The Bucktown Babies

by Janine R Pestel

  “What happened,” asked Robert, who was, by now, listening intently. Johann struggled for a moment, trying to maintain his composure.

  “The son of a bitch impaled her from behind. She started bleeding from her mouth, her eyes… everywhere,” Johann said, after a moment, “Suddenly, there's a bright flash of light and the next thing I know, I'm on the side of the road. It's night, and yet a small flock of ravens is flying around. This sound comes from behind me, and when I turn around, that damned black Challenger is in front of me. The driver side window begins to roll down, but before I can make out who the driver is…I woke up.”

  “You're right,” Robert said, “That is a weird dream.”

  “The part that bothers me the most is what they did to Terri,” Johann said. He was obviously shaken by this.

  “Don't worry,” the coroner said, trying to console Johann, “I don't think that stuff is really happening to her. I think you were allowed to witness that to make you suffer. I would say, by the looks of you right now; the trick is working.”

  Johann glanced at him, but didn't say a word. The demon hunter sat back and closed his eyes. He began to think about the day his sister was taken from him. Johann could almost see it clearly in his mind's eye. Almost as though it were happening right now.

  The whole thing started on a spring day, a little over five years ago. He had just left his sister at her house. They had been discussing her latest obsession. In her anger over what had happened to her fiancé, she had turned to devil worship, and Johann - who, at the time, was a priest - was trying desperately to convince her to abandon the belief.

  He had become very concerned when he found she had removed all religious articles from her home. Gone were the bibles, the crosses… everything. Johann gave her a cross and begged her to at least keep this one talisman on her wall. She took the cross, but instead of hanging it on her wall, she threw it to the floor, almost breaking it.

  “I don't want that damned thing on my wall, Johann. He took my Danny. I'll never forgive him for that,” she screamed.

  “Theresa,” Johann pleaded, “Please put this on your wall before it's too late. You're messing with things about which, you know nothing. Dangerous things.”

  “I don't give a damn,” she cried, “All I want is my Danny back and if your God won't give him to me, maybe my God will.”

  “Theresa, please listen to me,” Johann said, holding his sister in his arms, “The Lord works in mysterious ways. He took Danny for a reason. We shouldn't question him.”

  Theresa turned her head into Johann's shoulder and sobbed heavily while the priest held her and tried his best to console her. He stayed with her until she stopped crying, which took a while. Eventually, her sobbing subsided, and she seemed to relax ever so slightly.

  “Are you going to be alright,” Johann asked, worried for his sister.

  “Yeah,” Theresa answered, wiping her nose with a facial tissue, “I think so. I'm sorry, little brother, I really am.”

  “No need to be sorry, Theresa. Grief can make us do things we wouldn't normally do. I also grieve for him. We must remember he is in a much better place now. He has no pain, or hard times. He is in a wonderful place. One day, we will be reunited with him, and our father.”

  After a few more moments, he released his sister and studied her. Believing she was okay now, he decided the time had come for him to return to the parish rectory and work on his sermon for the following Sunday Mass. He kissed his sister lovingly on the forehead, and bid her farewell.

  No sooner did Johann exit the house when his sister's scream found his ears and caught his attention. He went running back in and discovered what appeared to be a man next to his sister. The stranger grabbed Theresa and began to leave the house with her before Johann was able to do anything.

  Not wanting to allow anything to happen to his sister, Johann stepped in front of the man to block his exit.

  “Out of the way, priest,” The man snarled, clutching tightly onto his prey.

  “Let her go,” Johann commanded.

  “Do you know who I am,” questioned the man, “I'm your worst nightmare come to life. This little morsel is coming with me. This is her choice.”

  Johann, noticing the man's eyes were not human in appearance, made the sign of the cross, in an attempt to vanquish the invader.

  “In the name of God,” Johann said, “I command you to release her.”

