PART 2 - CHAPTER 8: Becoming A Believer

The brushed silver facility was on the brink of chaos. The building rattled from an unknown pressure of agonized anger, and ghostly howls echoed throughout the empty white hallways.

Dr. Cato started panicking, trembling violently. “Mathew! Secure the facility now!” Dr. Cato pointed at his men, exhausted and afraid. “You guys, start closing off this section!”

They were inside his office which had a huge see through window that overlooked this chamber. “Jesus Christ! They’re gonna get killed!”

A huge closed chamber that seemed to be on the brink of cracking had men in black robes on the ground, with their mouths foaming and their eyes turning white. Mathew was also present. He pressed the emergency button that the men were supposed to press, but they were so frightened and paralyzed with fear. They decided to close off that section of the building.

Angela was strapped down behind Dr. Cato. He checked on her and noticed that her vital signs were fine. They closed off the lab. Mathew hurried out of the office and grabbed a bunch of stone crosses and started placing them against the giant chamber.

Once they finally contained the madness, Dr. Cato groaned out of relief and Mathew placed his hands on his knees out of exhaustion. Angela woke up and spotted Dr. Cato. She furiously grit her teeth from the sight of him. She tried breaking free from her strapped prison, but it was no use.

Dr. Cato noticed her awakening and pulled out a syringe. “Calm yourself Angela. You’re gonna be fine.” He gently inserted the syringe into her arm and became all loopy and fell asleep again.

He removed the device that was on her head and examined it. “We managed to make contact with that thing, but that was a mistake on our end.”

Dr. Cato looked at the screen, watching the numbers go erratic. He gazed back at the window and spotted the smokey figure of the girl in the white dress.

“I don’t know what angered you to the point you’d do this. I don’t understand why? Almost like… wait! Her face. No… No!” Dr. Cato gripped his hair out of frustration, realizing how she might have caused such ruthless tactics on those men.

Mathew walked back in and was still panting, and he seemed annoyed and upset. “Just what the hell happened? Those guys were almost killed!”

Dr. Cato was on his knees, gripping his hair. He seemed terrified.

“Hello? Cato!”

Dr. Cato pointed at the glass. His finger shook out of fear as he finally realized what was going on. “Sh-She’s evolved!”

“No! You’re kidding, right?”

Mathew walked up to the glass and to his surprise, the smokey figure of the girl in white appeared to have glowing purple eyes that seeped of envy and anger.

“How the hell did that thing get eyes? Before, she was only a ghostly figure with arms and legs of black smoke. Not to mention her facelessness was that of white smoke!”

“That bastard Jack! That’ll explain why!” Dr. Cato stood up beside Mathew. “Remember Mathew, she always consumed her victims because of a desire. From which I presume it is him!”

“Oh my fucking Go—! I mean, Holy sh—! Fuck!” Mathew exclaimed.

Dr. Cato thought more about the situation and slammed his fist against his palm. “Wait! He might not be the only one! There might be more victims! That’s probably it damn it!”

Mathew thought about it as well. “Hmm, that could be it. But we do know Angela was the first one to be her victim. We didn’t believe it at first until that day at the facility.” He grabbed his cross pendant and squinted.

Dr. Cato looked at his friend, confused. “Uh, Mathew. Are you really praying during a crisis like this?”

“My dear friend Cato, this is why we need help from the church, because your science won’t cure this.”

Mathew pulled his cross out of his pocket and then pressed the release button to open the gates of smokey hell into the chamber.

“I’m going in to teach that bitch a lesson! Wait here, my friend!”

The gates opened and a light of murderous intent emitted into the room, shining everyone’s eyes with corruption. He took a deep breath and ran out of Cato’s office and stood in front of the opened chamber. Her angry, ghostly howls vibrated the staff’s eardrums, erupting their minds with darkness, while Mathew kept a sinister smile on his face.

“I hope you’re ready? This time I won’t go easy on you!” He held the cross out in front of his face and walked in with a huge boulder of confidence.

Dr. Cato quickly closed the gates and wished Mathew good luck. He looked at Angela as she slept soundly. “I intend to keep my promise to protect you from her. For your father, and especially for your mother. Even if I have to sacrifice others to reach that goal!”

He patted Angela’s head. I didn’t believe in all that stupid religious or supernatural crap like demons, spirits, and anything beyond what our eyes could comprehend! But from that day I witnessed it I became a believer, and I’ll do my hardest to get rid of that evil thing inside you, no matter how long it takes!

