The Loop II

Untitled Part 7

"Now, mama!", the small voice inside her wails and she dashes for the door. The things in the dead spaces are out in force and clutching at her with long, disjointed fingers.

Their mouths are open in silent screams.

She opens her mouth in turn, giving vocalization to the voices they lack.

She's through the door. The room appears stretched like taffy, her small office door miles away, but she can see Levi and the others fending off the hideous creature and feels a small seed of hope.

'Erwin', she thinks as she passes through the man. The sensation that hits her is like bitter regret and steely resolve. It makes her sad for the man and she wishes him peace as she moves on towards the study.

Erwin stiffens momentarily before turning from Hanji to aide Levi. He caught a whiff of sweet pastries, a voice saying 'peace', and the sensation something had passed through him. He shakes off the oddity of it and carries on as always.

The creature is at Levi, but everytime he swings at it; it blinks out of sight before popping up in another location.

If he can time it just right, he may be able to get the creature off Levi long enough to gain access to the study.

He grabs a knife from the counter and approaches slowly and hoping fervently he doesn't inadvertently strike Levi.

Pastor Nick gives a final tug to secure Hanji's bandage and stands to survey the scene around him.

Erwin has stabbed a knife up into the base of this thing's skull and it gives an unearthly shriek, causing Nick to cover his ears and cower back, unsure what to do.

The oddity of the situation has not lessened for the poor man, and he looks around trying to get his bearings.

Levi has just torn the door open to whatever room he's trying to access, Erwin is now knocked out cold, and the wounded creature is lurching into the room behind Levi.

"No time", Hanji says and yanks him past Erwin. "We're needed here."

Trinity puts the finishing touches on her painting and gives a nod of satisfaction. The painting shows and image of her and Levi standing side by side, holding out warding hands towards the silhouette of the horrid creature before them.

Nothing happens.

"Oh!" She quickly signs it and closes her eyes.

The painting opens up like a door, kind of like the first painting did for her and Levi. That seems like ages ago; dreamlike. She views the events unfolding before her as if down a long hallway, but there it is; home.

She steps through the doorway.

The thing turns and grins.

"Mother...."

It leaps towards her, reaching towards her belly and disappears as if absorbed.

"Levi?" she calls hesitantly, and he rushes to embrace her.

Her labor pains have begun.

"Pastor Nick!" Levi looks up, screaming. "Fuck! I need you!"

Pastor Nick rushes up with Hanji close behind. Blood and some watery, yet viscous liquid is seeping from beneath Trinity's nightgown.

"She's in labor! I think that thing is in my baby!", Levi growls and lies Trinity down as gently as he can. "Can you do anything?"

"Let it come." A sense of calm has fallen over the pastor and he removes his jacket, placing it beneath the struggling woman's head. "We can kill it once it takes an earthly, physical form."

"That's my child!"

"No. Most likely, never was. There may have been a life created between you and this Trinity at one time, but this creature has warped it to its needs. Let it come."

Her labor goes on for what seems like an eternity before, with a scream; one final push. The baby slides out almost like nothing, and the lights flicker momentarily before dying out completely.

There's a skittering noise and everyone looks around in panic. The baby is gone now and a streak of blood trailing away from Trinity is the only indication that something was there.

"We need light." Levi calls out and Trinity grabs his wrist weakly, letting her head fall back to the floor.

"Levi... the computer." She gives a tiny nod and closes her eyes.

Giving her a quick kiss, he gets up on numb legs, heading for the computer. The home screen pops on and the room is bathed in muted light.

"Now", he says and turns around, "where –

Fuck!" He goes over the desk, taking the computer and some barely seen thing with him. They are once again enshrouded in darkness and Hanji screams. What was visible of the child was not human. Eight scabrous legs as opposed to the standard two. A childlike giggle erupts from the left and everyone turns.

Skittering off to the right.

"Anyone see this ugly fuck?", Levi cries. "Where is it?"

"There. On the ceiling.", Pastor Nick states and calmly steps forward.

As it skitters down the wall it gives him a sly and knowing wink.

"What's up, holy man? A little far from home, aren't you?"

It stops, looking at him quizzically for a moment before realization sets in.

"By the light of Maria-"

"Don't!", it shrieks and steps forward.

"By the grace of Sina-"

"No!" It is wracked with pain as it stumbles forward, teeth gnashing.

"The blessings of Rose-"

It leaps at him, and he catches it by the throat, holding it in the air before him. He ignores the legs ripping at his shirt, seeking flesh to flay and continues in the same calm voice.

"I cast thee away, impure thing. I cast thee back to the shadows from which you came. Be swallowed up by the darkness and cease your torment upon this world."

It shrieks in pain, causing the others to cover their ears and huddle together, watching in awe.

"The painting, Levi", Nick instructs and Levi rushes forward, presenting the painting. Nick's arm disappears into the painting briefly, then re-emerges a moment later; empty.

"Burn it."

The smell of burning canvas and an eerie inhuman howling fill the room. Soon, all is silence.

"Levi?"

He rushes to Trinity, pulling her into his arms. She smiles softly as he covers her face in kisses.

"Levi, I'm never painting again."

"That's unfortunate", he tells her with a smile. "I was hoping you'd paint me taller."