Whilst moving across the countryside Simone and Damien come across a strange girl in the wilderness; she had blue streaks in her hair and was unusually happy.
"Where have you come from?" asked Simone, "the city…"answered the girl. "That's a long way off…how did you get here?"
"I walked … really fast" the girl said sarcastically…"How did YOU get here?"
Simone looked her up and down; she was young, dirty and alone so probably not a threat but she decided to keep an eye on her anyway.
"Why are you alone? Where are your parents?" The girl's demeanour changed immediately and she awkwardly looked around her as though the question had confused her.
"I'm not sure…I think they might be dead."
"What?! Why would you think that?"
"People just started acting really funny…weird…and hurting themselves…they were chanting and a lot of them died. I was scared so I ran…then, when I could I grabbed some stuff and headed away from the people…will you help me?"
Simone could see in to this child's eyes now and she could see the fear and the bewilderment that was hiding and disguised as sarcasm and cockiness.
"Yes, of course we'll help you; if we can…we're kinda in a spot of trouble ourselves." Explained Simone. She went on to tell the girl as briefly as possible what had happened and what was currently happening to them. The girl listened intently as though being told a remarkably exciting ghost story. By the time Simone had finished the girl's mouth had slowly fallen open in amazement and her final remark on the subject was "Woah…that's incredible, are you ok Damien?"
A little taken aback by her acceptance of the story Damien looked at Simone for acknowledgment that she was for real. Simone motioned for him to answer…"Yes" Damien paused momentarily, "I'm ok…thank you."
After spending some time together Simone said "we need to get Damien some allies." Immediately the girl threw her hand in the air and exclaimed "I volunteer as tribute" Simone smiled at her and realising she hadn't yet done so, asked her name, she said excitedly "I am Melissa…of Albion." Simone laughed and said "welcome then"… Damien looked slightly perplexed for a moment and looked directly at Melissa. She gave him a smile that was reminiscent of a friend and he felt something strange. He was sure he didn't know her and dismissed the peculiarity of her announcement as some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder. Moments later, he flipped his head around and looked straight at Simone saying "what if she's one of them Simone?" "Nah…not even they'd take someone this crazy" He then turned his attention back to Melissa and when their eyes met she said "I love you Damien…it's all for you" his eyes widened for a moment, unsure of how to respond, when Melissa explained that's what the people were saying back in the city…right before they hurt themselves. "How many people were saying that Melissa?" "All of them I think". Damien looked at Simone with a panic and sadness in his face…"It can't be everyone Damien…Melissa wasn't affected." They both looked at her…she at them, "It's true…I didn't say it. I thought I was all alone, I didn't see anyone else that was leaving."
"What about other kids? Did you see any other children that weren't affected?"
"No…but I was hiding for a while and then I just ran away."
Simone again comforts Melissa and reassures her that things will be ok…Melissa reaches for and takes Damien's hand to which he seems unsure and uncomfortable, but once he feels the squeeze of her hand in his he relaxes and feels comforted too.
As they walked, seemingly aimlessly…Simone knew they had to go somewhere more secure and they had to find Amani. Beyond this thinking there wasn't much of a plan and she was concerned for Damien's health. He had suffered some significant wounds but wasn't really showing much sign of their impact on his body.
"Damien…after we have rested tonight, I think we should head back to the grave site…I think there may be answers there."
"What? No…sister Fraueva tortured me there…did something to me…" He looked over at Simone with a deep sadness and said "I stabbed her"
"Damien…listen to me…what you did, you did in self-defence…she betrayed your trust, she hurt you so badly and she was wrong" Simone paused for a moment to allow Damien some time to process this … "do you understand?" Damien nodded "but there were a lot of things there from the church…there may be answers".
"Simone, it will be crawling with Armitage employees…Rutledge…" He said her name with a certain amount of anger to his tone and then took a sudden and deep inhalation as though he had been holding his breath for too long. His hands became fists and his manner changed…Simone took his hands and as she did so she felt his body move from rigid deportment to a relaxed state once again. Damien seemed to be a little alarmed at this sudden change of state but was comforted to know that Simone could sense exactly when he needed to feel her touch and the total belief she had in him was the one thing right now that kept him going.
"If we could check it out, if it was empty, then who would think to look for you there? And we need to check on Amani."
"He's dead Simone…" Damien said angrily
"I want to see it with my own eyes…I won't believe that woman…I need to know for sure."
Damien gave a look to Simone that conveyed his belief that the trip would be dangerous and a waste of time. Simone returned a look that said 'we're going' and it was agreed, without another word being uttered.
