Hopeless: Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Victim I

         
                “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”
         Inside of the St. Luke's church on 13th street, Ellen Moore was praying amongst the rest of the congregation. She was a frail older women pushing her late sixties. Sweet and genuine at heart, Ellen slipped a twenty dollar bill in the donation basket being passed around. Once church let out Ellen stood outside, chatting away with her friend Jo.
         “So your still coming over tonight for poker right El?”
         “I don't know Jo, I haven't been feeling all that great the past couple of days.”
         “Well if you feel up to it you know I only live down the street, and the girls want to get pay back for you taking all our pennies,” Jo said jokingly.
         “I will Jo, I think im just going to head home, have a nice cup of tea and relax a bit,” Ellen said starting to cough into her hand.
         “Ok well get home and take care of that cough, ill call you later to check in,” Jo said giving Ellen a hug and walked away with a group of elderly women to the Old Country Buffet around the corner.
         Ellen stayed standing in front of the church, feeling the chill of the December air nip at her face. Shes was a lot more sick then anyone knew. Most days she found it hard just to get out of bed, never mind getting through her day to day activities. Ellen found herself staring at the top of the church, slowly walking backwards, noticing what looked like a man standing atop the 6 story bell tower.
         What in God's name...?
         Still walking backwards not taking her eye off the top of the tower, getting closer and closer to the curb. Not realizing Ellen took the wrong step and fell backwards into the street. Landing on her back, not seriously hurting herself, but there was most definitely going to be a bruise there tomorrow.
         Sitting up, dazed from the fall, Ellen looked to her right and realized the eighty-nine bus speeding towards her, stopping just in time, tires screeching to a halt, only inch’s from Ellen.
         Ellen let out a shriek and held her head in her arms, seeing her life flash in front of her eyes. The bus driver put the bus in park and ran out to help her.
         “Ellen what happened? Are you ok?!”
         Glen was his name, the usual bus driver at this time. Ellen had taken the eighty-nine almost everyday, Also seeing Glen almost every day. He was much younger then Ellen, but that didn't stop Ellen from her usual flirting. She got a thrill when the younger men would talk to her, especially Glen.
         “Yea im ok, I guess I just spaced out for a second and lost my balance.”
         Glen helped Ellen up and on to the bus.
         “Well just be more careful next time El.”
         “Will do Glen” she said as she sat down in the first row of seats on the right side of the bus, the side facing the church. Ellen looked out the window up at the top of the church where she thought she had just saw a man standing, but this time she didn't see anything.
         I need to relax, I can't let this cold get to my head like that.
         Ellen sat back and tried to relax as the bus pulled off.

*
         Atop the St. Luke's stood Luciano in body, but a very ancient, very evil being in soul, glaring down upon the bus with a twisted look on his face.
         You will be the first to fall, one of God's own. Your blood will feed the maggots below the cold soil. Your soul shall be feasted upon. Say any prayer you would like, it will not change anything, they will fall upon deaf ears. There is no savior. This planet will be encased in darkness. Its people will scatter like the cockroach’s they are, in hopes to hide. Once the seals have been broken there will be no salvation, no light, no justice. Only fear, destruction.... pain will remain. You'll cower and bow at my feet, realizing there is no hope....
         Smiling as the bus pulled off, he slowly started to lift off the roof of the church, only to hover for a few seconds then disappear in a shroud of shadow.

*
         Ellen was back at her small apartment, sitting in her favorite chair, sipping tea out of a fine china tea cup, watching her favorite soap opera. The apartment was only four rooms, a living room, bedroom, bathroom and a kitchen. Small to the average person but to Ellen it was home.
         This is all I needed, I feel much better.
         In fact, Ellen felt so good, she even toyed with the idea of going over to Jo's house tonight for their weekly poker game. Jo and Ellen had met a few years back in church, and immediately became friends. Ellen had very few friends, actually three, Jo, Margret, and Snowy, her cat. Ellen didn't have much family ether. She had one child but he abandoned her years ago for his own selfish reasons, and the father left when he was still a baby. Being an only child and both her parents dead, Ellen was basicly alone in this world.
