This Present Darkness

This Present Darkness Plot Summary

Introduction

# This Present Darkness: The Unseen Battle for Ashton's Soul The carnival lights flickered against the August night as two towering figures materialized on Highway 27, their seven-foot frames moving with predatory grace through the chaos of Ashton's Summer Festival. These weren't ordinary visitors—they were warriors from another realm, drawn to this quiet college town by forces beyond human understanding. In the shadows between the Ferris wheel and dart-throwing booths, Police Chief Alf Brummel met secretly with strangers whose eyes held an unnatural gleam, while reporter Bernice Krueger's camera captured what she didn't yet know would be evidence of a conspiracy reaching into dimensions of reality most people never imagined. Marshall Hogan had come to Ashton seeking peace after years of big-city journalism, but peace would prove as elusive as morning mist. His daughter Sandy was slipping away into strange philosophies taught by the enigmatic Professor Juleen Langstrat, while across town, young Pastor Henry Busche knelt in his humble church, praying desperately for a community that seemed increasingly hostile to his message. None of them knew that their personal struggles were merely the visible surface of an ancient war—a battle between forces of light and darkness that would determine not just their individual fates, but the spiritual destiny of an entire town caught between heaven and hell.

Chapter 1: Shadows Over Ashton: The Infiltration Begins

The Carlucci family had run their grocery store for thirty years, but something was wrong. Their eight-year-old son's hands were crushed in what appeared to be an accident with a loading dock door, yet no one could explain how it happened. Strange sounds echoed through the store after closing time—footsteps in empty aisles, whispers in languages that predated human speech. Customers began avoiding the place, claiming it felt "wrong" somehow, as if invisible eyes watched from every shadow. Within months, the Carluccis sold to Omni Corporation for a fraction of the store's worth and fled Ashton like refugees from a war zone. They weren't alone. The Andersons, the Wrights, the Dombrowskis—over a hundred families found themselves facing inexplicable hardships that forced them to abandon homes and businesses their grandparents had built. Tax bills appeared for amounts supposedly unpaid for decades. Children fell ill with ailments doctors couldn't diagnose. Accidents happened with suspicious frequency to anyone who asked too many questions. Alexander Kaseph watched the exodus from his mountain compound with satisfaction. The wealthy businessman's piercing eyes reflected an intelligence that seemed older than his middle-aged face, and when he smiled, something predatory flickered behind his cultured facade. His Omni Corporation was more than a real estate venture—it was the earthly arm of the Universal Consciousness Society, a network that had been systematically infiltrating Ashton for years. At Whitmore College, Professor Juleen Langstrat conducted her evening seminars in rooms where shadows seemed to move independently of their sources. Students learned to empty their minds through meditation, creating vacuums that unseen entities eagerly filled. Sandy Hogan, daughter of the new newspaper editor, found herself drawn to these sessions despite her father's growing unease. The spirit guide who called herself Madeline whispered promises of enlightenment and belonging that Sandy's troubled relationship with her father had never provided. The infiltration was nearly complete, and most of Ashton's residents remained blissfully unaware that their quiet town had become ground zero in a war between dimensions, where human souls served as both battlefield and prize.

Chapter 2: Unlikely Warriors: A Skeptical Journalist and a Faithful Pastor

Marshall Hogan had built his career on facts, but the pattern emerging from Ashton's real estate records defied rational explanation. Too many properties changing hands, too many longtime residents suddenly deciding to leave town, too many coincidences that weren't coincidences at all. His reporter's instincts screamed that something was wrong, even if his materialist worldview couldn't accommodate the supernatural forces actually at work. The investigation began with Ted Harmel, the former police chief who'd been driven from town on fabricated child molestation charges. Marshall found him living like a broken hermit in a rundown trailer, rambling about conspiracies and spiritual warfare with the desperate intensity of a man who'd seen too much truth for his sanity to bear. But buried in Harmel's paranoid ravings were nuggets of information that made Marshall's blood run cold—names, dates, connections that painted a picture of systematic infiltration. Across town, Pastor Henry Busche faced his own crisis as his small congregation turned against him with inexplicable venom. Board members like Police Chief Brummel questioned every sermon, every decision, every breath he took. Services were disrupted by mysterious disturbances—sudden temperature drops, unexplained sounds, an oppressive atmosphere that made prayer feel like pushing against a concrete wall. The young minister recognized the signs of spiritual warfare, but the intensity suggested something far beyond typical church conflict. The breakthrough came when Hank encountered Bobby Corsi, a troubled college student whose bizarre behavior revealed the true nature of their enemy. Bobby wasn't just mentally ill—he was demon-possessed, controlled by multiple evil spirits that spoke through his voice with pure malice. When Hank and his small band of faithful believers confronted these entities in prayer, the demons revealed crucial intelligence: Ashton was under the control of Rafar, a demon prince who commanded legions of evil spirits working through human agents like Professor Langstrat. As Marshall's investigation uncovered the earthly conspiracy and Hank's ministry exposed the spiritual dimensions, neither man realized they were fighting the same war on different fronts. The skeptical journalist and the faithful pastor would need each other's strengths to have any hope of saving their town from the darkness that had already claimed so many victims.

