Chapter 2: A Sunday, 1729
Today marked the anniversary of Thacker Porter's death. My father's death. I never did get to meet him as he died shortly before I was born. I suppose it's paradoxical as I'm moving into his former home today. But something troubles me. Why did my father leave me the deed to his house in his will? Augustus needed it more than I did. He recently lost his home to a mysterious fire and had a growing family to consider. He said he didn't mind, so I didn't press the matter.
Augustus informed me there was a farmhand named Tucker and a cook named Cassidy who would live with me in the servant's quarters and tend to tasks around the house. They came to my father's property shortly after his health declined. Tucker offered to maintain the property until he got better. However, when my father passed, Cassidy was called upon to assist my mother. She had been grateful for everything they did for her, but she didn't get to thank them as she departed us this past spring. Hopefully I would get to meet them later to tell them.
"Abigail. Are you listening?" Augustus' voice sounded stern. I snapped out of my thoughts and gave him my attention.
"I'm sorry brother. Just lost in thought about everything that needs to get done. Let's get started."
After an exhausting few days, we had everything unpacked and in its proper place. Tucker and Cassidy were wonderful, and I was fortunate to have them here. Life should be good. However, I couldn't help but be concerned. I've been having the same dream every night since I arrived. I dreamt of being buried alive; my hands scratching against the coffin I was trapped inside. Additionally, I would see a fire burning me alive while in the coffin.
A few weeks had passed by without incident until I saw them for the first time. I thought I was seeing things, but after rubbing my eyes, it wasn't a trick of the eye. I saw figures watching me from the woods. I was told there weren't any other houses out here. I should probably address this to Tucker and Cassidy. The people from Norwich have avoided this area due to its rumors of death and violence. I felt this was speculation as I have felt nothing but peace and tranquility while living here.
"Miss Porter?" I heard Cassidy call from the house. "Ms. Rosenthal have finally arrived. Shall I unpack her things and place them in the guest room?"
I shook my head to clear it. Now was not the time to be thinking of such dreadful things. "If you would, thank you. I will be in shortly to greet her."
Maybe I was seeing things that weren't there due to lack of sleep. I woke up last night after having that recurring dream and thought I saw a girl standing near my bed. It turned out it was just a shadow. I didn't mean to wake up Tucker with my scream, but it was alarming to think a stranger was in my bedroom. He didn't seem to mind as he talked with me so I could calm down. I eventually fell back asleep, but it was restless. I hoped to sleep better tonight.
I made my way into the house where I saw the older woman sitting in the parlor. She was sipping a cup of tea, conversing with Cassidy. She must have sensed my presence as she turned toward me as I walked into the room.
"Abigail Porter. It has been some time." She got up to embrace me. We had become close friends over the years despite the age difference. Augustus told me that she came to know our father years before, but the reason was a mystery. He remembers coming home with his mother after being away to visit his aunt. Our father said there was a young woman staying in the guest bedroom. He also recollected Jacqueline being kind to him. One day, she told him she was running an errand, but she never came back.
She came back to Norwich when Augustus was 19 years old. She had a child with her: her son Joseph. He had been the product of Jacqueline being raped by a well-respected resident in town. She had been running from her rapist on that day she last saw Augustus. It's speculated our father killed him when he found out what happened, but there was no hard evidence. If he did, our father took that secret with him to the grave. Augustus kept in touch with her since. When I was nine years old, my brother introduced us. She was like a second mother to me, and Joseph became one of my best friends. He didn't seem to mind hanging out with me even though he was seven years older.
"I have missed you Jackie. It's been too long." I took a seat in the chair next to her, and I poured myself some tea. "I didn't think you would be here until Tuesday. Not that I mind of course. Just unexpected."
"I had meant to write you a letter, but everything happened so fast. Joseph and Alayna had their first daughter, so I wanted to surprise them. I didn't think you would mind my early arrival." She smiled at me. I was happy for Joseph. He was an amazing father and his wife became a dear friend of mine.
"You are hosting a dinner tonight?" Jacqueline asked. "Your letter stated there would be quite a few people attending, but I can't seem to recall the occasion."
"It is in honor of a family friend. We are celebrating the birth of his first child. Joseph said he would try to attend, given Alayna's condition. My brother and his family are coming. He had asked me if he could invite his friend over. I guess the wife passed not too long ago, so my brother wanted try and get him out of the house. I believe his name is Amos."
