The Art of the Demon Chapter X - Rise and Fall - The Finale

"Oh no.." Jake whispered when the woman confirmed that it's Matthew she's referring that had arrived.

"Alright. Wear your robes now. We have to summon Artamus." Mario said.

"What?" Kate said in an interrogating voice.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you. We need to do some ritual now to give Artamus a temporary power and we have to go now and pray to the demon. He wants to suck Matthew's soul himself. Bye! In an hour or two, the complete Artamus will be back and he'll eat you. Good luck!" Mario said. And then he left.

The cult of the demon of art worshipers or the LIVED group is consisted of eight members, being led by Mario Adan. Mario Adan, together with other LIVED members went to the hall where the portraits used to be placed. While talking with Kate, Jake, and Marissa, other LIVED members have cleaned the hall up. Now it's empty, except for the big, another white inverted cross in it where they are going to pray.

The LIVED members now wear their red robes with inverted white cross printed in front of it. They now formed a circle around the huge inverted cross and knelt and began chanting odd words and now trying to give Artamus, the demon of art, a temporary body.

Meanwhile, Matthew just arrived at the gate of the big mansion. He's sweating and breathing as if he just ran a mile. Well, yeah, he just ran a mile. Being a newbie in the city, Matthew isn't that aware on going places in the city yet. And that's the reason why he's late. When he rode a taxi earlier, the taxi driver, after five minutes, acted like paranoid or threatened and scared that he might be involve in a terrible vehicular accident. Matthew didn't understand why did the driver feel that way instantly and asked him to leave.

So giving Matthew no choice, he walked. And after realizing he'll be very late, he ran. And finally, after having a lot of people asked about where he should go next, he arrived.

"Do I really have to experience this hardness just to see the photos of LIVED? Arghhhh.." Matthew thought.

The mansion's gate is wide open as if already inviting him in. Even though Matthew is dead tired, he decided that he should keep moving. So he walked through the beautiful flagstone steps to the mansion's main door. As he walks, he felt that something is odd about the place. Usually, photo exhibits are full of people, but he can't hear a thing from the inside part of the mansion.

When he reached the main door, the door instantly opened. That's when he realized where he's heading from the very start.

The mansion is now looking like a huge hall. There is an overwhelmingly big white inverted cross inside it with people in red robes kneeling around it and saying odd and foreign words that Matthew can't understand. Matthew remembered his dream. This is not exactly the same to what has he dreamed before, but it's similar.

Even though Matthew knew that the people kneeling around the white inverted cross has noticed he had arrived, the people in red robes still didn't move or let themselves be distracted by Matthew.

Matthew stood there in curiosity and part of him is uncertain to what might happen next.

And then..all of a sudden..as the people who chant around the inverted white cross continue, a muscular form of a tall man started shaping in the air through thick black smoke. Fear rushes through Matthew's body as an odd form continues to shape in front of him. A few seconds later, a silhouette of a goat-ish horns started shaping too in the head of the muscular man. 10 seconds later, the smoking and forming of the body stopped..because Artamus has his temporary body now.

Matthew was frozen in terror as he looks in the demon's body. He then remembered that the features of the demon is somehow similar to the one he dreamed before. The one who sucks blood. Except that the one he saw in his dream don't have horns and is covered with clothes. However, the similarity between this demon and the one in his dream is undeniable.

"I AM BACK!" Artamus exclaimed in a hoarse, thick voice as he surveys his own body. His eyes are blazing red, his black horns shining as it reflects fire in the nearby torch. He looks through his whole body with a wide, devilish grin of happiness. "HAHAHAHA." the demon laughed hoarsely. Artamus is only wearing a filthy clothe to cover the private part of his body, and the rest of his body is exposed, making Matthew even more scared. The demon looks really creepy. He has black long beard and mustache. His claws and fangs are pointed and long. The demon is at least 6 feet tall.

Matthew still stood there, and can't move. A few seconds later, the demon finally realized who's in front of him. He looked at Matthew, eyes to eyes.

“The last offer is here. Who am I to refuse? Hahahaha.” Artamus said, now looking straight in the fearsome eyes of Matthew. Matthew’s knees weakened, but he felt that adrenaline rushes through his body now and he’s in perfect condition to run any second now.

A few seconds later, the enormous feet of the demon landed on the ground. “Oh, of course, I didn’t have my whole body and powers back yet. I can’t glide through the air like a smoke yet. And you, Matthew, will do that for me.”

Matthew was shocked by what the demon said. He already got what Artamus means..that Artamus means that he needs him..Artamus needs his soul.

“M-me? Doing a-anything for you? For a demon? NO WAY!” Matthew said and he run very fast, uncertain to what might happen next to him.

Matthew was about to exit the mansion’s main door, but Artamus gestured his hands and the door instantly closed. Artamus, although he doesn’t possess his whole powers yet, is confident that he can catch Matthew easily.

He now walks slowly towards Matthew who still trying to open the door.

“You shouldn’t tire yourself, Matthew. Whatever you do, you’ll end up dead. I’ll suck your soul and I’ll be complete again. The great king will be very happy for me by then. HAHAHA!” Artamus said.

When Matthew realized that what he’s doing is useless, he set off to a corridor leading to other parts of the mansion. The members of LIVED are still solemnly praying to the inverted cross to continue sustaining the temporary body of Artamus. This, Matthew realized. Now he plans to disturb them. But as he runs through a corridor, he realized that it’s leading him nowhere to the hall where the occultists are praying. But then he continued to run, trying to find a way out. Artamus, on the other hand, is walking ordinarily. Not threatened that Matthew might escape and that his come back might not materialize.

Matthew then found a small stair that leads into a dark second floor of the mansion. When Matthew reached the 2nd floor, he then found out that it’s not a ‘floor’ at all, but a small, dark room. When Matthew stepped inside the room, lights were turned on and he was surprised by it. But what more.. Matthew was more surprised by what he discovered. The lights were red, similar to the lights of dark rooms where film photographs are being developed. But it’s not a dark room for photographs, and the lights has nothing to do with it. It was just a more preferable lightings for a..demon and an occultist.

The room was full of realistic paintings of demons. Matthew knew at once that the paintings are the arts of the demon, or should he think, another artworks of the demon. There is a painting of a reddish-brown skinned woman, with thick eyebrows and an eye of a monster and hair of a witch. Other paintings show different demons. Matthew, for a moment, was drawn by the paintings. The paintings were scary, but very well made. Matthew can’t believe that he will actually experience such things and meet real demon in his life, that it will actually wants his soul and now, chasing him.

Instead of looking for a place to hide or to escape, Matthew walked and wandered slowly through the room, examining paintings. He neither like nor admire the demons, but a sudden realization came into his head now that these things are happening now… that GOD exists. If demons exist, God does.

A few seconds earlier, Matthew found the painting of..Satan. It was in the center of the room and bigger than other portraits. The painting shows a bald, horned, red-skinned, muscular man, sitting in a black throne. Above the throne is a goat’s head (It was a belief in the medieval period that goats were created by Satan to mock Jesus’ lambs or sheep. The horns of the goats and rams also resemble those of the demons. It was also said that Satan sometimes transforms into a ram or a goat when he needs to.) The background of the painting features humans carrying huge rocks, snakes, or being tortured by demons. Although the humans in the background of Satan’s portrait are being punished differently, their faces express one: suffering. Matthew then realizes what was the thing that the painting wants to show: that the conspiracy of Satan and the devils is doom the humanity and beat God by referring people to hell.

Matthew knew it was Satan in the portrait. Satan has enormous black nails, big feet, big hands, and an eye of intelligence, fierceness, and evil. He wasn’t smiling, but instead, featuring a face of confidence and deep evil. Matthew stood there, looking at Satan’s portrait when Artamus arrived.

“Don’t worry, Matthew, you’ll meet him soon.” Artamus said as he arrived at the room of the arts of the demon.

***

“Matthew, come.” The grandmother of Matthew said to him when he lit a small candle outside the church. The mass just ended and before riding a tricycle to go home, five-year old Matthew used to lit candles before going home.

“Wait, lola!” Matthew replied. Matthew’s Lola is smiling at him. That smile..that was the smile that Matthew will never forget and never will he get bored looking at. For Matthew, his Lola’s smile is the most precious thing in the world. Matthew loves his mother and his father, and his parents don’t make him feel less than a son, but a love of a Lola is different from the love of parents.

When Matthew finished lighting another candle, he then looked at his Lola again. His Lola is still smiling widely at him. He smiled back. Not knowing that it’s the last time that he’ll ever gonna see his Lola’s sweet, sincere, and precious smile.

The child Matthew now started running towards his Lola when a pick-up truck got out of bounds and hit his Lola. Matthew stumbled, and screamed “LOLA!!!!!!!!!” The driver of the truck was then found out to be driving while intoxicated.

A lot of people helped his Lola to get to the hospital, but she was badly hit, and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. It was the reason why Matthew’s faith to God, if not vanished, decreased wildly.

While sitting at the wake of his Lola, Matthew asked his mother who’s tearing but trying to stay strong

“Nanay, why does God have to kill Lola?”

“Mat, things happen for a reason. God does not kill, he takes people to join Him during their time.” His mother replied calmly.

“But I love Lola! Why does He have to get my Lola? Why does He have to hurt me?” Matthew asked, now crying.

