Three

Sparks arced over her hair and along her skin as it bleached to an absence of color, her complexion assuming a deathly pallor. Dark circles appeared under her eyes as they turned from their customary green to a bright red. Stationary, unaware of anything around her she sat in a vegetative state. Her mind was contorted in its struggle with the entity that came from the crystal. A battle of wills had begun for control of Angel’s body. Into the dawning of the next day it seemed that neither would win.

Sensing that Neil was returning soon the entity within increased its exertions for total control of Angel. The deep seated anger Neil carried within could prove quite useful it felt. Using the part of her mind that it controlled fully it sent a telepathic message to urge Neil to hurry.

* * *

Driving in the pickup he could feel something that was calling him from a distance. He jabbed the gas pedal harder as he urged the old green truck to move faster. The destination became the focus as the speedometer passed 50 miles per hour if he had bothered to notice it.

He argued with himself as he drove along. There’s no way those things happening yesterday at Angel’s was real, was there? Well, I’ll show her when I see her this morning. How dare that bitch be tryin’ to get away from me?!?!

* * *

Knowing its next chosen host was on his way delighted the entity. In the bedroom the crystal continued to hover as it spun in place. Red light illuminated the entire room. Angel got up from the chair and walked through the living room. As she passed by the chair that Jet was laying on his hackles raised and he hissed at her. Ignoring him as he ran behind the sofa she continued to make her way to the bedroom.

Getting close to the night stand she extended her arm. The crystal floated over to just above her hand and laid itself into her open palm. Turning slowly, her stilting steps carried her towards the front door. The crystal held out in front of her like a pagan offering. Reaching the door she opened it and stepped out on the porch to await Neil’s imminent arrival. An old woman walking her dog crossed the street quickly on seeing the deathly apparition. As she urged her barking dog along faster the color returned to Angel’s complexion.

* * *

Driving as quickly as he could he barely avoided several accidents. The pickup swayed violently with every close call. All that he could think about was how she had gotten away from him. He decided he would tell her that she had to come home with him now. Turning the corner to her house his focus became the white single story bungalow. Squinting at the figure on the porch he wondered what she was doing standing out there. That was something that was uncharacteristic of her to do and yet she looked the same as always in her cotton print night gown.

He contemplated a moment over why she was there, but his ego prevented his seeing the obvious answer. She must have sensed I was on my way and knew she had to be waiting for me.

Slowing down he came to a stop beside the curb. Sitting for a few moments behind the wheel he watched Angel as she walked towards him. Her steps no longer stilting, she walked along appearing totally normal even with the entity now in complete control.

He opened the door with every intention of having her ass sitting in the passenger side. Thoughts of her coming along with him filled his mind. It didn’t occur to him to consider the thing she was carrying in her hand. Meeting her on the sidewalk he opened his arms to wrap them around her. Before he could encircle her it was as if a jolt travelled through him from her. It caused him to stagger and stop in mid stride. Something black rushed into him and everything within his sight darkened.

Released suddenly by the entity Angel fainted and fell on the pathway. No longer held in her grip the crystal hovered in place a moment and then moved towards him. His fingers opened involuntarily as it moved into his grip. Wavering a few moments in place his eyes and skin turned white. In jerky movements he turned around and lurched back toward the driver’s door.

Sliding behind the seat he slams the door closed. The truck rocked with the violence. His dead white eyes peered down at the crystal in his hand. Sneering, he threw it on top of the dash. Hitting the windshield it caused a crack to begin at the bottom. Pulling the keys out of his pocket he selected one and held it out acting in exaggerated movements. Jamming the key in the ignition he turned it as the truck roared to life.

Stomping on the gas pedal he peeled away from the curb. Tires squealed as the rear end of the old truck fish tailed. Finally catching after a short distance the truck lumbered down the road. Smoothing out as it picked up speed it began to steady itself. Staring out through the window he didn’t notice he was speeding through the town’s traffic lights. After several blocks a police car took up chase. Following close behind, its siren blared a warning to any passerby.

The pickup moved towards the river bridge at 80 miles per hour. Hitting the ramp up to the deck the truck lurched into the air. Landing on top of the railing the gas tank split and splashed the liquid everywhere. As the truck fell down towards the water a spark set off the volatile substance. The resulting fireball burnt the paint off the side of the bridge and arced through the air towards the pickup. Reaching the now ripped open gas tank it exploded and caused it to flip over on to its top.

Hitting the water the pickup sank to the bottom and buried itself in the deep mud up to the wheel wells. Water seeping in filled the cab very slowly. Removing itself from Neil the entity transferred back into the crystal now lying on the inside of the roof. The fading red glow clearly showed the water level to him as he came to. Attempting to grab a breath he raised up towards the floor boards.

Taking a deep breath he explored the windows trying to open them. Opening his eyes caused them to burn from the river water. Noticing the deep mud against the glass he panicked. Slamming his fists into the glass proved ineffective to release him from his watery tomb. When he realized that all was lost he felt calm began to descend upon him as the red light shining from the crystal faded. With his last gasp the darkness welcomed his long tortured soul.

The crystal now awaited a new host that would come as they always had throughout the millennia.

The End

Liturgy