The excitement from the charity basketball game had completely subsided as Boon lay perfectly still in the back of an ambulance, his eyes fogged over and unresponsive. His skin had become almost translucent, giving him the appearance of shedding his skin. Kenzie stood by the EMTs, her eyes filled with concern as she watched them work.
"Thanks for your help," one of the EMTs said to Kenzie, wiping sweat from his brow. "We'll load him up and take it from here."
"Actually, I'd like to ride with you to the hospital," Kenzie insisted, her voice firm but trembling slightly. "I'm a nurse and know about the patient's medical history." The EMT nodded along, clearly not expecting her request. Without another word, he helped her into the ambulance, and they sped away from the basketball court, sirens wailing into the dusk. As the crowd looked on, Zack worried about Rob's disappearance and whether Boon would live or not.
-----
Meanwhile, Rob found himself being manhandled down the steps of the parish basement by a large man with a pencil mustache, whose grip on his arm was vice-like. As they descended into darkness, Rob could hear other exorcist making their way through the facility as if it were just another day. The man forced him through a small door at the end of the hall, with a flick of the light everything came into focus, Rob gasped when saw who else was a prisoner.
Kristian and Olivia were trussed up and hanging from a support beam by a tangle of electrical wire. Black Gaffer's tape covered their mouths, their eyes wide with fear as they looked down at Rob. The man remained silent and placed himself between Rob and the door, ensuring there was no escape.
"Nice bit of interior decorating you've got going on here," Rob quipped, trying to mask his horror with sarcasm. He knew he needed to keep his wits about him if he was going to find a way out of this situation.
"Shut up kid." The exorcist's voice was icy and emotionless.
"Look," Rob began, trying to buy some time while he scanned the room for a weapon, "I have been captured by a literal sin, your little hostage operation here isn't exactly impressive."
"You aren't a hostage," the exorcist replied coldly. "Pablo has requested a meeting with you."
Surprise surged through Rob as he stared at the exorcist, he knew about Zack's deal with Pablo to keep them safe, something must have changed. He couldn't let fear paralyze him; he needed to figure out exactly what Pablo's plan was.
"Well, where is he then?" Rob asked, his voice wavering only slightly. "Seems rude of the host to be late."
The exorcist regarded him with a mixture of surprise and mild amusement before breaking into a cruel smile. "He said you were the talkative one," he mused. "He will be here shortly." All Rob could do was wait to get his answers.
-----
The dimly lit gymnasium seemed to shrink around Lindsey as she paced back and forth, her mind racing with worry. The cheers from the game had long since faded and no one she interviewed seemed to know where Rob had gone off to. She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something terrible had happened to him.
"Zack, John," she called out as she entered the locker room, finding them sitting on the bench in front of their lockers. "Have you heard from Rob? I've been trying to reach him and nobody seems to know where he went."
"Relax, Lindsey," Zack reassured her with a small smile as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Rob's probably just freaked out by all the attention after he scored that winning basket. He's probably already back at the dorm freaking out."
"Maybe, but..." Lindsey hesitated, biting her lip. "He always answers my calls? And with the attack on Boon, I can't help but think Rob's disappearance could be related. I don't know how many times I told him to stay away from all those crime scenes and now who knows what he has gotten himself into."
"Look, we'll try calling and emailing Rob again," John offered, his eyes meeting Lindsey's worried gaze. "You know Rob, if he is in trouble he will find a way to talk himself out of it. He'll be ok, we'll track him down."
"Alright," Lindsey sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "But please, let me know if you hear anything from him."
"Of course," Zack agreed, giving her a reassuring nod.
As Lindsey left the locker room, Coach Reynolds approached Zack, his usually gruff demeanour softening. "I need you on the court, Dawson," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "You know I yell a lot, but it's only because I care. I don't hate any of you guys – well, except Eric, because... he's Eric." He chuckled dryly before continuing, "Improve your grades, kid. Next season will be a bust without you."
Zack nodded, he knew he had let things slip this year but he promised himself he would do better. "I will, Coach. I promise."
Once the locker room had emptied, Zack approached Rob's locker, determination written across his face. With a swift movement, he ripped the door off its hinges, revealing the contents inside. "John," he called out, holding up one of Rob's shirts. "We're going to track him by aura. Grab a shoe or something."
"Got it," John said, grabbing a worn-out shoe from the bottom of the locker. They began to focus in on Rob's aura until a stronger darker aura filled the room
Both John and Zack's gaze were drawn to the doorway as Ethel and Kyle appeared, the pair seemed chummy as they entered. Surprise flickered across Zack's face as he stared at Kyle, his mind taking him back to the night they sealed Gluttony away.
