《Rapture: Do not harvest, not fit for consumption》 Chapter 1 & 2 It was a day like any other when the earth shook violently and the skies suddenly turned bright. All around the globe same sight could be seen. People saw what seemed to be giant, glowing beings descending from the heavens, Angels. Angels were unlike anything anyone had ever imagined, with wings blindingly beautiful and an otherworldly radiance that seemed to emanate from their very beings. As they drew closer to the earth, people began to feel an unfamiliar discomfort. Christians, true believers, were taken that day. Taken to eternal peace, while the rest of humanity was left to ponder their decisions. Angels circled the globe several times leaving an unfamiliar mark on people''s foreheads as they left. Everyone born after that day got the same mark. No one knew what it meant, the leading theory was that it branded them sinners, someone who would never be able to reach and experience what those people did on that holy day. Since that day, Earth changed forever. Most people stopped looking for material success and turned towards Christianity. Years later first marks finally started disappearing and humanity found hope once again. Five years later Angels returned once again, taking those whose markings had disappeared. That was a clear sign for humanity of what their goal should be. Angels repeated the same process five years later and one of them spoke that they would continue to do so. Sins can be forgiven and people can be accepted and brought to heaven with them if they work hard enough, and devoted their lives to it. Almost fifteen years had passed after that holy day and humanity eagerly expected the return of the Angels once more. All of this did not sit right with Marcus, a history teacher, who combed through every book he could find trying to decipher the strange marking. He found himself in Egypt, at ancient ruins, looking for the final clues, he was so close. His children and wife waited for him at home, their markings gone almost a year now. His wife Vivian had begged him to leave this pursuit of his and join them, she could help him lose the mark, and become a believer. She could be his guide into eternal peace and ascension. But Marcus could not let it go, he had to follow his gut. He brought his team of eight people with him to Egypt, and all of them shared the same feeling of uncertainty and eeriness that surrounded the Angels. They combed through the ancient site looking for final clues, something was missing. Every translation they did reading the parts of the strange symbol made no sense. ¡°Boss,¡± Lorein yelled. ¡°I think I have found it, come look at this.¡± Carved into one of the stones was a part of the symbol that decorated most of the remaining humanity¡¯s foreheads. ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Marcus said. ¡°We have everything we need. Bring that whole block, we will have the symbol translated tonight!¡± They spent the whole night translating the symbol and just before dusk they succeeded. The message read: "Do not harvest, not fit for consumption." It was a chilling revelation, one that sent chills through the team. The implication was clear: those who bore the marking were safe and the others were in grave danger. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Minutes later as the team was still proof-checking the earth shook once again and the sky became bright. The Angels have returned once more. The feeling of dread and horror swept over Marcus, his wife, and children had lost their mark and he was on the other half of the planet away from them. He was right all along but he was too late, he had lost his wife and children. One of the team members was unbothered by the revelation and angels returned and continued translating part of the stone they have found at the ruins. He finished the sentence that was written at the bottom of the stone: ¡°If they ever return, find me!¡± **** Pt 2 **** Marcus left his crew in Egypt and flew straight home in a private jet that their financier Mr. White provided. His heart raced the whole flight as he was trying to convince himself he was wrong, but deep down he knew, those Angels, they were not who they presented themselves to be. They were monsters beyond horrific beyond human imagination. Mr. White called him halfway through his flight. "Marcus, what happened?" Mr. White asked, his voice calm and collected as always. "I have dozens of missed calls. Did you finally crack the symbol?" "Yes," Marcus said, his voice trembling. "The mark means do not harvest, not fit for consumption." "Oh my God," Mr. White said and went silent for a moment. "Why are you flying home?" "My family has lost their mark sir, all of them," Marcus said, his voice crackling. "And they have just returned," Mr. White continued. "I am so sorry Marcus, I hope they are ok. Rush to them and then call me." "We have discovered something else on the stone that held the key for translation," Marcus added. ¡°It translated to if they ever return find me!¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Mr. White said. ¡°Take care Marcus and call me.¡± As Marcus landed at the airport, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He knew that he had to get home as soon as possible, to see if his family was still there if the Angels have not gotten to them yet. As he exited the airport, he saw his brother, Jensen, waiting for him in the parking lot. "Marcus, what''s going on?" Jensen asked, his eyes filled with concern. Marcus did not explain to him what happened, only to be there as soon as he land. "I have a lot to tell you¡­" Marcus said, his voice trembling. "But drive home as fast as you can, I¡¯ll tell you along the way." Jensen nodded and left the parking lot with the screeching of tires. They rushed to Marcus''s house, racing through the streets recklessly as Marcus told Jensen about their discovery in Egypt. As they pulled up to the house, Marcus¡¯ anxiety was at an all-time high. He hoped he would find his wife and his beautiful children there running towards him for an embrace, but something deep inside him told him he was already too late. When they entered the house, they found it empty, devoid of any sign of life. Marcus rushed to his children''s rooms, searching for any clue as to what had happened. But there was nothing, no sign of struggle, no indication of where they might have gone. As they searched the rest of the house and the backyard, Marcus felt a sense of dread creeping over him. He now knew what it meant when the angels took someone, and with every second passing, it was more evident that his family had been taken from him. He felt a deep sense of loss, a feeling of emptiness that seemed to consume him instantly. As he sat in his empty house, Marcus realized that everything was about to change, but he did not know where to start. The angels were not the benevolent beings that history and the stories presented them to be, but rather monsters beyond human comprehension. And now, he had lost everything he had ever held dear. He felt a sense of despair wash over him, a feeling of hopelessness that seemed to envelop him. He knew that he would never be able to go back to his old life, that everything he had ever known had been taken from him. But he also knew that he had to keep searching, he had to get to the bottom of this mystery, so he dialed his boss. ¡°Sir, they are gone,¡± Marcus said, his voice a flat line, still in shock. ¡°I am so sorry Marcus!¡± Mr. White said. ¡°I am on my way to Egypt, meet me there, the plane is waiting for you at the airport. We have a lot to discuss!¡± ¡°I am coming with you,¡± Jensen said and they rushed back in silence toward the airport. Chapter 3 They spent their flight mostly in silence, shock taking more and more of a hold of Marcus. Jensen tried to reassure him several times that they might have not been taken or that Marcus could simply be wrong. It was more believable that Heaven existed than the Angels were some kind of monsters harvesting people for God knows what. But Marcus knew Jensen was wrong, he knew from the start that there was something off about those creatures, ever since he came eye to an eye with one fifteen years ago. A car waited for them on a private landing strip in possession of Mr. White. The driver didn¡¯t utter a word the whole drive toward Mr. White¡¯s mansion where Marcus¡¯s whole team waited for them. They have brought almost everything from the ruins that they could carry with them. Marcus knew Mr. White was a powerful individual, but this seemed a little bit extreme even for him. ¡°Marcus, I am so sorry,¡± Mr. White opened a car door and welcomed Marcus. ¡°How are you feeling.¡± Mr. White was a tall and imposing figure for his age. He was lean with sharp features and a pointy jaw. He had a full head of slicked-back hair that was a striking silver color. His piercing blue eyes seemed to take in everything around him with a sharp and discerning gaze. He dressed impeccably, in tailored suits that showed off his trim physique, and his expensive accessories suggested a man of considerable wealth and refinement. He grabbed Marcus by his hand and helped him out of the car. "I''m...not sure how I feel," Marcus said, his voice wavering. "The Angels have taken my family, and I don''t know what to believe anymore." Mr. White nodded and escorted him and his brother to the mansion, his crew following closely behind. ¡°We have found sever more sentences, some full, some partial, and managed to translate almost most of them,¡± Ava said. ¡°What do they say?¡± Marcus asked and Ava pointed toward the board that had multiple sentences and words scribbled on it. ¡°They are not who they presented themselves to be.¡± One of the sentences said. ¡°Their motives are beyond human comprehension.¡± ¡°They feed on the souls of the believers.¡± ¡°They consume everything.¡± Several of the sentences only had a few words in them with question marks decorating the remaining space. Marcus caught a single word written below. ¡°Samle.¡± ¡°What is that word down there?¡± Marcus pointed towards it. ¡°Samle, what does that mean?¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°It was written at the bottom of the stone we carried, almost as a signature of sorts,¡± Ava answered. ¡°But we are not sure of its translation as the stone is damaged down there.¡± ¡°Show me,¡± Marcus said and Ava brought him to a part of the stone that lay on a table. Marcus inspected the stone and checked his notes. He ran towards the board and spelled letter by letter of the signature and sentence above it that was badly damaged. ¡°I am not who they make me out to be, free me and I shall help you.¡± The sentence Marcus wrote read. ¡°Samael!¡± Marcus continued and dropped the marker. ¡°Samael,¡± Mr. White said. ¡°Could it really be? Are you sure Marcus?¡± He asked running his head through his hair. ¡°One hundred percent,¡± Marcus said and silence engulfed the room. ¡°This is all too much,¡± Ava said. ¡°None of this makes any sense.¡± ¡°We need to inform the World,¡± Marcus said. ¡°We need to let everyone know that the Angels and everything they preach is a lie,¡± ¡°I can not let you do that,¡± Mr. White said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Marcus turned his expression full of shock. Mr. White looked at Marcus with a heavy heart. "I heard about the possible truth about Angels long before they came down to Earth," he said, his voice tinged with sadness. ¡°What?¡± Marcus yelled. "My Granny used to tell me stories about them when I visited her as a child. She said one of the Priests, who was later pronounced insane, saw an angel devouring one of his friends who devoted his life to God." Marcus was taken aback by this revelation. "And you never thought to share this information with us?" he asked, his voice rising with frustration and he rushed towards Mr. White. Several of his bulky bodyguards rushed towards Marcus and detained him. ¡°My wife and children are gone!¡± Marcus yelled at top of his lungs. ¡°And you knew, you knew all along.¡± "I did not know Marcus, believe me," Mr. White said, shaking his head. "I thought they were just stories, legends of a small town obsessed with faith. But when they visited us fifteen years ago, those stories surfaced in me again, everything my Granny ever told me. But I still could not go around and talk about it without any evidence, people would think me mad, that¡¯s why I employed you guys and other teams around the globe." "What else did your Granny say?" Ava asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. "She said that the Angels were not what they seemed, that they were hiding something from us. And that the Priest disappeared not long after he started telling those stories." Mr. White and Ava exchanged a look of understanding. "And now we know," Mr. White said, his voice full of determination. "We know that the Angels are not here to help us. They''re here for their own purposes." ¡°You son of a bitch,¡± Marcus could not contain him. ¡°You could have told me!¡± ¡°Would you have believed me?¡± Mr. White said and Marcus held his head down. Mr. White nodded, his expression grave. "We need to be careful," he said. "We don''t know what kind of power these Angels possess, we don¡¯t know what they would do if we told the world what we know so far. We need to tread carefully if we want to uncover the full truth." ¡°Suppose you are right,¡± Ava said. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°I have my grandma''s journal where she has written all the stories that priest said.¡± We comb through them and find clues. And¡­¡± Mr. White was cut short by Marcus who managed to calm himself down. ¡°We find Samael,¡± Marcus said, everyone in the room turning towards him. ¡°Or whoever that is, if there is a gram of hope that my family is alive, my gut is telling me to look for whoever that is.¡± Chapter 4 ¡°Then we find Samael,¡± Mr. White said. ¡°I trust Marcus completely!¡± Marcus rolled his eyes and went back to study the rest of the untranslated writings on the stones. Ava and the rest of the team gathered around a large table covered in books, journals, and fragments of the ancient stone and started searching for any clue that might lead them to Samael. Soon after Mr. White brought everything he gathered through his life, all the tales, legends, myths, and interviews with people that told these stories. Over the next few days as Angels once again left the Earth, the team scoured every history book they could find, delving into ancient myths and legends from every corner of the globe. They had studied Mr. White''s grandmother''s journal, hoping to find some insight into the story she told all these years ago. They had even turned to the internet, something Marcus rarely did, scouring every corner of the web for any hint of information on Samael. But all they had found was what humanity was preached all these years, nothing out of the ordinary. "It''s like trying to find a needle in a haystack," Ava muttered, flipping through a dusty tome. "We have no idea where even to begin looking." "Perhaps we should focus on the clues we do have," Marcus said, picking up one of the stone fragments. "The writing here seems to suggest that Samael is not who the angels make him out to be. But who is he, then? And where is he?" Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Wait,¡± Allen said, Marcus¡¯s colleague way back from their college days. ¡°If everything we knew is basically inverted. Angels are good, they are basically monsters as far as we know. Then maybe the devil or Samael who is represented with fire, deep underground¡­¡± ¡°Ice,¡± Marcus yelled cutting off Allen and started ravaging through papers. ¡°Where do you hide something you don¡¯t want anyone to find?¡± Marcus asked and then answered his own question. ¡°The most unhabitable part of the planet, Antarctica.¡± Others shared a glance as Marcus continued looking for something. ¡°Ahaa¡­¡± He exclaimed. A single line buried deep in ancient books, a reference to a place known as the "Deepest Prison." ¡°This was wrongly translated,¡± Marcus said, excitement building in his chest. ¡°I just figured it out with these new translations we¡¯ve been doing and it clicked. When they said down or deepest in this particular text, they meant south.¡± Marcus said and everyone looked lost. ¡°Fire to Ice, Deepest to South, it¡¯s Antarctica, Look at this.¡± Marcus showed them a picture in the book that held a text about Deepest Prison and a rough circular drawing below it. ¡°What does it look like too?¡± Marcus said and pulled out a map of Antarctica on his iPad the resemblance between the drawing and the map was uncanny, too much to be a coincidence. "We need to go there," Marcus said, excitement building in his chest once again. "If there''s any chance of finding Samael and finding out what happened to my family and all the other humans lost in these fifteen years, it¡¯s there. Mr. White, you owe me this much." ¡°Makes sense,¡± Mr. White said in a calm and collected voice. ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± The rest of the team nodded. Chapter 5 Marcus had long been fascinated with the remote continent of Antarctica. He dreamed of going on an expedition there, uncovering the secrets of the frozen land, as his heroes from favorite fantasy novels did. However, he knew that such a journey in real life would be a massive undertaking, requiring a vast array of resources, expertise, and permissions, and that there was much more to uncover on other parts of Earth. Now, they had to go there, but under the wrong circumstances, it was one of the last resorts to uncover the truth about the monstrous creatures that called themselves angels. Luckily, they had Mr. White on their side. Marcus still held a grudge against the man for withholding the information that could have possibly saved his family but had no other choice but to work with the man for his resources and connections. Ordinary people could go to Antarctica only as tourists with restricted access and places they could visit, but this man could go anywhere he wanted. Marcus never asked what Mr. White did and how he obtained his wealth and this did not seem like a time to ask. In less than a week, Mr. White easily assembled a team of experts to help them plan and execute the expedition to Antarctica. Mr. White knew that he would need individuals with a wide range of skills and experience, from pilots to scientists and survival experts. He withheld the goal of the mission offering a large sum of money for those who joined and hit them with an NDA to sign if they agreed to go. Marcus and his team left once again to explore nearby ancient ruins before they left Egypt when a single point in the sky exploded with light. Marcus and the team were startled and watched as the ball of lights flew south in direction of Mr. White¡¯s mansion. Angels never came alone, this was the first time, and something felt deeply wrong, but Marcus shrugged the feeling away and continued digging through the site, his team following. Mr. White watched in awe as the Angel landed gracefully in front of him. He only saw one up close once, fifteen years ago, when it flew near him and left him with a strange mark they translated only recently. Its skin was glowing with a golden light, almost transparent in some parts, but its eyes were wrong. They glowed with an otherworldly light, but it was not a light that brought comfort or hope. Instead, it was a light that filled him with a sense of unease and dread. As Mr. White looked closer, he realized that the creature''s eyes were full of darkness, a deep blackness that seemed to go on forever. There was no glint of light or reflection in those eyes, no hint of emotion or humanity. "Who are you?" Mr. White asked, his voice trembling with fear. "I am an angel, Raphael" the Creature towering over him replied. "I am your salvation, a sinner!" The creature came closer to him and Mr. White instinctively took a step back. ¡°You hide something human,¡± The Angel said. ¡°You are playing with things far beyond your understanding.