The Doom Seekers
The night sky lit up from the glowing amber's of the fire. There was a bright orange glow spreading out across the horizon creating a perverse halo all around the frame of the mysterious tall dark man. His smiled was slightly crooked, uneven on his darken face. His eyes darting back and forth as he opened the car door, tipping his hat. Within seconds he vanished from the smoldering remains of town.
Bret and Ameila stood watching with great fear and a bit of awe as the stranger drove away. Without speaking they turned towards one another, with the fear of knowing that one day the stranger would cross their paths again. For now, the town needed to be rebuilt and this task would take all of the towns people that were left. Bret stood against the glowing amber's of the fire surveying the damage. After a minute of just watching the fire burn brighter and brighter, hissing it's anger at the smoldering frames of the buildings that were left, he turned towards the road that lead away from what was left of his town.
The nape hairs on the back of Bret's neck prickled, standing up as a cold chill ran through the inner depths of his soul. Somewhere in the distances a cryptic laughter could be heard. Bret knew that somewhere, someday he and the tall mysterious man would meet again, and that day would bring disaster of another kind.
Green rolling hills with beautifully enchanting meadows lay silent, stretching far into morning air. The dirt road seem to go on and on, winding down into the valley, quietly as the black Royals Royce traveled at a very slow and deliberate pace. A long wooden fence separated the churchyard from the immediate road way, but not from the keen eye of the traveler.
Within seeing distances at the top of the hill, just a hundred yards away stood an old white washed church. It's steeple reaching high towards the heavens, almost touching the clouds that rolled by. Stain glass sparkling brilliant colors onto the green lawn on either side of the old church frame. Beautiful pictures from different scenes in the bible shown brightly during the day time.
Songs of rejoicing could be heard coming from the little church as angelic voices sang praises of faith and belief. The black Royals pull off to the side of the road just in front of the little white church.With the engine turned off, a silent darkness waited inside the vehicle for just the right moment to appear.
Silently, the tall figure emerged from the black car ever so casually, stopping to lean against the warm automobile. His black hat covered most of his face eluding his true features. A long black coat hung on the thin frame dropping down to his mid knees. A pure white cotton shirt draped over the slightly thinning shoulders and was tucked neatly within crisp black pants. His shiny black shoes rounded out his attire. His presences haunting to anyone that would gaze upon it.
There was a quick light to a long thin cigar that lite up his facial features for one brief second. Swirls of whitish smoke twirled around in mid air racing upwards to quickly disappear, gone forever from view. His chalky face stood out in contrast to the glistening morning light as he just lean against the dark car. Grinning his cynical smile revealing his darken teeth behind those thin stream line lips.
As another twirling of smoke escaped from his thin lips his voice breaking through the silence, eerie and full of evil, "Like blood to a vampire, so is the lusting of an ego to mankind. It's failure always ensures the victory." Feeling sure of the task that lay ahead he moved towards the church taking careful, deliberate steps always keeping his eye on his target.
Dark red carpet covered the floor of the small, quaint church. There were two sections of wooden benches on either side of the auditorium with a main isle in the center which lead to the pulpit. From within the church building you could see the stain glass windows that lined the walls on both sides of the interior of the church. Each window represented a hand crafted composition of the heavenly credence. There were ten glorious, beautifully design, reverent pictures which told an age old story of God and his promise to mankind.
Inside this church sat about sixty or so members, singing the hymns that gave much comfort to their souls. Down in the front right at the pulpit stood a man, waving his hand up and down directing the members in song and praise. He was tall, about six feet in height and well built. His hair hung down just long enough to touch the collar of his button down shirt. His beard and mustache were trimmed very neatly and his round wire rimmed glasses hugged his nose and sky blue eyes.
Daniel peered out to the congregation over his wire rimmed glasses watching his fellow brethren sing songs of praise knowing that his message would be well received this morning. His sky blue eyes scanned over each member there as he watch with great anticipation, knowing their need to hear his message.
From behind where Daniel stood, on the back wall hung an old rugged cross. One lone figure hung from that cross. Upon the head of the figure sat a thorny crown and a small reflection of sad eyes. The torso was covered with only a thin, shear cloth and there was a slash in the side of his ribs. Somehow this heartbreaking scene seemed to bring heart felt reverences and peace from all within the church.
