Children of a Lesser God

Chapter 112: Death

"FUCK!" Laz blurted out.

"What?" Kat asked, looking over at him.

Laz didn't respond but he pointed at the person watching them down the road and quickly filled her in on what was happening.

'Damn it," Kat swore when she heard what was happening.

They both knew now that they were being watched which means her dad had been followed. Although they had stopped at the road for a moment while Laz explained things, he started driving again but turned in the direction away from the strange person. It was the direction they had to go anyway.

Kat quickly took out her cell phone and called Jon, explaining what they had seen. He told them he had seen it too and to just quickly drive away. Jon explained a theory he had. He figured that these weird bug controlled people wouldn't chase them once they got outside of town as that would raise too many alarms. As long as they could get a good distance away, they would be safe. It wasn't the most heroic of actions, but none of them were heroes anyway.

The town only had one main road in and out of town and since they were heading out of town without having to go through the center, everyone got the feeling they would be safe.

Just when they had hit the boundary marked by the leaving town sign, please come again, Laz saw lights and sirens indicating a road block.

"What the fuck now?" Laz complained. Kat mumbled a few words under her breath as well as Laz slowed down and she called her dad. Not knowing what the situation was, they had no choice but to agree to stop for the road block. After all, the last thing they needed was to run afoul of the police.

As Laz approached and slowed down, he rolled down his window as a uniformed officer walked up to the car.

"Where are you both going tonight?" The officer asked. It was hard to make out his face due to the head lights and flashing lights on the police cars in front of them.

"Going back to my place. I just picked up my girlfriend and we were going to go there for the weekend," Laz confidently answered. Kat leaned over and grabbed Laz's hand while waving at the officer.

"Hmm... Is there anyone else in the truck with you?" The officer asked, which got Laz's attention. The truck he was driving was an older one from the 80s that he had borrowed from his grandpa. There basically was no back seat and no way for anyone else to be in the truck. Laz couldn't help but wonder what the hell he meant, but he wasn't going to ask.

"Uh... no officer, just us." Laz smiled as he replied.

"Alright, move along." After the officer backed up, Laz closed his window and pulled forward, slowly driving in the space between the parked cars.

"Well that was fucking weird," Laz commented as he got free from the blockade.

"Yeah. Who the fuck are they looking for? And how could there be anyone else in here?" Kat voiced the obvious problems with the questions. Laz could only shake his head as he had no answers.

"And also... you smell like you just took a bath in wine but he didn't say anything about that? Not even a word? They must be really anxious to find someone..." Kat trailed off.

Laz had been driving forward slowly, as he was waiting for Jon's truck to get through, but what Kat said gave Laz pause.

'Why wouldn't he ask? Could he not smell it?' The thought kept going through Laz's head like a broken record. He was missing something, he just didn't know what.

'Can't smell... smell... smell... bug's... don't have noses so they can't smell like a mammal does.' The otherwise useless thought finally came to Laz's head..

'They smell through their antenna which humans don't have... so how would they use a nose..." Laz stopped the truck.

"What is it?" Kat asked, eyes full of concern.

"That officer... was a bug," Laz knew he was right. He was too far away from the blockade to use his spiritual sense, so he had no idea what was going on back there. All he knew was that Jon was taking a lot longer than he did.

"They are in trouble," Laz said as he move the truck to the side of the road.

"Dad?"

"Yeah, they were looking for them," Laz concluded. After they figured out Laz and Kat weren't who they were looking for and there was no one else in the car, they moved on to the next one. They must not have realized Kat and Laz were connected to Jon and the other two.

"I have to go back," Kat exclaimed as she took off her seat belt.

"Ok." Laz took off his seat belt as well and turned off the truck, intent to follow her.

"No. NO. You stay here and wait. You're not coming with me." Kat ordered. She knew it was dangerous and she wasn't about to let Laz get himself hurt.

"Ha, try and stop me. There is no way you are doing this on your own." Laz continued to get out of the truck despite Kat's protests.

Laz's thoughts had been in disarray ever since he had been out of contact with Kennedy and Malene. It was only thanks to Kat that he was able to think straight. She helped him grow stronger and even spent a crazy night with him. There was no way he was going to let her go do this dangerous thing by herself. Maybe it was a man's pride talking, but he felt responsible for her now that things had come this far and he wasn't about to back down. In many ways, Laz had grown up a bit more at this moment.

Although it might have been safer to have taken the truck back, it would have made them a much bigger target that was easy to see. Even with the lights off, the old 80s pick up would be harder to hide than two people sneaking back for a look, hence why neither of them mentioned driving back.

They walked off to the side of the road and quickly made their way back. Taking less than five minutes to walk it, Laz and Kat came within sight of the blockade. Despite their best efforts, it was hard to see what was happening right away due to the intense light in the dark night. As they came closer though, Laz was able to make out some flashes of light along with flickers of movement.

