A Test Of Faith A Faith × Angel Hare crossover
Prologue The Catalyst
"I... I can't let this go on. I have to help him, I'm his teacher. I have an obligation to keep him safe."
She still has nightmares of her first run-in with the possessed Jonah.
It was the day of Halloween.
He came late to school that day wearing a full mask, he didn't say much of anything either.
Mostly kept his head down and seemed to draw symbols in crayon.
When it was over and the parents went with their kids, only he remained there. He sat huddled by his desk, and with his Halloween mask on the top.
"Jonah? Jonah dear, classes are over.... Is everything okay?"
"..."
"Is everything okay at home Jonah? We can talk about it if you'd li_"
Jonah seems to mutter something...
"I... I can't hear what you're saying Jonah."
"Am I holey now Miss Gabby?"
Gabby gasped seeing the gaping red hole where Jonah's face was supposed to be. "Jonah! What happened to you??"
"I made some new friends. They opened my mind. and now? I am stronger Miss Gabby, no one will hurt me anymore." Jonah's body seemed to move like a puppet held by a single string.
"Jonah please, you're scaring me..." Gabby stuttered out, watching drops of blood pool out of the hole and down Jonah's chin.
"Don't be scared Miss Gabby. I am safe. I can keep you safe too. You can be strong like me. Join us Miss Gabby, Gary would love you like he loves us."
Gabby stepped back in fear. Her curiosity peaked for a brief moment.
"Who's Gary?"
"Gary is a normal human being, just like you and me. He showed me this strength was inside me all along, I just needed to let 'Them' in…”
Gabby considered calling the police, but they wouldn't be of much help. Maybe she could see if any fellow teachers were still here and get them to help.
She gripped the cross necklace she wore and began to back away from the possessed body of Jonah.
"Why are you leaving me Miss Gabby? Don't you love me like a son?"
The demon taunted, as blood red fingers passed through the hole in his head where his face once was. Revealing an arm of something that wasn't human.
Gabby fled the demonic creature and ran for the exit, she'd look back to see Jonah's body on all fours crawling on the ceiling towards her.
Barely making it to the exit she slammed the door shut behind her, and propped it shut with a chair as Jonah banged on the door.
"I can hear you breathing Gabrielle. . . you can't escape THE UNSPEAKABLE!"
Gabby backed away from the door, her heart pounding in her chest as tears flowed from her eyes. She was gripped by a primordial fear that she had felt only once before.
Getting away from the door she ran towards her car, getting in and driving away from the building. She drove farther and farther away, before eventually pulling over on the side of the road.
She put her hands on her face and began to sob. One of her own students was being tortured and tormented by this otherworldly creature, and she believed it was all her fault.
She would cry for a while in that car, her guilt and fears dripping onto her pants till she began to calm down.
She took her bag, which she still had in her car, and took out her inhaler before taking a hit of her medicine.
Quickly her lungs felt lighter, and she could breathe easier, starting up the car again and heading home…
End of Prologue
Chapter One To Fix What Was Broken
A year passed, Saint Matthew's Sunday School was shut down.
The public statement on its closure was a freak bear attack, one that led to 5 deaths.
Gabby knew the real reason, as she was to be their latest sacrifice.
Her sight was plagued by visions of hooded figures chanting.
The pounding of drums, accentuated by writhing shadows that bray and shout in languages not meant for the ears of mortal men.
She feels herself being dragged to an altar by humanoid forms that hoist her upon the cold stone. The thralls stand aside when two new figures enter her vision.
One the limp figure of Jonah, held aloft in the air by the large red arm of an unnameable horror.
The other is a hooded figure she hasn't seen before, holding a metal mask and a ritual knife.
It seems to speak to the crowd in words Gabby could not comprehend. Before placing the mask upon Gabby's face.
A searing hot pain shot through her whole body as she screamed and jostled about.
The bite of the knife carved into her head, and in that moment of agonizing pain Gabby awoke from her bed. Awash in a cold sweat, and breathing heavily.
Another nightmare, she had been having them ever since that day.
Gabby had sought out different forms of employment after the incident. She had a few jobs as a babysitter and a substitute teacher in the interim.
However, those who knew her personally could tell she wasn't the same person she once was.
She’d visit a shrink and it did seem to help for a while, but there was always lingering guilt that hung like a carrot on a stick.
Just outside her reach, she’d get so close to being free of it. Only for it to come back.
One day, she gathered the courage required for her next move.
She locked the door to her house, entered her car, and drove to the center of her suffering.
And the embodiment of her failures.
The windows were shattered and the entrance barred by planks of wood.
All over were signs of teenagers and homeless having frequented this place for shelter or a place to dare their friends to enter.
Gabby stepped in through a window and turned on a flashlight, holding a crucifix close to her heart she traversed the halls of this once honorable place of knowledge and religious belief.
She found a note within one of the old classrooms.
”What a steal, whatever caused this place to close down so quickly left a bunch of cash in the charity boxes. With that and the recycling this could be my lucky day.”
Her heart sank knowing the depths some would turn to for a financial boon, but there were more pressing matters to take care of. Mainly that of the location of Jonah.
Her every step reminded her of her old job here. The smiling faces of the students as they sat in her class.
The calmness of the teachers lounge and the liquid ambrosia that was the coffee machine on a particularly stress-filled day.
All those memories were no more than the dust that floated about the air when Gabby entered her old classroom.
She saw what remained of an apple a student had gifted her once. Now long past the point of being edible.
Something caught her eye. Jonah’s old backpack, ransacked of most things except old drawings by the boy.
Gabby sifted through them to get an idea of what Jonah might have been thinking at the time.
The images didn't bode well for Jonah, even long before he was being puppeted by a demon.
Drawings of an adult male figure throwing a bottle at a depiction of the child, of him shouting curses, and holding what seemed to be a belt.
The art only became more troubling as Jonah was soon depicted being surrounded by darkness, alone in a void.
The final one sent a shiver down Gabby’s spine, a depiction of Jonah standing next to a figure clad in a red robe…
Gabby stumbled away from the pages of children's drawing. Beginning to put some of the pieces together.
As she backed away, a voice piped up from behind her.
”Gabby!”
She jumped up and turned around holding her crucifix out. “Get away from me!” She stammered out in shock.
”W-woah woah calm down Gabby it's just me.”
The voice was familiar, someone she knew well.
”F-francis? What are you doing here?”
”I-I was tryin’ ta call you but ya never picked up, a-and I figured you’d be here. Is everything alright Gabby?”
”Francis… You, you shouldn't be here. It's not safe.”
”Why not? There's no one parked out here besides you and me.”
”No, Francis. You need to leave, I have something to do here.”
”B-but Gabby.”
”I said no, Francis. I don't want you around here."
”...A-ahlright, I'm sorry Gabby. I shouldn't have been so pushy.”
Gabby sighed and put a hand on the man’s shoulder, “It's okay Francis, I know you're worried about me. I’ll be out quick Francis, maybe we can hang out afterwards.”
”You, you really mean that?”
”Mhm. Just wait outside and I’ll see you soon.”
The portly little man smiled and walked out of the derelict classroom. When he was out of earshot Gabby sighed.
”I’m sorry Francis, but I have to do this alone."
She continued to search through the ruins of the school before coming across a door to the basement. That's where the Nativity Set and other items were stored.
She pushed the door open with a slow and drawn out creak. Before her led a flight of stairs down into the dark.
Gabby gulped nervously, she always hated these stairs. They creaked and bowed with every step she'd take, alas she'd have to descend them once more.
Step by step she carefully walked down the steps. Until one suddenly snapped underneath her weight!
Leaving her to tumble down the stairs and land stomach first on the dusty floor.
When she came to, her head slightly jumbled and leg bruised, she was fine and continued on.
Dusting herself off she grabbed her flashlight which she dropped in the fall, and looked around to find Jonah... Or any way out.
Her searching was cut short as a book was thrown at her head. Gabby barely dodged it as a scrawny figure ran towards her with a pair of scissors held up high.
"We are many!" the figure screamed as it charged Gabby. Gabby screamed and held out her crucifix before hearing the being cry out in pain, dropping its weapon and running away as it yelled.
"I had no choice!" It shouted as it ran into the darkness. Gabby panted and shuddered in fright while still gripping onto the crucifix that saved her life and drove back the figure. Pulling out her inhaler she took in some medicine to soothe her lungs and keep her asthma at bay.
Delving deeper she found a wide tunnel has been dug into the basement of the school.
Gabby took in a deep breath before entering the tunnel. Crouching down to climb through, into the unknown depths beyond...
Meanwhile above ground.
Francis had been walking back to his car.
"I wish I knew what's been eatin' at her inside..."
He opened the door to his car and sat down in the driver's seat before leaning back.
"Well, at least she'll be back soon." Francis said to himself, turning on the radio in the dashboard. The smooth sounds of Jazz music permeating through the car.
While Francis unwound and sat back. Two arms appeared from behind his seat, as a red emaciated figure with wiry hair rose from the back seat of his car and put a rag to its victim's face.