“Everything happens by God’s grace. Sometimes, he breaks our hearts to make us stronger. We just have to accept what He gives or takes, and continue living our life and going with the flow. ”

“NO! God doesn’t love me!” Matthew said, now crying wilder. “He killed Lola! He killed Lola! He killed her in front of the church!!!”

From that time on, Matthew stopped praying before he sleeps, or before and after eating or going to church by his own. He doesn't even make the sign of a cross when he’s at church. He never asked or confessed to his parents about what he felt, that’s why nobody corrected his belief that God took his Lola without a reason and it stayed until he grew up. Matthew half believed that God is not existing or doesn’t care about him or loves him.

***

“So, you’ve picked me because I’m not that religious..” Matthew said.

“You get it. Now, calm down and I have to suck your soul up and meet your new god, the great king, Satan.”
Artamus said hoarsely.

“You really think that I’m going with you?” Matthew said.

“Oh, you really think you have a choice?” Artamus replied.

“If I’m not that believing to Him, I’ll never be one of you!” Matthew said, now courage building up through him. When he recalled what happened to his childhood and why had he stopped believing in God, he now believes in Him again. And he realized that things happen for a reason, and God does things not to break us, but to make us. He does give us tests, that’s not to make our life harder, but to make us stronger and readier
to the tests waiting ahead in life.

Matthew, for only a few second, was able to renew his faith in God. He now took hold of the small, silver cross from his coin purse. His mother always puts a small cross in his coin purse, but he always throw it away whenever he finds one.

Although Matthew knows that God might not listen to him anymore, he still prayed. And now he only asks for God’s forgiveness.

Artamus walks nearer to him, Matthew holds the small silver cross strongly and keeping his concentration on praying.

Artamus is now only inches apart. Even though this can be Matthew’s last memory, he stands there courageously, looking straight into Artamus’ eyes.

“Impressive that even though you knew you’re about to die, you still stand there, looking brave. Haha! That’s the spirit of a Satan’s son.” Artamus said.

“I’m not a Satan’s son!” Matthew said strongly.

“Oh, you are.”

“No!”

“Or should I say, you’re gonna be!” Artamus said. Then he pulled Matthew by his collar and carries him
through the air.

“Now, get ready for you’ll meet your king, Satan! Hahahaha!” Artamus said, now he’s opening his mouth slowly and started sucking the soul of Matthew. Thick, white smoke started flowing out of Matthew’s mouth.

He knew that Artamus is slowly killing him. But before he finally loses his life, he plunges the small, silver crucifix into the forehead of the demon to which by the demon’s surprise, he lost hold of Matthew. The small crucifix was blessed. His mother always have the crucifixes blessed before giving them to Matthew. The demon is in pain, Matthew realized. The thick, white smoke that Artamus sucked returned to Matthew by his mouth. When Artamus lost hold of Matthew, Matthew fell to the big painting of Satan and it broke down. The board to where Satan’s portrait was painted cracked in the middle.

“Arghhhhh!” the demon said, trying to get rid of the crucifix. The demon’s forehead seems like it’s smoking now that the crucifix is still pressed to his head. A few seconds later, he got rid of the crucifix.

“So, you think a small crucifix can kill me?” Artamus asked.

“No.”

“Haha. Delaying tactics. Witty. Prepare for no one’s gonna stop me now! I’m going to introduce you to the
great king Satan! Your future king!” Artamus exclaimed.

“Oh really? How can Satan be my future king when I’m now sitting at his broken portrait, my butt straight to his face?” Matthew said.

“You sonofabitch!” said Artamus.

“Oh, I thought you just said that I was a son of Satan. You mean Satan is a bitch? But Satan is a devil and he
is a male, how can he be a female dog? Ah, I get it. So the great king, the greatest devil is also a female dog?”
Matthew said.

“YOU’RE GONNA DIE NOW!!!!!!” Artamus said ferociously. “YOU WILL BE DOOMED!!!!!!!”

***

Kate, Jake, and Marissa are still in the room where the occultists got them.

“We need to do something.” Kate said. “We have to escape, by this time, I’m sure the demon is now chasing Matthew. We need to distract Mario and his fellow LIVED members!”

“I know, right? But how do we—“ Marissa said but was cut by Jake. Jake had his chair broken by leaning on it to make it fell to the floor.

“They should have also funded their chairs.” Jake said.

“Brilliant!” Kate and Marissa said. Then they, too, leaned to their chairs and made it fell to the floor. Their chairs break too and they are finally free from the chair.

Then the three proceeded to the hall where the demon of art worshipers and Satanists are solemnly praying.

“There they are!” Marissa pointed to the big white inverted cross to which the Satanists are kneeling and praying.

Then they ran toward the occultists. “We need to distract them!” Then they began kicking, punching, shaking and doing other things to the occultists but they failed to stop them. The occultists stopped chanting, but their minds were still focused to the demonic prayers that give temporary body to Artamus.

“We’re losing time!” Kate said.

“What do we do?” Marissa asked, now panicky. Jake is thinking.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” they heard someone scream from not afar.

“It’s Matthew!” Kate said. “We need to keep going!”

“The torch! We need to threat their lives for them to lose focus!” Jake said. Then he ran to the torch at the other end of the mansion’s hall. The torch is too big that Kate and Marissa too helped him draw it from its holder. When they succeeded getting the torch…

“AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Matthew screamed harder.

“We’re running out of time! We need throw the fire from here! We can’t afford running their to burn them one
by one! We have no time!” Jake said.

"Aha!" Marissa exclaimed. "If we can't run and burn them one by one or threat their lives one by one, then we must break that white inverted cross! They are praying to that symbol, and if we burn that down, maybe, the prayer will break, or even threat the lives of those filthy Satanists when it fall down!

“Witty!” Jake said.

"And maybe, that inverted cross isn't funded too! Let's burn it down!

Then three of them threw the torch by all their forces to the cross.

And as what Marissa has said, the white inverted cross too weren’t funded or well made. It was only made by slim plywoods.

The white inverted cross burned.

Artamus is still sucking the soul of Matthew. Matthew is in the air, but not because Artamus is holding him. Artamus is now using his powers. His powers are not yet all back to him, but he can do simple things like this. The white smoke that flows out from Matthew’s mouth to Artamus’ mouth is now thicker. More of Matthew’s soul are being sucked from him. Matthew is now starting to run out of air, he's slowly dying.

As the fire grows, the inverted cross burnt down. That’s when Mario Adan opened his eyes and realize what danger they are facing and he screamed “AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”

Mario Adan was able to dodge from the burning cross, but then he realized what did he just do.
Artamus is already grinning wide for he knows that in any moment now, Matthew’s soul will be taken all out…when his arms started disappearing like a powder that was being thrown to the air.

“NO!!! THIS CAN’T BE!!!” Artamus lost his powers. Matthew fell to the floor, unconscious. Then Artamus vanished through thin air. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!” his final scream.

“YOU FAGS!” Mario Adan screamed at Kate, Marissa, and Jake. The three were grinning.

“Maybe you’ve saved your friend, but we will still kill you in revenge!!!” all of the LIVED members are now looking angrily to Kate, Jake, and Marissa. Mario Adan and the rest of LIVED, even though they didn’t really know if Artamus failed or succeed, they assumed that he failed because he screamed in despair.

“And you think we didn’t think about that thing?” Marissa said, still grinning. Marissa was able to call the police while the white inverted cross was still burning

Then they heard police car alarms. At least 12 police entered.

“They are the occultists who killed Alyna and Mang Reynold!” Jake pointed to LIVED members.
The police arrested the members of the demon of art worshipers and Satanists. The rest of the night didn’t become a quiet ending. Matthew almost died. Good thing that he reached the hospital and was saved.

After that, it became a big news in TV, radio, and papers. Other killings were now linked to the demon of art’s cult. A few days later, Trina and her boyfriend’s body were found both floating in the river. But justice has been served, not only to them, but to Robbie, Alyna, Mang Reynold, and other victims of Artamus. The news reached international media. Although the parents of the previous victims still didn’t find the bodies of their sons and daughters, they knew in their hearts that justice has come.

Back to back TV and radio guestings, magazine and newspaper interviews were offered to Matthew, Kate, Jake, and Marissa. But they refused and chose to be quiet. They only gave their statements to the Catholic Church, and the Catholic Church shared it to the media. After that, the friends decided to keep their mouths shut.

A week later, a mass has been held at Saint Patrice University. This is a thanksgiving mass for the justice God had given them and the demon of art's failure to rise and dominate the world of the humans.

Matthew, Kate, Jake, and Marissa were in the front seat. All of them wearing white, so as the other people in the church.

The priest started his sermon:

“The recent events and revelations shook us. The tragic deaths of a lot of students, not only of St. Patrice University, but also in other universities, don’t happen everyday. However, escaping a near death experience doesn’t happen everyday too. And we should be thankful that we still have here Matthew, Kate, Jake, and Marissa.

“If not through them, this cult of young students who worship a certain demon will not be revealed to the public. The deaths of the students before will have no justice yet, mysterious killings will not yet be stopped. And maybe, the demon of art himself has risen again. The demon of art is called Artamus by his worshipers. And according to the interview to us by Matthew, Kate, Jake, and Marissa, once Artamus risen again, he will spread the Satanic conspiracies through the world by art..by painting. And as you all know, a lot of Satanists are now dominating different fields. Music, movies, popular products, and others.

