9:00am

Cole walked near the gym entrance, when he stopped himself. **Wait.
I got to return one of the books.** He turned back the other way,
heading to the library on the upper floor. He walked inside, sat down
at one of the tables. "What? Where's the librarian at?"

No one was in the room. It was empty, maybe she went for a break.

Cole thought about going back towards the gym, but he might run
into another bad angel. Better to hide in here. He took the Bible--
the ordinary one--and set it on the table.


Zophael stood in front of the door. He opened it and strolled
inside. He sniffed as he looked across the room. **Yes..where are
you, nephilim? I know you're in here..**

Pyriel's voice spoke to his mind. [HIM..yes. Look close.]

The angel looked near the back. He saw a young teen sitting at a
desk, with the 'mark' on his neck. "Aha."

The teacher asked, "Excuse me, sir. Can I help you, are you a
visitor?"

Zophael turned. "For now, yes..a visitor." He looked over the room.
No, he must not risk an altercation now. Too many witnesses and there
was also the risk of interference from all the other 'talking
monkeys' here. He walked out, but not before taking one last look at
DJ. He walked out to the hall, waiting for a more opportune time to
strike.

Back inside, DJ asked the teacher, "Ma'am? Can I be excused? I have
to go wash my hands."

She nodded to him. "Yes, you may. But come back, we're going to the
gym soon for practice."

He got up and made it to the door.

Zophael watched him exit the room, then followed him down the hall.


Mr. Cunningham entered his classroom. "Okay, people. We're going to
go outside for some fresh air. The repairman will be here soon, so we
should exit now." He looked over the students. "Hey, where is Cole?"

Bobby replied, "He said he was going to the restroom. Maybe he's
sick or something, he's been gone for a while now."

The teacher said, "Alright. In that case, you and Tommy go get him."

Tommy said, "What if he's not there?"

Stanley answered, "Then look for him. He's probably afraid of
another attack from those..guys. He'd be most likely in the library,
he likes to read a lot. Bring him outside."

Bobby and Tommy got up and left.

"Okay, class. Let's go." He led the class out the door, in a single
line..


Diabolus was edgy. He'd been walking alone for several minutes now,
yet he sensed someone trailing him. He looked over his shoulder.

Sure enough, Zophael was still near, but keeping a distance.

He whispered, "Punks. Just can't leave me alone, huh?" He ran.

Zophael sped up, running after his target.

DJ ran down the stairway.

Zophael leaped downward, vaulting over the steps effortlessly, then
followed the enemy.

DJ looked behind as he ran. **Fuck! How did he catch up so fast?!**
Time for a new tactic. He immediately halted in his stride. Stepping
back abruptly, he elbowed Zophael in the face.

SMASH! Zophael veered from the impact, nearly landing on his back.

"Ha! Didn't expect THAT, did you?!" He took off at full speed,
jumping though the open door, into the gymnasium.

In a flash, the angel got up and jumped, landing close to the
door. He ran past.

DJ was near the closet. He just saw the other guy rush into the
spacious room.

No one else was here. Zophael smiled to himself. Good, no
distractions. Now he can finish what he was sent for.

DJ grabbed the lock and pulled away, breaking it off. He opened the
door and took out a soccer ball, throwing it.

Zophael blocked it aside. "Fool! Is that your best, Diabolus?"

The boy took out a metal baseball bat, hiding it behind his back.
Then he grabbed a large net. It held all sorts of sports objects:
volleyballs, softballs, soccer/beach/tennis balls, badminton birdies,
other rubber balls and miscellanious objects. He tore the net open,
sending it all rolling on the floor.

The balls rolled quickly towards the assassin. What, he's supposed
to trip on this stuff? He leaped over it all, landing in front of DJ.
He laughed, "Amusing! You expected THAT to stop me?!"

DJ shook his head, then brought the bat in front. "No..THIS is!" He
swung full-force, striking across the ribs. When Zophael bent over,
he swung upwardss to the head, knocking him on his back.

"You..fool!" He got up and swung the staff out. He jumped forth,
throwing two kicks at him.

