“You need say no more. Matthew, just know that we are always with you. The Lord is always with you. You will need us for this journey, but tune in no matter where you are – guidance will always be given. Good luck, Matthew, and please be extremely careful. The darkness is more powerful than you think.”
Getting up, Reverend Andrew says nothing more and walks back the way he came.
“But… Rev… I…”
Matthew watches as he disappears into the darkness of the cathedral. Confused and unsure whether he even possesses the ability to stab his daughter’s heart, Matthew attempts to process what has just happened.
Unable to come up with any answers, Matthews places the cross inside the pocket of his jacket and decides to finish his prayer. “I take my selfish prayer back. I pray for the weak, I pray for the strong, I pray for the young, I pray for the old, I pray for the wealthy, I pray for the poor, I pray for every individual soul, I pray for the world. If it is my destiny to fight evil and free the world, then that is what I will do, or I will hand myself to the afterlife for failure of my purpose.” He stands. Just as he’s about to walk up the aisle, Matthew turns a final time and says, “Purpose accepted.”
Chapter Fifteen
Catch Us if You Can
It’s just past midnight and the Parkinson residence is uncomfortably silent. Every room has been taken over by the darkness of the night. The only sound that can be heard is the echoing of ticks and tocks from the clocks throughout the house. One by one, each of the clock hands begins to slow down as the time pieces gradually fall out of sync with one another. Every tick and every tock now produces a flat tone. Suddenly, all the clocks tick their final tock. Time officially stands still. The hour, minute and second hands move no more. Not a twitch or a tiny flicker can be seen. The clocks are completely frozen.
A suppressive, gloomy energy is travelling at a rapid rate throughout the family home, its overbearing vibration permeating the walls of this sturdy structure. Positioned on the wall next to the front door, the thermostat begins to change, the digital numbers descending. The temperature throughout the house plummets from cosy to way below zero.
The unexpected shift in the climate of this family home brings with it a dark formation that is ready to intimidate the purest and most vulnerable residents. The relentless mist returns and begins to thicken, establishing itself throughout the downstairs of the Parkinson family home. Taking over the space, it travels up the dining room walls. Cracks slowly begin to appear in the glass of each of the family pictures hanging there. Not content with simply damaging the Parkinson family shrine, the unforeseen force strengthens. And suddenly, every picture frame is launched across the room, crashing on the floor and smashing into thousands of pieces.
Developing rapidly, the dark grey mist flows up the stairs at the command of its mistress. Its heading towards the bedrooms of young Lewis, Freddie, Terence and Rupert, who are all tucked up and asleep in their beds. The boys have been left in the sole care of Jesse whilst their mum and sister are recovering in hospital. Believing they will be cared for, the Parkinson boys are actually more vulnerable than ever.
The evil entities that have been welcomed into their home are now ready to claim what they believe is rightfully theirs. The Parkinson boys don’t stand a chance against these powerful, calculated and sadistic individuals. They have fed on their vulnerability and gained strength. Now Jezebel and her evil accomplice are free to implant their malicious DNA inside their tiny minds.
Inside Terence and Rupert’s room, the dark blue walls absorb the darkness. Shadows lurk in each corner. On the ceiling and glowing brightly are decorative stars, both big and small, illuminated against the darkness. Toys are scattered everywhere across the floor.
On one side of the room, Terence is sleeping inside his plastic Ferrari racing car bed. Across the way, in his less cool white wooden bed, lies Rupert. He’s too big for a cot, and yet too little for a single bed. Mirroring his brother, Rupert is dreaming peacefully.
The two young boys are completely unaware of the evil intrusion that has forced its way into their bedroom. They are blissfully ignorant of the horrific truth that awaits them. Terence and Rupert are soon to receive their fate. A tainted new pathway has been mapped out for both of them. Having instantly gained ownership of Hope Parkinson, the dark forces at play now focus their attention on the two Parkinson boys, who are next in line.
Alice Parkinson has been tricked into welcoming two of the most sadistic, impure and powerful entities into her broken family home and she’s about to pay the ultimate price. Ready to destroy this family and take what she believes is hers, Jezebel is content with her chosen souls.