“And this Satanic art, almost succeeding, let’s thank God that they didn't. These friends, Matthew, Kate, Jake, and Marissa also told me that the young occultists were successful in making St. Patrice University their temporary dwelling place because the students, staff, and people here have weak belief and faith in God. And even Artamus himself lived here even if this is a Catholic university.

“Indeed. The whole university had its faith to God weakened. I just want to remind you all that devils are not scary…that we should not fear devils. As long as we have strong faith and belief in God, devils are weak. Meeting evil is inevitable, but having devils near you, surrounding you is evitable. You have to keep your faith to God. By believing in Him, you get His protection, His love. And you take a step away from the devil.”

The mass ended a few minutes after. While walking through the aisle of the church to go exit the building, Matthew, Kate, Jake and Marissa talked.

“It has been a long, hectic week. Media men have been guarding our house.” Marissa said.

“Our house too.” Kate added.

“So as our house.” Jake added too.

“Haha. At least you guys have houses. Some people had me staying in a hotel for a couple of days now because my dorm is being guarded by media men too. Hahaha. And my dormmates and the landlady aren’t happy about it.” Matthew said.

“I’m just happy that it’s all done now. We all didn’t plan to meet a kind of danger, and a kind of a demon. But I’m just happy that we surpassed and survived it.” Kate said.

“Yeah, me too. I’m thankful.” Jake said.

“Well, that event also served as a reminder to us all that we should always keep our faith to God.” Marissa added.

“Yes. If this event didn’t happen, I’m still almost an atheist now. It’s just saddening that we still have to meet a demon just to have our faiths to God renewed.” Matthew said.

“This event happened for a reason. As Marissa said, it has been a reminder. And after all, at least, we survived!” Jake said.

“Yep!” Kate motioned.

“And guess what? We’re so strong! We defeated a demon! Hahaha!” Marissa said.

“Hahahaha! Whatever, let’s eat!” Matthew motioned (too).

THE END

-PandemiC-

The Art of the Demon Chapter 9

The man wearing black tuxedo and the woman wearing black dress brought the now unconscious Kate to a room in the second floor of the mansion. Kate's friends, Marissa and Jake were there too, tied in a chair and with blind folds covering their eyes. They are still unconscious.

The man and the woman tied Kate in a chair too. The room is a wide rectangular room. The wall color and the carpet is pure red giving it a really demonic cult impression. It was dark. The whole room is dimly lit by candles held by wall candle holders on each sides of the room. In the other end of the rectangular room from the door, there was a huge white inverted cross on the wall. And the backs of Kate and her friends were turned against it. It was already 8:30PM and Matthew hadn't arrived yet when Marissa woke up.

Marissa tried to move her body but she realized that she is tied in a chair tightly. "Hello? Anyone there?" No one answered her. So she continued to try to call for someone. And as she continued, she woke Kate and Jake up.

"Where are we?" Kate asked. "We're tied. Oh my Gosh. What they did. Why did they do this to us?"

"They haven't told you yet, did they?" Marissa said.

"Arghhh.. Those filthy devil worshipers!" Jake said angrily.

"What? D-devil worshipers?" Kate said.

"Talking about us? Don't you know that it's bad talking behind person's back?" a man said.

"But you love bad things and bad deeds, don't you? Besides, what's the use of being a devil? And take note, we're not talking behind your back because if I'm not mistaken, your voice is coming from our front side." Jake said sarcastically.

"Oh no no. I'm not condemning your bad deed. Actually, I'm so proud of you because you're a promising devil. Hahaha. And please, don't be so sarcastic."

"You gits! You are the ones who killed Robbie, Alyna, and the guard!" Kate burst. "Why do you have to kill people? Why!? You've killed three people! Murderers!"

"Three? Looks like we're still good in your eyes. We haven't killed only three. Actually, we've killed 87 people. And tonight, the 88th people will die and the demon of art will live again! Hahaha."

"What!?" Kate said, shocked by the number of people the LIVED people killed and the resurrection of the demon of art the man is talking about.

"Yes. 87. The last 5 people we have killed are just too lucky that Artamus, the demon of art, is quite stronger now that he doesn't need to eat the body of the people we've offered to him anymore. Hehehehe." the man said. "And in case you are wondering, no one noticed the number of people we have killed because they are still listed as missing persons in the past 7 years. And every year, we shift schools so that we wouldn't look suspicious.

"Seven years?" Jake asked.

"Yes. And as I've said, the five lucky people are lucky because Artamus haven't eaten their bodies. Hahaha."

"Who are the other two then after Robbie, Alyna, and Mang Reynold?" Jake interrogated.

"Too much information, eh? But it's fine. You're gonna die anyway. The first of five who have their bodies left is Robbie. Alyna and Reynold followed. But yesterday, we've offered Artamus another two. It's the new cheerleader Trina Caspers and her boyfriend. Ahahaha. Their portraits will be made after tonight. After the demon of art, Artamus live again! Hahaha."

"So, you've moved to St. Patrice University. You can't possibly do that because..St. Patrice is a catholic university!" Marissa said.

"Oh, darling. You're very wrong. It doesn't matter if you study in a catholic school or in a non sectarian school. Yes, of course, St. Patrice is a catholic university..but do its students even pray after the mass? But do the students even talk to God before they sleep? But do you, the catholic students, even act like catholics or even just Christians? No! And that allowed us, and Artamus, to make St. Patrice University our home this year." the man said. Suddenly, Marissa, Jake, and Kate realized how far they are from God at the moment.

"But..but LIVED is an organization not only in St. Patrice!" Kate said.

"Of course. There is a famous metro wide organization named LIVED, but the LIVED you mean is different from our LIVED. The famous LIVED means Lovely Incredible Versatile Engaging Dashing photography club. Since there's no LIVED in St. Patrice, we've decided to use their name but it means different. The LIVED you've been idolizing, darling Kate, is LIVED that means DEVIL when read backwards. Get it? Hahahaha."

"WTF.." Marissa muttered.

"But the blood you've sucked from the people you've killed..what are they for?" Jake asked.

"Oh..of course..the bloods. We only started to become a photography organization this year. In the past few years, we were a guild of writers. We've been secretly adding Satan conspiracies and signs to the articles we've written on other universities. But since the demon of art is stronger now, he said that we should become a photography club now and he'll make the photographs. I mean, he will paint the photographs."

"Paint the photographs? I don't understand." Jake said.

"The demon of art is not a human. He's a demon. And a demon is a lot better than an ordinary human. Using the bloods of the people found dead in the past weeks, Artamus, the demon of art created their lively portraits. And that's the reason why you, Jake, and you, Marissa were captivated by the portraits of Robbie and Alyna because their blood were part of their portraits. So naturally, their portraits will stand out. Too bad, Reynold's photograph weren't seen. Hahaha. And the other portraits, we've taken it ourselves and those are real photographs."

"But..but how do you choose the people you kill? I mean, Robbie, Alyna, and Mang Reynold are different people. What do they have in common?" Kate asked.

"Oh darling, you still didn't get it. Actually, you three and the other five we've killed, including Trina and her boyfriend, have something in common. You didn't get it, did you? That we have been able to study in a catholic school because of a weak faith to your God?" the man said.

"I get it. So, you've picked the people who have the weakest faith to God? Well, my relationship with God is weak indeed, but I don't think I have one of the weakest in school."

"You're right and wrong there. Yes, we do pick people with weakest link to your God. You're wrong because it's not about you and your faith. It just happened that you are friends with the last offer.."

"Last offer?" Jake asked.

"Yes, the last offer is Matthew. Matthew, just like the other people we've killed, has a very weak faith to your God. Just like you, he's a catholic. But he seldom went to the church by his own or he never visited the church during ordinary Sundays. He only goes to the church when he is with his family during Christmas or Holy Week. But that's all! He doesn't pray at night, he doesn't make the sign of the cross. He never acted as if he was a real catholic. And according to Artamus, that's the perfect personality that he wants. He really wants the soul of Matthew. And since we have been feeding him souls and bodies for years now, Matthew will be the last and he, Artamus, will be 100% back."

"So, if it's not about us, why take us too?" Marissa said.

"Oh you selfish girl."

"I'm not selfish, I'm just wondering!" Marissa defended herself.

"Well, I know that you know that you have weak faiths to your God too. And it just happened that Matthew found friends like you. And now, you will serve as the first dinner of Artamus after he gets his body back."

"You kept saying Artamus. But does he really exists?" Jake asked. "I've been reading a lot of articles for all my life. And I've read the list of demon names. I never found any demons named Artamus nor the demon of art tag."

"Because not all the demons in the demon list you've read are real, and not all the demons they have not listed are bogus!" the man responded.

"Then after summoning the demon, what's next?" Kate asked, trying to not mind the fact that the man who's talking plans on feeding them to the demon.

"Of course, we've been summoning Artamus because we need him, Satan needs him. Artamus is one of the greatest followers of Satan, and Artamus in the world of humans will be a great help to him. Together, we will spread the satanic conspiracies, signs, and we will grow the number of Antichrists from the students sector through breath taking artworks here in the city. The art made by the demon that people will love, they just don't know, is also the art that will bring them to hell. Hahahaha! And through this work, we will empower Satan. Satan goes stronger when evil deeds are being practiced by more people."