DJ flew back, falling hard on the bench.

Zophael went under the bleachers, directly under DJ, and plunged
upward.

He rolled away just in time, the point shot up through the wooden
seat. He gasped as it became the prong and was pulled down, taking a
big chunk with it. DJ jumped down, swinging the bat.

Zophael ducked, deflecting additional attacks with his spear. He
blocked another and kicked to DJ's leg, followed up with a punch.

"Arrghh!!" He was on his back now, as he dropped the bat.

"What's it like? To know that youre..*almost* perfect? If you only
weren't half-monkey."

"Punk!" He ran forward, attempting a tackle.

Zophael sidestepped, launching a roundhouse kick to his side and a
bitch-slap to the face. "Hmm..you must take after your mother."

"Bastard!" Angered more, he rushed at the enemy, but was stabbed
through the stomach. "Ughhhh..you stabbed me!!"

"No shit!" He reached for the handle.

Before it extended to the 'retrieval' form, DJ kicked Zophael in
the crotch. Then he did it again.

He released the grip, stunned by the newest attack.

DJ painfully pulled out the spear, then plunged it through
Zophael's shoulder.

"AARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!" It stuck through his flesh and into the bench,
pinning him.

His eyes flickered with another glint of evil. He took the two
daggers from Zophael's boot, held the arms up, then put them through
the wrists. He stepped back.

The wounded enemy was npow in a 'crucified' position.

The nephilim blinked, looking at Zophael as if noticing something
different, forgetting what he had just done. No matter, it was a
small victory, though he knew it wouldn't last long. He took
advantage of this delay and ran out..


Tommy and Bobby wealked down the hall to the gym, whrn they saw
their friend DJ run out, going past them. Tommy yelled, "Hey, DJ!"

No use. He either didn't hear or didn't care. He had to escape.

Bobby said, "Well, let's see if Cole is in there." They walked in
to the room.

Tommy nearly staggered at the sight. "What the..Hell? Holy crap!
What happened to YOU?"

Zophael looked up. "DJ. It was your *friend* who did this! Now do
you see why he must be stopped?!"

Tommy shook his head, still in shock at this grotesque display. "Oh
man. I don't believe it, he couldn't have.."

"Believe it, Thomas. He did it!"

"My *name* is Tommy."

"Oh. Right."

"But why should we help you? You'll just go after him again!"

"No. I learned my lesson. I swear, if you help me out..I'll stop.
I'll return to my post, you'll never see me again."

"Well.."

"Come on. You'll be a hero. EVERYONE wil notice how great you are.
Do this yourself, help me. Surely, if a small child like you helps an
*angel* get free..they'd notice you more. Imagine the prestige,
Tommy. The glory, the popularity you'd get in return. If you thought
everyone admired and was jealous and was utterly amazed by you
before--that wonderful acting skill in the TV commercial, perfectly
done as only YOU can pull it off--just imagine how great you'd be if
you help me. Hmm?"

Tommy smiled. The stranger did have a point. "Okay. Yes, I was
great in thast cough syrup ad. I got my own trailer, cuz I'm the man,
the best-"

"We know. Let them know how much better you are now. Free me."

"Umm..okay."

Bobby said, "Tommy,nno. He's lying!"

Tommy said, "Be quiet, I know what I'm doing." He walked up to the
angel, took out the left knife. Then the other.

"Ooff!! Ohhgghh!!" He dropped his arms, then removed the spear. He
fell down..then stood up, as if the wound was non-fatal. He smiled at
the boys. "Foolish boy. So deceived by personal pride, you couldn't
begin to understand the purpose of an imortal being. I MUST kill DJ,
it's my mission."

"But-but you said-"

"So I lied." He jumped out the doorway.

Bobby looked at Tommy. He wasn't happy with his conceited
classmate. "Well, THAT was smart!"

"But..but he said I'd be more popular. I know I'm the coolest now,
but if I helped him-"

"Oh, please! Come on, we have to get Cole. But I think you need to
stop thinking of yourself sometime."

"Whatever." He followed Bobby out.


