The Hand of Hell (The Hand of God Book 3) Read online

  “Now that’s what I’m talking about!” She said as she pushed him away and pulled the knife out. Her wound closed up immediately as she tossed it aside. Her eyes turned white as she held a hand out, lifting Charlie into the air. He wondered what Lucifer and the Bishop planned on doing, throughout this. So far they seemed content to stand and watch. He was high in the air now as she hurled him into the throne. He hit the back of it hard and landed on the huge seat. Looking down, the rest of them looked like ants.

  Now how the hell would he get back down there? Though part of him figured he wouldn’t be hurt too bad if he jumped, seeing he was part god and all. Turns out, he didn’t have to. God herself came drifting up to him, and stood on the edge of the throne.

  “Had enough? If you want I can just extract the ghost and toss you and your pals into the abyss and leave it at that. Sure you’ll be bored for eternity, but it will be better than what I’ll end up doing to you if you keep this up.” She said.

  He was trying to keep from getting too pissed off. Charlie wasn’t used to someone toying with him in this way. He was usually the one toying. After a second to gather himself, he ran to the edge of the throne and dove at her. Wrapping her up as if he were a linebacker tackling a quarterback, they flew off the huge throne and spiraled to the ground. As the marble floor approached, Charlie couldn’t help but thinking, this was gonna hurt.

  Chapter 9

  They struck the ground, cracking the marble floor in every direction. God stood up as if the fall didn’t even phase her and stood over Charlie.

  “You think this is a wrestling match?” She said. “You’re not going to last very long!” Flames swirled around her hands as she held her arms out unleashing thick ropes of fire around Charlie’s body. He was amazed at how much it hurt. Rolling around, he tried to put out the flames but they were white hot, sticking to his skin no matter what he did.

  Flesh bubbled and popped as he stood and ran around the throne room. God was laughing at him somewhere in the background as he ran, chunks of skin and burnt flesh fell to the ground. Within a few minutes, the flames no longer even hurt as he fell to the ground. His remaining flesh continued to sizzle and pop as he looked up at the huge ceiling. He expected to lose consciousness soon, but he hadn’t. After a few more minutes, the burning stopped, but the smell of burnt hair and flesh stung his nostrils.

  He sat up and looked at his hands, which were now just charred bones. Feeling his face and head, there was nothing but skeleton there. Somehow, all his flesh burned completely away and he didn’t die. But, of course he didn’t die. He was part god. Charlie looked at Lucifer and the Bishop who were both crossing themselves as they looked at Charlie in complete horror. Even God herself seemed impressed.

  “Wow, you’re the only one to ever survive holy fire. I guess swallowing the ghost did you some good.”

  Charlie tried to focus on his body, hoping he could heal himself. No matter how much he concentrated though, nothing happened.

  “Don’t bother trying to heal yourself. It won’t work. Holy fire is permanent. Looks like you’re permanently ugly.”

  Charlie clinched his teeth together. He’d never focused too much on his own appearance, but sure as hell didn’t want to live the rest of his life as a fucking skeleton. Holding out his own bony hands, flames swirled around as he fired similar flames at God herself. She knocked them away with no effort at all.

  “You don’t have holy fire silly. Only the Father has that one. Sorry. You see what I mean? Do you believe me now?” she walked up to him as he stood there looking out of his hollow eyes. His rage for her burned so deep he thought he might explode. She approached him and placed her hand on the side of his face.

  “Oh Charlie. I’d had such high hopes for you so long ago. Now this is what you’re reduced to. You could have joined us a long time ago when I sent my son. You could have ruled alongside him, alongside us! Instead you had to be the maverick cowboy.” She ran her hand along his collar bone, and his exposed ribs. “I tell you what. Give up now, and I’ll heal you up as good as new. I won’t even send you to the Abyss. You’ve really shown some balls. I’ll make you human. Completely human. No Ghost, no god, no Nephilim powers and you and Maria can start over. I’ll even leave you a nice fortune and set you up anywhere in the world.”

  “Really?” Charlie said. He was taken by surprise by her offer. She could have destroyed him now if she’d wanted to. Instead, she was offering him just about everything he’d ever wanted. Only thing was, she had been trying to destroy the world for several years. So what? She sets him and Maria up with some huge fortune and a few months later it all goes away?

