Apollyon's Saint The Collection: Books One through Ten

Apollyon's Saint The Collection: Books One through Ten

  By Zachary Koukol

  Copyright © 2015 by Zachary Koukol All rights reserve

  This book contains the first ten books in the Apollyon's Saint series. Its has, The Beginning, The Unraveling, Cain's Rage, Heaven's Abomination's, Nine Kingdoms, The Rebellion, Morrighan's Curse, Land of Literature, Suicidal Writers Society, and the Decendents of Salem.

  Chapter One

  The stars gave Gabriel no relief as he gazed at them through tear filled eyes. No miraculous sign that would prevent him from using the shotgun at his side. Looking on he felt only emptiness and how miniscule his life really was. Even his dead wife, the meaning behind this pathetic last stand seemed meaningless. Part of him hoped that she would come to him and take his hand. Pulling him from the hillside and the coward he had become. The other part of him enjoyed the misery. Her death only means he escaped the life of white fences and fake smiles.

  Through tears and agony, a menacing smile cracked across his face. He began laughing at the fact that he was so screwed up in the head. The love of his life was gone and he enjoyed the pain it brought. The smile retracted from his face. He had no suicide notes, no last words or footprints left for the world that he never wanted to be a part of. Thoughts of how it would be after he pulled the trigger crept into his mind.

  Thoughts of his so called friends on his social media, most of which he did not know. He thought of how they would write paragraphs about how sad they were and how much he meant to them. Maybe they would start a fan club for him using his suicide as a crusade to prevent others from doing so. Just what he always wanted to be a unwilling suicide advocate after committing suicide. A reason for people to act sad and use his death for their own bullshit agenda.

  Thinking of years down the road when his legacy was just another unknown name on a stone. When enough time had passed that he was no longer a thought on the minds of the living. It was right where he wanted to be. He spent his whole life making his footprints smaller than his foot. So that he could live unnoticed, and now die the same way.

  “What if there is a heaven and hell?” He asked himself.

  Will god condemn me for ending what is already dead. Or would he do exactly what I never wanted and add my name to the book of life. Giving me a eternity in heaven where any eternity would be hell. Gabriel hoped all those overbearing atheists in his life were right. To him nonexistence was heaven, void of emotions and trials he faced in life.

  His thoughts turned his sadness into nothing more than headache and confusion. Leaning to his side he grabbed the shotgun by the barrel. It was cold steel like his rapidly pounding heart, vibrating into the pain in his head. With the barrel pointing at his head he fumbled the shotgun around searching for the right positioning. Even if the blow was not fatal, he was upside down and all the blood had already rushed to his head.

  He struggled to place the end of the barrel of the side by side shotgun into his mouth. His mouth stretched at an awkward angle around the gun. After laying there for a moment, it did not feel right leaving the world sucking on a barrel. removing it from his mouth he placed it under his chin. Removing the barrel left a taste of black powder in his mouth. Moving his hands from the barrel to the trigger he started to tremble. A fear that had not overcame him since he was a child.

  The first time he attempted suicide he was only a boy of 6 years old. This was not something entirely new to him and most likely stemmed from a genetically unstable mind in search of any reason for self-destruction. Suicide was like a instinctual art form to Gabriel. One he had perfected over the years but like the dead poets society, it was all for nothing since he was alive.

  Gabriel's first attempt was cut short due to inexperience. He tried to tie an amateur noose out of some rainbow shoelace from his older sisters roller skates. He then moved enough clothes to the side of his sisters closet rod to tie up his makeshift rainbow contraption of death. Then he used a yellow plastic Lego container as the stool he would kick out, leading to rainbow strangulation. Such a dark moment it was, the 6 year old figure of Gabriel waiting to meet his demise in a closet.

  With the noose around his neck, the same fear coming over him now came over him then. Not of death, but of stepping into the unknown. Then his reasons for suicide were the same as now, simply to not exist. But what if doing so was just the next step in existence. So he made the step and the container fell from under him and he plummeted.

  He felt the snap as the noose tightened around his neck cutting the flow of air into his lungs. Not knowing the struggle he might face. He could have hung there for hours slowly strangulating. Kicking his feet made him swing back and fourth. The motion made the clothes hanger break away from the wall. He smashed into the Lego container and shoes not far below. Clothes came down and crashed all around him. He laid there under his sisters clothes soaking in the fact that he was stuck in this world to lead a truly pathetic existence.

