The crisp October air nipped at Abby's cheeks as she stepped off the Greyhound bus, her boots landing on the concrete platform of Charles Street Terminal. The cold breeze had a way of making everything feel fresher, more alive. She adjusted the strap of her large duffle bag, which seemed to weigh her down more than ever. The bag contained all she had in life, and it was more valuable to her than her own life.
"New city, new song," she muttered to herself, as she switched the track on her phone to "Hungry Like the Wolf." The vibrant beat pulsed through her headphones, providing a fitting soundtrack to her arrival in Waterloo. She let out a sigh, feeling the rhythm sync with her heartbeat, before she started walking towards the dimly lit city bus stop.
Abby couldn't help but notice how empty the streets were. It wasn't just the lack of people; there was an eeriness in the air that seemed to stifle even the sound of her own footsteps. She quickened her pace, all to aware an animal was stalking the streets.
"Get a grip, Abby," she thought, chiding herself for letting her imagination run wild. "There's nothing here you can't handle."
As she reached the bus stop, Abby glanced up at the streetlight overhead, its flickering glow casting long shadows across the pavement. She could feel something watching her but dismissed the notion as mere paranoia. Pulling out her phone to check the bus schedule, she realized she had a 15-minute wait ahead of her. The thought of standing alone in the dark caused her gaze to attempt to peer through every shadow for a possible threat, but she tried to quell her racing mind by focusing on the music in her ears.
Unbeknownst to her, Gluttony lurked in those very shadows, his orange eye glowing malevolently as he watched Abby intently. They had been drawn to her, like a moth to a flame, such a powerful aura called out to it. Gluttony's gaze was fixed on her, and they studied her every move with an unnerving intensity.
"Stay calm," Abby told herself as she leaned against the bus stop pole, trying her best to appear nonchalant. "It's probably just a stray cat or something."
But deep down, she knew it wasn't that simple. The air felt charged with an energy she couldn't quite place, and her instincts told her that something wasn't right. She closed her eyes for a moment, hoping to find some respite from her unease in the darkness behind her eyelids.
"Focus on the music," she thought, letting the lyrics and melody fill her mind. "Keep your mind clear. They can't read you if your mind is clear."
Abby's heartbeat began to return to normal, a rhythm that mirrored the pulsing bass of the song still playing on her phone. She scanned the empty street for any signs of life, but it was as if the world had been drained of color and sound, save for the sinister presence she felt lurking nearby.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden roar of an engine as a grey minivan raced past her, its tires screeching against the asphalt. The vehicle tore through the night like a silver bullet, leaving Abby's heart hammering even faster in its wake.
"Get a grip," she muttered under her breath, chiding herself for letting fear get the better of her. She knew that she was stronger than this – she had faced far worse things in her life and had always come out on top. But now, alone in the darkness, her senses were on edge and she knew she wasn't alone.
As she tried to regain her composure, she heard it: the unmistakable sound of claws dragging across the tin roof of the bus stop. Her breath caught in her throat, and she gripped the strap of her duffle bag tightly, knuckles turning white.
"Show yourself!" she demanded, her voice powerful and commanding. No response came, save for the soft echo of her own words bouncing off the silent buildings around her.
Abby slowly unzipped her duffle bag, reaching inside without taking her eyes off the bus stop. Her fingertips brushed against the cold metal of her small revolver, and she felt a surge of adrenaline rush through her veins as she grasped it firmly. She knew she couldn't afford to hesitate; she had to be ready for whatever was coming her way.
In that instant, Gluttony sprang from the bus stop roof, their twisted form illuminated by the pale glow of the streetlight. They lunged at Abby, grabbing her hair and left arm in a vice-like grip, their claws digging into her flesh. With a snarl, they tried to drag her into the alley and away from from possible witnesses.
"Let go of me!" she shouted, panic and rage mingling in her voice as she struggled against the creature's iron grip. Summoning all her strength, she managed to free her right hand from the duffel bag and raise the revolver, aiming it directly at Gluttony's twisted face. The gunshot rang out like a clap of thunder, echoing through the empty streets.
Gluttony released her just in time, dodging the bullet with supernatural speed. They retreated back into the darkness of the alleyway, their orange eye still fixed on Abby with a hunger that sent shivers down her spine.
"Damn," she muttered, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she readied herself. She knew that she had been given a rare second chance, and she couldn't afford to waste it. As she steadied herself, her mind raced with thoughts of her next move.
With her heart pounding, Abby reached into the duffle bag and pulled out a dagger, its blade gleaming in the dim light. The golden cross etched into the hilt seemed to pulse with energy as she gripped it tightly. Determined not to let Gluttony escape, she dove into the shadows of the alleyway where they had disappeared.
