A Little Piece Of Heaven

Jimmy used the distraction to his advantage.
Shielding his eyes he ran and lunged at the zombie holding Johnny, feeling Matt crash in behind him as they tipped the creature over and it disappeared screaming. Johnny was winded but safe, legs hanging over the edge as Jimmy and Matt pulled him toward where Syn was still fighting against a heap of slavering creatures.
It was impossible to see Lilith, the blinding light from the casket obscured her along with Gerard and the thing that had been circling above them. The entire cavern shook and the howling seemed to grow more intense until all of them, reapers and zombies, were flattened against the dirt floor with hands clasped to their heads.
Syn fought on despite the feeling his head was going to burst, he had to reach Lilith. Inch by inch he crawled free and shut his eyes tightly as he moved closer to the searing light. It felt as though it was burning right through him, hotter than anything he felt either in life or death. Just as he began to think the flesh would be scalded from his bones his fingers connected with an arm and he opened his eyes a crack. Lilith was unmoving, her eyes closed and Syn used the last of his strength to crawl across her and protect her from the still rising storm of light and heat.
“Well wasn’t that fun ?”
The voice still sounded like Gerard but deeper and richer, filling the air as the light died away. The casket was burned away and there was no sign of the ethereal Gerard, only the body now rising from the ruins and looking around. The handsome slight man looked no different apart from the eyes that burned red with power as he eyed the people littered across the floor.
“Already bowing, this is good. I am Patollo, Lord of the Underworld and now lord of this one. My servant has done well in bringing me to this realm, he is rewarded by serving me in giving up this body.”
Jimmy doubted that was what Gerard had had in mind and cautiously picked himself up, helping Matt to his feet as he did so. Johnny remained half in and out of consciousness, not really hearing what was going on and just glad that the bright light was gone. The zombies continued to cower on the ground, their brains unable to disobey the conditioning. The Patollo/Gerard creature turned and looked at the men.
“Reapers. How interesting. I have no fight with you, I have worked with your kind before.”
Jimmy looked down at where Syn was now pulling Lilith into his arms.
“We didn’t have a problem with you until your bitches pulled us into this but you know we can’t stand by while you burn this reality.”
“You have no choice. You go against me and you will burn too.”
Jimmy folded his arms as the god walked around the casket and looked up to where the night sky could now be seen. The building site above had crumbled and disintegrated and the stars seemd to glimmer above them. It was beautiful and Syn wondered why he had never taken the time to look at it until now. Lilith was still out cold but she was alive and that was all that mattered. He too now stood, lifting her in his arms and pulling up his chin as the god turned to look at him.
“And the witch. I am sorry my friend, but she belongs to me now.”
Syn grinned, the chaotic part of him now itching for a fight.
“Good luck with that. I have loved her for nearly a century and she has never belonged to me, only to herself.”
“You all belong to me.”
The reapers stood together, shoulder to shoulder and kept themselves between the god and the ladder that led up into the world. Jimmy had accepted that they were probably going to die here and now only hoped that Zacky and the girls would manage to stop the thing. It burned with power and energy, already pacing as it considered them all carefully. One hand rose and the zombies rose with it, standing behind their master in perfect rows.
“I will show you Brian, show you just how this will work.”
Syn blinked at the use of his name and took a step back as Patollo walked towards him and waved a hand over Lilith. Her eyes opened and her face flushed with colour as any trace of the battle or the damage inflicted on her body left her. For a moment she looked confused and then shrank back as she caught sight of the thing that had once been her lover.
“So…this isn’t looking good. Hi baby…”
“Hi honey, it ain’t good.”
Syn set Lilith down and she stared in open curiosity at the god. It was still in her head but now the pain was less and the temptation was more. The burning red eyes spoke to her and now it was harder to resist when he looked so good and the power burned so brightly…
“LILITH, will you stop that ?”
She blinked and noticed that despite it all Jimmy could not keep the smile from his face at the irritated look on Syn’s face. Lilith smirked and then looked the god up and down again, her fingers flexing with the renewed power that his little healing trick had given her.
“Not every day you see a god in the body of a man who liked being tied down and ass raped but there you go. You enjoying it boss ?”
The god inclined it’s head, the memories that Gerard had given it confirmed the story and it liked that she was not afraid. So many acolytes cowered, these reapers would not and it would make things so much more interesting. It leaned closer and stared straight into her eyes. Lilith refused to cower back, Syn at her shoulder.
