The gymnasium buzzed with excitement after the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the game. The University of Waterloo had won, and Zack's teammates cheered in celebration. Coach Reynolds, ran his hands through his salt-and-pepper hair and beamed with pride as he delivered an impassioned speech about teamwork and determination.
As the crowd began to disperse, Zack started to scan the masses hoping to find Rob amongst the sea of faces. He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. His gaze darted around the room, landing on familiar faces but never finding the one he sought. What could be holding Rob up, did Lindsey catch him? or was it something worse? A tap on his back broke his train of thought.
"Great game, Zack!" Deb had emerged from the crowd, her cheeks flushed, and her glasses askew from the excitement. Her smile was genuine, but there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I cheered so hard for you. I forgot how exciting your games can be."
"Thanks, Deb," Zack replied, trying to hide his concern about Rob's absence. "It means a lot." As they embraced, he felt a warmth spread through him, a spark of hope amidst his dark thoughts.
"I really miss you and I have been doing a lot of thinking, I still don't know why you have to keep things from us, but I know you and I know you would never do anything to hurt anyone. I want to be friends again, just friends," Deb suggested, pulling away from the hug. Zack nodded in agreement, he had missed her more than she realized.
"Thank you," Zack said, a few small tears escaping the corner of his eyes. "I promise I am going to tell you everything, but first I need to find Rob, he isn't answering his texts and was supposed to be at the game tonight."
Deb looked concerned, "I am sure he is ok, he could talk himself out of any situation he finds himself in, maybe we can ask Lindsay, I saw her in the stands tonight?"
"Oh I don't think it is that serious," Zack backpedaled, feeling worried about getting police involved. "Just let me change and we can work together to find him." Deb nodded in agreement.
Inside the locker room, Kristian approached Zack with an outstretched hand. "I accept your apology for that elbow during the game a few weeks ago," he said gruffly.
"Apology?" Zack raised an eyebrow, confused. "I didn't apologize." Zack thought back to the game, all he really remembered doing was getting the ball to Kristian more than he normally did.
Kristian shrugged, "We made a good team tonight, and that is good enough for me." clapping Zack on the back before leaving the locker room.
With his teammates gone, Zack continued his search for Rob, texting Deb he was going to check the locker room first. As he peered into the dark corners of the room, the overhead lights flickered and died, plunging the space into darkness. A chill ran right through him as he sensed the malevolent presence lurking in the shadows.
"Zack," a voice whispered from the darkness, and Ethel stepped forward, her eyes glowing dim green. She was joined by Kyle, his grey eyes now burning bright orange with an eerie intensity. "We've been waiting for you."
"Kyle you're Gluttony," Zack breathed, his heart pounding even faster, the realization of Gluttony's true identity clouding his mind. He fought to keep his fear at bay, knowing that showing weakness would only make things worse. "What do you want?"
"Join his covenant," Ethel urged, her voice soft but insistent. "Together, we can end the exorcists."
"Never," Zack spat, his hands balling into fists. "He's a murderer."
"That is a rather naive point of view isn't it, Zack?" Kyle said, his voice silky and persuasive. "In our world, it is kill or be killed. Once they figure out what you really are, they will not stop until they have a reason to end you." As his clawed hand reached for Zack's shoulder, a sudden burst of telekinetic energy pushed him away.
"Get away from me!" Zack snarled, his eyes glowing pink as his own demonic powers surged within him. The surge created a glistening translucent barrier between them, Gluttony almost looked impressed.
"I only killed those who deserved it, who were murderers themselves. See my side of things, Zack. I can show you." Kyle's voice was almost pleading as he approached him, but the glowing wall of energy pushed him back. "I only ask that you understand why we must fight against the exorcists before it is too late."
Zack hesitated for a moment before nodding reluctantly and dropping the barrier. Gluttony reached out and placed a clawed finger on Zack's forehead, and a surge of memories flooded into his mind. He gasped as the sensations overwhelmed him, transporting him back to the fateful night of the fire at Kyle's home.
