The key to hells gate

Chapter 5.2: Challenges

(Unknown POV)

The wind was warm, the sky darkening in the night as the sun tucked below the horizon. The chirping of the day stopped as birds and every other animal tucked in their young and the city calmed down. I stood on the steps of the abandoned church, a cigarette in my hands. The burning tip lit the darkness every few moments. I shut my eyes, leaning against the dampened wood and contemplate my goals in life. Why was I here? What was I doing with my life? Was this really the right path to follow?

I shifted once, the tip of my firearm hitting the railing. A Glock 19, my weapon of choice. My life was just like this gun. It could be used for good or it could be used for evil. The result came down to the user. Beside the firearm was my police badge, the metal shining in the light of my cigarette. It sat on my hip, weighing me down in every choice I make. I pull off the badge, looking at the proud design and everything this object should mean. I made a vow to protect the innocent and look at me now.

I turn, heading into the church, sliding the dark black paper over the window once more after it shut. Paper-covered every window in the church to keep in the light. Glancing around at the busy workspace it was a sight to behold. All of the carpets and the pews had been ripped out. Cleared away for the tables and people now in their place. Beakers, test tubes, long plastic tubes were everywhere you looked. Each vile and beaker was filled with a different liquid, some blue others green and I watched slowly as they mixed and made a new colour.

The workers, scientists, stood by, closely monitoring the process, some dressed in hazmat suits, carefully picking up a few tubes and removing them from the smaller fires underneath and twisting them in the florescent lights while another person scribbled down the notes with gusto. I walked past the first stages, heading towards the back of the church and standing next to the last scientist, this one was wearing a lab coat and rubber gloves. A pair of large plastic goggles were over her eyes as she lifts up a test tube, turning a small wheel and watching slowly as the purple liquid flows up the tube to a large glass container.

"How much longer?" I ask, announcing my presence gently so I wouldn't startle her.

The female monster looks over at me, the tube still in her hands and a look on her face like it was obvious. I cross my arms, pushing the hilt of my sidearm out into the light for show and tap one foot impatiently.

"I'm working as fast as I can." She grumbles, twisting another wheel and adding a second mix of chemicals to the batch "You can't rush this process... but I think I've finally determined the right amount of ingredients." She turns looking at a large, old book. The words in another language and time period before nodding once "step back; if I have this wrong it will explode."

Two other scientists pull me back, stepping forwards with a plastic sheet, holding it up towards the table and taking a step in. The scientist sighs once, preparing herself for possible failure and slowly turns the third wheel. She pulls her head back, watching the last part of the concoction slide down the tube. We wait on bated breath to see what happens, the liquid pours into the tub slowly and after a few seconds, the mixture bubbles, going from red, to green, to orange and finally gold. The sheet goes down slowly as the scientist looks closer at the vile, shutting off the flame below and removing the glass.

"I did it." She chuckles, looking at me before chuckling "I actually did it!"

A few victorious cheers erupted through the room and for a moment a smile was on my face to but my thoughts were interrupted when my phone vibrated. I open the message and blow out the smoke through smiling lips. She was standing there in all her beauty, looking fierce and powerful as she stared down a larger bug-like monster. It was true. Every word our master had said. There she was... an exact replica of the princess.