Dr. Cato looked at the screen, watching his friend fight this thing, with forces that were beyond human strength and comprehension. They would do everything within their power to save Angela and hopefully find the truth behind such occurrences that stayed hidden in society’s shadows.

***

Eric and Jack were sitting on the couch, trying their hardest to come up with a plan that would hopefully track Angela down and save her. Jack tried his best to think of a place that would hopefully bring them to her, but it was just too difficult to think of a location.

Jack scratched his head with frustration until he remembered something. He got up off the couch. “The old facility.”

Eric tilts his head. “Huh?”

“The old facility where I met Angela, we should probably go there for more clues. It’s our last hope.”

Eric chuckled. “You’re crazy man, that sounds like a horrible idea. There could be guards everywhere, cameras, or worse!”

“What’s worse than all that?”

Eric’s eyes bugged and let out a groan. “Freaking guard dogs man!”

“You got any other suggestions?” Jack asked.

Eric quickly shut up and sighed. He got up as well and recommended that they should only investigate the area first before doing anything too crazy.

Jack agreed. They began their preparations and decided to only take their handguns. They were ready now and they walked outside, hopping in the car with determination. They drove off and Jack tried his best to remember where the location was. It had been five years so his memory wasn’t the greatest right now, especially with all his emotions running rampant inside his mind.

After a couple of excruciating hours, things were starting to look dim for them as Eric grew impatient. “Man, we’ve been driving for like, what!” Eric checked his watch. “God damn! Three hours, man! After this, you better buy me dinner, you son of a bitch.”

Jack chuckled. He wasn’t ready to give up. The look of determination was enough to keep his smile going. “Sure. Sorry man, but I’m trying my best to remember the area.”

Jack decided to stick half his body out the car to get a better view of their location. Wait a second? Jack recognized the town they were approaching and asked Eric to stop the moment they drove in.

Eric shook his head and looked at Jack as if he were crazy, but decided to oblige to his request. They finally reached the familiar town and parallel parked close to a local business. Without thinking, Jack jumped out of the window and immediately headed towards a homeless community that was close by.

Eric yelled at Jack to “Hold up!” but Jack was out of sight. He reached the community and remembered the aroma, the familiar faces, and especially the underpass. It was the same place he and Angela first called a home with Alexandria, the homeless girl who was his best friend at the time. He checked to see if the old shack was still there. He power walked through the community until he finally reached it. The shack they used to live in was nothing more than a pile of broken memories stacked on one another. He looked around and spotted the grave he dug for Joseph. It was gone, just a big hole of nothingness.

Eric finally caught up to Jack. He grabbed his shoulder and seemed a bit out of breath. “Yo man! Why’d you run off like that? Damn! Made me do all that unnecessary running yo! Tryna break my damn legs, you dumbo?” Eric spotted the open hole in the ground. “Why you looking at some goofy hole, my guy?”

Jack didn’t respond at first, but quietly let out a chuckle and turned around. “This is where I buried one of my friends.” Jack pointed at the broken shack covered in trash. “And that’s where Angela and I used to sleep.”

Eric regretted his words, remembering the night they came up to his doorstep in that brutal winter storm. “My bad, man. So? This is where you poor kids slept, huh? It must’ve been hard for you two.”

Jack turned back to the grave and took a knee. “It’s funny. Angela would almost never go hungry. It was I who starved the majority of the time, but I didn’t care. Her staying healthy was my motivation to find us a place to stay.”

He turned to Eric, smiling. “Then that day finally came, the day you guys took us in. Thank you for everything, man.”

Eric punched Jack’s shoulder. “Now’s not the time to be chummy, you pussy.” Eric laughed and they both decided to walk back to the car.

Jack felt like something else was missing. He asked Eric if they could stop by somewhere real quick. The two hopped into the car and Eric told him that he was fine with it and drove to the location Jack wanted to stop by. They drove for a couple of minutes until they reached an open field filled with beautiful flowers that surprisingly gleamed with life in such coldness. But it left them both feeling confused on how flowers were still striving in such weather when spring hadn’t arrived.

Jack stepped out and walked. Eric followed behind them and they all finally arrived at the spot where Jack wanted to quickly stop by.

Jack knew where he was. Horrific images of her decomposed face and her bracelet of endless love wrapped around his wrist. He was standing on the edge of the field where he buried the person who stole his first kiss and confessed their undying love to, and that person was Alexandria. The grave that Jack dug with frozen hands covered with blisters and splinters for her was still there. The makeshift cross he made was still standing.

