"Then what shall we do?"
"Keep your eyes open. Look for signs. Watch the media."
"And if nothing presents itself?"
"Trust me, something of this magnitude will surely show symptoms of emergence."
Rrrriiinnnggg....... Rrrriiinnnggg......
"St. Philip's, this is Father Hibbert."
"Ed. Ed, it's Carry."
"Carry, hi. How are you doing?"
"Not so good... It's Danny.... Something's... Wrong with him."
"Something wrong? Like what?"
"It's like he's possessed or something. I don't know. He's talking in a strange voice, saying things that don't make any sense. He's... He's hurting himself!"
"O.K., don't worry. I'm going to get there as fast as I can." Click....
"Father, what's the matter?", Darius asked.
"That was my sister, Carry... Danny's... I don't know... I've got to get over there. I'm going to catch a plane tonight."
Chapter 15:
Mumbai, India
Hamdus hesitated in deep thought. His hand dropped. The crumpled parchment fell to the pavement. He rotated, looking back. There, Ris stood innocently watching the colorful explosions in the sky. Ham's expression changed. As the weight of his body seemed to increase, the lightness of childlike glee faded. He retraced his path, again joining his date. Ris looked at Ham, "I thought you were getting drinks?" "Uhm, you know what? I just remembered, some friends of mine are having a big party down on the beach tonight. What do you say we go check it out?" "Really?.. Well, we just can't stay too long. You know how my parents get." "Yeah, that's cool." With that the young couple trotted off toward the swaying waves of the waters edge.
The scene is so much different on the beach, quieter, relaxing. In the distance, the excitement of celebration can still be seen. Hamdus holds Ris' hand as they walk across the sand, still warm from the rays of now hidden sun. Waves rise and fall brushing against their feet. About a quarter of a mile down the shore, a orange flicker can be seen radiating from a cave near the water.
"Ah, there are my friends!"
"Where?", Ris squinting, "I don't see anybody."
"In the cave over there. That's were we have our
parties."
"Really, in a cave?"
"Oh yeah, it's great. Come on.", Ham quickening his steps towards the flickering light.
Upon arrival, the couple had to wade just slightly into the water to get to the entrance of the cave. "Won't the cave be submerged once the tide rises?", Ris questioned. "Oh, don't worry about that. The party will be over by then."
Once inside, there could be seen a small campfire burning. A group of about thirty people sat sporadically about the clearing. The cave was much larger than it appeared from the outside. As they approached the fire, Ham and Ris were illuminated. "Hamdus! You made it.", a young boy announced. Ris noticed the people in attendance were of a variety of ages and social status. There were a few young children she recognized from her neighborhood, to elderly men that looked of those in political positions in the city. "Wow, this is a bigger gathering than what I expected", Ris said to Ham quietly. "Yeah, and you're the guest of honor", Hamdus said, leading her in further. Ham sat next to a man tapping lightly on what looked similar to an Indian's ceremonial drum. He patted the ground next to him as a gesture for Ris to join him. As she did, an elderly man stood up, possibly the oldest man she had ever seen in her life. The skin around his eyes hung so you could see the red flesh cradling the spheres. A beard, that was
about three feet long and consisting of only about two dozen hairs, swayed from his chin. The attire he wore gave him the appearance of someone of great importance, except that it looked to have been made so long ago that it was all but disintegrating at that very moment. He walked slowly around the room, a stagnant odor followed close behind. The man began a speech, it seemed, except it was in a language Ris had never heard before. As the old man continued to speak, his voice would increase in volume, and with it the speed and strength of the drum beat. In time, the drummer was violently pounding so hard Ris had to fight urges to cover her ears. By this time the old geezer was shouting and waving his arms about. He would look downward then make a motion like something rising from below, then scream as he rose his hands above his head. Everyone else in the cavern stood dancing in a sort of celebrative way. Now Ris was noticing the tide had risen to the point of entering the cave. She tried to notify Ham as a bit of time had passed and it would be necessary to head back soon, but she was unable to for the fact that she had lost Ham in the mob of contorting bodies. She began to search, weaving through dancers. Suddenly, Ris found herself face to face with the old man. He stood before her holding a stone goblet. Speaking in a tongue she couldn't understand, the old man held the cup toward her as if she should drink. Ris leaned away in hesitation, but in doing so found
retribution when others around urged otherwise as extremities from beings unknown pushed from behind. The elderly man smiled, forcing the goblet to her lips. Ris tried to fight but couldn't. A foul liquid poured from the intricately carved stone cup. It entered her mouth as a pair of hands appeared wrenching her jaw. Her vision focused on the hands even as the liquid gagged her, for in the flickering firelight, the skin and texture appeared to be amphibious. In seconds after swallowing, as a coolness filled her body and the crowd receded, Ris fell to the ground. Blood dripped from her hands as they scraped against rocks on the cavern floor. She observed the wounds with curiosity as no pain was felt. Ris had been intoxicated by the drink, she knew this, but that was not enough. As her sight faded, Ris looked up one last time to see Hamdus smiling down at her. His hand rubbed against her numb cheek. He spoke words that her ears could hardly retrieve, "The time of resurrection is near." And then.....
