The Village

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The following chapter runs concurrently with and overlaps in parts with the chapter 'Blood Moon' that can be found within the Authors works

This chapter can be read in isolation, but the two parts compliment one another

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"Do it... do it then," Bethany Lomas uttered with resignation.

Kyle Austin did not need a second invitation.

Slipping his erect length from Bethany's tight young body he drew himself up onto his knees and straddled her chest.

The increasing look of uncertainty across her face only inspired him as holding himself over her with a clutch on the wooden headboard with his left hand his right hand worked firmly over his slick phallus.

Bethany fidgeted awkwardly as she lay there naively uncertain of what to do as Kyle's hand worked over his himself furiously.

"Ready...," he breathlessly offered, "...Ready?"

"Yes." The peroxide blonde quietly replied clenching her eyes shut.

Kyle kept up his self stimulation feeling the rush of his ejaculate course through him. Seconds later on a sated groan he released as beneath him Bethany let go an indignant groan.

As he glanced down he witnesses the second blast of ejaculate fall across her young face as she lays beneath her features contorted on a grimace as he continues to stroke his length and cum across her face.

"Oh fuck," Kyle groaned on deep satisfaction at the act he has just committed upon the eighteen-year-old, a grin crossing his face at her appearance as she lay there with his semen putrefying on her face. "Oh, fuck me."

"Jesus," Bethany whispered, struggling to open her right eye beneath thick heavy streaks of cum. Her hands eventually pressing against his chest to extrapolate herself from under him as she turned to roll away, cum dripping from her face onto the teal green bed sheets beneath her.

Kyle lay on his side on the bed, basking in the afterglow of their brief fervent interaction. Late autumn sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the untidy room where clothes were strewn haphazardly.

He focussed his gaze on Bethany as she awkwardly on rising from the bed headed for the en-suite bathroom in the corner of the room. His breath still caught in his throat as he watched her through the open doorway, splashing her face with water from the sink tap before hurriedly removing the black bra worn over her ample chest.

A grin crept across Kyles face, an expression born of the mix of triumph and disbelief at the whirlwind their unexpected relationship had become.

"You need to get going..." Bethany called out, before stepping back into the doorway, her hair damp where splashed water had soaked it, "...I've no idea when my parents will be home."

The matter-of-factness in her tone brought Kyle back to reality. He felt the familiar twist in his stomach, that combined with a twinge of excitement. The taboo nature of their relationship as neighbours, and more disturbingly, her being just eighteen added an exhilarating edge to their clandestine encounters but equally reminded him of the tightrope of moral ambiguity they trod.

"You're not making it easy for me," Kyle replied, feigning a sigh as his eyes roamed her naked slender body, appreciating every curve as if it were his last chance to do so.

Bethany chuckled lightly, brushing strands of hair behind her ear. "And I'm now running late... I'm supposed to be meeting Cee Cee in less than an hour."

Kyle swung his legs over the edge of the bed and began to comb through the chaos of clothing that surrounded him, trying to locate his T-shirt amongst the plethora of discarded clothing that littered the room.

"Sure," he muttered to himself, shaking his head as if to clear the thoughts swirling in his mind.

As he stood up, he looked over to discover that Bethany had already stepped into the shower. The sound of water cascading filled the air, and Kyle leaned against the doorframe, watching in silent reverie. Her silhouette moving gracefully behind the misted glass as steam curling around her body, creating an ethereal vision.

"Right, I'm going," he called out finally, his voice slightly wavering. "I'll text you later, okay?"

Bethany wiped her hand across the heavy condensation of the shower door, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Sure... See you soon."

He chuckled, his mind racing. "You will...I'm enjoying the trouble you're dragging me into."

With one last glance at the girl who had turned his world upside down, he slipped downstairs and let himself out of the front door of the property and headed back to ridiculously short distance to his own rented property. As he stepped outside, late afternoon sun greeted him, brightening the world around him. The mixture of exhilaration and unease still lingered in the back of his mind acutely aware of the explosive nature of the relationship he had fallen into.

A secrecy and a sense of taboo that made the passion of their relationship burn even brighter.