The sound of children's laughter filled the air as Zack found himself standing in the living room of a once-happy household. He could see the kids playing on the floor while adults chatted merrily around them. Kyle stood by the dining table, pouring wine for his guests with a contented smile on his face.
Suddenly, a flicker of flame caught Zack's eye, and within moments, the entire house erupted into an inferno. The laughter turned into screams of terror as people scrambled to find a way out. Amidst the chaos, Zack saw Kyle coughing violently, his eyes wide with fear as he desperately searched for his wife and children.
"Help me!" A man's cry for help echoed through the smoky air. Kyle tried to reach out to him but was too late – the floor collapsed beneath the man's feet, swallowing him into the fiery abyss below.
Weakened by smoke and despair, Kyle stumbled upstairs, hoping against all odds to find his family alive. His heart shattered when he discovered his wife lying lifeless on the floor, having succumbed to smoke inhalation. He cradled her body in his trembling arms, letting out a gut-wrenching scream of agony that pierced the roaring flames.
As death loomed closer, a voice called out to him from the shadows. "Kyle, I can feel you dying," A shadow grew from the flames, "But I can save you, all you need to do is listen to me."
"Just leave me to die, I don't want to live anymore." Kyle wept, holding his wife closer.
"But Kyle this fire was no accident, someone had targeted your family and your friends. They will get away with it. Unless...." the shadow trailed off.
"Unless what." Kyle could feel the fury building inside of himself as his body weakened. "I'll do anything to find the one responsible for this. The one who took everything from me."
"that is all I needed to hear," the shadow slid from the wall merging with Kyle's. Kyle's eyes shifted to a fiery orange as his body contorted in Gluttony's horrid form, with a bellowing roar they broke through the wall and landed safely in the grass, the sound of firetrucks approaching filled the night air. He reverted back to his human form and collapsed in the grass.
Back in the present, Zack stared at Kyle with a mixture of horror and pity. "Gluttony is using you," he whispered hoarsely. "What would your wife think if she knew what you have done in her name."
"She's dead, they took her from me," Kyle replied with a bitter smile. "I've made my choice, and nothing will change it." He glanced at Ethel, who stood silently beside him. "What about you, Ethel? Will you reconsider your decision? Will you let the one who murdered your family live a happy carefree life?"
Ethel hesitated, her eyes flickering between Zack and Kyle. Finally, she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Zack. I have to see this through to the end."
"Then go," Zack said, his voice heavy with disappointment. "But know that I won't stop fighting against you, no matter what it takes."
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"Very well," Kyle conceded, smirking as he retreated into the shadows with Ethel. "But remember, Zack... the offer still stands."
As the darkness swallowed them, Zack stood alone in the locker room, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He texted Deb lying about finding Rob sick in the locker room and saying she could go back to her dorm while he took care of him.
"Rob," he whispered, steeling himself for the challenges ahead. "Where are you?"
There was a buzz on his phone. "SORRY I MISSED YOUR MESSAGES, BUT MY PHONE DIED AND I HAD AN UNEXPECTED RUN-IN WITH GLUTTONY, OR SHOULD I SAY KYLE. THAT'S RIGHT KYLE IS GLUTTONY AND HE IS BLACK MAILING ETHEL TO JOIN HIM, AND WE HAVE TO SET UP THE PLAN LIKE RIGHT NOW!!!!!!" Zack could feel Rob's panic through the text.
"I know Kyle is Gluttony," Zack responded "I just had a run-in with him, he is looking for the one responsible for setting the fire and once he kills them, he will have full power. Meet me in our room asap." Zack tucked his phone away and headed out into the night, things had just become far more complicated.
--
Deb tossed and turned in her sleep, her dreams filled with images of Zack sneaking into her room through the window. Startled awake, she noticed that her blood moon family ring was missing from her finger. She tore apart her entire room but came up with nothing. Worried, she decided to check her car for the lost heirloom.
