The Gateway Through Which They Came

by Heather Marie

  “So why go down there at all?” Evan pushes his way into our circle, wincing as his elbow nudges against Koren. “If you already know what to do to get rid of him, why let him drag you into some dark hole that you might not come out of?”

  He has a point.

  I say with certainty, “Because I have to know what’s down there.”

  In their faces, I can see that Trevor and Evan don’t understand. If I could run from this, I would. But how can I run from something more powerful and capable than me? This has to be done right. Otherwise, I’ll always be running.

  “Trevor, I need you watch over my mom. Make an excuse. Park outside the house. Whatever you need to do. If he’s going to do anything, he’s gonna use the people I care about against me.”

  I hope they understand what I’m saying in such little words. With the three of them together, I can only hope they’ll stay safe. My mom, Trevor, and Evan; they’re my family, my humanity. Without them, I don’t want to think about it.

  “And what do we do if something happens?” Evan asks. It’s a question I don’t have an answer for. Not one he wants to hear anyway.

  “You run. Do you hear me? You take her, you get in the car, and you run.”

  After what feels like the longest pause in the history of pauses, Evan says, “Okay.” He pats Trevor on the shoulder, and instantly Trevor relaxes under his touch. It dawns on me that even if Evan doesn’t see Trevor in that way, they’ve still got each other. That’s the only thing that matters.

  “It’s almost time,” Koren says.

  I look around and see that she’s right. Night has finally graced the sky, leaving us under the bright streetlights. It’s now or never.

  “Do you have the book?” she says.

  It’s the first time she’s asked about it since the day in front of the church. I nod my head toward Izzie. “Yeah. Why?”

  “Because that’s going to be your ticket to get on his good side. You have something he needs. That book is like their Bible.”

  An image of Father Raimi holding the book in the church strikes me then, the way he welcomed it like an old friend. There’s something about the way he connected with the words and its pages.

  “How do you know about his attachment to that book?” There seems to be a lot of things Koren knows that she’s chosen to hold back until now.

  Her eyes soften with concern, sensing my distrust. “I spent a few months being his puppet. You’d be amazed what he’ll tell someone when he thinks they’re on his side.”

  “And why aren’t you on his side again?” Evan looks between us, as if this is something we should all be wondering but are too afraid to ask. He’s spot on.

  Three sets of eyes watch her, waiting for an answer.

  Koren stands confidently, a sneer on her face. “Because of the Dark Priest, my parents, the people I trusted most, killed me. You tell me. Is there a better reason to turn against him?”

  “Well, I think that about answers that question.” Trevor’s nervous attempt at softening the mood goes stale.

  My phone vibrates in my pocket. I’ve been so distracted I haven’t noticed my mother trying to reach me. I glance at the others before turning, heading toward the sidewalk.

  “Hello?”

  “Aiden Peter! Where are you?” She’s not as mad as I imagined. Her voice is strained, fighting back frustration and worry.

  “Mom, do you remember when you told me to do the right thing?”

  The silence on the other end makes me unsteady. I stare at the ground, counting the cracks as I pass.

  “I don’t understand,” she says.

  “There’s something I need to tell you, and I swear I’ll tell you if I make it through this.” I say this last part quietly, quiet enough that maybe she won’t hear.

  She did. “Something’s happened, hasn’t it? Aiden. Tell me!” Her voice trembles through the receiver. I can almost feel it vibrating through my ear down to my spine.

  I sigh. “Yes. And I’m gonna fix it, okay?”

  “Aiden, please.”

  “I’m sending Trevor and Evan to stay with you until this is all over. If you don’t hear from me by midnight… Mom, I need you to listen.”

  Her soft sobs put an ache in my chest.

  “If you don’t hear from me, I want you to go with them. Get out of here, okay? Are you listening?”

  Her voice is weak when she says, “Yes.”

  “I’m gonna keep you safe, I promise.”