  Only a few minutes had passed as Gabriel laid there with the gun to his chin. He did not have to look for any convincing for pulling the trigger. Breathing in the cool July air Gabriel only wanted to feel the moment. The last moment he hoped to spend, trembling under those magnificent stars. The same stars that others had no choice but to die under. They would give anything for just another breathe.

  It did not matter to him though, he was ready to feel death. Hoping that once the bird shot passed into his head he would have a few moments to taste it. To smell the burning powder on his flesh. To hear the ringing of his ears as the shot echoed in and out of eternity. Methodically his shaking stopped as his finger felt the pressure of the trigger. Squeezing it with all he had as his heart jumped into his throat.

  Eyes closed so hard that his face grimaced. An empty clicking sound vibrated Gabriel's disappointment through the gun. He only had one loaded shell in the barrel. Never thinking he would have need for more than one shell. Rolling to his side he removed the gun from his chin and swung his legs around so he could sit upright and determine the delay in his demise.

  Cracking the barrel open he examined the gun and his one shell. Nothing was out of the ordinary and he snapped the gun closed. Boiling blood from rage flowed through him as he aimed at the night sky and once again squeezed down on the trigger. BOOOM followed by the loud ringing of Gabriel's ears and the smell of powder burning into the night sky.

  Like everything in life he had failed again. The box of shells were miles away at home strategically placed on top of his dresser. Getting up off the ground he began the walk of shame back to his truck. He was not sure how to get back to the truck since it was not a part of his game plan. For a moment he stayed in one place looking around into the darkness. He thought about waiting for the morning light to guide him. As usual he needed no saving grace and simply walked into the night.

  The urge to drive to his local drinking hole was stronger than his will to survive in the woods. It was even greater than his will to die at the moment since he knew even that was out of the realms of possibilitys. As he was walking he felt like that same coward in his sisters closet. If only I knew then what I knows now, he though. I would have used my mothers closet. If it could hold hundreds of her clothes, it could hold a lost 6 year old's soul. Sparing him a lifetime of suicidal humiliation.

  As he walked he felt the presence of something just on the edge of darkness. Hoping it was some wild beast ready to finish what he could not. In that moment the thought hit him as if he had just made a major break through. If he could not take his own life then he would simply seek death. Heck even so called sane people do this on a daily basis. On
their vacations when they get out to get that picture right next to the rhino. Or drive really fast when they are late to work not realizing that around the next bend is their permanent retirement plan.

  The world does this without even realizing it's suicide each time they tempt their fate. So why couldn’t he do it while being completely aware that the end goal is death. How can any of us make it to whatever form of heaven we believe in when almost everything we do is simply suicide by ignorance. Stumbling through the darkness a false feeling of self worth came over him. He often felt as though he had the world figured out. It was the last thing giving him any meaning.

  The reality of things is he was a lunatic, emotional, redneck lost in the woods seeking his truck. But he was not far off from the social norm of the mountain town of Axal where he grew up. Like the people from Axal, he thought of himself as an intellectual. Unlike them he lacked any ego moving him up or down the social ladder depending on the way you look at it.

  Moonlight was shining off the dented metal of his old beat up truck off in the distance. Next to it was a cheap foreign car that some kid with a low self-esteem added a spoiler and some Wal-Mart rims to boost his confidence. It must have been working since it was the local hangout where kids would take their dates to tryout for the next cast of teen mom.

  Gabriel must have looked like their worst nightmare coming out from the darkness. He had on an old baseball cap with sweat and dirt stains around the sides of it. A thick beard that displayed his lack of caring in the grooming department. A black hoodie with nothing on it, which Gabriel thought showed the world that he was not another name brand consumer. Combined with a shotgun at his hip, he was about to save the world of another fatherless child.

  The menacing smile was back across his face, instead of going towards his truck he was heading right for speed racer. Inside the car in the back seat was just as he expected. A preppy kid wearing a stripped polo shirt. The same type of kid that would call Gabriel names in school and use him as a stepping stone for their lack of confidence. Underneath slick was the typical fake blond who had too much cellulite on her hips. Though her social status made her an attractive target for kids with spoilers.

  Apparently slick was not as slick as Gabriel thought since their clothes were still on. Gabriel was standing right over the hood of the car and placed his hand on it. The hood was cold and it was apparent that they had been there awhile and still had not made it past second base. They were oblivious to the fact that a man with a shotgun was tonight's peeping tom.

