Chapter VIIII: Penance
The lonely country road begins to brighten as the midday gloom starts to give way to a hint of sunlight that is breaking through the clouds. Benito Garcia drives his black Jetta at a steady pace as he begins to loosen his neck tie, the dead pan ring of an outgoing call echoing through his car's blue tooth speakers. After about the fourth ring, the distinct sound of Father Emmett's voice picks up the call.
"What have you to report Brother Garcia."
"I may have substantial lead on Brother Jeffries, Father. According to the University, he has taken a rather lengthy sabbatical, but not given any special reasoning. His residence has been vacant for at least a few days, as was evident by the piling up of his mail."
"Any indications as to where he might've gone?" asks Emmett.
"I questioned several of the other professors and it turns out that one of them had quite the little steamy affair going on with ole Brother Jeffries. She told me about a secret little getaway that he used to bring her to and was kind enough to draw me a map." says Garcia as he glances down at a small hand drawn map.
"If you find him, you know what needs to be done. Bring in the good brother as he must confess Penance."
"Yes Father." Garcia says with a sadistic grin "Also, I got a call from Parkes. She and Aiden think that they might have located where Jeffries rented his boat. The owner seemed to describe the Professor down to a tee."
"Just make sure you keep them off Jeffries trail, this is solely the Church's end to tie up, understand." says Emmett sternly.
"No worries Father, I'll check in again as soon as I scope out the getaway, and if I find him, he'll be made to confess Penance."
"Good, but in any case, I fear that we may have to speed up our operations. Through our contacts I've learned that a top secret meeting has been called at Bilderberg. Ryleh is rising to fast and armed naval coalitions headed up by the U.N. might be looking to erect a full blockade in that part of the ocean."
"Well they're doing what all governments do best, covering shit up." says Garcia.
"Indeed, nevertheless, I will feel much better once we have the Eldritch Prophet in our custody. Once Ryleh has fully emerged, it will only be a matter of time before great Cthulhu follows, and we must be prepared before that happens to ensure our place at his side. Fortunately, it shouldn't be too much longer as Dr. Lundy is currently arranging it. Praise be to The Old Ones."
"Praise be to The Old Ones." says Garcia as the call is terminated.
The spacious log cabin sat quiet and peaceful with only a single dirt road leading from the cabin to a clearing path through the dense woods. Inside sat all the comfortable furnishings one might expect from a modest family. Calvin Jeffries sets out drawing all the curtains, trying to make the interior as dark as possible. He wears nothing but a pair of baggy boxer shorts and a wife beater. His eyes are almost bloodshot, the bags of sleep depravation ever apparent underneath them. After drawing the last curtain, Jeffries makes his way to a back part of the cabin, where a very different kind of setting awaits. On the walls are a multitude of symbols and hieroglyphs of some ancient and forgotten script, all written in human blood. On the far end of the room stands a makeshift altar containing the horrific statue of Cthulhu that Jeffries had obtained just a short time prior. Around the edifice are several rows of strategically placed candles.
Slowly Jeffries approaches the altar and kneels in subservience. He starts to sob openly as he exposes his wrists upward to reveal several slash wounds that have were all in the process of healing.
"Please my lord, tell me that I still deserve to be at your side when Ryleh rises fully. I know The Church of the Sinking City is displeased with my actions, that I was careless in my choice of sacrifice. But you have to know that all I've done is for the glory of the Great Dreamer. I have shed my own blood in reverence, please tell me what else I must do in order to be spared! I desire nothing but to rule at your side."
Garcia slowly pulls up beside the cabin, with the drawn map in his hand "This is gotta be it." he says as he cautiously exits the vehicle.
He looks around the premises and stops just outside of a window when he hears what sounds like someone crying. The agent silently draws his gun and peers through a small opening in the drawn over curtain. Its than he sees Jeffries bowing at the foot of the statue continuing to sob his platitudes to Cthulhu. Garcia grins is satisfaction as he makes his way over to the front of the cabin.
"Give me a sign, great one…just give me a sign." says Jeffries.