"Mmmph! Mmm-mmmph! Mmmmph! Mmph... mph... ..."
Francis kicked and squirmed trying to escape the clutches of this entity before quickly succumbing to the chemicals soaked into the rag, falling unconscious as the figure grinned in demonic glee.
"Sleep fat one, sleep~" It mockingly soothed as Francis fell into his intoxicated slumber.
"Now, let's get you back to your little friend..."
Gabby continued to explore, finding a damaged and trampled note.
"Some freaks wearing red paint on their body tried to jump me in the basement. I managed to hurt them but they made off with that weird doll I was gonna sell and the rest of my stuff. Bastards are gonna pay for that, it's my stuff and I found it first!"
Gabby looked over the note before entering a decrepit chamber, braziers with well-maintained flames flanked her sides as she looked around for a door or way out.
She could see one on the other side of the room. In front of it was the figure that has tried to stab her.
It noticed her presence and immediately ran into the opening behind it, "She is here!" It cried as it ran away.
Cautiously Gabby looked around and found the door it ran through, slipping in as she came into a cavernous room. Small torches sat on the walls, dimly lighting the man-made chamber as the sound of bones crunching and flesh ripping echoed throughout.
Before Gabby in the center of the room was a hunched over creature with gray skin, chewing on the remains of the figure that tried to stab her.
Its singular eye, partially shrouded by two bloody dismembered hands that held onto its face, shot a glance at Gabby.
"MOTHERRRrrrr...?" It gargled out as it stood upright and shuffled towards Gabby.
Gabby stood there frozen in fear as it came closer...
And closer...
Yet closer still...
Until its face almost touched hers as Gabby prayed silently for rescue and clutched her cross.
It stared at her... Before it walked back to its latest kill, and dragged it into the star-shaped hole in the center of the room.
Gabby's legs wobbled and caved as she fell on her knees in fright.
Her confidence to continue was faltering after a sight like that. The urge to run filled her head, she looked to her crucifix.
"Lord, help me. I fear I can go no farther." She said as she prayed to God in this unholy place. "I need a sign. A sign that I can carry on. Please Lord."
"Gabby? Gabby is that you?"
Gabby rose to her feet, that was Francis! What was he doing here?
Her strength to carry on was revitalized by hearing her friend was in trouble.
She took a left into an antechamber, where five statues laid out in a star formation, in the center was Francis. Looking around with his back to Gabby.
"Francis? What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay in the car!"
"Gabby... Where are you? It's so dark, I can't see the light anymore. Everything is so cold."
"I'm right here Francis, let's go before things get worse."
"I'M. NOT. FRANCIIIIIS." Francis seemed to gargle out in a voice that wasn't his own.
Francis(?) turned to look at Gabby, his eyes were wild and bloodshot, his skin paler than before, and started rushing towards Gabby.
Gabby held out her cross while Francis came after her, and watched him convulse as a black mist exited his mouth.
He fell to the floor limp, the cloud formed into a goat's skull, one with the symbol of brimstone carved on its forehead. It screeched in an ancient fury as its empty eye sockets burned with red hot fire.
It split into five small clouds and flew into the statues.
Gabby rushed towards the limp body of Francis.
"Hold on Francis. I'll get you out of here."
As she attempted to lift her friend up suddenly she felt something shoot into her back.
And like that. Her vision went dark...
Gabby woke up in a dark room, her vision on a creature that defied logic.
Wings covered in goats eyes, a serpentine lower body of sickly green scales.
And its head, a towering pillar of featureless grey skin, save for one large mouth that sat vertically upon its face.
It stared at Gabby, and then it spoke.
"Hmm, soft skin, innocent yet troubled spirit, luscious eyes, and an educated mind. Yessss, you will be just the meal I have waited millennia for~"
Gabby couldn't move, her actions were not hers. She watched her own body approach the demon slowly, as its mouth opened to reveal what looked like an endless abyss of sharp teeth.
Suddenly her vision had changed, and she was in that same room she was in before. Only kneeling above Francis, and holding onto her flashlight as if she was about to smash his head in like that of Cain & Abel.
She backed away in shock, whatever this demon was doing it was trying to get her to kill Francis!
The black fog flew back into Francis and lifted him back to his feet.
Quickly Gabby pulled out her crucifix and pointed it at Francis.
And once again the fog left through his mouth and nose, forming into the same skull as before.
Gabby used this chance to try and banish it. She pointed her cross at it as it began to scream!
"I'LL SEE YOU IN HELL!" It proclaimed as it dissipated into nothing, save for a single key.
Gabby quickly ran to Francis and tried to wake him.
"F-francis! Wake up! Please tell me you're okay!" She checked his pulse, he was still alive. Just unconscious, her worries were slightly relieved.
After a bit, Francis finally woke up.
"G-g-gabby? W-what are you doing here? W-where are we?"
"Oh Francis!" Gabby hugged Francis tightly, her heart pounding in her chest, "I'm so glad you're okay! I was so worried you were hurt."
Francis blushed as he was hugged by his best friend, "I-I'm fine Gabby. C-could we get outta here?"
"Yes, yes we can." She helped Francis up and took the key that the demon had left behind. "Just be careful as we leave."
"Alright, but can you please tell me what's going on once we leave?"
She nodded while the two left, passing the star-shaped hole, and ascending a flight of stairs and into a clearing in the forest.
A while later, the two made it back to the abandoned school.
"So, what do you want to know?"
"Well, why did you come to this place?"
"I... I wanted to see if I could find Jonah here."
"I understand, but he's probably long gone by now."
Gabby looked down in shame, "I know he's still out there, he's looking for me."
"Well, I'd be happy to help you. If that's okay with you."
Gabby sighed before looking up at Francis, "Thank you." She gave him a smile before hugging him again.
Francis smiled and hugged back, glad to help a friend in need.
The two began to part ways as they drove home.
"I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. I shall not be afraid of the terror in the night, nor the evil that walketh in darkness." Gabby recited as she drove home.
"Because I," Gabby stopped for a moment to take a puff of her inhaler and breathe a sigh of relief.
"Because I have made the Lord my refuge. Because I have set my love upon Him, therefore He will deliver me. I shall call upon Him, and He will answer me. He will be with me in trouble. He will deliver me and honor me." Gabby finished as she stared at the road ahead.
When Gabby got home, she flipped through a phone book before finding a number she circled before.
Zachary Wylde, Private Investigator...
End of Chapter One
Chapter Two The Wylde Detective
A haze of cigarette smoke hung throughout a small office, a lady sorted papers at a shiny oakwood desk as soft jazz played from a radio in the back.
The cream-colored landline on her desk vibrated, with the noise of a caller on the other end. The lady sighed and lifted up the phone.
”Zag Wylde, Private Investigator’s office, how may I help you?” The dame said with a tone that was well and truly tired of the monotony of the job.
She listened to the voice on the line, “Uh huh… uh huh… Ma’am… Ma’am please calm down…”
She sighed again and put her thumb and index to the bridge of her nose in annoyance.
”Look, if you really wish to see him in person I can put you down for an appointment at 10am tomorrow morning, okay? … Okay, see you later. Buh-bye.”
She hung up and groaned before getting up from her desk and knocking on the glass window of the door near her desk.
”Come in Francine.” A gruff voice replied from inside as the secretary opened the door to a nearly pitch black room.
The only light sources were from the window in the corner of the room partially obscured by the Venetian blinds that sat in front of it, and a singular lamp that sat on the large wooden desk in the center of the room unlit.
”A lady called in, said she's looking for a kid who went missing.”
”I take it that isn't all she said?” The man at the desk responded, his eyes peering through the dark like gleaming daggers.
The secretary was used to that look and shook her head, “Quite so, mentioned something about the kid being possessed by a demon, and that the last place she saw him was being repurposed as a center for unholy rituals.”
The man seemed to be interested in this development, and leaned forward. “What do you think of this case Francine?”
”Personally? Sounds like the ravings of a lady off her rocker, but I ain't getting paid to judge your potential clients.” The secretary chided before letting out a puff of smoke from her cigarette.
”That is a possibility, in the meantime I’d like you to look into any recent kidnappings and supposed satanic activities.” The man in the shadows ordered.
”You got it sir.” Francine responded before exiting. Meanwhile the man cloaked in darkness looked out into the night…
10 AM rolled around and a nervous dame dressed in a yellow dress shirt with pale yellow sleeves and collar. A pale yellow belt around her waist that led to a long skirt of the same color as the main body of her shirt, she wore black women's shoes with white socks.
She opened the door to the building to hear a little jingle from the bell that hung from above, with meek steps she entered the lobby to see a middle-aged woman looking through files.
”You must be Gabby. The detective is just through that door. Make sure to knock before you enter.” The aged lady spoke in a tone that had done this multiple times before.
”Y-yes ma’am. Thank you very much.” Gabby said before she headed towards the door. With a knock to the tune of Shave And A Haircut she alerted the man inside to her presence.
”Come in.” A graveled voice responded as the door creaked open, the lady poking her head into the darkened room.
”Y-you must be Detective Wylde.” She squeaked out nervously. The eyes within the miasma of blackness the detective inhabited.
