Dark Exorcist 2 (Dark Exorcist Series) (7 page)

“What the fuck was that?” Laura asked. “You just scared the shit out of those things.”

“I guess I did, didn’t I?” The girl said.

“Who are you?” Laura asked.

The girl turned and looked toward her. Her face was mostly shadow in the moonlight, so Laura couldn’t make out any of her features. Somehow, she could tell the girl was smiling.

“I’m Amanda Ross.”

S
kip Taylor new an opportunity when he saw one. If New Dublin wasn’t ripe for opportunity, then he didn’t know what was. Since his release from prison on burglary charges a few months earlier, he had pretty much kept his nose clean. Not because he’d turned over a new leaf, but he wanted to wait for the right moment. If he was going to risk going back inside, it wouldn’t be over petty bullshit. He’d make it worth his while.

Since his release, he’d been staying with a girlfriend, Anita Gomez. Well, she wasn’t really a girlfriend. She was more like a convenient piece of ass who happened to have her own place. The local TV had coverage of the goings on in New Dublin, which was only a few minutes from Anita’s place.

“’Nita!” He yelled from the living room. “Nita! Wake yer ass up!” He was sitting on the couch in a t-shirt and boxers. Finally Anita emerged from the bedroom in one of his Cannibal Corpse t-shirts.

“What Skip? Jesus Christ.”

“Don’t back talk me bitch. Where’s your cell phone?”

“I think it’s in my purse.”

“Well, go get it. I need to make some calls.”

“Why don’t you get your own phone man, quit using mine.”

He was wondering why he put up with her shit. For whatever reason, he had a thing for Latina women, even though they almost always had a mouth on them. Maybe he liked the challenge. They were also animals in bed. So he figured if he wanted the fun part, he had to put up with their shit too, but only so far.

“I told you why. I don’t want the cops tracking my ass.”

“You watch too much fuckin’ TV. Let me get my fucking phone,” she mumbled something in Spanish as she walked back into the bedroom.

He got up and followed behind her. As she bent over the bed to go through her purse, he lifted her shirt and threw her onto the bed. Against her protests he slid his boxers down and entered her from behind. First she fought against him, but as he felt her pussy moisten around his cock, she began moving with him. He was always amazed at just how tight she was. He’d known her for years and she’d had dozens of boyfriends in that time. Yet, her snatch was just as wet and tight now as it was the first time he fucked her. He continued pounding into her as she grinded against him until they both came together.

“You fucking asshole. I haven’t even showered today,” she said.

“I like to fuck your stinky pussy. Makes my dick smell like tacos.”

“Yeah, fuck you.”

“I just fucked you, and you know you liked it.”

“Maybe a little. Here’s the fucking phone,” she said as she handed it to him. He took it from her and dialed a few numbers. After a few rings someone finally answered.

“Hey Dale. It’s Skip.”

“What’s up man?” Dale asked.

“You been watching the news?”

“No man, I don’t watch that shit.”

“Right. Stupid question. Look, some crazy shit is going down in New Dublin.”

“What kind of crazy shit?”

“I don’t know. Riots or something. But I know they got a bank up there and some pawn shops. All for the taking.”

“Well shit. You sure, man?”

“Sure as I can be. Get some of the guys together. Not too many, only need maybe three more besides you and me. Get in there, load up and get out with all the commotion.”

“Sounds awesome, man,” Dale said.

“I hope so. Then I can get out of this shithole.”

“All right. I’ll make some calls.”

“Cool. Meet me at the gas station in an hour.”

“The usual place?”

“Yes, sir.” Skip said.

“Got it. Later man.”

Skip hung up the phone and tossed it back to Anita.

“Where you going?” She asked.

“Nowhere,” he said as he pulled on his jeans and slid his boots on.

“You’re gonna go rob some shit again aren’t you?”

“Don’t worry about me. Stay here and eat some bon bons or some shit.”

“Fuck you, I’m sick of your shit. You go out and rob some fucking shit, you don’t come back here. I’m tired of you getting locked up.”