  “ANNA IS THAT YOU IN THERE!” Gabriel yelled, raising the gun at the two. Slick jolted his attention to Gabriel and realized there was an armed psycho outside of the car. The fake blond did as all fake blonds would do and started to scream. lowering the gun from the two, Gabriel busted up laughing. The horror on their faces was almost enough to make up for the nights misfortune. The girls scream stopped as the two sat up in the back seat. They were still unsure if it was a sick practical joke or their last night on earth.

  “Had I been this girls father you would have spent your last night on earth being a pussy and only making out with her” Gabriel said in a stern voice and paused for a moment.

  “If it is going to be your last night then take a tip from someone who has had many of them and at the very least get laid kid!” Gabriel said not waiting for a response. He turned from the two petrified lovers and got in his truck. He laid the shotgun down at his side and after a few failed attempts the truck roared to life.

  The dirt road leading back to Axal was glowing like the yellow brick road to another forgotten night of whiskey. The town was mostly empty, the streets of downtown still looked similar to the way they did 100 years ago. He passed the local bar for the younger crowd, or the ones that was his age anyways. He turned down a ally way and picked one of many empty parking spots at the bar he frequented called Marlov's.

  Once inside it was dark and dirty with mostly broke old alcoholics who reminisced on a time when they had self-worth. They all had a story that was begging to be told to anyone dumb enough to sit with them. Gabriel did not even know most of their names but he could write a book about each one of their life stories. Gabriel always looked for one of the many places of solitude inside the bar. Many nights he spent blowing his wife’s life insurance on whiskey and cheap stories that changed depending on the current mood or conversation.

  Ashley was the normal bartender, her father was the owner. She never got the memo that if you want to lead any meaningful life then you have to leave that little shit hole when you've become of legal age. She was in her mid thirty’s, petite, black hair, and large overbearing breasts. She was married once but after the typical Axal girls past of molestation from the many local pedophiles there was no hopes of it working.

  Once divorced she was damaged goods looking to get back at all men. Each time she spread her legs it was like she gained another trophy in the halls of pedophiles, drunks, and even a few married men. Most men were eager to join the exclusive club of local high quality members of society but not Gabriel. He knew her game since he had many nights to study it.

  Gabriel was fond of watching the interaction of the local bar flies. He studied each small intricate body language as if peering into their skeletons in the closet would make his go away. Nothing was to out of the ordinary in Marlov's, that mixed with seclusion made it the perfect drunken people watching post for Gabriel.

  Gabriel sat down at a empty section of the bar. Ashley was already directing her attention at him. She poured some jack into a shot glass. She must have though that her attention to detail would earn her points with Gabriel and one more passenger for the town whore. Once Gabriel was seated Ashley brought the glass over to him and placed it in front of him. He dreaded interacting with her, since it was so repetitive. She leaned over the bar bearing the cleavage in her large breasts and batting her eyes.

  “I was hoping you would come tonight, where have you been!” Ashley said in a muffled voice. Gabriel acted oblivious to the overbearing signals she was giving.

  “I have been working late lately and have had little spare time” Gabriel said. In fact Gabriel was still unemployed and living off life insurance but telling half truths was something conditioned into him as a child and something he had perfected.

  “Well its good to see you here tonight, lately its been the same old creeps trying to pull one liners to get me to go home with them” Ashley said in a more depressed tone. Gabriel fought back a smile knowing it was just a damsel in distress ploy. The fact was she had most likely went home with everyone there except Gabriel.

  “Well Ashley, a women with such class as yourself should not be offended. They just see the wife material in your eyes!” Gabriel said, unsuccessfully abstaining from sarcasm. Ashley started laughing as she turned away

  “By the way I get off at three!” Ashley cheerfully said. It was like a invitation for free hepatitis brownies that was easy to resist for a man without a sweet tooth. Gabriel picked up his glass and chugged his small sanctuary and slid it to the edge of the bar. There was no burning sensation or spasm of the gag reflux. To him it was water to the dessert of his soul.

