The Three-Day Mark

The Demon

When Walter woke up, he awoke on the rocky ground of the forest and loud anguished wail coming from behind him. Alarmed, he quickly scrambled to his feet and faced the source of the wailing. In front of him, was the demon in his trap, who was pounding on the barrier of the purification circle. Not only did the demon drag Walter's sleeping body from the house, but also managed to get itself stuck in his trap. This may not seem like it to other people, but that was the best thing that could have happened in this mission.

Quickly shaking off his surprise, he jumped into action; because the demon had already trapped itself in his circle, all he had to do now was to recite the incantations to purify the demon; purifying the demon to reveal the human who was tainted.

As the pounding of the demon continued, Walter sucked in a nervous breath in and exhaled, then recited the incantation he learned the day before:

"In these names that are above all others,

The name of the great lady and powerful Lord, assonance

I cast a spell on them with power and purity,

Whether constrained by chains

Or returned to darkness,

They may never disturb the servants of the gods."

A flash of light, enveloped the demon in its brightness for a couple of seconds, leaving Walter blind for those seconds. As quick as it came, the light left the demon, who was now purified and human, and left Walter in darkness with only the moon as a source of light. There, standing in the middle of the circle was the last person Walter wanted to see, Louis Stewart.

***

He stood there dumbstruck and confused trying to process what had happened. Never would he have imagined Louis Stewart as Merry. He could barely see him, but he knew it was Louis. His hair, which was usually up in spikes was now limp by his ears, his bright blue eyes which were once carefree were now burdened and heavy with regret. Walter watched as Louis sank to his knees with happy tears streaming down his face. He should be happy for Louis, that he was no longer a demon and now purified, but Walter just couldn't let go the feeling of panic. It's true that demons are humans who have sinned, that are cursed to forever roam the Earth plane in despair, but that was after they died, and Louis Stewart was not dead that was clear to see. It's possible to make a human a demon while they're alive, but who would go such measures to make him into one? His heart pounded painfully in his chest, as he came to his conclusion. There was someone who would go to such lengths to turn someone. The man who had killed Walter's family.

"Who-." He started, but was cut short when a pained scream erupted from Louis's mouth, Walter started forward but instantly stopped as he watched Louis's body start to turn into ashes. It was as if his body was incinerating it self. With one final wail, Louis's body was no more. Shocked with the sudden change of events, Walter stood frozen at his spot, unable to move. Suddenly everything went black.

***

Walter woke up six days after the incident, though whenever he asked about the town, Paradise, and its forest, the person who found him would answer with a blank look with an explanation that they found his prone body lying at the side of the road, and that there's never been a town called Paradise. It was as if the town never existed, the tattoo that was on Walter's arm was gone, along with any evidence of Paradise. What confused him the most, was why his backpack was with him, when, the then-possessed, Louis had left it at his house when he was dragging Walter. Apparently he was found with his backpack on, face down on the side of the road.

This wasn't the first time that an event like this happened to him, where everyone thought that he was making things up. He was going to find the answers to all this confusion. Starting with his family's murder.