Chapter 14

/

Jezelle crept slowly around her neighbor's house, keeping the gun held up slightly. The weapon sure seemed heavier than it had all those years ago. When was the last time she had actually used it anyway? For all she knew the damned thing would backfire on her and cause her grave injury.

What the hell am I doing? It had been quite a few times she'd ask that question to herself. If that ol' grump Douglas sees me I'm gonna have to contrive some pretty wild story to explain this...

Old woman. Are you going to shoot the horse or not? I am starving.

Startled by the intrusion in her mind Jezelle flattened herself against the siding of the house and muttered a curse. Sweat was beading all over her forehead and dripping down her face, so great was her anxiety. Her eyes searched the darkness but Alonus was nowhere to be seen. However, Jezelle knew she was there, and very close by. Her black color made her truly impossible to see in the night, which led to an unwelcome thought that if Alonus was a human killer, she'd have a very easy time of it.

I would. But I have no interest in eating humans. I've been tempted a time or two, but I believe we females have greater resistance than the males. They are led by surging hormones and a hunger far greater than our own.

Jezelle could not fully suppress the subdued chuckle from her throat. And centuries later, it's all the same Miss Alonus. Heradus or human. All the same. For some reason keeping the mental conversation going with Alonus eased her anxiety a little as she continued to creep towards the barn, trying not to snap any twigs under her boots. Why is that really, hm? I mean...why do you think that is? She could smell the horses now, heard them shifting in their stalls and the sound of the hay crunching under their hooves. A few steps more and she was inside, where it was even more dark and even harder to see. Jezelle squinted, trying to see at least their movement.

They are guardians. The powers are stronger. A greater, more powerful body requires more food.

Yeah...the Creeper...I mean...your son...he never stops eating, though. Never. Is that normal?

No. Alonus cut the word short, and Jezelle could only wonder why she answered so quickly. Her old eyes having adjusted slightly now she could see the horses shapes a bit better but the details were quite hard to make out. She held up the gun and aimed towards the nearest moving shadow, praying for a good hit and aiming for what she thought was the head. Last thing she needed to do was cause the animal any great suffering, she'd never forgive herself.

Oh lord please, please let Douglas be away somewhere.

Jezelle gripped the gun more tightly than was necessary, and pulled the trigger.

/

Mumma. I want to fly today! Do you have any food for me? Mumma, so hungry.

Ami opened her eyes slowly. They were upstairs in the master bedroom, and glancing at the clock Ami realized she had slept far longer than intended. In fact, she didn't even remember falling asleep to begin with. She looked around for Solarus, and her eyes widened when she saw him teetering delicately on the windowsill of the large bedroom window. It was wide open and warm breezes were flowing into the room. The sun was just barely starting to peek out from the horizon.

Sollie?

He turned slightly, gazing at her with his intense golden orbs. A smile spread on his face, showing tiny, pointed teeth. Mumma. Sollie likes the sun.

Do you? I named you after it. Ami furrowed her brow, every time she even blinked, her hybrid child seemed like he had gotten smarter or bigger.

He spread his little wings. I can fly, mumma. Go fly now? I catch that see? That! He pointed wildly, and Ami got out of the bed to see what he was going on about it. Gazing down at a nearby pine tree she saw a red squirrel, jumping amongst the branches and eating what looked like seeds from the pinecones.

You want to catch it?

Yes catch and eat it. I hunt, mumma. I good hunter. I strong. Daddy, he say so.

I don't think you can fly quite yet, Solarus. You can glide maybe.

Nuuuu. I fly, and catch tree fuzzy!

It's called a squirrel.

Oh. Then I fly, and catch sqwirl.

Ami shook her head slightly with a grin, running her fingers through the soft white hairs on his head. If you get stuck in that tree don't blame me, cause I warned you.

I no get stuck. I fly back.

Ami felt a twinge of apprehension. Normally the idea of letting a child jump out of a window would be insane. But this was no ordinary child. This was Solarus, a heradus, who was already showing signs of his desire to hunt.

Be careful, ok?

Ok mumma.

And it's momma. Can you say momma? I don't know where you get "mumma" from.

Ok mumma.

Solarus giggled and suddenly jumped out of the window. Ami gasped but watched him as his little grey wings caught the air, and he rather successfully if somewhat unsteadily made it to the tree. The squirrel gave a squeak of alarm and took off like lightning, darting up the trunk to a higher point then sailing across to the branch of another tree. Solarus followed with incredible determination and scrambled up after him, then used his wings to once again glide to another big branch in his pursuit.

