The Ghost Hunter III
Matthew Ryan Fischer
The statue had touched Brother Darius. His arm was already turning hard and gray. They would have to kill him soon, though neither Abigail or Darius wanted to admit it. Nadia almost felt sorry for them. Perhaps they had been secret lovers, or perhaps Abigail simply had more humanity it her. Either way, Nadia knew what needed to occur. The transformation might be slow, but it was painful and was always complete. Darius would become one of them. And then he was a danger to them all.
Abigail moved to help pull Darius away from the statue, but Nadia
stopped her, shaking her head no. For a moment it looked as though Abigail would
cry.
Nadia grabbed the alter candle holder and smashed it against the
statute. It had little to no effect. Nadia couldn’t risk touching Darius but
she felt sorry for Abigail. She needed to try something else. She ran to grab
the bible from the alter, hoping that some holy power could slow the stone
creature.
The stone creature recoiled and loosened its grip on Darius.
They fled the church, out into the night.
The cat’s head perked up. Someone was nearby. Nadia noticed the
cat didn’t hiss or make any defensive motion. The cat was strangely calm. The
cat knew.
Sophie appeared from the shadows. She had several journal entries
and a history book with a map of the old abandoned village outside town.
“We can’t go along the stream,” she explained. “The crows have
taken over the night, and the covered bridge seems…” She paused, not wanting to
say. “You’ll think me mad,” she continued, “but it seems haunted.”
Nadia looked at Abigail and Darius. Darius tugged his sleeve down making
sure his arm was hidden from sight.
“No. There are many and more strange things afoot tonight. We don’t
think you’re mad.”
“I can get us through the woods,” offered Darius. “I know all the
old paths.”
“But is it safe?” asked Abigail.
“Nothing is safe tonight,” replied Nadia. “We have to try.”
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