Awaken: Book two of Fallen Series

Chapter Two

“It’s started.” Death’s whisper was barely audible above my heavy breathing. We had been working tirelessly on my training. We had found out I had my father’s full chameleon ability, body and wings. We found out the hard way, I also had his death touch. That was a particularly hard time for me. No one other than him and my men touch me now, than heavens. I also have a few other weird and odd abilities. Ones death can’t seem to understand. Ones I am freaking terrified of. I have the abilities of all four horsemen. Yup, you heard me. All FOUR horsemen. And that’s not all. I also have the ability to reverse the damage of the horsemen. I am the apocalypse and anti-apocalypse all rolled into one. Yay, me.

“What’s started?” I asked, wiping my forehead with a towel nearby. Hey, don’t judge me. You try withering a whole freaking field of crops then regrowing them. It’s hard. And takes a lot of power. And have you tried healing plague? Try freaking impossible. I haven’t even messed with war yet. I don’t want to imagine the power it takes to reverse that shitstorm. And death? Ha! No thank you. I will stick to pestilence and famine thank you very much.

I choked on my water as I felt that tug in my chest again. Sharp, painful. It’s happened more and more lately and become increasingly more painful. I told death about it but he’s told me to ignore it. The thing is, I can’t. Not anymore. At first it was easy to. Just dull throbs here and there, nothing serious. Now though? It was sharp, stabbing pains. Once it was a searing, burning type pain. Not something I can easily ignore. Sooner rather than later I’m going to have to listen and follow whatever was pulling me. I can’t just keep ignoring it.

“They’re fighting back.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“You didn’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Pestilence has awoken, he has started his ride. The apocalypse has begun.”

“You mean my uncle is on earth right now spreading plague?” I asked. It was weird that, that didn’t bother me. Huh.

“Yes.”

“Okay. So, what do you mean by they’re fighting back?” I stepped towards him, suddenly wary.

“Some humans have captured him.”

“Why aren’t you helping?”

“I can not intervene. I am the fourth horsemen. I am not allowed until famine finishes his ride.”

“I am not a horseman; I am also not a created angel. Or a normal angel for that matter. I can go.” The pulling suddenly became more insistent. “It’s him I’m feeling, isn’t it?”

“It seems that way.” Death said, running his hand down his face. “Did you know there was once rumor of a fifth horseman? One that contained the abilities of all four original horsemen? This fifth horseman could bring the downfall of all humanity on their own. Or bring their salvation on their own. But there was also word that the fifth was meant the help the other four in times of need. The fifth would feel when their help was needed. It seems there is some truth to those rumors.”

I didn’t really give it much thought before I was following the pull towards pestilence. I was dropped in what seemed the middle of nowhere. It was pitch black out, no street light, no lanterns, nothing. What’s happened? I looked around allowing my eyes time to adjust. Everything looked so different. It was like time went backwards. I wasn’t gone that long, was I? Not long enough to look like time relapsed fifty plus years.

“Halt, who goes there?” A voice rang from the darkness.

“I’m sorry. I got lost in the dark.” I tried to make my voice as meek as possible.

“It’s just a girl.” A woman’s voice said. “Put that damn gun down.” Her blonde hair was the first thing I saw before her odd eyes. “Come on in. You’re in .” She said gently. Maine. What was pertinence doing in Maine? “There is not many people left out this way. And only about twenty of us in here.” Se said conversationally, not aware how much she was helping me. I kept silent, just listening to her speak and watching the people around us. All men. She is the only woman that seems to be here. I wonder why. I eye her curiously, before moving on following where the tugging is leading.

“Why don’t you bring her to see the show tonight?” A male voice says from above us. I looked up and saw a very sinister looking man. A dark aura surrounded him, a malicious smile darkening his face. Something was seriously wrong with that man. And if he was the leader of this town, then I don’t want to know what he means by show.

“No. I don’t think she wants to see that.” The woman’s arms reach around my shoulders tightening like a vice.

“I’m afraid I insist.” He speaks.

“Hank, don’t be a d**k”

“Joy, don’t be a bitch.” He remarked.

“Fine.” She led me away from him in the direction where I could see was lit brightly compared to other parts of town. “I am sorry about this.” She whispered.

“About what? What’s happening?”

“Hank’s twisted punishment for the horsemen.” She scrunched up her face. “I’ve tried to free him. I got caught.”

I smiled. “That’s alright. I know he’s here. I’m here to free him.”

Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you?” I beamed. “There are five horsemen.”

With those parting words I camouflaged myself into my surroundings made my way to where the ‘show’ was being held. Hank, among other was already there on a make shift stage with a man who could only be pestilence. Pestilence. They had him lain out on what I could only describe as an altar. It was just a long slab of stone. Just big enough to fit the horseman’s massive body. And I mean he was massive. Just like death was. They had his arms in chains above his head and his legs anchored by shackles. What were they planning on doing to him? What have they done to him?

I watched in abstract horror as no less than ten men stepped to the stone altar, each of them taking turns taking a piece of Pestilence’s flesh. Each time that sharp painful tug tore through me. More painful this time. I inhaled sharply, panting through the pain.