  He looked around the room for a target to watch so he was not stuck with just his thoughts. Tonight there was a younger girl at the bar with a older man who was once Gabriel's math teacher, Mr. Sparow. She looked like the virgin Mary on a street corner in the Bronx. She was facing the bar but Mr. Sparow was turned to her and eager to make his way into her personal space. She was not interested, but in a place like Marlov's it didn't matter. Everyone was a few drinks away from waking up tied and naked in the local whack jobs basement.

  As the night progressed Gabriel continued to drink and people watch as the younger girl started to open up. She might have been oblivious to what the night was about to bring but Mr. Sparow was a seasoned veteran in the world of creeps. A few hours passed and Mr. Sparow had gained way with her. At first it was safe to say he had no chance and now his hand
was making his way up her leg and into her dress.

  Mr. Sparow kept the drinks coming until the moment had come when she could hardly keep her head upright. No one in the bar cared about what would become of her. Neither did Gabriel but why pass up on a opportunity to kick the teeth in of your old math teacher. It was possible the girl he was about to rape was a student of his in the sixth grade and now of legal age to get drunk enough to have sex with. It was just one sick example of how the town of Axal operated.

  Gabriel paid for his drinks and did his best to ignore more pathetic attempts from Ashley. Gabriel went out to his truck and sat and waited in the alleyway for his chance to be a hero. Really it was just a opportunity for more chaos in his deranged life. Anyone at Marlov's is no saint, you become guilty by association. The minutes passed as Gabriel searched for ghosts in the dark to fuel his already drunken rage.

  He thought back to when he was in school, even then Mr. Sparow was a creep. How he would lean over the girls desk and get right in their personal space. During tests when everyone's heads were down his eyes would begin to wonder around the room and then fixate on one position. Gabriel could only imagine what happened after class if a girl had to stay late.

  Almost two hours had passed and they had not left the bar even though it was about to close. Gabriel searched for a excuse to leave. Maybe the girl was already one of his victims. Or maybe Mr Sparow was the victim. Maybe the innocent girl had her own closet of skeletons. For all he knew she could be the predator and was about to give the final blow to that sick fuck. Then the town would make a statue of him and the local paper would tell of how he was such a great man and dedicated to the education of children. It was just in the nature of Axal to cover the disgusting truth.

  Gabriel was tired of waiting and at this point it would no longer be a ass kicking but a homicide. He walked back into the bar and scanned the room for the two. There was now only Ashley at the bar who lit up with a smile as she looked at Gabriel. She must have thought it was her lucky night and the drunken widow had come back for her. Gabriel quickly ducked into the bathroom to avoid any further aggravation.

  Once inside one of the stalls riddled with notes about his valentine waiting behind the bar, he thought of escape plans. Men wrote tips about how to get Ashley into bed with them like it was some difficult riddle or conquest. Then through the silence and sanctuary of the urine stained bathroom the voice he was dreading to hear again tonight broke the silence.

  “Gabriel I am locking up for the night but if you want we could have a few drinks....On the house?”

  “No I think I am done for the night, I am just going to head home.” Gabriel said with a sigh. He knew he would not get off that easy. The bar was now empty and the only shield he had was the stall door that he began reading as though it would give him a way out.

  “I really need someone to talk to tonight would you please have a drink with me? Ashley said spewing adulterous webs.

  “Did you see that girl leave with Mr. Sparow tonight?” Gabriel said.

  “Yeah they left about a hour ago.....So how about that drink?” Ashley said. It was as though she held some important information for ransom. Gabriel thought about it and cursed himself for breaking one if his rules of survival. Never stay at Marlov's after two a.m. or the eater of men would have you in her grasp.

  He reluctantly left the stall knowing that he was heading into the mouth of the beast. She was waiting on one of the stools like a lion in heat ready to pounce on any poor soul in her web. Her white blouse was spewing out more cleavage than before. She had on a long skirt and heels, trying to look old fashion to fool the unsuspecting man. Her legs were crossed and her lead foot pointed right for Gabriel's crotch as he walked to the bar.

  She took a few moments to prepare her sexual noose while he was in the bathroom trying to escape. Red lipstick on so thick that she had to have used a putty knife to apply it. As he got closer the smell of over perfumed whore stung his nostrils. The perfume had to have been a old line of perfume, “Slut” by Chanel. She reminded him of a cat he had as a kid. When it was in heat it would rub up against your leg and purr to the point that you felt violated.

