Chapter Fifty-Two
Newest Knight, and a Stroke of Luck!
In Mutopia, Tyroth and Jake stood in the Dojo, Tyroth had contemplated Jake's request to help him, and he decided to make it official, that Jake was to be welcomed as a Chicago Knight.
Jake was dressed in jeans, trainers, a white short sleeved shirt as well as a waist coat top and wearing his gun harness.
The Dragon looked at the young man who adjusted his glasses and took a few deep breaths.
"Jake?"
He spoke softly, yet the young man still jumped.
"Yes?" he asked breathlessly.
"Are you sure about this?" Tyroth asked "Are you absolutely sure you want to be part of the team as a Knight?"
"Yes Tyroth." Jake said fervently "I insisted on this, I feel responsible for my brother's betrayal, and reckless behaviour, and I can't sit by and watch you and the others clean up his messes."
Tyroth nodded slowly.
After Jake had confronted him in the temple insisting that he join the Knights in the search for Diablo, he knew there was no way he could talk the human out of it.
Not long afterwards, Tyroth and Jake had decided to talk in the mess hall along with George.
Jake had then had to sit and listen to the Dragon and turtle speak about what he would be risking, and if he was prepared to do the worst if he had to which Jake, despite his annoyance as he was fully aware of what he would have to do, nodded, and repeated the two words "I'm sure!"
Now, Tyroth had asked the Knights to meet him and Jake in the Dojo so they could begin a small ceremony.
They didn't have to wait long before Sephie the Gecko, Jack the Wolf, Sharky the Shark, Percy the Grasshopper, Kate the Viper, Amber the Marine Iguana, Sarah the Cheetah, Heather the Dragonfly and Devina the Vampire/Werewolf hybrid entered the Dojo.
"Hey boss! Jake!" Jack said giving a small salute.
Amber smiled at Jake softly yet there was worry in her eyes.
The other Knights greeted in the same manner, and they all looked at Jake.
"So, you've decided to grant Jake his request?" Sephie asked concerned.
Tyroth nodded.
"Jake told me he was adamant about joining us." Tyroth explained "He is aware of the dangers and risks in becoming a Knight, and he has been working very hard in his training, both in combat and with his gun."
"We can all agree there!" Sharky stated "Jake spends more time in the Dojo training than any other part of Mutopia."
The others nodded and murmured in agreement.
"You bet!" Kate said.
"You ain't lying!" Sarah added.
Tyroth waved his hand to quieten everyone.
"Okay everyone!" he said, "Since Jake has proven himself in his training and shown his determination to help us search for Diablo, I, Tyroth the Dragon, Leader of the Chicago Knights, welcome Jake Freeman, as a Knight!"
The other knights smiled, despite their worry.
Tyroth then turned to face Jake and looked him in the eyes.
'Jake Freeman, do you swear, as you are to join us as a Chicago Knight, you will stand by your fellow Knights, fight alongside us, protect us, and should you have to, do what must be done so as to protect the City of Chicago and Mutopia."
Jake nodded fervently.
"On my life, on my honour, I swear!" he replied and placed his fist on his heart.
"Kneel Jake." Tyroth requested and held up his sword.
Jake complied and knelt before Tyroth who tapped his shoulders with his sword.
"Arise Jake." The Dragon said, "Our newest addition to the Chicago Knights!"
Jake stood up and smiled and the other Knights cheered and clapped.
"Sweet!" Percy said, "We got another guy on the team!"
"Welcome to the team Jake!" Devina smiled.
Jake then shook Tyroth's hand then walked over and shook the hands of the other Knights who in turn shook his enthusiastically.
As Tyroth watched with a smile, he felt his phone vibrate and he looked at it.
Sephie looked at her lover and raised an eyebrow as Tyroth answered it.
"Tyroth here!" he stated "Oh hey Raph, what up…" he started then his eyes widened.
'SHE WHAT!?" he cried causing everyone to look at the dragon.
"What is it?" Sephie asked "What's wrong?"
"It's Mona!" Tyroth confirmed, looking very worried "She's left New York, and she's on her way here!"
