Jax and the hypnotist make their entrance

Purple confetti exploded into the air, showering down over the front rows like glittery rain. Standing right there in front of the altar, grinning like an idiot, was Jax Harlan. He was wearing a full black tuxedo that looked way too sharp on his tall, lanky frame. One hand still held the large party popper he’d just set off, the cardboard tube still smoking a little.

The entire congregation went dead silent. All heads turned toward the front. Sister Claire looked stunned. Margaret Harlan’s mouth actually fell open in shock. Elena grabbed Zachery’s arm tightly, confused.

Jax lowered the popper and spread his arms wide, that cocky smirk plastered across his face.

“Well damn,” he said loudly, voice echoing through the church. “Didn’t mean to scare y’all. But now that I got your attention…”

He let the sentence hang, clearly enjoying the way every single person in the room was now staring at him. Purple confetti continued to drift down slowly around his shoulders.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Jax began speaking theatrically, his voice echoing through the old church hall with way too much confidence for a guy who everyone knew to be wary of. “Please allow me to introduce… the entertainment for today…”

He motioned with both hands dramatically toward the right side of the altar, like some cheap magician trying to sell a trick. Everyone’s eyes followed.

Suddenly there was a large flash, bright white and blinding, followed by a thick puff of white smoke that exploded out from that exact spot. Zachery and most of the others in the room instinctively shielded their eyes, arms flying up. The smell of something chemical and sweet hit his nose.

When they lowered their arms and opened their eyes again, a smartly dressed man was standing there, half-obscured in the slowly clearing smoke. He wore a sharp black and purple suit that looked ridiculously expensive. He walked forward dramatically, stopped in the middle of the altar and gave a deep theatrical bow.

When he raised his head, everyone saw it, the purple devil mask covering his face, complete with curved horns and glowing red lenses where the eyes should be.

The man chuckled, a low, amused sound that carried through the silent church. He clapped his hands once.

There were two more loud bangs behind him and Jax. Zachery jumped in his seat. In an instant, the entire altar area transformed. The simple wooden cross and cloth-covered table were gone, replaced by a makeshift stage. A large banner unfurled above it reading ‘The Devil’s Crypt: Travelling Edition’ in bold purple and gold letters. Purple and white balloons appeared out of nowhere, floating up toward the ceiling along with streamers and other decorations. The whole front of the church looked like it was prepared for some cheap magician’s act.

Zachery sat there completely flabbergasted. How the fuck had the simple altar in his church been transformed so suddenly and quickly? It didn’t make any sense.

Murmurs started spreading through the room. People were whispering, looking at each other in confusion. Zachery could tell pretty much everyone was thinking the same thing he was.

But one voice cut through all the muttering louder than the rest.

Sister Claire huffed angrily and marched straight up to the strange man. She pointed a finger and poked him hard in the chest.

“What is this blasphemy?” she demanded, her voice sharp and full of righteous anger. “This is a house of God! Take away your pagan tricks and decorations elsewhere!”

She spun toward Jax, eyes blazing. “What is the meaning of this, young man? Have you lost your mind?”

Jax looked a little panicked. He shifted on his feet and opened his mouth like he was about to say something, but the man in the devil mask smoothly took Sister Claire’s attention back to him.

“Ahh, Sister Claire,” he said, voice smooth and charming, “nothing’s out of the ordinary here, remember? We spoke on the phone last night. I hope you’ve made the arrangements I asked for…”

He chuckled again.