Jack wanted to cry for her, but he still couldn’t. Eric noticed Jack clenching his fists. “Jack, you buried more people?”

Jack quickly calmed himself and started picking some of the flowers that were mysteriously striving around them. “She was an amazing person, a loving caring person, who wasn’t afraid of anything… not even death itself.”

He twirled a flower on his fingertips, admiring its beauty. “She was really cute too, like this flower.”

He hung his head, remembering the times they had together, especially that night on the roof.

“I miss her a lot too… if I have to be honest.” Jack set the flowers down and pulled his sleeve, showing Eric the bracelet she once wore.

“I had no idea she wore this the entire time we hung out. We had a lot in common, and she said something that I still don’t understand.”

“And what would that be, my friend?”

Jack drove his index finger across the bracelet. “That she loved me. Heh, she even kissed me.”

Eric smiled. He couldn’t believe Jack was that dense about love. It gave him new ideas to mess with him if he ever decided to prank him.

He walked behind Jack and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Well, you’ll learn eventually, kid. I had no idea you was a playa, my guy. Even when you were a kid you was one!”

“Mmhmm…”

Eric quickly erased that smile and calmed himself down to become serious again. “How’d she die, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Jack gazed up at the sky, thinking about that dreadful day which brought him to his knees. “Well, I didn’t find out for about a week when I saw her rotting corpse near the river. I carried her through that brutal storm with my fingertips frozen. Hyperthermia sought to overtake me, but I didn’t care because I was determined to give her a proper resting place.”

Eric wanted to change this gloomy mood. He was starting to feel bad for Jack and had no idea he had gone through such tragedies. “Oh damn. That’s nasty, man. I knew you were always freaky!” He laughed forcibly, but Jack still seemed serious and even sad.

Jack turned to Eric with a sad look on his face. “Eric, what does love mean?”

Eric gasped. He’d never seen Jack serious about a question before.

“I thought the only type of love there was was parents’ love.” Jack picked the flowers again and walked forward to settle them on her grave. “This concept of loving another person you’re not familiar with is confusing. I don’t understand anything about it. That’s why I feel so bad about her. I couldn’t even give her a definitive answer when she confessed her love to me!”

As Eric followed, Jack suddenly dropped to his knees and clenched the flowers. “To this day, I still haven’t understood any of it. Do you think that you could teach me this ideology?”

Eric felt sorry for Jack. To lighten the mood more, he made a smug look and smiled. “Come on, man! What were you doing as a kid? What type of lame ass parents did you have? You killing me, man!”

Eric gazed at the cold sky, remembering how much Jack expressed his love for his sister, no matter the circumstances. “But to answer your question, sure homie. I’ll teach you the beauty that is love. Fucking goofy ass fool!”

Eric couldn’t help himself but laugh over Jack’s density. His laughter was enough to turn Jack’s frown into a slight grin.

Jack got up and walked again, then reached her tombstone. Both men stared at it. Jack gently set the flowers down on it and touched the stone tombstone, while leaning his head against the freezing grave. He mumbled a few words to her, wishing her well in the afterlife, telling her he was doing okay. And most of all, how much he missed her.

Alexandria, if you could hear me… Tell me, please tell me if I’m doing wrong. Give me more courage to get Angela back, please.

Jack closed his eyes and actually prayed for once. The moment Jack lifted his head and opened his eyes, the field in front of him had flower petals blowing across the horizons. There was someone bathing in front of some holy light that peaked over the hill in front of him. He stood up with amazement written all over his face. The air around him felt so clean and purified that he thought he was witnessing an angel. But as that person turned around, it was none other than Alexandria herself, who seemed healthy and drug free. She even wore a wonderful red dress to fit the scenery.

Jack was left stunned. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Alexandria couldn’t believe her eyes either. She walked over to Jack, bathing himself in that white light. Jack had a huge smile of pure happiness on his face. He reached out to her out of disbelief as she shed tears of happiness.

She couldn’t contain herself and ran into Jack’s arms. “Jack!”

Diving into his arms, she rubbed her face all over Jack’s abdomen, staining his jacket with tears. Jack couldn’t help himself but hug her so tightly that he was even on the brink of tears.

“Alex-Alexandria!” Jack shouted, looking into her eyes bathed in red. “I’m sorry… I’m so fucking sorry. I couldn’t save you. You must have suffered so much.”

