Possession (Scare #4)

Change is our worst enemy-so some seem to believe, but is it? Staying set in our ways makes us prime targets for bad things. Take Marty Numan, for example. He was on top of the world, until the change. Then life as he knew it fell down around him like a two-ton rock off the Empire State building.

            You know? Murder isn't what it seems; it's actually a natural release of tension, for we are animals. As the law of nature states: kill or be killed, eat or be eaten ... only the strong survive.

            This theory makes one think twice about hesitating in his thoughts.

            Marty Numan, an author and a man in his prime, is about to experience the fall that all dread: the loss of his mind ...

###

            "Happy birthday, Craig."

            "My birthday's five days away, Sharon." He smiles.

            "I know, I just wanted to prepare you."

            "Prepare me?"

            A devilish grin forms on Sharon's face as she closes her eyes. When she opens, they hold a serpent's glare and, in a voice that was not her own, she speaks.

            "Prepare you for your birthright."

            Waking from an intense dream, Craig Brasin wipes the sweat from his brow.

            "What in the fuck did all that mean? Birthright, shit, I must be going crazy."

### 

            Waking from an intense dream of her own, Sharon Hamil wipes the sweat from her brow.

            "That was too weird. What am I going to dream about next, the sky falling? Shit, I think I just need some sex!"

###

            As intricately bound as the sharp point of the devil's index finger with its rigid-toothed nail, the moon bears down on the night.

            "I am now here, in the physical, aiming at the forever night of the earth's remaining days. None are prepared for my steps. None are aware of who I really am or of the power that I have, thus is my wrath ever better. I am forever, the fallen angel of song, yet I fell not to Hell, but to my Heaven, the kingdom of my own design, which I named Hell for the vacationing souls I've conquered. Peddlers doing my bidding here on earth, prepare my taker and the taken for my seeds and my arrival."

            "Ahhhhhh, this is refreshing," says the One who wilts the flowerbed-he, she, or it, make your choice, take your pick. "It is good to be amongst the sheep living upon my hollow grounds. My followers! Know that I am here. Know that I am here to complete the six of your god's marked prophecy, the beloved 666. Three entities of separate origin brought together at the last hour on the eve of the millennium. Six marked by man, six marked by woman and the birth of my child, which will lead the darkness of Hell into Earth's corner, six forming the beloved 666 to mark the beast."

###

            This story begins in the small town of Jonesboro, Louisiana, where on January 1, 1966, two children-a boy, Craig Brasin, and a girl, Sharon Hamil-are born as the moon, with this rigid swipe showing through it, bears down affording the night the feel of death. The hospital is crowded with the constant rush of doctors, nurses, and patrons making their way toward their destinations. Wheeled in with blood spilling forth from their wombs are Sasha Brasin and Inga Hamil. Their husbands, Roger Brasin and Dui Hamil, walk beside their wives with frustration on their faces, holding the hands of their women in support. The two separate operating rooms are packed with nurses prepping for two emergency C-sections.

            "Mrs. Hamil, just relax, we're going to have to perform a C-section," says Dr. Yvonne.

            "Is she prepped, nurse?" says Dr. Pinnes.

            "Yes, sir, Mrs. Brasin is prepped and marked. There's a clot forming on the inner lip of the vaginal orifice," says one of the assisting nurses.

            "Okay, we're going in. Blade one, nurse," Dr. Yvonne says.

            Handing the blade to Dr. Pinnes, the nurses watch as he begins the C-section. Dr. Yvonne begins his own operation at the same time.

            The night begins to slow. Every movement seems a painstaking task. Both Mrs. Hamil and Mrs. Brasin suffer during the procedure, as if something were wrong.

            "Doctor, look," says one of the nurses.

            The stomachs of both Mrs. Hamil and Mrs. Brasin begin to jump as if someone or something is attempting to make its way out. The doctors and nurses, shocked, just stare at the movement of the stomachs when suddenly they are ripped open by monstrous beings baring animal fangs, razor-sharp claws, and serpent's scales. The eyes of these monstrous beings are those of a snake, with its oval pupils. Blood sprays everywhere as these beasts are ripped from the belly of their mothers, killing them instantly.

            Some of the nurses attempt to exit the operating room, but the doors lock themselves and blood blackens the viewing windows. These beasts then rip the flesh from all that are in that room, eating at their hearts, leaving none to be recognized.

            The first victims are the fathers.

            The room is darkened with the flickering of the operating light dancing above. These beasts look around the room as if they need more of the hearts that they have just devoured. The Brasin beast scurries toward the wall, while the Hamil beast scurries toward the wall on its side. They stand for a moment, feeling each other through the wall, knowing they are on the same side.

            The Brasin beast burrows his way through the wall to the Hamil beast. When they meet they show much affection for each other, playing like only children will do. Atop their heads, an obvious mark is visible. It reads "6."

            Suddenly the door flies open, and a nurse stands holding a clipboard. She sees two blood-drenched, fair-skinned infants lying on the floor beside one another. She then looks around the room, sees the putrid, shredded bodies of the hospital staff, and begins to yell at the top of her lungs.

