Rise of The Fallen

Chapter 6

I wasn't sure what happened first, if it was Devon's gunfire or Liam's yell but we moved as one. Snaking through the Nephilim, Todd jumped in the driver's side and started the truck. The damn things had been too busy with Jason so we were able to get a very small head start, but that was all we needed. The tires screeched painfully as Todd violently peeled out. We jumped in the back, Devon's rifle aimed at the sky and Liam's katana at the ready. My scythe was out and in my hands, ready to slice anything that came for us. The truck bumped along the hard ground, dust kicked up by our speed and we saw them coming for us. We needed to get back to the safety of the base ASAP, then they couldn't get us. The base was surrounded by weapons, manned at all times and even if they chased us to the gates we had enough firepower there to take a Nephilim down. We also had to get back with the valuable information about Kokabiel, because if his screams paralyzed, we were all in danger. We had a ways to go still, and they were gaining on us, Devon being the only long range fighter in the group would have his hands full.

"Do we have anything else?!" Todd yelled back to me, I looked around the bed of the truck. Jason's extra pistols were laying there, grabbing them I handed one to Todd. He nodded, and we both readied to take aim with the guns. Right now we needed to stop or slow them from gaining on us, and the best way to do that was keep them as far away as possible. Standing on one side of Devon I aimed and fired at the Nephilim pursuing us, while Todd turned and fired from the front seat on the other side to Devon. We weren't sharpshooters like Devon, but in this situation any hit would help, because it would slow them down. Todd's insane driving was also not making it easy to be accurate but I knew he was just trying to get us back as soon as possible, and driving like a one handed maniac was one way to do it. They were getting dangerously close, and we were nearing the base; I willed Todd to gun it, our bodies straining to stay standing as we were tossed back and forth like ragdolls. I saw the domed building in the distance, the barracks and other buildings were small squares beside it. Just a bit further, I was running out of ammo and I knew Todd wasn't far behind me. Jason always packed extra but it had been in his holsters, which were now miles behind us with one killer Watcher angel. Devon had extra, but obviously they wouldn't work for us. Trying to be conservative with my bullets I waited until I had a clear shot, which unfortunately meant the damn things had to be a little closer. Narrowing my eyes I took note of which ones had already been hit, attempting to finish the job; although Devon was already doing a pretty stellar job. Nephilim, being half human, were susceptible to bullets; it just took more than a human would need to fell them. Which is why we needed to get back to base, the heavy duty guns and equipment would be more than enough to scare them off, if we could just get into firing range.

"See if Todd has anything in the truck!" Devon yelled over his shoulder, effortlessly knocking a larger Nephilim male to the ground. I crouched down and rapped on the back window, sliding it open, I shouted over the noise.

"We got anything in there?" Todd nodded and fumbled in the console for a minute, fishing out several explosives. Grinning, he handed them back to me and said "almost there, just hang in there for a bit longer."

"Who do you think you're talking to?!" I shot back, returning his smile. I grabbed the explosives and handed one to Liam, taking it from me he nodded.

"Light em' up" he said cheerily, his British lilt vastly out of place with the situation. I laughed despite myself, and with an unrestrained amount of glee pulled the pin and threw the grenade into the air. It went off with a boom and I saw several Nephilim fall, one writhing on the ground their wings on fire. Assholes, I thought angrily, we couldn't even retrieve Jason's body, though I had no doubt in my mind that fucker Kokabiel would get it to us soon enough. If it was the last thing I’d do I would figure out a way to kill that angelic bastard, what a sick and twisted creature; how could he have ever been part of heaven? Much less a high ranking angel? When they fell did they get sicker the higher ranked they had been? The thought of skinning the angel alive made me happier than it should.

Finally we were mere miles from the base, Todd was going as fast as he could, the Nephilim had slowed thanks to our gunfire, and they probably did not care to chase us any longer. I had no idea how they communicated but it seemed as though as a whole group they had slowed, some even wheeling in the air to turn around. The Hunters on watch saw us coming, and I heard gunfire above our heads as they let loose on our pursuers. Thank goodness we were finally within range, which meant we were mostly safe. I saw the gates open, heavily armored guards on either side, their weapons trained to the sky; we flew past them in the truck and skidded to a stop. Devon, Liam and I were thrown back, and we all unceremoniously grunted with the impact. I heard the sounds of gunfire slowly fading and knew the Nephilim had turned around. Sighing deeply I curled into Liam's arms, seeking the comfort we both needed. I felt Devon wrap his arm around my other side and heard Todd step into the bed of the truck; he settled in the middle of us all. The other Hunters watched in silence as we held each other and cried.