She couldn’t stop crying and tried her hardest to reach Jack’s scarred face, but the height difference was too much. He noticed and got to his knees. She caressed his cheek as he grabbed her tiny hand.

“You’ve grown so much in five years, honey. But don’t worry, I’m fine now.”

Jack’s cheeks tightened and his lip quivered.

She grabbed his hand and caressed it with ease, feeling its roughness. “You’ve gone through so much, haven’t you?”

Jack couldn’t answer her out of his hidden shame, but she continued smiling, which eased his soul.

“I may be dead, but my spirit lives on. I know you’re going through a lot, but hang in there, big guy!” She hugged him again and leaned her head against his chest, feeling his beating heart.

“I can’t comprehend any of these occurrences. All of this makes no sense. I don’t know how I’m here, feeling your warmth again, but I don’t care because I can hold you again, Alexandria.”

“That’s okay, Jack. Whatever’s happening, even if all this seems impossible, I’ll always love you, remember?”

Jack patted her head and closed his eyes. “Yes, I know, but I don’t understand why you’re here. Or how I’m talking or holding you!”

“That’s because someone connected your mind to my spirit. I don’t know who connected you to me, but I’m grateful to whoever did, because I can finally hold you one last time, honey.”

Jack retracted and looked into her glistened brown eyes as she ruffled her hair. They continued bathing in the bright holy white light. Flower petals flew past them and Jack thought of something. But that thought came to a stop when he spotted the woman in red standing beside a tree off in the distance. She smiled, closing her eyes. She started praying for them both.

That thought Jack came up with finally raced back into his mind and he decided what to do. He lowered his arms to her hips, looked straight into her eyes and smiled.

He took a calm deep breath, making Alexandria blush brightly. “Alexandria, I think I finally have an answer for you.”

Her eyes widened. She put her arms around Jack's neck and leaned in closer. “What is it?”

They stared into each other’s souls, admiring each other’s presence. “I love you…” Jack surprised Alexandria with a kiss. Her eyes glistened so bright with happiness that she closed her eyes. They held their kiss for a while and bathed in the horizon.

Even though her eyes were closed, tears couldn’t stop leaking through her eyelids. Jack and Alexandria both stopped and looked at each other in a moment of silence. Alexandria slowly let go of him and stepped back. She started to fade away into white particles of dusted light. Jack knew what he had to do. He had no clue what was going on, but he didn’t care because everything he was experiencing was real.

Alexandria waved at Jack and shouted “I love you!” as she finally faded away from existence.

Jack’s eyes were covered by his long hair, shadowing out his hidden shame. He stood up on his feet. He could still feel those cold hands of hers and the kiss which warmed her soul.

He tilted his head to look at the ground and stared at his palm. “I may still not understand the full meaning of love, but I knew that if I told you that, then your soul could finally rest.”

Jack looked up to stare at the woman in red. Whoever you are, mysterious being, thank you for this moment. But I feel as though I’ve seen her more than once… strange.

He nodded at her. “Thank you. I believe now.” She waved at him and faded away as well. Jack took a final good look at Alexandria’s grave with a soft smile on his face.

“Goodbye, my dear friend. Like what your bracelet says, ‘Together forever!’”

Everything faded and his vision turned white. He woke up on the cold ground with Eric still beside him.

Eric didn’t notice that Jack was laying on his back on the ground. He was too busy staring at some fine women that were at a corner. “Goddamn man, how long does it take you to pray, fool! We’ve been here for like five minutes! Let’s go.” Eric noticed that Jack was on the ground with his eyes being a bit bloodshot. “Are you about to cry, my guy? Holy fuck! You ain’t no emotionless buffoon after all!”

Jack blinked a couple of times and smiled. “Perhaps man, perhaps…” He stood up and placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder. “There’s more about life that we don’t know about. And now I’ve seen a glimpse of it. Eric, I believe now!”

Eric was rather confused. So confused in fact that he gave Jack a disgusted, crazed look. “Man, I don’t know what the fuck you was praying about, but you sound like some crazed person now!” He wrapped his arm around Jack’s shoulder. “Let’s go before you start believing in ghosts too!” Eric laughed and so did Jack.

They both walked back to the car and hopped in, then drove off into the distance and continued on their hunt for Angela. Jack took one last glance at the field. Surprisingly, all of those flowers were gone, along with Alexandria’s stone tombstone. Jack smiled and drove his attention back at the bracelet, admiring her skilled craftsmanship.

