The next day comes calmly, gently. The sun arises from the ocean and joins the clouds in a clear overcast. A peaceful wind comes and goes, taking along some leaves from one place to another. We return to the barber shop where Mr. Marquis sits outside reading a newspaper with glasses. On a small table next to him, he's eating sunflower seeds, some have been thrown to the birds as they peck away, fighting and grappling each other for their given food. There is a lovely tranquility in the air, a great peacefulness. Too peaceful… Similar to what yesterday's weather was like before, whatever happened, happened… Mr. Marquis sighs at the thought, rubbing his forehead, still questioning whether what he saw, but more importantly, what he thinks, was real. The two kids working inside look out to see Marquis through the giant windows of the store. Kevin asks Dayshawn, “You think he's ok?” Dayshawn answers, “I don't know, I think he just needs some time. Whatever happened between the guy and him is their business, I guess..” The old man's eyes look up briefly, then jolt up again, and instantly an overwhelming joy comes to him, his eyes widen, and he gives a big smile. It's Father Sergei, in his Cassock and holding a briefcase, waving back to him also with a smile. He laughs and jumps out of his seat with glee and runs towards him. Father puts down his briefcase and does the same thing. Both colliding together with a massive hug, laughing, wobbling side to side in a circle, with big pats on the back.

  As they now both sit at the little table, Dayshawn walks out with two tea's on a tray, placing them down for them. Father, “Ah, thank you truly.” Maquis, “Thank- boy. Where's the sweetener!?” The kid scratches the back of his head, “Uhhh, I think I forgot it inside..” “Boy, the hell you mean you forgot it inside!? You know I like my coffee with sweetener! You come out here with all your-” Stopping himself and calming down, "Actually… ugh. It's ok. Sorry, boy, you and your friend can go on break. Don't worry about bringing it.” Dayshawn eagerly surprised, “Really, pops!?” Marquis endearingly, “Yeah, yeah, go on in, it's ok, I'll be fine. Now just don't be doing anything stupid now, ok!!” The boy then goes on inside, Father Sergei surprised by the gesture, “Wow, you really let him off the hook that easily?! I never thought it would be possible.” Marquis smirks and brings the earl gray to his mouth, “aahhh, well, I guess you were right, it really wasn't so hard after all, hm?” Taking a sip and putting his cup down, “Once yo white ass gets to my age, you’ll see.” They both begin laughing, “Right! Right! Something to look forward to then!” They continue laughing until their joy eventually comes to a calm. Marquis speaks, wiping tears of joy from his eye, “Well, there's also been some interesting. Things are going on lately.” His expression goes unsettled, not quite a smile, not quite a frown. Father replies, “That's actually why I am here.” They both look at each other, “How did it go with Daniel?...”

  “Yes. About that. I actually wanted to talk about it too..” Marquis replies as Father nods his head for him to continue. “Ok then.. Firstly, I'm not accusing anyone of anything, but… Its just- i- hm, don't know how to explain it. It was all very-” Father Sergei interjects, “Would it be easier if I asked questions and you answered?” “Yes! I think that would work.” Father takes a sip of his tea, and places it on the table. “Ok, let us begin.”

  As they start to go back and forth about last night's events, as we are transported back to those moonlit events,

  “So, what was it like when he arrived?”

  “Now here's a better question: what was it like, before he arrived. Cuz I spotted him way out, as he was walking towards the shop.. He was wearing dis really long trench-coat, shades, and all black everything. The worst part was his skin.”

  “A ghostly white?”

  “Yes! This, pale skin. I don't know if it was because of the moon or something, but. It was illumined, like it was transparent and flourishing itself. And he also had a big cross on him too, probably silver. To be honest, I didn't think I was looking at someone at first.”

  “Hmmm… interesting. And what happened when he got to the door? When he entered?” “...” Marquis looks at him in the eyes with immense hesitation, before returning to the past.

  “When he entered?... It was like.. A horrible darkness came into the room, i almost vomited, it was just such an all-consuming, doomish feeling. Like I was going to be run over by a bulldozer! I could hear the engine, so damn loud your body feels it, but I couldn't see the vehicle! This thing that- that- this thing that just-”

  “Sucked the life out of everything?” Father Sergei's posture has completely changed as he sits leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees, fingers interlocked, resting on the bottom of his nose. Eyes forward and serious.

  The wind rustles a by as Mr. Marquis is taking back a bit, “Who- How did you know?” Father answered, “Because I felt it too… When I spoke to him that same day, it was like my soul was wrestling against a wild bull just talking to him. It was strong, and so prudently evil.. But the weird thing was that he was so meek while we were talking; if anything, it seemed rather normal, although not normal for Daniel.” His eyes squint as if he has something he wants to say but won't. Marquis blurted, in a relieved but still worried expression, “Ha! You see, I'm not crazy! I haven't told the boys yet cuz I didn't think they would believe me!” Father's eyes look over to him, “I think it's best if you don't tell them anything, or tell anyone for that matter. If this is what I think it is..” Marquis onlooking intently, “what do you mean?” Father replies, looking ahead again, “I'll need more information to answer that. Shall we continue?” Marquis, “Yes, but of course!”

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  We resume back to the barber shop's terrible evening, as Marquis is in the storage room with the boys, peeking down the hallway into the shop, as the following replay.

