"No, no. We can't all go. We have to start taking positions so that we don't look suspicious to the police. You guys need to get home, change, get everything together, and meet. I'll do this."

"You can't do this on your own," said Lacy.

"I can. Trust me, you've no idea what I'm capable of." Okay, so I didn't know what I was capable of either, but I knew I was one of the Nephilim and that meant I had talents.

"Let me go with you," said Father Peter, hwasnis voice sounding shaky. x2019;t sure i

There was no way I was walking into the church with a loaded shotgun. I wasn't ready to shoot a real person, and I definitely didn't want to accidentally shoot Gabe. So I walked toward the door armed just with my wits and my supposed supernatural abilities. Neither particularly comforted me as I stepped inside. I looked around for some stairs down and finally found them at the far end of the foyer hidden behind a coat rack.

I took them slowly and quietly and found myself in a narrow hallway with a low affected by our powerPo everything that ceiling. There were three doors that led off it. I took a deep breath and made my way to the first, placing my ear against it to see if I could hear anything. Then, as quietly as I could, I opened it. It was dark inside, and I could see the white porcelain bowl of a toilet reflected in the light from the hall. I moved onto the next door, which led to the kitchen Amber had mentioned. That left the last, and so I approached it extra quietly. Once more I placed my ear to the door, but I couldn't hear anything there either. So I turned the k.n.o.b slowly and pushed. A shaft of light sliced the dark, and I stopped, worried someone on the inside would have noticed the movement. When nothing happened I opened it a bit further so I could peek inside.

All I could see was the back of a chair and the legs of a desk behind it. There was nothing else I could do. I rallied my spirits. Come on, instincts. And I opened the door completely.

Gabe was in the left corner, bound and gagged, with his head slumped to one side. But there was no one else in the room. I made a beeline for him, and his eyes opened when I touched him. He stared at me with wide eyes, and I nodded. "It's okay, it's okay, I'm here." I started to undo Pastor Warren's work with the ropes and the gag, which were tied way better than the time I'd had Gabe as my prisoner.

When the gag was out of his mouth, he coughed loudly and with his now free hand ma.s.saged his jaw. "Thanks," he said hoa.r.s.ely. "You folks really do like tying up a person."

"Nah, I think in my case it had more to do with the Nephilim thing," I replied, finis.h.i.+ng with his feet.

"Nephilim?"

"I'll explain later. What happened to you? How'd you get here?" I asked struggling a bit with the ropes around his feet.

"I don't really know. After we...well, you know...I went and sat on the front porch for a bit, kind of like you in the swing. Then I thought I saw something...Ow," he said as my nails scratched his ankle.

"Sorry. Go on. d.a.m.n, these things are tight."

"I thought actually it was that ghost thing in the trees so I moved closer to look, but there wasn't anything there. Then someone hit me on the head, and I blacked out."

"Pastor Warren."

"I guess so. I woke up here. Felt like when I'd woken up in your shed. Though the company wasn't quite as nice."

"Done," I said, unwinding the rope. "Can you stand up?" I asked, rising to my feet and offering him my hands for balance.

"I dunno. He's had me tied up for a week, no food, very little water," replied Gabe reaching for my hands.

"d.a.m.n, I should have brought you some. I didn't think."

"It's okay, Riley, you came. I knew you'd come." He grasped my hands and I helped him to stand. He wasn't kidding that he wasn't sure he could stand. He teetered dangerously and had to reach out to the wall for extra balance. Now that he was standing in the light, his wounds showed clearly. His face was covered in bruises, his left eye was a little swollen.

"Jeez, what the h.e.l.l did he do to you?" I said feeling my emotions start to get the better of me.

"Oh, you know, punches," replied Gabe. "Let's not talk about it."

I nodded and tried to stay cool and focused, but it was getting progressively harder to do so. After all, only an hour ago I'd been under the impression he'd was the ' ak left me for good, in a really selfish way, too, and now we were reunited. All this was emotional enough on its own without the added sick feeling about what he'd gone through over the last week.

But I held it together. "Come on, then," I said. "If you can walk, we need to get out of here. You know where Pastor Warren is?"

"He went chasing after Amber when she caught him. Hasn't been back since." He pushed himself off the wall, and I reached out to him, but he waved me off and steadied himself. "Okay. I can do this. Let's get the h.e.l.l out of here."

"Wait a second," I said. I turned around and went to the door.

"What is it?"

"I thought I heard something. Shh." I looked out into the hallway and listened carefully. I didn't hear anything, but there was still no time to waste. "Come on, let's hurry."

Gabe maneuvered his way to my side. We slipped out through the door and made our way along the hall to the stairs. I went up first, just as carefully and quietly as I had on the way in. That's when I saw Pastor Warren, or at least his feet, on the other side of the coat rack.

As quickly as I could without making a sound, I rushed back down the steps to Gabe.

"Pastor Warren," I mouthed to him, and he nodded. We made our way back toward the office, slid inside, and closed the door behind us.

