The Altar

by James Arthur Anderson

  He knew this was the worst shape it had taken on yet. When it was a mass of burning lava it had been frightening-but instinctively people stayed away from fire and knew what it was. When it had taken on the rock shape it had been little more than a beast, almost like something out of a comic book or a bad horror movie. And as a man it hadn’t been anything, really, except a very bad person. Todd knew there were enough of them running around in the real world, so this was nothing new. He’d been taught to watch out for and avoid bad people all of his life.

  But this was different. The body was so hideous. But the face was so beautiful-and so human. It almost looked friendly, affectionate, welcoming. He knew it was still the demon, of course, but this was…different. He was afraid that if the thing had completely transformed into a woman he would have just followed after it like a lovesick puppy and done whatever it wanted just to be near it.

  But he couldn’t let himself think that way, and he was grateful that the monster still looked like a monster to remind him of what it really was.

  He cradled his baby sister close to his chest and followed his Dad and the Indian, staying just behind them in case the demon should turn and launch an attack. He didn’t even fear for himself much anymore-he’d almost become immune to shock and pain and the fear of death-but he didn’t want anything to happen to this tiny, innocent baby that he had helped to bring into the world.

  He followed along, knowing that whatever was about to happen would occur very soon, and one way or another, this thing would be over. He just hoped that whatever happened to him was final, one way or the other. He was willing to face death, if that were his fate. Or go back to the world and try to pick up his life.

  He did not want to be the host body for this terrible demon, even if it did have a gorgeous face and beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes. He would rather die than face that. Because as beautiful as that face was on the outside, he had seen the ugliness, the hideousness of what lie within. Sharing his body with that thing would mean living with this revolting presence constantly, eating, sleeping, and being with it always until it grew tired of him and cast him off for something else. Anything, even death, was better than that.

  He still had that sharp stone in his pocket and would use it on himself if he needed to-though he wasn’t even sure he could die while he was still in this world. But he’d keep it, just the same, in case the need arose. He knew that killing yourself was wrong-but he suspected it would be ok if you were doing it to save yourself, and others, from a demon like this one.

  He looked ahead at his father and could sense his Dad’s fear. He knew his Dad was deathly afraid of spiders and scorpions and anything like that. It was as if the demon had sensed what would be most unpleasant. Todd wondered if he were the strongest one of the three right now; the thought that he might be terrified him more than the demon even.

  Then his Dad looked back at him, smiled, and flashed him the thumbs up sign. Maybe they’d be ok after all, he thought.

  He grinned back at his Dad and, holding the baby carefully, returned the thumbs up sign.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  1

  Erik saw Vickie sprawled out on the sand looking miserable and helpless. As soon as he saw her his heart melted and he began to run, skirting around the demon and hurrying to her side. She was weeping uncontrollably as he knelt beside her and took her in his arms.

  “It’s ok, Sweetheart. It’s going to be ok.”

  “Oh, Erik,” she sobbed. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you. I love you so very deeply.”

  “The baby….”

  “Todd has her.” Erik held her up so she could see Todd and the baby, and Johnny Dovecrest. “We’re all here.”

  “Even that thing,” she sneered. “It tried to take our baby.”

  “I know, Vic. I know.”

  The demon clicked its pincers together as it watched them. Its human head was tilted slightly to the side as it scrutinized them, as if it were trying to understand what was happening. Love was a foreign thing to its world. Its entire existence was based upon hatred, anger, fear, and wrath. Love was repugnant to it, and that was why it had been banished to this other world, far away from any kind of companionship or compassion or caring. It belonged here, not on the earth where it could infect others with its hate. There was already enough rage and hate in the world of men. The earth certainly didn’t need any more.

  “So what are you going to do with us?” Erik asked. “What comes next?”

  The demon laughed, still in that silky-sweet feminine voice that didn’t sound right coming from a monster.

  “That all depends,” it said. “They have something I want. And I am going to have it. You can try and stop me. Or not. That is your choice.”

  Dovecrest stepped forward and addressed the creature in a confident voice. “What is it you want?”

  “I’m tired of being here. I’ve had a taste of the earth and I enjoyed what I found. I want more.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m not supposed to be there. And because now I can be there.”

  “So you’re going to go back to the earth and create more destruction? I can’t let you do that.”

  “I’m afraid you don’t really have any choice about what I do. But this time I’d like to go back in a different form. As a human. As a child. I could be more…subtle…about the things I did.”

  “As a child?” Dovecrest said.

  “No one would even know I was anything but an innocent little boy,” it said smoothly. “Or perhaps a baby girl. I could take either one of them.”

  Vickie screamed. “I won’t let you take my children! Either of them!”

  “I will take one of them. If you don’t cooperate, I’ll take both of them.”

  “No. Please don’t take my children. Take me. But please don’t take my kids.”

  “Ah, life is so unfair,” the demon said. “I had planned to kill you and your meddling friends, then sacrifice one child to take the other. But I’m prepared to offer you a chance to sacrifice yourself and save one of the children.”

  “Sacrifice myself?” Erik said. “You’re going to kill me anyway. What’s the difference?”

