Feels Like Suffocating
Nampa, Idaho
The wind screamed, whipping dead leaves around wildly. Rain pounded against the earth, compacting it even more. Clouds moved in front of the full moon, obscuring it and causing the light to dim to a certain level of darkness. A flash of lightening lit up the sky, flashing across faces of people outside on that stormy night.
The wind thrashed Josh Mackey's poncho around his body. His pant legs were soaked thoroughly with rain and his shoes squished with every step he took. His brown hair was slicked down, hiding his adolescent face, younger than his 25 years. In his hand was a flashlight, helping guide him through the dark night.
On his hand there were two rings, one on his ring finger and the other on his pointer finger. The one on his ring finger was a plain gold band to show he was married. The ring on his pointer finger, however, was a different story. It had a strange sort of script on it. The script was beautifully scrawled across the surface of the ring, the deep curves of the script catching a faint glow in the dim light.
Josh looked around with his blue eyes and moved swiftly towards a strange-looking man standing at the edge of a town, surrounded by blood scattered in a strange circle around him. The man had no protection from the rain, but had his arms outstretched, as if accepting it. His clothes were stuck to his body.
"Don! Don! We have to get this working! I need my money! Not to mention that the blood is starting to wash away and we don't have any left and I don't think anyone wants to give any!" Josh called to the man, moving forward towards the man.
The man lowered his arms, shaking. He turned around, eyes still closed. A vein that was going diagonal across his forehead was showing clearly as if he had been concentrating hard. He had long gray hair that was stuck in clumps from the wet rain. Suddenly, his eyes shot open. His eyes were not what you would expect anyone's to be. They were all blood red, except the pupil. He looked straight into Josh's eyes, shaking with rage.
"I'm Donovan, not Don," he growled in a low voice, "You'll get your money, just give me a little more time. Then you'll get all the cash you want. Just as soon as I get what I want."
Josh backed up when he saw the eyes open. He had been working for Donovan for a while, but he still couldn't get over his eyes. The man's glare was beginning to scare him. Josh swallowed the fear he had of Donovan and tried to find his voice.
"S-s-sorry, I d-didn't mean it l-like t-that," Josh turned around, took a deep breath, and continued the operation.
He was directing people when he saw the bright headlights from a car pass over the ground. The beam passed over people and ground until they turned straight and stopped. It was a black SUV. The wheels smoked from driving so fast across the concrete.
Josh sighed, for he knew it would be someone who came trying to stop this. Don't they ever stop and realize how determined Don is? Josh smirked, happy that he had been able to criticize Donovan without him ever finding out.
Josh moved towards the SUV and signaled to it to stop. As he came up beside the drivers window, the window rolled down. Inside was a girl about 20 years old. She had curly blond hair and blue eyes. Josh smiled charmingly. How much of a hazard could she be?
The girl frowned, "I'm not a pushover," she growled.
Josh was taken aback, and the surprise of it showed on his face, "But how did you. . .?"
The girl shrugged and sighed, "Don't ask."
"So, why are you here and who are you?" Josh asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm here to stop this screw up before it happens. Now let me through so that I can go stop Donovan before he releases a ghost from the dark gates of hell."
Josh looked at her, even more surprised with his mouth gaping. She made a motion to push his bottom jaw up to meet his top jaw, "Speak!"
Josh regained his voice and said as bravely as possible, "I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to do that."
"Excuse me, do you want to face a demon from hell? I don't think so," The girl climbed out of the SUV and started walking towards Donovan. Josh grabbed her by the arm and turned her around. She immediately lost her strength. Her knees gave out, and she fell to the ground, groaning in agony and gripping her head.
Josh let go, wondering what was happening. The girl rolled over on the ground, face up. She looked at Josh with sadness in her eyes. Without saying a word, she got off the ground and, shaking uncontrollably, she got into the SUV.
"Are you okay?" Josh asked, wondering what had just happened.
The girl looked him in the eye, "I'm sorry."
"About what?"
"You're wife. It must have been so horrible when she passed away."
Josh looked at her, amazed. His wife had died in a car crash, and it had changed his whole life terribly. He was so upset he locked himself in his house for weeks.
"I'll ask you again, who are you?" Josh asked, anguish evident in his voice, wondering how she knew everything she did.
"My name is Peyton Murray," she said, watching Donovan.
Josh turned and looked at Donovan. Suddenly, blood curdling screams filled the air. Donovan began shaking again. Josh watched closely, even though he had seen this happen many times before and he knew exactly what was going to happen next.
"You're lucky I'm going to be there to save your ass and fix this screw up!" Peyton said defiantly, crossing her arms over her chest.
Josh looked at her and, for the first time, believed her. Peyton closed her eyes for a minute, then opened them again, her eyes wide with fright.
"Josh, take off the ring on your pointer finger," She looked at him, then screamed, "Take it off now!!!"
