Awaited Beginning

Rebecca cast her gaze from one individual to another present in the church.

Karin bent down and whispered into Rebecca's ear, "Don't worry about me. If you choose to go with your father I will follow. The real decision here is where will be the safest."

"I understand." Rebecca turned to Mark.

Mark already knew what was going to happen. In this situation, he wasn't as clueless as before. He already knew Rebecca's answer from the way she looked at him.

Rebecca looked up at her mother and retracted her gaze as she walked to Mark.

Karin's eyes became watery and she moved about in unease.

Mark bent down and hugged his daughter.

After embracing her for about 10 seconds, he kissed her forehead and his eyes started tearing up as he was trying his hardest to muster the courage to speak.

"Potato chip?"

"Yeah?"

"Take good care of your mom for me and listen to what she tells you, ok?"

"Ok."

Mark hugged her one last time before standing up.

Rebecca walked back to Karin, who thought she had just put her daughter in harm's way.

Karin was at a loss for words. She didn't expect Mark to let Rebecca stay.

She hugged Rebecca and with tears stagnant in her eyes, she whispered to Mark, "Thank you."

Mark faked a smile and gently nodded.

Father Vincent's calm, warm smile became wholesome as he turned to Sister Deloris and said, "Take them back in."

"Yes, Father." Sister Deloris walked to Karin and Rebecca.

"You made the right decision." She said to Karin.

Karin's eyes reddened once again as she tried to prevent the tears from dropping. She finally got the chance to get back with her husband but didn't.

She turned to Damian and slightly bent, "I'm sorry for speaking to you harshly when you only wanted to help, Director Cross…"

"It's fine---

"Ack!" Damian coughed out blood once again. Although, this time he didn't feel any pain.

"...Thank you. And if you need help with your injuries I would most certainly be glad to help." She added.

She straightened her back and walked to Mark.

"Come visit from time to time." She didn't waste a hair's breadth as she sharply walked away with Sister Deloris and Rebecca, who was waving at Damian and Mark.

After waiting for a few seconds, making sure they had gone, Mark spoke up,

"I'm sorry for wrongly accusing you, and thank you for keeping my family safe."

"I take no offence, Detective Jordan. I only want you to accept my advice, which is to watch your temper. By now, you most certainly know the amount of harm your rage brings to people around you." Father Vincent glanced at Damian.

"Yes, I know…" Mark said, still feeling melancholic.

"Let me ask you this…" Father Vincent said before asking inquisitively, "If you were given the chance to leave the current path you're treading, would you?"

Mark was silent. He most definitely knew what Father Vincent was talking about and didn't need a second to decide.

"...Of course, I would, believe it or not, this wasn't what I wanted. But I'm sure you know what I did to become this way…

"... I ended innocent lives… I need to face my transgressions and accept my retribution…"

Father Vincent gently nodded, "The Lord forgiveth and chastiseth. When you're ready, his arms are always wide open, until the final day that is."

"I understand. And thanks again." Mark solemnly replied.

Father Vincent chuckled and added, "You're essentially lucky your wife forgot to ask you how you found out she was here."

"Heh, I am, I guess." Mark realized he would've had no alibi if such happened and so he laughed sheepishly.

Damian gently stood up and walked down the nave.

"Goodbye, Father Vincent." Mark awkwardly turned around and followed Damian.

As Damian got to the narthex Father Vincent spoke up and asked, "Damian Cross…

"What 'side' do you think I, Sister Deloris, and all Christians are on?"

…That question is very unexpected and out of context… Damian halted and turned to look at Father Vincent.

…Creepy old man. Why does he want my opinion? Or is it about the complete prophecy? No, that prophecy can burn in hell for all I care. All these prophecies are bullsh*t. None of them makes sense, but then again I think that's the point. I don't have the time for this so I might as well give a quick answer…

Damian thought 'Christianity' but quickly dismissed the idea since it has many branches and compared to the 'Demon' side the name doesn't sound efficient. And so he decided.

"The 'Church' side." He said as he walked out of the church, in which Mark followed suit.

Father Vincent just stood there. Rooted to the ground with a smile plastered across his face.

After about 10 minutes, A gust of wind blew from the altar and Sister Deloris ran out from the door at the chancel.

"Father Vincent! Something just happened to Rebecca! Her hair turned golden and she's glowing!"

Father Vincent's smile grew wider.

"I am aware."

The confusion written all over Sister Deloris's face could be noticed miles away.

…

Outside Saint Rose Of Lima Church.

Mark jogged to catch up with the fast-paced Damian.

