Rise of the Deity by Mark Wahlbeck

Author:Mark Wahlbeck [Wahlbeck, Mark]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wahlbeck, Inc.
Published: 2023-02-17T16:00:00+00:00

19

Snow enshrouded the inner stadium like a plume of dust as the entire dome vibrated. The army had broken through the outer doors, their uniform footsteps filling Jan with terror. It was insane that The Deity could alter their brains to the point where they acted like a trained army of warriors without years of training. These men and women had no fear and came forward with a united purpose.

“Should I detonate?” yelled Andrey over the commotion.

The four of them stood at the rear of the stadium field with weapons raised, waiting for the onslaught.

Alyona sat above them, in the VIP box, behind the bleachers, offering support. “Not yet. We only get once chance.”

Then they appeared, funneling out from the two adjacent player tunnels and heading onto the snow-covered turf.

“They’re like ants,” said Vlad, eyes wide.

Within thirty seconds, over a hundred zealots emerged and marched toward their enemy, the farthest group about twenty meters in.

“Now?” said Andrey, hands trembling.

Jan stood firm, watching the enemy filter in. The glow of their armor and clothing was radiant and almost breathtaking. They were terrible but beautiful at the same time.

“Jan! They are closing in!” yelled Andrey.

She frowned. There just weren’t enough of them in the building yet, not nearly enough. If they blew the front of the stadium now, an army would be waiting for them outside. But she had to act; they were getting too close.

“Do it!” she yelled.

Andrey flicked a toggle on a device in his hand and small sparks erupted along the front and top of the dome, then moved downward toward the ground. Those were followed by a blinding light and, a second later, a deafening blast. The ground rumbled and Jan was flung backward into something hard. The explosions continued and the sound of twisting metal chimed between cracking wood and screaming voices.

“Get back,” Jan choked out, crawling toward the rear doors. Andrey had planted more explosives than she had expected. As she looked up, she saw the entire roof of the dome caving downward and falling on the soldiers. The men and women screamed and tried to flee. Had the detonation somehow disrupted their link to The Deity? They were acting human.

“Help me!” said one woman’s voice.

Jan caught her eyes as a large piece of concrete obliterated her into the ground. The wailing and terror were unbearable, and Jan’s heart sank—these were her people. Humans. Americans. And for a brief moment, they had regained their humanity. She stepped forward, almost longing to be among them, but Vlad pulled her back toward the wall.

“Are you crazy?” he said.

The entire north side of the stadium collapsed over the next two minutes, sending smoke and snow meters into the air and completely enshrouding the entire area. Then there was silence as the last bits of rubble settled.

“Did we do it?” asked Andrey, hopeful.

“Niet,” said Alyona over the comm. The rear half of the stadium stood intact, and Jan almost wished Alyona wasn’t up there keeping watch. Wasn’t there to tell them the reality of their situation.

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