The Devil Inside

by Heather Atkinson

  “I don’t blame him. He’s probably never seen ginger pubes before.”

  Ross realised Cass was standing there, blushed and cupped his genitals with both hands. “Sorry.”

  “Freya,” cried Cass as a female scream pierced the air.

  “Elliott,” yelled Christian.

  Brodie turned to watch as Christian ran out of his own room and into Elliott’s. He looked back at Cass, who’d run into Freya’s room and wondered which way he should go. When there was the sound of more shouting from downstairs, he was decided.

  “Come on,” he told Ross as he pelted for the stairs.

  “But I’m naked.”

  “Good. It’ll gie’ us the advantage.”

  Freya stood before a sobbing Petie, who was cowering under the bed, facing off against two disciples - one male and one female.

  Cass ran into the room in time to see her knock the woman out with a single punch. When the man lunged for her she snatched up a vase off the windowsill and smashed it into his face. As the shards pierced his skin he dropped to his knees, screaming, pieces of porcelain sticking out of his face.

  “Are you both okay?” Cass asked her.

  “We’re fine,” replied Freya, ducking under the bed and holding out a hand to Petie. “Come on sweetie.”

  Petie took her hand and she hauled him out from under the bed and gathered him into her arms. “Thank God,” she breathed, kissing his hair and rocking him. She got to her feet and ran out of the room past Cass, who snatched the key out of the inside of the bedroom door, closed it and locked in the two bats.

  “Chris, Elliott,” called Cass, running down the hallway.

  She flung open the door to Elliott’s room to find the room in disarray, two disciples out cold on the floor. Elliott sat on the bed while Christian pressed a towel to his upper left arm, the towel stained with blood.

  “Are you okay?” she asked them.

  “Nothing serious,” replied Elliott. “They just nicked me with a knife.”

  “Mason,” she breathed running to his room. The door was standing ajar and the room was empty. “Shit,” she exclaimed.

  The sound of crashing and banging from downstairs made her blood run cold.

  “Elliott stay up here,” she called. “Chris with me.”

  Together she and Christian raced downstairs, leaping back when Brodie and a still-naked Ross tumbled by them, fighting a gigantic leviathan of a man who was over six and a half feet tall.

  “Why is Ross naked?” said Christian.

  “Help them,” Cass told him. “I need to look for Mason and The Weasel.”

  While Christian leapt into the fray with a war cry, Cass ran into the lounge to find some of the furniture had been knocked over but no one was there.

  “Mason?” she called, trying the dining room next, forcing herself to focus on finding their charges and not think about Brodie and her friends fighting that monster. Brodie would want her to look for Mason and The Weasel. They were in their care, so they were the priority.

  An arm came down at her from behind the open door holding a heavy silver candlestick. She grabbed the arm, twisted and dragged her attacker to the floor.

  “Weasel?” she panted. “What are you doing?”

  “My name’s Barry for God’s sake,” he cried. “And you’re hurting my arm.”

  “Sorry,” she said, releasing him.

  “Me too. I didn’t realise it was you. I thought it was a pal of that fucking monster in there. He tried to drag me out the back door.”

  “Have you seen Mason?”

  He shook his head. “Nah.”

  “Oh hell. Stay in here and keep out of sight, okay?”

  He nodded and ducked back down behind the door.

  Cass checked the rest of the ground floor but there was no sign of Mason, so she returned to the kitchen to find the fight still going strong. It amazed her that Brodie, Christian and Ross combined had been unable to fell the giant. Christian had one arm hooked around his neck, pulling him backwards while Ross had his arms wrapped around his legs and Brodie pummelled his stomach but still he refused to fall.

  Cass snatched up a marble rolling pin off the work top that was on display on a little wooden stand, wielded it like a baseball bat and swung it hard into the giant’s genitals.

  The giant went rigid, eyes popping out of his head. A small squeak issued from the back of his throat and he sank to his knees before toppling backwards.

  “Get him on his front,” Brodie told the others.