"I'll go in for you" piped up Melissa
Damien and Simone both looked at her…"wherever it is you want to go…they won't know me and I will see if it's safe."
Damien smiled and nodded in appreciation of her gesture… "Time to rest then" said Damien and the three of them instantly began preparations, following a procedure that covered safety, protection and defence… they took up positions as though it had been indoctrinated in to them for many years. Melissa had already become very attached to Damien and Simone, she took centre position between them, just enough room to turn over but close enough for her hand to reach each of theirs if she needed to. This closeness they all shared filled Damien with a sense of belonging and he dared to think 'joy', but simultaneously he felt a terrible dread because he knew that if Armitage and Ann Rutledge knew of it they would be extremely angry and Simone and Melissa would be in mortal danger. Any human contact or connection that wasn't controlled by them was quickly and decisively dealt with and he couldn't lose them…either of them.
When it seems as though the world is literally out to get you, bonds can be formed so quickly, it's as though your brain goes in to overdrive and can process things at lightning speed, weighing up each action and word, reading the non-verbal cues and making a decision within minutes whether a person can be trusted, if they are genuine or not and if they need to be avoided. When you're trying to survive your body and mind are capable of far more than you would imagine.
Once daybreak was upon them they gathered their stuff and prepared to move on. Damien kept glancing over at Simone and it was clear to her that he had something on his mind. She waited for a few minutes but when he still hadn't spoken to her she approached him…"What is it?" she said very matter of factly. He stopped what he was doing and looked at her, "What you said yesterday…about it being the old woman and not me…that had caused all that death…all the death that has followed me for my whole life…"
"Yes" said Simone firmly
"I really want that to be true…I don't want to be this person who will do horrible things and who everyone dies around." He was careful to keep his voice low in an attempt to conceal his self-doubt and fear from Melissa. Damien spoke like a small child who feared he might be in trouble and it brought a smile to Simone's face…a gentle, half hidden smile that instantly made Damien feel better.
"You are one of the best people I have ever met, my sister loved you and she didn't EVER get that kinda stuff wrong, you shouldn't want to change Damien because there's nothing wrong with you…it's them…they're fanatical and somehow … yes they seem to be linked to darkness and evil…but you?…NO" she shook her head to emphasise her belief in this fact. "Knowing you as I do, knowing Amani and how he feels about you…no-one gets that kind of loyalty from a friend unless they are a good friend themselves. YOU ARE GOOD and we're going to find some help. Don't believe them…believe me."
"My mother told me that…in a dream."
"Told you what?" "That there isn't anything wrong with me… but it was just a dream Simone, something I wanted to be true." "Or… another part of you that knew the truth was fighting to be heard. Trust me…trust yourself."
"What about the soldiers Simone…what happened to them…do you remember that?"
"Yes…I remember they were going to shoot me in the head and take you away…I remember that you saved my life."
"But how…?" "The 'how' we'll sort out later, for right now let's just try and figure out what's going on, who's affected and where Amani is."
"OK"
They were heading back in a roundabout sort of way, hoping not to run in to anyone from Armitage or the army of darkness, taking every precaution they could and hoping that the fact there were three of them travelling together and not two might help hide their identity.
They eventually drew near to the place where Damien's brush with demons brought about an awakening of some sort of power. He was clearly anxious about approaching and they took cover in a disused building approximately 500 meters from the main building. The grounds here were vast and they should easily remain concealed for a while. They had seen only a couple of people milling about on their way in and so far there didn't seem to be a viable threat.
Melissa said "Don't worry, I'll head down and see what's going on, I won't be long." Just as she was about to head over Damien took hold of her hand "The first sign of trouble…you get back here…ok?"
She nodded and headed down.
As she made her way around the perimeter of the main building she could hear voices talking …two or three people it seemed were just ahead of her. She slowed her pace and re-routed herself inan attempt to avoid them. It was far more difficult than she thought to move quietly through brush and wooded areas. Three hours passed and Melissa had quite successfully surveilled the property and determined that a number of areas of the building were unoccupied as were several outbuildings. As she turned from her position at the southeast corner to return to the others she was confronted by sister Fraueva who placed a hand over her mouth to stifle any sounds she might make. Melissa jumped and gasped but was quickly calmed by the removal of the nun's hand from her mouth. Sister Fraueva motioned to her to remain quiet by raising her index finger and placing it before her own lips in a shushing gesture. Melissa nodded and Sister Fraueva led her away, through a heavily wooded area to another outbuilding that Melissa had not even noticed. They went inside, passed through several rooms and in to a basement area. Once they arrived there sister Fraueva spoke "my name is Gretta Fraueva, I won't hurt you… please…sit." Melissa cautiously took a seat whilst looking around the room and thinking what an excellent hideout this was. "What is your name? Where have you come from?" enquired sister Fraueva. "I'm Melissa…of…" she paused, thinking better of messing around with a nun "of…somewhere close to here I think…I've been walking a couple of days…I'm not sure where I am."
