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The Darkest Echo

Coming April 7, 2025!

Samael

A.K.A King of Demons, Angel of Death, SatanAge: 4.7 billion yearsFeatures:
Long white hair that turns burnt red at the tips (worn half up), black and red banded horns that twist back, iridescent scaled red wings like a dragon, red skin like leather stained in blood, pale blue eyes beneath a strong brow, Roman nose, full lower lip, upper fangs, cleft in the chin, wide square jaw, and a hairless body (also with no belly button).Loves: dictators, Thai food, mushroom clouds, monster movies, orgies, napalm, curses, and deception.

Before

In the days before the ancients…
After the dawn was first created…
A woman was born.
Masterfully conceived and sculpted, life was breathed into her still form. Both beautiful and savage, this creature was loved as no other. She was treasured and cared for, yearned for. Yet she was also controlled, both restrained by and enslaved to her benefactor. It was this very dominance that manifested her anger. With untempered rage, she abandoned her love, and for her defiance, she was punished. She was cast out of her home and the life she had known, thrust into a darkness from which she could never escape…
Yet it was here she found solace and welcome.
In the ruinous night, she found carnal pleasure and the makings of an empire for her to rule.
She found her loyal family and a purpose for being.
She found herself.
And for thousands upon thousands of years, she was villainized. Men would invoke her name in fear and warning, slurring free-thinking and feeling women by invoking her name. She was to be forgotten entirely, replaced with another, as if she never existed…
Unto another being, she was a waking dream. This being sought her out, eager to consume both her body and her soul. In a heady delirium, they attempted to control her, to subjugate her as had been done before. When she rebelled, the being cast her body into the Void, a curse placed upon her mind. She would be lost to everyone, even from time itself.
For centuries, those who loved her most have searched for her, desperate to find her and bring her home, to see her in her dark glory once more.
To this day, their search continues…

Chapter One

No one ever prepares you for the first time you wake up in a hospital. The lights are blinding, the sounds are blaring, and the commotion that results from your eyes merely opening is akin to throwing a parade for a baby taking its first steps. Let’s not forget the confusion and, more than likely, the pain from whatever brought you there in the first place.
This was exactly what the young woman experienced when she woke up at Valley Hills Regional Hospital.
A single nurse had just checked on her, and when she fluttered her eyelids, all hell broke loose. A trio of nurses wearing navy blue scrubs and face masks scurried about, anxious to check her vitals and her pupils. They asked her a series of questions, too, before running off to fetch her doctor. Before she fully understood where she was or what was going on, the woman was being poked and prodded by a female doctor whose badge read “Dr. Victoria Oliver, Neurology." Once she satisfied herself with her own careful inspection of the woman, a single nurse remained behind as Dr. Oliver sat down by her bed and began asking her questions.
“Well, my dear. I’m Dr. Oliver. I’m sure you already saw my badge, though.” She smiled as she flashed it for emphasis, her white teeth sparkling and perfectly straight. She tucked a strand of chin-length auburn hair behind her left ear. “Can you tell me your name?”
The woman blinked a few times, then shook her head.
“Can you speak?”
The woman opened her mouth for a moment, then closed it and pursed her lips, her brow furrowing in concentration. She put a hand to her throat, just beneath her chin, and her eyes darted back and forth as she fought with herself. A second later, a sound squeaked out of her, not unlike a mouse might make. She coughed, then forced out a very raspy, “I… I can speak.”
“Good! That’s excellent news.” Over her shoulder, she requested the nurse to get some water for the patient. Turning her attention back to the woman in the bed, she asked, “Do you know what happened? Why you’re here?”
Again, the woman shook her head no.
“According to your chart and the report from the firefighters, you were found unconscious near a crashed vehicle off Highway 46, just outside of Anvil Bend. No one else was with you. You had no obvious injuries, no bruises or scrapes except for the cut near your left temple. Our scans showed no internal injuries, thank goodness. Your vitals have been steady, but despite our efforts, you, my dear, have been in a coma until today.”
“I… What? A coma?” The doctor nodded. “H– How long…?”
“How long have you been in a coma?”
After the woman nodded, Dr. Oliver replied, “Well, there’s no easy way to say this, so I’ll just pull the band-aid off. It’s been fourteen years.”
Shocked, the woman’s eyes turned glassy as unshed tears welled up within them. The doctor leaned forward and put her hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you! Here…” She reached over and grabbed some tissues, passing them to her quickly to calm her. “I apologize. I know that’s a lot to take in. Maybe we should let you rest–”
“No!” the woman cried out. “No, I’ve been asleep for a long time. I don’t want to go to sleep again.”
