Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 by Lisa Grace (Angel Series) (16 page)

“Let’s go.” Johnny gets out.

As I get out, Vania says, “Your new name is
‘Mal’ as in Malware. We’re going to make Judas malfunction.” I nod
and let Vania and Johnny lead the way. I feel an adrenaline rush
hit me like I just mainlined coffee.

Some kind of techno beat music greets us as we
walk closer to the building. I can faintly make out some satanic
lyrics as we get closer. Two beat up cars are blocking the doorway
at the last building on the right. I smell something sweet burning
as we get closer to the building. Some Goth kids are passing a
cigarette between themselves. They’re inhaling then holding their
breath. One starts to cough. I’ve never smelled it before, but they
must be smoking pot. A tall guy with chains waves at Vania, “Who’s
your friend? Want a hit?” He offers us the cigarette as we
pass.

Vania nods her head no and holds out her
pacifier necklace signifying she’s here to do X. She introduces me,
“Malware this is Dodger.” No one seems to notice Johnny. He must
have made himself invisible.

Dodger looks Vania up and down, “Maybe we can
grind later on the dance floor.”

Vania smiles, “In your dreams.” We walk off
towards the party.

Johnny grabs Vania and me each by an elbow, nods
at the bouncer and guides us into the door. The music is deafening.
I’m glad we have hand signals. Johnny heads to the bar and grabs us
each a Redbull.

“Don’t drink it, it’s just for looks,” Johnny
reminds us.

The lights dim even further and a disco ball
shoots twinkling light everywhere. The place is getting pretty
packed. I don’t recognize most of the kids. Glow sticks wave back
and forth in the dark. With the pounding music and the strobe
lights flashing, I feel I’ve been transported to another world.
Kids on the dance floor appear to move in stop motion from the
strobe light effect. Many are grinding their hips together to the
rhythm of the music. Some touching. The drugs and the alcohol are
definitely lowering people’s inhibitions. I watch one couple in
amazement, wondering if they know what they look like. I get a
quick look at their faces during the flashes of light from the
strobe. I’m shocked. It’s Mandy and Alex. I look away to follow
Johnny and Vania. We head back further into the crowd. I’m amazed
at how well I blend in; nobody gives us a second look. Vania and I
keep following Johnny deeper into the party.

We pass some smaller rooms that used to be
offices. We duck in looking for anyone in trouble. Kids are
drinking and popping various pills. Some are licking papers with
stickers on them.

Vania puts her pacifier in her mouth. I unwrap
the lollipop I brought, and suck on it. We stop to talk to some
people Vania knows. I nod my head, pretending to be in on the
conversation, but I can’t hear a thing. Vania has to bow her head
and scream into the ears of the other Goths to be heard. They do
the same with her. We walk around the party looking for Judas,
doubling back to the front. I wonder briefly if he’s invisible,
watching us. Then I think he wouldn’t want to miss out on hurting
humans. So many of them are drugged out, easy pickings. We start a
second circuit around the party. The music’s beat gets faster, and
more kids join the gyrating group on the dance floor. The lyrics
are definitely satanic. My egghead brain thinks this is how the
start of ancient roman orgies must have felt. Some of the kids are
drunk. They look unsteady on their feet.

The next time we get to the tiny offices I see
Judas in the first one handing out drugs for cash. We quickly pull
our heads out.

Four more doorways down, Johnny motions me in.
Three kids are passed out on the floor obviously in trouble. Their
eyes are rolled back up into their heads and they’re barely
breathing. One of them is lying where he puked. Johnny makes the J
signal to Vania, she nods and makes her way over to the DJ booth.
Johnny bends down and picks up two guys one in each arm, he
gestures me to pick up the remaining girl. As I do I notice my
phone is buzzing. I can’t check my text and pick up the girl at the
same time. I’m afraid to look. I’m afraid it’s from Judas. He’s
only four doors down. If Judas catches me here, I’m afraid of what
he’ll do. I push that thought back and do my best to follow Johnny
back through the crowd.

As I’m carrying the girl and following Johnny, a
guy flashes me the screen on his phone. It says, “Yell Judah.” All
of a sudden, I hear Vania over the mike, her voice louder than the
music, chanting “Judah, Judah, Judah.” Suddenly the place erupts
with a thousand kids yelling “Judah,” over and over at the top of
their lungs.