Josh simply stared at her. Peyton snapped in his face and screamed, "TAKE IT OFF NOW!!!" Josh looked down at his ring and quickly took it off and threw it away from the SUV.
The ground around Donovan lit up. He lifted his head towards the heavens.
"Oh God, it's going to happen! I didn't think he would be enough of a conceited jerk to make it happen! Josh, get in the car!" Peyton yelled as Josh went around the other side of the car and climbed in the passengers door, "If you get queasy, I strongly suggest you close your eyes. This is going to get ugly."
The screams became louder and louder. Josh looked over at Peyton. She seemed keenly interested in what was happening. He suddenly realized something.
"How the hell did you know my name?"
Peyton took a quick glance at him before returning her gaze to the scene in front of them, "Don't ask. Like I said, close your eyes. This is going to get ugly. And don't try to be a hero."
Josh grabbed her by the arm. She took a deep breath and started breathing rapidly. Peyton became weak again.
"Don't. . . touch me," Peyton gasped, pushing Josh's hand away from her. As soon as the contact between them stopped, she regained her composure. Peyton shot a look at Josh, then moved closer to the car door, leaning up against it.
Lightening came faster, rolling thunder following. The rain pounded even harder, making mud with the loose soil. The circle around Donovan glowed even more brightly, hurting the eyes of anyone who looked. The hair on both Peyton and Josh's neck rose from the static electricity in the air. The lightening slowly stopped.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightening flashed in the sky and time seemed to stand still. The ground was shining brightly. Peyton was as far as she could get from Josh without getting out of the car. All eyes were on Donovan.
The moment in time passed and all the flashlights and lights around them flickered and went out. Peyton and Josh looked around, then behind the car. A scream filled the air, terrifying everyone who heard it. Josh and Peyton whirled around to witness the horrific scene before them.
Donovan was the one who was screaming. He had spontaneously combusted. The smell of burning skin filled the air, making everyone sick. Josh felt the taste of vomit coming up from his throat. He swallowed the taste as best as he could and looked away.
The pouring rain seemed to have no effect on Donovan, who was still engulfed in flames. The skin on him had begun to melt away. He fell to his knees, his screams still filling the air. He finally gave up, muscles relaxing. And so he lay, face down on the ground, dead.
Peyton had watched the whole scene, tears stinging her eyes. However, she wouldn't let one tear shed for Donovan. He had just released a ghost from hell upon humanity, and innocent people were now going to have to suffer for his mistake.
Nampa, Idaho
The wind screamed, whipping dead leaves around wildly. Rain pounded against the earth, compacting it even more. Clouds moved in front of the full moon, obscuring it and causing the light to dim to a certain level of darkness. A flash of lightening lit up the sky, flashing across faces of people outside on that stormy night.
The wind thrashed Josh Mackey's poncho around his body. His pant legs were soaked thoroughly with rain and his shoes squished with every step he took. His brown hair was slicked down, hiding his adolescent face, younger than his 25 years. In his hand was a flashlight, helping guide him through the dark night.
On his hand there were two rings, one on his ring finger and the other on his pointer finger. The one on his ring finger was a plain gold band to show he was married. The ring on his pointer finger, however, was a different story. It had a strange sort of script on it. The script was beautifully scrawled across the surface of the ring, the deep curves of the script catching a faint glow in the dim light.
Josh looked around with his blue eyes and moved swiftly towards a strange-looking man standing at the edge of a town, surrounded by blood scattered in a strange circle around him. The man had no protection from the rain, but had his arms outstretched, as if accepting it. His clothes were stuck to his body.
"Don! Don! We have to get this working! I need my money! Not to mention that the blood is starting to wash away and we don't have any left and I don't think anyone wants to give any!" Josh called to the man, moving forward towards the man.
The man lowered his arms, shaking. He turned around, eyes still closed. A vein that was going diagonal across his forehead was showing clearly as if he had been concentrating hard. He had long gray hair that was stuck in clumps from the wet rain. Suddenly, his eyes shot open. His eyes were not what you would expect anyone's to be. They were all blood red, except the pupil. He looked straight into Josh's eyes, shaking with rage.
"I'm Donovan, not Don," he growled in a low voice, "You'll get your money, just give me a little more time. Then you'll get all the cash you want. Just as soon as I get what I want."
Josh backed up when he saw the eyes open. He had been working for Donovan for a while, but he still couldn't get over his eyes. The man's glare was beginning to scare him. Josh swallowed the fear he had of Donovan and tried to find his voice.
"S-s-sorry, I d-didn't mean it l-like t-that," Josh turned around, took a deep breath, and continued the operation.
He was directing people when he saw the bright headlights from a car pass over the ground. The beam passed over people and ground until they turned straight and stopped. It was a black SUV. The wheels smoked from driving so fast across the concrete.
