Abe watched as his friends exited the building. He prayed for their safety as he returned to his home. He would've joined them, but Redeemers are forbidden to enter Midas City. Despite the power they held, and their strong connection with the Sentinels, many gods still defied them.

And they were still feared.

It was evident with how Abe was treated. The door to his home had seen abuse throughout the years. Defaced with insults and threats. In time, their views on him mellowed. But he couldn't blame them. He learned to forgive them for they didn't know better. Such as the guidance of his lord. Abe was a devout Christian for hundreds of years now.

As he opened the door, Abe froze as a chill crawled up his spine. A whisper, then a silence. As he entered his home, the room felt warmer than it should've been. No. It was getting hotter.

“Goliath. Old friend. Must be a special occasion to have you visit me today.”

A hulking beast appeared over his shoulder. His stout figure dwarfed Abe greatly. Clothes torn and weathered, along with his armor. Goliath’s right arm was a grotesque demonic arm that pulsed with hellish magic as bones protruded from his skin and acted as spikes. Upon his only shoulder pad, on his right, was a golden cross that burned itself into the metal. His horns were crooked yet sharp, and far more crude than Abe's. His dented armor was warped, as if it saw eons of battle. A red pentagram glowed intensely upon his chest.

His helm was torn by the mouth, which showed his rows of jagged teeth. Beneath the broken visor, only darkness could be seen. A void that stared back.

This giant wandered about Abe's room. It was sparsely decorated. A Redeemer didn't need any form of comfort; a stark contrast to the Sentinels who wished to mimic the mortal. Redeemers simply had an objective they desired to fulfill at any cost. So Abe didn't require much for his home other than the altar with numerous religious items. And the fridge was full of snacks and drinks in case Abe's friends visited.

Goliath was the de facto leader of their group, the demon that started it all. Long ago, they fought for the GCC. Now they were free to serve the Great Pantheon.

The bigger demon approached the altar and seemed to be deep in thought. Despite his appearance, Goliath was a calm and critical person.

His claws gently touched one of the many symbols that hung above the altar. It seared his hand with holy and righteous energy. “You've been busy, Abraham.” Goliath spoke with a strange echo. His voice was a mix of different pitches and tones. But the deepest voice was the most notable one.

“Yes. A better use of my time I do believe.”

“A waste of time from my perspective.” Goliath stepped away from the altar, the symbol of Umbra upon his palm. Which slowly vanished. “This profession is unsuitable for our kind. We are a being of darkness and chaos. War should be your concern. Not the schedule of your next sermon.”

“Are you merely here to lecture me, brother?”

Goliath chuckled. “No.” The giant marched around the apartment as he examined Abe. His massive claw left a trail behind him as he cut the carpet. “You are the closest. So this responsibility falls upon you, brother.”

“I will see what I must do.”

Without a second thought, Abe began to pack up a suitcase.

“That is not all.” Goliath informed him as he towered above Abe. “There seems to be a disturbance on this planet in recent events. Do you know the cause of this?”

“I cannot say.”

“Lying is a sin.”

“Something I will only confess to a proper priest.”

Goliath growled. “Why must you aggravate me?”

“Because I have other concerns. We have many within our creed. So I believe you may call others instead.” With his suitcase packed, Abe began to head out. “Tell our siblings that I said hello.”

“None of them care to even learn our new names.” Goliath chuckled. “This will be farewell, brother. Do not disappoint.”

As Abe left the building, he pulled out his phone and called a number. After a short wait, a police car drove up in front of him.

“Father,” Jimmy tipped his hat as Abe climbed into the passenger seat. “Where to?”

The car sped out of town.

“So, what's going on with Ivory and the gang? Nathan called me earlier to stop a couple of strangers.”

“Some rival mercenaries trying to impede on their business.”

“You're a terrible liar, Father.” Jimmy chuckled. “It's about Gluttony isn't it?”

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“Perceptive as always, Jimmy. I am impressed by your skills.”

Jimmy smirked. “It's what you taught me. So, what's going on with the gang? By the looks of it, they're going to Midas City.”

“Have faith, this problem will be over before we even know it.”

