THE GHOST AND THE EARTHBOUND DEMONS

A SOUL MAN

Blue sits beside the television and watches as his colleague possesses Bobby. It was all fun, and he was laughing hysterically. Suddenly, he heard a knock.  Out of curiosity, Blue slipped through the room wall and appeared beside Terry and Jimmy.

 Terry's hologram instantly screamed out. "That's one of the earthbound demons, Terry. He is standing in front of you. Pull out your gun and shoot him back to Ghoul."

"Oh, no," Blue screamed and tried to vanish into the thin air, but Terry was faster than he had imagined.  

Terry immediately pointed the gun in his hand and pulled the trigger. A puff...puff sound was heard, and the earthbound demon instantly turned to smoke.

Terry who just shoots blindly to a space in front of him asks, "Is the demon dead?"

Jimmy wasn't aware of the presence of the supernatural, but he saw Terry pulling out his banana and then pointing it at a space.  And out of fear, he leaped out of the pointed banana

"You just killed your first demon, Terry. Congratulations!"

"Hmm. Thank you, Holo."

Jimmy's hand was shaking as he pounded on Bobby's door. What the hell had he gotten himself to? 

Terry smiled and patted his friend on the back. "Don't worry. I won't put you in harm's way."

"I know. What should I do when Bobby opens the door?"

"Punch him in the face."

"Am afraid. Can't you possess me like you did when we first met?"

"Well, I will love-."

Holo immediately cut into Terry's speech, "Any direct assault on mortal will be reported by me."

Terry shook his head sideways and muttered, "am sorry, Jimmy. I can't help." 

And at that moment, the door swung open. A face appeared.  Jimmy swung. 

And in the time between swing and impact, time seemed to decelerate. Just long enough for the head to speak.

"Who the hell are you?"

Odd, thought Terry. Why was Bobby slobbering? Then the punch landed and Bobby collapsed like a sack of pig dung.

"Nice one," Terry mumbled.

"Can we go now?" Jimmy asked.

Terry didn't want to go yet. There was something wrong here. But Jimmy had turned and disappeared out of sight, and Terry had no choice but to race after him. Coward. 

"Hey, Terry. Wait a moment," Holo screamed after him.

Terry did not wait until he finally caught up with Jimmy. 

"There is a demon inside Bobby. This must be the reason why he was slobbering and whining."

"Are you sure, Holo?"

"Absolutely."

Terry turned towards his shivering friend and said, "We need to go back there."

"Not in my life. You go if you want to."

Jimmy ran like a posses man, and Terry was torn between going after his friend or going back for the demon. At last, he chooses to run after Jimmy, ignoring the hologram objection. 

Even if Terry had turned back, he wouldn't have met Shrek. The scared demon had disappeared into thin air. But who can blame him when he had witnessed the vaporization of his dear friend? 

Klaus was not happy. 

He was dressed in his Rough form, and his eyes were round and red as he glared at the demon in front of him.  Suddenly, he grabbed Shrek by the throat and pinned him to the wall.

"I warned you never to step out of this church. Now tell me, where is Blue?"

"Gone."

"Gone?"

"Yes. He was attacked by a soul man."

"A soul man!" He exclaimed. "You mean a soul man was sent after us."

Shrek shuffled nervously. "Yes. He wasn't a demon like us. A human ghost I think."

"Human ghost!' hissed Klaus, tiny lightning bolts sparkling between his horns. "How on earth is that even possible?"

"I saw him shooting Blue, and I could hear his scream as he was hurled back to Ghoul."

Klaus's fangs quivered in his mouth. This was unexpected. Under normal circumstances, demons were supposed to be sent after them.  And since Lord Lucifer assured them nothing of such would happen, the earthbound demons were expecting a hassle-free time on earth. 

"Did you now see the reason why I warned everyone to remain here until I said otherwise? Now you have blown our cover."

"I'm so sorry, Klaus-san."

Klaus's eyes narrowed as he flicked a forked tongue over suddenly dry lips. "I need to inform Lucifer-san immediately."

Shrek winced as Klaus's grip tightened on his windpipe. 

"This is bad," Klaus growled. "How dare you make me look incompetent in front of the great master?"

"Hurrggh," grunted Shrek.

"I have a mind to send you back to Ghoul, but-." Kaul leaves the sentence unfinished and then drops Shrek on the hard floor.  No point in wasting time with an irresponsible demon like Shrek, Kaul thought as he brought out a golden phone. 

"Hello, Ale."

"Yes, Kaul-san.“

"I need you down here, a demon needed to be punished for disobedience," Kaul muttered and then disconnected the call. 

"I'm so sorry, Kaul-San. This won't ever happen again."

"I will make sure it doesn't," Kaul answered back in anger. "You will be locked up until I inform the dark lord of your disobedience and then we will decide the right punishment for you." 

Shrek swallowed a large spit. He hated to be locked up and hated punishment. So he had made up his mind to escape immediately a chance presented itself.  

After what seemed like an eternity, Ale arrived inside the large hall. 

"Any secure place to put this foolish demon?" 

Ale gawked at Shrek and then nodded his head. "Yes, Kaul-San. We have discovered some secret cells underground in this church. An ideal place to lock demon up."

"Then take him there and post some demons as guards. He must not step out of that place until I said so."

Ale nodded. "Should I sedate him?"

"No need. Just keep an eye on him. I want him conscious whenever I may have needs of him."

Ale nodded his head and muttered," Klaus-san, we have a visitor before you summoned me."

"A visitor?"

"Yes. He is human."

"Check his profile. I need to know why he is here."

"I already did, Klaus-san. His name is Judas, he is a dark spiritualist, and this church had been his altar for years. Should we chase him out?"

"Oh, no. Let him be. I have a mission for him."

Ale gestured to Shrek to follow him, and like a docile lamb, the tired demon stood up and stepped after Ale. If Klaus thinks he will be locking him up, then he has a surprise waiting for him. No one dared lock Shrek up. Not even the great Lucifer. 

Kaul holds his breath as he cracks every bone in his fingers. This wasn't good at all...and why on earth would there be a cell under a church?