The doctor smiled softly. “I have no doubt. I don’t want you to panic, though. It’s rare for someone to wake up from a coma and go back into one. I have some tests I want to run, but I’ll save those for later. I don’t want to cause you any additional stress right now.”
“Can you at least tell me where I am? What year is it?”
“Of course. This is Valley Hills Regional. You’re on the fifth floor, room 520 of the Long Term Stay Unit. Your nurse is Sandy.” Just then, the nurse came back with the water. “Say hello, Sandy!”
“Hi, there!”
“Hi,” the woman replied softly.
Dr. Oliver continued, “To answer your other question, the date is May 14, 2025.”
“Okay,” she nodded. “At least I have a starting point.”
“Don’t worry about your name. Sometimes things need a little time to come back after a head injury.” The doctor stood up. “I’m going to schedule you for an MRI. I’ll ask them fit you in as soon as possible. I want to check your neurological function and make sure there are no lesions or growths. I know the police have some questions for you, so we’ll be alerting them of the change in your condition. Of course, I’m sure you could use some food, too. Sandy will make sure you get some crackers and have someone come around for a meal order for you.” She patted her hand. “For now, I want you to get some rest and hydrate, and we’ll talk again soon, okay? Do you have any questions before I go?”
“No, and yes? How am I still here after fourteen years?”
Dr. Oliver’s eyes lit up. “Well, Valley Hills has a wonderful program that began about twenty years ago called ‘Hoping to Help’. People can donate towards people’s medical bills anonymously, if they choose, and someone donated to fund your stay.”
“Do you know who they are?”
The doctor shook her head. “No, they were one of the anonymous ones.” After a moment, she followed up with, “Any other questions?”
The woman appeared lost in thought. Her voice timid and quiet, she mumbled, “No, I guess not. Not right now, anyway.”
“Okay. I’ll check on you this evening before I leave for the day, okay?” As she walked out of the room, she whispered something to the nurse, who simply gave a nod in response.
Once the door was shut, the nurse approached her bedside and made sure she was comfortable, adding a second pillow and raising the back of the bed a little so she could sit upright. A couple of minutes later, she gave her some crackers and a can of ginger ale to wash it down.
As Sandy was draping a nice freshly laundered and still warm blanket over her, the woman thanked her. “Sandy? Can I ask you something, please?”
“Sure thing.”
“Have I had any visitors?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Hmm.”
Sandy leaned back and gazed at her. “You know, we need to come up with a name for you. It doesn’t feel right calling you 'Jane' or Miss. You need somethin’...”
“I don’t have a clue about it.” The woman noticed a strand of blonde hair at the side of her vision, hitting her cheek just above her mouth. Glancing up from her hair at the nurse, she asked, “What would you suggest? What name do I look like?”
“Well, definitely not ‘Jane’.” She stared at her thoughtfully, tapping her right foot, then gasped. “That’s who you remind me of! Milli, my friend from when I was in grade school. She had pretty blonde hair like you. Same ”
“Milli…” She sounded the name out, repeating it a few times. “I look like Milli to you?”
“Spittin’ image. Same hazel eyes, too, but I think yours are different.”
“Different how?”
“Well, one is more green and one is more brown.”
“Can I see?”
“Sure, darlin’.” Sandy stepped out of the room and returned with a compact. Clicking as she flipped it open, she removed the round puff and handed it to her patient. “Here you go.”
The woman looked at herself, examining her features and her honey blonde hair. She opened her eyes wide to inspect her irises, noticing that the nurse was correct; she did have eyes of two different colors. Her fingertips gingerly passed over her eyebrows, her cheeks and her lips, ending at the tiny, almost imperceptible cleft in her chin. “Milli…”
“Yup. That’s got my vote.”
“Okay, then.” She handed the compact back to the nurse. “Milli it is.”
“I’ll spread the word.”
Sandy smiled and began to walk out, then made a noise reminiscent of surprise and exasperation. Realizing she forgot something, she spun around and walked over to the dry erase board listing all three room nurses by name and title. She quickly erased ‘Jane Doe’ from the top and replaced it with ‘Milli’, written in bold, red capital letters. She turned around, grinning happily, and Milli found herself automatically returning the gesture.The next few days in the hospital flew by. The MRI scan was performed, and Milli’s results were all negative for any abnormal brain activity. There were no tumors or ulcers, and she was given a clean bill of health. Well, almost. She still couldn’t recall who she was or how she had arrived at the border of the town of Anvil Bend. She had no memory of her life prior to waking in the hospital.