  As Johann finished his command, the beast opened his mouth and struck at the priest with its tongue. The organ whipped out of the monster's mouth and hit Johann in the face like a whip, causing a relatively deep laceration. Johann's blood dripped down his cheek onto his chin, and he filled with rage. He lunged at the beast and resorted to physical combat.

  He contacted the demon, and a sudden memory flooded his mind. He visualized his mother in all her sorrow the day his father was killed. How she collapsed into the arms of the police officer who brought her the terrible news, Her wails of agony and heavy sobbing. The sight of the tears rolling down her cheeks. This memory of his mother's pain and how helplessly he watched her suffer in grief stunned him.

  Johann stood in his sister's house, unable to even move. The beast laughed as it walked by him with his sister screaming for her brother to help her.

  “Happy memories, priest,” the demon said, “We'll meet again someday, but you won't know who I am until it's too late. By then, I'll have your sister's soul and yours.”

  The monster left the house and disappeared. Johann fell to his knees and put his head in his hands and cried. At that one moment, he was helpless to do anything to help anyone at all. He, in no one's mind, but his, was useless.

  Johann opened his eyes and was startled to see Robert, who was standing over him like a worried mother.

  “Johann, are you okay,” asked the troubled coroner, as he reached out to touch Johann on the shoulder.

  “Yeah,” answered Johann, “I'm fine. I was just thinking about something. I remembered when Terri was taken.” He glanced up at Robert. “I still can't remember exactly what the son of a bitch looked like. All I can remember is that he was big.”

  “Well,” said Robert, “At least you're okay. I was beginning to worry. I wasn't sure if you fell asleep, or if you slipped into a coma or something.”

  Johann didn't answer to that. The demon fighter looked at his friend, and wished he could tell Robert exactly what had happened the night Theresa disappeared. But Johann knew that remembering what little he was able to remember was bad enough. Verbally stating what happened would be virtually impossible for him. If he heard what happened out loud, he thought, it would be too much for him to handle.

  After a few moments, Johann reached again for his beer and finished the beverage. He got up and walked to the kitchen to throw the empty can into the trash container. While he walked back into the living room, he glanced at Robert, who was also finishing his beer.

  Johann yawned, and stretched, then turned and glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall.

  “Well,” Johann said, “I guess it's about time to turn in.”

  “Yeah, I suppose it is,” Robert said, as he got up from the couch to throw his empty beer can away, “Good night, Johann. I'll see you in the morning.” The coroner headed off to his bedroom, and Johann retreated to his.

  No sooner did Johann get into his bedroom, when he stripped down to his underwear and got under the covers. He lay in bed for a few moments, and tried desperately to remember what the demon who took his sister looked like.

  He could almost make out the face, but not quite.

  “Damn it,” he said to himself softly, “Why the hell can't I remember?”

  He glanced at the photo of his sister on the nightstand next to his bed.

  “Come on, sis,” he pleaded, “Help me out here. I need to remember what that thing looked like so I can find you. I know you can hear me. Show me his ugly face so I can find you and send him back to Hell.”

  He covered his fac
e with his hands as though he was going to cry. Frustration welled up inside. He almost wanted to punch something, but resisted the urge. He was, after all, in a friend's house and didn't want to damage any property – he had done enough of that already.

  He rolled over onto his side, buried his face in the pillow and let out a sigh of frustration.

  “Good night, sis. I love you,” he said as he closed his eyes to go to sleep.

  -13-

  The next morning, Johann awoke to the sound of Robert on the phone with someone. He got out of bed, walked over and pushed his bedroom door open slightly, so he could listen better. From what he could tell, Robert sounded like he was apologizing to someone for something.

  “Yes, ma'am,” Robert said, solemnly, “Certainly. I understand. Yes, Ms. Olson. Good day to you, too.” He hung up the phone and stood in one spot, staring out his window. Johann quietly walked into the room from behind Robert.

  “I suppose you heard some of that conversation,” Robert said, without turning to face Johann.