  “So what happened after he came in?”

  “After he came in, I ran to the back; that's how bad it was. And before I went out again, I checked the hallway, and I couldn't tell you which was worse. The feeling from earlier, or how he was just, sitting there… like a doll. The room was cold and I could see my own breath, but his was absent, like he wasn't breathing at all."

  “Really?!”

  “Oh Yes really! It was so damn off-putting, I couldn't tell whether I was looking at a shadow or a person! But that's not the worst of it..”

  Father raises his eyebrow, “Go on.”

  "So I started shuffling down the hall, pressing my back against it just to be safe. And when I got about half way to the light switch.”

  “Wait, why were you trying to get to the light switch?”

  At the door, Kevin speaks with Dayshawn standing next to him, both leaning on opposite sides of the door frame, with their arms crossed, "Because when freakshow came, all the fu- i mean, flipping lights in the shop cut.” Both the men look over to them as Father applaud them, “Well, isn't that something, thank you boys!” The two then flash quick smirks, and Marquis checks his watch, “Well, it's 2:38, I think we can close early. You too go home now, ok? And get home safe! Please.” The two glance at each other before running inside, grabbing their bags, and waving goodbye to their elders, walking off talking to each other about what they'll do with the rest of their day. Father eagerly, “Right, so were we?...”

  We return to darkness, Marquis stands just inches away from the light switch,

  “So just before I got to the light switch, sweating and everythang, I looked like a mess.. I stopped.”

  “Why?”

  “The boy began moving, his eyes opened. They were red… Glowing and everything. I didn’t know whether to be afraid, amazed, or whatever. But it's when he looked at me!”

  “…”

  “You said a bull earlier? Nah, it was like a behemoth sat in that damn chair. And when he looked at me. It was like a spear that shot right through me and pinned my ass against the wall… i had to fight with everything in order to get to the lights!-” Marquis stops as Father’s hand raises to do so, looking seriously distressed by the information, "I've heard enough…” Father's worry makes Marquis worry; he continues, lowering his hand, “I believe you, but whatever other details you may have, I must hear from Daniel myself. But please, I no longer want you to call him a ‘monster’ or ‘freakshow’, he is suffering now and is still human.” Marquis makes a sour face at the comment of him being human, “Well. Sergei, if you saw what i done saw that night.. How can you be so sure?”

  Father leans back and closes his eyes, taking a deep breath “Back in my early ministry, around 14 years ago here in Florida, I was down in the Key West. Doing missionary work...” We go to a dark and thunderous night, October 17th, 1999. The following is illustrated by his narration, “Down there, voodoo and witchcraft were very prevalent in small groups that practiced in the marshes. It affected the people, and many were afraid of it. But one night, I was attacked. I was walking back to where I was staying, it was an old small ghost town, really. But the way the buildings were made, it was like they were looking at you. And then there was the young man, battered, bruised, and cut; the same feeling followed him, but it was much worse. His clothes were torn, and symbols were engraved into his forehead, and his hair was just as messy as he was.. He was yelling, writhing, snarling and screaming, and when he saw me, ‘FUCKING PRIEST!’. He was very sick. His eyes were red just as you described. Running, no, leaping on all fours and tackling me straight into the wall of a building.. As I tried desperately to run away pleading with him, it turned out physical strength wasn't his only feat, the kid was also a Psyker… He broke a telephone poll in half with just telekinesis, nearly crushing me to death while yelling ‘I am strong!’. He snarled his fangs and was laughing, ‘Did you do your prayers yet?! Did you cry to your little god to come and save you?!’ he pulled out a machete from inside his clothes and grimaced at me, to come and cut me open to eat my flesh… Now at this time, I was in a dark place, confession after confession, after confession, after confession... I saw and heard so much evil, too much to bear, and I didn't know what to do. And our Psyker, thought it a good idea to, read my mind… ‘Come on papa, let's see how many little boys you touched! Hehehe..’ And then, And then…” Marquis comes in, “And then what?!”

  “He killed himself… Violently, painfully, writhing and screaming pleading to die…” Marquis looks at him shocked as the two sit in silence. “And I held him tightly in my arms, and wept, caressing his now mangled head. ‘Alas, *sniff* Alas, O’ Death. *sniff* who can feel from thee?...’” Marquis hesitantly speaks, asking, “Sergei, I'm so sorry to hear that.. But… are you implying that Daniel is some sort of, sort of..” Father quickly arose out of his seat, “Pray for deliverance. Pray to God that this evil departs from us, And be vigilant for the coming days.. I must go now, but I hope I'll see you soon. Please take care, and may God bless you always.” He picks up his briefcase and begins to walk, wind kicking up his cassock and the leaves whirl winding around him, as Marquis is left in his chair dumbfounded and afraid.

  As Father walks, gets further and further away, Marquis mutters to himself, “This is ok-this is ok- its going to be ok. everything is fine..” Sergei gets further, “it's ok, everything is ok.” Further, “Things are not ok..” He is interrupted in his thought by the sound of shoes tapping, he turns to his right to see by two men dressed in suits, one in beige on the left, one in navy blue on the right. Beige is taller than navy, and flashes a government badge as they both come to a stop in sync, “Hello, Mister Isaiah Douglas Marquis? We are with the Climate Protection Agency, may we have a word?”