Soon after, they entered the truck that was parked in front of the church. With Mark in the driver's seat and Damian in the front passenger seat.

Mark sat there, staring into space for about 30 seconds.

"Can you hit the road?" Damian spoke slowly, and there was an underlying sound of weakness in his voice.

"I can't express how grateful I am to you for not letting me fully transform the other time..." Mark started tearing up.

"Imagine if Karin and Rebecca saw that…"

Damian smiled widely and said, "Oh that would be tragic, wouldn't it? I'm slowly dying here and need to treat myself urgently, but yeah, let's keep imagining things instead… Right, Mark?"

Mark didn't need any further explanation as he knew to start the car and hit the road.

Damian took out his phone and looked at the adjustment period time remaining.

+

[Current Phase Details]

<Adjustment period>

Description: There will be 3 days of adjustment before the start of the 2nd phase

–

Time remaining : 27:54:12

+

…There's still enough time…

The effects of [Demotion] were wearing off, so Damian took off his overcoat and untucked his white buttoned shirt as he tried to get that specific spot on his back.

Mark saw a red circle with a bluish shade on the middle of Damian's back.

…Damn. He's hurt really bad… Mark stepped on the gas.

"Argh." Damian stifled a groan as the pain grew stronger.

[Demotion]

He stopped feeling the pain for the meantime again and proceeded to tear up his shirt and run a quick first aid in himself.

After about 8 minutes, Damian, who was staring at the door mirror, felt something unusual and noticed a series of abnormal things happening.

Demons that flew around and ones that stayed on tall buildings started dropping to the ground like ants.

Their bodies didn't burst or anything but they slowly started reverting to normal humans.

"What is happening?" Mark felt the abnormality and his vision blurred.

Krrrrrr…

He stopped the car and opened the door to come out but fell on the ground instead.

"Aaaaarr…" Mark screamed out loud as a black figure with two horns and red eyes stretched out of his body.

Damian quickly took out his gun and pointed it at Mark.

"Rghaaaaarrraarr…" The black figure evaporated and with a thud, Mark passed out.

...This is crazy… Damian, who witnessed everything, was at a loss for words.

He got down from the truck and stared at all the people that became normal back again and were fast asleep on the concrete floor.

He walked over to Mark while watching his steps. He had to minimise the internal damage even though he didn't feel the pain.

…Are you serious? Damian, who was injured now had to carry Mark into the truck and take over the wheels.

Stressed out and annoyed about the number of problems Mark constantly gave him on different occasions, Damian swept through his hair in frustration.

Damian bent over to carry Mark into the truck but saw blood on his hand.

...Damnit. Turns out I hit my head too...

* * *

At Cranberry street. In the apartment building, on the 8th floor, in Ivan's apartment.

There was a crazy, frail and old man couched up in one corner murmuring something to himself. It was none other than Ivan Adolf Grigorivich, the senile old man that testified about a so-called 'prophecy'.

A cloud of thick black smoke rose from the ground a few steps behind Ivan m, and a man in a black suit walked out.

The man looked to be in his 60s. He had full grey hair, carefully combed backwards. He was 6'3 and looked built up slightly and had a line scar about 3-4 inches long across his left eye.

He was wearing an elegant suit and tie that fit him perfectly, with a black suede pair of shoes.

His face at default always wore a calm, but cold smile with his eyes barely able to be seen.

"It turns out we need your help…

"I'm assuming you already know what for, right?" His voice was deep and there was an underlying tone of mockery in it.

Ivan shivered and frightenedly said, "Y-You're just using me, aren't you?"

"Why Of course. We're your only chance for you to see your family again…

"And don't forget we sure do have many others waiting in line to do our bidding." The gentleman said matter-of-factly.

Ivan didn't make a single sound anymore.

"I'll take that as a yes, and you'll be sorry the next time you speak to me that way." The gentleman said as he sank back into the thick black void.

* * *

In a particular store in Chinatown.

"Quickly round the supplies up and let our new companions get the essentials. We've gotta leave in the next 15 minutes." David Dolan followed the first supplies-gathering team to teach them protocol.

He turned around and looked stunned, before finally smiling and muttering to himself, "Let the games begin."

"Mr. Dolan, I don't think these will fit." Julian said, pointing at some supplies.

"Let me take a look." David Dolan responded.

* * *

At the underground sanctuary, abandoned Worth Street Subway Station.

Rachael and other women were learning minor medical skills –mostly just first aid– from Ma'am Rose.

"When it's a fresh cut, you will want to avoid…." Ma'am Rose continued to teach.

Michelle, who was in the tent having a post-morning nap, snapped awake.

"Goodluck… Damian…"