“Ma’am, please stay in your vehicle until you can turn around,” the fireman instructed.
Several other impatient drivers stepped out of their vehicle.
Demona watched the fireman attempt to pacify the drivers, who continued to become more irritated with the situation and the lack of answers. Each time the fireman instructed them to return to their vehicles things seemed to grow more intense. Several of the drivers were yelling at the fireman and Demona feared that he might be attacked with the way the crowd began to gather around him.
Demona, however, decided to take advantage of the fireman’s distraction and slipped farther towards the outside of town. She came upon the road block made of police vehicles and large, white metal signs that read “road closed.” Demona walked to where one of the police officers stood by his car and was speaking into a walkie-talkie.
After he released the button on the walkie he walked toward Demona. “How did you get past the flagger?” the officer said. “Never mind... Please, turn around and go back towards town.”
“Why can’t I go this way?” Demona asked.
“The road is closed, as the sign says.”
Demona flung her black hair behind her shoulders and promptly placed her hands on her hips. “So you’re telling me that every road out of town is blocked? I need to go this way!”
“I understand that you’re trying to leave town, but at this time you need to return to your vehicle and wait for further instructions.”
Demona looked past the policeman to find large white vans with the letters CDC painted on the side and a canvas canopy had been erected off to the side of the road. Several other personnel were slipping into yellow protective suites and clear plastic masks that covered their entire faces. This confirmed Demona’s suspicions about the quarantine. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention had been called in; the quarantine was well underway.
What was his name? Eli something… “Do you know where I can find Eli Itzig?” Demona asked.
The officer’s eyebrow rose. “You know Itzig?”
Demona nodded. She was happy that she had remembered his last name correctly. “Yes, I need to speak to him. It’s important.”
The policeman pulled his walkie-talkie from his belt and spoke into it. A response came back that sounded to Demona to be a jumble of static and police jargon. The officer pressed the button on the walkie and gave a reply before reattaching it to his belt.
“Okay, wait here. Detective Itzig is on his way,” the officer said.
Demona nodded and stood off to the side watching the police and other personnel run around completing tasks. The men in yellow suites were completely dressed now and standing in a group discussing something important. Health officers. She had read an article sometime ago that mentioned the term for the CDC personnel. Some of the other health officers were setting up expensive looking equipment under the canopy.
One of the health officers began to set up a large generator and attached numerous electrical devices to it. He switched on the generator and it hummed noisily. The officers arranged the medical equipment on two long white folding tables. Demona recognized some of the equipment: a microscope, a small fridge to store samples in, and centrifuge. After all of the devices were unloaded from the back of a CDC van the health officers untied the flaps of the canopy and allowed them to fall downward to enclose the medical equipment from the elements and prying eyes.
A tall scrawny looking man with a shaved head came walking towards the policeman. He wore navy pants and a button up white shirt. “Someone wanted to see me?” the man asked.
“Yes, I’m Demona Brennan.” She stretched her arm out to shake Eli Itzig’s hand. Itzig did not take it, but instead looked at her hand with scrutiny.
The police officer’s brows creased. “I thought you said you knew Itzig.”
“I do…well I know of him, from his aunt and uncle.” Demona turned to Eli Itzig. “Your Uncle Barty and Aunt Anne are acquaintances of mine. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you, in private.”
The police officer stepped forward.
Itzig held up his hand to indicate that the policeman did not need to worry, he had things under control. Itzig directed Demona several feet into the yard beside the road. “Is this something to do with my aunt and uncle? I haven’t been able to reach them for over a day now.”
Demona picked at her fingers. “Yes, and no,” she said. “I know where they are and they’re safe. In fact, if you could come with me I’ll take you to them. There’s something that you’ll want to hear.”
Itzig shook his head. “How do I know you are telling me the truth?”
“I can fill you in on everything that’s going on in town. And probably fill in a lot of the blanks that have you guys thinking that this quarantine is necessary, because of some kind of viral outbreak. Besides you have that weapon,” she pointed to the gun holstered at his hip, “to protect yourself if need be.”
Itzig subconsciously placed his hand on his holstered 9 mm pistol. “How do you know about the quarantine?”
“Barty told me. And I’m not blind. I know that those guys over there are from the CDC and are preparing to monitor the town in order to figure out what is going on.”
Itzig studied Demona for a moment. “Okay. I believe you, but I can’t just let you leave town.”
“Look, it’s not a viral outbreak. There’s no illness,” Demona placed her hands on her hips, “This is something completely different than your policemen, health inspector, or even the CDC have ever dealt with before. This is not a contagion; well not like they think. This town is being overrun by demons.”
