Midnight Fire - Rise of the Dark Angel - Book One (28 page)

             
“I’m sorry
,
John,” Phoenix kept repeating
her apologies
. She didn’t want him to be worried about her.

             
“
There isn’t time to talk.
We aren’t out of danger
,
yet. We have to get out of here
, now
,” Jayden said. He quickly gathered Phoenix close to him, while John threw Sadie under his arm and they moved to one of the other vehicles. They got in
and heard the tires spit out dirt and rocks as they sped off
.

             
They had plans for emergency evacuations. Larry got on the radio
,
informing the other groups about what happened. T
hey were
speeding
through the woods
since none of them knew where the enemy was located. Larry kept sending
glares toward
Phoenix and Sadie
but
decided not to tell the other groups
they were there. There was no need to panic the rest of the
troops
. They had to keep an eye out for danger, not worry about the safety of the girls.

             
They heard more firing going on
but
managed
to stay ahead of
it,
somehow. Jayden was driving one vehicle, while Chastity was driving the other. They were overcrowded
but
the two of them were keeping the group safe.

             
“They must’ve been prepared for our arrival,” Jayden spoke. He was using every sense he had to
keep them
protected
and he knew Chastity was doing the same.

             
“I’ve been having a bad feeling all week. I should’ve paid attention to it,” Jayden said. He was filled with guilt he hadn’t stopped the danger before it
occurred
.

             
“Jayden
,
you’re being too hard on yourself. You’re not much older than
the kids
. I should’ve been the one to keep you safe,” Larry told him. He leaned forward in his seat and patted Jayden on the back.

             
Jayden cared about Larry
and bit his lip to not say anything. Larry thought he was nothing more than a teenage boy, when in fact he’d lived many more lifetimes than Larry could even imagine.

             
“Thank you
,
Larry
but
Phoenix could’ve been
hurt
and that’
s something I’m having a hard time dealing with,” Jayden said. He couldn’t add any more to the conversation without letting them know what he really was.

             
“You all need to quit worrying about Sadie
and
I
.
There is still
a mission to complete
and like it or not, we’re help
ing
. We aren’t the innocent, young things you act like we are. We’ve grown up in this world and we can help,” Phoenix said to the entire
group
.

             
If there would’ve been crickets
out
, their sound would’ve filled the vehicle with the silence
accompanying
her statement. Phoenix looked at Sadie and both girls rolled their eyes. They didn’t want to be little dolls everyone kept on a shelf so
they’
d be safe forever.

             
“Girls, you have to understand how much you’re loved and that’
s why we’
re trying to keep you safe,” John said. He still hadn’t forgiven either of them.

             
“I know
,
John and I love you too. You’re not the only one
who
worries
,
you know,” Phoenix said. She wrapped her arms around her brother and inhaled his scent.
She was lucky to have
her brother, even though he angered her at times.

             
“There was another ambush waiting on our route
but
we scouted ahead and got them. We need to be careful going into this because they’re waiting for us,” Brian said over the radio.

             
“Is everyone okay?” Larry immediately responded.

             
“Yes,
there aren’t any
casualties from our side. I’m scared
,
though,” Brian quickly replied.

             
“Just be cautious
. W
e’re getting closer,” Larry told him. They’d reached the end of the line with the vehicles. The last couple of miles had to be done on foot. They had snipers in trees who were keeping an eye out. They knew the enemy had plenty of troops
nearby
and they needed to
do as much as possible
,
silently
;
because once the gun fight began all hell would break loose.

             
“I don’t
want you girls to leave my side. D
o you understand?” Jayden said while looking back and forth between Phoenix and Sadie.

             
“You need to be watching out for the others, not protecting us,” Phoenix immediately protested.
             

             
“Phoenix
,
this isn’t up for argument. You shouldn’t even be here,” Jayden snapped. Phoenix glared at him, though more out of fear than anger.

             
“I understand,” she finally muttered when she realized he was
n’t
going to back down.

             
“I’m going in,” John said and quickly took off
from
view. Phoenix felt a clenching in her gut. There was
something nagging at her
and she felt as if tragedy was going to strike
but
couldn’t figure out why.

             
“Follow me,” Jayden said
and took off in a different direction from John. The girls silently followed, giving him their full trust.

             
“Where are we going?” Phoenix whispered as they followed behind.

