Holy Hellfire
The house was well built, sound insulation was the main consideration of course. From the outside it looked like a regular suburban home, even the garden was immaculate. Nothing to indicate the dark horrors inside. In a world where humans were feeling more and more powerless, they were turning to fanatical cults that promised them more, more power.. more control.. but always at a price. If you opened the door you would smell the blood from the “sacrifices” .. or you might hear the screams of the “guests” who were bound in the basement.. you would hear none of it from the outside of course. The leader of the Cult, Sunita Devaligne sipped her expensive wine.. a gift from a benefactor looking to ascend, savouring the dark and subtle complexities.. this moment of peace and introspections was cut short by one of her “acolytes” hurrying in.
“You know I don’t like to be disturbed during my prayers”
Well.. prayers was a grand term for counting her donations and locating vulnerable “guests” online.
“I know... but the girl.. the new one... I'm sorry, she escaped.”
Sunita jumps to her feet.
“HOW? WHEN??”
The acolyte winces backwards.
“This morning, she... a window in the bathroom.”
Sunita smashes her glass on the ground and draws a dented 1911 pistol.
“And you only tell me now?! You have failed me for the last time.”
She aims the gun and over the gasping pleas of the acolyte... a doorbell rings.
Sunita pauses.
“Your life it seems, has been spared. Go see who that is.”
The acolyte scurries out while Sunita begins the process of engaging her bought off police officers to find the girl.
Down at the door the acolyte puts on a stepford smile and opens the door.
“Hello, how may I help you?”
“I ran in to a girl who says she knows you.”
The colour drains from the acolytes face.
“May I come in?”
“Nn.. no... I'm afraid now is not a good time.”
“My apologies.. it only sounded like a question. I assure you.. it wasn't.”
The man enters and closes the door behind him. The small girl watching from the street, wrapped up in a blanket and drinking a soda, observes the scarlet hellfire lights through the windows, before the man drags a woman out by her jacket.
“Dispatch, please send medics to my location”