Chapter 3: The Web Revealed: Corruption in High Places

Bernice Krueger's investigation into her sister Patricia's death led her into the labyrinthine corridors of Whitmore College, where she discovered that Patricia hadn't committed suicide—she'd been murdered by the demon masquerading as her spirit guide. The entity calling itself Thomas had systematically destroyed Patricia's personality and will, convincing her that death was the path to higher consciousness. Her diary revealed the gradual erosion of her sanity as the creature she trusted led her step by step toward self-destruction. The pattern extended far beyond one tragic death. Professor Langstrat's psychology department served as a recruitment center where unsuspecting students were introduced to meditation techniques that opened doorways to demonic influence. Sandy Hogan had become one of Langstrat's most prized subjects, experiencing what she believed were profound spiritual insights through contact with her guide Madeline. She didn't realize that each session left her more dependent on her supernatural contact and more alienated from those who truly loved her. Marshall's investigation revealed how the conspiracy had infiltrated every level of Ashton's power structure. Eugene Baylor, a regent at Whitmore College, had been systematically embezzling funds and channeling them to Omni Corporation. Police Chief Brummel, Judge Baker, County Comptroller Irving Pierce—all had been gradually compromised until the Society controlled key positions throughout the town's government. What appeared to be natural political processes were actually orchestrated by supernatural forces working through human agents. The corruption spread like a virus through the community's institutions. Carmen, Marshall's trusted secretary, revealed herself as a spy feeding information to the enemy. Kevin Weed, a college maintenance worker with inside knowledge, barely escaped with his life when his truck was sabotaged and sent plunging into the Judd River. Each attempt to expose the truth was met with swift retaliation that seemed to anticipate their every move. The scope of the conspiracy became clear when Susan Jacobson, Kaseph's former assistant, managed to escape from his mountain compound with stolen documents. The evidence revealed that Ashton was merely a test case—the Society was an international network with cells in dozens of countries, all working toward the establishment of a New World Order under demonic control. They had chosen this small town to perfect their techniques of infiltration and control before applying them on a global scale. Most chilling were the lists of names Susan had discovered in Kaseph's personal files—hundreds of individuals marked for elimination, with red X's beside those who had already been "dealt with." Marshall and Bernice's names were on the list, along with Pastor Hank Busche and anyone else who posed a threat to the Society's plans.

Chapter 4: Prayer and Investigation: Two Fronts of the Same War

The arrest of both Marshall Hogan and Pastor Hank Busche on fabricated charges seemed like a devastating blow to the resistance, but divine providence turned their imprisonment into an opportunity. Sharing a jail cell, the skeptical journalist and the man of faith found common ground in their love for truth and their determination to save their community from the forces that had already claimed so many victims. Their conversation in that cramped cell became a turning point for both men. Marshall, confronted with evidence of spiritual realities he had always dismissed, opened his heart to faith in Jesus Christ. The transformation wasn't just intellectual—it was a fundamental shift that gave him new weapons in the war against an enemy that operated beyond the reach of conventional journalism. Hank, learning the full scope of the earthly conspiracy from Marshall's investigation, understood that spiritual warfare required both prayer and practical action. Meanwhile, the prayer warriors led by elderly Edith Duster maintained their vigil in homes and church basements throughout Ashton. These weren't the wealthy or influential citizens who filled the pews at the larger churches—they were ordinary people like Andy and June Forsythe, a mailman and his wife who had been starved by the spiritual emptiness of Ashton United Christian Church. But they carried something the powerful lacked: genuine faith and a willingness to pray without reservation. Their intercessions created a protective shield around the town's faithful remnant and began pushing back against the spiritual darkness that had settled over Ashton like a suffocating blanket. In the invisible realm, their prayers empowered Captain Tal and his angelic warriors to take increasingly bold action against Rafar's demonic army. Each prayer session weakened the enemy's hold on the community, creating opportunities for heaven's forces to advance. The spiritual battle manifested in physical ways that most people dismissed as coincidence. Demons that had operated freely for years suddenly found their movements restricted. Possessed individuals like Bobby Corsi were delivered from their tormentors. The oppressive atmosphere that had made prayer difficult began to lift as the faithful believers maintained their round-the-clock intercession. But the enemy wasn't passive. As the prayer cover strengthened, Rafar's attacks became more desperate and direct, targeting the families of the prayer warriors with supernatural terror designed to break their resolve and silence their voices.