I see Judas come out of the back room. Some of
the kids point him out and the crowd goes wild like he’s a rock
star. They chant even louder. I can see the fury on his face. He’s
yelling for them to stop. Kids in the crowd just think he’s being
modest and keep up the chant. He pushes his way forward trying to
reach Vania up on the DJ stand at the other end of the room. She
gets down and heads for the exit. The chant now has a life of its
own. It’s ringing throughout the building. One of the Goths steps
in front of Judas, trying to speak to him, blocking Judas’ way. I
look back in time to see him punch the Goth with all his fury,
teeth and blood go flying. I knew Judas was violent. I didn’t
expect to see his wrath in such a public place. Judas continues to
pummel the kid with punches. Johnny finds us an exit and runs to
get the car still carrying the two kids. I follow, trying to catch
up. He drives back to pick me up as I’m struggling to carry the
girl.

Johnny yells, “Drive as fast as you can. I’m
going back in for Vania.”

I look down at the ignition. The car’s on, but
there is no key in the ignition. I stick the key in to make myself
feel better. I put the car in gear and head toward the hospital
with my comatose patients. All three are passed out. It’s deathly
quiet. The car smells like puke. I drive as fast as I can and honk
my horn as I go through a light that is turning red.

My heart is pounding as I pull up to the
emergency room. I run in yelling, “Help, there are three people
dying in my car! Get a gurney.” Immediately, one or two nurses run
out to my car along with two paramedics who must have just dropped
off a patient.

“What happened?” One of the nurses asks.

“They were drinking.” A thought pops into my
mind, I know it’s from the Holy Spirit; “Someone slipped them GHB.
Please treat them, please hurry. There’s still time to save them,”
I say.

The paramedics are busy hooking them up to IVs
and now a mixture of nurses and doctors are working on them. I hear
a couple mention the alcohol and GHB.

Another nurse comes up, “Honey, what are their
names?”

“I don’t know. I just saw them passed out and
someone helped me load them into a car. I drove as fast as I could
to get here.” The hospital staff is now rushing their patients into
the hospital. Suddenly Johnny walks up to my side and says, “Get
in, I’ll drive.”

I’m surprised to see him. I get in the car
quickly and we drive away.

“Is Vania safe?” I ask.

“Yes. I went in and got her out. I got a couple
of the kids from the party to give her a ride home. After that, the
cops arrived and started arresting people. The Judah chant worked.
Judas’ control was broken and he fled. The kids were so flustered
by the cops coming in they didn’t think to move the rave elsewhere.
When Judas’ hands were tied spiritually by the chant, his hold on
the crowd was broken.”

Johnny smiles at me, “We averted a huge disaster
today, ‘Praise God.’”

“Are those kids going to be okay?” I ask.

“They’ll survive, but there is still a battle
going on for their souls.”

Johnny gets me to my house right before my
ten-thirty curfew. Johnny escorts me to my front door and walks in
with me. I turn to him and say, “Thank you for everything you’re
doing to help us.”

Johnny smiles, “You’re welcome.”

“Do you know when this will be over?”

“When it’s over,” he says with another
smile.

“Hey, you’re getting pretty good with the
zingers now,” I smile.

“It helps to relieve the stress.”

“Yes, it does,” I agree.

We walk into the living room where my dad is
watching TV. “Awful early for a costume party. Halloween isn’t for
another three weeks.” Dad says.

“This is my new everyday look. How do you like
it?”

“It’s you,” he says.

“Hello Mr. Laughlin.” Johnny says as he walks
over and extends his hand to shake my dad’s.

“Goodnight Johnny.” My dad turns the TV down and
gets up, “Johnny, I know you go to church. Which one do you go
to?”

“I have a couple of them. There are some that
really need my help.”

“What do you do for them–help out with the
kids?”

“Sometimes, mainly whatever I’m asked to
do.”

Of course, I know he’s referring to what God
asks him to do. It sure is interesting watching angels interact
with humans. Johnny says, “Goodnight,” and leaves.

My dad turns to me and says, “Honey, are you
sure Seth has nothing to worry about?”

