It wasn’t long after Grant drove away from the headquarters of their former captors that he noticed he was being followed.

“Get ready for a fight,” said Grant as he pulled over.

The vehicle following them was a plain black sedan. Grant was confident that he and his companions had whoever was following them outgunned.

The sedan pulled over a few yards behind them. There didn’t seem to be anyone in the passenger's seat.

“Come out with your hands up!” Grant shouted, raising his submachine gun. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Cool it cool it!” came a friendly voice. The sedan’s headlights turned off and out stepped a young blonde man in jeans and a white flannel. “My name's Jim Thatcher. I’m an investigative journalist. I recently infiltrated the cult that kidnapped you and I think you’ll be interested in hearing what I have to say.”

Grant exchanged looks of surprise with Estelle. “We were starting to get a better picture of what is going on but we would appreciate you filing in the gaps in our knowledge.”

Jim nodded and Grant lowered his weapon. “To be honest the cult honestly seemed almost like a well funded historical research organization. I infiltrated their ranks out of curiosity. I never expected them to go as far as to kidnap people. They were crazy sure but aside from kinky rituals they performed every now and then they were alright. Oh yes by the way I brought the painting with me.”

Grant’s eyes widened. “You brought the what?”

Jim nodded. “I managed to sneak the painting out of the building and into my car. The demon summoned from the painting was preoccupied with slaughtering everyone else in the building.”

Grant shook his head. “Look, you need to secure this thing somewhere safe. The four of us are going to meet with my cousin Franklin at the hospital. I think the demon will come for him.”

“Don’t worry about me. I know how to take care of myself,” said Jim. He handed Grant a business card. “Look here is my contact information. on the back I also wrote down the address of a former cult member in Nevada.”

Grant flipped the business card over. “Why would I need to go see a former cult member in Nevada?”

“Because he is one of the few people in the world who can help you get rid of the demon once and for all,” said Jim. “The grave of Aldo Ricci, the man who painted the Grace of the Fountain, is also buried in Nevada. My research indicates that the remains of Mr. Ricci may be key to undoing the curse that anchors the demon to this world.”

“Then that’s where we will go after we go secure Franklin,” said Grant. “Can you take my cousin Sophia with you?”

“Sure can,” said Jim. “I got a safehouse we can hide out in. The demon will likely be after you though. She needs Franklin.”

“For what?”

Jim shook his head. “Even I don’t know that.”

Sophia punched Grant in the arm. “Hey what’s this about ditching me?”

“Sophia, it's not going to be safe to tag along with me,” said Grant with a sigh. “Go with Jim.”

“I second that,” said Estelle. “You parents almost lost one child. For their sake I think you should look after yourself for now. We’ll take care of Franklin.”

Sophia sighed. “Alright then I see your point.” She kissed Grant on the cheek. “Good luck then.”

Jim backed towards his car as Sophia approached the passengers side. “We’ll see each other again soon. Call me when something comes up. Good luck again Grant Foreman.”

“Thank you,” said Grant, giving them a wave.

Not wanting to take up any more time, Grant turned back towards the armored car, not bothering to watch Jim drive away with Sophia. He needed to reach Franklin before the demon lady did.

Twenty minutes after meeting with Jim, Grant found Franklin’s hospital room. He was awake and watching the television set hanging on the wall in front of his bed.

“You just missed mom and dad,” said Franklin, smiling weakly and turning off the television. “What’s going on? You guys look like shit.”

“It’s been a hell of a night for sure,” said Estelle.

“Are you fit for travel?” Rourke asked.

Franklin frowned. “Travel?”

Grant brushed Rourke aside. “Take it easy Rourke let’s not rush him just yet.”

Grant explained what had happened to them since Franklin left the mansion. Franklin listened in silence with a horrified expression on his face as Grant recounted the incident with the cult and what he had learned from Jim the investigative reporter.

“Then it is time I came clean as well,” said Franklin glumly. “Earlier tonight I came in contact with the woman in the painting. Grabriella right?” Grant nodded. “Ok, well at the time I thought Gabriella was the one who spoke to me and told me she wanted to be set free. I think it was the demon though that compelled me to perform the ritual. It’s so strange, I felt like I was under control but my memories are this hazy red blur. Sorry if I’m not making any sense. God what have I done?!”