Chapter 16:
At sea
Fred lay on the deck unconscious after eating a rancid fish in a fit of rage brought on by malnutrition and being stranded for days in what would seem to be an infinite span of uninterrupted liquid. Trish frantically gathered any available drinking water while Tim and Dave carried the limp body to a small bed in the cabin of the small vessel. Dave looked at Fred laying cockeyed on the mattress, "Man, I'm taking this in case he wakes up and goes nuts again", removing Fred's knife from his pocket. Trish pours a sip of cool liquid into Fred's mouth placing a hand on his forehead. Fred coughed then turned on his side hurling a massive pool of half digested fish on the floor.
"Oh God!", Trish standing up.
"Fuck man, that's nasty!", Tim stating the obvious. "Uh, I'll get something to clean it up.", Dave walking out of the cabin.
"So what do we do?", Tim looking at Trish.
"I'm pretty sure he has fever, so we'll need to make sure he stays hydrated and cool."
"O.K., I guess I'll get some rags."
After retrieving the various items requested by Trish, Dave and Tim sat outside the cabin. Every now and again a series of groans followed by gagging could be heard coming from inside the cabin.
"Damn, I sure hope we find land soon."
"I know man, before too long I bet someone else will go off the chain to."
"Hell, could be me for I know."
"Want me to try to catch some more fish?"
"You can try."
Chapter 17:
Newark, New Jersey
A screech is heard outside.... Slam, a car door shuts..... Clop, clop, clop, clop...... Knock! Knock! Knock!
"Carry! It's me Ed!" The door opens swiftly.
"Ed, thank God you're here. Please come in."
"So, where's Danny?"
"Upstairs, he's been in his closet for days. He refuses to come out."
"O.K." Father Hibbert begins making his way up the stairs. As the doorway of Danny's room comes into view, a faint mumbling can be heard from within.
Father Hibbert peeks in cautiously. The vocals are coming from the closet which has been closed once again. A cool breeze blows in through the window. Carry rubs her
arms with her hands, "Huh, I don't remember that being open." Approaching the sill, Carry notices a bag propped against Danny's desk, "That looks like Phyllis' back pack."
"What do you mean? Has she been here?", Father Hibbert getting ready for an attempt at opening the closet.
"I don't think so. Phyllis, are you in here? Phyllis, if you're in here you need to come out. It's not safe." A rustling is heard coming from the closet. Father Hibbert turned the knob and pushed with minimal effort. The door didn't budge. He could tell that there was force being applied from the other side. "Danny, can I come in?", Father Hibbert trying a subtle approach. "Danny it's uncle Ed. I've come to visit with you. Can I please come in and talk with you?" There was no reply. Father Hibbert stood at the door listening. Rustling could be heard from within once more, this time just a bit louder. Father Hibbert pushed on the door again, harder than before. It felt as if a grown man were resisting him from the other side. Father Hibbert decided it was imperative that he inspect the events going on in the closet. He must see the state of his nephew. Father Hibbert applied his full weight against the barricade. The door swung inward.
"Good Lord!"
"What is it?"
Within, the once loving, playful son of Carry's hovers over the mutilated corpse of Phyllis like a lion guarding a meal. A sliver of flesh hangs from his teeth. A feline hiss escapes the boy's mouth. His hands swipe violently at the intruders.
Chapter 18:
Remote Island
The dark, shapeless entity grows anxious. An event long awaited will soon transcribe. The being can feel fate nearing. It won't be long now.
Chapter 19:
Mumbai, India
Ris awakens to the chill of ice covering the lower half of her body. She opens her eyes to inspect the agitating abnormality. To her dismay, the raising of her lids does not improve visibility, for her place of residence has been enshrouded in darkness, and mobility is impossible as she has been heavily bound. Taking in her surroundings, Ris realizes the painfully cold substance upon her body is not ice but water. Ris attempts movement of her arms, and knows instantly that her works are in vain. Oh yes, she knows all to well now. It's coming back to her as her eyes began to adjust to the dim rays of moonlight. She never left that cave, where that old bastard forced the rancid liquid into her mouth. And Hamdus, that son of a bit.... "What?", Ris' thoughts froze for a moment, stiffer than her icy toes. "What was that?" Ris felt something rub against her skin under the water. It didn't feel like a fish, she's caught many fish, she knows the texture of their scales, the prick of their fins. This was smoother, larger! Suddenly, an extremity of sorts encompasses her leg completely. Ris tries to pull away without success. Her other leg succumbs to an intrusion of equal magnitude. Ris thrashes her body wildly even though she is fully aware that the binding securing her to the inside of the cave has a strength much greater than her own. And as
the tide rises almost to her nose, choking her quick frightened breaths, a massive pair of eyes raise from the water. Ris shivers in fear more than chill, as the pupils of the beast overwhelm her entire skull. The alien face continues it's ascent, revealing a tendril covered mouth similar to that of a crab. Ris lets out a shrill shriek worthy of any classic horror film. Then, in a moment of slaughter, the water is still and the ceremony complete.