"Come on, you coward!" she taunted, her voice echoing off the brick walls around her. "You've got a taste for me now, don't you? Come and get me!"
But the only reply was the drip of water from a leaky pipe above her head. Gluttony remained hidden, their malevolent presence palpable but unseen.
"Fine," she muttered under her breath, knowing that she couldn't afford to waste any more time. "I'll come to you then."
-----
Meanwhile, in the UWP residence building, Zack snapped awake in his bed, his super senses jangling with alarm at the sound of gunfire. He strained to listen, his body tensed like a coiled spring, and that was when he felt something calling to him.
"Rob, did you hear that?" he whispered urgently, looking over at his roommate's bed. But Rob slept on, oblivious to the danger outside.
"Of course not," Zack thought bitterly, remembering that his friend didn't possess the same supernatural abilities. "It's up to me to figure this out, then."
He threw on a hoodie and sweatpants, taking care to move silently so as not to wake Rob. As he slipped out of the room and down the hallway, he couldn't help but wonder what he would find at the source of the gunshots. A part of him hoped it would be something simple, like a robbery gone wrong, but he could feel a darkness drawing him in and knew it couldn't be that simple.
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-----
In the alley, Abby could feel her frustration mounting. She had spent too many years hunting creatures like Gluttony to be deterred by a simple game of hide-and-seek. But as the minutes ticked by and she found no trace of him, she couldn't help but feel anger building inside her.
"Where are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible even to herself. "Why won't you come out and face me?"
But Gluttony remained silent, watching from the shadows as Abby's agitation grew. They knew that they had the upper hand – for now – and they had no intention of surrendering it so easily.
As Zack left UWP, his senses were on high alert, the dark aura growing stronger with every step he took toward it. What was calling to him and why now? How had his life come to this?
Only time would tell, he thought grimly as he picked up his pace, determined to confront whatever had caused the disturbance. As the sound of Abby's taunts reached his ears, he braced himself for the moment when their paths would collide.
As she searched the alley, Abby's frustration gave way to determination. She unzipped her duffle bag, revealing an arsenal fit for a seasoned exorcist. The scope-equipped rifle glinted in the dim light, surrounded by several pistols and even a hand grenade. A massive supply of ammunition lay neatly organized, dozens of rounds in various calibers.
"Fine," Abby muttered under her breath, eyes scanning her selection. "If you won't come out to play, I'll make you."
Her fingers brushed over a wooden box adorned with the image of the Holy Grail burned into its surface. Opening it, she revealed several vials of clear liquid. Hesitating only a moment, she chose one and carefully poured it over the dagger in her other hand. The liquid shimmered as it coated the blade, leaving a faintly glowing residue behind.
"Jessica's going to kill me if this doesn't work," she thought, slipping her phone from her pocket. She sent a quick SOS text to Jessica, her heart pounding as she tapped out the message and included her Google Maps location.
-----
Meanwhile, at the St. Jerome's residence building, Jessica and Deb were engaged in an animated discussion about Deb's future goal to be a child psychologist. Their voices filled the downstairs common room, echoing slightly off the walls.
"Deb, with your passion and intelligence, you're going to make a real difference in those kids' lives," Jessica said, her brown eyes full of admiration.
"Thank you, Jessica. That means so much coming from you," Deb replied, smiling warmly.
As they continued their conversation, Jessica's phone buzzed insistently in her pocket. Glancing down, she saw the SOS message from Abby and felt her stomach drop.
"Hey, Deb, I'm really sorry, but I have to go," Jessica said, trying to keep her voice steady. "An old friend just arrived in the city and asked to meet up."
"Of course," Deb replied, her brow furrowing with concern. "Is everything okay?"
"Fine, just unexpected," Jessica assured her, forcing a smile. "I'll catch up with you later, alright?"
With that, Jessica hurried from the room, leaving Deb to ponder their conversation and the sudden departure of her friend.
-----
Back in the alley, Abby gripped the dagger tightly in her hand, her eyes fixed on the shadows as she waited for Jessica's arrival. The tension in the air was palpable, and she knew that now whatever she was dealing with was either scared or not at full power.
Ethel's eyes narrowed as she examined the remnants of a struggle on the cracked pavement beneath the flickering streetlight. The torn fabric, the scratches on the metal railing of the bus stop – it was evident that something sinister had befallen this quiet corner of Waterloo.
"Where did you go?" Ethel murmured under her breath, her glowing green eyes scanning the deserted streets for any sign of Gluttony. She knew the demon wouldn't have left without leaving a trace, and she was determined to track him down.
