The Book of Joe: Ghost of an Angel

By Joe Gallegos, Maria Linnikova and Devin May

"Through all the sorrows, I missed your charms... I missed the Heaven, inside your arms..."

The journey continues in The Book of Joe: Ghost of an Angel.

The endgame has begun with the final confrontation between the forces of good and evil as they clash in a final battle to claim control of the world. With the end of The New World becoming the least of his problems, Joe finds himself in the presence of his long, lost love; his wife from the Old World. While fighting a hidden battle within himself, he tries desperately to make sense of the path in front of him while battleing his nemesis, The Necromancer, along the way.

Time has run out and the end has begun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: PublishDrive/The Ghost Guy Publishing House
• Release date: Apr 21, 2024
• ISBN: 9798988692652

Book preview

Foreword

Dear World...I hope you’re ready...

because I’m not.

The Book of Joe

Ghost of an Angel

Table of contents

Chapter one

Chapter two

Chapter three

Chapter four Chapter five

Chapter six

Chapter seven

Chapter eight

Chapter nine

Chapter ten Epilogue

Afterword

Chapter 1

Blood our purpose...we roar. The world shakes from unholy hooves pounding the ground, our steeds driving us towards our awaiting destiny as The Cursed begin their howls of disgust. The music ends as we meet the ones who would hold our heads as their trophies, and their advance is halted by the promise of our deaths. I glance quickly at Sasha as she screams for vengeance, reminding us all that we lost the brother we love so much...the brother whos' name we will slaughter The Cursed in. My family echoes her cries, as well as her lust for the black blood we would bathe in before the night concludes. Holding our swords high, we release the full light and power of our blades upon the monsters before us and shower them with our light. The Damned we ride upon slow slightly before regaining their footing. They aren't used to fighting on this side of the light or being The Creators’ vengeful hand.

This is for you Greg.

The collision of carnage rings throughout the air as Tuu charges headstrong into the front line and bucks me forward into the awaiting death. I float up high enough to see the world in front of us, a massive moving beast of an army that stretches to the ends of His Earth. It reminds me that I must be quick and deadly, as well as calculated. One false step and the beast will no doubt devour us all, leaving The Realm to defend themselves.

I scream with hate as I drive my body back to the Earth with alarming speed and slam my blade into the ground to create a shockwave that sends the hundreds in front of me airborne. The strength coursing through my veins feels strange, not the light I was getting accustomed to. This is the evil Robert warned me about, and I find that the hate is intoxicating to my senses. It feels limitless...it feels...good.

Too good.

King of Mercy!

Turning quickly, I'm greeted by the sight of Tuu charging towards me with my family by his side, while the front line of our army stretches across my field of view. Leaping quickly, I avoid his onslaught and grab his massive shoulder, slinging myself back into position on his natural saddle. We charge forward into the small clearing I created and meet a defensive line of the Necromancers' new breed. They stand fifty yards away and crawl as insects, the four arms and two legs they possess giving them the look of deformed Grasshoppers. They stand tall before launching themselves into the air with a single flap of their wings, with their intentions to rain death on us from above. They screech as they tear the air between us, with their monstrous bodies appearing as mutant butterflies. I roar in return as I lift a hand to the Heavens and send a wave of massive, green fire airborne. My flames screech a more menacing tune than the beasts they mean to consume. The sky becomes alive with burning flesh and searing wings while they cry in misery. They fall around us as we continue charging forward with death in our eyes, and I hear my families screams have now become more sinister than my own. We will all have vengeance this day.

Another wave of the new breed takes their positions and prepare their charge as their screams become loud and menacing. They wave their slender arms to the air and rally on their dead brothers as we close the distance on the backs of the true Damned. The sounds of war paint the day as we crash into The Cursed with hate in our hearts. Forcefully, I spur my heel into the side of Tuu, my cue for him to become a nightmarish Bull once more.

