* * * * * *
I kicked down what was left of doors and exited the church. Dawn was spreading across the valley and the air was fresh. Townspeople stumbled from their homes and into the street, shaking their heads, trying to piece together the missing fragments in their minds. More than that, however, I saw the glimmer of hope in their eyes, the dark haze that had taken over them was gone.
The bartender at the tavern was apologetic for his actions and drinking heavily. A reaper doesn’t need to look far for enemies, so I accepted his peace offerings eagerly and purchased supplies for the road.
At the stables Betsy greeted me enthusiastically as I packed the wares I’d purchased and led her into the street. I looked towards the Sheriff office, where I had taken down the two thugs. They had been tended to, their bodies wrapped in sheets and lying by the side of the road. There wasn’t any question these people had been through a kind of hell, and while they seemed to regret their losses, they also accepted it as penance for their unholy union.
I still didn’t have a clue as to what Gabriel had intended for these people, but I feared that I would soon find out firsthand. He mentioned a war… well no one in the world knew how to wage war like the reapers. I’d round up as many of my kind as I could find, hunt down the Abaddon and then go after those who started this eternal crusade. They may have started it, but we’d finish it, or die trying.
“Excuse me, Mr. McKidrict,” said a subdued voice behind me. “I know that I’m the last man you’d want to talk to before leavin’, but Billy won’t stop talkin’ about saying goodbye to you.”
“Y-yeah, I’ve got something I’d like to say to him too.”” I said, turning around to face the boy’s father. I was flustered, not one for goodbyes. But I wouldn’t tell the boy lies.
“I-I wanted to thank you, M-Mr. McKidrict,” Billy said tugging at my duster. “You’ve saved me and my f-family.”
The boy hadn’t spoken more than a few words since I’d first met him. He’d found his voice, maybe he’d find some peace and happiness.
“It was not I who saved them,” I said softly. “Without you to guide me to the tunnels we never would’ve made it this far.”
“What about the old man?” Billy asked. “I n-never got to thank him; he did so much for me.”
“He knew, I believe it was one of the only things he still did know to be true.” I replied.
I cupped the boy’s face tenderly and stroked his hair. He would grow into a fine young man with what he had and move on from there. That’s all anyone could really do when faced with the impossible. Keep on truckin’, like my father used to say.
“He had a name,” Billy said, “The old man, I mean.”
“Yes, I’d imagine he did,” I said.
“No… I m-mean I knew his name,” he answered. “He still remembered it by the time we arrived at the creatures den.”
“What was it?”
“His n-name was Samuel Anderson,” said the young boy.
“Well, then I guess I owe a lot to Mr. Anderson,” I replied. “He used what little life he still had in him to make sure we got through this.”
“Can I ask you something?” I asked, taking off my Stetson and letting the warm breeze wash over me. “How did you and your sister become separated on that night you fled Janestown?”
“I-It happened all so fast,” Billy faltered over the words.
“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”
“No… it’s not that, sir,” said Billy after a moment. “We must’ve gotten ten miles from town before it came… with sweeping black wings that loomed above us.”
Billy paused again to find the strength necessary to keep on going.
“We scattered like ants,” he continued. “Selena tossed me to the ground, where I prayed for our safety. I didn’t pray hard enough, though… b-because when I looked up, the monster had flown off with her… I… I never thought I would see her again.”
The boy was referring to the Abaddon, straight from Hell and ruler of all he surveyed. The beast was intelligent and mean with a hunger that could never be quenched. He could’ve slain them all, shredded them with his claws, yet he chose to lead them as hostages for me to find and drop the virgin with Gabriel to be used for some purpose. Were they working together? Was their another layer of this puzzle yet to be solved?
“Then the others came,” Billy continued. “The ones wrapped in black and shrouded in darkness. They took us away… I never even had time to grieve for my sister.”
“You’ve got to be strong, Billy.” I said, wiping the tears from Billy’s cheeks. “Your sister needs you to help keep your father on the straight and narrow. Can you do that?”
Billy blushed and nodded his head in agreement. He was going to do a lot of growing up in the coming months. I wanted to give him something to remember me and reward his survival in the face of such horror. Hopefully, it would lift his spirits.
I pulled out my right hand and flashed six silver coins in the palm of my hand. I waved my hand around in a display of showmanship and dazzled the boy with blur of pink and glistening silver.
“See these?” I asked, holding out the coins. “Now watch this.”
I launched the coins high into the sky and quickly drew my revolver. I took a second to steady my aim and fired off all six rounds in rapid succession. I didn’t need to wait to see the results; the sound was more than I needed.
Billy stood in awe as the coins came raining down around him, each one with a perfectly round hole in the center. He happily picked them all up.
“These are a reaper’s calling card,” I said, exaggerating the truth. “They are yours to do with you as you please but they are worth their weight in gold as a friend of mine so keep them safe.”
“Am I e-ever going to see you again?” Billy asked with dewy eyes.
“Not if I do my job,” I admitted, standing up and dusting off. “My path is not meant for others to follow. It’s a lonely journey and few are meant to tread upon it. I have a hard road ahead of me… and I need everyone back home to do their part and that includes you, Billy Godwin. More than you’ll ever know.”
I turned and mounted Betsy and urged her on, anywhere but here. It wasn’t that I disliked Janestown, or the townsfolk that had tried to skewer me alive. It was that I liked Billy too much.
Betsy and I trotted through the town; seeing the townspeople give a respectful nod before they went about their business. I knew the look well. They were frightened by me, they didn’t truly understand, even if they wanted to.
That was all right, though, because I was a reaper, cultivated for a purpose; and that purpose would rain an inferno down upon my enemies. I’d get to the truth, one way or the other, and when I got there—well, there’d be hell to pay.
“Thanks, Samuel Anderson,” I muttered under my own breath. “It might’ve killed you, but you made a decent man out of me. Now I’m the one who’s forever in your debt.”
“Yes, reaper” whispered the breeze in my ears, “you are.”
The End
The Story Continues in Duster and a Gun: The Ties That Bind
Join Gregory Blackman’s newsletter to receive updates on new eBooks. One email will be sent upon the release of every new book. You’ll never be sent spam and your email will never be disclosed to others.
Click Here to Join
Gregory Blackman’s Collection
*Released or Coming Soon*
The Reaper Series:
Duster and a Gun:
Reaper
The Ties That Bind
New Beginnings
Revelation
Reaper’s Dogma
The Kingdoms of Ash Series:
The Unseen
Blood Ties
Tip the Scales
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends