evil side of innocence, part 1: our town

Any and all of this story is fiction with fictious characters.  The town of Chatworth is my home and I love it dearly.  To live here is to enjoy the mountains, lakes, and rivers.  My hobby is fishing and camping out in the wide open spaces.  Hope you enjoy my tale.

Chapter One

Somewhere out in the country there is a woman who devotes herself to her family and her church. In her pass time, she loves to fish. It's not like she catches fish every day, it's just a hobby when she needs time to herself.

Emily was sitting on the river bank with her fishing pole. Her Bible was in her lap and her pole was hooked to her chair.

She looked up and stared at the sky and then back to the river. It was quite and the fish were biting on the bait she put on her hook.

'The fishing is good today' thought Emily.  For a little woman, she could be fearless about going to the river to do a little fishing. She had killed a few snakes on the bank of the river, but the little green eyed 37 year old didn't give two hoots as long as she could fish. The Lord hadn't failed her yet. Several evenings a week after she got off from work, Emily would go to her favorite fishing hole and the Lord would bless her with peace, realization and meditation.

Emily reeled in her line, and leaned back to cast out the line again, when a movement over across the creek, on the island several feet off the bank, caught her eye. She situated her rod after a few minutes then looked back to the movement down stream of the water. The tiny bushes moved like a squirrel shaking the limbs for nuts and berries. When the bushes stilled, she sit back in her chair watching her line with one eye and the bushes with the other. The bushes lay still once again. Could have been her imagination getting the best of her. Emily went back to reading her Bible as she always did while the sun was bright in the afternoon, and her fishing line was deep in the river. That was her time, her space, so she could pray and read, think on what had been her past and praying the Lord wouldn't let her make the same mistakes again.

Once again the bushes rattled. Emily seen something pink or light brown, she couldn't make it out. It moved so fast; just a glimpse of something.

"I must be seeing things, My imagination is getting the best of me,"  she said out loud to the wind.

An uneasy feeling came over Emily so she reached down and picked up her tackle box, slid it in her chair. She reeled in her line, and put the hook in the eye on the side of her pole. She looked back one more time at the island. There were little, small pinkest little men, they all had tails! Lord, in Heaven above. She reached down the bank and got the few fish she had on a stringer she had caught, and run all the way to the car and shoved all her gear in the back seat, putting the fish in the cooler, she had in the floor board of her can. She quietly shut the back door to her car. Then she turned around and crept back to see if she was going crazy or if there were little men on the island. She didn't see anything, so Emily made her way back to her car, opened the door and cranked the engine, slammed the driver's side door shut, and off she went throwing grass and gravel as she pulled out of the little road that went down to the river. She had to get away form the little creatures she had seen, or was it her imagination?

Emily pulled into the drive way of her home. She went straight in the house and took a shower, letting hot water wash away the images of the creatures this afternoon. She had a feeling she was being watched with every step she took but refused to believe she had seen the little creatures. She turned off the water, dressed and went to prepare supper. The whole time she was thinking about the creatures she had seen at the river. Thoughts about what she had seen give her the creeps. Did I really see the creatures of my dreams? They have haunted me for so long. The Lord has been warning me all the time, she thought.

After everyone was seated at the table and the conversation went to the events of the day for everyone in the house household, Emily's thoughts went back to the afternoon fishing expedition. She went over and over the creatures and decided that she was just seeing things. She would keep the sighting to herself, until she could catch one of the creatures and prove she wasn't seeing things.

"Mom, you weren't listening. I have a football game Friday, do you have my uniform washed?" ask Cole.

It took Emily a few minutes to realize that her oldest son,who is a junior in high school was speaking.

"Yeah, it's hanging in the laundry room, " answered Emily.

"Are you going to be at the game Friday night?" ask Cole.

"Probably not. We have a fund raiser at the church for children who want have a Christmas this year due to layoffs and loss of jobs. We are also planning a Halloween Party for the town. But, I will try to catch the last half if we get finished in time."

"Fine, Alex will be there. I'll catch a ride home with you if you come, if not I'll go with Vic or Hue."

After the dishes had been washed and put away, everyone gathered in the living room for a normal evening of watching television, doing homework and taking baths, brushing teeth, and Emily brushing out her long hair she had grown for years. Bed time was at nine on school nights and eleven on weekends. Cole and Alex knew the rules so when it got close to bedtime, they would kiss their mother and go on to their room.

Alex and Cole were already fast asleep when Emily looked in on her two very different children. She studied them and wondered where the time had gone. They were little boys, seemed like yesterday. Alex was dark haired and tall and Cole was sandy blond average height and built stocky. Both had the cutest hazel eyes and most of the girls in school said they had pretty eyes. Neither was girl crazy, yet, so they considered them friends as if they were one of the guys. Being from a small town, they grew up with all the kids from kindergarten to high school. Just like one big happy family of brothers and sisters all through school.

Emily closed their bedroom door, quietly making her way to her own bedroom.

*****

Cole listened for Emily to shut her bedroom door. When he heard it shut lightly clicking medal to metal, when the door latch connected, he got up from the bed; slow, to make sure the springs didn't squeak. He pulled on this hoody. Cole reached to open the window, quietly sliding through the small exit from his room. He ran to the end of the driveway where his buddy was waiting to take them to the school where they were having a meeting for kids only. All parents were in bed.

Cole was hoping they had some of that good powder they had last night when the practice was over. That stuff was good. It had a way of making all the sneaking around sound okay. Even the pills seem to make you relax. Taking the edge off of the shaking, the powder brought on. Whatever it was, it was good.

Cole jumped in the back of the pickup truck hitting the side twice for the driver to move forward. They peeled out slinging grass and gravel before sliding sideways after hitting the pavement going toward the town of Chatsworth.

*****

Emily made herself comfortable so she could read a passage in her Bible about Abraham when he went to sacrifice Isaac on Mt. Sinai. She felt the pain of Abraham before the angel stopped his hand.

"Thank you Love for giving us Jesus so no more sacrifices are made on an alter as was the Old Testament days. We would not survive today without Jesus interceding for our sins. Thank you Lord for this day and for the days you give us to come. We owe it all to you Lord, in Jesus name I pray, Amen"

Emily got off her knees, turned off the light by her bed and lay down by her husband, Luke, and went fast to sleep. Her sleep was disturbed by dreams of the little short beings she had seen that afternoon.

The little demons kept squeaking and squalling like they were being hurt or afraid of something. The there's shadows, dark shadows coming over the creatures as they screeched and shrieked trying to hide.

Emily woke up with a start. What was she dreaming? Then she remembered what it was that had woke her.

Emily was up early heading out the door before eating breakfast heading  to work. She worked hard all day and kept to herself, for most part of the day. She was going fishing this afternoon if it didn't rain like the weather man called for, if not she would go home, have an early dinner and off to read and pray about what wasn't being revealed to her in the dreams.

It was two days before the rain gave up and the clouds rolled away. Good thing she kept her fishing gear in her car. All she had to do was pick up her bait at the sporting goods. That was on her way to the river. She would go further up the river or maybe further down-stream, it didn't matter as long as she didn't have to come close to that island again.

When she got there, the island was under water due to the rain. She was happy for that. So, she set up her chair next to the bank, slid a big red wriggler on her hook. A nice red worm, it was a good one for bass. She sat there for some time before she got a nibble. But, a nibble was all she got. She baited her hook again, this time she sit back and started reading her Bible. She got a bite. She reeled in the fish. But she looked at it and decided to throw it back in. She packed up her stuff, she was going home. She couldn't help but feel she was being watched, so she walked up to her car with a faster pace than usual.

All the way home, Emily kept seeing the dreams that had been haunting her at night. It was the same creatures on that island as in her dream or was she hallucinating?  Whatever the case maybe, it sure wasn't good. Was this a premonition of what was to come or was God warning her of impending evil? Whatever it is, it had Emily feeling chills to the bone.

Chapter Two

A couple of months later it was getting cold. Alex and Cole had started school, and her oldest son, Cole, was sent home from school. When Emily got the note, she was angry. It was vague to say the least and there was no reason for Cole to have been sent home from school.

"Cole would you help me in the kitchen with dinner? We need to talk about the note you got from school"

"Sure mom,  just let me mark the page I was reading for a report in History."

As Cole come into the kitchen, he could tell by the look of concentration Emily's face she was worried or upset about something.

"Mom, you wanted to talk to me. Is it about the note? I took the medicine you gave me to school. One of the boys that has been picking at me this year, well he seen the pills and the powder and reported it to the principal. When I tried to explain it to Mr. Jenkins, he went all hot, his head was red to match his face. He didn't want to talk to me, just said I was to remain at home until the report come back from the sheriff office."

"I'll call the school to schedule a meeting with Mr. Jenkins in the morning.  In the mean time I will see what I can do to get your assigned work so you want fall behind in school."

She looked up the number of the principle's home phone. She made an appointment to meet with Mr. Jenkins the following morning before school.

Emily prayed hard that night. She could feel the evil moving in around her when she was at the river that afternoon, and the air was thick from all the drama of Cole being expelled from school. She crawled in under the cover and hugged her pillow. Luke wouldn't be home until Friday evening and she was sure he would not like the news of Cole's suspension from school.

Emily didn't sleep well.  Ever time she closed her eyes and dozed off, the creatures would invade her dreams.

She was on the creek bank, fishing and catching a fine mess of fish. She looked over and the little creatures would touch the water and squeal.

She woke up trembling, the last part of the night, she dozed off.

She was fishing, catching a bait of fish. They were big and looked fat. She seen the creatures, they touched the water, jumped back, then they touched it again, and began running across the water, or, they were coming after her, oh God, please help me, she dropped her fishing pole, ran for all she was worth she looked back, and the little creatures reached out to get her....

Emily woke up with a start. She was out of breath and was trembling all over. She threw off the cover and sat up in bed. She rubbed her face, and then headed to the bathroom. When she looked in the mirror, she was white as a ghost. Dear Lord, she looked a mess.

Emily turned on the water in the shower and stripped down and got in the hot water. She wasn't going back to bed tonight, nope, she would get her Bible and read it until time to get Alex and Cole up. No more nightmares for me.

*****

"Ms. Crest, young Cole has been in a bit of trouble for the past six weeks. He was caught with some cheat notes that were written out so he could pass the test. Then, he was caught with a substance in a baggie and pills in an envelope. They have been sent to the sheriff's office to see if they are something illegal," Mr. Jenkins, the high school principle explained concerned for one of his best students.

"Mr. Jenkins, the powder is powdered aspirin and the pills are store brand acetaminophen. Cole has a tooth ache and he was running a temperature so I gave him the medication without thinking. If the medication comes back anything else, well we will let the authorities take it from there. I appreciate the need to keep a better check on what the school's children are bringing to school. Last year one of Cole's best friends brought a gun to school, but he had been hunting with his father and forgot to take the guns out of the trunk of his car. Why, would he be hunting out of his car instead of his father's truck? The answer I got was that Chad met his father after school to go hunting but he was expelled anyway. I can relate to that. I keep my fishing gear in my car. There was an incident in the boy's dressing room, were some of the bigger football players were picking on a child that was smaller than Alex. But, Alex went after them anyway and they suspended Alex instead of the boys torturing the smaller boy. What is going on? Everything has been turned upside down," Emily complained.

"Ms. Crest, you know we aren't allowed to talk about other students. But, yes we have had a lot of things to happen that is peculiar," explained Mr. Jenkins.

"I will see to it that Cole is punished over the test, and wait on the results from the Sheriff's office on pills and powder. Thank you for your time Mr. Jenkins." Emily got up and shook hands with Mr. Jenkins.

She started to leave and turned back to Mr. Jenkins.

"I will try to find out what is causing the problem with Cole while he is at home, and I will get back to you before he is scheduled to return back to school."

