basic. During transportation of the volunteers to the prison, they would pick up more volunteers, then, once there, he and General Adman would train them. But those plans would soon change.
Leonard found Devante standing outside of a van that was being hastily packed.
“Wanna tell me why you’re rushing us out?” Leonard asked.
“There have been some changes,” Devante answered.
“What kind of changes? We leave for New Orleans tomorrow, and we’re supposed to send Todd and Lillian off today.”
“They will have to take a detour. They can leave tomorrow.”
“What about the men I gathered for the front lines? I’ve selected hundreds. They’re ready to go.”
“They won’t be needed.”
“Something’s happening.”
“Yes.” Devante nodded. “That is why we must leave. Leave now. I must get you to safety. When it happens, if you are not isolated with me, you will not be safe.”
“Safe from what?” Leonard asked.
“The change.”
Leonard closed his eyes. “The change? I’m lost. I thought we were fighting. Are we running?”
“No. Just staying out of the way,” Devante explained. “This great battle is too serious for me to leave in the hands of those who still need to train.”
Leonard chuckled. “Yeah, well we don’t have much of a choice now, do we?”
“Yes we do. I will not play mortal games with this. This is my being at stake. I have waited too long to win. Those we fight will be strong. Man has served me well, but man must step aside. You said to use our advantages. Exercise our options. I am replacing mortal warriors...” Devante smiled. “With my own.”
Seville, Ohio
Nine of the new men decided to take the same fashion route as Herbie, donning “warrior” skirts constructed from old draperies. Michael looked impressed. Reggie called them drones.
“I’m not wearing a skirt, Marcus.” Reggie sulked and sat on the ground.
“No one says you have to.” Marcus extended his hand. “Come on, get up. We have to train. Now, what is wrong with you?”
“Nervous, maybe.” Reggie shrugged as she stood. They began to walk toward the others. “Michael is worried.”
“About our new soldiers?”
“No. About where he was.” She stopped walking. “Marcus,” Reggie whispered. “He said he went to hell. He said… that hell is empty. And judging by that comment, and how he said it, I’m guessing that, at one time, hell was full.”
“Where did all the souls go?”
“Well, they certainly didn’t go to heaven. I bet they’re somewhere in between.”
“That would mean they’re…”
Reggie finished his sentence. “Yep. Here.”
“Shit.”
“Exactly.” Reggie motioned her head toward the group. “Let’s go. Maybe he’ll say something about it.” Grabbing Marcus’ hand, she led him closer. They chose a spot off to the side.
Michael stood before the men. “I want to say thank you to you all for joining us. Now that the walls are up, we have added protection, and will be freer to train. We put our faith in those like Marcus and the others who will guard the wall.”
Marcus shifted his eyes. “I’m guarding the wall?”
Michael nodded. “Yes. Did Reggie not tell you?”
“No.” Marcus looked at Reggie. “She failed to mention that.”
“Yes, you will guard the wall for three nights,” Michael instructed. “You and four others.”
“Swell.” Marcus tossed his hands up. “I can’t even shoot a gun.”
“You will carry a sword,” Michael instructed. “The weapon from God’s earth can be the only tool to kill those who work for Devante. I fear it grows worse. You ask where everyone has gone. Some of God’s people choose to hide. Some are imprisoned. Those people we will try to free. The others... if God has not taken them from this earth, belong to Devante; they are lost souls forever.”
During Michael’s instructions, Reggie noticed that Buzz had his hand up for a long time, lifting it high like a schoolchild. Michael,
Leonard found Devante standing outside of a van that was being hastily packed.
“Wanna tell me why you’re rushing us out?” Leonard asked.
“There have been some changes,” Devante answered.
“What kind of changes? We leave for New Orleans tomorrow, and we’re supposed to send Todd and Lillian off today.”
“They will have to take a detour. They can leave tomorrow.”
“What about the men I gathered for the front lines? I’ve selected hundreds. They’re ready to go.”
“They won’t be needed.”
“Something’s happening.”
“Yes.” Devante nodded. “That is why we must leave. Leave now. I must get you to safety. When it happens, if you are not isolated with me, you will not be safe.”
“Safe from what?” Leonard asked.
“The change.”
Leonard closed his eyes. “The change? I’m lost. I thought we were fighting. Are we running?”
“No. Just staying out of the way,” Devante explained. “This great battle is too serious for me to leave in the hands of those who still need to train.”
Leonard chuckled. “Yeah, well we don’t have much of a choice now, do we?”
“Yes we do. I will not play mortal games with this. This is my being at stake. I have waited too long to win. Those we fight will be strong. Man has served me well, but man must step aside. You said to use our advantages. Exercise our options. I am replacing mortal warriors...” Devante smiled. “With my own.”
Seville, Ohio
Nine of the new men decided to take the same fashion route as Herbie, donning “warrior” skirts constructed from old draperies. Michael looked impressed. Reggie called them drones.
“I’m not wearing a skirt, Marcus.” Reggie sulked and sat on the ground.
“No one says you have to.” Marcus extended his hand. “Come on, get up. We have to train. Now, what is wrong with you?”
“Nervous, maybe.” Reggie shrugged as she stood. They began to walk toward the others. “Michael is worried.”
“About our new soldiers?”
“No. About where he was.” She stopped walking. “Marcus,” Reggie whispered. “He said he went to hell. He said… that hell is empty. And judging by that comment, and how he said it, I’m guessing that, at one time, hell was full.”
“Where did all the souls go?”
“Well, they certainly didn’t go to heaven. I bet they’re somewhere in between.”
“That would mean they’re…”
Reggie finished his sentence. “Yep. Here.”
“Shit.”
“Exactly.” Reggie motioned her head toward the group. “Let’s go. Maybe he’ll say something about it.” Grabbing Marcus’ hand, she led him closer. They chose a spot off to the side.
Michael stood before the men. “I want to say thank you to you all for joining us. Now that the walls are up, we have added protection, and will be freer to train. We put our faith in those like Marcus and the others who will guard the wall.”
Marcus shifted his eyes. “I’m guarding the wall?”
Michael nodded. “Yes. Did Reggie not tell you?”
“No.” Marcus looked at Reggie. “She failed to mention that.”
“Yes, you will guard the wall for three nights,” Michael instructed. “You and four others.”
“Swell.” Marcus tossed his hands up. “I can’t even shoot a gun.”
“You will carry a sword,” Michael instructed. “The weapon from God’s earth can be the only tool to kill those who work for Devante. I fear it grows worse. You ask where everyone has gone. Some of God’s people choose to hide. Some are imprisoned. Those people we will try to free. The others... if God has not taken them from this earth, belong to Devante; they are lost souls forever.”
During Michael’s instructions, Reggie noticed that Buzz had his hand up for a long time, lifting it high like a schoolchild. Michael,
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