  It’s the only thing I could tell her that isn’t a lie. I can’t promise that I’ll be safe. I can’t promise that I’ll come home. This is the only thing I can give her to make things right.

  “I love you,” she says, and those words, they say everything.

  “I love you, too. I have to go now.”

  “Aiden!”

  “Mom, I have to go.”

  When she says no more, only the sound of her cries echoing through, I hang up.

  Please, dear God, don’t let her call the cops. I take a deep breath, pushing back the burning in my eyes, and face the others, who’ve been watching the whole time. They don’t look away. They don’t try to hide that they heard everything. They only look back at me with respect.

  Koren steps to the end of the driveway, reaching her hand out for mine. “It’s time to go, Aiden.”

  “I know.”

  My feet are moving, but I feel like I’m floating. None of this seems real. With Koren’s hand in mine, I give my friends one last glance.

  Trevor and Evan are speechless, but with Evan’s arm over Trevor’s shoulders, I know they’ll be all right. Trevor’s glazed stare is exactly what I expect from my best friend. As much as he must want to hold me back, he gives me a simple nod. And just like that, I know what he’s saying: You better come back.

  As Koren leads me away, I look over my shoulder and tell them, “You know what to do.”

  They both nod in agreement, and I have no doubts that they’ll see it through.

  When Koren and I hop into Izzie, I turn to her and say, “Let’s go get your parents back.”

  he church looks especially creepy tonight,” I say as I pull Izzie toward the curb.

  Koren looks around me at the Church of Saint Christopher, which seems to have grown in size. The building is the same, but the unpleasant energy surrounding it tonight makes the structure ten times more intimidating.

  “Unfortunately, every church seems to creep me out lately,” she says.

  “Are you gonna be okay going in there? You could hardly handle the chapel.”

  “This one’s different.” She looks again through the window, observing the building. “There’s darkness beneath the soil. It overpowers the energy that keeps us out.”

  “Well, that doesn’t sound too promising. No offense.”

  She laughs playfully. It sounds out of place considering what lies in front of us, but I can’t help but smile along with her.

  It’s short lived. Her face goes flat, her cold hand covering mine. “You know I can’t stay. When it’s done, I have to go.”

  “If we can get your parents back, you’ll be able to stay. There has to be a way.” I turn my hand over into hers.

  If the Dark Priest has the power to keep her here, why can’t there be a way to bring things back to how they were before? Koren and her parents, alive and well.

  “There isn’t a way, Aiden. I can feel it. The resentment. The anger. All those things that make us turn. They’re already embedding themselves inside of me. I’m trying so hard to push it away, but I can’t. There’s no telling what will happen after, if I’ll be the same. Or if they’ll even be the same. No one can come back from something like that.”

  Ashamed, she looks down at our hands as if she can’t stand to read my face.

  “There’s always hope,” I tell her. “I can’t let you go, Koren.” Not again.

  Her eyes dart to mine, desperate. “You have to! You don’t understand what he’ll do to me. He needs you. H
e doesn’t need me. As far as he’s concerned, I’ve done what I’ve been sent here to do.”

  “What’s that?”

  Koren searches my face before staring into my eyes. “I’ve brought him you.”

  I brush my fingers against her cheek, my thumb wiping away her tears.

  “Let him think that. If that’s what it takes to keep you safe, to bring your parents back, let him believe you turned against me.”

  A soft sob escapes her as she says, “I’m sorry—”

  But I don’t let her finish. I pull her gently into me, my lips soft against hers. It’s the one thing I’ve wanted to do my whole life, and now, I’m finally capable of taking the chance. She doesn’t pull away, she doesn’t tell me to stop. With her fingers curled in my hair, she holds me in place. Her lips are everything I’ve imagined. Fitting so perfectly with mine. Our kiss softens as it nears its end, from our desperation for each other, to goodbye. A memory of what’s come and gone fading into the last trace of her lips against mine.