¡± It said with an uncanny voice and flew inside the mansion. Luckily for Mr. White, Marcus and his team moved all the artifacts away from the mansion, returning some to the ruins and moving most of them to the airport to bring with them on the expedition. The Angel, Raphael, flew back towards Mr. White, landing only a few feet away from him, inspecting him with black eyes, filling Mr. White with dread once again. ¡°Are you working towards redemption, human?¡± Raphael asked him and gently flicked its wings, causing a rush of wind to swirl around them. Mr. White felt the breeze lightly brush against his face as the angel lifted itself slightly off the ground, hovering just above him. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Raphael gently flicked his wings once again circling around Mr. White and in doing so exposed what looked like a black scar on its right arm. On that scarred area of his arm, there was no glow, nothing, it looked dead flash and Angel quickly hid it from Mr. White¡¯s eyes. ¡°Yes,¡± Mr. White barely muttered. ¡°Of course almighty one.¡± ¡°You lie human,¡± Raphael said. ¡°I will be keeping my eye on you,¡± Angel said and spread his wings flying away, with such force that it almost knocked Mr. White to the ground. Mr. White couldn''t shake off the eerie feeling that lingered within him after the encounter. As he waited for Marcus and his team to return, his mind was consumed with thoughts of the angel, and what its presence might mean. The way the creature had looked at him, with its dark, penetrating eyes, had filled him with a sense of unease he did not know was possible. He couldn''t help but wonder why the angel had come to see him, and if it knew everything they have discovered so far. And if it knew, why did it just leave, something felt off once again. As the hours ticked by, Mr. White tried to keep himself busy, going over the details of the expedition on Antarctica in his mind and trying to plan for the days ahead. But no matter what he did, he couldn''t shake off the feeling that something was wrong, that the encounter with the Angel had set something into motion that he couldn''t yet understand. As Marcus and his crew returned, only one look at Mr. White¡¯s face was enough to confirm his suspicion that the Angel did in fact come here to visit the wealthy man. Marcus could see it in Mr. White''s face, the way his eyes darted around, and the tension in his jaw. There was a sense of unease about him that was almost palpable. ¡°What happened?¡± Marcus asked with a worried look on his face. Mr. White looked up at him, his eyes filled with a sense of fear that Marcus had never seen before. ¡°He came,¡± Mr. White said. ¡°I am afraid they know.¡± ¡°He, who?¡± Marcus asked. "The Angel that darted from the sky earlier today?" "He said his name was Raphael," Mr. White continued speaking as if ignoring Marcus. "Seeing it up close, that creature, it''s not natural, there is nothing divine about it." "Relax," Marcus said in a calm voice laying his hand on top of Mr. White''s shoulder. "Tell me exactly what happened." They entered the mansion as if hiding from the sky itself and Mr. White told Marcus and his crew everything that happened. He described the creature in the smallest details from its unholy eyes filled with deep blackness to the way it moved and how it for a brief second showed what looked like a scar. "That''s not good," Marcus said shaking his head. "It, they, are most likely onto us." Most of the people in the room shook their heads in agreement. "Mr. White was right not wanting to go public with the information we had, if we did we would most likely be all dead by now." Mar us continued and everyone went silent for a second. "What should we do then?" Ava asked, breaking the silence. "What is there left to do?" Marcus asked, looking around the room. "We need to continue, to uncover the full truth. If we give up now it''s most likely the end of humanity." Most of the people nodded in agreement, some bowed their heads slightly. "I am going to continue looking for the truth and then for the solution," Marcus said. "I don''t have anything to lose anymore. This is bigger than all of us, we owe it to ourselves, our loved ones and the rest of humanity to at least try." Marcus could see the tension in their faces begin to ease. He could see the determination in their eyes, the fire that burned within them. They were fighters, all of them, and they wouldn''t let anything stand in their way. "You''re right," his brother Jensen was first to speak, his voice strong and resolute. "We can''t let fear control us. We have a job to do, and we will get it done." The rest of the group murmured their agreement, and Marcus could feel a sense of pride and satisfaction swell within him. They were a team, they grew close all these years under Mr. White''s pay, and they would stand together no matter what. "Okay then," Marcus said, his voice ringing with confidence. "Let''s continue¡­" Chapter 6 They decided to send Mr. White away from them, to the other part of the globe. Wealthy businessmen fought the decision, but deep down he knew it was ultimately for the best. The encounter with the angel had left him shaken, and he needed time to recover and if Angels returned he needed to be as far away from them as possible. Next, Marcus made the decision to split his team in half. Ava would stay behind in Egypt with half of the team, while Marcus, Alex, Martin, Olivia, and Abigail would travel to South Africa to meet up with the team of professionals that Mr. White had hired. As they prepared to leave, Jensen pulled Marcus aside. "Are you sure you don''t want me to go with you?" he asked. "I could help." Marcus shook his head. "I know you could brother, but no. You need to be with your family. Protect them from this evil. I have to pursue this. I have to find the truth, no matter what it takes." Jensen nodded, but Marcus could see the worry in his eyes. He knew that his brother didn''t like the idea of him traveling to the ends of the earth on a dangerous mission, but he couldn''t let that stop him. Marcus felt a sense of unease settle over him as they parted ways, he could not shake the feeling that it was the last time he saw his brother, his only family left on earth. He knew that the journey ahead would be difficult, but he also knew that Mr. White had hired a team of skilled and capable professionals that would join him on this expedition. As they boarded the plane and headed toward South Africa to meet with the rest of the team, Marcus couldn''t help but feel a sense of excitement building inside of him. He felt like he was meant to this, to find Samael, that it was his true calling. He could not stop and think about his family and what happened to them, he knew if he did, he would never recover and would never be able to continue on with any mission, let alone a resemblance of a normal life. As the plane landed in South Africa, two cars were waiting for Marcus and his team. They were quickly escorted to the cars and driven to a remote location where they would meet the rest of the team that would be leading the expedition to Antarctica. Marcus looked out the window as they drove, taking in the unfamiliar scenery. The landscape was barren and rocky, with sparse vegetation dotting the horizon. When they arrived at the meeting point, they were greeted by a group of rough-looking men and women. Next to them lay various weapons and heavy winter gear. The leader of the group stepped forward, introducing himself as Max, a veteran explorer with years of experience in extreme climates. As Max stepped forward to introduce himself, Marcus extended his hand in greeting. "Marcus," he said. "I''m leading the team from Mr. White''s organization." Max''s grip was firm, his eyes scanning Marcus and his team. "Mr. White¡¯s organization, you say," he replied gruffly. "I''ve been leading expeditions like this for years and often doing jobs for and with Mr. White. How come I never saw you earlier?" ¡°Well, we mostly do things our own way, but this mission is out of our comfort zone¡± Marcus said looking Max straight in the eyes. ¡°Mr. White thought we could use your expertise.¡± Max nodded, a hint of respect in his gruff demeanor. "Good. We leave at dawn. Make yourself comfortable and meet the rest of the team." Max gestured towards others to come. He was a tall, muscular man with a rugged, weathered face that had clearly seen many years of harsh conditions. His hair was cut short almost to his head, and he had a patchy beard covering most of his chin and jawline. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Marcus nodded, taking in the rest of the team. There were about ten in total, all with unique skills and expertise that would be necessary for the mission ahead. Max firstly introduced a wiry man with a thick beard named Lars, who was an expert in survival skills and could start a fire in the middle of the ocean according to him. There was a woman named Sarah, who was a skilled navigator and master tracker. He continued introducing Robert, a quiet man with piercing blue eyes, an ex-marine, who was there mostly for their protection. The introduction continued for a few minutes as Marcus took the podium and presented his team. As the night came closer and the team began to prepare for the journey ahead, Marcus couldn''t help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with trepidation. The team was strong and they had everything they need, but there were still so many unknowns about the mission and what they might encounter along the way. They were not even sure if they would find anything in Antarctica, but that was their only clue so far and the only lead unless Ava and the rest of the team don¡¯t find something new. The next morning, Marcus and his team boarded a large boat that was docked at the edge of the harbor. The boat was massive, with a towering hull and a sharp bow that cut through the icy waters with ease. The crew was already hard at work, preparing the boat for their journey to Antarctica. The air was thick with the scent of salt and seawater, and the sound of waves crashing against the boat filled their ears. The sight that greeted them was nothing short of breathtaking. They helped Max¡¯s team load all of their equipment and as the sun began to rise over the horizon, the boat''s engines roared to life, and they began to move. The journey to Antarctica had begun, and Marcus was ready for whatever lay ahead. He stood at the bow of the boat, his face turned towards the distant horizon, eager to discover the truth of Angels, Samael, and everything else that was connected with this mystery. It took them three days of smooth sailing to reach the first icy waters after leaving the harbor. Marcus found himself once again at the hull watching the sea, a vast expanse of blue that seemed to go on forever. In the distance, he could see massive icebergs floating on the surface of the water, their jagged edges gleaming in the pale light of dawn. Seabirds circled overhead, their piercing cries echoing across the ocean. Marcus stood in awe for a moment, taking in the stunning beauty of the scene before he was cut off by Max approaching him. ¡°Beautiful isn¡¯t it?¡± Max asked, breaking the silence. ¡°Stunning,¡± Marcus answered, his eyes fixed on the horizon. ¡°We will reach the shore around nightfall,¡± Max said. ¡°But my suggestion is we wait until the morning on the boat and set up camp first thing in the morning.¡± ¡°I am not going to interfere with your work,¡± Marcus said. ¡°If you say it¡¯s better that way, I agree.¡± Max nodded and then, seemingly without thinking, ran his finger along the outer circle of the mark on his forehead. Marcus couldn''t help but notice the movement. ¡°You are a historian, right?¡± Max continued their conversation, and Marcus nodded. ¡°What do you think the mark means? Sinners, as everyone else is saying, or do you have a different theory?¡± Marcus hesitated for a moment, considering the weight of his words. He decided to keep his cards close to his chest, not yet ready to reveal the truth of their discovery and the true purpose of their mission even though he felt like he could trust Max. He debated with himself numerous times already whether to tell the man the full truth but ultimately decided against it. ¡°Don¡¯t know, never really thought about it much. I guess it makes sense,¡± Marcus answered. Max nodded, seemingly satisfied with the response. ¡°And have you accepted God?¡± he asked with a blank expression. ¡°Are you trying to repent your sins?¡± ¡°To be honest, not really,¡± Marcus admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve got a few more things to do before I can even think about it.¡± ¡°What about you?¡± Marcus asked, turning the conversation back to Max. ¡°I am beyond saving,¡± Max said, his voice filled with resignation. ¡°I have done a few sins that are not repeatable. It took me years after the Rapture, but I am finally at peace with my life, and I am going to continue living it to the fullest. If it means going to hell or whatever eventually, so be it.¡± Marcus felt a pinch of familiarity with Max''s words. He had been there himself, in that dark place where redemption seemed unattainable. The translation of the mark had given him a brief moment of relief, a brief moment where life was not scripted towards some divinity with clear rules set in stone, but it did not last long as soon after his family disappeared. So He needed to find them first, and only then could he allow himself to contemplate his own life. With the conversation over and his family on his mind once again Marcus left for his room to try and get some sleep before they touched the icy ground on Antarctica. Chapter 7 As the sun began to rise over the horizon, the team worked quickly to set up a temporary camp on the shores of Antarctica. Tents were pitched, equipment was organized, and supplies were distributed. The cold air hit their faces, making them shiver, but they knew they had to endure, this was only the beginning of the long expedition towards Vinson Massif, the highest peak of Antarctica where Marcus was sure the next clue was or the location of Samael itself. Max took charge of the expedition the team following his lead, trudging through the icy landscape with heavy backpacks and white winter equipment. The journey would be long and arduous, and the team moved slowly, taking breaks to catch their breath and rest. The harsh conditions of the Antarctic environment were unforgiving, with biting winds and temperatures that dropped below freezing. The team had to be careful not to get lost in the endless expanse of ice and snow that surrounded them, luckily for them, they had an expert navigator and tracker Sarah who found the easiest path and reassured them they were still on it. They used drones to scan ahead to make sure there were no unpassable obstacles. Despite the harsh environment, Marcus and his team pushed on, driven by their determination to uncover the truth about the angels, while Max¡¯s team pushed through for the huge paycheck that waited for them as soon as they finished the mission. As they continued their journey, the landscape around them began to change. The ice gave way to rocky outcroppings and steep cliffs. The team had to be more careful as they navigated this treacherous terrain, one wrong step and it could be the end. As they moved closer to their destination, Marcus felt a strange sensation that he couldn''t shake off. It was like someone or something was watching them, following their every move. The feeling made him uneasy, and he couldn''t help but constantly look over his shoulder. It wasn''t just him who felt it either. He noticed that Alex and Olivia were also on edge, scanning their surroundings with alertness. Martin seemed to be lost in thought, lost in his own world, while Abigal appeared to be humming a soft tune, almost as if to calm her nerves. Despite their progress, the unease only grew stronger as they higher the steep ice mountain. The wind was picking up, and the snow was falling thicker, making it hard to see far ahead. They had to slow their pace, barely moving in Marcus¡¯s eyes. Max had noticed the weird and paranoid behavior of Marcus and his team and decided to approach Marcus and ask him about it. "Is everything okay, Marcus?" Max asked, yelling so Marcus could hear him through the heavy winds. Marcus hesitated for a moment before answering. "I don''t know, Max. It feels like someone is watching us or following us," he said, trying to hide his fear. Max nodded, understanding the feeling all too well. "I''ve had that feeling before, too. But don¡¯t worry it¡¯s just the winds playing tricks on you," he said. ¡°Antarctica is a scary and desolate place but the wind and the harsh weather are the only things you should be afraid of. We are nearing the location you provided for us, just some thirty minutes walk from here. Max was right with his estimate, thirty minutes later they reached their destination. Marcus had no idea what they would find there, and a sight of a small cave hidden in the rocky cliffs felt like a huge relief, he had not brought all these people for nothing. There had to be something inside, something important to be hidden this far away from the civilization. ¡°Is this it?