"So , what I'm hoping is that we can tune this to a frequency that'll either knock the big floating thing out of the air , or at least disorient it ." , Alex explained , as Joe examined the device , which sat on the kitchen table . "But we still need to be as careful as possible , and not set up any vibrations that could make the house any weaker than it already is . We don't want it coming down on our heads ."

      "We also don't know if there are any other risks in the area , like sinkholes or faults , that might be affected ." , Joe pointed out .

      Blasko and Yanni entered the kitchen , loaded down with firearms and boxes of ammo , which they proceeded to unload on the other end of the table . After Crane's edict for everyone to arm themselves , Blasko had called Allan , to ask if he kept a weapon in the house , and Allan had informed him that there was an entire gun safe in his room , which no one had entered . When he heard what had happened , he immediately provided the combination to the safe , and told them to use whatever they needed .

      "Okay , I think this covers everybody , with a few to spare ." , Yanni stated . "I've got my own gun , and so do Faith , Jenny , Diana , Hawley , Crane , and Jake . Now the rest of you can have one , and there's plenty of ammo to go around ."

      "As soon as we finish doctoring it up , you mean ." , Faith replied from the spot by the kitchen island , where she , Hawley , and Diana were busily coating the bullets with the consecrated oil , and loading them into the weapons . 

      Crane stepped into the room , and announced , "Miss Jenny and I have organized the items we require for the banishment ritual , and we are ready to depart as soon as you have finished preparing the weapons . Does everyone remember their designated role ?"

      Looking up from the weapon she was loading , Faith replied , "Yeah , Nicky and I are covering Alex and Joe while they use that whatzit of hers to try to take the floater out of the picture . You and Jenny are doing your thing to get rid of the other one , and you've got Jake and Jinxx with you , and everybody else is covering all the possible exits so they can't slip out . Did I leave anything out ?"

      "No , I think that covers it ." , Jenny chimed in , as she moved to the counter to help ready the weapons . "Just remember ; nobody goes off on their own , and try not to let it get in your head . If you see something that makes you uneasy , remind yourself that this thing is an illusionist ."

      "Fucker probably makes Criss Angel look like a kid with a toy magic kit ." , Andy mumbled , as he inspected the pistol that Diana had handed to him . He then looked up at Jenny , as Crane wandered back into the other room , and inquired , "About what Hawley said awhile ago , outside , when Faith went off on him and Crane . He was kidding , right ?"

      "The Purgatory thing ? Nope , not even a little bit . He and my sister went there to get his wife , and it ended up with Abbie trapped there for a while , Crane buried alive , again , and his wife held prisoner by the Horseman of Death ."

      Jinxx looked at her curiously . "What do you mean , again ?"

      "Crane !" , she shouted . "Do you want me to tell them , or do you want to do it ?"

      "By all means , Miss Jenny , you may do the honors ." , came the reply .

      "You mean there's something better than a 'Horseman of Death' ?", CC inquired , earning snorts from both Alex and Hawley .

      "Honey , you ain't heard nothin' yet ." , Diana informed him , as she handed him a freshly - loaded weapon .

      As they continued to ready themselves , Jenny explained Crane's actual origins , as well as his role as a Witness . By the time she finished , the guys all wore expressions of bewilderment , and Jake looked at her skeptically . "So you're telling us this guy is over 250 years old ? And you all actually believe that ?"

      Before she could answer , Blasko interjected , "Why not ?" As the others turned toward him in surprise , he continued , saying , "So , the dude ages well , and he's ..., exceptionally well traveled , lets say . How the hell is that any fuckin' weirder than the fact that we're about to go out and waste a couple of fuckin' demons that have kidnapped a government agent , a couple of crew members , and ..., oh , yeah , your bassist ?"

      After a brief pause , Joe replied , "Y'know , when he puts it that way , you can't really argue ."

      "And if you're going to , do it later ." , Faith interjected , as she finished reloading her gun . "We've got more important things to do right now ."

      The others nodded in agreement , and began moving to the front of the house to put on their winter gear . Crane , who was already in his coat , made one last check of his bag before slinging it over his shoulder and placing his hand on the doorknob . Before he opened the door , he turned back to the others and said , "I wish to reiterate that while Miss Faith's idea was an excellent one , I can by no means guarantee that we will be able to actually destroy the creatures with these weapons . However , I also cannot say that it is impossible , so I strongly recommend that you be prepared for either eventuality . You saw what happened to the creature Master Flanders shot , so keep in mind that if it doesn't evaporate , it is likely still dangerous ."

      "Yes , Crane , we get it ." , Alex informed him , somewhat impatiently . Shifting the shoulder strap attached to her device , she continued , "We understand that you're trying to approach this logically , and keep everybody calm , but right now , I'd rather you just open the damn door so I can go get my boyfriend back ."

