A WALK WITH FEAR

(This story is set within the Dark Titan Universe)

Inside of an office. From the nameplate on the desk its the Mayor’s office. The Mayor sat at his desk, sitting quietly as he was on a phone call.

“It would be a pleasure for you and your team to come investigate this.”

Silence in the room as the Mayor listened on to the response.

“Thank you.”

The mayor hung up the phone and looked out the window toward the small town.

People were walking through the small town going from place to place. Cars passed by, leaving the town and entering. Posted on nearly every building is a newspaper that depicts demonic activity happening at their local park. The paper advised no citizen of the town should enter the park until it has been cleared of its activities.

Inside of a lab were a set of five people. One stood by the board on the wall. The other four were sitting down at a desk. Together, they formed a paranormal investigation group comprised of Curtis, Sarah, Jim, and Izzie. The man standing at the board is their teacher in the supernatural, Professor Dan Simon.

“As you’ve been aware, I am sending you to a small town to investigate these demonic activities.”

“You’re not coming along with us, Professor?” Sarah asked.

“It depends on my schedule if I shall attend with you.”

“If I may ask,” Curtis said. “what kind of demonic activity are we dealing with?”

From the phone conversation, it seems that this is one of those usual demons that thrives on terrorizing uninformed people.

Jim shook his head after hearing Curtis’ words.

“Isn’t that like most of them we’ve encountered?”

“Pretty much.” Izzie replied. “We can handle another demon. Send it back to his master.”

Professor Simon glanced downward toward his watch.

“It’s best that you all head out. The drive is only thirty minutes from here.”

The group packed up their gear and exited the lab. Curtis was the last to leave, but Simon caught his attention.

“Curtis, make sure that everyone is prepared and ready.”

“Yes sir.”

Curtis had grabbed his bag and left the lab. Simon turned toward the board, continuing his work prior to the gathering.

The team arrived at the office with the small town’s Mayor. Waiting for him to arrive, they spoke theories concerning the mystery as the Mayor walked in, seeing the young team. They stood up to greet him.

“You must be Simon’s team of investigators. It’s good to have you guys here.”

“We’re here to do our job of course.”

“May we ask about these activities?” Sarah asked. “Occurring in your town’s park?”

The Mayor went somewhat quiet before speaking as he closed the office door.

“We’ve never encountered anything like this before here. Never.

“Has anyone living here seen the entity that’s causing these disturbances?” Jim questioned.

“There was one man who claimed to have seen some sort of demon, he called it. Said it was very tall and threatening.”

Curtis nodded while Jim laid back in the chair.

“Anything else that we should know about, sir?” Izzie asked.

“That’s about as much as we know here. No one’s been in the park since. We’ve kept it locked down for all intents of purposes.”

“There haven't been any fools to try and enter the park for their own game?” Curtis wondered.

“No. We have watchers patrolling the park 24/7.”

Curtis stood up from his seat. The Mayor also stood up as the rest of the group followed.

“Well, Mr. Mayor, we’ll do what we can about it and hopefully, these activities will cease permanently.”

“Thank you all for coming and I wish you the very best of luck.”

They shook hands and left the Mayor’s office.

While they were outside, they proceeded to grab their equipment from the car. Curtis had gazed his sights over toward the park, which was only a few walks from where they’re parked. Curtis notices a dark shadow moving through the trees of the park.

“We don’t have to wait till the night.” Curtis said.

“What makes you say that?” Jim asked with curiosity.

Curtis pointed toward the park. The team looked and turned back to Curtis.

“Because whatever is around there, it isn’t waiting till dark either.”

Curtis began walking toward the park. The team went ahead and followed him as they grabbed the last of their equipment. They entered the park, starting their investigation as the small town’s citizens begin to come out of the buildings and watch them from the exterior of the park, being blocked by the patrolmen. Jim looked back, seeing the emerging crowd.

“Seems the spectators have come to watch us work.”

“Let them watch.” Izzie said. “They could learn something from this.”

Using their equipment through the park itself, they begin to notice a strange mist rising from within the park itself. A dense fog also appears and begins to swallow up the park and the group. Curtis stepped forward.

“Stay where you are. Do not move until this fog has passed over.”

“You’re positive about that, Curtis?” Jim asked.

“I am. Once it passes over, we can regroup.”

“Got you.” Sarah replied.

The fog is dense to where neither member can see the other. All four are left on their own in the fog. They yell out to hear where the other is located in the fog. Calling names and places.

“Are any of you near me?” Curtis yelled.

“You sound distant.” Sarah answered.

“I can’t see you, man.” Jim yelled.

“No kidding!” Izzie screamed.

Curtis continued to walk through the fog. Waving his hands through the thick mist, searching for a way out. Curtis continued until he felt something strange around him. Its presence was powerful enough to tremor Curtis. He paused himself and looked at his surroundings. Taking in a breath while being blinded by the bright mist, Curtis turned around and quickly found himself staring into the eyes of the demon.

