Craig got home just before sunset. He thought about going inside the house first to greet his family, but tonight he had more pressing matters. He had to find out what was going on with Ferris's hand and discuss the cat he had found on the light pole.
Craig knocked on Brian's door and looked around impatiently. He was just about to knock again when he heard the lock shifting from the inside. Brian swung open the door and leaned on his walking stick.
'Hi, Brian. I'm really sorry to bother – '
'Come in young man,' Brian said. His voice was deep and warm.
Craig entered and waited for Brian to close the door behind them. He noticed the pictures on the wall again. He looked at the picture of Brian's wife and saw her striking eyes for the first time. It was like oceans of purity.
'Something wrong? You look a little troubled,' Brian chuckled.
'Nope, just need your advice on something if you don't mind.' Craig said scratching his head.
'Sure, let's have some coffee,' Brain said pointing his walking stick towards the kitchen.
Craig entered the kitchen, 'if you don't mind Brian, I'll have the coffee another time.'
'Sure, sit down,' Brian said walking around the table and sitting in his favourite chair. 'So what can I help you with?' He regarded Craig with curiosity from underneath his bushy grey eyebrows.
Craig pulled out a chair and sat down. 'There are two things I want to talk to you about actually,' Craig sighed. He paused for a moment and said. 'The one thing is a guy I work with. His name is Ferris. He got this hand thing.'
Brian nodded for Craig to continue.
'His hand started itching. At first, we thought it was a rash, but then the rash turned to cuts. Deep cuts. I think the flesh might be rotting in those cuts as well. The stuff is spreading to his arm.' Craig said. He knew how crazy it must sound.
'I think this man needs a doctor,' Brian said.
'He went to the doctor, but they don't know what's wrong with his hand. Ferris told me that it all started with some kids in a bar one night. One of them was smoking drugs in the toilet and when Ferris confronted the kid, he got cursed.'
Brian's eyes grew distant as he looked at something invisible on the table.
'You know, if you told this to anyone else they might have thought you were crazy, but I believe you,' Brian said shifting his gaze from the table back to Craig.
'So what are you thinking?' Craig asked with a hint of hope in his voice. 'Ferris said this kid told him that it would start with his left hand and that's the hand that is affected.'
'I'm not sure I can help you, but at least we can try,' Brian said.
'Anything Brian. Ferris is in a bad way. What do you think we can do?'
'That man is cursed or maybe even possessed and he probably doesn't know it yet. He needs a priest more than any doctor, but for now, I know of a doctor that might be able to help. He lives in the township, but I must warn you, he is quite unusual. If he can't help, I don't think there is anyone else that can. He is a spiritual healer. He does his thing with faith and herbs, a true believer in God and all great things. He goes around as The Teacher. Tell you what, bring your friend around over the weekend. In the meantime, I'll try to get hold of The Teacher and arrange for a time over the weekend, maybe Saturday.'
'That sounds great, thank you, Brian. Really appreciate your help.'
Brian nodded, 'what was the second thing?'
Craig almost forgot about it for a moment, 'Oh yes. I found something and wanted to share it with you but it was too late that night. A cat was tied up to a light pole, it had been dissected.'
'Where did you find this animal?'
'As you enter Saldanha. There is a set of high mast lights in the middle. Almost hidden behind a bush.'
Brian sighed. He shook his head, 'that can't be good. As I said before, that was how it started on the farm. Not good at all.' Brian got up from his chair and struggled towards the kitchen window. He gazed out without saying a single word. Craig felt uncomfortable. He wanted to say something but decided against it as Brian was probably deep in thought. Craig felt disappointed for being the bearer of such bad news, but he did not know who else to ask for help.
'Brian, I'm so sorry about - '
'Don't be,' Brian interrupted Craig with a wave of his hand. He turned away from the window and faced Craig again. He leaned on his walking stick. 'We can fight back. It's a good thing you saw that animal on the pole. It is an early warning and anyone could have missed it. Even if someone else found it, they would not have known what was coming. So it is about to start once again. It makes sense about the kids who cursed your work colleague. They are part of Satan's plan and I'm afraid these kids are lost. The poor kids don't know what's in store for them for the greatest liar ever was Satan himself. I just can't believe the arrogance this time around. In my days, it was a farm, now they are planning to take a whole town. You know Craig, demons are useless on their own. They need a vessel to do their dirty work. There are probably quite a few kids in town who are possessed already and they will increase in number. We need to do something before they grow too strong. In all my years I believed there was a source of evil in this district, a gate of hell if you will. We need to find out what is going on in town and where these things are coming from.'
'Okay? So where do we start?' Craig asked.
'Give me some time to think about it. I'll know it when I feel it,' Brian said softly.
Craig walked towards his house and realised he did not even have to show Brian the picture of the cat he had taken. Although he did not know what to do yet, hope was rising a little. He had a feeling Brian would be knocking on his door very soon. Craig knew one thing for sure. He was ready for whatever was coming their way. For the sake of his family and colleagues, for the sake of the kids of today, for the sake of a rotten society, for the sake of God and for the sake of his own twisted perverted mind.