"Witty." Jake said.

"Thanks." the man said.

"But not witty enough." Jake said.

"What do you mean? You're now going to die but you're still trying to sound fierce, huh?" the man said.

"Because if you are really witty, and your Satan, and your Artamus, whoever you guys are, you should have understood the word 'almighty'."

"And you did think that we don't know what 'almighty' means? Funny Jake."

"I don't mean it literally, git. I mean, if you guys are witty and intelligent, you should have known what are the capabilities of the Almighty God are. He was called Almighty God because He is Almighty. And Almighty means the greatest, unbeatable, strongest and most powerful! And He will prevail whatever you and your filthy demon lords do!" Jake said angrily.

True indeed. The man was quiet for a moment. But he thought of something good to say. "Says who? You? If your God is really Almighty, then why are you here? That means, even if your God is really Almighty, you, His creation, is nothing. Especially if you have no connection with Him! Now you're here, will die in a couple of hours. Hahaha. And our war against your God will continue through the help of people like you!"

These words left Jake silent. Then he prayed "Lord God, I'm sorry if I'm only talking to you now. I'm really, really sorry. I forgot about you because I've been busy studying and making things in school perfect for me. I'm really sorry if I ignored you for a long time and didn't thank you for all the blessings you've gave me. I'm no longer asking you to save me now because I know that I don't deserve it. I just want to say sorry..and I love you." after these thoughts, Jake stopped thinking about anything else anymore but he kept apologizing to the Lord. Marissa and Kate bowed too to pray silently.

After a minute or two, Kate asked "But..where is Matthew? Looks like he's not coming. You've failed."

"Don't smirk yet. Everything went according to plan. Thanks to the demonic intervention, you all arrived in the rightest time. Artamus' spirit is on the works now to bring Matthew here. He is meant to be late because you all need to be tied first before he arrives."

"Demonic interference, you mean?" Marissa said, smirking.

"Shut up."

"But based on Jake's research, you need something from Robbie..what is that?" Kate asked.

"So the interview isn't done yet. The demon of art asked us to invite Robbie to join in. According to him, Robbie is a genius and he will become a great help if we get him as the new president of our cult. But of course, he's so stupid and stubborn and all, he refused. That's why Artamus will have the kill him and suck his soul."

"But I know, you've liked it that he refused because you'll lose your post, won't you, Mario Adan?" Kate said, guessing whether they are talking to the president of LIVED himself.

"Of course. But I still have the post so no need to say that things." Mario Adan said, quite annoyed.

Before Mario could even add words, somebody knocked at the door.

"Yes?" Mario said. Then the door opened, the woman in black dress said "He's here."

-PandemiC-

The Art of the Demon Chapter 8

It's already a Saturday night. But instead of being excited to go to bars or other hang out places, Kate is very excited and looking forward to LIVED's grand photo exhibit. She became much more excited when she found out when she read the invitation that it's not just a usual photo exhibit, but a photo exhibit with a twist as quoted from the invitation, "You're Invited to LIVED's grand photo exhibit this year! Expect not just a usual photo exhibit, but a photo exhibit with a twist!"

That 'twist' seems to intrigue Kate. But as she guessed what the twist was, she thought it was just maybe a photo exhibit with a club-style party. "Maybe it is. Besides, it's a Saturday night. My guess can be right." Kate thought.

She fixed herself. She's wearing a red dress. She thought that a red dress would fit a photo exhibit. After taking one last glance at herself in the mirror, she finally left the house. Now she's in the street and waiting for a cab to ride to go to the venue. The venue anyway is in the mansion of LIVED's president, Mario Adan, a Fil-Am. Kate wonders if Matthew will ever know how to go to the mansion. He's not yet very used to traveling around in Manila. Kate already taught Matthew the step by step way to get there, but still, she worries for him.

Two minutes later, a taxi arrived. She stopped the taxi and ride in. The mansion is located in a very exclusive subdivision in Quezon city. And according to the map included in the invitation covering the whole subdivision, the mansion is quite isolated from other houses. Kate thought maybe it is because a mansion takes a lot of space and a mansion would look more elite if it won't be nearby other houses.

***

James and Marissa both arrived at the venue of LIVED's grand photo exhibit already. They went there by Marissa's car, James drove. They parked the car in front of the wide, tall gate of the mansion. They thought it would be better if they park the car outside and enjoy the beautiful flagstone steps, landscapes, and garden as they walk to the mansion. The mansion's main door is at least 20 meters away from the tall gate.

The looks of the mansion is pretty elegant, classic, and appealing. As James and Marissa walk down the flagstone steps to the mansion, they can't help but get astonished by the mansion's appearance. On each side of the flagstone steps are fairly tall palm trees that adds more appeal and elegance to the mansion.

They reached the front door of the mansion. The mansion's door opened automatically before James could even knock, as if it sensed them.

James and Marissa entered. When they saw the inside part of the mansion, they were surprised by its appearance..it doesn't look like a mansion at all, but instead, a hall or a function hall. Big portraits of different people or models are aligned irregularly, but still, it looks perfectly well. All portraits have a red bulb lit above it. The floor of the mansion is carpeted with bright red expensive carpet. But both James and Marissa noticed that the hall is deserted. Except of course for at least 3 people on one corner that look like they are members of LIVED and or organizers of the event.

A man in black tuxedo approached them. "Welcome, Mr. James and Ms. Marissa." the man said.

"Thank you.. but how'd you know our name--" Marissa replied, but James cut her.

"Thank you, sir. Are we too early?"

"Too early? Actually, you arrived at the very exact time!" the man said cheerfully. "Why don't you two take a look at our portraits first? Then we'll have a big surprise for you both."

"Okay then. Thanks." said James.

Then Marissa and James wandered through the portraits. Viewing each photos with comments on how great is it. All pictures look really beautiful. It seems as if the people who took the pictures aren't just students, but internationally acclaimed professional photographers. There's something in each portrait that makes the model looks like she's or he's real. Faces on portraits express an emotion that no other pictures can. The faces on portraits look as if they were real and the people who look at it are seeing them alive and face to face.

"Wait, I got to go to that section." Marissa told James as one portrait caught her attention. "Can it be Alyna Matias? Did she really model for LIVED? That's great!" Marissa thought.

"Okay then." James said. And then he continued to round the beautiful portraits. "Grand photo exhibit, indeed. These portraits can be compared to world class portraits." He thought as he walks.

"Wow." Marissa muttered when she saw the portrait of Alyna Matias. "I'm sure if this is for sale, a lot of art enthusiasts will bid for this!"

Alyna Matias is seating like a queen in a queen's throne. She's wearing an elegant red dress with an elegant looking plunging neckline. She's wearing a very red lipstick and with red nails. Her left leg is resting on her right leg and wearing no footwear at all, giving it an elegant but plain impression. Her right hand is on her chin, showing a finger wearing a very beautiful red ruby ring, her left hand on the arm of the chair. The background is all black.

But Marissa noticed sadness in Alyna's eyes. She doesn't really express a sad expression, but there's an uneasiness that Marissa's feeling as she looks in Alyna's eyes. There's really sadness in it but Marissa can't figure out why or what makes her think that Alyna's eyes are sad. Marissa read the description of the portrait below it:

"We present this portrait in loving memories of St. Patrice University's most beautiful lady, Alyna Matias. And we're very happy to announce that she's offered and very well accepted."

Marissa didn't really understand the words written because before the whole description got into her head, she realized that there's a cold sweat on her forehead. So she drew a small mirror from her bag and took a glanced at herself. She put powder and then.. the LIVED's logo from one portrait reflected on her mirror. DEVIL. LIVED reads DEVIL when read backwards. "DEVIL?" she thought. And then she realized the last sentence in the Alyna's portrait's description. And we're happy to announce that she's offered and very well accepted. "What the hell.." Marissa muttered as fear rushes through her body. "J-James. I need to tell James. We need to get out of here!" Marissa thought. "The hell, this is a trap!" she muttered as what she discovered sunk in.

"The hell? You're excited to go there, aren't you?" the man in tuxedo who welcomed them earlier told her in a devilish grin and a hoarse voice. The eyes of the man looks at Marissa as if he was crazy about her. Marissa tended to run, but before she could even run, the man covered her mouth with a clothe that immediately made her lose her consciousness.

James continue to wander the amazing portraits. He gives each portraits an incredible impression. Well, all the portraits are amazing so no wonder about that. But as James continue to walk, he realized that all of the portraits are portraits of people, no portraits about sceneries or things or animals. But it seemed to him that the people in the portraits are not recognizable or he does not know who. Not when he found a portrait with non other than Robbie Cruz, the man who died the same way how Alyna Matias died or killed.

In the portrait, Robbie Cruz is in his uniform (not St. Patrice's because he came from another university) standing in front of the class and behind him is the blackboard. He's holding a book and looking as if he is discussing something to the class.

But as James' eyes wander through the portrait, he realized what the chalk writings on the black board were. It means something, something that terrified and terrorized him once he realized what the writings were. The writings were symbols..symbols of the devil. There's a skull and a head which is a particular Illuminati symbol. James knew a lot of things that a usual 16 year old doesn't because he's always in the internet reading different articles. He knows that the skull and a head is an Illuminati symbol because he has read a lot about it. Illuminati means to enlighten. And the conspiracy of the Illuminati group is to make something in the sky explode or to enlighten something. And when that happen, it will seem as if there are two suns. Then the Illuminati will claim that they are the the Gods and it is the second coming (supposedly of Jesus Christ, the real God). Illuminati members are rumored to be those who are popular, successful, and powerful.