      Faith muttered something under her breath , too softly for Crane to understand , but Hawley put a hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear , glancing over her head and nodding almost imperceptibly to Crane and Jenny as he did . Crane returned the nod and opened the door , allowing the majority of the group to exit ahead of him , gathering with Jenny , Hawley , and Diana at the rear of the gathering . 

      "I hate to say it , but I'm kinda worried about both of them ." , Jenny said . "I know Alex can usually handle herself , but she seems a bit too wired right now . We may have problems with both of them ."

      As they made their way to the road , Diana responded . "That I understand , Alex and Jake were basically joined at the hip even before they started dating , but what's up with Faith ? Nobody has said anything about her being involved with anyone ."

      "She isn't , exactly ." , Hawley explained . "But she does have it pretty bad for a certain 'Outlaw' . I'd be just about willing to put money on that being what she wasn't willing to talk about when that thing went after her ."

      Speaking in a low tone , so the others didn't overhear , Crane observed , "Unfortunately , there's not really much any of us can say to them , as  we've all found ourselves in that position at one time or another . We must simply hope that logic will override instinct , and they can remain calm ."

     Hawley shook his head , and said , "Hope all you want , Shakespeare , but don't hold your breath . I'm pretty familiar with that look , since I've seen it in my own mirror more than once . We've got a couple of loose cannons here , we've just got to hope the damn demons don't light their fuses ."

                         **************************************************************

      Staying on the road , the group reached the derelict house fairly quickly , and almost instantly recognized that something had changed . While there had always been a general sense of wrongness lingering on the property , causing many to be vaguely uneasy in the area , it had now increased to a degree that was nearly palpable . Joe , Crane , and Hawley , who seemed to be the most sensitive to it , appeared vaguely nauseated , but everyone felt the change in the atmosphere , almost like an electrical charge .

      Blasko , who was seeing the building for the first time , flinched back involuntarily and whispered , "So you're telling me that you've gone wandering around this place ? More than once ? You're fucking insane , this place is evil ."

      "Something has happened , the presence of evil has gotten stronger ." , Crane informed him . "Either it has managed to gate in more demonic servitors , or it has already begun preparing the ritual . We must move quickly , but cautiously ."

      Hawley , Alex , Faith , and Joe moved to the back of the building , planning to enter through the rear cellar door as soon as they heard the others descend the basement stairs . The others climbed onto the porch , and walked inside , moving through the cold , silent structure to the basement stairs . As they paused by the door , Jake asked , "Why are you so sure that they're down there . They could be anywhere in the house ."

      "Because it likes the dark ." , CC blurted . "Didn't you see when it popped up by the truck earlier ? The ugly little fuck was practically cooking right in front of us , so I'm guessing that the darker it is , the better he , or it , likes it ."

      "That would be my guess , too ." , Jenny replied . "Also , they can see a lot better in the dark than we can , so it would be a lot easier to ambush us , or set a trap , so everybody keep your eyes open ."

      With that , she and Crane began descending the stairs , followed by Jake and Jinxx , Andy and Yanni , then CC and Blasko , with Diana covering the rear . They stepped into the musty cellar , scanning the area , and seeing nothing , until the bulkhead door opened , and Alex and Joe appeared , crouching in the doorway with the device between them , and Hawley and Faith standing over them , weapons drawn . 

      As everyone spread out across the frozen , hard - packed dirt floor , scanning the area in search of their friends , Joe looked up from the control panel of the sonic device , and alarm spread across his face .

      "Get down ! It's over your heads !" , he shouted , scrambling for the switch .

      Everyone glanced up , just in time to see the floating , tentacled horror lashing out at everyone in reach . They scrambled to get out of the way , but Diana and Yanni were just a fraction of a second too slow and fell motionless to the floor . 

      The others brought their weapons to bear on the creature , as Alex and Joe worked the controls of the box , creating a low , vibrating hum , which steadily increased in pitch . This seemed to annoy the demon , and it began to move in their direction , and they turned the volume up yet again , causing it to falter and retreat .

      Then , just as they prepared to actually open fire on the creature , they felt a blast of energy roll out from the opposite end of the basement , which was followed by a raspy , guttural voice , chanting words that few of them understood . Crane and Jenny looked at each other in alarm , and scrambled in that direction , Crane digging into his bag as he moved . 

      Their worry was almost instantly transmitted to everyone else as a soul - wrenching scream , in a voice they all recognized immediately , echoed through the area . 

      Hawley's eyes widened , and his hand shot out , just a split second too late to keep his companion from bolting past him and following Jenny and Crane into the bowels of the darkened cellar .

      "Damn it , Faith !" , he growled , as he turned and began firing at the other demon , hoping to clear the way , so he could follow .

A / N : Sorry it's late , but they've been trying to kill me with overtime at work , and I'm behind on literally EVERYTHING .