The police did send a detective down to visit her, but their line of questioning proved useless. She was unable to provide them with any relevant information beyond what they already knew. The vehicle was a nondescript, black, four-door sedan, without any license plates or registration. The VIN had been removed. No one else was in the car, and there were no witnesses, except for the jogger who found her face down on the forest floor yards away.
They also confirmed for her that no one had come looking for her in all that time. There were no missing person reports, and there were no warrants out for anyone matching her description. The only conclusion they could muster was that she was, in effect, a ghost.
Confused and disappointed, Milli watched the detective leave and muttered a solid curse word under her breath. Glancing out the window, she could see the rugged gray mountains in the distance, capped with cold white snow and swirled with wisps of clouds. She saw them, but she wasn’t thinking of them. She was fixated on the detective’s willingness to merely give up, to let her be a ghost among the living.
“If you keep that up, your eyebrows are gonna grow together like a caterpillar.”
Milli looked up to see her new nurse, “Tall Jennifer’”, leaning into the room, her left hand holding onto the doorway. Milli smiled. “Morning.”
“Morning, yourself! I’m about to go check on the patient in Room 516, but I wanted to see if you needed anything?”
Milli shook her head. “Tiny Jen brought me some ginger ale about ten minutes ago.”
“Good. The Jen’s have done their part! Okay, I’m off, but I’ll be back to check on you before you leave.”
“Before I leave?” Milli exclaimed, her eyes widening into saucers. She wasn’t ready, wasn’t prepared to leave!
The nurse had started to walk away but rebounded and entered the room. Now her brow was furrowed, her lips in a tight line. “No one told you?”
“No!”
Rolling her eyes, she muttered, “Typical.” Louder still, she continued, “But yes, you heard right. You’re being discharged today.”
Milli looked around, frantic and trying to find the right words to express her bewilderment. “But– But– Where am I supposed to go? I don’t have anything! No clothes, no shoes, no money… I don’t even have my name!”
“We’ll get you some clothes. The center of town is only a few blocks from here. It’s a nice day for a walk…?”
“But where am I gonna stay? How am I gonna eat?”
Tall Jennifer sat on the edge of her bed. “The rest of us have started a collection for you. It’s not much, but it should at least get you a good meal tonight. There’s a shelter in town. I can call ahead for you; make sure they save you a bed.”
Milli’s insides were in shambles, twisting and fluttering as she was gripped with fear and uncertainty. She could only stare at her nurse, words failing to convey her anxiety and her trepidation. A small mewling sound escaped her lips, and she cupped her hands over her mouth. Nurse Jennifer frowned sadly, leaned forward, and wrapped her arms around Milli’s shoulders.
“It’ll be alright. I promise you. Everything will be alright.”
Three hours later, Milli was standing outside the hospital’s main entrance, staring down at the concrete beneath her feet. The automatic doors shushed and hissed behind her as they opened and closed, opened and closed, over and over again. She was wearing a pair of sweatpants and a blue t-shirt that had a picture of Oahu on it. On her feet were a pair of dingy, canary-yellow clogs, and she carried some basic toiletries in a paper bag in her right hand. Her left hand was clutching at the hem of her sleeve, her fingers rubbing against it repeatedly.
For about ten minutes, she stood there, oblivious to the sound of the doors or the people needing to walk around her to either enter or exit. She was lost, both in mind and spirit, and it wasn’t until a car horn honked at the curb that she snapped out of her stupor and looked around. Realizing she needed to get going before the sun set behind the mountains, she started walking.
The nurses had given her $162.13. Tiny Jen had given her a printed map of the town from a popular software app and circled where the center of town was. She would go there, get something to eat, and then head to the shelter that Tall Jennifer had placed a star over top of on the map. Tomorrow would be a new day, and she would start things off with a full belly and a decent night sleep.
Roughly twenty minutes later, Milli passed by the first few houses lining the main part of town. Each one was cute and in a craftsman style, with a small second story, a full front porch with an overhanging roof, and a painted, four-foot-high picket fence around the yard. She was struck by how similar they all were, save for the ones painted a muted cornflower-blue or deep sage-green, complete with pristine white trim. The majority of the cookie cutter homes were white, with either black or green shutters, and featured neatly trimmed bushes by the porches and rich green hedges between the neighbors.
Trees lined the sidewalk on either side of the street, and the sun was just touching the mountaintops. A golden glow was cast over every single speck it could reach, and within the blades of grass, crickets were making preparations for the evening’s symphony. The sweet smell of hyacinth, roses, and peonies were carried across the air, and pollen followed soon after, tickling Milli’s nose as she tried to capture the fragrance of the flowers.

