The Four Horseman

“Claire….Claire, can you hear me?”
The voice seemed distant, she couldn’t seem to open her eyes or move that much out of the dark fog that had taken over. Claire frantically tried to remember what had happened, the trip had been going well and she had been sleeping in the back. There had been bright lights, Zacky yelling something and then….well then, nothing.
“Zacky? Johnny?”
“Over here Zack!”
There was a grinding noise, the air suddenly full of the pungent smell of burning rubber and heat. Claire slowly opened her eyes and could see the stars through the haze of smoke and debris. It was replaced by Johnny’s worried face, a cut on the side of his head dripping blood onto the pavement beside her. Claire frowned, about to speak as Zacky pulled another piece of twisted metal away from her and knelt down, it dawning on Claire that she was lying in the remains of the jeep.
“You okay?”
“I think so, what happened?”
Zacky smirked, bending down to lift her clear of the jeep and walking over to the kerb. He sat her down and looked over her quickly, relieved that apart from a few cuts and scrapes she seemed fine. He turned his attention to Johnny, binding the cut on his head with a sleeve torn from his shirt. All the time he kept a wary eye on the road.
“Ambush. Looks like they followed us rather than Syn.”
Claire looked around at the ruined highway. It was like something from a horror movie with burning cars and bodies littered amongst the rubble. All around them things were burning and she could now hear screams and see figures running around in the chaos. It was terrifying and she was glad when Zacky pulled her back into his arms. Johnny passed him a couple of the weapons he had stashed in the boot and looked up the road.
“We’re about two miles from the tomb.”
Zacky flinched, fighting their way another two miles would be no easy feat. Claire took a gun from Johnny, both the men open mouthed as she loaded it and fixed them with a stern glare.
“Then we best get going.”
There was a pause, Johnny hefting his rifle onto his shoulder and Zacky producing a pair of flaming swords from nowhere with a slight air of satisfaction. All three of them were giggling as they set off and it worried both Johnny and Claire that they no longer worried about people dying around them. They had accepted that the old world was over and something new, something unbelievable, was taking place.
“Johnny, take the lead, Claire stay in the middle. We don’t stop or fight unless we have to.”
The flames issuing from the swords lit their way despite the smoke and Claire found that she could now see black winged shapes mixed in with the running people. Their red eyes stared and a low hissing issued forth but none of the creatures seemed to want to pick a fight.
“What are they?”
“Demons. If Lilith was here they would probably fight for us.”
She turned to look at Zacky.
“Then why are they killing people?”
The Horseman shrugged, the twin blades singing to him.
“It’s the big man’s choice and they will obey. They won’t mess with us unless directed to by the opposition.”
Claire fell silent, puzzling how an ever loving god could slaughter his creation even if it was to make things better again for the survivors. Johnny just kept going, he had the discussion way back with Michael and still found it an odd conundrum. It made his already damaged brain ache and he knew it wouldn’t change anything.
“But….that kinda makes Satan the good guy.”
Zacky chuckled, planting a warm kiss on her lips.
“He was never the bad guy, he just plays the game differently.”
“Indeed I do.”
All three of them stopped dead, the chaos around them forgotten as they turned to look for the source of the soft voice that could be heard even above the screams, breaking glass and grinding metal. The man stood by a shop doorway, young and handsome with blond hair and a ready smile. Zacky smirked, he had almost expected this and knew that he had to get the humans away before they were seduced.
“Hi Satan.”
“Hi Zacky, how’s Gee?”
“A bit pissed off, hence us.”
The blond man nodded and smiled at the pretty girl and young man.
“I can tell. You know you don’t have to go through with this madness.”
Johnny stood in front of Claire and straightened up. He knew how this would go and remembered the horrific visions of Hell far too vividly to fall for it. Claire peered over his shoulder, remembering that Syn had said that the fallen angel had once been god’s favourite.
“We need to go Zacky.”
The flaming swords glittered in the eyes of Satan as he watched Zacky’s face.
“You could join me. Stop him killing billions. You of all people know that most are not guilty. The Horseman of famine and justice…”
“The famine of justice that your greed and jealousy has bought mankind.”
Zacky could feel something behind him and turned, taking the head of a winged demon and causing Claire to scream. Satan called forward the rest of his host leaving the three massively outnumbered and for the first time Johnny felt some real fear. They had to get away, had to release Jimmy or the final battle could not take place and Satan would win.
“So he says…but he’s a pissy bitch at times.”
Something exploded behind them and the sky took on a blood red hue. It was terrifying and Claire realised that the rain was indeed blood and something else was gathering in the sky. She had presumed it was smoke but now saw that it was insects by the billion.
“Zacky…”
Satan snarled as Zacky gave her a sweet smile.
“Reinforcements.”
The air seemed to catch light, fireballs incinerating demons at a frightening rate as Lilith flew from Syn’s bike to land next to Johnny. Matt strode in behind, war hammer in hand as Syn looked over at Claire and held out a hand. She grabbed it, glad to be pulled aside as the two sides clashed. It was a much more even fight, Matt belting Satan around the face with glee and she realised what he had in mind.
“C’mon.”
Lilith giggled as Claire clung tightly onto Syn’s waist and the huge bike roared. He drove at a frightening speed, her eyes shut tight as he didn’t drop below a hundred. Obstacles were skirted around and pushed over as more than one demon and unlucky passer by fell to Syn’s boots. The fight grew quieter behind them but Claire had to shout to be heard.
“Will they be okay?”
“Yeah, no problems and once we release Jimmy then Satan will flee.”
Claire cringed at the thought and held on tighter, feeling the muscles through his thin shirt and letting her mind imagine being between him and Zacky. Syn could see the picture in her mind and grinned, that would be one hell of a way to celebrate. He twisted the throttle more and used a bent car as a ramp to clear the cemetary wall in one leap.
“Now we run.”
Claire stumbled, her hand still locked in his as they made their way over the dust and stones towards a huge crypt. The demons screeched and fell back, both of them staring at the huge bass relief built into the side of the building. It was a face and a circle, something innouculus and yet threatening. Claire however had no doubt. It called to her, spoke to her and she knew that this was the moment that the whole few days had been building to.
“Now what?”
“Just put your hand on his cheek.”
Syn held his breath, watching the girl as she gently laid her hand against the stone. It was almost an erotic gesture and he could feel the change in the air as the clouds cleared and a great hush descended that left only the demons screaming and cowering. For a moment the moon shone down on them all and silently the crypt doors opened. Claire stepped back, Syn’s arm around her shoulder as a bright white light shone and a shadow walked forward.
The man was just as his picture, the smile on his face reserved just for her and Syn. His blue eyes sparkled as he pulled his shirt straight and held out his arms. Syn giggled and grabbed him around the waist, both of them promptly falling over into the dust which set Claire off laughing as the sky darkened again.
“Claire, meet Jimmy.”

Notes