I heard glass break and saw Jacqueline's teacup in pieces on the floor. She had gone pale. "You don't happen to mean Amos Sterling, do you?" She whispered. I nodded my head, confused by the reaction. While I had never met Amos, my brother told me he was a decent man.
"How do you know Amos?" I asked. Jacqueline stood up and took my hands into hers. She looked sad.
"Abigail. I don't know what you know regarding your father. I don't even think your brother knows everything. His mother wasn't informed of my real reason for being there all those years ago. I know you've asked me to know more about him. I don't feel it is my place, but I only feel it is right." Her unsmiling expression made a knot form in my stomach. What was she about to tell me that made her this concerned?
"What does my father have to do with Amos? Do they know each other? Should I be worried?"
"There is bad blood between your father and Amos. The reason for that is…" She took a deep breath. "Your father killed Amos' sister, Agatha."
I took a step back. My father had murdered someone? But why? There had to be a rational explanation for this. I had always heard that he was well-respected and while he seemed rough around the edges, he fiercely cared for those he deemed worthy.
"I know what you're thinking. That it's not possible. That your father was a revered figure in Norwich. But he had some horrible secrets. He did kill Agatha Sterling. But you have to understand. It was necessary." Jacqueline simply stated.
Disgusted didn't begin to cover how I felt about this revelation. "Why would it be essential to kill another human being? This is horrifying to hear about this. How would it be necessary?"
"Didn't think I would be rehashing these memories. Before all this happened, Agatha was a beloved friend of mine. The poor girl had become possessed by an entity intent on causing death. She had killed Batcher Borne in cold blood."
"Batcher?" I asked. It couldn't be, I thought. "My friend who were celebrating tonight had a grandfather named Batcher. Could it be possible…?"
"It is highly likely that your friend and Batcher are related. So unfortunate all that has happened to the Borne's. She would have killed me as well if it wasn't for your father. He saved my life, Abigail."
Tears stung my eyes. While I felt killing in cold blood was intolerable, this seemed to be a bizarre exception. "I'm assuming Amos was not pleased when he found out his sister had been, from his perspective, murdered." I couldn't imagine how I would feel if I found out someone killed my brother.
"He was a young child when it happened, so he doesn't remember much. But Amos' father had a grudge against your father. Not only did Thacker kill Agatha…" Jacqueline paused again. "…but Agatha had told me that your father killed her aunt years before. Daniel Sterling lost a sister and a daughter to the same man. It would be hard to believe that Daniel wouldn't have had some nasty words to say to his remaining children about Thacker."
I fell back into my chair. My head was spinning with this information. Everyone in Norwich knew there was a hostility between the Porter's and the Sterling's, but I was never informed of the reason. It made me wonder how Augustus and Amos became friends.
"Jacqueline. How did you come to know my father?" I asked her.
She closed her eyes and turned to face the window. "I suppose it's too late to change your mind. After all, you did just find out he is responsible for the deaths of two people. But I came to know him inadvertently. Agatha, Batcher and I were taking a stroll in the woods when Batcher decided to check out the eerie house in the woods."
Before I could ask, she nodded. "Yes, I am referring to this very house. We tried talking him out of it as it was getting dark and didn't want to worry our families. Especially Agatha's. We did find the house and before we could look around, a rock flew and hit me in the forehead."
She pointed to the faint scar on her forehead as she chuckled. "You can thank your father for that. I can't blame him. He was merely defending his property from strangers. After a brief altercation, we came to a mutual understanding and got to know him better. To find out what really happened on the day Ivy Sterling went missing." She paused to take a sip of tea.
"We found out that she was killed 'out of mercy' as she had been mortally wounded. Thacker did not want to end her life, but she insisted and he honored that. We also found out that my aunt Josephine and Batcher's brother Thatcher were with Ivy and have never been seen. I still don't know to this day what happened to her. My father refused to talk about it."
I felt a chill run through me. There had been a lot of tragedies and death on this property. Seeing those ghostly figures in the woods was starting to make more sense. The souls who were trapped here and had to watch as someone else take residence. It made me start to question if deciding to live here was a good idea.
There was a knock at the door. Cassidy was already on her way to answer it. I heard her greet someone, but my thoughts were elsewhere. All this new information about my father had left my mind in a daze.
"Ms. Porter, your brother has arrived." Cassidy walked into the room, my brother behind her. There was another man with him. He appeared to be in his 40's, his long, dark hair tied neatly in the back. He had bright blue eyes. I had never seen anything like it. They were captivating yet chilling. Augustus walked toward me and pulled me into a hug.
