Author Note: This is going to be a short chapter just so I can get back in the groove of writing. Enjoy!

Chapter 16

Lily

"John, goddammit! Just take it off!"

"Don't take the lord's name in vain. You know better!"

I screamed, pulling my own hair in frustration. He wore his cross proudly around his neck. I ran over to the window and looked on in horror at this distance. It was coming.

"We don't have time!" I shouted desperately.

"I'm not giving up my faith Lily." He stated sternly.

I could see his posture, he stood defiantly, unmoving. How could I convince him? I'd been trying for so long but finally our time was up.

"Mommy, daddy, please don't fight."

I ran over and grabbed Emily, picking her up.

"I'm leaving then." I insisted.

"You aren't going anywhere with our daughter. If this is our time then we go peacefully to the lord."

I shook my head and turned away from him.

"We don't have to give up our faith. We can just submit and still keep it to ourselves." I explained in a panic while attempting to run away.

John stopped me, grabbing my arm.

"It's an insult. I can't think of a greater disrespect to His name then tossing away our symbols of faith when it's convenient." John stated sternly.

"Let me go. If you want to die so badly then you can do it alone!" I pulled away and ran towards the kitchen with Emily carefully cradled in my arms.

She was crying but I couldn't focus on that. John chased me but I grabbed a knife from the counter. I pointed at him in warning.

"I'm going to save our daughter." I warned while backing away from him.

"He stopped and approached me cautiously with his hands up."

"Only God can save her, can save us. Even if it is after death."

Tears trailed down my face. I loved that he was a man of strong faith. That trait was what drew me to him in the first place. It's why I married him. He was a good man and a good father but now...I just couldn't afford that.

"I'm sorry John. I love you." I stated shakily while backing up to the front door and opening it.

John gave me a sad look before shifting his gaze over to our daughter.

"Daddy?"

"Daddy will always love you Sweetheart."

"Daddy!" Emily screamed.

I couldn't afford to think about this moment. It was so close. I could hear the distant screams being silenced. I ran to the sidewalk and lowered Emily onto her feet. She was looking past me at the house. I still held the knife.

"Emily, Sweety, please listen to me." I sputtered quickly, drawing her attention.

"Mommy, what's giong to happen to Daddy?"

"Emily listen. This is going to hurt but it's for the best. Just like when you got that flu shot. Just know that mommy still loves you and mommy isn't mad at you. This is so you can be healthy ok?"

I could see that Emily was confused but I didn't have time to explain further. Without further hesitation I took her little hand and stabbed her palm with the kitchen knife.

She screamed immediately, her high pitched voice was ear piercing.

"Ah! Mommy! Stop!" She pleaded as I began to carve into her flesh.

My own tears blurred my vision. She was squirming and writhing, trying to pull away from me but I held her wrists tightly. Oh my god.

After a few long seconds I finally pulled the knife away from her bloody hand. Carved clearly on her palm with Brightburn's symbol.

Emily cradled her hand to her chest, bloodying her Dr. Mcstuffins t-shirt.

"Mommy...mommy…" She squealed in agony.

I thought she would pass out. I wished should would but she was still conscious somehow. She was a strong 4 year old.

I glanced off to the side to see the huge red beam coming our way. I didn't have much time. I gritted my teeth and stabbed into my own palm.

It hurt so badly. I fell to my knees, carving desperately. Emily looked at me in horror. After what seemed like eternity I dropped the knife, a similar symbol carved into my own palm.

I grabbed Emily around the waist and pulled her close.

"Hold you hand up high Sweety. High to the sky." I ordered, trying to stifle how pathetic my voice must have sounded.

I was a mess.

Thankfully Emily complied, mimicking me as I held my hand to the sky.

"I'm sorry Sweety, I'm so sorry. Mommy loves you." I kept repeating into her ear.

As soon as we raised our hands our hands began to glow. Yes! We made it.

The huge red lazer washed over us just as a bright white shield surrounded both of our bodies. The lazer destroyed everything, setting the area on fire for miles in all directions.

"Close your eyes Baby, don't look."

I held Emily's head to my chest. I knew she would want to look but I couldn't let her. The scene was horrific. I saw everything.

John was still in the house, kneeling at the front door in a praying position. He was disintegrated along with the house and everything else.

A few seconds later the red beam moved on, continuing to decimate the rest of the city, the whole country. As the beam passed the white shield dissipated.

