Chapter Twenty Six

Scotty walked across the endless dirt and rocks wondering how he'd gotten there. Looking around he saw no signs of life, everything was dead… dead trees, dead animal carcasses, no water, no grass, absolutely nothing alive, everywhere as far as he could see there was only death and destruction. For what seemed like hours he stumbled across the ground until he saw a tall figure approaching him. Scotty stopped when he felt the goose bumps form on his arms, and his head screamed at him to run, but he had never run from anything in his life, so instead he stood his ground ready to take on whatever came at him.

When finally the figure reached him he couldn't help but question his judgment and silently wondered if he should have run after all. "Of course you should have run you fool," the being hissed and Scotty shivered. "But it would not have done you any good, so it is just as well that you did not waste my time." The being continued and Scotty balled up his fists refusing to let his fear overcome him. "Where am I?" The question seemed to be funny to the being who began to cackle a low evil laugh and Scotty found himself having trouble remaining where he was. The urge to turn and flee was almost overwhelming.

"You're in my world," the being hissed reaching out and before Scotty could react he found himself in the being's grasp and being pulled upward so that they were face to face. The being's face was all black with tiny red eyes. The skin was terribly wrinkled and seemed almost leather-like as if it was hundreds or even thousands of years old. The nose was prolonged and almost beak like and the teeth were pointy. When he spoke his forked tongue came out like a snake's. There was nothing humanlike about this… thing. Scotty realized that it was only pure evil. "What do you want with me?" Scotty asked and again the being cackled this time louder. Its head tipped back as it laughed and the cloak that had been covering the back of its head fell off. Scotty feverishly wished that it hadn't. No hair covered the being's head. Instead a mass of snakes and bugs covered the back if its head and when they started making their way towards him Scotty shook in earnest. This only made the being laugh further.

"You are here because you belong here," the being hissed and quickly Scotty shook his head. The denial only seemed to anger the creature and it hissed loudly its hot stank breath shoot out like a blast of dead air. "YOU ARE MINE!" The creature hissed and Scotty suddenly felt a sharp pain in his gut. The being released his hold dropping Scotty to the ground laughing again and Scotty looked down seeing a hole where his stomach had been. Shaking his head quickly Scotty looked up at the creature horrified as it's features began to transform taking on a human-like quality. "YOU!" He gasped as the life drained from him quickly. "I told you that you were mine," the being turned man spat evilly. "I told you that you belonged here and here you will remain for all eternity." Scotty opened his mouth to reply, but couldn't find the energy as he died in the dirt trapped in the nether region forever.

Angel opened her eyes slowly not sure what had awakened her. The room was bright with the light of day and smiling happily rolled over to kiss Scotty, but his pale features made her pause. Realizing that her hands felt sticky she looked down to see them covered in blood that had soaked through the sheets of their bed. Pulling back the covers she saw everything covered in blood and a hole through Scott's chest so big that Dave could probably fit his arm through. Opening her mouth she screamed loudly shaking her head as she clutched Scotty to her chest.

It was her own screams that finally awoke her. "Angelface wake up!" O'Haire insisted. "You're gonna smother Scott in that chest of yours." Angels' frightened eyes turned downward to find Scotty's face clutched to her chest. Quickly she released him almost throwing him away from her and tore at his shirt so that she could run her hands over his chest and stomach as Glen and Sean ran in. "What's goin on?" Sean asked and hearing his voice Angel turned her face towards Glen. The big man knew from the look on her face that she had seen It. "What the fuck is it?" She asked Glen who just hung his head in shame as the others looked on confused.

In one fluid motion Angel bound from the bed and leapt across the short distance grabbing Glen's face, her fingernails digging into his skin in her fear and anger. "WHAT THE FUCK IS IT GODDAMNIT?" Glen just shook his head looking upward and Angel hissed angrily. "What the fuck have you done?" she asked her eyes glowing with anger. Glen paled drastically and Sean finally was spurred into motion shoving Angel backwards putting himself between them. Angel stumbled into O'Haire who growled low and deep at the smaller man who just glared at him unafraid. On the bed Scotty wondered why World War III was breaking out in his hotel room and hurried over putting himself between the two parties. "Might I remind you people that we are all friends here?"

Glen finally lifted his eyes afraid and ashamed to look at Angel. "I'm sorry I… He made promises I thought…" Hissing again Angel spat angrily. "You thought you thought… obviously not enough! It's after my SCOTTY!" Quickly Glen turned his eyes to Scotty then back to her shaking his head as if he could not believe it. Hearing his name Scott frowned turning his attention away from peace keeping and towards the danger that he was apparently in. "No, he can't be." Glen denied and Angel actually growled making even O'Haire take a step away from her. "WHO IS IT?" She screamed and Glen shook his head again then looked to Scotty and sighed. "It's…" Glen started intending to answer then grabbed his throat as the sound ceased. Angel cursed and ran to Glen as he dropped to the ground unable to speak or breathe. "GODDAMNIT LEAVE HIM ALONE I COMMAND YOU!" Angel screamed and the men jumped as their hair stood up as if electrified and an eerie light appeared in the room. "I command you to leave this man. Your presence in him is no longer welcomed! He is under my protection evil being! LEAVE!"

A loud screech was heard and Scotty and O'Haire looked at each other wide eyed as Sean jumped into Glen's lap shaking. The air in the room seemed to fill with the smell of death and decay and Angel stood gritting her teeth. "I COMMAND YOU TO LEAVE! NO ONE HERE WELCOMES YOU!" A loud cackling was heard and as Angel turned her head to Scotty she saw the blood drain from his face. "That laugh… that laugh…" he muttered sinking to the bed and Angel ran to him putting her hands on his face forcing him to look at her. "What about it baby? What about the laugh?" Scotty looked at her wide eyed. "I heard it in my dream before you woke me up." Angel closed her eyes and began to cry knowing how close her lover had come to dying.

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