"Abby. I hope you don't mind that I've arrived early. Ruth and the children will be here soon." He stepped back. "Where are my manners? Abby, this gentleman here is Amos Sterling."
Amos bowed slightly before taking my hand and placed a light peck on the top. "It is nice to finally meet you, Ms. Abigail Porter. Your brother has told me a lot about you."
I couldn't help but smile at his kindness. Most men seemed to be rude to me as I wasn't as obedient as other women. "The feeling is mutual, Mr. Amos Sterling."
Augustus noticed Jacqueline behind me, a huge smile on his face. "Jacqueline." He walked to her and they embraced. "It's been a long time. All has been well with you, I hope?" They engaged in hushed conversation, so I allowed them their privacy.
"Would you like a cup of tea, Mr. Sterling?" I asked. I wanted to get to know my brother's friend better. He seemed like a respectable and cultured man.
"Yes, that would be nice, Ms. Porter." He took a seat at the table in the dining room as I asked Cassidy to prep more hot water. There was another knock at the door. I told Cassidy not to worry about it. When I opened the door, I saw it was Baxter, his fiancée Hannah and their son Adam. His parents were on their way as well.
We exchanged formalities and I guided them inside. Amos was still sitting in the dining area, sipping his tea. Augustus and Jacqueline had joined him. While she appeared to be wary of Amos, Jacqueline appeared to be engaged in an energetic discussion with him. I chose not to join their chat and checked on Cassidy. She had brought her sisters to assist with preparations for the dinner tonight. I picked up a knife to help cut potatoes.
"What are you doing, Ms. Porter? You don't need to do that. We have this under control." Cassidy came beside me and was trying to take the knife away.
"I don't mind. Just needed a little break from the crowd Besides, you have done so much already and I like to help." I smiled at her and continued cutting. I heard her chuckle softly as she resumed her task. As I finished, I went to clean my hands and nearly ran straight into Amos.
"I'm so sorry, Abigail. I didn't see you there." He chuckled in embarrassment. "Would it be all right if I asked your cook a question?"
"It's fine, Mr. Sterling. I should have been paying attention. Of course. Cassidy's just by the counter." I pointed out Cassidy to him as I headed to the dining room to check on the other guests. I saw that Jacqueline's son and his family arrived as well as my sister-in-law. She saw me and slowly made her way over.
"Ruth. I'm so happy you were able to make it. How have you been feeling? Hope the trip didn't tire you too much."
She rubbed her belly and softly laughed. "It was no trouble at all. But this little one has been quite lively. Definitely the most active child yet." We continued our conversation until it was time for dinner.
As we took our seats at the large table, we were excited to see the selection of food: mutton with corn, potatoes and beans. Dessert was an assortment of freshly picked berries from the nearby woods. Tea and coffee were served for the women while the men enjoyed some whiskey my brother had recently bottled. We occupied ourselves with lively discussions, and the food was wonderful. While Baxter and I talked about the latest book I finished, Tucker came into the room. I didn't pay him much attention until he came up behind me and whisper into my ear.
"I know it seems unconventional of me, Ms. Porter." I noticed Tucker didn't take his eyes off of Amos as he spoke. "But I am in need of your assistance outside. Can you bring Mr. Borne as well?"
I excused myself from the table and asked Baxter to join us. I was puzzled by Tucker's unusual behavior. He was a serious fellow who did not get riled up. We made our way outside, away from the house. When I asked him what was going on, he told me to keep following him and to be quiet. Near the cellar door, there was a small hole with something shimmering.
"I found this buried near the cellar. Safe to say it was not here when I was doing chores earlier." Baxter and I looked in the hole to see a crucifix lying there. But it was partly covered in an unusual brown liquid.
"That looks like the one hanging from my bedroom. How did it get here? And what's that substance?" As I reached for it, Tucker grabbed my hand. He shook his head vigorously and advised that was not the best idea.
Jaqueline came rushing out from the back door and looked around the yard. It appeared she had the same brownish liquid on the front of her dress as the crucifix in the ground. "Baxter! We need your help! Something's wrong with Cassidy!" Baxter and I started rushing to the house, but Tucker pulled me back.
"I think it would be wise if you stayed out here." Before I could question him, everyone else was rushing out of the house in a panic. Jacqueline was leading them far from the house.
"What is going on? Do you know something, Tucker?" I wasn't sure why I asked that. He has been outside starting the evening chores while they were still eating dinner. But the way he kept his eye on Amos was strange. When he didn't answer me, I repeated, "Is there something you have against Mr. Sterling?"
