Tantiedan: The Awakening

TANTEIDAN: The Fall Dance

Friday (The Night Before the Dance)

Shigi pulled at the corset-ish top.

“You sure this looks good?” She asked in uncertainty.

“It looks great! I never could pull off wines…but they look fabulous on you!” Victoria laughed, “So, how do I look?”

Shigi smiled. “Well…I dunno’…like a prostitute?”

Victoria gave her a look of impatience.

“Just kidding! You look fabulous; like a totally different person-the guys are going to be shocked.”

Shigi giggled, examining herself in the mirror. “I can’t believe I’m going to a dance…and with a date! Gosh, dad would have a fit.” She stopped, realizing that that was the first time in weeks she had spoken of her father.

Victoria sensed that Shigi was growing uneasy. “Well…,” she said, “my mother doesn’t even know I have a date. Are you sure you’re okay with me going to the dance with Jatin?”

Shigi considered this. “You can’t be any worse than some of the other girls he’s dated; I actually like you!”

A loud knock sounded at the door.

“Come in!” They called, and a blonde girl they had recently begun to hang out with entered.

“Could you help me with deciding on my make-up and hair?”

“Umm…sure,” Victoria replied.

Mephistopheles’ Church of Life

Harlan paced around the church. “You fools! Tomorrow’s the night; hurry up!” He watched as his loyal followers created the massive Cross of Confusion. He watched them drag the pews to either side of the church, leaving an empty space in the center of the church.

“Move,” he shouted, pushing a worker aside and rolling up his sleeves. “I’ll do it myself!”

As he moved a body out of the way, blood stained his hands.

These fools have no clue that timing is everything! My grandchildren are ripe for the picking again; the spell is about to take hold.

“Damn it! You idiots! Hurry up! Make haste! We must prepare for the Lord’s return!”

Kevin stood in front of the mirror in tears. He looked great, but he didn’t feel great. He was too depressed to go out and have fun. He tightened his tie and buttoned his blazer. He looked at himself and let a small moan escape from his quivering lips.

“Jenny.”

Despite everything that had happened between them, despite loosing everything in the month since her death, Kevin felt responsible.

Kevin collapsed in a heap in front of the mirror. His clothes were wrinkling, but he did not care; there would be plenty of time to iron them out tomorrow.

Had he handled it all wrong? Could he have gotten the point across in a nicer fashion? Perhaps, but he would never know now. She had been pretty enough-had been…what was he supposed to do?

A knock on the door snapped him away from his reverie.

“Kev,” said the voice at the door, “Kevin, come down!”

“Go away!”

Yen Chang-Delagarza didn’t think of herself as evil; she didn’t think anymore. Her father, the Lord’s messenger, would give her an order and she was content in her obedience. Besides, she was doing Sophie a favor. Yen knew firsthand what a fatherless youth could do to a person and she couldn’t bear the thought of Sophie waiting by the phone for her dad to call. Men never called.

Yen stood by Harlan’s side as he lugged the pews out of the chapel. She would have offered him a helping hand, but she was too lost in her own world. Besides, she didn’t wan to get him angry; didn’t want to relive that whole ring incident. Why did he give her the blasted thing if he was going to need it back?

Harlan finished the elaborate set-up and began to drag the sacrificial alters to their respective ends. He began with the West Alter and halted. From beyond the church he thought he heard the barking of a dog. He shook his head.

I must be overworking myself.

He started to drag the alter again and stopped….Was that…?

A white poodle trotted up the gap that had once been the aisle. It panted happily and scratched at its red collar.

Cerberus?

The dog turned around and revealed its behind…or lack thereof.

Harlan paced around the massive, ornamented entry hall.

Leave me alone!

The other Harlan refused.

Please!

Harlan rubbed his index and middle fingers in a circular motion along his pulsating temples.

Get out!

Cerberus’ tags jingled as the dog obediently tailed Harlan at his heels. It began to whine.

“Hush, Kerby,” Harlan absentmindedly knocked over the suit of armor and swore loudly. The dog barked again.

“Shut up!”

Harlan’s two minds were battling. The unwelcome influence would not leave and scoffed at Harlan as he tried to rid himself of its presence.

Harlan ran to the office and opened his safe, pulling out his revolver. He hastily loaded it. The dog followed him, tongue lolling lazily.

Harlan pressed the gun to his temple.

Get out!

The thing was dancing around inside of him in mockery. Harlan shut his eyes.

Get out!

The dog began to bark again, sensing its master’s frustration.

“Kerby, shut up!”

The dog cocked its head and then noticed something out of the corner of his eye: his tail. He began to chase it, and, when it moved, he growled at it.

Get out!

The dog gnawed on its tail, flipping over and whining.

Get out!

Harlan’s hand jerked violently.

Oh! No you don’t!

The dog’s barks grew louder, his target Harlan now. It turned around and began to leave.

Click.

The speeding bullet flew through the air, piercing the dog’s legs and shattering them at the joints. The dog began to cry; Harlan watched it for a while and then shot it dead.

See what you make me do?

The presence was gone.

The girls giggled over the game board, a colored wheel with the words: Perfect Date written along the edges, and Shigi, despite laughing with them, found herself growing rather bored and sinking deeper into thought.

Shigi, her brother whispered in her mind.

