On Black Wings by Storm Sylvia

Author:Storm, Sylvia [Storm, Sylvia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Paranormal YA Horror
Publisher: Sylvia Storm
Published: 2014-09-19T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XXII:

It’s Me in the Mirror

I’m washing my face in the church’s womens’ room, alone in one of the back halls. I bury my face in the rag again, and let the hot water soak away all my fears. I look at myself, and realize it’s not going to get rid of them all.

I dry my face with a towel, and inspect my rifle on the marble counter. AK-47. Seven full military magazines. Over two-hundred rounds of ammunition. Adam said each clip is only three seconds of firing, and to save my shots by firing singles.

There’s a banging on the door. “Jessica?” John’s voice.

I stare at myself in the mirror. “I’m still here, what?”

“Jessica you know the where but not the what or why,” the pastor says from the other side, “and you have no idea if Azrael is even a friend, or if he is even still alive.”

“I have something of his,” I say, shifting my wings. “Those men came for me, they captured me because of who I am. They only care about the wings, not me, not Azrael.”

“How can you be sure those aren’t the king’s men, the first horseman’s?” Adam’s voice.

“These men spoke Latin, some ancient dialect,” I say, pulling some gunk out of my left eye, “King Tanas’ men spoke English, or at least I understood him.”

I pause. “Different banners too.”

“You can’t be sure they still have Azrael,” John says, “and you can’t be sure Azrael won’t kill you to get his wings back, if those are his.”

“I need to know.” I stare at myself. “Even if he is my enemy, I need to know.”

Adam says, “If you leave, we may never see you again.”

I slide the clips back into the rifle pouches, and snap each one closed. “Consider our short time together to be a gift, I guess. It’s good to see all of you coming together in a time like this. It gives me hope for the world.”

I sling the belt of ammunition over my shoulder. “What little of it we have left.”

I close my eyes and focus. I need to return to that cell, the one I left after I had been captured. I focus on the men in white tunics with red crosses, and their strange way of speaking. I remember how sore my head was after being pummeled, kicked, and punched and knocked unconscious. I focus on all of the men there with swords, weapons, and armor, and grip my rifle tight.

Can I fight them all with one gun?

The door opens and Adam walks in. “Jessica?”

I drop my head. “You’re not supposed to be in here, Adam.”

He looks around, blushing. “I know, but still. Jessica, please. You don’t have to do this. God will work everything out.”

I look at him, and he seems young for a church elder, blond hair, tied in a ponytail, thick rimmed glasses, and his typical white shirt and black slacks. He’s cute in a way, like Brad, and maybe in another life I could fall for someone like this.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.