CHAPTER 12
THE ANGELS WERE PLEASED with Jasper, though Jasper couldn’t understand why. He felt things were going miserably, but all of this was forgotten when Wilson told him, “Go further down the street and into the city without us. We have some business to attend to, but we will be along later. I’m sure you can take care of yourself for a spell.”
Any other time it would encourage Jasper to have some time on his own, but the catch was just that; the Angels wouldn’t be with him this time. The spiritual battle in the city was often very intense. Jasper trusted the Angels completely and followed their instructions to the best of his ability, no matter how bizarre their advice was at times.
Unable to contribute or affect the war very much by his physical means, Jasper tried to make his way down the road like any other person who had little connection to the spiritual realm. After about two blocks, Jasper just wanted to find a short cut down the road.
Still guiding Hayolam with the rope, Jasper crept past a Chinese food restaurant where he saw a dark side-alley next to it. The narrow path was a tight separation between the tall buildings. A heavy breath rolled forth like a deep growl. The long breath sounded like it came from a giant beast of some sort. Jasper was just about to pass it all by when the breath drew out speech.
“Jasper... You trespass on unholy ground... Enter here and I shall show you evil... The likes of which you have never experienced before...” Came the evil groan.
Jasper peered down the dark alley. Deep within the darkness, he saw the flash of evil yellow eyes. The eyes only flashed for a second. Thinking they were fearful and trying to avoid him, confidence filled Jasper’s heart. He considered how this situation could become an opportunity for him to impress God. When the Lord sees how well Jasper handles Demons without the aid of the Angels, he will have earned a new sense of respect from everyone.
The deep breath exhaled from the creature who lurked within that finished in a low growl. A chill ran through Jasper, but confident in his faith and with the power of God to back him, how could he turn down such a challenge? Feeling it was his duty to prove himself, Jasper was willing to make unnecessary decisions, “I bring with me the light of the world. I shall fear no evil.” Jasper took a step into the dark alley. He remembered the words of his Angel companions, ‘We’ve got your back.’
Body shivering as though cold, but not cold, Jasper’s conscious mind was still convinced of his confidence, ‘I can do this.’ he told himself. ‘It is only some sort of test.’
Stepping further into the alley, the little hooves of the lamb splashed through a puddle with no sense of danger. Then it hit. The sense of peril came over Jasper. Even the lamb stopped suddenly and wanted Jasper to carry its frail shivering form. Lifting Hayolam into his arms, he decided it was time to go back. Jasper wasn’t prepared for this after all, but something inside told him, ‘It’s too late to go back.’
At the far end of the alley, Jasper saw trash cans with their contents lit on fire. Rats squeaked and scurried away in the dark corners. The whole place reeked off urine and trash. Little Demons leaped from the shadows and climbed the walls like spiders.
Behind a trash bin, Jasper saw a man with a rubber tube loosely wrapped around his arm and a needle laying on the ground beside him. This person was laying in the filth and trash. He had taken an injection of some drug. Curious as to what the meaning of this place might be, Jasper watched the drugged man move slowly like he was half asleep.
Cautiously, Jasper made his way to the heart of the alley where he encountered five other people strung out on their own addictive hallucinogenic highs. Each person had their own trash-can lit-up on fire; their only source of heat.
By the light of the flickering flame, a dark figure as tall as two men, was revealed. Wearing a black cape; covered in raven feathers, he opened his arms. Jasper couldn’t believe how easily he walked into this vile place. If only he could rewind the past a few minutes, then he wouldn’t be here.
Noticing more detail, Jasper also saw he wore black baggy clothing under his black armor. The armor covered his fore-arms, shoulders, chest and stomach. A wide belt buckle of a silver skull trapped behind a silver bony rib-cage, connected his black spine-like belt.
The head of this Demon; like a deep pure darkness was shrouded under a thick black metal helmet. At the top of the helmet was the posed figure of a giant vampire bat in flight with its wings stretched out. At the center of the bat’s back was a third wing that stretched high into the air. Lastly, two thick horns of a bull pointed down from the fore-head of the helmet.
“You dare enter my layer?” The Demon breathed with deep, dark indignation. Its words were like acid and they burned Jasper’s soul listening to him. “Now, Jasper... You die...”
Jasper looked to his left to see one of the ratty, drug laden men standing and looking at him.
