Judgement (The Twelve) (27 page)

“
Just like that!
”  Heartless stated
sarcastically.

Huntress shook her head, “I’ll start tracking with Speed we should…”

But it was Patch
who suddenly
surprised the
m
all.
Gripping
Chris by the hand she
boldly faced the others, “If Chris, sorry
,
Judgement tells you he can lead us to The Dark and this
she bitch
. Then I say we believe in him.”

Anvil
looked from Patch
then to Chris
, “Le
ad the way son.
”

Speed let out a rebel battle cry and vanished from sight. Huntress ran for the lift, “Speed bloody well wait for
us
!”

The others
quickly
checked
there
weapons and gathered themselves for what lay ahead. Priest finished with a solemn prayer, “Lord abo
ve
and almighty Creator o
f
the Protector
ate of mankind. Grant us
,
thy chosen twelve humble servants the power and strength to see your will done. Amen.”

Anvil
slapped Priest soundly on the back, “Cry havoc!”

Priest grinned,
“Aye and let slip the dogs of war!”

To every ones surprise Rage added, “That this foul deed shall smell above the earth, with carrion men, groaning for burial!”

They all stared open mouthed at him, “What?”
He asked. “I liked Shakespeare
, a
good drinker too
, even if he had help writing those plays
the lad had promise back in the day
.”

A double metallic cocking sound made Chris turn his head. Bulls Eye had just levered a round into a big old fashioned rifle
,
with a long brass telescopic sight
running full length along the top
, “You all
be
Shakespeare
’s dogs of war.
I’ll put my faith in my 50-90 Sharps Buffalo rifle. You want me out playing long field as usual?”

Anvil nodded. It was the first time Chris had seen Bulls Eye with anything other than his six shooters and a knife. The gun looked lethal.

Bulls Eye glanced towards Chris, “You won’t see me but I’ll be out there protecting your back.”

Chris
nodded and with a last quick smile directed to his father and
with Patch holding his hand, headed for the elevator
,
Speed and Huntress
waiting impatiently
. Five minutes later they stood in a half circle in the In Between space out on the cobbled warehouse roadway.
Typically it had started to drizzle l
ightly with a grey overcast sky and a slight cold breeze was blowing.

Chris closed his eyes and thought of his
half
brother and The Chosen One. ‘
welcome.
’ came the unspoken greeting.

“This way
,
” Chris instructed and set off down the road.

They travelled along narrow cobbled back street alleys, between tall disused warehouses. The buildings stood close to each other or were joined by bridging iron walkways.

Speed ran up besides
Anvil a moment later reporting the way ahead was clear. “
Huntress
and Bulls Eye are following via the roof tops.
”

“Tell
them
Judgements leading the way and
they’re to follow
. Report back in five.”
Anvil instructed a
nd with that Speed was gone.

Chris found himself thinking back,
the alleyway reminded him of his old home ground,
‘
Had it been such a short time since poor old Wally had been murdered?
He remembered how scared he’d been when he saw his body.
’
He
found himself doubting his abilities.

‘Be strong!’
Judgements voice
spoke with
in
his mind.
’She is trying to undermine you
.’

‘How can I, I’m just a sixteen year old vagrant with no education. No prospects and no life to call my own. You even tell me what to do!’

‘
You are
Judgement
and I am you, together we are more powerful than you can possibly imagine
.’ The voice
remained silent as they carried on trudging along the wet cobbles. Soon they came to a cross roads and turned right
following the Thames
towards
Battersea Park. He could feel the pull drawing him onwards.

‘
Not far now.
’
Judgement informed
him.

This w
as good
,
because he hate
d
this grey
I
n Between
place
.
T
hey passed people going about there everyday
lives, o
blivious of what was taking place around them.
But at least they lived and moved in a world full of colour, light and warmth.
Maybe Chris would have felt different if he’d just become Judgement but he hadn’t. They lived side by side in one body. The human half hated the In Between place. It felt like a dead zone to him. The real
world
was
just as much
h
is
as any one else.

Speed
suddenly re-
appeared
,
panting in front of
Anvil
.

“Water!” He gasped. The rain was actually steaming from his body.

Rage handed him a bottle he had been carrying, “Thought you’d need this.”

Speed glugged it down in six seconds flat. A flushed redness faded from his face, “Ah better.”

Anvil
looked past him, “Where’s Huntress
and Bulls Eye
?”

“
Bulls Eyes up on a hill top overlooking the park. Huntress is
by the childrens zoo in the park.”

Chris closed his eyes and
nodded
, “
Huntress is very good.
They are in the park. I can feel it.”

Anvil
turned to
his son
, “How do you want to play this?”

Chris had been to the park several times and knew the layout from heart
, but Judgement wasn’t playing.

Chris blinked in surprise, “Over to you father.”

Anvil nodded. “Okay everyone we head for the Park.”

Priest asked, “Yes but
what if
they
’re
in the zoo area
?
The animals will kick up such a din. The parks police will come
a
running
.
We can’t take all the animals into the In Between.
”

Judgement re-appeared for a second
taking over Chris
.
He watched as Judgement
dropping them all back into real time, “
We
have no need of this
grey
world
, w
e like col
o
ur and light.
”

Chris looked surprised with
as
Judgement mirroring his own thoughts. This entity wasn’t trying to take over from Chris, he realised this was a strange form of an apology for taking control.

Anvil and the rest also looked surprised at finding themselves exposed. They glanced at each other
with puzzled expressions,
  before
turning to stare at Chris.

“No more hiding.” Chris answered.

Then Judgement
spoke to Chris who stated
, “The animals.”

Anvil asked, “What
’s that about
animals?”

Chris’s
voice sounded so sad, “All dead, every single one killed by The Dark just for fun.”

Anvil slapped Speed on the shoulder,
“
Speed
,
pass on
my
orders to Huntress. She’s to hide in the band stand. That will give her a clear shot of the area. T
ake up a location near her and protect her flank.
Be prepared for anything.”

Chris asked, “Bulls Eye?”

Anvil started walking, “He’ll be
watching
.”

Patch stayed at Chris’s side, “I’m guarding Chris.”

Anvil
simply nodded as he realised a bond was forming between them that not even he could separate.