that a demon was residing in the hospital, waited on by the National Health Service at the taxpayers’ expense. It made foreign immigrants seeking free treatment passe by comparison.
He studied the faces of the people he passed. How would he know if any of them were possessed? Any one of them could be housing a demonic entity. The thought made him shiver and he bowed his head to avoid eye contact. The enormity of the situation was beginning to set in, bringing with it a whole host of fears that set his nerves jangling.
He gripped the handle of the water pistol in his waistband. If he didn’t think it would look ridiculous, he would have taken it out and brandished it. To think that his life might depend on a gun that cost ?4.99 seemed ludicrous, but it was a damn sight more reassuring than being unarmed.
When he reached the door to the basement, Stephen opened it and descended the stairs. As he started along the corridor, he heard the door open behind him and his heart missed a beat when the clomp of footsteps reached his ears.
Someone was following him.
Panicked, he ran towards the room where Jo was hiding, his temples pounding.
They had followed him. The demons had followed him.
Once inside the room, he fled towards the storage cupboard and tore the door open, terrified to find Jo wasn’t there.
Panic exploded within his body like a neutron bomb. He tried to take a breath; felt faint, thought he might collapse. Unsure what to do, he stepped back, turning as he did so to view the room. He wanted to call Jo’s name, but fear held his tongue.
He reached to withdraw the water pistol, when a hand grabbed his leg.
CHAPTER 20
Stephen almost jumped out of his skin. He managed not to scream – just turned and looked down to see Joanna staring up at him.
“Down here,” she said.
Stephen dropped to his hands and knees and crawled into the small space inside one of the metal cubicles, and Joanna pulled the cover back across.
Light from the room shone through metal grilles, and the air smelt of dust that tickled his nose.
“There’s someone coming,” he whispered. Next second, he heard the sound of footsteps as somebody entered the room.
Legs and arms constricted, he struggled to withdraw the water pistol in the cramped space; he felt sick with fear, certain that whoever entered the room would hear the thrum of his heart.
Through the metal grille, he saw a figure walk towards the storage cupboard. A man in blue overalls. The man started whistling an out of tune melody as he opened the door and withdrew a mop and bucket. Cleaning aids in hand, he turned and walked back out of the room, the sound of his whistling petering into the distance.
“Now aren’t you glad I didn’t stay in there,” Joanna said.
Stephen exhaled loudly. He felt as though he had been holding his breath throughout.
They crawled out of the space and Stephen struggled to his feet and rubbed his face. He felt dirty after the confines of the dusty cubicle.
“How did you find that place? And why?” he asked.
“I got bored when you left, so I had a nosey around. I didn’t feel secure inside the cupboard, then I noticed this panel hanging off.” She pointed down at the cubicle. “It wasn’t very big inside, but I thought it was a better place to hide. Looks like I was right.”
“Well you almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Sorry!”
After taking a moment to recompose himself, Stephen withdrew the papers from his pocket. “Well, you’ll never guess who the organ donor was.”
“Try me, who was it?”
He handed the papers across. “A priest. A goddamn Catholic priest.”
Joanna stared at him open-mouthed. “Oh jeez, it all makes sense now.”
“Well I’m glad you think so.”
“Don’t you see, he would have been sworn to renounce evil. And somehow, his corneas are allowing me to see that evil.”
“Ah, now you put it like that. Jesus Jo, this is crazy.” Stephen raised his hands in an exasperated manner.
“Have you got a better explanation?”
“Yes, it’s all a bad dream and I’m going to wake up any minute.”
“If only. Face it, this is real.”
“Then God help us.”
“Well if he doesn’t, then I think we’re well and truly screwed.”
CHAPTER 21
“What do you mean you can’t obtain the drugs,” Malachi snapped.
Kaidi, one of the possessed nurses, held her palms out in a defeated posture. “I don’t have access. They’re locked up.”
“Well unlock them. You expect to help me bring our brethren through, and you can’t get me a few simple drugs to make sure Lincoln remains comatose.”
“We need help from someone with access.”
“Access,” the demon roared. “Break in.”
“What if I get caught?”
“For pity’s sake, use some commonsense. You’ve imbued your host with unimaginable strength. Use it. Crack a few skulls. Break a few bones. Do whatever it takes.”
“But I didn’t think it would be good to draw attention to ourselves before we are legion.”
“I’ll do the thinking. You just do as you’re told. Now go and get me those drugs.”
Kaidi scuttled back and exited the room.
Malachi stared out of the window, jaw clenched. Was it too much to ask to have his orders carried out without all this rigmarole. It was a simple task. Not exactly rocket science. Break in, obtain some drugs and then bring them back. Even a human could probably accomplish it, that’s how easy it was.
Red-tinged clouds scudded across the horizon. Red sky at night, demon’s delight. He grinned to himself. If he had his way, the sky would literally burn, releasing forth a hail and brimstone maelstrom that would scorch the earth.
He was standing on the dawn of a new epoch.
And it felt good.
Very good.
Although his troops were still few, they would soon grow in number. Then when he had total control of Lincoln, things would increase at an exponential rate.
He recalled the last time he had left purgatory, when he possessed a young girl, a sweet, innocent thing that he defiled and made do base acts. It had been fun while it lasted; had shown him the power he could command, but then an interfering priest exorcised him. This time, there would be no holy interference because he hadn’t possessed Lincoln’s spirit, he had taken over his whole body, becoming one with his human host.
This time, there would be no stopping him.
He glanced at the clock on the wall; knew that Lincoln could wake at any time and usurp his control. That’s
