He Sent Me

They wheeled Matthias into the dark room again. He didn't know how often he'd gone through this, but they'd devised a system. Fingers first, grab one, then yank it back until it breaks. Then cuts on the forearms. They voted on which arm to destroy, and he'd scream. Oops, too loud; gagged with a piss-soaked rag. Next were his knees. He could never look at that part; his bone would be sticking out. He closed his eyes and braced for the pain. It never came. He heard a crash, and the crowd screamed and ran. He just waited, slowly opening one eye at a time, watching the demons run out of the tent. Something told him not to move, just stay put; they'll probably come back. Matthias didn't want to get into any more trouble. The tent was empty. He heard gunshots, people running and screaming, loud crashes, and the smell of smoke. Slowly footsteps entered the tent. They paused, then came towards him.

"You were a special one to me." The voice said it was him, the clown. "I enjoyed our time together. I hope you did too. They're coming for me. My…minions won't survive…but I will." Lucifer stepped in the light. "It's not my time yet. The prodigal son hasn't returned, so I still have some time to bring some souls with me." He grabbed my arms to pull himself closer to me. "Are you going to come with me, Matthias? I'll let you go and give you whatever you want—"

"Not today Satan." Someone said behind him.

Lucifer turned and hissed at him, then took off under the tent. The man stepped towards me with several others. One turned around to check the corner, and I saw POLICE on the back of his vest.

"My name's Michael." The man said he had a slight Southern accent, and I couldn't see his face through the mask. "He sent me to save you."

Moments before the raid, Michael was in the back of the swat van listening to his boss. Some were shaking, and others were getting hyped for their first time seeing action.

The boss stood up, "Listen up, men. We are going into the most dangerous area in the state right now. Some of you will get hurt. But the doctor will take care of you. You, men, are the bravest and most courageous for coming here today. Whatever happens, remember you are equipped with the armor of God. You are—and the other seven trucks in front of us are too."

The van slowed down and came to a stop. There were two knocks from the driver. Shields up, doors open, everyone ran out. Michael ran out with his rifle and a small squad behind him. The civilians were finally free. The poor souls trapped in an endless cycle were done. He sent them to set them free. But those who wanted to stay stayed. Free will. Michael and his team ran straight to the food tent. Everyone inside was quietly chatting and enjoying a nice meal of carnival food, burgers, hotdogs, and chili with a special sauce.

"Alright, everybody, let's go," Michael said.

They looked at him, then back at their food, and continued eating. The cook looked at them while chopping meat. "They like it here. They can eat and be fat without his judgment. It's all healthy."

"You know his judgment doesn't work like that," Michael said, then the team spread out, trying to get people to go. Michael inched towards to cook.

"The world judges how they look. Here they can eat without being shameful."

"Everyone's created in his image, and you know that."

One final chop, "You'll never take them from me." Then, he pointed with the butcher knife, "I know who you are."

"Mike," Gabriel said, "Hit 'em with a little bit of truth." Gabriel covered Michael's back, then pointed to his belt. They both looked at the small gas canister hanging on a clip.

"Masks on," The team quickly put on their gas masks. He took the cylinder, pulled the pin, and tossed it in the middle of the room. Smoke seeped out, filling the area. "To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Acts 26:18"

The civilians coughed, then a sudden scream as one realized their food wasn't what they thought. The food revealed itself to be dirt, mud, half-cooked insects, and animals still moving on their plates. All of them ran out of the tent covering their mouths and noses. The cook screamed at them, "Stay, you fools. Eat your share until you are nice and plump!" He took out knives and silverware to throw at people. One came directly at Michael, and before he could react, an officer threw up a shield to block it. He turned to Michael.

"Aren't you glad I brought faith?" He said.

Michael grinned before opening fire at the cook. The rest of the team cleared the area and defended the people leaving the tent. The cook took a hit and fell behind the counter. Slowly Michael crept around to see the cook wounded with a shot in his side. "You have no power here." The cook said.

"His authority rules over all."

The team left, circling their way to the employee area and stopping at the booth. Two officers pointed their guns in, telling everyone to get out. Then, they rushed in, going tent by tent, clearing everyone out. Things were going smoothly until Gabriel got a call. The team stopped; the big man usually called Gabriel so he could deliver messages.

"Yes, Sir…yes…yes. Affirm. We'll go right now." The call ended. "We gotta go back. He wants us to find a guy named Matthias and bring him to the hospital.

"Directly? You sure—" one officer said. The others looked at him, confused.

"You right—don't question him. My bad."

Any orders from him were top priority. So they turned around and followed Gabriel through the carnival. They came across an old man blocking their way between tents. He stood there looking at them, lit a cigarette, and spoke faintly, "No one is allowed between the tents. You have to take the main paths."

"Sir," Michael said, "I'm gonna need you to move."

