ACT IX
/A/N- This chapter includes reflecting back on a scene throughout each chapter of this story, but if you've been away and you're catching up, chapter 5 is a good summary to recall most events. As always, all music cues are easily available for listen via YouTube/
(the camera pans in on Jeff's face as he lies on the ground unconscious. The kaleidoscope effect ensues, and white mist forms around the borders of the screen, indicating he is entering a dream sequence)
-music cue: the beginning of "Meditations" by Robert Cobert loops during the dream sequence-
Jeff slowly opened his eyes and saw that he was in the same basement in his dream the night before, and, to his surprise, he saw the man in black robes across the room.
(all movement is in slow-motion, no audio except music is heard)
A dark blue fog covered the ground and was waist high around him as he stood. The man in black robes looked up, and, just as before, stood at the far end of the room wearing the frightening golden mask with many colored stones embedded within. Only this time, instead of the black book, he drew a dagger from his robe and slowly walked toward Jeff.
Paralyzed with fear, Jeff found himself unable to move or run away. In his mind, he knew this mysterious specter in the mask was indeed the vengeful spirit of warlock Judah Zachary.
-music loop hits peak volume-
From out of the shadows, a transparent woman in a white dress, whom Jeff recognized as Angelique, appeared and ran toward the masked figure. Her arms grabbed his, and ,as they struggled, he threw her to the ground. Before she landed, her hand caught the bottom of the figure's mask, causing it to fall to the ground.
(camera zooms in on the mask hitting the ground and shattering like glass)
The figure's hands covered his face, and he clenched his fists over his eyes. As his fists lowered, his eyes were opened, and they burned with intense rage and hatred. Though balding on top, the man had long hair, and his eyes burned black with rage and evil.
The ghostly figure of Angelique lay on the ground, and she screamed silently while reaching her hand out to Jeff. Before Jeff could react, Angelique was consumed by a white flame that made her writhe in torment as she vanished in only seconds.
The dagger gleamed as Judah drew it again, staring deeply into Jeff's eyes. However, as Jeff looked into the man's eyes, he saw Judah Zachary's face beginning to fade slowly as a new one was being formed.
As the old face began fading and the new one formed, Judah Zachary projected still images into Jeff's mind.
(music screeches loudly with each image flash; between each image, Judah's new face becomes more visible and recognizable)
(images Jeff sees)
-David digging a coffin in the spot where Dr Guthrie discovered the hole-
-David opening the coffin and putting on the mask of Baal-
-The shadowed figure that was standing on their porch during the storm-
-David standing in the doorway after Jeff opened the door and shot-
-David sitting by the fireplace, holding the brass pentagram-
-David smiling inside Jeff's art gallery at his portrait of Charles and Angelique burning-
-David backing against the door when Dr Guthrie's black jet stone ring was close to him in the car-
-David walking ahead of them fearlessly toward the tower of the mansion-
(the new face of Judah Zachary forms, and it is David's face)
Jeff screamed as he realized that Judah revealed his possession and control of David the entire time that David was with them. He knew that Judah had brought them there to destroy them once the full moon of Samhain was shining, opening the way for his spirit to return in full power. Jeff fell down to his knees and began screaming. His eyes were closed, and his hands covered his temples.
(the white border recedes, indicating the dream sequence is fading)
-music cue opening of "Night of the Pentagram" by Robert Cobert loops-
(movement is in slow motion)
Jeff was still on his knees screaming as he began to wake from the dream, and he turned and ran toward the staircase. The basement door flew open, and Jeff, covered in perspiration, hurriedly made his way across the hallway to the stairs.
(camera cuts away at David and Dr Guthrie pulling away the debris that had fallen on the staircase, but they both turn as they hear Jeff coming toward them)
Wild and fierce with madness, Jeff's eyes focused on David as he lunged toward him. Jeff grabbed David's shirt and pushed him down the hallway towards the terrace. The lock that held doors to the terrace was no match for the strength Jeff's madness had given him. With a loud smash, Jeff pushed David right through them.
David struggled to cry out and break free from his hold, but Jeff's madness had overtaken him and was impossible to subdue. Jeff grunted as he began to push David over the balcony's edge. David's hands grasped furiously for a grip of anything within reach to secure himself from falling.
With a loud blast that echoed through the night sky, Jeff's grip loosened on David, and he screamed out as he fell over the edge.
(camera shows Dr Guthrie standing in the doorway holding a smoking gun, and he runs to the edge to stand beside David; music stops)
"Are you alright, David?" Dr Guthrie asked David as he backed away from the edge of the balcony.
David nodded. "Jeff...he tried to kill me! Why? Why, Dr Guthrie?"
Dr Guthrie spoke through labored breathing. "He...he was mad, David. The mind is a delicate thing. It...it can only take so...so much."
Dr Guthrie peered over the edge, and looked down at Jeff's lifeless body.
(overhead view of Jeff's body is shown, with a bloody gunshot wound in the left side of his chest; camera pans back to Dr Guthrie looking down over the edge)
"Come now, David, we have to go get Mag-"
As Dr Guthrie began to speak and turn around, David quickly shoved Dr Guthrie off the balcony.
(camera shows Dr Guthrie falling, then lying face-down on the ground by Jeff)
-music cue "A Darkness at Collinwood" by Robert Cobert plays-
"No need to worry, Doctor. I'll get Maggie." David said as he stared down at Dr Guthrie's and Jeff's bodies lying on the ground.
David looked at the night sky and saw the clouds around the moon moving away. Smiling as he turned toward the door, David walked slowly and somewhat triumphantly into the house.
When he reached the stairway leading to the gallery, David walked through the pathway that he and Dr Guthrie managed to clear before Jeff had attacked him.
As David reached the top of the stairs , he leaned against the door that led to the tower gallery where Maggie had entered only moments ago. His face twisted into a satisfied grin. With a slow turn of the knob, David went inside the gallery, closing the door behind him.
**I do not own the rights to Dark Shadows. My fanfiction is only meant for the enjoyment of the reader**