Outside of the realm of light years, a conversation was happening. To the casual observer, the conversation would be imperceptible. From one point of view, the conversation would last less than a nanosecond within a unit of time unimaginable. From another, the conversation would last beyond eternity. To the participants involved, with limbs stretching infinitely outward and inward, twisting to avoid one another, the conversation was dire. Where these limbs intersected, universes manifested. Where they separated, universes crumbled. Observing from afar, the many acted as one—a cohesive unit with no beginning, middle, or end. In the care of these talkers were tapestries upon tapestries of doorways to and from other dimensions. The angel, Vros, after a long absence, entered this conversation with its brethren without a formal greeting.
“Kinsmen, my task is urgent. Can we now enter the lower dimension from any point along the thread?”
Vros had hoped it would be able to re-enter Moritz’s world to a time earlier than from whence it had come.
“We are still only able to follow the one moving point, Vros. We cannot undo what has been done along the thread,” the chorus of angels replied.
The chorus was overjoyed to see Vros again. Vros—the champion no one worshipped. They fully understood the urgency of the matter, and they were disappointed that there was no technological breakthrough to share with it. The entry point continued to move forward. There was no access to the home universe of Moritz before or after the point. Vros would have to return to a world no longer safe from the relentless hunger of the demon horde, the Kra’agnuk as they were known to the angels. Vros could see the shadows of Ruahadavalat and Hrel. They, along with their kinsman, Ciri, were still in the other universe. They had not abandoned and could not abandon the planet of free will. Sibr, the first visitor to Earth, spoke directly to Vros.
“The humans must be protected, Vros. If the humans come under the influence of the Kra’agnuk, we cannot predict what kind of army will breach our frontiers. Someone from the other side has achieved the unthinkable. It’s only a matter of time before the flood of demons into the human world becomes overwhelming.”
“I understand and will return to the lower dimension immediately. Is there a vessel waiting near Lake Cumberland? I received a message from Ruahadavalat to go there. If the demons seek entry, it will be there.”
A being different from the others raised his voice.
“Vros, you can use my son, Claude, if he is still there. He is like me. He has the genetic code.”
The foreign being then paused. He was almost afraid to ask the question that was on his mind.
“Is Ru still with my grandson? Is David all right?”
“No, Lloyd. Ruahadavalat was with someone else. I do not know the status of your grandson. When I return, I will inquire into his safety.”
Sibr addressed Vros, “The Kra’agnuk have stepped up activity in other parts of the omniverse. This demands our attention. We shall fill the three vacant connections to the lower universe as soon as possible. We shall attempt to open more. I myself will return when I can.”
At the moment Vros was without an earthborn body. Had he been in control of one, Vros would have smiled.
“Perhaps I can deal with the problem on my own.”
“Acting independently is unwise. Confer with the others. We have not always agreed with your past independent decisions, Vros.”
“I understand. Where most of us wish to incorporate all into our oneness, I and others like me often find it necessary to eliminate obstinate minds.”
“We can never reject you, Vros, but we can express our concerns. Our mission is incontrovertible. Our kind have tried in the past and failed to turn away from the oneness. Our methods, however, will always be open to interpretation. Go now, and stop the Kra’agnuk. We are with you always.”
Lester and Dave had been sitting silently in Dave’s old room for the past couple hours, waiting for something to happen. By then, Lester had acquainted himself with every knick-knack and wall hanging. He was beginning to tire of the color red, which splashed across Dave’s room like geometric blood spatter. The sound of his voice was the only other color Lester had on his palette. He stayed quiet for a while thinking Dave needed to get into some kind of a trance. Deep in his own thoughts, Lester couldn’t shake the image of Tommy’s hanging body. He could only distract himself so many times by checking his mobile device for a message from Harry which by then was more than late in coming. Enough waiting was enough.
“So, Dave, how does it feel to be back home after all these years?”
Dave’s concentration was broken. He was relieved rather than angry. It was hard to focus with a throbbing skull. Tommy’s pistol whip was a lasting legacy. The time in Bowling Green afforded some much needed rest, but it was not enough to completely dull Dave’s headaches and Lester’s grief.