Ami lost sight of the two, and feeling a little more uneasy she quickly headed down the stairs in her nightgown and quicky exited out the cabin door, looking skywards and searching the trees. She heard a scuffling noise, a terrible squeak, and then her child came soaring down towards her and she quickly caught him in her arms. The limp and bloody mass of bushy red fur hung in his jaws and the squirrel, not quite dead yet, kicked out feebly with its back legs.

Solarus looked up at her, and she could see the pride in his glistening eyes.

Ami hardly knew what to say or do. That had all happened rather fast.

Well.

Got it mumma, got sqwirl!

So now what?

In reponse Solarus crawled down from her and set himself on the ground. Ami watched in fascinated horror as he pulled on the squirrel's head effectively decapitating it and swallowing it whole. He finished off the rest of the squirrel in a similar fashion, fur and all.

Now sqwirl gone! He giggled, once again showing his teeth which reminded Ami of his father. The thought sent an unbidden shiver down her spine, and not a pleasant one.

Uhm...well good. You've had breakfast then-

Mumma want one too? I get one for you mumma. You share fishie, Sollie share sqwirl with you!

No, no. I don't eat squirrels. Especially not...raw...

Ami tried to hide the revulsion creeping into her mind, but Solarus seemed to pick up on it. He blinked at her in confusion, but didn't seem to linger on it and looked back at the trees.

I ask daddy what he eat. He say nothing. He say no one feeding him. Why mumma? Why they hurt daddy?

Ami felt her heart lurch and suddenly there was reality again, reminding her why they were here in this cabin to begin with. Good god, had Alonus gotten to him yet? She felt so useless and hopeless just staying here and not being able to do anything.

And then she realized that Solarus was talking to his father. Now. In the present!

Goliathus?

Ami spoke the name in her mind softly, trying not to let the emotions overwhelm her.

Can you hear me?

There was no answer, but Ami felt an incredible flash of rage that sent fear drowning out her other senses and and caused intense pain like a massive headache. Mercifully it didn't last long.

Solarus immediately started wailing, crying like she had never heard before.

No daddy! Nuuuu!

Her heart shattered into pieces at seeing the alligator tears flowing down his face.

/

They were out in a field, several yards away from the barn, and two horse carcasses lie on the ground, one stripped of everything down to the bones, the other halfway there. Jezelle was so tired and weary, her old body complaining of last night's efforts with a great deal of aching and pain, but she tried to ignore it. Thank the good lord her neighbor had not been home. Her eyes right now were riveted onto the scene, while Alonus continued to eat without slowing.

You going to be all right now?

Yes. Quite.

Good. So I can go back home, right? I'm done honey. I feel as if my heart is gonna give out at any moment.

You want to change that, Jezelle?

The question startled her. Change what?

That's the first time you've used my name-

It's not a pleasant thing, but I can change that for you. You would, however, be more mentally connected to me than perhaps you would want. But your gifts are quite useful, and I could use your help. You could be a great assistant and friend to me, while I try to restart this race which is nearly lost. You are also a connection to this present time, to a new world I can scarcely comprehend.

Jezelle blinked in confusion, staring at the heradus as if she had grown three heads.

I don't...I don't think I understand you.

Alonus lifted her face from the carcass, covered in the blood of the animals from head to toe.

A blood exchange. We have not done this for any human in a very long time. But I see that you are worthy. You put all fear and human reason aside to help me, and I want to return the favor.

Jezelle went still for a long silence, then slowly shook her head. I would not want to be what you are.

No, you would not be like one of us in the physical sense. But you would have supernatural abilities of healing and strength. Alonus lowered her head, her eyes moistening. I would have done this for my Barabas, but too many circumstances prevented me. In the end, he went mad, and I knew he could no longer be worthy. I still love him. I still yearn for him. But I know now I made a mistake, and paid for it. Dearly.

Before Jezelle could respond, she continued, gazing at her once more. I have another hope now, in my...daughter-in-law, if you will. She is amazing, from what Barabas has told me. And she has given me a grandson. I will need help in protecting them, Jezelle. You could be the first to help me. Then once I have freed my son, I will seek out my nephew. I know he is out there, somewhere.

Jezelle was so shocked her mouth hung open. Good lord! Nephew? Nephew! You have more family out there?