Itzig looked shocked at first and then skeptical. “You’re crazy.” He was about to reach for his handcuffs, but hesitated.
Demona shook her head. “No, I’m not. You have to know what your uncle does for a living. That’s why I know him. I’ve consulted him on several occasions about demonic spirits. That’s why I know where he is. He’s with my people, safe, where he can help us do something about what’s going on. Just please, come with me.”
Demona heard a horn honking from behind them. She turned to see Felix’s red sedan waiting near the flagger. The fireman must have pacified the other drivers and convinced them to make their way back into town. Felix, however, must have refused and insisted that he wait for Demona.
“Look that’s my boyfriend there.” Demona pointed to the car. “Just get into your car and follow us. If at any time you feel threatened, you can leave. I promise you’ll want to hear what’s going on. We can help you save this town.”
Itzig pondered her words. “Fine,” he said. “Boys, let him through.”
One of the guys in the yellow suites came running over to him. “You’re breaking protocol. You can’t let them through!” His voice was muffled through the plastic face mask.
Itzig nodded. “I know I’m breaking protocol. If something happens it’s on my head, not yours,” Itzig replied. “If my lead is correct there may be no reason for your men to be here.”
The health officer turned to the other personnel. “Make note of that everyone. He said if anything happens it’s his fault. I wash my hands of any fallout from this breach of protocol.”
“Oh, get off your high horse, doctor,” Itzig said.
The man in the yellow suit stepped closer to Itzig. He narrowed his eyes at the detective through his clear mask. “You better hope that this isn’t a virus and that it doesn’t spread, because you let civilians through this roadblock.”
“Back off!” Itzig spat at the man.
Demona noticed the increased tension between the two men. She attempted to ease the situation. “Look if it makes you feel any better you can check to see if I’m exhibiting any symptoms of an illness.”
The man in the yellow protective suite agreed under the condition that Felix do the same. After Demona and Felix were found to have no symptoms of any known contagious illness, they decided to allow them to pass through t
he road block. The man in the yellow suit also insisted that they take a business card with his contact information just in case they notice any symptoms within the next week. The man advised them to isolate themselves from everyone if they noticed anything strange in their emotional response, because it could be signs of the illness.
Chapter 9:
Breaking Protocol
Demona held her cell phone to her ear as she sat beside Felix in the car. Felix waited for the police officers to move the metal “road closed” signs. He maneuvered his car around the remaining police vehicles so that they could finally exit town. The health officer in the yellow suit, that had had it out with Itzig, stood off to the side of the road and shook his head in disgust as they drove by. They were followed closely by a black unmarked police vehicle, where Eli Itzig sat in the driver’s seat.
The phone clicked as it was picked up from the other end.
“Hello,” Ileana said.
“Ileana, can you get a message to Ezekiel and Molony? Felix and I had a bit of trouble leaving town today. Can you tell them that we are bringing Barty Holmes’ nephew, Eli, with us back to headquarters?”
“Yeah, anything else?” Ileana.
“Just make sure Barty and Anne are ready to meet him when we get there,” Demona said. “He’ll want to see that they’re safe and alright.”
“Will do,” Ileana paused. “What’s going on?”
“Things just became more complicated. We’ll discuss everything after we have a meeting. For right now, just try and be patient.”
“Easier said than done,” Ileana replied.
“Try,” Demona said, “I’ll talk to you later.” She disconnected the call and stared out the window as Felix drove.
They entered the dirt packed road full of pot holes that led to the old brick church at Roost Haven. Demona peeked over the back of her seat to make sure that Itzig’s police car still followed. Demona noticed that flurries began to fall from a soft gray cloud covered sky. Demona and Felix remained silent as the headquarters began to grow larger in the distance.
Demona chewed on her lips. This quarantine is going to complicate things.
Both cars pulled into the parking area in front of the GLC headquarters. Barty and Anne were waiting with the guards at the entrance of Roost Haven. Anne waved frantically with a smile on her face when Eli stepped out of his car. Eli walked to his aunt and uncle briskly. He embraced them both with a tight hug and relief spread across his face.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving town?” Itzig asked. He stood back and surveyed them both, to make certain that they were both fine.
“We left a note at the house in case you stopped by,” Anne replied.
Itzig looked disapprovingly. “I haven’t been able to get over there lately, things have been too crazy in town,” Itzig said. “I tried calling and when I didn’t get an answer yesterday I began to worry that something had happened.”
Barty looked at the ground. “I’m sorry, Eli. We left on short notice, otherwise I would have taken the time to call and let you know.”
“Well at least I know you’re safe now. I probably would not have known what happened to you if I hadn’t met Demona at one of our roadblocks.”
“So, they started the quarantine?” Barty asked.