  The four of them rolled the giant onto his stomach and pinned his arms behind his back. Brodie and Christian knelt either side of him, resting their knees on his upper back so he couldn’t sit up.

  “Get off me,” roared the giant, thrashing from side to side. “Don’t touch me with your dirty, evil hands you minions of Satan.”

  “No’ minions of Satan again?” said Brodie. “You lot need a thesaurus in your compound. Now why the fuck are you here?”

  “I know why,” said Cass. “Mason’s gone.”

  “You dirty shite bags,” yelled Brodie. “This was all a distraction so you could take him, wasn’t it?”

  “Don’t talk to me with your filthy, profane mouth,” retorted the giant.

  “If you don’t start giving me answers I’ll stop using words and use the power of persuasion of a blow torch and a car battery.”

  “Your threats don’t scare me. I have elevated myself above fear with the help of our saviour, Malachi.”

  The worship in his voice made Brodie feel sick. “He’s a fucking dick and so are you for believing he wants to help anyone. Your lot attacked a wee wean.”

  “This nest of foulness needed clearing out. The child is tainted with evil thanks to your presence.”

  Cass noticed Freya standing in the doorway, staring at the giant in horror, her skin even paler than usual. Her gaze connected with Cass’s before she rushed out of the room, head bowed. Cass made a mental note to question her later about that.

  “Where’s Mason?” bellowed Brodie.

  The giant ignored the question and began to sing a hymn, spiking Brodie’s temper.

  “Right, that’s it,” he said, getting to his feet. “You three, make sure you keep him down.”

  Brodie felt the rage overtaking him again but this time he was enjoying it. He hated the cowardice of Malachi’s disciples, how they only attacked in groups and targeted children and women. Now they’d taken Mason. He might be a wanker but he was under his protection and he owed it to him to get him back. He yanked open a kitchen drawer, eyes eagerly roaming over the assorted items within, all mundane but capable of causing a lot of pain in the right hands.

  He returned to the giant’s side brandishing a whisk.

  The giant tilted his head to one side to look up at him and burst out laughing. “What are you going to do with that? It seems evil goes hand in hand with stupid.”

  His deep laughter filled the room. It was a pleasant sound that could have been infectious had it not been filled with so much zeal.

  “You’ve no idea of the damage I can do with one of these,” said Brodie, eyes bright amber. “Pull his trousers down. No’ you hen,” he told Cass. “Let the boys do it.”

  “Fine by me,” she replied, smiling at Christian and Ross’s pouts.

  The giant resumed his defiant hymn-singing as he suffered the indignity of having his trousers yanked down to reveal his large wobbly pink bottom, making them all wince. His singing reached fever pitch, voice trembling when Brodie kicked his legs apart.

  “You can’t hurt me,” he cried. “I am in the hands of God, he watches over me.”

  “I’ll give you one last chance,” said Brodie. “Where’s Mason?”

  “The Lord is my shepherd, I’ll not want…”

  “Tell me or I’ll whisk you from the inside out.”

  “…He makes me lie in green pastures.”

  “Your pastures are gonnae be bright red if you don’t tell me.”
r />   “…He leads me by the still, still waters.”

  “Right,” snarled Brodie. “That’s it.”

  When the giant felt cold steel touch his ring, his body jumped. “No, I’ll tell you. I’ll tell you.”

  Brodie didn’t push the whisk any further but he did keep it where he was. “Well, we’re waiting.”

  “The attack on this place was just a distraction so he could escape.”

  “Escape?”

  They all looked at each other as realisation dawned.

  “Mason’s part of the church,” breathed Cass. “He always has been. All that chaos outside his house was a set-up so we’d take him in.”

  “Is that right?” Brodie asked the giant.

  “I’m not telling you anything else…argh, yes it is,” he cried when Brodie pushed a little harder. “He pretended he was against the church so any enemy of Malachi’s would go to him with what they knew. He was undercover, really deep cover. Mason is one of Malachi’s closest, most prized disciples.”

  “You sound a wee bit jealous there pal.”