Dinarius. I am not sure of where he is. He could still be alive and hiding, or perhaps in a state such as I was. Either way I will find out once I have rescued my son. I will need Dinarius' help too, and he is another strong male to breed more of our kind. Perhaps we can find a mate for him as well.

Jezelle gave a sharp laugh in utter astonishment, shaking her head slowly and wiping sweat off her brow. "Oh geezus. I can't believe any of this. Not a word. Geezus."

/

It took quite some time to calm Solarus down. Ami rocked him back and forth in her arms. Oh baby, it's all right. It's all right. Tell momma what happened.

But Solarus would not answer, although he had reduced his wailing to hiccups and sniffles. He seemed lost in thought, was his father still talking to him?

Ami sighed and tried again. Why wouldn't Goliathus talk to her? She had been worrying madly over him since the day he left to go deal with "human pests", as he put it. Was she so worthless to him that he wouldn't even speak to her?

Goliathus. I know that Trisha person has you. I don't know much about her, only what Barabas has told me. I'm so worried about you. Are you all right?

There was answer this time. It was incredibly weak and like a whistling breeze more than words in her mind. ...no food...pain...only pain... The softness to the words, so unlike his hard, cold, and calculating personality that she was so used to, caused her to feel the need to sit down immediately. She slowly sank down onto a fallen log nearby, holding the still sniffling Solarus close to her.

Ami decided that there was no need to keep him in the dark about what was going on, now that she could finally speak to him. Your mother is coming Goliathus. She'll get you out of there.

A wash of intense surprise overcame her. She blinked back the tears at the disturbing way he was speaking. This was not like the Goliathus she knew at all. Had she somehow connected to a subconscious part of him?

Mother? Mother is dead.

She is not. I helped her. I went to the cathedral through your father. Goliathus your mother is alive again. Regenerated, if you will. I think Jezelle, the psychic woman you've met before, is helping her. Something about her and Trisha...and-

Darry. It is all about Darry.

Whose Darry?

The boy I killed. Took his eyes. Now his sister wants her revenge. She felt, more than heard, a weak chuckle in her mind, but it was quickly replaced by savage hatred. They think...I should be sorry. Should I be sorry? No humans were ever sorry at the pain they caused me! I hate these people who torment me. I want to kill all of them. But now, I have no eyes. I have no arms. And still they cut me apart.

Ami could not respond. The combined sadness coming from both him and her own feelings was far too much. She tried to pull away from his mental sendings, but it felt as if he were now gripping onto her like a drowning victim to a rope.

My mother. If this is true, send her away! They will only torture her as they are me! Send her away! SEND HER AWAY!

His voice, now roaring into her mind, caused Ami to scream out in pain. The almost tender way he had been speaking to her disappeared in a flash.

Goliathus no she will help you, she will help you!

Who the hell are you to have done such a thing? When I get out of here, why should I not find you and tear you limb from limb as I have always wanted to do? This is why our race is nearly gone! Weak, stupid minds as my mother, listening to humans and their lies! LIES!

No! She was not like them, she was different! How could Goliathus still think so little of her after all they'd been through?

Ami wanted to respond and defend herself but she remembered something important in that moment. Goliathus...and his mind. Gone into insanity. He was being kind one moment, and regressing back to his savage nature in the next. There would be no arguing with him. No amount of reasoning would convince him of anything.

He needed healing, and that was the only thing that was going to help him. She would ignore his threats, knowing once again they were idle.

Listen. I love you. Don't give up on me. Please, don't.

It seemed like a truly useless, ridiculous thing to say, and yet it was all that would come to her mind.

I listen. I listen to you and no other human.

Ami somehow found a smile at those unexpected words, quiet as they were. The rage seemed to die as fast as it had arrived at her profession of feelings, like water being poured over flames. But there was still incredible pain he was now guarding her from.

/

The old woman stood up slowly and marvelled at the glistening black form in the morning sunlight. Alonus was no longer a skinny, half-mummifed horror. Her form had filled out nicely, a curvy, serpentine creature with giant wings and eyes so starkly golden against her midnight skin that it was hard not to stare. Her long, blonde waves went all the way down to her waist, and she was standing there now, regarding Jezelle intently.

"So, do you want the blood exchange?" She spoke now, her voice somewhat deep but soft, carrying with it an edge of gentleness that one would not expect from a heradus at all.