”That I am, and you must be Gabrielle Thompson. Former teacher at Saint Matthew’s Sunday School, am I correct?”
”H-how did you know?” Gabby asked, feeling like she was a mouse walking into a lion’s den.
”A good detective checks the background of his clients. Take a seat Ms. Thompson, we have much to discuss.”
The demure dame scurried into the room and sat in the chair before the wooden desk of Detective Zachary Wylde, The Shaded Sleuth.
The man of legend leaned forward, and stared at the lady before him. “You have come to me so that I may find this child have you not?”
”N-no sir- M-mister Wylde. I-i wanted to, h-hire your s-services, t-to join me i-in finding J-jonah.”
The man cloaked in the night let out a laugh that shook Gabby to the bone, a laugh she had heard many attempts to copy, but none were as chilling as the real deal.
”Hire me Ms. Thompson? That's a laugh, but I am not for sale in that regard.”
”P-please Mr. Wylde!” Gabby said, getting on her knees, “I-i have no one else t-to turn to, and I can't let Jonah su-suffer any more like this. I beg you Mr. Wylde, I need your help in this.”
The man looked at the begging broad before him, “Do you know what my line of work entails?” The man asked his potential client.
”Y-yes sir, y-you so-” Gabby said before being interrupted.
”NO. You only know what the papers say of my exploits. My career is not something I can put down at a moment's notice, it is one I am bound to.” The man waxed poetically, “It’s one one of danger and perils, of sacrifice, one you are not cut out for. So no, with all due respect I cannot allow you to join in my work.”
Gabby sat there on her knees, tears formed in her eyes as her pleas were rejected by someone she was desperate and vulnerable in front of. “P-please, h-he’s only a b-boy. I-i’ll do anything to s-save him, anything I can.”
He sat there and reflected on her words, after a short pause he responded.
”Very well. I will accompany you in your desire to save this kid.”
The waterslides flowed as Gabby hugged the detective, tears ran down her cheeks. “Oh thank you! Thank you so much!” Zach was a bit uncomfortable by this action, but knew it’d appease his emotionally vulnerable client.
”Don't mention it. Now tell me, where were you the last time you saw Jonah?”
The sun hung high as two cars pulled into the driveway of Saint Matthew's Sunday School.
The meek yet faithful lady and her newly hired detective rendezvoused at this place to search for further clues.
Despite the sun that shone down on both of them, Zach’s eyes still remained obscured in shadow. Like a visor over his eyes that kept his real identity a secret.
Gabby took notice of this phenomenon, but felt it was rude to ask so she elected to keep it to herself.
”So this is the place?”
”Yes,” Gabby responded, “This is where I last saw him two years ago.”
”Hmm.” Zach took a few steps towards the boarded up door before he looked for an alternative entrance.
”O-oh! There's one right here.” Gabby said, she walked towards the window she had once climbed through.
”Hmm. That’ll do.” Zach said before he leaped over the windowsill like a professional, one leg over the other.
He landed on his feet and looked back at Gabby on the other side, who slipped in through the window. Not as gracefully as the detective but she did so without cutting herself in broken glass.
The two split up to look through the individual rooms once more. Zach found the crayon drawings and flecks of dried blood, of which he’d scrape up a sample for later use.
Meanwhile Gabby entered the rooms of other teachers to find one with the freshly decomposing body of a man covered head to toe in dried blood, wearing only tattered shorts and worn shoes. The smell caused her lungs to burn and her stomach to turn.
”D-detective Wylde!”
The man rushed to the lady’s side before looking upon the corpse. He stepped towards it and began to examine it, he pulled a pair of rubber gloves from his coat and began to thoroughly search the man’s remains.
He took notes of the state the body was in, despite being freshly killed the body seemed to have been in a state of decay before death.
There were claw marks on the back and legs, the man must have bled out in this room.
Clutched in one of its hands the detective produced a slip of bloody paper from the body, it read the following.
”I was deceived by that whore who took Gary’s place. She said I’d have a new purpose in her plans, but apparently it meant being a sacrifice to that thing in the basement. At least Jeremy got to die painlessly when it jammed its claws into his brain. I can feel the blood pooling in my lungs. Lord, if you are still watching over me despite my sinful actions. I beg you for forgiveness.”
Zach took the paper, and placed it in a small plastic bag he produced from his coat. He checked the body for fingerprints only to see they had been burnt off.
”Damn it.” Zach cursed under his breath before he rose back to his feet, “It appears we are not alone here, have you been into the basement?”
Gabby nodded, “There was a secret tunnel that led into a chamber. Which led to a cave with a pit in the center.”
”Hmm. Mind leading me there?” Zach requested to which Gabby nodded.
”Although the stairs to the basement have broken…” Gabby said, as the pain of her falling down crept back into her mind slightly. “There is another entrance.”
”And where might that be?” Zach said looking back at the former teacher curious.
The duo had found the secret entrance Gabby left through when Francis had been freed of his possession.
It was a park bathroom with a false wall. From the outside it seemed completely normal, but on the inside it was in fact a door. The shadows of the room hid the doorknob, blending it into the rest of the door.
Remembering what lay down there caused Gabby’s asthma to flare up again, it shortened her breaths by a bit and had her make a small yet audible wheezing noise.
She rummaged in the small purse she brought with her and produced her inhaler. Taking a hit of the medicine relaxed the muscles in her throat and her lungs, and with that her worries began to melt like snow.
”Are you sure you wish to continue with this Ms. Thompson?” Zach asked his employer, he rightfully inferred that should she lose that she’d be at best a liability and at worst a dead woman walking.
”I’m fine Detective Zach, and no need to be so formal,” Gabby smiled as she conversed with the detective, “my friends call me Gabby.”
”Very well then Ms. Thompson.” Zach responded, a clear message that he was not interested in making friends out of clients.
Gabby’s heart sank as the two descended the stone stairs, back into the chamber where Gabby encountered the unholy creature that would've devoured her flesh had she not stood still.
”B-be careful,” Gabby stuttered, “There's something d-down there. Something that's n-not human nor a-animal.”
The detective produced two items, one being a flashlight to light the darkened path down. The other being a handgun.
An M1911, with fine wooden grip panels on the grip. The rest of the gun was a polished silvery color that reflected the light of Gabby’s flashlight.
”.45 ACP, 7 rounds per magazine, 1 in the chamber.” The detective spoke, a brief hint of giddiness to speak about his arsenal seemed to betray the detective’s stone-cold exterior.
”Oh, I-i have never seen a gun like that. Then again I have n-never used one.” Gabby stammered, feeling a little safer knowing the detective had some firepower.
Zach nodded as the two reached the chamber. He scouted the room, and the antechamber ahead.
Before Gabby could even notice he had disappeared he reappeared by her side.
”Both rooms are clear, dried blood near the star-shaped pit. I found footprints that appeared to pass through a wall in the antechamber.” While he spoke he took notes in a pad he had in his hands.
As the detective spoke, a chill went up Gabby’s spine, her legs froze in place as a familiar figure crawled out from the pit.
”I KNOW YOUR SECRET.” It gargled in an ungodly voice, it caught the attention of Zach who pulled his gun on the demon.
A shot blasted out, illuminating the room. If the shot did hit the demon seemed to be unaffected.
”PULL OUT YOUR EYES!” It screamed as the hands gave away from its face to reveal it had two bloodshot eyes that stared directly at Gabby. The fingers spread out and elongated like tendrils, eager to tear into its prey.
”Ms. Thompson! Run!” Zach shouted as the demon got closer, but Gabby stood there in paralyzed terror.
”Ms. Thompson?! GABBY! Snap out of it!” Zach yelled, as Gabby came to her senses and pulled out her crucifix in an attempt to drive away the beast.
The demon’s approach began to slow, flakes of foul skin peeled from it like poorly glued wallpaper.
This sight gave Zach an idea as he fired round after round into the creature's head. With one last cry it shouted, “YOU CAN'T HIDE ANYMORE!” before it fell back into the pit it came from.
Panting slightly Zach looked at Gabby. “Ms. Thompson, what was that thing?”
Gabby’s eyes looked at the hole the entity fell into. “A d-demon.” she stammered.
The eyes of the detective seemed to be in disbelief at that statement, but what he had witnessed was nothing he could explain at this moment. “Come,” he said looking towards the antechamber. “Our investigation is far from finished..."
The darkened antechamber was illuminated by the flashlights of the duo, who entered to find a large cave wall at the far back. It appears the statues that sat in there were still there, except for one.
Gabby approached the wall, there were six small protruding stones with symbols carved in them in a circular shape.
Zach came up behind her and looked over the same stones. "Hmm..." He seemed to be deep in thought as he looked over the stones.
"These symbols, perhaps they're numbers. If only I could tell what language they come from." He muttered to himself as Gabby looked around.
As she walked by the statues, her gaze was caught by a line in the sand that covered the floor. The lines seemed to be made of a black powdery substance.
She followed the lines until she began to see a symbol made in the sand of the room. It was two lines in an X formation with a line between the bottom left & right diagonal lines near their ends.