He bucks forward with a violent thrash and sends me airborne again, and my wings guide me to the cluster of Cursed waiting patiently for their turn to tear us apart. My body trembles with a hateful adrenaline, the tremors violent and shaking my immortal nerves, as I force myself through the small distance between us and land with a deafening thunderclap. The Cursed around me fall to their backs as I unleash my unholy hate with a blade that’s thirsty and in need of quenching. I roar as I charge forward and throw my arms in front of me, the green fire of their nightmares becoming alive once again and enveloping the hundreds in my view. They scream and claw at their flesh as I hasten their deaths with my blade, my violent slashes cleaving through the bones of their bodies. The crunching limbs and pained screams fill my ears as I swing to and fro, here and there, and catch glimpses of the body parts littering the ground around me. My vision begins to change as the power of hate overtakes the weak moment of my soul.

Harness it..for good.

The battle cry escapes me as my body bursts with green fires from head to toe. Spinning wildly, the world turns to a fiery green carousel as I spin with the force of an unforgiving Tornado while the fires and winds beginning to climb to the clouds. I see nothing in the flames but the face of my brother...and it rips my soul to shreds.

The world is turning...red.

I roar loud as I stop my spin and send the funnel of ever expanding green fire to the foes in front of us. It rips through the crowd and sends thousands screaming into the growing flames, their bodies rising under an invisible tidal wave and throwing them into the hellish vortex. The world becomes a blur of red and green as my eyes betray the true colors of the world. The hate is taking over, and it’s winning the battle in my soul. I cannot allow myself to stand as The Old One. A soft hand graces my forearm and slowly pulls the world back into the terrifying portrait that has come to life. I turn quickly to meet Sashas' face, full of worry.

Baby...Your eyes are red, she says sharply as she lowers her sword. I feel the guilt setting in, knowing I was falling into the lustful energy of hate.

I'm good, My Love. Let's keep moving forward, I say quickly as I do my best to avoid the hard truths about to be voiced.

Baby...Come back to me...Don't let it take over, she pleas with hurt in her eyes. The look of the sad desperation she wears causes me to return to the man she loves. I take her hand in my own and kiss it softly amidst the roars of the war around us.

Thank you, My Love...I won't leave you again...I promise, I conclude as my eyes return to their radiant green.

Please don't...Now, let's get on with it...I'm ready to get out of these robes and put on my Wedding Dress, she finishes with a wink and her lovely smile. I offer my own in return as I nod in agreement.

And I'm ready to tear it off of you...let's go.

We turn to the clearing created by my tornado of Hellfire and watch as it shrinks from the swarm of Cursed that pour into it. My family, along with Tuu, approaches behind us on their Damned with their swords dripping with the black blood we came for. They pant loudly from the adrenaline filling them.

Joe! Danny begins from the back of his warhorse, "you've taken out thousands and

we haven't even put a fucking dent in the army! We gotta do something else, fast!"

Glancing back at our army, I hold my sword high and allow its fire to return. Unleashing my hateful screams, the brightness of the blade begins to rival the very Sun in the dusking sky. I motion my arm forward towards The Cursed to give the command to our new Air Force. They sit in the sky in the distance at the rear of our ground forces, waiting patiently for their turn to deliver death. Their time has finally arrived.

Moving as fast as I remember them, they screech through the sky and make their way overhead quickly. The bright lights they watched us under, so long ago when Sasha faked her death on top of me, return to the world once again. They shine upon The Cursed army and leave them sightless, giving us the opportunity we need to overrun them. I continue my roar as Tuu charges forward with the rest of the army and my family, giving me only moments to take Sasha in my arms. I place my left arm around her waist and use my right hand to grab a hold of Tuu as he rushes past, and the momentum is enough to launch Sasha and I onto his back. They join me in the roar as we continue the charge into our now blinded enemy. Sasha grips my waist tightly from behind with one arm and raises her sword bearing arm to reflect my own. My family joins our gesture as we all ride into the tidal wave of Cursed.