  She had a glass of red whine in her hand and a fake smile to appear elegant. A full bottle of jack set in front of a empty stool with a glass. Not a shot glass but one you would drink a beer from. Her intent was crystal clear, but Gabriel had to act oblivious to it. Why did the gun not go off he cursed in his head as he sat down beside her.

  “So the young girl in the bar tonight, who was she?” he said.

  “Why are you so interested in some random boring girl at the bar tonight?” Gabriel paused searching for that con-artist that protected his real intent. That familiar friend of lie's and delusion.

  “I was very attracted to her innocence’s in a place like this” Gabriel said. Ashley smiled and leaned into him pushing the overbearing cleavage into his gaze.

  “Innocence is only complication, none of us are truly innocent just victims.” Gabriel knew she was right but kept a blank expression on his face.

  “Do you know if she was from around here?”

  “Yes she was from here in Axal, only eighteen too but I am not about to turn away a paying customer on such a slow night.” Ashley said. With hands trembling, Gabriel tried to hide his rage as he poured some jack into his glass and took a swig. After all how could he be upset when its like having something stolen in a house of thieves.

  “So did she leave with that creep of a teacher?” Gabriel said. Ashley's smile was now real and brimming from eye to eye.

  “Yeah he kept the drinks flowing, and one thing any good math teacher knows is they add up!” Ashley paused to see if Gabriel would laugh at her joke, but he did not approve.

  “Once she was incapable of refusing his advances he did what any gentleman would do and walked her out the back door of the bar.” She said laughing.

  “I am sure if you catch up with them she might stay conscious for long enough to give you a turn at her innocence!”

  Gabriel knew her fate as well as Ashley but he imagined the young flower had thorns and was stabbing Mr. Sparow in the chest with a blunt knife. Ashley put her hand on Gabriel's thigh and he tried to act surprised rather than annoyed.

  “So not to change the subject but how long has it been since your wife has passed, a few years now isn’t it?” Ashley said with a smile. The act was up and Gabriel could no longer bottle his anger as he pushed her hand away.

  “I am not here to talk about my wife!” Gabriel said in a angry tone. Ashley giggled as she leaned back on her stool and tilted her head at the ceiling.

  “How long has it been since you've had a women in your bed? You know, I normally like it rough but if you are looking for innocence's I can try that too.” Ashley said with a grin. If she could not get him between her legs she would at least toy with his emotions. Gabriel was falling right into it and knew it was happening ever since he left the stall.

  He figured at least he got the information he was looking for. Now one more free drink and he could rudely excuse himself from the ravishing of lost souls. He poured the jack into the cup for the last time this evening. Ashley kicked off her heel and began rubbing her foot up his leg. The issue of the last shot was now a pressing matter as her foot climbed higher up his leg. She pulled open her blouse as he urgently chugged the whiskey.

  He placed the glass on the table, realizing this “free” shot might have cost him his last hope of sanity. His eyes turned to her partially exposed chest and he could not resist looking. Her breasts were perfectly proportioned, almost surgically. He looked at her gaze now trying to seem innocent after such a whorish display. He leaned into her just enough to keep separation and whispered in her ear.

  “Have a good night, Ashley.” He tipped his hat to her as he turned away and walked out. Most men would not be able to resist, but Gabriel has only been with his wife. He was not about to throw away the last thing he held sacred in his life for the towns
trash. Maybe there was something that separated him from the rest of Marlov's, some twisted morals.

  On his drive home he saw one of the local police parked in a empty lot. It was a old overweight man passed out while on duty. Gabriel just laughed as he thought, if only he knew a drunk, psycho with a shotgun at his side was driving by right now. Truth was he did know, he knew there was an extreme problem with meth, missing persons, sexual predators, and all sorts of nasty things happening while he peacefully slumbered.

  The old cop also knew that the politics of his job prevented him from actually making a meaningful difference in the population of swine. Gabriel figured he would be doing the same thing in his shoes, it would either be that or get discharged for beating the shit out of a mathematical sexual predator of his youth.

  That was a cop that most people assumed didn’t care. But Gabriel figured he was most likely riddled with scar tissue from the ulcers because of the stress he endured over the years. The man cared so much that it lead to him doing what any sane person would do. Coming to the understanding that you cannot control the madness our world holds. Even resistance is futile to your own selfish needs of preservation. So that cop was actually a napping genius disguised as a foolish authority. Gabriel had an answer for everything even if it made no sense to anyone else.

