CHAPTER SEVEN;
THE BURNING:
Alley jerked the machine out of the wall, and threw it to the floor. It shattered to pieces. "Okay." Micah spoke, soothingly. "Just calm down a little. I say we think this over, and."
"Go to hell! Who are you, huh? Who are you to tell me to think this over?! Who are you to tell me to calm down! It's my fault! Her blood is on my hands!"
"No."
"Yes! I might as well say I gave her to them. If he hadn't wanted me, she would be. home. Drinking hot coffee, and reading harlequin novels."
"Alley, please."
"Just don't. go! Before I get you into some kind of trouble, or killed, or."
"Alison! Shut up!"
She stared at him in disbelief.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound so."
"Edwardish?"
"Yeah. Alley, I got you into this, first. If it hadn't been for me."
"Stop. Micah, let's just get out of here, and go tell the others what we've been up to."
"Oh, no. Do we have to? They'll yell at us."
"Yes. We've got to. Now, come on."
"I feel like I'm about to face a firing squad."
"You are. Edward, and Nick." Alley smiled.
"How could the two of you do something so ignorantly stupid. scaring the hell. didn't you even think I might be."
"Calm down, Edward. We're alive." Alley spoke, softly.
"Yeah! And now I'm gonna kill you!" Edward shouted.
"Oh, you adults!" Zeke exclaimed. "And I really don't mean that in a bad way." He smiled.
"What's up with you?" Micah asked.
"I mean. come on. Notice the important things. Alley, and Micah are alive. And. if they hadn't gone to the house, we would never know that they took Bailey. Now we can save her." Zeke spoke.
Nick sighed. "He's right, Ed."
"I guess so." Edward exasperated. "Just. gosh, next time, wake me up, and tell me so I can ground you ahead of time."
"Oooo! Are we going to be grounded?! I've never been grounded before!" said Micah, excitedly.
"Shut up!" Alley shouted.
Edward couldn't help it. He laughed.
"Hey, you." Nick greeted, coming out on the little patio of Ruth's apartment.
He sat down on the bench beside of Alley. "Oh, I'll live, I hope."
"Yeah, you will."
"I'm sorry I got you, and your sisters into this."
"Oh! I'd have gotten involved anyway."
She smiled. "Why?"
"Cause, Al. You're my favorite. Out of all of the friends Julie has ever had, or ever will have, you are my favorite."
Alley studied him. For the very first time, she realized how beautiful he was. He seemed older, but he was actually only twenty-one. His hazel-brown eyes smiled at her, so friendly. She sighed. "Well, thank you, Nick. I like you, too."
He smiled. "So. you beginning to think Omaha isn't the place for us after all?"
"Oh, yeah! Definitely not."
"Come on. It's getting chilly out here. Early morning, and all. You'll catch cold, and then what'll we do?"
"Yeah. But somehow, Nick. I think a cold is the least of my worries."
"They won't come!" Screamed Bailey
"Yes they will. They won't let their friend die." Gabriel smiled.
"You liar! This won't be fast!" Bailey shouted at Chuck.
Chuck just laughed. "Sorry about that. I had my fingers crossed."
"You know, I'm not stupid. I'm not just some dumb blonde bimbo! I know that no matter if they do come or not, you're still going to kill me!"
"You're right. You're very smart. Caught on real quick." Gabriel smiled.
"God have mercy on your soul, cause if I get loose, I won't!"
Everyone just cackled at her. She sobbed. "How could you people! How could you do this!"
They only laughed harder. "Power, Bailey! Power, only I can give them!" Gabriel shouted, then cackled.
The sun began to rise over the cornfield, and a new day had begun.
"How do you kill something that isn't a human, and seems undieable?" Julie asked.
"I don't know." Alley answered.
"Jules, I think you should stay here." Nick ordered. "Along with Chasity, Zeke, and Ruth."
Ruth, Zeke, and Chasity began throwing their protests at Nick. Julie just sneezed in reply, then added a few cuss words.
"It's safe here. And we trust you Ruth. I need you to keep an eye on these sneaks for us. They're ruthless, so."
