Chapter Text
How exactly does somebody who technically doesn’t exist, go to school?
Abaddon has no birthday, no mother nor father- Abaddon is nobody’s son. But that boy was- that boy was somebody's baby. There must be some record of him out there- a priest's son. But a priest’s son who wasn’t baptized? Seems unlikely… Katherine groaned into her hands before coming to a realization.
When she and Abaddon were talking, he said this was “the site of his failure.” This is where- or close to where the boy lived. And then she remembered the old run down church that folks nearby would advise you not to go into- it wasn’t preserved, and for all she knew could catch fire quicker than anything. That entire area was left to rot- you’d think people would care more about a historical site, but maybe this one just wasn’t important.
Nobody probably even knew about the boy who got possessed- and if they did, they probably thought it was a hoax, like so many old possessions were. People were just so dramatic- weren’t they? But when the walking proof is with you, anything is possible. Katherine had done much worse before- walking into a dingy old church that probably had too many curses to count was nothing… But churches were meant to be a safe place. God- she was doing this all for a being she didn’t HAVE to do this for.
She sighed, not knowing if she should go alone or take somebody with her- as a witness. It was out of the property line, so she couldn’t bring Nathan, and she didn’t want to endanger her children further… Abaddon… that’s it. The person who should know his way around the old buildings. He had been lurking over this child for awhile, right? Then he should know if he has any documents- his name, even.
Katherine snapped out of her trance and whipped her head to look at Esther. “Did you see where Abaddon went?”
“Somewhere down the hall… Dunno where he is now.”
Katherine sighed and jogged down the hallway, no sight of him. Next thing she knows, she’s running circles around the place before she spots Abaddon sulking in the corner. She furrowed her brow and walked up to him, bending down to his level. “Abaddon.. Buddy..?”
Abaddon quickly snapped his head up and looked at Katherine with a deer-in-headlights lock. He quickly wiped his face and shaked his head. “Ye-uhm…Yes..?”
“Are you… alrig-“
“Just fine!” Abaddon grunts and stands up swiftly. “I’m on it, whatever you need.”
Katherine raised an eyebrow, scowling just a bit. “How did you know I- ah- Never mind. I do need your help. You possessed the kid, you know anything about him? His name… You knew about his father, no?”
Abaddon nods momentarily, seemingly lost in thought. “I can’t think that far back, I don’t think…” Katherine put her finger against Abaddon's lips, trying to focus, in which he let out a soft growl.
“But he was a priest, was he not..?” She mumbled, “There must be some sort of record of him.” She sighs and stands up, huffing and baring her teeth. “Abaddon, we’re going on an adventure.”
The walk down to the church was a narrow windy path, for what it was worth it was a quiet, peaceful walk with Abaddon trying to catch the occasional squirrel on the way there. Katherine spotted the building from a distance, it had a distinct look and smell.
She stepped onto the creaky step, tiptoeing as if she were walking on ice. It seemed like each piece of wood was begging to just be thrown out, and she felt probably dozens of bugs crawling up her ankles. She began to wonder if this place was even safe to step into, when she saw the black mold in the corner of the pews, she knew they had to be quick, well at least she did. Abaddon would be fine, he always was.
Katherine pulled a flashlight out of her pocket, gripping onto it with shaking hands. The inside of the church was cold, she felt what seemed like the breath of several ghosts upon her neck- she hated that she knew what that felt like now.
The building couldn’t be much bigger than a room in the hotel, so there wasn’t much to search. Abaddon was casually strolling around, trying to recall his surroundings even just a bit, but he was never allowed in the church. Or- the boy was never allowed in the church after the possession.
“Now would be a good time for you to wake up…” he mumbled, tapping his forehead, rubbing the sides of his hair. That’s when his eyes darted toward a large door arch, with a now kicked-in door that was in shambles on the floor. He whipped his head around, “Katherine!” He called out before quickly shuffling into the room.
