Celibate Good Times

Chapter 3 † In the Hall of the Mountain King

Lights blur shifting slightly, always the rain

He's there hunting nightly, driven by pain

Burns fast shining brightly, dies in vain

He's here, speaking lightly of life in pain

Bionic killer the spider in his net

Comes to his maker as close as he can get

Weak little creatures speaking with God

Their cries so insane, their prayers just in vain

'Cause I am the replicant, to hell with the gods

Too late to escape, too late to regret

No time to hide, no time to forget

Lights blur shifting slightly, always the rain

He's there hunting nightly, driven by pain

Weak little creatures speaking with God

Their cries so insane, their prayers just in vain

'Cause I am the replicant, to hell with the gods

The rain, always the rain

Your pain sustained

There was something wrong, Silas couldn't place it, but he felt different. Of course, if one had traveled to the underworld and back, spoke personally to not only the devil, but God as well – it would seem only logical that you would feel different. Something was missing, a small fragment that had gotten lost somewhere about as simply as one misplaces a pen, but it's significance made him uneasy. It was almost as though he had forgotten something, and would never be able to remember it ever again. Where was he? He had to ask himself for a third time, and soon his surroundings took their rightful place around him. Silas was sitting in a church at three in the morning, a setting he always seemed able to compute. A location he could always feel at home with no matter what events had transpired. But at this moment, he felt the nagging fear devour the rest of his confidence until he was reduced to a huddled form lying on the floor. A most uncomfortable position, having toppled between the benches with his head recovering from the collision. His mind focused upon his startling discovery of what had been bothering him.

He had changed. Silas didn't know whether or not this was for good or bad, but he had most certainly undergone a serious transformation. When he was at the hospital, visiting the Bishop, he hadn't been thinking. It was as though something else inside of him took over and made him say the things he did and carry out actions he wouldn't normally commit. Silas was torn between what he had thought for years and the newly gained knowledge. Sure, the Bishop had wronged him and many others, but the old him wouldn't have resorted to such drastic measures.

Silas's face was contorted into an expression of utter horror. This wasn't him; surely it wasn't, was it? He struggled to emerge free of the floor, pressing his hands against the ground to pick himself up. A sharp pain cut deep in his hand, a sensation that was welcomingly familiar – an old friend, and he looked down to see a broken mirror shard from a compact had seared through his hand. As he brought his hand up to view the wound, laughter echoed off the church walls. Startled, Silas jumped up and looked quickly about for the intruder.

Empty, the entire building was empty save for him. And then his ears picked up the distinct sound of someone sliding bullets into the slots within a gun, spinning it around with loud metallic clicks and then finally fastening it into place. "Show yourself!" Silas shouted, and was only answered laughter, followed by a statement that shocked him completely.

"Why, Silas, I am you."

"Quoi!" Silas couldn't believe his ears; he involuntarily backed up and knocked over the bench behind him.

"Look inside yourself, I am the monster you've always hated; the murderer and the sinner."

Speechless, Silas continued his search around the church for something to confirm where this person was.

"We've never been able to fully merge seamlessly together. You struggle to remain that poor child back in your past, whilst I have grown up to meet this harsh world with vengeance. While you cry and beat yourself in your misery, I have gone out and physically done something about our enemies. It is time, Silas – you and I, to become one. For you to bring yourself to the present and face the fact that the past is long gone."

"NON!" Silas screamed, covering his hands over his ears. He was going insane, and his mouth was producing the words spoken by this familiar stranger. "You are not me! You are a demon – a devil – a beast!"

Ignoring himself, his alleged conscious continued on. "It is time for me to take over now. With my guidance, we shall both eradicate the vicious blasphemy and cleanse the world in the Lord's name."

Eyes wide, frozen in place, Silas felt a dark shadow fall over him like a cold blanket. It engulfed his being and merged with his cells and his soul. When the transformation was complete, a devilish grin spread across his face and widened until he burst out into a diabolical cackling fit. Silas composed himself and kneeled down before the giant cross at the front of the church. Hands clasped together, he closed his eyes, and began to truly embrace his destiny.

"To be a true slayer of demonic sacrilege, thou must become more than a human man… Silas vivere per l'eternita…"

By some unseen force, the glass shard was repelled from his flesh and it fell to the floor with a light clatter. The blood surrounding the wound retracted and the opening sealed itself, leaving no evidence that he had ever been cut.

"Prepare yourself, my son, for your first trial."

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In Response to Commentary

Thanks to all that left reviews, and to clear something up for you: Silas wanted Aringarosa to sacrifice himself, and go to hell willingly.