The Course of Human Events: Chapter 2

Chapter 2: A Simple Idea

The chime of the church bell gave it's dull yet deafening tone as the old oak doors opened and a slender figure stepped through the church's giant archway. The individual's stride was calm, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the spacious sanctuary.

The individual, clad in a dark suit and tie, stopped before a lone priest, praying in Latin at the altar. Father Marris was a man of great faith and devotion, his dedication to the Catholic church stretched on for years. This man had all the answers for anyone of the budding or troubled faith, and always a servant to the flock.

Father Marris noticed the sound of footprints and turned his head to see who it was. A quick glace gave him his answer and his old gray eyes settled on the lone person standing behind him.

"Mr. Matthews." Father Marris said, looking at the slender teen. "It's rude to interrupt someone in prayer."

"Please spare me the theatrics and please stand up." Lukas Matthew's ordered, his icy blue eyes staring at the old priest. "I want my answers."

The old priest shook his head and sighed. "My child, you would be unwise to speak down to you elder's..."

Matthews held up a hand. "I've come here for your answers, not a lecture. This is strictly business."

"Do not think your personal matters are the Lord's. Mr. Matthews." Father Marris warned. "Whatever you are seeking, it better be in the better interest of your soul."

"Please, to your study so we can discuss this further in private." Matthews said ignoring the priest's warning. "I would prefer speaking to you in a more professional setting."

The old priest shook his head and reluctantly started off to the Churches offices, followed closely by Lukas.

As Lukas Matthews followed the priest through the stone hall of the church, knew in the back of his mind that he was close. He could sense it now. Nearly five years of research. Five years of searching. And now, he had finally gotten a break. While others saw his plan as childish or a complete waste of time, Lukas saw something else. An opportunity that no one had ever tried, because no one had believed. But he truly did, and he would find them. They were out there. You just had to know where to look.

The 'other side.' Angels. Demons. Spirits as he simply referred to them. They were out there, and he knew it. It was a hidden treasure of power, just waiting to be found. True, the task had been difficult, and costly. But Lukas Laurence Matthews IV had the intelligence and the resources. Now he just needed the answers. And Father Marris would provide them.

Matthews was led into a small study, oak book shelves and a oak desk furnishing the interior. Father Marris sat at his desk, while Matthews elected to stand. It was a power play on his part. He was in control here, not an old priest.

"Now Matthews." Father Marris started, cupping his hands. "What service of the church can I offer to you?"

"Information." Matthews replied, reaching for a small leather bound book. "On this."

Matthew tossed a small book at the man's hands and the old priest bent down to examine it. He flipped though pages and briefly examined them, his old eyes dotting across the pages.

"Purgatory?" Father Marris asked, looking up at Lukas with a slightly puzzled look. "My child, why have you come to me with this?"

"I want to know more about the spiritual realm." Matthews explained in a serious tone. "What exists inside Purgatory?"

Father Marris placed a old pair of glasses on his wrinkled nose and read through Matthews notes. "Well, you seem to have quite an interest in the details of the heavenly realms. Might I inquire as to why?"

"It sparks my interest." Matthews lied, not batting an eyebrow. "The mysterious and the unknown always grabs my attention."

"So it would seem..." Marris replied, looking through Matthews's notes. "You seemed to have done your research with this."

"Like I said, it sparks my interest."

Marris handed the leather bound book back to Matthews and removed his glasses.

"Purgatory Mr. Matthews, is a spiritual realm quite different from Heaven and Hell. God nor Satan reside in it." Marris explained. "Most people who have the knowledge of Purgatory mostly know it as a place were the souls of the dead stay because their fate is undecided. A supernatural waiting room for the undecided."

"That much I know Father." Matthews said, narrowing his eyes. "But there's something more to Purgatory, isn't there?"

Marris nodded. "You see, Purgatory not only acts as a place where undecided souls reside, but as a barrier that separates Heaven, Earth, and Hell from each other."

"And why does that have to be?" Matthews asked. "Why can't the realms exist beside each other?"

"That I do not know." Marris replied. "Only God does."

"For now at least...." Matthews thought to himself. "Unlocking any secret just takes time..."

"Other then what I've told you, I can't offer any concrete facts to you my son." Father Marris said, standing out of his chair. "I am a priest. I can only advise you, not just give you what you want."

"And that's all you need to do." Matthews said, heading for the exit. "Until next time, Father."

"Be careful Matthews..."

Matthews looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Don't underestimate the supernatural world. " Marris warned. "If you can think you can somehow find and bottle God's power, then your mistaken. Gravely mistaken..."