¡± Max asked him and Marcus just nodded. Max quickly reorganized his team, Sarah¡¯s job as a navigator was done for now, but Robert, ex-marine, was just starting. Max appointed him at the point right next to himself. Max carefully led them inside. The air inside the cave was cold and damp, and the cave walls glistened with ice. As they began their walk deep into the cave Marcus¡¯s feeling of unease grew stronger with each step. A short walk later Marcus started to notice that the icy walls of the cave were decorated with symbols and writing similar to the one on their foreheads and the ancient language they found at the ruins. Max also seemed to notice that as he stopped the group and pulled Marcus to the side. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°This looks awfully similar to the symbol on our forehead,¡± Max said as vapor escaped his mouth. ¡°What are we exactly doing here?¡° ¡°I thought you said you did not care about it, and only wanted a big payday as always.¡° Marcus said and Max pierced him with his eyes not muttering a word. ¡°I will explain everything once we are back safely on our boat,¡± Marcus, let¡¯s finish this. Max nodded and gave a chilling look to Marcus. ¡°I know that Mr. White is obsessed with Angels,¡± He continued. ¡°I¡¯ve done countless missions for him, rarely asking any questions, but the signs were there, too obvious.¡± He said and rejoined the group. The atmosphere was tense as they moved slowly, step by step, deeper into the cave. Every sound they made echoed off the walls, adding to the eerie feeling that crept up their spines. Winds played an inhumane symphony of sounds this deep into the cave and most of the crew kept looking around them. Suddenly, they heard the sound of claws scratching against the rocks. It was a low, guttural sound that sent chills down their spines. They knew it was coming from somewhere nearby, and they all froze, holding their breath as they listened intently. Seconds passed and a scream echoed through the cave followed by the burst fire of bullets that clipped the top of the cave. Marcus could only see shadows and ex-marine Roger dragged away deep into the cave. Chaos ensued as Max shouted orders on top of his lounge, but the biggest part of the team had no combat experience and started running straight towards the exit. Marcus stood frozen for a second not knowing whether to follow Max¡¯s orders or run away. His heart began to race climbing straight into his throat. Finally, when he decided to run back, screams started echoing from the read as well and a massive creature emerged from the shadows, its fur as black as night, and its eyes glowed with a fierce intensity. It was a hellhound, a beast that guarded the hearth of the cave. The creature was a sight to behold, its muscles rippled under its fur, and its claws were like razor blades. The creature was towering over humans and holding something in its mouth. Marcus'' legs gave up as he realized it was a member of Max¡¯s team, Stephen, his body disfigured as a beast held him in his jaws. The hellhound let out a deafening roar that echoed throughout the cave, and the body dropped to the floor, blood dripping from the creature''s mouth. ¡°What the fuck is this,¡± Max yelled and ran towards the creature armed with his M16 riffle and started shooting straight at it. The creature did not even flinch and let another roar so powerful that Marcus¡¯s ears started to ring. The hellhound charged toward the team, its eyes glowing red with fury. The team fired their weapons, hoping to hit it, but the bullets bounced off its thick hide as if they were pebbles. It was as if the creature was made of steel. Martin swung his machete, hoping to cut the beast down, but the blade only nicked its skin. The hellhound responded by swinging its massive paw, sending Martin flying across the cave. Olivia tried to help, but the creature was too fast, too strong, and bounced her right next to Martin. Abigail pulled out a flare gun and fired, hoping to scare the creature away, but it had no effect. The hellhound continued to charge towards them, its teeth bared, saliva mixed with blood dripping from its jaws. It charged toward Max, knocking him to the ground and he dropped his rifle. Some of the crew started running in the other direction but the best from earlier that carried Roger away appeared on the other side. They were pinned, their weapons useless against the beasts as they closed in on them. Marcus was still frozen in place, as people fought he didn¡¯t move. As the new arriving beast let a deafening road Marcus finally snapped, images of his family being carried away by the Angels, the ones that probably planted these creatures here, filled his mind. He found the strength and reached for his weapon, but then he remembered some of the text they translated and saw the same marking on the wall of the cave. Time seemed to slow down as he reached deep into his mind for the phrases they translate and started yelling in an ancient language. ¡°Nol-riin salasar, talaq zazh!i¡± (I serve Angels, and only them!) he yelled on top of his lungs and the phrase echoed through the cave. "Zazhuran velimirel nuriel, venqirir shaz''akira i-niyaqur!" (I call upon the angels of God to protect us and vanquish our foes!) the beasts stopped charging and let another deafening roar. "Belkara i''rahim, vilaqesh kafar shemshirir shak''aqir!" (In the name of the Almighty, let us pass), and the beasts slowly retreated and disappeared into the darkness, leaving the team stunned and panting. Marcus slumped to the ground, shaking his head in disbelief. The others stood around him, equally surprised and relieved. They stood for only seconds before rushing toward the injured people to help them. Max''s eyes were filled with anger and pain as he stared at Marcus. He had just witnessed his friends, Stephen and Roger, being brutally torn apart by the hellhound. Max couldn''t help but feel a sense of betrayal towards Marcus as if it was somehow his fault for leading them into this deadly situation. "Did you know this was going to happen?" Max asked, his voice shaking with emotion. Marcus shook his head, his own eyes filled with shock from the encounter. "I had no idea, Max. You have to believe me!" ¡°You better explain everything now or you will not leave this cave alive,¡± Max said picking up his riffle from the ground and raising it straight at Marcus. Chapter 8 Marcus raised his hands in surrender and tried to speak calmly, "Max, I understand you''re angry and I don''t blame you. But please, listen to me. We translated the mark some time ago and came here to uncover the whole truth, the next clue led us here." Max gritted his teeth, his finger still on the trigger. "What truth? I asked you about the mark and you said nothing." Max was furious. ¡°Explain now!¡± Max emphasized every letter of the sentence. Marcus took a deep breath and continued, "The truth is that the Angels are not what people think they are, or at least not hundred percent. We translated the mark and it says, Do not harvest, not fit for consumption,¡± Marcus stopped for a second, letting Max take everything in. Max scoffed, "And why should I believe you? How do I know you''re not just trying to cover your own ass right now?" ¡°Here I¡¯ll show you,¡± Marcus said, reaching into his backpack. Max did not like the sudden movement and jerked his rifle toward Marcus. ¡°I am just gonna get my tablet, slowly¡­¡± Marcus said opening his backpack and reaching for the tablet inside.¡± As Marcus showed the group the tablet with the translation of the mark and everything that led to it from their years of exploration under Mr. White¡¯s pay, Max and Sarah were both stunned. It was clear they had not expected this revelation, and it took a moment for them to fully comprehend what it meant. Marcus explained their theory about the Angels and how Samael might hold the key to the truth. ¡°So, we are looking for the Devil?¡± Max said lowering his gun. ¡°I don¡¯t think Angels and Devil are what we think they are,¡± Marcus said. ¡°But I know it¡¯s hard to dismiss everything that we have been taught all these years. But somehow it just makes sense with the way the Angels have just appeared and something about their presence feels off.¡± ¡°I have to agree with that, something does feel off about them,¡± Max said. ¡°But I thought it was more us being sinners and not feeling the connection with the divine.¡± Max continued. ¡°Makes more sense than what you are saying.¡± ¡°I thought the same way,¡± Marcus answered. ¡°But I saw some truly good people, children who don¡¯t deserve to be branded sinners or whatever, being branded with the mark and it drove them insane. It just feels wrong, unholy, or whatever you want to call it.¡± Max was still clearly angry, but as he listened to Marcus''s explanation, he slowly began to calm down. He could see that Marcus truly believed in what he was saying, and there was sincerity in his voice that made it difficult to dismiss his ideas outright. Sarah, who had always been more open-minded than Max, nodded in agreement. ¡°I¡¯ve just lost my family, the last time Angels came they took them,¡± As Marcus spoke those words, a wave of sadness and anger washed over him. Calling their name in the empty house still felt like mere minutes ago, but Marcus couldn¡¯t think about it now, he couldn¡¯t let himself sink into that hole of despair, they needed to continue. "So you think this cave is where we''ll find Samael?" Max changed the subject quickly, setting his rifle to the side. "It''s our best lead," Marcus replied. "It¡¯s what we gathered from the ancient ruins and all the texts that mention Angels in a different light.¡± Max thought for a moment, weighing his options. He knew that continuing with this expedition was dangerous, but he also knew that Marcus might be onto something. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°What if you are wrong and we set the devil free?¡± Max asked. ¡°What if we unleash true hell on earth?¡± He asked. ¡°The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world that he did not exist,¡± He continued. ¡°What if he pulled it even further, somehow convincing us that he is a good deity in all of this and the Angels and the God are evil themselves?¡± "I understand your fears, Max," Marcus said, his voice steady. "Believe me, I''ve thought about all the possible outcomes of our actions. But what if we are right? What if the Angels are hiding something from us? What if they are not the benevolent beings we thought they were?" Marcus paused, looking around at the crew, seeing the determination in their eyes. "We cannot ignore the truth, no matter how difficult it may be to accept. And if we don''t act, who will? We have a chance to uncover something that could change the course of history. We cannot let fear hold us back." Max looked at Marcus for a long moment, considering his words, the tension in the air finally dissipating. "Okay, Marcus," he said. "Let¡¯s say I trust you. Let''s find Samael and see what he has to say.¡± Sarah nodded in agreement, and Marcus felt a sense of relief wash over him. He knew they were taking a risk, but he also knew that it was a risk worth taking. If they could find Samael and uncover the truth about the Angels and what happened to his family it would be all worth it. ¡°Martin can¡¯t continue,¡± Alex said chiming in. ¡°I think his leg is broken.¡± Max looked at Martin with concern, "How does it feel?" "I''m not okay, but I''ll be fine," Martin replied. "You guys need to continue without me. I''ll wait here and catch my breath." "But what if something happens to you while we''re gone?" Alex asked, worry etched on her face. Martin let out a small chuckle, "I''ll be alright. I have my radio with me, and I''ll keep in touch. You guys need to keep moving forward and find the heart of the cave. I''ll be here when you come back." ¡°I¡¯ll stay with him,¡± Olivia said. Max nodded in agreement, "Alright, take care of yourself and contact us if anything happens and we''ll see you soon." With that, the rest of the team moved on, leaving Martin behind with his radio and a few supplies. Martin watched as his friends disappeared into the darkness of the cave, hoping that they would find what they came here to discover and come back safely. As they continued their expedition toward the heart of the cave, they encountered multiple splitting paths that led in different directions. The cave was a maze of icy tunnels, and it was easy to get lost. But Marcus was there to help them navigate. He carefully examined the cave walls, reading and translating the ancient drawings and symbols etched onto the ice. Some of the images were of creatures they had never seen before, while others depicted strange, humanoid figures with wings, multiple shapes, and sizes. Marcus carefully examined the symbols and ancient language and followed the clues that he believed would let them towards whatever they came here to find. Despite the frigid temperatures, the team pushed on, eager to find the hearth of the cave. They encountered obstacles along the way, including treacherous crevasses and narrow passageways that required them to crawl on all fours. Finally, after hours of walking, they reached a massive cavern deep in the heart of the cave. It was unlike anything they had ever seen before, with jagged stalactites hanging from the ceiling like sharp teeth and glowing crystals jutting out from the walls. In the center of the cavern, they saw a massive pit of blue fire burned brightly, casting flickering shadows across the cavern walls. The pit was an otherworldly sight. It was as if the very fabric of reality had been torn open, revealing a glimpse of another dimension beyond. The flames burned with an ethereal quality, flickering and dancing like restless spirits trapped within the pit. The fire was somehow cold as if the flames were made of frozen ice rather than burning hot embers. The walls surrounding the pit were slick with ice, shimmering and reflecting the blue light in a mesmerizing display. The air was thick with a palpable sense of unknown as if they had stumbled upon a sacred place of power that had long been forgotten by the world. The sight was both beautiful and terrifying, leaving the team in awe and wonder as they gazed upon the mystical flames. Chapter 9 Fifteen years ago, in Los Angeles. Warren leaned back in his chair and let out a deep sigh. Benjamin glanced over at him and raised an eyebrow. "Tough day?" he asked. Warren shook his head. "Nah, just a long one, waiting for the clock to tick the end. How about you?" Benjamin chuckled. "Same old, same old. You know how it is case after case." Benjamin said caressing his goatee. They fell into an easy conversation about their work, but Warren couldn''t help but feel distracted. Lately, the cases he was working on seemed to be dragging on forever, and he found himself going through the motions without any real passion or drive. The once exciting and challenging job had turned into a monotonous routine, and he longed for something more stimulating. As they finished up their shift, Benjamin clapped Warren on the back. "Cheer up, buddy. It''s Friday. Let''s go grab a beer." Warren smiled, grateful for the invitation. "Ahh, hell I wish I could." He said with a sigh. ¡°Promised the lady we would go out for dinner tonight.¡± ¡°Ehh,¡± Benjamin said. ¡°I know the feeling.¡± He waved away and left. The truth was that Warren preferred quiet nights with his wife Emily, watching movies or reading books together. It was the simplicity of their life that made him happy, and he was grateful to have found someone who felt the same way. As he thought about Emily, a smile crept onto his face, and he couldn''t wait to get home to her and spend the weekend together. Warren finally finished all the grueling papyrology he had and counted down the minutes until he could finally leave and be back home. The hot sun was beating down on him as he walked out of the building and headed toward his car. As he was about to start his engine, a loud rumbling sound caught his attention. He looked up to the sky, and what he saw made his heart skip a beat. The sky had turned a shade of gold, and a large hole had opened up in the clouds. He could see something moving inside it, but he couldn''t make out what it was. Suddenly, a blinding light burst forth from the hole, and Warren shielded his eyes with his hand. He heard people screaming and panicking in the streets, cars honking and crashing into each other as everyone was mesmerized by the sight. Warren''s mind was racing as he tried to figure out what was happening. His mind went straight to aliens, could it be that we are finally not alone? But he had no idea, all he knew he rush home to Emily. He quickly started his car and began to weave in and out of traffic, honking his horn and shouting at people to get out of his way. The roads were clogged with cars and people running in all directions, causing Warren to have to take several detours and back roads to avoid all the chaos. The ride that usually took him less than ten minutes was now nearing twenty and he was just now entering his suburbs. During the whole drive, he tried calling Emily but the cell reception was down. Finally, he turned onto his street and froze at the sight before him. The street was clogged with cars and people who had stopped in their tracks and were gazing up at the sky. Warren followed their line of sight and saw something that made his heart skip a beat. He had seen plenty of strange things in his life, but nothing quite like this. There, floating high above the city, were strange creatures. They had large wings and were surrounded by an aura of light that seemed to glow from within. Their skin was almost translucent as Warren squinted at them, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. It took him a moment to realize that the creatures reminded him of something, they looked like angels. At first, he couldn''t believe his eyes. Angels? Here? But as he watched, the creatures moved, their wings beating slowly and gracefully, and he knew that what he was seeing was real. Fear and confusion swept through him, and he realized that he wasn''t the only one. The people around him were muttering in shock and disbelief, some of them already starting to run for cover. Warren''s heart dropped as he saw the angels starting to descend from the sky, snatching people up and taking them away with them straight towards the rupture in the sky. He knew he had to get to Emily before they got to her. Without a second thought, he abandoned his car in the middle of the road and began to run. He zigzagged between cars, and jumped over hoods and trunks, all the while keeping his eyes on the bizarre sight in the sky. The sound of screams and chaos surrounded him as he sprinted towards his home and his lungs burned with each breath he took. As he approached his house, he could see people milling about, some crying, others staring up at the sky in horror. He reached his house and jumped over the fence, the front door of his home was wide open. He rushed inside calling his wife¡¯s name at top of his lungs but no answer came. "Emily?" he shouted, the sound of his own voice echoing through the empty rooms. "Emily, where are you?" This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Warren''s heart sank as he rushed through the house, calling out his wife''s name with increasing desperation. He checked every room, every closet, every corner, but there was no sign of her. It was as if she had simply vanished into thin air. Feeling a growing sense of panic, Warren rushed back out into his backyard and saw that his neighbors were outside, all looking up at the sky in awe and fear. ¡°Tom, Mariah,¡± He yelled frantically, barely catching his breath. ¡°Have you seen Emily?