"Zach! I think I got it!" Gabby shouted as she ran towards the wall. She pressed the top left stone, the marking began to glow a faint red.
"Ms. Thompson, be careful. We don't know what we're messing with. Why don't I do it?"
"I, I understand. But I don't want to feel like I'm weighing you down." Gabby responded, looking ashamed.
"No..."
"Huh?" Gabby asked, then looked up at her compatriot.
"You are not weighing me down, that demon would be chasing us out of here if you didn't have that cross. Just tell me the code, I'll punch it in."
"I-... It's a right triangle with its hypotenuse laying horizontal. And where the two legs intersect you continue to the top left and right stones up there."
Zach would look at the stones before he realized what she meant. He walked to the stones and pressed the top right stone.
All of the stones turned off.
He pressed the top left, then the bottom right.
The two lines lit up with a faint red light.
He pressed the bottom left stone, then the top right stone.
The four stones then shone a bright red light as the wall began to rise.
"Heh, well done Ms. Thompson." Zach congratulated his client, patting her shoulder.
Her confidence boosted, she smiled as the two continued forward as the stone wall slid down behind them.
Pressing forward into the darkness, Gabby and Zach’s noses were overwhelmed by the stench of sulfur. Zach couldn't help but feel as if the two of them were being watched.
The two would look around with their flashlights yet find no sign of life, although a faint clicking noise could be heard every so often while they moved.
Halfway through walking down this seemingly endless corridor, Gabby looked in her purse for something. She had without intention pointed her flashlight up to the ceiling as she rummaged in her bag.
From above a loud and shrill screech was heard when something fell to the floor. Wheeling back around she and Zach pointed their flashlights at the fallen object.
It was a pale and emaciated thing, with sunken in eye sockets and sharp teeth. Its most striking features were its long claw-like fingers that were covered in dried blood and grime. It got itself up and shielded its eyes from the light before skittering towards a hole in the nearest wall, its bones making those same clicking noises as it moved.
Zach quickly whipped out his gun and pulled the trigger, only to be met with the noise of an empty magazine. The small beast snuck into its burrow and vanished from sight.
”Damnit!” Zach cursed before beginning to discharge the magazine from his gun, “Ms. Thompson cover me while I reload."
"W-with what?" Gabby asked before hearing the skittering noises of the creature echoed throughout the room.
Like a flash of lightning the creature rushed out of a hole, claws out and ready to pierce the flesh of the lady before it.
Gabby instinctually held out her cross, the sound of burning flesh permeated her ears while the pale humanoid screeched in agony.
The cross burnt the demon, but it didn't seem to kill it when it crawled back into its tunnels.
Without warning a heavy object was placed in her hands.
"Take my backup, and keep an eye out for this creep." Zach said having handed an M1911 almost exactly like his to Gabby. "You know the basics of firearm safety right?"
Gabby stared at the gun placed in her hands and gulped in fear.
"I'll take that as a no. It's simple, just point it at what you want to kill and don't point it at things you don't want to kill. Aim for the freak's head." Zach explained before another screech came out of the many tunnels.
Gabby held out the gun, her arms that held it shook like a Chihuahua in a cold storage. The skittering and clicking reached its peak when the pale freak fell down from above and upon Gabby.
Its eyes stared into her soul with primordial malice, before screeching into her face. It raised its head and bore its teeth before descending them towards the pinned lady’s exposed neck.
Three shots rang out, and the body of the ravenous creep slumped down onto Gabby’s body. Its blood seeped into her cardigan before she shoved it off.
Zach rushed to Gabby’s aid and brought her to her feet. “Are you okay Ms.Thompson?”
”I… I am fine Zach, just covered in blood.” Gabby responded, smiling a bit. At long last they approached a locked stone door.
”Drats… I left my lockpicking tools in the car.”
Gabby dug around in her pocket and found the old key she found the last time she was down here.
She easily slid the key into the hole and turned it, a soft click sounded as the doors began to sink into the floor.
Zach didn't say anything, but he gave Gabby an impressed half smile before bringing out his gun and ascending the stone spiral staircase before them.
Gabby quickly followed behind, holding her gun and crucifix close.
At the top of the stairs they found a wooden trapdoor, with a click and a creak Zach lifted the door to be met with the musty stench of an abandoned house.
”Coast is clear.” Zach said before climbing up onto the noisy floor, with Gabby following after.
The room was decently furnished, it’d be a lovely summer home if not for all the cobwebs and dust covering the surface of everything in the house.
Zach immediately got to work noting the dried blood that led to the attic.
Meanwhile Gabby looked over the interior, finding a family photo. There were three people within.
A man, a woman, and a child...
Jonah Whitman…
”Zach! T-this house! It's Jonah’s!”
But no response came…
Gabby went towards the attic, following Zach’s footsteps and the withered bloodstains.
Reaching the top, HE was there…
His body was emaciated and pale, his fingernails long and unkempt, and he wore a long piece of white cloth over his head.
Below him lay the body of Zachary Wylde…
”J-jonah, w-what did you do? What happened to you?”
His head snapped with an uncomfortable crack, his face obscured by the bloody cloth.
”I hurt the bad man. Am I a good boy Miss Gabby?” Jonah growled from his limp, floating form.
”I-i can't let you keep doing this, c-come with me Jonah. We can make you better.”
”I am better Miss Gabby, I am perfect. Gary made me perfect. And ‘SHE’ has guided me the right way.” The way he… it… said that unnerved Gabby.
”Y-you have to be saved Jonah… I-i won't abandon you again.”
”HE IS MINE, PREACHER!”
With a wave of his hand Zach’s body rose and was sent towards Gabby, who caught him and set him down.
Gabby pointed her crucifix at the body of Jonah and watched it wriggle and writhe at the exposure to such divine energy.
As she held up the cross, she began to notice the shadows in the room move unnaturally. Without warning a gray faceless figure grabbed a hold on one of Gabby’s shoulders.
In shock she took the pistol Zach gave her and shot it twice, sending it reeling back before turning to ashes.
Another attempted to charge her but another two shots put them down easily.
Jonah after being exposed to God’s light pulled the cloth from his head… That same hole in his face as before looked Gabby in her eyes.
Giving it any eye contact caused her head to ache, and her nose to drip out a trail of blood.
The lights went out, and as Gabby fumbled for her flashlight she felt something scratch her leg.
She cried out in pain before turning the light on and finding the culprit, who was placing their bloody fingernails into the open pit in their head.
”YOU FAILED ME.” The body of Jonah spoke in that same demonic tone she heard two years ago. It lunged back again at Gabby who held out her cross to ward it off.
This caused Jonah to scuttle away into the darkness.
When the lights came back on Gabby checked her injured leg, it was a decent trifecta of cuts that needed treatment. Though her attention was caught by the crowd of apparitions that surrounded her, each one took the form of the possessed child.
Each one cried out in pain and shouted foul words to demoralize and break her spirit.
”UNWORTHY. DESPICABLE. ABANDON THY HOPE. YOU'RE TOO LATE TO SAVE HIM. KILL HIM.”
Gabby flashed her cross at all of them before the true one flinched away, leaving the rest to disappear.
He huddled on the floor, twitching and seeming to ooze blood from his face.
”Jonah?” Gabby asked, getting closer to him. Wary of what might happen next.
With a sudden jolt Jonah’s head turned to Gabby as a blood red arm rose from his face and lunged at Gabby, attempting to claw her eyes out while an otherworldly scream exited his body.
Falling on her back Gabby barely dodged the clawed hand before shoving the cross towards Jonah, who writhed in agony at the presence of it.
The arm yanked itself back into the hole it came from, and Jonah began running towards the window at the far end of the attic, screaming as he sprinted inhumanly.
Gabby watched him crash through the glass and out onto the grass outside. The sight of his broken body rising up and limping away hurt her heart to witness.
Taking a bit to patch herself up she rushed downstairs to find Jonah, before hearing whispering coming from the photo she saw before.
Observing it she saw that Jonah’s parents in the photo have been recently slashed & destroyed, with only an emotionless Jonah in the middle.
Staring at it the glass on the photo began to shatter. When a long red arm suddenly burst out, grabbed her by the face, and dragged her into the picture…
When Gabby's vision returned, she was in a room with horrific implications.
The meaty walls surrounding her rhythmically pulsed to the beat of an unseen heart, unnatural and large eyes dotted the walls, glaring at her soul.
The stone floor was littered with the bones of humans, one of which wore an oddly familiar blouse.
In the center of the room stood a tall and imposing figure, it had no arms, no legs, a collection of red tendrils surrounding the open neck where its head should be.
”HOMICIDA!” The demon gargled before floating towards Gabby.
She brought her cross to bare and held it before the unholy entity.
Its skin would bubble and scorch at the sight of it but it kept going, then suddenly vanished.
Gabby began to look around frantically before she saw the demon rushing after her much faster than before.
She pointed the cross at it and the demon began to de-manifest.
”I’LL SEE YOU AGAIN!” It coughed from its bloody stump before it vanished for good, leaving in its wake a note.