With that Emily left the building shaking from inside. She could feel a strong being in the school. Whatever it is, it is affecting the kids and it had to be destroyed before the children all go mad.

When Emily got in her car, she slumped over on her steering wheel and cried. What was going on in this world? "Lord give me strength, because I am definitely going to need it," Emily whispered as she cranked her car and pulled out of the parking lot.

She took out her cell phone and dialed the preacher at her church. No answer, so she left a message for preacher Joe to return the call later in the evening when she would be at home to answer the phone. The she thought better yet, tonight was a church night.

Emily had several errands to run before going back home, so she preceded with caution out on the highway leading to town. She tried Preacher Joe's phone several times that day, but still no answer. It wasn't like Joe not to be where he could answer his phone, not even his cell phone. She would talk to him tonight before services started.

When Emily got home she carried in the groceries, put them away. She started supper and took her shower. Maybe Preacher Joe would be there to answer some questions about her dreams, and the problems that the parents and schools were having with the children in their small community.

With the evening chores, dinner dishes and homework finished, Emily took her children in the living room and ask them to pray with her before they went to evening services. They obliged. On the trip to evening services, Emily noticed Cole was to quite. He wasn't even arguing with Alex over the music or friends. That was so not like the boys not to argue over something. Cole didn't even want to ride up front with his mother on the way to church. He got in the back seat without scuffling with Alex.

"Cole are you okay? You are awful quite this evening. Is there something you want to tell me or talk about it?" ask Emily.

"Not now, maybe later," answered Cole.

He turned his head back to looking out the window.

When Emily pulled up at the church, she couldn't believe her eyes. There were more parents there tonight that there had been before. But, there were no children.

Emily parked the car, and got out, walked with her children to greet the preacher. He had a look of shock on his face. He pulled Emily to the side out of ear shot of her children.

"We're having a meeting tonight with adults only. We are asking the children to go back to rooms where we hold Sunday School Classes tonight with the older children taking care of the younger ones."

Emily turned to Cole and Alex and motion for them to go inside. Cole bowed his head and wouldn't look preacher Joe in the face. Alex shook hands with Joe giving his brilliant smile.

Everyone filed in and took a seat.

"We now call our special meeting to order,: said Preacher Joe.

"Now, down to the order of business at hand, tonight we are going to discuss the problems we are having with the children in schools, church, and on our ball fields. They are showing aggression like nothing before that I have ever seen. Saturday, one of our most studious children,let out a string of curses on the softball field when they were called out. I don't have to mention names, but we are having all sorts of problems with them arriving to school late, skipping classes, and disrupting class. We need to band together to find out what is going on with our children. They are the future of this county and this country. Any suggestions or comments at this time about the incidents going on in our schools with our teenagers or a solution to our problem with the younger generation?" ask Preacher Joe.

Everyone started speaking up and voicing their opinions and sightings of strange thing that were happening around town.

"There is something evil in town. I can feel it and I have seen it.."

"There is a mouse looking creature that I have seen in various places."

"At first, I thought it was an illusion, something I wanted to see to have an excuse for the bad events of our community, others have seen it, too," said a teacher from school.

Emily sat and listen to all the people who had seen the little creatures she had seen on the little island at the river. They had made it across the water over night some how. Yesterday on the creek bank they couldn't cross. What about the dream? What was it...that's it!

"I saw the creatures yesterday at the river where I was fishing. They hid behind the tall grass, but I could still see it's horns. It was about six to eight inches high and he had pointed ears like a bat, and horns on the inside of the ears. He was trying to cross the water. They must have gotten across the river during the night. It was the new moon, so everything was dark. We have thirty days to figure out how to destroy them. They will possess our children at that time. Right now they are influencing the children. The creatures cannot possess the grownups. They aren't as easily influenced as the children," said Emily shaking nervous form the echoes of the others in the room of their own experience.

"When did this happen Emily, how long?" ask Preacher Joe.

"It's been about three months counting today. They couldn't cross because it made them burn. Steam came from their feet when they hit the water. There is a little island in the middle of the river. First, I seen the bushes move, then I saw a pink or maybe tan head peek out. Is there a way, someway, we can find out where they come from and why they made it across the water? We have to go to the river where I fish," stated Emily, as she grabbed her purse and headed for the door. "Follow me, I'll show you where I saw them at yesterday."

Preacher Joe and Sheriff Barrett followed Emily in the cruiser. Several town council members followed the sheriff. They all fell in line behind Emily, heading toward the river. The rest of the parishioners stayed with the children. Some were just members of the church.

Emily threw her car in park and opened the door, not bothering to shut it as she ran down to the bank of the river. There was no sign of the creature at first, and then there it was. Dancing around like it was happy. He was little creature with no hair on it. It had a little tail and red eyes. His ears were like a rat, but pointed. The little horns were set between the ears and he looked like a demon that was described in a book Emily had read from the library. He had a stick looking thing, when looking closer; it looked like a pitch fork.

"What did you do?" Emily screamed.

The little monster just kept dancing.

By the time the rest of the congregation got to the edge of the river, Emily was in tears and wading out to swim to the island. A few of the ;men took off behind her. They arrived just in time to see the little creature go in a gopher size hole. He yelled, "You can't catch me or hold me. I can run in holes you can't fit in and cracks you can't pass through. I have your children; they will be mine and my fathers," the creature was out of reach and out of site.

Chapter Three

Emily sat on the river bank trying to figure out who could be the father of the creature that had invaded the little community that she call family and home. There has to be a way to destroy these creatures. and, what is it's father? I should have asked it's name. Could it be a demon from Satan Emily didn't know how she knew she had to destroy the creatures by the new moon was beyond comprehension, she just knew it like it was knowledge given with out sources. God had to have given her the information within her heart. She knew destroying the creatures wasn't going to be easy.

Emily fought the tears that come down her cheeks. She balled up her hand into fists, and swore she would fight with everything she had to destroy these little demons, by the grace of God and the love of the Savior. She looked up at the men who had followed her to the river with tears running down the side of her nose and dripping on the collar of her shirt.

"That's it! They are demons. Our children are being influenced by the damned. Satan is their father. Oh God, please help us," Emily cried.

Preacher Joe was standing close to Emily when she made her plea.

"Are you sure they're demons? I don't doubt your knowledge, but do you think we are sitting on the gates of Hell?" ask Preacher Joe.

"Yeah, I'm sure. They want our children. The way to destroy us is through our children. they know that to lose a child is living in hell already."

"John 14:15, If you love me, you will obey what I command, We must always remember to obey God and he will lead us in the right direction. It is time to get back and pray that God will point us in the right direction," said Joe.

"I don't know, have we the faith to fight off the demons of hell? Pastor I know you preach on hell and the end of days, but really, demons?" ask Sheriff Barrett with a huff.

"We are going to ban together on this one. You get all the deacons together. I'm going to the school board meeting tomorrow to see how many I can get together for research. There is only one way to destroy these abominations. Sheriff you call a town meeting, and call to see if there are any more weird incidents in the state. Make sure you tell them everything we saw today. Then you have someone to record it in writing. I will find a way to take pictures to circulate around town. I plan on declaring war against Satan and Hell. He will not take our children. It is up to God when he destroys us not that lying devil," stated Emily.

*****

Emily went home to a destroyed house. Everything was turned over smashed or broken. It looked like an earth quake and flood had hit the home she and her family occupied. Still in shock from the destruction of her home, Emily walked down the hall to her bed room. The only room untouched was her bedroom and bathroom. She kept her laptop hid under her bed when she wasn't at home. She kept all their personal information on it. She slid her arm under the bed and took the laptop to her desk in the corner. She logged on and got to work. There had to be something she could use to destroy the demons.

She wrote down everything she would need. Now, to find and locate scared ground. The elders of the church would know where to look. The healer on the other end of town that had been known to fix remedies for the sick would know what herbs and incenses she would need. But, first to get the mess cleaned up in the front rooms of the house.

"Cole, Alex, where are you two? I need help cleaning up your mess."

No answer, Emily went to their rooms and found them gone. No note or sign they had taken any of their clothes, they couldn't have gone too far. Emily went in her bathroom and took and shower, letting the water wash away the tears she shed for her two sons and the children of Chatsworth.

Emily got out of the shower and grabbed a towel to dry off. She found her robe and slipped it on and sat on her bed combing out her hair. She dread facing her sons over the destruction of their home. Cole and Alex needed to learn that they don't rule this house, regardless of how the teachers let them act out in school.

Cole and Alex had come in while she was in the bathroom. Emily went into the living room where her sons were eating. Emily was seeing red. Cole and Alex knew they were to eat in the kitchen. Emily took several deep breaths before speaking.

"Boys, take your plates and go to the kitchen and eat. I mean it, now."

"Take your plates to the kitchen and eat now," mocked Cole. "Who do you think you are? You're not our boss. I'll do what I want when I want. Take your ass back in your room and stay there. If yo don't move, I'll have to hurt you, or better yet, I could kill you and right now and I could get away with it."

"Cole, what is wrong with you. Have you lost your mind? I am your mother. You're to show respect your elders and I deserve respect," demanded Emily.

"Go to Hell, mother," sneered Cole.

Emily was shocked to hear her son speak that language, let alone to her.

"Let me get this straight, I am your parent, I put a roof over your head, buy your clothes, and put food in your stomachs, but I don't have any say so in my own house, I don't think so, go to your room, don't come out until I tell you. This mess you made, you will clean up, no more nights with friends, and if I don't change my mind, no more sports, I've had enough," screamed Emily."And" a softer note, "clean up this mess."

Emily went back down the hall and into her bedroom where she slammed and locked her door. She hit her knees and prayed humbly that the Lord would give her strength to deal with this dilemma. Emily didn't know how long she prayed, but when she was spent, she went to the bathroom washed her face and blew her nose. She went to check on her sons, and found they were gone.

"Lord give me strength and patience, because I'm going to need it."

Emily went to the front door, it was still locked. How on earth, she ran to the boys' room and the curtains were bellowing out from the breeze coming in the window. She looked out were her flower beds at the bottom of the window had been crushed from the weight of their bodies when they landed.

Emily pulled on her jeans and flannel shirt, grabbed her purse and keys and out the door she went. Little did she know that the boys had hid in the back of the pickup truck, figuring their mother would head into town? Emily pulled up at the school. What she saw made her blink several times. She could not believe what she was seeing.

All the class room windows were lit, as if they were having night classes. When she opened the door to her truck and slid out of the seat, she closed the door lightly so she wouldn't draw attention to her being there alone. She found a milk crate and stepped upon it to get a good view of what was going on. There stood the little demon creature on the desk with a pitch fork looking stick in his hand. He was raising it to get the children to cheer about something he was saying to them. All the children looked docile with their eyes black as coal. Some of the children Emily knew when they would have parties and sleep overs at her home for different occasions. Weird was a word that would not do justice to describe the scene unfolding in front of her eyes. If the children had paid that much attention to their teachers, there wouldn't be a need for an officer to keep the peace. Then she felt a tap on the back of her head, blackness took over.

Emily didn't know she had driven her children to the very place they were wanting to go.  Cole and Alex jumped from the bed of the truck and ran around the front of the building where they entered the school for the meeting with the demons.

*****

"Hey every body, I need your attention, we are going to take over this town. We have reinforcements now that our little friends have made it to town. They tell me we can have what we want, when we want, and nothing can stop us. All we have to do is take this powder and sniff it up our nose, then take these pills. We will be invincible. Get what you need here and then we tare down this town. No more listening to the adults complaining about our grades what time we come home, or what we eat. We are free. Anything in town is ours to have. We don't have to pay for nothing. We will live like kings and queens of this small minded bunch of parents and authority. We rule!"

"We rule, we rule," chanted the crowd of children in the high school class room and in the halls.

Hue had been standing on the desk beside the demon. He jumped down on the floor leading the children who were drug induced after taking the substance they were given, to the parking lot of the school. Every one found a ride to the big park in the middle of town. When they arrived there were more young people in the big wide open area where Hue began to speak.

