6.

Father Jason Alveron has come to the Osmond family home. Apparently, Professor Patrick Dunne has a theory or something he believes to be more than a theory, and he has been basing his work, if that is what it is, on that theory.

This is why he was assigned to travel with Father Alveron from the Vatican almost eight years ago, yeah eight years ago. Whatever he believes, he has believed it for some time, as it would seem there are others who believe too. This theory has yet to be properly discussed though it is to be when the time is right, so he tells Father Alveron. His work has a suggestion going Jason's way that a visit to the Osmond household is a very necessary one.

Frank and Sarah Osmond had adopted an infant, an infant who by this moment in time, well into 2008, has become eight years old. The previous seven years have been so difficult that Frank sought help, well perhaps help or some sort had found him first and such is why Father Alveron has come to be where he is.

He has seen many things for himself and with everything else he has seen, both before being sent off one last time by the Vatican and what he has witnessed in recent years, Father Jason Alveron has had enough. He wants out. He does not want anything else to do with whatever the hell is wrong with the world. No matter how much he does want out, no matter what he does in this moment or in any moment from here on it, it all will find him again. Whatever is happening, it will seek him out again for Father Alveron, if he remains a man of the cloth or not, has his part to play.

With what he has experienced within the Osmond household Father Alveron has chosen his moment to walk away and his moment is right now though as he stands at the front door of the Osmond home, he sees that the garden is completely covered with blackbirds.

Theories, missions and whatever else, no more, Jason Alveron wants no more. Darkness however does not want to prevent Father Alveron from walking away, if anything he encourages such a move. He is indeed here in this moment and cannot be seen and so to free of Father Alveron Darkness has the crows make a pathway for the priest to walk upon.

As odd as a gap opening up is, he doesn't question it. Jason Alveron wastes no time in vacating the property he had come to and almost right away he regrets this for as soon as he clears the garden gate the crows swarm the house. They do so with the intent of taking the lives of Frank and Sarah Osmond.

If Father Alveron had stayed within the house would his life have been taken too or was it necessary for him to leave before an attack could occur? Surely by leaving he has unintentionally condemned two people to death. His own faith has been weakening for so long by this point that this surly what sends him over the edge.

How could God, if God truly exists, allow such a thing to happen? Perhaps he does not have a choice especially if his counterpart is as powerful or as close to being as powerful as God Almighty himself so happens to be.

Thing is with that and with the taking of two lives, has Darkness given an order? Had he directly ensured that this day was to be the last for these people or has Raven had her foster parents killed on her own accord? Or perhaps the birds were on protective duty, seeing the adults as a threat to a daughter of Darkness? Frank Osmond had requested aid which led to the presence of Father Alveron on this day; it is quite possible he had reason to do so other than to have an eight-year-old girl observed along with the possible relationship she has with crows.

Whether or not Jason Alveron could have done anything for the child, how much further would Frank Osmond have gone to ensure that something happens regarding the darkness within his foster daughter? That will have to remain an unknown.

Odd as odd can be, so many birds raid a home, once foster parents have been taken out, the black birds vacate the house, they vacate the premises and Darkness himself vanishes. Raven simply fixes herself something to eat and sits at the kitchen table to eat, paying no attention to the two dead bodies not all so far away from where she sits.

With the front door to the house remaining open it is not long before a neighbour attempts to make an enquiry only to make a discovery instead. Father Alveron fearing the worst remains outside until that neighbour begins releasing panic induced screams. Soon after which ... police, ambulance and social services are on the scene. The unharmed eight-year-old child remains silent, states nothing of what had occurred. Father Alveron too is at a loss to describe the events he witnessed. Soon a child is back in care and as calm as any child can be.

For Father Alveron, he considers making an attempt to progress forwards with being out from all that is as he also considers going confront the Professor?

***

Confront the Professor it is.

'Do you believe now?' Patrick Dunne asks Jason Alveron.

'I don't know ... I don't want to know.'

'You have seen it yourself, what more do you need?'

'Need? This is not about need ...'

'Damn right it's not and I do not ask for forgiveness swearing in front of a priest.'

'Look Patrick ...'

'No Father ... you look. Be a priest and stand up for this.'

'Stand up' Jason speaks having raised his voice by more than a few decibels. 'I'm done and I am most certainly out ...'

Jason Alveron, no longer wanting to be a priest, walks away leaving Professor Patrick Dunne to turn to the other person who had been in attendance for this conversation ...

'Well, you could have at least said something.'

'Jason is set in his ways, he is always going to do what he is going to do, nothing I could say would change anything' speaks Lawyer Jerry Flynn. 'So, what now?'

'Damned if I know ...'