Chapter 5 Power of Darkness

Hello again my friends. Thank you so much all of you who left reviews for me, for I needed them. Lets see. To answer revies, Eben, I am glad that it piqued your interest. That was my intent. For no offense to many of the other glorious Christian HM writers, but some of their stories I thought dealt too gently with the Goddess religion, and didn't go along with the fact that you actually meet the Goddess in the game. Extoris, I am sorry for getting too preachy. Please forgive me. This chapter gets a little preachy at one point, but remember, the character is only doing it out of love. But I never thought that Harvest Moon was in a different dimension, and besides, I don't understand what difference that would make. KHUnknown, thank you for all your reviews, and for being the first reviewer. And thanks to my good friend Mastershan, who is (as those of you who have read my profile know) a real friend of mine in the real world (that means outside of Internet. This story is dedicated to him. All hail Mastershan!

Cliff walked along the street through the town. This town was so secluded that no cars drove through it. There was no need, for the town was so small. Cliff then saw his new friend Zach coming towards him.

"Hey Cliff," Zach said when he saw Cliff.

"What's up Zach," Cliff replied as they passed each other.

The two of them then continued on their opposite paths.

Cliff cringed as he felt the voice returning again.

'He is the one.'

"Oh no," Cliff said aloud. "That can't be true."

'But it is. He is the one. I warn you, he is a threat to the town and you.'

"He is not," Cliff challenged. "What has he done?"

'He does not bow down to the Harvest Goddess. If one member of the town will fail to sacrifice to the Goddess, she will become angry, maybe even at the whole community. No one lives here who has not pledged themselves to the Goddess. You and Zach are the only ones. But soon you won't be.'

Cliff stopped walking. What the voice said was correct. Zach did not worship the Harvest Goddess. The voice was right.

"I'll, I'll try to get him to worship the Goddess," Cliff said. "I'll even ask him to come view the Ceremony of Unity."

'Do it, but you will not succeed I think. Soon you will see that there is no other option.'

"Zach!" a voice shouted behind me. I turned, and saw Cliff running to catch up with me. It had been a week since Ann and I had picnicked on Mother's Hill.

"Hey man," I said holding out my fist. "What's going on?"

"I was just wondering when are you going to have a Ceremony of Unity," Cliff said as he punched my fist.

"What the heck is a Ceremony of Unity?" I asked.

"Its where you become a part of the Harvest Goddess' church," Cliff replied as if he assumed that I would be joining the church.

"I will not do that," I said. "I am a Christian."

Cliff looked at me strangely.

"Don't tell me you're joining this too Cliff?" I said.

"Yes," Cliff said as he looked down. "I met the Harvest Goddess. She is real Zach. I saw her. She promised to help me in this town as long as I joined the church and sacrificed to her."

"No Cliff," I said. "Not you too."

"The Harvest Goddess will help me, and the voice... nothing."

"The Harvest Goddess is a tyrant! Can't you see? She keeps the people of this island in line by threatening not to help them if they don't do as she says. She has them all bowing at her feet, so that she can bend them to her will. You know, I was attacked last night by some dark evil creature, and I think the Goddess was behind it."

"I don't think so," Cliff said.

"Don't do this Cliff," I said.

"I don't have a choice," Cliff said bowing his head down lower.

"I know someone you can turn to who is a better master than the Harvest Goddess.

"Who is that?"

"God."

"He does not exist. I have never seen God."

"Have you seen the wind? You've seen the effects of the wind, but you've never seen the wind. The proofs that God exists are all around us. We can see the affects of God, but we can't see God. Besides, more things are wrought by faith than things brought along by what is visible to the naked eye."

"I- I have seen the Harvest Goddess..."

"So have I, and she hates me. For as a Christian, I do not only believe in God, but also in Demons. Fallen Angels. You are following Demons Cliff. God can help you with this. He can, trust me. He has done so much for me. You think he won't do the same for you?"

Cliff just looked back at me reluctantly. "I don't have a choice Zach. You don't know what I've been through. You don't know what my life is bound to. It is destiny, I cannot change that."

"What makes you think that the Harvest Goddess is your destiny?"

"I, I can't tell you Zach," Cliff said. "Please don't remind me of the past anymore."

"Whatever problems you have, God can help you with."

Cliff just turned and walked away.