###

            "Ahhhh, it is great to be here," says the One who wilts the flowerbed. "Time is tick, tick, ticking away. How many souls will I capture today? Will they be a challenge or will they be given? Only time will tell as the clock keeps tick, tick, ticking. Your god has arrived with enough hatred for y'all, with enough evil for the big and small, so come one, come all. I will shred your souls and place them in my satchel, call you a settler and make you my peddler. Come one, come all, come stand behind your god, I will lead you into the darkness of Earth's end. Come one, come all, my wilted flowers, come claim your title, speak out and cheer it, come one, come all, let's have a ball, my wilted flowers ... sweet, Unconquerable Spirits.

            "Hi, I'm Lucifer, but you can call me the final six, you pitiful blood pigs. I will be your guide to your world's end. This story will mess with you just a little, but hey, the author that I have chosen to write of my overall reign will not let you down, for I have been keeping my eye on him for quite some time now. I feel that with his uncanny ability to create and promote literature with as much insight as one of my own fallen peddlers, I couldn't help but take him, possess him, make him one of mine. I want to introduce to you the horror novelist that I have chosen, or shall I say taken, Mr. Marty Numan. Say hi, my peddler."

            "Hi-save me, please!"

            "That's enough, Marty. Remember our agreement: stand fast and tall or I will stuff your mouth full of shit and smear your life on my wall."

            "Yes, my lord!"

            "Now that I have my author back, allow me to focus my attentions back on you. Yes, I'm talking about you, the reader. I bet you're really interested in what's to come. Well, now that I've gotten your attention, we can begin. My peddler, take my would-be peddlers back. Back to the time when my plan was put into play! Back to January 1, 1466, when love caused the downfall of a bloodline, thus paving the way for my reign."

###

            It was January 1, 1464, in Middleton, Scotland, where the families of Hamil and Brasin were feuding. This feud began but six years prior over land to which both had staked claim. The land was awarded to the Brasin family, and thus began the feud that would take many lives over the years.

            All communications between the families were prohibited by the elders of each family, thus making the two families and their battle well known within the town of Middleton. It was January 1, 1464, when two young teenagers from either sides of the fence, a Karen Hamil and Jacobe Brasin, fell in love with each other. Their love was so strong that at the risk of death by both of their families, they met secretly.

            This went on for two years, until one dark and stormy night on January 1, 1466, Karen and Jacobe were caught making love within an abandoned cottage in a wooded pasture located one mile outside of Middleton Village, by hunters from the Middleton Village Granger family meat market. Running toward this cottage with dead animal carcasses hanging from them, Arnold Granger and Paul Granger burst through the door.  

            "Good god! Isn't that Karen Hamil and Jacobe Brasin?" Arnold Granger gasps.

            "I'll be damned. Let's get out of here," Paul Granger replies. They pick up their carcasses and run out of the cottage, headed back toward the village.

            Frightened, paranoid, Karen and Jacobe pace around the cottage contemplating a way they might get out of this situation, but they ran into a dead end with all their suggestions. They know it is but a short time before word gets to their families of their involvement.

            Not knowing what else to do, they join hands, get on their knees, and begin to pray.

            "Lord," said Jacobe, then he's interrupted by a voice that comes from the shadows.

            This voice is deep and slow, with a calm tone. With every word, the voice seems to shift from one shadow to another.

            "Lord! Your lord's not going to do anything for you! He's too busy sitting on his ass ignoring the needs of his faithful followers. I will not ignore you, I promise! What you need is someone that could, can, and will help you now."

            Pulling Karen behind him, Jacobe shouted, "Show yourself!"

            "As you wish!"

            Walking from the shadows, a tall thin man dressed in all black and bearing a snake-handled cane is to be seen. His hair is jet black, as is his goatee. His fingernails are black with sharp ends, and his eyes seem to have no whiteness within them. As he stands there, Karen and Jacobe looked at him oddly.

            "Who are you?" Karen asks.

            "Help! Someone that can save you from the obvious death that your families have in store for you."

            "How, Mr.-" says Jacobe, again interrupted.

            "Oh, I'm sorry, where are my manners?"

            This man moved closer to them.

            "Hi, I'm Lucifer, but you can call me-well, after tonight, you can call me your savior."

            Out the window, Karen notices dozens of torches coming their way.

            "Jacobe, I think our families are coming," she says, frightened.

            "What a situation. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, boy dies a martyr at the hands of girl's family, and vice versa. What a predicament! So, with little time to spare, I ask you: do you need me? Do you need me to save you?"

            "What is it that you want from us and what do we get out of it?" Jacobe asks, panic visible on his face.

            Karen clutches his arm as they both stare at Lucifer.  

            "Well, my children, what I want is only to serve you. To be the God that your present God can't-or shall I say, won't. Trust me, all I want is to make you happy, and the only thing you have to do is say yes."