“I ain’t getting’ locked up. Just cool your perky little tits.” He stood and headed outside and climbed into his pickup and sped off. As he headed to the gas station, he tried not to think about what cash, jewelry and valuables may be lying around New Dublin for the taking. This could be his biggest and best score yet. If he got away clean, he’d blow this town and state for Florida and maybe get a little cabin out on the Keys.

Enough fantasizing though. There was plenty of work to do before he reached that point. Hopefully Dale would get enough of the guys together they could all come out with plenty for each. Whatever happened, it was going to be fun. Fun times indeed.

“A
manda?” Dietrich said. “What are you doing here? I barely recognized you.” The last time he’d seen her, she was a malnourished fifteen year old girl who could pass as a twelve year old. Now she had put some weight on, and was much taller.

“I knew something was wrong. So I had to come help,” she said.

“How would you know?”

“How about we talk about this somewhere else. And I need to go find my mom,” Laura said. “Last I knew, she was at home sleeping, but that was hours ago.”

“I’ll go check on her,” her father said.

“Good idea,” Dietrich said. “There’s a house just outside town. I have some friends there waiting on me. It’s safe there. We can head there and regroup.”

They got into their cars and headed out. Laura’s dad found a bicycle near the house and hopped on it, riding toward his home. Dietrich wasn’t sure what was going on with that family, but he had a feeling the father was riding to his own death. He climbed into the police car and they drove back to the house. Amanda followed behind them.

Other than his directions, everyone was quiet during the short drive. Within a few minutes they arrived. The house appeared quiet. When he stepped inside, they found Bernard and Sharon both sitting in the living room. He was sitting on a chair, while Sharon was on the couch with her arms crossed. She jumped up as soon as she saw Dietrich.

“Did you find him? Is he ok?” She asked.

“I found him. But I’m not sure how he is.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“The demon has him, and it has a firm grip on him. So he talked to me, but it wasn’t him. If that makes sense,” Dietrich explained.

“No it doesn’t. It doesn’t make any sense at all! Why didn’t you cast him out? You’re a fucking exorcist! Do an exorcism, dammit!” Sharon screamed.

Bernard gently took Sharon’s arm and pulled her back toward the couch.

“Sharon, please. He’s trying to help. He’s not the problem here,” Bernard said.

Sharon took some breaths and walked away, turning her back to both of them.

“Who are these folks?” Bernard asked.

“This is Laura, Officer Derrick, and Amanda,” Dietrich said.

“Amanda. Amanda Ross? The girl you told me about?”

“That’s her.”

“Wow!”

“Yeah,” Dietrich said. “So Amanda, tell me about what brought you here.”

Amanda grabbed a chair and straddled it in the middle of the room.

“Ok. Ever since the whole possession thing, I haven’t been normal, or whatever. I mean, I tried for months afterward to just put it behind me. But I always had these dreams, crazy dreams. I had dreams of that demon coming back for me, or sending others. It was really scary.”

“I can imagine,” Dietrich said.

“Well, they were really lucid. I mean it’s like they weren’t dreams. Then one night during one of these, some other demon came after me. It was like he was this floating, drifting plume of smoke, with a hideous face that looked like a skull. And I kept running, it was like through some long creepy tunnel. I knew if that thing caught me then it would either kill me or possess me again. Then I noticed in this dream or whatever, I could run really fast. Like faster than normal, faster than any person could run.”

“Interesting. So this was all in the dream?” Dietrich asked.

“That’s just it. I realized I wasn’t dreaming. I could move around this tunnel and there were different doors. I went through different ones, one of them led back to my bedroom. I saw myself lying there sleeping. It was like some out of body experience I guess. So somehow, over the past year or so, I would practice this on my own. And basically, I can leave my body and visit the demons on their own turf in what I call Purgatory.”

“Purgatory?”

“Yes, but not like the Catholic Purgatory. It’s not heaven or hell, it’s like this place the spirits move in between realms, they have to cross through Purgatory. Or they can stage there for an attack. So once I figured this out, I stopped running. I would practice moving around in Purgatory. Since it is a spiritual place I taught myself to float, teleport and even to fight back at the demons. They can’t enter this realm without a body to inhabit. I can go back and forth. When I started to stand up to them, I never have had to fight back. I stop running and walk toward them and they run away.”