         Finishing her cup of tea, Ellen found herself dozing off, welcoming sleep due to the lack there of the past few nights. Her eye lids felt heavy as she reclined her chair and pulled up her blanket. Ellen was soon fast asleep.
         Outside, the wind started howling, and dark clouds started moving in, making the whole area darken, but it seemed like around Ellen's apartment was where it was truly the darkest. The wind now gusting to the point where it was blowing around debris.
         Inside Ellen was still fast asleep, and didn't realize that she had lost power. Then suddenly Ellen started squirming and groaning. Her peaceful rest was being interrupted by a horrific nightmare.
         Standing on a small platform, about twelve inch's round, high above the city, far up in the clouds, Ellen found herself looking off into the horizon, feeling the warmth of the sun hit her face. Taking in every second of the beautiful scene, the blue sky, the birds flying by, the fluffy white clouds that hovered around.
         Just then she noticed off in the distance what only could be made out as a man, but with huge bat wings , flying towards her. The beautiful scenery was giving way to a hellish nightmare. Black clouds rolled in, with lightning cracking all around her. Noticing the sun slowly getting eclipsed by the moon, giving everything a haunting red aura. Still coming full speed towards Ellen,  what she thought was a man with wings, flew right up to her face in an instant, reveling the distorted face of her son, blood running from his eyes, screaming in pain. Frozen with fear, Ellen couldn't help but scream too.
         The warmth of the sun started to become an unbearable heat, searing her flesh, as her son hovered there staring at her with his blood soaked face, but instead of screaming he was laughing at her pain. Ellen then felt the platform start to sway, easily a few miles above the earth, she fell to her knees and clung to the edges.
         Suddenly a crack of lightning shattered the pillar, toppling it, bringing Ellen down with it. Falling down towards the earths crust, she started hysterically screaming in anguish. Plummeting ever closer to the solid ground. Ellen just shut her eyes and prayed, prayed to the very god she devoted her life too, to spare her this torment. Opening her eyes only to realize she was back on the pillar, face to face with her son, face still bloodied, running crimson from his eyes, nose, and mouth, still laughing, echoing through her, shaking her to the core.
         “You did this to me mother! This is your fault, you couldn't even keep your own son safe!”
         “No I would never do this, your my son I love you.” Ellen said reaching out to him as to comfort him.
         Just as she touched his face, he let out an agonizing scream, splattering blood out of his mouth onto Ellen's face. Still screaming, he shoved her of the edge, and she started falling again, but instead of falling down, she was flying up against her will. Closing her eyes as she was hurled through the air, opening them to see that she was heading straight for a commercial airplane. Just as she was about to make contact with the steel of the plane, Ellen woke up, sweating and franticly looking around.
         Oh my god...
         She noticed it was dark out and noticed there was no electricity. She then knew she wasn't alone. Without panicking she put on her coat and her winter boots as fast as she could, grabbing her bag, slid out the door slamming it behind her.
         I've always felt safe here, whats going on, God please guide me.
         Walking down the street, noticing Ellen standing outside her house, was Margret.
         “Hey El, you heading to Jo's house too?”
         Ellen turned and seemed like she had just seen a ghost.
         “Uh... Yea.... im heading to Jo's for the poker game.” Not saying anything about her horrible nightmare, and the overwhelming feeling that someone... something else was in her house.
         “So am I, im glad your coming tonight, maybe I can get some of my money back from you.” Margret said winking at El.
         “Yea” Ellen said softly.
         “Everything ok? You look pale, and you don't seem like yourself.”
         “Yea im fine, still feeling a little under the weather, that's all.”
         “Ok, if you say so.”
         They both heading down the street towards Jo's house. Ellen couldn't get the image of her son's face. Blood gushing from his eyes, screaming as if his soul was burning.