¡± "Oh, Warren," Mariah said, shaking her head. "I''m so sorry. The angels... they already took her." She said and gipped the cross she was wearing tighter. Warren felt a wave of shock and despair wash over him, leaving him numb. He could not believe that his wife had been taken by the angels. He could not believe that Angels even existed. His wife was a devoted Christian, while he was Agnostic, at least that¡¯s what people have told him he was, but he never really bothered with it. ¡°What are you on?¡± He asked frantically. ¡°How do you know these creatures are Angels?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all over the news,¡± Tom said while holding their daughter Faith. ¡°One of the Angels came forward and said it. He said we would not be afraid, the salvation has come to the true believers.¡± Tom said and rose his head towards the sky. Warren''s mind reeled with disbelief. Angels? Taking people? It sounded like something out of a fantasy novel, not something that could happen in real life. But the evidence was all around him - the ruptured sky, the beings with wings descending from the heavens, and now his missing wife. He collapsed onto the grass in his backyard, feeling numb and helpless. He had no idea what to do next, or even what was happening. All he knew was that his life had been turned upside down in a matter of minutes, and he had no idea how to cope with it. Warren was startled by the wooshing sound that came above him. One of the creatures swooped from the sky and grabbed Mariah. He watched in horror as another Angel descended from the sky, its wings flapping gracefully as they approached Tom who put Faith down to the ground and welcomed his savior with open arms. The couple looked both in awe and fear as Angels lifted them up into the air, cradling them in their arms, their skin mixing with the creatures becoming translucent and starting to glow as they rose higher into the sky. Warren could hear Mariah screaming to Faith to welcome her Angel as she was being lifted up, while Tom''s face was filled with pure blissfulness. Warren tried to stand up and reach for them, but his legs felt weak and wobbly, and he stumbled back to the ground. He watched in disbelief as the angels ascended back towards the hole in the sky, carrying his neighbors away with them. Faith was left all alone in Tom and Mariah¡¯s backyard, crying out for her mommy and daddy. Her small voice carried through the air, ringing in Warren''s ears and tugging at his heartstrings. He snapped out of his shock as he saw Faith standing there helpless and alone in the midst of all this chaos. He ran and jumped the fence separating their backyards and rushed towards her. But before he could reach her another angel descended from the sky. This one was larger than the others, with massive wings that spanned several feet in either direction. The angel swooped down towards Faith, and Warren froze in terror, unsure of what to do. His gut told him to help the girl somehow, but who was he to stand between her and the Angels. Before he could react the Angel was above her. The angel reached out for Faith, and the little girl did the same, her small hand trembling as it extended toward the being. As their fingers touched, a jolt of electricity seemed to course through the air, and the angel recoiled with a screech of pain. Warren watched in disbelief as the angel clutched his arm, looking at a black, smoking scar where the girl had touched him. The little girl stared up at the retreating angel, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. Without a word, the angel took off once again, disappearing into the sky with a burst of light. Warren rushed towards Faith, scooping her up into his arms. He could feel her small body trembling with fear, and he held her tightly, trying to reassure her that everything would be okay. But deep down he knew something was off about these creatures and he felt he needed to hide Faith from them, as he was sure they would return for her. Warren''s heart was pounding in his chest as tried to think of a plan to hide Faith from the angels. He quickly picked her up and ran inside his house, down the stairs to his basement. Warren kneeled down to be at eye-level with Faith, who was still visibly shaken from the events that just transpired. He spoke to her in a soft voice, trying to reassure her. "Faith, I need you to be very quiet down here in the basement. The big creatures are still outside, and we don''t want them to find us. Can you do that for me?" Faith nodded silently, her eyes wide with fear. "Good. I''m going to go back upstairs and make sure everything is safe. Once I''m sure it''s okay, I''ll come back for you, okay?" Warren waited for Faith to nod before he stood up and started to climb the stairs. As he ascended, he felt a sense of dread wash over him. He had no idea what was going on or what was going to happen next. All he knew was that he needed to protect Faith at all costs. Warren cautiously made his way back upstairs, trying to stay out of sight of any returning angels. As he peered through the blinds in the living room, he could see more of the large angels descending from the sky, including the one that had been scarred by Faith''s touch. They circled the neighborhood once again, their wings creating a deafening noise as they scanned the area. Warren''s heart raced as he watched them, unsure of what their intentions were. Suddenly, the Angels dispersed in every direction, flying off to different parts of the city. As they left Warren walked outside and noticed that everyone now had a strange mark on their forehead - a blackened symbol that he couldn''t quite make out. He touched his own forehead and felt the different texture of the skin where the mark was. Confused he looked at the carrier side mirror and saw that he himself had the same strange symbol. Minutes later all of the Angels flew towards the sky and into the rupture. After the last angel flew in the hole in the sky started to slowly close the bright light it emitted dimming slowly with each second. Warren felt a deep sense of unease as he thought about the events that have just unfolded. His wife was gone, taken by these beings that he had never believed existed. His neighbors too, and those who remained had this bizarre mark on their heads. He had to find answers, he had to figure out what was happening, and he had to keep Faith safe. He quickly made his way back to the basement, where Faith was waiting anxiously. He explained to her that the angels had left and that it was safe to come out, but they needed to be careful. He promised her that he would protect her no matter what and that she would be safe. Chapter 10 After the chaos that followed the rapture, Warren took Faith to his parent''s farm on the east coast. It took them some time but they settled into their new life. Warrant¡¯s parts farm provided them with a steady source of income in the rough times and economic disbalance that followed the rupture. Warren continued to use his legal expertise to help those affected by the Rapture. Over the years, the world has changed in many ways. The mass disappearance of people left behind a void that was difficult to fill. Corporations and wealthy individuals took advantage of the situation, trying to seize control of the abandoned properties and resources left behind. The resulting power struggles led to political instability and economic inequality on a global scale that only now fifteen years later started to settle. But, Warren found a sense of community and belonging in their small town. Faith was three when Rapture happened, so she didn¡¯t know how life was before the rapture. She became part of their family as soon as they came and was loved and cherished as their own blood. Warren¡¯s parents treated her as their own grandchild and she quickly adapted to her new life. As years passed Warren became more relaxed and less protective over Faith. But when the Angels came back five years after the Rapture he barely managed to hide her in time. He promised himself he would never let their absence lower his guard. Faith did not have the Mark on the forehead as everyone else did, so he painted one for her to protect her from people, the church, and other cults of worshipers that arose after the rapture, but good and bad ones. She did have a mark on the back of her neck, similar to the one they had on the forehead but the symbols were different. Once she was old enough, right before her fifteenth birthday, Warren set her down and told her the whole story and the truth. How the angels came for her right after they took their parents and how she hurt the Angel who ran away screaming in pain. Faith said she deep down knew the truth, as she always felt different. That¡¯s when she admitted that both times when angels came back, her hand started to hurt and dimly glow in the dark, each time the pain was harder. Warren was worried about the revelation but reassured her that was nothing, she would be safe and protected from these creatures as long as he is alive. Another five years passed, and Faith was now an eighteen-year-old troublemaker who Warren could barely get through. Luckily, his mother had a special connection with the kid and Faith listened to her most of the time. As the world awaited the third coming of the angel after the initial rapture Warren would let Faith leave the farm until that day passed. Faith stood in front of Warren with her arms crossed, an impatient expression on her face. "Dad, I''m eighteen. I should be allowed to go out with my friends and enjoy my life," she said, her voice laced with frustration. Warren sighed deeply, looking at his daughter with a mix of concern and sternness. "Faith, you know I can''t let you go out there. Not until they leave for five years once again, be patient." "But Dad, they won¡¯t be here for another three days. Nothing will happen. Why do you have to be so overprotective?" Faith argued. "Because we don''t know what''s going to happen. The angels could come back at any moment, and I won''t risk losing you," Warren replied firmly. Faith was furious but ultimately decided to stay at the farm until the Angels came and left. But she told Warren that should go off to College, far away from the farm. She said she needed to live her life, to be a normal girl. A few days later the sky opened once again, and Warren did not leave Faith''s side the whole time they hid below the barn. Faith was fidgeting, tapping her foot against the concrete floor. Warren knew she was getting restless, but he couldn''t let her go. He promised her mother he would protect her, and that''s what he intended to do. ¡°Will they ever stop coming back," Faith asked. "I''m tired of living this way in fear. Maybe I should face them next time they come and see what happens." "No, Faith," Warren replied softly. "It''s not safe. We have no idea what they would do to you." "But nothing''s happened for fifteen years now," Faith argued. "You really think those beings can¡¯t find me on a farm if they wanted to." Warren shook his head. "I don¡¯t know. I can''t let you risk it, Faith. We don''t know what could happen." Suddenly, Faith let out a scream. Warren turned to see her doubled over, clutching her arm. The scar appeared on her arm and was glowing faintly, and Faith was in immense pain. "Dad," she cried out. "It never hurt this much!" Warren rushed over to her side, holding her as she writhed in agony. He didn''t know what to do. As suddenly as it started, the pain stopped, and Faith collapsed into Warren''s arms. He held her, waiting for her to catch her breath. "What was that?" Faith whispered, looking up at him. "I don''t know," Warren replied, his voice shaking. "But that¡¯s what I am telling you. You are special Faith, we don¡¯t know what happened that day and what your role in all this is." Faith nodded, tears streaming down her face. Warren held her close, reassuring her everything would be okay. A few weeks later Faith had been out with her friends in town, visiting the town fair. Faith''s friends had been haggling with a vendor over a beautiful scarf, but Faith had drifted away, all of a sudden feeling restless and out of place. As she walked down a deserted alley, she felt a sharp pain in her hand and the glowing scar appeared once again. She winced, clutched at her chest, and leaned against a wall for support. Her friends had not noticed her absence and were likely engrossed in their shopping. Faith tried to calm her breathing, hoping the pain would subside soon. She could feel her heart racing, and the pain was getting worse. She knew she couldn''t stay here any longer, so she stumbled towards the nearest public restroom. Once inside, she locked herself in one of the stalls and leaned against the cold metal door. The pain was unbearable, and Faith could feel her body trembling. She tried to focus on her breathing, but the pain seemed to be consuming her. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the pain subsided, and Faith was able to catch her breath. She took a deep breath and slowly stood up, feeling weak and disoriented. She splashed some cold water on her face and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her scar was glowing faintly, but it quickly faded away. Faith was supposed to spent the night at her friends, but she knew she had to return to the farm as soon as possible and tell Warren what had happened. She couldn''t ignore the fact that her scar was acting up again, and the fact that there was no rapture today made her scared. As she left the restroom and rejoined her friends, she couldn''t help but wonder what was causing these strange episodes. Faith made up an excuse to her friends that she was not feeling well and needed to go home early. Her friends were disappointed, but she looked pale and disoriented so they supported her in the decision to leave early. Faith quickly called Warren and explained to him what had happened. She told him that her scar was acting up again and that she needed him to come to pick her up. Warren didn''t waste any time and told her that he was on his way. He could hear the worry in her voice, so he dropped everything and rushed toward town. When Warren arrived in town, Faith and her friends were waiting for him on the curb. He could see the worry etched on her face, and he knew that they needed to get back to the farm as soon as possible, the farm was her safe place. She felt like nothing could touch her there, even though she was acting out lately, she was still that little scared three-year-old girl to Warren, a little girl he vowed to protect. He helped her into the truck and drove back to the farm, trying to calm her down and reassure her that everything would be okay. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± Warren asked her. ¡°I don''t know. It just started hurting again all of a sudden,¡± Faith replied. Warren glanced over at her, concern etched on his face. ¡°It started glowing again?¡± Faith nodded. ¡°Yeah. It felt like it was burning.¡± Warren reassured her everything is going to be ok and as they drove in silence, Warren couldn''t help but worry about what was to come. They had managed to stay under the radar for so long, but it seemed like their luck was running out. Browsing the internet Faith saw that there were trending news articles about a single Angel sighting over Egypt. Angel flew straight to one location and left after less than 3 minutes, a similar time frame of her scar acting up. The revelation that Angel had returned alone did ease some of the tensions and worries that Warren and Faith had been feeling, but it also opened up a whole new set of worries and questions. Once they reached the farm and Faith finally calmed down and fell asleep. Warren browsed the web for news articles regarding Angel¡¯s visit to Egypt. There were many images and videos, most of them blurry, but one user on Twitter managed to capture the creature floating above a mansion. The size of the Angel, the grace with which its wings flapped allowing him to float, there was no doubt in Warren¡¯s mind, that Angel was the same one that came for Faith that day. He couldn''t shake off the feeling that this was no coincidence, that there was a deeper meaning behind Angel''s sudden appearance in Egypt. Maybe he sat idle to much, maybe it was time for him to look for some answers. ********** Present day, Antarctica. As the team unloaded their equipment, Marcus instructed them to be cautious around the fire pit, where blue fire danced. He reminded them that they were dealing with an otherworldly force that they knew nothing about. They had to be careful with what they did and said, or they could trigger something that they were not prepared for. The team split up, with some members starting to research the symbols on the ice walls, while others focused on the walls of the pit that was decorated with a plethora of symbols. Marcus took the lead on the latter, carefully approaching the pit and examining the flames. He could feel a strange energy emanating from the fire, and he knew that they had stumbled upon something that was beyond their understanding. He began to study the walls of the pit, trying to decipher the symbols etched into the ice. As he studied the symbols, he began to realize that they were part of a larger sequence that seemed to be describing a ritual of some kind. He used his tablet and notebook to carefully translate every inch of the wall while Max and his team paced nervously around the cave. ¡°What is this, do you have any idea?