Lengthening Shadows (A Tale of The Coming Evil Trilogy)

By Greg Mitchell

The Resistance Has Begun.

Rebellion is in the air as the demonic visitor known as “The Strange Man” begins his takeover of Greensboro. Promising prosperity and hiding his true identity, the creature adopts the name “John Graves” and makes himself at home in his position as the town’s new mayor.

It is a time of sedition as former pastor Jeff Weldon and a small band of faithful warriors plot to overthrow the hellish regime. By day, they carry on in their quiet lives, but at night they venture into haunted Greensboro on dangerous missions. A war is brewing in the town’s shadows as even the remnants of the Committee—the original conspirators who helped pave the way for the Strange Man’s arrival—now plot to betray him, hiring a group of hardened mercenaries to kill the monster once and for all.

In the middle of the conflict is Annie Myers, still reeling from the grim fate that befell her older sister Rosalyn. Annie’s blossoming faith is put to the test as she encounters a new and fearsome monster on the outskirts of Greensboro who is taking control of the skies.

As the Dark Hour draws nigh and the shadows lengthen, it becomes all the harder to determine who is friend and who is foe, and if anyone will survive the battle to come.

"Lengthening Shadows", an original e-novella, serves as the bridge between "Enemies of the Cross" and "Dark Hour", Books Two and Three of "The Coming Evil Trilogy".

• Language: English
• Publisher: Greg Mitchell
• Release date: Jan 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301712496

Book preview

LENGTHENING SHADOWS

A Tale of The Coming Evil Trilogy

Greg Mitchell

Lengthening Shadows

Copyright 2013 Greg Mitchell

Smashwords Edition

Published by Genre Experience

Cover Art by Bob Freeman

Visit Greg Mitchell at

www.thecomingevil.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

An excerpt from Rift Jump

THE STORY SO FAR

For over a hundred years, the small town of Greensboro has told stories of a Bogeyman lurking in the spooky North Woods. As an unusual storm blows through modern day Greensboro, slacker Dras Weldon discovers that the legends are terrifyingly real. A demonic strange man has returned to visit his wrath on the town that expunged him so long ago. However, the monster’s plans are temporarily put on hold when he spots Dras’ best friend, Rosalyn Myers. The Strange Man becomes fixated on the young woman, preying on her bitterness, desiring to have her for himself. Desperate to save his friend, Dras matures overnight, setting aside his selfish attitudes in order to combat the Strange Man. He first seeks the help of his older brother, Jeff, a pastor at the Good Church of the Faithful, but after a lifetime of being disappointed by Dras’ irresponsible living, Jeff refuses to believe his brother’s story. Alone, and armed only with a faith he once discarded, Dras faces down the Strange Man in the dance hall known as The Rave Scene. However, the Strange Man has orchestrated events to frame Dras for the murders the demon has committed while in town. Deputies led by Ryan Stevenson storm The Rave Scene and arrest Dras, beating him nearly to death. Dras is only spared by the intervention of Sheriff Hank Berkley.

Branded The Greensboro Ripper, Dras is sentenced to imprisonment in Wexler State Penitentiary. With Dras removed, the Strange Man steps up his pursuit of Rosalyn in earnest, repeatedly visiting her and tormenting her—but also wooing her to his side. Alone and vulnerable, Rosalyn begins to confuse right and wrong and suspects that, though she loathes the Strange Man for what he’s done to Dras, the demon might also be her only salvation from a town and people who have outcast her. Dras’ brother, Jeff, struggles with guilt and regret for not coming to his brother’s aid, even as he discovers a conspiracy amongst the Greensboro leaders to conceal the Strange Man’s actions. As Jeff learns, the conspirators—calling themselves The Committee—have been secretly aiding the monster in order to return prosperity to their dying town. Only now, Leonard Fergus, one of the conspirators, is having misgivings about their deal with the devil and reveals the terrible truth to Jeff. As Jeff gets closer to tearing down the conspiracy, the Committee responds in kind, using the young pastor’s newfound obsession as ammunition to have him dismissed from the pulpit. Jeff’s marriage to Isabella is on rocky ground as Jeff pushes everyone away, desperate to get revenge against the Strange Man and the men who collaborated with the creature. Jeff’s only friend is Danny Carpenter, a young drug pusher who, in the midst of his own rehabilitation, comes to trust the ex-preacher.