Another symbol shows the demonic trinity and another one, a goat's head, a symbol most of the Antichrists use, wear, or spread. Another one shows the most popular Illuminati symbol, the all seeing eye. Then the symbol that scared the hell out of James, the horned hand or the Mano Cornuto. The horned hand is not just an Illuminati or satanist's symbol, but Satan's symbol himself. There are a lot more satanic symbols in the blackboard which some of it James can't recognize anymore.

James breathe faster, his heart beats fast, his knees shakes and weakened. But before he could even think of something to do, his eyes accidentally saw the description. It said that Robbie Cruz, a young boy who died because of stubbornness and stupidity. Always keep in mind that if you don't give or won't help us, we'll take the whole you. The great king asked Robbie to help him and live a problem-free life, but the git declined. After he died, Robbie was offered to the great king, but wasn't accepted at once because of his stubbornness. But eventually, the great king accepted his soul still.


"What the.." James turned sideways, trying to run, but before he could even realize what he must do..He assumed that the great king the description was referring is Satan..or another demon. But who cares? As long as it is a demon, he is not safe!

PACK.

A girl in a black dress hit James with a wood in the head that immediately fainted him. He fell to the ground, blood trickles from the back of his head which came from the small wound the wood that hit him conjured.

***

Kate arrived. She stepped out of the taxi and handed the driver the payment. She turned to look at the mansion. The mansion looks spectacularly beautiful and looking like a gorgeous house from the outside. The gate is wide open, as if welcoming her. She turned around to see if some of her friends had already arrived. She saw no one, but a car parked she recognized: It's Marissa's car. "She's inside already." She thought.

She walked down the flagstone steps and then headed straight to the mansion's main door. She was about to knock when the door automatically open.

The man in a black tuxedo welcomed her.

"Thank you." Kate responded. "Are we too early?"

"We?" The man asked, puzzled.

Puzzled too why the man looks as if he didn't believe Kate is with someone, "Ahhh yeah. I saw Marissa's car outside, so I assume she's here. So, are we too late?" Kate asked again.

"Too late? No, you arrived just in time." the man said.

Then the girl in black dress appeared at the back of Kate and then injected her a sleeping medicine in the neck that took effect at once.

-PandemiC-

The Art of the Demon Chapter 7

Jake was on his room alone, facing his laptop and his full attention to it. Unlike Jake's very best friend, Marissa, he loves danger, he loves investigating, he loves discovering mysteries. Jake thought that Matthew will not begin their investigation. So he thought that if not Matthew, he must. So he's been on Google for 2 hours searching for deaths similar to Alyna Matias' and the other student from another university. But before he find other victims, he found out that that other student who was killed similar to Alyna's is Robbie Cruz.

Robbie's body were found in a sidewalk of an isolated high way. His body was lying on the grass, pale as a snow, and has needle-stabbed wounds.

Jake then googled the personality of this Robbie Cruz. According to his profile and blog, Robbie is 18 year-old and one of the top students of the university he studied in. He's always been bullied and one of the most popular nerds of the school. He doesn't look like a typical nerd. His hair is like a typical Korean hair, silky black, and he wears glasses. He's not ugly too. He's handsome but it wasn't obvious because he looks awkward and shy. His course is fine arts, he loves drawing, painting, writing, and he has a special love for photography.

Jake then scrolled down for further information. He read blog posts of Robbie before he died, his beliefs and others. Jake found nothing more essential on Robbie's blog and in his social network profile. So he skipped and then found Robbie's twitter. Robbie barely tweeted. His tweets only reached 80 after 3 months of joining it.

Jake found out that Robbie has been scared of something a week before he died. He keeps on tweeting things that aren't usual. "I thought I saw a demon last night." one of Robbie's oldest tweet said. "Some people are following me earlier. But they aren't stalkers, they are different." another tweet of Robbie said.

Jake continued to read the tweets of Robbie. Robbie has been very open in his twitter because he got zero followers and follows no one.

"Can it be? Devil worshipers, students?" one tweet from Robbie said. Another said that "I think the demons are courting me to join them. They always visit me every night in my dream..or nightmare instead."

"To demons and demon worshipers, in case you can read this, not because I'm not really a God's man, that'll mean that I'll be a demon's man instead. So get lost."

"These guys are really creeping me out. They are outside now. I can see them in my windows. Why are they following me?"

"Oh my gosh. The nightmares are getting worse! The nightmare is more likely turning into something more, more..evil!"

"Satanists. People who wear red robes with inverted cross printed in front of it. What kind of people can they be if they aren't Satanists?

"They don't just follow me for anything. They want me for something more. They are gonna use me as an instrument."

"They are here."

The last two tweets of Robbie really crept Jake out. The 2nd last tweet of Robbie is only a minute earlier than his very last tweet.

"So they arrived while Robbie is tweeting.." Jake thought. His skin hairs rise relentlessly all over his body. The temperature suddenly turned very cold. It really creeps him out. "Maybe, Robbie discovered something and those people.. those people need to dispatch him!"

"Don't be too involved." a hoarse voice whispered on Jake's ear. Jake turned around and found that there's no one there to whisper to him. He got really scared so he shut the computer off and buried himself under his blanket and slept. Thankfully, the hoarse voice didn't whisper again.

***

The next morning, Jake printed all of the information he found out to present it to Matthew, Kate, and Marissa.

Matthew, Marissa, and Kate are all in the university park, sitting on a bench, chatting. Jake approached them and handed his discoveries. Kate and Matthew opened it enthusiastically. Marissa looked hesitant when Jake handed her her copy.

"I thought that I might begin the investigation.. so that's the initial things I've found out." Jake said, grinning. "I was about to search for more when-"

"Oh crap. I don't think I wanna continue this investigation what so ever. I thought you guys won't do it seriously!" Marissa said.

"This is a big discovery!" Kate said, ignoring Marissa.

"I know right. We need to know more."

Meanwhile, Matthew was thunder stricken after reading the tweets of Robbie. The screen caps of Robbie's tweets are printed on the paper. Matthew doesn't really know what twitter is and it's not the thing that shocked him, its his tweets.

According to Robbie's tweet, the people who are stalking or following him are Satanists. And it visited him in his dreams or nightmares. But what shocked Matthew the most is the..the described looks of the Satanists. They are wearing red robes with inverted cross printed in front of it. Matthew dreamed of them too.. does that mean that he's next? That he's the next target?

"Matthew, are you okay?" Kate asked.

Matthew thought for a moment if he's gonna confess his nightmares or not, but he decided not yet. "Ah.. yeah. I'm fine."

"So, there is a possibility that the killers are not just killers..but they are demon worshipers?" Kate asked.

"Yep. That's what Robbie's tweets are trying to say."

"Creepy. So there's a possibility that the rumor I've told you before, Matthew, is real? And this can link what I've experienced at the comfort room to Alyna's death too! And the chubby girl's too! "

"Yeah, I think so." Matthew said, as if awoken from day dreaming.

"I knew it. But what was the conspiracy of these Satanists? Why did they kill Alyna and Robbie? Why did they suck their bloods out?" Kate asked.

"Well, that was what I'm trying to find out and we'll find out more. If I just didn't hear the whis--" Jake said.

"This is really useful." Kate said, who cut Jake's speech unintended .

"Yeah, very useful." Marissa said sarcastically.

"Jake, do you think that they killed Robbie because they need something from him dead, or because Robbie didn't give them what they want when he was alive?" Kate asked Jake, ignoring Marissa again.

"Could be.. could be not." Jake responded. "You know, it's like we're completing a puzzle with many missing pieces. We can't answer questions now. We need to find out more."

"Right." Kate said. She's quite disappointed that Matthew is not giving attention to their talk, and quite annoyed with how Marissa acted. "Anyway, I have four tickets to LIVED's grand photo exhibit on Saturday. I just thought that you guys might come with me?"

"Good lord, you've changed the topic. So what did happen, Kate? Did you make it to LIVED?" Marissa asked.

"Unfortunately, no. But I joined Click. And I think by seeing the works of LIVED, I'll be inspired."

"That's great. When?" Jake asked.

"On Saturday. Are you coming, Matthew?" Kate said.

"Of course." Matthew said looking as if he's not himself.

"Great." Kate said and handed them the tickets to the LIVED's grand photo exhibit.

"Another death." Jake said darkly as he reads the school papers.

"What's that?" Marissa asked.

"A security guard of St. Patrice U has been killed. Policemen are now trying to link this death to Alyna's and Robbie's. That's what the paper said." Jake said.

"What the hell.." Matthew said. Suddenly paying attention again.

In the next days, the deaths of Alyna and Mang Reynold are still the hottest topics in the university, urging Matthew, Kate, Jake, and Marissa(?) to unveil the mystery faster.

***

The new cheerleader, Trina Caspers, a Filipina-Australian, is walking down a corridor to the girl's locker room. She's sweaty and feeling kinda sick that's why she requested to leave their rehearsals earlier. She's still wearing their cheer dance uniform. Trina Caspers is one of the most beautiful faces in St. Patrice University. And she was expecting an enormous fame and attention when she was announced as the newest cheerleader. But it looks like her expectation didn't happen. The deaths of Alyna and Mang Reynold topped the overall hottest stories in the university that week. And that disappointed her badly.

