The APOCs Virus (17 page)

"This Colin Black," Abaddon said.  He had already regained his composure. "He must have something he feels is worth risking his life.  Send the holy roller in, Phil.  And Phil
--
" 

"Yes Abaddon?" 

"Get someone to clean that mess up too." 

Phil glanced one last time at the ruined body of the girl and was glad to be leaving the room. 

Abaddon was at the large vanity mirror when the two Apoc guards entered the room.  Without turning or glancing up in the mirror he could feel the presence of their empty minds. 

Abaddon swung around in a motion so quick and sudden it left the one guard blinking in consternation.  The other guard was staring with an open mouth at the dead girl on the bed.  Abaddon could sense this one's rage beginning to surge. 

Instead of being apprehensive or pugnacious, Abaddon gawked at the larger of the two guards and realized he was nothing more than a large boy.  He could sense something more than rage, a savage fury climaxing.  Stepping toward the bed and he said, "Son, do you have a problem?"  He was clearly taunting him. "You act like you know that thing?" 

The boy's eyes
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who even as an Apoc were small and deep
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sunken
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had grown as large as gorged leeches.  They bulged scarlet in their sockets.  Shaking with pain and hurt he said, "That thing was my sister!" 

"Well isn't that poetic
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justice.  One thing to take care of another thing.” 

Abaddon could feel the red
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hot emotions rolling off the boy like heat from a furnace.  He loved this game.

"What's your name boy?" Abaddon asked. 

The boy made no move to speak he just glared and shook. 

"I said what's your goddamn name boy?" 

"Jimmy Barnes." 

"Well Jimmy, let me tell you where the bear shits in the buckwheat.  That slime
-
bag you called your sister got a little nosy. So for a little fun I ripped off her head.  Now if you don't want the same treatment I would suggest you gather her up now.  Take her out and burn her."  Abaddon laughed and turned his back on Jimmy as a move of defiance. 

Jimmy was shaking so bad it looked like convulsions.  It looked as if tiny prickles of red
-
hot electricity were surging through his powerful body.  The searing grip of Abaddon’s mind control went out without visible effort, the vile creature held him like a vice as the boy tried to move. 

Abaddon continued to laugh mockingly as he moved back to the mirror.  He felt very indomitable, robust, omnipotent.  He liked little tests of his supremacy over his disciples.  It was the seductive quality of authority that made this all so enticing for him.  He wondered if this was how the Reverend Ira felt.  He wondered what the man Colin Black had to say. 

He released the mind grip on Jimmy and instantly the hair on the nape of his scaly neck bristled. 

He turned to see Jimmy Barnes charging toward him like a bull.  Jimmy had the three-foot tall, cast
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iron statue of Suwanee the Devil Dog raised over his head ready to strike. 

Abaddon threw his arms up over his head to deflect the impact of the blow that was heading for his face.  A loud “crack” was heard as the weight of the statue broke the bones in his forearm. 

The pain from his arm ran like a fast burning fuse to the control center of his brain. 

Jimmy, still hanging on to the cast
-
iron statue, threw it hard at Abaddon.  The weight of the figurine and force of which it was thrown, propelled Abaddon backward into the large mirror.  Broken shards of glass showered to the floor at his feet. 

Abaddon fought not only his attacker, but to also to regain mind control. A mental grip was the only way he could defend himself against the overwhelming opponent. 

With his unbroken arm he picked up Suwanee and flung it at Jimmy who was rushing forward for another attack.  Jimmy effortlessly batted the statue out of the way, as well as the battered arm Abaddon held up to fend him off.  With one hand he grasped Abaddon by the throat and lifted him. 

Jimmy looked at the man-thing that had turned his life upside down.  He was thinking clearer than he had at any point since the change.  Abaddon looked pathetic, weak, and disgusting.  The hatred of the atrocities done to his sister and to him stung like acid in the tears that fell from his eyes.  One person had hurt so many; held so many people prisoners in their own bodies.  They were like his pets, there for his amusement.  He made them sleep in dirt.  He made them kill other human beings; and for what end?  To kill his eighteen
-
year old sister after violating her virginity, her pride? 