Continuing its deceitful takeover, the intimidating mist seeps through the cracks of the bedroom doorway. As this intrusive energy enters the boys’ room, the temperature has already registered at below zero. As the boys’ chests rise and fall in their sleep, each tiny exhalation can be seen in the cold air. Rapidly gaining force, the energy creates a huge gust of wind that sets the curtains blowing, their metal loops aggressively clinking as they are almost ripped off the pole. The mist thickens, wrapping tightly around the mess throughout the room and travelling up the walls.
With full reign over the room, the dark force is ready to implement its next calculated steps. It has been sent to absorb and capture the souls of the young! Separating, half of it ventures across to Terence and the other half to Rupert. It latches onto the framework of their beds, forces its way inside the boy’s bedsheets. Starting with their toes, like glue it attaches itself securely to their feet and travels up each of their tiny physiques. Instantly, the boys’ nerves react to the sub-zero temperature of the mist as it sends pins and needles throughout their little bodies, the hairs on their arms and legs standing to attention.
A fearful expression appears on Terence’s face. It’s clear that he’s no longer feeling the joy that comes with sweet dreams. Grasping onto his DNA and travelling through his blood cells, this possessive energy continues its intrusion and takes over his mind. Terence’s thoughts are now plunged into the darkest depths, where all his worst fears live. The innocent four-year-old boy scrunches up his face, struggling against the violation to his body. The mist now wraps around his throat, without enough force to choke him. Desperately fighting against the evil, Terence’s body is rejecting the unknown entity attacking his DNA. As this ultimate genetic battle continues, Terence’s tiny body begins to tremble, then convulse violently. Suddenly, his mind unwillingly surrenders. The captivity is complete. The human DNA inside his body is now tainted. Terence abruptly shakes one final time before landing flat back on the bed.
Across the room, two-year-old Rupert, much like his older brother, has also been restrained by the mist. Sharing the same fearful expression, both boys begin to whimper. Lost deep inside their unconscious minds, they’ve gone from skipping in the park and swinging high into the sky to suddenly landing inside the darkest depths of an unknown forest.
Finding himself alone, Terence shouts, “Mummy…?”
In the deafening silence, the only sound this terrified little boy can hear is the echo of his own voice. In a state of panic, Terence bravely shouts once more, “Where you, Mummy? I scared.”
But still he gets no reply. Tears stream from his eyes. Unsure whether to run or stay where he is, innocent Terence has never experienced confusion like this. Going into protection mode, the voice inside his head tells him to remain still. But, being the brave and inquisitive little boy that he is, Terence decides to wipe his face, gather his strength and courageously walk out into the trees.
Sobbing to himself, he once again shouts, “Mummy…?”
This time, he hears, “Yes, my child...”
Relieved, Terence looks around. Seeing no one he again shouts, “Mummy, where you?”
Echoing from the distance, the voice reappears, except this time, it doesn’t at all sound like h
is mummy. With a dulcet tone, the evil that has locked him deep within says, “I’m right here, my child.”
Confused and uncertain, this time trying not to draw attention to his location, Terence whispers, “Mummy...?”
The little boy stands perfectly still. The only part of Terence that is now moving are his eyes as he desperately searches the dark forest for his mummy. Squinting, he sees a black figure appear from the distance and elegantly make its way towards him. Within a millisecond of engaging in eye contact with this figure, Terence’s little heart starts uncontrollably beating.
The unfamiliar voice once again speaks. “Do you… like… to play games… Terence?”
Scared out of his mind, Terence doesn’t reply. His little legs begin to wobble and his knees bang together. Levitating, the evil entity feeds from his fear and, like a magnetic pull, is drawn directly towards Terence. Suddenly flashing right up in front of his face, the horrific entity with blood red eyes says, “Non temere di me…”
Alone in another area of the eerie forest, two-year-old Rupert is curled up on the earthy ground with his eyes closed, crying inconsolably. Surrounded by autumnal leaves, he’s sucking his thumb. Feeling scared and vulnerable, this innocent little boy shouts, “Ma mam…?”
