Day Of Absolution

Read part one here

This is Inspector Arthur Knight and the truth is I do not know why I am writing this. Perhaps it is the long trained need to document everything, perhaps it is for some greater reason. All I know is I know I need to get this written or I run the risk of forgetting again. If you are reading this let me first assure you that every word, no matter how fantastical it may seem, is true. If you are reading this then consider it your warning for the things that are to come.

It all began in this very office. I had just gotten in after a restless night of sleep. I had horrible dreams the night before and I was completely wiped out. My partner Stacy Jackson came to the door and told me the chief wanted to see me immediately. I gave her a small nod and made my way to his office.

The Chief sat behind his desk and I could tell right away that something was deeply troubling the man. He looked as run down as I felt and his skin had paled. “Is everything alright sir?” I asked nervously. He simply gestured to the chair in front of him and told me to take a seat. We sat in silence for a moment as he seemed to search for the right words. “What do you remember of your childhood?” He finally asked. I simply shrugged. “I grew up in an orphanage until I turned 18. I was always top of my class and loved.” The chief held up his hand and interrupted me. “I mean before the orphanage.” He said gently.

I tried to think back further but my mind simply stopped as if it had hit a brick wall. “I remember very little to be honest. I have flashes of a highway, a truck driver, the police station and you of course.” I said. This finally brought a smile from the man. “I was just a desk jockey back then. You were nothing much more than a scared child with no clue of where he was and what was going on.” I chuckled at him. “That’s kind of what I feel now to be honest.” I explained.

The smile left his face and he was back to business. “Earlier this morning a young woman was found at the side of the same exact stretch of road where you were found 25 years ago. She was covered in blood and screaming. One of our officers found her and got her into the car. We have an audio recording of what followed. I am warning you it is somewhat disturbing.”

He pulled out a digital recorder and pressed play. The sound of the young woman screaming and panting filled the air and it chilled my blood. “Who are you and where are you taking me? We need to get away, he is coming! He is coming and we have to try and stop him. He killed everyone! Arthro, where is Arthro?” The woman screamed and then a choking sound rang out. The chief shut off the recorder. “The young woman seemed to choke on her own tongue after that. The officer can make no sense of it but hopefully the people at the morgue will have better luck.”

I barely heard his words. My mind focused on a single word. “Arthro.” I said in confusion and bewilderment. The chief nodded. “That was the name you gave us when we brought you in. The woman was wearing an identical white robe to the one you wore that night. When you gave your statement you spoke about some sort of commune.”

At the word commune my mind again slammed into that brick wall. But was there a little give this time? I had the briefest glimpses of a set of small buildings in a field. The chief continued on. “You said many things in your statement and to be honest I didn’t truly believe most of it. However I did believe you were in a commune and I feel this morning confirms it. We had several men search the area where she was found and they all came up empty handed. That is why I want you to take a look. Your detective skills and personal history make you the perfect candidate for this case however if you do not want to I understand and will respect that wish.” I thought about it for what felt like several minutes. I felt a great sense of fear about returning to this place but I also felt a sense that I simply had to go. I gave him a quick nod and told him I would take care of it. I left the office and saw Stacy outside. “We are going for a drive.” I said and she followed immediately.

I let Stacy take the wheel, I wanted to fill her in on everything I could remember. She sat in silence as I explained. When I finished she took a deep breath. “Wow, I knew you grew up in an orphanage but a commune? Was it a nice place?” She asked intently. Another mental flash assaulted my brain. I could see a swish of white fabric, I could smell oil and could hear the sizzle of something burning. “I don’t think so.” I said finally. “So wait did you name yourself Arthur Knight?” She asked with a smile. I found myself grinning as well. Stacy always knew how to calm me down. “I grew up fascinated with the stories of Arthur and his knights of the round table. I had almost completely forgotten the name Arthro until the chief brought it up.”