Hey, J, you doing something more interesting than me?

No…, Kevin wouldn’t come out of his room, so we called his parents.

And?

Well…, they’re black. It was really weird, but, when we met them, it was sort of funny. Kevin still wouldn’t come out…not even when his mother started to cry.

You should leave him alone. He’s not going to listen to the two of you…he might listen to Victoria; I get the feeling they’ve known each other for a while.

You do?

Yeah…don’t worry, we’ll talk to him.

Alright, thanks.

“Shigi!”

Shigi blinked.

“Sorry, what?”

“It’s your turn!”

“Uh…I don’t feel like playing anymore.”

“Fine then; tell us about growing up with Jatin.”

Victoria shot the third member of their party a look, “He’s going to the dance with me!”

“Oh! Come on! Shigi, back me up.”

Shigi laughed and pulled out the map Victoria had drawn her in her second week of school.

“So the dance is in the Café-Gym?”

Victoria grunted. “Yes, how many times do I have to tell you?”

Shigi ignored her and turned to the third girl. “Buttercup, are you sure about this?”

Buttercup shrugged. “I mean, he is cute.”

Victoria snorted. “Sure, if you like thugs.”

Buttercup furrowed her brow and shot back, “We haven’t all known Kevin as long as you have, Vicky.”

Victoria looked to the floor, obviously embarrassed by this bit of information.

Shigi stared at her, wondering what she was thinking.

“My lover…you know you’ve got to be my one and on-a-ly!” It was the latest single by Criminal Intent.

Shigi turned away, looking for the source of the music. Buttercup had pulled out a thin cellular phone and was answering a text message.

“It’s Kevin,” she said, “my brother took him out for some male-bonding.” She giggled. “It sounds like he’s having fun.”

Shigi walked over to her, kicking the game aside.

“A cell phone…didn’t they take ‘em all away?”

Buttercup smiled. “They take them, if you let them. When they asked me if I had a cellular phone on me, I lied. I paid too much money for this.” She held up the thin Motorola.

“And they didn’t search you?”

“Nope, they just told me that if I was lying it wouldn’t matter, because there’s no cell phone reception out here…well, wherever we are.”

Victoria spoke up, “You mean you don’t know either?”

Buttercup glared at her. “Unfortunately, Vicky, not everyone has the luxury of a parent whom teaches at this Hellhole. No, I don’t know where this place is. Jack and I just, sort of, wound up here. We don’t know how. Our mom was telling me goodnight one moment…and the next,” she mimed a poof, “here we are.

“Anyway, Shigi, I knew they had to be lying-did they expect me to believe that, out of all the teachers here, nobody has people they need to keep in touch with? Yeah, right.”

Shigi admired the phone hungrily. If I could only call Wash or Mark…

“Say, Buttercup, do you mind if I borrowed your phone for a second?”

“Sure, Shigi,” she held out the phone, but then took her arm back. “First, you gotta’ tell me: does Jatin really like Victoria? Or is he just going with her ‘cause she’s your friend?” She stole a glance at Victoria, who had turned a deep shade of red.

“He doesn’t like her…,” as soon as thee words escaped from her lips, Shigi knew she shouldn’t have said them. Sorry, Victoria, she thought, I’ll explain later. Right now, I need to get a message to Mark or Wash.

Shigi dialed the area code and then the number and extension to her father’s office.

The phone rang once, twice…

“Hello, Police Plaza Homicide, this is Kai Kai.”

“Ms. Kai Kai,” Shigi said hurriedly. “Are Mark and Wash in?”

“Makafushigi? Are you okay? Where’s Jatin, is he with you? Where are you?”

Shigi was growing impatient. “I need to speak to Mark or Wash.”

“Just one second, I’ll transfer you.”

Shigi hated the cheesy music that played, she was just about to hang up and try again when:

“Hello, Detective Brandon here.”

“Mark!” Shigi screamed. She hadn’t heard his voice in ages.

“Shigi! Oh! Shigi! I’m so sorry I didn’t believe you. Where are you? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”

“No. I don’t know where we are. I’m fine. We’re at some school, I think; up in the mountains. There’s a waterfall and a cliff…Mark, please, come get us!”

“Oh! Shigi, I will, I promise if it’s the last thing we do, Wash and I will find you. But, Shigi, listen to me, can you hear me?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Shigi, do you know the name of the place where you are at?”

“J-just one second.” Shigi set the phone aside and Mark could hear her conversing with others. She spoke again. “Mephistopheles’ School of Learning, that’s where we are.”

“Mephistopheles’ School of Learning,” he repeated. Where had he heard that name before?

“Mark,” Shigi said, “I’ve gotta’ go. Just find us.”

“I will, Shigi, I will,” he hesitated for a second and then said, “I love you.” But the line was already dead and she did not hear him.

“What was that about?” Victoria asked. “Why are you trying to get out of here?”

“My brother and I don’t belong here, Victoria.”

“I think your brother belongs with me,” Buttercup said.

“Aren’t you-I don’t know-supposed to be in love with Kevin?”

Buttercup laughed. “I can love two guys, right? Besides, Vicky, I think Kevin’s more your type, even if you are practically related.”

“And Jack would be more your type, Evian, because you two are related.”

Buttercup stood up, kicked the spinning wheel, and stormed off.

