Authors: Unknown Author

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Harrison had to jump back to avoid Megan's flailing limbs, staying clear as consciousness reclaimed her. For a moment he panicked, fearing she was suffering a seizure. Her eyes had rolled up into her head and she was shaking violently but she hadn't started foaming at the mouth yet.

He'd already tried covering her with a thin sheet but she kicked it clear as she came round, curling up into a ball under the nearest of the lockers.

"The baby," Megan whimpered. "The baby."

"What's she talking about?" Kaci shook her head.

"She's seen what must be done," Chappell called from the adjoining room.

"Someone shut him up," Harrison yelled over his shoulder as he dropped back to his knees and reached out for Megan.

"No one's listening to you, Mr Policeman," Chappell sang. "Looks like you'll have to listen to me."

"Its a sacrifice," Megan said as Harrison wrapped the sheet around her again and pulled her close. "They're going to kill the child."

"That's right, Megan," Chappell shouted. "They'll gut the little fucker and let him bleed out."

"You have to stop them." Megan pushed Harrison away, eager to be on her feet.

"Who's the monster now?" Chappell let out an inhuman howl.

"We can't let them do it." Megan began searching through the lockers. "He's only a child." She pulled on an oversized black vest and khaki cargo pants.

"You stop them and the Slavis wins," Chappell said. "The ultimate sin for the future of this world." He almost choked laughing. "Is it worth it?"

Megan stormed into the room and found Chappell tied to the examination chair. He strained at the surgical tubing, staring at her from between battered eyelids.

She tore her attention away from Chappell and took in the otherwise nearly empty room. The main door stood ajar, the night breeze carrying on it an unnatural aroma of rot. Only Samantha remained in the room and she sat hunched over the note pad, scanning through the pages with shaking fingers.

"Where did they go?" Megan asked but Samantha remained silent. "I asked you a fucking question." she grabbed Samantha's chin and made her look up.

"They have gone to do what must be done," Samantha whimpered. "The door must be sealed."

"You know where they've taken him, Megan" Chappell said. "Dare you follow them?" Chappell grinned from ear to ear. "Let me show you the way."

"And tell me." Megan crossed the room and threw her weight on top

Chappell, slamming her knee into his groin. "Why would I accept your help?"

"To save the child," chuckled Chappell.

"Liar," Megan snarled, smashing her head into the bridge of his nose. "You want this. You'd have killed me to gain control of them... you want the Slavis free."

Chappell shook his head, leaned to the left and spat a glob of blood mixed with phlegm, a thick mucus that hit the wall and rolled slowly downwards.

"Why?" Megan asked. "Why did you release them?"

"Because I could."

"Bastard." Megan drew back her fist but before she could deliver the blow a hand encircled her wrist. She spun around, expecting Harrison to be standing behind her but found herself looking at the one called Samantha.

"Its you," Samantha said, reaching out with her free hand and running a finger over the birthmark revealed by the baggy neck of the vest. "He took you away, but you came back."

"What?" Megan snatched her wrist away from Samantha.

"You still don't get it... do you?" Chappell said. "You're eyes are open but you're blind."

"Will someone please tell me what's going on," Megan asked.

"I think I can," Harrison said, holding out the battered note pad to show a rough sketch of a demonic Foetus.

"No." Megan took the book and studied the sketch as she made her way to the wall and the polished stainless steel mirror hanging there. She looked at her reflection and then back at the sketch.

"That's right," announced Chappell. "Say hello to mother."

Megan turned, her gaze going from the note pad to Samantha and then to Harrison. The only sound was the wheezing laughter of Chappell as he wallowed in the atmosphere within the building.

"You were our first born," Samantha explained. "You carried the mark of sacrifice." She took the book from Harrison and hugged it close to her breast. "Your father took you away from us before we could offer you to the Ministry."

"She would have let you die, Megan," added Chappell.

"Shut up," Megan snarled at her ex-lover.

"You would have been the one taken down into the dark and offered to the Slavis." Chappell ignored Megan's plea and continued. "Its because of you that an innocent child now has to die."

"Is it true?" Megan asked of her birth mother. "Would you have let me die?"

"It had to be done." Samantha nodded slowly, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"You should have died, Megan," Chappell said. "This is all your fault."

"He's right," snapped Megan. "But I'm going to put things right." She moved towards Chappell and began untying the bonds at his wrist.

"What the hell are you doing?" barked Harrison.

"They want a sacrifice... I'll give them one."

forty One

Harrison stood at the top of the staircase and looked down into the

darkness, shivering internally at the thought of what awaited them. After all they'd seen he had no wish to make his way down into the lair of the beast. But he knew he had to. He couldn't let Megan do it on her own. He just couldn't.

Chappell stood at his side, a length of tubing looped around his neck like a dog lead and his arms secured behind his back. Harrison had suggested leaving the Doctor tied to the examination chair, but both Megan and Kaci had argued the point. They'd all seen how the Slavis appeared to be scared of Chappell and the symbols he'd carved into his flesh.

Megan stood further down the stairway, on the first of the small landings. She had Samantha with her, a serious look etched on both faces.

"You may have given birth to me," Megan said, "But that doesn't mean I have to trust you."

"Trust has nothing to do with it," Samantha replied. "You won't make it down there without me."

"We have Chappell."

"Do you truly think he will save you?" Samantha asked. "You think he can control them but you're wrong."

"And just what are you offering us?" snapped Megan. "Chants?"

"I promise nothing." Samantha opened her robe wide. "But I can slow them down." Strapped to her body and hanging from the interior of the robe was a collection of blades, aged steel that showed the signs of battle.

"What are you?" Megan asked, reaching out and pulling free a foot long dagger for inspection.

"Some of us are priests whilst others, like me, are warriors."

Megan offered the dagger back but Samantha shook her head, already refastening the robe. "You should keep it."

"I still don't trust you."

"I'll be needing one of those." Kaci pushed passed Harrison and made her way down the stairs.

Samantha turned and, with a slight smile on her face, flicked her hand out. It was like the knife came from nowhere, the stiletto blade spinning in her fingers and coming to rest with the blade facing towards Kaci.

"What about me?" Chappell asked.

"Shut up." Harrison smashed his elbow into the Doctor's face. "I won't warn you again." He pulled on the lead, dragging Chappell down the steps in his wake.

"I should call them now and have them feed on you," Chappell threatened.