  The lights of the horrors of Axal disappeared in his mirrors. As the truck drove through the darkness he had a new purpose in life, seek death. An easy task for most of mankind but a difficult challenge for Gabriel. He turned from the blacktop of the highway on a road leading to his house through dense pine tree's.

  The house was an old colonial style home with a wrap around porch. It was in very rough shape and hard to believe anyone lived there. He bought it after the death of his wife so he would not have to return to their apartment in town. The thought of walking in and seeing it the way it was left, horrified him. The newly finished baby's room or his wife's clothes made him wince in pain.

  He pulled up in front of the door and shut his truck off. He left the lights on and gazed at the beauty of his home that most people would only see in their worst nightmares. He scanned the old dirty windows like he expected someone to be there waiting for him. Picturing something out of a horror movie he hoped some deranged lunatic back from the dead was inside.

  Maybe the spawns of hell would erupt from inside the creepy old house and he would be the start of a zombie apocalypse. Sighing he knew he would not be that lucky tonight. He shut off the lights on his truck and headed inside. Once through the door the wooden floor creaked under his feet. The walls were lined with old cloth wallpaper partially torn. No pictures or furnishing lined the rooms.

  To anyone else this was a abandoned haunted house but to Gabriel it was home. He didn't bother to flip on the lights, most of which had burnt out bulbs. He made his way up the worn out wooden steps.

  “HONEY IM HOME!” He shouted follow by drunken laughter. Once upstairs he went into all four of the upstairs bedrooms. Each one completely empty except the smell of ancient dust and chloroform. The smell used to bother him but now it was one of those luxuries of living the high life. The last room he stepped into was completely black. Bath towels covered the windows and Gabriel stretched his feet out into the darkness searching for the mattress on the floor. He collapsed on it and the old springs struggled to handle his weight. Laying in bed he looked at the moonlit hallway hoping at the very least that his exhausted mind would trick him into seeing an apparition. Of course he had no such luck as sleep struggled to drag him away.

  The morning sun shined through the towels on the window giving the room a red glow as though the rays passed through stained glass. Sunlight was a curse to any social recluse and Gabriel hated it. He rolled out of bed and put on his sunglasses before leaving his stuffy crypt. Making his way to the lower floor which consisted of a empty dining room, living room, kitchen, and the bathroom. Any room that Gabriel often frequented had piles of trash and dirty dishes.

  Cleaning was not a trait of the depressed, suicidal outcast, or maybe just something he inherited from a mutt of a gene pool. His diet consisted mostly of whiskey, milk and cereal. Sitting down on his old dingy couch he ate his wheat grain cereal. He might have a limited diet but why not shoot for one of the food groups on the pyramid.

  He had but one luxury of a modern society, a TV that he found outside of a dumpster. It was not plugged in since he had no cable out in the woods. He could get a dish but he choose to deprive himself of any pleasures or entertainment. To him he was a messiah for living outside of what society wanted him to do. It was definitely a glorious revelation, him eating cereal staring at a blank TV on the floor. Ghosts where all that kept him company and even those were only of his mind. The reality was he was even a poor bachelor for the likes of Ashley the village whore. But he set no expectations for himself so none of it mattered.

  Outside storm clouds rolled in, sparking the genius thoughts of his adventure to death. He knew of a mountain that was near by. Once when he was a kid he was caught in a storm up there and it was as if the wrath of the gods all converged to destroy the mountain. What else did he have to do besides have a camp out on that magnetic mountain top. Not like he could return to Marlov's and people watch after Ashley's display of destructive affection.

  He knew all the horrors about her, but there was something that made him drawn to her. Maybe it was the simple fact that he was a male species who naturally should be drawn to any willing female. Or the fact that she would be the key to breaking one of his twisted morals in this natural world. She was the one thing that still made him come up to the same level playing field as the human race. No matter what it was, the affection of whores was something that all men must face and in this department he was no different.

  Going back to Marlov's and selling his soul out was the easy route and the one most people in his state of being would take. But he despised the thought of rejoining the race of the living. Interaction with anyone was a dreadful thought and he was beyond the selfish agenda of helping hands. That fateful night of free drinks and bare breasts at Marlov's would be the last time he frequented there.

