Chapter LIX: Stealth
As the night settles over the Colegio, the sky dims into a deep indigo, shrouding the campus in shadows. The distant murmurs of the campers at the quadrangle blend with the rustling of leaves as Adrian moves discreetly through the Northern Gate. Dressed in a black overall, he remains unseen, slipping past the entrance with careful steps. The security guard, caught in an untimely bathroom break, leaves the passage momentarily unguarded, allowing Adrian to advance unnoticed.
His fingers curl around a key, one that he acquired through meticulous planning, and he inserts it into the lock of the old stairway leading up to the abandoned chapel. The faint click echoes in the still air as he lifts the heavy wooden door just enough to slide in. Without hesitation, he secures the door behind him, ensuring no one follows. His instincts scream vigilance as he ascends the creaky steps, each footfall muffled by years of dust and neglect.
Just as he reaches the second-floor hallway, his phone vibrates silently in his pocket. Liz and Wyn. A warning.
"Someone is coming your way. Be careful."
His grip tightens around the phone as he exhales slowly. Footsteps. Distant but approaching. Adrian pivots, descending the stairs soundlessly, molding himself into the encompassing darkness. His body presses against the cool walls, blending seamlessly into the shadows as he watches.
The server enters.
A low hum of suspicion fills the air. The man sniffs slightly, detecting an unusual scent lingering. Incense. A faint, yet distinct aroma. His eyes sweep the area, brows furrowing in confusion. Adrian remains still, willing himself to become nothing more than an outline in the gloom.
The server hesitates at the foot of the stairs before taking deliberate steps upward. Adrian waits. He watches as the man reaches the landing, his gaze shifting to the floor where scattered incense powder lays in disarray. A frown deepens on the server's face as he crouches to inspect the mess.
Adrian sees his moment.
With swift precision, he moves forward, his palm striking the nape of the server's neck with controlled force. The man gasps, his body swaying before collapsing into unconsciousness. Adrian exhales sharply, his pulse steady. He kneels, sweeping the powder into his hands to erase any trace of disturbance.
A sound.
Adrian's eyes snap up. Someone else is nearby.
The hallway stretches before him, dark and seemingly endless, yet an eerie presence lingers. The fine hairs on his neck rise. Without hesitation, he shifts, vanishing into the shadows of the corridor, slipping silently into the maze of empty classrooms beyond.
Just as Adrian vanishes into the shadows of the classroom, he exhales sharply, believing he is safe for the moment. He leans against the cold wall, his breath steadying. That is, until he notices a dark figure lurking in the corner. His heartbeat spikes. The figure does not move at first, but Adrian senses a sinister aura emanating from it.
Without hesitation, he reaches into his bag and pulls out a small crucifix and a bottle of holy water. Clutching the crucifix tightly, he raises it high and declares with conviction, "In Jesus' Name, begone!"
The dark figure lunges at him, shrieking in a soundless agony. Adrian throws the holy water, and the entity recoils, its form distorting as it writhes in pain. The darkness dissipates instantly, revealing a limp body beneath it.
Adrian rushes forward and turns the figure over. His eyes widen in shock. "Johann?" he whispers.
Johann, one of the junior altar servers, lays unconscious on the floor. Adrian shakes him gently. "Johann! Wake up!"
With a groan, Johann's eyes flutter open, confusion clouding his gaze. "What... what happened?"
Adrian exhales in relief. "You were possessed," he explains. "I drove the spirit away. Do you remember anything?"
Johann presses a hand to his forehead. "I was heading to the Campus Ministry Office," he murmurs. "Then... I felt a blow on my neck. Everything after that is blank."
Adrian helps him sit up. "Stay close to me," he instructs. "Things are getting worse. We need to put an end to these demonic shenanigans."
Johann nods, then frowns as his eyes land on the blackboard. "Adrian... look at this."
Adrian turns and sees strange scribbles all over the board. He narrows his eyes. "Do you have a UV light?"
Johann nods, reaching into his flashlight and pulling out a UV attachment. Adrian takes it and shines it over the board.
A chilling message is revealed:
"Kidnap Bennett. Become President. Take power."
Adrian's grip tightens. "So this was planned all along..."
Johann stares at the message, his face paling. "I know this handwriting," he whispers.
Just as he is about to speak the name, a sound echoes from the hallway. Adrian shoves Johann behind him and watches as five shadowy figures appear at the doorway. Their presence is suffocating.
"Run!" Adrian commands, pushing Johann toward the exit.
The figures charge. Adrian braces himself, raising his crucifix and preparing to fight. "In Jesus' Name, I command you to leave!"
The figures momentarily falter but then rush at him all at once. Adrian barely dodges the first attack before he is overwhelmed. He fights back, swinging with precision, yet their strength is unnatural.
Johann, seeing a rope nearby, grabs it and swiftly tosses it across the floor. With a quick tug, he pulls, tripping all five figures in one move. "Now, Adrian!" he shouts.
Adrian, seizing the moment, raises the crucifix high. "In Jesus' Name, begone!"
A powerful force erupts through the hallway. The darkness within the figures dissipates instantly, revealing unconscious students underneath. Adrian's heart clenches as he recognizes them—more junior servers.
Johann rushes to their side, shaking them awake. "It's okay," he soothes. "You're safe now."
The students groggily come to, panic setting in as they take in their surroundings. "What happened?!" one of them cries.
"You were possessed," Johann explains quickly. "But you're free now. Stay close to us."
The students nod, fear evident in their eyes. Adrian steps forward, his voice firm. "Listen to me. I need you all to go to the main gate. Call your parents and get picked up immediately. You shouldn't be here any longer."
The students hesitate before nodding. Johann takes the lead, guiding them toward safety.
As Adrian watches them leave, a whisper brushes against his ear:
"Had I many thousands of lives, I would offer them all for Him."
His blood runs cold. He clenches his fists. "We're coming, Bennett," he murmurs under his breath.
Determined, Adrian turns his focus back to his original mission. He grips his crucifix tighter and sets his sights on the chapel. He needs to get to the bottom of this.
But as he checks the time, he realizes—it's already another day.
With a reluctant sigh, he makes the decision to retreat for now. He exits the school, disappearing into the night, knowing that the real battle is only just beginning.