The world as we know it is not about to end, it is not in any danger. The world as we know it, never in fact existed at all, except in the minds of human beings with too little imagination. The world as we know it is one where Science reigns supreme and Religion comes in second, having been toppled of the top slot a few centuries back. The world as we know it has an explanation for everything and anything that cannot be explained is put down to random chance, entropy, God's Will, or the workings of Satan.<br/><br/>The world as we know it is a lie!<br/><br/>The world as it really is, that is a much more scary place. Have you ever put something down somewhere and when you come back it's moved? And no-one will admit to moving it? It was just your memory playing tricks. Ever seen a shadow move out of the corner of your eye but when you turn to look it is exactly where it was? Your imagination playing tricks. Ever seen something move, or felt a strange touch, but when you looked there was no-one there? Again, your imagination. Ever heard a soft voice inside your head encouraging you to do something you know you shouldn't? You're probably not taking your medication then!<br/><br/>Balance. That is the key. Chaos and Order in harmony, Yin and Yang, change and status quo. A raging torrent of a stream is deadly, but so is a stagnant pond. It is the chaos of the motion of the water that allows it to dissolve oxygen which allows fish and plants to breathe.<br/><br/>The balance needs to be maintained. At any cost!<br/><br/>=================================================================<br/><br/><i>Do it....</i><br/><br/>The girl hurried along the dark, rain-drenched street. Her hair was soaked, her thin shirt sticking to her thin figure, her skirt clinging to her legs. Her shoes splashed in puddles on the footpath. A street light in front of her buzzed and blinked on and off in a random sequence of dots and dashes. She ignored it, trying not to run, knowing she needed to get off this seemingly endless street of closed shops and abandoned businesses. She heard them behind her, heard the engine, saw the street light up as the headlights turned her way. The car pulled up along side her, the window wound down.<br/><br/><i>Do it...</i><br/><br/>"Hey, come on Carol, we was on'y funnin' ya. Get in the car. You'll catch yer death out there..." The young man leaned out of the window, risking the rain as he did, the soft glow of a cigarette - except it was rather bigger and the smoke from it was a lot sweeter, illuminated one hand. The other reached out into the rain to grab at the girl. She evaded his hand and kept walking.<br/><br/>"Go away. Leave me alone...!"<br/><br/>The other young man, the one behind the wheel, leered at her. "Tha's no way t' talk t' yer friends, honeybunch. We's off'rin' you a lift. Come on, hop in..."<br/><br/>"No. I'm fine walking. Go away..."<br/><br/><i>Do it now!</i><br/><br/>The car lurched forward and mounted the curb, blocking the footpath. The passenger side door burst open and before the girl could react she was grabbed and dragged in, thrown into the back seat. "There, now we can give you a ride home. But you're all wet! Let's get these wet clothes off you before you freeze...."<br/><br/><i>Yes! Do it!</i><br/><br/>The young man began ripping the girl's clothes off, the street lamp overhead finally gave up and died, plunging the car into darkness. The girl screamed and struggled but the other young man was there too, holding her, stopping her fighting.<br/><br/><i>Yes! Yes!</i><br/><br/>"NO! STOP THIS NOW! The power of CHRIST compels you, begone, begone!"<br/><br/>The words echoed from outside the car, the figure in the dark raincoat and broad brimmed hat who had appeared seemingly from nowhere raised a hand, pointing not at the occupants of the car but at the roof.<br/><br/><i>HSSST! Fool! Meddler! You don't kn-</i><br/><br/>"SILENCE! I command you by the Power of The Lord Jesus Christ! Depart this Earthly plane and never return!"<br/><br/><i>Fool... You really th- KHHHHSSSSHHHHHT!</i><br/><br/>The dark clad figure muttered something under his breath and made a strange gesture with his hand, then took a deep breath. Now he turned his attention to the three people in the car. "I suggest that the two of you let her go, and get out of here before I call the police...!"<br/><br/>"Sheet, dude's cray, man, talkin' to his-self? Let's get the fuck outa here..."<br/>Car doors slammed, the girl pushed out onto the pavement, the engine raced, tyres squealed and the car sped away into the night.<br/><br/>"Come with me my child, You're safe now..." The figure in black extended a gloved hand. "I foresaw what would happen and was waiting here to save you."<br/><br/>The girl backed away, terrified, scrambled to her feet and ran.<br/><br/>=================================================================<br/><br/>Mary Harrod let out a sigh of frustration as her husband pulled up to a traffic light that was just turning amber. "Arthur, really, if you stop at every light between here and the tabernacle we're going to be late!"<br/><br/>Arthur Harrod shrugged. "Sorry dear. But eh, better late than never, hmm?" He was a patient soul, didn't really believe in all the mumbo-jumbo that his wife insisted on dragging him into, but as long as it kept her happy he was willing to go along with it. Both of them in their fifties now, both putting on a few extra pounds, him loosing the hair up top, her staving off the grey with wild colours more suited to a teenager in his opinion - that he wisely kept to himself.