“My room is exactly how I left it. It’s like they didn’t touch a thing. At least they kept it clean. I used to vacuum and dust it myself, but it looks like my mom took over. She kept it clean, thinking I’d come home any minute after I figured out how to tune out the voice that was in my head. It doesn’t really feel like home though without my mom and dad here.”
“No blueberry pie.”
“Yeah. No blueberry pie. No sounds from the kitchen. My dad isn’t here to stink up the bathroom.”
“Well, Dave, I can take care of the stink if it will make you feel more at home.”
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Are you feeling anything? Any vibes? Is anyone talking to you?”
“Just you so far. I’m wondering if maybe we need to go out to the lake. Ru always preferred to talk there for some reason.”
“I’m sure it couldn’t hurt. We’ve been cooped up in here for a while. My tan is starting to fade.”
Dave chuckled a little. Dave and Lester continued talking as they headed downstairs to the car.
“I’m still not sure what is supposed to happen.”
“Maybe Mr. Face just wanted you to see your family again. Maybe your folks hired him to find you and bring you back.”
“Very funny. My folks were clueless. If they were asking anyone for help, it was Jesus Christ.”
“Maybe Mr. Face is Jesus Christ. He sure as hell ain’t from around here. Maybe he came down and possessed some guy named Jesus Christ a long time ago. Started turning water into wine and shit. Started bringing cats back from the dead.”
“You talk just to talk, don’t you?”
“Pretty much. I’m just thinking out loud. I get a little crazy if it’s too quiet.”
“Do you talk out loud when you’re by yourself?”
“Who doesn’t? I mean I’ve had people under surveillance-- total surveillance. These people had no idea there was someone watching their every move. Some more than others—but every single one of them vocalized something when they believed there was no one around to hear it. I still can’t believe it. Am I just lucky to find all the people who talk to themselves?”
“Probably.”
Lester started the car and followed Dave’s instructions to Lake Cumberland. With Harry’s last message, he knew a heavily fortified complex hid deep below the lake’s surface. The complex was likely under the control of the same faction hunting Dave. They would need to tread lightly for fear of disturbing the hornets’ nest. The last thing Lester wanted to do was deliver Dave to the very people from whom he was protecting him. But if it came down to it, taking on the forces of evil sure beat the heck out of sitting around the house all day.
Deep beneath the surface of Lake Cumberland rested a submerged ghost town. Buildings abandoned before the flooding of the valley hid access to a fortress of debauchery and scientific achievement. While drinking, smoking, injecting, snorting, gambling, groping, and overall cavorting occurred under an eerie aquatic light in the main casino area and in private luxury suites, something far more sinister and abominable was happening in a room adjacent to the first manmade inter-dimensional portal to ever allow an agent of the Kra-agnuk entry into the world of humans. Two heavily muscled orderlies were arguing outside the room.
“I took it in last time. It’s your turn to feed him.”
“Fuck that. You have a special relationship with him. You feed him.”
“Yeah, that was when he looked halfway normal. He’s getting freaky. He scares the shit out of me. How is this even a discussion? It’s your fucking turn. Maybe he’ll say something really trippy to you like he said to me last time.”
“What’d he say?”
“He said something about trapped souls going on to serve a true god to become free through obliteration—something like that. Come on. Just go in there and drop the tray and get the fuck out. If Dolph finds out that we didn’t treat this guy right, we’re fucked.”
“Okay.”
The orderly grabbed the tray of various meats, nutritional supplements, and water and slowly entered the darkened room. A hulking figure sat stoically on a gurney. In the short time since the demon agent had infected the human, the physical transformation was remarkable and nearly complete. This demon possession was far more invasive than any hosting of an angel. An angel was always kind and cooperative to its vessel and did nothing to alter the body. The demon, on the other hand, upon entering the human shell, took over all functions, relegating the vessel’s consciousness to a tortured confine. The endocrine system was commandeered to transform the vessel into the ultimate fighting machine by generating muscle-building human growth hormone and testosterone. Bone growth was restarted to reinforce the skeletal structure. Red blood cells were created at a faster pace to provide more oxygen to all parts of the enhanced body. Ligaments and tendons thickened. Lung capacity increased. Nerve endings multiplied to improve sensation and reaction time. The calcification of the facial and skull bones created an inhuman countenance. The orderly set the protein-laden tray down and turned to leave. The beast then spoke with overgrown vocal cords.