  Gabriel had not been camping since he was a kid and he lacked any kind of camping equipment. He was not sure how one should prepare for the type of camping trip he was going on. A metal rod to hold at the top of the mountain would suffice but still a little too dramatic so Gabriel headed to the towns grocery store to get a few basic items. In the daylight the people of Axal could not hide their depression. They wore it on their faces like a badge of honor. Good deeds go unnoticed in Axal which is why Gabriel no longer did the simple things such as opening a door to the store for a stranger. No one in the town cared and if you showed any weakness the town vultures would be sure to devour you just for entertainment.

  Once inside the store he saw the same familiar unfriendly faces. No one spoke unless they were forced to do so. Friendly gestures only pained the people of Axal into finding a spot in their soul not frozen enough to return the gesture. No one made eye contact and everyone's personal bubble was the size of a VW bus. The people of Axal were oddly comforting to Gabriel. He could walk amongst them and feel like he did not even exist.

  Gabriel grabbed some generic granola bars, some toiletry, and a few lighters. Backwoods survival had little meaning to him but why turn from a excuse to burn something. Gabriel got in line for the cashier and the line moved methodically. Like prisoners lined up heading to their cells. As if one person spoke or stepped out of line they would socially out cast them from Axal.

  The cashier had a look of dismay on her face. You could tell she hated her job and all the shitty people she had to deal with day in and day out. She seemed so young to be stuck in the Axal web of dismay. Gabriel hoped she was a few paychecks from telling the old store manager to get fucked and ditch town. But with that look on her face her story could be nothing but one of the locals. Gabriel placed his items on the conveyer of her annoyance. She said nothing, Beep, Beep,
Beep, like the moments of her life ticking away.

  “That will be eighteen seventy five” the cashier said as though the sound of her own voice was about to send her to the brink. Gabriel swiped his card and told her thanks and walked out of the store. It amazed him that anyone could lead such a life. Even his attempts at suicide and journey for death brought more adventure and joy than that poor girls ruins of a life in Axal. The only cure for the towns depression was to gather everyone up for a poisoned kool-aid festival. At least then it might look appealing to a tourist.

  Gabriel could see Shrul peak coming into view as he drove down the highway. The mountain was once crowded with miners and shafts during the gold rush. The top of it was a bald peak, with a old sheriffs station at the peak of the mountain. It was once used to watch for forest fires in the area but now it was just a small abandoned concrete hut.

  The rain had died down to a light drizzle and Gabriel was not sure if the road up to the top would be to muddy to make it. He turned off the highway and headed up the jeep trail leading to the top. There was enough exposed rock on the trail for the old truck to keep traction. Along the trail were old abandoned mine shafts. Some of them were caved in and were just piles of old timbers and rock.

  The truck radio was playing the weather warnings over and over again. The night would bring heavy thunderstorms and large amounts of rain. Most campers would be disappointed with such weather but to Gabriel it would all be for nothing without this storm. He might be stuck on top of Shrul peak for a few nights since there was water already running down parts of the jeep trail. Flash floods off the peak could create rivers on the trail that lasted for a few hours and could easily take a old pickup and throw it from the mountain.

  Ahead on the trail Gabriel could see the end of the tree line. The road turned to a rock trail that was difficult to navigate. The old truck was almost too wide for the trail as Gabriel dug the driver side into the mountain as close as possible and the passenger side hung off the trail a few inches. One miscalculation of the wet rocks would send him and the truck into the abyss.

  It was safe to say he was going to fast for the conditions since the trail was barely large enough for a jeep let alone a truck. Just before the steep grade to the peak was a flat open area where he parked the truck. He looked up at the old sheriffs station at the top. Dark low clouds were covering and uncovering it. Gabriel took a deep breath and inhaled the electricity in the air.

  The rocks on the top of the mountain contained mostly metal and different minerals. The few tree's on the flat spot where Gabriel parked had been struck and mangled by lightning. The whole peak was a natural electrocution chamber ready to light up anything that dared venture on it in a storm.

  Gabriel smiled as the wind howled around him. He grabbed his bag and patted the side of the truck as if to say fair well old friend. The trail to the top was steep and rocky. The sides of the trail had small deposits of crystal and old burnt timbers. The ruins left behind by the miners. There was also an old ground wire that lead to the sheriffs station on top. At one point it was grounded to prevent certain death to those poor souls who once had to occupy it in a storm.