Cole was reading one of the books, when he saw DJ run in.

DJ was holding himself, her had a red wound in his stomach.

"My God! You okay..'DJ', is it?"

He gasped, "Yes..that's me. He's after me."

"Zophael?"

"That his name? I guess. He won't stop. I wounded him for a while,
but I don't know how long it will last."

"Can't you hide-"

"NO! You can't hide from these things." He crouched over, in more
pain. He felt the dark soul trying to resurface again. "But fools are
ye, if you think a mere BEAST can slay me! Ha, ha, ha! Bow to the
Spawn of Satan, Dracon Feng-Tzu! The Great Dragon, the Scourge of
God!! Kneel, or..or..NO! NO, stop it!" He grabbed his head, trying to
shake the insanity away. "Damn..dammit! I don't want this any more. I
can't take it! Sorry, kid. I have no choice here."

"Huh, what do you mean?" He got out of the chair, as he started
backing away from the older boy. "What..what are you going to do?"

"I must! Sorry.." He ran to Cole, placed his palms on the boy's
head. He closed his eyes, focusing all his energy on his inner self.
He lurched down, in sudden pain. He felt as if he was throwing up
something, only the venom wasn't physical.

Cole tried to move the hands off him, but the grip was too strong.
He immediately was assailed by nightmares, troubling images.


[The sky was on fire, angels were impaled on spikes, with bloodied
wings, their shrieking voices reached the heavens. Something was
unearthly about it. Their were bodies all over the ground, countless
bodies of slain angels.]


Cole yelled, "No! What is this?!"

"My nightmares."


[There were red caves, lava pits, souls being tortured in the worst
way..burned, stabbed, worms eating, acid bath, torn apart, demons
attacking, etc. There was a man in black, he had a brown beard. His
eyes were dark, as he slew several enemies with a flaming sword..]


"Hell? Is this HELL?!" Cole tried to pry the grip away. Still no
use, it was tighter now. The next image was stronger.


[Bodies of human soldiers littered the field. Crucified, burned,
impaled, heads on poles, etc. A Mongolian warrior riding on a horse,
cutting down any who survived.]


Finally, the last was very brief. "Oh..oh God. WHY are you doing
this? WHAT are you?!"


[A skeleton in the dirt, an angel's remains, depicted with wings
spread..the script symbol of Pyriel, drawn out. Then it was lit up,
on fire, blazing with fury. Then, a mountain of writhing bodies, too
numerous to count. A man stood on top, his arms open and spread out.
He wore a long white coat, his blond hair hung past the shoulders. He
smiled, as he reached his hand out, grasping his small head..]


Diabolus released him.

Cole bent over, falling to his knees. "What..what the..oh God."

DJ looked to his right, immediately sensing an unnatural precence.
The scent of sulfur was in the air.

One of the Fallen wraiths stood near, snarling. "Master will not be
pleased! Belial *will* have words with thee!" Then he vanished. The
stench was gone.

DJ opened the window.

Cole got up, pointing angrily at him. "You!" He wiped a tear from
his eye. "You..you *punk*! You're bad! That wasn't nice, how can you
DO that?!!"

He just shrufgged. "Sorry. I'm free now. I had to give it to
*somebody*. I couldn't take it much longer, it was driving me insane."

"But what if it drives ME crazy?!"

"Too bad, so sad. Not my problem anymore. Maybe you can have
someone take it out of you. Though I don't know how." He crawled out
the window, looked down..then jumped off. He landed in the parking
lot.

Cole looked after him, angry at what just happened. He sat in the
big chair, crossed his arms. Glaring at the window.

Just then, Zophael walked in. He looked at Cole, sniffing at
him. "Where did he go?"

Cole just stared angrily at him, not saying a word.

"Where *is* he? The Hell-spawn!"

Cole didn't respond, he just looked back, towards the window.

Zophael nodded. He made his way to the window and leaped out.

The boy stared after him. "I hate those guys! Angels. Half-breed
freaks. That kid for being mean like that, giving me those bad
dreams.." He sighed, unsure of what to do now.