But that's just the thing, isn't it? Jezelle thought to herself. All we know is the Creeper. All we keep judging them by are her son's actions.

"I don't know honey...sometimes I think...that I want to die. That I've lived my life and that going on...even if in a better body...well...I just don't know. You call what I have a gift...I've always felt this was a curse."

Alonus gave a small nod, as if she understood. "Then perhaps we will discuss this later, when you have had time to think about it more thoroughly." She looked up at the clear sky and unfurled her magnificent wingspan. The look on her face, however, when their eyes met again, was sullen and it seemed...angry.

"I have to go now and rescue a monster who deserves no rescuing. I am not so sure why I should."

Jezelle held her breath a moment, shocked. "Well child don't you...don't you still care about him?"

Alonus chuffed and flexed her claws, but the sadness in her eyes betrayed her anger. "I gave birth to him. I feel as much a monster as he is."

"But how can you blame yourself? No matter what you are, no matter this eternal hunger your kind face...he made his own decisions. It had little to do with you."

Then there was a painful, shimmering brightness that suddenly appeared next to Alonus. Jezelle felt surprised only for a moment until she recognized the flowing white robes.

I have tried to tell her this. But still, she blames herself. Barabas looked at Alonus forlornly. Please my love, for it is all my fault, and you know this.

Alonus did not respond, but her wings drooped to her sides.

I know you will have a very strained relationship in the beginning. But for now, go and rescue him, because there is Ami...and there is Solarus. We will worry about Goliathus and his mental illness when that time comes.

A man-eater can not be converted, Barabas. Over so many years? No. I am afraid you are too hopeful.

Barabas sighed, and the sound echoed strangely. Please. They are hurting him. His pain is great. If the last good part of him gives up, Ami will surely die by his claws, and then so many more humans, my beloved. You will only stop him by helping him.

Jezelle noticed the tears threatening to fall from Alonus' eyes, but she shook them away and raised her wings once more. Without another word, she took to the sky, and disappeared in a rippling bending of the atmosphere moments later.

What in the world?

Teleporting. I told you, she is magnificent.

/

It was getting to be difficult to watch any more. Jackie felt his stomach muscles clenching and he looked away, but he held his ground. The old man, however, kept watching with a satisfied smile. It actually made Jackie feel revulsion at this own father.

"Now he can't see a damned thing, so he doesn't know where they're going to cut him next. Heh heh. I bet he's gettin' a fine taste of what it's like to be one of his victims."

If only you knew, that what they do to me is what I learned from you wretched humans.

The words startled Jackie so much he took a few steps back, eyes blinking in astonishment. Jack noticed and furrowed his brow at him. "You all right son?"

He nodded, deciding he wasn't going to tell his father what he heard. Instead, he tried hard to push all fear aside and respond. Although he couldn't believe he was actually doing it.

What...what do you mean?

Jackie felt then, that the creature had heard him.

Humans did this to you? What do you mean?

The heradus shrieked out in agony, and Jackie saw Trisha stabbing him with the blade where the sun didn't shine. Then she pulled back hard, trying to yank it out, twisting and grunting with effort. When it finally came loose, she plunged it into his midsection, and he snarled, but weakly. Around her, her little helpers were laughing and joining in the torture. They had been stabbing him for nearly an hour. When did they plan on stopping? Wasn't it enough already?

Trisha struggled to free her blade again, then once again plunged it into his groin. He shrieked again but it was a much more pitiful sound, like a slowly dying animal.

"Just, STOP IT already!" Jackie had blurted the words out, loudly, and shocked himself to the core as he did so. Quite expectedly, his father looked at him in utter disbelief.

The entire room went silent. Trisha had turned around to look at him.

"Jackie?" Her small voice echoed in the cavernous room.

He was breathing hard, trying to get his confused emotions sorted out. He forced himself to speak again. "Stop it, Miss Jenner. Just...stop it." He shook his head. "This is wrong. So wrong."

The slight concern that had been in Trisha's voice disappeared as she now regarded him as if he had gone batshit insane. "What the hell? What do you mean this is wrong? I'm torturing this bastard like he did my brother." Her anger grew as another thought struck her mind. "Like he did your BROTHER. Or have you forgotten that, Jackie?" She threw down the weapon and stormed past Michael and out of the cage, but Jack Sr. intervened.