We finally made our way to the roadside where the other officers stood having coffee. We got out and the men gave us a little salute. One of the officers shook his head at me. “I’m sorry they had to waste your time Mr. Knight. We have scanned these woods for miles and there is nothing, not even a set of footprints.” I simply shrugged. “Well you never know what a fresh set of eyes can bring. Thank you for your hard work gentlemen. Please keep the perimeter and we will see what we can find.” I said and they gave me back a nod.

Stacy and I entered the woods. Everything seemed at peace and the officers were right, there was not so much as a footprint or leaf out of place. Stacy turned to me. “Do you really think we will find anything out here? I mean these are exactly the deepest or untrodden woods. If there was a cult out here you would think they would have found it long ago.” She asked. I nodded back. “I agree with you but we are on assignment and we will do our due diligence regardless.”

We continued hiking through the woods and a strange feeling of unease ran over me. It would seem that the feeling wasn’t a lone one for Stacy spoke up. “This place feels weird. It’s not bad per say but it just feels off somehow. Do you know what I mean?” I knew what she meant and after a few moments I understood why. This place was completely silent. There were no animal or insect noises at all. Even the sound of the nearby officers had completely disappeared. You never truly know how much noise we deal with on a daily basis until you enter a place of true silence.

I was prepared to say that we should search another area but that was when we spotted a body, when we saw her. Laying on the ground was a white robed body of a woman with deep bloody gashes in her back. I ran to her and turned over her body. One look at her face knocked me straight off my feet as hundreds of repressed memories flooded my brain. I knew her face. I could see it staring over me as I awoke, walking with me through the gardens and sitting with me reading scripture. Stacy stared at me with concern. “Did you know her?” She asked timidly. I nodded. “Her name was Mira and she was my mother.”

Stacy’s eyes widened and she did a double take at the body. No doubt she was trying to see the similarities. “If she was killed out here, then would that young girl they found be your sister?” She asked in a panic. I shrugged. “I don’t remember having a sister but that was over 20 years ago. Things could have changed.” I replied. “What about your father?” She asked. The word father brought a horrible image of a body wasting away to my mind. “He is gone.” I said flatly and Stacy knew to drop the subject.

“It looks like a bear might have gotten to her with those slashes up her back.” Stacy explained. I examined the wounds and shook my head. “The slices are too straight. This was done by a blade, likely a sword.” Stacy shook her head. “Who would be using a sword in the modern world?” She asked. “Guardians.” My mind said then the word faded. “I don’t know.” I replied instead. “Also how did those officers miss this? We are a straight line away from the road and not even far in.” Stacy asked “It wants to be found this time.” I said not even understanding the words. “We need to call this in.” Stacy responded, reaching for her radio. I put my hand on her arm and stopped her. “We don’t know who or what is out here. I don’t want the crime scene team walking into a hostile area. We need to follow her tracks and see where she came from.” I explained. Stacy paused for a moment but nodded. I don’t think she suspected my true motives but she would soon.

We made our way through the woods. Neither of us said anything nor did our hands stray far from our service pistols. Normally this is when people might feel like they were being watched but weirdly it was the opposite. We felt completely and utterly alone. Somehow that felt worse to me.

We passed through a set of trees and found ourselves in what should have been a clearing however instead it was a rustic village. Wooden buildings looking like they were from another time, stood in a row. Stacy marveled at the discovery, she turned to me and her face went as pale as mine probably was. It was as if something had smashed the brick wall in my mind and memories flooded in like a river. Every building was a piece of my tortured childhood brought back. The dorms where the children were kept. The fields where we tilled the land for our food. The firepit where we held night services and festivals. I fell to my knees and screamed at the onslaught of my mind.