Entering the heart of town, homes gave way to stores and offices. Two-story concrete buildings gave way to three-story brick ones, speckled with single-story shops and a sparkling, decades-old cinema with a lit-up white marquee out front bearing red lettering. As she followed her map, she passed by strangers, young and old, who nodded and bid her ‘good evening’ as she walked briskly in her squishy shoes. The sidewalk was soon illuminated by solar-powered lampposts, and the sky overhead took on a tinge of purple as the sun dipped further behind the peaks.
Rounding the corner, she found herself in the center of town, and just to the northwest of her position, a diner lay across the street.
Decorated in shiny chrome and teal, the diner’s sign called it Hedy’s Place. It was wide and shallow, with a neon sign for coffee and a relatively full parking lot. Even from outside, she could see there were booths and a counter with seating overlooking the kitchen.
Comforted by the idea of a warm meal, Milli looked both ways and crossed the street, feeling like a moth drawn to a flame. There were three steps leading up to the entrance door, and when she grabbed the handle on the door, she pulled outward and nearly fell backwards. Stumbling, she had to use both hands to open the heavy door, quickly ducking inside to avoid it slamming back on her. Just inside, the doorways and wall trim consisted of a glossy lacquered, dark-stained cherry wood with black and white subway tile flooring. Black rugs ran from the entrance to just inside, then between the counter and booths from one end of the diner to the other. Near the entrance was a cash register on the countertop. Three cake display stands were next to it, each with a different cake or pie featured.
A waitress wearing black pants, a red shirt, and a black apron walked by carrying a tray laden with plates of food, and Milli simultaneously felt and heard her stomach grumble. She approached an empty seat one space away from the register and climbed up into it, appreciating the plush black cushion as it deflated some under her weight. Placing her paper bag between her legs and the base of the countertop, she reached out, sliding a menu from out of a napkin holder to look it over. With limited money, she wanted to be careful, so she decided on a bowl of homemade chicken and dumplings with a biscuit. The menu said it was only $6, so she figured $10 should be more than enough to cover it if she only had a glass of water. Tucking the menu back into the holder, she folded her arms and looked around.
As she was looking at the cook in the kitchen, an older woman stopped in front of her on the other side of the counter. Her make-up was garish, applied heavily in neon shades, with frizzy, icy blonde hair in an updo, and earrings featuring large, red flamingos. But her smile was kind, and that alone set Milli at ease.
“What’ll it be, hon?”
“Hi. Um, the chicken and dumplings please.”
“You’re new here, aren’t ya?”
Milli nodded. “Is it that obvious?”
“Yup. No one who knows Norman eats his chicken and dumplings.” She jerked a thumb at the cook. “It’s like trying to eat wallpaper paste.”
“Okay…” Milli grabbed the menu again and began scanning through it, eager to find something quickly. “Gee… Um, let me just find something else…”
Suddenly the menu was snatched from her hands. The woman smirked at her. “You want somethin’ hot and cheap, don’tcha?”
Milli tucked in her lips and begrudgingly nodded. Winking, the woman said, “No problem.” Turning around, she yelled, “Bowl of pasole, Norm!” Inside the kitchen, the cook looked up, then went to work. Mere minutes later, a steaming bowl of a fragrant red-colored soup sat in front of Milli, complete with a side of shredded cabbage, three slices of avocado, and a few crackers.
“Go on, girl. Dig in.”
Milli didn’t need the waitress to tell her twice. Collecting her wide spoon, she gathered some broth up, blew on it gently a few times, then sipped from it. The warm spices and rich, salty pork flavor were divine. She didn’t even have to try; a smile erupted on her face, and she sighed the sigh that only came from delicious contentment.
The waitress smiled. “Like it, do ya?”
“Oh, this is wonderful! What is it called again?”
“Pasole Rojo. Those little white things floatin’ around in there are called hominy. They’re a kinda corn, but they soak up all that flavor and turn into little pillowy dumplin’s. Here,” she said, pushing the bowls of toppings over. “Add these in. You’ll love it.”
Milli did as she instructed, relishing the textures and flavors. She didn’t know what pasole meant, or rojo, but she knew this soup was comforting and tasty. Before long, her bowl was empty, and she requested a second glass of water.
“I appreciate the suggestion, Mrs….?”
"Oh, I’m just Patricia. Well, everyone calls me Patty, and you can, too.”
“This was really great, Patty. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, sugar.”
“I’m Milli.”
“Nice to meet ya, Milli.” Patty began tidying up, casually asking, “So where are you from? Otherside of the county?”
“I… I don’t know.”