Gabby picked it up, and read its contents. It was a police officers report, dated April 25th, 1970
We got called to visit Mother Elizabeth's Orphanage because of multiple complaints about a horrible smell coming from inside. Me, and Tommy went to visit the scene and see what the issue was. What we saw in that orphanage… There was blood everywhere, viscera littered the floor and walls, and the head nun…
We found her hung upside down in the sermon area with her head missing, Tommy had to leave to throw up his lunch outside. He was the lucky one, because huddled in the corner of the orphanage’s confession booth was the only survivor, a little girl.
She had to have been at least seven or eight, and she was covered in blood. She held onto that sharpened crucifix in her hands like it was the only thing keeping her alive. The worst part was her eyes, those wild and terrified eyes.
The information written in that report shook Gabby's soul…
Little pieces of her childhood came back, her vision went white before she passed out.
Her unconsciousness was interrupted by the sounds of a car’s panic alarm and a crying baby. She awoke to find she was in the driver's seat of a car she'd never seen before, covered in broken glass and blood.
In the passenger seat slumped over was a hazy and unfocused body, she couldn't seem to tell who that was. Her attempts to figure out who the passenger was were halted in order to find the source of the crying.
Looking in the back seat, a little baby girl with blonde hair and blue eyes sat in her car seat. Gabby felt tears roll down her face, and she didn't know why.
She reached out to get ahold of the poor child, but as she reached out her vision went white again.
With a sudden and sharp gasp Gabby awoke on the floor of Jonah’s house, her head was spinning and she felt nauseous.
She slowly stood up and took out her inhaler, with a puff the nausea and dizziness faded.
”Jonah!” She yelled out before grabbing the rest of her things, then running out of the house.
She goes around to the back of the house, using the flashlight to follow the trail of blood left by Jonah.
The path led her to a clearing, where the wounded and possessed Jonah stood in a daze.
Holding the gun up she pointed the barrel at Jonah, her heart hurt from even considering this option but she knew she had to do it.
Jonah turned to look at Gabby, and with a gargled cough… a familiar voice came out…
”Miss G-gabby?” It said, it was Jonah’s voice… His real voice. “P-please… Help me… It hurts Miss Gabby, I’m scared… I-i can't see…”
Hearing his voice once more broke Gabby's heart, she lowered the gun. She couldn't bring herself to harm him, even if killing him would be a mercy.
”I’m here Jonah.” She choked out, walking towards his bloodied and emaciated body. “I’m here.”
She got close to Jonah, and wrapped her arms around him. A warmth spread through her body as she embraced Jonah once more.
”M-miss Gabby, please don't l-leave me Miss Gabby... I-i feel cold... ” Jonah stammered despite his lack of a face.
Gabby dripped tears onto his shoulder and held him tightly, “I'm sorry Jonah… I’m so so sorry… I failed you…”
”W-what do you m-” his voice was stopped by him suddenly crying out in agony, and Gabby quickly got away from Jonah. She was horrified to hear and see the demon taking control once more.
He began to convulse and shudder before crawling away on all fours like a twisted demon into the darkness.
Solemnly Gabby returned to the house and went to wake up Zach.
"Gabby? What happened? Where's Jonah?"
"He... He got away... But I spoke to him, Zach, he's still in there."
Zach put his hand to his forehead and got up slowly.
"Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. We've got most of what we came here for." Zach spoke, clearing his throat.
"Yeah, we should head home." Gabby agreed as the two found their way back to the Sunday school parking lot.
Gabby gave her bloodstained cardigan to Zach to analyze it, leaving her in her long sleeved dress shirt before driving home.
As she drove, she was partially comforted by the idea that Jonah could still be saved.
She could be wrong, but she had Faith she could save him.
End of Chapter Two
Chapter Three Confessions
Gabby sat at the foot of her bed and looked at her cross…
She wondered if what she did was the right thing to do.
She began to notice the gold on her cross was flaking, revealing the muted bronze-like metal underneath.
With a heavy sigh she placed it over her bed on a hook in the wall before going under the covers and attempting to get some rest.
Gabby awoke on the floor of a familiar place, a dilapidated and desecrated temple of God that also served as a shelter for the abandoned youth.
She recognized the feel of the floorboards, she recalled their creaking and groaning. This was her old home, or what was left of it.
Her attention was caught by the sound of the old church’s pipe organ.
As she stepped into the chapel where the grand instrument sat. A lamenting and woeful dirge flowed from its pipes and rods. For a moment she could swear she heard the sound of a low-pitched chorus at times.
Gabby stepped over the threshold and down the pews, looking to see the musician whose hands could play such a mourning masterpiece.
Getting closer, and closer, and yet closer. She saw it was none other than Mother Nanette, the former headmistress of the orphanage.
”M-mother Nanette, is that really you?” Gabby stammered out.
The figure turned to face Gabby, and what she saw turned her stomach.
The headmistress ironically had no head underneath her attire. Her hands were naught but bones, despite quite the stout woman in life.
The hands left the keys, yet the song kept playing by itself. She rose to her feet as parts of the organ began to twist and contort into the wailing faces of tortured souls. Their voices providing the chorus Gabby heard before.
Gabby stepped back from the nun’s body, and witnessed her former headmistress leak a river of black ooze from her open neck.
Gabby attempted to run, but the ooze was faster than her as it spread out speedily. She felt her legs sink into the ooze while the dirge grew louder and louder.
She tried to free herself but to no avail; she could see the spirits of her fellow sisters and orphans come through the stained glass windows and up from the floorboards.
”BETRAYER! SINNER! BLASPHEMER!” they shouted in time with the chorus’s finale, before wailing like banshees and flying into the body of the headmistress as Gabby sank fully into darkness…
Gabby woke up from the nightmare, her eyes wide and her breath ragged.
She looked at the alarm clock on her nightstand, 8:30am.
Rubbing her eyes she got out of bed, and dressed herself.
It was November 2nd, and Autumn had nestled into Sterling, Connecticut. The leaves had been descending from their spires to become one with the ground since the beginning of September.
Gabby fixed herself a cup of earl gray tea and sat before the window that looked out upon the rest of the neighborhood. A sip of the floral brew picked up her spirits enough to continue drinking.
With a cup in hand she stepped out onto the front patio to pick up the mail. A newspaper lay at her feet. She lifted up the rolled-up paper and gave it a quick skim through.
The Sterling Snitch
Headline: Abandoned Sunday School, Or Mouth of Hell?!
The remains of Saint Matthew's Sunday School have become a hotspot for shady activity recently. It's been seen that three people have entered the building through the windows, one of which being our own Detective Zachary Wylde.
An anonymous eyewitness gave us their report, “That Detective Wylde, how could he desecrate such a painful scar on our town by sneaking in with that lady of his. Does his secretary know of their rendezvous?”
The former Sunday school was condemned after a freak accident left 5 people dead and one Jonah Whitman missing. Attempts to commune with his parents have gone nowhere as they have seemingly vanished as well.
If you have any information on Jonah’s whereabouts please write a letter to our office or call our number.
The rest of the paper was dull, although the funny pages were amusing.
Closing the door she placed the mail on the coffee table in the living room before finishing her tea. She grabbed her car keys and went out to her vehicle.
A while later Gabby arrived in front of the church she frequented, The Church of St. Alexander.
Entering through the doors and witnessing the grand murals and immaculate cleanliness of the interior always gave her some joy to see.
She walked down the halls, headed towards the confession booth, opened the door and sat inside.
”Bless me Father for I have sinned.”
A feminine voice came through the other side, “What sins hath thou come to confess?”
"One of my students had been possessed by evil, but my fears overcame me.”
"I turned my back on the ministry… and broke my vows to God.”
"Two years later the boy reached out to me again.”
Gabby’s eyes began to well with tears, her voice shaky and sensitive.
”But I couldn't save him, even when the demon was weak and I could converse with the child.”
”I left him to die out there. I couldn't bring myself to take his life and free his spirit.”
”I am sorry for these and my past sins.”
Her heart burned with guilt but it felt pleasing to get this off her chest.
A long pause came from the other side of the booth.
”Thou hast said well. Here is thy penance: find him again, and give him the spiritual rest he deserves. Perform this act of contrition and thou shalt have the peace thou seekest."
Another pause came from the other side of the booth.
"Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.”
”For his mercy endures forever.”
Gabby stepped out of the booth, and out came another woman.
She wore all the liveries and attire of a nun, and had skin like milk chocolate. Her green eyes stared into Gabby’s meek soul and she gave the nervous lady a smile.
”Be not afraid, my name is Mother Michelle. Your spirit is troubled mija. Perhaps I could assist you in some way?”
”Oh, you’ve done well enough for me by letting me confess to you.” Gabby assured, though she would love to have a spiritual guide.
”It is the least I can do. Let's get you something to eat.” Michelle said, placing her hand upon Gabby’s back to reassure her.
”Thank you.” Gabby eked out as the two left the room.
The two sat at a small table in the church reserved for meals.
Mother Michelle brought out a small platter of croissant sandwiches, with turkey lettuce and cheese. As well as a pitcher of iced lemonade, and two glasses.