Ruth smiled. "I can handle um. You got thirty minutes, hero, then we're coming in after you, got it?"
Edward smiled. "Got it. Alley, I don't like the idea of you going, either. Nor Micah. You're both just kids."
"I'm not just a kid! I'm almost nineteen, and I'm the reason this is going on, and."
"Okay, okay!" Edward spoke. "I'm just saying I don't like it."
"Fifteen minutes to sundown. You guys better go." Julie coughed. "I still don't see why I have to s. st." Julie sneezed. "stay."
"That's why." Nick replied. "You have the flue, remember?"
"So. A minor setback." Julie sniffed.
"We'd better go, guys." Alley spoke. We're wasting time arguing. Give us thirty minutes, you guys, then call the police. We should've called the police from the beginning. No matter how much they laugh, or joke, get them in that clearing in Gatlin. Zeke knows where it's at. In thirty minutes, if we're not back, you bring the police. Got it?"
"Yeah." Chasity answered for everyone. "We've got it."
"Well. let's go." Edward sighed, then they were on their way.
The clearing was lit by only garden lanterns, and an isle of candles, leading to poor Bailey tied to a stake in the ground. She was screaming at Gabriel, Chuck, and the children, only to be laughed at. Alley watched Gabriel, as he ran his hand through the fire, bringing back a perfect, unburned hand. To a person who did not know him, one would think he was handsome, or cute, but Alley hated him. She knew there was no way to kill him right now. No way at all. But she had to make it know to him that she wouldn't give up. That she would fight him, until one of them was destroyed. She also had to rescue poor innocent Bailey. She had nothing to do with the reasons Gabriel wanted Alley. This fueled Alley's reason to hate Gabriel even more. Suddenly, she saw a smile curl over Gabriel's face. He had realized that they were there. "Welcome, Alison, but didn't I tell you, and Micah to come alone?"
Alley stood up, and came into view. "You don't have to worry about Edward, or Nick. I'm the only one you're going to be talking to right now."
"Yeah, but what about."
"Me?" asked Micah, stepping up beside of her. "I'm here, too."
"Don't listen to him. He's just a kid." Alley spoke, flashing him a scolding look.
"I'm a year younger than you."
"Almost two."
"Big deal!"
"Excuse me? I thought you were here to confront me." Gabriel smiled.
"Shut up!" Micah and Alley shouted in unison.
"Go back behind the corn with Edward." Alley demanded.
"You!" Micah shouted.
"Now you listen."
"Hey, you two!" Gabriel shouted. "Are we going to get this witch burning over with, or not?"
Alley turned on him. "Not! I may not have a way to kill you now, Gabriel. Oh, but I will find a way."
"Is that so? Well."
Gabriel suddenly grabbed one of the torches the kids were holding, and touched the ground. Flames shot up, and began to dance their way toward Bailey. "No!" Alley shouted in protest.
Bailey began to sob loudly. The flames were dancing at her feet now. "Won't be long. She's doused in gasoline." Chuck laughed.
"Oh my God!" Micah exclaimed.
He plowed into Chuck. "You monsters!" Micah shouted, as his fist connected with Chuck's handsome face.
A group of children pulled Micah off of Chuck. Alley had to watch as her poor co-worker went up in flames. All Alley could do is cover her ears so she wouldn't hear her painful wails. In minutes, she was dead. Burning flesh filled the air. The stench swept over the cornfield. "Now we can talk seriously." Gabriel smirked.
"She didn't do anything! You. she was an innocent girl!" Alley cried, kicking a rock at him.
He caught it in his palm, then crushed it to dust. "Oh, big deal. So she didn't have anything to do with this. Sue me." He spoke, then he laughed. "It sure does stink, though. Huh, Chuck?"
Chuck smirked in reply.
"I hate you! I'm going to destroy you!" Alley screamed. "I'm going to kill you!"
"Sure you are." Gabriel rolled his eyes.
Alley dropped to her knees. The children began to make a circle around them. Micah ran to Alley, and tried to make her stand. "Come on!" he couched. "Come on, get up."
She just didn't see any way out. It was going to end here, and she didn't even get to throw a punch.
