Your rest is disrupted by the raucous noise of the front doors rattling. Eric has retained his composure and is continuing his ritual, but Father Casey and Greg Haus are both startled and more than a bit frightened.
--M. J. Young
I get up from my kneeling position, and grab the Plasma cannon. It's been a while since IT has been shot at, and I need to do some catching up. After I finish up with that, depending on how that goes, I'll then get the Uzi ready to shoot whatever comes through the door. Even Shuggoth aren't bulletproof.
The doors continue to rattle and bang for several minutes, but they don't open.
--M. J. Young
"Hmm..." If I haven't done so, I discharge my round into the sky, and turn to the door, Uzi at the ready. "Do you really think the demon is so weak as to be incapable of entering a church?" I grin right about now. "I certainly do. I wonder if it would classify as tempting God to taunt the demon?"
Right now I'm speaking aloud. But I'm willing to guess the answer to my second question is yes. I glance back at Eric to insure everything is okay.
I start thinking. Perhaps this won't be as difficult as I initially projected. And to think I was considering leveling this place just to provoke a stupid mono y mono fight with the demon.
You fire the gun out the window again. Eric is doing fine, and focused on his task. The doors are rattling, but nothing is coming inside.
Father Casey responds to your rhetorical questions.
"We certainly hope that the demon cannot enter; that is the point of consecrating the building. As for whether it would be tempting God to taunt the demon, let me turn the question around: would taunting the demon help us defeat it? Would taunting the demon be a declaration of our confidence in the power of our God? If either of those answers are yes, then taunting is probably not tempting God."
--M. J. Young
"Hmm..." I think a moment. "In the context I was considering, not likely. Still, thanks for the insight." I've got my own slant on that idea of his, but his explanation will suffice for now.
Mostly I was just thinking about venting steam, and wounding my enemy's ego while I'm at it. Regardless, I make a note to myself to save that as an option.
Eventually the rattling stops. It was probably only fifteen or twenty minutes, but the silence is unmistakable when it ceases.
The silence continues over the next hour, the only noises being Eric's ritual, Father Casey's murmured prayers, and Greg Haus thumbing through one of the liturgical books in the pews.
--M. J. Young
Silence. Most find it uncomfortable. In this instance, I sense the silence of premeditation. This creature unquestionably has a plan. How does he intend to enter and disrupt the ritual? If I were a demon, and I had a church blocking my path, how would I go about dealing with such defenses?
The most obvious solution involves employing non-demonic aid. But who?
I listen to Father Casey's prayers, and I pay a bit of attention to that book Haus is reading. Unless he intends for ME to open the door (he came as close to that idea as he is going to get), it will be one of these two who pulls a double cross. Heads will roll if one of them has decided to be slick like that, but I want to make sure the right heads roll, and only the right heads.
You go over to Haus; he's looking at hymns. In a moment, he notices you.
"Sorry. I know I'm supposed to be helping, but I've never done anything like this before. Do this kind of thing often, do you? This is one of my favorite hymns; maybe when this is over, I'll sing it."
The page is open to "Jesus the very thought of thee with sweetness fills my breast".
Whether the demon hasn't decided what to do next, or hasn't been able to get anything through the defenses, it's still quiet.
--M. J. Young
"Not really. This kind of battle is new to me. Most demonic encounters I've seriously read about tended to take a different flow. Still, the tactics of sheer defiance of evil will seems to be working, so I'm not going to rock the boat. In point of fact, this is easier than I was expecting."
Well, if not them, than it will be someone outside. I just won't open the doors, and this will be a cakewalk. Now it will come down to convincing them to agree with me.
It is now about halfway through the night.
Father Casey pauses.
"They are getting desparate," he says. "They have tried to penetrate our defenses, and have failed, and failed again. The successes they have had have been minor--but we must continue our," he pauses, clearly feeling the effort of the vigil, "vigilance."
You hear weariness in Eric's voice. It may be that he has been withstanding attacks unseen by you; it may be that all he has done in the past two days is catching up with him. Haus has fallen asleep.
You are still in good shape, keeping alert.