“Where is Steve? I have more to tell him. Have I become too frightening?”
The creature seemed honestly regretful. Everything about this world was new to the demon inside. It was still learning.
“Uh, I’ll get him.”
With unnatural speed, the creature covered the distance of the room to the orderly and cut off his exit.
“Don’t leave just yet. I haven’t finished eating.”
The beast quickly sank his teeth into the orderly’s neck and began devouring his flesh. The orderly had no throat left to scream as the blood drained from his skull.
A few doors down from the grisly scene, a woman sat alone in a locked compartment. Agnes Bullock wondered if she would ever see her husband again.
Vros’ entry into the human world did not occur as it had planned. The genetic signature it had targeted as Lloyd, the human soul, had suggested, was repelling it. Attempt after attempt was met with devilish resistance. It was as if Claude Bullock had the “No Vacancy” sign lit and a door mat that read, “Scram!” This was alarming on multiple levels for Vros. Claude was obviously possessed by some other being. All angels were accounted for, so Vros worried that the demons or at least one demon had made the jump. Disoriented and committed to the human plane, Vros expended incredible amounts of energy to find an alternative symbiont. The pain Vros felt in limbo between his world and without connection to a human soul was jarring. It began to expand frantically in every direction hoping to find a compatible host. It didn’t take long.
Floating on a stolen dinghy on Lake Cumberland, Lester and Dave motored toward the spot where Dave and Ru used to communicate openly. The weather was unusually foreboding with storm clouds massing almost instantly. Minutes ago, Lester and Dave were enjoying the sunshine.
“Gee, Dave, I thought a romantic cruise around the lake was a good idea. Now, I’m thinking we should maybe head back. I don’t want to get struck by lightning. You have this thing with lightning.”
“This is weird weather. It’s like we brought Seattle with us.”
Suddenly, Dave’s body went rigid and he screamed in agonizing pain. His thoughts became clouded, and he caught Lester in the corner of his eye coming towards him. His arm shot out, and he grasped Lester’s neck. Lester tried futilely to break the grip by slamming his arms down on Dave’s arm. Finally Lester realized he was going to have to hurt Dave before he blacked out. Lester’s fist flew at Dave’s head from the side and nearly knocked Dave out of the boat when it connected with Dave’s temple. Free from the grip, Lester pinned Dave to the bottom of the boat.
“This is closer than I want to get to you Dave, but you’ve flipped your shit, my friend.”
“Lester. Lester, I’m sorry. We’re sorry. We overreacted.”
“We? What are you talking about? We?”
“Lester, I’d like you to meet Vros. It says you may know it by the name, Molar. The split second after Vros found my soul, it saw you approaching and did what it thought it needed to protect me. It didn’t know.”
“Hey, Vros. You and your buddy, Hrel, really need to learn some manners.”
“The connection was extremely painful. Vros was looking for my father. Vros was rejected. It was lucky to find me.”
The storm clouds began to dissipate.
“So does that mean your father is…”
“No, he’s not dead.”
Dave looked wan. His eyes were vacant.
“I’m sorry, Lester. I need to rest.”
“Well, the sun is out again. Take your time. I’ll just get back to that trout I’m trying to catch.”
Pam had heard Dave talk about his hometown from time to time but never thought she would visit it for any reason. Whenever Dave started talking about Somerset to Pam, she knew it was Dave’s way of remembering his family—staying in contact no matter the physical and emotional distance. The conversation usually centered on religious myopia. Dave’s father would always come up as an example. Pam, Ivy, and Anton were now in the very town of Dave and Claude Bullock. Pam was one step closer to her goal. Hrel had other ideas, and through Pam’s voice, he set in motion the steps he felt needed to occur to achieve his own ends.