The world becomes a blur of messy death with blood raining down on us as we plow through the crowd. I wave my hand forward in front of us and allow my waves of green flames to do their job. They shoot through the crowds and set the crowns of The Cursed ablaze, yet only for a brief moment. The thunder of three million Damned behind us promises a quick death as they trample those we rush past and the wave of deadly hooves obliterates those unfortunate to stand in their path. The Hell ships scream overhead and continue to blind the beast we slay, as the leathery tethers used to kill Humans are now being used to slaughter The Cursed. We continue our mad assault as the ships sail forward ahead and release their death upon our enemies, only now their lights grow brighter and cause permanent blindness to the ones it showers. I glance forward through the chaos and see The Cursed, Reapers and Hybrids and First Borns and Reborns, laying their assault on each other. The panic of their sudden loss of sight causes them to attack anything near. They no longer know who stands as an ally or an enemy, nor will they take the chance of dying as a frightened animal. They claw each other to pieces, biting throats and severing wings as we march on and slay the rest. Glancing behind me, I feel my dead heart begin to beat.

A sea of monsters claim the sky behind us and blacken the dusking world, their long bodies and leathery wings forming a massive wave of moving clouds. They scream overhead and begin their assault on the rear of our army with the intention to slow us down and allowing the rest of their army to surround us. They swoop down in droves, their claws finding the backs of our new Damned brothers. I scan the New World quickly for the faces of my family. They still ride beside me, swinging their blades and bringing death to the unholy children of the Necromancer. In order to save them, I would have to leave them once more.

Sasha! Everyone! I scream as I swing by blade alongside Tuu and decapitate the ones standing closest, keep moving forward! They're picking us apart from the air at the rear of our army! I'm the only one who can stop it!

They all glance quickly and nod between their swings.

Sasha, I say as I glance back at her, "lead them. I

promise I'll return to you."

She continues assaulting The Cursed around us with curses on her tongue, pausing only briefly to look over her shoulder and shoot me a look I know all too well.

She's not leaving me.

Go! But hurry the fuck up, she says while keeping her back to me.

No argument...that's a first.

I heard that, asshole!

Yell at me later! I gotta hurry! I love you, Sasha!

She giggles in between her war cries before spinning around and hugging me from behind.

I love you too, you jerk.

Awww, I coo softly, our first argument as an engaged couple. I'm so happy we worked it out, Sasho, I jest.

Shut the fuck up and go! she yells before laughing loudly. I lean forward and raise my voice loud enough to address Tuu.

Take care of my future Wife, Tuu!

He grunts loudly as he pounds the Cursed under his feet. His misshapen pupils find mine as he glances back.

As you command, My King!

I slap his shoulder as I would my brother, and prepare to begin my journey to the clouds. I leap up onto his back and use it as my launch pad, my knees dipping slightly before my legs spring me airborne. I launch up quickly and hear Sasha screaming at me to make haste, only in her own words. I flap my wings and turn my body to the Air Force of evil that somehow managed to catch us unaware. We were so busy looking forward, not one of us glanced behind us. Now hundreds of thousands of Cursed assault my new brothers, but it’s a mistake I would soon correct.

Flapping hard and true, my body shoots through the sky and threatens to destroy anything in its path. I shorten the distance quickly and watch all the while as they go on about as if The Fallen One isn't coming for them. They make the simple mistake we made earlier. They fail to pay attention to their surroundings, and it’s an error that would cost them their lives. Only a dozen yards separating us, a single Hybrid lays his burning red coals upon me and voices a warning to his unsuspecting brothers.

The Fool of Mercy! Kill him!

I pause briefly in mid-air and draw my sword as the blade comes flaming to life in my hands. Shooting forward gracefully, I swing down hard and land my blade upon his crown, splitting him between the eyes. I feel all attention fall on me as the winged beasts begin a different howl, acknowledging that they see The Fallen One in the sky. I roar in return and the world once again turns red as the venom of hate creeps back into my veins.

It's happening again...I just promised.

Shaking the evil from my brow, the world returns in time for me to feel the claws around my throat and the jaws locking around my head. I feel the Hybrids teeth fighting to break through the skin and crush my skull as the quivering of his jaw pops with bad intentions. I scream as I shove my own face forward into his chest and begin an eating contest of my own. I tear the flesh away quickly as he releases his deadly bite, giving me time to head butt his chest and collapse his ribs. Like a lion, I growl fiercely as I bury my face deep and sink my teeth into his black heart. I hear his gurgles through the muffled sounds of the world as I tear away at his rotting organ. He screams a final death cry as I pull my face out of his chest with his heart locked firmly in my jaws and cast him down to the Earth. His brothers hang in the air and watch as I spit his heart out with my eyes glowing their fierce green and promising their deaths. They wish to attack, only second thoughts dance through their demented minds. The only thoughts I have now...are of black blood.