1 XXXX
THE BURNING:
Alley jerked the machine out of the wall, and threw it to the floor. It shattered to pieces. "Okay." Micah spoke, soothingly. "Just calm down a little. I say we think this over, and."
"Go to hell! Who are you, huh? Who are you to tell me to think this over?! Who are you to tell me to calm down! It's my fault! Her blood is on my hands!"
"No."
"Yes! I might as well say I gave her to them. If he hadn't wanted me, she would be. home. Drinking hot coffee, and reading harlequin novels."
"Alley, please."
"Just don't. go! Before I get you into some kind of trouble, or killed, or."
"Alison! Shut up!"
She stared at him in disbelief.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it to sound so."
"Edwardish?"
"Yeah. Alley, I got you into this, first. If it hadn't been for me."
"Stop. Micah, let's just get out of here, and go tell the others what we've been up to."
"Oh, no. Do we have to? They'll yell at us."
"Yes. We've got to. Now, come on."
"I feel like I'm about to face a firing squad."
"You are. Edward, and Nick." Alley smiled.
"How could the two of you do something so ignorantly stupid. scaring the hell. didn't you even think I might be."
"Calm down, Edward. We're alive." Alley spoke, softly.
"Yeah! And now I'm gonna kill you!" Edward shouted.
"Oh, you adults!" Zeke exclaimed. "And I really don't mean that in a bad way." He smiled.
"What's up with you?" Micah asked.
"I mean. come on. Notice the important things. Alley, and Micah are alive. And. if they hadn't gone to the house, we would never know that they took Bailey. Now we can save her." Zeke spoke.
Nick sighed. "He's right, Ed."
"I guess so." Edward exasperated. "Just. gosh, next time, wake me up, and tell me so I can ground you ahead of time."
"Oooo! Are we going to be grounded?! I've never been grounded before!" said Micah, excitedly.
"Shut up!" Alley shouted.
Edward couldn't help it. He laughed.
"Hey, you." Nick greeted, coming out on the little patio of Ruth's apartment.
He sat down on the bench beside of Alley. "Oh, I'll live, I hope."
"Yeah, you will."
"I'm sorry I got you, and your sisters into this."
"Oh! I'd have gotten involved anyway."
She smiled. "Why?"
"Cause, Al. You're my favorite. Out of all of the friends Julie has ever had, or ever will have, you are my favorite."
Alley studied him. For the very first time, she realized how beautiful he was. He seemed older, but he was actually only twenty-one. His hazel-brown eyes smiled at her, so friendly. She sighed. "Well, thank you, Nick. I like you, too."
He smiled. "So. you beginning to think Omaha isn't the place for us after all?"
"Oh, yeah! Definitely not."
"Come on. It's getting chilly out here. Early morning, and all. You'll catch cold, and then what'll we do?"
"Yeah. But somehow, Nick. I think a cold is the least of my worries."
"They won't come!" Screamed Bailey
"Yes they will. They won't let their friend die." Gabriel smiled.
"You liar! This won't be fast!" Bailey shouted at Chuck.
Chuck just laughed. "Sorry about that. I had my fingers crossed."
"You know, I'm not stupid. I'm not just some dumb blonde bimbo! I know that no matter if they do come or not, you're still going to kill me!"
"You're right. You're very smart. Caught on real quick." Gabriel smiled.
"God have mercy on your soul, cause if I get loose, I won't!"
Everyone just cackled at her. She sobbed. "How could you people! How could you do this!"
They only laughed harder. "Power, Bailey! Power, only I can give them!" Gabriel shouted, then cackled.
The sun began to rise over the cornfield, and a new day had begun.
"How do you kill something that isn't a human, and seems undieable?" Julie asked.
"I don't know." Alley answered.
"Jules, I think you should stay here." Nick ordered. "Along with Chasity, Zeke, and Ruth."
Ruth, Zeke, and Chasity began throwing their protests at Nick. Julie just sneezed in reply, then added a few cuss words.
"It's safe here. And we trust you Ruth. I need you to keep an eye on these sneaks for us. They're ruthless, so."
