HELL'S LANTERN

by Mike Kopenec -- cerotol@mailhost.chi.ameritech.net

Disclaimer: This story contains mild profanity, references to murder and violence, and descriptions thereof that may possibly offend some readers.

Prologue:

Thousands of years ago I lead an army of men in what I believed was a just cause, and I killed for it. Though I won the war and saved many, the day I died I was not allowed in to Heaven for the killing I'd done. I made a deal with those of Hell that I'd lead their army to the gates of Heaven and burn them down in exchange to walk the Earth once more. I avenged my death and in that, was my fatal mistake, for I lost what little humanity, what little soul I had left. The king of the underworld brought me back to Hell to lead his army of Hell Spawns. I led my men to the heavens where we fought for two centuries and when we were pushing past Heaven's Angel's lines, I looked at the Earth and saw what Hell I had brought to it. We had reached God's Elite but instead of fighting them I joined them. The Angels and I fought back and won, they won the war but I won my soul. Free of Hell's curse I went home and looked for the next Lantern of Hell to warn him of his fate. Today, I have found him!!

"Dammit Smith!" says an angry Hal Simmons, "My girlfriend's pregnant! I want out!!"

"Simmons, this isn't the kind of business you can quit you know that," replies Hal's boss Jason Smith.

" I know but after she has my baby I'm asking Wanda to marry me, and I want to be with my family not get shot down trying to bust a cap in some foreigner's ass," Hal says remembering the time when he was almost killed.

"Hal you are our best Flight Assassin ,so if you want me to let you go fine but not until you do one last mission," Smith says.

"Wha-," Hal starts but he is interrupted by Smith "Worry about it tomorrow go home with your girlfriend, I'll call you later."

Hal walks downstairs to his limo where he meets his best friend Terry Kalmaku. "How'd it go man?" Terry asks.

Hal says, "Grrrreat! I get to quit to be with my wife and kid."

"But Wanda's not..."

"I know but after she has the baby I'm going to ask Wanda Ferris to marry me and I want you to be my best man."

"Okay," Terry says looking out the limo window at the stars feeling happy for his best friend. But all is not good inside the A-6 building.

"So It's all worked out right Smith," says a voice from the shadows.

"Yes it is," says Jason.

"Now that idiot will be one of us."

"But why do you want Simmons I'd think he'd be doing good enough for you up here."

"I don't know why you humans always ask why, when it's always so much more fun to ask how!?" The man in the Shadows says and as he leaves the room he laughs.


Chapter 1: A Death and a Birth

"Honey I've thought of a name for the baby," says Wanda as she gets ready for bed.

"What is it?" Hal asks.

"It's Cyan."

"That baby's name is almost as pretty as her mother."

"...Honey..." Ferris says looking at Hal as he gets ready for his final mission.

"Yes dear?" Hal replies.

" I don't want to lose you."

"You will never lose me," Hal finishes. Then he kisses and hugs his wife, walks downstairs, and walks out the door.

The next Day:

Hal Simmons flies through the air of Korea and spots his target. Remembering his orders he flies over the U.S. embassy and gets ready. He was told to take out a bio-chemical plant creating biological weapons on a secluded island. Hal lands his plane on top of the building. and enters the building.

Meanwhile at Hal's house:

Terry Kalmaku rushes Wanda out of the house and into the Taxi. He was told by Hal to be there with Wanda if he couldn't be. Terry tells the cab driver to go as fast as possible because he is worried... and nervous. The cabby turns on two wheels taking the backroads he was going 110 mph at the time. He makes a left and a right and another left all he has to do is cross the train track and he's at the hospital. Of course it isn't that easy and Terry, Wanda, and the cabby say, "SHIT!!!" 20 minutes later the train passes and at last they are at the hospital.

Hal Simmons slinks through the plant with a silencer on his gun. When he gets to the main elevator he sees two of the guards. He runs straight towards them. They open fire.

Back at the hospital Terry's job is just as tough. "Push, Wanda , Push," Terry says holding a picture of Hal and Wanda together.

The guards miss Hal with every shot damaging most of their equipment. Hal pulls out his gun and shoots one guard in the head the other in the heart, uses his gun to destroy the little equipment left, then reloads. Hal uses a blood soaked key card off one guard and goes to the next floor.

"Push, Wanda Push!"

Hal shoots ten more guards and starts putting bombs on the containers with the viruses.

"I think I see a head!!" says the doctor.

Hal places the last of the bombs and runs to his plane.

"Push, Wanda, Push!"

On the roof stands Smith and the mysterious man who wait behind an antenna shaped object until Hal leaves.

"Push, Wanda, Push!!!!!"

Through a communicator Jason says "Prepare to go to Hell Hal!" as he readies an energy gun.

"It's almost out!"

A yellow beam goes strait to the ship.

"My beautiful baby Cyan," Wanda says, "Your daddy is going to love you."

The beam hits and in his last breath Hal Yells, "Wanda!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


Chapter 2: How hot is it in hell?

"Welcome Harold," says a voice in the background.

"Where the hell...." Hal says standing there his skin burnt green from the crash.

"Exactly Harold" The Voice says revealing itself. Before Hal stand many short blue men dressed in red dresses with a symbol of a lantern burning with fire from within on the middle.

"Who?"

"Why Harold, we are The Guardians of Hell. Since the beginning of time we have existed, guarding over the underworld watching and waiting for the next player in the game." One guardian starts. "In this waiting we created a great lantern that harnessed the fires of hell, you see Harold, Hell's flames are as enchanted as this land itself," the second one continued. "We founded Hell's army, Harold, but we chose weak leaders. Maybe you have figured out what we want Harold. We want a general, and we want you to be that general. Lead the army and you shall walk the Earth once more, and see your mate, Wanda. You see Harold, Hades is only a Hell to the foolish, but to the strong and powerful, such as yourself, it is a utopia...."

"Will you join us?"

To Be Continued...

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