s a new day, a day in which I have to take and apprehend these menaces of society. I’ve been hired by two stubborn, idiotic men, who know are fully aware of their consequences but choose to bring unblaance to our reality; The reality that our lord and saviour created! Ah, why do I always have to fix these stupid sitatuions caused by idiotic people. I can’t catch a break! Oh woe is me… I’m growing tired of all these as life continues and as time moves forward. You know what? Let's not discuss something like this, it might worry you my dear. I’ll be back, hopefully sooner than later… Yet I can see that I might be stuck here, for a while. Well, I shall be going now, my dear, have a good day
Sincerely~William!
“And sent…” William puts his phone away and deeply sighs, looking straight ahead.
The room shines with elegance, breaths of pureness. Holy light emitting from the chair that William H. Christ sat on, one made out of the finest wood. His gaze and his presence alone can purify the sins of your own selfish doing and cleanse your wretched soul. He’s inside of his hotel room that was made to his preference, swirling the cane in circles as he sat with annoyance. His partner Archard’s robe elegantly glows with the theme of his room, with the priest men all sitting on their own individual chairs. William’s priests got up from their chairs and got on their knees, asking to be blessed for this new day to their Messiah. They begged for his blessings with his usual gentle charms and righteous smile.
But today, William didn’t feel happy as he usually did. He looked tired, tired of everything. He stands up and walks to the priests, patting each of their heads, blessing their souls with a tap. They cry and thank their leader for his blessings. Even though William felt moody today, he didn’t want to leave them hanging.
“There there, children of God. Don’t cry, the day’s just beginning.” William said, bringing out a grin.
Archard grabs the cane of William and reminds his partner that they’re late for their meeting with Dr. Cato and Mathew. William chuckles, he thanks all the priests for their hard work, and admires his room and pin points every single detail of Christ to brighten their day even further. Nothing couldn’t have made his admiration better than it already has until an employee of this hotel’s establishment rudely interrupted his time of happiness. The employee with an awful attitude threatens William and everyone to get out of the room for house keeping services or she’ll call the cops.
William’s grin faded and he sighed. “Then come in, if you shall.” he replied to the angry woman.
The woman opened the door and pointed her thumb to the hall. “Get out now, otherwise I have to call the damn cops. Fucking crazy asses.”
William didn’t like her attitude and her dirty mouth. He grows an open mouth smile and slowly approaches the employee, making her feel uncomfortable.
William gently places his hand on her shoulder, looking down at her. “Do apologise for that sinful mouth of yours, please?”
The woman grew nervous and slapped his hand off her shoulder. “All of you are a bunch of crazed lunatics!” She even tried pushing William too, but it was like she was pushing a wall. “Ya’ll better get the fuck out, I’m serious I’ll call the police on ya asses!”
“My dear sinful child…” William said with such excitement, “...let us—purify that disgusting soul of yours. May God lead you down a path of respect, and a path of wisdom…” He creeps closer to her face, staring into her eyes. “A...men, my dear.”
The woman was being pushed by an unknown force into the bright room as the door slowly closed behind her. William chuckles quietly, she screams as a bright light shines beneath the hotel room door. Those screams of terror transition into laughter of someone who’s life’s been turned around. That elegant light fades as silence erupts the hallways.
Amen, my dear… William chuckled and the hotel employee casually walked out of the room like nothing happened to her.
***
Back in Detroit Michigan, notably the highschool the girls attended, currently Sarah’s bored out of her mind. She couldn’t wait to leave this classroom of hell in which complex patterns drove her into madness. That class was maths and this exam was taking a toll on the poor gals' already complex mind. Feeling frustrated she thought about using her powers of Witchery to cheat, but her mother’s always reminded her to never do such a thing. And she made sure to remind her every night.
Yes mother, I won’t cheat… hmph. Just once wouldn’t hurt, right? Sarah thought.
Sarah quietly sighs as she gently slams her head on her desk and looks over to Veronica who seemed focused as usual. Her pencil moved beyond human limits leaving Sarah left amazed, watching the rich snob bring forth destruction onto the test. Sarah tries getting Veronica’s attention, but she was so deadly focused that even a mere spitball would probably have no effect whatsoever.
“Pst, Veronica, come on! I know you can hear me, you damn big tittied nerd…” Sarah whispered.
Just when all hope seemed lost for the pitiful Sarah, the school alarm goes off, leaving every student surprised and also happy. The principal announces over the inercoms to all his students and staff that they must report to an urgent meeting to the gymnasium. Every student in the classroom jumped out from their desks, cheering this urgency. Sarah sighs loudly out of relief while Veronica stood up and handed her test over before anyone else could leave. The class all stared at her as she seemed so proud of herself. With her chest out, Veronica slams the test on her teacher's desk, making her teacher nervously chuckle. Veronica placed her fists on her hips and pats herself on the back and walks to Sarah’s side.