“It’s not entirely your fault,” said Grant reassuringly. “But if you are going to take responsibility we are going to have to take you from the hospital. The demon is after you. We’re going to use you as bait to get her right where we want her.”

“Yeah ok,” said Franklin, nodding. “I’m feeling alot better. A little tired and my wound stings but I can walk. I;’m not as weak as I look. Mom left me spare clothes in a duffel bag.”

“Got it,” said Estelle, holding up the duffel bag that was sitting on a chair beside the hospital bed.

“There is one more thing,” said Franklin, the hesitancy clear in his voice. “The demon...I think it wanted to make a child with me.”

Grant glanced around and saw that Estelle and Roruke shared his shock. “M-make a child?”

“Yes,” said Franklin, turning red. “The first of many she will make. You see she and I are connected now in a way. She cannot stray too far from me or the painting. The painting and I both serve as anchors. She cannot leave the city so long as I stay here. I don’t think the people of this city would like that however.”

“Agreed,” said Grant. “She’s hard to kill and she’s already slaughtered possibly hundreds. We’ll give you time to put on some clothes then we are leaving.”

“Ok ok,” said Franklin, getting out of bed with a grunt. “At least get me an energy bar or something.”

“I’ll go buy something from the vending machine,” said Estelle, tossing Franklin the duffel bag.

As Franklin entered the bathroom to change Grant received a text message from Sophia.

Jim sends help. SWAT team on the way to the hospital

Grant doubted that the police would be enough to handle the demon but it was better than nothing.

Franklin stepped out of the restroom wearing jeans and a dark red long sleeve shirt. “Ok let’s roll.”

Estelle returned with a lemon-lime Gatorade and handed it to Franklin. “I heard sirens when I was out in the hall.”

Screams coming from the hospital reception area made Grant jump. Moments later gunfire erupted from down the hall.

“Ah shit,” said Grant. “That’s our cue to leave.”

The four of them rushed out of the room and towards the reception area. It was a nightmarish scene there. Mutilated bodies lay strewn about. Grant couldn’t tell the visitors apart from the hospital staff. It took all his willpower to hold in his vomit.

“Uh, keep calm everyone,” said Grant steadily.

“Grant,” Estelle whispered, the terror in his voice clear.

“What is it?”

From behind the receptionist's desk rose the pale skinny body of the demon woman. Even in the brightly lit room her face remained covered in an impenetrable shadow.

“RUN!” Grant screamed, and dashed towards the automatic doors.

Grant could hear the others running behind him. The demon let out a low muffled giggle. Hearing the monstrosity’s voice for the first time was enough to make Grant want to break down in cold sweat.

Beyond the hospital doors were several police vehicles and an armored truck. Grant was nearly blinded by the volume of red and blue lights shining before him.

“Get clear!” a policeman barked. Grant could see that several policemen and SWAT team members were taking cover behind their vehicles. All of them had weapons trained at the hospital entrance.

Grant and his companions quickly moved to the right just as something punched through the glass doors. The police opened fire, driving back the woman, who made no sound as she was struck over and over again under a hail of bullets. Grant could see that her body was healing rapidly, comfortably keeping up with the damage she was sustaining.

“This shouldn’t be possible,” Rourke said.

A larger projectile Grant couldn’t quite make out, launched from among the police officers and struck the demon woman, exploding in smoke and sparks. The vicious bang from the explosive projectile was painful for Grant’s ears.

“Let’s get the hell out of here!” Estelle yelled, covering her head.

“This way!’ Grant shouted, pointing to where he parked the armored van they stole. “We’re going straight to the train station.”

The sounds of gunfire intensified behind Grant as he ran towards the van. He could almost swear that they sounded almost desperate and it drove home the fact that their weapons were useless against the abomination from another world.

As Grant started the van he heard Franklin say to himself, “Those men will die because of me. Those people in the hospital died because of me.”

“Maybe,” he heard Rourke answer from the back. “But moping about it won’t save them.”

“Next train to Nevada takes off in 2 hours,” said Estelle. “Let’s hope the monster doesn’t catch us at the station.”

“Well maybe we should take a plane instead,” said Franklin.

“Maybe,” said Grant. “But if she can fly, there would be no slipping out if we were caught thirty thousand feet in the air. I’d feel safe on the ground, closer to civilization.”

“Train it is then. God this is going to be a long ride.”

For the sake of survival, Grant hoped that it would be.