Victoria screamed after her.

“You could have all the make-up in the world on and you’d still look like a slut!”

Kevin stood cornered against the wall. Jack Wilson stood tall over Kevin, a prey cornered by the vicious, mountainous man. Jack Henry Wilson was tall for his 17 years; at 6’ 3” and 236 lbs, he resembled a walrus that had been on the unfortunate end of a steamroller. His nose, like his younger sister’s, resembled a pug’s; his dark brown hair was cut short and was indiscriminately festooned with balding areas. He had a wrestler’s body.

“You better not kill my sister, Kevey,” spat Jack. He raised his right fist and Kevin let out a howl of pain.

A voice from behind the massive figure of Jack Henry Wilson spoke up.

“Jack! Stop it! Don’t hurt Kevin.”

From the end of the hallway appeared Buttercup Wilson, in all of her blonde splendor.

Kevin turned his attention to Buttercup and smiled. “Evi,” he said, “I got this.”

Jack swung around and lowered his fist. “Evian, go to your room. I’ve got this under control.”

Buttercup stared at her brother. “It isn’t Evian or Evi or Naïve! It’s Buttercup, damn it!”

Kevin let out a harsh giggle. Jack turned to face him, spat, and stormed off. Buttercup ran forward to help Kevin to his feet.

“Don’t mind him any…, he’s just…concerned. You know, he doesn’t want me to end up like her-Jenny. Everyone says that you two were dating and that you broke up with her the night she killed herself.”

Kevin shook, his eyes began to water.

“No,” he sobbed, “but she did like me. I told her off; told Vikee to beat her up after she and Shigi got into it….I rejected her.” He sniffled. “Heh,” he sniffed again, “I mean, who names their kid after a talk-show hostess?” Kevin attempted a smile and brushed himself off.

He began to walk away, but Buttercup called to him and he turned back. She ran up to him and threw her arms around him. She felt so good in his arms. She looked into his watering eyes and smiled. He kissed her, and they stood like that for hours.

Buttercup Evian Wilson was one of those girls who hungered for attention. She liked the spotlight. She dreamed of one day becoming an actress. When Jenny Jones had committed suicide, Buttercup had seen her chance at popularity. Jenny had always had the crazy girl thing down. The rumors that began to circulate afterward made Kevin the most eligible and unwanted bachelor of the school. The girl who even thought about dating him was crazy, worthy of a similar fate to Jenny’s. He would never get a date to the dance!

So Buttercup asked him. At first he had said no, but after sobbing into her shoulder for half an hour he said yes, he would love to go to the dance with her.

Buttercup was thrust into the spotlight. Everyone wanted inside information on Kevin. Had he killed Jenny?

Buttercup was proud to be able to answer, though she never did. Sometimes she would hint that Kevin had killed Jenny, while at other she would be coy. She didn’t feel bad for using Kevin, business was business after all. In fact, she hoped he would fall in love with her so she could further exploit him.

Victoria once confronted her upon her intentions toward Kevin. Buttercup, playing hurt, refused to answer. (Kevin trusted her, why should Victoria feel the need to confront her?) Victoria was nonetheless suspicious. Kevin was like her brother and if Buttercup hurt him, while he was still emotionally scarred and vulnerable, Victoria would break her face in; give her nose a reason to be pug-like.

Saturday

Breakfast that morning was a slow, excited affair. Students lounged around talking of the approaching dance; everyone was excited. The dean of the school, whom usually sat upfront with the staff, walked the aisles between the tables, handing out programs. Shigi received hers and read aloud to Jatin, Victoria, Steven, Kevin, and Buttercup.

A Night of Dancing, Accomplishment, Celebration, and Good Fun!

7:00 PM in the Café-Gymnasium of Mephistopheles School of Learning.

Students are expected to obey the code of conduct.

Special Guest(s):

Harlan Tanteidan

“Criminal Intent”

Buttercup let out a squeal of excitement. “I love Criminal Intent! They’re, like, the best!”

Jatin closed his eyes, opened his mind…

Shigi…Harlan Tanteidan is going to be here tonight.

I know, J.

He’s coming for us, I know it!

Yeah. Me too, but what can we do?

Piss in the punch?

Not helping.

6:45 PM

“Time to go, Shigi,” Victoria sighed, smoothing out the wrinkles in her skirt.

“Right,” Shigi said, pushing her bangs out of her face. “Where’s Buttercup?”

A knock at the door seemed to answer her question.

“That must be-” Victoria stopped short as the door creaked open.

“My baby’s going to her first dance!” Coach Roberts threw herself on her daughter. “And she has a DATE!!”

“Who told-”

Buttercup walked in from the open doorway.

“I told her, sorry.”

“Make sure to tell me if he breaks your heart so I can snap him like a twig,” Coach Roberts said, turning serious.

“Gosh, Mother, I can take care of myself. We have to go.”

“When will you be in?”

“Later.”

“’Later’ is not on the face of a clock, young lady! Now, when I ask you a question I expect an ans-”

Victoria grabbed Shigi and pushed for the doorway, Buttercup following behind. The slam of the door left Coach Roberts alone in the girls’ dorm.

Just what she expected of her daughter…now she was free to rifle through their drawers.

