Chapter 261 — The People Who Came Back
The first warning was the sound of stone breaking.
Brook heard it before he saw where it came from.
A sharp crack split the air above them.
"Down!"
Everyone dropped.
A white beam tore across the ridge and struck the road ahead.
The impact threw stone into the air.
Henry covered his head.
Charon expanded over him like a shield.
Sera rolled behind a pale outcrop.
Tala dropped to one knee.
Gabriel caught her shoulder and pulled her down.
Crowley barely moved.
The beam passed close enough to tear the edge of his coat.
He looked down at the damaged fabric.
Then up at the ridge.
"That was rude."
Brook stared at him.
"You could've moved."
"I did."
"You stood there."
Crowley looked at him.
"I moved my coat."
"That isn't moving."
"It survived."
Another beam struck.
Crowley sighed.
"Fine. That one was personal."
A figure appeared on the ridge.
Then another.
White armor.
White wings.
Weapons glowing against the pale sky.
Gabriel's expression tightened.
"They crossed the edge."
Sera looked at him.
"How many?"
"Enough."
Crowley drew his weapon.
"Still not a number."
Gabriel glanced at him.
"You'll have to survive without one."
"I've been doing that for a while."
Brook stepped forward.
The first angel descended.
It landed hard.
The ground cracked.
Then something hit it from the side.
The angel flew across the road.
Rick stood where it had been.
He dusted off his sleeve.
"Sorry I'm late."
Brook stared.
"Rick?"
Rick looked at him.
"Hello."
Brook laughed once.
"Where the hell did you come from?"
"The hill."
"Why?"
"I was trying to find you."
"You found us."
"I noticed."
Another angel dropped from above.
Shoyo stepped off the ridge behind it.
She didn't rush.
She simply lifted her staff.
The angel froze in midair.
Shoyo flicked two fingers.
It slammed into the ground.
Henry stared.
"That was easy."
Shoyo looked at him.
"No."
The angel moved.
Shoyo sighed.
"Now it's annoying."
She struck the ground with her staff.
Black lines spread across the road.
The angel stepped backward.
The lines erupted.
It vanished into a cloud of dust.
Henry blinked.
"Oh."
Charon formed a tiny pair of spectacles.
"I approve."
Shoyo glanced at the ectoplasm.
"You're new."
Charon puffed itself up.
"I am Charon."
Shoyo nodded.
"I've heard."
Charon immediately looked at Henry.
"You told her about me?"
Henry frowned.
"No."
Charon turned toward Shoyo.
"How?"
Shoyo smiled.
"People talk."
Charon looked deeply offended.
"I have a reputation."
"You do."
"Excellent."
Henry sighed.
"Don't encourage him."
Rick walked toward Brook.
"You look terrible."
Brook looked down at himself.
"Thanks."
"I wasn't complimenting you."
"I know."
Rick smiled.
They bumped shoulders.
Brook winced.
Rick noticed.
"Ribs?"
"Yeah."
"Broken?"
"No."
"You sure?"
"Sera checked."
Rick nodded.
"Then you're fine."
Brook stared at him.
"You're just as bad as Sera."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You shouldn't."
Rick laughed.
Behind them, Shoyo approached.
She looked at Brook.
Then Gabriel.
Then Tala.
"Everyone alive?"
Crowley answered.
"For the moment."
Shoyo looked at him.
"You're bleeding."
Crowley glanced at his shoulder.
"A little."
"That's not an answer."
"It's enough of one."
Shoyo rolled her eyes.
"You haven't changed."
Crowley smiled.
"Neither have you."
They had done this before.
The exchange was easy.
Familiar.
There was no hesitation.
No introduction.
No wondering who the other person was.
They had fought together recently.
They had already trusted one another with their backs.
Shoyo looked toward the ridge.
"You've brought trouble."
Crowley gestured toward Gabriel.
"Technically, Heaven brought it."
Gabriel raised a hand.
"I can hear you."
"I know."
Rick looked at the ridge.
More angels were descending.
"Talk later."
Crowley nodded.
"Agreed."
The fight began.
The angels came down in formation.
Rick broke the center.
Shoyo took the right.
Gabriel took the left.
Crowley stayed in the middle.
Brook moved wherever the formation threatened to break.
Sera supported from behind.
Henry and Charon fought beside her.
Tala stayed close to the ground.
The difference was immediate.
They weren't six people fighting near each other anymore.
They were a group.
Rick threw an angel into the path of another.
