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Message: <blockquote data-quote="arwink" data-source="post: 1836639" data-attributes="member: 2292">Exit 23, Part Twelve“Jonas Riley.” Nick says, flipping through the exec’s wallet.  “Hoffman Institute.”“They’re an independent think-tank,” Zac tells him.  “New energy sources.  Cold fusions, perpetual motion, that kind of thing.”“Not terribly demonic,” Ammie says.  “What makes you think he’s attached to our psycho-killer?”“There’s rumors,” Zac says.  He rubs his forehead, trying to recall his perusal of the conspiracy mills.  Somethins he's amazed by his own ability remmeber scraps of message board posts.  “Apparently they do a sideline of debunking phenomena.  Back a few television shows and cable documentaries, that sort of thing.  They’re said to investigate the occult and alternative medicines in case it has any scientific value.”“Still not seeing demons,” Ammie says.  She sound less convinced.“He was an agent,” Nick says.  He’s got an open file in front of him, his eyes flicking back and forth as he speed-reads the contents.  “Was looking into the estate of a dead occultist known as Michael Galvin, the head of some small cult called the Thirteen Ravens.”“Les Triez Corbins,” Zac translates.  “Thirteen Ravens in French, I think.”Nick shrugs.“Seems Galvin had bound some kind of demon,” he continued.  “Stole its head, forced it to wear the guise of the creatures whose head it stole…”“…A beast of snow and evil,” Zac continued, his own memory suddenly jogged.  “Immortal as long as their head stays whole, their bodies can be slowed by silver.  Once the head is in your possession they can be bound to service with the right ritual and commanded with a talisman…”“…which Riley took to keep out of the hands of Galvin’s followers,” Nick finished.  “Hence our cheery snow globe.”Everyone thought about that for a second.“Okay,” Ammie said.  “Now I see where the demons come in.”The debate of what to do with the information is short.  Riley is still breathing, but consciousness is a long way off.  Even if he can help, it's not going to be anytie soon.  The notes offer a little more information, and breaking the snow globe is quickly deemed a bad idea.  That leaves the phone, and the hope that whoever Riley knew can help in some way.  Nick picks it up and hits redial.  The words HOFFMAN HOTLINE appear on the screen.  It rings three times before someone answers, the connection startlingly clear through the storm.“Wilkins,” a voice says.  “What you got?”“This is Nick DeLatre of the ATF,” Nick says.  “We’ve got one of your agents in a critical condition, we’ve been snowed in by a demon summoned by crazed cultists, and we’re trying to keep a bunch of innocent people alive.  How can you help?”“How did you get this phone?” Wilkins asks.  “This is a secured line.”“Let me repeat Mr. Wilkins.  Jonas Riley. Critical Condition.  The phone was in his case, we broke it open.  Now, How…Can…You…Help?”“It’s a harriken,” Zac offered helpfully. “Tell him it’s a harriken demon.”“Did someone just say harriken?” “Yes.”There is the brief sound of someone typing on a computer.“Do you have silver weapons handy?” Wilkins asks.“We’re in the middle of a freaking rest stop,” Nick says.  His tone is dangerously even.  “I was going camping.  We have one sword, two guns and some wounded.”“Do you have its head?”Nick glare is tangible even through the phone connection.“In that case, Mr…DeLatre, is it?”“Yes.”“I’m afraid you’re all going to be dead by morning.  We’d appreciate it if you didn’t call this number again.”The phone line goes dead.  Nick stares at it in disbelief.“What?” Ammie says.“They hung up.”Then the glass doors in the foyer SHATTER, wind rushing past with the force of a gale.  The demon is intangible, but this doesn’t stop Ammie and Nick from attacking with guns and sword.  Ammunition rakes the ceiling; the sword passes harmlessly through the demons form.Zac seizes the globe and disappears beneath the table, praying quietly that it doesn’t notice.Fortunately for him, it doesn’t.Unfortunately for the unconscious form of Jonah Riley, the demon seizes him and disappears back through the shattered remains of the front door.  Ammie and Nick follow, but the creature has the advantage of speed and natural camouflage in this form.  They stand in the snow, blinking against the wind as they try to spot the creature.Jonas Riley’s body falls from the sky, narrowly missing Ammie as it collapses in the snow.  Blood fountains from the severed neck.  Ammie looks at it.“Well,” she says.  “At least when it’s got a head we can hit it.”</blockquote>

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