The man shook his head. "You can't make me."

Michael rolled his eyes. "Sir, I'm only going to ask nicely one more time. Please. Move."

"No."

"I command you to move in the name of—"

"Hey, hey, hey," The man waved his hand. "I got it." He moved to let them pass.

The team split in two, half with Raphael and half with Michael. Gabriel confirmed that the tent they were at had Matthias in it. It was precisely where he said it would be. They rushed into the tent simultaneously, guns up, checking the corners and hidden areas. It was empty. Raphael took to the stage, instructing the others to check specific areas in the tent. Michael and Gabriel looked at each other, slightly confused. They both turned to see a small opening in the back of the tent. Michael went first, with Gabriel close behind. He could see someone speaking to a man tied to a chair.

"Not today Satan," he said, walking in. The clown hissed at him before taking off under the tent. He walked up to Matthias as Gabriel searched the rest of the room. Gabriel nodded at Michael, confirming the man was Matthias. "My name's Michael. He sent me to save you."

Matthias squirmed in his chair, trying to comprehend what happened and fighting back tears. "You—you are?"

"Yes, he sent me—us. He sent us."

"He? Who's he?"

"Don't worry about it now." Michael started to loosen the straps to free Matthias, "Let's just get you out of here so you can meet him yourself.

"Boss called again," Gabriel said. He came to help with the straps. "He said just get Matthias out of here. The spirit will lead a second wave to finish the rest."

Matthias was put in the back of an ambulance, still surprised he was saved. He didn't know how long he'd been there; it had seemed like an eternity. As Michael closed the ambulance doors, Matthias asked again who sent him. Michael replied, saying that Matthias would meet him soon. He shut the door. An EMT woman turned to him, she wore a surgical mask and a familiar nurse hat.

"Don't worry, I'll take real good care of you." She bent closer to his face to pull down her mask, ripping skin and revealing parts of her black jawbone. Two bullets struck her in the chest and one in the head.

"Sorry about that. We'll ride with you." Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael got in the ambulance. The road was a little rocky, but it was smooth once they got away from the place.

"Wait—" Matthias said. "Ivy, where's—"

"He wanted to stay…" Michael answered.

"Limp Lady? I mean, Lake?"

"No sign of her or the clown. Don't worry. Sleep."

Matthias suddenly slept.

Matthias woke up in a hospital bed in a room by himself. He looked around slowly. White walls, a white ceiling, newer technology on the walls, everything perfectly clean, no dust, no darkness. It was light in the room, but he couldn't find the source. Then, finally, a nurse came in; he jumped and scanned her face to see if it was melting.

"Don't worry." She said. "I'm normal. I promise. I'm Martha. How do you feel?"

"A little groggy," Matthias said.

"That usually happens when they put you to sleep. It'll pass."

"They? Who's they? The officers?"

"An—yes, the officers." She chuckled.

"What hospital am I at."

Martha sat next to Matthias. "We're going to take great care of you here. He'll be in soon. Just relax for now."

"Who. Is. He." Matthias was no longer asking.

"He's a great man. He's Advocate, Almighty, Alpha," she began to smile, "Deliverer, Faithful, True, Eternal Life, Everlasting," Her smile grew, and a tear ran down her cheek, "Hope, Joy, Rock, Wonderful—he's—" Her voice was a little shaky speaking about him. "There are so many ways to describe him. He's good. He brought my brother back." She stood up to throw back the curtains to his window. The sky was blue, a blue you only remember as a kid on those great summer days. He could see clouds somewhere a few floors below him. Matthias leaned forward, squinting at how bright and beautiful it was. But, he thought, when was the last time he'd even seen the blue sky or light at all? He didn't even notice her take a book from the drawer beside him and place it in his hands.

"It's nice, isn't it?" someone said.

"What?" Mattias turned to see who entered and wondered when the nurse had left.

"The view. It's nice, isn't it?"

Matthias placed the book down, "Yeah, it's nice."

"I fixed your injuries when you came in."

"That was quick. Weren't they bad?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle. Everything looks good, almost good enough for me to let you go."

"Really? How long was I out?"

"Not long." He smiled.

"I'm sorry, I can't stay. I don't have money or insurance, so I should get going. Thanks though."

"Don't worry, it's covered." He sat next to Matthias in the chair Martha sat in. He placed a firm hand on Matthias's shoulder. "Lay back down."

Matthias laid back in bed with an overwhelming feeling of being calm and safe. "Who took care of it."

"I did a while ago."

"A while ago—"

"So, before we release you, I'd like to spend some time with you. Get to know you some more, and you get to know me."

"Alright—who are you?" Matthias leaned forward to get a good look at him. The man had a familiar face but couldn't recognize where he had seen it before.

He smiled, stood up, moved the chair, and offered his hand to Matthias. "Walk with me."