This is my story for Prompt #7 of The First Indulgence. It is set within my horror mythos known as The Synaptic Sprawl. You can find more stories set in this connected universe in my Content Directory.
Please also know that the audio recording here is quite intense and use discretion when listening…
Agent Durwood,
I just received this recording from a civilian. A priest, from the looks of it. He seemed pretty shaken up. I couldn’t get much out of him. He told me that one of ours made him promise to deliver it.
I think you should hear this…
[BEGIN RECORDING]
Prescott: This is Father James Prescott. It is 3:45AM on Wednesday, October 7th, 2025. I’m here with a fellow priest from the local diocese, who has graciously offered his assistant. Go ahead and introduce yourself.
Barnes: Uh hi, hello, this is Father Barnes. This is my first exorcism, I don’t know if that matters?
Prescott: Once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all, trust me. As per Vatican guidelines, I am recording this process for posterity. The subject is restrained in the bedroom nearby. Father Barnes and I will begin the exorcism now.
Prescott: William Mayes, can you hear me?
Mayes: [UNINTELLIGIBLE]
Barnes: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Is he speaking backwards?
Prescott: Sure sounds like it.
Mayes: Laughter. Nobody told me they were sending a Warden! Oh, if I had known I would have CLEANED UP!
Barnes: What does he mean, Warden?
Prescott: Shit, this one’s real.
Mayes: [UNINTELLIGIBLE]
Barnes: What do you mean, real?
Prescott: Listen kid, the less questions you ask, the better. Open my case.
Barnes: What is all this? I’ve never seen anything like it. Where’s the crosses and holy water?
Prescott: I know this is going to be hard to hear, but none of that shit works.
Barnes: What do you mean, why not?
Prescott: Because we’re not dealing with a demon. We’re dealing with something worse.
Mayes: Sorry to butt in on your little moment, but I thought you should know…I BROUGHT FRIENDS!
Prescott: What the fuck are you talking about?
A loud crash
Barnes: That sounded like it came from the other room!
Prescott: I’ll go look. Put these on him. Two on the chest, one on his forehead. Trust me, you’ll know when they’re working. Oh, and whatever you do, don’t look him in the eyes.
Barnes: I…uh…okay.
Barnes: Okay, here goes nothing.
Mayes: [UNINTELLIGIBLE]
Screaming
Barnes: Our father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name.
Mayes: AHHHH, FUCK THE FATHER! FUCK ALL OF YOU FLESHBAG PARASITES!
Barnes: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…
Screaming
Mayes: YOUR GOD ISN’T REAL!
Barnes: On Earth, as it is in heaven.
Mayes: [UNINTELLIGIBLE]
Door slams
Prescott: Good job, that should shut him up for a minute. We’ve got bigger problems, though.
Nearby screams
Barnes: More of them?!
Prescott: A lot more.
Door impacts
Prescott: I can’t hold this much longer!
Barnes: What should we do?
Prescott: Listen to me, I need you deliver a message.
Barnes: To the Vatican?
Prescott: No, to someone else. Listen kid, I’m not a priest, never have been.
Barnes: But…you’ve been with the church for forty years? You’re the greates exorcist the world has ever seen!
Prescott: Yeah, well, this isn’t my first lifetime. I’m a Warden, and that thing inside Mayes? It’s called an Exiled One. I need you to take this recording to the other Wardens.
Barnes: How will I find them?
Prescott: Fuck, we’re running out of time. Take the phone in my case. I know it looks like an ordinary cell phone, but it’s not. It can only call one number. Make contact with them and give them the recording. The whole fucking universe depends on it.
Barnes: Okay, and what about you?
Prescott: This is it for me. I gotta keep the doorway shut and pray to your God that she didn’t already get out.
Barnes: I don’t understand.
Prescott: You don’t NEED TO! Take the recording and the phone and climb out the window over there. Once you hit the ground, start running and don’t look back.
Barnes: But…
Prescott: I SAID FUCKING GO, BARNES!
[END OF RECORDING]
The cigarette fell out of Agent Durwood’s mouth.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” he whispered.
He opened an email draft, adding his superiors to the list of recipients.
The subject line was simple: CODE OMEGA: THERE’S BEEN A BREACH!!
His fingers shook as he typed a quick message…
Project Wilmont has failed. A new breach in the Celestial Wall has been identified. We have to assume she escaped.
I repeat: it is very likely that Zal’Ythra has escaped the Abyssal Prison. I’m putting together a clean-up team now.
May the Creator have mercy on us all…
Thanks for Reading! Here’s Your Musical Pairing
Listen to this after reading, like pairing a glass of wine with dinner.
I love this!
You nailed the Lovecraftian surprise and weaved in such elegant simplicity.
So good! I love what you're doing with the audio!