Sarah gets up from her seat and gives her a thumbs up, but Veronica shuts it down and rolls the exam Sarah was taking and smacks her on the head with it. “No! Bad mouthy goth girl, bad!”
Sarah rubs her head from the sassy impact of Veronica. “Jeez! Did you really have to do such a thing?!”
Veronica crosses her arms with disappointment. “That’s what you deserve for not studying my dear friend!” She said pridefully.
All students were out of the classroom already along with the teacher who called for the two girls to follow the class or they’ll get left behind. They listened and followed behind everyone else. As they walked through the crowded hallway, they miraculously spotted Anna and slowly drifted out of their group to reach her. The teacher took notice of their little scheme and with an angry tone demanded them to stay in the group. If they decide to rebel against his authority again, he'd make sure to show them his wrath. They both hid their inner childness to avoid any conflict. Sarah couldn’t help herself and a tiny bit of laughter broke through her shut lips.
The teacher quickly turns around and slams a finger of anger in her direction and shouted “DETENTION FOR YOU!” Sarah’s quickly left stunned and hung her head in disappointment while Veronica chuckled quietly, annoying Sarah even further.
Eventually, everyone’s reached and seated on the stacked benches. Every student was gathered inside the gymnasium and were left wondering what these so-called important meetings were? It was still rowdy and loud as they all waited for the top authority figure of this school known as the principal to show himself. The assistant principal grabbed the microphone and demanded silence! It didn’t work, feeling a bit annoyed she tried getting their attention again but it was of no use. As she was on breaking point, the principal finally stepped out from the back entrance of the gym, he spotted the teachers sitting at the side and the look of his face screamed sadness. He approached the front gymnasium and stood there, overlooking the sea of rowdy teenagers. He cleared his throat and spoke into the mic, his soft gentle voice calmed the crowd and now all eyes were set on him.
He thanked the assistant principal for her patience as she walked back to the other staff and sat down. He nods to his employees and stares into the crowd. “Good afternoon, students of Wolverine highschool. I apologise for excusing you from your studies, but I have to announce something vile.”
The sea of students looked at one another as the air in the gym began to fill with seriousness and worried muttering.
“As you may have heard, a student of ours was found dead in his home, that was about a week and a half ago…” He stops, leaving a moment of silence. He sighs deeply and now his eyes dimmed with sadness. “...Now we have more reports of students being killed in their sleep.”
The entire crowd quickly glimpses at one another, gossiping over the entire situation.
Sarah had no clue this was happening, leaving her shocked. Veronica was left speechless and wondered what was going on? Anna manages to reach the two and squeezes herself between them. She couldn’t believe what was happening, then it clicked with them! They all remembered the reports of the so-called outbreak from those quarantined towns. They wondered if all the suspicion they had for those two men were wrong, but they were right from the beginning. All three began to think, wondering if this was the same case.
The principal demanded silence again and everyone obliged. “Ahem, I know it’s a frightening situation, but everything should be okay, the police have been puzzling together these strange occurrences and might have a lead.”
Every student still felt scared. They weren't convinced hearing his statement and began to rowdy up the place again.
"Now now! I completely understand everyone, this isn't the time to panic, this is a time for resolution, and we have that answer!" He extends his arm out to the entrance of the gym, leaving everyone waiting in suspense. "Let me introduce to you kids, to the men who cured the outbreak that quarantined our neighbours, please welcome…!"
The audience rose up out of their seats with curiosity and all waited to see who would burst through those doors.
"Dr. Cato and his partner Mr. Mathew!"
The metal doors of the gymnasium slowly opened, Dr. Cato and Mathew walked side by side along with their men in white. Every student was seemingly left confused on who these two are, but the girls recognised them right away. They were exactly what they imagined they looked like in person. The two were tall, but Dr. Cato was slim, being well dressed like a therapist without the glasses. Mathew on the other hand looked like a giant lumberjack without the plaid shirt and jean straps. All three girls gave them the look of suspicion as they walked to the front of the gymnasium. The two men stopped and thanked the principal for allowing them to speak to the students. The principal hands the mic to Dr. Cato and walks off to the side. Dr. Cato took this time to observe every student in the mountain of benches they sat in.
Dr. Cato smiled gently. “How are all of you today?” he said in a soft gentle voice.
They didn't respond, only a couple of muffled coughs and whispers was all that he got. He continues smiling and continues to observe the crowd. This was growing quite eerie and uncomfortable for everyone.
Sarah didn’t like the look in Mathews' eyes because he was scanning each individual student. She also felt something else emitting off of him, something pure, and holy. Sarah only felt suspicious of him but didn’t feel any malice coming from the two. Despite it, that glancing he was doing gave her all types of wrong vibes.
“Gu-Guys… I don’t feel so good.” Anna muttered, slightly leaning.
