Erase

Act 19: The Cult

SATURDAY

-Kuwabara Train Station 11:55 PM-

The Kuwabara Train Station. Located near Tokyo, it remained in service for  several decades before being phased out in 2003 in favor of a new station.

Fast forward to 2020, the old station still left standing after many years of dilapidation. However, it has become a place full of mystery. Especially during the midnight.

There have been many cases of people spontaneously crossing the railway to the other side in this particular subway. What's more, it seemed to be the same people.

Right now, a man in a business suit and glasses carrying a briefcase is standing near the platform. It seemed as if he was waiting for a perfect opportunity.

Once the opportunity comes, the man immediately jumps down to the railway and goes to run onto the other side of the subway. He then proceeds to dust off his suit and goes on as if nothing had happened.

The man walks and walks until he comes across a small tunnel with a couple of stairs inside. The man then opens his briefcase, takes a white hooded cloak out of it, wears it, and proceeds to walk to the tunnel, leaving the briefcase behind.

The white cloak was the main uniform of a cult known as "Deus Deorum". Originally based in Israel, the cult's influence has spread through several other countries, including Japan..

Deus Deorum is a neutral who praises neither Heaven nor Hell. Rather, they are said to be praising a certain neutral deity, though the true identity of said deity is only known amongst the cult members.

The members see the "heathens", who are non-believers of their religion, as their enemies, and have instigated various acts of violence amongst these heathens. One particular incident was "the Kobe incident", a series of mass murders instigated by the cult around the Kobe area, which caused the deaths of many people.

Back to the mysterious man, at the end of the tunnel, was a rusty metal door, which was blocked by a doorkeeper who only lets a select few pass through. Specifically, Deus Deorum members who speak the "password": a certain Latin phrase.

"Ad majorem Dei gloriam" Said the man.

The doorkeeper nods and opens up the door, after which the man enters the "prime altar".

-Prime Altar 11:59 PM-

The so called "prime altar" serves as the main hideout of the members of Deus Deorum. Every midnight, Deus Deorum holds a Mass, where the Fidei Defensor, the head minister of the cult preaches and announces his plans for the cult.

The room itself was rather spacious for something located underground, able to house an entire cult with over 50+ followers. On the end of the room was an altar, adorned with a bunch of vigil candles, and the Deus Deorum insignia: a wooden inverted crucifix with an X in the bottom.

It was then that the Fidei Defensor had arrived. He had long brown hair and eyes, visible facial stubble, and a face that bears more than a striking semblance to Jesus Christ. He wore all white clothing, namely an unbuttoned white longcoat, and white pants, and was walking barefoot. He wore a purple choker around his neck, as well as a rosary with the Deus Deorum cross as its pendant.

"My brothers and sisters. Right now, I speak in front of you all, bearing the words of the Almighty." Said the Fidei Defensor. "And now, the Almighty speaks of another enemy of our religion."

"Right now, we have ourselves an adversary that must be eliminated. A heathen, as they shall be called." The Fidei Defensor continued. "And the heathen's name... is Shino Sato."

The Fidei Defensor then holds up a picture of Shino, possibly taken from one of her social media accounts.

"This young maiden hosts an online blog containing nothing but slanderous rumours about the Almighty." Said the Fidei Defensor. "What's more, it turned it she is the daughter of one of our brothers, who has recently been taken away from us. Sato Shigeru was his name."

"She is but an enemy of our religion. And must be eliminated at all costs." The Fidei Defensor continued. "All heathens must be sacrificed to the Almighty, so that only us followers of the way of Deus Deorum remain!"

As the whole cult chants, the Fidei Defensor rips Shino's picture in half, signifying their newfound goal: to eliminate Shino.

THE NEXT DAY

-Mayuka's Bedroom 7:00 AM-

It was a nice Sunday morning. Mayuka woke up to the sound of her alarm clock. She proceeds to sit down and rub her eyes.

The first thing that Mayuka saw was Shino typing on her desktop. She then goes up from her bed to check on Shino.

"My, you're early today, Shino." Said Mayuka.

"Oh, hi Mayuka!" Shino replied.

The two girlfriends proceed to give each other a good morning kiss to the lips.

"So, what's all the rush about?" Said Mayuka.

"Nothing, really. I just realized I haven't updated my blog in months, so I decided to do some updates." Shino replied. "It's one of the few places where I get to spit out what's on my mind."

"Haha, that's good. Can I take a look?" Said Mayuka.

"Sure, Mayu." Shino replied.

Mayuka took a look at Shino's personal blog, and read some of her entries.

For the longest time, the Internet was only place where Shino felt secure. It was the only place where she was able to express her thoughts, as she did not have the courage to interact to people besides her few friends in real life.

There were many interesting articles in it, but what caught her interest the most is the "Deus Deorum Exposed" series.

It was a series detailing the actions of the Deus Deorum cult, and exposing their dark secrets. Her late father Shigeru was once a higher member of the cult, and Shino used her blog to expose the true intentions of the cult.

"Wow... didn't know you had such knowledge." Said Mayuka.

"Well... It was the only way I could of rebel against my dad..." Shino replied. "By exposing his cult behind his back... At least that way I never got caught..."

"You father was a cult member?" Said Mayuka.

"Yeah... one of the higher-ups even." Shino replied. "I think it's one of the reasons why he kept abusing me..."

"I... see then." Said Mayuka.

"Oh, by the way, this reminds me. Yesterday, Yuichi sent me an e-mail. Apparently, somebody sent a cryptic message in their place. It was written in this... weird scripture." Mayuka continued. "I told them to come over at my house tonight to show us what it is. Maybe they'll be here after lunch."

"Got it." Shino replied. "But before that, do they have a picture of said message? I might be able to decode it."

"Well, he did send it as an attachment. Here, look." Said Mayuka, handing over her mobile phone to Shino.

Shino took a look at the pictured message.

The message was written in Hebrew, a language and scripture that Shino has some slight familiarity with thanks to her dad being a cult member.

A FEW HOURS LATER

-Mayuka's Bedroom 10:38 AM-

It took Shino a few more hours before she managed to fully decode the message.

"So... what does it say?" Said Mayuka.

"Well, it's..." Shino replied.

All of a sudden, Shino was stunned silent. Mayuka knew there was something wrong, and decided to ask her.

"Why? What's wrong...?" Said Mayuka.

"It's...  a threat..." Shino replied. "A death threat... and it's directed to... me..."

TO BE CONTINUED