My mighty roar returns as I allow my body to burst into flames before thrusting my wings forward and sending my fires across the sky in front of me. The waves tear through the crowd quickly and sets them all ablaze and turns them into a cluster of burning bats who claw at their skin as their wings burn. They voice the cries of their deaths as they fall from the sky, one by one, and I shoot forward and hasten the moment. I swing wildly, but with care, aiming only at their wings. They can fall to their deaths and think about the one who sent them there. I see Gregs’ smiling face and it makes me yearn to make all Cursed suffer.

I pray they live long enough to smash into his Earth.

Turning around with a few sharp thrusts of my wings, I'm greeted by a sight fit for a king. Only a God could witness such a sight as three millions Damned continue their charge into the heart of our massive enemy. From so high a perch, the army of The Cursed appears truly monstrous, dwarfing our army and beginning to swallow them from both sides. Our deadly, demonic Air Force screams over them and continues their assault and leaves the pockets of blinded Cursed easy to spot. Even with sight stripped from them, their greater numbers promise to win the battle in the end...unless I do something drastic. The ships could never blind them all and our force is too small to hold out forever. The hate I promised Sasha and Robert I would never tap into is fast becoming the only option I have left.

Don't do it...I promised...but what choice do I have?...Think of something, fool!

The Damned begin a terrifying howl that snaps me from my trance. A Hell ship on the edge of the battle veers off course from the carnage as thousands of winged Cursed swarm around it and cling to any part of it they can sink their claws into. It tilts in the sky, just over their army, and begins a slow descent as the cheers of our enemies are heard loud. They rejoice at the sight of our Air Force coming undone, and the first small step towards our annihilation. I feel the anxiety take hold as my family flashes through my frenzied mind.

Do...something...RIGHT FUCKING NOW!

It starts as a small tremble before igniting in my chest, the burning fires of pure hate and misery, as thoughts of losing Sasha and my family breathe life into it. My body erupts in warm orange and gold flames while my vision turns to a red ocean blanketing the New World. I remain silent through the change, as the drug coursing through my dead veins keeps me in an intoxicated trance. It feels better than anything I've ever experienced, any pleasure, any love the world had to offer. I feel it drawing me in...and I see Sashas' laughing face. I can't let it win...I won't.

But I will use it.

Drawing a deep false breath, I release a roar unlike any I've yet to voice, a deep warning of death and terror that shakes the skies in front of me. The clouds themselves retreat from the sound of my new voice as the ground trembles underneath me. I see a sea of faces greet me from so far a distance, tens of millions of souls, both Cursed and Damned, along with a few mortals and Servants. I see the fear coming from both sides. One fears the inevitable death, while the other an uncertain future. I only fear the true monster hovering in the clouds, the beast born to win an impossible battle. I fear the creature I am becoming.

Sasha.

The sensations are strange, with the immortal adrenaline flowing through my veins. I flap my wings and thrust forward unnaturally fast and with ease. The power of hate is great and acts as jet fuel to my engine, the surge of power making me stronger than I have ever felt before. I must appear a fearsome foe, as millions of Cursed cower before the monster flying in their direction. I flap hard twice more and find myself deep in enemy territory as the distance I just traveled seemed impossible. I'm finally moving like a God, and I burn with orange Hellfire like The Old One. I allow myself to fall from the sky, slowly at first to take in the vision of the war in front of me, and then quickly, as fast as lightning from His sky. I slam into the Earth with a smile on my face and am greeted by the shocked look of The Cursed surrounding me. I'm at least a half-mile from the front line and my family, with plenty of distance to keep them safe from the Hell I'm about to introduce. I take a small step towards the Reapers and Reborns in front of me and watch as they all take a step back. I smile wide with my Jokers grin as my new orange flames extinguish.

Welcome to the True Hell.