She wasn’t feeling too hot, her head began to hurt and sweat slowly dripped down her face. The girls quickly took notice and asked her if she was alright. Sarah on the other hand felt something horrid coming out of Anna. Sarah’s senses were all over the place, she’s fully cautious, not to mention worried, something wasn’t right with Anna.
Dr. Cato spoke again, this time he chuckled into the mic, causing an awful presence of discomfort now. He clears his throat and grins. “There’s absolutely nothing to worry about! These deaths aren’t normal, that's for sure, but please! Don’t be afraid, this might be the same case like the town we just cured and is currently lively once again. So rest assured, children, this should be a walk in the park for us.”
Mathew walks in front and politely grabs the mic out of Dr. Cato’s hand. “He’s right! There’s nothing to fear dear children, so go back to whatever you enjoyed doing, avoid anyone suspicious looking and most of all…” He pulls his cross out and lifts it into the air with joy, “...pray to God! Pray for your safety, don’t let a single demon overtake you my dear kids.”
He smiles kinda awkwardly for everyone, almost forcing himself to smile. The young adults and teens slowly begin to clap out of weirdness and displeasure.
Mathew suddenly extends his hand out to the entrance just as the principal did. “Now! Let me introduce all of you to a man! A man of malevolence, a man with wisdom, a man who’ll purify the atmosphere in this building by his presence alone…”
What was this person he was speaking of? Now the students are growing rather curious.
“...Allow me to introduce the one and only!” Everyone stood up again, thinking a famous celebrity was about to explode through those doors and enrupt the place with fame and fortune! “William H. Christ!”
A huge light of white explodes through the metal doors windows, filling the room with holiness and purity. The heavy doors were slammed open, priests walked into the gym first as they had their hands collapsed. They stopped and slowly dropped to their knees to welcome this William fellow. Archard walked in first, his robe of elegance revealing those gold printed figures of the virgin Mary and Jesus shined with such clearance you’d see your own reflection on them. Archard stops midway and kneels. Every student felt a bit weirded out by this whole ordeal, they were beginning to think this was some sort of play, bringing a wave of laughter to erupt in the place.
Mathew got annoyed and shouted into the mic. “All of you better shut your mouths! Show some respect, you degenerates!” It was of no use, it only made them laugh even harder, that was until William finally stepped foot into the gymnasium.
A moment of silence erupted into the air. His black shoes clanked, and echoed, his cane tapping on the ground ruptured the silence as he walked towards Archard and the other two. His white outfit with gold markings and black accents glowing behind the light as he was some sort of Angel. His presence alone made everyone simmer down. Every student felt amazed, calmed, yet there was a slight hint of creepiness coming from him. He stops and salutes everyone, bowing and thanking the employees for allowing his company. For some reason, they couldn’t respond out of nervousness and fright. He turns to the crowd and gently smiles. His smile alone could fill your soul with such cleanliness, his eyes were full of joy and life, even if he were to stare into your eyes he could wipe away all your sins.
William gently grabs the mic from Mathew and slams his cane on the ground startling every student. “Salutations my dear children…” He observes the mountain of students, “...I do say? You were laughing at my colleagues, if I’m correct now?”
Students gulped, some whispered, others stayed frozen with nervousness, many looked around, erratic.
William scratches his head gently, causing the kids to react with slight fear. “Children! That’s extremely rude I must say, but God does forgive! Even to the most disgusting of sinners! But fear not my lovely youth! Today is a day of greatness and elegance! As you heard from our dear guests here, do not be afraid of such dreadness!” He pressed his finger to the edge of his lips, “You must smile, so one can go about their day. That’s what God would want my, dear children.”
The students stayed silent, feeling quite scared of William.
“What’s this?” William hovers a hand over an ear, “Come now beautiful and righteous spirits! This is a time of gratitude! A celebration, didn’t you hear?! There’s nothing to fear…” He slowly drifts his attention to Anna and Sarah in a creeper manner. “Absolutely nothing… to fear for you, my chil...dren…”
His smile fades away and reveals an ominous frown of wickedness towards the girls.
Sarah gasps and Anna’s struggling to stay awake from the intense pain coming from her head, which made her grasp it.
William’s brows deeply furrowed and revealed a deep wrinkle between them. “So long as you pray, and seek forgiveness, you too, can also be forgiven, of your horrid sins… of selfishness.” He extends his arm slowly into their direction as he finishes his speech.
Archard also looks into their direction but with slight anger, balling a fist. He leans into Williams ear and whispers. “We’re being watched, and there’s also…” William stops him and Archard smiles. “...I see, my apologies sir William.”
William opens his arms out towards the crowd and drops the mic from his own intense excitement. “Now, let us pray, my children! Rise!” He raises his arms into the air, “Rise out of those seats of murdered nature!” A light emits from behind and leaves the children in awe. “PRAY WITH ME! LET US REJOICE IN OUR SINS, SO GOD CAN FORGIVE OUR ACTIONS OF TODAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW!”
