New Beginnings

Chapter 1

As he traversed the hallowed landscape of the desert, Danny couldn’t help but appreciate the stars in the night sky. The Demons had scorched the Earth and decimated the population but even they couldn’t destroy the stars. Danny honestly wasn’t sure if he was alone on the planet, sometimes he would go months without seeing another living soul. Despite it all he knew there was still beauty if you knew where to look.

He continued on his way, humming quietly to himself, gazing into the heavens. Danny had been a simple guy before the apocalypse, just another cog in the machine. From nine to five he was Daniel Martinez, executive assistant for Riordan Marketing Company. “I need these files!”, “Get me copies of those reports!”, their wish was his command. Danny would get home after a long day, feed his fish, and watch TV until he passed out. Rinse and repeat. He’d been a simple guy with simple needs, of course the end of the world had a way of making things... complicated.

Danny no longer resembled the office drone he’d once been. His unkempt wavy hair grew past his ears like a raven tumbleweed. His grimy mocha skin cracked in the dry desert air. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d taken a real shower. His meals were so far between that, despite Danny’s constant trek forward, he maintained a thin slightly frame.

Danny’s attention snapped back to the world in front of him, he seemed to be coming up on a small town. He tightened his pack and threw his hood over his head. He doubted the town was occupied but he knew to stay alert in case he wasn’t alone.

As he approached he noticed the slew of long abandoned cars. Buildings were scarred with soot and graffiti. The windows were shattered and giant holes were smashed through the exterior like Swiss cheese, revealing the destruction within.

The streets were littered with the dead, skeletons stared at Danny through empty sockets as if asking him why. Why did they die? Why hadn’t he saved them? He learned a long time ago not to answer their questions, you can’t save everyone.

He trudged along analyzing each building, looking for a place to hide away. His hand never left his side, gripping his machete ready for any sign of danger.

Most Demons were surprisingly just as fragile as humans and for the ones made of tougher stuff he had good ole Ramona. Danny had never seen anything like his double barrel twelve gauge. She had two slick silver barrels and a glossy walnut finish. A deep blue sapphire sat embedded in the weapon like an azure moon.

Danny stopped in front of a small convenience store. It was a perfect spot to set up shop for the night. As always he first inspected the perimeter, listening for any signs of another presence.

Reaching the back of the store Danny could see the door was removed from it’s hinges as if it had been kicked down. The door way was an entrance to a black void, Danny couldn’t see a thing. His grip on his machete grew tighter as he grabbed the flashlight from his jacket pocket.

The bright white light revealed an empty backroom leading into the front end of the shop. Danny tiptoed his way through the store checking every corner and shelf. Realizing he was alone, Danny breathed a sigh of relief and loosened the straps on his pack.

He decided to sleep up front behind the counter, that way he was out of view of any unexpected shoppers. He wasn’t surprised to find the store had been picked clean, fortunately he still had some rabbit meat he’d saved from the night before. It wasn’t a lot but it was better than nothing and as Danny rest his head on his pack he smiled content, falling asleep almost instantly.

***********

Danny jolted out of his sleep, beads of sweat glistening from his forehead. He knew better than to dwell on his nightmares, no good ever came from it. As he lay there however, he couldn't escape the images flashing through his mind. Mental pictures of hellish landscapes, mounds of the dead strewn throughout, his world engulfed in flames and the piercing screams of the tortured living. The metallic smell of iron and seared flesh emanating from the rivers of blood.

Danny shook his head breaking his chain of thought, pushing the memories deep in the back of his mind. He sat up and grabbed his pack, unclipping Ramona from the side. Cracking her open he removed each round from the double barrel.

Danny sat there mindlessly cleaning his weapon looking at his surroundings. The shop was much less intimidating during the day. Beams of fresh sunlight shone through the store windows revealing six empty shelves lined neatly in the center and a row of coolers along the opposite end. Everything was covered in dust save for his footprints trailing throughout the store.

