Episode 24

"That's impossible." Aaron glowered. But there was no denying that a badly mangled version of Professor Kellor was standing before him. It was difficult to determine if he was smiling at Aaron or not - it was amazing that he could speak at all.
"We told you," Professor Kellor said, "Thanatos makes us immortal."
"Yeah... after killing several people."
"Nothing in life is free, Aaron, especially something as precious as life. Do the math. Fifteen sacrifices in exchange for eternity... that's a bargain, really."
"You're disgusting," Aaron spat, "I'll make sure you really die this time." He lifted the gun in his hand.
"You still don't get it..." Kellor sighed, "How do you think we were able to get the clowns? Or the typical chainsaw henchmen, I suppose you'd remember best."
What was he on about?
The white clones were back, all of them closing in on him and Kellor. The last few retreating from their hiding spots in the trees. Aaron kept his eyes on all of them as they made a half circle around him. There were twelve of them.
Aaron could feel the blood draining from his face. The one closest to Professor Kellor started removing the white mask and revealed a woman with long red hair, and a chunk of her head blown.
"Oh no..." Aaron whispered, "Katie, no..."
One by one - the rest of the masks were removed. Aaron couldn't say he remembered them all, but he did recognize Jacob. Even Blake was among them. When Aaron was captured and endured the Thanato Project, at the very end, the last in their group was Katie, Jacob, Alaire, and Blake. There were three stuck in bathtubs, and one of them was Taylor...
"Remembering?" Kellor asked.
"What've you done to them?"
"It wasn't I... It was our god."
"They aren't even... themselves. And neither are you!"
Even though their faces were familiar, their eyes were pure white - no pupils and no colors. Their mortal injuries remained, so they looked more like zombies.
"So everyone in the Thanato Project was already dead..." Aaron spoke aloud. Then Alaire never actually killed anyone? He had to tell her, but first had to deal with the situation at hand.
"Where is Taylor," Aaron growled.
"Hmm?"
"Where. Is. Taylor!"
Kellor chuckled, "Have you ever heard of a Keres?"
Such a vague question, Aaron thought, but the name did ring a bell. He stayed silent, so Kellor continued, "Keres are female death spirits. Apparently. My lord decided it was time to let his family free. Of course, it's not easy giving an entity an entire body. He experimented for a long time, seeing how much of the human body needed to be removed for the Keres to be able to enter. First, it was the eyes, always the eyes," Kellor mulled, "You know, the eyes are the gateway to the soul and whatever."
"What?"
"But that wasn't enough," Kellor continued, "We also had to remove the shield, which essentially was the flesh. No skin, no eyes, and a body is finally vulnerable for the Keres to intrude."
"The monsters," Aaron said, "The skinless monsters? That was you?"
"Thanato," Kellor corrected.
Keep talking, Aaron thought, stall him. Aaron's mouth was dry as he tried his hardest not to look at the ghostly and, some, mangled faces. One guy was missing an arm and Spencer... Aaron grimaced. Spencer's death was the first and least pleasant. A few deep holes from the iron maiden were present on his face. The girl with the afro hair was swollen like a balloon. Andrew was there too! Aaron remembered all of them from his group, but couldn't enjoy this reunion knowing what they were.
"What does that have to do with my question?"
"It should be obvious," Kellor said, "Our first successful Keres was Taylor."
Aaron resisted the urge to gasp. The monster with the squished head wasn't a coincidence at all. That was actually her; a beast that can rip open a person's ribcage.
"The other one...?" Aaron asked.
"Other one?"
"You have more?"
Kellor grinned, "Soon to be plenty more. They're an amazing creation don't you think?"
"Manipulation."
All of them locked their eyes on Aaron, tension brewing.
"That's what you are," Aaron said, "Manipulations, black magic, foul creatures. Neither you or Thanatos can make anything. Devils only kill. So your magic tricks are bullshit and your monsters are an abomination."
"SILENCE!"
All of their mouths opened, but only one voice spoke from them. It was like Aaron predicted, none of them were actually back to life, or themselves. It was a strange form of possession. The dark entity was close, he could feel it in his heart.
"We talked to our friend about your cult Thanatos," Aaron mocked, "You know you're making fun of Greek mythology right? I know what you really are."
"Oh really..." the thirteen mouth's continued to move in unison, "What I am, is more than you, pathetic earth child."
"And yet you can't touch me," Aaron lifted one hand away from his gun, and slowly raised his middle finger, "So bite me, Satan's dog."
The group hissed in displeasure.
"You didn't forget our deal, did you?" Aaron smirked, "What exactly happens if you break it?"
Professor Kellor started to snicker, the voice still controlled by an unearthly source, "Funny that you put my word on such a high pedestal, when you've already witnessed my promise to these people."
Aaron paused. He hadn't thought of that. Devils were deceivers. He promised his slaves immortality to escape their fear of death, but really he's only possessed their bodies. What did that mean for him and Alaire then? Were they really protected at all?
That meant Alaire was in trouble too.

*****

Gerald awoke, shivering uncontrollably. He was still outside in the cold, but his hands were bound to a large boulder where his back was pressed against. No one was around, but someone had been there with him. In the snow, in front of his legs, was a symbol drawn with maroon blood. Gerald knew too well what the symbol was from, he'd only seen the image a handful of times from his investigation with the cult case. A butterfly, skulls, the whole enchilada.

Placed in the center of the painted symbol was the artifact, the upside-down torch. 

"I thought virgin chicks were the preferred sheep for these rituals," Gerald spoke to no one. But someone answered. 

"A sense of humor to the end, most refreshing."

Gerald gulped. 

"Most men shriek, scream, cry even,. You'd be amazed. What humans are like when they crack."

"Who the hell are you?"

A man stepped out from behind the boulder imprisoning Gerald. He was older with wise wrinkles and almost kind eyes. Not exactly the image of pure evil Gerald was expecting.

"Wait. I do know you," Gerald said, "You're the psychiatrist, aren't you?"

The old man nodded, "I expected nothing less from the great detective."

"Why you? Why are you here?"

"I want you to guess. Use that intellect of yours."

Gerald grumbled but did as the old man said, and thought out every reason he could think of. Until he had a decent hypothesis, "You were Taylor's psychiatrist, but you were at work even before that. You were collecting these people, the thanatophobic ones. You were building your cult by using people's fears against them."

"I'm impressed." 

"But you aren't a psychiatrist at all, are you?"

"No."

"You're actually Thanato... Not in person, I've seen his ghost a couple times..." Gerald said, "But he is in you, isn't he?"

"I am part of many," the old man said, "But many of my hosts are rotting. Literally. I can only have one living host to keep me linked to this world."

Gerald observed his surroundings some more, before coming to another heavy conclusion.

"You're dying."

"Yes."

"Is that what this artifact is supposed to do... this ritual you've laid out for us," Gerald muttered, "You're going to be me now."

"Yes."

"Great..."