He gets no reply.
Down the hallway in his bedroom, eight-year-old Freddie is fast asleep in his bed. His features matching the earlier expression of his younger siblings, he rapidly becomes distressed and begins battling with his bedsheets. The deceitful mist drifts across to Freddie, weaving itself around his body and creating its restrictive bonds. The evil energy wraps around Freddie’s throat, drawing tighter with every millisecond. As Freddie is older, his level of awareness is more profound than his younger brothers. He instantly feels a sharp tingling sensation traveling throughout his entire body, like tiny bolts of electricity surging through his veins.
Freddie quietly whimpers in his sleep, his mind and body fighting this uninvited energy. Desperate to relieve himself from the discomfort and pain, he throws his body forward and forcefully wakes himself up. But, as he opens his eyes, he sees that all is not as it should be. He’s surrounded only by darkness. Expecting to be inside his bedroom, and aware that he isn’t, Freddie’s mind has gone into overdrive. He is unaware that he’s been cunningly locked deep within the darkest depths of his own mind. In a bid to get help Freddie shouts, “Lewis?!”
But, he gets no reply. The only sound he can hear is his own voice echoing in the distance. Each of the boys are now stuck inside their greatest fears. They have no one to turn to and nowhere to hide. The boys are more vulnerable than ever. And, that’s just the way the Jezebel wants them to be.
Jezebel stands at the foot of Rupert’s bed in her true horrific form, peering at the young boy. It is time. She is ready to collect his soul. She reaches out, dripping the thick black substance on his bedsheets. Her grey neglected hand hovers over his face, just millimetres away from his innocent and pure skin. She stares at him with her blood red eyes, hanging her head low. Jezebel is ready! In her dulcet tone which is unknown to the human world she sings, “Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses – your soul is mine. Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses – you’ve been chosen for the dark side.”
Weakened and without any resistance, Rupert’s unprotected soul receives its fate. Embracing the words of the possession, his tiny mind doesn’t attempt to fight. Almost immediately, his skin tone changes. Content with the development and Rupert’s acceptance, Jezebel makes her way across the room to Terence.
Arriving at the side of Terence’s bed, Jezebel tilts her head, staring at her next target. A proud, deceitful smirk forms upon her features. Her lips part slightly and the thick black substance gushes from her mouth and rolls down her chin. Terence has already absorbed the possession. He now lies stiff. A black line forms around his neck as the mist descents. Terence no longer appears as though he conforms to the human race. His eyes are jet-black, bottomless gaping holes to be feared. His veins are no longer blue, his blood is no longer red, his skin tone an inhuman grey. This young boy is now a mirror reflection of his new mistress, their DNA intertwined.
The thick black substance now has full control over the boys. Surrounded by a pool of the nauseating sticky liquid, Terence and Rupert lie motionless. Standing in the middle of the room, Jezebel raises her arms with euphoria as the final transition takes place. Suddenly, Terence shoots up from his pillow. Almost instantly, Rupert mirrors this action. The bedsheets rise with them as the boys levitate from their beds.
In her new demonic form, Eve stands in the corner of Freddie’s room, staring at him as he restlessly sleeps. Her eyes are gaping holes peering through the gap in her hair, which hangs symmetrically down either side of her face. Freddie struggles in his sleep as the mist thickens and surrounds him. Eve slowly makes her way towards the young boy, humming with every step. The humming turns into singing, and as she reaches the side of the bed, her words become clear: “Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses – your soul is—”
Just as she is about to continue with her possessive rhyme, Freddie suddenly wakes, breaking free from the entrapment. His head shoots up from the pillow and he throws himself forward, instantly screams when he sees the terrifying figure standing at the side of his bed.
Lewis is in a derelict room. He looks up to see his mum swinging from the ceiling, a rope secured tightly around her neck. As her eyes begin bulging from their sockets, Lewis attempts to run to her aid...