  The demon laughed softly. “You don’t understand. I don’t want your life. I want your soul. I can sacrifice the baby, who knows no better, and take her innocent soul. That would be best, would be the most satisfying, since the rest of you are already corrupt. Or I could take another soul. One of you.”

  “And end up…here in this place…forever?” Dovecrest said.

  “Not forever. This is just a stopping point, really. Eventually you’d be sent directly to hell, which is much worse than this.”

  Erik looked around and shuddered. He could still see the shadows of the doomed souls wandering aimlessly, searching for someone or something they would never find. This world truly was devoid of all love, of all feeling except endless despair.

  “No takers, I see. Then I will have the baby.”

  The monster stepped towards Todd, who turned away, shielding the baby behind him.

  “No! Take me!” Vickie screamed. She jumped up and ran towards the demon.

  Erik grabbed her from behind to stop her.

  “I’ll go,” he said.

  “No, I’m her mother!”

  Erik held her tightly in his arms. “I can’t let you do that,” he said. “I’ll be the sacrifice.”

  “I could take you both,” the demon said. “Unless you want to fight about it.”

  “Hey, what about me!” Todd said. “I don’t want to be part of that thing!”

  The demon acted so quickly that Erik didn’t even realize what had happened until it was done. The thing’s deadly stinger flashed out like a whip, shooting past him and across the twenty-foot space to where Todd was standing. Erik couldn’t believe a thing so huge could move so quickly.

  The sting caught him in the back of left shoulder as he turned away from it, still shielding the baby
. Then it was back where it had begun in a millisecond, as if nothing had happened.

  Vickie gasped and Erik held his breath as Todd turned around, looked at demon and then at them in wide-eyed surprise, and then dropped to his knees. He knelt there for a moment in shocked amazement, and then fell to his side, still cradling the baby.

  2

  Dovecrest couldn’t believe the demon had killed the boy. He stood there like a wooden soldier looking at Todd, completely paralyzed by shock and horror. He never imagined the thing could be so deadly so quickly. It had assumed it would take its time with them, maybe giving them an opportunity to act, or at least fight back. He suddenly felt so totally and completely hopeless that he didn’t know what to do. All he could do was watch.

  Vickie pulled away from her husband and ran to the boy’s side, taking the baby from his arms.

  “You killed him!” she screamed. “You killed my son!”

  The demon laughed. “Actually, he’s not dead-yet. He’s merely paralyzed. He can see and hear everything that’s going on-although, I will say that the pain of the venom is excruciating.”

  “Why?” Dovecrest asked.

  “He’ll be fine-once I take over his body. Until then he’ll be in agony. But he will be silent and won’t cause any more trouble. Besides, once I take over he’ll be so glad to be rid of the pain that he’ll welcome me. I know what pain is like, believe me. He’ll do anything to make it stop.”

  “How long does he have?” Erik said.

  “He has until eternity,” the demon said matter-of-factly. “He won’t die unless I let him.”

  Dovecrest looked at his friends and saw the agony on their faces. Erik was torn apart with grief. He walked over to his wife and took their baby in his arms. He whispered something to the baby and then to his wife. She began to sob violently and grabbed onto him, pulling him close.

  “Oh, Erik, please, please, do something. I can’t do this anymore.”

  Erik hugged her hard, and whispered some comforting words. Then he stepped toward the demon.

  “I’m ready. Take me and let’s get this over with,” he said.

  — 3-

  The sun had come up and Mark paced up and down beside the huge altar stone. Soldiers were already setting the charges, stringing the wire and preparing the detonator. They’d be finished in a half an hour-maybe less. Then the captain would give the order to blow the altar stone to pieces and his friends would be trapped in whatever world they had been taken into.

  He had spent the night in prayer, begging, pleading with God to intercede on his behalf.

  “Please, God,” he said again softly. “I ask not for myself but for your people who have served you so well.”

  But for some reason, God was strangely silent on this morning and he suspected it was already too late.

  The captain came and stood next to him. Captain MacKensie, his nametag read, and Mark knew he was a good man. But he had a job to do.

  “It’s not looking good, Pastor.”

  “No, Captain, it’s not looking good.”

  “I wish there was something I could do. I’d even send people in there if I knew how.”

  “Do you have any idea what’s happened here?” Mark said.

  The soldier looked down at the ground for a long moment. He was middle-aged and grim-looking, with hard eyes.

  “Pastor, I’ve seen a lot of things in my years. A lot of suffering. I’ve served in some bad places and have seen some bad things. Terrible things. But I’ve never seen anything like what happened here.

  “I’m a God-fearing man myself. I suppose you have to be in my line of work. You never know when you’d going to meet your maker. I don’t claim to understand any of this. But I did some praying of my own last night. I never believed in spooks and demons and such nonsense. But now, in the light of day, I’m thinking maybe I don’t know much about anything anymore.”

  “What about your theory about aliens?”

  “Aliens, demons…one is as far-fetched as another. All I know is that rock is truly a bad thing, and I’m going to make sure no more bad comes from it.”