  As we break apart, I can feel my heart give way, collapsing into the pit of my stomach. I pray that there’s a way to get her through this.

  Pressing my forehead against hers, I’m breathless when I say, “I’ll fight for you. I always will.”

  The words are a promise. One I intend to keep.

  At the church door, she squeezes my hand one last time as she blinks out of sight.

  The door unlocks and swings open before me.

  “You rang,” Koren jokes, her butler impersonation spot on. She greets me with a swing of her arm, welcoming me over the threshold.

  “You’re beautiful… for a man,” I jest.

  She smiles, nudging my shoulder.

  Glad I’m not the only one trying to forget why we’re here.

  “All right,” she whispers. “From here on out, you have to follow my lead. No matter what happens or what I say, remember this.” She presses her finger lightly against my lips, as if I could ever forget.

  A sad smile twitches at the side of her mouth as she lowers her hand to her side. I ignore the urge to reach for her, to press her against me one more time. There’s no time for that, or for regrets.

  “Follow me,” she says, leading the way down the aisle to the chamber.

  Only the dull moonlight shining through the painted glass guides us. The hall is dark, and the building is so quiet, I can hear a rustle from the swaying branches outside, clear as day. Koren blinks out again, opening the door to Father Martin’s chamber. Cold air swarms through the room, and this time I have no question as to where it’s coming from. The secret door is ajar when we approach, a true sign that we are expected.

  As she pulls the door open, I grab her arm to beg her to go back, but she already knows.

  “No,” she says. “I’m staying with you.”

  She gives me no other choice when she steps into the stairway. The torches along the wall are lit, making this feel more like a trap. Aren’t we supposed to be the ones trapping him? It’s too late now.

  Our breathing is heavy the farther we descend. That pressure I felt before weighs again on my chest. I can feel the sweat building along my brow, but I feel chilled to the bones. Every step Koren takes in front of me is confident, her act to betray the Dark Priest beginning to take form. I’m still unsure what role I’m supposed to play, but one thing I know are these words:

  With the Light I send thee, forever into the depths of darkness.

  I say this over and over like a mantra, but my mind is invaded with the familiar sound of disembodied voices. The two I’d heard before, speaking to each other again.

  “He’s come back. He brings the dead with him.” The voice hisses into my ears from far away, but not far enough.

  “I can feel the power of the book. It is close, it is close,” the other rejoices.

  “The Dark Priest will be happy, yes. Happy, indeed.”

  “Indeed, yes.”

  Can Koren hear them? Am I the only one? I shudder at the sound of their maniacal laughter when we reach the end of the steps. A tunnel leads us to a room, the glow of firelight bouncing off the stone near the entrance. Before we turn the corner to face what waits behind the wall, Koren turns to me. Her breath catches in her throat.

  “Remember,” she whispers, placing her fingertips along her lips for the briefest of moments.

  I nod once before she walks through the entrance to a room filled with lit torches. The entire room is made up of stones, rows of black pews facing a ceremonial altar much different from the one above us. This one is decorated with red candles and made of black marble. In spite of the cold temperature that led us here, the room is sweltering—so hot, my very flesh threatens to melt.

  A man stands ready to greet us, only it isn’t Father Raimi. It’s Vincent Chase.

  A dark voice rumbles through my head, coming from somewhere within.

  “Welcome to the Brethren, Aiden Ortiz.”

  incent stands at the altar in a ceremonial black cloak, similar to the one worn by the Dark Priest in the old photograph. The cloak matching the one from Redhead’s vision. My jaw drops. This is definitely not what we expected to find here tonight.

  His eyes glow with the light of the flames, staring upward as if praying straight to God, though I know different. Flanking him are two dark shadows, hovering in place, their faceless gaze directed on us.

  Vincent lowers his head slowly, his lips curled into a devilish grin. With his hands pressed palm down on the altar, he leans forward, inspecting Koren. Her head is down in respect, masking any emotion she must be feeling upon finding him here. She’s playing her part well, showing no trace of a girl marked with betrayal. The light of the torches warms her skin, and for the first time in a while she looks herself again. It’s as if the room itself and the power it holds rejuvenates her.