The Godly roar returns as I lift my right foot and slam it into the ground. The dirt and rock under my feet fall from under me, along with the Earth surrounding me. The Cursed fall into the pit I create as the Earth begins a plummet that grows all around me by the second. The giant crater continues growing and eating its fill of Cursed flesh, with the children of the Necromancer screaming as they travel to the portal to my very home; the eternal emptiness that is The Abyss. The world falls as far as my red eyes can see, with millions of Cursed now descending into the path I set them on. I see to the ends of his army...but I don't see my nemesis. The Earth continues screaming in the distance as it tears itself away from under their feet. My pit grows to the beginning of their front line, but stops well short of my army and family. Eighty percent of his army now travels to The Abyss, and it's more than enough to keep them from winning the war. I look down and see the pit under me, dark and unforgiving, and it’s a sight that will be burned into their memory as the last moment they belonged to themselves. They belong to me now...but, unlike The Old One, I will show them mercy.

I’m slipping...I gotta shake this shit off.

With a few shakes of my head, the red disappears from my sight as my green returns. It takes a second for me to realize I'm standing on air, with the giant crater complete and miles deep. I see my army paused at the edge a half-mile away while the remaining Cursed scramble in a hasty retreat. My eyes begin to feel heavy as if sleep has somehow crept into my eternal sleepless life. I glance around at the Grand Canyon I tore into His Earth, and find the blemish I created and would need to correct. With my hands at my side, I lift them slowly and watch as slabs of Earth shoot out from the bottom of the crater and begin filling the pit. The ground forms underneath me a slab at

a time while the rock and Earth comes from the darkness below and creates a new floor. The ground take its form around me and concludes its rebuild. Suddenly I'm standing alone with my army beginning a slow march to me while the few remnants of the Necromancers army continues scurrying away. I turn and watch them with sorrow in my eyes. They're only prolonging their deaths, an inevitable doom that they can't run or fly from. I will hold their heads...but not yet.

Turning around, I'm greeted by the sight of Tuu and Sasha riding fast with the rest of our family in tow. Her blue eyes burn with worry, no doubt caused by my sudden orange display. She knows, as they all must, that a second battle took place within the confines of my soul. I feel the shame wash over me, the same way a child does when caught doing something they're not supposed to. I hang my head low and wait for the lectures about to be voiced by the only woman who can scold me so. The approaching thunderous steps voice a reminder that the time has arrived.

Baby, she begins as she dismounts Tuu before he can pause his feet, are you okay? What the fuck was that?

I'm fine, My Love. I'm going after him, I say quickly to change the subject, so stay and protect them.

"Hell no you're not!...Baby...I think I know what just happened...we all do. I'm not going to bitch at you...Just remember who we fight for...and remember we love you...None of us want to see you turn into...a monster."

I take a deep breath I don't need and turn my eyes upwards to the sky.

Please don't let me change...Let me find a way.

I return my gaze to hers and the rest of my family, now sitting quietly on their Damned and taking in the drama of my internal battle. She approaches me quietly and places her hands on my face and pulls me close to hers, her eyes begging for me to never look away. I kiss her slowly and with gentle care, as if she's made of glass and not immortal flesh. She pulls away from my advances and meets my gaze again.

You're not going to change...I won't let you...I'd die before I let that happen.

Sasha...Seeing your face is what kept me from changing...as always...your love saves me.

She lunges into my arms as the tears begin to fall from her lovely face and squeezes me tight while the thoughts of losing me again rushes through her frenzied mind. I hold her and smell her soul and am reminded of our time as living people. I held her so close to my heart back then, even when she didn't know it. She pulled me from the brink so many times with only her presence, no matter how fleeting the moment. Sometimes, just a stolen passing glance was enough to remind me that I was fighting for my soul, even back then. I squeeze her in return and allow my hands to stroke her hair and caress the soft lines of her body. I place my lips next to her ear and voice the poetic words her soul swims in.

"Spiraling darkness...can never take me...when my soul lingers...in a woman who makes me...I'll never fall from this world...or leave your side...my gorgeous soul...my beautiful

Bride..."

She shoves me back quickly with tears drizzling down her cheeks. Okay stop...seriously turning Sasho on right now.

