Innocence

"HEY! STOP HIM!"

"ARGGHH!" Mikell turned away from the oncoming blackcoats and ran through the bustling market place, where many fights had occurred already because of trading disagreements. The People think I am just another petty theif running from a merchant. But I’m not...

A gunshot sounded from behind, Mikell turned as he was running to see who pursued him.

Three blackcoats, as Jared called them, chased him through the city with guns raised, preparing to fire. They do not care what they hit, as long as I’m hit too!

Mikell quickened his pace. Running through the crowd another shot fired behind him and an old man fell clutching his arm ahead of him.

Bastards!

One of them then called from behind, "We’re gonna catch you anyway Saviour! Spare these people their lives!" The three of them could be heard laughing now. Surely not a human laugh.

Another shot came as he was running. Now a young girl, not fourteen years of age tumbled over, blood spewing from her shattered forehead. NO! They aren’t even aiming for me!

Desperately looking about the panicked market place with people scrambling everywhere, Mikell spotted a side alleyway and sprinted for it.

As he ran for his life he saw a little girl in a red coat in the corner of his eye that was abandoned in the action. He felt the surge then. NO! Leave her!

He knew the blackcoats could read some of his thoughts but he didn’t think all of them.

In desperation he ran for the little girl in the red coat. As he almost reached her he could feel the blackcoat aiming, feel the movement of his fingers, the pull of the trigger...

"AAAAGGGGGHHH!" Mikell had the little girl in his arms. She was safe but he had taken a shot to the left arm and it bled furiously.

The little girl was crying as she had been surely since the first gunshot. Looking to the alleyway now, Mikell saw another two new blackcoats guarding it. The first three were still behind him, but as he got up and turned to run with the little girl held in his good arm another five appeared blocking any escape.

"NO!" Mikell screamed. You won’t have me or the girl! Never! The screams of defiance came from inside Mikell, from something that was not him.

Blink.

You know what happens now. This is the final battle Michael. Your wings may be broken, but you shall still fly my son. Go forth, save this world for mankind

Blink.

Suddenly Mikell knew what he had to do. This war between the rebels and the blackcoats was not about earthly power, but the rights to the universe and eternity. The blackcoats were not human, they were demons in disguise, that’s how bad the world had become. Demons roamed the streets.

Mikell looked around searching for the One. The Demons had now grown in number and formed a wide circle around him and the girl in the now empty street.

Suddenly a flash of sickly blackness. The demons had now assumed their natural form, twisted and hideous. They stood about eight foot tall, with great muzzles and horns for ripping flesh. They also had four foot long razor sharp claws on each mangled arm.