**********

Jake Parkinson and his long time friend Steven Colwell sat at the bar of the Crown Inn's lounge, letting the quiet ambiance envelop them. The dim, warm light cast a soft glow over the polished wooden surfaces, while tasteful Halloween decorations hung around the venue with a large carved pumpkin sat upon the surface of the bar.

The venue was nearly empty apart from an older couple ensconced at the table in the bay window, wrapped up in their own world. The only other clientele being a breath taking young dark-haired girl who had entered the venue twenty minutes previous, dressed entirely in black, who sat alone nursing a drink, whilst immediately across from her in a booth sat a dark-haired male whom Steven recognized as Sam Delacourt. While he did not know Sam personally, he was well aware of the family's reputation; the Delcourt's had lived in Hunts Grove Manor for generations, their name synonymous with wealth and old-world stature.

"It's like a morgue in here tonight," Steven offered, casting a glance around the nearly deserted pub.

"You know why, don't you?" Jake responded, an almost mischievous glint in his eye.

Steven shrugged, feigning indifference at his friend's assumption.

"Well it is Devil's Night," Jake stated, raising an eyebrow, yet his tone was deadly serious.

Steven chuckled dismissively, unimpressed by the notion.

"That is just nonsense... For generations, this night has been held in too high regard for too long... All these superstitions and stories passed down about the village's distant past... it is just... it is pathetic really."

"The connections to the occult are unwarranted are they?" Jake offered. "There's plenty that believe that on Devils Night, a young woman from the village is 'chosen' for sacrifice by the demons living among us."

"Nonsense," Steven repeated, emphasizing his scepticism. "Why is the village not crawling with Police if there is anywhere near any truth to such rumours."

"All I'm saying..." Jake said, his gaze drifting toward the lone young female in black, "...is that I wouldn't be letting my daughter out alone tonight."

Steven snorted, half-jokingly. "She is younger than your daughter... she is probably young enough to be your granddaughter."

Jake took no offense, his eyes holding a lingering stare on the young brunette before he responded, "Devils Night is why I was glad to see my Kellie move away... before she came of age."

"It's just local superstition," Steven countered again, still struggling to buy into Jake's grim fascination.

"Well... we all know of one young girl who went missing twenty-five years ago," Jake spoke solemnly, the gravity of the statement hanging in the air.

"That was in August, as I recall... certainly not the 30th of October," Steven challenged, though a shiver ran down his spine as painful memories flitted through his mind.

"Yes... but there was a blood moon that night... as there will be tonight," Jake stated with an unsettling certainty, glancing toward the ceiling as if he could see the darkened skies above.

"So. let us be clear is it Devils night... a blood moon... or utter nonsense that we should be wary of?" Steven offered.

Bored of the topic, and unconvinced the tragedy that was presumed to have befallen Emily Smith was linked in any way, he resolved to steer the conversation elsewhere.

"How's your Kellie doing anyway?" he asked, referring to Jake's estranged daughter briefly mentioned moments earlier. "Have you seen her recently?"

A flicker of sorrow crossed Jake's features as he shook his head.

"Facebook tells me she's doing well... but I haven't seen her since..." His voice trailed off, lost in the reflection of what could have been. "...She threatens to visit but never follows through."

Regret washed over Steven for even broaching the subject, yet he could not help but feel intrigued by Jake's reaction, a rare moment of weakness shown by an emotional pang from beneath his usually tough exterior.

"But anyway..." Jake pivoted, eager for distraction. "...what about the new romance that you keep hinting at, the young woman we were all supposed to meet weeks ago?"

"She is good... she is... well lets just say it is very complicated... She is..." Steven replied cautiously, measuring each word. "...A little unsure of herself."

"That's because she's ashamed to be seen with you," Jake joked, laughter twinkling in his eyes at the kind of mockery only the closest of friends could share.

"I'm happy for you, buddy... I hope it works out for you," Jake immediately offered, his voice rich with genuine warmth as he clapped Steven on the back of his left shoulder, a gesture of camaraderie that spoke volumes of their friendship.