Chapter 20:
At sea
"Trish, so how's it going with Fred?"
"I think he'll be fine. His fever broke, and he hasn't vomited in a while."
"Well, I'm glad he's doing better. I just hope we find land or something soon. The way things are going, I don't think any of us are going to last much longer."
"Has Dave had any luck?"
"Nothing. I don't understand. It's like there's no fish at all around here. You remember when we first left out?
We would see fish come up to the surface every now and again, and seagulls overhead. I mean look around. There's not one bird in the sky as far as the eye can see."
"Well, maybe we're just to far out from land or something."
"I don't know. It just seems like there'd be something, a splash in the water, anything."
"Hey guys! Guys! I think I see land! Over there look!"
"Oh my God! I think you're right!"
Chapter 21:
Newark, New Jersey
"Carry! Get any belts in the house. He must be tied down securely.", Father Hibbert struggling to hold Danny down on his bed.
"O.K.", Carry said trembling.
...............
...............
"Here are a few.", Carry, with tears in her eyes.
"Get his legs first while I have his hands."
"Aaghh! And from the depths he shalt be resurrected!"
"O.K....... God help me...... There secure."
"Now get his left arm... Ahh... hurry!"
"Got it."
"Now the right."
"O.K....... I think it's good."
"Thank God.... I don't know how much longer I could hold 'em."
"You're too late! Ahh HA HA.... It's already begun."
"We'll see about that... Carry if you don't mind grabbing my bag."
"Yes, Ed."
"And from the spores of his living breath shalt the larva of white genocide be released."
"What is your name demon?"
"I am no demon."
"Here you go", Carry handing Ed his bag.
"Do you know of anything unusual Danny was in contact with when this began?", Father Hibbert asking his sister.
"Maybe that book he insisted on reading."
"A book, really? Do you know where it is?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's in the closet."
"I know it's difficult, but would you mind going in there and fetching it?"
"O.K.", Carry shielded her vision from the mangled corpse that still lay on the floor as she fumbled through a jumble of miscellaneous items to locate the sinister
text. "Here you go." Father Hibbert looked at the ancient script. Although he could not read the writing within, he recognized the book. "Damn. Do you have any idea where he could have gotten it from?"
"Most all this began after we went to clean out Daddy's old house."
"Hhm.... That's not good."
"Why? What is it?"
"Along time ago, before I moved away, when I was still working with Bishop Murts, we received a call about a possession. It was a young boy like Danny. We... we did a regular exorcism and everything seemed to go fine, but just hours later it returned. It had never really left. It just backed off momentarily. So we tried again, and the entity seemed to relinquish it's hold once more. But not thirty minutes later it overtook him once more, this time more violently than I had ever seen in any possession. His body mutated before our very eyes. Alien growths ripped through his skin. Black things like tentacles of some deranged sea creature began extending from his mouth. It was horrible. We tried everything we could think, of holy water, scripture, nothing fazed it. In the end we resorted to dismembering the monstrosity then burning the pieces. Later we found that very same book in his backpack. Bishop Murts and I did extensive research on it after that. It's like reading the book opens a portal to another world.. another dimension. One inhabited by creatures you couldn't even imagine."
"So how do you get rid of it?"
"That's just it, you can't, that I know of. You can only keep it at bay. It's not like a demon from Hell that you just send back... It's something different."
"So what do we do?"
"I'm not sure. I've never done this before, but maybe I could do a permanent exorcism."
"What's that?"
"I could carve the scripture into his skin."
"What! That's crazy, no!"
"Carry, listen. What other choice do we have right now? If we don't, I'm telling you he will get worse and worse until... we would have to kill him."
"There has to be something else."
"There's not."
"..........
O.K....."
Father Hibbert had already begun setting up an array of branding paraphernalia. He placed a torch on the desk, next to it a pair of iron prongs. He set a worn copy of the Holy Bible beside the bed.
"Get that shit away from me!"
Father Hibbert lit the torch. He held a thin iron rod to the flame. The tip glowed red in a matter of seconds.
"Carry, you should probably leave the room."
A tear rolled down her cheek as she watch her son lay upon the bed. His terrified eyes focused on the tip. His body pulled away, jerking at the straps that bound him.
Chapter 22:
At sea
As the bottom of the boat came to a halt nestling itself in sediment leading up to a lonely isle, the venturers looked on optimistically.
"Laaaaand! I can't believe it!"
"I thought we'd never get off that damn boat!"
Tim, Dave, and Trish leapt joyfully over the side of their floating enclosure into waves that pulled away from the desolate land mass revealing golden sand. The boys quickly ran inland in search of food. Trish, not so focused on immediate gratification, first tied off the boat as to not lose there sickly friend inside as well as their only means of transportation. She made plans in her mind to make sure and return with food as soon as she could. From the shore, only rocks and sand filled the scenery, so sustenance would have to be acquired elsewhere.
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