Matthews gave the old priest a polite smile and opened the door, exiting. "Good day, Father Marris."

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Many people have heard the name Matthews. In fact, it was quite famous in the world, with influence underneath it. The Matthews family was one of the richest family empire's in the world, with businesses and other investments around the world. Everyone knew the Matthews name, or so they did until ten years ago.

One by one, every living member of the Matthews was hunted down and assassinated. Their assets seized, and their fortunes divided among the killers. It happened, until the Matthews fortune was all but divided and every living family member dead. All except two.

That's what the world hadn't known. Lukas Lawrence Matthews the fifth. No one had any idea of his existence. Everyone in the world had assumed that the Matthew's family line was long dead. But a small flame was still burning, and Lukas Matthews vowed that he would restore his family, and save the life of the only thing left in his life he had to lose. And he would do it in his own way. His unique and revolutionary way.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Paris skyline was unlike any other in the world, and it's architecture made it unique then any other place in Europe. But Paris had become boring after Matthews's repeated visits to the city, and now he was focused on more important matters then sight seeing.

Matthew's closed his eyes, deep in thought as he had been many times. "If Purgatory is the spiritual realm separating Heaven from Hell, then that's where I need to reach if I want to make contact...But how..."

"Giovanni." Matthews called, glancing over behind him. "We're leaving."

An old Italian man wearing a simple black suit and hat walked up beside him, cane in hand. A gray bristly mustache stretched under his nose, and he wore old reading glasses, propped just a centimeter under his eyes.

"How was the meeting, sir?"

"Predictable." Matthews replied, looking back at the french cathedral. "It's safe to say Father Marris has lost his usefulness. At least for the moment."

"Should we cut all ties?" Giovanni asked, raising a gray eyebrow. Matthews shook his head.

"No not yet. He might have a use still in the future. For now though, we can't expect any more help from him."

"So are we returning to Winchester sir, or are they're more subjects you wish to investigate?"

"We'll return to England for now, just until I can figure this out..." Matthews said, looking through his notes on the realm of Purgatory. Over five years of research was in front of him. Five years of trying to connect the spirit realm to his own. And finally after traveling the world with Giovanni, searching for the secrets of the spirit world, he was finally beginning to tie the two together.

"Giovanni, get the car." Matthews ordered, walking with the old man towards a parked black sedan. "We're heading back to the airport."

"Once we land in England, what then sir?" Giovanni asked, opening the sedan door. "Are we doing more research?"

Lukas Matthews gave a rare smile, one that he only gave when he was on the verge of something big.

"No Giovanni. I believe we'll be doing something else." Matthews replied, staring up at the monotone gray sky. "I believe we'll be finding Purgatory quite soon now...."

______________________________________________________________________________________________________The sky was an overcast gray when Matthews private jet landed in Winchester, and it was beginning to rain once he arrived back at the estate. It was fitting weather for what he was planning. After all, Purgatory wasn't a picture of beauty, or so his research had told him.

Matthews gave his coat to Giovanni as the two entered the large mansion. "I'll be in the study. I need to think this through before we proceed further."

"Do you require anything?" Giovanni asked, hanging Lukas coat.

"Only peace and quiet." Matthews said, heading up the dark marble steps. "So make sure Adrianne doesn't disturb me."

Giovanni gave a small smile. "I'll see to it Master Matthews."

As Matthews reached the fifth step, he stopped suddenly, remembering something that he had forgotten. Normally he would never forget, but with the sudden breakthrough distracting him, even he had let it slip.

"Also, make sure Maria is well too...." Matthews added quietly, glancing back behind his shoulder. "Make sure she get's her medication as well."

"You need not worry sir." Giovanni replied. "I'll give her my utmost care and treatment."

"And Giovanni, if she needs anything else, let me know." Matthews said, his eyes darkened. "You can interrupt me then."

Giovanni gave a small nod and tipped his hat. "You can leave it to me. Good luck on your work."

Matthews gave a polite nod back and proceeded back up the steps to his study, focused on deciphering the final riddle that would allow him access to the other side. There was still much work to be done, and planning was only the first part of the entire plan.

The Matthews Estate didn't exist as it used to. In fact, the real one had been burned to the ground, erased from the face of the earth. The original estate had been located in New York City. But after the assassinations started to take place, it was obvious staying in America was dangerous, and not wanting to be next on the hit list, Lukas took his inheritance and fled with the only three people left in the world he could trust. Giovanni, his servant and assistant, Adrianne, Giovanni's overly active adopted granddaughter, and finally, Maria Matthews, his one and only sister, now bed stricken with a disease that no cure could remedy. At least by 'traditional and conventional' methods.

