“Church of Nightmares: Part 5 - Rescue”

Posted on Fri Aug 12th, 2022 @ 10:46am by Jaclyn Morrison & Unawakened Kai Irving

Mission: The Factions
Location: Edgerton, Wyoming
Timeline: Current

“Church of Nightmares: Part 5 - Rescue”

Days passed and both Jaclyn and Kai were permitted to return to Haven House under the supervision of Monica to work in the food bank during the day and at the church in the evenings. Carl supervised Kai and Monica supervised Jaclyn.

A few days after the Services, the Reverend entered Haven House suddenly. He seemed a bit agitated. "Monica!" He shouted from the front door.

Monica who had been in the office going over the books came bustling out. “Reverend” She said warmly. “Whatever is the matter?”

"We have a traitor in our midst!" He hissed angrily. "My contacts have just sent me a warning of an impending attack!"

“An attack?” Monica frowned and looked around. “Who do you think would betray us?”

"I don't know, " the old Reverend admitted angrily. "My contact couldn't give me an identification, only the fact that there existed a traitor!"

Monica nodded “Then I shall prepare the congregation, and our men will defend the church” She said in her serious tone.

The Reverend nodded, then moved to his desk, opening the top right drawer. After reaching inside, he pulled out a small device. It was the size of an old blackberry mobile device, with a single covered button on top, and a short coil of wire coming out of the bottom.

Moving over to the altar that was set up in his office, he knelt before an ornate crucifix. Closing his eyes, he started to pray.

When he was done, he opened his eyes and stood. Unbuttoning his shirt, he exposed the device he always wore under his clothing. It was a transmitter, which was attuned to his bio rhythm. Should his vitals ever flatline, for even a second, the device would send out a signal, detonating every hidden explosive device that had been staged over the entire forty acre plot of land that the Church owned.

No one would be able to survive the blast. He would ensure that his flock made the ultimate sacrifice, enabling them to enter His Kingdom. There, to live forever by His side.

He carefully attached the handheld device to the transmitter. It would be used as a dead man's switch. So even if somehow he was rendered unconscious by the enemy, he would still be able to save the souls of his followers.

Once the two devices were connected, he slid the switch down the sleeve of his left arm. He then re-buttoned his shirt and made sure nothing looked amiss. Concealing the switch in his left hand, he left his office and made his way to the Church, where the Congregation would be collecting for safety.

Kai had been assigned to scrub the floors and skirting boards in the house’s main hall. She had overheard the Reverend and Monica and had managed to hide herself in the shadows as he left the office.

She managed to join the group being led into the lounge room. She spotted Jaclyn standing off to the side with Carl holding Jaclyn’s upper arm hard.

Monica gathered her people and assigned roles. Men went to the basement and collected weapons.

Kai was sent to the kitchens to prepare meals for all.

Doctor Haylee Jones came in with three bags of medical supplies which she handed out to other women who followed the men out to the borders of the property.She then bowed to the Reverend and moved to prepare an area in one of the rooms for the wounded.

"God will deliver us, His loyal children, from this evil, my children!" The Reverend shouted over the noise over movement. "Get all non-combatants into the church!"

Jaclyn found herself being pushed into the crowd being moved out of the house towards the Church. She took a chance and slid from the group and hid in one of the hall cupboards. She slid the door shut behind her, and listened. No one had noticed she was gone. She just had to wait it out, wait until everyone had gone to the church at the back of the house, then she would sneak out, grab Kai and run again.

She listened and soon the footsteps died away and she slipped from the cupboard and down to the kitchen. She peeked inside.

Kai was alone.

Jac entered pretending to look at the floor. “Kai” she said softly.

“They...” Kai said softly.

“Shhhh, just nod, are you still wanting to go?”

Kai nodded.

“Lets go.” Jac knew that her things had not been unpacked and she was pretty sure Kai’s had not either, as they had been given clothes by the church.
“They never gave you back your things right?” she chose to confirm though.

“No, they left it in the van.” Kai replied “your puppy is outside.”

Jac nodded and they headed for the backdoor, slipping out into the dark in silence. Within minutes they were moving through the chaos, Artemis wrapped tightly in Jac’s arms as the pair made it to where the Church had left Jaclyn’s van.

Jaclyn was not surprised at the fact it was unlocked and her keys were laying on the drivers seat. She had managed to pull the wool over their eyes with the help of the doctor so she and Kai climbed aboard without this time being stopped.

Jaclyn started the van while Kai closed the doors and sat with Artemis in the passenger seat.

Jaclyn put the van in gear and headed for the main gates. “Seatbelt.” She reminded Kai as they drove out of the compound in the chaos. She didn’t care what happened to those in that dumb church, she hoped whoever it was attacking them, that they took them all out.

20 minutes after they had left the compound, she turned south onto I-25. It was a risk she knew to head south but she needed to keep them moving and they could always double back.