Here is the third installment of the Lightning Strikes Stories. I hope you enjoy.

Sheila

Prequel (18 years ago)

"I'm coming dad," said a sixteen year old Jack. They had decided to take a ride into town. He lived in the country with his dad and mom, and they would ride into town about once a week to get supplies and run errands.

Jack was a happy kid. His mom and his dad were happily married. They had their problems just like everybody, but they loved each other and they loved Jack.

"Where's your mother," asked Kevin. Jacks dad.

"She's coming. She has to change her shoes or something," said Jack.

"She just changed her shoe's," said Kevin.

"Well she's changing them again," replied Jack, rolling his eyes. "Why are women like that anyway," he asked.

"If you find an answer to that son, let me know and you'll be rich. I can't figure them out."

"An answer to what?" asked Laura, who was Jack's mother.

"Uh nothing ," said Kevin and grinned at his son. All three climbed into the car and headed to town. They took care of all there errands and was heading back home. They didn't see the truck coming from the other direction. They crashed into the truck, killing Jack's mother instantly. Jack and Kevin wasn't hurt, except for a few cuts and bruises, but Laura's head went through the windshield and the blow killed her instantly...

"I don't want to dad," said Jack. "You don't need to get mixed up in that stuff. He's bad news, please," but Kevin slapped his son hard across the face. How Jack longed for the days when they were a family. When he had his mom and his dad, and they were happy. Since she had died a year ago his father had changed. He began to drink. He had gotten mean and began beating up on his son just because he could. Jack was 17 years old, and his dad had gotten mixed up in the occult. He started to worship this demon called the destroyer.

Jack had always been a special child. He had abilities. He could move things with his mind, and he could call fire down from the sky. He used to think it was cool, but one day when he was younger he called it down. His dad had been working on his boat and Jack had gotten mad at something and called the fire down. Lightning struck his dad's boat, and his dad had been in the boat not 20 minutes before. Jack would have killed him, if he had done that earlier. He decided not to ever use his powers again, but the last year, his father would make him practice, expecting him to join up with the destroyer when he turned 18 years old.

"No dad, I don't want any part of him. I don't want any part of these powers. I don't want to hurt anybody dad. The destroyer tortures and kills people. I don't want to have any part of that. You need to stay away from him." It was the same story over and over. Jack would plead and beg his father to stop and he always ended up getting the crap beat out of him for his efforts.

"You will do as your told Jack. You will practice using your powers so you can develop them, and when you're 18 years old, you will join your powers to Alanya's and become a follower. Do you understand me!" said Kevin. "Now I want you to practice." They had the conversation in the attic and Kevin left and locked Jack inside.

"Dad," yelled Jack. "Please let me out!" His dad never would answer and he would wonder how long he would keep him locked up this time. Sometimes he would leave him locked up for days without food and wouldn't let him out until he practiced using his abilities. Because of that, Jack, to this day did not like small spaces.

The night of his 18th birthday party, Jack went to bed early. He had stopped having parties a long time ago. His father had been serving Alanya for two long and terrifying years. He had become totally obssessed with him and what he could give him. He craved the power that Alanya gave him. He thirsted for it. What Jack didn't know, was that in order for his father to take the next step he had to offer up a sacrifice to the demon. That sacrifice was his son.

"Jack," yelled Kevin as he pounded on his son's door. "Get up and open this damn door."

"Why," asked Jack afraid. "Where are we going?"

"To the cave," answered his father. "You'll be 18 at midnight son and it's time."

"No, dad," yelled Jack. "I'm not going to do that. I don't want any part of Alanya or these powers." This infuriated his father and he kicked the door in and stared at his son. His eyes were black and unfocused.

Jack jumped straight up in the bed and tried his best to get away from his father. He was afraid of what he was going to do. Kevin stalked over and jerked his son to his feet, pulling him toward the door. "Come on!"

"No Dad, please," yelled Jack, but Kevin hit him hard knocking him down. Jack began to fight but Kevin was bigger and stronger than his son, and he hit him again, dazing him. He jerked him back on his feet and tied his hands behind his back. He shoved him toward the door and out into the night. They walked the two miles to the cave, Jack struggling all the way. When they reached the cave his dad shoved him inside.

"Hello Jack," said Alanya. "Are you ready to join your powers with mine? I can give you the world Jack. I can give you anything you want. Anything Jack, just for joining me."

"No," yelled Jack. "I don't want any part of you or these powers. I don't plan on ever using them again. I will not join up with you!"

"Then you'll die!" said Alanya angrily and threw him back against the wall, using only his mind. He chained his hands and his feet. Jack looked at Kevin, fear on his face. "Dad please!" he said, but Kevin wouldn't listen. He bowed down to Alanya and said, "I give my son to you as a sacrifice. He belongs to you now Alanya," said Kevin and Alanya grinned.

"No!" yelled Jack as Alanya walked over to him and touched his head. Pain shot through his mind and he cried out in agony.

"Join me Jack!" said Alanya.

"NO!" yelled Jack. Alanya held his hand up in front of Jack and squeezed it into a fist in front of his face. He screamed as his heart began to pound inside his chest.

"Dad please. He's going to kill me!" Jack began to hyperventilate. He felt like Alanya had a hold of his heart and was squeezing it. Something snapped inside Kevin as he watched his son being tortured and suddenly he was sorry for everything. Kevin could also move things with his mind and he yelled, "NO!" He pushed Alanya back away from his son, with his mind and made the cuffs fall off of his hands and feet.

"Run son!" yelled Kevin, and Jack ran. Bars came up across the cave opening and Alanya knocked Kevin backward, almost breaking his neck. He grabbed Jack and shoved him back against the wall.

"Alanya please," said Kevin. Alanya looked at him, then turned to Jack.

"I'll give you a choice. You leave now and I'll let you live. I will leave you alone, but if you ever try to stand up to me or come against me in any way, the deals off. Do you understand."

Jack nodded. Alanya lowered the bars and Jack ran. He turned and saw Alanya totally overtake his father until he was consumed. Jack became angry. He ran to the truck and grabbed some explosives. He ran back and blew the cave up trapping Alanya inside. Jack walked away. He never looked back. He got in the truck and drove to another city. He paid his way through medical school and became a doctor. He vowed to always help people. He told everyone that his father had died in an accident, because who would believe the truth anyway.

Five years after he had graduated medical school he came back to his home town, and his old home and sat up a practice there and in the small hospital in town, but he never used his powers again and never went back to the cave, until five months ago, that is, when two brothers came into the emergency room needing help, and two cop friends asked him for it.