"Let's just say Amos Sterling isn't what he appears to be." The finality in his tone stopped me from proceeding further. I looked over at Jacqueline, and she appeared to be giving instructions.
"Where is my sister? Is she okay?" I heard my brother ask. She reassured him by pointing me out next to Tucker. He appeared to be relieved as he escorted his family down the road toward their home. Everyone who showed up for dinner started to leave as well. But there was one person I didn't see outside: Amos Sterling.
When Jacqueline's son left, she hastily made her way toward us. "When we were cleaning up, Cassidy started coughing violently and collapsed. When I went to check on her, she coughed up blood. Or what I thought was blood." She pointed down her dress. "That is what I'm covered in and it smells foul."
"Jacqueline…where are Baxter and Amos? Are they still in the house or did they leave with everyone else?" She gave me a puzzled look.
"When Baxter ran out of dressing, Cassidy managed to say there was more in the cellar. He's been down there for some time. As for Amos, I haven't seen him since we sat down for dinner. But now that you say it, I don't think I saw him exit the house with the rest of us. I honestly didn't pay attention as everything was in chaos."
I had an uneasy feeling. "I should go check on Baxter. Tucker, can you come with me? I don't feel comfortable going down to the cellar alone. I'm sure everything is fine." Tucker nodded his head, and we descended down the stairs. I grabbed the lantern, lit the candle and pressed forward.
"Baxter? Where are you?" I said into the darkness. There was no response. The uneasy feeling increased as I called out to him again. It remained silent.
"It is possible he's back upstairs. We would have found him by now if he were here, or he would have at least acknowledged you," suggested Tucker. He was probably right. We started to head back to the stairs to go outside.
"Abby!" Baxter grabbed me. I screamed as I tried to push away. When I realized it was Baxter, I allowed myself to relax. But I was angry.
"Baxter! That's not funny! You really scared me!" When I shined the light on his face, his eyes looked fevered. He was sweating and was shaking a little. My stomach dropped as he continued.
"Did you see it too? There's a body down here! Why is there a body down here? It's a young girl. I don't recognize her, but her body is severely decayed." He started to chuckle. He still hadn't let go on my arm. "Are you a murderer Abby? Why do you have a body in your cellar space?"
My eyes widened at this. What body? If it was as decayed as he said, Tucker and I would have smelled something when we were looking for him. He let go of my arm and ran down the hall. "It's right in here! Why is it here?!"
Tucker decided to go check for himself. I saw him glance around the room. I could see his expression was that of confusion as he glared at Baxter. "What are you trying to pull here, boy? There's no body in there. Just some sacks of potatoes."
Baxter started to laugh manically. "I'm not trying to pull anything! There's a dead body of a girl in there! Why don't you believe me? Abby, you believe me, right?" Even though he looked crazed, it was obvious he was genuinely frightened. I looked at Tucker's shaking head.
"Baxter…are you sure you didn't mistake the sacks of potatoes as a body? Are you feeling okay? You look ashen. Come upstairs with me, please. Take a rest. Jacqueline told me you did a lot for Cassidy." I reached out for him, but he slapped my hand away.
He screamed in frustration. "I wish you would believe me! There is a body in there! I would have no reason to lie!" He started banging his head against the retaining wall. Tucker tried pulling him away to stop. Baxter pushed him away and continued to bang his head.
"Baxter, stop! Please!" He continued his beating until his forehead was bleeding profusely. I ran up to him, grabbing his arm as another attempt to get him to stop. He shoved me away and glowered at me.
"Why won't you let me die? We're all doomed to die here! Just like that girl! Just like my grandfather!" He picked up a rock and resumed beating himself. My pleas went unheard as he pounded the rock repeatedly into his head. Without warning, the rock was removed from his hand. I could tell this confused him, and I watched his body shot up in the air and his knife mysteriously unsheathed itself from the holder.
"What the hell…?" Tucker snatched my hand and pulled me away from the scene in front of us. He managed to cover my eyes before I heard the knife slice into flesh and gurgling. I knew what happened and started to viciously shake. It became hard to breathe as I couldn't stop bawling. Tucker pulled me away as we rushed outside. Jacqueline saw my distressed state and ran over.
"Abigail! What's wrong? Did you find Baxter?" At hearing his name, a howl bubbled from my throat and tears stung my eyes.
"We found Baxter in the basement. He was talking nonsense about finding a body. Something was not right with him. But that wasn't the strangest thing that happened," Tucker whispered to Jacqueline as I continued to cry. "It was as if…something unseen raised him in the air and sliced his throat open. He was dead before he hit the ground."