As he and his fellow members finished their prayerful song, Daniel stepped up to the podium holding on tightly to the good book in his right hand. He could feel the spiritual needs flowing forth from each and every member of the congregation. He was more than prepared to speak with powerful words, words filled with the holy spirit, " My fellow believers, today I feel the spirit moving inside my soul with great purpose. Hear my words and know that his holy might and power is true." His voice shouted clearly and with strong conviction as he held onto the holy manuscript.
Suddenly and without warning the doors flung open, rays of sunshine spread all around the tall figure as though surrounded by a glowing halo. Daniel was caught off guard as he looked to the back of the church, his eyes clouded by vanity at the interruption of his sermon. There in the doorway of his holy church stood a tall angelic figure. Daniel could do nothing for a few seconds except strain to focus on the figure as every member turned to see who the intruder could be.
Whispers and gasps, muddled from each person as their own selfish, needful desires were quickly displayed. For Daniel, the leader of the church, his soul was filled with great pride as he stepped around in front of the podium speaking, " Come brother, celebrate our happiness with us. You are welcome here." he said waving for the tall mysterious stranger to join in their praise.
The voice that spoke sounded a hundred times more powerful than anyone had expected it to, and deceit was it's name, "Yes brother, welcomed I am. For you have called me here and I have come to show you the way." The tall figure stood at the back of the church appearing to be dressed in all white, clean and holy by every means. He stepped forward ready to give his message to all who would listen. It was no secret to the stranger that all there would hear and understand his words.
Daniel just knew that all of his praying and trusting in his beliefs had finally paid off for him. Before him stood an angel, his messenger had been sent to show them all the way. He had been steadfast in his patience, now his reward was at hand. Speaking with great pride Daniel replied," Come friend, share your words with us, for we all do his bidding. We are his faithful servants."
With an air of confidence the stranger strolled towards the podium all the while smiling at each person within the church and especially at Daniel. When he spoke it was as if the air was lighter and brighter with each word coming from his mouth," Yes, we all do as we are instructed, but do not let vanity cloud your judgement son." he said with a warning. There was a glint of fire within his eyes, a mask of angelic serenity to hide the truth.
Only an unselfish believer would have seen through the mask, and only those who had no secret desires to further their own needs could have seen the darken teeth behind those extremely thin lips. " I'm ready to serve his holiness in whatever manner he would have me to." Daniel responded, feeling his soul swelling with pride.
The dark stranger stood quietly, looking around at each member within the room. His smile appeared sincere, almost holy as he spoke, each word vibrating all throughout the church," I serve my master faithfully, without pride or boastfulness. Are you willing to do the same?" Twirling away from facing Daniel he pointed his long bony finger at the members raising his voice as he spoke again," We must all serve our master no matter what he calls on us to do."
Raising his hands, he clapped them together as if he were praying, " We must stand up for what we believe in, for his will is the greatest power on earth and it is his bidding that I come to do." Then the stranger hung his head as though he was bowing in quiet reflection of what he had said, almost as if in a whispers he began speaking again, chanting over and over," Praise be his name, praise be his name. His will be done, his will be done."
Each member of the church recited the chant, along with Daniel, "Praise his name, praise his name. His will be done, his will be done."
It hadn't take too much time before the little community church converted itself to a compound. All of the believers within the newly formed compound moved about like a busy beehive. They each had a task to do and moved quickly to and from the inside of the old wooden building. All of them had begun preparing for the master's bidding. For weeks the stranger who had never exactly given his name or had said where he had come from continue guiding, praising and preaching the word of the master.
Everything that he said and did only encouraged to pull Daniel and each person within the folds of the compound deeper and deeper into the web of deceit.Vanity and ego was feeding, spreading like flood waters leashed upon the earth. Soon all within the compound would be so consumed by his words that the master's will would certainly be carried out.
Some fifteen miles further down the dirt road from the now existing compound was the picturesque little town of Pleasant Valley. Over the last few years several new businesses had come this way in hopes of gaining profit from this quiet, but growing community. Here in this quaint settlement was a sense of serene living, where a family still could have traditional values to grow with.
Everyone noticed the black Royals Royce as it pulled up to the only hotel in Pleasant Valley. A traveler supposedly was looking for collectible historical articles. He had come here to investigate whether or not anything of interest was available. The strange man spoke with ease as he questioned the towns' people about different events in the local area. His knowledge of the history of the town and surrounding area was quiet profound.