“Anton, we’re going to need the soul cloaks Hrel was working on. We felt something last night. We don’t know how bad it is yet, but we need to be ready.”
“Kinsmen, my task is urgent. Can we now enter the lower dimension from any point along the thread?”
Vros had hoped it would be able to re-enter Moritz’s world to a time earlier than from whence it had come.
“We are still only able to follow the one moving point, Vros. We cannot undo what has been done along the thread,” the chorus of angels replied.
The chorus was overjoyed to see Vros again. Vros—the champion no one worshipped. They fully understood the urgency of the matter, and they were disappointed that there was no technological breakthrough to share with it. The entry point continued to move forward. There was no access to the home universe of Moritz before or after the point. Vros would have to return to a world no longer safe from the relentless hunger of the demon horde, the Kra’agnuk as they were known to the angels. Vros could see the shadows of Ruahadavalat and Hrel. They, along with their kinsman, Ciri, were still in the other universe. They had not abandoned and could not abandon the planet of free will. Sibr, the first visitor to Earth, spoke directly to Vros.
“The humans must be protected, Vros. If the humans come under the influence of the Kra’agnuk, we cannot predict what kind of army will breach our frontiers. Someone from the other side has achieved the unthinkable. It’s only a matter of time before the flood of demons into the human world becomes overwhelming.”
“I understand and will return to the lower dimension immediately. Is there a vessel waiting near Lake Cumberland? I received a message from Ruahadavalat to go there. If the demons seek entry, it will be there.”
A being different from the others raised his voice.
“Vros, you can use my son, Claude, if he is still there. He is like me. He has the genetic code.”
The foreign being then paused. He was almost afraid to ask the question that was on his mind.
“Is Ru still with my grandson? Is David all right?”
“No, Lloyd. Ruahadavalat was with someone else. I do not know the status of your grandson. When I return, I will inquire into his safety.”
Sibr addressed Vros, “The Kra’agnuk have stepped up activity in other parts of the omniverse. This demands our attention. We shall fill the three vacant connections to the lower universe as soon as possible. We shall attempt to open more. I myself will return when I can.”
At the moment Vros was without an earthborn body. Had he been in control of one, Vros would have smiled.
“Perhaps I can deal with the problem on my own.”
“Acting independently is unwise. Confer with the others. We have not always agreed with your past independent decisions, Vros.”
“I understand. Where most of us wish to incorporate all into our oneness, I and others like me often find it necessary to eliminate obstinate minds.”
“We can never reject you, Vros, but we can express our concerns. Our mission is incontrovertible. Our kind have tried in the past and failed to turn away from the oneness. Our methods, however, will always be open to interpretation. Go now, and stop the Kra’agnuk. We are with you always.”
---
Lester and Dave had been sitting silently in Dave’s old room for the past couple hours, waiting for something to happen. By then, Lester had acquainted himself with every knick-knack and wall hanging. He was beginning to tire of the color red, which splashed across Dave’s room like geometric blood spatter. The sound of his voice was the only other color Lester had on his palette. He stayed quiet for a while thinking Dave needed to get into some kind of a trance. Deep in his own thoughts, Lester couldn’t shake the image of Tommy’s hanging body. He could only distract himself so many times by checking his mobile device for a message from Harry which by then was more than late in coming. Enough waiting was enough.
“So, Dave, how does it feel to be back home after all these years?”
Dave’s concentration was broken. He was relieved rather than angry. It was hard to focus with a throbbing skull. Tommy’s pistol whip was a lasting legacy. The time in Bowling Green afforded some much needed rest, but it was not enough to completely dull Dave’s headaches and Lester’s grief.
“My room is exactly how I left it. It’s like they didn’t touch a thing. At least they kept it clean. I used to vacuum and dust it myself, but it looks like my mom took over. She kept it clean, thinking I’d come home any minute after I figured out how to tune out the voice that was in my head. It doesn’t really feel like home though without my mom and dad here.”