Jacqueline gasped. "I don't understand. Something lifted him up in the air and neither one of you saw what it was?" She knelt down next to me and cradled me in her arms. "I'm sorry you had to witness that Abby. We need to get out of here. We're not safe here."
Cassidy came stumbling out of the house. She was screaming at someone to get away from her. I opened one eye to see Amos walking down the back steps and toward the four of us. He appeared to be chanting something unintelligible. I felt Jacqueline tighten her hold on me.
"He's chanting the sacred incantation for the Creed of Fenrisúlfr!" I heard Tucker shout. He sounded furious. "Amos, stop this at once!"
"Amos, what are you doing? I don't understand what's going on…" My thought dropped off as he paused his invocation.
"You thought you could hide here. How foolish of you," responded Amos. He was directing his accusation at Tucker and Cassidy. "I had a hunch the moment I saw you two. But my suspicions were confirmed when I poured the vial of heinios into your drink, Cassidy. You didn't drop dead when you consumed it, but instead your body rejected it. No matter who you are or what your intentions. When you make a deal with Hell…Hell always comes for you. He has come to collect the debts owed. The two of you should've known better."
A scream pierced the air. Jacqueline and I witnessed an orange light coming from the woods. We watched in horror as shadowy tendrils crept toward Cassidy. She screamed and tried to get away from it. But she was too weak from her poisoning and was easily snatched by them. She was drug away and disappeared into the woods. We could hear her screams before they abruptly ended.
"Cassidy!" Tucker pointed a finger at Amos, aghast at what occurred. "You bastard! I may have agreed to this before, but this is taking it too far! I won't have anything more to do with this. Especially if it means harming Ms. Porter!"
We hear Amos snicker. "What a shame. Cassidy was one of the best servants for Him. No matter. There's always someone else willing to take over. Guess you'll be next as a sacrifice for Him. I had thought you were stronger than that, Tucker."
The smell of brimstone and the clatter of hooves filled the air. I turned to see an enormous black mare materializing from the thicket of trees.
"Hell has decided some in this house owe it hard labor and has come to collect."
I saw Tucker's eyes widen in horror at the sight of the mare. "Tarzoth. This cannot be." Jacqueline and I watched as the giant horse emitted a light from its eyes and immediately put Tucker under a spell. A portal of light appeared behind it and Tucker started walking toward it. Once he got to the entryway and touched the light, he let out a harrowing scream before evaporating into a green mist.
"What did you do to them! You monster!" Jacqueline pulled me behind her as Amos walked toward us. He said something under his breath and Tarzoth paraded around the house, creating a barrier between us and the house.
"You cannot run into the house for safety. The time has come for my Master to rise from his prison in hell and take over. It is also time for me to make this personal and complete my personal vendetta against your family." Amos pointed at me. "You won't be leaving this place alive, Abigail Porter. Whether it's by my hand of Tarzoth's. Just make it easy and accept your fate now instead of delaying the inevitable. Once the two of you sacrifice yourselves to the light, another step will have been completed to releasing Him from His prison."
Jacqueline took my face in her hands before telling me to grab the crucifix and to make a break for the woods. She promised me she would be all right and that if she wasn't at the Hanging Tree in two hours, I needed to leave and find help in Norwich.
"There's nothing you can do to protect her, Rosenthal. What can an old hag like you do against a man of my abilities?" Amos sneered as he tried taking off after me. Jacqueline seemed to anticipate this and grabbed the tails of his jacket to temporarily halt him as I grabbed the crucifix and ran to the woods.
I didn't dare look back and continued to run as fast as I could. I heard the sounds of hooves behind me. I tried picking up my speed, but it was useless. There was a flash of light that appeared in front of me. Based on what I witnessed tonight, I turned to avoid stepping into it. I could no longer hear the mare running after me but I kept sprinting. It was getting harder to take in air as I was not used to this kind of physical activity. There was a small cave up ahead and I ducked down inside of it so I could catch my breath.
"Abigail Porter! Where are you?" I froze. Amos was looking for me. Where was Jacqueline? I hoped that Amos didn't do something to her. I tried getting lower to the ground on the chance he peeked in the cave. I desperately searched for anything I could use to defend myself. If anything, I could use the crucifix as a weapon.
There was the sound of rustling leaves coming closer. I refused to breathe as I feared he would be able to somehow hear it. "Abigail!" I heard him call out again. "Stop dawdling. This is going to happen whether you like it or not. I promise I won't make your pain last too long if you come out now."