As she approached the side door to her residence building, she overheard Jessica and Abby arguing. Deb ducked into her car to hide from them.
"Things are really starting to heat up, we need her, she has more potential than half the other candidates combined." Abby insisted and she strolled alongside Jessica.
"you know the rules, first years are only told the history of the exorcists, they are never trained in our ways, it is too risky." Jessica held steadfast to the rules. "you can't keep bending the rules like this every time you want something, you are going to get someone hurt!" the frustration was clear in Jessica's voice, and she took a deep breath before storming off.
"Fine," Abby huffed once Jessica stormed off. As she left, she deliberately placed a strange dagger on the sidewalk next to Deb's car for her to find. Unbeknownst to them, Deb watched tucked away in her back seat, her heart racing as she tried to understand their conversation. She stepped out of her car and found the red-tipped dagger at her feet. She held the weapon in her hand and questioned why Abby had left it for her.
--
The morning sun cast long rays across the abandoned parking lot, painting eerie patterns on the cracked asphalt. Boon's breath fogged in the cold air as he stepped out of his car, cursing under his breath at the sudden mechanical trouble that had struck. He popped the hood and leaned in, squinting to make sense of the wires and metal-tangled mess beneath.
"Need a hand?" Jessica's voice startled him. She pulled up beside him in her own car, her dark curls framing a concerned expression. Boon hesitated for a moment, weighing the offer before nodding.
"Sure, I could use some help," he said, stepping back to give her room to examine the engine. As Jessica leaned in, pretending to inspect the car's innards, she surreptitiously prepared a mixture of holy water and palm ash, ready to drip it onto the back of Boon's neck to test whether he was a vessel. Boon watched her with growing suspicion, his eyes narrowing as he tried to read her intentions. He knew something felt off, but couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
"Hey, Boon!" Zack called out, pulling up alongside them with Rob riding shotgun. His arrival was perfectly timed, interrupting Jessica's plans. "Looks like you're having some trouble. Need a lift?"
"Uh, yeah." Boon glanced between Zack and Jessica, his gaze lingering on the latter. "Thanks."
While Boon was distracted by Zack's offer, Jessica discreetly removed the device she'd planted earlier to interfere with his car's electronics. With a forced smile, she patted the hood and declared, "All fixed!"
"Really? Just like that?" Boon asked, eyeing her skeptically.
"Yep! No problem." Jessica replied with feigned cheerfulness, eager to make a hasty exit. She got into her car and sped away.
--
Meanwhile, Deb and Ahmed trekked through the woods, their breaths coming in short puffs as they navigated the uneven terrain. Deb broke the silence with an unexpected revelation.
"Boon asked me to the winter formal," she said, looking straight ahead. She continued, "And I know about Leona and Zack - that they kissed in the gym parking lot only days after we broke up."
Ahmed winced, realizing he'd been found out. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you," he apologized, his voice sincere. "Leona's my friend too, and I felt like I had to keep her secret."
Deb nodded, accepting his apology. As they continued their hike in silence, she remembered the strange dagger Abby had left for her to find. Eager to test its capabilities, she pulled it from her backpack and hurled it at a nearby tree. The blade exploded upon impact, sending splinters of wood flying in all directions. They stared at each other with wide eyes and open mouths.
"Wow," Ahmed muttered, staring at the remains of the once-sturdy oak. "And you said Abby left that for you? What kind of psycho does that? Where would you even get something like that?"
"I don't know," Deb said, her eyes wide with wonder. "She knows my family history, she has been leading to something, I just don't know what. I am not sure I want to know"
--
With the sun now fully above the horizon, casting shadows across the university parking lot, Boon turned to Zack, his face twisted with determination.
"Well now it looks like I am a target too, you might as well fill me in and tell me what is really happening" he demanded, his voice low and firm.
Zack frowned, taken aback by the repeat request, Like Boon somehow forgot their past conversations about it. He hesitated for a moment before responding, "Boon, I don't think you understand how complicated things are right now. It's not safe for you and the more you push the more dangerous it gets."