“Are you stoned, buddy?”
“What are you gawk’n at?”
“Who are you?” The man questioned. “We don’t know him, do we?”
“He must be looking for a hit.” Came another voice. “Everyone’s look’n for a hit.”
Jasper whirled around to find another man standing and taking an interest. They could smell the stink of fear fuming off Jasper.
“I don’t want a hit.” Jasper told them as his voice quivered. “I don’t want anything.” After looking up, Jasper spun and glanced back the way he came. The darkness of the dank alley made Jasper feel so alone. He longed to see the Angels now, more than ever, but the Angels were nowhere to be found. Realizing just how dependent he’d become on having the security of his celestial friends with him, Jasper’s fear escalated. His family, the Angels, had forsaken him. ‘Why now? Where could they be?’ The cold isolation of abandonment gripped him.
“Hey! Don’t be scared, buddy. Maybe we do have something you’d like.” Another shady person spoke; a young lady with half her jet black spiked hair shaved off and a chain threaded through multiple piercings from her ear to her mouth.
“I don’t have any money. I’m sorry for intruding. I’ll just be on my way.” Jasper began to back away.
The cruel group slunk into surrounding positions, trapping Jasper from escape.
“Not so fast, Pal.” spoke the man in the middle. “You haven’t made us an offer yet.”
“N-no, please, you don’t understand. I must’ve made a wrong turn.” Jasper tried to talk his way out of a potentially dangerous situation. Every step now; a risk.
“I bet that lamb of yours is worth a pretty penny, wouldn’t you say, Mike?” spoke the man to Jasper’s left.
“Yeah, I’d say it’s time to make a deal.” Replied the man in the middle as he pulled out a switch blade from his back pocket.
The blade of the knife sprung out of the handle and gleamed like a mirror reflecting the fire light as the man waved it back and forth.
More knives appeared like wild animals baring their claws before they attack.
Looking down at the young lamb in his arms, Jasper turned, attempting to force his way past, but his powerful stride was interrupted as they all tackled him to the cold wet ground. Hayolam cried out. Falling forward, Jasper felt his weight come down on the lamb. Splashing his face down into a dirty puddle of garbage ooze and human waste, Jasper sprained his wrist. Feeling his anger build, Jasper was about to fight back.
Hayolam had been injured. The lamb continued to wail. The attackers stopped in their tracks at the cry of the lamb. Hayolam’s cry sounded like a little child to Jasper’s ears.
“Quick, get the lamb!” One of them shouted.
A heavy boot came out of nowhere, kicking Jasper in the ribs. The person who kicked him meant to turn him over. Another couple of kicks threw Jasper onto his side.
The rope that leashed the lamb slipped out of Jasper’s hand. Someone was taking off with Hayolam. The lamb’s cry echoed throughout the walls of the alley. Though Hayolam cried louder, it faded into the distance.
The sound of feet running off with
the lamb began to grow louder, along with the lamenting voice of Hayolam. The thief was returning. “Let’s get out’a here, man! It’s the cops!”
Jasper could see the entrance of the alley begin to brighten with the glow of Holiness. Demons began to flee from the shadows. The tall dark figure roared as it receded into the city.
Angels flooded into the alley with the red and blue lights flashing under them. Jasper came to realize the red and blue lights were from police cruisers that stopped just outside the alley. The police cars couldn’t fit down the narrow alley.
“Shut that animal up, man!” Shouted a voice from one of the sleazy punks.
Jasper heard the sound of one of the men stab his switch blade into the lamb. After gasping in shock, the lamb cried-out differently, like its life was over. Jasper didn’t see the punks kill his lamb; he didn’t have to.
Another sharp strike from the knife and a dark shadow passed over the lamb. Then the lamb went silent. Jasper felt like he was the one stabbed.
“Hey! Stay where you are!” Shouted the voice of authority as the police drew their fire arms and flashlights.
Footsteps splashed off into the distance as the group of wayward punks were about to escape. Then the six Angels appeared to the punks. The ghostly vision of them frightened the young kids so much, they turned tail and ran back toward Jasper. They passed right by, running for their lives. So desperate to flee from the Angels, the punks ran right into the arresting authority of the police.