Now sitting in a secure estate in the outskirts of Winchester, England, Lukas Matthews worked day and night for one thing and one thing only: To heal his sister once and for all, and reclaim his family freedom and wealth. The Matthews name meant something a time ago, and he was determined to have it cemented in legend for eternity.

The answer to everything lay on the other side. Now the only question was getting to that side. And after years of research, he had found a way.

Matthews flipped a switch and turn on a single lamp that sat on top of his oak desk. Books on anything supernatural, myths and lore, as well as every book of religion and thick textbooks on theology. He had gone through nearly every page, learning all he could about the afterlife, and the spirit world. Countless hours of pouring over books however, was about to pay off.

Matthews sat down and began thinking about what Father Marris had told him back in Paris. "Purgatory is a place we're souls reside when they don't go to Heaven or Hell....Its a holding place, where souls stay until their fate is decided...."

Matthews closed his eyes. "A holding place....Marris said Purgatory was also a barrier between Heaven, Hell, and Earth....But why....Unless...."

Suddenly, a hypothesis. "Between the realms...Acting as a barrier....So souls can't cross back between the different realms?...."

Matthews opened his eyes and began writing in his notebook. He was on to something now.

"If Purgatory acts as a barrier to stop souls from crossing...Then that means souls can cross on their own will!...If Purgatory wasn't in place, then souls from Heaven and souls from Hell would mix, with the earth in the middle of paranormal chaos...."

Matthews began rapidly flipping pages in his notes. "That could explain paranormal activity that people report....Its not ghosts that people think they hear or see...its spirits that escaped from Purgatory and have crossed back into the other side....To the world of earth..."

"If this is all true....Then Purgatory isn't just a barrier...Its like a spiritual police force...A spiritual prison..." Matthews thought to himself, trying to piece everything together. "Making sure souls don't cross back over and make sure they either go to heaven or hell..."

Matthews looked back in his notes, double checking everything and checking again to make sure it was accurate. Slowly, missing pieces were beginning to be filled in. Parts that had no explanation suddenly made sense. After nearly an hour of triple checking his theory, his set down his notebook and closed his eyes.

A devilish smile curled at the corner of his mouth. It was almost confirmed. If his hypothesis about the realm of purgatory was correct, then-

"Lukey!"

The oak study door suddenly burst open and a young brown haired girl ran up to the desk, a face that never seemed like it could ever be sad. She was only eleven, but she acted like she was still seven. Carefree and bubbly, it was an amazement Giovanni had put up with her for this long. He was certain any normal person would be driven mad, and even he sometimes questioned his sanity when he was around the hyperactive girl.

Adrianne Giovanni grinned from ear to ear, placing her elbows on his oak desk.

"Lukey, why didn't you tell me you were back!" Adrianne said, staring at him with mischief in her hazel eyes. "I thought you said we where going to play hide n' seek when you got back!"

"Sorry Adrianne." Matthews said coolly, silently closing his journal. "I had important business that needed to be completed."

Adrianne folded her arms. "But you promised!" She pouted. "You said we would play all day!"

"Why can't Giovanni play with you?" Matthews suggested, trying to change the subject. "Why not ask him?"

"Hes busy!" Adrianne whined, laying her head on his desk. "He's always taking care of Maria, and she never want's to play either..."

"If he's taking care of Maria, then you shouldn't bother him. No, you cannot bother him." Matthews scolded. "He and I are busy with important matters right now, okay?"

Adrianne shot Matthews a childish glare. "Hide n' seek is important too..."

"Run along Adrianne." Matthew ordered, pointing her towards the door. "Theres just a few things I need to take care of before dinner. Then I'll play hide and seek with you."

She crossed her arms. "Promise?"

Matthews smiled. "Promise."

She stuck out her smallest finger. "Pinky swear?"

Matthews rolled his eyes and did the same. "Pinky swear. Now leave, before I have to call Giovanni."

Adrianne smiled and skipped delightfully to the study exit, leaving Matthews once again alone, surrounded with all his notes.

"Five years...Five years of searching and I'm nearly there...." He said to himself, staring out at his work.

Connecting the spirit world was almost within his grasp. Now he just needed a way to break through.

His eye glanced over at a hardcover book, the title read 'Demons of the Earth'.

Matthews smiled. A smile of confidence and security. "Five years is about to finally pay off Maria...I promise you, I will make you well again..."