"We are to gather all the ingredients to make our explosives to burn down this town."

"We got the gas in cans in the back of my pickup," said a boy named Sam.

"I got all the bottles I could find to put the liquid in. The sheets are in the back of my car. When do we start?" Ask a pocked faced boy named Roy.

"Now is as good a time as any. We have to do this tonight to get the attention the authorities in this town. Soon we will spread out all over the state and then the whole country. There will be no one left to rule but the demons and their father. No one leaves unless I tell you too. We stay together we stand, divided we fail. Are we in agreement? All who agree, hold up your hand, all who doesn't can leave and parish with the adults," lectured Sam

"Let the fight begin." said Hue.

Chapter Four

When Emily woke up she was in her bed with her pajamas on. She must have been dreaming again. But, when she called her sons, and walked into their room, the realization came back to last night it wasn't a dream, they were still gone. The house was a mess and nothing had changed. What had happened last night? What am I missing? Then she remembered being at the school and the children gathered in the classroom. The creature was speaking. One huge football player was standing on the teacher's desk beside the creature, talking and the children were agreeing and shouting chants of power to the kids who soon will rule.

Someone or something was trying to hide the fact of what happened last night. How did she get home, and how did she get her pj's on without remembering. The memory came back like a video in her mind from last night. She was at the school and someone hit her or what? Sher reached up to touch the back of her head, but she couldn't reach it with her left hand. Her arm wouldn't bend. She tried with the right hand, her arm bent at the elbow. She tried to bend her left arm again, but was unsuccessful.She reached up with her right hand and felt the back of her neck. There was a small lump, like a mosquito bite at the base of her skull. How did she get that?

She picked up her phone and called the sheriff's office. There was no answer. She tried calling Luke at work, but he had left his motel room going to his office. He had left on his business trip Saturday. She tried his cell phone, but Luke didn't answer. Emily left a message to give her a call as soon as he got her message. She called her doctor and made an appointment for later that afternoon.

Emily rushed to get dressed. She grabbed her cell phone and her purse, went out the door and before she remembered her keys she shut the door, she was locked out. She walked over to the truck and the keys were still in the switch. She opened the truck door and noticed the seat was close to the steering wheel, she had to let seat back so she could get in. That was strange. Whoever had driven her home was short. But that doesn't explain how she was in her bed this morning.

She started the truck and headed to town. There was only one person who could tell her what was at the base of her skull. Dr. Burns. He had delivered both her sons, and had been her family doctor since she was a child. If he couldn't help her, he could point her in the right direction to someone who could.

Emily pulled into the empty parking lot. There wasn't anyone there. That was unusual for the place to be empty. Maybe nobody got sick anymore. It didn't make any since for the place to be vacated this time of day. She shut off the engine and proceeded into the small waiting area to sign in.

Dr. Burns took Emily back to an exam room where he parted her hair so he could see the injury. What he seen, he couldn't explain. He looked at it with a light and magnifying glass. All he could see was a puncture wound. It looked festered, but wasn't soft but firm.

"Emily, I'm sending you for a cat-scan. I'm not sure what that is, but is isn't a mosquito bite. To be honest, if this is what bit you, it either has a big stinger or it was a needle. I will feel better when I now for sure what we are working against, in you case, " explained Dr. Burns.

Emily whispered "thanks" without looking at Dr. Burns. He left the room shutting the door, behind him. Emily sat gathering her thoughts about ever thing. Her children, the school, the gang she saw last night, and her not remembering what, why, and how she got home, dressed and in bed last night. Whatever had bitten her had knocked her out cold as Christmas.

Before she left for the hospital, to have the test run, she pulled out her phone and dialed Preacher Joe, but there was no answer. Emily left a quick message, "Joe this Emily, I'm on my way to the hospital. I need to talk to you, so, I will come by there when I get done at the hospital." She got in her car and headed for the hospital. She wanted the test over and done with. She was tired and wanted to just go home and rest, sleep this nightmare away.

When she was done at the hospital, Emily went back to Dr. Burns's office and waited for him to tell her about the wound on the back of her neck. He looked puzzled when he walked into his office.

"Well Emily it looks like something has been injected under the skin. I don't know what it is. I am going to biopsy the tissue to see what I can find out. In the meantime, you need to get some rest. I hear you have been working long hours and planning a church Halloween fund raiser. You have to be exhausted," said Dr. Burns.

"I know I have been working hard, but last night my children were acting all weird. They disrespected and disobeyed me to the point I was in tears. I went to bed and woke up around midnight and found them gone. When I come to town to find them, the lights were on in the school. I was standing on a milk crate looking in a window when I passed out. When I woke up, I was back at my house in bed, with my pajamas on. I don't remember any of it.  I must be losing my mind," sobbed Emily.

"Well take my advice and get some rest. You will feel better tomorrow," said Dr. Burns escorting Emily to the door.

Outside the doctor's office, she felt a twinge of pain behind her eyes. She put on her sunglasses and proceeded to her vehicle.

Hopefully, Preacher Joe would be in his office at the back of the Church.

Emily pulled up by Joe's car and parked her truck. She started toward the door, and felt a burning sensation in her stomach. The closer she got, the hotter her body become.When she went to reach for the door, the door knob burnt her hand. She jerked her hand back and looked at it. She backed up and pulled out her cell phone to call Preacher Joe to come around front and let her in. All she got was a buzzing, then a loud shrieking noise that hurt her ear. She turned off the phone. Finally after she seen it was useless to contact the preacher, she left. Emily went home and cried herself to sleep.

When Emily awoke, it was early evening. She pulled on her socks, and then grabbed her shoes and her purse. It was time to go see the sheriff. Whatever the outcome, maybe it would be something good. Emily needed hope right now more than she needed food.

Out the front door she went without looking at the ransacked house. It was more than she could bear to see the destruction of her home she was so particular in keeping clean and in order. With no time to dwell on her own crisis, she headed toward town. She had to talk to Sheriff Barrett.

Sitting in front of the County jail wasn't one of Emily's favorite places to be. She began to cry. What else could she do, with the pain in her hand, and her head reeling from not being able to enter the Church earlier, Emily was trembling. When Emily looked up she seen Sheriff Barrett was waiting on her by the sidewalk. He opened the door for her and looked at her hand.

"Emily, Preacher Joe called, He told me what he witnessed out a window at the church. Before he could get to you, you were already leaving the parking lot, so he called me and explained what happened to your hand and about you doubling over in pain with every step you took toward the church. He will be here shortly and he wants you to wait inside. Since this is something pertaining to the town, I want you to go to the court room. I have contacted everybody in this town they will be here at four o'clock. We aren't waiting on another incident like happened to you to happen to someone else," explained the Sheriff.

"Thank you Sheriff, I believe we ought to see if I'm a carrier before anything is discussed. I could be a conduit for the evil in this town now. If they have possessed me, then he may use me for his ears," said Emily with her had hung low.

Emily walked up to the bench and looked around.She saw a Bible lying in a shelf on the podium. When she reached for the Bible, the Book caught fire. Emily ran for the door, she couldn't believe what just happened. She opened the door and found a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. When she had the fire put out, she fell to her knees and looked up to see the damage she had done with just one touch. Yes, she was being used to keep an eye on what the officials was doing abut the youth's destruction of their little town. Shecouldn't cry o speak; all she could do was look. When Joe found her, she was staring at the Bible that was always in the court at the podium.

When Sheriff Barrett came into the room, he looked shocked.

"What happened in here Emily?"

"I reached for the Bible and it burst into flames."

"Do what? You mean to tell me that the Holy Bible just burst into flames with no reason."

"Yes sir, I believe I have been marked."

Emily bowed her head and parted her hair so the sheriff could see the small knot on the base of her skull. When she looked up, the sheriff had tears in his eyes. The one thing Emily couldn't do was shed a tear.

"Emily, you can't be here for the meeting. You will have to wait outside. We don't need anymore trouble, and if you think you could be infected, well, you know the answer to that."

Sheriff Barrett led Emily down the hall to an interrogation room so she couldn't hear what was going on in the little court room. Sheriff Barrett locked the door so she wouldn't be enticed to follow or listen at the door for the emergency town meeting. Emily sat down and began to go over in her mind every detail of last night, but she couldn't see behind her. Whatever attacked her last night from behind, wasn't of this world. She couldn't go into the Church this morning. Then the Bible bursting into flames from her touch, there was definitely something inside her that was evil.

Chapter Five

Everyone gathered in the courtroom in town's city hall Sheriff Barrett stood in the corner. Joe stood at the podium. He looked over to Sheriff Barrett who turned red and shook his head, "I'll explain when everyone gets seated."

"Emily is locked in the interrogation room so she want hear what is being said in this meeting," explained Sheriff Barrett.

"She touched the Bible and it burst into flames. The same with her trying to enter the Church this morning, her hand was burned when she touched the door handle to enter the church,  The growth in her neck is connected to the demon in this town.  You done the right thing by putting her in the room where she isn't privy to information that can rid our town and cure our children of these demons and the possession of evil that is being done to our fair city." stated Joe.

"I understand completely," said Sheriff Barrett.

People started coming in early.  They were whispering and talking to each other.  When the room was full and it looked like everyone was there, Preacher Joe told everyone to take a seat.  When everyone was seated, he called the meeting to order.   The room was stuffy and you could feel the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.

"We are in a dilemma at this moment.  Sheriff Barrett had Emily Crest locked in the interrogation room.  She got up in the middle of the night to check on her sons and they were gone.  She went to look for them and went by the school and every light was on in the school.  She was attacked while observing the ritual they were doing with one of the demons.  We don't know the situation, but she cannot touch or enter holy places.  There was a Bible up here until she reached for it.  The Bible burst into flames.  The ashes are here for you to witness.  I looked out my office window just in time to see her bending over with every step she took toward the church.  When she closed her hand on the door handle, it burned her hand.  Where do we start to rid this town of our nasty little visitors and help Emily along with all the children in this town, any suggestions?" said Preacher Joe.

Several people in the front row shook their heads, a lady in the back suggested calling Corena.  She was the elderly lady that lived on the edge of town who always has an herb or concoction for every ailment.  Preacher Joe looked like he was in thought, then he spoke up again.

"Earlene, I believe you have come up with a solution to one of our problems.  Corena has studied ever since she was a little girl on all this dark stuff.  You and Betty go see her this afternoon.  Come to the Church and let me know if she will be able to assist in ridding our town of these little vermin."

The door opened in the back of the room.  Everyone turned to see who was coming through the door.  The women were hold trembling hands to their throats watching the door when it opened and Dr. Burns entered.  He nodded his head to the gentlemen in front of the stuffy room.  He walked up nodding to several people in the rows of chairs that lined up and around the large space.

Dr. Burns, Sheriff Barrett and Preacher Joe converse in private in front of all the on looking faces.  The curious stares were soon addressed when the sheriff turned facing the town patrons. 

"Dr. Burns wants to speak on the test of a wound on the back of Emily Crest head.  Dr. Burns," the Sheriff said as he turns to face the Doctor once more.

"Ladies and gentlemen of this fine community, the test on Emily show she was injected by something we could not identify.  She is infected with a bug of some sort and it is growing rapidly.  I have made arrangements with the hospital to operate and remove the alien source from the wound.  I have also called the Center for Tissue Growth Institute (CTGI).  They will be running the test to find out what was embedded in Emily's neck.  I will give updated report as soon as the surgery is over.  You can call the sheriff's office for more information.  We will meet here tomorrow, say at 5 p. m. At that time we will have removed the tissue and it will be on its way to Atlanta for the specialist to experiment on it to see what we are dealing with here in Chatsworth," explained Dr. Burns.

Everyone in the room got up chatted a bit then exited the room.