”Thank you for your hospitality Mother Michelle, but I’m afraid this is far too much for someone like me.” Gabby said, trying to remain humble.
”Oh it's no problem dear. Besides, what's better than a conversation over a meal?” Michelle assured her guest, to which Gabby could find not a retort.
Michelle grabbed some paper plates and napkins, then set them down before Gabby and herself. She took her seat across from Gabby and began to pray, who followed suit.
”Oh Heavenly Father, we thank you for this luncheon and the people we share it with. May it nourish us and give us the strength to press on through our struggles. We also wish to thank you for leading our dear guest to our church, we shall keep her in our prayers as she seeks to save her lost lamb. When in times of trouble may you be there to guide her and help her. We say these in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
”Amen.” Gabby repeated before finishing her silent prayer.
”Oh dear me I forgot to ask for your name.” Michelle exclaimed looking embarrassed.
”It's Gabby, Gabby Thompson.” She introduced before holding out her hand. Michelle took her hand and shook it with a firm grip and a hearty shake.
”Wow, you've got quite the grip.” Gabby said through the squeezing pain around her hand.
Michelle quickly let go, “Oh dear, my deepest apologies mija. I sometimes forget my own strength.”
”It's okay… Wait, do you work out?”
”Do I work out?” Michelle rolled up one of her sleeves to reveal one of her bare arms. With a flex the muscles within tensed and revealed that this nun was no pushover.
“Of course I do, A set a day keeps evil at bay.” She chuckled while Gabby looked slightly spooked by this revelation.
”I know it's a little unorthodox, but it’s a family tradition.”
”Oh, family tradition?”
”In the mission where my family is from. We believe that all members should have God's love in our hearts, and His strength in our bodies.”
”Wow, that's amazing.” Gabby felt a pang of jealousy at Michelle's in-depth knowledge and connection to her family. But she couldn't hold it against her, it was not her fault.
”Are you feeling well Gabby? You seem troubled by something.”
”Huh? Oh no no I’m fine.” She took a long drink of the lemonade before her and looked at the remaining sandwiches on the tray.
”By all means take them with you.” Michelle grinned as she grabbed a gallon bag from a drawer. “Keep your strength up.” She added before bagging the leftovers and handing them to Gabby.
"Thank you very much for stopping by Gabby. If there's anything else I can help you with you know where to find me." Michelle smiled as Gabby was packing up her things.
"Will do. Thank you as well for all this." She replied before waving goodbye.
Gabby stepped into her car and sat in the driver's seat. Her silence was interrupted by a sudden voice from the front passenger seat.
”I did some digging into the evidence we found in the caves.”
Gabby jumped and screamed in surprise before throwing a punch at the intruder's nose, which they caught with a familiarly gloved hand.
”Easy Ms. Thompson it's just me, Detective Wylde.”
She started to calm back down, “H-how did you get in my car?”
”That's unimportant. The important bit is what I have found.”
”Okay? I mean I do think it's unnerving that you snuck into my car.”
”I understand, but this is urgent.”
Gabby sighed before nodding, “Alright. What have you found?”
”The body found in the locked room was one Sherman Killian. A traveling businessman who came to Sterling before settling for a few months, ever since he began to change and become more reserved and secretive. The pale creature in the caves was identified as Lia Eckelson… A 7 year old girl who went missing when she was 5.”
Gabby’s heart sank knowing she had killed a little girl who was corrupted by these monsters.
”All of the information I have collected, it's led me to this conclusion. There's a cult behind this called The Second Death.”
Gabby had heard that name before, but couldn't remember where.
”Two years ago they attempted to perform a ritual on Halloween, to begin what's known as The Profane Sabbath. However its ritual was stopped by some unknown heroes, leaving the head of the cult Gary Miller missing and the cult in shambles.”
Gabby's memory went back to that day, October 31st 1987…
She remembered seeing Jonah with that ungodly hole in his face that seemed like a gateway to the inferno.
”Ms. Thompson? Ms. Thompson!”
”Huh what? Oh, s-sorry. I was just remembering Jonah on that day.”
”I see, but regardless. The newest leader is quite more brutal than the last one, I do happen to have their name though.”
”Really? Who is it?”
Zach cleared his throat before saying…
”Lucille Ferguson.”
”Lucille? How much is known about her?”
”That’s the problem. Not much of her is known, other than that when Gary vanished there was a power vacuum.”
”And she filled that position.” Gabby added.
”Exactly, what is known is that she was a middle ranking official in the cult until recently. In the year that Gary has been gone the cult has been redoubling their efforts to spread their influence.” Zach explained.
”That's not a good sign; any idea of locations they hold?” Gabby asked.
”I have one so far. Silver Aces, it's the hotel near the Graham Theater.”
”Oh I remember that theater, I played as Dorothy in our 4th grade production of The Wizard of Oz.” Gabby reminisced about her love of the theater as a kid.
”Ms. Thompson, can we focus on the matter at hand?” Zach barked sternly to snap his client out of her daydreaming.
”O-oh right, I’m terribly sorry. So what is the plan Zach?”
”I have to take care of some business tomorrow, what I want you to do is go there and snoop around for clues. I hear some “honored guests” stay much longer than others.”
”So cult members.”
”Exactly, you're catching on quickly.” Zach acknowledged.
”Thank you, I mean I learned from the best.” Gabby said turning to put on her seatbelt, when she turned back Zach had disappeared; leaving only a slip of paper.
Upon which was a code and a brief message
627195
Keep this nearby so you don't forget
Sighing she turned on the gas and began to drive back home, taking another puff of her inhaler on the way.
She drove back home to turn in for the night, approaching her front door she found a letter.
Gabby picked it up then entered her home, locking the door behind her.
The letter had no return address, so it must have been dropped off by the writer.
She took a letter opener and with a flick of the wrist cut it open.
Unfurling the letter she saw it was elegantly written; a fine usage of cursive made it difficult to read to the layman. However Gabby could understand it as it said the following,
To the pesky preacher, I humbly request you cease your meddling. Your disruption of our sacred grounds and the murder of our guests has been bad enough, but harming our dear friend Jonah?
That simply won't do. Now if you would write a formal apology, and offer to join us in doing some community services. We could learn to forgive such transgressions against our family. If not then I suppose we'll have to convince you through harsher means. You wouldn't want anything bad to happen to your friends would you?
Please leave your response beneath the small fake rock. The one that holds your spare house key in the front yard.
We hope to hear from you soon.
Your dear friend, Lucy~♡
P.S. some friends of mine noticed your front lawn has a fire ant problem, might I recommend Theodore's Insect Control? There's a small business card attached below.
The contents of that letter sent a cold chill down Gabby's spine, her fingers let loose of the thinly veiled threat as she stumbled back from the front door.
Everything began to spin as she could no longer feel safe in her own home. "Did they bug the phone? Did they set up secret cameras? Are they watching her right now?" She thought to herself before getting to action.
Gabby tore up her house looking for cameras and wiretaps on her landline, only to come up short.
At the very least she wasn't being spied on in her own home, that she knew of.
She retired to her room and began to dial up Zach's office.
”Zach Wylde’s office, how may I help you?” The sour yet familiar voice of Francine came over the line.
”Francine i-it’s me Gabby, is Zach at his office? I need to speak with him personally.”
”Well he left five minutes ago; if you’d like I could leave him a message.”
Gabby sighed before relenting, “Okay… Tell him that The Second Death knows about me and that they probably know about him as well. They’ve sent me a letter to scare me into joining them.”
The scratchings of a ballpoint pen on paper could be heard on the other end, “Mhm mhm. I’ll get that sent to him ASAP, just take care and make sure to sleep with one eye open.”
”Okay, thanks Francine. You're a lifesaver.”
”I know honey I know.” Francine said before hanging up.
Gabby sighed and hung up on her end, placing the receiver down and walked to her bedroom window.
She shut the blinds and began to lock all the windows and doors in her house. It was at least mid-day so Gabby figured she'd watch some TV.
While putting on some old sitcom she began to feel sleepy, perhaps a little nap wouldn't hurt.
With a yawn she slipped deeper into the covers and shut off the TV, drifting deeper into dreamland with every slow breath.
Gabby had found herself within a familiar situation. There she stood with Zach’s pistol in hand, pointed at her former student. Her eyes closed when she pulled the trigger.
CRACK! The sound echoed throughout the forest. Gabby saw the limp body of the child upon the forest floor. Jonah was dead…
She dropped to her knees; grabbing the corpse and holding it close. Her face overflowed with tears as she sobbed over the death of Jonah.
”I’m so sorry Jonah.” Her voice cracked in despair, she wondered why her God would allow such an innocent young boy to be hurt and put down like this?
For a while she held close to Jonah’s cold body. Crying and embracing him, until something sharp pierced her chest.
She looked down to see Jonah’s body had shoved a butcher's knife in her, and she was bleeding heavily.
”KILLLLERRrrrr…” the body of Jonah growled from its bloody face before going limp once more.