Chapter 5: The Enemy's True Face: Kaseph's Conspiracy Exposed

Alexander Kaseph arrived at Whitmore College for the final phase of his plan, confident that years of careful preparation had made victory inevitable. The board of regents would sign over the college to Omni Corporation, giving him control of an institution that would serve as a training center for consciousness expansion and recruitment for the Universal Consciousness Society. What he didn't know was that his carefully constructed facade was about to crumble under the weight of evidence Susan Jacobson had died trying to steal. The stolen documents revealed the true scope of Kaseph's ambitions. He wasn't just another cult leader—he was the earthly representative of something ancient and evil that had set its sights on global domination. The Society's techniques of psychological manipulation and spiritual seduction had been perfected over decades, tested on individuals and small communities before being deployed on a larger scale. Ashton was their proof of concept, a demonstration that an entire town could be brought under supernatural control. Susan's escape had cost her everything. Fleeing the mountain compound in a stolen van loaded with incriminating evidence, she was pursued by Kaseph's security forces through treacherous mountain roads. The van crashed through a guardrail and plummeted into a deep canyon, but not before she managed to throw the documents clear of the wreckage. Her sacrifice ensured that the evidence would reach authorities beyond the Society's reach. The financial records showed how the takeover had been orchestrated through a network of shell companies and corrupted officials. Families driven from their homes by manufactured crises found their properties purchased at fire-sale prices by entities controlled by Kaseph. The money trail led back to international sources that suggested the Society's influence extended far beyond one small town in the American heartland. Most disturbing were the psychological profiles of Society members, revealing how completely human personalities could be erased and replaced by something alien. Carmen, Marshall's secretary, exemplified this transformation—she could participate in planning attacks against innocent people while maintaining a facade of normalcy and even religious devotion. The corruption wasn't just moral but ontological, affecting the very essence of what made someone human. As state and federal authorities converged on Ashton, Kaseph prepared for his final gambit. If he couldn't complete the takeover quietly, he would do it through direct supernatural intervention, calling upon the full power of the demonic forces that had been his true masters all along.

Chapter 6: Convergence: When Heaven and Earth Unite

The climactic battle erupted simultaneously on multiple fronts as two meetings took place that would determine Ashton's fate. In the college's administration building, the board of regents gathered to sign over the institution to Omni Corporation, while in a nearby classroom, Professor Langstrat led a psychic session designed to ensure the transaction's success through supernatural means. Sandy Hogan found herself trapped in Langstrat's circle, her mind invaded by the demon she had known as the benevolent guide Madeline. The entity's true form was finally revealed—a hideous creature of pure malice that had been manipulating her for months, feeding on her spiritual energy while gradually destroying her connection to family and faith. As demonic chains wrapped around her spirit, Sandy screamed for help from a God she had almost forgotten. In the conference room, Marshall confronted Kaseph directly, backed by Pastor Hank and armed with the evidence Susan Jacobson had died to obtain. But they faced more than just a corrupt businessman—Kaseph was possessed by the Strongman, a demon of immense power who had orchestrated the entire conspiracy. The confrontation became a battle between human determination backed by divine authority and supernatural evil that had ruled unchallenged for too long. Above Ashton, the invisible war reached its crescendo as Captain Tal led the heavenly host against Rafar's demonic army. The sky filled with flashing swords and the clash of spiritual warriors as angels and demons fought for control of the town. The battle's outcome depended on the prayers of the faithful believers who had maintained their vigil despite persecution and the constant threat of retaliation. The turning point came when the prayer warriors, led by Edith Duster, received divine revelation about Rafar's true identity and began targeting him specifically in their intercessions. Their focused prayers weakened the demon prince just as Captain Tal engaged him in single combat high above the college campus. The battle was fierce and desperate, with both warriors sustaining terrible wounds, but the prayers of the saints tipped the balance in favor of heaven's champion. As Rafar fell defeated, his demonic army scattered in terror, their hold on Ashton broken at last. The Strongman possessing Kaseph found himself powerless against Pastor Hank's prayers and was cast out, leaving the businessman a broken shell of his former self. Sandy was freed from Madeline's control, the demonic chains shattered by angelic intervention in response to her desperate cry for salvation.