"Dr. Burns, do you think it is one of these creatures that infected Emily?" ask the Sheriff.

"I do, and I think it is trying to infect all the children also," said Dr. Burns earnestly.

"What do we do to destroy the creatures, demons or whatever we are dealing with? I have not a clue about super-natural beings.  But I know how to fight crime, so I will have to learn a new technique if I am going to taking care of the children while fighting them.  This is getting more strange all the time,"  Sheriff Barrett said hand on hips and shaking his head.

"Sheriff, is it possible to round up as many children as we can and put them in lock up for their own safety? Let's just say, that we need to keep them safe, but on the other hand we can keep them out of trouble at the same time,"said Preacher Joe.

"Why not, it sounds like a good idea to keep them off the streets at night when the parents are asleep.  They have been slipping out and creating mischief all over town.  They aren't doing anything yet that is against the law, but on the other hand, it is a nuisance.  I'll pass the word on to my deputies.  If they see any children out, or teenagers, then they are to pick them up and take them downtown.  This just might work," Sheriff Barrett pushed the button on his two-way on his shouder.  "Attention this Sheriff Barrett, any children or teenagers caught on the streets after 7 p. m. are to be picked up and carried into custody, repeat bring all children to jail to be held in the cells until we can settle this dilemma in our town."  He let loose of the button and nodded to Preacher Joe and Dr. Burns.  He turned and walked out of the room.

Preacher Joe reached his hand to Dr. Burns and shook hands, with a double hand shake.  The they departed.  Dr. Burns went down the hall where Emily was being held and unlocked the door to the interrogation room.

Emily was ready for the doctor when he unlocked the door to the surveillance room.  He took her by the hand and led her to his old Ford truck where he opened the door and helped her in the seat.  He then pulled the seat belt over her so he could secure the belt.  He went around the truck and got in locking his seat belt and turn to Emily.

"Emily, I'm taking you straight to the hospital.  We will operate tomorrow morning to remove the growth.  I don't want you to be afraid or fear this, but if we don't remove it soon, it will attach itself to the brain stem, and this could be fatal.  Do you understand what is happening?"

Emily nodded her head yes, then looked Dr. Burns in the eye and said, "What ever happens, make sure my sons are taken care of since their father is gone out of town on business, please.  He will be back Friday afternoon on the last plane from Denver."

They rode to the hospital in silence.  Nothing left to do now but go through the surgery with hope and a prayer to God, that the hand of the surgeon would be steady when he picked up the knife.

Dr. Burns took care of all the paper work for Emily before she was brought in.  He put Emily in a private room and locked the door with the deputies standing guard at the door to assure her safety as well as the town.

*****

Cole and Alex joined their friends in school.   They were in a haze like they were on the outside looking in, it wasn't real.  They had no will of their own, just to follow the crowd.  Like a robot taking command from it's owner, they were being let by their master.  If told to speak, they spoke, if told to run, they run. They had no control of body or soul.  The demons had control, but who was controlling them?  No one knew or cared.  The drugs were free, the alcohol was free, and so was the food.  All the essentials.  Alex and Cole only thought about what they wanted or needed and it was provided.  All the adolescent teenagers gathered around the stage in the park as the demon and Hue mounted the stage.  Speakers had been placed around like there was going to be a concert.  They were hanging from the trees and tall poles.  When the music was shut off, Hue raised his hands for silence.  The crowd went quiet.  All eyes were on Hue as he began to speak.

"We shall destroy every living thing in this town, the trees, the flowers, the grass, the animals and humans. It is our turn to rule.  The grown ups are irresponsible and don't know how to take care of the children or keep their families together.  Fathers go away on business; mothers go to work and leave their children to fin for themselves.  This town has been going to hell for a long time, so what is left we will send to hell in style,"  shouted the senior president of the high school.  "As leader, we start with burning town hall and the court house.  Then the businesses will go and we save the jail for last.  The homes in this town need remodeling to our specification.  No more grief, no more sorrow, no more loveless homes.  We shall rule."

The children of all ages began to cheer and chant.  Children were running every which way.  They began beating the windows out of the school.   A couple of teen age boys set the chemistry lab on fire.  The principle office was burning when the children ran out screaming and shouting and chanting.  "We are living in hell, now we send you to hell."

They took spray paint cans and wrote all over the city hall then they through gas, liquor, and kerosene, cocktails through the windows and set it on fire.  When they go to the court house, they took a tractor and plowed up the grounds around it.  Then they broke out the windows and set records room on fire.  There was fire all over town.  All the business windows were broken; children ran in the openings and started carrying out what they could hold on to.  Then they were set on fire.  The gas lines were beginning to blow up all over the town. Mayhem!

The younger ones were subdued by forces and carried to police wagons.

The little creatures were rolling around on the ground laughing; some were looking around corners with their three fingers, one thumb hand over their month snickering about the turmoil in the town of Chatsworth.  They were waving their hands and gas tank blew up and it looked like a bomb went off at the back of the school.  The little creatures jumped up and down hollowing with a big "wu who."

By the time the firefighters were called out and the gas turned off, half of the town was in ruins.  Back street businesses had been spared from the explosions when the source of the fuel was shut down.  Police officers were tasing the older teenagers to subdue them, some still got away, while others were picked up by several officers while they kicked and screamed.

Cole and Alex were sharing a beer and passing a joint around to the friends who had circled in front of the Court House.  They didn't seem to have a care in the world.  When the deputies pulled up and had cuffed the boys, all the children ran and hid.  Some began attacking the officers.  By the time they had Cole and Alex in the back of the cruiser; the other cars were on fire.

"We need a fire truck and back up at the Court House,"  said one of the officers over two-way.

"We got Emily's two boys, we are headed back to the jail.  See if you round up a few more and get them off the streets.  This is too far out of control. Never would I have believed this could happen in our town," said the officer to his partner.

"Hey dude, get your hands off me, what did I do? Man you can't be serious," but the deputies loaded all the teenagers up in the van to haul them all off to jail.

Some of the older boys ran they were still running when the demons jumped on their backs and rode them though the streets.  The young teenagers were so wasted that they didn't feel the creatures jump on and take a free ride.

Whey they got to the makeshift club house they had thrown together to stay out of the rain, they were given more alcohol, drugs, meth, cocaine, heroine, opium, and pills of all kinds.  They were freely given to the kids as they got wilder and wilder.  They began to dance and sing and have what they thought was a good time.  They were jamming with the stereo, playing videos on the stolen televisions.  There wan't anything that they hadn't looted in the small town of Chatsworth.

"You have done well my children, " they heard a voice say.  But, they couldn't see a face as it come through all the speakers in the room.

"Who are you," someone said.

"I am your leader, " came the voice, "you do as I say and you will be rewarded with your heart's desire.  No one will deny you anything I promise," then the voice was gone.

All the teenagers and pre-teens looked at each other and began to shout and chant as they drank their beer and took their drugs.  Partying all night long.

"Party tonight and celebrate the destruction we have made, tomorrow we go against the leaders and soldiers.  We will bring them all down," shouted Hue.

When daylight came, they slept as the dead.

Chapter Six

Dr. Burns was assisting Dr.George, the doctor who came from university to perform the surgery on Emily's skull.   When he took the parasite off of Emily's skull, they put it in a specimen jar.  Dr. George was going to take it to the CTGI to experiment on the tissue.  They could find out what  the nature of the lump was that was embedded on Emily's neck.

Little did they know, it was alive and was growing every minute.  They put it in a dry ice container and sent it by helicopter to Atlanta.  The tissue looking creature that was extracted form Emily was to be tested.  Hopefully it held the answers that were sought to fight the evil that had come upon the little town.

Emily woke up in recovery and she was doing fine, a little groggy, Dr. George ordered her to a room in the hospital where she could rest more peacefully.  When she woke up, Preacher Joe was there along with Sheriff Barrett.  They were happy to see her awake but  not happy to tell her the news of Cole and Alex.

"My dear Emily, you have survived the surgery and will regain your strength in a couple of days.  This was very serious surgery being that close to the nervous wiring of the brain.  From what I have heard, you shall lead our town from such destruction."

The children have burned nearly all the city council building; the city hall, the court house, and sheriff's offices.  The only thing standing is the jail where your two children are being held and the usual riff raft.  Your sons are safe at the moment so all you need to do is rest," said Sheriff Barrett.

"All the women in town held a research meeting.  They also contacted Miss Corena.  There is a place in the mountains that can withstand the vigil we must perform to rid this town of the little creatures and send them back to where they come from so they can dwell with the father of destruction.  Satan himself is laughing at us now.  There is a way we can defeat him with all the faithful doing their part in praying and meditating  on what Jesus did when he cast out demons from people in his day.  Today, we  have to be Jesus" Disciples and work through him and let him use us for a vessel to remove Satan from our town," said Preacher Joe.

"We are awaiting instructions from Corena.  She seems to think you are our hope since Satan decided to use you as a vessel to bring his Antichrist to this earth.  Corena explained to us that when you had the demon spawn removed form you body, it weakens his hold on our town.  May God be with us in our quest," said Sheriff Barrett.

"Father we come to you today as humble children.  Please father, I ask you to protect us and help us rid our town of such evil.  Keep our children safe and guide them back to your light.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen."  Prayed Preacher Joe.

Preacher Joe reached out for Emily's hand and held it for a moment.  The he shook hands with Sheriff Barrett.  He turned and left the room.  There was much work to be done before Emily was released from the hospital.

No one had the heart to tell Emily her home had been one for the homes torched and burned to the ground, Due to the lack of firefighters fighting fires in town.  It was all the firefighters could do to save what was left of records,deeds and other papers that were important to a small town.  Thank God they had built the vault in the basement last year.  All could be replaced in time.

Emily lay back on her pillow and said a quick prayer of her own when the sheriff and the preacher left her room.  She soon was fast asleep.

Dreams invaded her sleep.  "Luke, where are you Luke?  I can't find you, but I can hear you, please come home Luke, please.  We need you, Alex, Cole and me, we miss you.  Don't' leave us, come back to us Luke.  But, Luke was gone....Emily woke up in a cold sweat.  She pushed the button for her pain meds.  the went back to sleep.

Emily dreamed about the river and fishing catching the biggest bass she had ever seen.  Then she was running and running., when she looked back she could see the little creatures on her heels.  She ran faster and faster.  About time they reached her.....Emily woke up with a scream.

"Are you alright Ms. Crest?  We heard you scream down at the nurse's station," exclaimed the nurse.

"Yeah, I'm fine, just had a bad dream.  Can't call it a nightmare because it isn't dark, can I?"  explained Emily.

"Do you need something to help you sleep?  I can see what the doctor has on your chart?" inquired the concerned nurse.

"No, I believe I'll try to get up and walk.  I need to get out of here so I can check on my two teenage boys.  They destroyed the house before they took off.  I have so much waiting on me to do.  Lord knows that with two teenagers is enough, but the evil going around makes it double hard on the parents."

The nurse came around the bed helping Emily into her housecoat, then assisted her to her feet.

"I'll send one of the aides down to  walk with you in case you decide you can't go any further.  She can assist you back to your room.  Do you thing you can handle it from here?" ask the nurse.

"I'll wait on the nurse said then.  Don't want any more worries for Doc to keep me in bed for," said Emily with her forehead scrunched up.

The nurse left and few minutes came a smiling young woman, not much older than Cole.

"Hello Mr. Crest, my name is Cindy.  Can I help you get in a wheel chair?"

"No" said Emily, "I want to walk as much as possible. I have got to get home to my sons.  There is no telling what my house looks like with me gone.  They destroyed the living room, dining room and kitchen the last night I saw them," explained Emily as she made a step into the hall way.

Emily made several slow small steps to get her bearings,  She eased on down the hall following Cindy.