Taking her hands, I lean forward and place my lips next

to her ear as she tilts her head and invites me to do so.

Boing, boing, boing, I jest and cause her to laugh silently.

Are you trying to give me a hint or something? She asks as she pulls back.

Sasha, I’ll divorce your ass long before we’re married if you walk into our bedroom wearing some shit like that.

We laugh together and wrap ourselves up in each others arms as our voices reach the sky and causes a wave of giggles throughout The Damned army. So many misshapen pupils sit upon us above razor sharp smiles as The Damned are reminded that love is the ultimate prize, whether from a loving Creator or a Soul mate. We continue our small laughter for a moment more before I address her again.

I love you.

I love you too, she replies quickly as she smiles, my Handsome Husband, she finishes and begins her sweet giggles again. I deliver a small peck and release her to speak with our new Damned army.

My brothers!....Today....VICTORY IS OURS!!!

I raise my hands up, along with the roar of three million Damned. Their howls and giggles fill the New World with a wonderfully monstrous music and their voices actually appear harmonious and beautiful. I lower my hands and their cheers drop along with them.

However...the Necromancer wasn't present for the war...he chose a cowards path and remained absent...he will not rob us of our trophy...we will continue forward...AND WON'T STOP UNTIL I HOLD HIS SEVERED FUCKING HEAD!!!

The wild roars return, along with my families voices, screaming to the stars that are beginning to peek overhead. Sasha belches her terrible curses to complete the music and my voice is loud and terrible along with hers. She spins me from my war cries and plants her lips firmly on mine. The world slows as I enjoy her touch for a passing moment.

Baby, she begins as she pulls her lips away slightly,

let's get this over with...I have to have you...as my Husband.

I stroke her blood streaked hair and admire her through all the carnage. No amount of Cursed death could stain her beauty.

As you wish, My Que...Fiancé.

We giggle again and return to our kisses for a brief moment. I release her and gaze into her eyes as we exchange flirtatious smiles.

I can't wait to marry you, Sasha.

Her smile widens upon receiving my thoughts.

Don't keep me waiting any longer.

Even in my head, her voice sounds so beautiful.

Let's go, My Love, I say softly as I turn from her and begin a march in the direction of our fleeting enemy. Our army marches behind in unison, along with my family behind me on their Damned. Tuu approaches our sides as Sasha leaps up and takes her seat upon his back. I continue on foot, moving my feet quickly to the head of the pack and begin a slow jog. Far in the distance, the last few New World Cursed make their way over a lonely hill, leaving a bread crumb trail for us to follow. I focus on the path and nothing else.

My ears pop slightly before the flash as the lightning bolt from The Realm strikes the Earth only a dozen feet in front of me. The ground thunders upon its arrival and stops us all in our tracks. The dust stretches two stories tall in front of me and acts as a wall, concealing the mysterious Being hidden inside of it. I know it's someone from The Realm by the means of their delivery. Sam and Ralph came down in a lightning bolt, a fact not lost on me. I feel the excitement building in my chest and I know it can only be good news.

Please...Let it be our brother.

Walking a bit taller, a familiar face greets me from the dusty brown cloud as his boyish smile returns to the New World. I chuckle to myself as Gregs' eyes find mine and our feet begin moving on instinct towards each other. I begin to laugh loudly as we finally meet and embrace and I feel the joy in my dead heart bursting it back to life. My lost brother is no longer lost, and a part of us all that was missing has suddenly returned. Our family is whole again.

WHOOOOOOO! I scream, borrowing Gregs' trademark holler as he laughs in return. Our family dismounts their Damned and rush towards the reunion we all thought impossible. Amy K. makes it to us first and steals my brother away as she praises her lost love while showering him with kisses. The huddle comes together quickly and before I know it, we're united in one embrace. Gregs’ eyes betray a secret he holds and his body language implies it's important, as his face finds mine constantly through all the love.

Joe! Bro! I can't believe I'm back! But we need to talk about something before we do anything else, he informs me. I can't believe you're back, Greg! Amy K. interrupts.

In a minute Babe, I promise, he tells her as he turns to me, We need to talk, Bro.

