Chapter 12: The Darkness beneath Part 4

There is a giant cross on a hill. Below it sits a small church on the outskirts of Heddwich, away from the town. A crumbling sign reads Good Shepherd Church of St. Asaph. The church would be lovely and picturesque, if not for the fact that its windows were boarded up and the grounds wild and unkempt.

"Spooky." Ray commented.

John stands out front with his equipment. He surveys the church. Just another day on the job for the Exorcist. He walks up to the back door, crowbar in hand. He is ready to pry the door open. He finds that this has already been done. He keeps the crowbar out anyway, clutching it as a weapon. He pushes the door open with a creak and enters the dark opening within.

He warily enters the small chapel. The church is a little space rendered spooky by dust and disuse and only lit by the small amount of light that peeked through the boarded windows. Walking down the center aisle, he glances at the wall and sees a creepy drawing. It is of a freaky shadow person, exaggerated limbs and a slightly craggy face. It was like the street art of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The words next to him identify him as Mr. Pitch. His gaze falls to the dusty floor. Then he hears it.

"Why does that have be in a church?"

Rapid breathing. Like a steam train. Barely audible. A grunt. Primal. Guttural. Another. It's unnerving. One can envision a demon ready to spring. John brandishes his crowbar.

"You'll make yourself known if you know what's good for you." The breathing stops abruptly as John calls this out. From behind one of the chapel pews, a young man's head pops up and looks around, startled. A young woman's head follows. She sees John, also startled, and grabs for her top. John is silent before speaking, "Really? In a church?"

Cue the disgusted sounds and exclamations.

The young man looks guiltily at him as he gets dressed, "Sorry."

John glances heavenward, "Don't apologize to me. Put your pants on." John looks away while they dress. He regards the graffiti, "What's this business? Mr. Pitch?"

"Just a story. Meant to be scary, you know. Tall man, no face. Follows you home, peeps in your window. It's not very original." Nathan explained as he dressed.

"Something tells me it's no story."

"Has anyone seen this being?"

"They claim to."

"But they're usually drunk."

"Where's it manifest itself?"

The couple share a look with each other before the girlfriend answers, "Here."

John motions for them to leave. As they pass, a quick apology is given. John waits for them to leave before unzipping his magic kit. He pulls out a gallon jug of water and slices his finger. Three drops of blood are dropped into the water.

Water jug by his side, John steps onto the raised platform in front of the church and turns to face the pews. John raises the water jug with one hand, and casts a spell in the African language Bemba, with some guttural clicks for emphasis.

"Pelako ameso yobe Eleggua imbone ukuchila panshita." With that, John slowly pours the jug of water over his head. The water cascades around his head and down his face.

In the middle of the aisle, where John saw the swirls of coal dust, an inky black shadow person rises from the ground. Devoid of eyes, mouth and ears. Its facial structure marked by odd crags and angles. It's Mr. Pitch come to life.

"Such lovely imagery…"

Abruptly, the Shadow Person turns his head to camera, looking at John. It marches straight at him, reaching out to grab him. Before it can do so John stops pouring the water, banishing the image. Breathless, John sputters water and gasps for breath, disturbed by his discovery.

"Who else is officially freaked out now?"

A/N: Short I know. Sorry bout that… I hope everyone is doing well in this time of insanity. As an odd way to keep morale up, I will be leaving a quote or two from the conversations my friends and I have. The quote of this chapter is the following:

Quote:

Me: asks a review question about Maryland

Friend: REINCARNATION!