They finally drove out of the town. The two were finally relaxed and even more focused than before. Now it was all up to Jack to show Eric the way to find the trail that would lead back to his past, hopefully giving them a hint of her location.

***

After more tiresome hours behind the wheel, Eric was at his peak. He couldn’t take it anymore and asked Jack if they should just do this tomorrow since it was getting dark. Jack, on the other hand, was too pumped, even though he’d been staring out the window for hours pointing and giving Eric confusing directions. Just when things were turning out hopeless for the two, Jack spotted something from the distance ahead of them. Taking a closer look by squinting his eyes and leaning his head forward, he found the facility. He pointed at it and Eric finally felt a sign of hope after such a long damn drive. He floored the gas so they could reach the place in a hurry.

They were getting so close that they could almost taste it. To their surprise, that taste felt bland the closer they got, because it appeared to be abandoned. Even the school next to it was run down and overgrown. Jack couldn’t believe it. Eric stopped the car, and they both stepped out with caution, observing the creepiness that consumed the buildings with absolute darkness.

Eric didn’t seem pleased. He suggested that this might be a set up. He intended to take extreme precaution by grabbing his gun out of his pocket. Jack did the same. They both loaded their handguns, grabbed a flashlight from the trunk and stood in front of the rusted gate that was in their way. They both continuously stared through the gate, seeing if they were truly alone or if this wasn’t just a ruse to an ambush. They opened the rusted gate, causing it to creak loudly as it slowly opened.

Jack walked in first. Eric watched his back as they flashed their lights to penetrate the darkness blocking their line of sight. They flashed oval spotlights across the entire buildings. From the pitch black dwelling within the building to the overgrown greenery on the walls and graffiti, it definitely appeared abandoned.

Even the windows were cracked or shattered, but Eric noticed that it might be a cover up, perhaps to make it seem like that place wasn’t touched.

Jack took his word and walked up to the closest wall, examining the overgrown greenery. By grabbing a chunk and rubbing it against his fingertips, it felt artificial yet real enough to make it seem fresh.

They continued examining the strange mystery until they heard something. There was a muffled sound coming from within the facility. Jack didn’t hesitate to rush to the front doors and kicked the doors open. He aimed his gun with his flashlight beneath it, checking the corners of the entrance and the offices nearby. Eric was behind Jack as well. He suggested that they should split up for a bit.

Jack agreed since he knew where he was headed. He informed Eric to check the right side of the building. They split up and Jack walked down the dark hollow hallway. As he was flashing his light, the remnants of the past flooded his memories from the accursed dreams he had when he was young.

He grabbed his head, feeling a throbbing headache from remembering such imagery of torment. When he finally eased himself from such pain, a wheelchair came out rolling by itself, squeaking rusted iron wheels as it gently hit the wall in front of it. He quickly rushed to the room and brightened the room with light to see what caused it to roll out. But there was no one. He felt worried, knowing something wasn’t right.

At the other part of this building, Eric checked each office and examined the abandoned files when he got the chance to. He had no idea a building like this was here in the first place. Everything about the place was too suspicious. He tried checking if there were any files related to any certifications by the state, but there was nothing. No documents of certification, no address numbers.

Eric decided to take his phone out and took pictures to record his suspicion, however something ran behind him. He dropped the dusted documents and flashed his light at the doorway where the sound came from. He slowly approached the doorway with extreme caution, uncertain if anything would jump from around the corner. He stood on the doorway, checking both sides of the darkened hallways. He was growing a bit worried and was even showing signs of fear.

By taking deep breaths, Eric wanted to stay calm. Just as he was about to walk back in, innocent giggling stormed Eric’s ears. He pointed his gun where it was faintly coming from. He wasn’t afraid. Instead, he headed toward the giggling while showing no signs of fear, though inside his hood-like instincts told him otherwise.

Jack meanwhile was in the yard, looking around, remembering all the times he was there with Angela and Candy. He approached the fountain, and the glistened cleansed blue water he remembered had turned green and misty. The moonlight could barely reflect on it. He moved the water around with a stick that he picked up, circling it around to show some clearance in the water.

Then the thought and image of his beautiful nurse popped into his head. Carolyn, I hope you’re okay…

Out of nowhere, the reflection of someone standing at the edge of a window from a floor above made Jack jump a bit. He quickly turned around and the person quickly ran away. He pointed his gun where they stood, trembling out of fear. Upon looking further, Jack noticed someone’s shadow inside the hallway where they stood. Without thinking, he sprinted back inside, ignoring the darkness, and rushed up the steps like a madman.