As she focused her super senses, Ethel picked up faint traces of Gluttony's aura, a sickly sweet sensation that made her stomach churn. Her gaze followed the trail, leading her to a nearby alley where she caught sight of Gluttony's shadowy outline on a fire escape. Their eyes locked for only a moment, but it was long enough for Ethel to sense the malevolence radiating from the creature. With a snarl, Gluttony leaped up the fire escape and onto the rooftop, vanishing from view.
"Damn it," Ethel whispered, clenching her fists in frustration. She knew she couldn't let Gluttony escape – not when so much was at stake. Steeling herself, she decided to give chase, approaching the alley with determination. As she neared the wall, Ethel allowed her demon form to surface, her body growing claws and fangs as her eyes took on a brighter green glow.
Meanwhile, Abby strode back towards the bus stop, her heart pounding in her chest as annoyance coursed through her veins. She'd lost the creature, and now all she could do was wait for Jessica to arrive. But as she neared the eerie glow of the streetlight, Abby's hazel eyes caught a flash of movement in her peripheral vision.
"Wait... what's that?" she thought, her grip tightening on the dagger by her side. She turned to see something scaling the wall of the building, the demon form unmistakable in the dim light.
"Damn it... another one?" Abby muttered under her breath, her pulse quickening as she weighed her options. In a moment of impulse, she hurled the dagger at the figure, convinced that she was facing yet another threat. The blade whizzed through the air, its edge grazing Ethel's cheek and drawing blood.
"What the hell?" Ethel cried out, her voice full of pain and confusion. "Who is there!"
"It speaks and it's a woman?!" Abby's eyes widened in shock as she realized this wasn't the same creature as before. "You're still a vessel though," she exclaimed, trying to deter the guilt she was feeling. "Seems like Waterloo might have a bit of an infestation!"
But before Abby could finish her sentence, Ethel had already disappeared, her wounded form racing up the side of the building and out of reach. Conflicted emotions swirled within Abby as she stood in the desolate street, the gravity of her actions weighing on her as she made her way back to the street, she had used one of her most powerful weapons on a mere vessel.
The cold wind whistled through the alley, carrying with it a mixture of fear and uncertainty. Ethel's heart pounded in her chest as she lay on the roof of the building, her demon form masked in shadows. Her hand instinctively reached up to touch the stinging wound on her cheek where Abby's dagger had grazed her. Wincing in pain, she glanced down at the alley below, trying to make sense of what just happened.
"Did I really just let an exorcist tag me with a dagger?" Ethel's thoughts trailed off, her chest tightening at the thought. She wondered how she could have been so distracted in her pursuit of Gluttony that she didn't even sense the exorcist's presence. Shaking her head, Ethel decided it was best to leave the scene and get the wound checked out. With a final glance at the empty alley, she fled into the darkness, her nimble form darting across rooftops and away from the chaos.
Meanwhile, at the bus stop, the sound of an approaching engine broke the eerie silence. A yellow Volkswagen beetle pulled up, its headlights casting long shadows across the pavement. The driver's side window rolled down, revealing Jessica behind the wheel. Her eyes were steely and focused, an air of determination surrounding her.
"Abby, put the dagger away before someone sees," she said briskly. "We don't need any more complications tonight."
"Jessica," Abby began, hurriedly stowing the weapon back in her duffle bag. "You were right to call me. There are at least two vessels involved, possibly a sin. I hit one of them with the dagger, but I don't think it was the stronger one."
From his hiding spot behind a row of trash cans, Zack listened intently to their conversation, curiosity piqued by the mention of vessels and sins. His breath caught in his throat as he strained to hear every word exchanged between the two women.
"Dammit, Abby," Jessica sighed, frustration evident in her voice. "We need a vessel alive to lead us to the sin. How can we do that if you kill them?"
"Look," Abby snapped defensively, climbing into the passenger seat of the car. "I can't help you eliminate it if I'm dead. That thing attacked me first."
"Fine," Jessica conceded, her tone softening slightly. "How long will it take for the dagger's curse to take effect?"
"Forty-eight hours," Abby replied, gripping the door handle tightly. "That gives us two days to find the other vessel and put an end to this."
With that, the yellow Volkswagen beetle pulled away from the bus stop, its tires crunching over the gravel as it vanished into the night.
As the city bus finally arrived, Zack emerged from his hiding place and climbed aboard, his thoughts racing with each kilometer that passed. Who had Abby hit with the cursed dagger? And what did it all mean? All he knew for sure was someone only had 48 hours to live, and he had no clue who they were.