Page 25 of When Monsters Rise
Imoved a little closer.
“TheDominionare hurting my people,”Michaelsaid. “Theirgreed is killing us, butIcan change that.OnceIdeliverShem’shead, they’ll give me my power back and then…thenI’lluse it to end them.”
“Youwant to be in charge?”Bee’stone went up an octave in surprise.
“Ican bring balance.Ican bring harmony.”
“Bykillingallthe people in the mall?”Shewas starting to sound pissed off.ComeonBee.Keepyour cool a little longer.Strokethe bastard’s ego.
“Sacrificesmust be made for the greater good,”Michaelsaid stiffly.
Wewere losing the arrogant, pompous wanker.
Itwas now or never.Iclenched my fists and dashed, ducking to slip past him and slamming into a wall of muscle.
“Oompf.”
He’dstepped into my path.
Hegripped my shoulders hard enough to hurt. “Don’t.Make.Me.Hurt.You.”
“Lether go!”Beeattacked him, and the next momentIwas free.
Ihit the ground hard enough to jar my tailbone.
Beefell on her side beside me, her head whipping up to glare atMichaelwith murder in her eyes. “Youtraitorous bastard.”
Michaelflinched. “I’msorry that you feel that way.”Hemade to turn away.
Iscrambled toward him. “Wait!”
Hepaused.
“Ifyou do this—if you killShem, there’ll be no way back to heaven for you or your people.You’llbe stranding yourself here.Isthat what you want?”
“Hedoesn’t want to go back.Doyou?”Beesneered.
“Heavenis now an unknown entity,”Michaelsaid. “Therules, the order…Wewon’t fit there, but here we can make a home.Thecelestial energy production can be streamlined to be more humane.”Heturned to face us once more, his expression eager as if he was desperate for us to understand. “TheDominionkeep humans caged, but it doesn’t have to be that way.Wecan create a system where humans can live freely within the city walls and be happy to contribute to the production of celestial power.”
Ipulled myself to my feet alongsideBee. “Doyou hear yourself?Freeto live in the city walls?Walls!Youwant to keep us walled in and use us as batteries.Andwhat about the fucking monsters?Hmmm?”
Hisexpression closed off. “Themonsters will die out eventually.Withouthumans to feast on, they’ll turn on each other.”
He’dthought this through.Anew world order with him at the helm.Hewanted power, and he was willing to betray us for it.
Hestrode toward the red door. “I’llbe back for you both soon.”
BeeandIrushed him, but he moved fast, slamming the door in our faces and locking it.
“Openthis door!”Beehammered on the metal. “Damnyou,Michael.”Sheclenched her teeth. “Wefucked up.Wefucked up bad.Ohshit.Gabriel…”Shestared at me in dawning horror, and my stomach dropped.
“Hemust have told theDominionGabriel’splan.”
“That’swhy he hasn’t come.”Beeclosed her eyes, her mouth turning down. “Thatbastard.Howdid we not see it?How?”
“Itdoesn’t matter now.Wehave to find a way to warn the others.”
“Andhow do we do that from here?”