“I could burn you.”
“So do it. Fucking do it because we won’t join you and quite frankly, you freak me the fuck out when you look like him.”
There was a flash and another dose of blinding light filled the room. The zombies roared and hissed as more dust fell and the reapers gathered together. Matt grabbed Johnny in one hand and held him between himself and Jimmy as Syn grabbed Lilith by the hair and pulled her back from where the earth now threatened to fall into the abyss.
“You just never fucking learn.”
Lilith smiled and planted a kiss against his lips, more than grateful just to be in his arms again as the smoke started to clear and all of them took a step back. Where Gerard had been now stood a man of well over eight feet tall, great muscles running down every part of his body and topped off by a huge beard. This was how the legend had showed him and the paintings really did not do him justice. She winced and turned back to Syn.
“Ooops.”
“Yeah, we’re now even more fucked.”
Patollo laughed, his power now complete and at full strength. It felt good to walk around again, to feel the ground shake and see the lower creatures fall. It looked like he would have to burn these ones though and it was a pity although he would keep the witch. One great fist rose in the air and he pointed it at the men, almost admiring the way none of them flinched back. The other pulled Lilith clean from Syn’s grasp and into his great left paw where she screamed and kicked.
“It’s a pity gentlemen, we could have ruled this reality but I accept your choice.”
Lilith waited until the last possible moment, locking eyes briefly with Jimmy who instinctively guessed what she was about to do. As the lightening flashed from the god’s fingers towards them he screamed at Matt and the four men made a dash for the great pulley machine, using it to swing themselves out over the drop. The energy flashed harmlessly over their heads as Liith poured everything into a spell aimed straight into the God’s head.
“Syn, swing it around before he flattens her.”
Syn twisted and managed to get some swing into the giant arm so that Jimmy could aim a kick at the god who was now towering over where a winded Lilith lay on the ground. It’s head was bleeding and it was wreathed in a strange purple fire but still standing. Both of Jimmy’s boots connected, Matt landing nearby and summoning up some final energy to throw his weight against the god’s knees and the giant started to topple.
“NOW !!”
Jimmy’s roar was loud above the hissing zombies and he saw Syn fly from the chain above his head and land on the god, somehow a gun now in his hand as he pumped an entire chamber into Patollo’s head. Even Johnny had found a reserve of strength and was wielding a shovel with a mighty scream. Lilith scrambled up, allowing herself a brief moment of hope that the spell would give them the edge, that they could win this before Patollo pulled himself up and shook, sending all of her friends into the dust and Syn perilously close to the drop. She threw herself in that direction, grabbing his hand and pulling with all her might until he was back over the edge.
“Enough of this. You cannot beat me ! I am a god.”
Jimmy coughed, his body alive with pain as he realised that Matt and Johnny were not moving, the smaller man being picked at by the zombies. He dragged himself forward and beat them back, relieved that the gnome was bleeding but knowing it was now futile. Matt made it over to Syn and Lilith, determined to be with his friends if this is how it was going to end.
The god roared again, the lightening gathering in his hands and Lilith closed her eyes against Syn’s chest waiting for the inevitable and then feeling something else. The world seemed to pause, the shaking of the earth stopping and being replaced by a silence that deafened in its own way. Even Patollo stopped, his arms swinging and still aimed at the two groups of reapers as he tried to figure out what was happening. There was light now like before, blinding but more violet filled and crackling with energy. A low whine built up until a rose coloured portal began to form, none of them able to move or look away.
Shadowy figures began to move forward from this vortex and Matt started to smile as Zacky appeared, bold and unafraid with one of Johnny’s laser rifles in his hand. His heart leapt as Dani followed behind, her arm linked with Claire’s. Both of them cast concerned looks at their battered friends before fixing their eyes on the god and waiting. Stefanie didn’t wait, slinging the weapon on her shoulder and heading straight for where Johnny lay. She pulled her jacket off and wrapped it around the wound in his chest, pulling it tight and whispering words of love and encouragement to him as the last figure stepped forward.
“You have one choice Patollo. Go back into that pit or perish for eternity this time.”
Jimmy gaped, unable to take in the sight before him as Raven stepped out of the swirling white light. Still his beautiful dark haired girl but now her eyes shone silver and he swore he could see wings picked out in light as she calmly walked up to the god and stopped five feet in front of him. They stared at each other, darkness and light ready to battle for the last time.

Notes