Whatever it is can wait Greg, I begin, "We have a war to finish, and I'm honored to have you here with me, Little

Brother!"

He reaches forward and places a hand on my shoulder.

I'm honored to be by your side again, Bro...but we seriously need to sit down and talk for a minute.

I laugh loudly and shake my head in disagreement.

"No, Bro, we need to finish this...There's something I need to do as soon as possible...and I'll need you to be my Best

Man."

His face falls into a scrambled puzzle as the confusion contorts his features. I'm tempted to reach forward and draw a question mark on his forehead to complete the look. He shakes his head as if casting off a mane full of water.

Bro...seriously...I need to tell you something.

A rumble begins in the Earth and makes us all bend our knees slightly with our army of Damned trading glances of confusion. I turn from my family and walk out a few feet in front of them, following the rumble as it vibrates my feet. If this is some evil of the Necromancer, I need to face it alone. I begin a jog in the direction of our last known enemy as Greg begins to call after me.

Suddenly and without warning, the sister lightning bolt of the one that delivered Greg hits full force in front of me, and the energy of it catches me unaware and sends me to my back. Blinded and deaf, I feel myself sit up quickly to a bright, white world, as my eyes are still reeling from the flash. I can't see or hear, and suddenly, the world is a scary place. Muffled voices begin to fill my hearing as the world of milky white starts to give way to the New World. Catching glimpses, I see Sashas' sad face in the distance and it worries me. The world swims in and out in my panic, before I see a sea of Damned standing on two legs and my family standing next to them with hanging jaws. Radiant, green eyes meet mine and disappear as the white mist invades again.

Whos' eyes are those? They're...familiar.

The voices grow fainter as a high-pitched bell screams in my head and my vision continues its' swim. I shake my head from side-to-side and begin to cast off the remnants of the white puzzle that keeps my eyes from seeing the shocking truth in front of me. Lifting my head, I feel my heart explode within my chest as the Ghost of an Angel greets me.

She stands before me with her hands raised just above her waist as if I may attack her. I see her face as she mouths silent words throughout the high-pitched ringing. I focus my gaze and read her long lost lips.

It's okay...It's okay...Take it easy...It's okay.

I look over her shoulder and see Sasha with her crying blue eyes raised to the sky above. It's not hard to read her lips.

How could you?...How the fuck could you do this to me?

My eyes return to the vision of my wife, my long-lost love in another life, as she is now reincarnated and standing before me. She continues her quiet speech as the world once again begins to swim. My eyes betray me and my dead heart suddenly begins beating against my chest. I feel my eyes growing unnaturally wide as the darkness creeps into the corners of my vision. I see her face again, full of worry, and Sashas' face just a dozen feet away, full of pain. My wife has returned from the Old World...and it's too much for me to take. The darkness rushes in as my legs betray me and I fall slowly in the quiet New World, where the two women I love the most...now exist.

I welcome the darkness.

****************************************************

"Why?...Just fucking tell me why?"

Sashas' suddenly angry voice stirs me to life, and the confusion in it is just as thick as the confusion in my head. I have no recollection of the past events. I only see the night sky overhead.

What the fuck is going on?...Why in the world am I laying here?

"I don't know why...but, I promise you I'm not here to get in the way. I don't want to mess anything up between you."

My wife...oh God...What the fuck?...What?...What do I

do?

"You already did, just by being here! You think he's going to stay with me if you're here? You're his first True Love!

You're his wife, for fuck sake!"

Sasha, her long, lost voice begins, I'm telling you right now...I'm not here to get in the way.

The silence that follows keeps me firmly on the ground. I fear moving an inch and drawing their attention, and therefore, becoming a part of this conversation.

I'm not ready for this.

Do you still love him? Sasha questions her. I feel the tension now as thick as an iceberg.

Of course, I love him...He was my husband.

"Was...was...The key word...He's mine now," Sasha warns.

The silence returns, except for the beating of the drums in my chest.

He's yours, Sasha...if that's what he truly wants.

I hear Sasha rise from her seat quickly, along with the scramble of several other people. I can only assume my family is with us and witnessing our little drama.

