The Summoning

By Damon Lee

Agent Alex Monroe is a specialist for the FBI who deals with ritualistic murders. Hes brought in on a case, where he is strangely identified by name. As he and his team unravel the mystery surrounding the death of a well-known college professor and his wife in a brutal ritualistic crime, they begin to find there is more to the investigation than they ever imagined.

Prior to his death, the professor, James Burdock, was studying ancient texts that revealed another worlda world beyond our own. He spent his life studying anthropology and history, diving into the ancient cultures of the past, and it soon becomes apparent that Burdocks studies were directly related to his death. In fact, this new case connects to an old one and reveals a deeper conspiracy that has the potential to threaten the entire world.

What began as a ritualistic murder case turns out to be the first step in a process intended to open the door between hell and earth. As reality is tested and the supernatural becomes real, can Agent Alex Monroe and his team overcome the evil threatening our world? Faith, Spirituality and Science are tested as the boundaries of reality unravel. Can anyone survive the Summoning?

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jul 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781532027352

Damon Lee

Damon Lee, Christian philosopher and speaker, is the author of several books, including In the Face of Darkness and Eternity’s End. He is a student of philosophy, theology, psychology, and astronomy. When not writing, he teaches and works as a youth program director. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and kids.

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Copyright © 2017 Damon Lee.

Author Credits: Adam Mack

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-2736-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-2735-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017911350

iUniverse rev. date: 07/21/2017

TO MY INSPIRATION. TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND WHO CONTINUE TO DREAM WITH ME AS I CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS CRAZY JOURNEY.

TO MY WIFE AND FAMILY FOR ALWAYS SUPPORTING ME AS I DELVE INTO THE ABYSS. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE LIGHT THAT BRINGS ME BACK TO THE LIGHT.

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

PROLOGUE

T he Professor watched as his guests left the apartment, escorted by his wife Lisa, who had a warm smile on her face. As she ushered them out of the door, he turned away. They all had quite the night. James recalled the last few hours. The anxiety he felt and the nervousness of it all. They all had prepared for something amazing, and of course, nothing happened. All in all, it was a nice evening, with friends and colleagues. It had just not ended as he anticipated.

What they had done earlier in the night had taken months of planning and preparation. So much time and energy spent on making sure everything was just right. All that work and no reward was more than a little disappointing. There was of course, the wind that blew, the strange sounds and that eerie feeling, but it could all be explained away as the result of something else.

Professor James Burdock had spent a small fortune preparing for this night, making sure everything was as authentic as it could be. They were all hoping to have undeniable proof that would reveal the existence of another world; a world outside the scope of their own. Professor Burdock had spent his adult life studying anthropology and history, mysticism and world religions, diving into the ancient cultures of the past. He sought to uncover the mystery behind the veil, the one thing that all cultures have in common; the belief in other realms.

Through his years of research and his own beliefs, James realized that many scholars believed that primitive cultures and ancient civilizations’ belief in the superstitious or the supernatural was the result of a psychological and emotional need to make sense of a strange world. While there was truth in this, James knew that there was more.

History had recorded too many personal accounts, too many clues that led to the possibility of something more. James thought that perhaps tonight, he would open the door to that something more. He had convinced himself that tonight was going to be special, and not like his previous attempts.

As he walked down the hallway towards the spare room he wondered about the events that had taken place earlier. Was he missing something? Was there something that he did not figure out? Professor Burdock and his colleague Professor Hamilton had travelled the world in search of answers. They had built a double reputation as occult enthusiasts and prestigious educators.

James felt that there was something different about this time, considering Professor Hamilton had introduced him to a few people on the antiquities market he had not known before. They weren’t the most reputable of people, but they had access. As a result, he was able to get his hand on some copies of some ancient texts and a few genuine items that were hidden away in the vaults of the Vatican for centuries, which only recently have been allowed into limited public view.

The Holy Church had collected many ancient relics over the centuries in the height of its power, subduing any idea or artifact that would supplant their own Theology. With the scandals and scrutiny, the Church had been under in recent decades, many Church leaders have been slowly allowing scholars and other scientists examine certain artifacts that had been forgotten over the ages.

A recent tremor had caused a fissure to open up that revealed a hidden vault that had been sealed for over three hundred years. Inside the vault were treasures and artifacts unlike any other. This information was not allowed for public consumption, but both the Professors had made friends in the right places.