"Slow down, I'll have to jog to keep up with you at this rate," said Emily as she took one step at a time, carefully down the hall.  She made it to the Nurse Station.  She went to turn around and head back to her room, when she spotted the newspaper lying on the seat in the waiting area.  Emily bent down to pick it up, and was dizzy, so she sat down on the chair. 

"Emily, are you okay?" ask Cindy concerned.

"Yes, I'm dizzy.  I don't know if it is from the walk or from this," Emily held up the local newspaper.

On the front page was the court house, city hall, and her house, oh my God, my house, Emily thought.

"I have to get out of here, but where will I go, my house is gone, and everything I owned.  What has happened to this town?  I need to call my husband.  He needs to come back no matter what this business meeting is about.  I cannot believe my home is gone.  Where in God's name is my boys"  They should have protected our home," rambled Emily, all out of words going into all sobs.

Cindy held Emily for a moment then helped her into a wheel chair to take her back to her room.  She went back to the Nurses' Station and talked to the head nurse.  They went back to Emily's room and gave her something where she could relax and sleep.  Cindy called Dr. Burns and let him know what was going on with Emily.

"I was hoping I could wait until this afternoon to tell Emily about her home.  I hate she found out this way.  I will be along in about an hour.  Just keep her com until I get there,"  said Dr. Burns with sorrow in his voice.

"Will do Doc. I hope she sleeps for a while.  She was upset.  I would be too, if my home was burned when I stuck in the hospital incapacitated away and couldn't help," Cindy hung up the phone and prayed that Doc got there soon.

Chapter Seven

Cole and Alex woke up in the holding cell at the jail.  They didn't remember how they got there or why they were locked up in the little room.  Cole tried the door, but it was secured.  Alex looked out the window and realized they were in a cell in the jail.

"Hey, let us out of here.  We didn't do anything wrong.  He, can anyone hear me," yelled Cole until he was horse.

A deputy came around and heard Alex screaming, both boys, were exhausted.  They ate the food that was shoved in the hole in the door.  Both boys eat hearty although they couldn't taste the food.  Several hours later, Sheriff Barrett observed the boys from the camera in the corner of the cell before going in and talking to them.

"Cole, Alex, I see you boys aren't under the influence of alcohol, or high on drugs this morning.  Can you tell me what you two boys were doing at the court house while it was burning down?" ask Sheriff Barrett.

"I don't remember, we were at home then we woke up here this morning.  Alex and I, we were at home the last thing I remember.  Mom told us to eat in the kitchen, and then we ransack the house looking for loose change for pizza.  We walked out the door and that's the last I remember," explained Cole.

"Cole and me, well we were horsing around wrestling then mom come in and went to the bathroom, that's the last I remember.  Honestly, we don't have a clue how we got here," said Alex.

"Well boys, you don't have a home to go too, and your mother is in the hospital."

"What happened to mom, why is she in the hospital?" ask Cole.

"She had surgery to remove a growth from the base of her skull.  We haven't heard from the CTGI yet, but whatever it was, had to do with what is going on in this town.  You two are residence of the jail until this is over.  No ifs, and or buts about it, in order to keep you two out of trouble, and give you a place to stay, since your house has been burnt, I guess you are here for the duration," stated the sheriff.

"Our house burnt down, oh man, this an't cool bro, we don't have any place to go.  Dad is away on business and Mom in the hospital, this just isn't happening.  Where will we live, where will we go when Dad gets home.  Oh God, we are out on the streets, man.  This unbelievable," Alex cried.

"It is bad on the streets.  All hell has broken loose last night.  You teenagers burnt every official county building in town.  The court house, the city hall and my offices, are all gone.  Good news, there were no causalities or injuries from all the destruction.  God was here looking out for you unruly kids.  There isn't much left but the church and this jail.  None of the back street buildings were hurt, but we still have tonight to go through, I have called the state patrol to assist in keeping the peace around here."

"Thank God no one hurt.  Do you think we will be normal again? I mean, do you think we will join the rest of the kids on the streets again?" ask Alex.

"I hope and pray not."

After several minutes, Sheriff Barrett offered a solution to keep Cole and Alex off the streets.

"We will be setting up our offices in this building so you are welcome to help set it up and do whatever has to be done.  We will figure out what punishment will be handed to you two as soon as we can figure out where to hold court.  Now give my deputies no trouble.  Do as you are told, I may talk to judge about leniency," explained the sheriff.

Sheriff Barrett turned and left.  Cole and Alex hung their heads crying and sniveling.

The deputies came in later and got the old food trays replacing it with fresh food and water.  The boys never looked up.  When they were led out of the cell to help set up desk and file cabinets, they were glad to have a distraction.

"Cole, have you wondered what happen to our home?"

"No, Alex, I'm more worried about Mom and what Dad will do when he finds out we help destroy the town, aren't you?"

"Should we call Dad?"

"I don't know, maybe Mom has already called him."

Alex looked around.  He spotted Deputy Blair.

"Has the Sheriff called our Dad yet?" Alex ask Deputy Blair.

"Yeah, he called him yesterday to let him know your mom is okay and he informed the Sheriff he would be here this afternoon.  He told the Sheriff he needed a ride from the airport when he got here."

"Can you tell me and Cole what happened to our mom?" ask Alex.

"You'll have to ask the sheriff.  They didn't tell us nothing just that he would be at the hospital with Emily Crest all morning."

"Do you know when Sheriff Barrett will be back?  ask Cole.

"He will be here to see how things are progressing before he leaves to go get your Dad," said Deputy Blair.

"As long as Sheriff Barrett goes.  He can explain what happened last night; maybe give Dad time to cool off before he sees us.  I can't believe my Mom's in the hospital.  What exactly happen to her?" ask Cole.

"We don't really know.  The Doc and Preacher Joe can tell you more about that.  We haven't been told anything except she had to go in as soon as possible. ASAP, as the Sheriff likes to put it.  But, let's just say that the surgery was successful," explained the deputy.

Cole and Alex were satisfied with the answer.  They had to be.  The Sheriff wouldn't be there for at least half hour and they needed to help finish straighten up the furniture before the files were sent over that wasn't destroyed by the fire.

By the time that Cole and Alex had the last file cabinet put in the corner, next to the holding cell, Sheriff Barrett came through the door, swipping sweat off of his forehead with his shirt sleeve.

"Boys, it sure is hot out there.  Alex and Cole, come with me.  We have to discuss a few things before I go get your father at the airport," said Sheriff Barrett as he walked down the hall pass the holding cell to the little storage room that has been converted into a makeshift office.

Sheriff opened the door and stepped aside to let the boys enter first.

"What's this about Sheriff?" ask Alex.

"Your mother, and I need answers to what happened to the buildings in this town that you all set fire to.  I know you were part of it because you were found in the court house yard watching it burn.  That's where a couple of my deputies found you last night and brought you in.  You keep telling me you don't remember, but they told me you knew who they were.  You made smart remarks and resisted arrest.  Do you have any explanation for your actions?"

Alex dropped his head, and Cole took a step up to take a chair next to the small desk in the corner of the room that is made into an office.

"Sir, with all due respect, I haven't a clue what happened in weeks.  Alex and I were sitting on our couch at home playing a video game one evening, and then we were wrestling over the remote.  There are bits and pieces we can remember, but not a whole lot.  We destroyed the house looking for change for pizza one night, then we were waking up in our room.  It's like we know, and we don't know.  Like a part of our memories are missing.  The last thing I remember the other night was going out to meet Sam.  After that I couldn't tell you.  We both have been doing weird things but, it's like we aren't ourselves.  We can see what we are doing, but like, we can't control what we are doing.  We feel like a remote control or what is it you call those dolls, on strings, puppets?" ask Alex.

  "Well you two boys have helped stir up trouble in this town.  We are going to have a meeting with your mom and dad when your mom gets to feeing like it.  By the way, did you know that your mom got bitten by something and it laid an egg like substance in her neck at the base of her skull?"

Both Alex and Cole looked straight at the Sheriff with jaws dropped and eyes wide.

"What lay eggs, where?" ask Cole.

"Doc isn't sure yet, but it looks like a spider could have done it."

Sheriff Barrett got up and walked over to the door, half turned, looked at Cole, "I have to pick up your dad at the airport.  You two stay put and stay out of trouble.  I will release you to your dad when we get back."

Chapter Eight

Emily woke up with a start.  She had the dream once more of the little creatures on the island in the middle of the river.  She was shaking from the dream and hurting from the incision on her neck.  She pushed the call button.

"May I help you Ms. Emily?"  came the voice over the speaker above the bed.

"Yes, could you bring me something for a headache, please?"  answered Emily.

"Sure, be there in a moment.  Do you need me to bring you something to eat?  You missed lunch."

"No, just something for the headache will be fine."

"On my way."

After Emily was given a pain medicine, she started dozing off.  She didn't hear Luke when he eased open the door and tip toed in.  He moved to the chair beside the bed and just looked at her.  He got up from the chair and began pacing the room.  He stopped long enough to stare out the window.  He knew there was something wrong when he left Sunday, but he didn't know to what extent.  He moved the chair to the window and sat down.  He was exhausted from the trip, not counting the worry about his wife and children.  Maybe Emily would wake soon and let him know what was going on.  She seem to be dozing, because from time to time she would open her eyes and look at him, then her eyes would close again.

Luke Crest was traveling business man who was away from home all week.  Come Friday night, he was home with his wife and his tow sons.  Cole was doing great in school last time he checked in, and Alex was having problems with English.  Since Luke has hired him a tutor, he had been getting good reports.  So, the question was, what happened after he left Monday morning to go to work?  He was fighting a demon of his own and it was troubling to find out that his children were doing the opposite of what the reports had been when he first check after Alex got in trouble in English.  How did this get so far out of hand before Emily called me?

At the moment Emily rolled over wiping sleep from her eyes seen Luke sitting in the chair staring out the window.  She studied Luke.  He looked tired.  Even worry lines on his face told her he was troubled about being called from his business trip to come home to a sick wife and tow possessed boys.  Luke turned and looked at her with a smile that melted her heart every time.

"How are you doing honey?  Heard you had a bad time this week?"

"I'm fine.  I just need to get out of here and go home to check on Cole and Alex.  They have been busy this week, along with all the teenagers in this town.  From what the sheriff has told me, we have a lot to pay for, plus we are looking for a new home.  Ours burned.  Things can't get much worst can they, Luke?"

"We have our health and we have each other and two teenage boys, I guess it could get a lot worst."

"You know, if it wasn't for having each other we would be in trouble.  The doctor is supposed to be in this morning with the results from the CTGI.  I hope it's better news than what we have of our home," Emily muttered.

Knowing she had nowhere to go, and no one to turn to, they were all homeless at this point.  She sit up on the edge of her bed and looked out the window to see what she could and the court house was black and looked gutted.  Two other buildings were still smoking even though the fire had been extinguished.  That must have been the hall of records down there where all the important papers and records are kept.  The school was still flaming in the lab area and the office area.  Those children were busy for a long time from the view from the hospital window.

"Is Alex and Cole okay?"

"Yeah, for the time being, they are down at the jail helping the deputies," answered Luke.

"Were they with the gang that took over the town last night and tried to burn it down?"   ask Emily as she turned back to look at Luke.

"Yeah, the deputies picked them up in front of the court house drinking beer and passing a joint around.  Right now they are down at the jail helping set up furniture for a temporary office.  It will keep them busy until I can find out what the judge says about the trouble they're in for eating uppers and downers for the past 48 hours.  Two kids were snorting powder up their noses when deputies come upon them at the old court house.  That's when the sheliff's office exploded like a bomb.  Our two sons are in a heap of trouble from what I gathered.  Nothing I can say to help until the judge decides what the punishment should be.  The DA won't talk to the parents until he discusses it with the judge.  It seems our little town went all to hell last week.  Did you know what was going on?"

"No not until the principle called and said that Cole had pills and white powder in his locker.  I thought it was the meds I gave him when he complained with the toothache last week.  When do you think they will know about what the pills were that Cole had in his locker?"