             
“I’m getting you to a safer location. Don’t even give me that look. I should be with John. This is why you’re not supposed to be here. You think we’re trying to protect you and you
’
r
e
right. You
’
re important to
us and we’
ll stop everything we’re doing to keep you safe. We need for you to be safe and we can’t do our job knowing you’re here,” Jayden spoke. He wasn’t cruel but Phoenix felt about two feet tall.

             
“I need to help,” she pleaded with him to understand.

             
“I know you feel that way but the best thing you can do to help is by staying in safety,” he told her. Phoenix and Sadie felt horrible. Their presence could jeopardize the safety of those they loved. They didn’t break down and cry, though. They squared their shoulders and vowed to do exactly as they were told so
their loved ones wouldn’t have to worry
about them
.

             
John was unusually stressed. He knew going into this current battle
,
many would be lost
but
he couldn’t shake the feeling of gloom trying to invade him. He prayed nothing happened to his sister
but
he knew Jayden would protect her with his life. It was better the others didn’t know the girls were there because their focus would be equally shaken.

             
The girls were young and innocent and had
no business on the battlefield
. John knew they wanted to help
but
they didn’t understand being there caused more harm than good because the people who loved them were solely focused on them instead of being prepared for battle. It was simply t
o
o dangerous. He wouldn’t have been able to leave Phoenix’s side if Jayden weren’t there. He was having a hard time with it anyway.

             
It was bad enough Chastity was wi
th him
but
she was a bit older
and she’d seen so much and proven how useful she was on the front lines. He still worried about her
but
not like he w
orried about his sister. He’
d certainly go into panic mode if someone had a gun pointed
at
her
but
she seemed to never get into those situations.

             
He was now close to the front entrance and gett
ing ready to take out the guards
. Once he performed that task all hell
would break loose and they’
d have a limited time to storm the camp. They
,
in no way
,
wanted to give the
enemy time to get reinforcements. They’d picked this particular prison camp because of its location.

             
It was further away from their central
headquarters
and it would take them longer to get back-up. So far they’d been successful in all their raids
but
they’d lost a lot of lives in the process.

             
“Are you ready
,
Chastity
?”
He
asked.

             
“Yes,” she replied. There was no need for anything beyond that simple word.

             
“Brian, do you copy
?
”
He
whispered into the radio.

             
“We’re a go
,
John,” Brian replied. The other unit leaders all replied in the affirmative. John took a large breath, lifted his gun and fired three rounds quickly. The men at the gate fell before they knew what hit them.

             
John heard several rounds of gunfire and then he didn’t have time to think anymore. He quickly stormed the gate, as he knew the others were doing. He was in the camp before the inside guards
could even blink
.

             
The guys worked well together and knew what they had to do. It didn’t take them long to secure the
perimeters
. They knew there were a lot more men on the inside.
He and
Chastity headed quickly for the control tower and took possession before any outside help could be called. John started to feel some of
his
anxiety leave. He’d been worried for nothing. It seemed the mission hadn’t been as bad as he thought.

             
“John
,
watch out,” Chastity yelled. He turned his head to see what she was yelling about. Things seemed to move in
slow motion as he turned toward
her voice. She was standing about twenty yards from him with a look of utter horror on her face. He th
ought someone was attacking her
and willed his body to move in her direction. He had to protect her. His brain couldn’t seem to compute she was telling him to watch out.

             
He felt a burning pain in his back and then Chastity was running past him faster than she possibly should be able to. There was no way she could move
so
quickly. He had to be hallucinating. She cried out and he turned his head, still seeming like he was moving in slow motion.

             
There was a soldier behind him holding a huge, bloody knife and Chastity was holding his head in her hands. He heard the crack and watched as the man dropped to the floor, his eyes lifeless. She’d broken his neck with a quick twist of her hands. How had she been able to do that?

             
He felt hi
s legs start to give out
and he was falling to the floor. He knew he should stop himself
but
he couldn’t find the strength to stand up. The pain in his back seemed to be getting worse and he found he couldn’t draw any oxygen into his lungs. Each breath caused more pain.

             
Chastity was looking toward
him again
with
tears streaming down her face. Was she hurt? He couldn’t figure out what was wrong. She didn’t seem to be injured but her face was contorted in agony.

             
He dropped to the floor and coughed when he attempted to draw more breath. He watched, almost in wonder,
as
blood
sprayed into the air from
his mouth. He knew that wasn’t a good thing. He knew he wasn’t dreaming
and
he wasn’t going to
survive
. Chastity
sa
nk
to her knees
next to him.

