PROLOGUE

Beau Lucas never had been a man to give much thought about an after life or hell though he had been known to wish a couple of sum-a-bitches there from time to time in his life and profession. Now as he lay speared through the chest by a blue metal spear and covered in dirt, blood, a strange blue liquid flowing out of him he thought otherwise. This was his hell. Every time he opened his eyes regained his sanity for moment he woke up to the sorry state of his existence.

Pain.

Misery.

Loneliness.

He never felt any of that shit in his life time but now here in a cave of burning blue hell fire and rubble around him. He felt it. What the hell had he done so bad for the almighty to put him here.

Just two hours previously before his death when the meteor or whatever thing struck the building breaking through into the expansive restaurant he had brought his girl to propose to her. His mind went back to that time. When life had been normal. Things went the expected way for him which was right on the money good. Jackie knew he was going to propose the moment he reached for the box in his suit jacket. The whole setup was just for show and romance. It was the dream proposal she had wanted and Beau had always been ready to give her whatever she wanted. Things were supposed to go how they usually did with them perfect. Things changed quick in an instant.

One moment he was on his knee the next moment he was on the ground speared through the back. He begged her to go and wondered why in the hell he was still alive. He couldn’t feel anything below his chest and spear and got him clean through his spine.

She finally ran leaving him to die alone. He thought of the years he spent growing up with her back in Texas. He thought about his home town of Fort Worth. He thought of his family that would be morning his death now.

“It’s not fair. Why am I in hell?” Beau spoke the question to himself aloud.

“This ain’t hell and you’re not dead.” A man answered for him.

Beau lifted his head and gaze to look at a man bare chested glowing with electricity and a blue fire bend down on one knee and staring at him. He shook his head. “I look fucked up I know. But, I’m in the same boat as you are soldier.” He said with no humor or pity in his voice.

Beau stared at him. “What happened?” He said.

The man shrugged. “Near as I can tell some damn alien fell on the city killing over a hundred people and changing the rest of us. I lost my brother and wife. I’m helping who I can until whatever that bitch demon did to me kills me eventually.” He said.

I laughed at him. “What? You got a hero complex or something? We’re all fucked with what your saying is true. What’s the use?”

He shrugged again unmoved by my words. “I promised my brother I would help the ones living if I can and I’m not the only one helping. There’s a lot of orphans out there now. You want to stay here and die of self-pity I don’t care but we could use some help. What do you do?” He said.

“Nothing. I am nothing now and I can’t do anything. Go away. I would rather die then live through what has happened to me.” Beau said.

He reached for spear and yanked it out of Beau’s back. “Get up.”

Beau stared at him. “Fuck you asshole. I can’t even feel my legs.” He said.

“I said get up soldier. There’s a war still going on and I need men to help me. Get up.” The man said.

“Fuck you.” Beau said.

The man stared at him. “Coward.”

Beau felt rage spark him to push himself to his feet. Pain shot through his body but he used his training to block it out and push himself up and to stand. He swung his fist and punched the other man’s mouth making him bleed blue blood.

The man smiled. “I saw you making new legs as I walked in with the metal and pieces of the spear. The pain will lessen enough for you to use your powers. Your going to help me save as much of them as I can.”

“I ain’t helping you do shit.” Beau snarled.

“Yes you will. We’re soldiers. It’s what we do. Besides that. We’re on a short time table before whatever the alien did to us kills us. It’s better to do something useful then to sit around being useless while other people that can live die needlessly from the damage done or by some asshole trying to take advantage of the situation. Let’s go.” The man said in a tone and voice of authority.

Beau frowned wondering at his words then thought of Jackie and the kind of break down situation this brought out to the monsters that had to hide.. If she was alive during this then day of hell then…fuck it. He needed to find her before some asshole killed or raped her. He had to find her.

“Let’s go Soldier.” The man said.

“Hey. Who the hell are you?” Beau asked.

“You can call me Rider. What’s yours?” Rider said.

“Beau. Beau Lucas.” He said.