"How the hell did you get out?" Zack remarked cautiously, eyes narrowing.
"What can I say, I am full of surprises," Kyle replied with a smirk. Zack prepared for a standoff with the sin, his claws slowly extended as the sin watched with a smirk.
-----
In the dark and damp parish basement, Rob wandered over to Olivia and reached out a hand toward her, only to receive a sharp shock that sent him stumbling backward. Pablo entered the room, watching Rob fall to the floor, "And here I was thinking you were the smart one. Those wires aren't just for show, they are keeping them from using their abilities. I am halfway to wiping out the covenant responsible for Abby's death, unfortunately, these two are hardwired not to turn on their Supreme. They aren't like us, they can't see reason."
Rob bristled, anger flaring within him. "And the reason for kidnapping me would be?" he spat, defiance burning in his dark brown eyes. "Zack will never help you now. And before you go saying he will have to or he will never see me again, he will find no matter what you do to me. He would find me even if you buried me six feet under in a lead-lined box, at the North Pole."
"An interesting picture you paint," Pablo mused as he crossed his arms over his chest, his expression unreadable. "But once again you are jumping to conclusions. I have every intention of letting you go, you're not a disgusting monster like them."
"Then what do you want from me?" Rob asked, desperation seeping into his voice. "You brought me here for something,"
"I just need you to send a message for me." With a cold laugh, Pablo delivered a powerful backhand across Rob's face, followed by a series of brutal punches. As Rob's vision blurred and pain overwhelmed him, the last thing he saw before slipping into unconsciousness was Pablo's cold, satisfied smirk.
-----
Zack kept his eyes locked on Kyle as if she were about to launch a full-scale attack on him. His thoughts were stormy with suspicion as he wondered if Ethel had somehow let him out of his otherworldly prison.
"I am going to need an explanation here," he said, his voice low and tense. "How did he get out? And are you with him, Ethel what is happening here?"
Ethel hesitated, her eyes flicking towards Kyle for a moment before returning to Zack. "I don't know how he did it Zack but we don't have time to figure it out now," she deflected, her voice betraying a hint of unease. "What matters is that Kyle knows how to turn Boon human again."
"So hold up," John interjected, unable to contain his anger any longer. "We are just going to trust the psychopath who held me captive for months?"
Ethel looked at her vessel, trying to show him some empathy, "We don't really have a choice."
-----
At the St. Jerome's Dorm, Jessica arrived in Deb's room and found her talking to Pablo. He had been watching over Deb like a hawk ever since Father Bill's death and Jessica was beginning to suspect why. But she wasn't there for that, she had heard about the basketball game and had done a little investigating of her own.
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"Boon," she snapped, her voice dripping with venom. "What did you do to him?" she tossed one of the empty syringes on the floor in front of them.
Pablo smirked, unfazed by Jessica's fury. "I don't know what you're talking about. What's with the syringe?"
"Don't try to play dumb with me," Jessica demanded, she needed Deb to hear this. "This syringe comes from the school nursing program, I looked into it and a case went missing from the shipment after you signed for it."
"You can't be serious," Deb muttered, her expression darkening. "You're accusing Pablo of being a killer? You seem so eager to accuse him but when it comes to real murders like Ethel, all you do is talk about being sure she deserves death." She paused, narrowing her eyes at Jessica. "How can you call yourself an exorcist."
"He's just manipulating you, don't you see that. Once Ethel and her covenant are gone who do you think he will target next? He will go after Zack, he's just like Abby was," Jessica insisted, her words laced with sincerity.
"Since when have you cared about what happens to Zack? you spent all winter threatening his life," Deb's response was cold, delivered with no emotion.
"Deb, I was trying to protect you both," Jessica implored, desperation creeping into her voice. "Don't you see what you'll become if you continue to follow Pablo?"
"I'll become stronger," Deb answered, turning away. "Get out of my room. And don't forget you owe me a new knife."
"Fine," Jessica agreed, picking up her knives and tossing them out the window in frustration. "Now I owe you a whole new set."
-----
Kenzie stared at the translucent coating that seemed to envelop Jackson's body, her heart pounding in her chest. The ICU was cold and sterile, the only sounds being the steady beeping of monitors and the faint hum of fluorescent lights overhead.
"Here goes nothing," she muttered, steeling herself as she gently pressed her fingertips against the slick, viscous film. It felt simultaneously slimy and solid, like some bizarre combination of gelatin and syrup.
