CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Epilogue

Sylvie felt giddy, positively buoyant as she walked beside Stetson. The world seemed a brighter, happier place now than it had four weeks ago when they defeated Jacob. Today they’d be letting back in all the refugees who’d fled before the onslaught, and she looked forward to seeing all her friends and neighbors again.

The clean-up had taken much longer than expected; the bodies of the monsters were heavy and put off such a foul, acidic smell that they were pretty much toxic, preventing anyone from coming back until the creatures were placed in special containers made just for them and taken out by truck to the Golden Star Corporation laboratories by a anxious Wolfe.

Once the bodies were removed, the blackened pavement and anyplace their blood had fallen was so toxic that it too had to be removed and shipped, before the town could be reopened.

Sylvie and her friends had helped as much as they could, mostly as security. Their weapons, being the most effective against the creatures, were a comfort to the workers who had to handle them.

Now she could see lines of familiar cars coming down the road, the people inside waving and smiling as they drew near.

They had set up near the big sign at the entrance to town, where it read “Welcome to Red Leaf” in big, bold letters. Underneath they’d draped another: “Welcome Home.” And they cheered as the cars began to pass.

“It’s strange, seeing the world return to normal, isn’t it?” Josh commented.

“That’s the thing.” Her father said. “No matter what happens, things always return to normal pretty quickly. We’re pretty adaptable people, when we want to be.”

“I guess you’re right.” Taryn’s mother nodded. “With that caveat.” She added, seeing a news van amongst the line of people.

The van pulled off to the right and quickly set up, a pretty reporter in a neat blouse and skirt holding a microphone and speaking rapidly in it.

“And it looks like trouble is here.” Sylvie groaned as a beat-up, dented van stopped in front of the sign, covered in religious iconography, peace symbols and protest signs, and smelling strongly of weed.

The window rolled down and three hairy, lumpen creatures that might have been people through all the smoke leered at them.

“Why don’t you go back to hell, devil!” someone screeched, sounding like a sick barn owl than a woman. “You don’t belong here! You’re just a demon waiting to kill us all!”

The others growled and took a step forward, hands clenching into fists, but Sylvie held up her hand and they stopped. She was painfully aware of the cameras now pointing at her, and the townsfolk piling up behind the stopped van and looking angrily at them. She leaned in a little, though it was the last thing she wanted to do.

She was rewarded by seeing the occupants scooch a little the other way, beginning to look a little nervous as they realized their victim was heavily armed with her polished rifle and gleaming pistols and next to her a centaur with shining spears and broad shield, and a massive stallion who looked capable of flipping their car with one hand and carrying an iron bar half the length of a tall man across his back like his own spear.

Sylvie spoke quietly to them, though her voice carried and seemed strangely clear and resonant with everyone who heard it; like an echo in the mind. “A Demon, you say?” she smiled. “Don’t be too quick with that word; I’ve seen a real demon, and faced it in battle; so have the soldiers who fought here, and so have some of the townfolk who were late to leave. Why don’t you ask them what a demon actually looks like, and then ask yourself this; a demon would not hesitate to kill you and eat your soul. There are those who face them, and those who are them. I suggest you learn the difference before its too late.”

The people seemed on the edge of retort, but a glance at their weapons seemed to intimidate them, and they quickly started driving away, only to be pulled over a short distance from the group by a police deputy who pulled out his ticket book as he strode to the car.

Her mom enfolded her in a hug.

“I’m so proud of you, honey.” She said, craning her head to keep from speaking into her stomach.

“Thanks mom.” Sylvie hugged her back. “I guess it will take a while before they see, that no matter what comes, we are here to stay."