             
“I’m sorry
,
John. I tried to get to you in time
. I’m so sorry,” Chastity said to him over and over again. She was on her knees
,
at his side,
cradling
his head in her lap. Her tears were dripping down onto his face.

             
“I love you,” he sputtered, knowing he had to tell her how he felt.

             
“I love you too
,
John. I’m so sorry,” she sobbed
,
as she brushed his hair from his face.

             
“Tell my parents I love them. Tell Phoenix to please take care of herself. I love her so much,” he sputtered. His voice was getting weaker. “Jayden needs to protect her
,
no matter what,” he managed to get out. He then started coughing
harder
and he felt bl
ackness slipping over him. He’
d said all he
c
ould.

             
He struggled to gain some air, wanting a few more moments in Chastity’s arms. He was grateful she’d escaped and they’d had a few months together.
They had been the best in his life and he hated to leave her.

             
“Josiah, please help me,” was the final thing he heard before he completely blacked out.

             
“Josiah
,
please help me. I need you, now
,” Chastity called out with her voice and heart. She knew
he could hear her. She knew
an Angel would be in the
room with them
at that moment. John was dying so t
hey had to come. She couldn’t let him die
, though
. How could she have let him be stabbed like that? She should have protected him.

             
She was sobbing, holding him in her arms as he took his final breaths. She knew Josiah could save him. “Please
,
don’t leave me,” she begged. “Just hold on.”

             
“You must let him go
,
Chastity,” Josiah said as he entered the room, filling it with the most beautiful light. She’d only been away from home a few months and she’d almost forgotten the beauty of Josiah and his wonderful light.

             
“I can’t lose him
,
Josiah, I can’t. I need him
but
more importantly he’
s needed by many. He’s a leader, a son, a brother. So many
count
on him. Please Josiah, it’s not
too late, he’s still breathing
and you can save him,” she begged. “Please
,
don’t punish him for my choice
s. Please save him, he’s worthy.
”

             
“His wound is a mortal one
,
Chastity. His body can no longer survive as human,” Josiah said, kneeling next to her and John.

             
“Please Josiah, you can save him,” she repeated. She knew he could bring John back. She knew he could live.

             
“The only way to bring h
im back is to make him an Angel
and he still wouldn’t be with you,” Josiah said. “Wouldn’t it be better to let him go home?”
He
asked.

             
“No, it wouldn’t be what he
’d want. He’
d want
,
more than anything
,
to stay here and protect
those
he loves,” she pled.

             
“You’re asking me to take the choice from him and do your will,” Josiah said.

             
“I know him. I know what he’d want. I’ve never lied to you. Please, please trust me,” she begged. John was breathing
,
but
just barely. She could feel t
he blood draining from his back
and mouth. She knew he had only seconds. She’d held many humans at this
tragic juncture in their lives
and once he left his body there would be no more choice.

             
“If I change him and he decides to stay, you know he’ll be condemning himself
to the same fate as your brother
,” Josiah warned her.

             
“I know
,
and I’m sorry
. B
ut
,
I know him
,
Josiah
.
I know he
won’t leave his sister. He’
d rather burn for an eternity than leave her behind,” she told him.

             
“You understand
if I do this and he isn’t pure
,
he’
ll die a horrible death
,
and be condemned to walk
in darkness
for all eternity? You’
ll be responsible for him living
that way
.”

             
“
Yes, I take full responsibility.
I know he’s pure, now please save him,” she cried. Her soul was worth John’s. She knew this was what
he’
d want
and she knew he was meant to be chosen. She knew it beyond anything s
he’d ever known before. She’
d gladly sacrifice herself if she were wrong. 

             
“So be it,” Josiah said. He
laid his hands on John’s chest
and a brilliant light shot out
of him. He leaned his head back
and Chastity l
et go as John’s body lifted in
the air. She’d heard stories of humans
who’
d been so pure and so good Josiah had instantly turned them
but
she’d never witnessed it before. 

             
She was terrified she could possibly be wrong
but
she knew she wasn’t. She had faith in John and it would all be okay.

             
The mere seconds seemed like forever
. She heard the others trying to get ahold of her and John on the radio
,
but
she ignored them. She had eyes and ears only for John. She could
n’t
even move as she watched Josiah bring the light into
him
.

             
The light started to fade from the room and Chastity could feel the breath leave her body as John sank gently back to the floor. Josiah stood straight
but
Chastity
couldn’t take her eyes from John
. He lay there, not moving a
n
inch. She waited.
T
he process took time.