"Ugh," she grimaced, quickly withdrawing her hand and wiping it on her jeans. "What is this stuff?"
Just then, she heard the distant sound of Lindsey's voice coming from down the hall, sounding both frantic and irritated. Kenzie strained to listen, trying to make out the words.
"And you're sure you haven't found any John Does...," Lindsey asked at the nurses station, as she paced in front of it.
As if summoned by her words, Rob staggered up behind her, his face battered and bruised. A large red welt crossed his cheek and a split lip marred his usually calm expression.
"Ask and you shall receive," he said weakly, wincing as he spoke.
"Rob!" Lindsey cried, rushing to his side. "What happened? Who did this to you?"
"So jerks from the other team," he admitted reluctantly. "I kind of mouthed off about how much better I was than them and they didn't take it well."
Lindsey's eyes flashed with fury. "Give me descriptions. I'll go to the University and pistol whip them myself!"
"Easy there, cowgirl," Rob interjected, managing a slight smile despite the pain. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have provoked them."
"Still," Lindsey fumed, softening her stance as she wrapped her arms around him. "You don't deserve this."
"Thanks," Rob said, returning the embrace. "All I really want to do is go home. Could you drive me?"
"Of course," Lindsey agreed, her anger momentarily forgotten.
-----
Zack and the others had moved to Ethel's apartment in the meantime, Kyle was hunched over his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard as he delved into the vast digital repository of supernatural knowledge he had amassed as Gluttony. Ethel, Zack, and John watched a few feet away, none of them fully trusting the man.
The sudden ringtone of Zack's phone shattered the tense silence. He hastily answered, recognizing Kenzie's number.
"Kenzie? What's wrong?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Boon... he's not slimy anymore, More scaley like he is going to shed his skin," she stammered, her voice thick with fear. "You need to come see this."
"Okay," Zack agreed, his heart racing. "John and I will be right there."
"I'll stay here with Kyle and make sure he keeps up his end of the deal," Ethel said, her eyes locked on Kyle as he continued his search for answers. "You too need to be careful, we have no idea what Pablo did to Boon or the effects it will have on him. As soon as we know anything I'll call you."
"Thank," Zack replied, worrying about what he was about to find at the hospital as he and John prepared to head out into the night.
-----
Rob lay on his bed, the pain in his lip and cheek throbbing. He tried to focus on the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock as he tried to figure out how he could make sure Zack never saw him like this. A knock at the door broke his concentration.
"Come in," he called out, wincing as his split lip stretched.
The door opened slowly, revealing Ahmed's tear-streaked face. "They won't let me see Boon," he sobbed, clutching a basketball so old it was smooth. "I need to give him this."
Rob sat up, concern etched on his bruised face. "What is it?"
Ahmed held out the faded ball for Rob to see. "This was the ball we used to win our first-ever high school basketball tournament. They gave it to Boon for being MVP. He gave it to me on the drive home, he told me that he never would have been MVP if I hadn't gotten the ball to him every chance I could." His voice cracked with desperation.
"Ahmed, I'm sure Boon will be fine," Rob said, trying to reassure both Ahmed and himself. "Why don't you come sit down and tell me what happened to him."
-----
Zack, John, and Kenzie stood around Boon in the ICU, staring at him in disbelief. The once athletic young man now appeared almost grey, like a snake about to shed his skin.
"Is it bad?" Kenzie asked, her voice shaking.
John hesitated before answering, "It doesn't look good."
As if on cue, Boon twitched on the bed, causing the three friends to jump back in shock. Zack turned to Kenzie, desperate for answers. "Did they find anything in his blood work?"
"None of the usual poisons," Kenzie replied, her eyes never leaving Boon. "But they did find something strange – Baby's Breath oil."
"Baby's Breath oil?" Zack echoed, "What is that?"
"It is the essence of a flower, and it shouldn't do this," Kenzie informed them.
-----
Down in the dimly lit parish basement, Jessica paced back and forth in front of the bound vessels, eyed her warily. The hum of the electrical current running through the wires binding Kristian and Olivia almost drowning out their shallow breaths.
"Exorcists have been studying vessels like you for quite some time," Jessica began, her voice cold and detached. "We've discovered that electricity, when applied properly, can interfere with your abilities." She paused, her fingers tracing the edges of the control panel on the wall. "A certain level of current will keep you from transforming, while increasing the current will disrupt your healing ability, and even more will stop your enhanced strength."
Kristian and Olivia exchanged fearful glances as Jessica continued, her eyes fixed on the control panel. "Such scientific accuracy causes one to wonder where the line between the natural and the supernatural begins."