Shoyo caught the second with a binding spell.
Gabriel struck through both.
Crowley finished the opening.
"Left!"
Henry turned.
An angel came down behind him.
Charon formed a shield.
The impact knocked Henry forward.
Brook caught him.
"Again?"
Henry looked offended.
"I didn't fall."
"You were falling."
"I was strategically leaning."
Charon raised a finger.
"He is correct."
Brook shook his head.
"Four-second light."
Henry's eyes brightened.
"Right."
He raised his hand.
A small light appeared.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
It vanished.
Henry stared at it.
"Seriously?"
Brook laughed.
"Reliable."
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
"No."
Henry grinned.
"I don't."
Another angel attacked.
Henry blocked.
Charon formed a blade.
Together they drove it back.
Sera shouted,
"Break!"
The angel's weapon shattered.
Rick stepped through the opening.
"Drop."
The angel hit the ground.
Shoyo followed.
"Stay."
The angel remained pinned.
Gabriel moved past them.
His fist struck the armor.
Light burst outward.
The angel disappeared.
Crowley looked at Rick.
"Still showing off."
Rick shrugged.
"You're still slow."
Crowley laughed.
"Good to see you too."
They moved again.
An angel came for Sera.
Crowley intercepted it.
Sera looked at him.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
"You're getting sentimental."
"Don't ruin it."
She smiled.
Brook saw it.
For a moment, the fight felt almost easy.
Then the largest angel descended.
Its wings spread across the ridge.
The air changed.
Everyone stopped.
Gabriel's face hardened.
"That one."
Rick looked at him.
"Friend?"
"No."
"Enemy?"
Gabriel nodded.
"Definitely."
Crowley rolled his shoulder.
"Finally."
The angel raised its weapon.
"Gabriel."
Gabriel stepped forward.
"Captain."
The angel looked at the group.
"You have corrupted them."
Gabriel's expression didn't change.
"No."
He looked at Brook.
"They chose."
The captain's gaze moved to Brook.
Then Crowley.
Then Sera.
Then Henry.
Tala.
Rick.
Shoyo.
"You have no understanding of what you stand beside."
Crowley smiled.
"That's becoming a popular speech."
The captain ignored him.
"Gabriel. Return."
Gabriel shook his head.
"No."
"Then you are condemned."
Gabriel raised his weapon.
"So be it."
The captain attacked.
Gabriel met him.
The impact shook the ridge.
Brook started forward.
Rick caught his arm.
"Wait."
Brook looked at him.
"He's got it."
Gabriel blocked.
The captain struck again.
Gabriel was driven backward.
Crowley watched.
"He's tired."
Shoyo nodded.
"So is everyone."
Rick looked at Brook.
"Then don't make it worse."
Brook stopped.
Gabriel countered.
The captain's weapon missed.
Gabriel struck him across the chest.
The captain staggered.
Gabriel didn't finish him.
"Go."
The captain stared.
"You would spare me?"
"I don't need you dead."
The captain disappeared into light.
The remaining angels followed.
Silence returned.
Crowley looked at Gabriel.
"You could've killed him."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you?"
Gabriel looked toward the ridge.
"Because I don't want to become what they think I am."
Crowley nodded.
"Fair."
Rick walked toward Crowley.
He looked at Crowley's shoulder.
"Still carrying that?"
Crowley glanced down.
His coat had been torn.
"A little."
Rick smiled.
"You're terrible at retirement."
"I've never retired."
"You've disappeared."
"Different thing."
Shoyo joined them.
She looked at Crowley's coat.
Then at him.
"That's the same coat."
Crowley looked at her.
"Yes."
"I thought you lost it."
"I almost did."
Rick smiled.
"You've always been attached to that thing."
Crowley shrugged.
"It keeps rain off."
Shoyo gave him a flat look.
"That's what you're going with?"
"Works for me."
Rick laughed.
Brook watched them.
There was nothing strange about their familiarity.
Rick and Shoyo knew Crowley.
They had fought beside him.
They had seen him bleed.
They had trusted him.
But Rick's eyes remained on the coat for a second longer than necessary.
Not because he didn't know Crowley.
Because he knew something about the coat.
Something Brook didn't.
Rick looked at Shoyo.
She caught it.
Neither spoke.
Crowley noticed both.
His smile remained.
"Don't."
Rick looked at him.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were about to."
Shoyo smiled faintly.
"He knows you too well."
Rick nodded.
"Unfortunately."