         Its just a nightmare El, just try to enjoy the rest of the night.
Getting up on the front step of Jo's house, Margret started knocking on the door. After a few second wait, Jo opened the door and with a huge smile greeted Ellen and Margret.
         “El, its great to see you, I didn't think you would make it.”
         “Yea I feel better so I decided to come over.” Any where but that house, something was wrong in the air there.
         “I found her wondering outside her house, so we decided to come down together.” Margret said greeting Jo with a hug.
         “I like what you did to the place Jo, looks great.” Ellen said noticing that Jo had new curtains and a new Afghan carpet in her living room.
         “Thank you, it cost a lot but I couldn't resist, its just so beautiful” Jo said as she heading into the kitchen putting a pot of water on the burner of the stove. “Please make yourselves at home, the tea will be done soon, and then we can get to the poker game.”
         As Jo and Margret settled in the kitchen, Ellen headed towards the bathroom. Almost right as she had entered the bathroom and closed the door, she started coughing. Almost choking, covering her mouth with her hand. She noticed a little bit of blood in her palm. Shocked at what she saw, she turned the facet of the sink and washed away the red splotch.
         Staring into the mirror, she noticed that she looked a lot more run down then usual, dark bags under her eyes, pale in the face, and her eyes were bloodshot.
         Somethings very wrong, I look like death.
         Looking down to turn the facet off, she saw that it was no longer water running but blood. She staggered back, looking into the mirror again to see something behind her. With red eyes and a snarling grin, she swore it was the devil himself.
         “Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name...”
         The light started to flicker on and off. The air in the room seemed to be sucked out and replaced with a horrid smell. The smell of death and decay.
         “...thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Ellen continued the prayer, hands clasped together. The lights flickering in and out, reveling the horrific image of her son in the mirror ever time the went on. Ellen then closed her eyes.
         “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses--”
         “He doesn't hear you...” the words where whispered into her ear. Leaving her feeling hopeless. She spun around and went for the door, only to find that it was locked.
         “He doesn't listen to your cries... Your god is gone from here.”
         Ellen started sobbing, still trying the door but to no avail.
         “There's no hope...” the voice whispered.
         The light then turned back on abruptly, and Ellen looked around and saw nothing. Shaking, tears still pouring down, she tried to calm herself.
         Just an illusion, a trick of the mind... I need to hold it together.
         Ellen tried the door one last time and felt the knob turn. In excitement Ellen darted out of the bathroom, startling Jo and Margret.
         “El you alright, you really don't look good at all” Jo said with genuine concern.
         “I'm.. ok.. I think.. this cold... its bad..”
         “Come sit down with us dear, we already have a cup of tea waiting for you, it will make you feel much better”
         As she sat down she said “Yea im sure it will take care of it” If only the tea made you forget things you saw.
         “While you were in the bathroom, me and Jo were talking about...” Ding Dong!
         “Expecting more company Jo?” Margret said while taking a sip from her cup.
         “No, im not expecting anyone... I wonder who it is.”
         Ellen felt a chill grow inside her. She wanted to yell out not to open the door, she wanted to run out of the house all the way home... she wondered why she was so paranoid.
         Hmm.. wouldn't have anything to do with the past events of the day, almost getting killed by a bus, seeing my sons face bloodied and battered, blaming me for it, or maybe the incident in the bathroom... Those eyes... they felt as if they were glaring into my soul, and that voice... I must have been hallucinating but it seemed so real, I could almost feel the breath behind the voice as it whispered to me. What the Hell is happening to me!
         Ellen fought amongst herself while Jo went for the door. Unlocking the door, but keeping the latch on, she opened the door a crack and saw her daughter standing there shivering. Taking off the latch she swung the door open.
         “Jenny! Its so good to see you!” Jo said while throwing her arms around her daughter.
         Jenny rarely stopped in to see her mother but when she did, she made the most of it. Taking her mother out to dinner, bringing her shopping, there was even one time, a few years back, Jenny brought her mother to the mountains for the weekend. They stayed in a cozy little cottage, with a river flowing down hill right in the back.