“So why come after you to start with?”

“They haven’t been lately. Not for a few months. I think as long as I was scared and running, they had the upper hand. Once I figured out I’m stronger than they are, they left me alone.”

“So how’d you know to come here?”

“Well, through my connection with Purgatory. Everything in this realm is connected to it. Ever since you left after saving me, I was able to go there and look in on you. I saw you were in trouble. I could feel it. But I couldn’t help you from there, so I drove here.”

“Wow. That is really amazing Amanda.” Dietrich said. “No wonder those afflicted feared you.”

“Yeah, it can be pretty intense,” she said.

“So you think you can stop this one?”

“I can try. I’ve never ran into one that was already manifested. So not sure how it will work.”

“Well it can’t hurt to try I guess. Do you have to fall asleep to do it?”

“Yeah, usually.”

“Um, guys?” Derrick said walking over to them. He’d been standing by the front door. “I hate to interrupt, but you all might want to see this before doing some hypnobullshit.”

“Look at what?” Dietrich said.

“Get over here and look!”

Dietrich stood and walked over to the front door. When he saw them, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Every door in the town was opening and all the afflicted were filing out into the streets. There were already hundreds in the street. Their eyes were all glowing white. Some were walking, others were running. All of them were headed in their direction.

D
ale drove up in a large flatbed. There were four other guys in the back, and some girl. He’d never seen any of them before. Skip hopped into the passenger seat.

“Ready for some fun, boss man?” Dale asked.

“Who are these assholes?” Skip said, ignoring Dale’s question.

“Some pals of mine from the last time I was inside. They’re good. You can trust ‘em.”

“I don’t trust nobody.” Skip said. “Who’s the bitch?”

“That’s Cody’s sister, Asia.”

“Who the fuck is Cody?”

“He’s the skinhead in back.” Dale said.

“Fucking great.”

“What man? You said get some guys together.”

“I meant our guys. The guys we work with. Not a bunch of white power assholes. You ever work with them before?”

“Only Cody.” Dale said.

“They are unhinged as fuck. So full of rage and shit. We don’t need that.”

“Cody’s not like that, man. He’s good.”

“If he’s not, I’ll put a bullet in him,” Skip said.

“I got no doubt you will. There’s the town. Holy shit, look at that mess.”

As they drove up there were several police cars parked in a road block, but there were mutilated bodies of several dead officers strewn about. One of the bodies had no head. Several were missing limbs.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Skip said. “What the hell happened here?”

“This doesn’t look like rioting and looting.” Dale said as he slowed the truck.

“Keep going, man. Just drive through these cars. Not gonna get out here. Fuck.”

“You sure you want to do this? Looks like shit’s a lot heavier than we thought.”

“Nah, fuck it. Let’s make some money. No one can stop us if everyone is dead.” Skip said as he laughed.

They drove a few blocks without seeing anything, until a man on a bicycle appeared just ahead in the middle of the road.

“Hey, Skip. Watch this.” Dale said as he stepped on the gas. The truck accelerated as they closed in on the bicyclist. As they got closer, Skip could see it was a middle aged guy and the bike was way too small for him. The man looked back at them and tried to swerve to his right, but not in time. The truck plowed into the back of the bicycle, knocking the man off. He disappeared under the front of the truck as it bounced over him like a human speed bump.

Dale’s laugh bellowed through the cab as Skip glared at him.

“What the hell is wrong with you man?” Skip asked.

“Nothing. I mean, look around. This town is like a free for all. See?” He pointed to a strip mall which was dark and abandoned, but looked as if no one had bothered it. Dale pulled the truck in front of the electronics store and parked. They climbed out and Skip saw Cody and Asia walking toward him. Cody had on a wife beater that showed off his giant swastika tattoo on his chest and an iron cross on his upper arm. It was too dark for Skip to make out the rest.

Asia had long blonde hair and was also wearing a wife beater. He wondered who was dressing who in that couple.

“”Sup man. I’m Cody.”

“Yeah, I know who you are,” Skip said as he turned toward the store.

“Hey, you got a fuckin’ problem? Turnin’ your back on me?”

Skip turned as he pulled his gun and shoved it in Cody’s face.