"Maybe next week,"  Luke looked over at the door as it opened.  He stood as the doctor come into the room.

"Hello Luke, it's been a while since I laid eyes on you.  Where have you been?  Emily has to get sick before I get to see my long lost friend," said Dr. Burns, with a smile on his face shaking Luke's hand.

"To a more serious note, Emily I have some good news and bad news.  First, we got the growth off your neck without any nerve damage.  The bad news, come from the specialist.  He will be here in a minute.  He wanted to look over your chart before he comes to explain the find at the university.  I just had to see you were okay and it looks like you are in good company since Luke has come home early."

A knock on the door, then opened to a distinguished looking gentlemen.  He was holding Emily's chart.  He smiled and shook hands with Luke and introduced himself as a professor at the university. 

"This must be Emily.  I have heard a lot about you Ms. Crest.  My name is Professor Dukes from the University.  Most people call me Dr. George."

"Nice to meet you Professor," said Emily sitting up in her bed.

"My colleagues and I run test on the growth.  It came back strangely, alive.  We put it in a canister to transport to University in normal temperature.  It grew.  I put it in a cooler.  It still grew, but slower.  It looks like a blob.  I put it in liquid nitrogen and it stopped growing.  We are not sure what it is.  If it's what bit the others, then I need to check them as well.  You have two sons, it states in your charts.  I want to examine them also.  How soon can you have them here?" ask the professor.

"I can call Sheriff Burns and they will be delivered in about an hour.  He has them doing some odd jobs down at the jail since his office building was burnt to the ground.  We have other youth who are running around the city with the same problem.  They are creating all kinds of mischief around town.  They have ban together like any army and destroying the whole town.  You want see them out in the day light, they are doing it at night under the cover of darkness.

Luke moved to the phone and placed a call to the sheriff's office and had one of the deputies escort the boys to the hospital.

"Sorry, but the deputies drew straws to see who got out of work this time.  They should be here in half hour at the most.  Are you going to keep them over night?" ask Luke.

"I would like to take them back to my lab.  There I could conduct test with monitors to tell if their heart rates goes up, body temperatures goes down, brain waves are erratic; many things in my lab could pin point what is going in this town and these adolescents running rampant.  If we find out what is causing the children to act erectly we can solve the problem.  There has to be a scientific answer to all the turmoil," explained the professor.

"I don't know.  Let Luke and I talk it over.  We need to talk about this before we make a decision on Cole and Alex right now.  We also would have to talk to the sheriff about the situation where they have gotten their butts in trouble. This test may be one of the answers to our problems.  By the way, there's little creatures on an island in the middle of the river I fish.  They are about three to six inches high and they told me I would be sorry if I kept chasing them.  That night my children left the house after I went to bed.  I followed them and was bitten by something God only knows what, and to end my story:  you find the creatures, and find the answers.  The sheriff will take you to my fishing hole; you'll have to do the rest."

I"ll have to go to the sporting goods store to get a net and a cage.  Is there one close?  One of the deputies out in the hall can take me to the river.  He may assist me in the capture."

Luke agreed.  The professor left the room to make phone calls.  Emily and Luke just stared at one another until; they spoke at the same time, "What do we do now?"

"I don't know what we do, but I can say one thing, we are going to move to "Coon Hollow" out at Dad's old farm.  It will be where we want be bothered with the entire city hum drum and the troubled teenagers in this town.  Our two boys deserve a place that they can sleep at night and not worry about their friends.  If we buy a few horses and cows, maybe put up a few houses for laying hens, they could learn responsibility and earn a few dollars in the meantime.  I just can't worry about my family while I'm away working."

"What about our home here, or what's left of it, do we just walk away?  We just can't cut and run? What about our sons Luke?  They have problems of their own since they took it upon themselves to join in burning and destroying official buildings in this town."

"Yes we can, and we will.  I have taken a couple of months off for vacation, which I been working for all year, so now is the time to take it.  I had plans to take you to an island, but the boys need me now, and I need them too.  You are my family.  I need you, just like breathing.  But, yes you are right; we need to finish this before we leave.  Sheriff Barrett told me about Corena.  He explained everything to me.  So, now the question is, where do we start?"

"I don't know.  But, whatever was at that fishing hole was real.  If the professor goes out there and catches one of the demons, do you think he will have answers of why here?  It has poisoned our children's mind along with all the children in this town.  Luke, we are going to finish this together.  That I promise you."

Luke pulled Emily into a tight embrace to secure the other half of his soul.

The door opened and Preacher Joe came in smiling, glad to see Luke.

"Hey Luke, good to see you again," said Preacher Joe.

"Good to see you, too, Joe.  Been a couple of weeks since I been to Sunday Service.  Sorry, job calls me out of town through the week."

"Earlene talked to Corena.  Sheriff Barrett and I have a meeting with Corena tonight.  You are welcome to join us.  Sorry Emily, but Doc said you were to stay in bed on this one.  We need you at full strength with no relapses.."

"I'll be there Joe.  Tell Sheriff Barrett to meet me in front of the hospital at six," said Luke.

"Will do." With that said the preacher left the hospital. 

"I think going to the farm in the country will be what all of us will need after this experience of a life time is done and over with Luke," stated Emily.

With that said she rolled over in her hospital bed and went to sleep.

Her dreams were dark when she fell under a deep slumber. "You won this round, but missy you want win the next one.  I have your children under my rule.  You will fail Emily Crest, I, the prince of darkness have spoken."

Emily screamed waking up to a dark empty hospital room.

Chapter Nine

The nurses up and down the hall heard Emily scream and immediately hurried to her room.  Emily was clutching her cover over her head and shaking so bad that the nurses had to pry her hands out of the blanket so they could get it down off her head.  She was white as a ghost and her eyes were red.  Nurse Keller brought a syringe; put the needle in the IV unit.  The extra nurses helped hold Emily down until it took effect.

Nurse Keller went back to the nurse station and dialed the sheriff's cell phone. 

"Barrett, this Nurse Keller.  Emily had another nightmare."

"Did she tell you what it was?"

"No, but, when we get her calmed down, I'll ask her."

"I'll tell Luke.  We need to get to the meeting with Corena.  She may be out only hope in this town."

Nurse Keller hung up the phone.  She walked back to Emily's room.  When she seen Emily was awake, she went to sit by her bed.

"Emily, are you okay now?"

"I think so, the dream I had was so real."

Emily told Nurse Keller her dream.

"Well, Emily, I guess it's time to get some sleep.  I will have someone her until you wake up.  No need to worry about being alone anymore.  Dr. Burns left orders when the nurse called him, to have someone in your room at all times.  It won't keep the devil at bay, but there will be someone here when you wake up screaming."

Emily closed her eyes from the drug induced tiredness.  She slept once again.

*****

Sheriff and Luke pulled up at Corena's herb store.  It looked empty.  Luke opened the car door and steeped out on the side walk.  Sheriff Barrett stepped out on the street and went around the back of the car to stand beside Luke.  Luke walked up to the door of the store and turned the knob.  It was opened.  He walked in and Sheriff Barrett followed.

Corena came from the back through a beaded curtain.  Behind that was a dark red velvet curtain.  It looked old.

"I know why you are here.  I have made a list of the things you will need to start the ritual.  When you have found all the things you need you must come back to me.  Some of the items.  I have here, but you must work with haste to find the other sources and herbs."

"Do you know what is going on with my wife and the children of this town?" ask Luke.

"I have seen the evil and your wife and children are in danger.  The dark forces of this world are setting up for the return of their creator.  Satan is setting the stage by using his demons to possess the entire human race if he can find willing souls.  It is to thwart what God has created and make it his own.  He cannot touch earth until the time is right and wickedness is unleashed all over the world.  In order to stop his return we must stand as one body of believers only in God and Christ to return Satan to Hades.  You have heard Preacher Joe call it Hell.  Now get along and find the items on the list I give you."

Corena turned and went through the beaded curtain and she was gone.

Luke looked down at the list of items and then up at Sheriff Barrett.

"I guess we better get started if we are going to save our town."

"Well if what Corena is saying is true, then it will be the whole world at our mercy," said the sheriff putting his hat on as he headed toward the door.

Sheriff and Luke headed to the river for the sassafras root, the ginseng would be harder to find.  The basil, sage, rosemary, and dill would be located at the green house.  The salt, vinegar, could be picked up at herb store and the red wine would be at the local liquor store.  The stones would have to be gotten at the local jewelry outlet.  However,the pewter cup and a silver cross would only be found in the speciality shop in the mall.

Sheriff Barrett and Luke split up at the hospital so they could retrieve the objects and all the ingredients for the list. 

"We'll meet up here in say, two hours.  Then we go back to the hospital to see Em." said Luke.

"Will do.  I'll go by and get Cole and Alex, bring them back to see their mother.  You know they are in a lot of trouble if the judge decides to convict.  They will be sent to the boy's farm down state," stated the Sheriff.

"We'll talk about all that later, right now I just want to get all this behind us so that we can get rid of all the mess in our town setting it back right.  If the boys have to be punished, I will stand behind the decision," said Luke/

They went their separate ways.

*****

Luke and Sheriff met back at the hospital parking lot.  They checked in on Emily for a brief moment and found out she was having the dreams again.  Deputy Blair delivered the boys earlier to the hospital by order of the Sheriff.

Alex and Cole hugged their father.  Sheriff Barrett looked at the boys with worry lines apparent on his face.

"You two ready to go back to the office with me?"

"Do we have to leave mom?" ask Alex.

"Yes, she needs her rest.  Besides you can't do nothing here but worry her to death.  I have plenty for you to do at the jail."

Alex and Cole got up to leave them turned and hugged their mother before leaving with the sheriff.

"See you at the meeting over at the church Luke."    said, the sheriff as he went out the hospital room door.

Emily dozed off after the children left with Sheriff Barrett.  Luke was sleeping in the chair next to her bed.  He heard the door once again, this time it was the nurse.

Nurse Keller came into the room and checked Emily's IV and blood pressure.  She fussed with the covers on the bed before turning to leave.

"Don't worry Luke; I have made arrangement to have someone with Emily at all times.  She is having a rough time of it since the demons come from the island.  She told me a little about it while I was with her this afternoon.  She will be okay.  I will see to it." said Nurse Keller.

"Thank you nurse, I will be back as soon as the meeting is over," whispered Luke.

He didn't want to wake her,so he leaned down and kissed her forehead before leaving.  Luke pushed the button on the elevator hung his head staring at his feet.  When it dinged, the doors opened and he stepped in.  When the doors closed, Luke thoughts went to the busy afternoon.  When the doors opened, Sheriff Barrett was waiting on him in the lobby.

Luke looked a the Sheriff and spoke, "You know this isn't going to be easy don't you?"

"Yeah, Luke, I know.  This is one time when I wished I'd paid more attention to Joe in Church on Sunday mornings.

"I hope Corena knows what she is doing.  We are depending on her and Preacher Joe."  They went to the exit and crawled into the sheirff's car parked at the curb.  They both looked at one another then the car rolled out into the streets headed to the Church for the town meeting.  Both men knew that the task at hand was about to begin with a vengeance.

Sheriff Barrett and Luke rode to the church in silence.  There was a crowd already gathered in front of the church when Luke and the sheriff pulled in.  Both men were tired and weary from the looks of them.  The problems that had plagued them for the past week couldn't have been easy, but they were there none the less, to see what Corena could tell them about getting their children back.  Preacher Joe greeted them at the door as they walked in together. Sheriff and Luke stepped up in front of the crowd and took a stance beside Corena, Luke on one side, Sheriff Barrett on the other. 

They joined hands and began to pray to the Lord with their faces pointed toward the sky.  The crowd of parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles all took their cue from the trio of men and one elderly woman in front of the building.  They looked up at the sky with closed eyes and begin to pray also.