Abe opted to simply watch the farm fields as they drove by, making sure Jimmy was kept in the dark. The priest wondered how Nathan was fairing. He was worried for his friends, and knew that this was their battle. He had his own problems, his own mission. He only prayed for them.

Soon, the car stopped. Abe stared upon the house. It looked unkempt with one window on the second floor boarded up. Seemed like this place had seen worse, as if a storm recently ran through it. He reached his destination, and there was time to spare.

Jimmy helped the priest unload his bags from the car. The two then walked up to the porch where a man and a woman stood waiting. Their eyes full of grief as they approached. He greeted the couple but the two were far too distraught to say a word. Instead, they merely nodded back in greeting.

The two walked past them and into the house. The inside was just like the outside, on a brink of ruin. It was a mess everywhere they could see. Dirty dishes in the sink, scratches on the floor, and stains that seemed to hold a dark secret.

“Blood?” Jimmy questioned.

“Worse.” Abe said ominously.

The two continued deeper into the house and ascended the stairs.

Jimmy frowned. “Father, it's cold.”

“It's to be expected.”

The chill was coming from the door ahead. As they made their way over, Jimmy noticed more scratches and stains. He swallowed down the lump in his throat as he steeled his will.

As Abe reached for the doorknob, Jimmy suddenly felt a cold wind rush through him.

The priest wasted no time and opened the door.

There on the bed was a woman, tied down. But Jimmy knew she wasn't human. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were black as the void.

The cop clenched his fist as he witnessed this tortured soul. “She's possessed.”

“One would think she is I'll with disease, but you're as perceptive as always.” Abe complimented. “Set my bag down and lock the door. We cannot let her escape.”

Jimmy did as he was told, then took his place in the corner of the room. His eyes never left the woman, and so did hers. She watched Jimmy like a hawk as moved about the room. It was disturbing how she never blinked as she stared deeply into his soul.

Abe took his place by the bedside. His hands clasped together behind his back as he looked upon the bound woman.

There was a long moment of silence before Abe finally spoke. “Hello, old friend.”

The woman grinned, her yellow teeth bared as black ooze ran down her lips. “Abraham.” She whispered. Her voice was deep and guttural. Jimmy couldn't help but step away from this woman. “Abraham.”

“Why must you torture this poor mortal?”

“Why are you here to stop me?”

Abe scoffed. “This realm is not yours to walk.”

“Fool. We deserve this reality. You know it.”

“They owe us nothing.” He argued.

“They owe us everything.” The woman argued as she grinned wickedly. The black ooze began to crawl down her cheek from her eyes. “We gave these humans free will! The apple of Eden! The succulent fruit that gave them their identity!”

“It was a deed not yours.” Abe scoffed. “You were not the vile snake that condemned humanity.”

“Condemned!? Freed!” The woman cackled with her guttural voice. “But you aren't here to argue about that, traitor. Why must you deny me this? Why hinder my quest?”

“You have no place in this world.” Abe reminded her.

Abe reached into his bag and took out a bottle. It was warm in his hand. He uncapped it and splashed the woman. Jimmy nearly flinched when she began to scream as the liquid burned her skin. Her back arched as she struggled with her binds.

“Return to the pits, old friend, free this woman from your hold. Free their daughter. Or suffer.”

“You are a fool, Abraham!” She hissed. But when she spoke, her voice was distorted as the holy water burned upon her flesh. It wasn't physical damage, no. It was attacking the demon within her. “These mortals hate us! Hate you! They despise you! Your efforts are in vain!”

Abe remained stoic as he was verbally abused.

“You are weak! Pathetic! Allowing these mortals to treat you as nothing more than a plague! Can't you see that they do not love you!? You are a fool! I have seen your world!”

Abe's apartment door flashed in his mind. Defaced and disrespected by those that feared him. To these mortals, he was no different from the beasts of hell. Yet…

“Leave this realm. And never come back.” Abe took out a wooden cross. Both it and his fingers burned, the smoke filled the room which only served to harm the demon possessing the woman.

“Don't be blinded! You are one of us! Release me!”

Abe pressed the cross upon her forehead. The demon screamed louder. Outside, the couple could only hold onto each other as they listened to the cries of the demon within their daughter.