One such relic discovered, offered them the opportunity to prove myth from fact. Everything was prepared to specific specifications, according to the materials they had been given, which were authenticated and he studied himself. So, what went wrong? Did anything actually, go wrong? Had he been wrong all these years? James stood by the door to the spare room. He hesitated, thinking for a moment that it would remind him of his constant failures.

James had the room converted into a sanctuary just for this purpose. He and Lisa lived on the top floor of a high-rise apartment complex, which only had seven floors. It was one of the tallest residential buildings in the city of Glens Falls. Even though he taught at the University of Albany, he didn’t mind the forty-minute drive north. Lisa worked at the Glens Falls hospital as a doctor so it made her commute easy considering the hospital was only two blocks away.

As James stood at the door, he lowered his head in defeat, then slowly reached out his hand to turn the knob and open the door into the room. He stared at the room and all the symbols on the wall, the adornments that covered the windows and the walls. The candles and the incense, the oils and the artifacts that lay by the altar. The room was a melting pot of odors and sights. James couldn’t help but go over the events of the last three hours. It seemed intense. The anticipation, the excitement and nervousness. He really felt that they were actually going to make something happen. They all believed and hoped that they would be able to open the door to another world.

All they got out of their effort was some weird smoke, some lights and sounds that could eventually be explained away. Was it all a waste? Maybe they were only able to crack the door, just a little. Was any of it possible? Or was it all in their minds? James stepped into the room, bending down by the alter to pick up a tube that held an authentic ritual scroll that was almost four centuries old. He held it to his chest. Contemplating. Should he continue?

Lisa’s hand brushed up against him, causing James to turn and look at her. She smiled, attempting to comfort him. I know what you were expecting, she paused, realizing those were the wrong words. You hoped that there would have been something more, something to justify your pursuits all these years she says.

Lisa wraps her arms around James, squeezing him tightly, making sure he turns towards her, catching, hand holding his gaze. Her short dark hair fell to her ears and she looked up at him with the look he had known all too well. He smiled and held her close. She always had that effect on him. Lisa wasn’t a participant in his journey, but a supporter none the less.

Maybe I missed something. I followed the documents down to the letter. I did everything I was supposed to do so I don’t understand James said and almost immediately hung his head low in defeat with the sound of disappointment in his voice, like a child unable to get a sought-after item.

James, this isn’t a science. There is no formula that is a precise method for making these things happen Lisa says beginning to stroke his cheek with the back of her hand. He could feel her soothing touch. Her presence was a mere comfort to him. You would thing one would need some type of device or contraption to do what you’re trying to do she continued.

I know. But I thought this time would be different. I have given so much he replies. Everything that I have studies and the conclusions that seem obvious is that cultures throughout history have had the ability to traverse other worldly realms. No technology, no science, but with sheer faith and belief, using the mind as the most powerful device known to man he says beginning to feel the fire ignite for his passions. He knew there was more he wanted to say, but decided not to. James knew that if there was anyone who could understand, it would be Lisa. She was always there with him, encouraging him, supporting him and never giving up on him.

What is it they say about faith? It is the substance of things hoped for Lisa says in a reassuring tone. She stares at him as if waiting for a response. James takes her hand in his and gently kisses the back of her hand.

We are not talking about religious dogma here. I believe, and my belief is a culmination of observations and evidence, information gathered throughout human history. That there is more to this world and that a select few have had the fortitude to pursue such things and opened doors to wonders beyond human understanding James replies, as though Lisa hadn’t heard his views before.

Lisa didn’t interject. She could see the passion in his eyes. She didn’t want to see him disappointed again. She believed as he did, but not with the fire that ignited him. James was so convinced that this time he had found something different. There was a piece of the puzzle that he had been missing that was now in his possession. She wanted him to succeed as well. She had a curiosity but not a belief in something beyond the world she knew.

Lisa thought back to when she stood at the door staring at the others. Just like them all, for a moment she thought something might actually happen. Her heart began racing in her chest and her eyes were wide with anticipation, but then the smoke cleared, the lights came back on, the chill was gone and the room was as it was before they had begun. She watched everyone stare at each other in silence, waiting, hoping and wanting something more. But it never came.