Crowley adjusted the coat.
"Then keep your memories to yourselves."
Rick's expression softened.
"Wasn't planning otherwise."
Brook looked between them.
"What are you talking about?"
Crowley answered immediately.
"Nothing."
Brook stared.
"You're all terrible."
Rick laughed.
Shoyo did too.
Even Gabriel smiled.
They moved downhill before the next group could find them.
Rick took point.
Shoyo stayed near the middle.
Crowley walked beside Brook.
Henry followed with Charon.
Sera stayed with Gabriel.
Tala walked slowly.
Nobody rushed her.
Brook looked at Rick.
"How long have you been here?"
"Long enough."
"That's not an answer."
"I'm beginning to see why Crowley likes you."
Crowley looked offended.
"I don't like him."
Brook looked at him.
"You sat beside me all night."
"I was bored."
"Sure."
Rick smiled.
"You haven't changed."
Crowley glanced at him.
"Neither have you."
Brook looked between them.
"You two are weird."
"We've been called worse," Rick said.
Shoyo glanced back.
"Much worse."
Henry caught up.
"So where were you?"
Rick pointed toward the hills.
"Watching."
"Watching us?"
"Watching the road."
"Why?"
Rick's smile faded.
"Because something has been following it."
Brook looked ahead.
"What?"
Rick didn't answer.
Crowley did.
"He means trouble."
Rick nodded.
"Something like that."
Brook looked at the ridge.
Heaven had disappeared behind the hills.
For the moment.
The road stretched ahead.
Rick walked beside Shoyo.
They spoke quietly.
Sera and Gabriel followed.
Henry argued with Charon.
Tala stayed close to the earth.
Crowley remained beside Brook.
It felt strange.
Not because Rick and Shoyo had returned.
They had been gone.
Now they were back.
The group was larger.
Louder.
More complicated.
And somehow, despite everything that had happened, the road felt a little less empty.
They reached a stream near dusk.
Rick crouched and drank.
Henry stared.
"You really don't carry a cup?"
"No."
Charon formed one.
Rick looked at it.
"No."
Charon looked offended.
"You keep rejecting my hospitality."
"Because your hospitality is made of you."
"Exactly."
Shoyo laughed.
Sera sat beside her.
"You seem less surprised than I am."
"By what?"
"Everything."
Shoyo looked across the stream.
"Surprise gets expensive."
Sera considered that.
"That's a depressing answer."
"It's an old one."
Gabriel sat against a tree.
Brook checked his ribs.
Crowley remained standing.
Rick noticed.
"You're not sitting?"
Crowley shook his head.
"Later."
Rick looked at his shoulder.
"You're hurt."
"I've been hurt before."
"That's not what I asked."
Crowley smiled.
"You've become annoying."
"I've always been annoying."
Shoyo nodded.
"He has."
Rick looked offended.
"Whose side are you on?"
"Mine."
Charon raised a hand.
"I understand."
Henry pushed him down.
"No joining."
The group laughed.
For a little while, there was no Heaven.
No Eden.
No Guardian.
No strange hall.
No memories.
Just the stream.
The road.
And people who had found one another again.
As night settled, Brook sat beside Crowley.
Rick and Shoyo were across the camp.
Brook looked at Crowley.
"You knew they were coming."
"Who?"
"Rick and Shoyo."
Crowley smiled.
"No."
"You're lying."
"Yes."
Brook waited.
Crowley looked toward the stream.
"They've been trying to find us."
"For how long?"
"Long enough."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Crowley shrugged.
"You had enough to worry about."
Brook looked at him.
"That sounds almost considerate."
"Don't get used to it."
Brook smiled.
Crowley looked at him.
Then away.
The fireless camp settled into quiet.
Rick eventually lay back against a tree.
Shoyo closed her eyes.
Henry fell asleep with Charon curled around his shoulders.
Sera remained awake with Gabriel.
Tala slept with one hand resting against the dirt.
Crowley stayed awake.
Brook did too.
Neither said anything.
Across the camp, Rick opened his eyes.
He looked once at Crowley's coat.
Then closed them again.
He had known Crowley before.
He knew Crowley now.
He knew how the man fought.
How he lied.
How he disappeared.
How he stayed.
But the coat had a history Rick had not forgotten.
And Crowley knew that Rick remembered.
Neither man spoke.
Some things did not need to be explained yet.
Not tonight.
The road would still be there tomorrow.
For now, they had survived long enough to walk it together.
End of Chapter 261