Midnight arrived with a sound like thunder.
The farmhouse shook.
Every window shattered at once.
Daniel, Mara, Michael, and the Hollowed Elias stood frozen in the basement as the shadow above them expanded.
Then it disappeared.
The basement went silent.
Elias collapsed.
Mara rushed toward him.
"Is he dead?"
Michael checked his pulse.
"Alive."
Daniel looked at the book.
The final page was blank again.
"What happened?"
Michael stood.
"The ritual has started."
Daniel looked at the clock.
12:01 A.M.
"What do we need?"
Michael pointed toward the book.
"The original ritual required three things."
"Name them."
"Blood. The Black Book. And the First Door."
Daniel frowned.
"We don't have the door."
Michael looked at the floor.
"It's under the church."
Mara understood.
"The chamber."
Michael nodded.
"We have to get there before the entity does."
Daniel picked up the book.
"What happens if we don't?"
Michael looked at Elias.
"The Hollowed will stop being individual vessels."
Daniel waited.
"They'll become one."
Mara loaded her weapon.
"Then let's hunt."
They left the farmhouse.
The road was empty.
Too empty.
No animals.
No insects.
Not even wind.
Daniel drove while Mara sat beside him.
Michael and Elias were in the back.
After several miles, Daniel noticed headlights behind them.
One vehicle.
Then another.
Then five.
Mara looked through the rear window.
"They found us."
Daniel accelerated.
The vehicles followed.
Michael looked at the book.
"Don't let them stop."
Daniel pressed harder on the gas.
The road narrowed.
Trees surrounded them.
Then a figure appeared in the middle of the road.
Daniel slammed on the brakes.
The car stopped inches away.
The figure smiled.
Daniel recognized the face.
His father.
"Keep driving," Mara whispered.
The figure raised one hand.
Every vehicle behind them stopped.
Then the road disappeared.
Daniel blinked.
They were no longer on the highway.
They were standing in front of the abandoned church.
Daniel looked at the clock.
12:13 A.M.
Michael stared at the building.
"It moved us."
Mara opened her door.
"Then we're exactly where it wants us."
Daniel grabbed the book.
"Good."
He stepped outside.
"If it wants us here, we'll make it regret bringing us."
The church doors opened by themselves.
Darkness waited inside.
Daniel raised his weapon.
The hunt had begun.