Read Online Armageddon by Thomas E. Sniegoski - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Thomas E. Sniegoski
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Each piece of the sword screamed of futures to come.
A cold, wet nose, followed by the gentle lick of a warm tongue, was enough to send him into spasms. Dusty knew the dog meant well, but it was all too much.
He managed to turn his head to stare at the Labrador that sat patiently beside him. He could sense the worry radiating from the animal’s deep, dark eyes. He wanted to tell the dog to leave him to his fate, but no sound would come from his lips.
The pain was incredible, and he couldn’t stop himself from writhing in agony, which only drove the vibrating pieces of metal deeper into his body.
The dog, Gabriel, got to his feet. His hackles of golden yellow rose along his neck, and sparks of fire leaped from the ends of his fur.
The dog looked back at Dusty, a message passing between them. Dusty knew that he should try to remain silent, so as not to draw the attention of whatever was in the house.
Through pain-blurred eyes, he watched as the Labrador, their sole protector, turned gracefully and trotted from the room.
Again, Dusty was overcome by visions. It was as if each piece of the giant sword once wielded by the Abomination of Desolation was attempting to tell him something. The images were so fleeting that he could barely make out one before the next came crashing into view.
But Dusty saw a dog—Gabriel—being attacked.
It took almost every bit of strength that Dusty still had to process these flashes of prescience, to organize them in such a way that they made the slightest bit of sense. But he concentrated with all his might, and they started to vibrate—to speak—at the same frequency. Slowly, the images became more linear, and the pain began to subside.
From what he could understand, Gabriel was going to be overcome if . . .
But again the pieces of shrapnel were all communicating at once. Dusty was just about to slip into unconsciousness, when he managed to regain control, visualizing each piece of metal within him vibrating at the same speed.
Vibrating as one.
Suddenly it all became clear.
And Dusty saw what he could—what he would—do to save his friend.
* * *
Gabriel knew that trespassers were in the house. He could smell their pee-like scent hanging heavily in the air.
Cautiously he stalked down the rubble-strewn corridor toward the burned-out remains of the kitchen. The smell was stronger there.
Gabriel stood in the entryway, his enhanced canine vision searching the gloom for intruders. Gazing about the once-cheery place, the dog could not help but remember his family, and the happy times they had spent together there. Tom, Lori, and little Stevie; they were gone now. Only he and Aaron survived.
Aaron.
The dog felt a wave of panic, realizing that he didn’t even know if his master was still alive.
Distracted by this disturbing thought, he did not notice the creatures in the shadows. They were small, about the size of cats, but walked erect like small children, and were covered in thick, shaggy fur.
They lunged. Mouths ringed with sawlike teeth, they screamed their excitement as they rushed him. Tiny, clawed hands grabbed at Gabriel’s fur, and the dog released the most ferocious of barks, unleashing the power of the Nephilim.
Divine fire trailed from Gabriel’s body as he sprang about the kitchen, attempting to elude the swarm of hungry creatures. They came at him from all sides, pouring in through broken windows and up from the basement. Gabriel fought as best he could, snatching the furry varmints in his mouth and shaking them as his holy fire ignited their fur. Then he tossed their flaming bodies into the expanding horde and grabbed for the next.
Suddenly, the creatures nearest the hallway began screaming, then fell dead. The others started swarming out the kitchen door.
Gabriel darted around the broken cabinets. There, in the hallway, stood a nearly naked Dusty, arms and legs spread wide. He wiggled his finger wildly, as if urging the creatures to come at
A cold, wet nose, followed by the gentle lick of a warm tongue, was enough to send him into spasms. Dusty knew the dog meant well, but it was all too much.
He managed to turn his head to stare at the Labrador that sat patiently beside him. He could sense the worry radiating from the animal’s deep, dark eyes. He wanted to tell the dog to leave him to his fate, but no sound would come from his lips.
The pain was incredible, and he couldn’t stop himself from writhing in agony, which only drove the vibrating pieces of metal deeper into his body.
The dog, Gabriel, got to his feet. His hackles of golden yellow rose along his neck, and sparks of fire leaped from the ends of his fur.
The dog looked back at Dusty, a message passing between them. Dusty knew that he should try to remain silent, so as not to draw the attention of whatever was in the house.
Through pain-blurred eyes, he watched as the Labrador, their sole protector, turned gracefully and trotted from the room.
Again, Dusty was overcome by visions. It was as if each piece of the giant sword once wielded by the Abomination of Desolation was attempting to tell him something. The images were so fleeting that he could barely make out one before the next came crashing into view.
But Dusty saw a dog—Gabriel—being attacked.
It took almost every bit of strength that Dusty still had to process these flashes of prescience, to organize them in such a way that they made the slightest bit of sense. But he concentrated with all his might, and they started to vibrate—to speak—at the same frequency. Slowly, the images became more linear, and the pain began to subside.
From what he could understand, Gabriel was going to be overcome if . . .
But again the pieces of shrapnel were all communicating at once. Dusty was just about to slip into unconsciousness, when he managed to regain control, visualizing each piece of metal within him vibrating at the same speed.
Vibrating as one.
Suddenly it all became clear.
And Dusty saw what he could—what he would—do to save his friend.
* * *
Gabriel knew that trespassers were in the house. He could smell their pee-like scent hanging heavily in the air.
Cautiously he stalked down the rubble-strewn corridor toward the burned-out remains of the kitchen. The smell was stronger there.
Gabriel stood in the entryway, his enhanced canine vision searching the gloom for intruders. Gazing about the once-cheery place, the dog could not help but remember his family, and the happy times they had spent together there. Tom, Lori, and little Stevie; they were gone now. Only he and Aaron survived.
Aaron.
The dog felt a wave of panic, realizing that he didn’t even know if his master was still alive.
Distracted by this disturbing thought, he did not notice the creatures in the shadows. They were small, about the size of cats, but walked erect like small children, and were covered in thick, shaggy fur.
They lunged. Mouths ringed with sawlike teeth, they screamed their excitement as they rushed him. Tiny, clawed hands grabbed at Gabriel’s fur, and the dog released the most ferocious of barks, unleashing the power of the Nephilim.
Divine fire trailed from Gabriel’s body as he sprang about the kitchen, attempting to elude the swarm of hungry creatures. They came at him from all sides, pouring in through broken windows and up from the basement. Gabriel fought as best he could, snatching the furry varmints in his mouth and shaking them as his holy fire ignited their fur. Then he tossed their flaming bodies into the expanding horde and grabbed for the next.
Suddenly, the creatures nearest the hallway began screaming, then fell dead. The others started swarming out the kitchen door.
Gabriel darted around the broken cabinets. There, in the hallway, stood a nearly naked Dusty, arms and legs spread wide. He wiggled his finger wildly, as if urging the creatures to come at
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