Ruth smiled. "I can handle um. You got thirty minutes, hero, then we're coming in after you, got it?"
Edward smiled. "Got it. Alley, I don't like the idea of you going, either. Nor Micah. You're both just kids."
"I'm not just a kid! I'm almost nineteen, and I'm the reason this is going on, and."
"Okay, okay!" Edward spoke. "I'm just saying I don't like it."
"Fifteen minutes to sundown. You guys better go." Julie coughed. "I still don't see why I have to s. st." Julie sneezed. "stay."
"That's why." Nick replied. "You have the flue, remember?"
"So. A minor setback." Julie sniffed.
"We'd better go, guys." Alley spoke. We're wasting time arguing. Give us thirty minutes, you guys, then call the police. We should've called the police from the beginning. No matter how much they laugh, or joke, get them in that clearing in Gatlin. Zeke knows where it's at. In thirty minutes, if we're not back, you bring the police. Got it?"
"Yeah." Chasity answered for everyone. "We've got it."
"Well. let's go." Edward sighed, then they were on their way.
The clearing was lit by only garden lanterns, and an isle of candles, leading to poor Bailey tied to a stake in the ground. She was screaming at Gabriel, Chuck, and the children, only to be laughed at. Alley watched Gabriel, as he ran his hand through the fire, bringing back a perfect, unburned hand. To a person who did not know him, one would think he was handsome, or cute, but Alley hated him. She knew there was no way to kill him right now. No way at all. But she had to make it know to him that she wouldn't give up. That she would fight him, until one of them was destroyed. She also had to rescue poor innocent Bailey. She had nothing to do with the reasons Gabriel wanted Alley. This fueled Alley's reason to hate Gabriel even more. Suddenly, she saw a smile curl over Gabriel's face. He had realized that they were there. "Welcome, Alison, but didn't I tell you, and Micah to come alone?"
Alley stood up, and came into view. "You don't have to worry about Edward, or Nick. I'm the only one you're going to be talking to right now."
"Yeah, but what about."
"Me?" asked Micah, stepping up beside of her. "I'm here, too."
"Don't listen to him. He's just a kid." Alley spoke, flashing him a scolding look.
"I'm a year younger than you."
"Almost two."
"Big deal!"
"Excuse me? I thought you were here to confront me." Gabriel smiled.
"Shut up!" Micah and Alley shouted in unison.
"Go back behind the corn with Edward." Alley demanded.
"You!" Micah shouted.
"Now you listen."
"Hey, you two!" Gabriel shouted. "Are we going to get this witch burning over with, or not?"
Alley turned on him. "Not! I may not have a way to kill you now, Gabriel. Oh, but I will find a way."
"Is that so? Well."
Gabriel suddenly grabbed one of the torches the kids were holding, and touched the ground. Flames shot up, and began to dance their way toward Bailey. "No!" Alley shouted in protest.
Bailey began to sob loudly. The flames were dancing at her feet now. "Won't be long. She's doused in gasoline." Chuck laughed.
"Oh my God!" Micah exclaimed.
He plowed into Chuck. "You monsters!" Micah shouted, as his fist connected with Chuck's handsome face.
A group of children pulled Micah off of Chuck. Alley had to watch as her poor co-worker went up in flames. All Alley could do is cover her ears so she wouldn't hear her painful wails. In minutes, she was dead. Burning flesh filled the air. The stench swept over the cornfield. "Now we can talk seriously." Gabriel smirked.
"She didn't do anything! You. she was an innocent girl!" Alley cried, kicking a rock at him.
He caught it in his palm, then crushed it to dust. "Oh, big deal. So she didn't have anything to do with this. Sue me." He spoke, then he laughed. "It sure does stink, though. Huh, Chuck?"
Chuck smirked in reply.
"I hate you! I'm going to destroy you!" Alley screamed. "I'm going to kill you!"
"Sure you are." Gabriel rolled his eyes.
Alley dropped to her knees. The children began to make a circle around them. Micah ran to Alley, and tried to make her stand. "Come on!" he couched. "Come on, get up."
She just didn't see any way out. It was going to end here, and she didn't even get to throw a punch.
1 XXXX
