Chapter 5 : Spectre

We stood in deathly silence as Rose collapsed motionless on the floor. My eyes wide with horror. "What the hell is going on today?" I asked myself.

Natalia rushed up to her, holding her wrist, as she turned around and said, "She's very alive, just unconscious." She kept speaking but I heard no more, or precisely, I could hear no more.  My hearing of the outer world gradually faded, as I felt a scratch gradually intensifying within me. It transitioned into a flurry of indiscernible voices that felt like an unknown language, that felt eerily familiar. My arms felt heavy as I struggled to stand. Natalia, noticing my unusual maneuvers, ran up to me as I supported myself against one of the million gigantic, wooden seats. I could see her lips move, the fear and concern in her eyes, yet could not hear a trace of what she uttered. This was when a gentle voice whispered to me, "Out..." in an ever calm tone.

That was when I felt the world around me fade, as a uncanny terror enveloped me. The very air surrounding me had begun to disappear. My very reality was being rendered meaningless, as I covered my face in horror. I turned back as if on a primal instinct only to find a figure awaiting my turn. Its fair skin was exposed in only the lower face, the rest, an unraveled mystery encompassed within  a dark apparel, running from his shoulders, down to his knees, beyond which my sight faded. His face covered with a hood, permitting me the view of only his lower nose, lip an chin.

He moved towards me, turning his neck slightly to the right as he did. Cracking his fingers, he continued his disoriented approach, taking a deep breath as he uttered, "So," he began. "I see that you're getting ready."

"Wh..Wha," I stuttered as I tried to speak.

"Not quite, though," he continued, unveiling his hood revealing what probably was the most handsome face that a human male could attain. I gazed at him, eyes wide, mouth gaping, as he continued to speak.

"What a shame!" he exclaimed. "Lust has yet to tarnish you. We could have been friends."

"What do you...." I began.

"Shut up and listen!" he ordered. "However, be certain that not all will be as gentle as me. I repeat myself. Do not let these misguided mortals deviate you from your ultimate fate! Get out from the residence of this tyrant, that these incompetent fools pray! Get out! GET OUT! GET..."

"...Up! Wake Up, please!" I heard Nat's voice, shaking me frantically.

I opened my eyes in a split instant, as I found myself in the sanity of my world again. Natalia and the pastor, beside me, both visibly concerned and Nat breaking down in tears. I thrust myself up as the pastor took a sigh of relief, with Nat embracing me, shivering.

I looked around as I sighed in relief, realizing that this was in fact the real world. Just then, holding Natalia's hand I stood up, recollecting my memories from before the ordeal.

"Where is Rose?" I questioned.

"She's fine," replied the pastor. "She's resting inside."

I nodded with a sigh of relief before covering my face with my left palm.

"Sweetie," Nat said. "You're scaring me now."

"So, what exactly happened?" Asked Charles.

"I don't know," Said I. "I was probably hallucinating right before I guess fainting."

"Hallucinating?" He said. "What exactly did you see."

"I saw the world fade as some weird guy bitched about how upsetting it was for me to not be tainted by... uh... lust."

Charles's brow tensed as Natalia stared at me with a rather confused look.

"Did he mention anything else?" Charles inquired.

"Yes, I believe he wanted me to get out of this church." I said, rather nonchalantly.

His eyes widened with horror.

"Sitri." He whispered under his breath right before he turned back to me. "Tell me, did he look like a rather attractive humanoid male?"

"Yes! How did you know that!"

"We ain't got time for that." Said he. "You can't stay here. None of us can. Wait for me, I'll get Rose and we'll leave."

"To where?" Asked Nat.

"Just wherever." he said hurriedly as he ran off to fetch Rose.

Moments later, Rose and Charlie walked walked out from one of the church's inner chambers. Rose was visibly shivering, utterly and limping to a point where she needed Charles's help just to walk.

"What's wrong..." Nat began, as Rose laid here a staying hand before saying. "Let's talk of this after we get out of here."

"Charlie," said she. "Make sure to shut the church down this Sunday."

Charles nodded, and the four of us walked back to our ride. The storm had completely calmed down, the weather was rather bright and sunny. Yet, in complete contrast to what surrounded me, a strange and rather uncommon paranoia surrounded me. We walked down to the parking as I could not shake away a terrible gut feeling of being watched, closely.

"I'll drive," said Charles, holding his hand out towards Rose. She gave him the keys as we settled Rose in the car before getting in. I slammed the door shut as I got in and on a quick glance to my right I caught a glimpse of what I thought was a man disturbingly similar to the one I'd hallucinated of. The fact that the thought ran through my mind in itself was revolting, for he was no where in the same league in terms of looks to the guy before, however, my gut kept registering him as the same person to my mind. He had a smile on his face, the hood on his face was lifted and his smiling face revealed intentions that did in no way seem amiable in the very least. I turned to Charles.

"Hey Charles, do you..." I began.

"Yes," said he, in a moments gap. "I see him too. Do not look in his direction at any cost."

A quick shiver ran down my spine as he fired up the engine and without any second thoughts drove with his head straight, turning back not once to see what was behind him.

"Charles," said Nat. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes," he said, taking a deep sigh. "It's Justin."

 "What?" Said I as Nat stared in confusion, gently yet firmly holding my hand as her brows tensed.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"You seem to have competition." Said Charles, still looking straight up ahead. "Demons seem to like your man too."

Natalia covered her mo9uth as her eyes widened, holding my hand even harder, scooting in closer to me.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" I asked.

"Sitri." Said Rose. "What you saw was Sitri, an extremely potent Commander of the legions of the underworld. I'm not even sure if you are the one talking to us right now."

"Um... I'm sorry, but none of that made any sense." Said I.

"It's expected." Charles interrupted. "But don't worry we'll fix this. I assume you do not know but Rose and I had been under the personal guidance of the Pope , until we decided to come back home, and initiate our church as a means of societal welfare."

"Okay... That didn't help at all." Said I.

"Don't worry Natalia," he continued. "Your man is fine, he is still the Justin you know, at least for now."

"I don't," Natalia stuttered. "I don't understand."

"Is it okay to crash at your place?" Charles asked. "I'll explain it to you soon."

Natalia nodded. The rest of the ride was one with the silence, the only sound disrupting the quiet was the sound of rustling leaves and twigs on the post storm roads as we drove. My pondering over the million confusions came to an abrupt end as the car stopped with a jolt with Charles's voice finally breaking through the silence,

"Is this it?" Said he, pointing to our place.

I nodded. Rosalia finally managed to recollect herself as we got off and much to my surprise, greeting us at our doorstep was Danny.

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