<br/><br/>This latest thing, this new enthusiasm for a religious kick that had been waning of late, had been sparked by a visiting speaker at the Tabernacle. Arthur had missed it, thankfully, but it was almost as if Mary had been hypnotised by him. Arthur would almost have said she was possessed, except that was the problem - she was now seeing demons everywhere and casting them out. And so, it seemed, were other folks from the church.<br/><br/>It all seemed pretty pointless, not to mention down-right dangerous, to Arthur. Messing with stuff like demons, who knew where it could end. The light changed and Arthur drove on through the rain filled evening, only to slow as the next light changed just as he approached it.<br/><br/>"Arthur! What did I just.... OH! Oh look Arthur. There's one of the horrid damned things there!" That made him pay attention. She never swore. And apparently, in this case, she meant the word quite literally. Arthur looked where she was pointing but saw only a metal box that held the wiring that controlled the lights. He said as much. "No dear, look. Look with your heart like I told you. Oh, it's messing with the controls. It's doing it deliberately to make us late! BEGONE, foul spirit. The power of CHRIST compels you!" She spoke some strange, almost random sounding gibberish, that made Arthur roll his eyes and tut softly. And she made the gesture she had shown him. Amazingly the light turned green, and Arthur drove on, through lights that didn't all go red as he approached.<br/><br/>Behind him, a motorcyclist was mown down by a speeding car that ran the red light.<br/><br/>=================================================================<br/><br/><script class="js-extraPhrases" type="application/json">
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</div>The figure in the black cloak and hat followed the girl into a blind alley where he found her cowering against a wall. Rain dripped from his hat as he extended a thin hand towards her. "Please child, come with me, I'm here to help you. There's no need to be afraid."<br/><br/>"Actually, there is<i>every </i>need for<i>you </i>to be afraid... Reverend Samuel Peterson."<br/><br/>The female voice came from behind him and it's tone sent a chill down his spine. He turned and looked but there was no-one there. The he saw a shadow move, detach itself from the darkness and form a shape. A sickly grin spread over his face. "Begone, foul creature of the darkness, leave this E..."<br/><br/>"SILENCE!" The word cracked out like a whip. Peterson tried to say the banishing Tounges he'd been taught, tried to move his hand in the Holy gesture that would send this spirit of darkness back to the pit of hell from whence it came. But he couldn't. Couldn't move, couldn't speak.<br/><br/>The dark shade came towards him becoming more solid, assuming the shape of a beautiful woman shrouded in black veils. "You have no idea what you have done, do you? This girl was supposed to have been raped tonight. She would have sought the police afterwards, reported those to young men, they would have been arrested, and convicted on the evidence of their DNA. The younger one would have admitted his guilt and become a reformed character, while the other would never have reformed and would have died in prison."<br/><br/>Her head turned towards the girl shivering in a corner behind a dumpster. And their victim would have testified against them, and would have gone on to start a charity to help other victims of rape, support them in coming forward. Her daughter, the child of the rapist would have become chief of police and cleaned up the darkest parts of this city. But you, by your actions, have undone all of that...!"<br/><br/>Peterson found his voice at last and managed to stammer out, "You c-can't p-possibly know that!"<br/><br/>"Can't I?" The soft, silky voice from the demon continued. "What would have happened if I had not intervened? You would have taken the girl to the homeless shelter that you run. She would have been traumatised by your appearance and pursuit of her as much as by the attempted rape and she would have remained silent the entire time, refusing to give any information,. Lost and terrified by the homeless people you surrounded her with she would have wandered off alone, unable to find her way anymore, until three days later the young man who wanted to rape her would find her again. This time he would kill her, and would go on to kill eleven more women before being killed himself in gun battle with police. His older brother, the one who would have died in prison, will fall in with a bad crowd, will become a major drug dealer in the city. There is nothing I can do to prevent that, but I can at least prevent you from further meddling in things you have no true awareness of..." The black shadow reached out a hand and one finger touched his chest,<i>through </i>his clothing, spreading an icy chill across it.<br/><br/>"Y- You h-have n-no r-right-t t-to d-d-do th-this..." Peterson stammered as he realised he was about to have a heart attack. "H-who A-are y-you?"<br/><br/>"I am consequence, and you must face me and suffer my judgement."<br/><br/>The man collapsed and the dark shape turned towards the cowering young woman. "Caroline Enya, come with me, my dear, we will see if we can make this better..." The girl looked up and she saw a kindly middle aged woman, who reminded her of a favourite aunt. She took the woman's hand and went with her.<br/><br/>===========================================================================<br/><br/>"Police are this morning investigating the death of a popular local preacher and a female student from the university. Early reports indicate that the young woman was raped and murdered and that the preacher apparently suffered a heart attack upon finding her body. A police spokeswoman stated that they have DNA evidence from the young woman's body and hope to make an early arrest...."