“No blueberry pie.”
“Yeah. No blueberry pie. No sounds from the kitchen. My dad isn’t here to stink up the bathroom.”
“Well, Dave, I can take care of the stink if it will make you feel more at home.”
“Thanks, but no thanks.”
“Are you feeling anything? Any vibes? Is anyone talking to you?”
“Just you so far. I’m wondering if maybe we need to go out to the lake. Ru always preferred to talk there for some reason.”
“I’m sure it couldn’t hurt. We’ve been cooped up in here for a while. My tan is starting to fade.”
Dave chuckled a little. Dave and Lester continued talking as they headed downstairs to the car.
“I’m still not sure what is supposed to happen.”
“Maybe Mr. Face just wanted you to see your family again. Maybe your folks hired him to find you and bring you back.”
“Very funny. My folks were clueless. If they were asking anyone for help, it was Jesus Christ.”
“Maybe Mr. Face is Jesus Christ. He sure as hell ain’t from around here. Maybe he came down and possessed some guy named Jesus Christ a long time ago. Started turning water into wine and shit. Started bringing cats back from the dead.”
“You talk just to talk, don’t you?”
“Pretty much. I’m just thinking out loud. I get a little crazy if it’s too quiet.”
“Do you talk out loud when you’re by yourself?”
“Who doesn’t? I mean I’ve had people under surveillance-- total surveillance. These people had no idea there was someone watching their every move. Some more than others—but every single one of them vocalized something when they believed there was no one around to hear it. I still can’t believe it. Am I just lucky to find all the people who talk to themselves?”
“Probably.”
Lester started the car and followed Dave’s instructions to Lake Cumberland. With Harry’s last message, he knew a heavily fortified complex hid deep below the lake’s surface. The complex was likely under the control of the same faction hunting Dave. They would need to tread lightly for fear of disturbing the hornets’ nest. The last thing Lester wanted to do was deliver Dave to the very people from whom he was protecting him. But if it came down to it, taking on the forces of evil sure beat the heck out of sitting around the house all day.
---
Deep beneath the surface of Lake Cumberland rested a submerged ghost town. Buildings abandoned before the flooding of the valley hid access to a fortress of debauchery and scientific achievement. While drinking, smoking, injecting, snorting, gambling, groping, and overall cavorting occurred under an eerie aquatic light in the main casino area and in private luxury suites, something far more sinister and abominable was happening in a room adjacent to the first manmade inter-dimensional portal to ever allow an agent of the Kra-agnuk entry into the world of humans. Two heavily muscled orderlies were arguing outside the room.
“I took it in last time. It’s your turn to feed him.”
“Fuck that. You have a special relationship with him. You feed him.”
“Yeah, that was when he looked halfway normal. He’s getting freaky. He scares the shit out of me. How is this even a discussion? It’s your fucking turn. Maybe he’ll say something really trippy to you like he said to me last time.”
“What’d he say?”
“He said something about trapped souls going on to serve a true god to become free through obliteration—something like that. Come on. Just go in there and drop the tray and get the fuck out. If Dolph finds out that we didn’t treat this guy right, we’re fucked.”
“Okay.”
The orderly grabbed the tray of various meats, nutritional supplements, and water and slowly entered the darkened room. A hulking figure sat stoically on a gurney. In the short time since the demon agent had infected the human, the physical transformation was remarkable and nearly complete. This demon possession was far more invasive than any hosting of an angel. An angel was always kind and cooperative to its vessel and did nothing to alter the body. The demon, on the other hand, upon entering the human shell, took over all functions, relegating the vessel’s consciousness to a tortured confine. The endocrine system was commandeered to transform the vessel into the ultimate fighting machine by generating muscle-building human growth hormone and testosterone. Bone growth was restarted to reinforce the skeletal structure. Red blood cells were created at a faster pace to provide more oxygen to all parts of the enhanced body. Ligaments and tendons thickened. Lung capacity increased. Nerve endings multiplied to improve sensation and reaction time. The calcification of the facial and skull bones created an inhuman countenance. The orderly set the protein-laden tray down and turned to leave. The beast then spoke with overgrown vocal cords.