Lewis suddenly wakes, sweating from head to toe. His hands are shaking and his heart is pounding heavily against his chest. In a daze, Lewis places his head in his hands. Suddenly he hears the screams of his younger brother. Still half asleep, Lewis goes into autopilot. He throws himself out of the bed and rushes towards his brother’s room, tripping over his own feet. In a complete panic, Lewis fails to notice the drastic change that has taken place within the household. Hearing Freddie’s desperate pleas, Lewis bursts into the room shouting, “Freddie! Freddie! What’s wrong, mate?”
As soon as he sees his young sibling, he realises something isn’t right. Freddie is sat upright, screaming as he stares into the corner at what appears to be nothing. Walking towards the bed to comfort him, Lewis says, “It’s okay, mate. You can stop screaming now.” But still Freddie continues.
Holding his brother securely and on high alert, Lewis hears a creak coming from the hallway. His cries getting louder, Freddie raises his arm and points to the doorway. A sudden gust of wind forcefully slams the bedroom door shut. Lewis squeezes his brother, feeling utterly freaked out. Not wanting to pass his anxiety to Freddie, Lewis says, “It’s okay, mate. Come on, let’s go and stay in my room.”
He wraps Freddie up in his sheets and scoops him out of the bed. As Lewis turns around to leave, he freezes. Freddie immediately starts bawling again. A tall dark figure stands at the door. A creaking sound draws Lewis’s attention to the window. Making her way from the darkest corner of the room is a smaller version of the dark entity. As Freddie continues to yell, the tall figure looks to him and mimes, “Shhh…”
Freddie is now unable to make a sound. Horrified at the events unfolding, Lewis whispers to himself, “It’s just a nightmare. Any minute now you’re going to wake up.” Closing his eyes, he continues to reassure himself desperately, “Any minute now. Any minute.”
Opening them once more he sees the truth: nothing has changed. Except that the two horrifying figures are now closer, trapping Lewis and Freddie inside the room. They both begin to sing, “Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses – your souls are ours. Ring a’ Ring o’ Roses – you’ve been chosen for the dark side.”
Slowly placing one foot in front of the other, the smaller figure makes her way towards the boys. With every step, she continues to sing the creepy rhyme. The boys are frozen stiff with fear. Lewis opens his mouth to cry out but realises that, just like Freddie, he can’t make a sound.
Freddie’s head slumps back an
d his eyes begin to turn black. Looking to his younger brother and repulsed by the horrific transformation, Lewis instantly releases Freddie from his grip and scurries back onto the bed. He’s overwhelmed by fear, staring in complete disbelief at what is taking place before his eyes. The two demonic figures are at the side of the bed, continuing to sing the nursery rhyme. Lewis can see them breathing in his brother’s soul. Suddenly, the tall figure lunges at Lewis.
Gasping for oxygen, his throat dry, Lewis throws himself forward. He’s soaking wet from head to toe… and is unexplainably back inside his own bed. Uncertain of what has just happened, Lewis looks around the room and sees that all is as it should be. It’s the early hours of the morning and the sun has started to make a slight appearance. Relived, Lewis lies back on his pillow. Holding his hand on his chest and feeling his heart beating rapidly, he’s unsure if it was all just a bad dream. Desiring clarification that all is as it should be, Lewis makes his way to Freddie’s room. He turns the handle quietly so as not to disturb his little brother and peers only his head through the gap he’s created. In the meagre daylight in Freddie’s room, Lewis can see his little brother. Thankfully, he’s still sleeping in his bed. Smiling, Lewis closes the door, scratches his head, and yawning, he makes his way back to his bedroom.
As soon as he enters, he jumps. Sat up straight in his bed and staring directly at him is Eve. His adrenaline spikes and his heart once again begins beating rapidly.
“Nah, Eve, for fuck’s sake, man – you scared the shit out of me.”
“Awwww, I’m sorry, baby. I just wondered where you’d gone, that’s all.”
Lewis climbs back into bed, and Eve opens up her arms to him. As soon as he’s comfy she whispers, “Mi temono...”
Chapter Sixteen
Secrets!
Dorothy wakes up shouting, “No! No! No! Alice!”
The Broken II: Tainted Trail Page 11