"Thanks..." Steven exhaled, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "...Hopefully, I can introduce you to Rosie very soon."

"Good... then I'll know she's not a figment of your imagination." Jake grinned, leaning back to relish in the easy banter between friends as the familiar comfort of camaraderie settled around them.

"Shall I offer to buy you another drink, or not?" Steven asked, his own eyes twinkling with mischief after his friend's teasing remarks.

Not long after, two fresh pints of lager sat between the two men. As they relaxed into conversation, the empty venue mattered not as they were lost in their own company.

**********

Bethany Lomas walked briskly along the familiar streets of the village, headed through the vast open expanse of the public park.

The crisp bite of late October air sending a shiver down her spine as she navigated the path along the side of the park that would eventually bring her out on to the main high street.

Twilight wrapped the world, the sky coloured by soft purples and blues, the moon slowing threading its way between the silhouette of buildings that were adorned with cheerful Halloween decorations. Appreciating she was running hideously late for her rendezvous with her best friend, Cee Cee Braga, she increased her pace on her sense of urgency.

Pulling her phone from her handbag as she reached a long narrow alley that led towards the heart of the village, she hurriedly scrolled through her notifications and came across a message from Cee Cee that made her smirk: "Ready, bitch... see you there in ten!"

A flicker of warmth flooded her as she thought to their plans for the night ahead. A few drinks in the Crown before catching a taxi or the bus into the City in order to visit a new night club that they had both heard about. Bethany was just about to type out a reply when the hairs on the back of her neck prickled in anticipation.

A rustling sound emanated from the shadows ahead. Looking up, her heart lurched in her chest. Standing before was a tall dark figure cloaked in a hooded cowl, the dim light of dusk obscuring any discernible features. Panic gripped her instantly, as she was caught off guard by the early Halloween prankster.

"Jesus..." she exclaimed "...your scared the..."

Her words fell short, caught in her throat. Something about the way he stood there with his unseen gaze on her felt immediately unnatural. Her instincts immediately screaming at her to back away, to flee.

Bethany turned on her heels, only to find another identical figure emerging silently from the gloom behind her, blocking her escape route, with a wall to her right and a high metal fence at her left.

"Yeah alright... you've had your fun," she offered her voice trembling. "Now just let me get past."

A firm pair of gloved hands fell over her shoulders from behind her.

"Let me go!" she hollered, her voice echoing down the narrow alley as she attempted to break free of the firm grip. The only response, as the figure before her thrust a gloved hand over her mouth, was the hushed whispering of wind along the alley.

The two figures acted in unison. As she was held from behind the figure in front of her lunged forward and grabbed her right arm, in an instant their combined grips clenched around her as she froze mortified by a sickening realisation that she fought a fight she could not win against their combined strength as she was dragged through the darkness in their grips. When Bethany found her fight again it was too late. She struggled desperately her heart racing as she attempted desperately to break free.

"Help me... Please somebody please," she screamed, the sound swallowed by the darkness around her.

Her verbal and physical protests only fuelled their urgency. They dragged her along the alley toward a shadowy van that sat with its engine idling at the end of the alleyway, its presence as sinister as the figures that surrounded her. She continued to struggle refusing to accept her efforts to resist were futile, although even as she did crippling fear pooled in her stomach. With every step they pulled her closer to waiting vehicle, the chilly night air now continually filled by her terrified cries for help. As the van's side door was slid open, before she could scream again, they hoisted her inside, throwing her heavily across the floor of the van.

"No... No... Let me go...Please," she begged her voice breaking with emotion as the door was slid shut behind her with a definitive thud. Bethany immediately plunged into darkness in the windowless load space of the vehicle.

Panic clawing at her throat as she felt the van lurch forward, the sound of the engine accelerating echoed in her ears, as she lay there breathless feeling the heavy vibrations passing through the cold hard metal floor beneath her.

Tears ran down her cheeks as she realised she was being led into the unknown.

Alone in the suffocating darkness with only her racing thoughts for company and the bleak realisation that she was at the mercy of her captors.