All students rose up in unison and seemed to be acting zombie-like with their eyes gleaming with emptiness.
Anna’s nose began to drip a black substance, which startled and made the two girls panic. William's light was beginning to burn Anna’s eyes from its pureness. She covers them and coughs up black, and stares at her own stained palms fainting from the horrid sight. Sarah and Veronica quickly aided her and yelled for help, asking for a nurse, but everyone in the gym seemed out of it and now everyone was praying together? Something wasn’t right, this wasn’t right at all to Sarah who had enough and tried to do something about this act. But, she couldn’t… she hadn’t realised the amount of shaking she was experiencing. Sarah was afraid and she wasn’t aware of it at the moment over the complexities put forth in front of her.
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Sarah clenches her jaw and grabs Veronica. “Carry Anna! We gotta get outta here!”
“Sarah?! What’s going on!” Veronica asked, frightfully.
“I don’t have time for this!” Sarah manages to pick Anna up and carries her weightless body over her tiny shoulders. “Veronica, go, now!”
Veronica hesitated at first but shook her head and booked it. “I’ll get a nurse, my dear friends!”
As Veronica ran out the gymnasium through the same doors all the men came through, she decided to stop and look back briefly. The doors mysteriously slam shut by themselves. Veronica loudly gasped and ran back, trying to open the doors, but couldn’t. She slammed her hands on the door and shouted to William to open them. William stood elegantly and stared at nothing. Veronica begins to panic and decides to run for help as the crowd continues praying with William.
Sarah managed to bring herself to carry Anna towards the entrance, but didn’t realise the doors were locked. She sets Anna against the wall and tries opening the door, but now realising they were locked. She slowly looked over her shoulder and saw Archard and William standing a couple of feet from her. They stood before her, menacingly. Sarah quickly gasps from shock and clenches her fist.
Dr. Cato came from behind them and quickly intervened. “What the hell are you guys doing to all these students and staff?! Is this some sick play for you to create?! What are you people!”
William didn’t bother to even glance at Dr. Cato, his eyes were dead set on Sarah. “My dear brother Catholic! Please, step aside and allow us to cleanse this girl, along with everyone else who decided to rudely laugh at my dear partner and loyalties!” He gently gestures to Dr. Cato to move aside.
Dr. Cato balled his fists and stood his ground. “What do you mean?! You’ve gone far enough! Leave these people alone, I mean come on? If I were their age I would also laugh at your weird circus act.”
William clenches his cane, showing signs of annoyance. “Now Catholic, sinners must be punished, you see! There’s more to this world than… this!” He walks over to Anna and gently pats her head. “A mere puppet to a fowl demon, how wretched of a poor soul to allow herself to be the eyes of such deviance!” He grabs her hand and caresses it, “Poor child… why would such beauty allow herself to be a tool by such a horrid creature.” His white gloves got stained from the blackness on her hands.
Sarah grits her teeth from anger and runs to Anna’s aid. “S-Stop!” William backed off, allowing Sarah to hold Anna. “Don’t touch my friend, you creeps!”
Archard steps in front of William and looks down on Sarah, clenching his fists intensely. “You… you-you—Silence you wicked Witch! I will not allow such defiance from a sinful being such as yourself! Especially one who I know most of…”
Sarah didn’t like the look in Archard’s eyes. It actually made her feel scared to death, she’s never seen such intense anger engulfing her. But she questioned why he said that last part towards her. She’s never met him before so why did he say that? Like if he knew her from before.
Dr. Cato was beginning to feel aggravated towards these two, he didn’t like their bully-like tactics towards Sarah and decided to approach Archard. “You better stop or—!”
William pats his partner's shoulder and calms him down. “Mathew!” He calls out, “Come get your friend to cool him down. Would you, please?”
Mathew did as he was told and quickly hurried to them, grabbing Dr. Cato’s arm. “Relax man, they’re here to help us so chill!”
Dr. Cato growls and settles down. “Whatever, but I’m still keeping my eyes on them.”
William’s face turned still as he brought his gaze back to Sarah. “So? I assume that this is your friend, am I… correct, child?” He slowly squats down to look into Sarah’s red eyes of growing fear and anger. “Are you the puppeteer if I may ask?” His eyes slowly expanded from annoyance and quickly turned bloodshot, showing slight signs of mild twitching.
Sarah held Anna closer. “I-I-I don’t know… what the hell you’re talking about! She’s my best friend! I=I-I be-bet you two feel good about yourselves, bullying a couple-couple of teenagers and expressing fe-fear tactics! I bet your Wi-Witches—yourselfs!”
Archard furrowed his brows and grew annoyed. William remained the same and gestures to Archard to cool his growing temper. Her response alone triggered some sort of reaction especially out of Archard.
