The van finally stopped at a remote gasoline station. Carl noticed that Michonne focused on her left leg. He could see that she favored it as she observed it in the vehicle.
"We should get you to a doctor." Carl stated which took Michonne out of her concentration over her injured leg.
"Oh, no child. I will be fine." Michonne smiled and then refocused on her wound. She touched the injured portion and a bright light came out of the palm of her left hand. She then opened the sliding door of the van and jumped out. She appeared to be fine as she stretched out her leg. She looked over at a wide eye Carl and they smiled at each other.
"You're indestructible?" Carl queried with wide eyes.
"I imagine I am when I am home with Father and the others… But we go through a transformation when we are here… On earth among mortals… Like yourself." Michonne shared.
"Like what?" Carl probed.
"We are partial flesh and energy… As you witnessed, I can be injured, but I can also heal quickly." Michonne explained.
Shane walked over to Michonne and was followed by Gabriel and Carol. He had a stretched out map in his hands.
"So, we don't have much daylight left and they're right behind us… Especially that big son of a bitch that tried to take you out." Shane stated as he looked at Michonne.
"The way he walked and carried himself… Is he some sort of general archangel or something?" Gabriel questioned.
"He is Rikart… He is… He was one of the greatest warriors in Father's army… He is of archangel status… He is also…" Michonne paused and looked away.
"He is also what?" Shane questioned as he took a couple of steps closer towards Michonne's direction.
"He is one of the few very ancient former Pure Lights." Michonne shared as the others looked and listened. "He was one of the first created by Father and stood by him when Father's second in command divided the kingdom. Rikart was a great warrior and there was no one that can vanquish him. He fought for our Father and led the casting of the Fallen along with other faithful archangels… Father would always talk about him… To me and the others that came along… Later…"
"But what happened?... Why is trying to hurt us?" Carl asked as he looked Michonne in her eyes.
Michonne took a deep breath and smiled at the teen. "Somethings may not heal."
"If you're telling me that he's been around for a long time and fought other angels and stuff… How strong is he?" Shane asked.
"There is very little that can defeat him." Michonne answered. Her response was received with worried glances, deep breathing and defeated stances. Shane put his hands up in the air and then rubbed his head.
"I understand your concerns… But I will not give up as well." Michonne stated loudly as she looked at each of her discouraged companions. Except for Carl, who met her gaze with a smile and a nod.
"We all know you're here for the long haul dear, but can you stop him and the others… or not?" Shane inquired as he swallowed hard.
"I can do many things and I will…"
"But you can't stop him." Shane interrupted Michonne's words as he shook his head. "We head east. We rest and continue." Shane turned, folded his map and walked towards the driver side of the van. Michonne stood watching as the others walked back to the waiting vehicle.
"Hey." It was Carl standing behind Michonne. She turned around to the smiling teen. "I trust you and we can do this together." Carl shared as he put his hand in his pocket and then stopped when he pulled out a chocolate bar.
"What is that?" Michonne asked.
"This?... Oh, it's chocolate… You don't have chocolate in Heaven?" Carl asked as he laughed.
"We do not need to consume nutritional substances as mortals do because…"
"Just try it!" Carl interrupted and laughed. Michonne took a small piece and put it in her mouth.
"What do you think?" Carl questioned with a curious side stare.
"This chocolate you mortals consume is extraordinary?... May I have more?" Michonne extended her right hand, palm up. Carl laughed and shared some more.
_0_
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Shane asked as they pulled up to a quiet church in the woods of Georgia, off the roads.
"Father Matthew was my mentor when I was a young priest and I have always reached out to him when I needed help… He was always been there for me." Gabriel ensured Shane that refuge with his former adviser is the best option they have at the moment.
Shane parked the van and instructed Lori to stay inside with Judith, Sophia and Carl, but Carl refused and followed anyway. Shane, Gabriel and Carol exited the vehicle with weapons drawn and Michonne was standing firmly by their side. Gabriel slowly walked up the stairs to the front entrance and knocked. There is was answer and Gabriel tried again, but was met with the same result.
"I think we should just go." Shane insisted. Gabriel took a deep breath and reluctantly nodded. They turned to return to the car.
"Can I help you?" Despite the gentleness in the inquiring voice coming from the left side of the church, Shane and his armed companions pointed their weapons towards it's direction, making the visibly shaken older male wearing priest attire similar to Gabriel's, place his hands up in the air. "Please don't hurt me… I don't have much…But…"
"Matthew?… It's me, Gabriel… Please help us!" Gabriel's words allowed for his companions to lower their weapons and Matthew to lower his arms and take a deep breath of relief.
_0_
Michonne walked around the church checking the perimeter to verify their safety. Carl walked by her side. Shane carried a sleeping Judith in his arms as he walked inside with Lori. Gabriel walked side by side with Father Matthew as they spoke and Carol and Sophia followed behind holding hands.
"What happened?... You all look like you've been through a lot!" Father Matthew stated after his observations.