Then suddenly, a guy in a St. Patrice U jacket rested an arm in her neck.

"Hey sweety." the guy said.

"Hey." Trina responded weakly.

"Are you okay?" the guy asked.

"Yes I'm fine, Jacob. I was just exhausted and feeling sick from our practice today." Trina said.

"Right. But do you mind if I ask you to go out with me tonight? Let's watch movie." Jacob said, trying to change the atmosphere between them.

"Sorry, I don't think I can. I'm tired and I need to take a rest."

Jacob is one of the varsity basketball players of St. Patrice. Like Trina, he is also very popular. Jacob is Trina's boyfriend for a year now.

"Oh c'mon." Jacob said trying to persuade Trina. Then he turned Trina against the wall and kissed her in the lips. Trina give in and they kissed there for 30 seconds when..out of the blue, someone broke the silence in the empty corridor as a man in uniform and masked in an absurd children's Halloween mask arrived and stopped at the back of Jacob.

The man wears gloves and on his left hand holds a knife.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Trina screamed when he saw the man. If Trina didn't open her eyes, she wouldn't see the guy. The guy in mask then stabbed the back of Jacob. Jacob shrieked in pain and lied down to the floor. Trina continued to scream. And then she ran. She was flabbergasted by what had happened.

Trina knows that the man might kill her. She's still feeling sick and she's afraid not to make it.

Trina ran through the long, dimly lit corridor. She's heading to the women's locker, wishfully thinking that there are some people in there. The man in a Halloween mask is still on the chase after her. His knife is trickling blood from its stab on Jacob's back.

Trina reached the women's locker room door and opened it. The locker room is wide. She was surprised that there's no one inside there. And then she remembered that she was dismissed earlier in their practice because she feels sick. So she continued to run, trying to find a place to hide. The lockers are too small to hide her, so she continued to the shower room

The shower room has 8 cubicles. Four on each side and each covered by a shower curtain that reaches up to the floor. Trina chose to hide in the last cubicle in the right. The masked man entered. He closed the shower room door and locked it carefully. The trickles of blood from his knife blends with the water in the floor of the shower room. The man checked the cubicles on the left first. Opening each curtain carefully.

Then a while later, he finished checking all four cubicles in the left so he moved to the right. He opened each curtain carefully. Then he reached the final cubicle and he's quite sure that Trina is there. Carefully, he got hold of the knife and touched the curtain then suddenly opened it. But when he opened the curtain, Trina is actually sitting down and kicked his balls. The man fell down on the wet floor. Trina then ran out of the cubicle and tried to go to the door to escape. The masked man stood up and tried to catch Trina but he can't because the kick of Trina hurts badly. But.. it looks like that luck doesn't side Trina..or evil just interferes. A black, demonic face formed near the door and grinned at Trina. Trina stood there for a while, shocked and scared. Then the demonic face that formed in the air ran past her like wind. But as it go through her body, it felt as if it's not an air at all but a solid object. Trina fell down to the watery floor. Then slowly, the masked man walked near her, he finally recovered from the pain of kicked balls. When he reached her, he knelt and stabbed Trina three times in the chest, killing her. Her blood flows through the white-tiled shower room floor. Trina breathed her last breath and closed her eyes slowly. She's dead.

The Art of the Demon Chapter 6

Matthew got home earlier. When Kate separated from their group, Marissa and Jake invited him to go with them to watch a movie. Matthew refused, not only because he's not feeling perfectly well, but also because Kate isn't going too. Matthew is starting to feel attached to Kate.

Matthew changed his clothes and slept. Just 5:30pm, Too early, yes, but he didn't mind because he's starting to feel bad again. Maybe he will be sick again. Not five minutes have passed, Matthew has fallen to sleep.

In his dreams, he is in a place that seems like a hall. A big rectangular hall. It looks like a function hall of a school. He thought it must be a part of St. Patrice University. He stood there, barely walking. His eyes are wandering through the hall...when all of a sudden, all lights have turned red. Similar to the lights he only see in the dark rooms where photographs are being developed.

Suddenly, a group of people in red hooded robes came in. There's an inverted cross printed in white in the front part of their robes.

"What the.." Matthew muttered. He was shocked to see these people.

All of the red-robed people formed something like a wide triangle. All of them are holding inverted crosses too. It appears to Matthew that they are Anti-Christs. Not a moment later, the center of the triangle made a big blazing fire.

"When we complete our goal, the demon of art shall rise again. When we complete our goal, the demon of art shall rise again." the cult people chanted.

"Yes, they are anti-Christs!" Matthew thought. Cowardice is now running through his body.

"When we complete our goal, the demon of art shall rise again. When we complete our goal, the demon of art shall rise again." they continued.

Matthew watches them completely frozen to where he stands and completely scared. The fire in the middle of the triangle is now forming a face as the blaze of the fire moves drastically. The face is like a face of the demon. It has pointed horns, long beard, a bright red eyes, and a crafty, devilish smile.

It made Matthew all crept out and he screamed in terror. The cult people turned to look at him but Matthew can hardly see their faces because of their hoods. Then the demon's face in the fire said "DOOMED" in a very hoarse voice.

"You will be doomed. You will be doomed. You will be doomed. You will be doomed." The people in red hooded robes chanted and they continue to chant as they march toward Matthew, still holding the inverted crosses in their hands strongly.

Matthew similar to his most recent nightmare, can't move again. All he can do is cream, his whole body shaking in terror. But before the anti-Christs could touch him, he woke up. He's breathing heavily and sweating very hard as if he slept in a sauna.

"My goodness, what does that nightmare means? F*ck. That's scarier than a horror movie." Matthew muttered. He looked at his watch, it's 8pm. So he dressed and went down to find something to eat. Again, he didn't mind the nightmare. He didn't think that it must reflect his daily living at all. Matthew is a Catholic.

***

"Okay, thanks." Kate said to the security guard as she leaves the school. It's already 8pm but she just finished all of her businesses inside. First, she went to LIVED, and then do several stuff to join Click photography club when LIVED rejected her, and then borrowed books from the library for photography. She wondered why the library is so packed with people even at night. It took her an hour to get the photography books she wants. If the guard didn't tell her that one institution of the school has an affair tonight, she wouldn't know why a lot of people are still in the university. But why in the library anyways? She asked the guard. The guard said that sometimes, students wait at the library when the affair is yet to start.

Meanwhile, the security guard who Kate thanked is already bored. He's doing nothing anymore because there are barely people who enter or exit the university during the time. So he looked around if there are some people who might enter or exit. When he found out that there's none, he stood up and went to a big tree nearby to pee. It's dark. Because of the thick foliage and huge branches, the lights nearby barely reach the grounds where the tree stands.

The security guard whistles as he pees something like a Guns N' Roses song. In a split second, the security guard fell to the ground with a strong scream and in shock. The body of Mang Reynold fell hanging, his mouth and eyes are wide open. His eyes, even though it's dark, the security guard can still see that it's very red and full of terror. Mang Reynold's skin is also very white, as pale as a snow.

Moments later, the big tree where Mang Reynold's body is hanged was crowded. Policemen came, police line were put. Students stood nearby all curious and scared to see the body of Mang Reynold that way. Very creepy as others say. Media reporters also came. The affair was moved next week.

This is the first death inside the university recorded in more than 20 years. Investigators can only wish to prove that Mang Reynold's death was connected to Alyna's because there bodies were both drained in blood and has similar wounds, but they can't prove it. They don't have any lead yet to the suspects of Alyna's death.

Who are behind these heartless and cruel killings? The investigators thought that the killings don't end here. And the investigators are probably correct.. How these people choose their targets? Who are their next targets? No one knows.

-PandemiC-

Watch out for the next chapters of The Art of the Demon by Pandemic. New chapters posted during Mondays and Fridays at 7:00PM (Philippine Time) and 4:00AM (Washington, U.S Time)

The Art of the Demon Chapter 5

"LIVED and Click are the most popular camera clubs here in St. Patrice." Marissa said as she and Kate are in the women's comfort room. Kate asked if Marissa knows what is the best camera/photography club to join.

"What's better?" Kate asked.

"LIVED is the best. But I heard, it's the hardest club in the whole university to enter."

"Really? Why?"

"LIVED stands for Lovely Incredible Versatile Engaging Dashing photography club. You don't expect it's easy to enter the club do you? And the members of the club are very few and very good. I heard every year, the school looks forward to LIVED's photo exhibit"

"I still don't get why it's hard to enter the club."

"Look, Kate, LIVED isn't only the best school-based photography organization in our university, it's the best in the whole Metro."

"Really?"

"Yeah. LIVED is also an organization in other universities."

"Wow. I'd really loved to join LIVED!" Kate said cheerfully.

"I doubt it." Marissa said, Kate frowned at her and she laughed.

****

It's Monday. Matthew didn't go to school, he's not feeling well. He woke up at 12nn. He wondered how are his friends doing in school or if they are even concern that he didn't go to school. He sit up at his bed and got off it. His dorm mates aren't around. He took a bath and ate his breakfast. But he really doesn't feel good so he cancelled his attempt to go to school this afternoon. He's bored. So he decided to go to the reception and watch TV.