Dr. Cato had enough and clapped once. “Can we fucking! Stop this now? If you folks don’t stop this, then our suspicion will be surely exposed to the public!”
They calmed themselves and William sighs. He claps his hands, making everyone stop praying. All the students and staff felt fuzzy and confused. The employees seemed lost and couldn’t remember why they were in the gym in the first place?
William stands straight and bows to Sarah without a grin. “I apologise, but you’re wrong, Witch!” He disappears out of sight, surprising her and everyone else. He suddenly appears behind her and leans into her ear, “You’re indeed, a very… strange girl, aren’t you?”
Sarah quickly looks over her shoulder and panics a bit. “Who-Who! What are you-you?!” She held Anna even tighter as her eyes quivered from fear.
William gently pats her head and twists his head to the side abruptly. “Heh… Heh, I can’t answer your question…” He smiles at both Mathew and Dr. Cato, and turns back to Sarah with a nasty forced smile of creepiness. “I bid thee farewell my sweetums!”
His priests and Archard all disappear along with Dr. Cato and Mathew. William was the last one standing and looked deep into Sarah’s eyes.
William leaned into her face and grew his eyes wide. “Remember this day, as a learning curve. I don’t sense a bit of malevolence coming from you.” He drags his finger on her cheek, “That’s surprising, very very surprising!”
William vanishes before Sarah’s eyes. She briefly shouted in terror and looked back to her original viewpoint and spotted him standing at the spot he was originally standing before intimidating her.
William pointed his cane at her with a disgusted look on his face. “I detest Witches… they’re the most hateful, horrible, sinful of all types… but you! You’re quite different, special, my dear.” He lowers his cane and turns around. “What a shame, you’d be a perfect child of God.” He vanishes quicker than Sarah could blink.
Sarah’s left frozen in fear. She couldn’t believe what she just witnessed. The doors widened again, Veronica came back with more staff and security. She spotted a shocked and frightened Sarah, quivering horribly for some reason? She shakes Sarah to snap out of it, but she couldn’t bring herself back into reality. William’s face alone was all that she was seeing now. Anna, still unconscious, continued to bleed black out her nose, staining Sarah’s arms and thighs. Everyone panics, calling emergency numbers and questioning the students about what had happened. Yet the truth was, no one even remembered why they were in the gym in the first place, leaving Veronica shocked beyond belief.
***
The day has been done, it’s night and meanwhile, Jack’s all alone in Angela’s hospital room, coping with all his emotions in silence. Sitting by her bedside, the young man can’t bear the feeling of horrible guilt anymore. He had his gun in one hand and clenching the other. He’s reminicancing the day Veronica saw him as the real monster that he’s become. He knew they would have to find out sooner or later, but he wasn’t expecting her to be the first to witness his ruthlessness. He’s outcast himself from everyone since then, no matter how hard Anna tried visiting, contacting him, he would avoid her knowing Veronica most likely told her that dreadful night.
“Fuck man… what do I do…?” Jack deeply sighs, staring out the window over seeing the city with his hand resting on his chin now; he could feel a sudden cold breeze swift past his face.
Jack looked over his shoulder and saw Mallory’s beautiful face near his. He aggressively stands up out of his chair, making it fall back.
The young man looks down on her with eyes fuming with anger. “What do you want? Heartless…” He stops himself from saying anything out of line, remembering the consequence of making her cry.
Jack places his hand on his stomach and swallows nervously. “Never mind…” He muttered.
Mallory stayed quiet, looking at the man that she loved.
Jack squints. “Just-just, leave me alone…” He turns back around and stares out the window once again.
Mallory tilted her head, confused, and saw his hand placed on his abdomen and shockling gasps. “Jack! You don’t think I’d kill you again?” She crosses her arms and frowns. “Honestly, I knew you were about to call me a bad name, but that doesn't mean I’ll kill you over something so petty!”
Jack clenches his teeth after hearing that statement. “Why you… ah.” He puts his gun away and sighs aggressively.
Mallory leans against his back and hears his beating heart that was beginning to race. “I love you, remember?”
Jack steadys his breathing and sighs again. “Whatever… what do you want anyways?”
“Hmph, damn jerk,” She gets off and crosses her arms, “I have some bad news to report.”
“What now?” he asked, angrily.
“Well… you see, you know that guy that made you sweat nervously and had your tail beneath your butt?”
“Yeah… that guy you called an Exorcist, what about him?”
Mallory stays quiet for a second, shakes her head and smiles. She approaches Jack again, patting his back. “Nevermind! Everything should be fine, as long as you're here!”
Jack turns back around to look at her. “Hey, hey! Don’t just dodge your own question and leave me hanging here. What’s up?” He walks up to her, coming face to face. “Come on! Tell me, what's the problem?”
Mallory continues smiling, slowly walking away from him. “Don’t worry about it, so long as you’re by her side!” She points to Angela, “then everything should turn out…”
She stops, Jack is left confused until she begins twitching a bit.
