” he replies looking around their surroundings. Then she heard the sound of an engine in the distance looking down the rail. A train is heading towards them, but something’s not right. The train looks to dark, and there’s smoke coming out the sides of it. Is it on fire she questions raising herself up.
  Then the train comes its screaming past them like some howling banshee, the train completely changed. Its surface is almost burnt looking as if it has been through a fire, coal like as the sunlight catches its surface. Parts of ash from the train break apart leaving a trail. It. Both her and James quickly get down in fear as a trail of ash follows the train. Realising it’s gone she stands herself up, looking up to the sky noticing dark black smoke covering the sky, on the move.

 Matius continues walking through London, angered at Dervish. Everywhere he walks he sees nothing but destruction. These streets used to be filled with people, life. Now there’s nothing. The pavements are blackened from Dervish’s presence, as are the many of cars either tipped over or broken from his attack. The glass from the buildings remain scattered on the floor. He walks past areas he can clearly remember; nothing more than a graveyard. He looks at several buildings nothing more but structures of ash, he looks to the right noticing the newspaper stand, where people used to buy their newspapers now lifeless. He gives a sign feeling depressed. "How could I have let this happen", he thinks.
   His head lowered he notices a newspaper fly past him caught by the wind, with today's headlines. As it passes by him and catches sight of something in the distance, a trail of black smoke in the sky, heading for somewhere. "It's him no doubt about it”, Matius realises his expression. “I just Hopes Eva's okay" he thinks, "She's the one that protected me and taught me forgiveness.” He looks back at London one last time feeling frustration and anger at himself. He heads out leaving London, his home, now destroyed.

Matius flys through the outskirts of London. Now out of the familiar city buildings. The surroundings strangely unaffected by Dervish’s rampage. The temperature cools with the setting sun. He feels he has been flying for several hours now, his wings starting to feel heavy. Tired he lands on a deserted road going into a walk, with nothing but silence to accompany him, much to his discomfort.  He walks for several hours the wind blowing his cape wildly. Up ahead along the road he notices a pile of rocks by the side of the road. Exhausted he collapses down on the rocks waiting for night to fall looking up at the sky, admiring the beautiful stars, shinning in and out of sync, total absorbed. He looks to the sky, trying to find something. "Is there actually a God?" Matius asks softly in wonder looking to the sky, expecting a reply.
   After several seconds he puts his head down in disappointment, closing his eyes. How am I going to beat him? he thinks, I was only luck on hell yet we both died…I died. Now he’s here on earth and this is  all because of me.  He starts doubting himself, hanging his head low; his eyes catch the cross hanging around his neck. He looks at the necklace Eva gave him months ago, turning it over in his hands. Its cold metal surface touching his hands. He looks up at the sky again, this time asking for sympathy "If you truly exist god, I need your help now more than ever". He takes off the necklace again and closes it around his hands, and prays. Holding it closely like never before. Slowly he looks up at the sky once more, waiting for a reply, sighing he lifts himself up of the rock as he heads off.

On hell meanwhile on the east gate several doormen watch in the distance keeping an eye out in the wildlands. One of them in boredom raises his telescope, twisting the lenses. He then notices a large object in the distance, growing in size. ‘guys something is heading this way”, the doorman replies grabbing everyone’s attention. One of them alerted approaches him, looking out into the wildlands. “What is it…what do you see?”, one of the door men questions bored As it grows nearer he recognises it as an angel transport carrier, in suprise he muffles to the other guardsmen as they all stand to attention. The carrier approaches as soldiers close in on the carrier, awaiting for the angels. Lemionas mounts off first robed in white as he walks towards one of the guardsmen. “We have permission to speak with Ivan, these are the request” Lemionas hands out the scroll to one of the guardsman; he then lowers his head to read it then suddenly lifts his head back up. “That can’t be possible, there’s no way...” “We can sense it. He is alive” Lemionas concludes. With little choice the guardsman moves out of the way, “very well, inform Ivan immediately” it…what do you see?”, one of the door men questions. The doorman twists the dials as the telescope finds focus seeing a huge winged beast heading to their location. “It’s angels. No doubt about it”, the doorman shouts out as his telescope his snatched away. “Why would angels be coming here”, the doorman questions, “no matter…open the doors!”.
   The doors start to creek open as the winged beast settles down as soldiers walk outside to address the angels, Lemionas drops down from the winged beast first approaching the soldiers. “Please can we see your permit?”, the soldiers ask the doormen watching above nervously.  Lemionas hands over the scroll as the soldier looks at it in satisfaction. “We also wish to have an audience with Ivan, it’s about this”, Lemionas states handing over another scroll, wrapped tightly. The soldier unwraps it reading it with interest, then suddenly raising his head back up in shock. “That can’t be possible, there’s no way...”, the soldier replies. “We can sense it… He is alive”, Lemionas concludes. With little choice the soldier’s moves out of the way, “If you could please follow us we will take you to the royal palace”.

