The Eventide Hunt

     "You know, you never said what person we were going after. I mean, for all we know, it's some dumb lowlife who can't keep their mind in between their ears."

    Theron regretted his choices as soon as those words left his underling's mouth. He paused and tried to keep his inner tide of anger from surging through. He turned to the underling -a simple short fellow with a shovel and a torch- and simply replied, "We are going after someone very important to the madness we are all enduring."

    "What? The Devil himself?" The fellow laughed. The others behind him chuckled in low tones. If it wasn't for the fact that this man was popular, Theron wouldn't have the manpower to even attempt what he was about to do. But he knew just how to get their attention. 

    "The Devil? Certainly. But it is not a man; it is a woman." Theron states. 

    The group grows quiet, but Theron can feel their tension stir. "A woman?" Someone in the crowd asked. 

    "Yes. A woman." Theron laughed, "One that might as well have tricked Eve herself. But this vile woman killed the devil we all thought we knew. No, this- this creature is far more nefarious and more evil than even God can tolerate. It takes on a woman's appearance to make sure no one expects it. But I know. I've known for a long time."

    "But Father-"

    "Do you wish to get rid of this evil or not?" Theron spun around to fully face the crowd, making sure his cross glinted in the light of the lanterns in the most theatrical way. "Would you like your families to stop suffering from this blackest of deaths? Would you like the rats to stop gnawing at your food? Would you like to hold your children in your arms as they grow hearty and strong, not die weak and feeble?" The tension finally spilled into a dull thunder of agreement from the group. "Then you will come with me. I have managed to capture the Devil on the gated grounds of the church. It refuses to go inside, thank God. But we can still kill it outside and appease God's wrath. So let's go before morning comes and the Devil fades."

    The crowd raised their weapons in agreement and marched with Theron as their leader. Even the fellow who brought them followed Theron with the coldness of a fighter, ready to conquer the woman just inside the gates. They arrived at the gates just as the church bell chimed the hour: three o'clock. But the three chimes only signaled to the men that this was the perfect time to find the woman. They barged into the gates and spread out into two groups. Each group flushed the grounds with their weapons, taking out animals and the weaker plants in the process. It didn't matter what was in sight; the community abandoned the church a year ago after the Devil came in the flashes of lightning and claimed its grounds for its work. It brought everything into the town that seemed to spread across all the lands they knew of. If they could kill this woman, they could save the church here in town and the whole of the continent. The groups reunited and gave their reports; fresh catches for a meal, but no woman. Theron proposed a fine meal after they find and kill their target, which only brought a fever of celebration and motivation as they broke through the church doors and entered in. 

    Only Theron blessed himself before he entered in. He knew he didn't need to, but his calling prompted him to as a habit. The others surged around him and flooded into the main sanctuary to scan for their prey. They bashed what little furniture was left as they scattered into the smaller rooms to search. Theron thanked God quietly that they got all of the regalia out of the church before the Devil claimed it. Everything but the giant cross in the very back of the room. It would have been behind the altar as a strong reminder of their faith. Now, Theron realized it felt probably like the peoples under Roman control saw it; a reminder of death and control, not life and freedom. He avoided it and instead went to find the fellow. In the blitz of searching, all of the men plundered what was left of the wood and gathered it in the center of the church to prepare a bonfire for the meat. Theron sighed at the early preparations, but hoped it was a sign that he would finally be rid of the evil that haunted them.

    In the distance, he heard a crackle that sent shivers down his spine. Was that lightning and thunder? There wasn't supposed to be a storm right now. There wasn't supposed to be anything but a clear sky right now. He held his crucifix close to his chest and muttered a codeword to himself. The crucifix glowed gently and muttered something back to him that he was horrified to hear: chrono-anomaly detected. Theron dropped his hold on his cross and called out, "Gentlemen, I have had a vision from God. The vile one is in this room. We must hurry and-"

    "And what, 'Father' Theron? Slay her?" A new voice cackled. A female voice. The group of men turned to the giant cross. There, bound to the cross, was a woman in a red shirt, black pants, and a long blue coat. She looked up to the group and flashed the red glow in her eyes. "Come and do your worst then." The group ran to her with all the fury they could muster, but all they were met with were flames and the final breath escaping their lungs. All but Theron found themselves seared to the bone and on the floor in piles. The woman unbound herself with invisible hands and dropped to the floor. She approached Theron with a smirk on her face. "Theron, haven't you learned not to use mortal souls to come after me?" Theron took a step back. "Oh, give it up, Theron. Find another timeline to hunt me on. I'm tired of this place anyway." She disappeared in front of him as her last words spilled into his head. He cursed to himself and ran out of the church. He found a torch, let it, and set the church ablaze. He held his cross, said a codeword, and faded into the mist that gathered around the church for the briefest of moments. 

    He would try again. Another place. Another time. 

    The hunt had to go on. 

~

Current WIP: The Color Was Love

Word Count: 413