'He lies. Do not listen to him. Can't you see it now? He will not turn. He is a danger to us. And all danger against us must be destroyed.'

"I can't destroy Zach!" Cliff shouted.

'You like him, don't you. But why do you like your greatest enemy? Why don't you listen to me? I have been your friend when all other people have pushed you away. Where would you be without me? I led you across the world, didn't I? All those ideas were my ideas. I suggested that we go to Mineral Town, didn't I?'

"Yes you did, but..."

'People accept you here, don't they? They don't turn there backs on you, like all those so called "friends" you used to have.'

"I know, you did everything for me. You are my best friend."

'Zach is just like those so called friends you used to have. Didn't you listen to what he just said to you? He hates you for becoming a part of the community. He hates you for finding a way to stop people from shunning you.'

"But not Zach, not Zach."

I went home to get my staff. Then I set out to learn who the guy in the yellow coat was. I walked through the town searching for him, but I didn't see him anywhere. I went home unsuccessful.

"Hey!" a voice shouted from behind me as I entered my farm.

I turned and saw a deeply tanned man with brown hair running up to me.

"Hey," he said when he reached me. "My name's Zack. I ship all of the items which you sell on your farm. I haven't met you yet though."

"My name is Zach as well," I said as I extended a hand.

"Cool," the shipper said as he shook my hand firmly. "I'm really sorry about you're Grandfather."

"Thanks," I said. "Luckily I'm beginning to get over his death. Say, you wouldn't by any chance know a Chinese man who lives in this town? He wears a yellow coat, do you know him?"

"Yeah," Zack said. "His name's Won. He is a salesman who came here from the Orient. He sells many strange and bizarre items. He always travels, but it seems as if he feels tied to this village, for he visits the island quite frequently. He stays with me in my house at the beach."

Tied to the island. That made me wonder if this man was deeply involved with the Harvest Goddess "conspiracy" as I called it. I would have to investigate this man.

"See you around," I said as I stepped inside my house.

I grabbed my staff, and examined it closely. I intended to use it only for protection, not for the purpose of hurting people. It would be used to serve God, not to serve Satan. I pulled out my swiss army knife, and carved a cross at the top of the long staff. I then stepped out of my house to find the man in the yellow coat.

It the sky was beginning to darken, so I knew I would have to make this a quick visit. I walked through the town quickly until I reached the beach. Then I walked in slowly, looking every which way as if I expected an ambush to happen at any minute. I held my staff out in front of me, ready to bring down any man in a yellow coat who appeared before me.

"No!" I shouted to myself. The staff would only be used for defense. I would not attack the man. But in my fear, I realized that I was beginning to forget this. I stepped up to Zach's house, and knocked on the door. It opened, and Won stood before me.

"What do you want?" he asked sternly.

"I'm the new farmer in the town and I came to meet you and find out what your business was."

Won's glare never ceased. I could tell that he didn't like me. But I had no idea why.

"I sell magical things from all over the world. Like this magical apple. It is a Super Angel Attractive Apple. It is no normal apple. Only 500 Gold."

That was the basic currency here in mineral town. It was called Gold, even though it wasn't.

"Uh, no thanks," I said.

"Then why did you come here in the first place?" Won said snobbishly.

"I wanted to meet you," I said ignoring that snide comment.

"Why?" Won asked. "Wait, I know who you are. You are the one who refuses to bow down to the Harvest Goddess."

"How did you know that?" I asked.

"The whole town knows about it. Karen learned of this, and told everyone else. And Cliff..."

"What about Cliff?"

"He learned this too, and warned Carter at his Ceremony of Unity. Let me tell you Zach, we are not happy about this."

"What do you mean?" I questioned him. "What ever happened to freedom of religion?"

"The only way that freedom of religion applies in Mineral Town is you can't be legally persecuted for your beliefs. The Mayor may be the elected executive official of the town, but in truth the Harvest Goddess rules this whole town. Most people in the town are completely submissive to her will. Unfortunately for you, the spirits of the island listen closely to what happens in the town. Without a doubt, all of them know of your secret. I bet even the Harvest Sprites know. Lets face it Zach, everyone now knows that you are a heathen. Many of the towns people may still accept you because they are people, and can partially understand you. There is a man who comes to this town every summer. His name is Kai, and he is an atheist. He is widely accepted, for he is going out with Popuri, the girl who owns the Poultry farm. But as an atheist, Kai does not pose much of a threat to the town, for he never interferes with the town's religion. But you Zach, you do. You should never have come here. You have simply dug yourself into a deep hole. Now all you can do now is wait until the Spirits of the island decide to end your life. Who do you have on your side Zach? You have everyone against you, and no one on your side."

