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The original was posted on /r/nosleep by /u/haroldkebba on 2023-06-27 11:16:10+00:00. *** [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]

This is the last part of Ilya's notes, but it's also the final message from me. People have started disappearing around the village, and we are going to move once more. It's just too dangerous here. I'm filled with fear, terrified of the things that are closing in on us. I've witnessed the eerie shapes in the fog, and I've heard their haunting whispers. This is the last part:

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Sasha's small room was brightly lit. He sat on a stool, holding a half-full bottle of vodka in his hand, grinning foolishly. When I entered the room, he pointed to a glass on the table in front of him.

"There, Illya, there! Drink! Drink! Drink with me!"

"What's wrong, Sasha? Why are you so happy?" I asked.

I wasn't entirely comfortable seeing him like this, but I still felt sick, and my nose hurt.

"So, did Mary find you? I... I think I love her... Ilya... I..."

He sighed, put the bottle to his lips, and took a big swig. When he held the bottle out to me, I hesitated for a moment, but then I gratefully took it and let the strong drink flow down my throat. It burned a little, but at least it numbed my other aches and pains.

"You love her? Are you sure? She doesn't trust God," I remarked.

"Yeeees, yes she does. She assured me she did. Didn’t she... Hehe... Since I've been back, since I've been back... She's always been with me, nurturing me. Such a good soul. You just have to get to know her better. And persistent she is as well, if you know what I mean... What a catch... And such a beauty…"

He hiccupped and smiled even wider.

"Sasha, I had a little disagreement with her, gave her a hard time..."

His expression darkened.

"Don't worry, I didn't hurt her!" I reassured hastily.

"Well, if you say so, I believe you. You're the more God-fearing of the two of us. You wouldn't hurt a fly, would you? Neither would I. Did she hit you back, and that's why you look like that?"

Sasha regained his composure and now laughed at my bloody nose.

"No, my father. He was there. We were all confused because..."

I fell silent. Could I tell him? He had already been so affected. But I had to tell him.

"The Popovs have been taken by the... things."

My words hung uncomfortably in the room. Sasha took another swig and slammed the bottle down on the table. Even the vodka couldn't calm him down.

"It just can't be. Why won't they leave us alone? We haven't done anything!"

"Maybe that's why..." I said thoughtfully.

"Yes, maybe that's why. But I don't want to talk about it, not now that I've finally gotten closer to Mary..."

Again, we fell silent. It was uncomfortable for me, especially after what had happened earlier. I didn't want to tell Sasha about that room, nor about the gruesome lump under the window.

"Ilya..." Sasha suddenly said, carefully.

He smiled a little, looked into my eyes, and made sure that I was listening attentively.

"Ilya, I think... I think there's a piece of God around here, close to the village..."

What? What did he just say? A piece of God? What did he mean?

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just a feeling. I've had it for a while, but couldn't place it. Maybe that's why the demons are here, looking for it. Looking for the piece of the Lord that's somewhere here... Looking... for it..."

That was the last thing Sasha said that day before the alcohol sent him into a deep sleep. I didn't stay with him much longer and soon got up, staggering home through the muddy streets. As I fell into my bed, half-drunk, the world swirling around me, I couldn't help but think of the Lord. And of Mary.

Why was she allowed to act on her unholy thoughts? To pretend and subvert our faith? Why didn't she just disappear, move away? She should have gone to the cities. I heard there were many unbelievers there. Or people who worshipped other gods. Human, false gods. Why didn't she leave? Surely, she could go with one of the vans that picked up our grain and took it to the cities? I prayed to the Lord for help, for solace, for guidance.

Now she was Sasha's girlfriend; she would stay here...

Maybe Sasha could convert her. Show her that the Lord was true and great. Surely, she could be saved. I had to believe it, and then it would happen. My faith was strong, after all.

Slowly, I slipped into confused dreams. I ran through the woods, which seemed strange and distant, saw the demons, and was chased by them...

The next morning, there was a knock at the door. It was Sunday, so for once, I didn't have to go to the field or the carpenter's workshop. I could focus on our own garden and mow the grass. I had wanted to work in the garden with Zarina to distract her from things for a while now, but the pounding on our door disrupted those plans.