Josh sighed, for he knew it would be someone who came trying to stop this. Don't they ever stop and realize how determined Don is? Josh smirked, happy that he had been able to criticize Donovan without him ever finding out.
Josh moved towards the SUV and signaled to it to stop. As he came up beside the drivers window, the window rolled down. Inside was a girl about 20 years old. She had curly blond hair and blue eyes. Josh smiled charmingly. How much of a hazard could she be?
The girl frowned, "I'm not a pushover," she growled.
Josh was taken aback, and the surprise of it showed on his face, "But how did you. . .?"
The girl shrugged and sighed, "Don't ask."
"So, why are you here and who are you?" Josh asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm here to stop this screw up before it happens. Now let me through so that I can go stop Donovan before he releases a ghost from the dark gates of hell."
Josh looked at her, even more surprised with his mouth gaping. She made a motion to push his bottom jaw up to meet his top jaw, "Speak!"
Josh regained his voice and said as bravely as possible, "I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to do that."
"Excuse me, do you want to face a demon from hell? I don't think so," The girl climbed out of the SUV and started walking towards Donovan. Josh grabbed her by the arm and turned her around. She immediately lost her strength. Her knees gave out, and she fell to the ground, groaning in agony and gripping her head.
Josh let go, wondering what was happening. The girl rolled over on the ground, face up. She looked at Josh with sadness in her eyes. Without saying a word, she got off the ground and, shaking uncontrollably, she got into the SUV.
"Are you okay?" Josh asked, wondering what had just happened.
The girl looked him in the eye, "I'm sorry."
"About what?"
"You're wife. It must have been so horrible when she passed away."
Josh looked at her, amazed. His wife had died in a car crash, and it had changed his whole life terribly. He was so upset he locked himself in his house for weeks.
"I'll ask you again, who are you?" Josh asked, anguish evident in his voice, wondering how she knew everything she did.
"My name is Peyton Murray," she said, watching Donovan.
Josh turned and looked at Donovan. Suddenly, blood curdling screams filled the air. Donovan began shaking again. Josh watched closely, even though he had seen this happen many times before and he knew exactly what was going to happen next.
"You're lucky I'm going to be there to save your ass and fix this screw up!" Peyton said defiantly, crossing her arms over her chest.
Josh looked at her and, for the first time, believed her. Peyton closed her eyes for a minute, then opened them again, her eyes wide with fright.
"Josh, take off the ring on your pointer finger," She looked at him, then screamed, "Take it off now!!!"
Josh simply stared at her. Peyton snapped in his face and screamed, "TAKE IT OFF NOW!!!" Josh looked down at his ring and quickly took it off and threw it away from the SUV.
The ground around Donovan lit up. He lifted his head towards the heavens.
"Oh God, it's going to happen! I didn't think he would be enough of a conceited jerk to make it happen! Josh, get in the car!" Peyton yelled as Josh went around the other side of the car and climbed in the passengers door, "If you get queasy, I strongly suggest you close your eyes. This is going to get ugly."
The screams became louder and louder. Josh looked over at Peyton. She seemed keenly interested in what was happening. He suddenly realized something.
"How the hell did you know my name?"
Peyton took a quick glance at him before returning her gaze to the scene in front of them, "Don't ask. Like I said, close your eyes. This is going to get ugly. And don't try to be a hero."
Josh grabbed her by the arm. She took a deep breath and started breathing rapidly. Peyton became weak again.
"Don't. . . touch me," Peyton gasped, pushing Josh's hand away from her. As soon as the contact between them stopped, she regained her composure. Peyton shot a look at Josh, then moved closer to the car door, leaning up against it.
Lightening came faster, rolling thunder following. The rain pounded even harder, making mud with the loose soil. The circle around Donovan glowed even more brightly, hurting the eyes of anyone who looked. The hair on both Peyton and Josh's neck rose from the static electricity in the air. The lightening slowly stopped.
Suddenly, a bolt of lightening flashed in the sky and time seemed to stand still. The ground was shining brightly. Peyton was as far as she could get from Josh without getting out of the car. All eyes were on Donovan.
The moment in time passed and all the flashlights and lights around them flickered and went out. Peyton and Josh looked around, then behind the car. A scream filled the air, terrifying everyone who heard it. Josh and Peyton whirled around to witness the horrific scene before them.
Donovan was the one who was screaming. He had spontaneously combusted. The smell of burning skin filled the air, making everyone sick. Josh felt the taste of vomit coming up from his throat. He swallowed the taste as best as he could and looked away.
The pouring rain seemed to have no effect on Donovan, who was still engulfed in flames. The skin on him had begun to melt away. He fell to his knees, his screams still filling the air. He finally gave up, muscles relaxing. And so he lay, face down on the ground, dead.
Peyton had watched the whole scene, tears stinging her eyes. However, she wouldn't let one tear shed for Donovan. He had just released a ghost from hell upon humanity, and innocent people were now going to have to suffer for his mistake.