Chapter 7 - Preparing for Battle
Arthur knew that conventional weapons would be useless against a creature of shadows. He gathered items mentioned in the old folklore texts from his library. He packed a heavy canvas bag with rock salt, pure iron nails, and a thick bundle of dried sage. He also found a heavy silver pendant that had belonged to his late wife. Lily watched him silently from the doorway, her eyes wide with lingering terror. She asked him if he was going back to the bad place. Arthur knelt down, pulling her into a tight, reassuring hug. He promised her that he would bring her brother back, no matter the cost. He called his trusted neighbor, a retired nurse, to come and watch over Lily. Once he was sure Lily was safe, he loaded his supplies into his rusty pickup truck. The drive back to the suburban house felt like a march toward a battlefield.