She knew what she needed to do and pulled on James, away from the room and towards the kitchen. Well, if I know you, you’ll go over the tapes, examine your notes and try again Lisa says with a smile as leads him into the kitchen. James returns her smile. She knew him well. So for now, how about we take it easy and step back from everything so that we can take a fresh look at it in the morning Lisa says.

James takes a deep breath, allowing all of the tension he had been feeling flow freely from him. He would figure it out and he would let nothing stop him from his ultimate goal. He would prove his theory. For now, he would simply learn from the experiment and move on. You are right as always he says smiling.

I’m going to finish cleaning up in the kitchen and then call it a night Lisa says.

I’m going to jump in the shower and then I’ll call it a night too he answers.

Lisa leaned in close and kisses him on the cheek. Always hold on to your beliefs she says gingerly. James smiles at her again, reminded of how lucky he was to have met her. She always had that effect on him. Her faith in him has always given him the confidence to pursue this idea of his, this obsession that has consumed a great deal of his time.

As Lisa went into the kitchen to clean up, James went into the dining room and cleared the table of the few dishes and glasses that were left there. He walked into the kitchen and put the dishes on the counter next to Lisa, who looked back at him and smiled. James returned her smile then left the kitchen and walked back towards the hallway, passing their make shift sanctuary.

James paused in front of the door way. He wanted to go in the room. He knew that if he did, he wouldn’t leave. So, he decided to listen to the advice of his wonderful wife and put it aside until morning, closing the door and going into the bedroom. He was going to shower and get a good night’s rest. He would be back at it in the morning. He didn’t have any classes and didn’t need to get up early.

Later that night James heard a loud banging that caused him to sit up abruptly in the bed. He immediately realized how cold it was in the room. It was odd because it had been seasonably warm the past few nights. The chill he felt was more like a brisk winter’s night than a night at the end of June. The air conditioning wasn’t on which is why he became perplexed, looking around the room and realizing that the bed was empty. As James scanned the room in the semi darkness, he was hoping to see the source of what caused him to stir.

James immediately knew that something was a little bit off. His heart was slowing down, from beating in is chest. Did he have a dream? He couldn’t figure it out and was a little uneasy at the thought and feeling of something violent. There was a silence in the room that made him feel concerned, seeing that the bathroom light was off, which meant Lisa was not in the bedroom. It wasn’t often that Lisa fell asleep in the living room.

His mind searched for justification to why Lisa wasn’t in the bedroom. His mind began to rationalize why after his heart began to slow, that it slowly began to beat faster, as he looked around the bedroom. He almost shuddered and his unexpected response made him realize that the familiar surroundings of his bedroom somehow seemed foreign. It was like there was something slightly different about his surroundings but he couldn’t figure out what it was.

After a moment, he realized he was just tired and had to be imagining everything. His mind playing tricks on him. It had to be. James took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He was like a child, scared of the dark. He knew that the dark was nothing to be fearful of.

James decided to get out of the bed and check on Lisa. He looked at the clock on the night stand and saw that it was almost three in the morning. James yawned. He was exhausted, having been going almost non-stop for the last few days. His body was beginning to feel the wear and tear of his exploits. Once to his feet, James walked towards the door and turned the knob. He immediately felt a chill overtake him, almost as though someone had poured a bucket of ice water on his head. It was an odd sensation, and one that he had not felt before.

The feeling that there was something night right about his surroundings began to unsettle him and this time he couldn’t just reason it away. James paused before opening the door as though hesitant about going into the hallway. There was an inner struggle going on between his intellect and another part of him. A part that was asking questions and feeling things, responding to things with an awareness he had not before known.

He hadn’t decided what it was, if anything was in fact, going on. James tried to shake of the anxiety he was feeling by stretching, as though that would somehow relieve the tension and uneasiness he was feeling. He opened the door and stepped out into the hallway and looked down toward the kitchen. Everything was dark. It was too dark.

James had opened the door many times throughout the night and walked down that very hallway. Usually because he couldn’t sleep or was anxious about a project. He would walk down past the two bedrooms, the kitchen and the living room to his office that was off the dining room. There were two lights in the hallway that were always lit at night.

The lights were on now but his eyes took notice at how dark it was. Their apartment was on the end of the building, which meant that there was a window at the end of the hallway, right off the master bedroom. He looked back at the window, which had a blind on it. The blind was open and yet the light that normally flooded the hallway in conjunction with the hallway lights made it clear to see. But now, somehow with a bright moon shining in the sky, the light seemed to be blocked by something, unaffected by its illumination.