  “No. I wasn't paying attention. I didn't even realize you were on the telephone,” Johann said. He was trying not to let on he overheard anything. Robert turned to face him.

  “No need to cover up for my sake. You must have heard some of the conversation I just had. I was aware of you coming before we finished talking,” Durling responded. Father Gunter glanced around the room, to avoid any eye contact.

  “No matter. That was Sylvia. Apparently, after I had left the hospital last night, some vandals got in and made a mess of the morgue. At least, that's what they think happened. Thankfully, the cameras apparently were not on last night. The hospital administration met this morning and has released me from my job for failing to ensure the place was secure when I left for the evening.”

  “Thank God they have no idea what really happened,” Johann said. Robert started walking to the dining room, and Johann followed.

  “Seems one of the doctors found the mess in the morgue,” Robert said, “And immediately petitioned Sylvia for my release.”

  “Which doctor,” Johann asked. Robert lowered his head and looked at Johann over the top rim of his glasses.

  “Who do you think? Doctor Zou, of course,” Robert replied as he motioned for Johann to sit down while he proceeded to the kitchen to retrieve the breakfast he prepared for them both.

  “Of course,” Johan said, as he sat at the table, “She would know exactly what happened. It's only obvious she would want you gone from the hospital.”

  Robert brought the breakfast to the table. Nothing fancy, some bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee. The aroma of the morning food filled the air as the two began to ingest their meal.

  “You know,” Robert said, after a few moments, “There has to be a way to defeat this thing.”

  “Yeah, I agree,” Johann answered, as he sipped his coffee, “If only I can remember how to vanquish this demon.” He struggled to try and jar his memory, but to no avail.

  “Perhaps we should call Johnny. He might have an idea of what we need to do.”

  “No, that won't help. The other day, when I was at the rectory with him, he gave me a piece of papyrus, but he said he had no idea how it was to help. He said he only knew it would.”

  Durling took a sip of his coffee.

  “That's my half-brother. Sketchy at best as usual. If I were a religious man, I would say we sure could use Raphael right now,” Robert said, placing his cup down.

  “Yeah,” Johann said. He glanced at the coroner, his brow furrowed, “Who?”

  “Raphael,” Robert answered, not looking up from his plate, “You must remember from the seminary. Raphael, the Archangel. If I recall my demonology correctly, he's supposed to be the mortal enemy of Abyzou.”

  “Raphael, the Archangel,” Johann said, as though he was trying to remember something. “Raphael. That's right,” he said, his eyes seemed to light up as he remembered.

  “What are you talking about,” asked Robert, as he finished his breakfast, “Did you remember something?”

  “Raphael, the Archangel. That's the key. That's why your brother -”

  “Half-brother,” Robert said.

  “Whatever,” Johann said, “That's why he gave me the papyrus. To make the charm.”

  “What charm?”

  “I remember now. We were taught in the seminary that Raphael the Archangel is the arch enemy of Abyzou. Abyzou vows to flee if someone writes Raphael's name on a piece of papyrus when a woman enters labor.”

  “So, Johnny was right. The piece of papyrus is something we need,” Robert said, excited.

  “Right,”

  “That's great,” Durling said, getting more excited.

  “Not exactly,” Johann said, as he realized this presents the duo with a problem.

  “No,” Robert asked, the smile slowly disappeared from his face.

  “No,” Johann answered, “We now have a way to kill this thing. Now, all we have to do is find a woman who is pregnant and about to go into labor who won't mind having two guys in the room with her summoning a demon so they can try to vanquish it.” He gazed at the coroner, “Do you see where we might be a problem here?”

  “I do,” Robert said, as his excitement started to subside. He stroked his moustache while deep in thought.

  The coroner thought for a few moments. He was sure he would be able to think of someone who was about to go into labor. He began to think about all the women in town who were pregnant. As he thought of each one, he muttered to himself what his thoughts were about that particular woman. He returned his gaze to Johann.

