My heart lurched as I stood, frozen in place, unbelieving. My brain refused to register that a massive wave of fire was heading straight for us. Seconds passed. My body numb. A sharp pain suddenly flashed up my arm, jerking me back to reality.
“Karenna! Run!” Jo screamed, yanking my arm with the full weight of her body.
I forced my feet to move. We pounded against car windows, yelling out warnings, as we ran to the tunnel’s entrance.
“Fire! Fire! Get out!”
The tunnel was a madhouse as people scrambled out of their cars. The ground continued to shake. I could barely stay upright. I banged into open car doors and people as I stumbled.
The heat intensified. The fire was getting closer, and the dot of light at the end of the tunnel was so far away. I couldn’t move fast enough.
Ducking my head, I focused on the road, slapping my feet against the concrete in a steady beat. Scalding air rushed into my lungs, searing my chest. I ignored it, pumping my legs harder. All I could think about was Lucy. I had to get back to her.
“Faster, Karenna!” Jo, a faster runner than me, shouted from several cars ahead. She started running back for me, pushing against the wave of escaping people.
“Don’t! Keep going! Get out. Find Lucy.”
“No way!” She charged back through the crowd. “I’m not leaving you behind.”
There was no use arguing with her. I surged faster, pushing myself to the limit. I couldn’t be the reason Jo died in here.
Her eyes darted nervously behind us as we ran. “Carry her!” she screamed
I looked back, horrified. James and Beth were far behind us. He braced himself underneath Beth’s arm, holding her tight as she limped as fast as she could.
Beth pushed James away, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded with him to leave her.
In one swoop, he lifted her, ignoring her protests. His face turned red as he moved as fast as his legs could carry them.
It wasn’t fast enough.
James stumbled. He and Beth fell to the ground. He immediately jumped to his feet, struggling to pick up Beth. She pushed him away, motioning him again to leave. He scowled, shaking his head. Then he dropped to his knees and cupped her sweet face. His face softened as he looked deep into her eyes. He tilted her head up, his head falling forward until his lips touched hers.
Even as the flames inched their way toward them, they remained locked in their kiss.
And then they were gone.
“No!” I pivoted to go back.
“Keep going,” Jo’s voice cracked as tears streamed down her face.
I ran, my heart shredding. The fire grew closer, its heat scorching my back. The dot of light disappeared as smoked filled the tunnel.
I couldn’t see.
I couldn’t breathe.
I wasn’t going to make it.
I was too slow.
Jo squeezed my hand. She knew it too, and she wasn’t letting go.
Suddenly, something rammed into my back, knocking the wind out of me. Pain seared through my body.
This is it. This is how it feels to burn alive.
There was a loud whoosh, and my feet lifted off the ground. I lost hold of Jo’s hand as I was propelled above the cars and running crowd.
“Jo!” I flailed, reaching out into empty space.
Another whooshing sound shut off my cries. And something clamped over my body, cocooning me.
“Keep your head down,” Tristan’s voice said from above my ear.
“Tristan? What . . . ? How?”
“We’re almost out.” There was a final whoosh, and whatever was wrapped around my body flashed up.
I gasped, sucking in the fresh air as we flew out of the tunnel. There was a loud explosion. Flames and smoke blasted out the entrance.
The whooshing sound beat steadily in my ears as the air cleared. I looked up at Tristan and that’s when I saw them. I balked. I rubbed my eyes, not trusting them. What I thought I’d imagined was still there on Tristan’s back.
Wings.
“You have . . . is that . . . are you an angel?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.” His face was gravely serious.
“Oh, god. I didn’t make it.”
“You’re not dead.”
“If I’m not then . . . where’s Jo?” I frantically looked down. People spilled out of tunnel’s smoky entrance. I prayed Jo was one of them.
“Calder has her. We’ll met up with him at the Mystic.” His handsome face twisted into a guilt-ridden expression. “I’m sorry this is happening to your kind. I didn’t think this would—”
A series of sudden sharp pops filled the air. Then something whizzed past my ear.
Tristan jerked to the left, cursing as he dodged the rain of bullets. Men dressed in army fatigues and police uniforms stood below, their guns aimed at us.
“They’re shooting at us! Why are they shooting?”
“Because of them.” He pointed to the darkened sky.
An army of angels were diving in and out of the rolling clouds. They looked like soldiers from ancient times, their torsos covered in leather armor. One of them flew out from the clouds and waited, sword held high, wings flapping slowly as he hovered. A fighter jet zoomed across the sky, spraying bullets as it headed straight for the warrior angel.
With unbelievable speed, the angel swung his sword, the bullets ricocheting off it. Then with one final swing, he sliced the jet’s wing, sending it spiraling down.
Impossible. A sword couldn’t do that.
The sky filled with warrior angels taking down the fighter jets with ease proved otherwise.
This couldn’t be happening. It was a nightmare. Jets rained down on the city, exploding on impact. People jumped out of unmoving cars. Some ran for shelter. Others stared motionless at the angel-filled sky.
A series of pops sounded ahead of us. Calder swerved to the right, missing the rain of bullets. I caught a glimpse of Jo’s arms clinging to his neck as they neared the Mystic Casino.
“The casino is the safest place for us. We just have to make it before—damn it!” Tristan staggered to a halt. “Calder!”
A group of warrior angels swooped over the Mystic Casino with a jet plane chasing them. A dark-haired angel appeared to be taking the lead. Just as they flew over the casino, the group split in two. One swooped below the belly of the jet, and the other flew above. In unison, they slammed their shields against the jet, directing it into the casino.
“No!” Tristan and I screamed in unison.
