The Calling (A Zak Bagans Story)

Shiloh’s POV
It was cold and dark my body ached. Where was I? I tried standing up that’s when I realized my body was laying on an old gurney with my wrist bound to the sides of the bed rails. The last thing I remember was Aaron, Zak, and I spilt up in search for Nick. Then I heard someone behind me and something collided with the back of my head. I looked around the room and I could vaguely see my surroundings. My head was throbbing, the room was spinning, and I was scared. I tried yelling for Zak or someone but all that came out was a muffled cry, duct tape was placed across my mouth. Please someone help me. Zak I need you.
Aaron’s POV
Everyone is missing and I have no idea now where I am going. My equipment just failed on me so I can’t communicate with anyone. What’s going on?
Zak’s POV
Where the hell is my crew?
“Shiloh? Aaron? Nick?” I called out as loud as I could, “Where are you guys?”
I hope everyone is doing fine. All of my equipment died. God damn it! I know that I was walking down a hall I felt the cold stone walls on my finger tips. Then I somehow ended up in the underground tunnels. All I heard were my feet tap on the pavement with each step that I took. What seemed like hours, I found the operating where they would pull out the patient’s teeth. My hands were extended outwards and I found the chair. That’s when I heard a little girl’s voice.
“Hurry…,” She whispered, “He has her.”
I was astonished by how clear it was I wish my digital recorder was working.
“Who has who?”
The voice took a longer time responding.
“Who has her? Who is her?” I listened carefully.
“…he has…Shiloh.”
Once I heard Shiloh’s name all my senses came to life, “Who has Shiloh?”
“…going…to…kill…her.”
I darted out of the room and was running. I’m so stupid I shouldn’t have left her alone. I’m coming Shiloh hold on.
Aaron’s POV
I was walking and I came upon two big double doors and I tried pushing the open but they wouldn’t budge. I was sweating it was boiling hot and we were in the middle of January. All my hairs on my arm stood up and I could sense someone. I listened carefully and I could hear footsteps down at the end of the hall. My body stiffened and something was telling me not to move or make any sudden noise.
“Careful….he is…coming.”
I jumped because I heard a male whisper.
“Who are you?” I whispered.
“…patient…”
I was amazed, “You were a patient here?”
“…shh…he is going to get…you.”
My legs began to shake, I was scared and all I wanted to do was run. So my body flew forwards from taking off and all I wanted to do was find my friends.

Shiloh’s POV
My wrists were bleeding from where I tried to pull at them but the duct tape made my skin raw. Tears started spilling out of the corner of my eyes and I was so scared. Why did this demon want me? I just want my life to go back to how it was before. All that I could keep thinking was where is Zak and my friends? I was so scared and I couldn’t stop my body from trembling. Please someone help me.

Aaron’s POV
I ran into a random room and the smell instantly flooded my nose. I smelled metallic rust. It made me sick I instantly pulled my shirt up to cover my nostrils. I looked around the room taking in more detailed. Then I noticed the door and there was light illuminating from underneath. I walked over and to my surprise it was unlocked. Carefully I peeked around the door and my eyes widen when I saw a familiar person on a gurney.
“Shiloh?” I asked in disbelief.
Her head shot up towards me.
I quickly ran towards her and noticed she was bond to the gurney, “Who did this to you?” I asked as I peeled off the duct tape from her mouth.
“I don’t know.” She told me as her lips quivered, “I was looking for Nick and then everything went dark and I woke up here.”
“Okay well let’s get you out of here and go find the others.” I told her and took the tape off from her wrist and ankles.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I froze and turned around to be facing Nick, “Nick? We have been looking all over for you man.”
“Aaron that’s not Nick…”She said and held onto my arm.
Nick gave the nastiest grin, “Right you are little Shiloh.”
He turned to Aaron and gently placed his hand on his chest then Aaron’s body flew towards the back wall and Nick grabbed me by my throat. I glanced over to Aaron and he was knocked out.
“Did you seriously think that you can escape?” Hearing his voice sent shivers down my spine.
He pushed my body back onto the gurney. Only this time he bounded my wrist and ankles with barb wire. I let out a small yelp from the pain of the wire digging its way into my flesh.
“Please Nick if you are in there…fight him.”
His smile grew even bigger and he peeled more duct tape and placed it over my mouth. He walked over to Aaron and bound his wrist behind him.
He glanced one more time towards me, “Time to go and get your little boyfriend.”
My eyes grew wide and in an instant Nick disappeared out the door.