--M. J. Young
I keep an eye on Haus. Likely the effort involved in contacting God and asking him to resurrect the entire planet is taking a toll. In fact, usually God's not in the habit of raising the dead on that scale. That's the stuff of Judgement Day.
Life in a monestary is very routine. You get one pattern pounded into your head, and anytime it changes unexpectedly, it's pure misery.
"Get some sleep." I advice Casey. "You can't take on the armies of Hell if you aren't rested. I can hold the fort."
Father Casey looks at the bench where Haus sleeps, but speaks softly to you.
"Your friend is attempting to save our world; he is interceeding with God in ways I have never seen. However, he has made himself vulnerable, and indeed a target, to the enemy.
"If I understand aright, in another six hours he will either have succeeded or failed. If he fails, there will be very little point in any of us living another day. If he succeeds, there will be time for all of us to rest. Let us not have him fail because the flesh was weak when the spirit was willing. I will oppose the Serpent while I have strength. If the effort kills me and the world lives, I will be happy with my bargain.
"I do thank you, though." He smiles weakly. "Your concern extends to people, not just to populations, and that is important. Too many see only the one, or only the other."
--M. J. Young
I shrug. "Suit yourself. If you can do it, go for it." I move to the window to shoot another round at "it" if I see it, or even if I don't. "As for me, I've done all nighters. Not fun." I'm probably feeling a little tired, but I'm not done yet. I have a lot to be ready for.
"I don't concern myself with the planet. That's a little beyond me. I'm concerned about what is in front of me, and the here and now. My only concern presently is insuring everyone else doesn't end up or remain dead."
Father Casey nods wearily; you fire the weapon out the window, and look around. All continues to be quiet.
At some point you realize that the father has taken a seat in the pew.
Eric drones on, continuing his prayer.
The drone is joined by the quiet snoring of the priest. Two of your companions now sleep.
--M. J. Young
Well, that's it. The tedious part begins. Now all I have to do is stay awake until the sunrise.
I'm really wishing I had something to eat right now. I'm starving, and my water supply is probably out.
A door opens near the front, one of those doors disguised as part of the wall that are so common in churches, and one of the monks emerges. He is carrying a tray on which is some fresh fruit, an uncut loaf of bread, a bit of cheese, two bottles of wine, four glasses, and some dishes and tableware including a serated knife for the bread and a slicing knife for the cheese.
"Father thought you might need something to keep up your strength--but I see I am a bit late for some. Well, enjoy. Can I get you anything else?"
--M. J. Young
K. Rap.
"You can leave it right there. Instruct anyone else not to come here. Distractions could prove quite unpleasant."
I know I'm being rude with him, but this guy just gave me a real sinking feeling. My pew rearrangement was quite pointless, and I just got surprised by an avenue I didn't know existed. The only reason I haven't shot this guy to death is because he hasn't actually done anything wrong. For all I know, he might really be a well meaning monk.
I'm waking up Father Casey and asking him if he knows of any other passages which might be critical to securing this church.
"As you wish," he says. "Help yourself to the refreshment, though; I am certain you will need it. I was going to offer to bring back some coffee, but if you'd rather I did not," he lets the thought hang.
You awaken Father Casey. "Oh, dear; I guess I was more worn than I thought. I should get back to my prayers. What did you? Entrances? Oh, well, I have been here a couple times, but I never stayed here, if you see what I mean. There should be, let's see, the back section would have that door for acolytes, a back entrance into the priest's section of the confessional, and a hidden door up on the platform for the officiating priest to enter. They all should connect to an access area, preparation rooms and storerooms, with an outside door somewhere. Why do you ask?"
He helps himself to some of the food, and opens one of the wine bottles.
--M. J. Young
"Not to be a drag, but we need to secure those entry points pronto. It's likely the demonic forces we are facing cannot enter here, but what about those inspired by them? Besides, if something does go wrong, I rather it be because I was overwhelmed, and not because I ignored a potential flaw in the defenses."
Truth of the matter, I'm wondering how I'm going to do this without leaving the main hallway exposed. I'd have to abandon Eric for a time, and I don't like leaving a charge behind. Still, a risk has to be taken. I close the window and proceed to follow Casey. As soon as he finishes eating. And I'll help myself to a bite of that as well.