Looking over, he could tell that Kat could only see as much as him as she was still inching her way closer while trying to stay low in a crouch.

"Can you see anything?" Kat asked. Taking a closer look, Laz could only see the quick flashes of light and blurred shadows.

"I can only see a little. Mostly there are some flashes of light that seem the most out of place. But it's not gun shots since there is no sound," Laz tried to explain. The flashes of light description seemed to click with Kat.

"Flashes? Color... can you see the color of the flashes?" Kat looked to Laz who started to focus more, reaching out with his sense while observing with his eyes.

"Green...? It looks... greenish?" Laz wasn't sure he was seeing it right since they weren't very bright amidst the high intensity head lamps.

"Damn it.... DAD?" Kat suddenly called out while running forward.

"KAT... WAIT... Shit," Laz tried to stop her but she got a head start on him. Laz had no choice but to run after her.

Just as they got close enough to see what was happening, Laz noticed something was seriously wrong while Kat focused on Jon who seemed like he was randomly shooting off lightning bolts and energy attacks.

"DAD?!?"

"KAT? RUN, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE. TAKE LAZ AND DON'T STOP!!" Jon yelled as loud as he could while his body never stopped moving.

While Kat was trying to make out what her dad was fighting while hesitating to follow his order, Laz was looking at the police officers gather around. Since he had his senses extended, they had swept over the officers as he had gotten closer, but they gave him one hell of a strange sensation. It felt like some of the officers were alive and brimming with vitality while others had no vital signs what so ever.

'How is that possible?' Laz thought to himself. Every time he had ever checked someone out, he could tell how fast their heart was beating and whether they were nervous or sweating or such. Thing of that nature. But some of these random people had no body functions what so ever. It didn't make sense.

As Laz turned his focus on Jon, he noticed that a few of the officers had turned to face Kat and him, but they didn't make a move right away. As Laz started to feel beads of sweat roll down his back from the stares, he noticed two lumps on the ground near Jon's feet. It didn't take him long to figure out the lumps were actually heads that had been detached from their bodies.

'Roberto... and Rick. Fuck!" Laz got an idea of what kind of situation they were in as he looked closer at Jon.

He was fighting a monster.

"WHAT IS IT?" Laz yelled out while grabbing Kat who seemed to want to rush over.

"IT'S LIKE A FUCKING PRAYING MANTIS WITH WINGS," came the response back. Although Laz couldn't be sure that that was what is was, he immediately connected a few dots. Large blade arms, insect and wings. Those were the key points. Thinking about the wendigo he had fought before, Laz couldn't help but feel this monster was much worse.

After grabbing Kat's hand, he started dragging her away, back towards the truck.

"I'LL TAKE HER AND GO," Laz yelled again without hesitation before circulating his energy and running with all of his strength. He didn't have Last Rites and there was no way he was going to do better in a fight than the bear like martial artist Jon. Even though it might seem cowardly, Laz knew he could only keep Kat safe at this point and remove that burden from Jon.

"Let me go.... Let ME GOOO!!" Kat was fighting him even as he ran, wanting to go back. But Laz wasn't going to stop.

"GO! AND BE SAFE!" Jon yelled showing his daughter the best smile he could manage.

"DAD!!"

*Enough. Be quiet and move. He can't fight properly with you distracting him.* Laz finally remember his spirit communication and used it to yell at Kat. Since it wasn't something he was used to doing just yet, he had forgotten until now that it was the best way of being stealthy.

*We can't leave him. He's... He's the only family I have left...* Kat's mind voice faltered. Although Laz had gotten through to her with this, Kat wasn't going to be able to settle down so quickly.

*The old man won't die that easily. Right now we need to get away from here or else we will become targets,* Laz shared his thoughts. He was worried because despite being watched, no one came to intercept them. But he knew it was only a matter of time.

*Fine... FINE. LET'S GO,* Kat finally agreed and started running with him.

As they bolted, Laz could see the truck parked just up ahead. Pulling the keys out of his pocket, he turned to say something to Kat when he saw a blur out of the corner of his eye. Without thinking, he grabbed Kat's shoulders and pulled her close while falling, causing both of them to roll of the cold, snowy road for a few feet before stopping. Getting to his feet, Laz circulated his energy as fast as he could, causing his eyes to become blood red as they glowed in the dark night.

Although it was only briefly, he could make out the grotesque figure that was hovering in the air a few feet away. It looked somewhat humanoid, with what appeared to be an upper and lower body. It's entire figure was covered in dark green plates and it's arms were strangely long, reaching almost down to it's claw like feet. The last foot of it's arms looked like huge kitchen knives that ended in a sharp point. The creature's face was was barely even visible as it seemed to move back and forth quicker than the eye could follow while it was hovering.

Laz had a really bad feeling as he tried to observe this creature. The only way it would be here was if it had already finished it's last battle.

This could only mean that Jon was already dead.