“What? Abaddon- Abaddon!” She quickly ran after him, flashlight in hand she found herself around the source of his voice. She peered into the small back room, in which there was a destroyed desk and papers scattered among the place. She groaned, “Ew, ew, ew, ew!” She huffed as she sorted through the crumpled, crusting pieces of paper, some of them seemingly dissolving at the slightest touch.
Abaddon was digging through some papers himself, groaning into his hands before peeking through his fingers. A beam of light shined upon a cleaner piece of paper on the floor. He dropped down and crawled toward it, gripping it roughly. He squinted his eyes and tried to make out the writing, pursing his lips.
“Katherine, I may have found something…”
Katherine whipped her head around and let out a sigh of relief, walking over and squatting next to Abaddon, pulling the paper from his hands. She mumbled, “Samuel Griffiths…” She turned to Abaddon, “Was that his name?”
Abaddon simply shrugged. Katherine groaned and kept reading, pulling the paper closer. “Demonic conjurings… possession of a son… God, this has to be it! How’d the hell you spot this?”
“I.. had a feeling, I suppose.”
Katherine sighed, not accepting much of a better answer from him. She grabbed her flashlight and nodded. “Alright, let’s head out then?” Abaddon nodded, peering out the window he saw a car.
“Somebody is going to the hotel..”
“God- out of all times! Come on, come on!”
As Katherine walked out the back room, she tripped on a lifting floor board, gasping as her body banged against the disgusting floor. Abaddon sat there for a second before processing the situation and helping Katherine up, pulling her up from under her arms. As the car drove right by the front of the church, the person inside threw a still-lit cigarette out the window.
Katherine fixed her hair out of her face before sniffing. “Do you smell that?” The two smelt the air in unison, Abaddon scurried to peer out the dirty window, wiping it with his sleeve.
“You should hurry out.”
Katherine walked beside him, looking down at the small fire that was brewing up, she yelped and ran out. “Get out, get out! I’ll go get-“ she threw the paper to him, “I’ll go get a bucket- something!” Abaddon nodded, walking out he started to follow Katherine, but something, some part of him wanted to stay. He wrapped back around and sat just across the burning church, watching the flames rise up the building, he felt some familiarity.
As Katherine rushed outside with a heavy bucket of water, her eyes loomed upon the raging fire, she realized she couldn’t stop this. All she could do was sit back and watch… And call the fire station, that too. She threw down the water bucket and screamed, holding her hair before pulling out her phone and dialing 911.
Abaddon curled up, leaning into the fire's warmth, something he had longed for. He gripped the paper, looking down at its contents. Possession of son, sex -male, Griffith Adam. He put the paper next to him.
So here he sat, himself and baby Adam, captivated by the blazes of God once more, forever bonded by the will of God himself. He pulled his knees up, pressing his chin against his legs, closing his eyes as embers freed themselves from their mother, each sizzle upon his neck felt almost heavenly. And that’s when he grinned, his cheeks flailed up in excitement, the only joy he’d felt since the ritual more or less.
Katherine sighed, putting her phone back in her pocket. “Fire department will be here in God knows how long… Come on, kid. Let’s go inside.” This time Abaddon did not protest at being called a child, he relished in it- almost. He wasn’t against the child being part of him, not when it was like this. It was almost a favor, immortal life, for the child, not Abaddon. Or maybe it wasn’t, maybe knowing you could die at any moment is the thrill of life, the thrill Abaddon lacked, the thrill dear Adam could never have, the moments Abaddon has forever stripped him of. A boy who never lived, and now must exist forever.
On the way to the hotel, Katherine grinned nervously. “So, Abaddon… how does school sound…?”
“School?”
“Well you know, like how Esther and Ben go to school everyday- you’d do that, just for a bit… I mean, you'd need lots of help probably… But that’s what I’m here for! Like- can you sing your ABC’s?”
Abaddon shook his head, Katherine groaned as she opened for the door for him and mumbled. “Jesus Christ. We’ll- We’ll figure it out…”