I'm human, too.
The food is good, and as you eat it you realize how tired and hungry you are, and then how fortunate you are, given the current state of the world, to have access to fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, cheese, and something safe to drink. The alcohol content of the wine is very low, the sort of table wine served in Mediterranean countries with meals, having just enough alcohol to keep it from spoiling.
Once you've finished, Father Casey rises, looking more awake than before. "Well, then," he says, "I do see your point about mortal emmissaries breaching our defenses. Let's find that outer door. Will it be sufficient to secure that one, or do you wish to locate and barricade the inner doors as well?"
He is already walking toward the acolyte's door through which the previous monk entered, although he is scanning the wall as if looking for some clue as to where exactly it is.
--M. J. Young
"Cover all our bases. All I need to do is secure anyone from getting in. We should keep at least one escape route though. If I were a demon, and someone where doing something that I didn't like in a building, fire certainly crosses my mind as an acceptable option. So if we need to evacute in a hurry, I don't want to end up tearing down a bunch of boards I nailed up." I pause a moment. "Besides, I just need to know where they are more than anything. I don't like surprises."
"The thing with these doors," Father Casey says, "is that they're made to be as invisible as possible on this side, but easy enough to find from the other. The idea is that the parishoners are supposed to see this as the entirety of the church, and not be distracted by doors leading elsewhere, although of course they know they're there. Thus if we can find one we can go through it and look for the others from the other side.
"As to nailing up boards, I don't think we have nails or boards--but I understand the metaphor. Presumably we are going to secure all the inner doors as well as we can but for one, which we will secure sufficiently that we can get through it at need, and secure the one outside door adequately but not so well that we cannot get through it.
"Did you see where the brother entered who delivered the food? I'm afraid I was asleep."
--M. J. Young
Oh, yes. I saw where he came in at. My memory is all but focusing my mind on that one point.
I move to the point of entry and attempt to figure out just how in the world I open it on this side. That little detail I seem to have overlooked. "I know it was here..."
The wall has the look of paneling, three inch wide quarter inch thick boards forming squares over the recessed wooden wall behind. Along the inner edge of one of the boards, just above waist height, there is an indentation for a finger grip. The door pulls open against the force of a weak spring designed to give just enough pressure to pull it tight against a felt-lined jam behind it.
There are no lights on in the outer area, and of course since it is somewhere after midnight there is not much shining in from outside. Light from this room shows a carpeted hall, a short piece running three feet to a T.
--M. J. Young
I go through, Uzi put away, Cannon put away, Dagger drawn. The Uzi will blow my eardrums out if I fire it down here, and the plasma cannon is overkill. The dagger will prove my best weapon, as it is dark, and likely anything or anyone I bump into has no business being down here with no lighting.
I can kill it with few compunctions. I wonder if that's the angle the demon is counting on.
"Father, stay behind me. I've got an odd feeling."
"Of course, my son. Have we no flashlight? I'm sure God wouldn't mind us borrowing one of the candles from the altar."
--M. J. Young
"I'm sure he wouldn't." No sarcasm either. I really do believe that God considers physical structure to be secondary to practical need. Translation: if you have to tear the church up to rebuild someone else's house, than do it.
Does that mean you're going to borrow the candle, or do you have a flashlight or something to use?
--M. J. Young
I don't have a flashlight, so the candle it is. I'm not going to dismiss the possibility of a blind-fight going on, which is one reason I encourage his to remain behind me. Besides, the flicker of the candle will tell me where a wind is coming from.
Father Casey lights two candles and hands one to you, keeping the other himself.
The flickering candles create eerie shadows in the dark corridor. You realize that the one shadow moving out ahead of you is your own, partly shadowed from Father Casey's candle and partly lit from your own.
The air is still back here, and the candle flames shift with your movements, but not when you hold them stationary.
You reach the end of a hall where there is a closed door. It appears to be an interior door, not an outside door, and anyway the outside wall has been on your left to this point and the hall should wrap around the building, so there should be more hall on the other side.
--M. J. Young
"Hope you don't mind what I'm going to do." I tell Casey. This might annoy him a little.
