You Only Die Twice

Chapter THIRTY-FOUR





The beast rose into the night and Kenneth Berkowitz took flight.

With his goggles in place and Ted’s Glock in his hand, he ran back through the woods, rushing out the same way he and Ted came in.

A scream burned to be released from deep within his throat, but he wouldn’t allow it out. He kept his eyes lowered to the forest floor because if he looked up at the Satanic hellfire that was spreading its arms far and wide over and through the forest, he’d be blinded by it.

He knew better than to ask God for help, so he didn’t. This was a test. His lot was to bear whatever inflictions God gave him and to see them through. He didn’t understand why this was happening, but it wasn’t up to him to understand. It just was. He knew that God had complete faith in him and he also knew that he would get through this alive because of Him. The beast was nothing to him. His faith in God would crush it.

He was, after all, the Chosen One.

The wind grew warmer as he ran down the path. The light was becoming so bright, he removed the goggles and found that he could see fine without them. He swung around a corner and the fire now was just off to his left. It thrashed through the trees. It shook the birds from their nests and sent them screeching into the sky. It was igniting quickly―too quickly. If Kenneth didn’t reach the end of the path soon, the fire would swallow the exit and he’d need to find another place from which to escape.

He dug in and ran harder, and as he did, it occurred to him that this might not be a Satanic hellfire, but one sent from God Himself. His mind went to Isaiah: “For, behold the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.” Also from Isaiah: “For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.”

It was enough to cause Kenneth to stop. Was this God’s wrath against him? Why would it be? Everything he did, every choice he made, was designed to serve the Lord. So, this couldn’t be about him.

“But it is.”

He knew the voice belonged to Maria Fuentes before he turned and saw her standing behind him. Now, she was fully naked and her body, though still, appeared to be moving given the shadows cast upon it by the fire. Her face was in full orange bloom. She brushed her naked breasts against his arm and he immediately reached out to push her away.

Only his hand went through her, just as she said it would earlier.

She laughed and came around to face him. “All of this is for you, Kenneth. It’s all for you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. But here’s a tip. You’re a killer, Kenneth. A serial killer. There’s been something off about you since you were a boy. And now your mind is really gone. You’re f*cked up.”

“Shut up.”

“Oh, make me.”

He knew he couldn’t for a specific reason. “Why can’t I touch you?”

“Because you’ve already had your hands around my neck. You and your dead friend, that is.” She cocked her head to the side. “Sorry about Teddy, Kenneth. That must suck. Watching your good friend get blown to shit right in front of you like that?” She clucked her tongue. “Pity. We were all watching, you know? All of us girls were having a grand time when Teddy took that bullet in the face. And I have to say, you lucked out with the hunter in the shelter. Good for you for shooting him in the gut. You got lucky with that shot. He kicked around a bit, but he’s dead. And now you don’t have to worry about him, which bought you some time.” She waved her hand behind her, where the fire was closing in. “Not that time is going to help you now. You’re screwed. That fire is going to eat you alive. And me and the girls? We’re going to watch it happen and cheer it on when it does.”

“The hell you are.”

Behind them came the distant sounds of something running through the woods, smashing through them. He and Maria turned and watched a family of six deer burst through the woods and dart past them, led by a buck with a massive rack on its head.

“They’ll be safe,” Maria said. “God won’t hurt them. See how they’re going off the path? Back into the woods? They’re doing it because the path is dead. Your way out is dead. The fire has eaten it up just like you wanted to eat your friend Ted back there....”

He looked at her, wondering how she could have known he had that impulse.

“You think I don’t know you? What’s happening to you? How sick you’ve become? Well, I do. When you took Ted’s Glock from him, you hesitated while leaning over his face. I saw it. And I felt your urge. It pulsed through me. I know what you wanted to do. You wanted to bury your face into his and eat what was left of him, didn’t you? Just like you wanted to eat that fat hunter you two killed earlier. Probably even his friends if you had the chance.”

“Ted killed them.”

“Whatever, big boy.” She winked at him. “And I mean that. I know you’re big, at least down there. I remember that. That’s the one thing God gave you that’s actually worth something, because the rest of you sure as hell isn’t.”

“I wish I could kill you again.”

“I wish you could f*ck me again. But neither of our wishes will come true. Isn’t that sad? It’s about as sad as the fire that’s going to burn you alive. Look at me, Kenneth. Is that a tear? Right here? Left eye? I think it is....”

The wind changed direction and with its shift, the smoke carried their way. Kenneth took off his jacket, then his flannel shirt, which he tied around his nose and mouth before putting his jacket back on. The smoke rolled over them and burned his eyes, making it difficult for him to see.

He needed to get out of here.

The path that led to the road was consumed with flames. He’d need to run into the woods and move alongside the path if he was going to find the road and the truck.

He brushed past Maria Fuentes and started to flee, but not before he heard her say, “Our girl Cheryl will have her freedom, Kenneth. She’s nearly there now. But you? You’re going to roast in these woods. And then you’re going to roast in hell.”