“Stop you have to stop.” The woman from earlier ran through the crowd, bursting to the front.

“Joy, you tire me in your attempt to free this creature.” Hank sighed.

“No.” She shook her head, terror blazing in her eyes. “You don’t understand. That woman, from earlier. She’s no woman. She’s….she’s a horseman too. The fifth.”

“There is no fifth horseman.” Hank laughed.

I smiled stepping up and beside the woman. “Are you sure about that?” I asked a loud, not revealing myself just yet. Eyes widened, and gasps sounded around me. A pained groan pulled me from the crowd to Pestilence. Pestilence who should be a strong, proud angel. A horseman. Looked broken. It utterly pissed me off.

“You all have no shame.” I shouted revealing myself. “Torturing him like this. Like he is a puppet to amuse you.”

“And who are you to say what we do with this thing?” Hank asked, his tone darker than his face.

“He is not a thing.” I growled. “He is the first horseman of the apocalypse. He is pestilence. He brings plague. Next will be war and then famine, and last will be death.” Each one after pestilence is will be stronger than the last. You have brought death to your people Hank. Death by my hands. You see you’ve happened to capture someone dear to me. Well, someone I hope will grow dear to me in time.”

“How can you be close to this monster?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You ask the wrong questions.” I waved my hand. This part had been easy. Giving the plague. Hank dropped dead. Taken by plague. Another wave of my hand and pestilence was free. “Take your vengeance and let’s be off.” I sighed. “I’ll explain later.”

Pestilence was just staring at me in shock. I arched a brow at him, waving my hand over him once again healing him. Another useful little trick I found I had. Curtesy of death. This garnered me another curious glance from pestilence. “Shall I do it then?” I asked.

“No.” His voice hardened, his brown eyes turning to the equivalent of petrified wood. Anguished cries caried through the night air as the people around us dropped to their knees. Slowly. Ever so slowly. A plague, a sickness the likes I’ve never seen took these people. They seemed to decay, to rot little by little. Piece by piece in the most excruciating way possible. I guess when a horseman was free and able to take vengeance, he did just that. I also learned a horseman. Or angel. Definitely needed their hands to use their power. I hadn’t even realized until now. Useful to know. Except for the fact that I could just think of a place and be there.

By the time pestilence was done the only one left standing was the woman, Joy. The poor thing was scared to death. She was trembling like a leaf in a wind storm. You could even hear her teeth clanking together from how hard she was trembling. She was down right petrified. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more frightened than her.

“What do you plan to do with her?” I asked, looking over to him.

“I do not know. She tried to release me, but was caught. She hasn’t tried since.” He answered, his eyes still on the odd eyed woman named Joy.

“So, she tries to free you once, and you grant her leniency?” I shrug. “Hey, your ride, your choice. I have to go. Training to do and all that.”

“You’re leaving?” Pestilence asked confused.

“Uh, yeah? You’re the first horseman. Not me. I come when I’m called. Now that I know what the hell it means I can come.”

“What are you talking about?” Pestilence sighed.

“I am the fifth horseman. You’re in danger I come. You or your brothers. I am also new to all of this so I didn’t know what that feeling in my gut was until about an hour ago. You can thank death for telling me that tid-bit. He’s been the one training me. He would have come himself but said he couldn’t until after famine rides. So you got me.”

“Death? My brother death is teaching you?” A wry smile was on his handsome face.

“Yeah, about that.” I rubbed the back of my neck nervously. “You want to do something about her before I get into this?” I pointed at the trembling woman.

“I think I want to keep her.” He said, c*****g his head to the side.

“Keep her? You know she’s not a dog, right? Not a pet?”

“She’ll be my pet.”

“Your pet? You’re kidding?” I looked at him, almost horrified as he descended the stairs and wrapped the chains that were on him around the woman’s wrists. “Wow, you’re not kidding. Is that allowed?”

“The only rule I was given was not to use my powers on humanity.” Pestilence sneered the words.

“That does not seem fair. You should be able to defend yourselves.”

“It is meant as a way for us to experience all of humanities cruelty and kindness.” Pestilence replied harshly.

“Believe me. Humanity has more cruelty than kindness.”

“How would the likes of you know?” he sneered at me.

I may be small but I stood to my full height. “Don’t for a second think you know one thing about me pestilence. You know nothing, do you understand me? Nothing.” I looked to the woman and back to him. “Good luck on your ride.” Then I left. I wasn’t about to give him an explanation about anything. Yes, he experienced terrible, horrible things. Things I couldn’t even begin to imagine. And I am positive there would be more to come. But I’ve also been through my fair share of terrible. My own personal hell. He cannot belittle what I’ve been through with his own hell.

“Did you tell him?” Michael asked, pulling me into his arms when I got back.

“No.” I huffed. “He was an ass. He had reason to be though. I’ll go back and explain later when he cools off. The humans tortured him.” I shuddered at the memory of them shearing his skin off of him. I can’t imagine what he is going to do now that he’s been through that.