**********

Jake Parkinson sat brooding at the bar of the Crown Inn, the dim light casting shadows on his hard-set jaw. He clenched his fists, his temper simmering just beneath the surface as he glared at the dark-haired man who had dared to insult him mere moments ago.

The insult had been more than a passing comment, and stuck like a thorn in Jake's side, twisting deeper with each moment he stewed in his anger. The man now sat comfortably in the booth with the pretty dark-haired girl who had graced the bar with her presence earlier in the evening, The pair of locked in conversation, laughing, and teasing each other, completely unaware of Jake's turmoil.

"Pathetic," he muttered under his breath, fantasizing about confronting them. In his mind, he envisioned a scenario in which he would put them both in their place, both of them, begging for his forgiveness, their faces alight with fear and regret. The vision made his pulse quicken and offered him a flicker of satisfaction.

As he ruminated, his phone vibrated heavily on the surface of the bar where it lay, startling him from his dark thoughts. He unlocked it, his heart racing as he caught sight of and opened an encrypted messaging app. The screen lit up, displaying a simple blunt message in stark white typeface against a black background.

-: Sacrifice secured. The Lilith has been notified. Location: Palmers field :-

Jake's blood ran cold, a dark thrill coursed through him at the significance of the ten-word message. He had anticipated this moment, and now it was finally upon him. He closed the app swiftly, masking the urgency behind a cool facade as Steven Colwell strolled back toward the bar, his casual demeanour in such sharp contrast to Jake's hidden exhilaration.

"Um... I'm afraid something's come up..." Jake began to explain, the urgency of the message received hung heavily in the air, but he met Steven's gaze with a forced ease. "...A spot of business that needs urgently attending to."

"That is a pity," Steven replied, a genuinely disappointment casting across his features. "It's been good catching up."

"Shouldn't take me much more than an hour," Jake insinuated, his tone casual. "Why don't we reconvene at your place... you can break open that single malt you've been threatening to open for forever... and maybe I'll get to meet this illusive young lady of yours."

Steven considered the suggestion, a flicker of concern washing over his face.

"Sure..." he finally agreed adjusting his glasses on the bridge of his nose before offering a nod, "...I am willing to open the bottle... but I am less inclined for you to meet Rosie under such circumstances... Besides, she will probably be asleep by now anyway."

Jake let out a chuckle. "Then we'll keep the noise down."

With an unspoken understanding, the two men finished their drinks on the promise to reconvene. Steven sensing there was more to Jake's sudden departure than he wanted to enquire about as they stepped out of the bar, making their separate ways into the cold October night.

Jake moving through the night with purpose, headed to his Land Rover parked up next to the venue. Palmers Field awaited him, and a stage set for the unfolding of dark and hidden desires.

Steven sunk his hands into his pockets as he made his way home through the quiet village. The sky above him clear as the bright full moon begun to be eclipsed by a red haze.

**********

Bethany Lomas knelt between her captors in the vast field, the night air and her predicament chilled her bones as moonlight bathed the landscape in a silver glow. A silvery light that cast long, haunting shadows across the unkempt grass, accentuating the foreboding atmosphere that enveloped her.

A fear coursed through her veins, tangible and sharp, as she instinctively tugged at the coarse ropes that bound her hands together in front of her. The restraint rough against her wrists and ankles, serving as a stark reminder of how powerless she was.

Immediately behind her loomed a large oak crucifix, its silhouette stark against the night sky. She had seen the numerous crucifixes perched on the edges of the village fields, whimsical remnants of tradition that she had never bothered to truly understand. Now, standing before one, a deep foreboding gripped her heart. An unshakeable dread settled over her, weaving into the fabric of the night like a dark thread.

"Please..." she implored her voice but a trembling whisper, laced with desperation. "...Please just let me go."

As she focused on the ground, her heart pounding against her ribcage she heard a further approach, a third figure emerging from the darkness, draped in identical dark robes to the assailants who flanked her as he crossed the field. A fresh panic gripped her, and she sucked in a long nervous breath, desperately wishing to shrink away from the new threat she faced.

"You," the figure stated as he drew closer and let go a chilling menacing chuckle. "The what could've been."