“Damn.”

Curtis was locked into eye contact with the demon. The demon looked to be a hybrid of man and demon. Its levitating off the ground and wearing a black cloak with scarlet and violet lining and a hood. Only its cold pale blue eyes and hands with long sharpened nails are visible. Its pointy ears can been seen from a close distant through its hood.

“What kind of demon are you?” Curtis asked.

“A different breed.”

“Do you have a name? I’ve learned many demons and ghouls have names. I figured you have one as well.”

“You may call me Kamagrauto. I have been waiting for the four of you to come here.”

“You’ve known?”

“I knew before you made the trip. I knew before the phone call.”

“How’s that possible?”

In the distance, Curtis can hear the voices of the others calling out to him. He let out a yell of his own while Kamagrauto levitated silently.

“This way! Follow my voice!”

The group had come running through the fog. Reaching Curtis, they came to an immediate stop, nearly tripping from their own pace to find Curtis standing in the presence of Kamagrauto. The group was stunned and silent.

“Since none of you will speak, I will speak for you. I come from a realm not taught to pupils like yourselves. I’ve met people of your kind and entities higher than your kind. I’ve met men who have become great hunters and those who will become great hunters.

“You don’t sound like some ordinary demon we’ve come across.” Jim noticed. “What the hell are you?”

“I am not some ordinary demon. I am a lieutenant for the dark powers that live throughout these cosmos. I have been around since your kind’s inception and I will be around at its end.”

“Its end?” Sarah said. “You’re telling us you know when humanity will cease to exist?”

“Again, I know many things. Things such as that will not come to your minds until its appointed time of course. There’s still much for the four of you to learn.”

“What gives you the right to come to this small town and frighten these people?” Curtis questioned.

“I didn’t come here for those uninformed minds. I came here so that it would bring the four of you to me.”

“The four of us?” Jim said. “For what reason? What purpose?”

“Yeah, I’m curious.” Izzie said. “Why the hell us and not some other group?”

“Do not worry, I’ve done the same tactic to many in the past and I will continue so in the future.”

The fog had begun to thin out. Kamagrauto spotted the dissolving very quickly. In a speed unnatural to the human eye.

“I will leave this place now and you can claim your glory from my disappearance. But, remember that we shall see each other again in the future days.”

As the fog began to evaporate, Kamagrauto vanished from their sight. All that can be seen now is the group themselves as the people begin cheering.

The Mayor was also standing outside with the crowd. Once the mist had evaporated and the area was clear, he walked out into the field toward them as they exit the park.

“So, how did it go?”

“The demon is gone.” Curtis answered. “The park is yours once again.”

The Mayor shakes their hands as the town people thank them in mass. As if they’ve slewed a beast.

“We should get going now.” Curtis told the group.

They returned to the lab later in the day. Speaking with Professor Simon about Kamagrauto and his eeriness. A demon unlike any other they’ve encountered. Even his voice caused them to quicken in their shoes. Simon listened closely to their words about Kamagrauto and his words toward them. Simon was quiet during their conversation.

“This demon knew you guys were coming into that town before I made the phone call?”

“That’s what it told me.” Curtis said.

“It also talked about the end of humanity and how it’s been around since humanity began.” Jim noted.

Simon rubbed his chin. Slightly concerned.

“I’m not sure what to make of it all.”

“I will say, when this demon does return into the light, we will do what we can to get rid of it.” Curtis proclaimed.

“How can we get rid of a lieutenant demon, Curtis?” Izzie questioned. “Because from what we could tell, he was much more powerful than some regular ol’ demon.”

Simon turned to Curtis. Eyes wide open.

“This demon was a lieutenant demon?”

“That’s what it told us.” Curtis said. “Said it takes orders from entities in higher places.”

Simon sighed.

“I need some time to think on this. I will do more research into this as well. You guys go along now home and rest up.”

They thanked him and left the lab. Only Curtis remained in the lab with Simon, walking toward him at the board.

“Professor.”

“What is it, Curtis?

The demon also told us his name.

“His name.” Simon said. “What was it?”

“He called himself Kamagrauto… and he walked with fear.

Simon stared at Curtis.

“I see. Very well. Go get some rest and we can talk about this tomorrow.”

“Yes sir.”

Curtis left the office. Simon took a breathe as he walked over to his desk. Opening a drawer and taking out a book. The cover of the book appeared strange. Inscriptions carved into it from what seemed to be medieval-era art. He opened it and turned some pages. He came to a stopping point on a page which included the name Kamagrauto and a drawing of the demon himself with a description about its allegiance with an entity called Dagor the Soul Eater.

“This isn’t looking good.” Simon said with concern flowing from his words.