Meanwhile, in the city, Diablo flew from the hospital after tormenting his victims for a second time. After he had his way with the Preacher, he found his wife and brother and gave them the same treatment.
It delighted him hearing their screams as he tormented them, and he knew it wouldn't be long before the doctors and nurses checked their patients and saw the damage and the word would get back to the Church.
Part of him hoped it scared them shitless, but at the same time, he hoped they would still be foolish enough to continue their meeting and he and his Disciples would attack them as planned.
Flying above the city, his eyes scanned the area below and he flew a little lower, wondering if he could spot anything, or anyone of interest and it was then he saw someone walking the street with flyers.
Curious, the raven flew lower and started to follow the man, wondering why someone would be posting flyers late at night.
He was tall with red curly hair, and he kept looking over his shoulder in fear.
He stopped for a few seconds and walked to the door of one house before taking a flyer from a pile he held to close to him and posted it thought the letter box.
Diablo watched him with curiosity, then suddenly without the man knowing, a flyer fluttered away from the pile and started to blow over the pavement.
As that happened, Diablo swooped down and grabbed it, then keeping the man in his sights, he looked at the flyer.
"No way!" the Raven thought as his eyes widened "That bastard's part of the Straight Truth's church! He's posting flyers about the church through the doors!"
A smirked curled on his beak as he soon realised what this meant!
"A member right in my sights! And someone who might provide me with information about the meeting taking place! What luck!"
Diablo looked around and started to follow the man, hoping to catch him when he wasn't expecting it and when no-one was looking.
He knew he had to be careful, as he didn't know if there were security cameras or anyone else who might be innocently looking out their windows and might spot him.
As he watched him, the man looked around, and the Raven made sure he flew out of his line of vison.
Soon the man walked into an alleyway after posting another flyer and he took a phone out of his pocket and began to study it.
Very stealthily, Diablo flew into the alleyway behind the man and landed on the ground. It was almost pitch black in the alley with there being no streetlights.
The Raven held his breath and stepped towards the man hoping to sneak up on him and knock him out, then bring him back to the hideout and question him.
The man was so engrossed in his phone he had no idea a mutant Raven was sneaking up on him.
He soon felt a hand tap his shoulder and he jumped and turned around, only for a black taloned fist to collide with his face, then all went dark and silent.
As the man collapsed from being punched, Diablo caught him and gathered him into his arms.
"Gotcha!" the Raven smirked "Now let's see what you know about the Straight Truths and the Meeting taking place! And if you're lucky, I won't hurt you much!"
He cawed as he laughed then took to the sky to get back to the hideout.
"Uggghh." The man opened his eyes, his vision was blurry, and he had no idea what happened.
"Uggh, what hit me?" he groaned as he felt around and wondered where he was.
No sooner was he fully awake did he see the face of Diablo smirking down at him.
"Wakey Wakey!" the Raven said in a sing song voice.
The man cried out in alarm, and he cursed as he felt some hands grab him and yank him to his feet.
"Get up!" a voice was heard behind him, and he saw the face of a mutant panther behind him.
"The fuck!?" the man shouted.
"Language scum!" he was soon punched in the stomach, and he then saw Rex the Doberman snarling at him and saw by his clenched fist that he had delivered the punch.
"What the hell is this!?" the man cried in terror as he soon saw Chastity the Dove, Lamia the Eel and Regan the Bat in front of him.
Regan smirked revealing her sharp teeth as well as licked her lips.
"I have to say, you were lucky to find him Diablo!" Lamia smirked.
The man looked at the Raven who was looking proud of himself and he shook his head.
"No way!" he cried "The rumours were true!"
Diablo looked to the man and walked over.
"You attacked the preacher, his wife and brother!" the man exclaimed "They weren't mad! They really did see you!"
"Smart boy!" Diablo hissed "They did see me, and they fucking deserved the treatment I gave them! In fact, I paid them a visit to the hospital and repeated the torment!"
As he said those words the other Disciples smirked.
"They'll be deemed totally insane after what you did to them!" Rex said, "Served them right!"
The man gaped.
"And you're next!" Samson snarled in the man's ear "You'll suffer the same treatment unless you talk!"
