WARNING: Some offensive homophobic slur is used in this chapter.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Before the Storm
Before long, Sunday evening arrived.
Jake was standing near the Straight Truth's Baptist Church Building, the same Building where his brother had attacked the Preacher, yet despite what happened, the cult had decided to start their meetings again.
Jake felt his stomach churn, he really didn't want to do this, he would never be seen near a church like this, but he knew he had a duty to do, and he was ready to do anything to stop Diablo should he attack.
As a disguise, he wore a red and blue checked shirt with loose jeans and Nike trainers, and he also wore a red baseball cap which he pulled low over his eyes.
As well as wearing different clothes, he also decided to let his facial hair grow a little, so he sported a five o'clock shadow.
He had shown his choice of disguise to the Knights and Mona, and they agreed it was a good disguise so no-one whether it be the members or Diablo would suspect him.
As he lined up with the other members to enter the church, he tried to act casual, and he nodded at the other members.
"Hey! How's it going?" he asked trying to make conversation.
"Hey dude, are you new here?" one of the members asked looking at him. A broad-shouldered and slightly overweight man wearing a white baseball cap, grey shirt and jeans and holding the hand of his daughter who Jake guessed was no older than eight.
"Yeah! Sure am! Only been in Chicago a couple of weeks." Jake forced out.
"Well I'm sure you'll realise this is the best thing to happen to you, this church will lead you to the truth! The real, honest, truth, the true path of God!"
"I'm hoping so!" Jake said but at the back of his mind he thought differently.
"Yeah right! I've already found my calling in Mutopia!"
"What's with the scar?" The man suddenly asked looking at Jake and Jake soon realised he must have spotted the scars on his face from where Diablo had attacked him those weeks ago.
"Who did that to you? A Fag?" the man asked before Jake could speak, and Jake felt bile in his throat at the very idea that this man in front of him would assume that a homosexual would do such a thing.
"Um…yeah!" Jake again forced himself to speak "Got attacked on a night out, must have been a fag."
"What I wouldn't give to punch your lights out!" Jake thought at the back of his mind as he looked at the man before him, "I feel so sorry for your little girl! Brainwashing her into believing such crap!"
"Well, you can tell us about it at the meeting!" the man said cheerfully "We're all friends here!"
"Aint no friend of mine!" Jake thought then looked at his phone.
'Phase one, about to enter' he texted 'God help me!'
He soon got a message back from Tyroth.
'You're very brave Jake! Just act natural and let us know what's happening! We're in position nearby!'
Jake sent a Thumbs up emoji then quickly put his phone in his pocket before turning to the man again.
"So um…" he said "You nervous about that mysterious guy who attacked your leader?" he asked, he hoped he could find out more information about how the Church were feeling about Diablo and if they were scared he'd come after them especially after the threatening messages on the Church's Walls written in blood.
"Him?" the man asked "We're gonna show that fag in the black bird costume we're not afraid of him and his threats! He can't take all of us! We're gonna rise up against him!"
"Really?" Jake asked "How?"
"Not sure yet, but we're gonna make a plan!" the man answered "He's gonna rue the day he attacked our good leader and his family!"
Jake gulped yet he didn't have a chance to speak before the doors of the church opened and everyone began to file inside.
Before long Jake entered the church and walked over to a seat at the back.
"Hey mate, you not taking a seat closer to the alter?" the man asked him.
"Um no, I prefer the back." Jake said quickly then turned to the doors "I get a little claustrophobic, so I prefer to be near the exit."
He swallowed hard as he looked at the man analysing him.
"Suit yourself mate." He said dipping his cap at Jake, "I'll catch you later!"
Jake forced a smile and dipped his baseball cap before snuggling into the corner and taking out his phone and hiding it behind his leg away from the other members who sat next to him.
'I'm in!' he texted back then looked around the room.
There was nothing out of the ordinary as far as he could see, he looked at the alter where it had obviously been cleaned and painted after the police and forensics had finished gathering evidence.
He began to wonder if Diablo would even attack at all, if he did, could he take on a whole room of people?
There were almost over fifty people in the whole church, and Jake wondered where they all came from, he couldn't believe there were so many racists, homophobic and bigot minded people. What disturbed him most was all these people were teaching their children to behave this way too.
"This is going to be the hardest couple of hours of my life…" he thought as he took a few deep breaths.
Meanwhile, in the basement below the church, Diablo and his Disciples waited for their cue.
Before the members arrived, Patrick, true to his word arrived earlier on the pretence he was helping set up as well as check a few things and he unlocked the basement doors to let Diablo and the Disciples in.
Once he had done that, Patrick led them to the main room where he observed the Disciples rig the beams above with small buckets filled with smelly rotten food, urine, and animal blood.
The buckets were so small, Patrick couldn't see them then Diablo with the help of Chastity connected them to tiny wires so they could be pulled.
Patrick was shocked at the sight of the contents of the buckets, but he thought it was a fitting stunt to pull on those members of the church.
He then showed them where the main electrical box was so they could trip the lights and catch everyone off guard then he would attack.
So, with the plan worked out and the traps set, the Disciples now hid in the basement, Patrick with them and ready to go up to the main room to join everyone.
The Raven looked up to the ceiling and smirked.
"I can hear them gathering now." He said, "Oh boy do they have a shock coming to them."
Patrick swallowed hard, he felt nervous.
"I'm excited and scared at the same time." He said, "What if it all goes wrong?"
"Don't fear." Diablo said confidently "With the plan well thought out, and once they're off guard, we will be ready for them!"
Regan licked her lips.
"I can't wait!" she hissed excitedly.
Patrick nodded then turned to Diablo.