Stacy knelt and tried to comfort me. Slowly I regained myself and stood up. “This place is creeping me out, Arthur. It is giving me serious Jonestown vibes.” She said in a panic. “Or something much worse.” I replied. I could feel it in the air. Something was very different about this place. Something was horribly wrong here. It took a moment for it to truly fall into place. “This place is completely empty. It is never empty out here during the day. People should be working but there is no one. The only time this place would be empty would be if…”

I didn’t waste time in completing the thought and instead I rushed towards the church. If our leader, the beloved, called an emergency meeting then everyone would be forced to attend. They had to be in the church. I ran with Stacy right on my heels. I got to the doors and yanked them open wide. What I saw stopped my heart. My assumptions were correct and everyone in town was gathered in the pews. However where there should have been murmuring or prayer there was simply silence. The crowd did not speak or even move. I slowly walked forward and my blood ran cold.

Everyone in the pews, every member of the commune was dead. They sat completely motionless with their faces cold and gray. Everyone’s left eye was missing with bloody trails leading down their face. Yet what shocked me the most was the eerie calm on their faces. In their final moments they were completely serene. I could not stand to look at their frozen faces anymore and I turned to the front of the church but all that waited there was more carnage. Laying on the stage were the village’s guardians. They were in every way the opposite of the rest of the commune. They were the only ones who had both of their eyes and the only ones who did not die in peace. Their faces bore turmoil and pain in every inch. Their bodies had contorted and seemed to be sprouting strange appendages. Some had grown claws and muzzles. Others had long spikes coming from their backs. One thing was certain, they had not died as men but monsters.

Stacy ran from the church at full speed. I rushed out to join her. She was bent over and I thought she might have been losing her lunch. She was a tough one though and kept her cool. “I’m sorry. I have never seen something that horrible before, have you?” She asked panting. I stood and thought to myself for a moment. My mind flashed to the night I left. When the 5 brides of our master sucked my father’s life force from him, leaving nothing but bone and dust. “Only once.” Was my only reply.

I gave her a moment to catch her breath before we continued. There was still a mystery to be solved here and I couldn’t help but notice something missing back in the church. “Our leader, Father Gavin, was not among the dead. Nor were his five brides. We need to search the commune starting with his quarters. Now you listen and listen well. If you see Gavin bring him in alive but if you see his brides you shoot to kill. Do not hesitate for a moment, do you understand?” I asked her firmly. She gave an immediate nod and that was all I needed.

We made our way to Gavin’s cabin with our service pistols drawn. We were taking no chances. As we walked more memories flooded my mind but I could not let them distract me. We entered his cabin slowly. It proved to be as silent as the rest of the commune and just as empty. We entered his study, something the me from childhood wouldn’t dare to do. We found the room deserted and began to search for clues.

There was a single desk with a blackboard behind it. There was a world map in the center with several arrows pointing to various countries. One pointed to Romania near the Carpathian mountains. There were a couple in North America and one that was just circling the Earth with a note saying “Does it move?”. On the black board were a list of words including “Chaos, Blood, Time, Death and Life.” The last word was underlined several times. The more that I stared at the board the less it made sense. I glanced up and on the roof a single word had been carved into the wood. “Orkathis.” My memories had not fully returned but I knew that the word above me was familiar. Looking upon it gave me a sense of dread that I had never known before.

Stacy had been rifling through Gavin’s journal on the desk. Her eyes widened and she looked at me in both fear and confusion. “Listen to the last entry dated yesterday.” She yelled. I turned my attention from the carving and gave it completely to her. She began reading from the journal. “The vagabond has returned and for the first time in generations they were successful in their mission. The research they have provided me has proven my theory. They have found evidence of the others. The darkness of men shall soon be washed away from the Earth. The era of the gates shall now begin.”

“Gates?” I shouted in confusion. We were the children of the sacred gate but the beloved never spoke of others. But was that true? Had I not heard these words from my own father in this very house? Stacy ignored my outburst and kept reading. “Tomorrow the children must all be gathered for the final service. Tomorrow we begin the opening, tomorrow is the Day of Absolution.”

The word absolution struck my brain like a brick, bringing back one of my darkest memories. “I know where they are.” I said simply. Stacy understood my tone and didn’t question my resolve. We made our way out of the house and through the field. I knew the way to our destination as if I had walked there yesterday. In moments we stood before the hatch.