Gabby lay next to him, accepting the knife in her as punishment for such a heinous way to free Jonah’s spirit. Soon the light left her eyes and the two laid there to rest with one another.
Gabby's vision was then turned to a blinding white light as she stood on some sort of marble dais.
She felt eyes, countless and judging eyes stare at her soul. Weighing every sin and good deed she has ever committed in this life.
The eyes spoke with one another in a language Gabby could not comprehend, before a single, booming voice rang out.
”SILENCE”
demanded the voice in English, all others became silent when Gabby's eyes could adjust to see she was surrounded by heavenly bodies who sat atop in a large circular procession of thrones.
The biggest of which sat a figure who was covered in eyes and mouths, behind him were 36 wings that looked to be made of the purest silver.
”YOU, STATE YOUR NAME MORTAL.”
”G-gabrielle Thompson.”
”HMM, GABRIELLE THOMPSON… YOU STAND BEFORE US TO BE JUDGED FOR YOUR SINS AND FAITHFUL DEEDS. PHANUEL! BRING THE SCALE!”
A humanoid angel stood from his throne and produced a large golden scale, which floated towards the angel in the largest throne.
"TELL ME, ‘GABRIELLE’. DO YOU KNOW OF ME?"
”Y-you’re M-metatron, r-right?” Gabby stammered before the court.
”CORRECT. I AM METATRON, OUR PROCESSION HAS WEIGHED YOUR ACTIONS AND HAVE DECIDED YOUR FATE.”
With a wave of a wing the scale began to balance, Gabby remembered how this worked.
If the left scale fell she’d be sent to Hell, but the right one fell she'd go to Heaven.
Or was it decided by who was viewing the scale? Was it Metatron's right that meant Hell?
A grand bell rang out as the scale tipped to Metatron's left(Gabby’s right).
”THE SCALE HAS CHOSEN. YOU, GABRIELLE THOMPSON. SHALL SPEND YOUR DAYS…"
Gabby gulped nervously at the upcoming judgment.
”IN HELL!”
Metatron boomed as in a flash the dais underneath Gabby gave way, she fell down into the pits of the underworld.
She tried to scream for forgiveness, for mercy, but all that came back was the rapidly intensifying heat entering her body.
Her skin burned and her soul scorched as she plummeted to her eternal damnation…
End of Chapter Three
Chapter 4 Road To Redemption
Another day, another nightmare.
Gabby woke up once again; tired and scared from recent events.
She got dressed and took the code from Zach, before stuffing it in her dress pocket.
She took a blank sheet of paper and began to write a response to The Cult of The Second Death.
_________
Dear Lucille Ferguson,
Your letter was very compelling to say the least. I gave your proposition some consideration, and have come to this answer.
There is nothing your cult could offer that I don't already get and more from the Lord. Please preach for your misbegotten master elsewhere and return Jonah to his old self.
Sincerely, Gabrielle Thompson
P.S. I have no intention of getting rid of those fire ants, but thank you for your concern.
Having finished her response she folded it up and placed it within an envelope. She would put it under the rock for those monsters who corrupted Jonah.
Grabbing the last of her things she stepped out of the house, locked the door, and lifted up the fake rock.
She took the spare key and replaced it with the letter before setting the rock back down.
Approaching her car she pressed the unlock button on the remote on her keychain, only to watch the car erupt into a ball of fire & shrapnel!
She hit the deck and managed to dodge the debris of the car bomb. When Gabby got up she saw the burning remains of her car, and she just paid it off last week.
So Gabby had to take a bus ride to the hotel, not a fun experience but it's not like she had any other choice.
The bus pulled up near the hotel, and Gabby stepped off. Not before thanking the bus driver of course.
There it was, the Silver Aces hotel. With a heavy breath Gabby walked inside, only to find no one in the front lobby.
”Hello?” she called out, before realizing it’d be better to keep her presence here a secret. So she slinked around and searched behind the front desk for clues.
She found a small key with a tag that said, “Cellar Key”. The very idea of a cellar sent a shiver up her spine, not only because of previous events, but she knew they were ideal lodgings for spiders.
And Gabby hated spiders with a passion. Nevertheless she left the desk, and found herself face to face with a bellhop
The man she ran into was tall, pale and gaunt, his eyes stared ahead of himself, never moving an inch.
Additionally his hair was thinning underneath his small red hat with a matching suit.
”Pardon me madam. I had urgent matters to attend to.” He spoke with a raspy and monotone voice, “Do you require assistance with booking in?”
”U-um, no thank you sir. I-i’m just here to visit a friend.”
The man didn't even seem to find that response odd, “You must be Miss Thompson. The room you are looking for is room 18 on the second floor.” He spoke before turning to point to where the elevators were.
”Oh, thank you… mister?”
”Franklin.”
”Thank you mister Franklin.” Gabby then gave the bellhop a 5 dollar bill for his troubles, yet he didn't seem to notice her place it in his shirt pocket as she left.
As Gabby rounded the corner she came across the hotel's elevator.
She wondered how she'd be able to accomplish her goals when she felt an icy cold hand on her shoulder.
Squealing like a banshee she whipped around to see the old bellhop from before looming over her.
”Excuse my intrusion Ms. Thompson,” drones the man, “But we had to notify you that the third floor is unavailable for guests such as yourself. It is currently under renovations and will be done by the end of the week. We thank you for your understanding.”
”O-oh, okay. Thank you Mister Franklin.”
Without seeming to acknowledge her, the tall man walked away after delivering his message.
Shuddering Gabby pressed the button pointing up, and entered as the doors to the elevator opened.
Upon entering she curiously pressed the button for the third floor, only for nothing to happen.
Gabby shrugged and pressed the button for the second floor instead.
Within a few seconds, Gabby stepped out onto the second floor and found a sign pointing to rooms 11-20.
Soon enough she found the door she was told to head to, and slowly opened the door.
Inside was a simple hotel room, everything seemed to be in order… Except for a briefcase that sat on the bed.
Gabby approached the briefcase and clicked it open…
Inside, Gabby found photos of Francis, of Zach, of Jonah, and of herself…
The cult had been tracking her, and must have left this as another warning.
Her hand wandered through the suitcase interior absentmindedly; only to find something odd.
It was a handheld black light.
She flicked it on and held it over the photo of Jonah, revealing a message.
OUR MASTER'S VESSEL
Looking over Zach’s photo had this message.
FOUL HERETIC
The photo of Francis had a message as well.
A FATTENING SACRIFICE
Then lastly, her photo…
FUTURE VESSEL
With that the lights seemed to go out all across the building, leaving Gabby shrouded in darkness with only a blacklight…
Stumbling back outside and looking through her bag, she had left her flashlight in her car.
It was then when she heard what sounded like ragged breathing behind her, so she turned to see the source.
It was Franklin, but he was close. Too close.
”The hotel… Is closed… Please leave… Immediately…”
Gabby ran for the stairs leading to the first floor, the lumbering footsteps of Franklin thudded behind her as he chased after her.
Speeding down the stairs she made it to the lobby to find the exit had vanished, almost as if it never existed.
With her crucifix raised she attempted to banish whatever illusion was keeping the door unseen, but no change was made.
Scrambling around the lobby, as the footsteps of the groaning bellhop came closer and closer, she found a door that led to the cellar.
She used the key she had found and flung the door open. Despite her better judgment she ran down the cellar stairs, slamming the door shut behind her and locking it before her descent.
Gabby ran and ran, hearing the monstrous groans from the bellhop behind her, now stymied by a door it oddly didn't seem to try and smash through.
The darkness illuminated by her blacklight, Gabby had found herself in the silence of a musty and decrepit cellar that stood in contradiction to such an opulent hotel.
Her wandering caused her to squint into the darkness, finding the form of what seemed to be a man standing before a stone table and facing away from her.
”Lucy, are you there? I’ve waited so long, I finally did it Lucy. I feel ‘his’ power in me, he’s come to help us. He taught me how to make that creature in the lobby afterall.”
”Who are you?” Gabby stammered out, her blacklight focused on the lower half of the man before her.
”You… You're not her, what have you done with Lucille!?”
The man turned, and Gabby could see he had torn out his own eyes.
”My God! Wha…Why did you do that to yourself?”
”I had no use for them. They were vestigial, not when ‘he’ allows me to see all.”
Gabby stood there, her breathing rapidly intensified and her fear heightened. Whoever this man was, he was bewitched by Lucille.
”Who's this ‘he’ you keep referring to?”
The man chuckled, then laughed, then cackled, his voice growing dry in the middle of his maniacal display of madness.
"Why don't you ask ‘him’ yourself!!!”
With that the man grabbed a knife from the alter behind him and began to cut deep into his own neck.
From the gastly wound a large and frightening creature would breach through the gap created by this sacrificial act.
Bat-like wings covered in goats eyes unfurled and showered flecks of the cultists blood around the room, a serpentine lower body of sickly green scales slipped through the now nearly severed off neck of its summoner.
And its head, a towering pillar of featureless gray skin, save for one large mouth that sat vertically upon its face. One that grinned with shark-like teeth at the sight of Gabby.