  Mark nodded. “I understand, Captain.”

  4

  Erik held his hands out to his sides and stepped slowly towards the demon. He had to sacrifice himself. There was no other way. There was nothing else he could do. He’d seen this monster in action, and there was simply no way to fight against it. His options had run out.

  He turned and looked at Vickie one last time and smiled. Somehow, he managed to keep his composure, though he was dying inside. Everything he had worked for, everything he had believed in was coming to an end. He was about to exile himself forever to hell.

  Hell wasn’t a fairy tale from a book of Bible stories anymore. He’d been there-was still there-and had experienced all of its agony and despair. He had felt the anguish of the swarms of doomed, damned souls, and he was about to become a permanent part of their number. He was about to forsake everything-his life, his family, even his eternal salvation. And he was about to do it by his own choice. Willingly.

  Vickie tried to smile back at him but she couldn’t and he had to turn away. He couldn’t bear to see her cry anymore.

  “Ok, what’s the deal here?” he asked. “I submit to the sacrifice and then what?”

  “You give up your soul to the Dark One and I take your son.”

  “And my wife? And my friend?” He pointed towards Dovecrest. “You take them back and let them live their lives in peace?”

  “They won’t remember that any of this happened,” it said. “They’ll be brought back and as far as they know, you were killed destroying me, and Todd is a normal boy.”

  “All right, then. I agree. Let’s get it on. What do you want me to do?”

  The demon grinned. “You must stand here,” it said, pointing to a spot in the sand with its right pincer. “Just stand there for a moment. I’ll do the rest.”

  The monster extended its claws to either side to make room for Erik to move forward. He stepped in between the thing’s deadly pincers, knowing full well that the monster could tear him in half at any moment if it wanted to. Then again, he’d seen what it did to Todd from twenty feet away, so what did it matter how close he was.

  “Just look at my face,” the thing said. “It’ll be more pleasant that way.”

  Erik swallowed hard and looked into the creature’s blue eyes. The face that looked back at him was stunningly beautiful, and he tried to forget about the body that housed it. The eyes were bright and feminine, and they looked at him with sensual delight.

  “Just look at me and pretend I’m real,” the face said in a sexy, seductive voice. “I can be your dream woman.”

  Erik looked into her eyes and saw only her face. He tried to relax and lose himself in her sensuous gaze as she slowly and methodically began to recite the words of the spell that would keep him here in this world forever. The woman was beautiful-the demon certainly recognized what would appeal to a man. But as much as he tried to concentrate on those cool, blue eyes, his mind kept seeing them as green. The blond hair kept turning red, and he just couldn’t get Vickie’s beautiful features out of his mind.

  He longed to turn back and look at her again, but dared not. He did not know how he would bear existence without her.

  He could tell from the tone and speed of the demon’s chants that the time was coming to an end. Then the demon was silent, looking at him intently.

  “Swear that you willingly give up your immortal soul to the Dark One,” it said. “Do it now.”

  Erik swallowed hard. His mouth was so dry he didn’t know if he would even be able to speak. He opened his lips to mouth the words.

  Then, just before he could speak, he suddenly heard an animal-like shout from behind him and felt arms grabbing at his shoulders, pulling him down. He fell backward and on his side. A pincer reached for him but missed its mark and snapped on dead air.

  He hit the ground and rolled onto his side just in time
to see Johnny Dovecrest charge into the demon’s embrace, carrying a sharp obsidian stone. He plunged the stone into the demon’s eye and shouted at the top of his lings.

  “I sacrifice my soul for these good people in the name of Christ who died for our sins!”

  The demon’s eye disintegrated into a mass of blood and pulp and it staggered backward in shock. It looked at them with its remaining eye full of hate and rage as Dovecrest merely stood there in the place between its claws and waited. The monster drooled and raged, but nothing happened. Erik rolled clear of the demon and rushed to Vickie, Todd, and the baby, who were watching in horror.

  “I gave him my stone,” Todd said. “He told me he needed it.”

  Erik nodded. “That was a good thing,” he said. “A very good thing.”

  “Damn you!” the demon screamed, and then it began to dissolve and transform once again.

  “It can’t take him,” Erik said. “It can’t take his soul.”

  Then the demon lashed out in uncontrolled wrath, grabbing Dovecrest in its huge claw.

  “You can kill me!” the Indian said. “But you can’t have me!”

  The Indian seemed to be covered in a yellow glow, like Erik had seen before when they’d escaped from the crush of the doomed souls.

  The demon’s face was ugly now, one eye missing and oozing and the entire face contorted in rage. It screamed a piercing cry of agony, and then snapped its claw shut, cutting Dovecrest in half at the waist. The monster dropped the body to the ground and curled up on itself, still transforming, growing solid once again.

  Erik held his family close as they watched, transfixed in horror. The thing formed once again, this time in a grotesque parody of a being. The thing was about four feet tall and bloated like a toad, with warts and ugly red splotches on its dry brown skin. Its eyes were yellow and glutinous, and it had grotesque-looking horns on its head. Erik thought the effect was almost comical as he saw the demon for what it really was.