Decades ago my best friend Darian was sent down into the hatch alone. What came out was something else entirely. He had emerged six days later with no personality, no spark for anything other than worship. They had stolen his childhood in the name of absolution. I stared at the hatch with both fire and fear coursing through my veins. It was time to face my past, it was time to face him.

I threw open the hatch and my ears were assaulted with the familiar hum. Before it was gentle, barely even noticeable but now it was almost deafening. I looked at Stacy and it would seem she didn’t notice it. “Can you not hear that?” I yelled. She was taken aback for a moment at my non characteristic shouting. “Hear what?” She asked back. A piece of scripture from my childhood echoed in my mind. “Only those who choose to listen can be made to hear.” I shook my head and said never mind.

I stared down into the hole and could only see a ladder and seeming endless darkness. “I need to go in alone.” I said firmly. This time Stacy objected. “You can’t be serious. We have no idea who or even what is down there. I’ve gone with you this whole time but there is something wrong with all of this. I feel like we have left the real world behind and I don’t know how to deal with all of this? I’m scared, Arthur, I didn’t know I could feel this level of fear.” For the first time it was my turn to bring her comfort. I went to her and pulled her into a deep hug. It may not have been the most professional of moves but it was the only thing I could think of to calm her.

“I’m terrified as well but I know that I have to do this. For all those people back there and all those that came before us. I have to end this.” Stacy nodded at me. “Tell me what you need.” She said strongly. “I’m going to climb down and I want you to seal the hatch. If I knock three times, open it. If you don’t hear from me in two hours then get out! Call for backup and report the incident. If I don’t return then don’t let anyone else go down there and keep it sealed forever. Do you understand?” I asked. A single tear went down her face but she nodded her assurance. Without another word I went down the ladder and listened while Stacy twisted the lock shut. For better or worse I was in this until the end.

I took the ladder to the bottom to find myself in a long tunnel. There was something wrong about the whole thing. Being underground with no exterior lights should have rendered me completely blind down here however I could see everything perfectly clearly. Another piece of scripture flooded my mind. “Those who walk in the light of the gate shall never be blinded by the dark.” The hum had changed as well. On the surface it was deafening but down her it simmered and yet felt stronger. I could feel it rush through my body and it became like a second heartbeat. I knew right away that whatever this tunnel was it did not obey natural laws and I needed to be prepared for everything. With no choice but to go forward I began my march through the tunnel.

The tunnel seemed impossibly long and I could feel time slipping away as I walked through it. I didn’t dare run because running in the dark was often a death sentence. Ahead I could hear the sound of many tiny feet walking. I drew my pistol though some part of me felt as if it would do no good. The sound grew louder and high pitched chattering joined it. Out of the darkness came a horde of scurrying rats. They moved like a wave of fire through the tunnel. There was something off about them though. Their faces were far too thin and contorted. Two long fangs dripped from each of their mouths. The size of the fangs was completely wrong for their heads, it was an outright impossibility. They possessed scorpion-like tails that were wrapped around their necks like nooses. They also crawled along the ceiling like spiders or lizards. I had no choice but to close my eyes to the abominations and when I opened them there was no trace of them remaining.

As I traveled the air grew warmer and more humid. The ground grew slick and the very sight of the tunnel changed. Before I would say it was illuminated by a dark blue light but now it was turning a deep shade of crimson. The hum began to change as well. It took on a loud drumming sound, seeming more like a heartbeat than ever. Every step increased in volume and I knew whatever I came here to face it was getting closer. A deep blackness met me at the end of the tunnel and I could hear a deep breathing sound. From the darkness came a single word from a deep non human voice. “Arthro.” I stood on the edge of the darkness and took a steadying breath. This was my moment, I stepped into the endless blackness.

