The congregation slowly worked their way out of the church into the crisp winter night. Darkness had already crept inwards, but the streets were littered with coruscating orbs and glowing tableaus of festive imagery. Many of the exiting crowd turned towards the more illuminated streets, drawn to the late opening shops. Father Crowley meanwhile, had returned to the sanctuary to derobe, and plan his next move. The last Peggy had seen of him was a private scowl and white knuckles, which she attributed to him suppressing his rage at the less 'devoted' of his flock. Peggy and Litefoot let the crowd disperse as they made their way down to the altar, waiting to follow in the footsteps of their prey.
Jago, Jarvis and Ellie meanwhile had exited the building and walked around to the external door of the priest's chambers.
"Well. Here we are." Stammered Jarvis.
"Outside of the lion's den. The maw of mayhem. Jaws of death. Brave heart, Jarvis." Jago exclaimed, though he stepped no closer to the door.
"Perhaps we should engage in a spot of reconnaissance, before burst in?" Jarvis suggested.
"Good idea. The cove might have some some secret means of escape. Best to be prepared."
Ellie rolled her eyes at the excuses of her fellows, and strode forward, bursting through the door. The priest, now dressed simply in black shirt and trousers, wheeled towards the intruders to his sanctum.
"Heathen brigands! How dare you intrude unorthodox sacred space?" he bellowed.
"Quit the protestation Sonny. We're here to put an end to your wave of terror." Ellie intoned. Slightly behind her, Jago raised his fists in an attempt to appear intimidating. A look he almost managed to pull off with the addition of his red lined cloak billowing behind him. Jarvis copied the stance with less success. Crowley recoiled, practically bearing his teeth with a sudden hiss.
"Devil woman! My Lord tests my conviction to his Holy cause. Killing you shall assert my steadfast will. Just like the nurse..." he trailed off, remembering a prior victim.
"You won't harm a hair on the young lady's head without going through us." Jago stated defiantly.
"Good show, Henry. I'm afraid Padre, you're outnumbered and outgunned." Said Litefoot confidently as he entered through the other doorway. Beside him, Peggy was advancing, pistol ready and trained on the target.
"You will not interrupt the will of God himself. I am his humble servant, and I carry out his will. To challenge me is to challenge the Lord!" Crowley ranted, eyes bulging out of his head.
"You'd be more intimidating if I hadn't defeated worse things than Gods." Peggy said, nonplussed at his boasting.
"Besides, your actions speak louder than words. You're no Christian, and your murderous rampage is the work of the Devil, if anything." Litefoot added.
With a roar of indignation, Crowley withdrew his left hand from his pocket. Jago saw a flash of something in his palm. Acting on instinct alone, he made to tackle the priest before he could use whatever device he had taken out. Though he was fractionally too late. Crowley threw the orb to his feet, where it burst apart in a cloud of smoke. Within moments, the room was filled with impenetrable fog. Litefoot and Ellie tried to cover their respective exits, Jago searched blindly for Crowley but only managed to find Jarvis. Peggy lowered her gun, unwilling to fire without a visible target and allies in the firing line. She chose to run back into the church, hoping to pick up the trail. Luck was with her, and she saw Crowley running, near the rear of the church, with a holdall on his shoulder. Calling for her allies, she took off in pursuit.
Crowley ran towards the bustling streets, weaving his way into the nearest shopping mall. Peggy was hot behind him, with the gentlemen, Jarvis and Ellie following behind. The chase continued throughout the mall, in and out of heaving stores, pushing past oblivious shoppers. At one particularly busy intersection, Peggy paused, asking.
"Which way did he go? Anyone see him?"
"Into that... children's toy... shop... HGJ has the eyes of a hawk." Jago wheezed, out of breath.
"Then we must make haste." Said Litefoot, also breathing heavily.
"Then we spread out. Each take an aisle and corner Crowley at the rear of the shop." Peggy stated, striding forward.
Keeping her pistol hidden in her clutch purse so as to avoid a public panic, but still in hand, Peggy advanced down the central aisle. Ahead of her, the priest was crouched over his bag, rummaging through its contents.
"It's over Crowley. Admit defeat with dignity and we can get you the help you so desperately need." Peggy urged. Crowley turned around slowly, two Christmas baubles in his hands.
"I'd be more concerned about helping these secular materialists if I were you. You'll have to put your plans to stop me, on ice!" He roared.
"Death threats are one thing, bit I can't stand bad puns." Peggy sighed. Crowley tossed the two orbs into the crowds and went to retrieve more from his bag. Thinking quickly, Peggy grabbed a child's tennis racket and deflected the nearest bauble toward the ceiling. It impacted harmlessly upon the ceiling tiles, covering it with a sheen of icy frost. Peggy didn't have time to intercept the second orb.
Jago however had a similar idea, though his weapon of choice was a rounders bat. "I was a dab hand at track and field in my youth."
"Ellie!" Yelled Litefoot. We've got to get these people out of the shop, and we don't want this panic to cause a stampede!"
"Right with you, Professor." She replied as they moved to oversee the retreat. Crowley kept tossing baubles, cackling as he did so. Eventually, he saw an opening. While Peggy and Jago were distracted, he sprinted towards the clearest aisle, hoping to merge with the fleeing punters.
"I'm afraid I cannot allow you to pass." Jarvis stated, standing in Crowley's way.
"Step aside. I won't ask twice." the priest retorted, drawing a metre long string of tinsel from the bag.
"If you plan to distract me with shiny objects, you'll be disappointed."
With a flick of his wrist, Crowley made the strand of tinsel buzz and spark with electricity. Wielding it like a whip, he attempted to strike Jarvis, who managed to block the initial attack a plastic golf club. The tinsel wrapped around the end of club. Jarvis stood momentarily defiant, until the electricity melted through the plastic and his club wilted. Crowley pressed the advantage, striking repeatedly as he advanced on Jarvis. Jarvis dodged the first few attacks, until he had backpedalled far enough to reach a broom propped against one of the shelving units.
"Never dice with an irate Butler, we have a way with brooms."
"The only thing that needs cleaning up here is the hearts and minds of those Godless sheep making a mockery of Christmas."
"Oh, for God's sake. I've had it to the back teeth with you. As the frightfully dull Americans would say... it's time to take out the trash."
"Thanks for the distraction." Came a voice from over Crowley's shoulder. As he turned to face it, Peggy swung a hard haymaker into his jaw, knocking him out immediately. He crumpled into a heap on the ground, whip deactivated as it fell from his grip.
"Not a problem Miss Carter, I'm just glad to be of some assistance." Jarvis and Peggy shared a moment, before Jago joined them in their aisle.
"A-ha, I knew we had the measure of him."
Litefoot and Ellie had also managed to return.
"So I see you were successful in defeating the brigand then?"
"Correct. And no casualties here either. Was the evacuation a success?" Asked Peggy.
"The mall is empty and the peelers are on the way, Peg." Ellie said.
"So, is that it? I mean, I kind of expected a little more spectacle, if I'm honest." Jarvis added. With a groan, Crowley stirred from unconsciousness. Peggy was immediately upon him, pinning him to the ground and restraining him.
"You can't restrain me." He laughed. "No bonds of man can hold me now, for my soul is entrusted to the Lord. And his work will continue without me, for it has already begun. My grand plan has already been set in motion. There will be no need for such imprecise attacks like this, the faithful shall be spared while all heathens, non believers and scum will be purged in glorious rapture!" Peggy gave him a second knock to the head, just to shut him up.
No comments:
Post a Comment