Chapter Five. #2
“Yeah,” I murmured. Merrick had decided to join us as we were a smaller team. He was on guard duty during the night.
“Merrick, whereabouts?” Phil asked over the radio.
“Doing rounds outside,” Merrick replied.
“Come inside, we’ve got footsteps,” Phil said.
“On my way.”
What sounded like boots stomped with each step, and the door opened. We all watched, but nothing entered. Michelle stepped forward, her cross clutched in her hand, and she slowly moved forward.
A loud bang made us all jump as the door slammed shut, and boot steps stomped down the stairs.
“Blast, we’re locked in,” Michelle said, turning the handle and pulling.
I walked over and tried it myself.
“Jack?” Merrick called.
“Up here, the door’s jammed,” I yelled back.
“Stand back,” Merrick shouted.
Everyone moved backward, and the doorframe shuddered as Merrick crashed into it. It didn’t open, and he slammed into it again. The damn thing didn’t move.
“Jack, search for something to pry it open from your side,” Merrick called. “I’ll be back.”
“This doesn’t feel too good,” Connor said, glancing around warily.
“What are you sensing?” Michelle asked.
“A trap.” As we began searching, I sensed what Connor was feeling. Something was biding its time.
“There’s nothing here,” I replied after a few minutes.
Connor yanked on the doorknob again. He gasped, quickly let go, and looked down.
“What is it?” I demanded, hurrying over.
Connor held his hand up, and I peered closely at it. “Ectoplasm is a bad sign,” he said.
From Connor’s fingers dripped a milky white, mucus substance. Better known as goo, as Callie called it.
“Is it coming from outside or in here?” Michelle demanded, peering at the door.
“The handle’s coated with it, but I can’t see any… wait—there!” Connor exclaimed, pointing to the corner of the doorframe. Slowly, it grew larger as the ectoplasm dripped downwards. It was spreading slowly, but still too fast for my liking.
“Get back,” Merrick called.
“Merrick, is there anything odd on your side?” I yelled.
“Like what?”
“Ectoplasm?”
Merrick went quiet, and I knew what he’d say before he spoke. “What?”
“We’ve got ectoplasm here,” I replied.
“Out of my way, we need samples,” Connor said and nudged me aside. He had a bowl in his hand and a jug which he’d taken from the vanity table. Connor carefully scooped some up and stepped back.
“All clear,” I called to Merrick.
“Stand back,” Merrick ordered.
Michelle and Connor were peering over the bowl, and Connor was poking it with the end of a pen. I shook my head as Phil and I moved away.
Something hit hard, and we heard Merrick straining to open it. There was a loud snapping noise and a yelp from Merrick.
“What the hell was that?” I demanded.
“Shit, I don’t believe it,” Merrick’s voice filtered through.
“What?”
“I was using a shovel, and it snapped in half,” Merrick replied.
“Got anything else?” I asked. I was starting to feel a little claustrophobic. Even as I thought it, I saw Connor yank on his collar.
“Phil, are you okay? Michelle?” I demanded, worried.
“Jack, it’s getting stuffy in here,” Phil stated.
“Get some air in here,” Connor said as he pulled on his top again.
Phil and I headed for the windows, but we stopped halfway there.
“Fuck,” Phil exclaimed, his camera firmly on them.
“We can’t open these, they’re jammed,” Michelle called over her shoulder.
“Same here, they’re covered in ectoplasm,” Phil said. I exchanged glances with him as the atmosphere grew thicker. We needed some fresh air.
“Merrick, we’re in trouble here,” Connor shouted through the door.
“Connor, if I’m in distress, yank me out,” I muttered and slipped my hands into the viscous liquid.
I was immediately hit with an overload of emotions. The prevailing one was hate; it swept through me, taking no prisoners. Instantly, I tried to pull back, but the ectoplasm held my hand trapped.
“Jack!” someone yelled, but I couldn’t discern who.
Voices came to me from a distance, despite the fact that they were close.
My vision narrowed to what was in front of me as I was battered mercilessly.
Despair hit next, followed by resignation.
Grief nearly brought me to my knees, while greed made me heave.
I felt as if I were inside a whirlpool, with no escape.
The pressure continued, distaste and the urge for revenge. The need to kill was almost uncontrollable, and mixed with red-hot rage, I barely held on. I gritted my teeth as the emotions hammered into me.
“Jack!” my name was screamed again.
I reeled backwards as images surfaced in my mind.
Scenes of blood and murder assaulted me, followed by faceless victims writhing in pain.
They flashed forward, and I saw a dark red skyline with destroyed buildings and corpses lying on cracked and broken roads.
A throne stood upon a hill with twisted human bodies piled before it.
On it sat an immense black humanoid figure, with red eyes and curved horns protruding from its head.
A naked, writhing woman was held to its mouth, and it seemed to be sucking her dry.
When it finished, it threw her away, but I noted it appeared to grow.
Eyes met mine, and a voice boomed inside my head.
“Human!”
“Jack!”
Somebody hit me hard, and I was knocked sideways.
I screamed as I broke free, and the abruptness caused sharp pain. Merrick rolled off me and placed his fingers on my pulse as I stared at the ceiling. My breath left my body in visible puffy clouds, as if I were breathing in cold air.
“I’m okay,” I forced out through stiff lips. Terror still resided deep in my bones. I’d never been so scared.
“What happened?” Michelle asked, pressing a silver cross to my forehead. When it didn’t burn me or make me screech in agony, Michelle nodded in satisfaction.
“You need to exorcise this fucker,” I whispered.
“Jack?”
“It’s a demon, and a high one, or it thinks it is. I saw it sitting on a throne with bodies beneath its feet. It showed me images of Armageddon. There’s nothing but darkness in its soul,” I replied.
“They don’t have souls,” Michelle stated, and I sent her a look. “Ah, right, sorry,” she muttered.
I shoved upwards, wincing at the pain in my body, and grabbed Merrick’s outstretched hand. He held me steady as I gasped.
“This fucker is beyond evil. It forced emotions on me, and the hate it felt—that level shouldn’t exist. Michelle, I don’t know if it’s a top-tier demon or aiming to be one, but it plans to destroy our world,” I explained.
“It will fight the exorcism,” she guessed.
“Yes. You’re going to have to prepare,” I warned her.
Michelle nodded. “I’d like more information, but we’ll work with what we have. I need to stock up on supplies. There’s enough here for a low-level exorcism, but if it’s prepared to battle as you think, I require more.”
“Michelle, this creature has no intention of leaving peacefully. It’s going to fight all the way,” I said, grasping her hand.
“I don’t disagree,” Michelle looked grim as she nodded.
We were in for a struggle.