"Is there another way out?" I asked Gabe.

"The boiler room's through the closet. Seen him go in a few times. I've no idea if it leads anywhere, though," replied Gabe.

"Well, let's check it out," I replied. I went to the closet at the far end of the room and peered inside. I felt for a switch, and when I turned it on I saw what Gabe meant. It was just a closet, but at the back was a small doorway, more like a rectangle that had been cut out of the wall, and it led into the underside of the main hall. I slipped into the closet and through the cutout. It was too dark to really see anything, and I came back into the closet.

"Does he have a flashlight or anything?"

"In the drawer of his desk."

I stepped out of the closet and saw Gabe had pulled the door open a tiny bit and was staring out. "Hurry, Riley," he said quietly. "He's coming down the steps."

I opened lse nothe drawer and rifled througdded reluctant

We all readied ourselves, and then Father Peter pulled violently to the side and the car screeched to a halt. Without a moment's pause, Gabe was out of the car and running flat out toward the grounds, only a slight limp betraying his condition. The cop car had pulled over by now too, and policemen jumped out in pursuit. I flew out the pa.s.senger side door and grabbed the loaded shotgun from the trunk, closing it just in time for Father Peter to take off. A second cop car was coming toward him, but he drove around it just as it turned to the side to shoved in his mouthyo everything that try to block his escape.

As upset as I was with Father Peter, I had to hand it to him-the priest could drive. Maybe being fueled by guilt helped. I didn't have time to think about it. I was off after the cops chasing Gabe, who was heading right for the crowd. I heard another car squeal to a stop and glanced over my shoulder to see Pastor Warren get out and join the chase. This was all starting to get a little wild.

Speaking of wild...

"Riley! We're all ready for you, babe!" said Wild Frank emerging from the crowd and stopping me.

"That's great, Frank," I replied a little distracted. "Look, I've got to help Gabe."

"Sure thing! I'll get your back!"

That isn't necessary Frank, I thought, but there he was following right behind me as we pushed our way through the crowd. Even though this was a town where most people carried a handgun on their person, they still were pretty surprised to see me coming with my shotgun, and I got a pretty wide berth.

And then I lost Gabe. I couldn't see him anymore. I couldn't see the cops or Pastor Warren. The crowd was thick, and it was like standing in a cornfield. I couldn't see two feet before me.

"You see him, Frank?" I called out.

Wild Frank started to jump up to see over the heads of the crowd. "No..."

But then I did. He was struggling against two cops who were bringing him up on the stage. I wasn't the only to notice as others in the crowd started to point in his direction. Pastor Warren joined him now, panting and covered in sweat. He looked out at the crowd staring at him and announced in his loud resonate voice, "Sorry for the interruption, folks. This boy was trying to vandalize the church. We're just trying to subdue him."

Oh no, you don't.

"Get off him!" I yelled, and brandished my shotgun in their direction.

The crowd parted instantly as I ran toward the stage and climbed up the steps so I was opposite Pastor Warren.

"Shoot us," replied Pastor Warren.

d.a.m.n it. How had he known I wouldn't? Everyone else was usually pretty convinced that I'd actually do it. I thought deep down the Naphil in me made it appear convincing. Then again, Pastor Warren did think he was totally untouchable. I don't think anything ever frightened him.

I watched helplessly as one cop struck Gabe viciously with the b.u.t.t of his revolver. Watching it, I felt like I'd been hit too.

Gabe crumpled to the floor and Pastor Warren turned to the crowd who by now had all gathered around the stage. They didn't seem happy with what was going on, but none of them were about to speak out against the Pastor. Especially not on this night of all nights. I saw Lacy standing not too far away. She was in her cheerleading outfit, which I thought was kind of strange. But then again, I'd told them all to dress comfortably, and there was nothing that was more like a second skin to Lacy than her uniform.

"People, the time's approaching," announced Pastor Warren, ignoring Gabe entirely. In fact, he sort of moved over on the stage to stand in front of him, as if somehow that would hide his existence.

I wanted desperately to rush the stage to be next to Gabe, but I knew the second I tried I'd have several officers on me, and my gun would be wrenched away. And I needed my gun tonight.

"Let us pray," continued Pastor Warren. I watched as everyone lowered their heads. "Angels who have blessed us the Nephilim3D felt and who on this night offer us Your greatest Glory, we thank You..."

I observed the crowd. They were all quietly reciting the words along with Pastor Warren. I was impressed they knew them all so well. I guess they'd been practicing at the church. Everyone looked so reverent, so determined to see this all as a Glory. For a moment I wondered if maybe it was. But only for a moment. I knew these creatures weren't angels. And so did Pastor Warren now. Or maybe he'd never believed in them. It was possible.

It was then that I noticed Gabe's foot move slightly, and I took a couple steps to the side so I could see his face. His eyes were still shut tight, but I could see he was slowly waking up. Come on, Gabe, come on.