When the prayer ended with Amen all around, Corena stepped forward with hands and arms extended above her chest, reaching to heavens giving praise to the Lord, then she began to speak.

"Today we gather as one people in the sight of God.  He's blessed with the knowledge to destroy the demons that have possessed our children.  You must not be afraid.  The night of the full moon is but a week away.  I have the blessing of the Lord to go to the mouth of the cave in the mountain.  There  we will gather as one people of God and pray.  The demons will gather with our children.  That will trap the demons and send them back to hell.  We;ll be ready to destroy Satan's babies and free our children.  I need you to gather in the Church that night and pray and mediate while Sheriff Barrett, Luke, and Emily, and Preacher Joe assist me in the ritual of the sacrifice of the blood of the innocent.  I will leave instructions with the deacons of the church the day of the full moon, but not before.  You must follow my instructions to the letter.  Be ready and waiting on the day of the full moon."

"We've all got a part in this, but as Corena told you, we all have to participate or we lose it all.  Our children, our town, and our lives as we know it will all be gone forever," said Preacher Joe.

"That'll be all until the evening of the full moon.  Then we're to meet at the church before dinner.  We shall all fast until the deed is done, then we shall feast unto the Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ," said Luke.

With that Luke turned and took Corena's hand leading her through the crowd out to the car where he opened the door and helped her in and shut the door lightly on the sheriff's cruiser.  Not a word was spoken between them, but a understanding that if all went well he would have his family back, if not, then all hell would break loose on earth.

Chapter Ten

Luke had one of the deputies to drop him off after the meeting at church last night.  He tried to sleep while Emily was resting, but he would close his eyes and all he could see was that little fragile e woman in front of the town speaking to the people with great concern.  If she was worried about the town, then the rest didn't stand a chance. 

Luke dropped off Corena at the shop and drove back to the hospital to spend the night watching his wife and being there for her when the dreams come again.

About daylight he woke Emily and helped her dress.  No time like the present to get her ready to leave the hospital.  She ate a hearty breakfast and drank her coffee.  The Dr. Burns came in and released her.  Not much was said, but the feeling of the air being thick as butte didn't help.  They had three days until the full moon.

Luke led Emil through the hospital and to the parking lot where he opened the door on the truck and helped  her in .  He buckled her seat belt and shut the door.  He hurried around the truck and slid in behind the steering wheel and hit the ignition switch.  The truck roared to life.  He sat there for a moment, then turned to Emily.  She looked as if her heart was breaking from the tired wrinkles around his eyes.  He was a good man and God had blessed her with a mate who was her friend, lover, husband and her children's father.  One thing for sure, they were facing this together and it wasn't over yet.

"Where are we going Luke?"

"To Corena's home."

"Where will we stay?"

"At Corena's, why, got a problem with saving the world?" smiled Luke.

"No, just worried, that's all."

He then put the truck in reverse and backed out.  He put the truck into drive and headed toward the end of town where Corena's store was a welcome sight.

Corena was waiting at the door when they got out of the car.  Emily reached out a hand to Corena, but Corena pulled Emily in a tight hug, that surprised Emily.

"Child, you are a sight for sore eyes.  I remember you when you were a child in pigtails, hanging on your grandmamma's skirt tail.  She used to come in my shop and buy herbs to make medicine and rubs for sore muscles.  When I would try to talk to you, you would hide behind her like a scared kitten."

"Corena, it has been forever, I remember.  You know my grandmother swore by the remedies you told her about .  Have we come at a bad time Miss Corena?

"No dear, we have a lot of work to do in the next few days, but the real work will be tomorrow.  We have to get all the ingredients and the stones in their pouches before we make our track to the cave on the other side of the mountain.  I have prepared a room in the back for you and Luke.  But, tonight we have to get started.  Go rest and freshen up, then we get to work."

Corena led the way back to the room she had ready for Luke and Emily.  Corena turned to leave; she then turned back around with a smile on her face.

"I will come get you at six, so rest now."  Corena turned and walked back toward the front in the store.

Luke and Emily lay on top of the covers and went to sleep holding to each other like it might be their last time together.

*****

True to her word, Corena knocked at the door at six sharp.

"Luke, Emily are you awake?"

Emily opened the door and smiled at Corena

Corena handed her a cup of coffee.

"Thanks, Luke is in the bathroom, he will join us when he is through."

"Good, good I'll  make more coffee to eat with our sandwiches, then you and I will get started.  crushing the herbs leaves."

They went into a small room with fabric and different kind of herbs and bulbs hanging in the dividers of shelves that housed many jars and vials of different dry grounded herbs and nectar of flowers, oil and spirits of various kinds, gum from camphor to pine sap.  All was in perfect rolls and order.

Emily sits down at the little table with each herb, labels and bowl with pastel. Corena started with the instructions.  Emily was happy to be doing something instead of lying in bed.  That hospital was depressing.  The staff was wonderful.  They were there at every beck and call, but it wasn't like being at home.  Even the books couldn't hold Emily's interest after a couple of days.

"I'll sew the little herb pouches while you crush each herb. The pouches have to be sewn by hand with bone needle, not a medal needle.  The thread must be silk because it is a natural woven thread.  No medal can touch the pouches for the herbs to work.  Next, after you crush the herbs, you put the crushed leaves in the plates over by the window.  There we burn the herb and hold the pouches over the smoke to get the essences of the herb in each pouch.  First, the sages, and then the herbs as they are laid before you, do not mix them.  Make sure they are in their own plate.  Then the ashes will be put into each pouch with a stone.  This should ward off the evil spirit and drive the demons we will fight back to the mouth of the cave into the gates of hell."

"Yes, ma'am,"  acknowledged Emily.

Luke came in and sits next to Emily.  He watched as she crushed the herbs in the bowl.  Corena got up and went into the kitchen.  She came back with mugs of coffee.  She left again, and a few minutes later come back with a plate of sandwiches made from fresh homemade bread.  They took a break in the corner table with designs of flowers that looked ancient.  Luke, Emily and Corena said grace; they began to eat like they were famished.  When they were finished, they helped Corena carry dishes back to the kitchen and clean up.

"Luke, I will show you how to stitch the pouches.  I will help Emily crush the herbs."

When they went back to the work table, Corena picked up the needle and thread.  She folded the pouches so they had a gap to put the ashes into the pouches.  Luke watched while Corena done the first sewing something like a quilt stitch like a "V" shape.  Then they took and melted pine sap and put it in a tiny crystal cup.  They dabbed the pouch with a dogwood stick covered in melted pine resin.  The pouches were sprinkled with dill seeds.  When each leaf of an herb was ground they were put in a plate.  When all the herbs were crushed and place on a plate, Corena took a pine straw and burn the leaves, then they began to smoke.  The pouches were waved over the smoke seven times.  When the ashes went out and they were cooling off, Corena took a hand made small spoon carved from dogwood and scooped ashes in each bag then prayed over.  She placed a stone in a pouch, Agate, Amethyst, Bloodstone, Onyx, Smoke Quartz, Tiger eye; each stone was carefully slide in the pouch with a prayer said over each one.  Each was tied tight with a silk ribbon.  When all was finished, Corena split the Moonstone into seven pieces.

"The moonstone will be put in the center of the candles where we will be ..It wards off and cleanse all, and the Lord will give us a new beginning." explained Corena.  "We will use seven candles,  three white, two violets, and two black.  The white candles will separate the black and the violet candles so they will not be able to use the power against us.  One white candle will be put in the center color circle with us," Corena instructed further.

"Are we finished?" ask Emily.

"Yes, and you and Luke should rest.  It has been three days since we started this and we all need our rest and strength to do the ritual tomorrow.  I have to call Joe and Charlie and let them know we are ready.  I have what they will need a the church and what we will need on the mountain.  Go rest now,"  explained Corena.

The next morning, Emily and Luke was sitting at the kitchen table when someone knocked on the back door.  Luke and Emily looked at one another, and Luke slid out his chair to answer the door, when, when Corena came from the back room and answered the door.

"Hello Corena, I need to speak to Luke and Emily please.  I hope it will not be an inconvenience, but the test come back from the growth  on Emily's neck and it isn't good.  Dr. George will be here shortly, but right now a cup of your famous tea would be in order, may I?"

"Come right on in and I'll make the tea.  Take a seat and I will be back in a moment.  Make yourself comfortable Doc," Corena said graciously.

There was another knock and Dr. Burns knew it was Dr. George, but when he answered it Sheriff Barrett and Preacher Joe was smiling.  They had found the doctor already there at Corena's home.  They come in and Corena came around the corner of the kitchen with enough cups for everyone.

Luke and Emily emerged from the kitchen.  They followed Corena into the living room seeing the sheriff and Preacher Joe they assumed there was something wrong  with Alex or Cole.

"Have we missed something Sheriff, or are you out and about early?" ask Luke.

"Well we had to come by Corena's to see how everything is going and if we could help.  Doc was already here and was explaining about the research on the growth that was removed form Emily's neck.  But, the important question is, where is Dr. George?" questioned Sheriff Barrett.

"He should be along shortly,  He called me from Marietta about an  hour ago.  He was supposed to meet us here so we could all be enlighten about the tissue I removed from your neck Emily", said Dr. Burns.

Everyone looked at each other.

"Doc do you have his mobile number?  You could call and see if he answers," Preacher Joe.

He pulled out his cell phone and looked at the last number that called.  It was different than the one Dr. George gave him.  He hit redial and it started ringing.

"Hello, George, this is Dr. Burns.  Are you alright? (Pause.......) yeah, we are all here.  Just take your time and be safe.  See you when you get here."  Dr. Burns closed his phone.

Preacher Joe, who had been quiet all morning, perked up asking, "Well, what is the hold up?"

There was an accident right at his exit coming on 411 highway.  He will be a little late, but he is on his way."

"Then I'll fix breakfast and coffee," stated Corena going back into the kitchen.

"I'll help, the men folk can relax and discuss our next move here in town until George gets, here," said Emily following Corena.

*****

Alex and Cole kept busy or pretended to be busy while watching the deputies from the open cell door where they had slept for several night.  Alex looked to see if there was anyone paying attention to him.  He and Cole were going to run.  Back into the streets where they could meet up with their friends. 

Alex ran behind the over sized file cabinet.  Cole waved the sign of "all clear." Alex fled out the door.  Cole followed.  In a jog they headed down the alley beside the jail to the open parking lot where one of the good ole boys, Darrel, was waiting in his beat up blazer.  Cole and Alex jumped through the hatch that was up.  Darrel drove away without being seen by the deputies.

They drove for what seemed as nearly an hour before they come upon the crowd in the park outside of town.  Cole couldn't believe his eyes.  There were more people that before.  The children from surrounding towns had to be here, too.  No way were there this many kids in their home town.  The recruiting of all the teenagers from other towns had been successful.

Cole got out and spoke to Vic and Sam.

"Where did all the kids come from?" ask Alex.

"Around.  They showed up yesterday.  We are going to have a party tonight before we head down to the lake tomorrow.  There is no way the grownups in this town are going to be able to stop us now.  With all the reinforcements, there is no way we can lose.  There has been a rumblings of the fight brewing in the future, but the demon that came last night said his father would be here on the night of the full moon." Same spoke in low tones.

"Who is the demon's father?" ask Cole keeping his voice at the same tone.

"I'm not sure, but I believe it is the devil himself.  He came over the speakers in the park after one of our parties.  We were all leaving the park when he spoke," Vic answered.

"Oh hell no, you can't be serious.  We have been doing the deeds of the devil.  God will never forgive us.  If Satan wants us he will have to find us.  We're going home.  I need to find Alex," shouted Cole.

"You can't leave Cole.  We are going to use you and Alex to bring your mom to us.  We were given pacific orders to bring you to camp grounds close to the cave in the mountains near the lake.  Cease him boys, we got to get him and his brother secured for the transport."

