The shadows of our town

chapter 15: into the abyss

The next morning, the group gathered in Melissa's living room. The atmosphere was grim but determined, the exhaustion of the night before weighing heavily on them. Billy, despite his injuries, was sitting up on the couch with a bandage wrapped around his head. His bruises were stark against his pale skin, but his eyes were sharp and alert.
Carla stood in front of the group, pacing back and forth. She clenched her hands into fists, her knuckles white. "We don't have time to wait. The longer we leave Thomas out there, the stronger the demon gets. We need a plan."
"Yeah, we need a plan," Adam said, leaning forward in his chair. "But what's the plan, Carla? We can't just walk up to him and ask the demon to politely leave."
"I know that!" Carla snapped, her voice breaking slightly. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "But we can trap him. We need to contain him somehow, force the demon to stay in one place while we figure out how to get it out of him."
Melissa frowned, crossing her arms. "Lydia mentioned that demons are bound by certain rules. If we can create a circle—salt, sigils, whatever—we might be able to hold it temporarily."
"And then what?" Billy asked weakly, his voice hoarse but steady. "We're not exactly exorcists."
Carla hesitated. She didn't have the answer to that yet. "One step at a time. We catch him first, then we'll figure it out."
Adam sighed, rubbing his temples. "This is a terrible idea, but... it's not like we have anything better. Fine. How do we find him?"
Carla looked at them, her resolve hardening. "We go back to the factory. He's still there—I can feel it."

Night had fallen by the time they returned to the factory. The air was thick with tension as they approached the looming structure, its broken windows staring at them like empty eyes. This time, they came prepared. Carla carried a large bag filled with salt, spray paint for drawing symbols, and rope for restraining Thomas. Melissa clutched the bat tightly, while Adam had armed himself with a crowbar.
Billy had insisted on coming despite his injuries, his determination outweighing his pain. "I'm not sitting this one out," he had said, his voice firm.
The group entered the factory cautiously, their flashlights casting long shadows on the cracked walls. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the faint rustle of wind through the broken windows.
"Stay close," Carla whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.
As they ventured deeper into the factory, a low growl echoed through the space, sending chills down their spines. Carla's grip tightened on her flashlight. "He's here," she said softly.
They moved toward the sound, their steps slow and deliberate. In the center of the factory's main floor, they saw him—Thomas. He was crouched in the shadows, his back to them. His body was unnaturally still, the black voids of his eyes reflecting the beam of their flashlights when he turned to face them.
"Thomas," Carla called out, her voice shaking but resolute. "We're here to help you."
The figure tilted its head, a grotesque smile spreading across its face. "Help me?" the demon hissed, its voice a twisted mockery of Thomas's. "You think you can save him? You can't even save yourselves."
Carla's heart ached as she stepped forward, her voice desperate. "Thomas, I know you're in there. Fight it. Please."
The demon's smile faltered for a moment, and for a split second, she thought she saw something—a flicker of recognition in his eyes. But then it snarled, lunging toward her.
"Now!" Carla shouted.
Adam and Billy moved quickly, throwing the rope over Thomas and pulling it tight. He thrashed violently, his strength far beyond human, but they held on. Melissa began pouring salt in a wide circle around them, her hands shaking as she worked.
The demon screamed, its voice a cacophony of rage and despair as the salt circle took shape. "You think this will hold me?" it roared, its voice shaking the very walls of the factory.
Carla ignored the taunts, focusing on drawing the sigils with spray paint. Her hands trembled, but she forced herself to keep going. "Just hold on!" she shouted to the others.
Finally, the circle was complete. Thomas stopped thrashing, his body going eerily still. The demon inside him let out a guttural laugh. "You're all fools," it said, its voice low and menacing. "You don't know what you've done."
The ground beneath them began to tremble, cracks spreading through the concrete. Shadows writhed along the walls, growing darker and more menacing.
"What's happening?" Melissa cried, clutching the bat.
"It's trying to break free!" Carla yelled. "Hold the circle!"
But the demon was too strong. With a deafening roar, it surged against the salt barrier, shattering it. The force knocked the group off their feet, sending them sprawling across the floor.

When Carla opened her eyes, she saw Adam lying motionless a few feet away. Melissa was helping Billy to his feet, her face pale and stricken.
"Where's Thomas?" Carla gasped, her voice frantic.
"He's gone," Melissa said, her voice trembling.
A chilling laugh echoed through the factory, and Carla's blood ran cold. The demon's voice rang out, cruel and mocking. "You can't save him. You'll only destroy yourselves."
Suddenly, the shadows coalesced into a monstrous form—a grotesque amalgamation of limbs and faces, its presence suffocating. It lashed out, striking Adam as he tried to stand. He let out a cry of pain, collapsing to the ground.
"Adam!" Carla screamed, rushing to his side.
Melissa swung the bat at the shadowy figure, but it passed through the demon harmlessly. "We have to get out of here!" she yelled.
The group scrambled to their feet, dragging Adam with them as they fled the factory. The demon's laughter followed them into the night, a haunting reminder of their failure.

Back at Melissa's House
They returned to Melissa's house in silence, their breaths ragged and their bodies battered. Adam was unconscious, his skin clammy and pale. They laid him on the couch, and Melissa quickly grabbed her first aid kit.
Carla sat beside him, her hands trembling as she held his hand. "He's going to be okay," she said, more to herself than anyone else.
Billy sat down heavily, wincing as he held his side. "What the hell was that thing? It wasn't just Thomas—it was... something else."
"It's the demon," Melissa said grimly as she tended to Adam's wounds. "It's getting stronger. We're running out of time."
Hours passed, the tension in the room thick and suffocating. Finally, Adam stirred, letting out a soft groan.
"You're okay," Carla said, relief flooding her voice. "We're all okay."
Adam blinked up at her, his face etched with pain. "Barely."
Melissa handed him a glass of water, her expression weary but determined. "You need to rest. We all do. But we're not giving up."
Carla nodded, her resolve hardening. "We've lost too much already. We'll find another way to save Thomas. Whatever it takes."
The group fell silent, the weight of their failure pressing down on them. Outside, the night was eerily quiet, but they all knew the demon was still out there