"Are you sure that's what you want Brother?" says a voice from behind.
Jeffries whirls around and is in shock to find Garcia standing at the far end of the room "Brother Garcia!"
"You beg and plead for a sign, Brother. But you know how The Old Ones tend to work. When they deliver their signs, it's often times something your not gonna like." says Garcia as he walks closer.
"How did you find me?" asks Jeffries fighting to keep from becoming hysterical.
"I'm an F.B.I. Agent Brother Jeffries. Sleuthing is kind of the job."
"Did The Church send you?"
"No one has seen you in almost five days Brother. After your little expedition out to the site of Ryleh, you failed to check back in with Father Emmett. Word is you brought some of your students out with you."
"Look I know I was careless in my choice, but a sacrifice had to be made! The Necronomicon specifically demands it! You know it, I know it and Father Emmett knows it."
"Yet you didn't once stop to think that the disappearance of three college kids wouldn't go unnoticed?"
"I didn't know for sure whether I would find anything out there or not. What if it was Ryleh and I came without preparing a sacrifice? What than?"
"You could have found some bum off the street, someone that wouldn't have been missed."
"I needed experienced divers. Who better to recruit than some of my best students."
"…and now you risk exposing the Church to the entire world! Do you have any idea the shit storm that you started? Because of where those kids disappeared, their case became a federal matter and your damn lucky the file brushed across my desk before anyone else had a chance to see it. Now I've been working overtime to try and clean up your mess! What did you do with the bodies?"
"I tossed them overboard. Look that spot is at least hundred fathoms deep! They'll never find them." says Jeffries.
"Save for the fact that the sunken city rises more each day. It's now a matter of international attention."
"So, what does any of it matter? Ryleh is rising out of the waters, great Cthulhu will follow, the prophecies are coming to pass. He will soon bring the Earth underneath his sway once again and the Church will be at his side. So what if they discover us or not."
"You miss the point entirely Brother. You failed to give an account to the Church for your actions and what's even worse…you tried to hide from us! You know you've transgressed, and you know what must be done."
Jeffries turns away to face the altar and breathes hard "The confession of Penance."
"That's right. Father Emmett has instructed me to bring you in that you may confess Penance and I suggest you don't make this harder on yourself."
Jeffries gazes at the statue, one eye twitching slightly "Allow me one last prayer." he says looking at Garcia.
The agent just nods his head, looking annoyed and on edge.
Jeffries kneels again and begins chanting in the same language he was on the boat, moments before murdered his three students. Whilst still chanting in prayer, Jeffries secretly reaches for a ceremonial dagger that is laying just inches in front of him near the altar. He quietly slides the blade closer to him and clutches it firmly in his hand.
After a few more seconds, Garcia speaks up "Don't prolong this Brother Jeffries. We have to get going." he walks up behind Jeffries and places one of his hands on his shoulder "Confessing of Penance doesn't always mean death you know."
Jeffries turns around and the swings the knife, slashing Garcia's shoulder, knocking him back "I serve the Old Ones, not The Church!" he screams.
Garcia scrambles out of the way as Jeffries lunges for him. The agent goes for his gun, but the weapon is knocked out of his hand by a crazed Jeffries who charges forward. The professor goes for another stab, but Garcia manages to restrain his arms in midair. After a few moments, Garcia over powers the other man and lands a swift punch to his stomach, causing Jeffries to double over and drop the knife. The agent than spins Jeffries around in order to get him in a choke hold from behind.
"Go on, kill me! Spare me the indignation of Penance!" says Jeffries as he struggles to breathe.
"You'll face final judgement from the Church, not from me." whispers Garcia before clamping down on Jeffries neck, causing him to pass out.
Jeffries slumps to the floor and Garcia exhales as he clutches the knife wound across his shoulder. He removes his suit jacket to find that a large amount of blood has now soaked through his shirt "Shit." he says as he angrily stares down at Jeffries.
Garcia than drags Jeffries through the cabin and out to his car. He hoists the body up and dumps it into his trunk "Penance Brother, it's all about Penance." he says as he slams the trunk shut.