“Yes, so you all better have a good explanation as to why I broke protocol and allowed two civilians to leave town. What’s this about demons?” Itzig waited impatiently for a reply.
Barty nodded unhappily. “It is true. I should have put two and two together earlier and realized that this was a demon outbreak and not an epidemic, when you mentioned the health inspector’s concerns,” he said. “Now we know what’s taking place, or at least what’s causing the horrific events in town.”
“Why don’t we take this discussion inside, where it’s a little warmer,” Felix suggested. “There are too many ears to hear the details at this moment. I’d prefer if we informed all of our residents of the situation after we have discussed it with our elder and pastor.”
Itzig gave a single nod. “Understood. No need to start a panic.”
The group went into the church and seated themselves around the sanctuary before beginning to explain the situation. Demona knew that Itzig was going to have many questions.
“I’m sorry Uncle Barty,” Itzig said, “I never really took your job seriously. I always just thought it was like folklore type stuff. I know you are an expert in your field, but have you ever performed an exorcism?”
“To be honest, no.” Barty looked sorrowful. “Exorcisms have technically gone out of practice, except for the occasional one performed by the Catholic Church or some other isolated Christian sects. Though, I have been a witness to an exorcism. In truth, my job is more information based; it’s very similar to those of mythologists and folklorists.”
“Do you believe that this stuff is real?” Itzig asked his uncle.
A slight grin spread across Barty’s face at the question. “Demons, yes, always. Until recently I speculated on the existence of vampires. Now, I’m a believer in all things paranormal. Since I came here, my mind has been opened to so many new species, races, realms, and all kinds of exciting things.”
“I still can’t wrap my head around this whole demon thing,” Itzig said.
Demona shook her head. “If only they didn’t exist…” “Why not just shoot them?” Itzig asked.
Felix pressed his lips together. “We’ve found that guns are useless in destroying the demons. When we were on patrol recently Demona and I discovered that after a period of time, after the hosts have died, the demons will seek fresh bodies. If we use guns to shoot to kill, we are pretty much just speeding up the process.”
Barty sniffed and wiped his nose with a handkerchief. “By killing the hosts you are just rereleasing the demons into the town to possess more innocent. In order to destroy the demons, they must be exercised and banished.”
“So why not just injure them, not kill them?” Itzig asked.
Demona shrugged. “A bullet wound can slow down the host body, but for the living possessed, it will not stop them from using their demonic powers. As for the dead possessed, it might help in keeping them still long enough to perform an exorcism.” Demona sighed. “We have captured one of the possessed in order to try and figure out a way to put an end to their leader.”
“Come on, we’ll show you.” Felix beckoned for Itzig to follow. “According to one of our prophets an artifact that we found should help us destroy the demon priest, their leader.”
They made their way to the back of the church and down the metal staircase into the basement. Ezekiel and Molony were busy trying to find a way to operate the artifact, while Kerrick stood against the wall with his arms folded over his chest. He seemed interested in what the two light beings were doing, but kept his distance. He quietly observed the two older men and then those that had followed Felix and Demona toward the cell.
Kerrick had brought restraints for the possessed. The restraints reminded Demona of the strait-jackets that you often saw in movies, but instead of having his arms wrapped around his body, the possessed’s arms were stretched out towards the ground and connected to chains that were anchored to the concrete floor below. The possessed was able to walk around within the cell, and even lean against its bars. He was not, however, able to use his arms for the safety of anyone who might be in the cell with him. His mouth did pose a problem for anyone that came within biting distance.
It just so happened that Ezekiel was standing in the cell with the possessed when they arrived. The possessed struggled against the restraints with all of its physical strength. Ezekiel dodged the creature’s attempts to bite him as he wielded the artifact. Demona could tell that he was growing impatient with the situation.
It’s frustrating for all of us.
“Any progress?” Felix asked.
Molony scratched his head and brushed his fingers through his red hair. “Not so far.”
Itzig turned his head as a smell drifted in his direction. “This guy is decomposing.”
Demona raised an eyebrow. “So, now you believe us?”
“He definitely exhibits many of the symptoms that the CDC is associating with this epidemic,” Itzig said. He was disgusted by the situation, but determined to verify that the possessed was not an infected person. He pulled a pair of blue latex gloves from his pocket and slipped them on over his hands.
Ezekiel stood back and let Itzig step into the cell. Ezekiel cleared out to give Itzig more room to examine the possessed. He shone a light into its eyes and forced its mouth open difficultly, while making sure that his fingers were away from its teeth. Itzig felt for a pulse, first on the wrist and then the neck.
Horde of the Demon Priest (Demona Book 3) Page 8