The two vessels seemed to panic as Jessica's hand inched toward the knob controlling the current within their bonds. But instead of turning it up, Jessica hesitated, her expression turning reflective.
"Sometimes, the lines blur, and you find yourself surprised by which side you end up on," she murmured, almost to herself. With a sudden twist of her wrist, she turned the knob, lowering the electric current running through Kristian and Olivia's restraints. Their faces relaxed as the pain eased and Jessica started to cut them free from their restraints.
-----
Back at Rob's dorm room, Ahmed wiped his tears on the roll of toilet paper that Rob had handed him, trying to regain his composure. As he did so, he noticed Rob's phone buzzing on the desk and picked it up.
"Seventeen missed messages from Zack?" Ahmed raised an eyebrow at Rob, who shrugged sheepishly. "Are you ignoring him?"
"Not really," Rob muttered, avoiding Ahmed's gaze. "I just don't want him to see me all beat up."
"Why not? You know he is worried about you, right?"
"I know." Rob rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "But Zack needs to keep his head in the game. Pablo only did this to get a rise out of him, so he would lose focus. We can't afford mistakes this late in the game, It is better for everyone if I just stay out of the way."
Before Ahmed could respond, another message from Zack arrived on Rob's phone. With wide eyes, he thrust the device into Rob's hands. "You'll definitely want to read this one."
-----
Ethel paced the small apartment, her brow furrowed as she relayed Boon's bizarre condition to Kyle. "It's like he's a snake about to shed its skin, does that mean anything?" she asked, her voice a mix of concern and frustration.
Kyle's fingers flew over his laptop keyboard, searching through his digitized records. "So he's a reptilian Familiar," he said, eyes scanning the screen, "Reptilian Familiar are very rare, most are some form of mammal. They are also infinitely more powerful – literally being able to shed their humanity."
"Is there any way to stop it once is started?" Ethel asked, biting her lip.
"Give me a moment," Kyle replied, as he scanned the page. Ethel grabbed her phone and spoke to Zack, informing him of their findings and instructing him to bring Boon to them. Zack hesitated, unsure if there was enough time given Boon's rapidly worsening condition, but agreed to try.
As they ended their call, Kyle found the information they were looking for. "Once the transformation is complete, the familiar becomes invulnerable. It can not be killed." He read out loud. Then he noticed a video clip attached to the page. With a click a guttural screech filled the room, causing both Ethel and Kyle to wince. Kyle quickly closed the laptop, shaking his head. "We can't wait for Zack to get here. We need to meet him halfway."
Ethel and Kyle raced out the door, their footsteps echoing off the walls. Ethel wrestled her phone out of her pocket and texted Zack to bring Boon to the Charles Street Greyhound terminal. As they reached Ethel's car, Kyle skidded to a halt, his eyes filled with thought.
"Wait, we're going to need Ahmed" he blurted out, finally revealing the trump card he had.
"Ahmed? He the one who truly knows Boon," Ethel snapped, her frustration evident in the way her fingers dug into the dashboard. "We don't have time to get him, Boon could become invincible any minute now."
"Exactly," Kyle replied, his voice measured but urgent. "We're focusing on what Pablo wants us to focus on. We're playing right into his hands." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "He's been manipulating you from the start, pulling the strings like you're all puppets in his twisted game. If we don't slow down and think, we are all going to end up dead."
Ethel thought about it, her grip loosening on the dashboard. They couldn't afford to make mistakes. She sighed heavily, her eyes narrowing with determination. "Alright, but let me make one thing clear: if this doesn't work then we have to kill Boon. No matter what it takes."
"Understood," Kyle nodded solemnly, though a faint smile graced his lips. "I'll text the odd one, I'm sure he can bring Ahmed to us,"
-----
Zack and John, dressed in EMT uniforms, carried Boon in a body bag through the hospital parking lot. It was all they could think of after receiving Ethel's message. As they moved swiftly through the garage toward the ambulance bay, Zack stumbled, accidentally dropping Boon's head onto the pavement. He winced, hoping the impact didn't just kill Boon.
As he leaned down to pick his end up, they found themselves illuminated by a car's headlights, Jessica stepped out to greet them. "The two of you are hopeless," she declared. "Pablo is on his way here to pick up Boon, you need to get out of here now."
"Why are you telling us this?" Zack asked, eyeing Jessica warily. "Aren't you on his side?"
"Things have changed," Jessica replied, her voice firm. "Tonight I am making sure the real monster doesn't win."