I risked a peek. He was standing on the hill above my hiding spot. There was the sound of more rustling a little further away and that seemed to catch Amos' attention. "You foolish woman! You can't even hide properly!" He rushed after the sound, his footsteps getting more faint.
I couldn't stay here. I needed to either get to the Hanging Tree, like Jacqueline said. Honestly, I hope I would run into her and we could escape this together. He was too powerful for the two of us, I felt. Crawling out of the cave, I rushed to the tree as quietly as I could.
After a few minutes, I saw Jacqueline in the distance. I was elated to see her still alive. I ran toward her, failing to hear the sound of crunching leaves to my right. "Abigail!" I heard her scream. I felt something sharp bury itself into my back. I fell forward and rolled onto the ground. All I could feel was a searing pain in my chest.
"Amos, stop! I beg you!" yelled Jacqueline. I could see Amos coming toward us. I tried standing up, but he knocked me back down, pinned me with his foot. That was when I realized I had a spear sticking out of my chest, blood gushing from the wound.
"I may not have been able to kill the old man, but I will get my revenge. My sister Agatha…she didn't deserve to die at the hands of your father. Your whole family is a stain in this community. You feel you're entitled to do as you please with no consequences. The only exception to your sorry excuse of a family is your brother! He was the only friend I had. I couldn't kill him. But I will have no issues killing you!" I watched him pull out a dagger and drug his finger across the blade.
Why did it have to be me? I didn't do anything to deserve this other than having the Porter name. Based on how we were interacting earlier this evening, I thought Amos and I could have been friends. Maybe something more down the road. It turns out I was mistaken and now I'd have to pay with my life.
"Guess you'll just have to be the substitute for your father. I will thoroughly enjoy this. This one's personal. Fuck the debt owed to Him." Amos slashed the knife across my throat. Blood started to fill my throat, making it hard to breathe. I started panicking which caused my breathing to pick up. My vision was getting fuzzy and dark. I thought I had heard Jacqueline cry out and throw herself at Amos. The last thing I saw was her taking the same dagger and stabbing him in the eye.
"You bitch!" I heard him scream at me. Looking back at Abigail's lifeless body, it started to bring back memories of that night from long ago. Memories that I had kept locked up deep inside my mind. I felt anger bubbling up inside me as Amos pulled his knife out, blood gushing down his face.
"Enough of this! Get into that light and sacrifice yourself! No one would miss a whore like you anyway," Amos sneered at me. He came rushing at me, knife outward and ready to attack. I managed to get the crucifix lying on the ground and brought it down into his other eye, permanently blinding him. His screams filled the area as he dropped his weapon and clutched his new gash. I knocked him down and pulled the rope I found earlier from my knapsack. I wrapped it around his neck, forming a loop and pulled hard. He didn't have any time to react as he started to thrash around and attempted to loosen it from his neck.
I continued to pull with all my strength. Amos started to fight less. His face was an ugly shade of purple as his hands fell from his neck. He fell to the ground with a thud. I noticed he was barely breathing, but I wasn't going to take any chances. I grabbed the knife and stabbed him in the same spot he killed Abigail. As I pulled the knife out of his unmoving form, a bright light coming from the direction of the house. The Night Mare made a guttural whinny sound before retreating into the light.
The beast was driven off, the bright light fading from view. Where it was lies a package, wrapped in oilcloth. I walked over to examine it. Did it come from the light? I thought. Or was it placed there earlier and I didn't notice it? I know not what it could mean.
I brought the package into the empty house and started looking through the scattered pages. Amos has left stacks of mad scribblings, written in a rust-colored ink. There's an incantation to "summon the Night Mare," as well as something about a Sacred Order and a "great awakening." These are the rantings of a mind rotted by evil. I know not why someone would consort with Hell. This house corrupts even the most devout of souls. I wish this wouldn't have happened to Amos, but even the strongest of us can be consumed with sin.
"I have a feeling this is far from over," I said to myself. "But to witness the triumph of the divine over evil, even if only for a moment, fills me with hope, and I want that to linger." Evil will try to overcome its loss. Hell remembers those who cross its path. From this day forth, our four families were marked, as Hell does not take defeat lightly. The sight of Hell on earth tests the heartiest of souls, and finding faith is not an uncommon reaction. After the events that took place that night, I am very fortunate to be alive and I thanked God for that. Maybe something positive will still come from this. It would be nice to achieve some peace instead of having our families continue to suffer from this entity.
