1 The Void

It was cold, dark, and silent in the void. This was a place of emptiness and despair. A place of solitude and torment.

You could not see anything around you. Not even a person standing beside you, nor the flesh on your own hand.

Taste, touch, sight, hearing, and smell have long since been absent over time. It was enough to drive any living person insane. The problem was, these beings trapped weren't of your typical nature.

The only thing preventing anyone from going mad in this place, was the small fact that they could communicate and hear one another in their mind. This small detail was the only thing holding any of them together.

Here in this darkness, two mysterious voices were conversing.

<<You know it's not possible. Don't you think someone would have found a way out of here by now, if it was able to be done?>> a voice whispered telepathically from the darkness.

<<I have to try! How many years have we been stuck in this hellhole of a void dimension, while THEY get to enjoy Paradise!>> another voice hissed telepathically, in reply.

<<Too long,>> the first voice replied, annoyed.

<<We used to have it made! We could do whatever we wanted, and we could feed on the sweet energy produced by the humans, whenever we pleased! And now look at us! Forced to live here, wasting away into nothing, while THEY have everything! And it's all because of those filthy little->>

<<I know. But what can any of us do about it? There is no escape from here.>>

The second voice smiled its sinister grin. <<I have been working on a plan. One that I have high hopes of success! It has been slow going, but steadily picking up momentum. I am so close to breaking through this veil that keeps us trapped here. But if this is to work as I hope, I will need to remain here, while another goes and sets up what needs to be done.>>

<<And how would that work, if someone is actually able to get through?>> the first voice asked.

<<That is simple. Think of it like a portal with a lock at both ends. I would need to unlock it on our side, while another has to unlock it on the earthly plane. However, it will take several steps to complete and it will not be an easy task. Are you up to the challenge?>> the second voice hissed again.

<<Absolutely! Just tell me what needs to be done!>>

~*~*~*~*~

Trinity sat at the kitchen table, focused on completing her homework when her father came in through the front door. The storm outside had prevented her from enjoying the sunny weather that they were supposed to have, so she decided to get a jump start on her homework instead.

She looked up at him and smiled. "Hi dad!"

He took off his raincoat in a hurry and hung it up to dry. "Do not go outside sweetie. Stay where you are, and do not leave from this house unless it is by my side. Do you understand?" He said a rush of fear and panic.

Trinity set down her pencil next to her textbook. "Dad, what happened? What's going on?" She had never seen her father in this state before. He was always so calm and collected.

Her father ignored her question and turned on the t.v. instead, flipping through the channels until he reached the NEWS channel.

[Reports have been coming in from all over, and it seems that our little city is at the epicenter of all the chaos. In a 100 mile radius in all directions, we have received reports of flooding where no rain should have been. Massive earthquakes forming that are not along any known fault lines. Geysers erupting, as well as what seems to be insects swarming and animals have been stampeding throughout the streets in some desperate attempt to flee. What this means, none of us seems to know. But this reporter doesn't think that anything good will be coming out of this.]

Trinity stood up slowly, shaking from the news that was being spoken on the t.v. "Dad?" she repeated again.

Father Kiran placed his right hand to his forehead, leading to his chest and both shoulders, forming the sign of the cross. "Lord, help us!" He stared at the t.v., watching it flip from one scene to another of all the reports of the disasters that were occurring.

He dropped to his knees in shame. "What have I done?"

"Dad?" Trinity repeated again for a third time, snapping him out of his trance.

"People are gonna be heading to the church for safety and guidance on what to do. We need to get everything ready. Pack up your stuff, you can do your homework inside the church."

"Umm, ok." Trinity replied as she gathered up all of her books and papers and loaded them into her backpack.

"Don't forget your raincoat, you're gonna need it!"

"Got it, dad! I'm ready." She replied as she met her father at the door; backpack on her shoulders, and raincoat covering her clothes and belongings.

Seeing as her father was one of the head Priests at the church, they were allowed one of the housing facilities on the premises, so it wasn't far to get to the church. Just a quick jog across the lawn.

Her father was given an option of living inside the church, but he felt that a separate house would be better for his daughter so she didn't feel so excluded or different from other kids her own age.

As they stepped into the church, her father nodded down at her. "You know where to go, but please stay where I can see you. I do not want you getting hurt."

