Six Steps of Adjudication

The rain tapped against the windshield: unyielding and unfeeling. The package had arrived three days earlier, in an unmarked envelope.

Inside was twenty-thousand dollars in hundred dollar wads, a book, and a simple note with a simple message:


 We wait for you at the birth place of the Prophet,

where God Himself was slain.

Be not afraid of the Shadow.

Perhaps “simple” wasn’t the best description.

Since the arrival of that book strange things have occurred; things I can’t explain- that defy explanation. I still haven’t decided what to do with the money. I didn’t trust it. I laid my head on the steering wheel and sighed. After a moment I glanced over to where the book now sat in the passenger seat.

The cover was unadorned- no title, no author, just a plain black face. It wasn’t large- a rather small book truth be told- but it was certainly older than it led on. There was an air about it that one couldn’t quite put their finger on. Only the title page gave away an inkling of its purpose- “Six Steps of Adjudication.” It sat there, as if patiently waiting for something to happen.

I, too, was waiting.

Lighting flashed, briefly illuminating the abandoned church beyond the windshield. The rain was coming down in buckets. I remained unmoved, hands gripping the steering wheel. Finally, with a sharp exhale, I zipped up my jacket, grabbed the book, and shoved open the car door.

As I approached the old clapboard church, long since abandoned, I had the feeling I was being watched. When I climbed the steps to the large wooden door I glanced back over my shoulder. Peering through the sheets of rain I could see nothing but the trees lining the thicket, the old dirt road I had come down moments ago, and, far off in the distance, the faint twinkle of the city lights.

Who ever- or what ever- was watching me did not want to make their presence known quite yet.

I tugged my jacket closer to me, breath white in the chilly rain, and pulled open the door. It swung open with a dull creak, protesting movement after years of solemn solitude. A gust of wind blew by prickling the hairs on the back of my neck. I stepped inside the abandoned sanctum. The door swung shut, enveloping me in a shroud of darkness.

As my eyes adjusted to the dim light the room became much easier to see. Dust rained down from the rafters high above, disturbed from the door’s opening, and settled beneath my feet. As my eyes followed it down I saw weeds peeping up through the spaces of the floorboards. I could see ivy vines creeping in from the cracks in the wooden slats of the old building walls. They chipped away at the white paint, now stained and bruised with age. The smell of wet dirt, strong and musty, hit my nose. Nature had long since reclaimed her territory; the mix of artificial human design and overgrowth gave the space an otherworldly feeling.

I made my way past the ornate wooden pews, facing forward in stoic silence: waiting. Outside the rain pattered on the roof steadily: a rumble in the background. White candles, in tarnished candelabras or strewn about the floor, long since burned down to nubs, were the only decor in sight.

No...that wasn’t quite true.

Near the back of the chamber, lit only by moon-light faintly shining through a small circular stained-glass window, sat something against the far wall.

Walking up the two steps of the raised platform, I discovered it was an altar. More candles, these ones red, littered the old table, and had left rings of wax on its surface. A sun-bleached cow skull filled with dried flowers and herbs took up most of the small table. There was also a cracked ceramic bowl and a small figurine of some creature.

I didn’t recognize it. Like the book, it felt ancient in origin.

Curious.

Another crack of thunder shook the church, timed just perfectly to hide the sound of creaking floorboards.

By the time I’d felt someone behind me, it was too late. I felt a searing pain on the back of my head. Once more I found myself in darkness...

———

When I finally awoke everything was still dark.

My head ached dully, throbbing from where I was struck.

At least, that’s what I think happened. It was hard to be sure.

The ground beneath me was cold against my bare skin. I realized I was naked. As I tried to move I found my hands bound behind me. My feet too, were tied.

Fuck.

Not good.

I strained to listen for something- anything- to tell me where I was.

The rain still pitter-pattered against the roof. The floors were firm, solid- smooth to the touch. I guess I’m still in the church- jury’s out on whether or not that’s a good thing. My eyes fluttered open.

I was still in the same building. However, the room was much brighter now.

The candles, before cold and dead, were once more alive and cast flickering shadows across the walls. The door was also thrown upon, exposing the room to the elements. It was definitely still raining. The candlelight made the room appear that much more dilapidated. The floors were dirty and stained. The wall’s white paint had been chipped away quite severely, and what remained was covered in a film of hazy soot. Another crack of thunder, followed by silence.

I sensed I wasn’t alone.

Another gust of wind made the candles flicker, followed quickly by a flash of lightning.

Illuminating a shadowy figure out in the field.

As quickly as it had appeared it was gone. Just as I’d convinced myself my eyes were playing tricks on me another flash came. As did the shadow.

