HOPE 「GOJO SATORU X OC」≫BOOK II≪

T H I R T Y - T W O

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Chapter Thirty-Two: Hunter

Warning: Slight Gore, Angst

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AKI exhaled, watching her breath come out in a small puff in the icy air. She adjusted her shoulders, glancing to the side at the man who walked beside her. Satoru caught her gaze and gave her a small smile. He took her arm and laced it through his, pulling her closer to his side. Nathan walked ahead of them, his hands tucked away in his jacket. Aki could see him glancing around them occasionally, ensuring they weren't being followed.

"Father Brayth should have just finished service," Nathan announced, glancing down at his phone for the time.

Aki nodded, following him as he turned the corner. They stepped onto the steps of the church, and as Nathan reached for the handle, he paused. Aki suddenly felt an overwhelming feeling of dread, making her stomach churn. Nathan looked back at her, his eyebrows furrowed together.

"What is it?" Satoru asked. "Door locked?"

"No," Nathan said slowly, reaching for the gun holstered at his side.

Satoru frowned. "I thought demonic entities couldn't enter churches."

Aki broke away from her husband and shoved the doors of the church open. Instantly, her shoulders tensed. Her knuckles turned white from the grip she held on the doors, her face paling. Slowly, she let go of the doors and took a step forward.

The pews had been thrown up against the walls. The candles were scattered around the floor, and the melted wax poured out on the ground, long extinguished. The statue of Mary had been destroyed, and pieces of stone crumbled on the ground down the aisle. The scent of iron was heavy, making her stomach churn.

Bodies were scattered across the ground. Blood was splattered on the walls. She could see the women clutching their children, their eyes wide with horror that would forever be imprinted onto their souls. The men were all in a position that would show that they had tried to defend themselves and the others, but now, you could barely tell which body part belonged to who.

She stood in shock, her body trembling. Her eyes never remained in one place for long, her lips parting as she searched for any signs of life. Nathan walked beside her, releasing a long exhale, his face twisted in disgust. Aki began to walk forward, her steps trembling.

"It's no use," Nathan said in a strained voice. "There's not a living soul here."

"No," Aki whispered. "No, no, no, no!"

Satoru walked behind her, his shoulders tensed. "Aki—"

"Father!" She suddenly shouted.

She bolted down the aisle, jumping over the bodies and the pieces of stone. She skipped over the altar and dropped to her knees in the empty baptism pool. Nathan and Satoru rushed to her side as she moved pieces of stone away.

She slid her hand under the man's neck, carefully lifting her into his lap. Blood cascaded down his face from a deep gash in his head. She placed her hand on his chest, her eyes widening at the blood that covered her hand.

"F-Father?" She whispered.

"A-Akeladama," He called out weakly. She placed her hand on his face.

"I'm here, Father," She assured. "What...What happened?"

"It was him," He said, his voice raspy. "Diavolul."

Aki's chest tightened. "We must get you to the Sanctuary."

"No," He coughed, blood spilling past his lips. She turned his head to the side so that he wouldn't choke, then wiped the blood from his lips. "This is my church..."

"The Sanctuary can heal you," She protested. "The pool, it can—"

"Știu că ți-e frică." He placed his hand over her's. "Dar acesta este locul meu de odihnă. Datoria mea era să protejez această biserică până când voi pieri. Aici vreau să mă odihnesc."

Aki's hand tightened around his chest. "What do I do?"

"Cleanse yourself," He whispered. "The oath still lives inside of you. I know you wish to rest, but matters...they have changed."

"Father," Nathan shook his head slowly. "She can't–"

"You must," He said, holding her hand tightly, though it was weak. She met his gaze, her eyebrows furrowed. "1 John 3:8."

"Father, you don't understand!" Nathan objected. "This is exactly what he wants! He wants her!"

"Then he can have me."

Satoru looked down at his wife. Her body was trembling, though it wasn't because of fear. Her chest rose and fell unevenly with labored breaths. Her eyes were blazing. His lips parted.

"I served my oath for many years," She whispered. "What kind of hunter would I be if I abandoned it now?"

"God has seen your misfortune," Father Brayth said. "And he knows your pain. But he is calling you as his soldier."

"No," Nathan said. "I won't—"

"Do not call yourself a hunter if you do not answer to Him," She cut him off. "He is the one that blesses you with your abilities."

"You're playing right into his hands!" Nathan shouted. "You will be killed!"

"Then so be it," She snapped. "Let him kill me. I will just come back again. If it isn't in this lifetime, then it will be the next. But dare he kill me."

"Încrede-te în El. El vă va îngriji, așa cum ați făcut pentru El."

"Father," Nathan pleaded.

His eyes widened when he looked down at him. His eyes had already glazed over, and his grip on Aki had begun to loosen. She slowly laid him down on the ground, returning her hands to her thighs. She lowered her head, her hair framing her face, hiding it from view. She touched her forehead, then her chest, and each of her shoulders.

"Give it to me."

She held her hand out to Nathan. "Akeldama."

"Dă-mi-o!" She shouted, her voice echoing off the walls.

Nathan stared down at her. After a few moments, he placed the gun into her hand. Her fingers closed around her, her knuckles turning white.

"You can't do this," Nathan said. "What about Hope? Satoru?"

She turned her head to her husband. He could see the grief across her face. He knew that she had just lost the final piece she had of her father. He could see the mixture of emotion behind her hazel eyes, though, anger drowned out all of them.

"Our daughter will be safe with me," He stated. "Do what you need to do."

"Satoru!" Nathan yelled. Aki rose onto her feet and as the gun shifted into a ring, she slid it onto her finger. "You don't know what you've just agreed to! She could die again! And this time, she may not be able to be saved!"

Satoru placed his hand on her cheek, cupping her face in her palm. "I don't doubt your strength. But you gotta promise to come home."

"I only live because of you," She said, her gaze meeting his. "I will always come home."

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