Chapter 3: Never Look Back

Hours after the skirmish between Father Nightroad and the vampire, Andros, had ended, we found ourselves still sitting on the roof of my nearly empty house. Father Tres was still inside, assessing the situation, and Abel cautioned me that we might yet be there for just a little while longer. When I heard him include "me" within the "we" I asked him, "So do you still plan to take me away from my home? The vampires have been destroyed, right? So doesn't that mean that it's safer now?"

Frowning, he began to fill in the pieces of the whole sordid story that I didn't already know about. "I wish it were as simple as all of that, but those vampires were just the forefront of a much larger, more dangerous group known as the the Order of Rosen Kreuz." Blue eyes on me, he whispered, his voice so low that I could barely hear his next words. "Please believe me when I tell you this. It really is best if you didn't stay here...for now anyway. My superior, I'm sure, will send word to your parents. So don't be afraid, we will make sure to protect them, as well as you, the best that we can."

"Where will I go then?"

"With Father Tres and myself no doubt. That vampire got a good look at you, and the Order always seems to know the things that they shouldn't." As he spoke, Abel shifted his gaze up to the dusky sky above us. "Though he is dead. I'm sure that the higher ups in the Order took a peek into the thoughts of our friend, Mr. Nakomi...so by now they know that I am giving it my all to protect you. Making you an easy target. Yet in the end, all that they really hope to achieve is getting their hands on me..."

Resisting the urge to reach out and take hold of his hand, to just ease the burden that pained his mind, to be nearly a single hundredth of the help to him than he had been to me. Quietly I whispered, "Father..."

The seconds passed and an unlifting silence fell between us, giving me a moment to think about all that had happened that had caused my life to so drastically change in just the last six hours. My mind buzzed with all of it. I had gone from living an average life, to becoming a prize coveted by a malicious group called the Order of Rosen Kreuz. The world that I knew was being shaken at the core, and things were steadily starting to fall apart. How could I do this? How could I just leave my home and go off on some foreign journey with two priests from the Vatican?

As everything slowly started sinking in, the revelation that I eventually came to made my heart feel as though it were breaking open. The thoughts of all that was now inevitable in my life came crashing down like a wave. "I can't do this." I drew my knees close to my chest again, and forced my eyes to shut. Willing my dream, if that's what I was in, to end.

Next to me, as if he knew of the internal conflict that was now raging within me, Abel muttered, "I find that never looking back helps to numb the pain. Just keep moving forward, you'll be able to get through this." His words were sincere and I could hear the friendly smile that he wore within the sound of his voice. "I'll make sure of it."

Muffled by my clothes, my voice growing weak from fatigue, came out barely audible. "Why are you still so intent to help me?"

Taken back by my words, Abel asked, "What do you mean?"

"You saved my life, and I am thankful for that...but why continue to help me when your debt has already been paid?"

A moment went by, then carefully he whispered, "Well it's because I would like to think of myself as your friend."

"You mean just like that? We're friends?"

Nodding his head, he ventured to ask, "After everything that we've been through tonight, can I also call you my friend? You saw my true self, and you didn't shy away from it. Whereas others find me intimidating." Within his voice, I found a new found hope trying to break through to the surface.

I responded to that hope with a smile. "Of course you can, Father Nightroad! Just remember, I don't like seeing my friends in pain. Nor do I like knowing that they're sad."

Opening his mouth to speak, Abel was forced to stop short when he suddenly placed the tips of the fingers on his left hand to the small communicator cuff attached to his left ear. "This is Nightroad, awaiting instructions." There was a moments silence, then he answered a question that I hadn't been able to hear. "Yes, and we're bringing a young girl who is likely to be targeted by the Order with us." Only a few seconds went by before he continued to speak. "Jonah Turner. Appears to be around nineteen years of age. Both parents are away on vacation. Oh and Kate, by bringing her back with us to the Vatican, I am willing to accept full responsibility for her." He stole a quick glance at me, upon which he grinned widely. "So Sister, how far from our current location are you exactly?" The answer came quickly. Abel nodded and excitedly exclaimed, "Just enough time to go and get Tres. After that we'll head to an area big enough for you to land and...Oh, so you're not planning to land the Iron Maiden? If that's the case, then we'll stay here. We'll see you in a few moments." A farewell was said, and lowering his left hand, he rested it on his lap.

Looking up towards the Heavens, I asked, "So we're leaving soon?"

Pushing himself back to his feet, Abel exhaled. "It would appear so. Better get Tres before Sister Kate shows up." He turned to leave but before he could so much as take a step, halted when he heard a mono-toned voice from behind us.

"No need, Father Abel Nightroad. Inspection of the site is complete." Tres stated, his appearance exactly the same as it had been before the vampires had showed up. "Damage report?"

With a hand now placed on my shoulder, he answered. "All is fine here, Tres." He looked at me before adding. "Right?"

"Yeah! Father Abel made easy work of that vampire!"

As he began to chuckle, Abel looked towards the sky and smiling whispered, "The Iron Maiden has arrived."

Following his gaze, I gaped at the battle airship that was gradually making its way towards us. I could easily tell that the basic shape of the ship was that of a cross, and even in the dark of night, I could see a design made out of a beautiful mosaic that decorated the outside walls of the large vessel. The very sight of the Iron Maiden brought the thought of leaving home come flooding back into my mind.

"Jonah, just remember what I told you."

"Never look back...just keep going..."

"That's right. And I'll be there right alongside you every step of the way." He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze, before kindly adding, "I promise."