Stained Credence. Book One: The Wretched

EIGHT

Initially he thought he must be seeing a mirage of some sort. Sheer trickery. No more than a dot; it stood out like the beacon of a lighthouse in the eternal darkness.

Overwhelmed with relief and happiness, tears rolled down his face as he was drawn to the light like a moth. He was thrilled that the mossy fence seemed to be leading to the light so he would not have to abandon the security of it.

The light grew not in intensity, but in size, more quickly than he was moving toward it. Kyrylo stopped and focused on it, realizing that its dimensions were not growing, but it was speeding toward him.

His heart dropped into the pit of his stomach and his elation molted into dread. He was not one to believe in coincidence, and the realization that he had been herded like a fool sheep by some terrorist creature to a sludge covered wall that led him to this sickly-amber light, the only light, in all of this dark and afflicted world was entirely too coincidental for it to be anything other than purposeful deceit.

For what reason, though?

He understood there was no other choice than to continue toward the light, the creature would make certain of that. He drudged forward, no longer concerning himself with touching the wall in order to not lose it. He knew where he must go, regardless of where the wall may end.

As the distance lessened he saw the light shone like yellowed, wicked goblin teeth. It was not a light to flourish in, but to wither. He was certain that once in its stagnant light, his body would char like a sulfur-burned matchstick.

As much as he had wished for death earlier, he did not want to surrender to its indefinite mercy by the likes of that light and whatever could possibly thrive in it. Whatever it was that waited on him and commanded the beast that trailed him, was not something that would kill him sparingly.

Close enough now to make out the resemblance of a window, his heart thudded when he saw the silhouette of a man step up to it, peering out at Kyrylo who melded as one with the darkness. No human eye could distinguish anything in this void. Dread crept across him like spiderlings.

Overcome with angst, he hesitated, his steps faltering and was immediately chastised by the wraithlike creature with its chittering song accompanied with a low, malevolent growl. He was too near the finish line for the beast to dispense any more patience on him and he plodded forward.

When the window was mere strides away, the silhouette moved from the window only to reappear as it opened door. The yellow light did not behave as light should. Instead of spilling out through the door opening, it remained contained; unable to cross the threshold or window pane. It was an ugly, stagnant light that conjured the image of a filthy, uninhabitable aquarium.

Kyrylo stopped when he had closed the gap to only a few steps between himself and the shadowed man. He peered, squinting at the silhouette, trying to find its indistinguishable eyes. Kyrylo's head was forced into an exaggerated bow, with his chin painfully touching his chest. It was difficult to breath and he fell to his knees, soon collapsing to all fours.

Whatever power held him released and he gasped, drawing in air and stale dirt into himself.

"Come in Kyrylo, but be mindful of this moment. I will do far worse if you forget that you are less than a mange burdened dog to me."

Kyrylo crawled into the house, his body quaking across the threshold. The door shut behind him and Kyrylo heard the beast snort on the other side, its play-thing gone for the moment.

x

The angel walked round and round her room, one hand on the wall, still chanting.

Grady watched her on the monitor, desperately trying to appear more engrossed with her than the conversation Anika and Terrence were holding in whispers across the room. He could hear them just well enough to know they were not speaking any language he knew. Their words, guttural and raucous, cleaved from their mouths like bones snapping. As though the world's first murder still echoed from their tongues. It was a very displeasing tongue and it made him ill the longer it scraped and grated his ears.

Do not be alarmed.

He watched the angel; their dreadful language became muted to his ears. She stopped and looked directly at him through the camera. Grady's breath caught in his throat. Her eyes locked on his and he was filled with a wonderous terror.

Come here, Grady.

Those three words rand in his bewildered mind. He did not move.

Now, Grady.

The intensity of her eyes sucked him in and he felt as though he were floating closer to the monitor. Closer to her. Her eyes were a green deeper than the most precious emerald. Blue as the sky after a storm. Amber as the maple in fall. They were both calmed and frightened him.

GRADY! NOW!

The fierce urgency in her voice cracked like a whip and, without explanation, he walked out of the room. Their voices ceased.

RUN!

He sprinted.

He heard pounding of their pursuit behind him.

Grady ran faster, his legs pumping until they had no feeling left, they moved solely on adrenaline-fed instinct.

The door, he thought in a panic.

Just run! She answered back.

He did not slow. The door flew open and closed back as Grady crashed into the wall across from it. He turned and heard his pursuers crash into the door. He could hear them clawing on the other side like rabid animals. They snarled and spat their foul language.

The angel walked to him and grasped his face in her hands, covering his ears. She guided his head so his eyes met hers. Eyes, his voice was murky in his mind, Her eyes. Otherworldly. The room seemed to close in and pull away, again and again as though it breathed. He felt woozy and his eyes fluttered. She tightened her grip and pulled him closer to her face.

Her ethereal scent filled his senses and he grew drunk on it.

The urge to take her came over him.

Grady, focus on me.

He thought of ripping her clothes.

Grady, I cannot take you from here if you don't focus on me.

He thought of pulling her head back by her dark hair, exposing her delicate neck.

She drew his face to hers and they kissed. Her smell was delightful, her taste luscious, but the feel of her brought him back. He closed his eyes and all depravity drained from his mind. He was clean and focused.

Her body grew hot, breathtakingly hot, but he remained centered on her. The heat of her grew and she pulled him closer, so their bodies kissed as did their lips. The heat bore a white light so pure and intense it shown through his shuttered eyes. He opened his eyes to see nothing but a vast plane of white infiniteness.

Close your eyes, Grady.

He closed them.

Something wrapped around his leg and hauled him back down, breaking them apart. He opened his eyes, realizing that he was no longer touching any surface, existing in a whiteness so absolute he felt empty and unclean in its eternal purity.

The white, piercing light flashed to an iridescent blue.

GRADY!

She kissed him again, and he sank into her. The passion of her touch bringing him back to her and he closed his eyes again.

The heat intensified and he heard an agonized squeal.

Then nothing.