Chapter 10: The Harbinger’s Fury

The basement erupted into chaos as the Harbinger lunged forward, its massive, shadowy form filling the space. Kai fired again, his hands steady despite the adrenaline pumping through his veins. Each shot connected, but the creature didn't falter—it was as though the bullets were swallowed by the dark energy that surrounded it.

Ray shouted over the deafening roars, "Kai, we need to fall back!"

Kai didn't move, his gaze fixed on the Harbinger's glowing eyes. The creature exuded an oppressive aura, one that pressed against his chest like an invisible weight. Behind him, the robed members of the Order scrambled for the stairs, their earlier confidence shattered.

The woman with piercing blue eyes stood frozen near the altar, her face pale but her expression unreadable.

"Kai!" Ray's voice cut through the noise as he grabbed Kai's shoulder. "This is suicide! Move!"

Reluctantly, Kai nodded and began backing toward the stairs. The Harbinger's eyes tracked his every movement, its growls reverberating through the room.

"Keep your light on it!" Kai yelled, his voice strained. He switched on his flashlight, the beam slicing through the darkness. The creature recoiled slightly, its form flickering like a dying flame.

Ray followed suit, his flashlight joining Kai's. The combined beams seemed to weaken the Harbinger, its movements slowing as it snarled in frustration.

"Light," Kai muttered under his breath. "It hates the light."

The robed woman, now huddled by the altar, spoke in a trembling voice. "The Harbinger is bound to darkness. It cannot exist in pure light."

Kai turned to her sharply. "If you know that, why didn't you stop it?"

She looked away, shame flashing across her face. "Because it's not that simple. The light weakens it, but it cannot be destroyed by mortal hands. The marks—"

Her words were cut off as the Harbinger roared again, its anger shaking the very foundation of the farmhouse. It lunged toward Kai and Ray, its claws raking the air just inches from their heads.

"Up the stairs!" Kai barked, shoving Ray toward the exit.

Ray didn't argue. He bolted up the steps, Kai right behind him. The Harbinger's snarls followed them, each sound sending a chill down Kai's spine.

---

The two officers burst out of the farmhouse and into the freezing night air. Ray doubled over, gasping for breath, while Kai spun around, his flashlight still pointed at the door.

The Harbinger didn't emerge. Instead, its guttural growls echoed from within the house, growing fainter as the light of their flashlights reached the threshold.

"It's not coming out," Ray said between breaths, his voice tinged with both relief and confusion.

Kai lowered his flashlight slightly, his mind racing. "It's bound to the marks. The basement must be one of its anchor points."

Ray straightened, his expression grim. "So, what do we do? Go back in there and destroy the altar?"

Kai shook his head. "Not yet. We need more information. That woman—she knows something. She said the marks can't be destroyed by mortal hands, but there has to be a way."

Ray frowned. "And you think she'll just tell us? She didn't seem too eager to help back there."

Kai's jaw tightened. "She'll talk. She doesn't have a choice."

---

Back at the station, the robed woman sat in the interrogation room, her hands cuffed to the table. Her hood had been removed, revealing a weary, lined face. Despite her circumstances, she held herself with an air of quiet defiance.

Kai and Ray stood outside the room, watching her through the one-way glass.

"She doesn't look like much," Ray muttered.

Kai's gaze remained fixed on her. "Appearances can be deceiving. She's part of the Order, which means she knows more than she's letting on."

Ray crossed his arms. "And if she doesn't cooperate?"

Kai's expression hardened. "Then we find a way to make her."

He pushed open the door and stepped inside, pulling a chair across from her. He set Doyle's journal on the table, letting it thud against the surface.

"Start talking," Kai said, his tone cold.

The woman met his gaze, her expression impassive. "About what?"

Kai leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't play games with me. The Harbinger, the marks, the curse—tell me everything."

She sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "You think you can fix this, don't you? That you can save this town?"

"That's the plan," Kai replied, his eyes narrowing.

The woman let out a bitter laugh. "You're a fool. The curse is older than this town, older than any of us. It cannot be broken."

Kai slammed his hand on the table, the sound echoing through the small room. "Then why did Doyle think it could? Why did he risk everything to find a way?"

At the mention of Doyle, the woman's expression softened. "Doyle was... persistent. But he was also naive. He didn't understand the true nature of what he was dealing with."

"Enlighten me," Kai said, his tone sharp.

The woman hesitated, then spoke in a quiet voice. "The marks are not just symbols. They are conduits—gateways that tether the Harbinger to our world. Destroying them would sever its connection, yes, but the energy released would consume everything within miles. The town would be reduced to ash."

Kai stared at her, his mind racing. "So, what? We're just supposed to let it keep killing people?"

She shook her head. "There is another way. But it is dangerous, and it requires a sacrifice."

"What kind of sacrifice?" Kai demanded.

The woman met his gaze, her eyes haunted. "A life for a life. To sever the curse, someone must willingly offer themselves to take the Harbinger's place."

The room fell silent, the weight of her words settling heavily between them.

Ray, who had been listening from the doorway, stepped inside. "You're saying we need to... sacrifice someone?"

The woman nodded. "It is the only way."

Kai's fists clenched. "Who decided that? Your Order? The same people who let this thing run loose for decades?"

She didn't answer, her gaze dropping to the table.

Kai pushed back from the table, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "This isn't over," he said, storming out of the room.

---

In the station's hallway, Kai leaned against the wall, his mind racing. The idea of sacrificing someone—anyone—was unthinkable. But the alternative was just as grim.

Ray joined him, his expression unreadable. "What now?"

Kai let out a long breath. "We keep digging. There has to be another way. Something they're not telling us."

Ray nodded slowly. "And if there isn't?"

Kai's jaw tightened. "Then we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

As the night stretched on, one thing became clear: the Harbinger was far from their only enemy. The secrets of Stowntown ran deep, and the fight to uncover them was only just beginning.