"So then just make me a vessel too," Boon shot back, his eyes narrowing. "Sounds like you are too weak to handle things on your own. If I become a vessel too, I will help you take them out and I get to be the all-star I was born to be." He crossed his arms over his chest, adding, "You have all the power in the world, but you don't know what to do with it."
Frustration began to boil within Zack, his fists clenching at his sides. "You don't know what you're asking for," he warned, his voice strained.
"Enough! Boon you read one poorly written article for beginners and you think you know what's up? please," Rob interjected, sensing that Zack was about to do something they would both regret. "Let's go, Zack. We have other things to deal with."
The duo climbed into Rob's car, the air thick with unspoken words as they drove away, leaving Boon in the empty parking lot. Rob broke the tense silence as the tires crunched on the gravel beneath them.
"Hey, Zack," Rob said, glancing over at him. "Don't let boon get to you, we need to focus. I managed to 3D print a copy of Deb's ring. Thanks for getting the real one for us the other night." He handed Zack the fake ring, the intricate design nearly identical to the original.
"Give this to Deb. We'll switch them back once we've sealed away Gluttony," he continued, his eyes focused on the road ahead. "Do you think you could use your vessel abilities to find her?"
Zack nodded, taking the replica ring from Rob. He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on Deb's energy. "She's out in the woods," he confirmed, feeling her presence nearby. "Trusser's trail."
As they drove towards the trail, Zack couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for not being completely honest with Deb after claiming he would be. He knew that sealing away Gluttony was their priority, but how could they start over if he was already back to his old habits?
The car came to a stop near the edge of the forest, and the friends stepped out into the cool morning air. The sounds of birdsong and rustling leaves filled the silence between them as they made their way deeper into the woods, following the faint traces of Deb's presence.
"Remember," Rob whispered as they approached Deb's location, "just give her the fake ring and act natural, you found it under the bleachers at the game. We don't want her getting suspicious."
Zack nodded, his heart pounding in his chest as he prepared to face Deb, and whatever consequences their actions might bring.
The forest loomed dark and mysterious, casting eerie shadows that danced with the breeze. sunlight barely filtered through the dense canopy above, leaving the lower branches barren and twisted together like a net. Zack and Rob crept carefully through the woods, their footsteps barely making a sound on the soft earth beneath.
"Hey, there's Deb," Rob whispered, pointing to where she stood with Ahmed in a small clearing, she concentrated as she took aim with a knife. She sent it whirling at something deeper into the tree line, she turned to Ahmed. "I'll be right back," she said before slipping into the darkness to retrieve the blade.
"Quick, let's go," Zack urged Rob, his heart racing as he held the fake ring tightly in his hand. They approached Ahmed, who eyed them warily but said nothing.
"I found Deb's ring, I just want to return it to her." Zack flashed the ring before wandering towards the spot where Deb entered the forest. Rob stayed back with Ahmed and watched as Zack inspected the tree line.
"Who's there?!?" Deb's shout cut through the still air as Zack startled her, followed by a crackling sound as a stun gun discharged its voltage. Zack's body convulsed with pain, his vision blurring as he struggled to maintain consciousness. "Oh my God, I am so sorry!" Her face was filled with regret and concern.
In his disoriented state, he fumbled the replica ring into Deb's outstretched palm "Found this after the game last night," he gasped, trying to make his words believable despite the agony coursing through his veins.
"That is your priority right now? Not the fact I accidentally electrocuted you?" Deb's face softened, relief flooding her features as Zack seemed to be ok and her precious family heirloom was safe.
"I've felt worse," Zack said, as Deb helped him back to his feet.
"Thank you, Zack," she whispered, her arms wrapping around him in a warm embrace. His heart ached as he returned the hug, the weight of his deception weighing heavily upon him. "I have to go, I promised Samantha we would meet up and go over notes for finals." With a final squeeze, Deb pulled away and walked off with Ahmed, leaving Zack and Rob alone in the clearing.