Calder whirled around, tucking Jo into his chest as the explosion slammed into his back. The blast sent them whirling higher into the sky. His agonized screams pierced my ears.
“Hold on!” Tristan yelled. I yelped as he surged up, flying toward them.
Calder moved slowly with only one wing moving. The other lay limp, half curled around Jo’s body.
Before we could get to them, the dark-haired warrior angel reappeared with his army behind him. He placed himself in Tristan’s path, curling his lips in a smirk.
Tristan paused, cursing under his breath. His wings beat slowly as he looked from the dark warrior to Calder, unsure of what to do.
The dark warrior bounced his sword against the palm of his hand waiting for Tristan to make a move. Like the other angels, he was stunning, with a muscular, lithe body and chiseled features, yet there was something different him. His pale green eyes gleamed, delighting in the chaos around him. He was dark. Dangerous.
“It’s time, Tristan. Do yourself a favor and drop the human.” A strange glimmer flickered across his forehead as he came closer. Squinting, I could just make out the thin band of loops lined across his forehead with a “V” shape dipping at the center. It was like a diamond circlet had been emblazoned into his skin. It shimmered with each move, emphasizing his cruel beauty.
“You forget, Ari. All I need is one hand to kick your ass. Sword or no sword,” Tristan growled.
“Maybe. But Calder can’t.” He motioned to his followers. Taking his command, they charged at Calder with swords held high.
“No! Jo!” I screamed, watching helplessly as Calder tried his best to fly away.
Then something flashed between us. A strong gust pushed us back as it crashed into the dark warrior, sending him spiraling downward.
We suddenly jolted to a stop. I gasped at the sight of Zac holding onto Tristan’s arm. He looked like the mighty Sampson with his long hair spilling onto his broad shoulders. Across Zac’s forehead was the same circlet design as the dark warrior’s.
A pack of angels wearing Revelationz t-shirts flew behind him, circling the warrior angels before they could reach Calder. Fists curled, they crossed their wrists forming an “X” across their chests. Their tattoos faced outward, announcing to the enemy who they were. Fierce faces glared at the warrior angels, daring them to break through. Not one of them had a sword.
“We’ll stall them,” Zac said. “Take them to the rendezvous point.”
“Zac—”
“Now!” Zac demanded. He glanced at me, his eyes apologetic. Then he took a breath, tensed his broad shoulders, and whirled around, charging toward the warrior angels.
“Damn him. He’ll get himself killed,” Tristan muttered as he made his way to Calder.
“She’s safe. I think she fainted.” Calder looked distraught, as he lightly shook Jo. Her head lolled forward as she muttered something in Spanish.
“Jo! Wake up, Jo!” I reached forward.
“She’ll be fine,” Tristan said, “We have to go. It’s coming.”
Before I could ask what could possibly be worse than this, Tristan bolted up, taking us higher into the sky. There was a loud rumbling, and I looked behind us.
A massive wall of dust rolled toward us.
Tristan’s wings were a blur as we zoomed through the sky. Sand slapped against our skin, stinging my face.
I tightened my grip, pressing myself into Tristan. I was fighting for my life, fighting for my sanity.
There was a series of explosions and buildings crumbled below us. Whatever was left standing was then swallowed by the storm.
Finally, we were able to make it out of the city. The air cleared and Red Rock Canyon loomed near. I placed my head against Tristan’s chest, listening to his steady heartbeat as I sobbed. Why was this happening? If he and Calder hadn’t come for us, we’d be dead.
“Hey, you’re okay. Don’t cry,” Tristan said softly as we landed. Gently, he laid me on the rocky red surface.
“Tell me this is a nightmare. Please,” my voice quivered. I was falling apart. I didn’t know how much more I could take.
He shook his head, his face solemn. “It’s real. All of it.”
Calder landed beside us and carefully laid Jo down onto a flat surface. Sand caked her hair and face.
“Oh my god, Jo.” I went to her side, crying harder.
“Here, put this under her head.” Calder took off his shirt, handing it to me.
I made Jo as comfortable as I could, brushing off the sand. I alternated between praying she’d wake and praying I’d pass out with her.
“I don’t know what else to do. If only I had a first aid kit or water.” I gazed out into the valley helplessly. I could barely make out what remained of the city’s skyline.
“Supplies are coming. See, over there.” Calder pointed in the distance.
Dozens of motorcycles following an old yellow school bus drove along the road, heading toward the canyon. Two angels circled around the speeding caravan. I froze, afraid they would attack.
“Is Val driving?” Tristan asked.
I breathed heavily with relief. Squinting at the caravan, I could just make out the angels wearing the familiar Revelationz black t-shirts.
“Yes, my lord,” Calder said.
“Did she get Gus?”
“Yes, he was the first one. She took whoever would follow her. It doesn’t look like many. Maybe I should go back?” Calder’s eyes darted from Jo to the smoke-filled city, looking as if he was torn between staying, and searching for survivors.
“No. You’re needed here. You’ve done all you can. More than . . . ” Tristan paused, closing his eyes for a moment. Torment flickered across his handsome face. “More than I ever could.”
He walked heavily to the ledge, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. He flapped his wings, shaking off the dust. The edges of his beautiful wings were charred.
“Tristan, what’s going on?” I asked, fearing the answer.
“It’s exactly what you think,” he said, peering into the valley at what was left of Las Vegas.
Armageddon, apocalypse, the end of time . . . whatever people called it. I never thought it would actually happen. It was happening now, and I was stuck thousands of miles away from my family. My throat tightened at the thought I might never see them again.
“It’s the end,” I said in a hoarse whisper.
He turned slowly, ashen face stoic as his eyes locked with mine.
“No. It’s the beginning.”