Abaddon didn't move or struggle.  He simply retreated into himself.  His eyes were glazed over yet a thin smile was still mockingly plastered on his deformed lips.   

Jimmy continued to squeeze on his neck. It felt to him as though he was squeezing a lifeless tree
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trunk.  Abaddon's grinning lips puckered and he spat a into the boy's face. 

With his free hand Jimmy swept over Abaddon’s head and raked his long nails down the front of his torso.   

Abaddon continued to smirk. 

Jimmy's fleshy lips rolled back and he took on the appearance of a rabid dog ready to strike.  He turned his head sideways and closed his yawning jaws onto the exposed corpulent flesh of Abaddon's neck. 

Abaddon was helpless as he watched the large boy sink his enamel daggers into the susceptible skin of his throat. 

Jimmy bit down hard. 

Abaddon shrieked, with it still echoing in his ears, Abaddon didn't hear Jimmy's a second later.  He was surprised when the boy released the death grip hold on his neck. 

Jimmy fell to the carpet shuddering in a fit of violent spasms quivering like a piece of bacon frying. 

The second of the two guards stepped out from the shadows and was mesmerized by the floor show. 

Phil Goshen entered the room in the company of a clean
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cut twenty
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five-year-old man. 

Everyone, including Abaddon, watched the strange event taking place.   Jimmy floundered on the floor like a freshly caught fish in the bottom of a boat, but something far stranger was taking place.  Abaddon's already-healing neck and torso still bled an Apoc ooze.  The blood acted like an acid on the boy.  Vapor rose off the spots where the skin was it leaked.  He was having an adverse reaction—a bad one.  

Jimmy was still alive and still conscious as he struggled to his hands and knees.   His face looked as if it were melting as he gazed with hatred at Abaddon. The boy tried in vain to speak. 

  "What's happening to him?"  Colin Black asked.  His question was ignored. 

Colin, Phil, the other Apoc guard, and even Abaddon gawked at the spectacle in front of them. 

"Can't somebody help him?" Colin pleaded.  Yet he conspicuously didn't step forward to lend assistance. 

Jimmy Barnes continued to glare at Abaddon and grunted a throaty “Help”. Jimmy made a last ill
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fated attempt to rise up toward Abaddon.  He barely moved an inch. 

Abaddon, like a field goal kicker the man's head.  

Jimmy emitted a last muffled grunt.  His eyes rolled back into his head and he settled to the ground a sack of broken bones. 

"YOU!" Abaddon shouted at the Apoc guard.  "Get these two pieces of shit out of here!"  

The guard didn't move.

 "And make sure you burn them too!"   

The guard dragged the remains of Jimmy out and then returned for the girl.  Colin Black watched without saying a word. 

"Now Mr. Black I believe you have something to tell me, and let me warn you I'm not in a very good goddamn mood." 

 The first time in his life, Colin Black fainted. 

When Colin Black awoke he was in the living room of the darkened suite slumping upright on a sofa.  Abaddon was staring incredulously into his eyes.  Colin could see the man holding his arm as it appeared to heal right before his eyes.  Colin knew that it had probably been a mistake to volunteer for this mission, but it meant getting the scholarship to law school to eventually become the church's lawyer.   Reverend Ira had told him so, and besides, God and his faith would protect him—he hoped. 

"Mr. Black it's so nice to see you back in the world of the living." Abaddon said through an intimidating smile.  "Now what the fuck is it you have to say?" 

After explaining to Abaddon he was sent personally by Reverend Ira he divulged the nature of his offer.  

"Are you trying to tell me that Swanson wants me to help him?" Abaddon asked.  He was still wincing in pain from the mending of his broken arm.  "He wants me to do a show with him?  What are the restrictions?" 

"That is exactly what I'm telling you.  And the good Reverend told me to make it clear that there weren't to be any restrictions.  You can talk about whatever you wish." 

Standing next to Abaddon's chair Phil Goshen said, "I don't know.  It's got to be some kind of trap." 

"Shut up Phil or you can leave.  Mr. Black what kind of assurances can we have that this is all above board?" 