"I have God and Jesus on my side," I replied. "And both of them are much stronger than all of the spirits of this island.

"Soon you will learn that this is not true," Won said slamming the door to his home.

I frowned, and turned to walk back home. Then the door behind me opened again, and Won peeked out at me.

"Now you see, there is nothing you can do to prevent the night from coming."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I asked Won, but he just slammed the door shut.

"Take this heathen," Won said as he tossed a handful of green powder onto the roaring fireplace.

I turned and began walking away from the house. I then stopped, and sensed that something was wrong. I then looked over my shoulder back at the house. To my surprise the steady stream of smoke which rose from the chimney suddenly turned green. Then, rising up high in the air the green smoke turned bright red.

Then, the red smoke floated in front of the sun, blocking out its rays. The smoke grew larger, covering all light from the sun with a red aurora. The sun then began setting at a much faster rate. My eyes widened in fear as I realized what Won was doing. He was speeding up the descent of the sun. I turned and began running as fast as I could. I had to make it back to my farm before night came. But at the speed that the sun was now setting, there was little hope for my success. I held my staff tightly in my hands as I ran for my very life. For now there was no one to save me if my breathing ceased again.

The light from the sun grew dimmer and dimmer. Pink streaks reached across the sky. I rushed into Rose Square as all light from the sun disappeared, and the moon rose high above me. I continued running. It was too late to make it to my farm, but perhaps I could make it to the Inn in time.

'You fear the darkness. You are wise to do this.' I gasped as the same voice entered my head. It was happening. Noises came from behind me, and an eerie howl rose up from Rose square. In my rush, I realized that I had run in the wrong direction. I was not heading in the direction of the Inn, I was heading in the direction of the Church, the very place where I didn't want to end up. I would have turned back, but the howling behind me continued. So I continued sprinting forward, but stopped when I reached the church.

Its darkened windows leered down at me as I stopped dead in my tracks at the sight of it. Something seemed wrong. Then the sign on the fence next to it lit up in an otherworldly neon green light. The words: "Church of the Goddess" disappeared, and then the green neon light began assembling itself into letters spelling out: "When Jesus died a massive earthquake shook the land, and graves were split open. Then, holy people rose from the dead, and appeared to many people in Jerusalem."

My eyes widened as all of this began happening in front of me. It was then that my attention shifted to the grave stones which loomed on the left side of the church. I half expected the ground beneath them to break open, and dead bodies to rise up against me. In my mind's eye I imagined dead corpses of the past to dig their way up from their tombs, and walk among the living again. But something much different happened.

The dirt in front of the grave stones began rising up from the ground. Then, the dirt began fusing, forming shapes. The dirt molded together, forming human like figures. Clay dummies began to take shape, but what amazing detail was used in their creation. I saw individual fingers on the hands, and closed eyes on each dirt face. The mouths even had lips. Then, green light shot out from the Church, and surrounded all three of them in a brilliant glow of power. The aurora of light flashed up to the sky, as if the energy of hell was being projected into the three manikins.

Then, the eyelids of the clay beings opened up, revealing glowing green eyes. It was as if life was entering the dirt beings. The finger of one began to move, and then the whole hand. Then, all of a sudden, each of the dummies pulled their feet out of the ground (for they had been rooted to it) and began moving, by some unseen force. The one on the left opened up its horrible jaws, and I saw stone teeth rooted firmly in the rotten dirt, and a clay tongue, moving back and forth, tasting for the first time. The three of them began moaning like the dead, crying out mournfully to the heavens like lost souls in damnation. Out of the corner of my eye I could see that the sign on the church was changing. Now it read: "You see my power? It is greater than that of your God. Jesus gained power over death, and I hold power over life. Through my power, your life will be lost. You will be destroyed by the creatures of darkness."

Their green gaze shifted towards the dark night sky, and the dirt beings cried out to the moon, as they were filled with the essence of hatred. It was then that all three of them shifted their gaze towards me. Then, like the dead crawling from ancient tombs to haunt the living, the three clay beings began walking towards me with their arms reaching outwards.