“Where is Steve? I have more to tell him. Have I become too frightening?”
The creature seemed honestly regretful. Everything about this world was new to the demon inside. It was still learning.
“Uh, I’ll get him.”
With unnatural speed, the creature covered the distance of the room to the orderly and cut off his exit.
“Don’t leave just yet. I haven’t finished eating.”
The beast quickly sank his teeth into the orderly’s neck and began devouring his flesh. The orderly had no throat left to scream as the blood drained from his skull.
A few doors down from the grisly scene, a woman sat alone in a locked compartment. Agnes Bullock wondered if she would ever see her husband again.
---
Vros’ entry into the human world did not occur as it had planned. The genetic signature it had targeted as Lloyd, the human soul, had suggested, was repelling it. Attempt after attempt was met with devilish resistance. It was as if Claude Bullock had the “No Vacancy” sign lit and a door mat that read, “Scram!” This was alarming on multiple levels for Vros. Claude was obviously possessed by some other being. All angels were accounted for, so Vros worried that the demons or at least one demon had made the jump. Disoriented and committed to the human plane, Vros expended incredible amounts of energy to find an alternative symbiont. The pain Vros felt in limbo between his world and without connection to a human soul was jarring. It began to expand frantically in every direction hoping to find a compatible host. It didn’t take long.
Floating on a stolen dinghy on Lake Cumberland, Lester and Dave motored toward the spot where Dave and Ru used to communicate openly. The weather was unusually foreboding with storm clouds massing almost instantly. Minutes ago, Lester and Dave were enjoying the sunshine.
“Gee, Dave, I thought a romantic cruise around the lake was a good idea. Now, I’m thinking we should maybe head back. I don’t want to get struck by lightning. You have this thing with lightning.”
“This is weird weather. It’s like we brought Seattle with us.”
Suddenly, Dave’s body went rigid and he screamed in agonizing pain. His thoughts became clouded, and he caught Lester in the corner of his eye coming towards him. His arm shot out, and he grasped Lester’s neck. Lester tried futilely to break the grip by slamming his arms down on Dave’s arm. Finally Lester realized he was going to have to hurt Dave before he blacked out. Lester’s fist flew at Dave’s head from the side and nearly knocked Dave out of the boat when it connected with Dave’s temple. Free from the grip, Lester pinned Dave to the bottom of the boat.
“This is closer than I want to get to you Dave, but you’ve flipped your shit, my friend.”
“Lester. Lester, I’m sorry. We’re sorry. We overreacted.”
“We? What are you talking about? We?”
“Lester, I’d like you to meet Vros. It says you may know it by the name, Molar. The split second after Vros found my soul, it saw you approaching and did what it thought it needed to protect me. It didn’t know.”
“Hey, Vros. You and your buddy, Hrel, really need to learn some manners.”
“The connection was extremely painful. Vros was looking for my father. Vros was rejected. It was lucky to find me.”
The storm clouds began to dissipate.
“So does that mean your father is…”
“No, he’s not dead.”
Dave looked wan. His eyes were vacant.
“I’m sorry, Lester. I need to rest.”
“Well, the sun is out again. Take your time. I’ll just get back to that trout I’m trying to catch.”
---
Pam had heard Dave talk about his hometown from time to time but never thought she would visit it for any reason. Whenever Dave started talking about Somerset to Pam, she knew it was Dave’s way of remembering his family—staying in contact no matter the physical and emotional distance. The conversation usually centered on religious myopia. Dave’s father would always come up as an example. Pam, Ivy, and Anton were now in the very town of Dave and Claude Bullock. Pam was one step closer to her goal. Hrel had other ideas, and through Pam’s voice, he set in motion the steps he felt needed to occur to achieve his own ends.
“Anton, we’re going to need the soul cloaks Hrel was working on. We felt something last night. We don’t know how bad it is yet, but we need to be ready.”
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