"Why did you come here Melissa? Where are your parents?"
"I don't know…is it safe here, can you help me?"
Fraueva looked intently at the girl…"It's safe enough for the moment…are you hungry? Thirsty?" she asked. Melissa was starving if the truth be told but she had to get back to Damien and Simone. At that moment she heard a muffled grumble from the far side of the room. She turned her head towards it and then back to the sister. "Who else is here?" she asked startled. "Don't be alarmed child; it's just another lost soul seeking sanctuary." Melissa approached the person to see why they had been hiding over there and quickly realised they were hurt and lying on a camp bed. The closer she got the more she could see, it was a man and he was muttering in his state of semi consciousness. "What's wrong with him?" "He's been shot…he needs a doctor but it's not safe to go to the hospital. I don't know how he has held on this long, I don't really have any medical supplies but I have done the best I can."
Melissa really wanted to ask who had shot him and why they were hiding and …it goes on but there was no time for that. She remembered that Simone had medical supplies and seemed quite handy with a swab and tape but couldn't mention them yet to this woman, she had a weird feeling about her. "I need to go…I have friends waiting in the hills, they'll wonder where I am."
"You have friends? How many are there? Are they like you…I mean, are they ok?"
"Yeah they're fine but they need me back there."
"It's not safe to be out there Melissa, you should stay with us…how many friends do you have?"
Another groan came from the man…"Melissa just wait a moment, I must tend to Amani and then I will help you to your friends."
Melissa's head whipped around…"Amani!?" she had meant only to think that but spoke it out loud and in a tone that showed recognition. Sister Fraueva looked at Melissa and said "You know him?"
Melissa backed away slowly…shaking her head from side to side to indicate 'no'. Then she turned and darted from the room and out of the building as quickly as she could. Once outside she didn't waste a single second racing back to Damien and Simone.
…
Damien and Simone were growing increasingly concerned with the amount of time Melissa had been gone and they paced back and forth periodically…taking turns to be the most worried. Between them they had dissected every possible scenario of the time it was taking and reasons why they should wait or go after her. They had up until now been able to reassure one another that everything was ok but time was running out for that.
As the tension grew and the pair drew closer to going after her the door was thrown open and Melissa flew in. Damien and Simone prepared to fight whatever was surely pursuing her. She came to a stop and then ran back towards the door to close it…which she did quietly. Damien moved quickly to the window and peered out gingerly, trying to see as much of the outside as possible.
"What is it?" Asked Melissa inquisitively, whilst still trying to catch her breath, "Is someone else out there? Was I followed?"
"What are you talking about?" Damien said through gritted teeth as he realised no one was giving chase. "Why d'you burst in here like that?"
"Oh…I found Amani, he's with some nun…Gretta something…he's hurt bad and they're hiding near here…she almost got me, but I got away…she kept asking me who I was with… but that's your friend right? Amani?"
Simone's face lit up but Damien looked confused and angry…"Amani's here? Where? Take me to him?"
The three of them left their temporary shelter taking nothing with them. They followed Melissa's lead, moving as quickly and as quietly as possible. As they went Melissa did her best to fill them in on the situation of the main building, how many people she saw and where might be safe. As they got closer to the place where Sister Fraueva and Amani were hiding Simone grabbed Damien's arm and pulled him back. They all stopped, he knew what she was going to say and he exhaled loudly and bowed his head. His heart rate was up and his respirations had increased significantly…"Damien…please, hold it together until we know what's going on." The two of them were so close to one another in proximity it was almost as if they were embracing…she stared keenly in to his tear filled eyes looking for some reasoning, some control and some calm. "OK".
They entered the building and Melissa led them down the passageway and then stairs to the back room of the cellar. Damien rushed over to where they could see a man lying on a bed; he fell to his knees and placed his hand at the side of Amani's neck feeling for a pulse. He's alive…I don't believe it but he's alive. At that same moment sister Fraueva stepped from the shadows, her arms outstretched before her, palms facing towards Damien…she trod carefully and with purpose. She spoke in a low and soft tone "Damien…he is very weak, he's been shot…a man named John Lyons shot him and buried us alive…I pulled him out when they were gone but I cannot save him."
