The Demons in White

The cabin in the woods had been abandoned for years, but one night, a candle burned in the window. The cabin is just behind the edge of the tall pines and I have a clear view of it from my bedroom window. Our house is next to the church grounds where I volunteer and maintain the sloping green grounds.

I was editing a sermon for the pastor when I saw the light. I glance at my sleeping wife. The soft light of the candle on my desk, along with the moonlight, makes the pale skin of her cheek look like it's glowing, and I think of our two children sleeping. I know it's up to me to protect them and this small town I love.

The Bible says we are all sinners, but I've seen true demons walk among us. There are monstrous creatures in this world who prey on and slaughter the lives of the innocent. And they're back.

I pinch out the candle on my desk and walk to my bedside table to collect my gun and sit on the corner of my bed as I lace up my black boots.

Many years ago, the cabin was used by the town healer. Over time, demonic creatures slowly infiltrated, until it became more of a sacrificial slaughterhouse than a place of healing. Its isolated location allowed these horrors to occur, unbeknownst to most of the town. When I discovered what was happening behind the wooden walls, I took it upon myself to rescue as many people as I could and to kill as many monsters as I could. I did. We had years of peace, and over time the woods grew around the cabin. I suspected that, someday, there would be a return, and tonight is the night. I will not let the Devil terrorize this town once more.

I turn and kiss my wife on the forehead before walking out of the bedroom. I peek into the kids' room and see they're both still sleeping. I quietly leave my house and start walking in the direction of the woods. I can see my breath illuminated by the moonlight. As I approach, I hear what sounds like a woman's voice coming from the cabin. I hurry my pace before I'm too late.

As I enter the woods the smell of the fresh sap stings my nostrils. I move fast from tree to tree, crouching like an animal. I am now only feet from the burning candle in the window. I'm not sure if I imagined it, but I think I hear someone cry out in pain. The hair on the back of my neck rises and I take my pistol out and cock it.

I creep directly under the window and as slowly as I can, I raise myself up to peek inside.

The window is grimy and difficult to see through, but I can make out two figures in white on the floor, surrounded by a circle of lit candles. One is holding sharp long tools up to the other who is lying on her back with her legs spread.

I know this scene all too well - the ritual has already begun. I am overcome with horror and lose all my sense of composure and simply react. I stand up, take aim and unload my rounds into the cabin. The explosions of my gun and the shattering of the glass cause me to squint my eyes but I am still laser focused. I pray that I am not too late.

After my final bullet, there is no more movement in the cabin. I climb in through the window, cutting my fingers.

The inside smells like a strange combination of years of settled dust mingled with sanitizing fluid. Medical instruments are scattered around the sacrificial area where the two demons lay, dead. One had taken on the appearance of a woman in a white gown, and the other of a woman with a white coat. Blood is pouring out of numerous holes in their heads and chests, but they are not important anymore. I hurry to look in between the legs of the demon on her back. I lift up her dress and see blood oozing out of her gaping, bloody hole. It smells like pennies and is so pungent that I feel like I'm tasting instead of smelling. The blood is pooling around a thick red clump, the size of a plum.

"No!" I scream and dive towards the innocent child. I pick up the small, dark, red ball and hold it in my hands and am overcome with grief. To see such a new innocent human life, murdered, triggers one of the most primal experiences of my life. I start sobbing and heaving uncontrollably. I hold the red mass to my lips and kiss it repeatedly; I don't even care that my face and hands are now smeared with blood. I look at the two demons in disgust. They both lay there in pools of their own blood. I spit on both of them in turn and knock the medical tools out of the white coat's gloved hands. I hold the innocent baby tightly to my chest while I close my eyes and start rocking back and forth while humming a hymn. When I open my eyes again, the large pool of blood looks black and congealed and I feel sticky. I stand up and walk over the bodies to blow out all the candles. I know better than to burn the cabin down, this place works like a trap for these kinds of Devils. I walk out the front door and leave it open so the wolves will find and take care of the corpses.

I walk with the child in my hand towards the church graveyard. I gently place the child on the grass and take my time to dig a small hole next to the dozens of other children I tried to save. When I finish, I pick up and look at the innocent child in my hands. Tears well in my eyes. I place it in the hole and cover it with cold, moist dirt. I place a small wooden cross on the ground to mark the sacred spot and I say a few words. I wish I could have made it to the cabin before they started the ritual, but I remember that at least this innocent soul is now with God. I dry my tears and feel a small sense of solace as I walk back home.

I am settled with a new resolve. I'm not going to wait for these monsters to come to my town anymore. I am going to go find and kill every last demon.

The End