Zak’s POV
Four hours passed and I haven’t been to locate anyone. How I’m I going to explain this to our producer? The fact that we haven’t gotten any evidence well at least none that was actually recorded properly. My equipment completely died on me which it’s odd because we made sure that all of stuff had full battery. I heard footsteps approaching and I quickly pressed myself against a wall listening.
“Zak?”
I pushed off the wall when I noticed it was Nick, “Dude we have been looking for you. Where have you been? Why haven’t you answered to us calling?”
“I don’t know man but I am really worried about Shiloh. Have you seen her?” Nick asked me in a low whisper.
“No and I can’t find Aaron either.” I answered him while we kept walking.
Nick was silent behind me and I couldn’t help but get this feeling. Like it was warning me of something, “Hey Nick where exactly were you?”
“I don’t man my camera died so I couldn’t see anything. I was just aimlessly walking around hopping to find someone.”
This feeling in the pit of my stomach I couldn’t quite shake it off. I kept glancing over at Nick once in a while and I noticed that he wasn’t quite acting like himself, “Hey remember your dad called last week about your sister wedding?”
He stayed silent for a while but then responded, “Yeah dad said to be there in a month. Why?”
Then that’s when I felt my insides tighten and all the hairs of my body stood up. Nick was not himself. Then who the hell was he?
“Nick?”
He stopped walking, “Yeah?”
“Where is Shiloh and Aaron?” I asked and I could hear his breathing stop.
“I already told you I don’t know. Why are you asking me again?”
I held onto my camera that I have been holding onto in my left hand and held it tightly, “Who are you?”
“What are you talking about Zak?”
“You are not Nick! Who the fuck are you?!”
Then a low chuckle rose from Nick’s chest and escaped from his lips and it sounded all too familiar, “It’s you…”
“Well I’m surprised it took you this long to figure me out.” He laughed more loudly this time.
“Where are they?!” I yelled at him.
“They are fine. They are waiting for you.” He grabbed me by the neck and pushed me up against the wall, “You how rude it is to keep them waiting.” Then he pushed my head against the wall and I fell limp.
I could feel “Nick” dragging my body. My head was spinning and I felt like vomiting. The only thing that I could focus on was Shiloh and Aaron. I hope he didn’t do anything to them if he did I would do everything to send him back to where he came from. We entered a small lit room and I felt him drop my leg and it collided with a loud thump against the floor. I tried to stand up but my legs felt weak but eventually I managed to stand. I looked around my surroundings and saw Aaron unconscious on the floor. I ran towards him.
“Aaron, wake up!” I slapped him lightly on the side of his face and he came to.
“Nick is possessed and he is going to kill Shiloh we got to stop him!” Aaron rambled and then he panicked when he noticed his wrists were bound.
“I know, where is Shiloh?” I quickly took the duct tape off.
Right when Aaron was going to answer I heard a small whimper and I instantly turned around to see Shiloh on the gurney with Nick behind her. He held a knife at her throat and the sight of him smiling like he is proud of his doing.
“If you hurt her I swear I would…”
He cut me off, “What kill me?” He chuckled, “How do you plan on doing that? Zak you are not that bright are you. You see if you harm me well I won’t feel any of it. But your friend Nick here that’s a different story.”
“Why are you doing this?” I found myself asking.
“Well I just came back to collect what was promised to me.”
“What are you talking about?” Aaron asked as he would take glances at Shiloh to make sure at least she was alive.
“You see as you man know I’m a demon. I was summoned by a priest and who would’ve thought right? He summoned me because his church was losing business and he didn’t know what else to do. Talk about desperate and the irony. So I told him all he needed to do was give me a small human sacrifice and then his church will be saved. He made a mistake by kidnapping a small child and he was going to do the killing but the child escape and he was caught. I couldn’t go back to hell without my soul so I waited for some poor foolish human to walk into my grasp.” He looked down at Shiloh and lightly caressed her cheek, “Then that’s when Shiloh walked in and I automatically wanted her. So I stayed with her trying to get her soul so I can return. But you!” He pointed his finger in my direction, “Had to make things difficult.”
I had to think of something to do or he was going to kill Shiloh, “Nick if you are in there fight him off man. You know you are way stronger don’t let him control you!” I snapped trying to get my friend back.
He just laughed, “I can’t believe I’m so close to claiming you. We need to hurry because I have a time limit and it’s coming close so let’s hurry.” He looked down at Shiloh and I could see tears escaping her eyes as he pressed the blade tighter against her throat.
I looked at Aaron and he was just standing there not knowing what to do.
“Take me instead!”
Aaron eyes bulged out of his sockets, “What the hell is wrong with you man!”
“Hmm…like a trade?” This caught his interest.

