Chapter 3

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Duncan and Joe found Amanda, she was clearly upset.

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Duncan: What's wrong?

Amanda: It's Nick, he's dead.

Joe: Are you sure, I thought he was on holy ground?

Amanda: He was, but someone held a child hostage, forced him out of the church. If Nick had won he would have called back by now.

Joe: I'm sorry Amanda. I only met him once, but he seemed like a good man.

Amanda: He was.

Duncan: We're trying to bring as many immortals to a church as possible, deny this cult any more prospective heads.

Amanda: Yeah. You know me. As much as I want revenge, I want to live. And I guess staying alive is some revenge.

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The three of them went to the church run by reverend Thomas Bell. Years ago one of Bell's parishoners, Derek an immortal, had been murdered by an immortal, who then convinced Derek that he was God, and had ressurected him. Duncan helped Derek, and reverend Bell became a watcher to further guide Derek. Now Bell opened this church to help protect other immortals. But on the way to this church they found reverend Bell's car. He'd been knocked unconsciouss. While Joe tried to help him, Duncan and Amanda noticed another body, missing a head. It was Derek's body. When Bell woke up he was shocked to see his friend dead.

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Bell: My god, they killed him.

Joe: Did you see who did it?

Bell: It was maybe six of them. I didn't see their faces well, but they had tattoos. I saw one clearly, the swastika stood out.

Joe: It was a cult, they worship evil. Why were you outside the church?

Bell: We had to get food, and we trying to get other immortals here. Thing is, just before the attack, we saw some clouds over the church. It looked like, what you call the quickening.

Joe: That's impossible, no immortals fight on holy ground.

Bell: I couldn't swear in court that it was right over the church, maybe just outside.

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Duncan and Amanda rushed to the church, fearing that some of their friends were dead. Sure enough, they found maybe 30 bodies. All missing their heads, all just outside church property. They recognized some of them as old friends. Carl Robinson, the man who'd been born a slave and was now playing major league baseball. Kenneth, who died his first death at the age of 11, and lived for over 800 years as a child. Robert and Gina De Valicourt, a couple who'd been married for over 300 years. Duncan wondered who had died first. He preferred to think that one avenged the other. Perhaps they then let the cult kill them, they didn't want to live without each other. Some of the headless corpses had the swastika tattoo, clearly their side suffered casualties as well.

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Duncan: I don't understand, why would they all leave holy ground?

Amanda: Nick said that the cult member threatened a child to lure him out.

Duncan: Maybe he would do it to save a child, but Kenneth wouldn't risk his life for anyone. Carl and the De Valicourts, I don't know. What are we missing?

Amanda: I don't know. But I fear we're going to find out.

Duncan: I've already warned Conner and Methos. Others, I never had the chance. I know our people aren't exactly a tribe, don't always cooperate too well. But if we're going to stop this cult, we'll need all hands on deck right now.