Broni went to the doorway, opening the front door and then staring out at the large city. Her eyes widened at the view, and a moan of anguish surfaced that she barely managed to hold back with her hand across her mouth as she witnessed what her mother had warned her and her sisters about since they had been children.
There was smoke billowing from different buildings, the faint shrill of the sirens sounded in the distance. Any doubt she’d had about being wrong disappeared.
The Apocalypse had begun.
Chapter 9
As the men came out of their rooms half asleep, Broni was sure it was the earliest most of them had been out of bed in years. They each shuffled in as she stared out the window, seeing Dee, Jace, and Bones coming back across the compound loaded down with groceries. Each was pushing a buggy that looked like it would topple over as they raced back. Jace only stopped long enough to close the gates. By the time they made it to the doors, Broni could smell the smoke; the fires were drawing closer.
“Adam, if you have any water hoses, I would get them ready,” she advised.
He came to stand in the doorway next to her. “Rucker, get the water hoses. Rhys, go to the kitchen and get the fire extinguisher. Fin, open the door to the gunroom. Everyone get prepared, the riot is getting closer.”
Broni went back behind the counter to help Dee put up the groceries while the men stood in the doorway watching. Fin brought out a radio and plugged it in. The news bulletins sent chills down Broni’s back as they described seemingly normal people suddenly turning violent. They had formed in large groups and were slowly moving from one end of the city to another.
“They’re searching for me,” Broni said softly.
“What in the fuck is going on?” Layla screamed, her frightened eyes were on Adam who was staring back at Broni grimly.
“Do you believe me now?” she asked.
“I don’t know what to believe. Tell me again how you came to be here, and what’s going on out there?”
Broni could tell that, this time, they listened with at least an open mind.
“The Apocalypse,” and then it closed.
“That’s ridiculous.” Adam’s face showed she had confirmed his opinion that she was crazy.
“Is it? What do you think is happening? The whole city is on fire. People are turning on each other. My mother, our family, is very powerful. We can go back and forth between time periods. We are only limited by the future. Because of this, someone is trying to start a war between good and evil, needing us out of the way. Without me, Cara, and Zerina, the balance of life is interrupted, causing chaos. If we were to be killed, the result would be disastrous.”
“What is this bullshit?”
Broni tried to be patient with Layla, but her attitude with her was wearing thin. “Layla, imagine if when you were a child and were riding your bike, you rode out in front of a car, and it stopped just in time. What if it didn’t stop? What if that child was killed? She wouldn’t be standing in front of me now, would she?” Broni turned her attention to Rhys. “I fight the battles that determine the course a life may take. It doesn’t necessarily mean a physical fight, it can also mean drinking too much and walking out into busy traffic. You’ve taken up a lot of my time lately.”
“A life may take?” Rhys ignored her last statement.
“It is not up to me to determine the outcome. Only the soul has that power.”
“I no longer have a soul.” Broni smiled sadly that he believed that about himself.
“Yes, you do. All of you do, and if you’re not ready to defend yourself because you’re waiting for me to convince you that what I say is true, then you will lose. Believe me if you want or not, but they will come here searching for me. I used an old Earth spell to hide myself from any immortal seeking to harm me. They must be searching for me and my sisters.”
“Then let them have her. I’m not going to die over some crazy psycho.”
“Shut up, Layla. We’re as prepared as we can be. The only thing left is to see if you’re telling the truth or if this is just another riot that’ll end,” Adam spoke as he closed the door, locking it. “Jace, take the cell phone, go to the roof, and let me know if anyone comes close to the clubhouse.”
Jace nodded, going out back.
Broni decided to keep herself busy as the others sat nervously listening to the radio while simultaneously watching the television that Dee had packed in from one of the bedrooms.
Rhys stood at the counter with a glass of bourbon in his hand. His eyes were unreadable as they watched the television. The slaughter was unbelievable. People were being killed in the streets. Reporters weren’t even spared. Cameramen ran for their lives, leaving blank air until the reports were switched to newscasters who no longer could give current updates.
“What are those things?” Dee asked shakily.
“They are called Drearien. They were driven insane to obey a God’s commands.” Broni had never seen one before, but her mother had prepared her, describing many things that would happen during the apocalypse.
“You know I’m telling the truth. You saw how those men attacked the people in the streets. There is no other explanation. Only a God has enough power to have the Drearien attack us. To do that, they no longer fear Mother’s rage. They are making a move to gain control of the Universe, which is why they’ve struck against my mother, Fate, to divert her from warning Mother.”
“Mother?” Rhys asked.
“She’s the creator of the Universe,” Broni explained.
“I’ve finally drunk enough that I’ve fried my brain, haven’t I?” he said wryly.
“No, Rhys. What I’m telling you is really happening. The humans on Earth have no idea what is about to happen,” Broni said sadly. She would have been able to help, yet trapped on Earth as she was with no powers, she was useless.
“One thing is for sure, we’re a lot better off than most people with the weapons, food, and water we have,” Dee said, taking Broni’s hand.
“I think it’s best if you take the weapons away,” Broni told Adam.
“I’m not giving up my gun,” Rucker said. The others in the room nodded their agreement.
“We watched them on the television. They turn in a second and try to kill you. The last thing you want is someone to turn when they have a loaded gun,” Broni warned Adam.
“We’re not giving the guns up,” Adam stated. Broni understood; she wasn’t sure if it would be any safer leaving them unarmed anyway.
“If they’re searching for her, give her to them. Maybe they’ll leave us alone and go.” Layla stood behind the counter with a knife in her hand, and Broni kept her eyes trained on her.
“I agree,” Rucker said, pointing his gun at Broni. “I don’t want them to eat me.” Broni’s mouth dropped open. “How do I know you all aren’t going to go crazy and eat me?” His gun swept the crowd threateningly.
“You jackass, no one is going to get eaten,” Rhys said, moving away from the gun pointed at him.
“The
whole country has gone fucking crazy. Are you crazy?”
“If I was crazy, I would have already taken that gun away and shoved it up your ass,” Rhys threatened Rucker who gradually pointed his gun downward. If they didn’t remain calm, then panic could be as dangerous as the Drearien trying to get in the clubhouse.
Rucker looked around the crowded room. “I’m giving everyone fair warning that if you go crazy and try to eat me, I’m going to put a bullet in your brain.”
Rucker gave her a suspicious look when he heard her laugh, however Broni stifled her laughter at Adam’s and Rhys’s irritated expressions.
“I’m not hungry,” she said, looking at the gun in his hand.
Rhys’s sudden laugh brought the first smile to her lips since she had become separated from her family.
“It won’t make a difference if you give me to them or not, the Apocalypse has started. They will come for Rhys regardless.”
“Rhys?” Layla turned her attention to him.
“You said they will have come for me regardless of you, why?” Rhys gave her a worried look.
“Rhys, this isn’t your first life, you’ve had past lives. This makes you a target for Mother’s enemies to prevent her from calling you to battle.”
Rhys laughed. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I never was much of a fighter, even when I was younger and forty pounds heavier.”
“Oh, yes, you were. You were a force to be reckoned with. You still would be if Mother calls for you. Your name used to inspire fear in the Gods—it still does. Do not fool yourself that this is what you were meant to be. This,” she waved her hand at his body, “is what you’ve allowed yourself to become.”
“It’s what I deserve.” When his jaw clenched, Broni could sense his pain was as sharp now as it had been five years ago.
“No, it’s not. It wasn’t your fault that one man did something terrible, driving another to an unforgivable act. You weren’t the one at fault, as much as you want to blame yourself.”