There really aren't any precautionary measures I can take. I'm not going to hear breathing through the door unless there is someone right on the door, and the longer I'm down here, the longer Eric is unattended. I open the door and give it a swift kick to accelerate its opening. My knife is at the ready.
The door flies open, and a draft comes through, blowing out both candles. In the sudden dark you see nothing.
"Ah--thanks for the warning." Father Casey's voice comes from behind you; otherwise, all is quiet--but you hear night sounds ahead, tree frogs or crickets or something like that, even though it seems to be inside still, if only for how dark it is.
--M. J. Young
Well, this is wonderful. I've blinded myself, and apparently I've found that outside door I was looking for. At this point, I'm missing the neon sign on my neck saying "Fresh Meat."
I fumble for the door and close it. "Okay. We've found our outside door. Now to secure it. Too bad I might have damaged the hinges in my paranoia. In addition, it might take a while to follow the wall back."
"I uh--I might have a match here somewhere. I keep them for lighting the candles. I think if that was outside, there would be moonlight or starlight or something, and we'd see more. There's probably an open window or maybe the back door is open for ventilation.
"Here, I've got a matchbook."
A spot of flame ignites behind you, and Father Casey's candle lights. The draft from the doorway causes it to flicker, but he shields it, and indeed it appears that there is a continuing hallway ahead.
--M. J. Young
So much for just leaving it at this and calling it a day. I push on, but slowly and very carefully. I'm not comfortable at leaving my defended zone behind, but this has to be closed off, and I can't do it from here.
"Tell me: when we reach the outside door, will we have any means to bar entry from the inside, or will one of us have to go outside to insure this happens?"
"Oh, dear--I've only ever been here a few times, and never officiating, so I don't really know what's back here. I imagine that the door opens in, but I could be wrong--that is, it's a rule for public buildings that the doors must swing open toward the outside when pushed from the inside, so as to prevent anyone from being crushed against the door, but in private buildings it's almost always done the other way, so that the door jam is in the way of jimmying the door. I would assume that this would be considered a private chapel, and anyway that the back sections would be considered private, but it could be that some building code inspector insisted on the rear doors opening out. I'm not sure what sort of locks it would have, but of course it would have locks of some sort. Even up here in the wilds there are always people who will enter an unlocked building--even a church--to see if there's anything to steal, and of course there would be the communion wine back here.
"Sorry I can't be more help."
The candles flicker slightly in the intermittent breeze. As you come down the hall, you find an open window (on your left), apparently intended to provide ventilation to the hall. There is a closed door ahead that has much more the look of an outside door, and another window beyond, also open.
This area is larger, a sort of sitting room behind the main dais; you can see the back side of the hidden door that leads to that section. The hall continues beyond, presumably to connect to the back entrance to the confessional booth.
--M. J. Young
I move to close both windows after I set my candle down gently. They can be reopened later, when there isn't a demonic force trying to get in. The sitting room, well, I can secure that later.
It's that confessional booth which is talking to me right now. Not only would it be an excellent hiding place, but I could hear what was going on in the main church central from there. Sorry, that business about confessionals being private? Only if you keep your voice down.
If I don't hear chanting or anything, that's when it is time to worry.
You close the windows. The door is not locked; apparently the monk who brought the food left it unlocked when he left. However, it is simple enough to lock the doorknob--that's the extent of the security on it.
As mentioned, this is something of a larger area. There are several chairs and a couple of tables here, of the "end table" variety. The hall beyond continues around the other side of the chapel where the confessional booth is.
Forgive my confusion: were you thinking that something or someone might already be hidden in the confessional, and you wanted carefully to investigate that, or were you thinking that you would use that as a hiding place from which to observe what is happening in the church beyond? Are you making any comment on this to Father Casey?
--M. J. Young
OOC: Both. I'm searching the confessional booth for anything hostile, and then I'm wondering if I can use it as a point to hear what is going on in the chapel proper. It hasn't occurred to me to mention this to Casey, because I usually have a plan, and rarely discuss the details unless asked. I know what I'm going to do and how I'm going to do it. (Usually...)