3:15pm

There was very little time left. Josiah walked to the classrooms on the second floor. Sniffing the air, he was trying to smell sulphur. Oh. It came from room 423. He walked in. Yes, this was definitely DJ's class.

Students were leaving the rom, only about two or three remained. They were getting their books together.

The teacher asked, "Excuse me. Can I help you?"

He smiled. "Yes. I'm Joe, I'm looking for a friend, but I missed him."

"Who?"

"Diabolus..uh, DJ."

"Oh, okay. He's a good student, very smart. But he usually keeps to
himself. I heard that he plays baseball with other students here."

"Where at?"

"I don't know, some stadium."

"Oh."

One of the tall students, who was getting up to leave, turned to Josiah. He asked, "You're going to play with them today?"

The angel replied, "Well, I *was*. I was supposed to meet him, but some stranger took off after him and his frieds. Darren, Pete, Tommy.."

"Oh, we know Tommy. He's a celebrity here. Played in a cough syrup
commercial."

"I didn't see it."

"Well..they always go to Floydd Stadium."

"Where's that?"

"About three or four blocks from here. East, on Parks Drive."

"Oh..thanks."

"No problem."

He turned for the door.

The teacher asked, "Wait. Is he okay? DJ seems a bit ill lately."

Josiah shook his head. "No. He's fine. Everything is going to be fine from now on. Good day." He then ran out of the room.

3:48pm
FLOYDD STADIUM

Josiah stood at the top of the roof that overhung on the bleachers. It was about four stories high. He looked down. He saw the boys playing. Darren, Tommy, Paul, Matt, Pete..and DJ. He took one of his sickles from the coat, arching his arm back, ready to throw..

Tommy was at bat. He stood by the fence, holding the bat in a ready
position.

DJ was pitching. As Tommy was ready to swing, DJ threw the ball.

But before Tommy could swing at it, a gleaming, silver sickle stabbed through the softball, shooting through the fence, pinning it to the wall. "Whoa! What the *Hell*?"

The ball was obviously beyond repair, in threads, as the blade went clean through. The blade was at least two inches into the brick wall.

Tommy and the others looked up, trying to see who threw it.

Diabolus looked up, he smelt another presence. He pointed at the kid in white. "There! That punk up there."

Darren said, "Yeah! Joe. He's in our class. Uh-oh, look out!" They saw him raise another sickle..

Josiah threw the sceond weapon. "Die, hellspawn!"

The blade spun at blinding speed, careening towards the kids.

DJ pushed them away. "GO! Go, get out of the way!! *Move*!"

They started to run.

Too late, the knife was embedded in DJ's thigh. "Argghhh!!!" He screamed out in pain, falling to the ground. He slowly got up, trying to pull it out. "Ughhh..arrgggg..ohh! Oh, *damn*!!" It finally came out, blood on the silver metal. He dropped the sickle and clutched his leg in pain. Yet it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. He was still standing.

They stopped running. Darren said, "Hey, how can he throw that from
way up there, that kid--"

DJ interrupted, "Sorry, but that is no *kid*.."

Paul stared up at the angel. "What is he doing NOW?"

DJ knew somehow, couldn't explain why. "He's coming. He's coming for me."

Josiah scowled. "Damn. Well, long distance attacks failed. Time for
something up close and personal." He knelt by the edge, then jumped out. He descended quickly, landing unfazed on the grass. He began walking towards the boys.

Tommy and Darren stared openmouthed. How could anyone survive that
fall?

DJ said, "Get him! NOW!"

They realized it was now or never. This kid was a killer. Paul ran at him.

Before the boy could get two feet, Josiah put his hand out, sending a bright flash.

Paul, covering his eyes, fell on his back.

But Tommy had a bat. He swung hard, connecting with Josiah's ribs.

Josiah fell, but quickly rose back. Too late. He was bombarded with
three bats, fists, and feet, forced to the ground. Time for drastic measures. He glowed with a blinding light, as he grabbed Tommy's bat in midstrike. "Enough of this!" He grabbed it and broke it in two. He then stood up, holding his arms out. After sending a few sparks out, he went wild. Unleashing a series of throws, kicks, and hand strikes.