Only this time it was much closer.

shit.

Shit.

SHIT SHIT SHIT!

If ever there was a worse time to be tied up it would be NOW! I frantically searched for a way out, but of course the stupid church only had one door. Damn lazy Puritans. Ok fine, if I can’t escape maybe I can slow it down? I’ve gotta get to the door somehow, but how am I gonna do that?!”

Another flash; this time the shadow was passing my car near the edge of the clearing.

This is not how it’s gonna end. No way in HELL am I dying in a backwoods church! Ok, I’ve gotta sit up somehow. Maybe if I scoot to the edge of the platform I can leverage myself using the steps...right?

Flash. Now it was about halfway to the door.

No time to think!

I pulled my knees up to my chest and rolled myself around like a turtle until I was square on my back. I started rocking to gain momentum, and then heaved myself up into a sitting position.

Alright, time to start scooting...god, I really hope I don’t get splinters in my ass. That would really put a damper on this whole “impending doom” thing.

I stretched my legs out, getting some traction on the floor, and pulled myself forward by my heels. Inch by inch I made my way to the edge. Once there, I put my feet firmly on the top step. Taking a deep breathe, praying I didn’t lose my balance and fall, I lunged into a standing position.

Flash. Even closer now.

I looked from it to the door and back again. Not much time left.

As best as I could I hopped down the last step onto the floor. Somehow I maintained my balance. Making my way across the church was an agonizingly slow process , but I’d just about made it to the door when the lightning flashed once more.

The shadow creature was just a few feet from the stairs. As soon as the lightning stopped it disappeared.

With one final leap I slammed my body full-force against the door, jamming it shut.

Fuck, that hurt.

No time to focus on pain. I had just moments to find somewhere to hide. I decided the pews were the best option. I’d just wriggled my way under the space of the second row pew, nearest the aisle, when a loud boom of thunder shook the building.

And then silence.

Then the door burst open and slammed against the wall. Heavy footsteps made their way inside, taking two steps in. Another flash of lightning came, but no figure was silhouetted in the doorframe. The footsteps grew closer. My heart pounded in my ears. I could feel it just on the other side of the pew now. Only a few inches of wood stood between me and whatever that thing was. I suppressed the urge to scream.

Slowly it came into view, and what I saw sent a chill down my spine.

The thing looked humanoid but much taller- at least seven feet- and lanky. Long arms hung limply by its side. Claws scraped the ground. Hooves took the place of feet. Where its head should have been sat a bone-white deer skull, with huge antlers and long teeth. It heaved shallow breathe, but its chest never moved. The strangest thing, though, was that it appeared solid but not at the same time. It seemed to almost...flicker. Like static on a tv, solid one second and invisible the next: transparent even. As it continued its slow trek up the aisle it became more and more solid. I no longer could see it clearly, but the thud of its hooves against the floorboards echoed in the quiet room interrupted only by the rain and occasional thunder.

Then...it stopped. All sound in the room left.

I exhaled a quiet breathe.

And then the pew went flying overhead, and I was face to face with the Shadow.

Before I could react it reached down and entangled its bony fingers in my hair and began dragging me forward. I tried to resist, to do anything, but I was helpless in my current state.

I kicked.

I screamed.

But it held its grip firmly.

As I was dragged down the aisle I heard a new sound emerge.

Like...whispering.

No...

Chanting. Faint at first. And then growing steadily louder.

Reaching the platform the Shadow lifted me up over the steps, forcing me to my knees in front of the altar. My eyes darted around the room, but it was empty. The chanting was coming from nowhere. The pews were vacant but I knew people were there. In those empty seats sat a congregation readying themselves for what would happen next.

I hadn’t noticed until now that I’d been crying. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I kneeled there, terrified.

My head was yanked back, exposing my neck, and once again I was looking at the creature. Its eyes were empty and dark: an endless void that I became lost in.

Slowly, it raised a single razor-sharp claw. The chanting thronged in my ears.

I was going to die.

I let out a long, agonizing scream, before the Shadow’s hand swooped down.

Then it all went dark.

———

My eyes shot open as I slammed my head backwards. Sweat dripped down my face, my breathing labored as I forced myself to calm down. It seems I’d dozed off and my head had slid down onto the truck’s horn, startling me awake. I stared out the window and saw the old church, the same one I was just in, the one I’d driven all the way here to find, standing ominously in the distance.

It was all a dream...but it felt so real.

I looked over to my passenger seat. The book still sat there. Waiting.

Nothing had happened...

The rain still tapped against the windshield.