Desolation //Imp Tweek x Pastor Craig //

Void.

'My name is Craig Tucker. Four months ago I started a new job working as a Youth Pastor for my local church. I was so happy. But then, last week I was jumped by 4 devil worshippers and used in their ritual to raise hell on earth. It didn't go as they planned. And so that is why my soul is bonded with a demon for the remainder of my life.'

- - - -

Thud.

A set of keys rustled in a lock.

Click

Head pressed against the wooden door with eyes closed, a breath slipped from between thin lips.

Sigh...

'What am I doing wrong?' A nasally voice came from the lanky frame of whom finally lifted his head away from the door.

Tonight made it 17 Youth Bible study classes that Pastor Tucker had the joy of leading. Yet fewer and fewer students arrived each week. Those who did attend (most due to their parents protest) had very little engagement to the subject matter too. Perhaps this career choice was a hasty one - maybe he wasn't good enough? Maybe he'd lose his job if this kept up?

With self doubt very fresh in the mind, Craig pried himself away from doors to the chapel and dug his keys back into his pocket. He began his usual tidy up routine, collecting the typically discarded bibles and rearranging the tables and chairs to their uniform state. It didn't take long.

With the room returned to its normal function, the dark haired lad moved over to one of the desks in the corner - pulling out his screwed up blue hoodie and bobble hat that he had stuffed under there before his class. He threw them on over his current clothes, hiding his work attire and bundling himself up ready to tackle the winters night outside for his walk home. 

Just as he went to check that he had switched off and locked everything away, he was caught off guard by a sudden thumping on the wooden door he'd recently locked.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The banging was erratic, desperate. It made Craig's chest freeze mid breath. 'Who could that be this late?' He thought to himself, stood stuck in his tracks, immobile. The banging at the door grew more frequent, louder.

Thump. Thump. Thump. 'PASTOR TUCKER?' Thump. Thump. 'PASTOR TUCKER? ARE YOU THERE?' Thump. Thump.

It was a males voice. Not fearful just desperate to catch his attention. What did they need him for? Craig just wanted to go home. Part of him just wanted to ignore it, hide under one of the tables until they got bored and left. The other part of him knew he should step in and should offer his help. Finally, he exhaled - fingers finding their way back into his pocket to pull out his keys.

'I'm coming! Just let me open the door!' Craig's voice finally plucked up the courage to respond, fingers fumbling to find the correct key. Finally the right key found the barrel and unlocked the door. Pulling the door only slightly ajar, Craig's weary face peered out, allowing just his face to be seen and no more.

'You took your time.' The male made annoyed remark, his features screwed into a frown. 'Look, do you have a phone? The snows come in fast tonight and there has been an big accident just up the road - I ain't go no reception to get the cops and ambulances out here.' The males fingers curled around the frame of the door, applying some pressure to ensure the young pastor could not close it on his face.

Despite being 6'2 himself, Craig couldn't help but feel himself shrinking against this guys demeanour. 'Uh, yeah... It's in the office. Is everyone okay? Do you want me to come help you too?' He asked, still not letting the man in - his gut feeling told him to shut the door and walk away but that wasn't the very Christian thing to do. 'I'll just get it... Just wait a moment, yeah?'

'Yeah whatever dude, just be quick okay?' The guy barked back, allowing Craig to close the door. With that, Craig turned quickly and made a dash for the office. In his frantic departure, the only thing he'd forgotten to do was relock the door...

Arriving in Father Maxi's office, Craig craned himself over the desk and picked the phone off the receiver. He placed the phone to his ear as he hurried back, ensuring the phone had a dial tone before fumbling his fingers back into his pocket. 'Shit...' he grumbled through gritted teeth as he remembers not pulling them back out of the lock. Long legs pick up the pace.

As he emerges back into the chapel room, his face is met with a prang of cold air. The chapel door was wide open, swinging on its hinges and allowing the wintery gale in. Not to mention where was his new acquaintance? Eyes widened and he could feel his heart in his chest. 'Fuck...' he thought to himself as he found he was once stuck dead in his tracks again. Should he move? Maybe they had gone back to the scene? Maybe this was just some prank? Not tonight, please.

'Hello?' Plucking the courage to speak again, 'I've got the phone... Are you there?' Craig finally took a step forward towards the open door but a noise behind him caused his ears to prick and his throat dry. Do something. He wasn't quick to react, suddenly his whole world went dark - something was forced over his head from behind and heavy hands clutched at his throat. Craig's arms flailed, trying to grab at the attackers arms to pry them away - but before they could find any grip, he felt a swift kick to the back of his knees -  sending him to the cold chapel floor. CRUNCH. Nothing to break his fall, his face met with concrete. Wet and heat claimed his face - blood, his nose... He could taste it. Finally his body was pinned, the crushing weight of someone on top of him and CRACK...

Everything went silent. Everything turned to void.