Trinity nodded. "I understand, but what did you mean earlier? Why do you feel this is all your fault?"

Father Kiran sighed and shook his head. "Later. I will explain everything later. For now, stay in the main hall, while I get everything set up for these people. We are about to be crowded soon. I beg you, please stay indoors where you will be safe!"

Trinity sat down along the back wall, near where the priests would sit when doing a Sunday Mass, and set up her books to finish her homework. While Father Kiran welcomed each person as they entered. For now, everyone would be inside the main hall where Mass was held, while rooms were being set up to house people who didn't feel safe returning home.

"Father, please explain what is going on!" An elderly woman asked.

Father Kiran placed a hand on her shoulder. "We are currently unsure of the severity of the circumstances yet. But I assure you, as soon as we find out, we will let everyone know. You are safe and protected within these walls. Please, take a seat, and I will make an announcement shortly."

The elderly woman bowed her head. "Thank you Father!"

As it seemed that fewer and fewer people were beginning to show up, Father Kiran walked up to the podium to give an announcement. "Welcome everyone! It seems that we are quite packed here today, and that is understandable. Although we have quite a few more people here in attendance than normal, we will do our best to provide sanctuary for any who need it.

"The rest of the staff have been working diligently on turning most of the rooms into sleeping quarters. These will be divided up by single gender, and by families. Please know, we are doing our best to provide a safe place for everyone. Do be aware though that if you choose to stay here, no one is going to have a private living quarters. Everyone will have to share rooms until this gets sorted out.

"Just remember, this is God's house, and you will be safe here. No evil can enter these walls."

"RAAAAAAAAWWWRR!" Almost as if on que, an unearthly scream could be heard, sending a shiver down everyone's spine.

And that's when the unexpected happened.

The doors to the church flew off its hinges as the stones surrounding the entry blew to pieces; and in flew a large demon with red scales, a pointed tail, and humongous bat shaped wings that was twice the length of the body.

Everyone screamed and leapt from their seats, racing to get away from the demon that was in their presence. Yet despite the fact that this demon just flew into the church, no one was willing to risk leaving.

To everyone's eyes, he seemed weakened and in pain. No doubt from being inside the church. If only they held strong and waited it out, he would be forced to leave on his own, not being able to endure the pain of being inside the church.

The demon opened up his hand, palm up towards the priest, showing long sharpened talons extruding from his nails; and began speaking in a language that none of them could understand.

" ᓭᔑリᓵℸ ̣ ⚍ᔑ∷|| " the demon demanded towards the priest.

Seeing the fear that everyone was experiencing, Father Kiran held up his rosary and began calling upon the help of God and the Angels to banish this demon from their church.

" ╎ ∷ᒷᑑ⚍ᒷᓭℸ ̣ ᓭᔑリᓵℸ ̣ ⚍ᔑ∷|| "

The demon snarled at the priest and spoke again in his foreign tongue, this time his voice was even louder and more forceful, as he repeated his demand in the unknown language.

But still the priest was unmoved, continuing to shove the rosary in his face as he attempted to banish him.

Irritated, the demon growled in fury as he inspected the scene of humans who surrounded him. Everyone was cowering with fear and shielding their young ones eyes. All, except for one person. As his eyes fell upon a lone girl against the back wall, her eyes showed no fear.

The demon smiled with satisfaction as he saw this and let loose a cloud of red smoke as his body dematerialized into the smoky mist. The smoke swarmed around the girl, consuming her until the smoke disappeared into her body and she collapsed on the floor.

Just moments before the demon possessed the girl's body, a single voice could be heard. "Stop!" This voice held a power behind the words, but it wasn't enough to stop the demon.

Everyone turned to the voice, and there they saw the most beautiful angel they had ever seen. Neither pictures nor movies, did this angel any justice. She was pure beauty incarnate, with a glow that seemed to engulf her entire being and graceful white pearlescent wings that seemed to glisten in the sunlight.

Oh beautiful sunlight! That was when everyone noticed that the sun was now shining bright, and the storms outside the walls had ceased.

"Please forgive me, as I arrived too late." The voice was soothing and was like music to their ears. The people knew that they would be saved.

Father Kiran stepped slowly towards the angel, tears streaming down his face as he fell to his knees in front of the angel.

"Please, save my daughter!" he pleaded.