"Looks like I'm too lucky today." Matthew said. The reception is quite deserted except for the reception girl and security guard..that means that he can solo the TV. He turned the TV on. "Oh, news? Who watches news in this building? Haha." He thought.

But.. the news headline caught his attention so before he could even switch the channel.

"Cheerleader Found Dead on Pasig River"

"What the fuck?" he thought as he listened.

The female news anchor said "18 year old Alyna Matias, cheerleader of St. Patrice University was found dead a week after she gone missing. Her body was found by a 'balot' vendor floating in the river and the ballot seller immediately called the police. The body of Alyna were retrieved, tears flooded from family and friends as they have confirmed it was her in the hospital morgue. This just in, needle-stabbed wounds are all over Alyna's body. Two were found in her neck, two in her tummy, two in her legs and all over her body. If the wounds were bigger, people would thought it was a vampire's bite. The position of the needle-stabbed wounds are also similar to vampire's bites. But it isn't as the S.O.C.O people said. It was made by needles. And her body, oh my God, this is so creepy, her body was found drained in blood. (anchor, saying remarks on a report is unusual, but Matthew thought the report is very evil that who ever knows about this would say the same things the news anchor remarked). As pale as a snow because it is almost bloodless. This is one of the most mysterious and tragic death in the city this year. The police is yet to find out what was exactly done to her and what was the cause of her death. Before the news came out, S.O.C.O men thought this maybe a result of a failed acupuncture but this theory were turned down immediately because acupuncture doesn't kill and doesn't drain blood too."

Matthew turned the TV off. He was shocked and dumbfounded about the news. "Alyna's dead? Her body bloodless? What the hell is happening here.." he thought.

****

The next day, the mysterious death of Alyna Matias is a very hot topic all over the school (the disappearance of Mang Reynold didn't make news yet).

"I can't believe she's dead." Matthew said to Kate as they walk the school corridor to their next class.

"Neither do I. Her death is tragic and very drastic and cruel." Kate said.

"How can anyone on earth do such a thing." Matthew said darkly.

An hour later, Matthew, Kate, Jake, and Marissa have met and eaten at the school canteen together again and chatted about Alyna's death.

"The police haven't found any lead to the suspects yet." Marissa said.

"And did you know that before Alyna gone missing, three students from different universities gone missing too?" Jake said.

"And are they found dead and bloodless too?" Matthew asked.

"Partly yes and partly no."

"What do you mean?" Marissa asked.

"Only one were found on a remote highway. He is bloodless too and have the similar needle-stabbed, vampire bite-like wounds. The other two are still missing."

"Are these kinds of disappearances and deaths usual here in Manila?" Matthew snapped.

"Of course not. Never will these things be usual in any place." said Marissa.

"So creepy and cruel." Matthew added.

"Do you guys think this has something to do with what happened to me the afternoon I heard thumpings on the comfort room?" Kate snapped. Marissa and Jake laughed, Matthew looked at her mysteriously.

"Didn't you get off about that experience of yours yet?" Marissa asked, still chuckling.

"No. It's real."

"I'm sorry Kate, but I don't think so. If it was connected to what happened to Alyna, you must gone missing now and or found dead and bloodless."

After 2 seconds, there's a chubby girl who ran around ferociously from the women's c.r to the canteen grounds, crying and screaming.

"What happened?" Matthew asked his friends, they merely looked at him, shrugging.

"Hey, what happened?" a professor asked as she tries to comfort the chubby girl who ran and screamed and is crying at the canteen.

"T-the cubicles at the comfort room.. the cubicles.." the girl said vaguely

"What?"

"Thumping, moving, shaking.. And and t-then.. Then P-p-praise S-S-Satan words randomly appeared in the mirror...w-written in blood."

The whole canteen was thunder-stricken, all of the students were looking at the professor and the student. All of them were shocked to what they have heard. Matthew, Marissa, and Jake looked at Kate like they have just confirmed Kate's story.

"Now what?" Kate broke the silence among them.

"Okay.." Marissa said slowly.

"Now you're believing me. Good thing. Because I only said what happened." Kate said.

"Right." Jake said.

"But this can't be connected to Alyna's death, can it?" Marissa said skeptically.

"It can be." Matthew said.

"Everything is possible. We just can't say now. We need to do something." Kate added.

"Do what?" Jake asked.

"We need to investigate these events ourselves." Matthew said.

"WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUS? By doing that, we'll put our lives on the line!" Marissa said.

"Well, I just feel that we need to find out and solve this mystery ourselves. Who's in?" Matthew said.

"I am." Kate said.

"Me too." Jake added cheerfully.

"Okay..I-I am going w-with you guys." Marissa said looking hesitant.

"Alright!" Matthew said happily.

"But how are we going to start?" Marissa said skeptically.

"I dunno." Matthew said.

***

After having lunch, Kate separated from the group. She really wants to join LIVED photography club. "After their amazing works, I feel like I belong to LIVED!" Kate thought. After walking along a deserted corridor, Kate finally found the office of LIVED. The office of LIVED is located in the very last room in the long corridor. It's in the very corner and the corridor is dimly lighted.

"Hello?" Kate knocked.

"Come in." a very deep man's voice said. Kate came in. "What can I do for you, miss?"

"Ahmmm.. I'm Kate. I just wanted to inquire how can I join the club?" Kate asked.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Kate. LIVED is currently close to new members. We're already full." the man sitting in the reception desk in red jacket with 'LIVED' printed in front of the jacket said.

"I heard LIVED members are already eight. Already full?"

"Oh. Yeah. We're only eight but we're full right now. We're sorry. But you can join Click instead."

"Okay. Thanks." Kate said sadly. She is already opening the door to go out when the man said

"But you can come to LIVED's grand photo exhibit."

Kate turned enthusiastically. "Really? When?"'

"Here's the ticket. You'll see the schedule of the grand photo exhibit there."

"Thank you!" Kate said, quite more cheerful. "Can I invite my friends in?"

"Of course." then the man gave another three tickets.

"H-how did you know I am to bring three friends?"

"Ahh.. No. We give 4 invitations maximum to a person. He or she can invite three maximum."

"Right. Thanks and bye!" then Kate left.

***

-PandemiC-

The Art of the Demon Chapter 4

"You're just hungry that time, mmkay?" Marissa told Kate, trying to convince her that what happened to her the afternoon before is just a product of her imagination. "Unless you see things there."

"I swear, Marissa, what happened is real!" Kate said impatiently.

"Did the lights blink?" Jake asked.

"No.." Kate said.

"Alright." Jake said.

"Why?"

"Because I thought you were casted in a scary movie! I was about to congratulate you." Jake said, then he chuckled.

"I'M NOT KIDDING. I'M SURE IT DID HAPPEN!" Kate said, heated.

"Okay, okay!"

Kate stood up, she was deeply offended because none of her friends believed her.  She went to the entrance of the canteen and sat at the stairs. She thought for a moment. Did things really happen yesterday afternoon? Or was it just a part of her imagination? "No." she thought. Kate knew herself. She's not creative nor artistic. She loves photography, but photography is not an art that uses your creativeness widely. Meaning her imaginations are weak. How can the terrible things that happened yesterday be a part of her imagination? She knew she's perfectly fine during those times.

"Hey."

Kate looked up. Matthew tapped her slightly in the shoulders.

"Going to tease me too? Fine. It was just my imagination." Kate said, still offended.

"I didn't say I didn't believe you, did I?" Matthew said and sat at her side.

"Right. Neither did you say you believed me." Kate.

"Sorry. But I believe you. Really. I think odd things happen here too, not only in our province."

"Thanks." Kate said. Her mood slightly improved.

"What do you plan to do?" Matthew asked.

"Ahhmmm.. Plan?"

"Yes. After what happened."

"I'll just let it go and try not to think about it."

"How?"

"Maybe I'll join a photography club soon." Kate said.

"Haha. How can that make you forget about what you experienced?"

"Well, my grandma said when you're scared or bothered of something, try to be happy. Photography makes me happy, then I'll do it."

"Right." Matthew said. Napahiya.

***

Mang Reynold sat at the nearest stall in the library. He just finished rounding and checking it. He looked at his watch, it's already 10:30pm. He still needs to go back to the university grounds soon. He's a security guard of the university for 20 years. And even though he neither believe to Saints or even to the greatest creator, God, Mang Reynold continues to work at the catholic school St. Patrice University.

Though he knows that he needs to go to the university grounds to help fellow security guards round the university, he sat in the stall slightly massaging his right knee. At 56, Mang Reynold started to feel the burden of having a rheumatoid arthritis.

"Maybe I'll refrain from eating isaw." He muttered to himself as he try to calm the pain in his right knee. The main library of St. Patrice University is big, but a security guard can do the duty of rounding it at night alone.

PACK.

Something sounded in the other corner of the library from where Mang Reynold sits. He thought that it was a heavy book that fell from the shelves. But never did a book fell without anyone touching it.

Mang Reynold sighed. He stood up with a heavy heart to check what was it or if anyone is in there. His right knee is aching badly but he still stood up and walked to where the sound came from.

"A book fell without anyone in there? Weird. I checked the whole library earlier, there's no one that could've hid from me. And ghosts aren't real." Mang Reynold thought.