"And we have ways of making you talk!" Diablo threatened "Regan here is hungry for your blood! And Lamia, let's just say she'll shock the truth out of you!"
As he spoke, Lamia took off her glove and waved her fingers and Regan bared her fangs and hissed.
The man's eyes widened in terror.
"Shit!" he cried then yelled in horror as Samson slammed him against a beam and forced his arms behind it and tying him up.
"Wait!" the man started to shout "Wait! You, you don't understand!"
"Oh, we understand perfectly!" Diablo smirked as Samson roughly tied up the man.
"We understand how you loyally follow this Cult of Hatred! You know how you wish Homosexuals were dead, you call Muslim's terrorists, you disrespect soldiers who gave their lives to protect your precious country! You disregard blacks! We know everything about you!"
The other Disciples nodded.
"You don't follow the path of God!" Chasity hissed "You don't preach love! You spread hate! You're all nothing but pathetic bullies! Who use religion as an excuse behind your evil ways to control and frighten people!"
"You call other people sinners! But in truth! You're the real sinner!" Diablo cawed as he held up his taloned hand.
The man pulled against his bounds and shook his head in terror.
"No! Please! I know they're sinners!" he screamed "They all are! I hate their ways!"
"What?" Rex asked in disbelief.
"What did he say?" Samson questioned raising an eyebrow at the man's statement.
"They'll say anything!" Lamia dismissed shaking her head.
"No! No!" the man shouted getting desperate "It's true! The Church is no true Christian Church, it's a Bullying Cult of Hatred! They drive on hate! The whole church!"
He pulled on his bounds and stamped his feet and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead as he saw Diablo step closer to him and he closed his eyes as he felt the Raven's sharp talons on his throat.
"Please! I'm telling the truth! The whole church is a sham! They're a group of bullies! I hate it! I hate it! I'm not one of them! I was never one of them!"
"If you hate it so much?" Diablo question squeezing the man's throat tighter "then why haven't you left?"
"It's not that simple!" the man protested "Please! Please! I'll tell you everything about that church! I'll tell you all of it! Everything you want to know, just please don't hurt me!"
Diablo ceased squeezing the man's throat and he let the words sink in for a moment.
"You're not just saying all this because you want out, are you?" the Raven questioned "You're not bluffing your words so you can escape, then tell everyone about us?"
"No! I swear!" the man pleaded "In truth, I was glad our preacher was attacked! He deserved everything he got! As well as his stupid wife and brother! I was smirking within when I heard about it! As everyone was crying and worrying about him, I was thinking 'serves him right!'"
The other disciples were surprised at their prisoner's words.
"I can't believe what I'm hearing." Lamia said "A reluctant member?"
"You and me both!" Chastity agreed.
Regan looked up at Rex.
"Rexy?" she asked, "Is that bad man lying so we won't punish him?"
Rex looked at the mutant child bat and shrugged.
"I kind of hope he isn't." he said then looked at Diablo.
"Diablo?" he asked, "Maybe we should let him speak?"
Samson looked at the Doberman.
"You believe his words mate?" he asked.
"I don't know!" Rex replied, "But if there is one thing I do know, there are reluctant members, and he might just be one!"
The man looked at the Doberman desperately.
"Please believe me!" the man said "Look, if you can spot a liar, then look at me! I got nothing to hide when I say what I said!"
Diablo glared then stepped back letting go of the man and the prisoner gasped in relief.
"Very well!" the Raven growled "Since you're willing to tell us everything, then tell us what you know!" he looked over at Rex and gestured with a head movement to study the prisoner.
"If you know a liar when you see one, then watch him closely."
The Doberman saluted and nodded.
"Yes sir!" he said then walked over to the man.
"Now…" said Diablo quietly folding his arms "Tell us everything!"
So Jake has been officially made a Chicago Knight! The only human Chicago Knight at that too!
But know he, and the others are aware Mona's on her way! Much to their shock!
Meanwhile, Diablo has kidnapped a member of the Straight Truth's Church but has realised that his prisoner is a reluctant member and is willing to spill the beans!
Check back soon to find out where all this leads!