FallOut (BOOK 2)

-10-

In the shadowed depths of Hell, an ancient and evil force stirred. Born from the darkest corners of eternity, it slithered forth with a singular purpose to aid Azazel in his quest to shatter the bloodlines of five families who were meant to stop him. These heroes, prophesied to thwart Azazel's sinister designs and prevent the unchaining of Lucifer, were a thorn in the side of demonic aspirations.

For centuries, this ancient enemy had silently orchestrated the downfall of previous generations of these heroic bloodlines. Subtle manipulations and sinister machinations had resulted in their defeat time and time again. But desperation took root as the celestial clock ticked closer to the unbinding of Lucifer through the fracturing of the Sixty-Six Seals.

Mind games had failed to snare the heroes' thoughts, and stealth had proven fruitless against their vigilance, strength, and the bond they shared. As the cogs of fate churned, the ancient enmity resolved to unleash an all-out assault against the indomitable defenders of light.

A vortex of darkness gathered over the lands where the heroes had banded together. The skies wept ash, and the air grew heavy with foreboding. Shadows coalesced into malevolent forms, twisted beings forged from the stuff of nightmares. Amidst the howling winds, a chorus of inhuman cries pierced the night, an eerie prelude to the impending clash.

The heroes, battle-hardened and resolute, stood their ground in a fortress of valor. Their faces bore the weight of their lineage, etched with determination to honor their forebears and protect the fragile realm from the abyssal forces. Swords glinted in the moonlight, armor glistened like hope reborn, and hearts beat in unison against the encroaching darkness.

The first wave hit like a tidal wave of maleficence, an onslaught of monstrous proportions. Spells were cast, blades clashed, and the ground trembled beneath the attack. In the heart of this chaotic dance, the heroes fought with a fury that could only spring from the well of generations past. But the ancient enemy was cunning, and its dark tactics found purchase in the cracks between bravery and fear.

The line between reality and nightmare began to blur as the battle raged. Amidst the tumultuous clash, the heroes were forced to confront their doubts; their inner demons twisted the reflection of the turmoil surrounding them. Yet, in the crucible of chaos, bonds of camaraderie tightened, and the strength of unity surged through their veins.

The clash of wills and the clash of steel echoed through the night, a symphony of despair and hope. And in that symphony, the heroes found an unexpected harmony. They embraced their legacy, drew strength from their purpose, and forged a resolve unbreakable as the Seals they were destined to protect.

Once cloaked in shadows, the ancient enemy's gambit now stood exposed by the beacon of bravery. As dawn's first light banished the tendrils of darkness, the heroes stood victorious against the venom that had plagued their bloodline. The battle was won, but the war against Azazel and his demonic ilk still loomed. With every breath, the heroes knew that their destiny was entwined with the fate of the world- a world that teetered on the precipice between salvation and destruction.

-SALIM-

Jayda had been uneasy ever since she received the phone call to visit the mayor at her home. When I asked her about it, she said she couldn't figure out her feelings, but she knew something was wrong. Jason and I elected to join her.

"Why is she calling so damn late?" Jason wonders as we get into the car.

"Why did she call me instead of Alice?" Jayda follows up.

"I'm not sure," I reply to both questions as I climb into the driver's seat.

Even though I'd gone on the asylum mission earlier, I wasn't as tired as I should be. Jason recovered, but he was still too pale for my liking, and I've been worried about Jayda. We've solved cases worldwide, but this place has affected the team in ways I couldn't imagine.