As she pulled a diary out of the nightstand, Coach Roberts smiled.

7:00

They entered the cafe-gym and were shocked; the room was extravagant. Streamers of every width and color hung in arches of every size about the disco ball, forming an even rarer array of lights, centered in the room. Although the lights were dimmed, they still lit the room, setting a romantic atmosphere. Strobe lights flashed bright flashes of wines and gold at random intervals. The music, in particular the current song, was upbeat, and catchy. Everyone was dancing, forgetting their worries and woes of the boarding school life; lines between enemies and friends seemed to blur, except a few old rivalries, and everyone seemed (even the miniscule amount of teachers there) to be enjoying themselves. Steven slowly took Shigi's hand in his, squeezing it, a blush stained her face, and she glanced at Jatin... Daring him to do something, to argue, to play the part he had with Stone.

7:30

“Come on, Kev! Dance with your date!” Steven was yelling at him over the deafening melody.

“Don’t wanna’,” he sulked.

“Henry’ll beat your ass if you don’t give her at least one dance.”

He’s here, J!

And Kevin isn’t listening.

Victoria and I will talk to him.

And I’ll avoid Harlan.

The two girls drifted over to where the boys stood, huddled in the corner behind the punch bowl.

As Shigi brushed past him, her brother whispered into her ear.

“You know, I can still piss in the punch.”

Victoria kneeled before Kevin.

“You know it wasn’t your fault, so quit using it as an excuse to soak in your sorrow.”

“You wouldn’t-”

“Understand? Like Hell, I wouldn’t. Kev, we grew up in that Hell-hole together, and when I was adopted we called each other everyday…you forget, I understand you better than you understand yourself.”

“But-”

“No, ‘but’s’ about it, Kevin. Get your ass up and onto that dance floor.”

Kevin remained silent.

Victoria turned away with a sigh.

“I guess you’re just hopeless then…” She started, then turned around and planted her heel upon Kevin’s crotch.

“Ung-oof!”

Kevin’s hands flew to where she had kicked him.

“You getting up?”

Jatin winced. “I don’t think he can, Victoria.”

After a few harsh gasps, Kevin finally managed to walk with a limp. As he made his way to the punch bowl, to where Buttercup was standing, to ask her to dance, Henry tripped him.

Kevin fell onto the table, sending the punch bowl toppling onto Buttercup and the plates, napkins and Plastikware all over the floor. He bent low to pick them up as Buttercup screamed at him.

All Kevin heard was: “My dress….blah, blah, blah…you killed Jenny; you killed Jenny…pink…blah, blah, blah.”

He was under the table now, the stalactites of gum hanging above him threatening to remove his head. As he reached to pick up a transparent fork, the floor below him gave in and he was falling.

Accusations echoed in his head, as he fell into the darkness. “Blah, blah, blah…white dress…period…you killed Jenny, you son-of-a-bitch…blah…blah…” Finally, he hit something, but when he did he was already out colder than the cement floor upon which he had fallen.

“Kevin…? Are you alright?” A hand was on his shoulder, shaking him.

“Steven, move.”

“Is he alright?”

Voices.

“Kevin, you won’t like what’s going to happen…wake up!”

He didn’t want to wake up, not with the headache pounding against his temples. It was as if his brain was trying to get out.

Something cold splashed onto his face, it wasn’t water, no, this was stickier. He licked his upper lip.

“Fruit Punch?” he asked.

“How nice of you to join us,” Steven said.

“Your welcome, Kevin,” said Victoria.

“Where are we?”

“Men,”she told Shigi, “they never pay attention to their surroundings.”

Buttercup paced furiously. Who did Kevin think he was disappearing like that? And his friends had gone, too. She looked around, hoping for someone to talk to. Jack was too busy talking to some old man to notice her…

As one of the jocks approached her, Buttercup was lost in thought.

He’s going to die…slowly…

“So Kev ditched you too?”

I’ll teach you to ditch me

Buttercup began to cry.

“I can’t lie anymore! He threatened to kill me if I ever told!”

She felt the jock’s arm wrap around her and she buried her face in his shoulder, her lips forming a smile, her mascara running…

Shigi looked around the room; from what she could tell, it was a lab of some sort.

Shigi, I don’t think we should stick around.

Steven sniffed a beaker and began to cough violently.

“You okay?” Kevin asked from his seat on the ladder.

“I think we need to go. Now,” Steven said, his eyes watering.

“Are you going to give us a reason, Steven, or just hint at imminent doom?”

“You wouldn’t happen to know what D-lysergic acid diethylamide is, would you?” He asked, pointing to a label on one of the beakers.

“I’m no geek, Steven.”

“It’s LSD, acid, an illegal substance; an extremely powerful semisynthetic psychedelic drug,” Jatin rattled off. “It’s commonly used for recreational purposes and popular in the black market…”

“At one point,” Shigi chimed in, “it was thought that it could be used for brainwashing.”

Kevin’s was agape. Victoria rubbed her bare arms.

“You guys give me the creeps,” she said.

Shigi laughed. “Our dad is a detective.” She stopped. “Our dad was a detective.”

“And so are our uncles,” Jatin added.

“That doesn’t change the fact that that was creepy.”

“I’ll admit it was; but if this stuff is acid, then Steven is right, we need to get out of here before the owners bust us.” Jatin started for the ladder.