”We meet again, little vessel. Perhaps this time I can finally dine upon your succulent flesh~”
”Y-you…” Gabby stammered out, she had been reading up on demons in what spare time she could. Now she knew what this beast was…
Forneus
Forneus began to slither towards the frightened form of Gabby, who was quickly becoming overwhelmed by the size and magnitude of the danger she was in.
In an attempt to escape she ran for the entrance she came through, only to find it blocked by large outstretched and bloodied hands that melded through one another to form a chain link fence of foul obstruction.
”Nowhere to run, little vessel. Why not make this easier for yourself and give thy form to me? I promise your flesh will sate my hunger graciously~”
As Gabby continued to scramble for a way out, she noticed that the body of the cultist was still attached to this grand demon. In a Hail Mary she pointed her cross at the vestigial yet intertwined cultists flesh, causing terrible pain to Forneus.
”You’re quite the smart and speedy little vessel~ Perhaps you should cool down a little!”
He roared as the air in the room began to grow cold, hailstones rapidly formed in the haze that hung from the ceiling.
Then with malicious intent began to fling themselves at Gabby, animated by vile energy they dove towards her.
She ducked and dodged to the best of her abilities, when a chunk about the size of a golf ball struck her leg.
Gabby yelled out in pain, but she kept going. She chased after the tail of Forneus, bathing it in the light of the Lord.
Very quickly Forneus was becoming more aggressive and spiteful.
”Cursed vessel! I’ll gnaw on your bones and drink your blood for this insolence!”
With a flap of his large wings, a large icicle formed from the cold air and fired itself at Gabby.
Had Gabby been a bit slower, she would’ve been pierced through the head by a javelin of ice.
But very quickly she noticed the form of Forneus begin to melt, flesh and skin sloughing off blackened bones that then turned to dust while the room’s temperature returned to normal.
The grand demon screamed and hissed before melting into a pool of blood that quickly dried up in the warmer climate of the cellar.
Gabby sighed in relief, Forneus would think twice about messing with her again she hoped.
She began to exit the cellar, only to hear the bubbling sound of blood behind her. Gabby turned and was met with the sight of the cultist’s reanimated body, blood gurgling out of his slit throat and charging at her with a knife.
Gabby raised her cross and the body crumbled to the ground like a puppet with no strings.
When Gabby turned to exit, she found a letter.
Dear Gabrielle Thompson,
You have my utmost thanks, not only have you gotten rid of a massive headache towards my plans. You have also removed a worthless failure of an acolyte. I have a gift for you when you get home, as a reward for your diligence.
As for your response, your response was quite hurtful. Why do you not accept that our “misbegotten master” is more present in our lives than your “God”? He has taken great care of Jonah, and Jonah loves our master with all his heart. We’d love to see you join us and feel as happy as he does.
Your dear friend, Lucy~♡
In a fit of anger Gabby tore up that letter, the blatant disrespect and taunting she was receiving was too much for her to bear at that moment.
With her thoughts clouded by her emotions she exited the cellar, only to be blindsided by the hulking Franklin who had lifted her up by the throat.
”You… You kill master… You must pay… With your life…”
Gabby struggled and tried to pry the hands of this monster from her throat, she held up the cross to the bellhop and watched recoil with fear as it yelled out in pain.
”Fire! Fire hurt!” he cried out before blindly charging at Gabby, missing and slamming into a wall that caused his head to fly off. Despite being detached, his head was still moving.
”Evil lady! You kill master! I! Kill… Y-you…” Franklin groaned, before slowly beginning to lose energy and die off.
His body slumped against the wall, and the deceased flesh he was made of began to decompose. Gabby walked up to the body and took back the tip she had given him.
Her attention then went to the fact that the power was back on, and the elevator was operational. She walked in, feeling as if she wasn't finished quite yet.
At the keypad of the floors, she remembered Zach’s note.
627195
After inputting the code into the elevator, she felt the elevator rise.
1st Floor
…
2nd Floor
…
3rd Floor
She finally made it, the elusive third floor that was off-limits. She exited the elevator to find instead of a hotel floor, it was an empty hallway with one set of double doors in front of her.
She could hear the sounds of what seemed to be carving, she creaked open the door and poked her eye through the crack to look inside.
Bones, all over the large room. There were big ones, small ones, some carved into figurines or put together in effigy to a nameless deity. The most unpleasant sight was the rows upon rows of daggers and knives with handles carved from bones, some of which were definitely of human origin…
There, in front of a large workbench, sat a hunched over figure, carving away and humming a tune with an aged voice.
Gabby took a slow, deep breath before she silently entered the room. A slight creak of the floorboards was all it took for the figure to perk up and sniff the air.
"Oh dearie me, it appears someone has made it to my workshop. Could that be dear Lucy? ...No. You don't smell like her, and neither that stupid boy or that fetid waste of good material downstairs. Tell me dearie, who might you be? Coming into my place uninvited."
With a nervous gulp, Gabby spoke. "G-gabby. And you are?"
"Gary? Oh goodness me Gary I had thought you dead. What brings you here dearie? Come for some more ritual knives?"
Gabby cleared her throat, "Y-ye uh yes. Yes I have."
The huddled figure turned around to see Gabby, at least she could if her eyes were not sewn shut. The lady was old and wrinkly, her hands were emaciated and wiry yet held the carving tools like they were extensions of her body. She wore a large dark red wool jacket to fight off the cold, and a babushka around her head.
"Hang on... You don't smell of Gary..."
The jig was up, the old lady rose from her stool and began to raise her thin hands.
From the piles of bones and tools came jumbled constructs, femurs and clavicles joining together in a mishmash of vaguely humanoid shapes.
”Kill the intruder, but leave the skeleton be. It will make for fine material.”
The shambling skeletons shuffled towards Gabby, chisels and knives at the ready to carve the flesh off her body.
She raised her cross and moved about to avoid their wild swipes & mindless thrusts to her person.
One by one the skeletons fell to inanimacy once more,
Gabby’s brief sense of victory was cut short by the swing of a large wood saw that managed to take a few hairs with its reckless lunge.
The large mass of offal lumbered towards Gabby, animated by the old lady’s inhuman magics.
Gabby fought with the beastial bones, ducking underneath it and running around to keep it from hitting her as her cross broke the hellish binds that brought this hulking brute to life.
”You are so spry and young, I must admit dearie. Lucy would love to see you join our cause.”
”I’m not interested…” there was a question Gabby did wish to ask, “Who exactly is Lucy?”
The eyes of the old lady opened to reveal empty voids where her eyes should be, and she revealed a wide smile of pale yellow teeth
”Lucy is the most beautiful human being to exist, our pitiful sight upon her visage would offend her greatly.”
That's when her skin began to peel off, like strips of wallpaper falling away to reveal a corpuscle hidden away behind the asbestos and copper wires.
Only instead of those, the truth behind this old lady was revealed. She herself was a skeleton, a large and terrifying beast of bone that dwarfed Gabby in size.
”If I must pull the material from your flesh myself,” chattered the formerly old lady turned skeletal abomination, “So be it!”
If all that Gabby had faced before didn't accentuate how deep she was in this mess. The sight of such a terrible titan of bone and gristle, born of desecrated corpses and foul magics was the final nail in the coffin.
The towering monster slammed down a fist that shattered the wooden floor, bringing both it and her down. Floor after floor gave way under the skeleton’s weight until they both reached the basement.
Gabby lay there in the rubble, the wind out of her sails, covered in scratches, splinters, and rubble, and at the mercy of the weakened but still animated skeleton that crawled towards Gabby.
”Your God is weak intruder! Gary will prepare this world for The Antichrist, but you will not be alive to witness it!”
The skeleton raises both of its massive hands, preparing to crush Gabby. Gabby prepared for the worst, bracing herself for the impact when she heard a loud sickening crunch, followed by a soul-rattling scream of otherworldly yet agonizing pain.
Gabby opened her eyes to see the large skeleton’s left arm had been snapped in two at the humerus, and standing before the great undead being was a familiar figure.
”Be not afraid mija, but you.” The figure points to the large skeleton.
”You should be, The Holy Fist of The Michelle Family still lives!”
”Impossible… We killed your family… We made sure of it! How do you still live!?”
”Like I’d tell you, even if I kill you afterwards you’ll return to your dark master with the information. So I’ll leave you with this.”
With a divinely infused punch she shattered the skeletal monster's right hand, scattering the bones across the rubble and debris.
”Tu et sordes defecerunt officio tuo.”
With a blinding rush Michelle delivered a fatal blow to the skull before landing on the floor as the skeletal abomination turned to dust.
Gabby sat in awe as Michelle dusted herself off and turned to look back at her.
”Are you well mi hija?”
Gabby got up, injured but alive, “I am okay. Thank you Mother Michelle.”
"No problem, besides... It is far too soon for celebration. Your domicile, it's..."
Gabby's eyes widened in realization, rivers of tears streamed from her eyes.
"It's best if you stay with me for the time being. Please, for your safety."
Michelle came close to Gabby, and hugged her close.
"I'm so sorry mi hija..."