"Daniel, I know you're here, you can't hide from me!"

Danny's eyes widened as his heart dropped to his stomach, he'd recognize that voice anywhere. He snapped Ramona shut and ducked back behind the counter. How had he found him, Danny thought, he had to calm down and think of a way out. Danny peered over the counter to see two familiar figures standing impatiently in front of the shop, waiting for him to appear.

The largest of the two was a giant grey beast, a goliath. They were rhino like creatures who stood on two legs, they had two large horns protruding from their snout and wrecking balls for hands. They were about the size of an SUV but not nearly as smart.

The other he recognized as the Demon Lord Dantalion or simply the Doctor as he was known by his victims. Danny could still hear the screams as he peeled the flesh from those poor souls. The doctor wore it as a means of disguised, he loved the feeling of getting under someone's skin.

Danny shuddered at the thought.

The Doctor had changed his appearance since Danny had seen him last. He now wore an older gentleman in his late fifties, he had pale wrinkled skin and no hair except for a small silver patch on his chin. He wore his usual midnight suit with a silver striped cobalt tie and black loafers on his feet. His blood red eyes were hidden behind his darkened shades.

Danny dropped his head back down and reached for the ammunition he'd placed in his pocket. Before he could reload the shotgun, a deafening explosion threw him on his face.

As the dust began to settle Danny could see the Doctor and the snorting Goliath standing in the center of the now unrecognizable store. The front wall was completely destroyed the shelves were scattered throughout the store, one even hung firmly embedded in the ceiling.

"Hello Daniel," the Doctor said with a smug grin, patting the Goliath on its large muscled back.

"How did you find me?" Demanded Danny.

"Come now Daniel do you truly believe there is anywhere on this Earth you can hide that I can’t find you?" As he spoke he advanced toward the counter each step deliberate and slow. The Demon stopped in front of Danny eyeing him intensely before removing his shades, revealing his dangerous ruby eyes. Danny glared at the Doctor his hand slowly moving to his machete.

"Don't frown Daniel, I don't want any wrinkles in that skin of mine," the demon teased reaching for Danny's face. Danny drew his machete and the Doctor's hand sailed through the air. The doctor merely chuckled as Danny sprinted for the back door.

He burst through the exit into an empty alleyway pausing in an attempt to load Ramona but a thunderous roar directly behind him forced him to make a sharp left. A moment later the Goliath smashed through the back end of the shop, taking off after Danny.

Danny dashed through the alley cutting onto the main road, rundown cars and piles of rubble zipped by him. His mind raced as he clung to Ramona, if he could just reload he'd have his shot. Danny glanced over his shoulder to see the Goliath just behind him. The beast's powerful limbs destroyed everything in its way. Its face was contorted into a look of pure rage, foam began to form at the corners of his massive jaws. The Goliath stopped and let out a terrifying cry as it ripped a lamp post from the cement and launched it into the air. Danny, spotting his opportunity, ducked into a nearby building as the post crashed where he'd been seconds before.

Danny found himself in a deserted lobby, a giant hole punched through the rear allowed a dim aura of light to permeate the room. He quickly scanned the area noticing a pair of elevators, one of which was bent inward streaked with lines of maroon. Directly across from them Danny found exactly what he needed. Stairs!

He flew up the steps two at a time as a loud crash resounded below. Danny picked up his speed as reached the top of the stairwell and slammed through the roof entrance. He swiftly loaded a single round into each of Ramona's barrels and waited breathlessly, his gun aimed at the doorway. Danny could hear the booming cries of the beast getting closer and closer until, like a train, the Goliath appeared barreling through the doorway.

Danny pulled the trigger and the sapphire began to glow. A blue orb of light enveloped the gun its glow increasing in intensity. Danny could hear the low hum of the charge, his skin tingled with electricity.

A large beam of hot white light escaped the weapon and shot toward the Goliath. The demon lunged at Danny as he was met with the powerful blast. The Goliath stopped in its tracks, howling in pain as he erupted in a violent white flash. All that remained of the behemoth was a pile of ash that was swept away in the wind.