A voice from behind them spoke up, “It’s too late for that children. You’re going to come with us.”

They all turned to the speaker. There, standing behind them, stood about half of their teachers, including Coach Roberts.

Victoria sighed. “This is really going to help my relationship with her.”

“If you would please,” the coach said impatiently, signaling them toward the back of the lab. They didn’t budge. Coach Roberts stepped forward.

“Teenagers these days are so disrespectful!” Harlan Tanteidan spat from the bottom of the ladder. “Coach Roberts,” as he said her name she cowered backward into the shadows, like a hurt dog. “Don’t hurt the twins; you know how important they are.”

Coach Roberts’ voice was barely above a whisper, “Yes, Mr. Tanteidan, Sir.”

Shigi’s voice reverberated around Jatin’s head.

I really hate him.

Jatin’s anger was rising to the surface, simmering, bubbling with rage, he ran forward.

Jatin, don’t!

Too late.

Jatin’s fist connected squarely with his grandfather’s jaw. Something no one could see sent him flying into the air, spiraling backward into a cabinet.

“You’re only making things harder on yourself.”

Jatin stumbled to his feet, leaning on a shelf for balance. “Fuck you, Grandpa’.” He spat the word out, as if it were poisonous.

“Jatin, calm down. This is getting us nowhere,” Steven warned, his eyes fixated upon the mass of teachers.

He’s right, J, get a hold on yourself.

Their Grandfather’s voice interrupted their thoughts. He was in their heads, speaking to them both.

Before you get any bright ideas, I’ll warn you two, if you do anything one of you will die.

Shigi’s eyes were wide in terror.

“How did you-?” She began.

Harlan used the barrel of his gun as a signal.

“Move.”

They did, slowly walking toward an ebony door. The lake echoed above them. As the teenagers stepped out, beyond the door, something connected with each one and they all fell into the darkness of their consciences.

Mark Brandon watched as Wash picked up the phone, then continued to leaf through the phone book.

Wash put the phone back on its cradle and then wrote something. He looked up.

“Mark, they nailed the location of the School…”

“And?”

“It’s…up high, a cliff. Seems Harlan leased the lot, which overlooks a river, from the Government via grant. They also found out some more information about him. It seems that he was back in Ceuta around the same time Lilly disappeared.”

“You think he killed her?”

“No, Mark, I’m sure of it.” Wash clenched his fist until his knuckles, bone-white with tension, looked like they would pop.

“We’ve got to get to them.”

They rushed out of the station and into their unmarked vehicle, speeding off into the star-filled horizon.

Steven struggled through the blackness. He lay tied up in a dark room, his head spun and he couldn’t feel his feet.

“Steve, you up?” a whisperer, from the shadows.

“Who is that?”

“It’s Kevin.”

Steven tried to sit up, “Where-?”

Victoria jumped in-or, at least, he thought it sounded like Victoria. “We don’t know.” Steven felt his bindings slacken around him. “Jatin and Shigi aren’t here.”

“What?” Steven exclaimed, as Victoria and Kevin helped him to his feet, worry suddenly outweighing fear.

“We’ve been trying to find the door,” Victoria explained.

“Kevin,” Steven said, “what happened to that pot?”

Even through the darkness, Kevin could feel Victoria’s glare.

“I-I…have it here.” He held up a small plastic baggie, though he knew they couldn’t see it.

“And the matches?” Steven asked.

“Thought of that, Steven,” Kevin began, “they’re wet.”

Victoria screamed, a rat rushing by her foot.

“Damn it!” She laughed.

“Kevin,” Steven held out a hand, guiding him, “listen to me, are they all wet?”

“No, I think…some of them might me dry.”

Steven felt something round.

“Found one!” Kevin lit a match.

Victoria screamed again, horrified at the sight of the object in Steven’s hand. He was holding a skull. But there wasn’t just one skull in the room; there was an entire wall of skeletons. They could barely make out the gray wall underneath it all, which simply vanished under the bones.

The small flame flickered, eating up the matchstick. The smoke from the small flame wandered toward an open shaft, the door: a gaping hole amidst the skeleton-wall.

“Looks like it’s going to be a tight fit,” Steven said. Then the flame died, and the room was once again in blackness.

Shigi opened her eyes and immediately regretted doing so. Harlan was hovering above her. She tried to move but felt only pain. She opened her eyes again and saw a blurry streak of white. She heard a rumble and knew that whatever was about to happen…she was about to be reunited with her parents.

She screamed, but only because she wanted to see if she was able. Her dress was soaked in sweat. She painfully got to her feet and stepped forward, onto something hard. She looked to the floor. She was standing on a dead body, her heel imbedded into its eye socket. She clasped her hand to her mouth to keep from vomiting, removed her shoe.

Jatin, where are you? She thought, desperately searching for any sign of movement amongst the scattered pews and corpses. She was standing, alone now, in the church; the only living person in the worship hall. She limped forward, her footsteps echoing against the cold tile. She was locked in.

She heard a shift of discomfort from somewhere behind her. A man was standing at the double-doors. He was wearing a white containment suit. Shigi blinked, unsure of what she was seeing. In a flash of color, the man had morphed into a most hideous creature.