While everyone was distracted, Jasper sat up undetected in the darkness but soaking wet. He crawled to Hayolam. His lamb was dead and tossed aside with the trash. A line of light appeared over Hayolam’s head to reveal blood on its woolen neck.
Jasper cried out to the Lord, “Please no. Can’t you heal him? Are you not God?!”
Wilson gently landed near Jasper, “The Lord is with all who go forth to do His will.”
“Oh, now you show up?” Jasper turned to look at the source of the light that lit his lamb. Holding the lamb in his arms and weeping, Jasper could only barely see, before him was an Asian cook from the Chinese food restaurant. He was looking at him from the open crack of his restaurant’s backdoor.
Jasper felt terrible. His Angel friends gathered around him. “Don’t grieve, Jasper, Hayolam isn’t far. Offer the lamb’s body to the cook and you shall be granted safe passage.” Taila spoke softly.
Jasper listened to the voice of the Angel and lifted his arms. “Here now you see, Hayolam’s death gives you an opportunity to live.” Roger added. The cook quickly realized Jasper was offering the lamb to him. Opening the door a little wider; looking both ways, the cook waved his hand for Jasper to enter. “Come, come...” The Asian cook called softly.
Jasper climbed the steps, before entering the restaurant. The cook closed the door, locking the dead bolt behind him. Reaching out to take the lamb with a big smile of teeth. Bowing, the cook said, “Thank you, thank you...”
As Jasper gave the lamb over to the short cook’s arms, the cook bent forward and smelled the lamb. He then threw his head back and crinkled his nose. “Pee-yew!” He said. Then he looked at Jasper. Jasper had a concerned look on his face. Smiling with a face full of teeth again, the cook said, “Oh, thank you, thank you...”
Jasper wasn’t in the mood for humor. He just slipped out of the kitchen and hurried through the front doors of the restaurant. Holding his side, Jasper limped down the road. The pain of his bruised ribs was only secondary to the pain of losing Hayolam.
Jasper left the restaurant and looked at the name of it; ‘Chow Man Fat.’ He made a silent promise to himself never to eat there in the future.
Walking down the street, Jasper tried not to make eye contact with anyone. No one wanted to make eye contact with him anyway. The Angels were with Jasper again. He felt secure with them, but hollow because of his loss, so he said, “Kingston hasn’t turned out to be like I hoped.” People of the city took little notice of Jasper. Though Jasper looked like any other crazy crack head who talked to them self on the street, Jasper wasn’t concerned with any of their opinions.
A streetlight with a prostitute standing under it caught Jasper’s eye, because next to the prostitute, Jasper saw the spiritual form of Hayolam. Jasper bent forward and approached the prostitute’s legs. “Oh, Hayolam! Hey it’s me, Jasper.”
The prostitute jumped back, startled. Looking at Jasper, she had a disgusted look on her face as she chewed her gum. “What the?...” Came her remark of surprise.
Hayolam leaped around with weightless, gliding leaps. Gleefully, he bounded around, circling Jasper as he stretched out his hand to pet him. The lamb recognized Jasper, but as Jasper moved to feel the fleece, his hand passed right through Hayolam. “Stay with me a while.” Jasper said to the lamb. A sadness came over him as he realized without a doubt, Hayolam had crossed over to the other side of this world and he wouldn’t be returning.
“Hayolam will remain with you longer than we’ll stay with you, Jasper.” Elana told him.
Feeling much better after hearing this, Jasper stood up and looked at the Angels. Hayolam coasted through the air to Jasper and rubbed its woolly coat against his legs. Seeing this, Jasper could almost feel the soft lamb like when he was alive.
Starr glided past Jasper to look into the eyes of the prostitute.
Noticing this, Jasper asked, “Starr, do you know where my next destination is?”
“What? Don’t you have a home?” The prostitute answered, believing Jasper was speaking to her.
Starr turned to Jasper and said, “Of course, Jasper. Plan to rest your head soon, but you will have to follow us a little further.”
“I am yours. Lead the way.” Jasper answered Starr.
The prostitute mistakenly thought Jasper was talking to her again, “Oh, honey, you’ve got a lot of cleaning up to do before you find yourself alone with me.” She put her hand on her waist and shifted all of her weight to one leg. Jasper gave her a coy glare, then he turned and walked away.
“Looney.” She said clearly as he walked off.