I turned, and ran, and the beings of dirt chased after me, increasing their speed to a run. I cringed as I heard their clay footsteps chasing after me. I ran to the Inn, and began knocking on the door furiously. I could here them coming. They hissed, and cried out in deadly voices of death as they descended upon me. The clay creatures kept running. They howled as they came closer and closer. I felt the same dark presence that I had felt when I had been outside searching for a wild dog.

'See my power? See how I can breath life into dirt? Now these creatures hunger for your blood.'

I pounded the door mercilessly as I waited for Doug or Ann to open it, and save me from death at the hands of these sons of earth. One rounded the corner, and came rushing down towards me. I held my staff out as I prepared to fight for my life. The door to the Inn would not open, but I would not die out here in the streets without a fight. The dummy was nearly on top of me. I swung my staff. It connected with the creature's head, knocking it completely off the shoulders of the dummy. The body fell to the ground with a satisfying thud, but two more clay figures still hunted me.

Then the body of the manikin that I had knocked the head off of stood back up, and grabbed the clay head, which lay to its left. Then, its clay hands placed the lifeless head back upon its body, firmly pushing it into place. The eyes of the creature opened again, and the green light shone through. The creature was immortal! The door to the Inn then opened, and Ann peeked out at me. She was dressed in a pretty white nightgown which deeply contrasted against the dark evil which was happening out here. Like an angel, she stood there holding open a door for me. A door which led to my salvation.

"What are you doing here at this time of night, and why do you knock so hard-"

I pushed Ann into the Inn, and slammed the door behind me. I then twisted the lock, locking out the clay creatures. Ann fell backwards landing hard on the wooden floor.

"I'm sorry Ann," I said as I held out a hand to her. Ann grasped it, and I pulled her to her feet. "I'm being hunted by-"

Ann let out a scream, and pointed at the window. I turned, and saw two cold green eyes staring back at us from the darkened window. Then, a clay fist punched through the window, shattering the glass.

"Get back Ann!" I shouted, stepping in front of her. I watched helplessly as the dirt creature crawled through the window into the Inn, ready to tear me limb from limb.

I held my staff out, ready to bring down this clay being. It stepped towards me with its clay arms stretched out towards me. I swung my staff out, connecting with the chest of the manikin. It fell backwards, before leaping back to its feet, unharmed. Suddenly two clay hands grabbed my throat from behind me. I gagged as the clay grip tightened around my throat, cutting off my breath. It was one of the other clay demons. I dropped the wooden staff, which clattered at my feet, and grabbed the hands which wound around my neck in an attempt to loosen the grip. I looked back, and saw a hateful brown face staring at me with its eyes full of blood lust. It growled, and tightened the grip. I tried to breath, but I couldn't. I tried to cry out, but my voice was choked away by the icy cold grip of the clay manikin.

"Dad!" Ann shouted in desperation.

Ann then grabbed a stool, and began slamming it against the clay creature which stood behind me, choking away my life. The creature did not loosen its grip from my neck, but did flinch under the blows from the stool.

Seeing that she was not succeeding, Ann reached out to grab one of the hands which was around my neck to try and loosen its grip. The Zombie like manikin bit Ann's hand before she could grab the hand of the clay manikin. Ann screamed in pain, and I saw drops of blood fall from her hand. The creature released Ann's hand, and she fell backwards onto the ground. The creature's teeth had sunk deep into her skin, for the teeth marks on her hand were bloody. The creature appeared to be enticed by the blood, and released me, and leaped upon Ann.

I fell to the ground coughing, and struggling to breath again. But I had little time to recover. For the clay figure was now attacking Ann. Ann screamed as she struggled against the dirt being which was attacking her.

"Get off of her you demon!" I shouted as I began running towards it with my staff.

But the other dirt being was still in the room. I looked back, and saw it crouching down on all fours like a jaguar. Some hateful noise which was between a hiss and a growl echoed out of its throat before it sprung upon me. It landed on my back, slamming me to the ground. The creature grabbed my hair tightly with its dirt hand, and pulled back hard. I gritted my teeth as it pulled my hair tightly back. It felt as if my scalp would be yanked straight off of my head.