         Jenny loved her mother very much, but she had her own life to live and didn't have much time for her. She was a journalist for a reputable newspaper in New York, so she was on a very tight schedule. But she was on vacation for the next two weeks and came to spend it with Jo. 
         “Its good to see you too Ma, I finally took my vacation time and figured id stay here.”
         “Oh hunny, you know you welcome here anytime, go get your bags and put them in your old room.”
         “Thanks Ma” Jenny said as she headed towards her car to get her bags from the trunk.
         Margret and Ellen had already set up for the poker game. Ellen sat there shuffling the cards with her shaky hands. Trying to find solace in being with friends, and not alone.
         “Isn't it horrible that Jo's daughter never really visits? I mean I’ve known Jo for awhile now and I never saw her until now” Margret said looking across the table at Ellen who seemed to be on another planet mentally.
         “Well she must have a busy life, im sure if she could, she'd be here a lot more” Ellen said.
         “Maybe your right, but I know one day she's going to regret not seeing her mother more often..” getting interrupted by Jo and Jenny walking into the room.
         “Margret..Ellen.. this is my daughter Jenny, Jen these are my good friends from church.”
         “Its a pleasure to meet you ladies, but I hate to tell you that im here to take all your pennies” Jenny said with a playful smile.
         “Not if El has anything to do with it, she usually gives us a good run for our money” Margret said.
         Jo poured a cup of tea for Jenny and sat in the last open spot at the table.
         “Well where all here, who's the dealer?” said Jo.
         “I am” said Ellen dealing out the cards to everyone, “Texas hold' em is the name of the game ladies.” Putting down the deck and looking at her cards,
         Wow pocket 6's, that's not a bad start.
         After all bets were in, Ellen picked up the deck, killed one card, and put down the first three cards.
         Hmm, King of hearts, three of spades, and four of diamonds, nothing good for me there.
         After everyone's bet was in Ellen put down the next card down on the table.
         Crap, nine of spades, at least I still have the pocket 6's.
         No one bet this time, everyone had checked, so Ellen picked up the deck and flipped over the last card and put it on the table. Ellen froze.
         6 of diamonds... three 6's... the sign of the devil... no its only a coincidence.
         Ellen won that hand by a huge margin. She collected the cards and passed the deck to Jo who was sitting to her left.
         “Your turn to deal Jo” Ellen said trying to hide the fear in her.
         Jo shuffled the deck and dealt the cards. Ellen lifted her two cards in front of her, only to find out she had received pocket 6's again. Ellen let out a little gasp.
         “Not much of a poker face tonight huh El” Margret said with a little grin.
         “I guess not” Ellen said having to force herself to smile back.
         The first four cards where nothing Ellen needed, just like the last hand. When it came time for the last card to be put on the table Ellen almost wanted to close her eyes.
         Oh my lord, its another 6... three 6's again... 666... it has to be a coincidence
         When everyone showed their hands, everyone looked at Ellen with a confused look due to the fact that she had just won the same way last hand.
         “That’s kind of weird” Jenny said, “You wouldn't be cheating over there would you” Jenny raised her eyebrow at Ellen.
         “No... Not cheating, just a coincidence” Ellen said trying to convince herself, “Just an unusual coincidence.”
         That would have been true if her next five hands didn't all came out the same. Now everyone at the table was unnerved.
         “Is this some kind of joke Ellen?” said Jo looking at her with fear in her eye.
         “I'm not doing it, I swear. I don't know whats going on.”
         Just as Ellen said that the lights went out in the house. Margret let out a little scream, as Jo got up and got a couple candles from the draw and put them in the candle holder that was on the table. Reaching into her pocket she grabbed her lighter and went to light the candles. Once lite the flame danced around for a bit, not nearly lighting the room as much as it should.
         “Nothing to worry about just a power outage.” said Jo.