Jack reached the top floor and shouted “Hello?” but no one answered. He swallowed and shone his light again.

“Who the hell is here! Show yourself!”

He cautiously walked down the hallway as the moonlight pierced through the broken windows.

What the hell is going on in this place? Something’s fucking with me.

Jack pulled his phone out and called Eric. He answered and for some reason he whispered, “Eric, why are you so quiet?”

Eric was hiding in the janitor’s closet with sweat dripping all over his face. “Yo man, we-we’re not alone. There’s something fucking with me man. I didn’t believe you about the whole ghost shit! But they real man. They real…”

“Same. There’s something screwing with us in here. Something supernatural and incomprehensible.”

Eric cautiously looked through the keyhole, trying to figure out where the girl’s song was coming from. “You hear this right?”

Jack definitely heard the singing as clear as day, even through his flip phone. “What the hell? Wait, hold up…”

As the two listened closely to her song, Jack could hear his name in it. I-Is she singing about me?

“Yo man, we need to get the fuck—” The singing suddenly stopped, bringing back the ambiance of silence.

Eric looked closer into the keyhole. Just when things were dead silent and clear, a set of purple eyes jumped in front of the key hole, scaring Eric out of his manhood.

Jack heard his terrified screams and gunshots through his phone. “Eric! Eric!” The phone on his end hung up, leaving only the sound of beeping. “Shit, just what the hell is happening?”

Jack needed to get back to Eric. He was on the verge of heading downstairs when he saw someone down the hallway again. This time he wanted to be sure he wasn’t being fooled, so he sprinted towards the person. They too quickly made a run for it the moment Jack got halfway through the hall.

Jack ran at full speed, passing through countless hallways and offices, just to figure out who had been watching him. The person was too fast for him, but he came to an abrupt stop and noticed he was just about to pass his old room. He stopped pursuing and went to take a look inside.

Memories of Carolyn catering to him, caring for him at his lowest point, flashed in front of him. It was like watching his old life from God’s view. She was sitting on his bed with his head laying on her lap, stroking it gently. It brought out quite a chuckle in him, reminding him how much of a lost cause he was before he met Angela. The thought of Dr. Cato telling him she was never real and calling him a schizophrenic made his blood boil, making that heartwarming scene projected in front of him dissolve into smoky darkness.

The room was back to the way it was, all broken, dusty, and lifeless. He decided it was best to walk out of the room and forget about such memories.

Jack closed the door to his past and looked to his left, spotting the person waiting for him at the edge of the hall. From what Jack could make of this darkness fogging his vision, when he shined his light in that direction, was this person appeared to be a male figure the same height as him but with longer hair, covering their face. They quickly dashed away. Jack sprinted towards them. It was growing tedious for him, but they stopped in front of Dr. Cato’s old office. They walked in and disappeared out of thin air. Jack thought he had caught them red handed, but as he slowly walked in the office, they were gone.

Being in Dr. Cato’s old office felt excruciating to him. His smiles reminded him how much of a fake bastard the doctor was.

Jack looked around, then spotted a single file cabinet labeled: Employee Documents. Jack wanted to prove that Dr. Cato was wrong about Carolyn, so he opened the cabinet.

Checking through all the files in alphabetical order, he found there was nothing on her. He even checked three times just to be sure. Sadly, there was absolutely nothing on Carolyn. No files, no mentions, no applications. He sat on Dr. Cato’s dusty chair, throwing the papers all over the desk, sending them everywhere.

Perhaps he was telling the truth? Maybe I was imagining her? But that still doesn’t explain how Angela spoke to her. She even held her too!

With his head in his hands, Jack noticed a file cabinet below the old desk. He tried opening it, and not surprisingly it was locked. He didn’t have time to scavenge for keys, so he shot the cabinet a couple of times. It worked and the drawer opened. There were classified files labeled all over them and they even seemed untouched. He went through them, one by one. His face quickly changed from being seriously frustrated to agonized disgust by what his dead eyes read.

Test #1: Subject couldn’t handle the experiments. Her flesh would burn immediately from the moment she made contact with the stone cross that was given to Mathew from an unknown source.

Test #2: Subject passed out on multiple occasions due to the intense therapy given to her. She would cry for days, begging the men in white and black to stop the experiments.

Test #3: We extracted 30% of her blood, placing it into a cup of holy water, to see how she would react to the ceremony conducted by the people of the church. To no unveil, she would almost meet an uncertain death every time the ceremony was performed for too long.