  “I am not,” he retorted. “Jealousy is for those who haven’t been enlightened, who prefer to bask in the lower, inferior things in this world, who…”

  “Oh shut up,” Brodie told him, making him go silent. “Mason, the fucking rat, has been spying on us all this time. It’s how Malachi always knew what we were up to. All that shite about Samantha’s best friend and the neighbour was just a distraction so we’d keep him around and he could find out everything we knew and report back to Malachi. He was too late to warn him about our hacker though because he was poncing about in the shower, thank God.” Brodie looked to Cass. “You remember when we visited him at his office the receptionist said he was expecting a phone call from the local MSP and he yelled at her.”

  “We thought it was because we were there about Higher Light and it had made him tense, when in reality that call was from Frederick Dyke and he didn’t want her giving the game away.”

  “Exactly. He was the one who published Susan Silver’s story as bait, so Elaine would contact her, leading the church straight to her. He knew exactly who Susan was because he was in on the plot with her.”

  “I can’t fucking believe it,” murmured Christian. “He was so convincing.”

  “Malachi teaches techniques that can fool the most astute people,” said the giant proudly.

  “Stop talking about him like he’s a fucking god. He’s just a controlling, narcissistic prick,” yelled Brodie, preparing to shove the whisk right up his hole.

  “Wait a minute,” said Christian. “Why did Mason need a distraction? He could have just snuck out while we were sleeping.”

  “We were to take Steven back to the compound too,” said the giant. “It’s your fault he left the church, you infected him with your devils, he needs advanced adjustment therapy.”

  “Oh aye,” said Brodie. “Like a shot of electricity through his brain, you sick bastard.”

  “Brodie,” said Cass. “This means Malachi knows about the evidence Pete and Donaldson have.”

  “Oh Christ,” he said, dropping the whisk, leaping up and pulling his phone out of his pocket. The giant’s entire body relaxed with relief.

  “Pete,” Brodie gabbled into the phone. “I don’t care who you’re talking to. Shut the fuck up and listen. Mason’s been working as a spy for Malachi. A group of bats attacked us here at the house to kidnap Steven but they didn’t get him. Malachi knows you have evidence against him. You’re in danger.”

  Freya raced into the kitchen with Petie. “The other bats have woken up, they’re coming downstairs. The two locked in my room broke the door down.”

  They all looked to the doorway to see the battered and bruised disciples running for the front door. They didn’t bother anyone, their job here was done.

  “Let him go too,” said Brodie, gesturing to the giant.

  “You sure Boss?” said Ross.

  “Aye. We need to find Pete and Donaldson. Now.”

  They released the giant, who hauled himself to his feet, wincing. He stumbled to the door, dragging up his trousers.

  “You’re all going to fall,” he told them as he made his exit. “Malachi is rooting out all the evil in this city, he is going to cleanse it, make it glorious and filled with light.”

  “Get out,” said Cass, advancing on him with the rolling pin.

  He blanched at the sight of it and left as fast as his bruised genitals would allow.

  “Ross,” said Brodie. “You and Elliott take everyone to a hotel ASAP. Book them all into the same suite. Leave all our stuff behind for now, just get them away from here. Take them to The Kimpton, they’ve got good security. When that’s done call me and we’ll meet up. And for God’s sake put on some clothes. Cass, Christian, let’s go.”

  After pulling on their shoes and jackets, which had been abandoned in the hallway, the three of them ran out of the house and piled into Brodie’s car.

  “Are Pete and Craig at the station?” Cass asked Brodie as they set off, wheels spinning, an old man walking his dog yelling at them to slow down.

  “No,” he replied. “They’re at Black’s house. They’re not sure who they can trust at the station, so they decided to tackle him at home. Apparently he’s not very happy about it.”

  Ringing filled the car so loud it made them all wince.

  “Bloody hell Boss,” exclaimed Christian. “How loud have you got that set? Are you going deaf already?”

  “Sorry,” he said, turning it down before answering.

  “Brodie,” said Pete’s voice.