I’m so shocked I laugh, “Dad, trust me.
Johnny does
not
like me in
that way.”

My dad gives me a look like I’m being naïve.
“Honey, you’re a very pretty girl. A lot of guys are going to try
and be friends with you, hoping it develops into something
more.”

Arguing with my dad is a lost cause. I can’t
explain to him that Johnny is an angel and I can’t stop hanging
around Johnny until the reason he’s here is gone.

“Dad! Vania, Johnny, Carrie, and I are all good
friends. Nothing is going on. I’ve explained that Seth is my
boyfriend and believe it or not, Johnny has a long distance
relationship too. That’s one reason we can be friends because both
our hearts are tied up elsewhere.”

“We’ll see,” my dad says.

I just roll my eyes. I can tell he still doesn’t
believe me. I say goodnight and head toward the bathroom to take a
shower. I can’t wait to take all this makeup off and get the goo
out of my hair. I take so long in the shower that I run out of hot
water. By the time I’m out and dressed for bed, I’m exhausted. I
fall on the bed and sleep straight thru until morning. I meant to
call Vania and talk to her, but in my exhaustion, I forgot.

***

The next day at church, I see Carrie. She comes
up to me and says, “Did you hear about the rave?”

I truthfully answer, “No,” because I
hadn’t
heard
anything about
it.

“What happened?” I ask.

“Some mystery person dropped off a bunch of
drugged out kids from our school at the hospital. They almost died.
They’re still in the hospital, but they all should live. Anyway,
rumor has it the kids got sick at that big party Jude was
throwing.”

“Really? That’s awful. I hope the kids are
okay.” I wish I could tell Carrie what’s really going on, but
Johnny said not to. I trust his judgment because I know where it’s
coming from. At least I have Vania I can confide in. Maybe Johnny’s
helping her find a church to go to. I forgot to ask her this week
if she wanted to come to church with us. I know her Mom probably
won’t take her. Vania seems to be very independent out of
necessity. I get the feeling she’s had a rough life. I’ll call her
and make sure she’s okay as soon as I get home from church.

When I get home, I head up to my room for
privacy. I dial Vania’s number. I get a disconnect signal. Now I’m
worried. I go downstairs. Mom and Max are at the kitchen table
working on his homework. “Mom can you drive me over to Vania’s
house? Her phone isn’t working.”

“Honey, I can’t. I have to help your little
brother with his science project for school.”

I can’t ask Dad. He’s taking his nap and insists
on not being disturbed. This is awful. I can’t get in touch with
Vania or Johnny. I guess I’ll just have to wait until one of them
calls me. I don’t hear from either of them the rest of the weekend
so I have to wait until lunch on Monday.

***

Monday morning I see Jude in the hall and manage
to avoid him. I can see him out of the corner of my eye staring at
me. I wonder what his next step will be. If I keep ignoring him,
maybe he’ll just leave me alone. I wonder if he saw me at his rave
or recognized me.

In my second class of course, he’s my lab
partner. Jude turns to me, puts his head next to mine, and before I
can react, he says, “How did you enjoy my party, Mouse?” He grabs
my hand, gives it a squeeze and won’t let go. I figure I’ll nip
this in the bud. I say loudly so everyone can hear, “Don’t touch
me!” The teacher stops talking and everyone stares at us.

Jude keeps his cool and his smile gets bigger.
He says, “Sorry, we just started dating and had our first fight.
It’s my fault.”

I look at him in amazement. He’s so devious. I
protest, “It’s not true!”

The teacher looks at me, obviously not believing
me, because who would turn down the chance to date popular handsome
Jude?

She says, “Megan, please keep your personal
problems out of the classroom.”

When I get to the lunchroom all the kids are
buzzing about how great the party was until the cops showed up. It
turns out two of the three kids who got sick were in one of
Carrie’s classes and some of Vania’s. I sit down. I can’t wait to
tell them about what Jude’s trying to pull now.

Before I can open my mouth, Jude plops down next
to me, puts his arm around my shoulder, and kisses me on the cheek
in front of everyone, saying, “Hi Mouse.”

I go to slap him, but he was expecting it and
stands up behind me out of reach. From a few tables away I see how
it could look like we are play fighting especially since he has his
charming look going for him and he’s obviously enjoying
himself.