If Angels Fall

SEVENTY-TWO

“Where’s Michael?” Keller demanded.

“I think he’s still in the room.” Gabrielle sniffled.

Keller rushed down the stairs and searched thebasement in seconds. Michael was not there. Keller bounded up the stairs.

“Michael!”

He searched the main floor. Not a trace. His eyeslocked on to the phone in the kitchen. It was off the hook! The cord stretchingout of sight!

He was on the fucking phone!

Keller smashed it from the wall, then grabbed Zach,who was cowering in the closet.

“Please, mister. Don’t hurt me. Please.”

“Who did you call?”

“No one, I — ”

“Who did you call!”

“I–I. Hospitals, my mom. I have to know if she is- ”

“Liar!”

“I swear, I was asking the number for hospitals. I …I …”

“You are lying to me!”

Rage darkened Keller’s face. “Satan is near. The Fallen angel isamong us, the Father of Lies! King of Whores!”

Keller hoisted Zach over his shoulder and hurried to the bathroom.Gabrielle and Danny screamed and scattered. Zach’s struggling was futile.Keller laid him in the tub, and opened the faucets.

“Let me go, you sick freak!”

“I will not drink from the cup of devils! You cannot thwart thatwhich is preordained!”

“Let me go!”

“The Lord is my sword and my shield.” Keller seethed. It was badenough that the dog somehow got away last night. Now this. A phone call. Kellerrealized he was being challenged by powerful forces. But God was his shield.

“It is time,” he said. “Time to come to Him and receive His light!”

Zach writhed, kicked, and pounded the tub, still clutching hisfather’s card, aware of his knife hidden in his underwear as water gushed fromthe tap, dampening, soaking his clothes. Keller’s crucifix raked across Zach’sface as Keller’s large, powerful hands seized Zach’s head in a viselike grip.

“Reborn of water and the Holy Spirit in the sacred font…”

He pulled Zach’s head under the running water.

“By the mystery of your death and resurrection, cleanse this childin Your celestial light! Make his life anew!”

D-dad, help me, Dad, he-help!”

Keller closed his eyes. Above the water’s rush, the thunder, thestorm, Pierce was calling from the darkness.

Daddy!

Holding Zach’s head under the flowing water, Keller lifted his ownface to heaven.

“This is life’s eternal font,

water made sacred by the death of Christ,

cleansing all the earth.

You who are bathed in this water

are received in heaven’s kingdom.

Suddenly it was over.

Zach sat up in the tub, coughing and gasping after Keller releasedhim, shut off the water, and fetched him a large dry towel.

“Come with me.”

Zach followed Keller into Keller’s bedroom, watching him pull out abig cardboard box marked “Pierce,” filled with boys’ clothes that looked abouthis size.

“Find some dry clothes right away.”

Zach sniffed, but didn’t move, dripping water with the towel cloakedaround him.

“Do as I say! We’re leaving!”