The soldiers lead Lemionas and the angels, through the royal palace the angels looking at their surroundings. “I’ve never been to hell before”, Lemionas states walking through a corridor, “I guess the things I heard about hell aren’t true”. The leading soldier looks back at Lemionas, “us being a reckless brutal people? No far from it. We are just as peaceful as you are in quiet times”. Lemionas smiles to himself, “that’s nice to know”. They continue walking passing more soldiers of hell dressed in robes, all looking at the angels in confusion.
  They finally reach the throne room doors as some of Ivan’s men wait patiently outside, Lemionas looking nervously. “I will take it from here”, one of Ivan’s men states, turning to the throne room doors. The throne room doors open as Lemionas looks ahead seeing Ivan sitting patiently. “You may leave us”, Ivan asks looking at his servants. Without hesitation his men leave as Ivan looks curiously at Lemionas and the angels.

“I’m surprised that you of all people would seek an audience with me.”, Ivan admits, “What is it that you wish me to hear?”. Lemionas steps forwards, “My name’s Lemionas. I speak on behalf of the council of heaven” Ivan looks down at Lemionas calmly. “Go on”. We believe that Dervish is alive and currently on earth” Ivan moves his head in irritation, clenching his fist. “Dervish… Alive? He should be DEAD! How is he on earth?”, Ivan questions calming himself. “We don’t know he is currently attacking earth and under orders from the angelic council heaven will be sent troops to apprehend your brother”, Lemionas responds. “Then what of this Matius…the one that defeated him? Is he back?”, Ivan asks hopefully.  Lemionas lowers his head in response, “No…I can’t sense him, none of us can”. Ivan closes his eyes disappointed looking back to Lemionas.
   “I believe that this is a opportunity to finally put the past to rest”, Lemionas states catching Ivan’s attention, “if we could put our differences aside for just this once”. Ivan turns his head in interest shifting his position, “I’m listening”. Lemionas gives a smile of approval, “The head of the council has already sent angels to earth in order to take him down but we now we need good men, good men from hell to join us in putting this monster down. Unfortunately for us however many of our good men are currently away” Ivan sits silently in the throne, “you speak words of friendships through all these troubling times… yet you seek friendship?” . “It’s for a common goal Ivan”, Lemionas urges, “Sousan had the same dream. To bring heaven and hell together as one. Putting aside our traditions, together we can build new traditions where we both working together to bring peace!”
  Ivan sits on the throne deep in though, thinking how much things would change. There would be no fighting, no more wars it would be perfect. “You offer a good request Lemionas”, Ivan replies drumming his fingers on the rest, “I too believe we should put our differences aside. There have been too many deaths on both our sides and I believe as my father, Sousan once believed that we should be working together. Lemionas…we will send men to aid you on earth and consider your offer”.

Lemionas smiles in approval raising him up, “thank you Ivan”, finished Lemionas and the angels are lead outside of the throne room. As the door shuts one of Ivan’s men turns towards him. “How on earth can Dervish be there?”, he questions. “Who knows”, Ivan utters in annoyance. “Who do you suggest to join the angels? You know even our soldiers won’t stand a chance! I mean can Dervish even be killed?” Ivan closes his eyes before rising himself out of the throne. “Dervish is my brother, and my responsibility. As his brother I will go to earth and stop him”.
  Several of the servants look in surprise. ”“Sire, are you mad?! You’re the heir to the throne! You can’t leave”, one of them protests. “I know that!, “Ivan reminds, “but Dervish is alive.  He might have killed Sousan for all I know”. One of the men looks seriously towards Ivan, “Ivan don’t go. We need you here, HELL needs you!”. Ivan closes his eyes looking towards the throne room doors, “This might be the only opputinuty to work with heaven. They show a hand of friendship we cannot ignore that besides…who better than me?” Several of his servants fall silent watching Ivan walk towards the throne room doors, “Report to                          that I’ve gone to earth”.

As Lemionas is escorted back to the winged beast with the angels, he looks out onto the wildlands visualising remembering when Matius fought against Dervish not so long ago. “So who do you think hell will send for aid?”, one of the angels asks leaning back against the railing. Lemionas turns quickly caught off guard before looking back into the wildlands. “Does it really matter?”, he states saddened, “None of them would even stand a chance against him. The only person who could stop him is Matius, and he’s dead”. One of the angels leans towards Lemionas, “is Dervish really that strong?”. Lemionas turns towards the angel distressed, “yes he’s that strong and I think… we’re going to die”.