On the other side my vision cleared and I could see everything once again. I had reached the end of the tunnel. Standing at the very end was a wall of pure obsidian. However wall was the wrong word perhaps, it was more of a portal, a gate. In it’s black depths a dark lightning blasted and pulsed. I could hear whispering coming from the other side in a language I did not recognize. I felt drawn to that whispering as if it was calling me. I took a step towards it before a voice stopped me in my tracks. “Welcome home Arthro.”

The voice took me back to my childhood and my nightmares. I looked down and there he was, my master, Father Gavin. He sat cross-legged in the center of a 5 pronged star. At each end of the star was one of the brides. They were all dead sprawled on the floor with large gaping holes where their wombs were. He looked up at me with a sinister smile. Both of his eyes were gone but he seemed to be in no pain. “I always knew you would come back my boy. You are the Kata, the returned one.” He said casually.

I stared at him with hatred. “Is that why you had my mother killed?” He merely laughed at me. “Your mother and her calf were cowards who could not handle the absolution at hand. They were dealt with as such.” That word again sent a chill through me. “What is the day of absolution?” I asked. He laughed again and his voice got deeper as it went. “I thought that was obvious. The gate is opening. The first gate, the gate of life. He has finally begun to awaken. He with the five eyes, Orkarthis. When all the eyes open, all others will close forever. He sees all and you shall see him.”

My eyes drew to the gate and it began to move. The blackness gave way to blinding white light. My whole body shook as I beheld what was before me. I stood in front of a pure white eyeball. In that moment the tunnel faded away and everything with it. I stood in the depths of pure blackness. It was like outer space but no stars shone. The only Illumination was from the creature standing before me. To describe him is impossible. He was a creature beyond understanding. He bore no traditional limbs save 5 eyeballs, each a different color and each as large as a galaxy. Standing before each eye was a creature submerged in shadows. I could not make out their forms, only vague impressions of ash, bone, blood and fangs. In a sensation that I could only describe as knowledge I knew that these were guardians, the true guardians,

I turned my attention back to the white eye and in that moment I saw his plans, his prophecy. The children of the gate rise from their seeming death. They marched from the commune, the first army of the beast. They would find the other gates and bring fresh sacrifices to open them. Then there was nothing but darkness and screaming.

I could stand to watch no longer for the risk of becoming mad. I forced myself to turn and when I did I ran. I could hear the maniacal laughter of Father Gavin behind me but I did not care. I ran through the tunnel at full speed. I ran into no illusions or tricks this time. All I could think about was the hatch. I told Stacy to leave after 2 hours and never open it again. I don’t know how long I had been down here but I had to be coming close to that mark.

After countless minutes of pure running I at last saw the ladder. I rushed up it praying to any god that would listen that Stacy was still there. I reached the top and pounded 3 times. Several minutes went by and no answer. I began to weep but that was when the hatch opened and daylight flooded in. I leapt from the hole and told her to close the lid.

I lay there simply kissing the very dirt beneath me. Stacy gave me a strange look. “Wow Arthur I never knew you to be one to be afraid of the dark before.” I returned a look of confusion. “What are you talking about?” I asked. “I mean I barely had enough time to seal the lid before you pounded at the door.” She explained. I could not believe what I was hearing. I had been down there for hours and yet seemingly no time had passed. My thoughts went to Brother Darian. He had spent 6 days of surface time in that hole. How long had it been for him? Stacy looked me in the eyes and I could feel her concern. “We need to report this right away.” She said. I shook my head. “I need you to listen to me and above all else I need you to trust me. We have a task that needs doing.”

It didn’t take long to tell her everything that took place in the tunnel. To my surprise it took even less time for her to believe me. We nodded and set about our work. With the dense forest surrounding us it didn’t take us long to find the necessary kindling. We placed them all around the church and with a toss of Stacy’s lighter it was ablaze in minutes. We stood and watched as buildings and bodies burned. Neither of us spoke for nothing needed to be said. It should have felt like a victory but I knew that all we were doing was buying time. For the truth was nothing was going to stop the wheels in motion. He is coming, Orkathis is coming.

Credit: Tenac