A Land Only God Knows

The heat was so hot the sand sizzled underneath our boots. Our weapons were weighting us down; our backpacks full of supplies made us want to drop them and leave them on the brunning hot sand. "Uriel" Raphael started shakely, the sun made his dark red hair look like it was on fire, his red eyes darted from the sand to me. "We still have 5 clicks to get to Bravo checkpoint, is it at all possible to take a few minutes break? Selaphiel looks as though he's going to harl" he nodded behind himself, "and Lailah is looking like she may die from heat stroke. Maybe just a 10 minute break?" Raphael asked miserably, sweat was pooling down his uniform, and his helmet was slipping off his big head, his sniper rifle hung loose at his side as Raphael wiped the sweat off with a towel. "Negative soldier, and keep your weapon in your hands at all times. Who knows when you need to be ready." I said harshly, I gazed up towards a hill that was the size of a small mountain "Zadkiel, Cassiel, Raphael, scout ahead I'll lay back, push the others. I want to know if anything lies beyond that hill" I pointed up the dunes, and up to the small mountain of sand that kissed the sun. "Keep in radio contact, meet up in 15." Zadkiel, a very tall, muscular man with dark soft brown eyes smiled and nodded, his big brown bold head glimmered in the hot rays and he started to run up ahead. Cassiel, a strong, stren, beautiful woman with light purple hair that hugged at the top of her shoulders and eyes as dark purple as an amethyst, that matched Zadkiel's eagerness to be the best and raged when he was already halfway to the hill. She hung her head low and started to change up the hill behind him, "Copy Commander." they said obediently. Raphael sighed and started up after them, "Copy Commander." He said less thrilled, his otherwise always smiling handsome face was drenched in sweat and a frown hung on his mouth. I glanced back at Selaphiel and Lailah. They are not the strongest of Angles, but they have purpose. It's my duty to escort them to the last human settlements. They will be beacons of hope for the humans. Lailah was sent to help with birthing and blessing to safe pregnancy and children. Selaphiel was sent to help the humans rebuild their cities and to stop Satan and his demon army from killing anymore of them through tactical operations. They are strong powerful Angles... but it seems that their human bodies are not strong at all. Selaphiel's human body is small and slender, his dark orange hair glides over his glasses. Selaphiel used to be huge, with muscles that needed no flexing to be seen... It's hard to believe that this human body was once one of the strongest Angels in God's arsenal, one of his top lieutenants. Lailah... well, she was always very powerful but she didn't look it even in her Angel form. Her frame and figure are about the same as before. Only difference now, is her height. She's very short. About 4'4" I believe now. She's still very thin, beyond beautiful, and fragile. Her dark tan skin is like honey. She ties her short light pink hair in braids that fall just under her chin. "Oh Uriel!" Lailah yelled abruptly, "This heat! How are humans made to endure this!? This feels like Hell!" Selaphiel suppressed his gagging, "Commander Uriel, this is torture! Why is it that we cannot rest for just a few moments? We were not briefed about Earth's climate changes." His light brown eyes seemed to have tears in them, "Selaphiel-Lailah..." I rubbed my forehead in frustration, "how many times do I have to tell you that Satan and the rest of his Demon army is out to kill us and that they aren't far behind? They can care less about your foolish human bodies on the Earth's surface. They will hunt us down and kill us if we rest for too long in the open." I glared at the both of them. Their weak human bodies made us slow down by at least two days time... we should have been there by now... "I know Commander but-" Selaphiel's words were cut off suddenly, I was thrown backwards into the sand. BOMBS. My body ached, I sat up as quickly as I could, my right side was bleeding and I felt some more liquid falling from my head. I couldn't think about that now. They are far enough where we can get away if we hurried, but not too far to not pursue us. Selaphiel and Lailah were right in front of me, thankfully they didn't look as injured. Selaphiel had some bleeding from his left arm, and Lailah seemed to have hurt her head, blood trickled down her face. I couldn't hear, only ringing and more dull explosions nearby. I had to get them out of here, I had to lead them away from danger. "Get off your asses!!" I screamed at them, "Move move!!" I grabbed Selaphiel by his right arm and threw him towards the others. "Go! Both of you! Find the others, they will lead you from here! I'll draw their fire!" Lailah was crying, her eyes already looked red, Selaphiel mouthed the words, "No Commander!" I started shooting at the attackers, "Go both of you!" I screamed, "That's an order!" Selaphiel looked as though he was going to cry, Lailah was out of it. Damn it, she might have a concussion. I have to make sure they get out of here. If they leave now they can make it. Please God, make my sacrifice worth it. "Go!!" I screamed at them again, "Gooo!!!!" Selaphiel squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again, he grabbed Lailah by her arm and dragged her with him. I watched as they grew further away. It's my turn. I have a duty to make sure they make it there no matter what the cost, even if I may die, it will be so that they could live. I stood up and returned fire, "May God be with me!" I shouted at them. I started to charge at them, I couldn't see them in the heat of the sun and the blood spilling down my face, but I was heading in the right direction. Black blobs started to form in my vision, I was getting closer. The bombs were getting closer to me too, I nearly missed an explosive by a few meters. I ran out of bullets and threw my gun down, I somersaulted to the left and pulled a pistol from my boot, shooting the nearest demon in sight. Tears of fear breached my eyes and were falling down my face. I was always afraid to die, but I must do this. Another explosion throws me off of my feet and into the sand. I struggled to get off my back but everything was a blure, I couldn't see. I rushed to find my pistol, fumbling in the desert sand. "Where!?" I yelled "Where are you!?" Another bomb... then the smoke and sand began to be too much... then... nothing. Darkness. Heat... so much... heat...