I looked at Shiloh and she was pleading with me and I could tell just by looking into her eyes, “Yes you can take me and leave them alone including Nick.”
“That’s a very tempting offer.” He looked at Shiloh, “What do you say? I think I might take that offer. So thank your boyfriend Shiloh.”
He began walking over to me with the knife at his hand. Aaron started to stand in front of me but I pushed him out of the way and he fell towards the floor. Within seconds he was in front of me pulled my head back by my hair, “Let’s make this quick I’m running out of time.”
I glanced over at Shiloh and she was crying and struggling against the wires on her wrist and I told I was sorry. Then I felt the cool blade against my skin and I closed my eyes waiting for my end.

Shiloh’s POV
I was watching Nick walk over to Zak and I began panicking I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. Zak looked over at me and I couldn’t take it. I tugged and finally pulled my wrists from the barb wires which in result caused my skin to tear and blood was pouring. I pulled the tape from my mouth and unwind the wire on my ankles and hopped off the gurney. I frantically looked around the room for something sharp and my eyes landed on the piece of sharp metal and I snatched it up. If the demon needed a sacrifice then that’s what he was going to get.
“Stop!” I screamed and all three looked over at me, “Leave him alone don’t kill him. You can have me I give myself to you.”
Then I shoved the metal piece into my stomach and I heard my beloved Zak scream out my name and Aaron ran to my side. Nick smiled evilly and walked towards me. From the sudden rush of blood loss my body went limp and Aaron caught me before I could hit the floor.
“Don’t go near her!” Zak grabbed him and punched him which caused him to fall to the ground.
Nick let out a loud screeching noise, “No! It’s too late! I ran out of time.” Nick started trashing around and he let out a loud growl and Nick’s body collapsed onto the floor.
Zak ran towards me and took me from Aaron, “Go check on Nick.” Aaron did as he was told.
I looked up at Zak and tears were visible on his face, “Why?” Was all he could say.
“I couldn’t let it happen Zak and I knew if I could distract him he wouldn’t kill you and I just got lucky with the timing.” I laughed and then it turned to a nasty cough and I could taste the metallic in my mouth.
“Nick is alive!” Aaron ran towards us and I could see he was crying as well, “I’m running back to base to call someone. Hang in there Shiloh.”
Zak was looking at me while trying to put pressure on my wound, “Stay with me Shiloh. Please just hang in there.”
I started to cry as well feeling guilty for hurting him, “Zak please don’t cry. Please. I did this to save you and I did so I have no regret.”
Zak just stared at me holding me close to him.
I reached up with my hand and caressed his cheek and pulled him down to kiss his soft lips because I knew this was the last time.
“I love you Shiloh.” He told me and he kissed me again.
“I love you too.”
With those words I finally felt myself growing weak and I grabbed onto Zak’s hand holding it tight. Till my grip loosened my sight grew darker and I fell into darkness while hearing the man I loved sobs fade away.

No one’s POV (3 years later)
“Aaron you have the cameras and Nick are you recording?” Zak asked his fellow investigators while they were getting ready for another lock down.
“Yeah we are all set.” Nick told Zak.
Zak just nodded and they stared to walk in deeper into the building when all their equipment died. Nick and Aaron looked at each other with puzzled expressions. Zak was going to go back to base till he couldn’t believe what he saw. The woman that he loved was standing in front of him. Shiloh was smiling and Aaron and Nick stood there with their mouths hanging open. Shiloh walked over to Aaron and gave him a big hug, then she moved to Nick hugged him as well but looked into his eyes and he knew what she was trying to tell him and he tried to not cry. Then she looked walked over to Zak and she wrapped her arms around his neck and placed her lips onto his and kissed him ever so slightly. He was amazed on how real it felt. She pulled away and moved back and she just smiled at us and then she was gone. They knew she came back to let them know she was okay and she doesn’t hold anything against them. Then all their equipment got all of its power back. We were all silent for a while but then they looked at each other with smiles plastered on their faces.