The quad stopped in the middle of salts staring at the glowing, beautiful mansion before them, they also noticed the arrows positioned above floating in the air. Roan couldn't feel an ounce of amazement for the place it was quite the contrary and his chest became constricted. His gut is kicking him to leave asap.

"GUYS!!!"

Their ears perked up at the familiar voice who called them, Roan was wide-eyed and started looking for its owner. All this time he thought she died or maybe it's a ghost again—

"MYRRH!" Alcel made a run to the side where their other colleague was, standing near a child. She was too focused in getting to the other female she didn't see the arrows shot again from above.

Paulo hollered with hand gestures, "MOVE AWAY!" He pulled Mikaela with him while Roan jumped and ran at the same time to fasten his pace. Alcel is too far from him, "Damn it, Alcel no!" It's too late! She's not going to make it!

The long-haired sunset-haired stopped in her tracks, breathe caught in her throat at the upcoming arrow.

"PAMCAKES!" Myrrh attempted to move but Lazarus pulled the hem of her dress to stop her.

"NO! You will die! Do not do stupid things!" Lazarus barked.

Myrrh tried pulling away, "She's my friend!"

It's too late! Alcel ducked down with closed eyes, she waited for the arrow to pierce her body, for the excruciating fire to burn her slowly until she too turns into grains of salt but minutes passed, Alcel felt none.

She opened her eyes and lower her arms down, a shadow loomed above and when she tilted her gaze up, she was met with a familiar face. "You..."

A pained smile plastered on the person's face, "I see you keep that necklace despite what I did and said to you in the chapel"

Tears welled in Alcel's eyes, she couldn't understand but her heart swelled in joy that he came to save her but also sorrow that this would possibly be the last time they would see each other. The shimmering arrow pierced straight in his stomach, the white flame is already spreading.

"You came back for me..." She stifled a cry; her hands hold onto him as he dropped on his knees. "I thought you were dead but you're here...you saved me"

He chuckled lightly; this woman is truly something else. "I will not easily die by your weapon of choice," The flame is now shifting his upper body, he groaned in pain.

Alcel cried more, she didn't want him to die or go. "We can do something; we'll take you to the hospital after this please hold on" She wasn't sure if what she said is even possible but anything to make him stay.

But he shook his head, "Not this time, Alcel..." He touched the pendant of his necklace that is now clasped around her neck. "I am sorry for doubting you"

"What do you mean? I don't understand a thing! You need to answer many questions so please please please don't leave yet I beg you" Alcel pulled him in an embrace, "You're my...You're my guardian angel, aren't you?"

"How did you figure out?" He let himself be pulled in her arms.

Her heart broke at his confirmation, "Because I felt it, and it felt right..."

"I may not be with you physically but I want to let you know that this time my faith in you shall not waver again," He said slowly, catching his breathe. "Now I know it's wrong to simply follow without looking further, not everyone is lost at all. I hope they will see this too"

"Please stay with me" Alcel pleaded, crying hard.

"Stay strong and never lose your innocence, Alcel, that's what makes you beautiful in my eyes" After his words, he vanished in her arms, now a stack of salt laid in front of her.

The others who witnessed their exchange felt the misery and angst from their friend, it was a heart-shattering scene. Roan couldn't understand why the man who wanted to kill them suddenly showed up to save Alcel but he couldn't deny the legitimacy of his words and sincerity this time.

"He's dead permanently this time" A voice spoke from above.

They all look up and saw Clarence clad in an elegant, expensive bright suit of silver gold and ivory. The air in him is inhumane, he didn't look like the same man who joined them in their Hideaway the first time they saw him. But what made their blood boil is the floating huge bird cage next to him where Arisha was.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU LIED TO US!" Mikaela shifted weapons and brought out her pair of submachine guns and started firing at Clarence's direction but the bullets only turned to salts after reaching an invisible barrier.

Seriously, what's with this guy and salts?

Blood rushed up to Paulo's head, the anger in him is a volcano that already reached its peak point and ready to explode, "What's the meaning of this? You're behind this all along?"

Myrrh finally joined her companions; she went to Alcel's side to help her up while Lazarus also stood near them. "Clarence?! But how and why?! What is up with the weird outfit?! Why are you floating?! Holy shit, you're not human! You're just acting as one!"

