Revelation 13:18 “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six.”

Religion has always been important to humans, but nowadays, in modern day, it is more of an appropriate habit. In antiquity, humankind, for the lack of science and excess of deaths and troubles, was left with no other choice but to look up to all sorts of deities for help. Of course, we can't know if supernatural powers really did assist humans, since the events developed as they should: chaotically yet with their logic. But for now, in the great 70s, you can enjoy television and read daily scientific articles without a care in the world. It was especially nice for you to live, someone who was a big fish in the sea of politics, swimming there with a silver spoon in your mouth. It doesn't mean you haven't faced difficulties; such a high position requires a lot of strength and force. But it was definitely worth it.

One beautiful day, your partner shares the news with you that their brother, Jeremy Thorn, has deceased. The reason is left unknown, but most come to the assumption that he was murdered—assassination is common when it comes to famous or influential people. Besides that, his wife also died, and that leaves their five-year-old son alone. You agree on a decision to adopt him, since you were the closest relatives, and leaving the poor child alone would be simply cruel. And it would be a bad image for the media.

Damien Thorn was a boy of an undescribable beauty. You've never met a child who looks so angelic. He didn't seem disobedient either; however, you didn't get to know him too much at first, and it's no surprise, since the poor kid was still shaken up and adapting to his new life.

Little by little, you started to develop a certain bond. Damien became more talkative and acted like a normal child, laughing, giggling, playing, and enjoying his time when he could.

And yet, something was wrong. It's really a pity that no priests will help you now, and Jeremy failed with his task. Perhaps that's what hesitation does to people, or perhaps you simply can't kill the child of the Devil. You haven't shaved Damien's hair, so you couldn't see the three sixes engraved on the back of his head like a damned birthmark. You, however, very soon started to notice strange, vile things happening—you witness them wherever the boy goes. Animals flee from him in fear, aside from a black dog that constantly hovers around your house, insisting to be let in, and other kids always leave in tears or worse, injured. These are just accidents, the logical part says. How can a sane person in the peak of technological progress assume that an innocent boy can bring evil with him?

Maybe Damien really is innocent, at least judging by these bright, glassy blue eyes that stare at you oh so innocently and purely. But malice, malice is what this being truly extends, although you may never find out unless you're destined to die after this.

"Why don't we let the doggy in?" Damien asks you as you're having a lonely dinner. Your partner had some business to attend, so it was only you in the house and a few workers who took care of it.

You know what Damien refers to—a black German shepherd that, for some reason, visits your territory at night. You didn't have the luck to catch it or do something to chase it away. And you don't remember telling Damien about this either.

"It looks just like the other one I had," he muses almost solemnly, playing with the fork by scraping it slightly against the plate while the food is only half-eaten. He rarely used his voice, so knowing more about him was a great opportunity—but you don't remember Jeremy's family ever having a dog?

"Maybe we can let him in? Please?"

Psalm 22:16 "For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me."