Chapter 7: Final Battle: Light Conquers Darkness

The collapse of the spiritual stronghold triggered a cascade of earthly consequences as the network of corruption that had controlled Ashton for years suddenly found itself exposed and vulnerable. State Attorney General Norm Mattily and federal agents arrived just as the supernatural battle reached its climax, armed with Susan Jacobson's evidence and empowered by the prayers that had broken the enemy's hold on local institutions. Kaseph's arrest was almost anticlimactic after the cosmic drama that had preceded it. Stripped of his demonic power, he appeared as nothing more than a middle-aged man in an expensive suit, his eyes vacant and his spirit broken. Professor Langstrat, Eugene Baylor, and their co-conspirators followed him into custody, their carefully constructed facades crumbling as quickly as the supernatural forces that had sustained them. The liberation of Ashton wasn't without cost. Families had been shattered, lives lost, and the scars of spiritual warfare would take years to heal. Ted Harmel's suicide stood as a grim reminder of the price paid by those who had tried to resist the darkness alone, without the support of a praying community. Kevin Weed's death in the river represented the ultimate sacrifice of those who had risked everything to expose the truth. But victory brought its own rewards. Marshall's reunion with his family was made possible by his newfound humility and spiritual awakening. Sandy's deliverance from demonic influence restored not just her sanity but her relationship with parents who had never stopped loving her despite the supernatural forces that had driven them apart. Kate's return from her mother's house marked the beginning of a marriage rebuilt on a foundation of shared faith rather than mere human affection. Pastor Hank Busche emerged from the conflict with a congregation united by their shared experience of supernatural deliverance. The prayer warriors who had stood firm in the face of seemingly impossible odds discovered that their faithfulness had cosmic significance, their intercessions serving as the key that unlocked heaven's intervention in earthly affairs. The little church on Morgan Hill became a beacon of hope for other communities facing similar spiritual battles. The defeat of Rafar sent shockwaves throughout the demonic hierarchy, serving notice that the forces of darkness could not operate with impunity in a world where faithful believers stood ready to resist them. But the victory also carried a sobering reminder that the war between good and evil continues in countless communities around the world, fought by ordinary people who must choose between comfortable neutrality and the demanding reality of taking sides in an eternal conflict.

Summary

The battle for Ashton revealed truths that extended far beyond one small town's struggle against supernatural corruption. Marshall Hogan's journey from skeptical journalist to man of faith demonstrated that the most important stories often involve realities that transcend the boundaries of conventional reporting. His investigation had uncovered not just earthly conspiracy but cosmic warfare, forcing him to expand his understanding of truth itself. The reunion with his family, made possible by his spiritual transformation, showed that victory in such battles often requires personal change as much as external action. Pastor Hank Busche's ministry was forged in the crucible of direct confrontation with evil, teaching him that spiritual warfare is not metaphor but reality. His small congregation, tempered by trial and united in purpose, became a model for how ordinary believers can stand against extraordinary darkness when they understand the power of prayer and the reality of angelic assistance. The prayer warriors who had maintained their vigil through months of persecution discovered that their faithfulness had literally moved heaven and earth, their intercessions serving as the decisive factor in a battle that determined their community's spiritual destiny. Yet the victory in Ashton carried sobering implications for the wider world. The Universal Consciousness Society's defeat was a setback, not an ending, in a war that continues wherever human souls must choose between light and darkness. The techniques of infiltration and control perfected in this small town would be attempted elsewhere, requiring constant vigilance from those who understand that the most important battles are often invisible to the naked eye. In Ashton, at least for now, light had triumphed over darkness, and the town's children would grow up free from the shadows that had once threatened to consume their home. But the war continues, and the need for prayer warriors remains as urgent as ever in a world where evil never sleeps and never surrenders its ambition to rule over the souls of men.

About Author

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Frank E. Peretti

Peretti charts an intricate map of spiritual warfare through the lens of Christian fiction, blending supernatural suspense with an evangelical worldview. His literary approach often involves the depiction of cosmic battles between good and evil, featuring demonic forces and angelic interventions. Through his imaginative narratives, Peretti engages readers by situating these spiritual themes within realistic settings, providing a compelling exploration of Christian faith. This method is especially evident in works like "This Present Darkness", which revolutionized the genre by weaving spiritual conflict into a gripping thriller, selling millions of copies worldwide.\n\nMeanwhile, Peretti extends his storytelling prowess to younger audiences with series like the "Cooper Kids Adventure", offering thrilling adventures that incorporate Christian values and ethical dilemmas. His books for children and young adults not only entertain but also instill moral lessons, resonating with readers who seek narratives that combine excitement with spiritual depth. Beyond fiction, his non-fiction book, "The Wounded Spirit", delves into themes of healing and personal growth, highlighting his versatility as an author who can address both the fantastical and the profoundly personal. Readers drawn to stories of resilience and faith find meaningful insights within his works.\n\nPeretti's impact on the field of Christian literature is further underscored by accolades such as the Gold Medallion Award for "The Oath". By pioneering the Christian thriller genre, he has paved the way for a new dimension in faith-based narratives, encouraging other authors to explore these themes. His body of work continues to influence both adult and younger readers, offering them a unique blend of entertainment and spiritual reflection. This brief bio captures how Peretti’s multifaceted storytelling not only entertains but also inspires a deeper understanding of spiritual warfare and personal redemption.

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