"It's necessary, I cannot build my kingdom here with your existence" Clarence is unfazed, he examined his hands as if it's the most interesting thing to look at. "The White Horseman is all about purity, righteousness, holiness and conquering; it cannot be tainted with brainless, worthless flesh-eating puppets and sinful humans like yourselves." He gestured at Arisha, "With the exception of Arisha of course, she will be my lover and we will have our own family after this."

Arisha is quite relief to see her teammates and friends okay but hearing Clarence mentioned about his sick plan again is making her stomach hurl. "I rather die than live in your fucked up fantasy, asshole!" Her knuckles are wounded at attempting to fight him earlier, it was what ended her in the cage.

"You betrayed us," Paulo said, it was a statement not a question.

Clarence shook his head, "No, you are simply too ignorant to notice"

"The White Horseman..."Myrrh trailed off, recalling the bible and finally it dawned on her. "Oh my god, you are the real thing..." Her face turned ashen in fear at the conclusion she had. "You're the one mentioned in the Bible..." She wasn't the most religious person but she became quite familiar with many things related to the Holy Scripture after studying in a private Catholic school her entire high school and college life.

Clarence clapped in a mocking way, "I am glad you finally figured it out, but that will not elevate you in my eyes, you are still dirty and even from afar I can smell the disgusting stains in your soul" Bright swirling circles appeared right above Paulo and the others' heads, also much closer. "Accept your bitter fate, humans, I will never ever let you set foot in my Sanctuary you're all unworthy! Join all these disgusting puppets and freaks in their deaths,"

"Don't you even dare! I swear to God I'll make you regret it! CLARENCE!" Arisha screamed on top of her lungs, anger flaring up. She hates this feeling of hopelessness and she is absolutely sure the image of her dying companions will drive her at the edge of the cliff.

Clarence gave her a side glance, "It will become better once they are gone, milady, they're such a bad influence they are making you act like this!"

-*-

The arrows are ready, sharp, shimmering and pointed at the remaining group left standing in the middle of the road. Mikaela continued yelling angrily, firing her guns until the bullets ran out despite it being useless against Clarence's barrier; Roan's eyes are looking for something that they can use as defense but there's too many arrows around them making escape impossible; Alcel is leaning on Myrrh, still crying and completely taken by fear; Myrrh wrapped her arms around the blonde and Lazarus, realizing this would be their end—she glanced up at Arisha.

I am sorry I am still useless to you until now. Myrrh said in her head, tears misting her sky blue eyes. I can't do anything right.

Clarence's eyes glimmered with happiness and thrill at the anticipation, soon they'll be gone and his task will be mark complete. He will start the beautiful life he plans to have with the woman he chose to have by his side forever. Evergreen will be cleansed completely.

"FAREWELL!"

Paulo closed his eyes and exhaled deeply; fear is gnawing under his skin but there's also something else. A whisper of different language in his ears but he understood it completely.

"It's time"

Roan turned to him, "What?"

A huge screeching scream of rage filled the air, sprouting out of the road is a gigantic creature that made a huge crater in the ground—bodies tangled and stitched altogether to form a huge caterpillar-centipede like form, the faces of each heads are painted with anger, their eyes are pure white and rows of teeth are sharp like razors.

Arisha knew that creature, it was the one they dealt with in the park when they left the mall but it looks more evolved now and it's not asking for help! It looks pissed off!

Myrrh wanted to pass out, "We are so double dead"

Clarence frowned, the bow and arrows he produced above the humans slightly fade. "What the? I already killed this huge filthy thing!"

The brunette woman turned to the white horseman, "You didn't bring that here?"

"I will never ever own something that big and equally disgusting plus it's made of all sinful human beings with unforgivable wrong deeds which is the reason they appear so hideous!"

Clarence maneuvered his weapons at the terrifying flesh of monster but none of his arrows are working! Each arrow is being deflated and disappears, upon closer observation he noticed its main body became hardened and upgraded.

Then his eyes caught an insignia sculptured on one of the heads' forehead, before he could react the fleshy monster pierced his unseen barrier and grabbed him with its clawed dirty hands. Clarence screamed as it coiled around him, the bodies moving on its own to feast on their treat.

"AAAHHH!" Arisha yelled as she fell after the cage she was in finally disappeared.

The tall bald man was quick to his feet and caught Arisha before she hit the ground, "Got you!"

All bows and arrows are gone like a spark of dust, the beautiful manor also melted like a wax candle. The fleshy beast continued its revenge at the pristine horseman, no one knows what it was doing because of its large coiled body but no one is curious enough to bother.