It hovered forward, clutching an amulet in its talons. It was like a lion…or a bear...or a bird…

Shigi took a step back, and then another, and finally she tripped on a body and fell down. Her head was throbbing. She could see the painting on the hemispherical ceiling.

The man in white stepped before her and leaned inward, examining her. He came closer and her heart raced. For an instant, she could see his eyes through her own reflection in his mask; she could see his eyes and suddenly she knew that this would not be the man to kill her. She smiled at the thought of living for just a few moments longer.

Jatin, if I don’t see you…

“Mom,” Shigi cried, and then there was another flash of color and everything went black.

Jatin stared dumbly at the amulet hanging around his neck. His eyes burned and his stomach was rebelling.

Shigi? He couldn’t speak and his head was clouded. Are you there?

He sighed. Where are you?

His hand twitched at his side. What’s wrong with me?

A voice from the pews said, “Oh! Good! Good! Things can finally begin!” It was Harlan, and he sounded ecstatic.

Jatin tried to scream, but his lips locked tight and he felt them slowly drifting into a smile.

Jatin’s rage intensified. This man had knocked out his friends and he…God knew what he had done to Shigi.

His body went into spasms and he fell to his knees.

What did he do to me?

He clutched his chest. Something was wrong. His eyes rolled to the domed ceiling and he caught a brief glimpse of the mural-a face framed by nine angels-before his eyes rolled back into his head.

He jerked violently for several minutes and then collapsed to the floor. His arm jerked and he lashed out, falling, his hand hit soft flesh. Shigi lay in front of him, sprawled across the floor, her dress wrapped around her. She was wearing one high-heel. He wanted to scream out her name. His hand no longer obeyed his orders; it simply sat on her shoulder. Shigi, he sobbed, wake up! We’ve got to get out of here…you’ve got to be okay!

Her shoulder burned, awakening her from her slumber. The click of a lock alerted her. She looked up and stifled a scream.

Blood covered the floor around her, bodies sat against two alters.

“Jatin?” She whispered. “Victoria? Steven? Kevin?”

She whimpered, staggered to her feet. The room spun, she sagged to the floor.

A creak of loose wood caused her to freeze.

Jatin, is that you?

She crawled toward the door.

Jatin!

She felt his presence in her mind.

Jatin, where are you?

A shuffle of feet behind her; she turned. She barely had to time to process what she had seen, before she realized she was flying. She hit the wall. She couldn’t move. Jatin had been standing over the body of Jenny Jones, cutting her open, cupping her blood and splashing it onto his face, bathing in her blood as if it were refreshing water.

She slid down the wall. A voice screamed out.

Shigi! Run!

Looking up, she caught a glimpse of her crazed brother. He ran at her.

Cool air rushed at them through the tunnel.

“We must be close to the exit,” Steven whispered, in between sharp breaths of the stale air.

“Thank you, Captain Obvious.”

“Quiet! We don’t know who might be standing guard at the other end of this tunnel.”

Kevin whined. “I just remembered…I’m scared of the dark!” He began to panic.

Victoria shook her head.

“That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! How did you not remember you were afraid of the dark?” Victoria laughed.

“A little darkness is nothing to be scared of, Kev,” Steven managed, before a fit of coughs left his voice useless.

“We just need to keep moving.” Her hand railed to register the open air in front of her. she tumbled forward, falling onto something; rain pouring around her.

“Come quick, guys!” She called from the ground, as a hand gripped her shoulder. She screamed.

Mark clasped a hand over the girl’s mouth and pulled her off of his partner.

“Thanks, Mark.” Wash stood, brushing leaves off of himself. The girl’s eyes widened, realizing what she had fallen on. He smiled. “Detective Wash, at your service,” he offered his hands. As Mark Brandon let go of her, she shook the detective’s hand, then backed up a bit.

Recomposing herself, she said, “Victoria Roberts, Sir.”

Two boys burst forth from inside of the tunnel.

Kevin raised his fist.

“Hey! Leave her alone!”

Steven attacked the man called Mark. Mark Brandon was unfazed. As Steven ran at him he simply stepped aside.

Steven was enraged.

“Think you’re funny, huh?” He ran at Mark’s back, sending Mark toppling over and onto the wet, leaf-covered ground.

Victoria spoke up again.

“Steve, Kevin, this is Detective Mark and this is his partner-it’s Wash, right?”

Wash nodded.

Kevin gritted his teeth and looked to the ground in shame. “I’m sorry, Vicky, I thought you were in trouble.”

Steven helped Mark to his feet.

“Sorry, m-my name’s Steven.”

Mark looked to the boy. “Detective Mark Brandon,” he dusted himself off.

“You’re not with Them, are you?”

“Who’re They?” Wash asked.

Victoria opened her mouth, and then Steven interrupted her.

“They brought us here. I think something is wrong. We don’t know what they did with our friends.”

Victoria looked away, ashamed. “My mom’s one of them.”

Wash looked to Mark.

“Who are your friends?” Mark Brandon asked.

“Their names are Jatin and Shigi Tanteidan. They were with us when we found that freaky lab-thing underneath the school. Kevin fell through…it was like an LSD factory…”

Wash nodded. “LSD, that’s what Goodale said.”

Mark nodded back. “Good.” He turned to look at Victoria, who was shaking uncontrollably.