“No… no, no-not… now!” She drops to her knees, grabbing her head as her brain trembles.
Jack quickly rushes to her side, holding her. “Hey! What the hell is wrong with you?!”
She continues twitching, her nose bled red for once, surprising Jack.
“Tell me! What’s happening to you? Mallory.”
Mallory coughs and stops, coughs a bit again and slowly caresses Jack’s cheek. “You’re holding me, how-how lovely.” She began to fade into black dust, her particles slowly falling on the ground. “See you again, soon enough.” She dissolves and stains Jack's clothes like black splashes of paint.
Jack smacks his lips. “Way to be over dramatic again… now I feel teased.” He stands up and approaches Angela’s bedside. “I’ll be back sis,” he grabs her hand and pats it. “I-I… heh, nevermind.” He gently smiles and walks out of her room.
Jack waited for Candy in the lobby. He’s currently walking to get himself some groceries. After ten minutes, Candy returned and saw Jack sitting on one of the lobby chairs.
Candy had a bag of groceries and raised his hand to the air, waving to Jack. “Yoohoo! Jack, sugar daddy!”
Jack got up and came to Candy. “There you are. Hey, I’ll be back. I’m just going for a good night stroll. Shouldn’t be too long.”
Candy playfully slaps Jack’s arm. “No need to tell me boo, take your time. Just be careful with the nasty monsters of the dark boo boo.”
Jack laughs. “Yeah, I doubt I’d come across them. They should be afraid of me, right?”
Candy smiles and strolls off all female-like. Jack rolled his head and tucked his hands in his pockets and walked into the city streets. As he walked down the street, slowly growing distance between himself and the hospital, he stopped and stared up at the skyrise buildings. All this time he’s come through here but never had time to explore deep city Detroit. He did remember coming here when he was a kid, but that was just once. Now having some free time, Jack wants to explore the night life that dwells in the city.
“Huh… this should be interesting.” Jack said and walked forward again.
As Jack walks deeper into the city, he’s quickly reminded at how awful the inner cities are from the stories told to him and small visits from the past and with Eric. There was substance abuse, over doses, homelessness, not to mention prostitution that swept in from every direction and corner.
“Nevermind, it’s just like home… only worse.” Jack muttered.
Jack decided it was best to ignore every single thing. This way, he can enjoy his nightly stroll and leave his mind filled with the blackness that’s called it home. Yet despite trying, he couldn’t block out the surroundings around him. Feeling disgusted at the politicians that run the city, and seeing their lack of work at play, once he was about to shout in anger, his phone vibrated. Jack sighed and stopped in front of a local corner shop and pulled it out.
It was just a text from Eric, reminding him that he needed to discuss something with Jack. “Fuck Eric, but I’m glad you disturbed me… I was about to do something stupid, as always.”
Jack felt a little hungry, so he decided to go inside the corner shop and grab a quick night snack. He casually walks in, ringing the bell above the door. The clerk, who seemed on high alert, welcomed Jack, but gave him a sharp look of suspicion. Jack understood the clerks position and remembers the time Angela and himself stole a lot of food for the first time when they became homeless. He chuckles a bit, and walks by the hot foods and stares at the selection.
Jack strokes his chin, he couldn’t figure out what he wanted. “Do I want a hotdog? A burger? No, perhaps a churro maybe.” Jack grins, “churro it is then.” Jack grabs a churro and smells it.
Feeling like he made the right decision, he approaches the clerk and hands him some money, thanking him. The clerk stops Jack to give him back some change, Jack rejects it and tells him to keep it. The clerk chuckles and accepts the change. He waves goodbye as Jack leaves his store. Jack ate the churro quickly, he sure was hungry, but that churro definitely hit the spot. He stops in front of a crosswalk, waiting for the sign to change to walk. As Jack waits in the barely lit night around him, he’s staring at passing cars, and looking up at the night sky. The stars shone brightly as they twinkled, sky lights stabbing the dark clouds.
Jack softly sighs, thinking how different his life would have been if it wasn’t for that one night. “Some life I live, right? Mom, Dad…”
Those images of his dead parents still embedded into his mind continue to fogg his future. He wonders if he’ll ever have a proper future or continue this dark path that God’s leading him on. He looks back at the light and notices the walk sign. He casually walks across, but something wasn’t right?
“Huh? What’s this?” Jack stopped half way and noticed everyone around him was gone.
The city lights slowly dwildding off, soon after, it was completely dark.
Jack gets angry and shouts, “Mallory?! Are you doing this!”
There was no response from her. It was extremely quiet, too quiet. Now he questioned if it truly was her doing, but this time, something told him it wasn’t.
“Something’s wrong, this-this is nothing like those occurrences she puts me through… Nothing compared to the nightmarish dreams and somehow—my guts telling, I’m still in reality.”