“Abraham!” She began to struggle harder. Desperate to escape from this pain. A cruel irony. This demon tortured this woman for days, yet here he was, feeling the pain brought upon by his own kin. “Traitor! I will have your eyes! Your skin! I will devour your precious friends! Starting with Nathaniel!”

“Leave!”

Suddenly, she stopped. She went silent. Her eyes cleared out and her skin began to change back. Her body goes limp with a soft groan. “What… what's happening?” She asked with the voice of her own.

“Is it over?” Jimmy questioned as he approached.

“Stay back!” Abe tried to warn him, but it was too late.

The woman’s arm broke free from the bind and she clamped his hand around Jimmy's throat. Jimmy had faith in Abe, but lost sight of the threat far too quickly. He should've seen it coming by a mile, but he let his guard down.

“See, Abe!?” Her eyes turned black once more. “Humans are weak! They deserved to be ruled by us! Release me, or I will break his pathetic neck!”

“Don't worry about me! Finish the exorcism!” Jimmy tossed his self preservation away. Instead he cared more about the well being of this woman, this victim of this foul demon.

“Silence! He can't do a thing as long as I have both you mortals within my grasp!”

“*****”

The woman froze. “No…” She weakened her grip, which allowed Jimmy to slip away. She glared at Abe and struggled much more with the remaining ropes. “You dare!?”

“What was that, Father? What did you say?”

“Jimmy, leave the room. You must not hear this. Or else you would bring terrible things upon your own life.”

Jimmy wasted no time and exited the room.

The woman growled as she reached for the ropes. “Don't you dare, *****!” She froze completely.

“Abraham, you coward!”

“You're the coward! Preying on the weak! Now you face someone of the same caliber!” Abe splashed her with more holy water and pressed the cross harder on her face. “With your true name uttered, I command you to return to the depths of hell! Free this woman from your wrath! And never return!”

“Abraham!” She howled with the voices of hundreds.

The demon within burned as he was forced out of the woman. He tried to cling onto her soul, but it slipped past his crooked fingers. The last thing he saw was the hate within Abe's eyes as he was painfully thrown back down below. Back into the darkness. The moment his true name was uttered, the demon lost.

Abe watched as the color returned to this woman's skin. Instantly, she recovered from the pain. And her breathing returned to normal as the traces of the demonic energy vanished.

He took this chance to douse the embers of the cross in his hand with the holy water; the combination of the two holy tools burned his hand greatly. But Abe fought through it. He then stored his items away. This was his struggle, but the fire within burned brighter than the one that harmed him.

As he was about to leave, the woman stirred awake. Her eyes landed upon him and his demonic visage, so she screamed. Abe simply nodded and left immediately. He didn't want to stress this woman any further. Jimmy said nothing when Abe walked out of the room, he simply followed the priest out of the house. Abe made sure to inform the parents that their daughter was safe. They thanked him of course. One would be grateful for the one who saved your family.

Abe wished he was informed sooner and spared this family the moment of pain and sorrow. But he was glad he was able to do something despite being late.

The ride back to town was silent, Jimmy didn't question anything. He was just glad Abe saved the woman.

It was a stressful event for the cop. He was nearly killed for it, but thanks to Abe, he lived to see his family another day.

Jimmy stepped on the breaks once they reached Abe's apartment. He even walked the priest to the steps. “Glad you helped them out, Father.” Jimmy said as he sat down on the steps. Despite doing nothing the whole time, Jimmy felt tired from the whole ordeal. “Guess we can trust demons like you.”

“No, don't ever trust a demon, Jimmy.” Abe told him.

“Even you?”

“Especially me. There are those that would take advantage of your kindness by mimicking it. You shouldn't trust demons for they do not see you as an equal. They are emotionless. And seek nothing but to destroy what He created.”

“I'm sure I can trust you, Father.” Jimmy argued. “You did help raise me to be the man I am today.”

Abe could only chuckle. “For that, I am grateful for your trust.”

Both noticed a peculiar van. “Hey, does Ivory have a driver's licence?” Jimmy inquired as the van approached.

“Don't believe so…”

Jimmy sighed. “I'll overlook it for now. But I will have a word with her.”

“Guess they're done with Midas City.” Abe smiled. “I wonder what tomorrow holds for us. And I pray it will be Sunny.”