James felt cold and didn’t want to admit a hint of fear. There was a logical reason for why this was happening. He thought to himself that if he allowed himself to give in to his fear, he would learn the truth and feel like an idiot. James took a step towards the light switch. He wanted to see what was in front of him. The lights did not turn on. He flicked the switch a few times and nothing happened.

Before his mind could cause him to begin to question what might be going on, he began to hear a whimpering sound coming from the other end of the apartment. Lisa? he called out and began to hurry down the hallway. The thought of her in distress made his anxiety about his environment seem less important. James hurried down the hallway and as he got to the kitchen he could make out the silhouette of someone standing in front of the wall in the living room.

His eyes needed time to adjust. Lisa! he called out, waiting for a reply. All he could hear was whimpering. Honey is that you? Are you alright? he asks slowly walking toward her. He can see the silhouette moving with its back to him and as he approaches begins to see that it is Lisa. James moves quickly to her but as she turns to face him, he notices something. His heart begins to beat faster in his chest. An inexplicable chill reduces the temperature to near freezing. Lisa is standing in front of him, just a few feet away. He can make out that she is covered in something. It looks dark like soot or ash, but he knows that cannot be.

As he attempts to move closer towards her he can see something surrounding her. It looks like a dark shadow, almost hiding behind her. Realizing this, James takes a step back. Lisa? he asks, questioning this time as certainty about what was happening begins to diminish. Her head turns towards him. She opens her mouth as though to scream and what he hears is unlike anything he ever heard before. It was like a deep groan, pain-filled and agonizing cry that pierced his ears. Her lips did not move, her mouth reminded open and he heard the words clear as day.

Cupiditas

After the words were uttered, James watched as the shadow form behind Lisa seemed to almost double in size almost twice as big as it was. James took another step back. His mind did not want to confirm what his eyes were seeing.

Could this be really happening?

Sempiterno

The voice, the shadow form spoke again and as it did it began increasing in size. It seemed as though it was spreading outward, covering the entire room, appearing less like the form of person. James began to turn as the shadow from began to envelope the world around him. There was something familiar about those words, but he couldn’t place it. Was it Latin? It was a language he was familiar with but not fluent in. His heart was beginning to feel as though it would explode in his chest. James took another step back.

Sacrificium

It spoke again and this time the words could be heard as though it were coming from all directions. James could see the shadow form appearing to cover the entire living room in a darkness that didn’t seem natural. His vision became blurry as though a film had been placed over his eyes.

Lisa! he shouted again. He could tell that she had closed her mouth. She turned towards him with tears in her eyes and held out her arms. He could see that her wrists had been cut from the palms all the way to her forearms and she was covered in blood. James took a step towards her and then paused. He began to hear what could only be described as growling, like some sort of wild beast had been let loose in the apartment. The growling seemed to resonate with him, as though he could feel the vibrations of sound cascading over him.

James didn’t like that feeling. He wanted to question. He wanted to do something, but fear had taken hold of him and he could barely move. He was finding it difficult to breathe and the reality of what might actually be happening was beginning to be more than he was prepared for.

What do you want? he found himself shouting. The growling stopped. The vibrations he felt turned into trembling as the entire apartment felt as though it were the epicenter of a massive earthquake. James fell to his knees, unable to keep his balance. He looked up at Lisa who seemed unaffected by what was happening.

A huge crack appeared in the middle of the wall and began to branch outward, almost like a circular web. Then it looked like words were being burned into the walls around the web. James watched this in both exhilaration and terror.

Et Suscipiat Votum Tuum

Again, the words came from all around him. James found himself turning around, expecting to see something, but he could see nothing but the pervading darkness. Who are you! James shouted out into the darkness. The tremoring had stopped and a stillness encompassed the apartment that seemed worse than the trembling. There was an anticipation that was nerve racking.

James could feel himself sweating, even though he was freezing. There was something not right about what was going on. His mind trying to search for answers. Could he have done it? Could they have succeeded?

His eyes immediately focused on Lisa as she began to scream. Before James could react, she dropped to the floor. James started to get up and go to her when he watched her body begin to move. Lisa was in no shape to move on her own. James took another step towards Lisa but her body flew up into the air like a child’s toy. She then flew into the wall, stopping at the center of the circular web that had formed.