¡± Max approached Marcus near the pit. Marcus turned around to face Max, who was now standing beside him, gazing into the pit. "I''m getting close to translating the symbols," Marcus said. "Just give me a moment, and I should have a better understanding of what we''re dealing with here." Max nodded, his curiosity piqued. "This is incredible," he said, staring into the pit. "I''ve never seen anything like this before." "I know," Marcus replied, his eyes still focused on the symbols etched into the walls. "I think we will change the course of human history with this." ¡°For better, I hope,¡± Max said and left Marcus to finish his work. As he continued to work on deciphering the symbols, Marcus felt a strange energy emanating from the pit. It was as if the flames themselves were alive and communicating with him, urging him to understand their meaning. After some time he began to notice a pattern. There were markings that seemed to indicate some sort of puzzle, a series of interconnected symbols that needed to be activated in the correct order. He shared his findings with the rest of the team and they immediately set to work, carefully tracing the symbols with their fingers and studying the reactions of the blue flames. It was slow and painstaking work, but as they progressed, they began to see some progress. Every time they activated a symbol, the flames would flicker and dim, they were close to turning them off and finding whatever was hiding underneath them. As the flames gradually subsided, the team turned on their lights and lamps, illuminating the cave. They continued to work, and after the last symbol was pressed, the cavern walls began to shake, and the sound of ice cracking filled the air. Marcus and his team braced themselves as the pit began to shift and move. Suddenly, the sound of cracking wheels could be heard, and the pit split open, revealing a small platform that rose up from the depths. The platform carried a large sarcophagus decorated with intricate symbols of horns, fire, and other mysterious images. The team could feel a sense of awe and wonder as they gazed upon the ancient artifact. Slowly, they approached the sarcophagus, their lamps illuminating the area and casting eerie shadows on the cavern walls. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Max asked. ¡°Did we really just discover the devil?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think the Devil as we know him exists¡­¡± Marcus said closely inspecting the sarcophagus. ¡°But we found something or someone the Angels went through a lot of trouble to hide.¡± Max nodded approached the sarcophagus and ran his fingers along the intricate carvings. Suddenly, he gasped as the lid of the sarcophagus began to move. The team quickly gathered around, their eyes wide with anticipation, as the lid slid off, they expected to find a human figure inside it, but instead, they were greeted by a mysterious round object, a little bit bigger than the basketball, gray in color and decorated with more of the strange symbols. Some of them Marcus have seen before on the ancient sites and cave walls, but some were completely new. Marcus and Max exchanged a look of excitement as they carefully reached for the mysterious round object in the middle of the sarcophagus. As their hands touched the cool surface of the object, it suddenly activated, causing the sphere to shake violently. Suddenly, a bright light filled the cavern as the object sprang into the air, hovering above them. The team shielded their eyes, watching in awe as the sphere hovered with an otherworldly presence, it did not look like a device humanity could create with technology, but rather an object with its own mind. The sphere slowly opened, revealing nothing inside. However, a few seconds later, a strange, ethereal substance resembling liquid smoke rushed out, filling the cave with its presence. The substance moved with a life of its own, swirling and twisting in the air, seemingly searching for something. The team watched in amazement, unsure of what to do next. The substance continued to move, swirling faster and faster until it finally began to take shape, forming into a humanoid figure. The figure was tall and slender, with long, flowing robes that seemed to be made of the same ethereal substance as the smoke. ******* Present day, Warren¡¯s parents¡¯ farm Faith had become increasingly anxious and afraid since the day a single Angel visited the Earth while she was in town with her friends and her scar started acting up. She didn''t want to leave the safety of Warren''s farm, not knowing if the Angels would randomly start to descend. The thought of being alone out in public and experiencing that pain was enough to send shivers down her spine. Warren tried to reassure her that everything would be fine, but he himself was full of anxiety and uncertainty over their future and what should they do next. He had hoped that the Angel coming down in Egypt was an isolated incident, but there was no way of knowing it. And increasing pain from Faith''s scar every time Angels appeared only worried him more. He took a few days completely off the work to spend them with Faith. They spent most of their time on the farm doing some walking around the property and inside the nearby forest. Today they have decided to call up some of their relatives and neighbors and fire up the grill. The company of familiar people suited Faith and Warren could see the anxiety and fear were gone, at least for the moment. As the day progressed, Warren noticed a sudden change in Faith¡¯s demeanor. Soon after Faith pulled Warren aside, away from the rest of the group, and took a deep breath before speaking. "Warren, something is wrong," Faith said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don''t know what it is, but I can feel it. Something huge has just happened moments ago." Faith could feel it in her bones, and it made her uneasy. Warren looked at Faith with concern etched on his face. He knew better than to dismiss her intuition. "What do you mean?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Is the scar acting up again, does it hurt?¡± "No," Faith replied. "I don¡¯t know what it is¡­It''s just a feeling. Like something big is about to happen, something we can''t control. It''s like a storm on the horizon, growing stronger with each passing moment and it''s making me anxious." Warren looked at her, concern etched on his face. "What do you mean, Faith? What kind of storm?" "I don''t know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it''s coming, I can feel it. It''s like a darkness, a shadow that''s slowly creeping towards us. And I don''t know if we can stop it." Warren hugged her and tried to reassure her that everything was going to be ok. He would not let anything happen to hear, they were about to figure this out. Deep down Warren knew they were idle for too long, they had been hiding for too long. He knew they needed to come out of the shadows and find out the truth of what happened that day, the truth about Faith and her special gift, the truth about the Rapture and the Angels. He postponed it for a way too long, in the years following the Rapture he investigated everything about it and read every single article published on the topic. He found multiple organizations trying to figure out the same thing, some of them good, some of them a bit sketchy, but nonetheless a lot of people shared the skepticism about that day. It was time to go out and find the truth. Chapter 11 As the smoky substance cleared, the figure became more defined. It stood taller than any of the humans present in the cave, with broad shoulders and a slender waist. Its body was covered in flowing robes made of the same ethereal substance as the smoke, and its skin was almost transparent, similar to the Angels. But what was most striking was its face. The angels didn¡¯t quite look human either, but this creature had a crooked smile on its face that seemed almost menacing. The creature''s body emitted a faint red glow, which contrasted sharply with the golden glow of the angels Marcus and the team were already familiar with. The glow was not comforting, like the soft golden light of the angels, but instead felt ominous. The creature had the same otherworldly presence as the angels, but there was something more dangerous about this creature, something that made Marcus and his team feel uneasy, some of them took few steps back instinctively. As Samael stood there, towering over the humans, it seemed to take in its surroundings. Its eyes, which were black and piercing, scanned the cave and the people in it. There was an air of power and danger about it, and Marcus and his team realized that they were in the presence of something ancient and powerful. Marcus stepped forward, his eyes never leaving the creature. "What are you?" he demanded. ¡°Humans, interesting, you prevailed.¡± The creature tilted its head, its crooked smile widening. "I am known by many names," it replied cryptically. "Who do you think I am?" ¡°Samael?¡± Marcus asked. ¡°Are you the devil?¡± Alex asked, straight to the point. The creature chuckled, "Ah, Samael. Yes, that''s one of my names. As for the devil, well, that''s a title Angels and their followers have given me. They have quite the imagination." The team exchanged stunned glances, still unsure of what to make of this enigmatic being. "I am older than the Earth, almost as old as the universe itself," the creature repeated. "But that is not important right now, we will have plenty of time for history lessons,¡± Samael said. ¡°What is important is whether they have started collecting people yet." Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The team looked at each other, confused. "Collecting people?" Marcus repeated. "You mean Angels, taking them to heaven?" ¡°Oh sweet child of mine,¡± Samael said. ¡°There is no heaven in concept you think there is.¡± It said its tone almost sympathetic. ¡°Yes, they, the Angels or whatever they call themselves this time. Have they started taking people away?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Marcus answered, his voice shaking. ¡°Fifteen years ago they came for the first time and took a lot of people with them, and then every five years, so four times in total by now.¡± ¡°Ohh, you are very late this time,¡± Samael said. ¡°That¡¯s bad, very bad¡­¡± The team exchanged worried looks. "What do you mean, ''very bad''?" Max asked, finally joining the conversation. "Why are they taking people?" ¡°It¡¯s too hard, and too long to explain now, as I said there will be time for history lessons.¡± The creature said, its crooked smile gone now, replaced with a blank expression. ¡°We have time now,¡± Marcus said. ¡°Please explain.¡± ¡°No, we really don¡¯t,¡± Samael said. ¡°They will come one more time and then it begins, they come five times, they always have.¡± ¡°What will happen then?¡± Max asked worry vibrating thru his voice. ¡°As I said, I will explain,¡± Samael said. ¡°I have to go now¡­¡± ¡°Go? Where?¡± Marcus said. ¡°I need to find my brothers and sisters,¡± Samael said. ¡°Meet me at this location in fifteen days,¡± Samael said and pointed toward the coordinates on the map. ¡°And we can begin.¡± ¡°Begin wha-¡± Marcus started to ask but was cut off as Samael''s form began to waver, the glow from its red aura becoming more intense. The creature''s eyes flashed with an intense light, and its body began to twist and contort, the robe-like substance turning into a dark, liquid smoke that writhed and coiled around its body. The black smoke swirled and flowed around Samael, obscuring its shape until it became a featureless cloud of darkness. The creature began to ascend, floating up toward the cavern''s high ceiling, and the team watched in awe as it speed away toward the exit. As the team looked around, they could still feel the energy of Samael''s presence lingering in the air. They exchanged glances, each of them silently wondering what they had just witnessed. Marcus broke the silence. "What do we do now?" he asked, his voice sounding small and unsure. "We follow his instructions," Max replied. "As if we have any choice now." Chapter 12 For years, Warren had been tirelessly researching and following all the events related to the Angels and their appearances. He downplayed his obsession to Faith, but in reality, he was always digging deeper, reading articles, and scouring social media for any hint of new developments. He read stories about other children and even adults who had hurt Angels like Faith did that day, all over the globe, but he could never find concrete proof of those people. Every day he spent hours in his study, surrounded by books, maps, and notes. He was determined to find out more about the Angels and their true intentions. He had heard rumors about people who were immune to the Angels'' powers, and he was desperate to find them. He had been keeping track of Angel stories all over the world, trying to find a pattern, a clue to their motives. Despite his tireless efforts, Warren could not shake the feeling of hopelessness that gnawed at his heart. The world had changed so much since the Rapture, and it seemed like the Angels were too careful to leave any clues as to what they were up to. He had lost his wife, his home, his sense of security, and any semblance of normal life. All he had left was Faith, the girl he had saved from the Angels that fateful day, and now everything started to derail once again. They had fifteen years of some sense of normality, but with Faith''s scar acting up more and more, Angels coming randomly alone down to Earth and the feeling Faith described the other day, something had to be done. In the days following Faith''s unusual feelings of dread, Warren continued researching and scouring the internet for any new information, if anything has changed in the past few. His focus was on the Angels as always and their appearances, but he stumbled upon something that caught his attention. Multiple sightings of a mysterious creature, something resembling a smoke cloud as described by the witnesses or a black liquid substance by others, were reported from all over the globe, the sightings started the day Faith had that feeling of unease. Warren couldn''t ignore the coincidence of it all. Was this new creature connected to the Angels and their mysterious appearances, or was it something else entirely? As he delved deeper into the reports, Warren came across blurry photos and videos that only added to the mystery. Some people claimed to have seen the creature up close and described it as a dark, ominous presence with a faint red glow around it that moved with a strange grace and fluidity. Others reported feeling a sense of dread and foreboding in its presence. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, Warren couldn''t shake the feeling that it was connected to Faith¡¯s feelings that day. Warren had heard about and anonymously contacted many research groups and organizations that delved into everything regarding Rapture and the Angels, but most of them knew nothing of value. But one person, with their own aura of mystery around him, stuck with Warren. That person was powerful beyond what Warren thought originally and was the only one who had actually found and contacted him somehow, and their conversation was brief, Warren had lied about everything he knew, never mentioning Faith, but he had a feeling that person knew more. He said that if he ever found anything unusual or more about Angels to contact him, and he had resources to dig deeper into it. Warren reached into a drawer and pulled out a business card with a phone number and a name that read Arthur White. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Moments later Faith walked into the study. Warren looked up from his computer, his brow furrowed in concern once he saw her expression. ¡°It happened again, didn¡¯t it?¡± Warren asked with a calm tone. ¡°Yes,¡± Faith said softly. ¡°I¡¯ve felt it again, the fifth or sixth time already in these few days.¡± "Tell me more about these feelings, Faith," he said, turning his full attention to his daughter, he thought of her as his own blood. Faith shifted nervously from foot to foot, her eyes fixed on a spot on the floor. "It''s hard to explain," she said softly. "It''s like...like something big and powerful is out there, and it''s coming for us. It''s like a weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe." Warren''s heart sank as he listened to her. He had hoped that she wouldn''t be affected by any of this, that he could somehow shield her from the chaos and danger of what the world has become. But it seemed that fate had other plans. "It''s okay, Faith," he said soothingly, rising from his chair and taking her into his arms. "We''ll figure this out together. I won''t let anything happen to you." As he held her close, Warren''s mind raced with possibilities. Deep down he knew that he couldn''t keep her hidden away forever, but he also knew that he couldn''t face this threat alone. He needed help. ********* Marcus and the team left the cave in Antarctica as soon as they figured out the coordinates that Samael imprinted on the icy wall. Once they were in the open the frigid air stung their faces as they descended the icy Mauntain. They trudged through the snow and back to their original camp, they were slowed by Martin¡¯s injury, but luckily had a sled that allowed them to keep pace. As they sailed away from the icy continent, Marcus couldn''t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of his stomach. Meeting Samael had been a surreal experience, to say the least. The power that Samael radiated and the way it spoke were both awe-inspiring and terrifying, and Marcus couldn''t help but wonder what Samael''s true motives were. Was the creature truly the devil and they were deceived? Were Angels better? A million questions raced through his mind and he had no answers to them. His thoughts were interrupted by Max, who brought up the fact that they still didn''t inform Mr. White of what happened. That was another set of problems, if Mr. White was still watched by the Angels, should they even contact him or continue to the location Samael provided on their own? Marcus looked at Max with a serious expression. "We can''t risk it," he said. "We don''t know if Mr. White is being watched by the Angels. We have to assume the worst-case scenario and proceed with caution." Max nodded. "So what''s the plan then?" "We''ll continue to the location Samael provided," Marcus said. "We''ll keep a low profile and try not to draw any attention to ourselves. Once we''re there, we''ll study everything we have found and documented in that cave. There is a lot of text we haven¡¯t translated yet due to the new symbols we have found. It may hold more secrets, it might reveal something that neither Samael nor Angels are willing to tell us." Max looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Sounds