“Vicky,” Kevin said, “relax! They aren’t going to hurt us.”

Gunfire. Bullets splayed past the children at an alarming pace.

“No,” said a voice, “they won’t hurt you! But I will! I won’t let anyone interrupt the ceremony!”

Harlan Tanteidan raised his gun, pointed it at Steven’s head.

Mark unfastened his holster, set it slowly on the ground before him, and raised his arms, “Woah, there, Mr. Tanteidan! My name is Mark Brandon. I am going to have to ask you to set down your weapon.”

Harlan let out a growl.

“St-step back! No one-I repeat-no one is going to interrupt the ceremony!”

Mark inhaled sharply. “Then, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Mr. Tanteida-”Mark rushed forward, ramming his elbow into Harlan’s stomach. The gun fired.

“Wash!” Mark screamed, “Get the kids out of here!”

Wash pushed Steven forward and then grabbed Victoria and Kevin by their arms and set off into a sprint.

“Jatin,” Shigi stumbled backward, eyes wide with terror as she stared at the bloody face of her brother. “Jatin!”

A guttural moan.

Shigi whispered his name in her head. Jatin?

Shigi! Run!

Jatin!

Her brother advanced, raising the knife with which he had cut open the body of Jenny Jones.

“Jatin! Please, come back to me!”

“No Jatin here. Your brother can’t save you now.”

He toyed with the knife, held it out and let it shimmer in the light. Smiling, he licked his lip and sliced open his palm. He giggled.

“Blood! What a sight!”

“Where’s Jatin?”

“Don’t address your lord in such a tone!” Her brother laughed and sniffed the open wound. “Blood!”

“I want to speak to my brother…”

“Your brother is gone! Do not worry about such trivial things as life and death! Soon you will join him, then you will be my bride!”

Jatin’s eyes glinted, for a brief moment, and Shigi cried out.

“You. Stabbed. Me. Jatin, you stabbed me!”

Her arm was sore, a fresh cut running along her bicep. Her gown was growing dark with the color of blood, her arm was tingling.

Jatin!

She had to reach her brother, somehow.

Jatin!

Jatin was in darkness; everywhere, there was darkness. He tried to let his eyes adjust; was he blind? His head spun. He felt as if he’d been sniffing markers all day in an unventilated room. His eyes watered…and then he saw it-two of them; holes, windows of light. He tried to walk forward, but something held him back. He saw his sister’s face through the windows of light…and his hand, wielding a dagger. He fell to his knees, kept falling.

“Shigi!”

He was trapped, a prisoner in his own mind.

Shigi’s head ached. Her brother’s voice was distancing, echoing throughout the darkness of his mind. Shigi closed her eyes.

Jatin, stay with me!

Jatin’s response did not come. Shigi’s arm was pounding, she could feel her heart beat-could hear her heart beat everywhere. She felt tears in her eyes.

You can’t be…

Wash ducked as the bullets flew at them.

“There are more of them?” Steven shouted in surprise.

A group of white-robed people in masks walked forward. There were nine. The gun in each person’s hand looked out of place against the purity of the robes they wore.

“Wash,” Victoria asked, “what do we do?”

A spatter of bullets flew inches above her head.

“RUN, VICKY, RUN!”Wash shouted, and the children began to sprint across the parking lot.

Kevin turned at the Jag and stopped. The man that was following him was behind the car; Kevin could see his slippers from underneath the car. Kevin crept slowly in front of a wheel, so as not to alert the man to his position. From the side-view mirror, he could see the car’s interior.

Kevin held his breath.

The man was sitting inside of the car, in the drivers’ seat.

Kevin ran.

The door opened and the man tumbled out, gun at the ready.

He aimed at Kevin’s frozen body and then fell forward.

Kevin flinched; he was covered in blood.

“I’m glad you’re alright, kid.” Wash said, appearing at the feet of the body.

Kevin realized what had just happened. Wash had just killed the man who would have surely killed Kevin.

Steven turned to Victoria. “Where’d they go?”

“Kevin got separated, Wash went t find him.”

The unmarked car was feet in front of them, just beyond the gates. They ran, rattled the bars.

“It’s locked!”

“Looks like we’ve got company,” Steven said.

Victoria swore. “Maybe I can fit through the bars…”

She tried but to no avail.

“Maybe if your ass wasn’t so fat…!”

“Steven,” Victoria gasped, “my ass is not fat!”

Victoria tried again.

“Suck it in, Vicky!”

Victoria managed, after a few moments more, to slip through the bars, but Steven did not.

Steven began to scale the gates, but one of the robed women caught his leg. Steven tried to climb on, tried to kick the woman in her ugly, masked face. Finally, he managed to kick her away and he fell over the gates, landing on a soft patch of asphalt. Without thinking, without crying out with pain, he got up and ran.

When at last they were safely in the car, Victoria figured out how to work the radio (she wouldn’t let Steven go anywhere near it) and called for help, but she didn’t know her 10-20. The two looked around for any indication, but found none. The car was surrounded by dense fog on all sides; it felt as if the car was placed in a giant white crate. Steven grabbed Victoria’s arm and held her close.

Kevin and Wash listened to the silence. The followers had gone. Wash stepped carefully, precisely-he wasn’t going to lose anyone. Kevin pointed to the car.