Jack panics a bit and runs over to the closest store, but it was just too dark to see in front of him. He trips over something and falls face first on some sort of puddle.
Jack lifts himself off the ground on all fours and wipes his face. “Wh-What is this?” He couldn’t tell because of how pitch black it was. “The fuck’s going on? Mallory!” He yelled, “Answer me damn it!” No response, only the bearing echoes of silence.
Jack stands up and looks everywhere, being blinded by pitch dark. He’s growing annoyed, this was unbearable for him. He pulls his gun out and his phone, flips it open to at least get some sort of light. Before Jack shone it forward and he noticed something strange on his phone? The time on his phone has stopped and the date’s kept changing? Now he’s irritated, gritting his teeth. Jack walked carefully through the darkness, with his gun on his right hand and phone on his left; he’s ready for whatever event was about to happen.
Jack walked through darkness for minutes and his eyes grew wide. “I-I can’t take this anymore! Just what the hell’s going on?! Mallory!”
Just when he thought he was about to lose his mind, he spotted something down the street. It was a figure of some sort, a strange bright figure of something, or someone. He raises his gun out of caution, and swallows out of worry. The young man slowly points his gun at the figure, creeping closer to its direction, quietly as possible.
Jack’s just a couple feet away from whatevers visible within this darkness and once getting closer, he slowly places his finger on the trigger and aims. “Quit fucking with me… damned girl.” He said quietly.
Just when he was about to shoot, a transcended blue light in the shape of a hand slams against his face, knocking him away. He fell backwards hard, his gun slid away from his vicinity, and blood dripped out of his nose.
Jack groaned in pain and coughed. “Wh-What the hell?!” He wipes his drippy nose and stands up, “Who-Who did that?! Was-Was it you? Mallory!”
Jack grabs his phone again and shines it in front of his view. He was growing more angry now, but he felt something cold, pulsing on his neck. He slowly looks back and spots a tall barky, branched out tree with hands sticking out of its tipped branches.
This horrified Jack. He panics and runs away from whatever was standing before him. The figure extends its branchy hands out to Jack as he makes a run for it. It grabbed hold of his legs making him fall face first. Jack saw his gun but it was out of reach and screamed as he’s reeled back to the figure.
“Mallory!” Jack yelled out her name in horror, but there was no answer yet again.
The branchy figure reeled Jack in, and lifted the young man off the ground, holding him upside down. Jack’s breathing heavily in horror. From what Jack was looking at, this thing looked eroded, old, mouldy, and reeked of death. Jack’s speechless. The figure flips him upside to look at him directly.
Jack’s face was filled with such horror. This was no dream, this wasn’t Mallory’s doing, this was all real. What should I do? Am-am I actually going to die?!
The figure’s barked torso expands a bit to reveal an oval opening. A face of disgust erupts out of the opening with hollowed eyes and a gaping mouth. It stares directly into Jack’s face. Even though its eyes were blacked out it had a tiny glow of blue within, but that mouth was as hollow as darkness itself. It drooled a vile white substance out from the edge of the abyss and onto the ground. Its head extends out like some snake, getting into Jack’s frightened disgusted face.
It examines Jack and shakes its head violently. “A-N O-D-D, O-N-E!” It spoke so ghostly that it brought chills to Jack’s spine! “S-U-C-H, U-N-PURITY!” It rotates its head clockwise and blasts Jack’s face with howls. “M-U-S-T… FEED!” Its mouth widens to the size of a giant circle of eternal darkness.
Jack screams out in horror. “No!” Jack violently shakes his entire body to break free, but it extends its other branchy hands to subdue Jack. “Stop! Don’t do this! Please!”
Just when that black hole was about to engulf Jack, a huge bright light erupts from the street behind Jack.
“That’s quite enough lost spirit!” Shouted someone with a deep angry voice.
Jack couldn’t look back to see who it was, but noticed the figure’s body trembling out of immense anger. It’s mouth shrinks back to normal and plunges Jack on the ground. Jack coughs out blood from the immense force. The figure hops over him and lands a foot away. Jack sits up as he grabs his abdomen from the pain. He looks back and sees that light and branchy creature glaring at the light. Jack stands up and looks over to the right to see whoever said that, and is spooking the wretched creature.
Jack spotted a man in a white robe of elegance and fortune with gold printed figures of the virgin Mary and Jesus. “Who-Who’s… that?”
Jack was left dumb founded. He couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. Just what the hell’s happening? Jack thought.
As the two supernatural beings continued staring at each other, Jack walked over to his gun that he saw before being grabbed and ran to it. He grabs his gun, cocks it, and watches what was about to happen between the two.
The robed man's corneas glowed from that of his gold prints, he looked serious and seemed calm. “Spirit of lost hope! How did such a creature that we’ve been searching for end up here?!” He stomps towards the figure with confidence, “This is a rather dire situation, it seems that you’ve consumed the souls of griefed victims… how shameful.”
