THE WORLD OF RUINS

S01-CH04

I couldn’t really sleep, I kept turning again and again. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the white skin and black markings of that demon. The exhaustion there and so heavy but I just couldn’t fall asleep. So I simply waited, counting the seconds until the darkness outside was completely replaced by sunlight.

​When the sun was finally up, I didn’t waste any time. I pushed myself off the bed, walked to the chipped wooden dresser and opened the top drawer. I grabbed the sealed pack I kept hidden for emergencies. I pulled one out, lit it and inhaled deeply. Then I went and stood by the window, watching the traffic below begin its daily crawl and smoked the cigarette down to the filter. Once the smoke was gone, the immediate edge was taken off the morning.

​I stripped off my blood-stained clothes, stepped into the bathroom and let the shower run hot until the apartment filled with steam, washing away all the bad energy. Twenty minutes later, I was me again. Dressed in a black suit and tie knotted perfectly.

​Just as I was checking my appearance in the mirror, my phone buzzed on the dresser. I picked it up and a text message from the Captain popped up: Check-in now. ​

I put the phone in my pocket, grabbed the new pack of cigarettes and the car keys. And I went to the car. As I got into the driver sit I took a deep breath and started driving, heading North. – I didn’t really know what happened at the Old Ridgemont Apartment. But if anyone had the answers to all my questions, it would be the man who taught me that cursed language.

Then my destination had to be Northport Prison. One of the most protected correctional facilities in our country, mainly because it held the most dangerous prisoners.

​The prison walls came into view after a while, and I drove right up to the black main gate. I reached across the car dashboard, grabbed my official badge and held it up to the security camera. The gate shuddered open. I drove through the checkpoint, parked and stepped out.

The guards who met me were huge men in tactical gear. “Purpose of visit?” one asked, his hand hovering near his weapon. I met his eyes evenly. “I have questions for an inmate about a case on Captain’s oders.” I said, showing my badge to them.

​“Name?”

​“Gabriel Van Zyl.”

​The guard exchanged a look with his partner. “The Mad Priest? You sure about that, Detective?”

​“Yeah.” I said, putting my badge back in my pocket. “The mad priest.”

One of the men nodded stiffly and motioned for me to follow. We walked through the endless white corridors of Northport, heading deep into the isolation wing. We eventually reached a large room set up for private visits, separated by huge reinforced glass.

The priest was already waiting for me on the other side. He was old with wild gray hair and eyes that were too bright for someone whose locked in a box. The moment he saw me, a wide grin split his face.

​“Nichi, my boy! How long has it been… six years? You never even bothered to come see your old man?” he said, settling down on his chair.

​I sat down as well. “I’m not here for a reunion, Gabriel.”

​“Look at yourself.” he chuckled, leaning forward. “A grown man who wants to cut straight to the chase. I like that.

​I ignored the compliment. “I need to know everything about my family.”

​Gabriel laughed, throwing his head back. “So that’s why you’re here? I taught you all I know, my boy.”

​I lost my composure for a split second, slamming my fist on the table. “That’s not all and you know it!” I immediately looked around. The guards in the shadows hadn’t moved but my sudden outburst had earned me their full attention. I leaned closer, my voice dropping back.

“Look, I met a powerful demon last night. It was even able to comprehend human speech. And it called me Knyazhin, asking if I didn’t know who I am yet.”

​“Oh?” he said, looking at me straight in the eyes. “Quick question, though. Who do you think you are?”

​Right after he asked me that, my mind blanked. I whispered the only truthful answer I had. “I don’t know.”

Gabriel laughed again but this time, it was filled with a strange pity. “Then I’m afraid I’m no use to you, my boy.” he said, rising from his chair. “Your family had too many secrets that only their bloodline could uncover.”

​He turned to leave but stopped at the door, his eyes meeting mine again over his shoulder. His look was deadly serious. “But Yanga? Be careful when you’re out there. People tend to get aggressive toward things they don’t understand.”

And like that he was gone, leaving me alone in the room. I sat on there for a few more minutes, then stood up and walked out. Realizing that I wasted my precious coming here to this place. I got into my car, lit a fresh cigarette and drove toward the precinct.

​When I stepped into the station, the cigarette was finished. The noise of the precinct slammed into me as soon as I walked through the door. A few officers waved at me and one detective snagged my arm. “Qwabe! The Captain’s been waiting for you for hours and he doesn’t look happy.”

​I walked straight to the Captain’s office, opened the door and stepped in. The Captain looked up from his desk, his face had exhaustion and anger. “You’re late, Qwabe.”

​“Yeah.” I replied, leaning against the doorframe. “I had to take my cat out for a walk.”

​The Captain’s eye twitched. “Then why the hell did I get a call from Northport Prison saying that you went there to visit an inmate on my order?”

​“They’re lying, Captain. You can ask the ladies at the park."

​The Captain slid a photograph across his desk, a grainy surveillance picture of me, holding up my badge at the prison gate.

​Damn guards. – I sighed, raising my hands in surrender. “You got me, Captain.”

​“Why were you there?” he asked.

​I walked to a chair and sat down. “I wanted to ask the inmate some questions about the demon we faced last night.”

​The Captain deflated slightly, rubbing his face. “About that… I shouldn’t have sent you three there. And now Njabulo is gone.”

​“Hey, Cap, it’s not your fault.” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “You were only trying to help cause there’s no one else in here who can take these jobs.”

“Actually, there is an organization of people who deal with this things.” the Captain said, leaning back. “They call themselves…”

​“…Exorcists.”

​The Captain blinked, surprised. “You know about them?"

​“A little bit.”

​“That’s a relief. Because you’ll be working closely with them from now on.” he said, pushing a thick stack of transfer paperwork toward me.

​“What?!” I stood up, my voice high. “Come on, Cap. You know I’m not cut out for that line of work!”

“You’re not cut out for any work, Qwabe.”

​“Yeah right, exactly!”

“But this is the only way you’ll be able to find information about the demon you say you faced last night. And I was going to ask Clarissa too but it looks like Njabulo’s death is hitting her harder than I thought.”

​I frowned and grabbed the papers. “Alright. I’ll go and check up on her.”

Without another words, I walked out of the office and when I got into the car, I slammed my head on the horn three times, muffling my scream. “I don’t want to be an Exorcist!”