Harlan smiled.

“They’re coming to get you, Mark.”

“You…” Mark lashed out at the seventy-something year old, but he froze centimeters before Harlan’s face and felt the tiny hairs on the back of his knuckles stand up. There was something very, very wrong. Mark’s hand was burning, engulfed in imaginary flames. Hands burning, he scrambled for the holster. He grabbed the gun and aimed.

“You…killed…them….”

Harlan positively beamed. “I did; I’m not proud of it.” He laughed. “Tonight I have accomplished my task. I’ve gotten rid of that awful creature-though it seems its essence still affects me, something I’m sure you’re experiencing to quite some extent,” Mark yelped, “and quite painfully, too. Soon, Mark Brandon, the Lord will walk amongst us. Perhaps if you pray for forgiveness, he will rid you of your pain.”

Mark cried out.

“Stand up, Mark Brandon. Stand up and follow me into the church. Follow me into the church and witness the most amazing thing ever to be witnessed-though, don’t let me oversell it!”

Mark stood up.

“No!”

Harlan tsked. “Do not test my temper.”

Harlan turned and began to lead the way.

Mark began to grab for the gun.

Harlan turned around.

“Leave that, I daresay you will find yourself in need of it.”

At the doors to the church, Harlan knocked (“So as not to disturb the two love-birds,” he said).

Jatin threw open the doors.

“Mr. Brandon,” Harlan said, “I believe you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Jatin, here.”

Mark scanned the boy. His face was covered in blood, his shirt was too; he was dripping with sweat, more blood, and something which smelled badly like sex; he was brandishing a silver dagger.

“Jatin,” Mark cried, “what have you done?”

“My name is not Jatin,” replied the boy.

“Jatin, please!”

“Nine saints,” the boy began, “have allowed for my inhabitance of this body, nine saints have made way for me on this planet. It’s been a long time and I’ve no intention of returning to that God-forsaken Hell.” Jatin looked to Harlan, who was on his knees, bowing to his lord. “You are a faithful servant.”

“Thank you, m’lord.” He kissed the boy’s hand.

Jatin’s fiery pupils dilated and changed color. The boy looked around.

“What…? Get off of me!” He threw Harlan off and then dropped the bloody dagger, in disgust. “Whose blood is this?” He turned to Mark. “What have I-agh!” His hands flew to his temples. In his mind, Jatin was falling again.

The boy bent low and picked up the dagger.

“Goodbye,” he said, and lunged toward Mark.

Outside of the church, Wash ran at the hooded figures, Kevin tailing behind. A cloud passed over the full moon, leaving the area in darkness. The figures around the car began to break apart and headed for the church, brushing past Wash carelessly.

Kevin ran for the car and Victoria unlocked the door, allowing him entrance.

Wash heard gunfire from inside the church.

“Kids, stay here and lock the doors.”

They nodded and watched as Wash’s shadow limped up the bending sidewalk to the church doors.

Harlan nodded to Jatin.

“Do it.”

Jatin was distracted by the appearance of nine robed figures, who were all anxious to kiss him and worship at his feet.

Harlan hissed, “Leave Him alone! He must kill the girl!”

Wash looked to Mark, and then to Jatin. “Let him live, m’lord. Before you go any farther in this body, you must make this a permanent stay. It is time, I think, for you to welcome the Prophet. ”

Shigi lay down nearby, struggling into consciousness. She could hear Mark’s voice, at the door. Her grandfather and Mark had arrived in time to spare her life, to give her a few moments to keep living. She got to her feet, gripping her bleeding arm. She drooped toward Mark and the figure of her brother, who was about to lunge at him.

“Leave Him alone! He must kill the girl!”

People were filing into the church now, rushing past Jatin and Harlan to get a look at her. They were going to watch her die at the hands of her brother!

Her brother appeared before her and pushed her into the church.

“Shigi,” cried Mark, before the doors closed on him.

Jatin toyed with his sister, chasing her around the ring of pews. Shigi knew it was hopeless. Her brother was going to get her eventually. She stopped, fell to the floor and prayed for a miracle.

Harlan laughed.

“Pray to me!” Jatin screamed. “Pray to me!”

As he spat at her, Shigi watched the amulet swing to and fro. The amulet. That was the key, it was allowing whatever was in her brother to stay for as long as it had. If she could only get it off of him…

Shigi threw her arms up.

“Jatin!” She stood, puckered. It was a stupid plan, but it was all that she had. He wants a wife…I’ll give him a wife!

“Jatin! Oh! Pardon me! I mean,” she curtsied, “m’lord. I am honored for the opportunity.” She bent low, kissed his hand. She acted. He was too busy soaking it up, she punched him hard in the groin and ripped the medallion off from around his neck. She screamed.

“My hand!” She dropped the stone, the skin of her palm blistering and cracking.

The door to the church flew open.

“Kill her!”

Harlan tossed the gun at Jatin.

Jatin aimed at Shigi.

“No! Jatin, don’t!”

“You must die!”

Jatin’s finger hovered over the trigger. He twitched, turned, and fired at the open door.

Wash fell to the floor.

“You shot Wash!” Shigi cried.

“No…no…no! It wasn’t me! I didn’t…” Jatin collapsed onto the floor in tears.