Unsainted

9: God Loves Servitude

The fire ran rampant through the forest, dry bark and a thick canopy didn't mix well; creating a massive oven. Where the fire burned white, wood turned to ash and vapor, and thick clouds of smoke choked the sky. It surrounded the entire town; blocking off roads with burning fallen trees and walls of fire. Help from the outside couldn't reach them and the occasional helicopter that flew past to drop water, never had enough. 

They were isolated and where the only ones who didn't know it, John had made sure of that. He had consolidated the entire town around the church, insisting they sleep in tents outside despite the hot smoke. But they listened. And in a day they had built a small perimeter around the church, branded with crucifixes and drenched in holy water. In a vain attempt to keep Atrox out. 

The people where made from rubber, easily twisted to believe John's every word. When they asked why Atrox was at the exorcism; he told them it was the devil, dressed as the boy. When they asked why he ran; he told them, it was because they didn't believe enough and didn't aid him. And when they asked what to do against the fire, when the sun disappeared from the sky, when their weapons were burnt under the heat. He simply said;  

"Do not ask for mortal help. Instead seek help from God, through me. Discard your phones, your computers, sadly the outside world can not help us. Look around you, they throw megar attempts to quench the blaze around us. We must believe in the lord Jesus christ, and by his word we shall out burn the hellfire that surrounds us. And when it is gone, and the spirit of the devil has nowhere to hide; then we shall reclaim our holy land."

He had a answer for every question, a lie for everything and a truth for nothing. And despite what John had said, rescue crews beyond the blaze had made numerous attempts to contact the townspeople. But as John had commanded, no outside contact.

Everyone followed, except Victoria and Andrey. They had barricaded themselves in Andrey's house, knowing once the people had calmed down they would raid the police station. As a majority of the town's weaponry had been lost to the blaze. 

But Victoria and Andrey didn't care anymore, the people they had once sworn to protect. Where beyond saving, and even if the opportunity presented itself. They would refuse it opting for John's path to heaven.

"So. This is what we've been reduced to" Victoria said,

she sat on Andrey's couch having spent a sleepless night boarding up every window and door in the house. The house itself was a small cabin, with its largest of it's four rooms being the living room; where Victoria currently resided. Andrey sat on a small stool adjacent to the couch, still clutching his shotgun.

"I guess" Andrey said doubtfully, "I'm more concerned about what we saw inside the station."

"No backup, an entire town against us, and just a massive wall of fire between us and safety. And you're concerned about... whatever was at the station?"

"I've heard stories about-"

"Even if,it was something we should be concerned about, surely it would be charcoal by now."

Andrey stood up from his chair, parting with his weapon and left the room; with a look of determination on his face.

He soon returned clutching a massive leather bound book. He dropped himself down next to Victoria and opened the book.

"What's that?" Victoria asked as Andrey flipped through the middle of the book. He turned a page and several pictures and sketches fell out, Andrey placed the book on his lap and began shuffling through the pieces of paper.

Victoria looked over his shoulder, and shivered at the images she saw. They were all of similar premise; a tall bipedal animal, missing large patches of it's pale skin and exposing the bright red muscle underneath. They had large madables made from a human like jaw, with their long tongues hanging down their necks. And a pair of yellow eyes, even through the pictures and sketches Victoria could feel the insufferable amount of anger; and hatred in those eyes.