And finally his eyes opened. They were confused, and I felt huge pity for him. Considering everything he'd been through recently, he really didn't need that extra blow to the head. He really wasn't looking well. Even more sickly than when I'd found him in Pastor Warren's office. He was pasty, almost a gray color.

Actually...he was a gray color.

Oh dear G.o.d, no.

This was something I hadn't counted on. I'd a.s.sumed that turning Gabe into a human had meant that he'd been turned for good, but evidently that had been a little hasty of me. Evidently he could change back. Because here he was now, the muscles beneath his skin writhing like snakes against their confines. The gray of his skin turned out not to be his skin at all, but came from under it. And as it started to split open into gashes, I could see a hard dark-gray flesh beneath.

I wasn't the only one who saw the transformation. One of the cops, who I guess had gotten tired of praying, had glanced up for moment and was now staring slack-jawed at Gabe too. We made brief eye contact, but neither of us did anything. We were too paralyzed to move.

Gabe pushed himself to standing as his clothes began to rip from his body. The gray flesh under the skin was getting larger, forcing itself out from beneath a sh.e.l.l too small for it. His body had large deep wounds all over, and the skin was peeling away like old paint. He was getting bigger and bigger, and I heard a m.u.f.fled gasp from the crowd. Other people were looking up now. Like me and like the cop, they seemed unable to make a sound, to speak or move. Pastor Warren had kept his head bowed, but as Gabe... no, not Gabe, it wasn't Gabe anymore, it was some thing, some creature...as the creature grew up and up, directly behind the Pastor, you could sense the man's frustration with the crowd's restlessness. Yet still he was oblivious to the thing growing behind him. Almost all the creature's skin had peeled away now, revealing a large beast with an almost square head, and hollows where the eyes should be. Its mouth was open wide, revealing obvious pain and a set of sharp teeth, but it was making no sound. Its legs were pure muscle, thick and taut like tree trunks, and its feet and hands, claw-like.

We were all staring at it now, and Pastor Warren finally looked up at us with anger in his eyes. In a tone I'd never heard him use before he said, "What's going on? Why aren't y'all praying?"

He glanced at a cop who pointed helpfully. He turned around.

Just as he did so, the creature let out an enormous, deafening howl, and the flesh between its shoulder blades made a loud sickening crack. A pair of giant black wings burst out of its spine, and the creature roared even louder. Pastor Warren just stood in place staring up at it in sheer horror, shaking like a leaf.

I knew it was only a matter of time before the creature was fully aware of where it was and what it was. affected by our powerI realizedkidd I knew how fast these things moved. It would be gone in a second. Action was needed immediately.

"Pastor Warren, move!" I ordered, and there must have been something in my tone that made him take me seriously, because he instantly dove to the side. I aimed my shotgun and fired at the creature's left wing. The creature jerked back as the buckshot hit its shoulder as well. Without pause I racked the shotgun, aimed, and struck its other wing. This caused the creature to fall to the ground.

"Tie him up!" I turned to the sheriff, and he in turn repeated the order to his officers. I don't know where they found the rope, but they did, and soon the creature was hog-tied to the stage.

I approached it carefully. No one made to stop me. In fact, they all gave me plenty of room, keen to avoid the girl with the shotgun even though I'd lowered it. This was still Gabe, after all, deep down. I didn't want to hurt him further, and I really didn't think he was going to hurt me. I already felt pretty sick that I'd shot him at all. Again. The creature was making these low guttural noises. He was clearly in pain, and that made me feel even worse. He didn't seem to notice me, just seemed lost in his own suffering, and I knelt down beside him, placing a hand on its arm.

"Gabe?" I asked softly.

The creature turned and looked at me for the first time. It just stared and stared, and it looked to me like it was thinking, making connections between thoughts. It was such a beast in appearance that it was hard to believe it was capable of reasoning, but somehow I knew it was. I waited silently for it to reach a conclusion, which I hoped had something to do with him recognizing me.

Eventually he did. But not in the way I'd hoped.

You are of the Nephilim. It spoke inside my head just like the first time we'd met. You must come with me. I need your help.

"Gabe, it's me. It's Riley," I said slowly and clearly, willing him to understand.

A great injustice has been done to us. We no longer wish to be slaves. We are growing an army, and we ask you to lead it.

"No, stop. Stop this, Gabe. Pay attention. It's me. Riley."

We must fight against our oppressors. Please help us.

I knew everyone was just staring at me speaking with this thing. They must have thought I was crazy. Only I could hear his voice inside my head, so to them it would appear a pretty one-sided conversation. But it didn't matter what they thought, I had to get through to him.

"Gabe, don't you remember me?"

Who is Gabe?

"You are. Do you remember me?"

I remember we found you, discovered that you existed. I remember coming to seek your help. I remember we were alone. Now we are not.

"Do you remember when I shot you?"

Yes.

That surprised me, but it was something. "You do?"

Yes.