He walked from shelve to shelve and checking the with his flash light. He reached the shelve where the sound came from. He pointed the flash light on the floor and indeed, a big book fell from the shelve. He walked towards it. The book is big and color brown. The paper of the book is already yellowish due its age. And there's a thick dust on it. He picked it up and was freaked to see it's title "The Complete List of Demon Names and Their Powers" written broadly in maroon and quite bulging that you can touch each letter of the title..

"What the heck?" He said. But the creeps come out easily of his mind as fast as it came. "I don't believe in God. Who'll expect this demon book to scare me? No way! If God doesn't exist, the demons don't too! Only fools and weaklings believe these demons! Somebody just took advantage of how people was fooled by the existence of demons and God!" Mang Reynold inspected the book to find who's the author of it and he'll abuse whoever written it in his mind, probably will curse it and call it names in his head. He really thinks that the author of the book just made it to earn huge sums of money, taking advantage of how people believe in God and demons. After inspecting, he found out that the name of the author wasn't written there. He then opened the book, hoping that it's written inside. When he opened the book, it looked ancient. Edges of the paper are eaten by insects, the letters were vague but still readable. He found scary images of different demons. There are Abadon, Abalam, Agares in the first few pages with details about them. The book is alphabetical. Their looks were really scary, but it didn't break Mang Reynold. He still doesn't believe in neither God or the demons. He scanned the book. Different drawings of devils. There are these bald demons with enormous horns and fangs. There are these demons with long hair, big bulging eyes, four horse like arms etcetera. "Feeble and non sense. These drawings are obviously all made up!"

PACK.

Another heavy book fell from the other corner of the library.

PACK.

Then another.

"Don't dare us." somebody whispered in a hoarse voice to Mang Reynold's ear. Mang Reynold suddenly felt  scared for the first time that night and turned around to see if someone's with him. He saw nothing. His skin hair from all over his body raised and he felt the temperature around him suddenly cooling relentlessly.

"Who's that?" Mang Reynold shouted desperately.

PACK. PACK. PACK. PACK.

Heavy books fell from different shelves in different sides and corners of the big library. Mang Reynold's heart beats fast. He completely forgot the pain in his right knee because of the scare he's feeling. Then in 2 seconds he ran as fast as he can. Wishing that hopefully, he'll get out of the university library alive and kicking.

But before he can even run faster, somebody covered his mouth, trying to drag him. The other hand of the unknown man is holding both of his arms. The man is very strong and taller probably '2'' feet from him. Mang Reynold tried to elbow the man. He's using the whole force of his body to escape from him. Finally, he succeeded and elbowed the unknown tall man strongly that it made him fall to sit down to the floor.

Mang Reynold ran again shelve to shelve. The library is too wide and the exit is still far and he'll have to pass further giant shelves.Then another man caught him. He elbowed that man again. He looked back. The man's wearing a mask similar to those who rob house and hold up people. But when he saw the clothes of this another unknown guy, he was surprised to see that he's wearing uniform of St. Patrice University. But he doesn't believe that this is just a prank or practical joke so he continued to run shelves to shelves. But while running in the middle of the biggest shelves with the biggest books in the library, the heavy books fell to him mysteriously. Mysterious in a way that no one's there to push the books to fall; it can't also be just a result of an air blowing or what.

The heavy books fell to him. One big book hit his head and he fell down to the floor. A lot of books continue to fall from the shelves and he was completely covered by it now. His whole body aching because of the heavy books that hit him. He knows he's gonna lose his consciousness soon. He touched his forehead, it's bleeding wildly.

"Help me, God. Forgive me too." he muttered.

"You dared us. Now who's the weakling?" the hoarse voiced speaker who whispered earlier whispered again. And by now, Mang Reynold knows it's the demon. Mang Reynold now believes in God and demons. He knows why this terrible thing happened.. it's because he's too far from God, too far from his protection. But it's too late. After a second or two, he lost his consciousness. He's done. Before finally losing his find, he realized that it's not the people who believe in God that are fool, but he and other people who don't.

-PandemiC-

Watch out for the next chapters of The Art of the Demon during Mondays and Fridays at 7:00PM (Philippine Time) and 4:00AM (Washington, USA time)

The Art of the Demon Chapter 3

"Who's she?" Matthew asked Kate as he looks at a pretty girl walking while they were eating in the canteen.

"Well, I don't expect you to know her. But she is Alynna, cheerleader of St. Patrice University's pep squad." Kate answered as she finished her lunch. "I know her because she's popular and I've been searching for things in this university."

"Ah yeah. Of course. That beauty of hers, I'm not surprised at all why she became a cheerleader, not at all--"

"Hey, can we seat here? We can't find any other vacant seats.." a girl in glasses asked, she was with a tall guy in glasses too. They both looked genius.

"Sure!" Kate replied cheerfully.

"Thanks!" the girl in glasses said. "I'm Marissa by the way."

"Hi, I'm Kate. He is Matthew, my friend." Kate said and introduced Matthew to them, Matthew merely smiled, quite shy.

"He's Jake, my friend too." Marissa said, introducing a tall guy in glasses.

The rest of the lunch developed into a new group of friends. Matthew didn't find anything bad to dislike Marissa and Jake. They were both humble and intelligent. Both of them take Political Science course and were blockmates. Kate also admires them. Matthew starts feeling comfortable now with two new friends in the university. "I'm finally getting used here." he thought while walking home.

***

3 days later, a university-wide breaking news spread. The Patrician, what the students of St. Patrice University call themselves, were aroused. The popular girl and cheerleader Alynna San Miguel was missing. Some students say she was killed and burned so that her body wouldn't be find etcetera, others say she was kidnapped, a few people claim that they saw her running away with her boyfriend probably to live together. However, the truth is yet to be revealed. All of these rumors are just rumors. Besides, according to Alynna's closest friends, she has no boyfriend. The rumor spreaders are just making up stories according to them.

"Have you heard the latest news?" Marissa asked her friends in a low voice as she settle in their table while eating their lunch at the canteen. Matthew looked skeptical, Jake and Kate looked at Marissa like they're silently saying "What?".

"That Osama bin Laden's dead?" Kate said, quite amused to herself.

"No, not that. Of course, you didn't know." Marissa said. "The popular girl, Alynna has been missing for 3 days!"

"What?" Matthew said, surprised. "I mean, I just first saw her three days ago. And she's gone missing also three days ago?"

"Looks like you admire her." Jake said then chuckled.

"And that makes you a suspect." Kate said, chuckling harder. "Kidding."

"Anyway, who told you about this story?" Matthew asked Marissa, ignoring Kate and Jake.

"It's all over the school. Actually, I was being sarcastic when I said that 'of course, you guys didn't know.' It actually makes me wonder why you guys didn't know."

"Is it in the school papers already?" Kate asked.

"Nah, not yet. Maybe if Alynna will not be found in the next couple of days, it'll be in the school papers, even in Manila times or other popular broadsheets."

"So sad.." Matthew muttered to himself and frowned.

Alynna's disappearance continues to be the hottest topic in the school. Everyone's wondering, some people continue to speculate, others are happy because they're envying Alynna so bad that they want her gone, others are sad..and the members of the pep squad are eying the 'cheerleader' position.

Kate bid goodbye to Matthew, Marissa, and Jake. It was already 4pm and their classes already ended. Among the four of them, she's the only one who uses gate four. Matthew, Marissa, and Jake enter and exit at the gate one because it's nearer to their places.

But before exiting the school, Kate decided to drop by at the nearest comfort room to pee and to fix herself. She entered the women's C.R, then she tried to push open all the first four cubicle doors one by one, but all of the doors were locked. So she ended up using the fifth and the last cubicle. As she sits in the toilet, she heard slight thumping in the rest of four cubicles. She wondered what are they doing in there. Are they using the toilet or 'partying partying fun fun fun'. "It's not weekend yet." Kate thought and chucled slightly at her own joke, remembering Rebecca Black's viral music video 'Friday'.

After a few minutes, Kate went out of the cubicle, the slight thumpings stopped making her wonder. She ducked down and peek at the other cubicles from the bottom to find out what are they doing. She saw there's no one inside all four cubicles after peeking.

She then ignored it. She went to take a glance at herself in the mirror then applied face power and combed her hair, when suddenly, the thumpings in all five cubicles started and now stronger. Kate turned to look at the doors, flabbergasted.

"Is this some kind of a prank or what?" Kate said, her tone shaky, though she's not expecting a reply.

The thumpings continued and got stronger and stronger and stronger.

BLAG BLAG BLAG. It didn't stop. Kate thought of running out of the comfort room but she can't. She stood there frozen because of the terror she's feeling.

Then..

The door creaks open. Her Science professor entered.

"Ms. ahmmm.. Ms. Kate, what's the matter? Are you okay?" Prof. Perez asked.

"Yes ma'am." Kate responded, her voice still shaky.

Kate walked out of the room. Prof. Perez looked at her suspiciously as she walks.

What was the thumpings all about? Who or what thing on earth made those sounds? Kate wondered as she walks to exit the building. Her knees are weakened and shaky. She's never been that scared before. At the time, it's the creepiest thing that happened to her.

-PandemiC-

Watch out for the next chapters of The Art of the Demon during Mondays and Fridays at 7:00PM (Philippine Time) and 4:00AM (Washington, USA time)