"I thought you were my friend, Sam?"

"Not when you are in the way of progress," replied Vic.

"Bring him here boys.  We will put them in the same cage.  Are the boats ready to move?"

"You can't do this to us.  We are your friends.  We grew up together.  We are best friends."

"Who cares?  We want our lives to be simple and our jobs to come back.  No one wants to be homeless or without a job anymore.  In order to get our lives back on track we sacrifice you Alex and your mother.  Take them Dan, Vic and Hue.  I'm going to get the other guys together to raid the witch's house."

Sam turned and went toward his blazer.  Four other guys got into the big oversize vehicle.  They left squalling tires, heading back to town.

Alex and Cole watched the blazer until it was out of site, Then they were tied  and gaged.  Darrel and Vic picked up Alex and put him in the cage, they done the same to Cole.  When the door was closed, the lock was clicked shut.  The cage was hauled down to the river on carts on wheels.  Darrel slid the cage onto the boat on the shore line.  When all was secure, they took off toward the other side of the lake where the cave was located.

Chapter Eleven

Sam pulled into a parking space half a block from Coren'a store.  He stayed in the blazer while the other boys spread out in the alleys to keep an eye on the store front, waiting on Emily to come out the door  The drugs took the edge off the nerves, but being patient was not one of the strongest suits of the football players.

Three boys start toward the store like they had no will of their own.  Donnie looked in the window and seen no one in the site.  He opened the door and went into the little herb shop.  No one was around and the door to the back of the shop was locked.  He backed out of the store and shut the door.  He went back into the alley to see if there was a window or door to get inside to retrieve Emily, by force if necessary.  All the windows were locked and the solid door at the back was locked.  Donnie went back around the front of the store and crossed the street where Sam was waiting in the blazer.

"No way of getting in there.  We will have to wait until she comes out.  The sheriff and preacher are there.  I think Doc is there, too," explained Donnie.

"We'll wait 'til she comes out, then what ever it takes, she goes back to the park with us willingly or by force," Sam firmly stated.

*****

Dr. George pulled up in the alley and knocked on the door in the back of the store.  He was greeted by Dr. Burns, who looked out, then shut the door and locked it securely.

"Come on in George.  We have lots to discuss in a short time.  The city is full of children from God knows where.  Some I haven't seen before.  Some are the locals," said Dr. Burns leading George to the living room of the home.

They entered the living room and Luke reached out shoot hands with Dr. George.  Emily followed with a hand shake of her own..

"Well Emily, we have decided that the growth was a living organism.  First, me and my colleagues put the tissue in a warm environment, it grew.  We put it in Dry ice, it receded.  Again, we put it in hot temperatures, it grew faster that before.  But, when we put it in a warm environment it still grew, but not as fast.  Again, we put it in the freezer under cool but not as cool as the dry ice, it stayed the same.  The dry ice brought it back to normal again.  It was amazing but disturbing at the same time.  Nothing in this world is like the growth removed for the back of your neck.  I believe you were to carry a demon that would take over your body when it was full grown.  You would have no control of your mind and your free will," explained Dr. George.

What about the test you run on my sons?" ask Emily.

"Inconclusive.  The heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, all was normal.  There was no sign of irregular arrhythmia in their test," answered George.

"Then I was a carrier of an alien being, but we thwarted their plan."

"Yes, it would seem that way."

"All this time we have been in more danger than anticipated.  What was it you were saying last night Corena, that we are up against pure evil?" Emily whispered.

Sheriff Barrett's phone rang; he went into the front of the store.to talk.

"Sheriff this is Deputy Blair, Cole and Alex are gone.  We can't find them anywhere.  They were here in their cell straightening up their beds after breakfast, and then when we checked on them, they were gone.  We have no idea when they left or how they left the office."

"Okay, I'll be there, no better yet, meet us at the church in about an hour."

"I'll meet you there."

Sheriff Barrett went back to the living room to join the others.  He wasn't looking forward to telling Emily and Luke they had lost track of their sons.

"I have bad news, seems Cole and Alex slipped past the deputies this morning sometime or another.  They have done a city search; they are no where to be found.  We'll find them I'm sure.  They can't be gone to far on foot."

"Oh Luke, they must have gone back to their friends.  This is not good, not good at all," Emily began to cry.  Luke pulled her in his arms and let her cry it out.

Corena shook her head, "We have to get to the church as soon as we can.  I have to explain to the congregation how, and what to do around midnight.  Every detail must be put into place.  There is no time to waste.  We must get to the cave before sunset."

Corena went into the back room where Luke and Emily had helped her put the pouches together.  She also grabbed a wicker basket and filled it with candles.  Some while, some black, and some violet.  When all was gathered she came into the living room with the basket covered with a cloth that Emily hadn't seen yesterday when the pouches were finished.  They went out the back door, loaded up inside the sheriff's van he had borrowed from the vehicle impound yard at work.  They didn't notice the boys in front of the store because they had taken the back street to the Church.

"What a turn out," said Preacher Joe when they rounded the corner.  "I bet there is at least a thousand people here.  How will we get them all in the building?  We'll have to open up the cafeteria and all the class rooms.  I'm not turning away one person tonight.  I am surprised we got this far.  The Lord has blessed us on our mission to rid our town and world of these demon intruders."

"We are to get everyone to hold hands and pray for us from before midnight on.  They will know when to start and stop.  The Lord will let them know," said Corena.

They disembarked from the van and went in the House of the Lord.  They walked hand and hand to the front of the church around the alter facing the congregation of the town's people.  Preacher Joe waved a hand to everyone to take a seat.  When all were seated, he bowed his head in prayer.

"Lord we come to you once again to guide us in our quest tonight.  We cannot do your will without you.  You are our Lord, and Savior, in Jesus name we pray, Amen.

"At this time I'm turning it over to Corena.  She is a very important part of our ritual tonight.  She has some words to say and instructions.  I turn it over to Corena."

"For those of you who know me, and for those of you who don't, welcome.  I would like to explain what we need to do tonight before we take our leave.  I have candles in my basket I want you to light before midnight.  I have salt that is to be poured around the church.  This will keep all that is evil out of this sacred dwelling.  The candles will be on the inside of the salt.  You must light the candles before midnight.  I have also put the blood of a virgin lamb in this vial.  You are to put it on the door post and over the door on the outside of the church.  Come back in and take each others hand, recite the Lord's Prayer, and then mediate and pray.  Do not falter with my instructions.  If you do we have a weak link and will lose some of the power we need to fight the demons. God has the strength, but the faithful is what He needs to rid the devils from this earth."  With that said, Corena left the building.  Luke and Emily, Sheriff Barrett, Dr. Burns, and Dr. George followed behind her.

The click of the seat buckles was cue that they were ready.  Sheriff Barrett started the engine and they were off to the lake to a small boat to take them to the other side where the cave was located that leads deep into the mountain.  The trip was a short one, but the nerves of the passengers were a little raw.  Not knowing what to expect when they docked on the other side of the lake, was keeping all involved wide awake.

Once Sheriff Barrett and Luke jumped off the water craft, they tied up the boat to a low limb.  They assisted Emily and Corena off the boat, and then Preacher Joe handed the basket to Corena.  Dr. Burns and Dr. George followed.

Same and Donnie came out of the woods from behind underbrush.  They grabbed Emily and knocked her to the ground.  The Sheriff pulled his tasers and shot Donnie, but Sam grabbed Emily by the arm and drag her away.  Sheriff Barrett and Luke picked up Donnie and half carried, half drag him to the clearing.

"Help us," came a voice from above.

Sheriff and Luke looked up to where Cole and Alex were in a cage suspended in midair.

Joe found the rope that was tied to the cage from a low hanging tree.  Luke cut the rope.  The men slowly let the cage down.  They pull the unconscious Donnie on the inside.

"That should hold and keep you safe for a while," said Sheriff Barrett to an unconscious young man.

Corena poured salt around the cage, except at the door where she spread the salt to the entrance of the cave.  When she was finished they waited for the others to show up with Emily.  Corena wasn't disappointed.  Sam came in the clearing with Emily in tow.  The other children followed.

Corena started pouring salt silently until she had them surrounded.  Luke, the sheriff and the preacher all kept the boys distracted while Corena was pouring salt around the perimeter.

"Hello Sam," said Sheriff Barrett.

"Hello Sheriff, what are you doing here?" ask Sam.

Luke noticed the red rim around the eyes of all the children.  He looked at Emily.  She looked horrified when she looked back at Luke with a silent plea for help.  He never took his eyes off of Emily, but began to speak to Sam and Vic.

"Sam, you and Vic have been at my home many times.  Emily has prepared food for victory parties when you would win football and basketball games.  Am I right?"

"Yeah, so what, that was before," answered Sam as he turned to Vic.

"Mr. Crest, you need to leave now.  Unless you want to join your family in the sacrifice to get our master to save us from destruction," stated Vic.

"Think about it Vic, the master you are now serving, is destruction.  He will destroy this county, this state, this  country, this world, he will destroy you also.  That is his purpose to thwart God's plan of salvation.  Do you think for one minute you are important enough that Satan will let you live?  Do you think he want take you and your friends to Hell with him?  You better think Sam, Vic, all you children, God is your salvation, Satan is your destruction, your end," said Preacher Joe."

Vic's eyes began to glow red, as did Sam and the other children and teenagers.

"Sam, I need you to let Emily go.  She has done nothing wrong here," explained Luke.

By that time, Corena finished her circle around the children, leaving a small exit in front of Sam where he held on to Emily.

Corena reached a closed hand to Emily, when Emily reached her hand to her; Corena put the pouch in Emily's hand.  Sam let go of her, and Emily ran.  Corena closed the salt circle around the children.

Emily helped put the candles around the children and the ones in front of the caves.  They took a hold of each other's hand, Dr. Burns, Sheriff Barret, Dr. George, Preacher Joe, Alex, Cole, Luke, Emily and Corena.  They bowed their heads began reciting the Lord's Prayer.  (Since Emily and Luke were married, they counted as one.  Alex and Cole were brothers, they counted as one.  That made seven to hold the circle.)

The candles lit, the stones in the pouches began to hum.  The ashes began to come up and circle the children and the mouth of the cave.  The little demons began to growl and scream.  A bright light opened in the heavens.  Out came an angel with a flaming sword.  It began to smite the demon spirits and the demons.  The demons began to run into the mouth of the cave.  It turned bright red and flames come out with bellows of black smoke, the sulfur smell of fire and smoke.  The sulfur smell of fire and smoke began to choke the children.  They collapsed on the ground in the salt circle. 

Corena spread the salt thick around the mouth of the cave when all the children were on the ground.  The demons kept fleeing into the flames.  The angel kept coming and gathering the demons with no escape as the bright light become brighter. 

A loud boom shook the ground and rocks began to pour down in front of the cave.  The angel held his sword, pointed to the mouth of the cave until it was sealed.  He turned to us and looked up and then he was gone.

"Our Father, which art in Heaven,

Hollowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come,

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. 

Give us this day, our daily bread,

And forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And to lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13).

Corena and Emily looked at one another, with tears in their eyes.  Hand and Hand they took the children to the boats and helped them back to the little town of Chatsworth.  They were all silent until they reached the church where everyone was outside waiting on the group that put their lives and faith in the Lord to save and protect the town and its inhabitants.  Preacher Joe was the one to speak up when all was gathered around.

"Today w are witnesses to the power of love for one another, and the faith in our Lord and Savior to save and protect our town from the evil of Satan and his demons.  This isn't over, but for now, God is on our side.  There will be another day and another hour that Satan will come back and destroy humanity.  It is in our future.  The Lord told us and I  believe it.  To the faithful in this town, I pray it isn't in our time."

There was enough love in the town that night that no one cared what would happen tomorrow.  They prayed, sung songs of worship to the Lord.  Satan was defeated and the Lord had prevailed.