  “So,” Robert said, “We need someone who is pregnant and about to go into labor, and who believes in demons and wouldn't mind a demonic war going on while she gives birth?”

  “Pretty much,” answered Johann, “Not much chance of that.”

  “No,” said Robert, “But, I think I have the person who can help us.”

  “Really? You know someone, who fits that description?”

  “Not exactly,” said the coroner, “But I do know someone who is pregnant and about to go into labor. She's young, and her mind is open to such things as demons.”

  “Can we, somehow, try to meet with her?”

  “Yes, I think we can. I'll give her a call and find out if I can arrange a meeting between the three of us.”

  Johann finished his breakfast and helped Robert bring the dishes to the sink. He was still nursing his morning cup of coffee and refilled the cup. The two men walked into the living room, and the coroner picked up the telephone receiver. He glanced at Johann as he dialed the number. After a few rings, a young woman answered the phone.

  “Hello,” she said.

  “Hi Cindy, this is Bob,” Robert said, “How are you?”

  He talked with the young woman for a few moments and got her to agree to meet with himself and Johann. He skirted the real issue, and instead simply told her they needed her help with something which he couldn't discuss over the phone.

  Robert talked with the woman, and Johann instinctively retrieved his gun case along with some shells and went out to his car. He placed them in his trunk, and gazed at the case for a moment before closing the trunk lid. “We're going to send a demon back to hell,” Johann thought to himself. He got back to the living room the same time Robert was finishing his conversation with the woman. The coroner seemed to be unaware Johann left the room at all.

  “She must trust you. You didn't give her any information at all,” Johann said, assuming Robert did not give the real reason for the call.

  “One of the advantages of living in such a small town. People tend to trust each other a little more. Besides, we've known each other quite well for a long time.”

  “Don't you think she's going to freak out when we tell her the whole story?”

  “No,” Robert answered, glancing over at the books still spread open on the coffee table from the day before, “Bring those. She'll understand, believe me.”

 
The two men gathered the books they would need and walked out to the cars. They glanced around the corner of the house at the mutilated minivan, and Robert let out a sigh and shook his head sadly.

  “Guess I'm driving today,” Johann said, placing his hand on the coroner's shoulder in a consoling manner. Robert looked at him, and made a facial gesture.

  “Now, if we were in this last night,” Johann said, “We would have gotten away from our friend.”

  “Or gotten killed trying,” Robert said.

  “Don't worry, I've had several run-ins with that car, and it hasn't gotten me yet,” Johann said to his friend.

  “ 'Yet,' is the key word,” Robert said.

  Before he got in the car, Robert happened to take note of the license plate on the back of the vehicle. The tag simply read “FGDH.” Robert gazed at the letters for a moment. He realized the plate was obviously a vanity plate, and he tried to figure out what the letters meant. As they board the vehicle, he glanced over at Johann with a quizzical expression on his face.

  “What,” Johann asked, noticing the expression on Robert's face.

  “What does 'Fugduh' mean,” asked Robert, pronouncing what he thought the letters would spell.

  “Fugduh,” Johann said, “I have no idea. What's a 'fugduh?” Robert pointed toward the back of the car.

  “The letters on your license plate,” he said.

  “Oh, that. What do you think it means,” asked Johann as he closed his door.

  “I couldn't begin to guess. 'For God's Divine House,' ” reasoned the coroner. Johann let out a small chuckle.

  “Well, you would be right,” he said, “If I were still a priest. Actually, It's me.”

  “You?”

  “Yeah,” Johann said, as he turned the key in the ignition, “Father Gunter Demon Hunter.”

  “Oh, my God,” Robert said. He rolled his eyes, and sat back in his seat.

  Johann started the car, and they proceeded to their appointment. Along the way, they passed the scene of their encounter the previous night. Their skid marks were still visible on the road, and all the glass, metal, and plastic pieces were still on the ground. The two men spotted a police car with its emergency lights on and a police officer, who was investigating the scene.