Together the duo unravel the mystery at the heart of their town and learn the truth: The Strange Man is orchestrating events to bring about something he calls the Dark Hour that will see the return of his Master to the Earth and the presumable annihilation of mankind. But the deeper Jeff descends into the Strange Man’s dark secrets, the more he loses himself, nearly succumbing to a supernaturally-charged viscous black goo that has the ability to bond to men and turn them into shambling monsters. Jeff’s only way to save himself is to renounce his cause and to do the nigh impossible—trust God to have a plan.

Conquering his inner demons, Jeff encourages Danny to back away from the fight, as Jeff reunites with his wife. Sheriff Hank Berkley and teenager Annie Myers, Rosalyn’s sister, have come to learn the truth, as well, and join the three in biding their time, waiting for the Strange Man’s next move, ready to act whenever God calls them to action. It’s a painful decision as the town is moving closer and closer to the Dark Hour. The knife is twisted even deeper into the backs of the faithful when Rosalyn finally gives in to the Strange Man’s will, consuming the black goo, lost to darkness…

HISTORIAN’S NOTE: This story takes place between Enemies of the Cross and Dark Hour, Books Two and Three of The Coming Evil Trilogy.

PROLOGUE

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

—Psalm 11:3

OLD GREENESBORO, 1884

The hot glow of firelight shimmered through the windows, lighting the church. Frightened-looking faces, covered in dirt and grime, peeked out from behind pews as the sound of their doom thundered outside. Rutherford Matheson heard the screams of the Dark Eyes shrieking and barking as their devil-god came to claim them all, and feared for his family.

We’ll never survive this night. God be with us, why did we ever choose this path?

The hardwood doors of the church shook with a horrible impact and those gathered inside gasped, clutching each other tight, reflecting Rutherford’s fear. His own wife and thirteen-year-old son clung to his bosom. He’d always taken care of them, just as his father had raised him to do. How could I utterly fail now, when it matters most? The pounding resounded once more, until finally the door caved in and a tall and powerful figure strode inside, backed by the very fires of hell. The light caught his clear blue eyes, revealing the wonderful truth that he wasn’t one of the Dark Eyes.

Hurry! the new arrival proclaimed, rushing inside the church, pleading with the hiding few. There isn’t much time! Salvation awaits!

Rutherford recognized the man. He’d seen him around town over the last few days. His name is Christopher. He was a stranger, and how could they trust strangers? Especially when it had been a stranger who started all of this.

The devils have come! an older man called from behind Rutherford. We’re safer in here!

It’s folly! the man shouted, near tears. You shall all be consumed! He had a rugged sort of handsome face, windswept fair hair, and those striking blue eyes. He looked trustworthy, but Rutherford had to consider his family. Madness lay beyond the church doors, and he wouldn’t dare guide his wife and only child through that den of monsters.

The Lord will deliver us, a woman feebly rebutted, then ducked behind the pulpit.

Perhaps He is trying if you’d only listen! the man with the impassioned blue eyes hollered. Now a second, dark-headed man entered, tall like the first, clean-shaven, his face strong and earnest.

At the sight of him, Rutherford seethed, for he knew this man very well.

You’d see the death of us, Everett Greene! You led us here to this accursed ground! Rutherford condemned, finding enough bravery in his rage to rise and point a crooked finger at the dark-haired man standing in the doorway. We were mad to listen to you once already! We’ll not be that mad twice.

The light in Everett Greene’s eyes faded and his expression turned sorrowful as he stared into the faces of the congregated. Behind him, the fires raged hot and the death howls of those who hadn’t made it inside permeated the air like smoke. Rutherford shivered down to his soul.

Taking the lead, Christopher stepped back. Then you have made your decision, he replied, his voice nearly lost in the chaos threatening to spill into the church at any moment. May God grant you mercy.

Close the door! Rutherford shouted, cradling his son in his arms. His lad’s wide eyes glistened with fresh tears.

Without uttering another word, Everett Greene turned, closed the doors behind him, and faced the flames of the Dark Hour. Rutherford relaxed to the floor, kissing his son’s and wife’s foreheads.

We’ll be safe now, he murmured to them, as others in their group began to weep. You’ll see—

Rutherford Matheson was suddenly engulfed in a flare of heat that descended from the roof.

Then he felt nothing at all.

* * *

GREENSBORO, PRESENT DAY

Darkness. Choking. And one terrified thought:

I’m dying.