There was no doubt that this stranger had a genuine reason for being in town. His manner of slyness appeared to reveal honesty and his personality just drew you into him. Leland had arrived with few belongings, but no one seemed concerned about his personal affects. He ate at the hotel every night and always seem to find someone to strike up a conversation with. That small talk always led to the same topic, the compound outside of town.
Behind every question was a motive for him. " So, who are all of those people up there in that compound?" he asked the waitress as she sat down his rare T Bone steak.
"They're weird, not part of our town." Ethel answered him, glad to be able to inform him that no one in town thought of those people as part of their community. She stood beside him watching him cut into his steak, smacking her gum.
Leland hated her hair style. That awful twisted up beehive hairdo. She looked like something from the fifties, too out dated for this day and time. He turned to gaze at her before speaking with his controlled tone, " Is there something else you need from me Ethel?" he asked, as he waited on her to move on to another customer.
"Oh no. Just seeing if everything was okay with your food." she answered still smacking and cracking her gum.
"Every thing's fine, thanks. I'll let you know if I need anything else." Leland responded as he waited on her to leave him in peace.
"Shoot, those folks aren't normal." Earl shouted out in response to Leland's question. His over sized frame struggled to balance on the pivoting bar stool. Earl rearranged his ball cap on his balding head and continued his thoughts," Hell, ain't no tell'n what's going on up there with those folks. Some kind of cult is what I think." He took a big gulp of his beer and turned his attention back to the baseball game on the television.
Leland sat at his table soaking up the conversation into his memory. After a few seconds he cleared his throat then spoke, as always his tone was even and quiet penetrating, "Well now, during my many travels I have come across several different cults. I have found that in most cases cults keep very close to their own group just doing whatever their leader requires of them." He paused long enough to chew another pieces of rare steak and a bite of red potatoes, then continued with his thoughts,"Has anyone spoken to any of those people in the compound yet? You know, to try to find out exactly what they're up to if anything." His dark eyes shifted easily around the room as one by one each person there turned to look at each other.
It was Earl who spoke again, turning around on his squeaky stool, speaking as though he was the spokes person of this little group," Well shoot, we've really never thought much about them folks up there. They mostly keep to themselves, just the way we like it."
" Ah, but for how long will they keep to themselves? Cults in the beginning do keep to themselves until it's time to expand. One can never know for sure what a cult is really like until the unspeakable happens." Leland said, pushing his empty plate out of the way with his bony fingers. There was no need to say more, for his statement would have the desired effect if he only gave it a few seconds to sink in.
After having paid his dinner bill and tipping Ethel, Leland stood to his full height, pushed his chair in under the table and turned to head upstairs to his room. As he got to the stairs he stopped to interject one last thought, "It is your community after all. I guess you'll do what's best for Pleasant Valley and it's residents. We all have to protect our own. Well that's been my experience with cults, historically that is." With that the stranger known only as Leland disappeared upstairs to retreat to his room, out of sight of prying eyes.
Sunshine broke across the horizon shattering bright rays of warmth with it. Small streams of sunbeams bounced off of the parade of vehicles that moved slowly up the dusty road towards their destination. There were ten trucks of various makes and models all lined up behind one another. Some were aged, old and rusty in spots while others gleamed from being newer models. Each bed of the truck and passenger seats were filled with able bodied men of different ages as well. In the beds of the trucks lay the guns, well oiled and cleaned, ready for the hunt or the fight.
For weeks now there had been plenty of talk all regarding the compound. A town meeting had even been called to discuss what was going on up there in that newly formed cult. Everyone weighed in on what they thought was going on and what could possibly happen. Accusation had been plentiful and fear was in no short supply either.
Leland had been invited to give his valued opinion on the matter since he was at present the only historical person around with cult knowledge. He was more than happy to assist the towns people in their needful ways. Behind every truth there can be a lie and behind every lie the truth is revealed. Leland knew exactly how to navigate his way through both of these philosophies.
In the early morning on a beautiful Friday the compound was silent, calm with everyone sleeping inside. No one knew or had even suspected that the towns people of Pleasant Valley had developed a problem with their simple lifestyle. It was no surprised that as the ten trucks pulled up in front of the fence there was not one person from the compound to greet anyone.
Most of the men unloaded from the trucks taking a rifle or gun of some type with him. They each leaned against the trucks, nervously waiting on the confrontation that would surely result from their actions. It had been Leland's information that had convinced the men to go and take a look at the compound and it's people.
When everyone was in place Earl held up his bull horn speaking into it with his loud voice,"You inside the compound, come out with your hands up. We're here to talk to your leader. We know you have children in there, so come on out now with your hands up and no one will be harmed. Let the children go." he demanded.