"Okay." He said "I did what you asked of me, have I earnt my request to join you?"
Diablo turned to Patrick, as did the other disciples.
"Indeed you have Patrick, and I am satisfied."
He looked at the other Disciples and they all nodded in agreement, it was true, Patrick had helped them enter the church undetected and help them set up the booby traps and now they had to wait until the right time to attack.
Patrick's eyes widened and a smile started to form on his face until Diablo spoke again.
"You have held up your end of the deal, and I feel I can grant you your request, but you must know a few things first!"
"What?" Patrick asked.
"First, once you drink the water, you will mutate, and you will never be a human again!" Diablo informed.
Patrick nodded.
"Also, the process although quick, is very painful!" Diablo said, "The best way to describe it is like a thousand red hot pokers on your skin."
Patrick gulped as he heard that.
"I…Understand." He spoke.
"Very good." Diablo said quietly "As long as you understand, but know this, depending on what form you take, you will be stronger, and you will heal your wounds should you get hurt! I don't know about this water, all I do know is, it mutates you and gives you super healing!"
Patrick nodded again understanding.
"And now you are aware of what will happen should you drink the water, do you hesitate, or do you still wish to go through with it?"
Patrick took a deep breath.
"I still wish to join you Diablo, I've led a shit life under the control of these bullies for far too long, and I want to live the life you lead, free and away from rules and laws! And I want to punish my so-called family for the abuse they've put me through! Please…" He looked at Diablo "Make me a Disciple!"
Diablo smirked.
"Very well!" he said as he poured a small amount of the Well's Water into a plastic cup then handed it to Patrick.
"Drink…and join us…brother!" Diablo smirked then stood back, as he did, he turned to Samson.
"Watch the door up there, and make sure no-one comes down here if they hear anything!"
Samson nodded and walked up the stairs to the door.
Patrick looked up at the panther then at the water wondering what he would mutate into.
He was slightly scared of the pain, but he wanted to join Diablo and make the Church pay for their disgusting behaviours.
Taking a breath and gathering all his courage, he put the cup to his lips and let the water run down his throat.
No sooner did he swallow the water, than the pain hit him almost immediately.
Patrick gritted his teeth and tried to keep from screaming as the pain ran through his body, his skin felt like it was on fire, and he could feel his body starting to convulse.
The Disciples watched in fascination as Patrick fell on his knees and clawed the ground in agony, he then grabbed a dirty cloth on the ground and stuffed it into his mouth to bite on and hold in his screams.
Regan hugged Rex in fear.
"Don't be afraid little one." Rex comforted "The mutation is painful."
Regan nodded understanding but still showed concern and fear at the young man convulsing before them.
Patrick looked up at Diablo then the Raven saw him starting to change form!
His clothes began to tear as he saw something emerging from his back, and from the sides under his arms!
"What's going on?" Lamia asked.
"What's he turning into?" Chastity enquired.
Samson also took a quick look before turning back to the door where gladly no-one was to be seen, and he could still hear people talking in the main room, completely unaware what was going on downstairs.
Patrick continued to convulse as his skin changed colour and started to turn sandier brown then a couple of antennae appeared out of his head! Then suddenly a pair of thick see-through wings appeared form his back and two extra arms appeared out of the sides of his body and before long, Patrick couldn't hold it in and let out a blood curdling scream!
Everyone jumped in fright at the scream and Samson looked out the door waiting for someone to appear when they heard the scream.
Diablo also felt worried and looked up at Samson, yet the Panther looked back at him and gave him a thumbs up letting him know no-one had heard the scream luckily to which everyone sighed with relief.
Diablo then turned his attention back to Patrick who looked up and the Raven was able to see what he had turned into.
"Hmmm, impressive." He said, "Another flyer."
Lamia also took a closer look at Patrick.
"A grasshopper?" she asked.
"No, they don't have wings." Rex said, "He's a locust!"
The Disciples looked down at Patrick who slowly stood up and looked at his arms then gasped slightly as he saw the two extra ones, he had below his current ones!
"Wow…" he croaked finding his voice.
"I have to say Patrick." Diablo smirked "That is a good look for you."
Patrick then saw a small mirror and he picked it up before looking at himself.
"Jesus Christ!" he exclaimed "This is the form the water chooses?"
Diablo nodded.
"And you've been blessed with wings, and two extra arms!" Chastity said.
Patrick stared at himself then looked at Diablo, a smirk curling on his mutated face.
"This will do!" he said.
Diablo then held out his taloned hand.
"Welcome brother!" he said, "My newest Disciple!"
Patrick nodded back at Diablo then at the other Disciples who in turn bowed their heads to him and Regan walked up and shook one of his new arms.
"Hi!" she said with a smile to which the newest mutant smiled back.
"Now." Diablo said, "With your new form, you may choose a new name, since you have left your human life behind, we all have new names now since we mutated."
Patrick nodded.
"Very well." He said then shook Diablo's taloned hand again "Call me….Ravage!"
"Well then Ravage." Diablo smirked dangerously "Let us begin our torture on the Straight Truth's Cult!"
"I am ready to follow you." Ravage agreed.
So the Day has arrived!
Jake is undercover at the Cult, brave young man! Yet he has no idea Diablo and his Disciples are right below them and ready to begin their attack!
And now a new member has been recruited! Patrick has proven his loyalty and Diablo has granted his request! He has mutated into a Locust and taken the name Ravage!
(For those who didn't get the reference, Patrick's last name Spacey is a homage to Kevin Spacey who voiced the villain Hopper in the Disney film 'A Bug's Life', even though the character is supposed to be a grasshopper, he looks more like a locust!)
Hope you enjoyed this chapter and stay tuned for the action! Coming soon!