"Get off me!" I shouted through my pain.

The creature responded by slamming my head down against the wood floor. I cried out as my face bashed into the hard floor. But the creature had no mercy. It immediately drew my head back again, and slammed it back down, bashing my nose hard. Blood and saliva fell from my mouth each time my face clashed with the hard floor to see which was stronger. The floor was winning. I looked over at Ann as the hand drew my head back up again.

She screamed in pain and fear as the creature clawed at her body with its dirt hands, which were surprisingly strong. Ann had her hands against the face of the monster, holding him back as his claw like hands slashed at her body. She punched and pounded against its face as she held it back, but it barely flinched under the blows.

I was interrupted by a sharp pain in the back of my head. The creature was biting my head! I cried out in pain as its teeth sunk into my skin. Then its tongue reached out, and lapped at the warm blood which was coming out of the wound. Then it resumed slamming my head against the floor.

Then the door next to the staircase slammed open, and there stood Doug in his pajamas with a shotgun clutched in his arms. Doug grabbed the creature that was on Ann by its neck, and tossed it aside like a rag doll.

The manikin got back to its feet, and began running towards Doug with its hated mouth hanging over as if it hungered for his blood. Doug pulled the trigger on the shotgun. The bullet splattered the chest of the creature, sending clay and dirt flying everywhere. But I knew that the creature would just put its chest back together again, and attack us. I was wrong. A look of concern crossed the face of the dirt being as pieces of its chest fell all around it. I made a mental note of this for future reference. The creature then jumped through the window, and ran off into the darkened night.

The second one stayed on top of me, pounding my head against the wooden floor. My head throbbed each time it connected with the hard floor. Doug dropped his shotgun. Then he reached out, and grabbed the creature's head, and yanked it off the body with one swift motion. The body stopped pounding my head against the floor, and charged towards Doug, who now held its head in his hand. Doug ran from the body, leaping over a table, before rushing outside.

"No Doug!" I shouted knowing that another of those dirt creatures was out there. I heard a snarl, and then I heard Doug scream. I grabbed the shotgun which he had dropped, and ran out to save him. I saw him running from now not only the body of the second clay figure, but also the third dirt creature. I fired the shotgun, and the round shattered through its leg, sending the creature to the ground. All that was left was the clay body which was chasing after its head.

Doug then turned, and tossed the head down the pathway. The body ran after its head, which was rolling down the stone road. I fired the shotgun a second time, and the round connected with the chest of the body, spilling dirt everywhere. The body picked up the head, and ran away as fast as it could. Now for the one which I had shot in the leg. It lay in the grass on the side of the road struggling to crawl away. I stepped up to it, and looked deep into its eyes. What hateful eyes they were. Like the eyes of some fallen angel, they held an evil like no other which seemed to be pent on the sole purpose of dragging my soul into hell. It glared back at me before the green light suddenly left its eyes. Its clay body clattered to the ground like an empty case of dirt. Doug stepped up next to me, and placed a hand on my shoulder. I turned to look at him. His eyes held concern, and a deep seriousness.

"We have a lot to talk about Zach," Doug said. "Lets go back to the Inn and see if Ann is alright. I nodded, for I wanted to get back inside soon too.

Doug began walking slowly back towards the Inn. I then heard grass rustle behind me.

"Can't we go any faster?" I asked.

"Why?" Doug asked.

"I don't want more of those creatures to appear," I said.

Doug didn't understand, but he was worried about more creatures attacking Ann, so he began running. So did I.

Now the tension sets in. Now the supernatural and action adventure genre of this story are fully revealed for what they are. Dark beings, risen from the earth, cast against the Christian. But the question still remains. Can you believe in a God when you have never seen him? Can you refuse to believe in a Goddess even when you have seen and spoken to here? Is Zach a wise man, or a foolish man who is tied to blind faith? Will any of them ever recover after all that? When they return to the Inn, what state will Ann be in? Farewell to you all. An inspirational quote from the Three Stooges, and I'm out of here.

Moe: "Take the part."

Curley: "Not me."

Moe: "Take the part."

Curley: "Not me."

Moe: "Fine, you take the part."

Larry: "I'll take it when I'm ready!"

Moe: (Sounding rather angry) "Are you ready?"

Larry: "Yeah, sure. I'm ready." (Takes the part.