Take Me to Church

97.

"No Clarence." Gilbert was alone in the office, Clarissa had gone home for thanksgiving trying to work things out with her family or so she claimed. Gilbert knew that was bullshit thought, since she was bringing a literal succubus to dinner to shove it in her families face how far she was gone, but who was he to get in the way of her family squabbles. Timms had called not too long after he'd gotten in and read the note from Doris that she too was going home for the holidays despite Elves not actually celebrating any holiday during winter he was aware of.

"You didn't even hear me out."

"I didn't need to, I heard your voice that's all I need."

"Come on Gil don't act like you don't owe me." Gilbert wanted to huff about all the things he's done for Timms over the years and how the balance is in his favor more so than Timms, but he knew from past conversations that never ever worked out.

"What do you want?" The resignation set in, the resignation that Gilbert was going to do whatever Timms needed whether he wanted to or not.

"There's a church in Idaho."

"Lots of church's in Idaho reverend."

"This one's special all isolated up near the tip, something funny going on there."

"Funny ha ha or?"

"Funny awful."

"And you know about this?"

"I got an ear to the ground where I'm at, I'll text you the address, but I have to go Gil, talk later." Gilbert knew they wouldn't talk later, they never did. Clarence would just drop this kind of garbage on Gilbert probably with some knowledge brought to him by a demon and then Gilbert would have to deal with it. It was a pattern Gilbert had gotten used to in a sad sort of way. He gathered his "Timms" set of gear, mostly holy artifacts and bullets and walked out to the van. He'd have left a note for Clarissa and Doris, but he knew he'd be the first one back anyway, and so the note was a waste of time.

****

Gilbert checked the address twice to make sure Timms or his GPS had not lead him astray. To his dismay it was correct. He had been traveling down a mostly gravel road up until he got to a small dirt road. None of this said place that Gilbert wanted to go, but he had grudgingly agreed to Timms request and driven out to butt fuck no where Idaho and so he was all in for the duration. Traveling up the road as it winded around dead trees and muddy unkempt roads eventually lead to a run down church more rotting than standing and a parking lot full of rusted cars.

"Fucking Timms." Gilbert muttered as he got out of the van. He had figured maybe he was being called in as a favor to an uptight clergyman who had heard something in the basement that just loose pipes. But no this was some ancient portal of evil long discarded and avoided and he had blithely driven up without paying heed to any of the clear "stay away" warning signs. This is where Gilbert missed Clarissa most, she was a nice grounded view point into not doing stupid things, but she wasn't at the church and Gilbert knew once he was here he couldn't leave until the job was done. So he steeled himself, gathered up his supplies including extra flash light batteries and then knocked on the door to the church.