Test #4: She was injected with experimental drugs made by the church to relieve the entity dwelling within her. It was no use. It would cause her organs to inflate and the subject would cry blood, screaming out in a horrific demonic-like voice.

Test #5: An unknown accomplice was supposed to arrive, but they were too busy dealing with the so-called “Tormented souls of lost faith!” Please inform Dr. Cato about these experiments conducted by his partner Mr. Mathew. Even though the individual from what Mathew said is the answer to the world’s problems, he is a man enough to proclaim themselves as the very God we all seek and pray to.

The horrified, disgusted look on Jack’s face from reading the files filled the rage inside him and it was about to explode at any moment. He couldn’t believe that they were doing that to someone so young. There were even photos of each experiment. Angela was laughed at, mortified, beaten, and tortured by men in black robes.

Jack couldn’t take it. He ripped all the papers and threw them on the ground. All his anger was making him pant heavily.

As they settled on the ground, Jack spotted a lever beneath the desk. He pulled it and a secret door appeared behind him. He gulped a bit and took a sharp breath.

Jack opened the door. It was pitch black in there. It wasn’t a surprise since it was a secret room, so he flashed a light inside. The moment he shined inside it, he was mortified and revolted by the scene.

His eyes expanded out of sheer horror. He kept shaking his head and repeatedly said, “No… No…”

HIs name was engraved all over the walls. Black hardened goo that once seemed slimey had now dried up and charred all along the walls. The ground in front of him had drawings of him. He panicked and started backing up, feeling so creeped out and disgusted.

What’s the meaning behind this black substance? My name is on the walls, and there’s even a drawing of me.

It was overwhelming for Jack. Without paying any attention, he accidentally bumped into one of the filing cabinets. It fell over and crashed, exploding papers out of the drawers and into the area around him. He looked back at the scattered papers and saw something that caught his interest. He picked the one that caught his eye. From his observations, it appeared to be a blueprint for a new facility. He was relieved to finally have a clue to her location, but the room still disturbed him, engraving new suspicions into his flooded memories. It was an experience he’d never forget.

Before Jack was about to leave, he saw another file that had also caught his eye. He picked it up. It was a personal file of Dr. Cato with the doctor's signature on it.

He wanted to shred the file, but he stopped himself from doing such a thing. Perhaps there might be some importance to this?

He decided to take it as well, along with the blueprint of the new unknown facility.

Jack ran out of the office and headed towards the entrance. Along the way he tried calling Eric again, but he didn’t answer, so he smacked his lips and continued running. Vile giggles of innocence erupted inside the hallways and went throughout the entire building, which brought Jack to a sudden stop. Since Jack didn’t have time to investigate the paranormal, he ignored the giggles and kept running.

Jack finally made it outside and to his surprise, Eric was inside the car. He rushed to the car, opened the door and hopped inside. He gave Eric a returning smile of determination.

Eric, who seemed shakened, looked at Jack. “Where the hell have you been, huh?!”

Jack showed him the files. Eric grabbed them, observing what Jack had gotten inside that horrid place. A sigh of relief came out of Eric.

“Why did you shoot your gun during our phone call?” Jack asked.

Eric shivered and groaned. “I think someone was messing with me, like, supernatural type. Whatever it was took a peak at me the moment I decided to when I was hiding. Then I panicked and shot, what else can I say?”

Jack laughed. “You’re a pussy.”

Eric didn’t like that and punched Jack on the shoulder. Jack chuckled as he rubbed his shoulder with a grin on his face.

When things felt relaxed, just as Eric was about to start the car, he spotted something on top of the facility.

“Yo, Jack. Look!” His finger shook, pointing at whatever he made Jack look at.

They both got out to take a closer look. There was definitely something or someone standing on top of the facility. It even freaked Jack quite a bit, making the gun in his hand tremble. “Who the hell…”

On top of the facility was the girl in the white gothic romantic dress. Her dress fluttered with the breezy winds as she stood behind the moon, basking in its light. Her purple eyes glowed so hauntingly with the darkness around them. Her eyes reminded Eric about the keyhole, which made his mouth drop out of terror.

Crows emerged from behind the building and stormed the sky. Eric and Jack pointed their guns in every direction as the crows swarmed around them. They were surrounded by a feathery hell, screeching caws that would torment anyone’s ear drums, with the sound of her giggling behind the intense flapping wings.