  “Yes Charlie. Really. Please. Do you think I’m enjoying this?”

  “Take the deal Charlie!” The Bishop called out. “Please! You can’t win! You can’t beat her.”

  Lucifer was looking at the ground trying to avoid looking up at Charlie at all. Charlie looked into God’s eyes. They were huge brown eyes that possessed an abyss of their own. He held his hand up to her.

  “I don’t know what to say,” he said. “I really don’t.”

  “Just say yes. I’ll have you back on Earth, fully human and with the woman you love in seconds. You won’t even remember any of this.”

  Shifting his focus onto his right hand for a quick second, his hand glowed white hot as he spoke one more time.

  “No!” He yelled as he thrust his bony fingers into her chest, between her breasts. She screamed as he grabbed her by the shoulder, digging his hand into her body as far as he could. Finally, he felt it. The heart of God. Wrapping his hand around it, he pulled it free. Her eyes registered both horror and surprise. This had been the last thing she was expecting. Charlie hadn’t known what he was going to do until the very last second, catching her completely by surprise.

  He ripped her heart free from her chest. Her face registered a look of sadness before the lights went out. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she collapsed. The heart was larger than a softball, but looked like a giant crystal. He held it over his head as Lucifer and the Bishop stared at him in shock.

  “Charlie!” The Bishop called. “What have you done?”

  “I won! I defeated God!” Charlie said as flames came from his fingertips, igniting the heart. Within a few moment, the heart was engulfed in flames until it was nothing but ashes, withering away in Charlie’s hand.

  “I don’t believe it!” Lucifer yelled. “You did it! You’re all fucked up. But you did it!”

  Charlie looked around at himself and at God’s body on the ground. Seemed there was still some compassion left in her, at least what she thought passed for compassion. Either way, he didn’t feel the joy or enthusiasm he thought would after such a victory. He had just killed God after all.

  Before he could revel too much in his victory, the ground beneath them began to shake. The ceiling crumbled as the huge throne toppled forward. Lucifer and The Bishop tried to get out of the way, but were unable to as the huge throne landed on top of them. Outside in the court yard, the ground was cracking and splitting open as people fell into holes in the surface. They ran and screamed for shelter or refuge, but there was none to be had. The palace walls collapsed, killing anyone who hadn’t fallen through the surface.

  Back on Earth, the planet’s rotation had begun to speed up sending the Earth’s weather patterns into a frenzy as the oceans unleashed tidal waves never seen before. Whole countries were washed away in seconds as the entire planet collided with Mars and Venus. The entire universe imploding upon itself. No one on Earth knew what was coming, nor did they have any warning. Charlie’s only love, Maria was sound asleep when the sun swallowed the Earth-Mars-Venus combo, consuming it instantly before anyone had a chance to react, not that they could have done anything to stop it.

  One by one, every planet and star in the universe collapsed into itself as each star went supernova. Black holes swept across the universe swallowing everything in their sight. In his final moments, the realit
y hit Charlie that he never stood a chance. God had wanted to destroy mankind and start over. She had in fact been the one holding everything together. Her death brought about the very destruction of the universe. As the realm imploded, Charlie’s final regret was that he couldn’t close his eyes as his body, his bones and very existence flew apart one molecule at a time until he was no more.

  The End

  About the Author

  Tim began writing at a very young age. Even in grade school he'd sit around with his notebook, writing stories for himself and his friends.

  As an adult, Tim's writings have evolved into darker realms. He released his first horror novel, "The Hand of God" in 2011. Since then his books have become progressively more violent and gory. With the release of "Family Night" in 2013, Tim had moved into the world of extreme horror where he continues to push the boundaries of human suffering.

  Tim is now an international best seller as well. His book, "Hell, Texas" has recently ranked high on Amazon sales charges since its release in Germany under German publisher, Festa-Verlag.

  Tim is very active on social media and loves interacting with his readers. You can find him at his website at http://timmiller.org.

  Also follow Tim Miller’s Amazon Author Page to be notified of each new release!