"Actually, sir, it is really Reverend Ira and the church that are taking all the chances.  Pardon me for saying this but, you and your people are creating a nationwide
--
if not worldwide panic." 

Abaddon's obvious interest gave Colin the fortitude to go on; his law degree was getting closer by the minute. "The show will be broadcast live from the Hampton Coliseum. The Reverend wanted me to inform you that he has already talked to the networks. They all plan to be there to cover it.  It will be a rock and roll concert and the press conference is set to start beforehand."  Colin adjusted his thick glasses.  They were starting to fog.

"But tell me now Mr. Black, why would the Reverend put himself in this kind of danger?" Abaddon was still trying to find the flaw in the proposition. 

"I'll be frank with you, the Apocs have not only saved the church, but interest has never been higher.   The church will probably enjoy its best year this year.  You have brought unprecedented prosperity to us. The Reverend Ira feels that your cause and his cause are really one and the same. He can guarantee you all the live coverage you need to get your message to your people.  Anything you say or do, will only foster new interest in both of our interests.  About the only thing that wouldn't work is if you went on the air with a kitten in your arms and said that you were going to destroy yourself." 

"I can assure you that . . . " Phil was cut short by a contemptible glance from Abaddon. 

"Mr. Black, what makes you church people think that I need you?   What makes you think I couldn't do all these things on my own?" 

"At this point we're actually pretty sure that you could," Colin said.  He reclined back into the soft cushions of the sofa feeling more confident by the minute.  "We even have an idea what your plans are.  All we're doing is trying to help you while helping ourselves." 

Abaddon scanned the young man's mind and was surprised to find that he spoke the truth
--
or what the young man believed to be the truth.  He was also surprised to find out how much the man knew of the Apoc operation. 

"When does the Reverend this thing to take place?" 

"It's one week from today at the Coliseum in Hampton." 

Abaddon thought that if he decided to go with this plan he'd miss his window of opportunity with the naval project.  It also gave him another whole week to plan and organize.  Organize!  That's what I need to do, he thought.  With Phil leaving for Washington tonight . . . . Yeah, it could work.  There would be a lot less chance of a counter-strike by the government this way.  I could achieve my objectives by manipulating their system.  "Tell the Reverend that we might be able to work out a deal." 

"Then you'll do it?" There was a schoolboy glee in the man's voice.  He never thought it would have been this easy, and to think he had actually feared for his life. 

"Tell the good Reverend Ira we'll do the show if he can get all the details over to me.  My email is down.  No electricity you see." 

"You'd be surprised at the connection the church has.  I'll see what he can do about your power problem," Colin said.

"What is the name of the band that'll be playing at the concert?"

"Devil's Reich.  They're a heavy-metal group."

Abaddon smiled.  "Yes this could work out for all of us.  Is there anything else you need from me right now?"

Colin was speechless.  It was more than he could have hoped.  He still had another thing to ask. 

"Might I ask you one small favor?" 

"I'm in a generous mood ask away." 

"Actually there are two things I'd like to ask.  Number one do you think I could tape you today?" 

"Tape?  What for?" Abaddon asked, flabbergasted at the request. 

"For promos . . . commercials so we can advertise your appearance." 

"I'd be more than happy to." Abaddon said swelling with pride.  "And what is your second solicitation?" 

"Was the thing I saw when I came in today for real . .  .or was it staged to frighten me?" 

"I assure you Mr. Black it was all quite real" 

"Do you think you could do something like that again.  You know, the night of the concert?"

"I guarantee it," Abaddon said.

Colin smiled. 

They taped the promos in the lobby of the Beachcomber.  They turned out perfectly. Colin placed the video-equipment in his trunk and drove off trying to decide whether he wanted to attend Yale or Harvard Law.  He was very pleased with himself.  He procured everything the Reverend Ira asked for and more.  In the commercial he filmed Abaddon was particularly vicious while at the same time sounding quite intelligent.  It was just what the Reverend wanted.  Colin felt like he had been to the devil's lair and was still alive to boast of it.  He still couldn't believe how easy it had been.