Inside the compound the people of the congregation had already been preparing for their Dooms Day. Daniel had preached many times that each of them should be ready to defend their home and their way of worship. Leland had come day after day teaching and preaching the warning of being prepare to fight the war if necessary for their master."They will come to destroy all that you have built and all that you believe." he had told them over and over again.
Now, it was Daniel calling upon the members of the compound to take up arms in this holy war," Gather yourselves together and prepare to defend this place in your master's name. Have no doubts, stand fast with your faith, our master will protect us from all harm." he shouted, still holding onto his bible. Daniel knew that the time of the unholy believers had begun. It would be his congregation that would be the first line of defense in their master's name.
Inside the old wooden church the members had gathered for one last moment of prayer. Each one of them had sworn to protect this church and the compound with their very lives. For the truth of the master would protect them all and not even death could part them from their master's promise. Faithful followers would always take up the cross when the enemy stood at the gate. Today would be one of those days.
As the sound of Earl's voice traveled inside the the church, the ladies moved the children to the lower level of the church's structure for safety. The last warning had been given and the count down had begun. It was only a matter of seconds before the two opposing sides faced each other down.
The first shot rang out breaking one of the stain glass windows, as shots were being fired from all sides of the wooden building at the same time. Bullets were flying from outside of the church as well from the inside. Window after window was shot out out by flying bullets. From somewhere within the church a fire started, wood blazing up in angry waves reaching high into the morning sky.
One by one bodies began to hit the ground outside the wooden fence and screams of horror could be heard coming from the inside of the church. Plumes of smoke spiraled upwards toward the heavens as gun after gun from both outside and inside continued to fire. The earth began to turn crimson from the blood of the wounded or dead. Both parties had lost many of their own and yet no one could actually say why this had happen.
Leland watched the chaos from the distance feeling proud that his master's will had been carried out. The plan had been easily planted and only took a little pushing. As always mankind would do the rest. The destruction had been great and now his task was completed. He smiled revealing his dark teeth behind those thin lips. He stood on top of the hill surveying his handy work speaking out loud," Ah, the master will be well pleased, always the feeding of fear and pride, blood lust for the feast. Master will be very please with this." His dark eyes gleamed as he tipped his black hat at the smoldering smoke from the burning church.
Having no further need of this place Leland got into his black Royal Royce and sped away watching the bright orange flames shooting high into the morning sky in his rear view mirror. From outside the compound and within it's doors only the dead remain behind. The hell fires were burning brightly and the master was indeed please................
Bret and Ameila stood beside the broken fence that had once separated the compound from the world's evil. Blood stained the grass and dirt as empty bullet shells covered the ground. Small trickles of smoke still rose up as there was only ash and burnt wood that once had been an old white washed church.
"This is his handy work alright. His way is blood and death. These poor people, they never realized what he truly was." Ameila said. She was so sad and heart broken for the lost of so many innocent lives. Her hair whipped lightly about her face as she stood at the ruins recalling the near destruction that Leland had meant to cause on her own home town.
"Doom and death, that's what he seeks and it is all that remains after he is gone. Ameila, we have to find him. We have to put a stop to the madness once and for all, we just have to no matter what it takes." Bret said, his voice so full of anger as well as sorrow. He looked at her taking her hand in his as he spoke again, this time with more purpose than ever,"We, you and I are the Doom Seekers. We seek his doom where ever it leads us. We will always know where he has been because he always leaves behind death and destruction everywhere he goes. Ameila our lives no longer belong to us, but to all of those that he seeks to harm. There simply is no turning back now. We have to find him no matter what it takes.We have to finish this." Bret turned from the sight of the last known horror that Leland had caused.
With Ameila beside him they would hunt Leland across this land, seeking to put an end to his pain and terror to those who were unsuspecting. From one Continent to another, where ever they had to travel, they would somehow end his evil reign.
Somewhere a thousand miles away a black Royals Royce sat quietly in front of the hotel in an off beat city. A wicked smile appeared on the thin lips of the tall stranger as he spoke in his most even an reassuring tone,"Excuse me miss," He said to the young girl walking down the street,"Can you recommend a quiet place for an old tired traveler?"
" He who brings the gift of light bears no evil."
Be wise in your choice of masters, for one leads to the kingdom of heaven and one to the gates of hell.
C.J.Ayers
12/12/14