  “Alright pal, what’s happening?”

  “I’m in the car with Donaldson and Black. We were attacked by bats.”

  “Bats attacked a DCI’s house?”

  “Aye and he’s raging about it.”

  “Brodie bloody MacBride,” they heard Black shout through the Bluetooth. “Wherever you are, chaos follows.”

  “Hey, this isnae my fault. It’s the batty bats. Have you still got the evidence?”

  “Yes we’ve got it,” replied Black. “But we’re being followed and I’ve been told I can’t call in any back-up because Malachi has spies in the police and I can’t trust anyone.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Heading into the city centre,” said Pete. “We’ve not got a destination in mind yet. Black’s making a few calls.”

  “We need to meet up. Go to the café across the road from our office.”

  “Which office?”

  “The original one. I’ve got friends around there who can keep an eye out.”

  “I hope these friends of yours won’t cause even more trouble?” said Black.

  “They won’t,” replied Brodie. “I think.”

  “Brodie, that doesn’t fill me with…”

  Brodie cut off the call. “Looks like we’ll never know what he’s filled with.”

  “The church is getting really brazen,” said Cass. “Now they think they can target police officers.”

  “It’s no’ being brazen hen, it’s fear. They know about the info The Weasel hacked from their computers. That’s damning evidence and it could sink them.”

  “You remember what Gardner said? Malachi’s only going to get more aggressive.”

  “His compound’s been breached first by you and now by a hacker. His secrets are starting to tumble out. He’ll be feeling like he’s losing control and he’ll do anything to stop that from happening.”

  “This is going to get worse before it gets better, isn’t it?” said Christian from the back seat.

  “Aye,” replied Brodie. “I’m afraid it is.”

  “I take it you don’t need my actress friend to help anymore?”

  “No son. The time for fannying about with tracking devices has gone. Things are really going to hot up now.”

  Brodie parked his car right outside his office block. “It’s good to be back,” he said. “I’ve missed the place.”

  �
��I think Pete and the others are already here,” said Cass.

  They looked across the road to the café, which was surrounded by a group of twenty disciples, all of them peering in through the windows.

  “We’d better get in there,” said Christian.

  The three of them rushed across the road.

  “Get out of the way you lot,” shouted Brodie, shoving a path through the bats.

  “Satan is in our midst,” exclaimed one of them, pointing at him.

  “So I’m the big man himself now am I and no’ just a minion?” Brodie winked at Cass. “You hear that hen? I’ve been promoted.”

  “Lovely,” she smiled. “Let’s celebrate.”

  “Aye, with a brew and a cake. So shift you lot before you get my pitchfork up your arses.”

  As these weren’t combative bats they stepped aside, although they muttered insults and hissed at them as they passed by.

  Pete, Donaldson and Black were sitting at a table by the counter, all looking pretty miserable.

  “Freya just called,” said Pete. “They’ve all got to the hotel safely.”

  “That’s good to hear,” said Brodie. One less thing to worry about.

  “You should be proud of her,” Cass told Donaldson. “She laid out two of the bats. She’s one tough lady.”

  “Aye she is. She’s had to be,” he said a little sadly. “I hate it that she’s been landed in this mess because of me, she’s been through enough.”

  “It looked like she could handle it.”

  “She will, she always does.”

  Cass patted his arm and took the empty seat beside him while Brodie and Christian pulled chairs up to the table.

  “Oy you,” snapped Edith, striding up to Brodie. “Are you going to get rid of that shower out there? They’re putting off customers coming in and they’re blocking out all the light with their black clothes.”

  “Don’t worry doll, they’ll be gone very soon.” He glanced at his watch. “In the next five minutes in fact. Keep an eye on the window, you’ll enjoy the show.”

  She visibly cheered. “Good. It’s been a slow morning. Usual?”

  “Aye, please doll.”

  Edith’s eyes lit up when she saw the ring on his finger. She looked to Cass’s hand, beamed and clapped her hands together. “You’re engaged, finally. So when’s the big day?”