"It has been a long journey, but we are so happy to have found you… You had told me if I needed your help, just come looking…. So, here I am… Well…I mean, we are." Gabriel chuckled and smiled with glassy eyes.
"Yes, and you know I'm always willing to help… That poor child looks exhausted… Why not put her in the office. She can sleep on the couch. It is very comfortable." Father Matthew walked them over to his office and opened the door. Lori looked at Shane with a hesitant stare.
"Babe, you should rest a little too." Shane accompanied Lori to the room and placed Judith on the couch. Lori pulled a chair over to be closer to Judith. Shane closed the door behind him as he exited the room. Lori caressed Judith's forehead and softly kissed her. Lori sat back and in a few minutes she drifted off to sleep.
_0_
"So, you really came a long way… I hope you can rest and take a moment to breathe." Father Matthew stated as he motioned with his right hand for Gabriel, Shane, Carol and Sophia to take a seat on some of the empty pews.
"We're very grateful father. Gabriel has told us so much about you." Carol stated with a smile.
"Is it just you?" Shane asked as he looked around.
"No, not just me… Margaret helps me with the chores… She helps keeps things running." Father Matthew confirmed.
"It's good to have help… We can help too if needed." Carol volunteered with a smile.
"Thank you child… Help is always needed… And we all know what we must do." Father Matthew said as he looked towards his office door.
_0_
The office door opened slowly. A figure took a few steps toward Lori and Judith. The Shadow of the person hovered over them. Lori suddenly woke up and squinted as her eyes adjusted.
"Oh dear… I didn't mean to wake you." It was Margaret. She was a thin frame Caucasian woman with glasses and curly shoulder length hair. She stood over Lori and Judith with a smile and her hands on her side. She wore a long light blue dress.
"Who are you?" Lori asked as she looked at Margaret from her seated position.
"I am Margaret. I help Father Matthew clean up and keep things right."
"Oh… I thought he was alone." Lori spoke as she rubbed her eyes.
"She is so small." Margaret stated as she looked over at a sleeping Judith.
Lori looked at Margaret and tilted her head. "She's only six years old…" Lori looked over at her sleepy child and smiled. "But yeah, she should eat better… Sometimes it's so hard to make her eat…" Lori unexpectedly stopped talking when she looked up at Margaret and saw that her eyes became dark red and her smile had transformed into a malevolent grin. Out of Lori's view, Margaret produced a large dagger from her right side.
"So small, but yet… She will destroy us all!" Margaret ended her words as she lifted the dagger and held it with both hands over the sleeping child. Lori leaped up from her chair and charged the armed woman. Margaret fell back towards the door. The dagger was knocked out of her hand with the impact. Lori had fallen as well and was about to stand up and turn when she felt a strong grip hold on to her right ankle. She looked at her leg and saw that the woman held her tightly.
"When will you intolerable mortals ever learn?" Margaret spewed as she lifted Lori by her angle and then swung her hitting her against a wall, then ultimately falling to the floor. Lori landed with a loud thump.
She gathered all her strength and cried out for help. "Shanne… Michonne… Help!"
Shane and the others heard the cry and rose from their chairs. Father Matthew extended his arms at both sides. "I'm afraid I cannot allow you to do that." Father Matthew looked at the others and provided the same evil grin as Margaret. His eyes also turned red.
"Matthew!...Why?" Gabriel asked as he felt the heaviness of betrayal enter his heart.
"There has been a war for centuries. Before any of you mortals were thought of… One day Gabriel, this war will end and the world will succumb to a leader… Which side do you want to be on?" Father mocked as he looked upon the tears falling from Gabriel's eyes.
"How could you betray me… Our Lord?" Gabriel questioned.
"Oh Gabriel… I'm tired of unanswered prayers… Aren't you?... Besides, this side is much more interesting." Matthew pushed his shoulders forward and tearing through his jacket he revealed large dark wings. He had hidden his existence as an angel from Gabriel all the years they were acquainted.
_0_
Margaret looked at Lori and laughed. "This cannot be stopped." Margaret turned towards the sleeping child. "Victory is ours…"
"Crash!" Michonne crashed through the window and tackled Margaret who flew with the impact and broke through a wall.
Carl followed behind. Michonne called out to Carl to take his sister and mother to safety as she battled Margaret. Margaret slowly appeared from the crumbling hole that once was a wall. She staggered towards Michonne who stood strong and ready. Margaret tried to stand but was visibly hurt.
"You are not a mortal… But yet I see injuries that are all consuming… Creature of the darkness, show me your true form." Michonne insisted as she reached for her vial to defeat Margaret.
"What you see before you is simply an image created to walk among the mortals in search of a seeker… He promised us amnesty" Margaret sarcastically laughed. "But all I became was a lurker in the shadows… His words were of hollow promises to keep an army that was never his… Now, I remain in an existence of torment and all I seek is peace…" Margaret fell to the ground as her skin and clothing began to evaporate before Michonne's view. The sole thing remaining was a shadow of something resembling an angel. She was in visible pain and appeared broken and decrepit.