like a plan," he said. The rest of the team listened attentively as Marcus and Max discussed their next steps. It was clear that they were all still shaken by the encounter with Samael and unsure of what to do next. They all felt like they were about to decide the faith of the whole world by themselves. Chapter 13 As soon as Faith went to sleep, Warren picked up his phone and dialed Mr. White''s number. A few rings later, a soothing voice answered on the other end. "Warren, I''m glad you called," Mr. White said. "It''s been years. I thought you would not remember me." Warren said genuinely surprised that the man he met only once remembered him. "I rarely forget important people," Mr. White answered. Warren was taken aback by the man''s words. Why would Mr. White think he was important? He had kept his anonymity, and what did the old man know about him? Before Warren could gather his thoughts, Mr. White continued. "It''s about Faith, isn''t it?" Mr. White asked. "Is she okay?" Warren''s heart started racing. How did this man know about Faith? When they talked years ago, Warren never mentioned Faith, and Mr. White never insinuated that he knew anything about her. "What about my daughter?" Warren asked, trying to play it cool. "Of course she''s fine." "Warren, don''t play dumb," Mr. White answered. "We don''t have time for that now. I know she''s not your daughter. I know everything, Warren." Warren stopped for a second, thinking about hanging up. But he needed some help now to find out what was going on with Faith, and this man seemed to already know everything about her, what was there to lose he already decided it¡¯s was time to get answers, you had to start somewhere. "Warren, are you still there?" Mr. White asked. "Yes," Warren replied. "I''ll send a car for you in the morning, and there will be an airplane waiting for you at the airport. See you tomorrow, and don''t worry. Everything is going to be okay!" Warren''s mind was spinning. How could Mr. White know so much about him and Faith? He had to find out more. As he hung up the phone, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of unease. What was Mr. White''s true agenda? And what did he know about the strange events that seemed to be happening around Faith? Warren knew that he and Faith were about to embark on a journey from which there was no coming back. Warren had a restless night, his mind preoccupied with the strange things happening the last few weeks and the call he had with Mr. White only fueled his anxiety. He barely got any sleep and was already up before Faith woke up. She always woke up early, as was life on a farm, but this morning he let her sleep in. Warren went to the kitchen and began to make breakfast. He decided on eggs, bacon, and coffee, hoping it would help him stay awake for the busy day ahead. As soon as the eggs were done and the coffee was brewed, Warren set the table for two. He felt a strange mixture of excitement and anxiety about the upcoming day. He couldn''t shake off the feeling that something big was going on and that Faith was somehow in the middle of it. Faith walked into the kitchen rubbing her eyes, and Warren greeted her with a smile. He served her breakfast and sat down with her. She could tell something was off with Warren, but he didn''t want to worry her, so he kept the conversation light. After breakfast, the two of them went outside to tend to the farm, but he couldn''t concentrate on the task at hand. His mind was racing with thoughts of what was going to happen next. He checked the time on his watch, realizing that it was only a matter of hours before he and Faith would be picked up by Mr. White''s car. ¡°Faith, I called a man last night,¡± He said. ¡°I know,¡± She answered. ¡°I overheard, I barely slept as well. Who is he?¡± Faith asked. Warren hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to tell her, but was there even a point in hiding anything from her as they were about the meet the man in person later in the day. ¡°His name is Arthur White,¡± he finally said. ¡°He¡¯s a wealthy man, who has been fascinated with the rapture and everything about the angels, similarly to me, but he¡¯s been doing it for much longer. He seems to know a lot about the angels and what¡¯s been happening. He also seemed to know about you.¡± Faith furrowed her brow. ¡°How does he know about me?¡± she asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Warren said honestly. ¡°But he seemed to know a lot. I¡¯ve met with him once, years ago, and never mentioned you, I was careful as always.¡± Warren hesitated for a second. ¡°You see Faith, I never wanted to bother and worry you, but all these years I¡¯ve been wondering what happened that day, I was reading, researching, trying to find the answers, but I would always end up empty-handed. So I think it¡¯s best we go and meet this man.¡± Faint smiled. ¡°I know dad, I am now blind nor dumb. I know you¡¯ve been obsessing with everything around that day and me I just never said anything. And I agree I think it¡¯s about time we found out what is going on.¡± She said and gently tapped him on the shoulders. ¡°You were always a smart-ass,¡± Warren said hugging her in the process. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready, Mr. White is going to send a car for us soon.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Warren and Faith quickly got dressed and packed a few things, anticipating their departure. Warren told his parents, who were on the market today, that he and Faith were going on a mini-vacation for a few days or a week, he did not want to bother them with everything that was happening. As they waited for the car, Warren paced back and forth, nervously tapping his foot on the ground. Faith sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone, trying to keep her mind off the situation at hand. Finally, they heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. They quickly grabbed their bags and headed out to the waiting vehicle. The drive to the airport was long and quiet, with both Warren and Faith lost in their own thoughts. Once they arrived at the airport, they boarded a private plane that would take them to New York. The flight was smooth and uneventful, but the tension in the air was palpable. As they landed in New York, a car was waiting for them at the airport. The driver took them to Mr. White''s mansion outside the city. As the car slowly made its way up the long driveway leading to Mr. White''s mansion Warren and Faith were taken aback by the mansion''s opulence. The surrounding area was lush with greenery, a meticulously landscaped garden stretching out for acres on either side. As they got closer to the house, Warren''s eyes widened in awe at the sight of the mansion. It was a massive, white building with Greek columns, a red roof, and large windows that glimmered in the sunlight. As they parked the car in front of the mansion''s entrance, Warren couldn''t help but feel a sense of intimidation. He turned to Faith, who seemed equally impressed, and squeezed her hand for comfort. They both stepped out of the car and were greeted by Mr. White''s butler, who guided them inside. ¡°Sir, Ma¡¯am,¡± The butler said with a wide smile. ¡°Mr. White is waiting inside.¡± Warren and Faith followed the butler into the mansion, their eyes wandering around the luxurious interior. The spacious hall was adorned with crystal chandeliers, antique furnishings, and ornate paintings that looked like they could be worth a fortune. The butler led them to a grand sitting room where Mr. White was waiting for them. He stood up and greeted them with a warm smile. ¡°Warren, Faith, it¡¯s wonderful to see you both,¡± he said, extending his hand for a handshake. Warren and Faith shook his hand, feeling a sense of relief that they were finally meeting the man who might know some answers. ¡°Please, have a seat,¡± Mr. White said, gesturing towards the comfortable couches arranged around a marble fireplace. ¡°Can I offer you anything to drink?¡± They both accepted, Faith taking a juice and Warren going for a stronger solution, a glass of cognac. ¡°Dinner will be ready soon, we can catch up until then,¡± Mr. White said and saluted with the glass. ¡°What do you want to know?¡± Warren asked and saluted back. ¡°I know a lot, but there are sure details I am missing.¡± Mr. White said. ¡°Let¡¯s start from the beginning, from the day of the rapture. Warren recounted everything that had happened since the day of the Rapture and leading up to Faith''s strange scar acting up and the pain that followed, concluding with the recent feeling that had been plaguing her. As he spoke, Mr. White listened with fascination, his eyes widening in disbelief at some of the details. When Warren finished, there was a moment of silence before Mr. White spoke. "This is truly remarkable," he said, taking a sip of his drink. ¡°When did you say the feeling started to occur?¡± ¡°First time it happened was last wednesday,¡± Faith said joining in the conversation. ¡°Interesting¡­¡± Mr. White said and took out his phone, scrolling through it he realized that was the day Max told him they were supposed to reach the cave, and there was still no word from them. Warren and Faith exchanged a look, wondering what was going on in Mr. White''s mind. "Is something wrong, Mr. White?" Warren asked, breaking the silence. ¡°Excuse me for a second,¡± Mr. White said and left the room as he entered the hallway he searched through his contacts for Martin. Martin was part of Marcus¡¯s team but was also on his private payroll, an inside man, a safety fuse of sorts if Marcus went rogue. Mr. White quickly dialed the number and once she answered he instructed him to get Marcus on the phone right away. "Hello, I wondered why you waited for so long" Martin answered. "Get Marcus on the phone right now. It''s urgent," Mr. White said in a serious tone. "Okay, hold on," Martin replied and put Mr. White on hold. A few moments later, Marcus answered the phone. "Marcus, it''s Mr. White. Where are you?" Mr. White asked. He heard Marcus and Martin arguing in the background. "How did you reach Martin," Marcus answered the phone. ¡°I decided it was best to leave you out for now, to be safe.¡± "I understand, but listen carefully," Mr. White said. ¡°There have been more things happening around the globe, did you find Samael.¡± Mr. White asked. "Yes, we found him. What¡¯s going on? We haven¡¯t heard anything?" Marcus asked, confused. Mr. White explained everything about Faith and strange sighting all over the globe, and now he had Faith with him at this very moment and how it was best they all met up. "Okay," Marcus said reluctantly and gave him the coordinates to where they were going. Mr. White hung up the phone and went back to the living room smile decorating his face once again. ¡°Faith, Warren,¡± He said in a confident tone. ¡°We are going to take a road trip tomorrow and I will catch up with everything during the dinner, please follow me to the dinning room.¡± Warren and Faith exchanged a quick glance, unsure of what trip Mr. White was talking about. Nevertheless, they followed Mr. White to the dining room where dinner was laid out on the table. During the meal, Mr. White explained everything to Warren and Faith. He began with stories his grandmother used to tell him about the Angels and the strange events that followed them. He spoke of his own fascination with the creatures and his doubts about them and how he had spent decades researching and collecting information. Mr. White revealed that he had teams of researchers all over the globe, gathering information and studying strange occurrences. He finished with Marcus and his team and what they have discovered and how they found Samael the same day Faith¡¯s feelings started manifesting. Warren and Faith looked at each other, then back at Mr. White. The story was too much to take in all at once. But deep down they knew Mr. White said the truth, at least his side of it. Chapter 14 Warren wanted Faith to stay behind and for him to accompany Mr. White to a meeting with his team and this Samael figure alone, but Faith fought against it. Warren leaned in, "Faith, I think it''s better if I go alone with Mr. White to meet this Samael creature. We don''t know what we''re dealing with here." Faith looked at him, a determined look on her face. "I''m going with you," she stated firmly. Warren frowned. "It could be dangerous, Faith. I don''t want to put you in harm''s way." "I can handle it," Faith replied confidently. "Besides, I don''t want to be left behind, I will be safer with you. We''re in this together." Warren sighed, knowing he couldn''t argue with her. "Fine, but promise me you''ll quiet and not make any problems." "I promise," Faith said with a smile. Faith felt nervous and anxious ahead of the trip. She knew that they were walking into an unknown and potentially dangerous situation, and the idea of facing someone like Samael or another Angel made her feel uneasy. At the same time, she was excited to be on this adventure with Warren, and felt confident that they could handle whatever came their way. She spent some time packing her things, making sure to bring everything she might need for the trip. As she packed, she tried to focus on the positive aspects of the journey, reminding herself that they were doing this to help uncover the truth about what was going on with her and the events surrounding the rapture. Marcus sent them the exact coordinates via encrypted message, indicating that the meeting with Samael would take place in the foothills of the Andes Mountains of Peru. They were surprised by the location and the fact that Samael had chosen such a remote area for their meeting. Warren immediately began researching the area, trying to find any information that might be helpful in their upcoming trip. Faith, on the other hand, decided not to delve on it and spent most of her time ahead of trip reading books and relaxing her mind. As the day of the trip approached, Mr. White had organized everything they needed for the trip and their accommodations once they arrived in Peru. After everything was set for the trip, Warren, Faith, and Mr. White set out on their journey to the Andes in Peru. They arrived at the rendezvous point three days ahead of schedule, where they would meet with Marcus, Max, and the rest of their team. Mr. White had become increasingly worried about the meeting with Samael and the potential danger it posed. Despite the presence of Marcus, Max, and their team, he decided to hire five additional armed men as a precautionary measure. Marcus and the rest of the team arrived at the location one ay later. They were clearly exhausted from their arduous expedition to Antarctica. Their faces were etched with deep lines of fatigue, and their eyes were sunken with dark circles beneath them. The chill of the Andes night air seemed to seep into their bones, as they approached. Despite their exhaustion, they still managed to exude an air of toughness, as if their exhaustion was merely a tiny obstacle that they had to overcome in their quest to complete their mission. As they approached, Warren and Faith could sense the tension in the air. Marcus scanned the group, his eyes pausing for a moment on Faith before flicking away to the rest of the group. "Who the hell are they?" Marcus asked, his voice gruff and deep, laced with a hint of suspicion as he pointed at Warren and Faith. Faith could feel herself tensing up, unsure of how to react. Warren stepped forward, introducing himself and Faith, ¡°Hello, I am Warren and this is my daughter Faith.¡± ¡°I am Marcus,¡± Marcus said with a straight face and then turned towards Mr. White. ¡°Who are they? What are they doing here?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let them explain,¡± Mr. White said as he pulled four of them and Max to the side, away from the rest of the group. Warren looked at Mr. White and he nodded in confirmation they could trust both Marcus and Max, so Warren proceeded to explain their situation once again from the beginning to the present day. Marcus nodded in fascination along the way, his posture relaxing as the story went further. ¡°I am sorry for being so unpleasant earlier,¡± He said to Faith with sincere smile on his face. ¡°You are just a kid and I know it¡¯s not an excuse but I had a terrible couple of weeks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Faith answered returning the smile. ¡°So you can hurt those creatures, the Anels I mean?¡± Marcus asked curiosity peeking through his voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know, it happened once when I was just a kid,¡± Faith said. ¡°I barely remember that day.¡± Marcus nodded. ¡°What about this place?¡± Warren asked Marcus. ¡°Does it hold any significance? Why did Samael choose it? I tried researching the best I could but couldn¡¯t find anything about it. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Me neither,¡± Marcus answered. ¡°I¡¯ve gone over all the writing and symbols we found in Antarctica and in Egypt but couldn''t find any correlation with this place.¡± ¡°What do you think about Samael?¡± Warren asked his curiosity peeking. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Marcus said. ¡°Something feels off about him too, the same way it felt of about the Angels.¡± He answered truthfully. ¡°I think we might start something way beyond our understanding, so we don¡¯t really have a choice but to meet with him in two days.¡± Warren and the rest nodded in agreement, dispersing their little group in process and joining the others. They used the rest of the night to get some rest and Mr. White arranged for insane amounts of food and drinks to be brought to their location. Marcus and Warren spent the day before the trip going over each other''s findings. Marcus showed Warren everything they had discovered from Egypt to Antarctica, including ancient artifacts, strange symbols, and maps. Warren listened attentively, nodding occasionally and asking questions. As they were going through some of the symbols, Faith joined them and mentioned that she had seen some of those symbols in her dreams from time to time, but had never thought much of it. ¡°I¡¯ve seen these two symbols before,¡± Faith said. ¡°Where?¡± Marcus asked. ¡°In my dreams, several times,¡± Faith answered looking over the rest of the symbols. This caught Marcus''s attention, ¡°Tell me all you can remember.¡± He said. ¡°You never mentioned this to me before,¡± Warren said. ¡°I did not want to bother you with it,¡± She answered looking him straight in the eyes, trying not to make much of his worried expression. ¡°You should have told me,¡± Warren said. ¡°So, what happened in those dreams?