Rosalyn Myers collapsed to her knees, her hands wrapped around her neck, feeling the dark, viscous goo sliding down her throat. She coughed and hacked violently, praying that she could dislodge the thing and save her own soul in the process.

Behind her, the Strange Man cackled.

She hated him in that moment, knowing that he had tricked her. Now she was going to die.

Outside her window, the pitch-black night glimmered and shook as thousands of the Strange Man’s tiny gremlin servants pressed their demonic faces to the glass, their glowing eyes blinking open, watching her agony.

They too laughed.

Rosalyn thought of Dras, of all he had done for her, all he had tried to tell her with the only brave act he ever committed in his life. I should have listened to him. Why didn’t I listen?

But the time had gone for such thoughts. Her body grew cold, and she could feel the black muck constricting around her heart, whispering venomous commands. Thoughts that Rosalyn had never before entertained bombarded her, and she perceived that she was slipping into the mind of hell. Abandoning her futile attempts to vomit the supernatural substance, she gripped her hair and screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Stop it! Get out of my head! Make it stop!

The Strange Man leaned over her, his breath like rotten eggs. Don’t fight it, Rosalyn. It’s so much easier if you don’t fight.

Reaching out with trembling hands, she took hold of his leather wrappings and tugged. "Please...please make it stop..."

A-ah, he shook his finger delicately. A deal’s a deal.

Her fingers fell loose and Rosalyn slipped to the floor, on her face. She lost awareness of everything except the throbbing in her head, the persistent commands of the devil’s kin, telling her what she would become.

No, no, no... she muttered pathetically, finding it harder to resist.

I’m damned, she knew with terrifying certainty as blissful, black unconsciousness consumed her.

We’re all damned.

* * *

Christopher Perdu stood atop the building directly facing Rosalyn Myers’s apartment. He watched the innumerable gremlins crowd around her window—heard their cruel laughter—and knew Rosalyn was lost. With his hands tucked inside the pockets of his dark trench coat, he leveled his eyes on the scene, patiently waiting.

Soon enough, the gremlins skittered to the street below as the front doors opened. The Strange Man materialized, with an unconscious Rosalyn tossed over his shoulder. The gremlins screeched in glee, rubbing their clawed hands together, waiting for their master’s command.

Be careful with her, boys, he crooned.

With an almost exaggerated gentleness, the Strange Man lowered Rosalyn to the hordes and they carried her aloft like royalty. The Strange Man trailed behind, a most pleased expression painted across his chalky-white face.

Christopher’s eyes narrowed.

* * *

Delighted, the Strange Man followed the gremlin procession carrying the girl. His triumph, however, proved short-lived. Without warning, a brilliant stream of fire rained down around him, trapping him in a hot circle of crackling flame. Up ahead, the gremlins paused, fearful and uncertain, but the Strange Man was not completely surprised.

He called out to the night around him, Chrysostom? Is that you?

A friendly voice replied, Cal, you shouldn’t have come back.

The Strange Man calmly turned to see the angel Chrysostom—or Christopher as he called himself among the humans—stepping out of the shadowed alley. Instantly, the gremlins hissed and buzzed, shrinking back at the host of heaven. The Strange Man held a staying hand to his hordes. It’s all right. Take the girl. I’ll catch up.

The gremlins did not hesitate, but rather stepped up the pace and hurried out of sight. Chrysostom watched the gremlins disappear with their prize, but did not move to stop them. Instead, he circled the ring of fire that served as the Strange Man’s temporary cell.

The Strange Man smiled, genuinely warmed by the sight of a familiar face. It’s good to see you again.

Chrysostom nodded, grinning, as well, but his gentle blue eyes remained downcast. How long’s it been?

Too long, the Strange Man acknowledged. Too long for old friends.

We’re not exactly friends anymore, Cal.

Aren’t we?

I think you made that decision for the both of us when you chose to leave.

The Strange Man snapped, enraged. "Chose? Is that still how you see it?"

Chrysostom’s cool broke, exposing his frustration. "Oh, come on, Cal. You chose. You know you chose."

The Strange Man shook his head. I won’t explain myself to you again, Chrys.

The two angels grew quiet.

Finally, the Strange Man began again, I knew you’d find me eventually. I’m surprised it took you this long.

I’ve been in town for awhile, Chrysostom said.

Rallying the troops, eh? The Strange Man