Michonne walked up to her. "What is this?... Why are you like this?"
"I was once a beautiful pure light as many that had fallen, but possessing mortals drained me… Especially the ones of wicked spirit… It weakened me to almost non-existence. Now, I do as I am told, to remain in existence… But I have no more strength to continue or to even keep my facade. " Margaret looked up at Michonne. "Please do what I could not."
Michonne opened the vail and poured some residue onto the palm of her hand and blew it towards the fallen enemy. The contents surrounded the dying being and continued to consume what remained.
"Thank you… At all cost continue to protect the child… Seekers can help win this unforsaken war." Were her last words until she was no more.
"Bang!... Bang!" Michonne quickly turned to the noise of gun fire from within the church. She reached the pews and saw Matthew in his true form as he was lifting pews and tossing them at Shane and Gabriel as they shot at him. Carol and Sofia were hiding behind a huge piano on the other side of the room. Michonne looked at Matthew as he lifted a pew and pointed her open palms towards his direction. Energy came out and shot at him sending the menacing being across the room and through a wall. Michonne followed and repeated what she had done inside the church. Matthew fell once again to the ground, but every time he was back on his feet he appeared stronger and angrier. Matthew gritted his teeth and finally ran towards Michonne. She shot at him with her energy but he moved quickly out of the way and then flew up into the dark night. Michonne could not see him, but prepared the vial knowing that he will return. She looked up and around as she primed herself with a strong stance. Before she could react, Matthew quickly landed behind her and grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her on the ground violently. The impact knocked the vial out of her grip. Matthew charged at her and grabbed her by the neck and pulled her up as her feet dangled. He produced a large sword and looked Michonne right in her eyes.
"What are you supposed to be?... You're no warrior… Is Father so desperate he has chosen to send one of you to fight for him?" Matthew extended his arm as he gripped the sword tightly and was about to swing when he suddenly stopped. His hold on Michonne's neck was loosened and she fell to the ground. When she looked up she can see a sword through Matthew's chest. He turned his head and behind him was Rikart.
"Why?" Matthew asked.
"You're in my way!" Rikart answered as he moved the sword up and out of Matthew's body. He took another swing and cut off his head easily. Matthew's remains evaporated in the wind.
Michonne could see Rikart walking intensely towards her. She looked around for her vail.
"Bang!... Bang!" Rikart looked to his right to see Carl shooting at him, but the bullets were not doing anything to stop him. They entered his body and quickly came out, followed by rapid healing. Carl looked upon Rikart with wide eyes and mouth.
"Don't test me mortal child!" Rikart exclaimed and then refocused on Michonne.
Michonne saw the vail. She grabbed it just as Rikart was over her and grabbed her by her shoulders and lifted her to face him.
"What did you mean?... Why did you say those words to me?" Rikart inquired.
"Rikart…This is not you." Michonne replied.
"You do not know me!" Rikart insisted.
"Yes… I do." Michonne stated.
Rikart held his sword tightly in his hand. He grabbed the handle and breathed in deeply, but looked Michonne in the eyes. Suddenly, his eyes could not look away of her warm soft ones. Before he knew it he was simply staring at her entire face and his grip on her shoulder loosened. He set her on the ground and couldn't look away.
"Why did he send you?... I know what you are… And you are too pure to be here or fighting any wars." Rikart shared.
"I'm here because…"
"Bang!...Bang!" Michonne was interrupted by gunfire that was directed towards Rikart. It was Shane, Gabriel and Lori. They were trying to protect Michonne. Before Michonne could warn them that she was fine, Rikart turned and prepared his sword. He was about to charge towards the others when Michonne took some of her power and tossed it towards Rikart. It rendered him unconscious in a matter of seconds and he fell to the ground.
"Come on!... Let's go before the others get here!" Shane yelled as he ran up to Michonne and grabbed her by the elbow.
She pulled back and released his grip. "We're taking him." Michonne stated.
"What in the hell are ya talkin' about?" Shane shouted.
"He just tried to kill you!" Lori insisted.
"No, he did not and we need him." Michonne insisted.
"This is not up for discussion." Shane said as he looked around anxiously.
"We can't take him… We can't trust him...Or anyone anymore!" Gabriel cried out.
Shane looked Michonne in the eyes. "Listen… I don't know what is wrong with you and at this moment I don't give a left nut… But I'm taking my family and…"
"Shane!" Lori interrupted Shane and pointed to the ground. There sitting on the dirt ground was Judith who placed her hand loving on Rikart's right hand. She looked up at Shane.
"Daddy… We can't leave him!" Judith said and smiled. Shane looked at Judith with wide eyes. Gabriel was silent as he swallowed hard. Lori breathed deeply and Michonne smiled.
_0_
There is definitely much more to come!
Thanks for reading!