¡± Faith tried to recall as much as she could, describing the symbols in detail and the recurring themes in her dreams. Marcus and Warren listened carefully, trying to make connections between her dreams and their research, but it would have to wait as the time of their meeting with Samael was drawing close, and Mr. White called for everyone to gather around. ¡°Not all of you are going to a meeting,¡± Mr. White said with confidence. ¡°It will be Marcus, Max, Warren, Faith, and me,¡± As Mr. White spoke, the rest of the team looked at each other with curiosity and slight concern. They had been working together for months, some of them for years, and it was unusual for Mr. White to exclude them from such an important meeting. Marcus raised his eyebrows, ¡°What¡¯s going on, Arthur? Why just us five?¡± Mr. White took a deep breath before answering, ¡°This meeting is of a sensitive nature and requires a smaller group. I trust you all, but I believe this is the best course of action.¡± Warren and Faith exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of the situation. Max, who had remained quiet until now, spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m in. Whatever it is, I want to be there.¡± With Max¡¯s confirmation, Marcus looked around the group, and most of them seemed to be fine with the decision. ¡°Okay, if you say so.¡± He said looking over to the newcomer''s Warren and Faith, both of them nodding in agreement. Mr. White smiled, ¡°Good, we all agree. We leave in two hours.¡± The journey to the meeting location was relatively short, with most of the distance covered by a car. However, the last stretch of the journey required them to proceed on foot, as the path was too rugged and steep for vehicles to traverse. As they hiked through the foothill of the Andes Mountains, the landscape gradually changed, with the lush greenery giving way to barren rock formations. They had to be careful with each step, as the terrain was uneven and treacherous. After several hours of hiking, they finally arrived at the meeting spot. It was a secluded plateau surrounded by towering peaks, with a single rocky outcrop jutting out in the center. A gusty wind blew through the valley, and the air was thin and cold. Warren and Faith looked around in awe, taking in the stark beauty of the location. Faith barely saw the world outside the farm and their small town, so this was a huge shock for her. Marcus and Max, who had seen their fair share of remote locations, remained stoic, scanning the area for any signs of danger. Mr. White, however, seemed at ease, as if he had been to this place before. He was tired of the hike, that much could be seen, but there was something off about this man Marcus noticed. He never got to know him that well, but the wealthy businessman was acting out of the character lately. ¡°Is everything alright Arthur?¡± Marcus asked him. ¡°Yes, yes¡­¡± Mr. White answered his white teeth shining through the tin smile. ¡°Just tired of the hike, I am a man in years.¡± He said putting his arm on Marcus¡¯s shoulder. Marcus just nodded not returning the smile to him. Marcus walked toward Warren next, ¡°How well do you know Mr. White?¡± ¡°Almost no at all,¡± He said. ¡°We met once years ago, and he seemed to know all about me when I contacted him now. Why you ask?¡± ¡°Yea he seems to know it all¡­¡± Marcus said with a puzzled expression. ¡°I don¡¯t know, he has been acting weirdly recently, something is off about him. We need to keep an eye on him¡± Marcus said Warren gave him a gentle nod. As they waited for Samael a feeling of unease began to creep up on Faith. It started as a slight discomfort in her stomach but soon grew into a full-blown sense of anxiety. She tried to push the feeling aside and focus on the present moment. Warren noticed her mood shift and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asked, looking at her with concern. Faith forced a smile and nodded, not wanting to worry her father. But the feeling continued to gnaw at her, growing stronger with each passing moment. She couldn''t explain why she was feeling this way, but it was as if something was about to go terribly wrong. Just as she thought she couldn''t take it anymore, Marcus yelled. ¡°Look, over there,¡± He pointed above one of the peeks. ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± The rest of them look over in the direction Marcus was pointing. ¡°He seemed to bring some company,¡± Max said as several more clouds of strange moving liquidish smoke could be seen floating their way. Five of them stood on the plateau watching towards the Samael and his companions as their approached, mixed feeling rising and overtaking them all, there was no point of return now. Chapter 15 Faith¡¯s discomfort increased as Samael and the figures surrounding him approached. At one moment she almost fainted due to the light-headedness. ¡°Are you ok?¡± Warren griped her under his arm. ¡°Do you want us to leave?¡± He asked with concern. ¡°No,¡± Faith muttered under her breath. ¡°Something is telling me to stay here, I think we were supposed to be here.¡± She said lifting her head to watch over approaching clouds of liquid smoke. Warren did not like what was happening to her, he wanted to leave so badly, but his gut was also telling him to stay. Faith was only getting worse with time, they needed to get some answers finally. As Samael and his group approached, the black liquidish smoker began to take form, revealing the figures within it. They were unlike anything Warren and Faith had ever seen before. They appeared to be human or at least tried to imitate one, but there was something different about them, something wrong on so many levels. As they got closer, Faith''s discomfort turned into a feeling of dread. She could feel a sense of otherworldly presence emanating from Samael and his companions. The feeling was overwhelming, and she had to fight to stay conscious. Warren could see the fear in Faith''s eyes, and he tightened his grip on her arm. He wanted to protect her, but he knew they were in unknown territory. He had to trust his own judgment and hope that everything would turn out okay. As Samael and his group finally reached them, they came to a stop floating above ground only a few feet away. Samael looked at each of them with his piercing black eyes before finally addressing Marcus. "You and you I remember, but who are those three," Samael said pointing at Mr. White, Faith, and Warren, his voice sending shivers down Faith''s spine. ¡°They are-¡± Before Marcus could finish his sentence Mr. White cut him off. ¡°Oh, you are real, o mighty Samael,¡± The wealthy businessman fell to his knees. ¡°I¡¯ve searched for you my whole life.¡± The old man''s voice was shaking, Marcus had never seen him like this. Samael looked down at Mr. White, a small smirk appearing on his face. "You have been searching for me, what for?" he asked, his voice low and ominous. "I seek the gift you can give," Mr. White said, his eyes pleading. "I have dedicated my entire life to bringing about the end of days, to speeding up the rapture. It was not supposed to happen for thousands of years more, but I have found a way to hasten it, but I couldn¡¯t find you, I thought the Rapture would awaken you as well but I was wrong. That¡¯s where Marcus and his team came in handy, they found you oh Mighty One." Marcus¡¯s heart skipped a beat at Mr. White''s words. He couldn''t believe what she was hearing. This man caused the rapture? What for? What gifts was he talking about? ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Marcus jumped in front of Mr. White cutting his view of Samael off. ¡°What is this about?¡± Max joined Marcus in front of the old man. ¡°You don¡¯t understand anything,¡± Mr. White said. ¡°You will, I can ask for you to receive the gifts as well!¡± Mr. White said trying to move the two of them to get to the view of Samael. But Samael wasn¡¯t there anymore, he moved, hovering above Faith, Warren holding her under his arms, the young girl barely keeping her head up. ¡°You,¡± Samael said his voice echoing through the plateau. ¡°There is something different about you.¡± He said circling around her in the air. Faith felt a chill run down her spine as Samael circled around her. She could feel his presence weighing heavily on her, and she struggled to keep her composure. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Faith asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Samael stopped circling and looked directly at her. ¡°I want to know what you are,¡± he said, his voice filled with curiosity and a hint of something else. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary human,¡± Faith said, trying to keep her voice steady. Samael smiled, and Faith felt a shiver run down her spine. ¡°No, you are much more than that,¡± he said. ¡°I can sense it.¡± Warren tightened his grip on Faith, and Marcus and Max stepped forward, ready to protect her if necessary. ¡°That was not the deal,¡± Marcus said. ¡°You said you would tell us everything we needed to know.¡± Marcus shouted at the floating figure. ¡°I made no deal with you, human,¡± Samael said. ¡°And that was before you brought her.¡± The creature said. Mr. White finally got himself up and jumped in front of Samael. ¡°I surrender my will to you, please grant me immortality, oh mighty one!¡± As Mr. White knelt before Samael, pleading for immortality, Samael looked down at him with a look of disdain. "You humans are always so desperate for more time," Samael said, his voice dripping with contempt. "But immortality is not a gift I can give. You misunderstood it I am afraid." Mr. White looked up at Samael, his eyes wide with desperation. "Please, there must be something you can do," he begged. ¡°I did not do this all for nothing.¡± But Samael did not acknowledge him. Instead, he turned his attention back to Faith, who was still struggling to keep her eyes open. "There is something about you," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Something that sets you apart from the rest." As Samael was about to approach Faith, the sky above them suddenly exploded open. It was as if the very fabric of space and time had been torn apart, revealing a blinding light beyond. From within the light emerged an army of angels, numbering in the hundreds, led by three towering figures. The angels descended upon the plateau, their wings creating a fierce wind that almost blew humans away. The three larger figures landed on the ground, each one radiating a powerful aura of light and the rest of them were hovering above, keeping their distance. ¡°Samael,¡± One of the larger figures said, and Warren immediately recognized him as the angel from the day of rapture, the one that Faith had hurt. ¡°Raphael,¡± Samael said, his voice confident and terrifying at the same time. ¡°So you did not cause the rapture this time around?¡± Raphael said. ¡°I see that you only recently awoke.¡± ¡°No, I thought you did,¡± Samael said. ¡°But it would seem this human has somehow managed to do it,¡± Samael pointed at Mr. White who was watching in awe. Raphael looked over to Mr. White and over to the rest of the humans. He noticed a young girl that started to grip her hand, a small scar emanating from her arm, similar to one he had. ¡°He has her,¡± Raphael said to his brother. ¡°The one that hurt me,¡± Pointing towards the girl. ¡°Kill him!¡± Samael looked in confusion to faith then back to the Angels that were charging him. He easily turned back into the liquid smoke state and evaded their attack. The angels continued to pursue Samael and his companions, their swords, and spears glinting in the light of the exploding sky. Samael seemed to be enjoying the chase, taunting them with his movements and his words. But Warren noticed something strange happening with Faith. The scar on her arm was glowing once again, and she seemed to be in some kind of trance. Suddenly, she lifted her head and spoke in a strange voice that was not her own. ¡°Vathronia zylkariana zoranthia!" The voice boomed, echoing across the plateau. Seconds later a high light burst emanated from inside her. The light that burst from Faith was blinding, illuminating the entire plateau. The intense brightness seemed to have a pulse that radiated from her, pulsing out in waves. The air grew warmer and it almost felt like the very ground beneath their feet was trembling. As the light grew brighter and stronger, it started to engulf Samael and the angels that were attacking him. They seemed to be struggling, writhing in agony as they were enveloped by the light. The black smoke that made up Samael''s form started to dissipate, and the angels seemed like they were being stripped of their power, their wings turning to ash and losing their glow in the process. The three big angels managed to escape the binding light and fly away high in the sky, while dozens of regular angels got evaporated, nothing but ash left where they once stood in the air. Some of the Samael companions suffered the same fate, while he completely turned into his liquidish form and flew away from the light. Mr. White looked in terror as everything that he worked towards in his life was being destroyed, his goal of immortality was being taken from him by this young girl. He rushed towards Max taking his pistol and aiming it at Faith. Warren saw it almost in slow motion but was unable to reach to in time. Max tried to grab the old man by the hands but the shot echoed through the plateau and Faith dropped to the ground, the lighting stopping as she fell. ¡°No,¡± Warren yelled at the top of his lungs and rushed towards her, he had moved away once she started pulsating the light. ¡°You son of a bitch,¡± Marcus said and grabbed his pistol turning it towards Mr. White. ¡°You knew everything about it, you cost me my family.¡± He pressed the trigger another bang echoing over the plateau, but before the bullet hit the old man something grabbed him and pulled him into the air. It was Samael in his non-solid form engulfing him in his smoke and protecting him from the bullet in the process. They flew away in the direction they came from, while the last of the Angels ran into the rift in the sky as it closed behind them, leaving Max and Marcus standing over Warren that was holding Faith''s body. Chapter 16 Marcus stood on the plateau, stunned, watching as Samael and his remaining companions that survived Faith¡¯s burst of light flew away in the direction from where they came. Mr. White was engulfed by Samael and was being carried away. Marcus had so many questions swirling in his mind. Mr. White had admitted to Samael that he had caused the rapture to arrive earlier, which meant that the rapture was supposed to happen anyway, but how did he know about it? The old man then sought immortality from the creature. Marcus was beyond confused. The events had happened so fast around Marcus, and he tried to rewind it in his head. The girl started emitting light out of her, and she spoke some words in an unknown language. They sounded familiar to Marcus, similar to the ancient language that they had translated from the ruins. Mr. White had shot the girl straight ahead, trying to save Samael. He shot an innocent girl, and the rage arose and filled Marcus at the thought of that, who was he working for all this time? He quickly snapped out of it and turned his attention to Warren, who was still on the ground holding Faith in his arms and yelling for her to wake up. Glancing at Max, he could see that the man also had the same thought process as him, they shared a glance and then turned back towards Warren and Faith. But looking at her, Marcus saw no blood. The girl was unconscious, but there was no sign of a gunshot wound. ¡°Warren!¡± Marcus tried to snap him out of his cries. ¡°I knew we shouldn¡¯t have come here,¡± Warren cried out. ¡°He shot her, that fucker shot her. I am going to kill him with my own hands!¡± He continued yelling. ¡°There is no bullet wound!¡± Marcus said. ¡°What?¡± Warren snapped out of it for a second. ¡°He shot her straight in the chest, but there is no bullet wound, there is no blood, anything,¡± Marcus replied. Warren was gripping Faith tightly and let her go enough to have a clear look at her chest and stomach. Marcus was right; there was no bullet wound. Warren unzipped Faith''s jacket, and nothing, her clothes were whole, and there was no blood, not a scratch on her. Before he could react, Faith gasped loudly for air. It snapped all three of them out of their shock. ¡°Oh thank God,¡± Warren yelled out. ¡°Are you ok?¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Faith asked, her voice barely audible. ¡°You don¡¯t remember?¡± Warren asked. ¡°No, I felt bad, really bad.¡± She said softly. ¡°That feeling of dread and unease overcame me, blinding me completely. And the headache, the headache was unbearable. I remember Angels and Samael talking about something, but then nothing, I blacked out.¡± ¡°You went into some kind of a trance and powerful light radiated from you,¡± Marcus explained. ¡°You also said some words in the ancient language, you don¡¯t remember any of it?¡± He asked. Faith looked at him skeptically, ¡°No, sorry.¡± She said. ¡°It¡¯s ok honey,¡± Warren said brushing her hair away from her face. ¡°Can you stand up?¡± Marcus watched as Warren lifted Faith to her feet, supporting her weight as she struggled to find her balance. She looked pale and unsteady as if she had just woken up from a deep sleep. ¡°What happened to Mr. White?¡± Faith asked after looking over the plateau, her voice trembling. ¡°He¡¯s gone,¡± Marcus said softly. ¡°Samael took him with him.¡± Faith¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Why would he do that?¡± she asked, confusion etched on her face. ¡°Mr. White admitted to Samael that he caused the rapture to arrive earlier,¡± Marcus explained. Faith shook her head in disbelief. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± she said. ¡°Why would Mr. White do something like that? What was he hoping to achieve?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know,¡± Warren said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter now, don¡¯t stress yourself. Let¡¯s get you out of here so you can rest.¡± Marcus nodded in agreement. ¡°He¡¯s right. We should focus on getting you back to the camp and making sure you¡¯re okay.¡± They helped Faith walk down the mountain, with Warren supporting her weight as they made their way through the rocky terrain. Despite their fatigue and exhaustion, they moved as quickly as they could, eager to put as much distance between themselves and the plateau as possible. As they walked, Marcus couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of unease. The events of the past few hours had left him with more questions than answers. What did Mr. White hope to achieve by causing the rapture to arrive earlier? And why did Samael take him in the end? And most importantly, what did Faith¡¯s role in all of this? ¡°Where do we even go from here?