"How is it YOU are looking so well sister? Shouldn't you also be knocking on deaths door?"
"I would have been, but I prayed to my lord to save me…and he did. I could finally see my mistake and I knew my work was not yet done. I had to SAVE YOU Damien…from them."
"YOU tried to kill me! You…you…" Damien couldn't even finish his sentence…what the sister had done to him was gruesome and heinous and he couldn't repeat it but his heart was filling with hate.
"Forgive me…I am truly sorry this has happened to you and for the part I played in your suffering. But things have been set in to motion that will take all of us to stop."
Simone tended to Amani and Melissa went to sit by her to help while Damien walked up and down passed the nun, he was thinking things through, going over and over the events that had led to this encounter. "Do you have answers? Can you help us or not? "
"I do and I can…if you will allow me."
Damien wanted to kill her; his anger was growing along with his frustration at everything that made absolutely no sense. He desperately tried to maintain control so that he could help Amani and save himself, Simone and Melissa. He felt he was at a tipping point and struggled with his feelings when he felt Melissa's hand slip in to his. The anger instantly dissipated and he squeezed her hand for the strength that it offered.
"What do you know? How can you help us?"
"I believe the evil that has surrounded you comes from a demon named Aamon…he has disguised himself by possessing the old woman you told me about and appeared throughout your life as her. He has used his knowledge of past and future events to manipulate you and those around you and when necessary he has removed anyone that got in his way." The old woman is the embodiment of evil and she channels this through Damien using his special nature to amplify her own evil. This is why it has followed him through his life and all the deaths associated with him have actually been her (Aamon). She is the harbinger of evil and Simone is your counterbalance. I also see you have picked up someone else on your travel who seems to have influence over you." Once Gretta spoke about Melissa this way, Damien moved her behind him and walked towards the sister. "Don't you speak about her again…do you understand?"
"I do" the sister said peacefully
Damien moved away from her and over to where Amani lay…"How's he doing?"
"Not good Damien, he's not even conscious…his pulse is very weak."
Damien paced a little more frantically…
"Things have happened…I've done things that have no explanation."
"There is an explanation…" said Gretta, "it just isn't an earthly one. You are marked and you are the son of the devil but you still have a choice about the sort of man you are…you're not inherently evil, no man is but you are incredibly special."
Sister Fraueva brought them all up to speed about the priests that had arrived from the Vatican and what their purpose was. She went on to explain that she had taken refuge here because she finally realised that them killing Damien was not the answer…it was the woman Aamon that must be stopped and she knew they would never listen or believe it.
She asked them to tell her everything that had happened since they parted company so that she could help them. Simone told most of the story as she knew it or could remember from what Damien had told her and sister Fraueva pondered on the information. "Hmmm…I don't think this is all of the story…again you have been manipulated in to doing something against your nature…do you feel as though you have given yourself completely over to your father?"
Damien stopped walking back and forth and looked at her. "No…I don't really feel any different."
"This is good…someone or something else is at play here too. I don't think you met Melissa by accident either, I believe she was put in your path to anchor you, as Simone does. They complement each other and help you stay focused. The love you have for them is keeping him at bay. You think you struck a deal with him to save Simone, but I believe it was you all along that saved her…and not him, this is why the vow you swore has come to nothing because it cannot be binding unless the other party fulfils their obligation to you, which means you are not beholden to your vow."
"How did I save her…I did nothing but stand there"
"You were bleeding…maybe…it was your blood that saved her. Everything about you is special…we don't really know what we're dealing with, prophecy states that the son of Satan will bring about the end of days but that doesn't necessarily mean it's you. Maybe you have to choose it…like all free men you have the will to choose for yourself…demons and those that follow them just try to steer your course for you…but you are very strong Damien and you have surprised everyone I'm sure."
"My blood can save Amani? How?"
"If your blood entered Simone and saved her, it must enter him."
Damien rushed over to where Amani lie and removed the blanket covering him, he lifted his blooded sweater to reveal the gunshot wound and searched nearby for something with which to cut himself. Sister Fraueva stepped forward with a small knife. Damien looked at her a little puzzled and for a moment wondered if he was still being manipulated as having the knife available at just the right time after that little speech seemed more than a little coincidental. She motioned for him to take it, which he did…, he then cut across his palm and dripped his blood in to Amani's wound…and waited.