Danny dropped to his knee, the gun clattering beside him as he gasped for air. His lungs were on fire and he'd acquired some new scrapes and bruises but at least he was alive. As if on cue Danny heard the voice of the Doctor behind him.

"What a shame he was quite useful to me."

Danny snatched Ramona from beside him, swinging around to face the Demon. As he rose his legs gave out and he collapsed, an exhausted mess. The Doctor hovered just over the edge of the roof, a look of pity on his face. Danny could see the Demon's hand had regrown, now in the form of vicious reptilian claws. The four emerald razor blades seemed awkward next to the ashen skin he now wore.

"Poor little Daniel, never can catch a break can he?" The Doctor teased, stretching out his human hand expectantly. "Now give me the gun and I might kill you quickly."

Danny aimed Ramona at the Demon. Fake it till you make it, he thought, clenching the gun tighter in his hands. "I'm getting tired of you bastards sneaking up on me," he shouted doing his best to hide the exhaustion in his voice.

"I will not ask again Daniel," the Demon said beginning to grow frustrated.

"Good because I hate saying no," Danny yelled as he pulled the trigger. Once again the weapon flared a brilliant blue, a quiet hum charging the air. A blinding white light shot toward the Doctor. With ease the Demon launched himself higher into the air as the burst continued harmlessly before fading away into nothing. Danny, eyes wide with fear, pushed himself up and again drew his machete.

Before he could blink the Doctor appeared his claws wrapped around Danny's neck, his other hand gripped the now fractured blade of Danny's machete. Danny could feel the Demon's hot sulfuric breath on his skin. His eyes burned as he suffocated on the noxious fumes. Danny could see two red cherries behind the Doctor's charcoal shades. Ramona and the destroyed machete clattered to the ground as Danny struggled to pry himself from the Doctor's grasp. The Doctor, tossing the blade off the roof, lifted him closer as Danny's feet dangled helplessly in the air.

"I've been looking forward to this for some time Daniel," said the demon a pleasant grin spread across his face. "Of course I'll have to hide the bruises, perhaps a nice scarf, won't that be quite fashionable Daniel?" At this he laughed, tightening his hold on Danny.

Danny gurgled in response, his vision beginning to dim. No, I can't die like this, Danny pleaded with himself. His head felt like it would explode, every cell in his lungs was on fire, screaming for air. Danny's vision turned black as the world became ghostly silent.

Suddenly Danny felt himself falling before he collapsed on the ground. Slowly the world began to fade back in and the scene before him left Danny utterly confused.

In front of him stood a hooded figure dressed in black combat boots and a pair of blue jeans. They wore a dark green jacket with an empty scabbard strung across their back. The stranger pointed a shining long sword, dripping bright red blood, at the Doctor who lay huddled in the corner clutching a bloody stump. The blade had unfamiliar markings along the sharp doubled edge and a diamond sat in the pommel almost glowing in the sunlight.

The Doctor wore a horrified expression Danny had never seen before. "Yo-you c-can't be her," the Demon stammered, " we destroyed you!" The figure stood silently and stepped toward the monster. The Demon turned and fled shooting into the cloudless sky, quickly becoming a speck in the distance before disappearing altogether.

The hooded figure shook their head and turned to face Danny. The stranger dropped their hood revealing the face of a young woman. Her bright hazel eyes pierced through Danny as if judging his every sin. Her glowing olive skin and narrow gentle face had no blemishes, no sign of dirt or even sweat. Her fine auburn hair hung just below her shoulders and the very air around her appeared ready to receive her command.

"Are you injured?" The stranger asked placing her sword expertly in the sheath across her back.

"I think so," Danny rasped, eyes darting away from the woman as he realized he'd been staring. "Who are you?". The woman simply offered her outstretched hand.

"I am Sariel, Angel of the Lord."