¡± Warren asked. ¡°I still have access to Mr. White¡¯s accounts,¡± Marcus said. ¡°The ones that he provided for me and my team so we can operate easier. We can use that to get away from Peru and somewhere safe until we figure something out.¡± Warren looked at Faith asking her with his eyes what she thought about all this. The girl was beyond tired, she could barely keep her eyes open, but her look told him that she trusted his decision, she wanted to continue pursuing this, to find out the truth. ¡°Ok,¡± Warren said. ¡°What about you Max?¡± Marcus asked. ¡°You still in or?¡± ¡°I am with you guys all the way,¡± He said. As they reached the campsite, the team that was left behind by the decision of Mr. White welcomed them with worried faces. They had seen the sky opening and strange light emitting from somewhere. Marcus told them everything that had happened, leaving no detail behind. The team was shocked by Mr. White¡¯s decisions, unsure of how to react to the news. Marcus let the henchman that Mr. White had employed go. He also confronted Martin, who was on Mr. White¡¯s private payroll, telling him to leave them as well as he could not trust him anymore. Martin tried to convince him that he had no clue as to what Mr. White did and planned, but Marcus didn¡¯t want to hear it. He had made up his mind. Alex and Olivia decided to stay with the team and continue to pursue the truth, which Marcus was glad about. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Meanwhile, Warren led Faith to bed. She was exhausted and needed rest. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out like a light. Warren stayed by her side, watching her sleep, feeling grateful that she was alive. As the evening wore on, Marcus contacted Ava and recounted everything that had happened since Antarctica. Ava was in shock, but she had some new information that could help them, their part of the team discovered more ancient ruins and texts. She suggested they meet at her family¡¯s ranch in Austria. No one knew about it, not even Mr. White with all his connections could find out about it, and they would be safe there for now. Marcus agreed and arranged their flights for the next morning, using Mr. White¡¯s private plane to transfer to France and they would take the car rest of the way, so they could not be traced if anyone was looking for them. From now on they would have to be on their guard. The weight of the previous day''s events burdened Marcus as he lay in bed, tossing and turning, his mind swirling with thoughts. Sleep evaded him like a slippery prey, darting away every time he tried to grasp it. Meanwhile, Warren too struggled with sleep, his thoughts consumed by Faith''s safety. Restless and troubled, the two men found themselves the in each other''s company. They stayed up late into the night, drinking and sharing stories of everything that happened post-rapture in their lives. As the hours ticked by, they found themselves growing increasingly comfortable with one another, each of them feeling the other was a trustworthy person with good intentions in mind. Marcus told him about the plan to go to Ava¡¯s ranch and the flight in the morning to which Warren, who did not have much choice, agreed. Once again they found themselves on the plane, switching continents. As the plane soared above the clouds, the early morning light filtering in through the windows, the team sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Marcus couldn''t help but think about the dangers that lay ahead, and whether they were making the right decisions, waking Samael did not seem like the right choice right now. Warren, on the other hand, was consumed with worry for Faith, wondering what was happening with her, and if he could help her anyhow. As they landed in France, they were greeted by Ava, who had come to meet them at the airport. Ava was a striking figure, tall and elegant, with piercing green eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. She greeted them warmly, but there was a sense of urgency in her movements that belied her calm demeanor. The ride from the airport to Ava''s ranch was a quiet one, with all of them still lost in their own thoughts. The countryside whizzed by in a blur of greenery and quaint villages, but none of them paid it any heed. When they finally arrived at Ava¡¯a ranch, they were immediately struck by its breathtaking beauty. The sprawling estate was nestled in the heart of a verdant valley, surrounded by a sea of emerald-green hills that seemed to stretch on for miles. Thick forests of oak and pine trees hugged the edges of the property, casting long, dappled shadows across the lush green grass that carpeted the fields. The main house itself was a grand, three-story mansion made of creamy white stone and covered in creeping ivy on one side. The house was flanked on either side by a row of towering oak trees, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. As they approached the front door, Marcus could see that the house was well-maintained despite its old age. Faith slept most of the time from Peru to Ava¡¯s ranch. Once they reached their destination she took her time walking around Ava''s ranch, taking in the sights and sounds of the countryside. The fresh air and peaceful surroundings slowly washed away her anxiety, and she began to feel more at ease. As she strolled through the open fields looking over the green hills, the familiar sights and smells of the ranch reminded her of home, of Warren''s family estate. A combination of fresh air and familiarity helped Faith to feel better almost right away. The weight on her shoulders slowly lifted, and color returned to her face. She breathed in the scent of the wildflowers and listened to the rustling of the leaves in the gentle breeze. It was as though nature was speaking to her, telling her that everything was going to be alright. The team took their time to unpack and settle in the ranch. Warren didn¡¯t want to bother Faith with constant questions of worry so he let her be. By the time they returned to the main house for dinner, Faith felt like a different person. She was relaxed, calm, and more present at the moment. The delicious home-cooked meal and friendly conversation around the table further added to her sense of comfort and belonging. Before they retired for the night, Faith felt called for Marcus, Warren, and Ava to talk in private with them. ¡°Honey is everything ok?¡± Warren asked with a worried look, gently hugging her, Ava, and Marcus giving them space. Warren''s embrace provided a sense of comfort for Faith, even if it couldn''t erase the worries and fears that plagued her mind. She let out a sigh before speaking. Faith breathed a sigh and leaned into the hug, comforted by Warren''s presence. "Yeah, I''m fine," she replied, her voice carrying an undertone of uncertainty. "Well, fine-ish, I suppose." Warren looked at her intently, but also gave her enough support and tried not to overwhelm her with his own worry in the process. "What''s going on then, Faith? What did you want to talk to us about?" "Well, I started slowly to remember what was happening on the plateau," Faith began, her voice still weak but determined. "I also dreamt a lot on the way here, dreams and the things that happened on the plateau are shaping and merging into one, but I remember some of the moments clearly now." Ava and Marcus leaned in, their expressions filled with concern and curiosity. ¡°What do you remember?¡± Marcus asked. ¡°Take your time don¡¯t push yourself,¡± his calm voice inviting her to share more and Warren appreciated his approach, nodding back at him Faith closed her eyes, trying to summon the images from her mind. "I remember the chaos, the anxiety, and the feeling of dread as Samael approached, then it grew into a crescendo as he and the angels started fighting, I felt overwhelmed. But then, suddenly, I was overcome by a moment of peace. It was like I was instantly outside of space and time." As she spoke, Faith could feel the weight of the memories pressing down on her, but she pushed through."At that moment, I saw a tall figure - humanoid but with no discernible features. The figure glowed brightly and it opened its arms inviting me in, and when we touched, I saw flashes of visions. ¡°Flashes of what?¡± Marcus cut her off, then immediately apologized, he was eager for a new clues, for anything. ¡°It¡¯s ok,¡± Faith said. ¡°I don¡¯t know a lot of things, some enormous buildings that looked like temples, but unlike anything, I saw on Earth and that tall figure in the middle of it. It was in the middle of the most vision that I saw. But everything was so quick, visions changing almost each second. Temples, fields, mountains, blue sky, green sky, a battle, then a planet similar to earth or earth in some ancient times with cities busting with people and alien-looking creatures roaming the fields, and that figure in the middle of it all. Faith paused for a moment to catch her breath before continuing. "Then I saw the angels and Samael on each side of the figure. Something terrible happened, but I couldn''t understand what it was, the visions changed and took a dark tone. But the figure reassured me that everything would be okay and somehow filled me with peace. Then it spoke to me, in some ancient language, I don¡¯t remember the words now, but I think I tried to repeat them. Maybe that¡¯s what you heard me say out loud.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Warren said. ¡°You said something in a language I didn¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°It sounded a lot like the language the symbols on our foreheads are made of,¡± Marcus said. ¡°Or at least how we understand it right now.¡± ¡°We have made some more discoveries and found some more texts and symbols on the sites we visited while you were away,¡± Ava joined the conversation. ¡°Maybe you can take a look?¡± Ava asked Faith. ¡°Sure,¡± she said softly. ¡°But I am too tired now. I think I am going to lie down.¡± ¡°Of course, honey,¡± Warren said. ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself.¡± Ava and Marcus nodded with understanding. Before they finished the conversation Olivia yelled from the living room. ¡°Come check this out!¡± She said with a sense of urgency in her usually calm voice. Four of them rushed to the living room where the team stood around the big TV and on its screen a familiar face. Face that now filled them with anger, Arthur White appeared on the television screen, his image projected to millions of viewers across the globe. His figure fills the screen with an air of authority and power. His graying hair was slicked back, giving him a look of calculated sophistication. His piercing eyes seemed to glint with an intensity that was both mesmerizing and unsettling, and the look was completed with a hint of a smile, an evil smile for those who knew where to look for it. The team stood in stunned silence as the title flashed across the bottom of the television screen. "Breaking News: Entrepreneur Arthur White to present reassuring evidence that Angels are evil, we have been lied to!" The words seemed to echo through the room, leaving an eerie sense of foreboding in their wake. Chapter 17 ¡°Mr. White,¡± the young doctor said, holding a card in his hand. ¡°I am sorry to inform you, but it¡¯s almost certain you will have Alzheimer''s disease based on all the tests we have run and your family history.¡± Arthur''s heart sank into his stomach, and he felt a wave of despair and nausea wash over him. This was the moment he had dreaded for years, ever since he saw his grandmother and then his mother taken by this ugly disease. Before he could gather his thoughts, the doctor continued. ¡°Good news is, we discovered this early. We can monitor your health, we can monitor if the symptoms show up, and who knows once they do, maybe we will have discovered the cure or a better treatment by then.¡± Arthur couldn''t believe it. Alzheimer''s disease had haunted his family for generations, and now it was coming for him. ¡°How long do you think before the symptoms show up? And how long do I have after they do?¡± he asked, his voice betraying a sense of defeat. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say, but you should be fine for an extended period of time,¡± the doctor said. ¡°We will schedule yearly appointments to monitor the progression and your health, and we will do everything in our power to help you, Mr. White.¡± Arthur nodded, feeling numb, and got up from his chair without even saying goodbye. His driver was waiting for him at the exit. ¡°Take me straight home,¡± Arthur said. ¡°Yes, sir,¡± his driver said, and they were on their way. Once home, Arthur sat in his room, lost in thought. In his life, he had amassed insane wealth and provided for his extended family. They could live for centuries more on the wealth he had at hand at this moment. But he feared his own mortality, feeling like there was a curse on his family. His father died when he was just a kid, his mother and grandmother died of Alzheimer''s in their early sixties, and he had lost a sister in a freak accident when they were teenagers. All of that prompted him to invest large amounts of money in various medical research fields and take several check-ups each year. He was not willing to admit to himself or his wife, but that was also a reason they had no children even though they had been married for five years and together for almost ten. He hid behind the curtain of work and other obligations, but his wife knew the true reason. Lana entered the room as soon as she came home. One look at his face was enough for her to know what was going on, and without saying a word, she opened the antique wooden showcase and took out his favorite cognac. She took two glasses and poured them each almost half the glass. ¡°Thank you, my love,¡± Arthur said and kissed her hand. She nodded and set in the chair next to him. They sat in silence for what felt like an eternity, and Lana let him take his time before he spoke. ¡°What now?¡± he asked, his voice full of pain and uncertainty. ¡°Nothing changes, my love,¡± she said softly. ¡°We continue to live our life to the fullest. You can''t outsmart life, my love, don''t go down this road. We have each other and will live as long as God gives us time.¡± She took his hand and held it with both of hers. ¡°Remember what you always say, ''when life gives you lemons, make lemonade''.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Arthur managed a small smile, grateful for her comforting presence. But deep down, he couldn''t shake the feeling of despair and hopelessness that had taken hold of him. As Lana touched her cross, Arthur''s mind drifted to a scene that had popped into his head, a scene of meeting a man, a lunatic he thought, years ago when he visited one of the research facilities in Europe. That man spoke of Gods, Angels, Demons, and immortality, he even mentioned his dead Grandmother and the stories she told him of Angels coming down to earth when he was just a kid. The man was frantic when they met and Arthur¡¯s security quickly took him away, but before they did that he handed him a folder with his research and the evidence he claimed he had. Arthur remembered having his team check the men up and the background coming clean, he was a history professor from Romania with no prior criminal charges, no known mental health problems, and nothing to point out that the man was insane. At the time his curiosity peaked and he quickly went over the files but left it aside for more important and impeding work. Arthur waited for his wife to go to bed, kissing her goodnight, and once she was well he opened a drawer containing the folder and started reading thoroughly. ******* Present Day, Ava¡¯s Ranch Marcus watched in disbelief as his former employer stood on the podium addressing the public with radiating confidence and a smug smile on his face. ¡°Ladies and Gentleman,¡± Mr. White started the press conference. ¡°Our world has been turned upside down fifteen years ago, and we blindly followed the instructions of the creatures we think are the Angels from our religion.¡± He made a short pause, looking straight at the camera. Marcus felt like the look was meant for him, but in reality, it was a look meant to make Mr. White look more sympathetic toward the crowd he was addressing. ¡°My team had been working tirelessly since that day to uncover the truth, and a few weeks back, we finally did,¡± he continued. ¡°I know what I say next might sound insane, but trust me, it¡¯s the truth, and I will provide evidence for everyone to see.¡± He paused to build tension before he continued. ¡°We have translated the symbols that we all have on our foreheads, and they mean,¡± he made another pause and slowly bowed his head before continuing. ¡°Do not harvest, not fit for consumption.¡± The murmurs and shuffling of the reporters could be heard over the TV as Marcus and the team watched in disbelief. ¡°What is he aiming at?¡± Warren asked, breaking the tension in the room. ¡°I have no idea,¡± Marcus replied, and Mr. White continued his press conference. ¡°Calm down, everyone, please calm down. There is more,¡± Arthur said, waiting for the commotion to die down before continuing. ¡°These creatures we call Angels are not who we thought they were. I know, I myself feel betrayed. We still don¡¯t know what happened to our loved ones that were taken after the rapture, but we can only assume the worst, unfortunately.¡± The commotion started again, and Mr. White put his hand up to silence the crowd. ¡°But, we might have found a solution.¡± He continued. ¡°As we researched the meaning of the symbol, we stumbled upon clues that they have imprisoned a figure and his brothers and sisters in order to hide the truth from humanity. That figure¡¯s name is Samael,¡± Arthur said and the commotion became louder. ¡°I know, I know, that was my original reaction as well,¡± He said with a sympathetic look. ¡°But Samael is not the Devil, that¡¯s the story those creatures gave us in order to hide their true nature. Let me introduce you to our possible savior,¡± Arthur said and opened both of his arms. From behind him, through the wall, a smoky substance came out and stood next to him, forming into a humanoid figure towering over Arthur. Marcus was sure he could hear screams coming from the people present at the press conference as Arthur tried to calm people down. Moments later thunderous voice enforced the silence on everyone present. ¡°Greetings, Humans,¡± Samael said. ¡°I think it¡¯s time you know the truth.¡±