They were all down, weakened by the attack. DJ ran over and punched
him in the face. Then he knee-kicked him in the stomach. "You piece of shit!" He kicked him again. "Punk-ass motherfucker!"

Josiah reeled back with the punches. He took out a knife, stabbing at DJ.

The nephilim grabbed his arm and made Joe stab himself in the side.

"Ahhh!!" He yelled in pain. He pulled it out and put it back in his coat. Holding his ribs, he kicked the youith in the crotch.

"Oof!" DJ doubled over, clutching himself. "I think you WANT an ass-
kicking." He grabbed him by the coat, pulled him close, then made an
elbow strike to the ribs. He continued to punch him in face four times, then made a few kicks to the legs.

Josiah wasn't doing too well. In desperation, he placed his palms over his head, squezzing DJ's skull.

DJ felt pressure on his head, like he was about to be crushed. Then, he saw something, somethinfg very odd. he felt as if he was in another place..


[He was in a desert.

There was a mountain of bodies. Standing on top was a young man,
pale skinned, with long blond hair. He wore all-white. He spread
his arms out.

Diabolus gasped, "I've seen you before, in dreams. Who are you?!"

The man smiled evilly. "I am your demise, nephilim. But you may
call me Pyriel. You're dying..and soon, I will have you." He
gestured at the moaning bodies. "See these pathetic creatures
under me? Your kind. Soon, you will join them. Very soon."

"No..can't be."

"It can..and it *is*!" He reached out his hand towards DJ..]


"No!" DJ grabbed Josiah's hands, removing them. It was obvoius that
he couldn't win here. His friends were beaten, they aren't used to fighting. And no matter how many times he fought back, the younger boy just kept returning with another tactic. He side-kicked Josiah in the ribs, at his wound. Then he took off, to the road.

"Can't hide, Diabolus!" He took off after his target.

The boys were starting to get up. Darren pointed at the fighters, "Hey, check this out, Tommy."

His friend looked at the scene. Joe and DJ were running away. "Come on, let's go help him." Tommy lad them to the sidewalk, but not soon enough.

DJ was already across the stret, missing several oncoming cars. He waved for Josiah. "Come on, you little shit! Come on, little Joey, let's see what you got!!"

"That's it. I'm gonna *enjoy* killing you.."

Tommy held his hand back, signaling to his friends. "Wait. I think I know what he's doing."

Angered by his enemy's insult, Josiah ran out into the street, after DJ. He heard horns blaring. Before he resched the end, he was hit by a 4x4 truck. Bash! He went up into the air, but when he fell down, he was hit by a semi coming from the other direction. Hit again, he was vaulted back to the field, near the boys. He groaned in pain.

DJ kept walking.

Tommy looked down. "Uh, guys? We should call the police. There's
been an accident, I think he's dead. He'd have to be, after that accident." He went back to the wall, to where the baseball was. He tugged at the blade's handle, wrestling to retrieve it. "Come on..go!" Finally, he got it. He saw a deep gash into the wall. Putting the sickle into his backpack, he ran back to his friends. "Let's go."

Looking both ways, they crossed the street. They took one last look.
Darren said, "Oh God. Look."

Matt, a heavyset kid, asked, "Huh, what?"

Josiah slowly rose to his feet, still weak. He decided to start again tomorrow. Witha snap of his fingers, he vanished.

Darren looked, trying to comprehend what happened. Cars were flying
past in both directions. "Hmm..I don't know, I thought I saw something. Never mind. It's just that, he's not there anymore."

Tommy looked back. "What?" Darren was right. Josiah was nowhere to
be found. "Alright, I guess we can forget about the cops."

They caught up with DJ. Paul asked, "Hey, DJ. you alright?"

The nephilim replied, "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

Paul said, "Well, you got stabbed throgh your leg. It's amazing how you can still walk after a wound like that."

DJ smiled, "Oh..I'm a fast healer."