The crows finally calmed and settled on the trees, the buildings, and the windows too, which left Jack and Eric terrified.

Every single crow glared at them with the same colored eyes as her. She slowly lifted a finger at Jack, then giggled.

“I finally found you again. Now return to me, my beloved!”

They couldn’t hear what she was saying, but Jack knew who it was. He could never forget such a dress.

He lowered his gun out of confusion and stared into her eyes he’d never seen before. “Wh-When did you get?” The crows around them started cawing again, making them cover their ears from the loudness.

She laughed sadistically, lowering her finger. She hunched over and walked to the edge of the building. “Th-Then I’ll just come to you!” She then flung herself off the edge, bolting herself violently like a trailing cloud of black smoke towards Jack.

Jack only saw a glimpse of that smoke when it engulfed him at speeds greater than sound. Eric tried getting his attention, but something was wrong with Jack. He seemed paralyzed and quiet. He tried grabbing his shoulder, but Jack dropped to the ground.

Jack grabbed his neck, coughed and rolled around violently, then gagged. He continuously coughed and reached out to Eric for help. Eric was afraid. He didn’t know how to help him, even when Jack’s eyes turned black.

Things were getting worse for poor Eric. The wicked crows' constant cawing was enough to rupture Eric’s ear drums, which caused them to ring and bleed.

Jack got on all fours and coughed out black, as the girl giggled and moaned out of amusement inside his foggy mind.

At that moment, their feelings of determination and hope seemed far-fetched now that the supernatural occurrence was happening. Eric couldn’t do anything but watch Jack become plagued by the unknown. He had his hands over his ears to stop the bleeding. His vision became all blurred and wavy. Just as their fate was sealed, the woman in red appeared in front of Eric’s blurry eyes.

She was infuriated. “You sick creature, you’re lucky you’ve escaped my grasp. But for now…” The crows dropped to their knees, “May your pets repent for your sins…” She opened her arms out and the crows burst into black ash.

Eric seemed staggered. He was on the brink of collapsing.

“You even went this far to hurt the only person who tried to snap him out of his stupidity. You’re indeed gluttonous.” She walked up to Eric and grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry you were involved in such a mess.” She kissed his hand, healing him of her unholy doings.

Once Eric blinked a couple of times she was gone. Eric finally had his vision back. His hearing returned and everything seemed normal. He was confused, but he quickly brushed away his confusion to rush to Jack’s aid. Jack was on the ground face down. Eric patted his back, trying to get a reaction out of him, but he seemed to be knocked out cold.

That strange occurrence that just happened now? What’s the meaning of it? Eric couldn’t help but think that something like this had forced him into a believer of what Jack talked about, that being the supernatural.

Eric grabbed Jack and tossed him into the backseat of the car. Hopping in the front seat, he took one last look at the place and smacked his lips in frustration, still dazzled by the idea that supernatural things existed. He finally turned the car on and drove off. He adjusted his rear view mirror, spotting the woman in red again. He gasped. She blew Eric a kiss which erased his memories that had occurred in the last ten minutes. He scratched his head, forgetting what he was just doing. Why was he driving in the middle of nowhere? Where was he? He shrugged and adjusted the rear view mirror again, but noticed that Jack was unconscious in the backseat. He freaked out and floored the gas pedal to the max.

The woman in red stood in front of the gate, turning around to stare at the facility with eyes filled with crimson rage. She snapped her fingers and summoned a small hole of red and white, right above the buildings. She extended a finger and pointed at the buildings. Her eyes shone red, and the tip of her finger slightly glowed white. She closed her long finger, making the facility twirl around like a whirlpool of steel bricked rubble, until it finally disappeared inside the hole that she summoned above it, leaving absolutely nothing behind.

She lowered her arm and turned around to take one last look at the speeding car the two were in. “I couldn’t save you from her. I may have been too late to save you this time, but please…” She placed a hand on her chest, gripping the dress out of her own guilt. “Save Angela, Jack.” A strong wind of rose petals hurtled past her, making her fade into nothing but the colors of her dress.

The entire area where the facility once stood was gone, almost as if there were never signs of humanity in the first place. Moonlight flashed on the spot where she once stood, dazzled with her last essence, which brought life back into the spot of lost hope and death.

Jack was asleep in the backseat, not knowing that the girl was inside his mind, in his blood, and unfortunately in his soul. She was now free, free to haunt his dreams once again. She giggled inside his mind, telling him that she’d returned home and called him the love of her sorry life.