Patty scoffed. “Whaddya mean ‘you don’t know’? You just land on earth or somethin’?”
“Maybe?”
Patty stopped, hand on her hip, staring her down. “You’re not some kinda nut, are you?”
“Oh no, ma’am. No, I was in an accident.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I’ve… I’ve been in…the hospital…” Milli felt tears welling in her eyes. “Oh… Oh gosh, I’m sorry!” She sniffled as a few tears fell down her cheeks. “I’m still trying to figure out who I am, and where I’m from… And… And sometimes I get overwhelmed…” She grabbed a napkin and began pressing it into the corners of her eyes, a hiccup escaping her.
Patty rushed around the counter. “Oh hon… Oh I had no idea! I didn’t mean to upset you!” Swiftly pulling more napkins out, she shoved them at her. “Here. You’re leakin’ somethin’ fierce.”
“Sorry,” Milli sniffled.
“Don’t apologize. I should be the one doin’ that.”
“No, no. You’ve been really nice. I appreciate it.”
Patty gave her a couple pats on the arm. “You alright now?”
“Yes.”
She returned back behind the counter. “That’s gotta be awful. Not knowin’ who ya are or where you’re from? Hell, everyone around here knows me. But you definitely aren’t from Anvil Bend. I’d know if you were.”
“That’s what the police tell me.”
Patty let out a laugh. “You can’t listen to them! They don’t know half of what they’re doin’ with John runnin’ things. You can’t rely on them to find a lost dog in a kennel.”
Milli took another sip of her water. “That doesn’t really make me feel any better.”
“I know, sugar, but it’s best you understand where you’re at. There are some good folks in Anvil Bend, and some bad ones. Fortunately, today you found a good one.” She gestured towards herself before pointing past Milli toward the street. “Out there, though, there are some weirdos and whackos. Truly. And some of them are dangerous.” Standing up straight, she added, “You best be lookin’ out for yourself.”
Unsure what to do with that information, Milli turned back from looking outside and asked, “Mind if I ask you a question?”
Wiping down the counter, Patty replied, “Fire away.”
“Do you know anywhere I can get a job?”
Patty met her eyes, grinning wildly, and smacked the countertop. “Right here!”
“Here?”
“Yup! Hedy’s needs another waitress. You up for it?”
“I don’t… Well, I think… Yeah. I could probably do it?”
“Terrific! Come by tomorrow. I’ll show you the ropes.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Got anything better to do?”
“No… No I suppose I don’t.”
“That settles it.” Calling over her shoulder, she shouted, “We got ourselves a new employee, Norm!”
Norman continued to nudge and flip food on the grill. Without looking up, he mumbled a simple, “Godspeed.”
Patty smirked and shrugged, then went back to cleaning around Milli.
Less than fifteen minutes later, Milli had paid for her meal and was walking into the Angel’s Rest shelter down the block. The building was two stories, white-painted brick, with a large steel cross with wings over the doorway. Despite the anxiety the outside gave her, the interior was quiet and unassuming. Everything was painted off-white, even the trim. The floor was simple beige speckled linoleum, and there were framed portraits of saints and Jesus everywhere.
Finding the office, Milli discovered Tall Jennifer had made good on her word, and there was a bed held especially for her. She was given a quick tour, then headed down the hall to clean up in the communal restroom. The sleeping quarters were all located on the second floor. She located her assigned cot and climbed in, quickly pulling the pea green blanket up to her chin, the hem gripped tight in her hands. Everything seemed above board, but she still had to force herself to ignore her surroundings and focus strictly on going to sleep.
When it finally came for her, she dreamed of entering a solid black space with no corners, walls, windows, or roof. It was a darkness that seemed to absorb light, leaving behind an emptiness that rivaled the darkest pockets of space. The only source of light was an ebony fireplace with smoldering embers glowing just inside it. There was no sound, save for the crackling hiss of the embers. The heat of the burning remnants felt cozy against her exposed flesh, yet she felt like she was somewhere safe.
No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she heard a deep sigh, not unlike the one she had made in the diner while eating that delicious soup. She realized it came from right behind her. Without warning, warm breath cascaded down her neck and over her shoulder, and a baritone voice murmured, “There you are…”
Jerking awake, Milli sat upright, her heart pounding in her chest. The blanket had twisted around her, and she hurried to loosen it, pulling it up and over her shoulders. She was confused and startled, but more shockingly, she was unafraid. In fact, she felt a twinge of reassurance that she was in the right place and relaxed a little.
The voice she heard was familiar.
Laying back in the cot, she fell fast asleep, but the dream didn’t return.