Cybil had been searching West Sanford Street when the skies turned black and the heavens opened. The road had dissolved into a grate underneath her, as sirens sounded in the distance. Cybil thought of her terrifying Bible studies teacher, who had literally put the fear of God into her. She remembered the lesson when he had ranted about the Book of Revelation. The sirens could easily be the fourth angel sounding his trumpet. And the sun and the moon and stars had definitely been struck.

Hail and fire mixed with blood hadn't rained down yet though, so perhaps the end was not yet nigh. Things did look frighteningly apocalyptic. The darkness below went further than human sight. How far had the fallen angels fallen?

She knelt and prayed for some time, for the first time in months…hoping for a positive sign. When she opened her eyes, she saw a light in the distance. It moved toward her for a time before turning away. It then traveled south in the direction of the lighthouse. Cybil had headed straight past the pier in her search.

She ran to the light. By the time she reached the pier, she had gained enough ground to see that it was a man with a flashlight. He was attacking some creatures with what looked like an ax...She unholstered her weapon but he dispatched his assailants quickly and bloodily. He turned and moved quickly down some steps to a jetty. Hurriedly she followed his bloody trail, stepping over the dead creatures. The man crossed a gangplank to a boat moored nearby. Descending to the jetty, she could see it was a houseboat. From the level of grime and sludge that caked the outside, Cybil guessed that the owner had not visited for a few years.

She fingered her weapon as she crossed the gangplank and opened the door. She switched off her own flashlight and let his beam guide her toward the helm. Leading with her pistol, she crept onto the bridge. With joy, she saw that she was reunited with her friend once more:

"Harry!" she exclaimed.

"Cybil? How did you get here?!" asked Harry, somewhat surprised.

"I followed the sewer. Were you the one who cut the fence?" she asked.

"Yeah. I'm glad you made it. I was worried about you."

"You were worried? Where did you disappear to?"

"I'm not sure I know how I…"

"Never mind. I want to know what's going on…the truth, Harry."

"This may sound really off the wall, but listen to me. You've got to believe me. I've not gone crazy, and I'm not fooling around. At first I thought I was losing my mind. But now I know I'm not. It's not me. This whole town. It's being invaded by the other world. A world of someone's nightmarish delusions come to life. Little by little the invasion is spreading. Trying to swallow up everything in darkness. I think I'm finally beginning to understand what that lady was talking about."

"Harry. Hold on a minute. I don't get it."

"Look, I don't understand it all myself. I guess I can't explain it."

"Well, what's making this happen?"

"I don't know that either. But I do know Cheryl is 'there'."

"'There'…?"

"Under whoever created this darkness. She needs my help."

"Harry, this whole thing has been a major blow to you. You need to rest."

"Cybil, I..."

Behind them, the doors opened. Standing there was an eccentric old lady. Her robe was dark with faded gold trim. An old graying slip protruded underneath. On her head she wore a lace veil that had yellowed with age.

"The demon is awakening, spreading those wings!" she intoned, dramatically.

"Dahlia Gillespie." said Harry, matter-of-factly. Evidently they knew each other. He had mentioned a bizarre woman and this one certainly fit the bill.

"Was it not as I said? I see it all now…yes, everything. And with the sacrifice, the demon will swallow up the land. I knew this day would come. And the task is almost finished. There are only two left. To seal this town to the abyss, the mark of Samael. When it's completed, all is lost. Even in daytime, darkness will cover the sun. The dead will walk and martyrs will burn in the fires of hell. Everyone will die!"

"So what am I supposed to do; I've got to find Cheryl!"

"Stop the demon! The demon that is taking that child's form! You must stop it before your daughter becomes a sacrifice. Before it is too late! Stop it! STOP IT!"

"What do I do?"

"Go to the lighthouse on the lake. And to the center of the amusement park. You are the only hope."

"Look Harry, I really don't know what's going on, but if there's a chance we can save your daughter, I'm in. I'll check out the amusement park. You go to the lighthouse."

"Cybil...I…Thank you." said Harry as she turned and left the way she came.

As she headed toward the stern of the boat, she felt something that had eluded her for many months…hope.