"That IS what he truly wants! Me! We were supposed to get married after the war! He loves me! Her voice cracks at the end as she turns away from her greatest foe, He loves me...I know he fucking does."

I hear the small steps of my wife as she approaches Sasha.

"He does love you, Sasha...There's no denying that...I wish you both the best, I really do" she tells her.

Your wishes, Sasha retorts, "don't mean shit...You're here...and I know he's going to choose you...You're the only woman he thought about when the world ended...I know he loves me...just like I know he loves you more...and it's not fucking fair."

I feel my nerves seize up in my dead body.

What the fuck am I going to do?...Who...am I going to be with?...Sasha...she fought for my love.

You think it's fair to me that I have to watch my husband with another woman? And give you my fucking blessing on top of that? I love him too, Sasha! I spent the best years of my life with him! He's the father of my son!...But, even so...I wish you both the best...Be good to him.

My wife and her good heart...I miss her heart...oh God.

Look, Sasha says softly, you guys have a family together...it's not fair for me to think it's okay to come between you...If you want to be with him...I'll step back.

Sasha...I'm serious, I'm not here to mess anything up...Thank you for the gesture...but, I really don't want to get in the middle of what you two found in each other.

Sashas’ soft giggles fill the air, only it's not joy that births them.

"It doesn't matter...you not wanting to get in the way...because you already have," she says softly.

Well, Carmens' soft voice joins in, why don't you girls let Joe decide?

Of course my family is here...Of course Carmen would add to the drama.

He's already made his choice, Sasha replies with pain in her voice, and it isn't me.

The tears begin to fall down the side of my face as I feel my heart being torn in two. These two women, these beautiful souls, love me and I love them. I feel my soul burning inside me as the thought of having to choose between my two greatest loves ignites a fire of guilt. I love them both so much...I'm not ready for this.

If he chooses me, my wife begins, please be happy for us, Sasha...like I will be, if he chooses you.

Sorry, Sasha begins, "but I don't think that'll be possible...You already had him for years of your life...I love him...It's my turn...I'm sorry, but that's how I feel and that's why

I can't see myself being happy for you."

The silence returns amongst them. I can practically picture Carmen licking her lips in anticipation and almost giggle out loud.

Then...good luck to you, my wife answers, I don't know what else to say.

You don't need to say anything, Sashas’ suddenly cold voice returns, but, if your uninvited little ass wants to go away and save us all the heartache, that'll be fine with me. No objections here.

I feel my nerves seize up again. I know my wife all to well. She never backed off from a challenge, and she wouldn't put up with someone rattling off insults. I already know my absence from this conversation is about to become nonexistent.

I'll go...and I'll take my husband with me, she replies.

Fuck you, bitch, Sasha spurts, and forget about what I said about stepping back. I fought for him as long as I've known him and I'm not about to step back for anything or anyone, including you, you little bitch.

Go fuck yourself, Sasha, my wife fires back.

Sweetie, my voice escapes me as I sit up, that's enough.

The lanterns lay piled in the center of the group and have become an artificial campfire that my family uses to give sight to the worlds' last living Soap Opera. Everyone sits on the ground, except for Sam and Ralph, who stand behind them, along with a few of The Damned. It turns out that Beings from all worlds enjoy a tragic love story. They all sit and burn holes in me with their eyes, but it’s the greenest and bluest eyes that cause the most damage.

Babe, my wife says softly.

Baby, Sasha says in almost the same breath.

I look back and forth between the two and am struck by an eerie feeling of Deja-vu. Their voices sound frighteningly alike and now that they live in the flesh before me, side by side, the resemblances they share are uncanny. Their height, the same. Their delicate features, the same. Their striking beauty, the same. Before Sasha let me change her hair color, it was the same as my wifes'. Even their filthy language is the same. The only difference, other than their souls, are their eye colors. My wife always called me Babe while Sasha always had the tendency since day one to call me Baby. I feel my stomach turning, even though it's not physically possible, at the thought that I subconsciously replaced the image of my wife with Sasha. It would explain why I fell for her so quickly...and it would also be the biggest sin I could commit against Sasha, who I've grown to love with all of my un-dead soul. The New World begins to swim again as my vision once