The Last Guardian

Chapter_08: Cooper's Town

Back at the Church, Raven had brought out a bottle of champagne to celebrate Johnathan's transition into a Guardian. Although he thought it was too much but he went along anyways

"So what's next? We definitely beat the crap out of those vamps for sure...", he chuckled.

"Not we...You did...You should have seen him Raven, he was so good...Ah! You remind me of the brave knights, Son! ...You remind me of the old times when I could fight like you...",said Billy patting Johnathan's shoulder.

Johnathan smiled and took a sip. Raven appeared unbothered, she mindlessly kept browsing her phone.

After a few moments Johnathan went outside and looked around, he felt like a new person- strong and confident- not like the loser he was before. He took of his shoes and began walking on the church lawn. For the first time in a long time, he had felt any sensation in his left leg- he looked at it and saw the strange metal and flesh infused feet- but now, the metal was getting hid under the new muscles- his leg was healing itself- it was regenerating.

He looked at his hands, the veins on his hands were bulging- he felt really strong. He took a deep breath and looked at the clear blue sky- he felt eternally grateful for this new life he was given. He gently touched the amulet hanging on his chest and thanked the Gods up above.

Back at the Police precinct, Lisa had just explained to the Captain about everything she saw, except for the part about the 'vampires'. The Captain actually appreciated her efforts but told her to be more careful next time. She was expecting some scolding for being so impulsive.

Nevertheless she went back to her office and sat down on her chair- at least she was right about the Russians being involved in some shady business even though she could find nothing to connect the incident to her pending cases. She wondered whether pursuing the Mafia will lead her anywhere or was she getting distracted? Suddenly she remembered about the man- the sergeant- who saved her from that- thing! She wondered whether she was having some psychological problems or was it even real- first the strange ghost lady and now- vampires?!

She was deep in her thoughts when her phone began to vibrate-

"Help...help me Lisa...Lisa...", an eerie crackled and muffled voice echoed from the other side.

"Hello... who's this?", she cried out.

"Lisa...Lisa ...", said the voice and suddenly the voice changed into a deep demonic growl- "You're gonna DIE!!"...and the call got disconnected.

Lisa looked at her phone screen- there was no number- she checked her call log- there was now new calls on it. She placed the phone on the table and stepped away. Now she was sure, something was wrong with her- she had to consult a psychiatrist!

6 Hours later:

The sun was setting and Billy was instructing Johnathan on how to meditate and control his strength inorder to fight better. Raven suddenly interrupted them-

"It's Ivan... he wants to meet and he's kidnapped some girl called Maya...".

Johnathan was shocked to hear that name-

"Maya?", he asked, "Maya Lovelace?"

"Yeah ..he says that it's Johnathan's life for Maya's...if he doesn't show up then...", replied Raven.

"What's Maya got to do with this?Why drag her into this?", he cried out.

"Calm down... that's how it is with these lowlifes...they target your family and loved ones... don't worry you can handle them, now that you got your powers...we will be right behind...", said Billy.

"One more thing, he asked for Johnathan to come alone and leave behind the sword and the amulet...", Raven said.

"What? How do they know about those?", Johnathan yelled.

"It's their job to know... they're not human...vampires and demons have eyes and ears everywhere...", replied Billy.

"Where do they want me to go?", asked Johnathan.

"Cooper's Town!" , replied Raven.

"What? But that's hours away...and..", said Johnathan.

"And it's abandoned...", interrupted Billy, "and the most haunted place in the state...that sick bastard sure knows where to pick a fight...", he added.

"But how is he going to rescue her without the amulet and the sword?",asked Raven.

"I'll manage that... it's me they want...I will save her... its doesn't matter what happens to me...", replied Johnathan.

"The spirit of a warrior... Don't worry son, we I'll be waiting close by and Raven is trained in guerrilla warfare...she will penetrate the place and provide you cover...",said Billy.

"Good...then we don't have any time to waste...", said Johnathan.

Moments later Billy and Johnathan were off to Cooper's Town to rescue Maya. The plan was to drop Billy a few miles from the town while Raven will sneak into the place unnoticed. Johnathan only hoped for Maya's safety...

Lisa was on her way to she her psychiatric friend after duty. She was driving anxiously, confused at what was going on in her life. Up ahead was a red light and she stopped her car and waited for the signal to turn green. Suddenly she saw Johnathan speeding his truck right across the street. She recognized her face

"Son of a ...", she exclaimed and before the lights could turn green she turned her car and dashed onto the road and followed Johnathan's truck.

She had so many questions for him and she could arrest him for failing to show up at the station earlier.

But Johnathan was in a hurry, he had been driving for two hours now and all he had in mind was Maya. He floored the pedal and soon he was out of the city and into the country side. Lisa was finding it hard to keep up- the traffic was too much but she kept following her from a distance nonetheless.

45 minutes later Johnathan stopped his car and let Billy out near a bush on the road. Billy took out his gun and said-

"Good Luck Son!"

Johnathan took off his amulet and placed it in the glove compartment. The Katana was in the backseat.

It was starting to get dark and he could see the outline of Cooper's Town from a distance. According to the news, in the year 1976, the mayor of this small town suddenly went bloodthirsty and started killing the residents along with some of his pals. The police tried to arrest him but he tried to escape and was shot dead in the crossfire. After that people began to see strange shadowy figures in the town. Many people were either found dead or missing. The locals soon abandoned the place and soon the place became deserted. They say that people left in such a rush that many of them didn't even take most of their belongings- they ran away with the most necessary items they could find. Stories of hauntings and shadowy figures are heard every now and then, told by people who are brave enough to venture into the town. But nobody dares to enter the town at night.

But Johnathan had no choice, he had to go for Maya. Even if she betrayed him, it wasn't fair to drag her into this, and maybe he found the courage to go because he still had love for her in his heart.

He drove up to the entrance gate of the town and stopped. He kept the headlights burning and got out of the truck. An eerie cold breeze blew across his face. It was silent- so silent that he could hear his own heart beating. He looked around and saw an old sign board that read- Welcome to Cooper's Town!

He walked ahead, carefully staying in the radius of the light of the truck. There was complete darkness everywhere. He wondered how he was supposed to find Ivan in this cold desolate place. Far away he could hear the continuous creaking of a window and besides that all he could hear was the sound of his own footsteps. The whole place looked like a scene from a horror movie- old, broken, desolate, windy and dark. In his mind he felt like something would jump out from the shadows. But he kept moving ahead...