"Now hold on, hold on Jenner. Let's hear the boy out, hm?" Of course by now even his father was eying him suspciously, as if he also believed he had taken leave of his senses. "Jackie, maybe this is more than you can handle. If that's the case then go home...I won't blame you. But wrong? No son. It isn't wrong. That's the blasted Creeper right there, in that cage. The Creeper. No...no it surely isn't wrong and I'm certain of that. Certain as my name is Jack Taggart."

Jackie sighed, shaking his head, but now he knew his feelings were right, and he couldn't shake them no matter how hard he tried. "I-I can't explain it, dad. Miss Jenner. I can't. But trust me on this, it's wrong. And NO, I haven't fucking forgotten about Billy. Why do you always keep asking me that?" He took a few steps backwards, increasing the distance between them. "I know about Billy! I remember him, trust me I do! I had nightmares for years about seeing him being lifted into the sky and flown away from us forever. I remember his shrieks...screaming out for me..." He was crying now, and fiercely wiping the streaming tears from his face, trying to compose his dignity. "God dammit I remember!"

Trisha's face remained stoic. "Well then why do you say it's wrong? This..." she motioned behind her towards the cage. "...this should give you satisfaction. To know that this monster who snatched Billy out of your lives is now suffering. " Pausing she took a step closer to Jack Sr., as if standing by him was only further proving her words. "Your father understands this. He's waited years for this moment, Jackie. You're just feeling emotional, and I understand that. But believe me, it's not wrong. We can finally have some closure in our lives, with this bastard's suffering."

But Jackie shook his head at her, and fiercely, his face now red from crying. "No. No. Oh god, no. You are just making it worse. Don't you see? I never told dad. Never told him about the dreams with Billy...and your brother. What they told me."

Trisha lost her stoic gaze and furrowed her brow. "What? Darry?"

"Yeah, Darry. I just thought...I thought maybe it was my own imagination...coming from stress, anxiety...shit, I don't know. But what I do know is that those dreams felt so real...so freaking real...and I remember every word. But I never told dad...cause I knew he wouldn't believe me, or he'd think I'd lost my mind." He seemed to be trembling all over now. "But god, how I WANT to be like dad...like you! I just want to hate and watch him suffer and believe that will solve everything! But I can't! I try and I just can't, because the guilt, sadness, and shame-"

"Jackie goddammit, you're not making any sense."

"I don't know how to explain it, okay? I just don't! But you're right, I can't handle this shit anymore! I want no further part in it!" With that, Jackie brushed harshly past his father and headed for the way out.

It was in that exact moment that there was the loudest, most terrifying shriek he had ever heard in his life. Spinning around on his heels, Jackie sought out the source of the noise and his eyes went wide at the sight before him, inches away.

Another one of those creatures. About his height, but she was like a coiled black snake, ready to pounce at any movement. Jackie couldn't even breathe.

"No! NO!" It was Trisha, screaming in shock and fear at the sight of another monster. The men in the cage reacted swiftly however, and circled around her protectively, weapons held up in the creature's direction.

"Don't move. We're warning you."

Alonus hissed. The sound caused even these highly trained men to flinch.

"You are threatening me? Release my son now, or I will raise hell." Alonus crouched as if a panther, her golden eyes darting back and forth between all of them. Inside, she was a bit fearful, this was unlike any other cathedral she had ever seen, with strange metal structures and odd, unpleasant odors. A weird, foreign world that she did not feel comfortable in.

"Your son? Your son?" It was Trisha again, who pushed away from her protective circle to take a few hesitant steps closer, although she was still far out of reach. "Who the hell are you? What the fuck is going on?"

"You. You must be Patricia Jenner. My Barabas has told me about you."

The words only confused Trisha further, and she stood there, frozen.

"He has said that you are carrying out your planned revenge. That my son killed your brother." Her gaze bored into her. "I understand. Believe me when I tell you, that I can understand. I wanted to kill all the Roman soldiers that came after my priest, who tortured my son. But here and now, you will also listen to me when I tell you that if you do not let him go, I will do what I must to stop you."

For a while, there was nothing but silence, until a malicious smirk slowly crept its way onto Trisha's features. "Really?" She cast a glance over her shoulder to her men with an unimpressed chuckle. "Wow. This just keeps getting better and better. So...what? You think that I'm afraid of you? I'm done being afraid! I'm done, and I'm going to kill you just like your son. If you really are the mother of that fucking monster, then you need to die right along with him!" Trisha signaled, and the men fired their electrified tasers. However, much to their great astonishment, the air shuddered around her and she disappeared, causing them to crash and spark uselessly against the wall.