         “Well we are the only ones without electricity,” Jenny said looking out the kitchen window, “all the other house's are lit up, I'll go down stairs and check the breaker's, probably just a blown fuse.” Jenny grabbed a candle and heading down stairs.
         Ellen was still sitting at the table, trembling in fear. She looked over at Margret and Jo standing by the window looking out at the street. As she sat there, from behind her she heard the same whisper from the bathroom,
         “There is no hope...”
         Then the candles went out, one by one as if someone blew them out. Jo turned and looked across the room into the darkness.
         “El, why did you blow out the candles?” Jo said.
         Ellen couldn't speak, almost in a catatonic state, she just sat there.
         “El?”
         Ellen let out a horrific Scream that made Jo and Margret cring.

*
         Great candles Ma, cant even hold a decent flame for me to see.
         Jenny was downstairs in the dark, gloomy basement, trying to see through the shadows the candle casted. She fumbled around the basement a bit and finally came upon the fuse box. As she flipped all the switches back and forth, she heard what seemed to be a little baby whimper.
         What the hell?
         She started flipping the switches even faster hoping the lights would come on. Then she heard it again, this time louder.
         This is crazy why would there be a baby in my mother's basement?
         Jenny turned and started to focus on finding what she thought was a helpless baby. She wondered for a little bit in the darkness, only to trip over a bunched up carpet, landing face first, hitting her head on the cement floor.
         Dazed, she looked around and saw the candle still had a flame, lighting up a small part of the basement. She felt herself losing consciousness. She stared at the illuminated corner of the basement. She saw a little baby sitting there facing the wall. Not able to speak, due to hitting her head, she just stared. The baby then turned and its eyes met with Jenny's. Just as the candle started to go out, Jenny heard a voice that sounded like a baby but clear English.
         “Your time will come...”
         It started crawling closer...
         “Lose all hope...”
         It was just inches from Jenny.
         “For your time will come...”
         The candle's flame died out completely, and there was silence, only Jenny's own cries flowed through the air. Then without notice, the baby went right up to Jenny's face and softly said,
         “Death awaits you...”
         Then there was a blood curdling scream that came from upstairs. Jenny, losing her sight, and slipping into a deep sleep, tainted by an evil touch.
*
         The Kitchen started shaking, like there was a horrible earthquake. Ellen kept screaming, chilling Jo and Margret to the bone. Neither of them were able to move, afraid to move. Then Ellen's screams were cut off, followed by a quick snap and a gurgling sound. Then there was silence, dead silence. The lights flickered back on and Jo and Margret both let out a scream, as they looked upon Ellen's dead corpse, still sitting on the chair. But her head was twisted around, and her throat was cut.
         The horrid gurgling sound was still coming from her, as her body was twitching. On the table laid the cards thrown all around, but in the center, three of cards were lined up in a row... three 6's.
         “Oh my lord Ellen! What did this to you?!”
         Margret fell to the floor in horror, staring blankly into space. Jo ran out of the room and reached for her phone. Dialing 9-1-1.
         “911, this call is being recorded, whats your emergency?”
         “Oh lord please help, my friend was just murdered!!”
         “Alright ma'am, please calm down, whats your address?”
         “I live at the end of Centuron St... 36”
         “A paramedic is on the way along with a squad car, just hang tight...” The line went dead.
         Jo turned and looked in horror as Ellen was standing over the base of the phone with the telephone wire unplugged and in her hand. Jo started sobbing, as Ellen snapped her neck back into place, her head now facing the right direction.
         “Oh my God!” sobbed Jo.
         “There is no God, only suffering!” Ellen said in a raspy, gurgled voice, and then started laughing like she was crazy until she dropped to the floor and was gone again. Jo was left on the floor, trembling with fear, shaking back and forth, staring at Ellen's dead body. Then as if she was stabbed in the chest, a sharp pain from within her chest sent Jo into agonizing pain. As she struggled on the floor, she suddenly stopped and her eyes glazed over, she laid there motionless.