  Once to the top Gabriel headed into the station to store his supplies. It was not much bigger than a storage shed and was made of concrete. Black marks lined the old shack from all the times it had been hit with lightning. There was no longer doors or windows on it as the wind howled inside. Gabriel set his stuff down among the debris on the floor.

  Graffiti that was too mature for a fourth grader lined the interior walls. The normal penises, Nazi signs, and unoriginal sayings. The floor had mostly broken glass and pieces of wood from the remains of the fire watch. Around the station was about a 10 square yard flat area and beyond that was death for an inexperienced climber.

  There was no rain yet as Gabriel looked out at the valley below. It was a magnificent site even to the suicidal. Walls of clouds were on the ridges miles away. It would not be long and Gabriel would get the light show of his lifetime. The peak felt almost like hollow sacred ground. Men once toiled and gave their lives in the shafts below him all at the chance for that American dream. Some were still buried in the shafts that collapsed and sealed the fate of the unfortunate. If there ever was a supernatural place that peak was it. Energy busted from the rocks below and all forms of life stayed clear.

  But not Gabriel, he was waiting in anticipation and was anxious as he fidgeted with a lighter. The cold wind would instantly blow out the flame as if to say “you will find no comfort here!” All the wood debris inside the the station would not be enough to start a meaningful fire. Let alone one large enough to provoke a god into mercy killing him.

  The rumbling began and Gabriel could feel it in his chest. Like a hundred thousand Calvary were charging their way up the mountain. The ridges in the distance flashed and banged. It was enough to intimidate the strongest of men. The little earth around him grew darker and darker. There was no turning back now, no chance of retreat as Gabriel nervously read one of the sayings on the wall.

  It was almost satanic as though a cult frequented the station. It read “The coming of sin is near.” with a strange satanic symbol under it. Gabriel just thought, well at least the retards didn't carve it in some 100 year old tree. The saying brought no comfort or enlightenment for the moment he was in.

  The literature and art work that he would die with on his mind was very disappointing to say the least. As if driving down the road listening to some horrible pop song on the radio station and driving off a cliff with that being the last thing stuck in your mind. Gabriel laughed, if I get struck now the last image will be a penis and a demonic saying.

  He continued to read the walls looking for one good piece of work. It was as difficult as finding a meth free virgin in Axal. “BAWOOOM” the ground around Gabriel was shaking as if a mortar just smashed into it. His ears were still ringing when the next massive flash of light hit the mountain. “CRACKKK” it was enough to bring Gabriel to the ground.

  The wind and rain howled inside the opening in the station. Nothing prepared Gabriel for this as his heart felt like it was about to burst to the vibrations around him. He thought that this must have been what those poor soldiers in the Battle of Bulge felt like as the sky crashed down on them.

  The flashing light through the doorway and window temporally blinded Gabriel. The crashing sound of electricity and rocks were deafening. It horrifically filled Gabriel with joy to be a part of such a violent display of beautiful nature. Any moment could instantly be his last.

  “IS THIS ALL YOU HAVE!” Gabriel shouted in a unsure voice. Gabriel stood up and looked out the doorway to the station. He could vaguely see the valley below him now and just watched in silence. The day had retreated behind the ridges and dark clouds. Gabriel gazed on as the storm clouds vanished into black sky's.

  After standing in the door for almost a hour Gabriel turn to retreat to the concrete shelter. Just as he turned he felt electricity viciously rip through him. He was out and for a moment and the chaos stopped. Then he regained consciousness to a pain unlike any he had felt. He was laying on his back now as the rain and wind drenched his face. The pain was a burning and tingling sensation throughout his whole body.

  His brain told his limbs to move but there was no response. His mind had lost control of his body. Nature had finally evolved him into an intelligent design. He felt as though he was in one of those dreams where you have no control of your body and you go into a panic state just before waking up. But there was no waking up for him, just the pains of the life he wanted so desperately to escape.

  The storm was letting up around him as though it just gave him a taste of it's power. The pain started to leave him with only a numb sensation as he began twitching the muscles in his arms and legs. His throat was hoarse and dry, but he could only turn his head and look at the water just inches from him. Though in his head he went there to be struck by lightning and handed death. But there was a part of him that knew tha
t the odds were so slim that he was not prepared for it to actually happen.

  It was possible that he only felt the shock from the exposed metal re-bar on the floor. He closed his eye's and wished he could go back to that moment when everything around him stopped. The pain exhausted his last strengths and he passed out.