Jack had been watching, just as shocked as everyone else. He went to find his rifle, but his son stopped him. "Dad no! Let's just get the hell out of here!"

"Jackie do you see that? Do you? It's another of those god damned fucking monsters!" He was hysterical as he tried with shaking hands to load his gun as quickly as possible.

"Dad, listen to me! Let's go, and NOW!" Jackie tried to tug on his arm, but it was useless. His dad shoved him away, aimed, and fired, but by the time he had, the creature had suddenly vanished.

Then, she appeared again, phasing right in front of Trisha, picking her up, and hurling her across the room. She flew back into a table, the sound of the crash echoing loudly throughout the place, and groaned at the pain in her back and shoulders as she lie on the floor. Alonus moved quickly, so fast that the men kept losing their aim as they desperately tried to strike her down. Jack Sr. began firing wildly with his shotgun, and by chance one of his bullets struck her, blasting through the leathery skin of her wing. Alonus shrieked angrily, and wheeled around towards him.

"NO!" Jackie thought for sure she was going to rip his father apart, and tried to jump inbetween them. He felt her connect with him, and in the next moment, she had him angrily hoisted up and unceremoniously dumped onto the floor.

Stay out of this. You are not my enemy. I will not kill your father, but I will defend myself.

Then her banshee-like cry filled the air again, and Jack Sr. yelled out in fear as she snatched the gun from him and hurled it away, causing him to fall backwards.

"Release my son! Release him!" She turned to Trisha, and saw the woman slowly gathering herself off the ground, one hand reached around to her back.

"Fuck you, bitch. Never! Fire! Get her! Get her!"

As this was going on she heard her son's weak pleas in her mind, but ignored them. The human woman was insane, coming at her with a long stick with a sharp blade, and the men with their strange lightning weapons.

Alonus sighed, and made a decision. She lept into the air and found a higher perch, settling on a support beam. Then she flapped her wings furiously, created an incredible surge of wind like a tornado. No one was able to stay on their feet, and the entire lot of them ended up crumpled against a wall. She stopped, hoping it would keep them disoriented long enough for her to get to Goliathus.

She lept down to the floor, and quickly headed for him.

"No Trisha! Trisha! The damn electricity is turned off! Stop her, stop her!" Jack screamed, trying to get up, but his aging back had gone out from the hard fall. He groaned in pain and tried to at least get to a sitting position so he could fire at her with the shotgun, but it was no use. His body would not move.

Alonus paused briefly to stare at the old farmer, but she only scowled at him before heading into the cage, and stopped short at the sight of her son.

Goliathus? Oh...what have they done to you?

Mother? He had no eyes, or arms. His body had stab marks all over in every inch that she could see.

Was it her? After so many years did he dare hope to-

A sound of a shotgun, and she screamed. He cried out as well, suddenly more fearful than he had ever been...at least since the day of his torment, all those years ago.

No! NO! Mother! Get out of here! GET OUT!

It was Trisha. She had somehow managed to recover and had gotten shakily to her feet, and had taken the shotgun from the farmer. Alonus had a bleeding wound in her thigh, and was snarling at her with all teeth bared.

"You fucking, hideous monster. If you think you or the Creeper are getting out of here alive, you can all go to hell." She cocked the gun again, aimed it.

NO! Mother!

Alonus stared at her, then shook her head slowly. "I think that this time, Barabas has something to say about that."

For one moment, Trisha hesitated in confusion, and then suddenly a bitter coldness surrounded her. Her hands froze as if paralyzed, and she found to her growing fear that she could not press the trigger.

I will not let you. I cannot let you. Patricia Jenner, someday you will understand. But for now, we must get you out of the way. It is over.

Trisha tried to scream, but no sound would come from her throat. And in the next moment...she was suddenly no longer in the Facility.

She was in a strange cathedral, with bodies hanging everywhere, and endless, burning torches.

Trembling in overwhelming fear and confusion, she turned to see a bald man behind her, with flowing white robes and piercing blue eyes.

"We have much to discuss, young Patricia."

And then, past his shoulder, she saw Darry. Clear as day, and looking at her sadly with his warm, brown eyes.

She shook her head, her own eyes unnaturally wide.

Words would not come.

/

End Chapter 14