            The noise from outside becomes louder as the flames draw closer and closer to the cottage. Karen and Jacobe look at each other with lost love in their eyes as Lucifer smiles in foreseen victory.

            Turning to Lucifer, they stammer out, "Yes!"

            Lucifer places his hands on both of them.

            "Welcome to my kingdom!"

            In a zombie-like daze, Karen and Jacobe both answer, "Yes, my Lord!"

            Suddenly time rewinds, and Karen and Jacobe are again making love in the cottage. Arnold and Paul Granger burst through the door.

            "Isn't that Karen Hamil and Jacobe Brasin?" Arnold Granger gasps.

            "I'll be damned. Let's get out of here!" Paul Granger replies. As they pick up their animal carcasses and attempt to flee, a dark image forms behind them, blackening the exit door. When they notice, they step back, shocked and scared.

            Lucifer forms in the doorway. His eyes are blood red and his nails have grown to sharper points. His skin looks of swollen blood vessels that bounce in obvious anger.

            Naked under the sheets, Karen and Jacobe look on with faint grins on their faces.

            Lucifer begins to rip the flesh from the Granger brothers, eating at their hearts as if he is loving every second of it.

            Standing, Lucifer's facial image returns to what was, yet his demeanor as he looks at Karen and Jacobe remains cruel, angry, and evil. He looks at them as if he wants to rip every inch of them apart.

            Their grins turn serious as Lucifer looks on.

            "You're mine," Lucifer says as his demons emerge from the shadows and drag the bodies away. "Your bloodlines will forever bear my peddlers, and for this I thank you, for you have paved the way for my world domination."

            Lucifer slowly walks out the cottage door, vanishing into the night.

### 

            "Ahhhh, it is great to be here," says the One who wilts the flowerbed. "Time is tick, tick, ticking away, how many souls will I capture today? Will they be a challenge or will they be given? Only time will tell as the clock keeps tick, tick, ticking. Your god has arrived with enough hatred for y'all, with enough evil for the big and small, so come one, come all. I will shred your souls and place them in my satchel, call you a settler and make you my peddler. Come one, come all, come stand behind your god, I will lead you into the darkness of Earth's end. Come one, come all my wilted flowers. Come claim your title, speak out and cheer it, come one, come all, lets have a ball, my wilted flowers ... sweet, Unconquerable Spirits."

            Six millenniums mark the date when Lucifer will be able to break through God's holy walls and enter the province of the flesh and blood. His child will be conceived within the last hour on the eve of the millennium to mark the final six of 666 to mark the beast, which will lead the darkness of hell into Earth's corner. With the procurement of the Hamil and Brasin roots, Lucifer has been planning his arrival strategically throughout the millenniums. He has killed off certain members of each family to find the proper boy and girl on both sides to bear the singular mark of the beast, for when joined they form six and six, and the conception of his child forms 666.

            The millennium is but five days away marking the birth date of Lucifer's chosen. Lucifer is here. Only time will tell when Lucifer will enter the soul of the chosen male and set forth the beginning of the end.

            Yet Lucifer has made other plans for the chosen few. He, in his non-physical state, will influence his chosen to bring them closer together, thus making it easier for his seed to be placed. The chosen will know nothing of each other until their juices are combined. Then and only then will they remember each other! Then and only then will they remember their birth, their destiny, their birthrights. Yet the choice will be theirs to accept this right and bring their true father into their world.

### 

            "Mr. Numan? You've been very loyal in the writing of the prophecy. You will be rewarded!"

            "Thank you, my Lord!"

            "Now bring them to the here and now. Bring them closer to Earth's end. To the time when the holy light, as pitiful as it is, will subside and the darkness prevail, thus setting me and my Unconquerable Spirits free to wreak havoc on this world, as it should be."

            "Save your servant who trusts in you, my God, let him find in you Lord a fortified tower in the face of the enemy."

            "What is this, my peddler? You have the nerve to speak out towards the light within the realm of my darkness? Speak out no more and do my bidding or I will eat out your eyes, spit at your soul, feed you the fruits of the omen, and watch as you burn for eternity over and over again within my domain. Remember our agreement, stand fast and tall or I will stuff your mouth full of shit and smear your life on my wall. You will attempt to weasel your way out from my hold, but allow me to save you the trouble. You will fail each and every time, for I am the great One, not he who gives life, but I, the One who wilts the flowerbed, who strips the life and soul from the blood pigs of this world. You will not win, ever. Your strength is noted and commended. You are stronger than most I've possessed, but as time keeps tick, tick, ticking you soon will give yourself to me body, mind, and soul. Give me praise, my peddler."

            "Yes, my Lord, you are praised."

            "That's a good boy. Now do my bidding and tell of the prophecy ..."

An excerpt from the novel Writer's Block: The Possession by author

Simon VonDrehle (nom de plum)

Pragmatic author A.K. Kuykendall hopes you have a great Halloween month. And in your spare time, please visit the site where 'truth reads through fiction' @ http://www.thewriterofbooks.com/