Lisa’s body spun on the wall until she was upside down with her arms stretched out. Lisa! he cried out. James felt himself gasping for air as the darkness around him began to move, almost like a fog. He watched as it condensed, almost into a solid mass again in front of Lisa.

Ego Sum XXXI Mortis

This time the sound came from directly in front of him. James began to move back. He suddenly felt a pressure around his entire body as though a force were being exerted upon him. An unseen force squeezing him, making it difficult for him to breathe or move. James was at a loss for words and his mind was in a state of shock and disbelief.

The shadow form darted across the living room towards the balcony and as it did so, the glass doors shattered. The shadow form had gone off of the balcony. No! No! James heard himself shout as he could feel himself being moved towards the balcony doors. He tried to fight against it but nothing he did seemed to have any affect. James didn’t want to accept it. This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not like this.

Stop! Please! Help! he cried out. His head looked to Lisa, whose blank gaze could no longer see anything that was happening. A sadness overtook him at the realization of what was about to happen. Lisa! he shouts again and attempts to reach out towards her.

He began to pass the glass from the balcony doors and found himself outside, feeling the warm breeze upon his skin. Somebody! Anybody! James calls out. He felt himself being lifted into the air almost a foot above the railing. His heart was beating so fast he thought it would explode from his chest.

God help me! God, no! James cries as he feels himself being flung over the edge of the balcony as though her were a useless toy, being thrown away. He somehow realized that his pleas for help would go unanswered. What could anyone do?

As he began his descent downward from the top floor of the building, James realized that he had done it. His dream had been realized. As the air caressed his falling body, his head turned back and he could see the shadow form standing at the edge of his balcony, looking down. In that moment, James could see that a door had been opened and something had come through.

As the world, around him swiftly became shrouded in a permanent darkness, James looked up and concluded with his final thought, that the summoning was a success and it only cost him everything he held dear.

SUMMON

[SUHM –

UH N]

TO CALL FOR THE PRESENCE OF, AS BY COMMAND,

MESSAGE, OR SIGNAL; TO CALL FORTH, ROUSE, AWAKEN –

AN ACTION, VERBAL, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL, TO BRING FORTH OR BRING

ABOUT THE CALLING OF, TO MAKE MANIFEST OR APPEAR.

RITUAL

[RICH – OO –

UH L]

A PRESCRIBED OR ESTABLISHED RITE, CEREMONY, PRECEDING OR SERVICE.

AN ACTION OR ACT THAT IS IN OBSERVANCE OF,

OR IN ACCORDANCE TO A SET OF BELIEFS, DOCTRINES OR PRINCIPLES.

CHAPTER

ONE

T his was the culminating event of over three weeks of hard work and determination. As everyone was getting into position the reality was that there were a lot of sleepless nights and hundreds of man hours and resources that had been devoted to this operation. All of it would come down to this moment. There were lives hanging in the balance. The lives of innocent girls who had done nothing to deserve what was being done to them.

Hopefully they were in time. Hopefully they would be able to put an end to the crazy machinations of a raving, delusional and highly resourceful psychopath. They had just zeroed in on their suspect and slowly moved in.

Special Agent Monroe looked through the window. He could see into the house and there wasn’t any movement. Their sources confirmed that the suspect had entered the house about twenty-minutes prior and had not been seen exiting the building.

They all hoped that this location was where he kept them. They had been following him for almost thirteen hours and was sure he was their man. Monroe looked to his left and motioned to Special Agent Brooks. They were ready to breech the house.

Swat began to take the sides of the house and move towards the rear. Time was not on their side and they were lucky to have zeroed in on a suspect before the next body was found. Monroe wanted to maintain the element of surprise for as long as they could.

He could feel his heart beginning to race. He watched as Brooks knelt down and began to pick the lock. They all needed to be careful. There had been a few cases similar to this they had worked on together, but this one was a little different. Monroe couldn’t put his finger on it, but this one left a bad taste in his mouth.

All that mattered now though, was saving lives. There were the lives of three young girls at stake. The team thought this was the work of multiple suspects, but Monroe got the feeling that this was all the work of one individual and not a group of cult followers. They were able to match his vehicle to one that was at the scene of two abductions and his online history revealed him to be of the type.

With a little digging, they found out about his history and this house that was a little out of the way and near a busy highway. It made for easy access and gave him the privacy he needed for him