  “Look at me!” he snarls with distaste.

  Carefully, she obeys.

  “Am I supposed to believe you’ve brought him here of your own volition?” His face contorts with disapproval, and I’m now more afraid for Koren than myself.

  I try to distract him. “It’s been you this whole time? But Father Raimi…” I force myself to stare only at him; I can’t let him see my connection with Koren.

  He turns steadily to me, his face twisting to something more pleasant, if that’s possible.

  “Father Raimi is simply a mask. Would you rather it be him you see? Would that make this easier?” The skin of his face melts away, shaping and peeling back to form the calm smile of the priest I’ve come to know.

  “Why Vincent?” Is Justin’s dad another mask?

  “Oh, that. Yes, I get quite bored having the same face for too long. Brother Chase doesn’t mind. In fact, he finds it to be an honor that I’ve chosen him.”

  “He’s like you.” It’s not a question.

  “Of course! How else would I have discovered you were the Gateway? Do you think it’s only the dead that can sense your presence?” He shakes his head. “Brother Chase knew what you were years ago when he became a member of this church, as do all the Brethren who come within feet from you. The energy of a Mortal Gateway is blaring. It was only a matter of time until everything fell into place.”

  “Vincent Chase is part of the Brethren?” Even though I know the answer, I can’t grasp it. The Chase family is exactly like Koren and her parents. Followers. Did she know?

  I turn to her as if expecting an answer.

  “She never knew,” Father Raimi says, answering my unspoken question. “We all have our roles to play, Aiden. The trustworthy priest. The concerned lover. The jealous boyfriend. Though to be fair, Justin was a pawn, someone to look over Koren when I could not. He has yet to grasp what it means to be a part of the Brethren, but soon enough, he’ll have the power of his father and mine. His flirtation with the girl was simply to bring his father closer to their family. To persuade them to believe. It was clear you’d do anything for her, though, it turns out I didn’t need her after all.�
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  I’ve never wanted to kill anyone ever in my life, but now… Koren’s parents died for nothing. She died for nothing. I’d fallen right into his hands, his portrayal of a priest making it all the more easier. He never needed her. She meant nothing to him.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” I growl, feeling more like a fool than ever. Vincent was the man who’d destroyed Koren’s family. Suddenly I wish I’d crushed Justin’s throat when I had the chance. “Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”

  It takes everything in me not to charge at him. To cause him as much pain as he’s caused Koren.

  “You’ve become so attached to the idea of me. Who am I to ruin it?” he replies. “Trust, Aiden. You trusted me, as you should.”

  “Why should I?”

  The gentle smile he’s shown so many times comes to life. “Because this is where you belong, of course. I’ve seen the way you take the power upon yourself. It doesn’t possess you, you own it. You control every aspect of it. And do you know why?”

  I stay silent.

  “You are power, Aiden. What you feel is what you’ve wanted your entire life. To feel in control after having no say in the burden left upon you. With us, your burden can grow to become so much more.”

  There’s no denying the effect of his words. They ring true in so many ways that even I can’t admit to myself. I hate knowing he’s right, and even more so that he knows.

  Still, there’s the Light inside of me that glows brighter, battling against the darkness. I can’t turn my back on that.

  “But you stopped me from coming down here. You warned me against everything.” I hold my ground, my eyes dead-locked with his.

  Koren does the same. She doesn’t cower or back down from her stance, keeping her gaze on the Dark Priest.

  “Now, how could you trust someone if they just let you blindly wander into a dark tunnel?” A tiny snicker leaves his lips. “I needed to know how badly you wanted this. How much you devoted yourself to knowing more. You’ve proven that your drive and perseverance is everything it needs to be.”

  As he says it, I suddenly understand. He manipulated me, just as Vincent did to Koren and her parents.