Warriors of the Light

Unwilling to give up Stavvon thought of something they could still do. They pedaled back to Town Square where they hid in a corner unfolding the details of a new plan. Once satisfied they ran to Jesus’ office to discuss it with Him. When He didn’t answer the door they went in. Chazz located the Get Out of the Underworld game and a pair of infrared goggles for each warrior playing piece while Stavvon scribbled out their plan for Jesus and itemized what they were borrowing. Moving on to stage two they went looking for SirVeyor. Upon seeing him walking toward the commissary they chased him down shouting, “SirVeyor will you please give us a set of blueprints of the Underworld?”

“Only if you take me with you,” he said.

“Meet us at the ferry,” Chazz said.

When they set their sites on the third key citizen they needed assistance from they asked him if he would please change his next scheduled departure to the Underworld to ‘NOW!’ The Ferry Captain was agreeable until he looked over their shoulders and saw Jesus walking up behind them with SirVeyor, Corissa, Nony, Jasmine, Bettina, Spot, Progy, Aamir, and Spike in tow.

“Do I reprimand these WITs for conjuring up their own mission,” Jesus said, “or let them proceed and turn this into an opportunity for them to demonstrate their military leadership skills?”

Sharing nods the Ferry Captain, SirVeyor, Corissa, Nony, Jasmine, Bettina, Spot, Progy, Aamir, and Spike raced each other to the ferry dock. They quickly boarded and settled into their seats as Chazz opened the Get Out of the Underworld game box so Karah’s critter friends could climb out.

The Ferry pushed off from the dock as Stavvon explained their plan and asked SirVeyor to unfold his blueprint and point out every crooked corner, dark tunnel, and dimly lit hallway leading to Maleeth’s and Satan’s adjoining chambers. Stavvon and Chazz then looked at Jesus. Knowing just what to do He folded it into a one-inch square, squeezed it in His palm, released His fingers, and revealed a stack of thirty mini-maps of the Underworld.

When they quietly and slowly coasted into the Underworld Docking Station hoping to avoid detection Stavvon and Chazz quickly tucked a map into each critter’s armor and whispered their instructions: “1) Slip into the Underworld. 2) Find Karah and give her hope. 3) Take no action on your own. 4) Report back as soon as possible.” They then pulled two handfuls of little goggles with infrared lenses out of their pockets and enthusiastically fit and fastened them onto the heads of the excited little army that was willing to risk their lives by entering the Underworld so they could encourage TheirKarah.

Once ready the toy-sized KarahBrigade led by Jacinta proudly marched off the ferry in single file in front of Jesus and a hopeful crowd of Angels, guardians, and trainees. They then anxiously awaited their turn to take hold of a rope Chazz lowered into the snakehole so they could slide through the secret entrance.

Dangling below ground like a string of sausages they weren’t a SWAT team or a group of Navy Seals or Ninjas on their way to save Karah. They were going to do what friends do - Make their presence known to remind her she was not alone. With their feet on top each other’s shoulders they remained as still as possible awaiting orders. When Jacinta gave them the thumb-up-go signal they pulled their goggles down over their eyes, leapt off the rope, opened their maps, and quietly and carefully began traversing the dangerous corridors and passages.

The only sounds were those of deadly cockroaches they choked with their hands, cries from two-headed rats they smacked with their shields, and the groans of poisonous spiders they poked in the eyes with their knives and spears along the way.

Jacinta was relieved when she discovered nothing had changed since the Underworld’s foundation had formed. Just as SirVeyor’s blueprint indicated there were three left turns, then a right, then a left after the quarters that house Satan’s headless ghouls and ghoulesses. She could see their target - Two side-by-side doors - Satan’s and Maleeth’s adjoining chambers. She also discovered a demonic guard dog in front of each door.

The DevilDogs spotted them and opened their fearsome jaws and quivering lips to expose their pointed, gnashing teeth, and dripping globs of slimy drool. Jacinta ordered her troop to do the same. “Return fire with your fearsome jaws and quivering lips. Expose your pointed, gnashing teeth, and dripping globs of slimy drool, and add hissssssssing to the mix.”

The battle was soon over. The frightened evil dogs slipped and fell on top each other while scampering away. Expecting an evil being to come rushing down the corridor to see what all the ruckus was about Jacinta ordered her petite patrol to back into the wall and freeze.

After a minute passed and no beings appeared Jacinta commanded her peeps to move in. Half lined up in front of a gaping crack under the left door. The other half lined up in front of an even larger crevice under the right door. Cringing at the thought of what was on the other side they jumped in and scrambled to get into place. In that moment, Maleeth walked out of Satan’s chamber and stepped directly over one brigade of fifteen as they ducked. She then opened the door to her chamber and stepped on the crevasse hiding the other brigade of fifteen. Jacinta popped her head out so her eyes could follow the heels of Maleeth’s scabby feet. Her petite patrol followed suit. Their hearts sank when they spied Karah lying on an operating table.

Sensing an unexpected good presence Karah slowly turned her head and saw Jacinta bravely standing at the door and her troop’s eyes peeking out of their foxhole. To protect their position she restrained from crying out to them, but she couldn’t hold back her tears.