Chapter 28 Love

"It cannot be!" Asmodues punched a hole in the wall. "Everything I worked for! All my plans! Everything!" he vented in fury.

Asmodues pulled Ruth off the floor and smacked her back down to it hard. He pulled her hair back and threw her to a wall. She whipped her hair back at Asmodues and swallowed at his stone-cold glare.

"You have wasted all my efforts, Ruth. To go on with my quest is now pointless. Useless!" he cracked his neck. "Before, I held back on you because you were carrying what was supposed to be my new body." he raised his hand and balled it into a fist. "That will not be the case tonight."

****

In a shallow pool of black water surrounded by skeletons and fog, laid Matt. His naked body was wrapped around several darker arms with no bodies. He faced up at the darkened moon with his lifeless eyes partially closed.

A black panther gracefully approached the pool and with its yellow piercing eyes, it stared at Matt. Losing interest almost immediately, it lowered its head to have a drink. Its tongue brought forth small waves that rapidly increased to huge waves which splashed against Matt.

The panther raised its head only to tilt it at the calming water. Fingers submerged from the water and shot up to abnormally long hands. The hands went plummeting down towards Matt and wrapped themselves around him.

"Matthew," a soft male voice called out and the panther lowered its head afraid. "Matthew,"

Matt parted his dry lips, "I have failed." he lamented.

"No, you have not." the voice argued.

"It is over." Matt weakly continued.

"It is only over when I say that it is over." the voice declared with confidence.

"Why are you here to comfort a sinner like me?" Matt weakly asked.

"Because I already paid for your sins."

"Jesus," Matt called out.

"Wake up."

Asmodues jumped off Ruth with his eyes wide. He got hold of his head and cringed in pain. Ruth backed away afraid and held onto her heart. Asmodues fell to his knees and bowed his head.

With his back curved downwards, he departed from Matt's body into a dark smoke. He disappeared into the ceiling and Matt fell to his stomach wheezing for air. Ruth ran to his aid and lifted him up.

Asmodues violently burst out through the floor under Stephanie and Muriel. Both women were sent stumbling to the ground and the next thing they heard was another bang up the ceiling.

Concrete and wood went falling down—creating a new wall of rubble between them. Stephanie was quick to jump back to her feet, and she dug through it shouting.

"Are you okay?!" she exclaimed but heard nothing in return.

On the other side, Muriel helplessly looked on. She had completely no way of telling whether Stephanie was okay or not. In despair, she backed away and cut through the hallways. The explosive sounds of stray bullets blasted everywhere. Muriel smelt the gun powder and skidded to a halt only to find herself in the middle of a shootout.

****

Matt regained his strength and hugged Ruth so tight. They bawled their eyes out in each other's arms. Matt pulled away and wiped her tears with his thumbs. Ruth crushed her lips on his, and he kissed her back with the same intensity.

Matt felt her warm arms wrap around his neck. It felt so surreal to smell her scent, feel her touch and hear her voice—Matt couldn't believe it. It was like a dream, but he thanked God that it wasn't. His woman was with him and in his arms.

Once again his world was at peace. Matt's heart leaped with joy at the happiness that was returned to his life. He set her on his laps and held onto her waist as the kiss deepened.

"Ruth, I can't believe it." he emotionally said in between pecks.

"I really missed you, Matt." she brushed his lips with her tongue, and he pecked their softness.

"I am so happy that I have you back." Matt got back to his feet and helped

Ruth up. "Come on, let's get out of here. I don't think the others will be able to hold off the enemies for too long."

****

Alejandro and Adrianna fought off as many enemies as they could. There was, however, no denying that they were heavily outnumbered." We need to get out of here!" Alejandro exclaimed. "We are practically sitting ducks- ah!" he exclaimed and ducked behind a wall.

"Alejandro!" Adrianna called after him.

"I have been shot!" Alejandro squeezed his bleeding hand.

Stephanie appeared and added her bullets to the crossfire. Alejandro and Adrianna exchanged baffled looks and turned back to Stephanie who kept shooting and reloading her guns. Not once did she miss a target.

"Wow, I really misjudged you." Adrianna smirked, spread daggers in between her fingers, and thrust them. Four men fell down unconscious.

"I was a gang member before I got saved." Stephanie winked at Adrianna.

Adrianna swung her sword and a head rolled to the floor. Stephanie kicked it to the face of another man and Alejandro shot him only to groan in pain after.

****

Matt ran hand in hand with Ruth through the dark tunnel. Ruth stopped and held her belly with a moan. Matt held her concerned, checking her for any visible wounds. When he saw none, his anxious gaze met with Ruth's. She smiled faintly at him, not knowing whether to tell him or not about her pregnancy.

"What's wrong?" Matt supported her waist.

"I have a cramp in my belly. I won't be able to run." Ruth explained and cringed. At least it was half the truth.

Without thinking, Matt lowered his back and Ruth hopped on. With her arms around his neck and his underneath her thighs, Matt sprinted the rest of the way out. He ran for a little while until he came to a light up ahead. The gun fire forced him to stop. Matt got Ruth down and held his hand back at her.

Ruth nervously watched Matt stick his neck out to evaluate the situation. Matt spotted the team fending off their attackers. Alejandro stuck out from behind the wall he took refuge and fired his gun. He was able to see Matt in a flash, and he sighed in relief from the other side.

"Matt is okay. Check if Ruth is with him!" Alejandro exclaimed.

Adrianna peeped for Ruth but only saw her white wedding dress sticking out behind Matt. "Yes, she is with him!" she confirmed.

A man went running by the doorway. Matt snatched him and snapped his neck to which Ruth gasped. Matt picked up the man's machine gun and sprayed bullets at the rest who were close by. When he was sure that most of them were taken down whilst the rest took cover, he went back for Ruth and pulled her across still firing.

"They are coming!" Adrianna announced.

She sheathed her katana and picked up a gun lying on the floor.

With the team covering them, Matt's burden was reduced, and he was assured of leading Ruth safely across.

One of the men saw Ruth with Matt, and he dropped his gun. "Cease fire, the lord's maiden is with him!"

Everyone stopped shooting but kept their guns aiming. Matt and the team refused to drop their guard. Matt eyed them all suspiciously but Ruth kept her gaze down. From the corner of her eye, she saw the full moon halfway without a shadow. She couldn't stop herself from smiling at it.

I am finally free. Ruth exasperated in joy.

Are you? She heard Asmodues ask her and her back automatically straightened up.

Matt looked back at Ruth baffled at her sudden fear. Ruth covered her mouth hyperventilating and walking backwards. Matt reached out for her but she screamed sharply. The floor beneath their feet moved. Ruth's screams increased and the windows shattered taking along with them the lamps.

Darkness and silence dominated the room. Matt dropped his jaw at Ruth. She stood straight with her head bowed. What caught Matt's eye however, were her dark and hardened arms with claws.

Ruth stretched her hand and a decorative sword on the wall fidgeted in place. A force so magnetic pulled it off the wall and it was caught in her palm.

"I wanted one thing and one thing only, to walk this world and enforce upon it my new order. Your actions have caused me to have to wait another 690 years before I can try again." Asmodues’ deep voice tainted Ruth's lips. "You will all die."