The figure wails, shrieking horrifically. “N-O! M-U-S-T, F-E-E-D!” It lunges its branch like hands towards the robed man.
Jack was still left speechless. “This-This can’t be—real?” he muttered..
The robed man slams his palm in the direction of the oncoming hands. “Foolish spirit of lost hope, let me exercise your fallen grace and cleanse your sins… so that you can rest easy, and be at peace.” The robed man muttered.
Those hands of horror came at him with speeds too fast for the human eye to see. The robe man dodges all of the hand-like branches, grasps, and attacks with even greater speeds that Jack’s or anyones normal eyes couldn’t comprehend. He still had his hand forward as he dodged, keeping his sights onto the creature of the night.
Jack only saw the thing’s hands go through the man as if he were an apparition. “Am… Am I dreaming? Or is that thing’s hands going through that guy's body?!” Jack said.
The robe man dodges one last time and hurtles towards the figure and places his hand against its barky torso. “Be extinguished, lost spirit.”
The figure’s body glowed that of white light, its eyes and mouth ruptured into holy light and the thing popped like some spiritual balloon. Jack watched as the particles of the defeated creature floated around like fireflies.
The robe man brushes himself off and notices Jack, standing there in confusion. “Dear child, you seem to have witnessed a burden in which you weren’t supposed to. Let me cleanse your memories so you may never remember this treacherous night.”
He started walking towards Jack, and the young man took guard. Jack baled a fist and clenched his gun, trembling in fear. The robed man only took a couple of steps forward but stopped because of an awful sensation coming out of Jack.
“My goodness… you’re quite the sinful one… aren’t you?” His eyes turned serious and he seemed infuriated, “seems you need more than a cleansing to bid that burden that’s inside you.” He started walking to him again, but menacingly.
Jack aims his gun at him, surprising the guy. “Don’t come any closer… I don’t know if this is a dream or not, but don’t think you can say such retardation to me, fellow.”
“And you have a mouth that needs to be cleansed as well… my my, poor child.”
Jack clenched his jaw. “This isn’t my first rodeo pal, I’ve seen and experienced more than enough to know some things here. So why don’t you quit fucking around and tell me what and who you are!”
The man clenches his fist, “Such vulgar language… you’re a nuisance I See. Please explain, child?”
Jack swallows. “Well, I didn’t believe it at first… Ghosts, spirits, demons, I thought all of that crap was a bunch of fairy tales, but going through some experiences made me believe half of that… Supernatural powers, Witches and crap…” The young man bit his lip, “...it’s still ridiculous to me, but it’s something I have to accept, especially knowing that one of my friends is a part of.”
“A Witch you say…” The robed man grit his teeth. “How disgusting!” The building suddenly reappeared into reality and all glass windows rattled as he blurted out that angry tone of his.
Jack was intimidated but didn’t show it, keeping up his current act. “You can’t scare me. I too have experienced what you just did, I’m assuming you're a Witch too?”
The robe man grew more angry, hearing Jack call him a Witch made his blood boil. “Don’t you ever compare me to such a detestable creature… you miserable being!”
The dark skies were no more, but gleamed of elegant white. The buildings began to fade, the last remnants of darkness washed away as Jack looked above. Seeing this all unfold made him realise the situation he’s in now.
“So I was in another dimensional world—thing after all?” Jack said, calmly.
Just like Sarah did when we first reunited… so that thing must have sucked me into one? Jack thought.
The robed man raises an eyebrow out of surprise. “You know that much?”
“Wait, huh?! You heard my—!”
“You’re quite the educated one, aren't you?” The robed man gripped his chin out of interest and his anger simmered.
Jack narrowed his eyes, placed his finger on the trigger and started squeezing. “You got that right.” As he was about to press it down, he was blasted with a light of red.
Jack covers his face and closes his eyes from its intensity. He opens them again to find himself in the middle of the street, cars honking at him and people who seemed angry and shouting profanity. The nightlife had returned, the building’s lights, street lamps, and midnight folks walked around. Everything was back to normal.
Jack’s mind was clouded and his hearing was muffled. “Wh-What?” Once Jack realised he’s truly returned to the real world, he quickly put his gun away. “What did he do?” Jack muttered.
Jack walks out of the street and begins to make his way back to the hospital. “This is a night… I’ll never forget.” He sighs and places his hands in his pocket, “Just who was that guy? And if this goes on any longer, these complications, complexities of the supernatural and occurrences, I won’t be able to handle it and go insane.”
Jack walks casually onto the city sidewalks, ignoring all the belligerency, bad mouthing, and insults thrown at him. But from the corner of the nearest building, dwelling in the shadows, Jack didn’t realise that someone was watching him from Detroit's shadows. It’s the woman in red who was watching him from the depths of darkness. She looks annoyed, and fades away as Jack continues his way back to Angela and wonders who that man was.