Outside stood Sasha, cheerful, unusually cheerful, grinning at me.

"Ilya, come on, I know now," he said excitedly.

"What's going on?" called my mother, who had just come out of my parents' bedroom.

"Nothing, Sasha is here," I shouted.

"What do you know... now?" I asked my friend, eager to find out more.

Sasha whispered enthusiastically, ensuring only I could hear him, "I know where the feeling comes from. I know where God is. He is near. Let's go there! Come on, let's find Him!"

A thousand thoughts rushed through my head. Had my prayers been answered? Had the Lord come to us? Was Sasha right? I needed to find out.

The peace in Sasha's eyes fueled my eagerness.

"Let's go!" I exclaimed excitedly.

After bidding a brief farewell to my parents, we sprinted off, Sasha leading the way and me following closely behind. Our path took us through the village, over the dusty road, and finally into the forest. Despite the pain in my side and the branches slapping my face, the fresh scent of nature inspired me. Soon, we pushed through some bushes and arrived at a clearing. Sasha stopped, laughing, and took a deep breath.

At first, I couldn't spot anything unusual. We used to play here often when we were younger. The ground was sandy, and the roots of nearby trees sprawled across the clearing, requiring caution to avoid tripping. Everything appeared as it had before, but then... a sense of unease welled up in my heart. Something was amiss. Something was terribly wrong...

Then, not far from a fallen tree, I saw it—a hole in the ground. There was no doubt that the unsettling feeling emanated from that small patch of darkness before me.

The hole wasn't particularly wide, perhaps about the size of five thumbs in diameter, but after only a few inches, darkness and blackness consumed its interior. It didn't descend into the earth at an angle but dropped steeply downward. I didn't know what to make of it, but it frightened me. Merely gazing at it was challenging, and I didn't dare approach any closer. There it was, nestled in the sand, not far from the roots and the fallen tree, inconspicuous yet captivating once noticed.

The hole seemed to absorb its surroundings and draw one's gaze.

"Come. Come closer, do you see it?" Sasha asked me, his eyes uncomfortably fixed on the hole, accompanied by a smile.

"Isn't it beautiful?"

I was at a loss for words. This wretched hole in the ground was the most unsettling thing I had ever encountered. How could Sasha speak of beauty? How could he refer to this gateway to an eternal abyss, this ghastly entrance, as beautiful? How could he claim that a fragment of the almighty Lord resided there? It felt like blasphemy!

Sasha slowly approached the hole, eventually kneeling before it. An overwhelming fear gripped me, fearing that he would somehow tumble in, even though it was far too small for that. I dreaded that hands and claws would emerge, snatching him away...

"Come, come closer..." Sasha murmured once again, his gaze dreamy.

"I felt... this! Yesterday. This was it. This is the fragment of God I was referring to. It's really here! The Lord is with us, Ilya!"

Could he be right? Had he truly discovered a piece of heaven? It appeared so malevolent, so dark. But perhaps I was mistaken. I could at least take a closer look.

As I cautiously approached, I noticed an indescribable panic growing within me with each step. It was as if my subconscious was pulling me away from this small hole, as if something inside me warned of the horrors lurking deep below. Gasping for air, I broke into a cold sweat—the sweat of fear. Trembling, I couldn't remain standing and sat down, keeping a distance of around three meters.

Was I unworthy? Had my dark thoughts, which persistently surfaced, angered the Lord, and was He keeping me away from His radiant splendor emanating from that black and chilling ground over there? Sasha remained unaffected. On the contrary, he appeared content and joyful, squatting there and gazing downward as though he could behold paradise itself.

"I'm sorry, I'm just... exhausted. Maybe I'm still feeling the effects of the vodka. I sincerely apologize," I explained.

Sasha looked disappointed but understanding.

"Alright. I understand, but it's so wonderful. Perhaps tomorrow...?"

*"Yes, maybe tomorro... *** Content cut off. Read original on https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/comments/14kaumw/i_think_my_village_was_haunted_by_god_part_4_final/