The sound of Emily's wailing punctuated the ruin that was left behind.

"Gods have mercy."

A mouse cursor clicked "play" on a Youtube video. The video had over 7 billions views.

Laura appeared on the screen. Her normal introduction played. The intro had her spinning into frame wearing one of her patented princess dresses. There were a few magical cgi sparkles that surrounded her and then a display that shimmered onto the screen to spell out the words "Laura's Princess Diaries."

As soon as the intro finished Laura was shown, her mascara running as tears streamed down her eyes. The whimsical nature of her introduction was a stark juxtaposition to her mood.

"Hello everyone. This is going to be a very, very serious princess diary. Please spread this video as much as you can. Everyone has to see this." Laura said while fanning herself with one hand and taking a few deep breaths.

She shakily held a small pink book in her free hand.

"Ok, ok. So, as you all know, almost a month ago Brandon gave his declaration to the world. He ordered every country to surrender or be destroyed. He gave them a month to begin implementing the Brightburn constitution. Here is a brief response from the united nations."

The video changed to the middle of a speech. A woman in a suit stood at a podium.

"The demands of the Brightburn constitution are untenable. We of the United Nations are made up of many societies, many people, many cultures. We celebrate that diversity. We will not give up who we are."

The video switched back to Laura's face.

"The Brightburn constitution outlaws all religion except the worship of the Greek Pantheon so it's understandable why so many nations would resist. I understand but…" Laura began while pausing, she looked off to the side while biting her lip.

"Brightburn's will is absolute." Laura shifted her gaze back resolutely.

"In one day he will begin...cleansing these countries. I repeat, he is going to destroy the entire country. Billions are going to die. I know exactly how he will do it. He is going to orbit the earth and shoot his laser vision on each country and completely wipe them out, destroying everything!" Laura stated in alarm.

She began to fan herself.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Ok lets just get through this." She said with a few calming breaths.

"At first he was going to kill everyone in a defiant country indiscriminately, completely leveling everything, everywhere. Thankfully, Queen Apollyon has seen fit to grant a select few mercy, under very strict criteria. And that's what this video is about. Apollyon is going to be casting a spell to protect all who qualify from Brandon's fire. Please listen carefully."

Laura focused on her little book again, reading word for word.

"The spell is a mass, general protection spell. What it will do is create a barrier over an individual or structure which will protect that individual or structure from Brandon's heat vision. In order to gain this protection the structure must have Brandon's symbol carved into it. The same for an individual."

Laura looked up from her book, returning her attention to the screen.

"What this means is that if you want to protect your house, you need to carve Brandon's symbol onto your house. The symbol needs to be in plain view from the outside. Ideally you carve it onto your front door. If your house is protected then you are protected. Just stay inside." Laura explained.

She bit into her bottom lip.

"However, the nature of magic is very specific. As many of you may or may not know, Apollyon is the champion and has been the main enforcer of the anti-religious policy. Therefore her spell will have those themes. For one, if there is any religious symbol of another religion other than that of the Greek Pantheon within the structure, the spell will not work."

Laura paused and repeated that last sentence.

"For example, Caitlyn is my best friend. She is a Christian. She always wears a cross necklace. Because she has on that necklace and we live in the same house, this house would not be protected by Apollyon's spell. I would have to leave my house and either find a different house or carve Brightburn's symbol somewhere visibly on my body to be granted protection."

Laura turned around, showing off her scarred back.

"Are you can see, I have that covered."

Laura turned for face the camera again.

"Of course this only applies to countries which have refused to surrender. If you are in one of the countries that have surrendered, like China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and a few others, you needn't worry about any of this. At least...not yet." Laura stated hesitantly as her eyes wondered.

"Anyway, back to the rules. You instead of carving Brandon's symbol, you can also carve the symbol of a god of the greek pantheon onto your house or onto your skin. Apollyon protects her own." Laura continued.

She looked back down at her book again.

"There are a few more notes so please listen carefully."

Laura went on for a few more minutes before finally closing her little book. She placed two fingers against her lips, kissing them before pressing those digits to the frame of the camera.

"Please be safe." Was the last thing she said as the video ended.

David

"Are you sure we've done everything David?"

"Yea. I've watched it like, 10 times. We should be good."

"Should isn't good enough David."

"We'll be fine. Just keep watching the telly."

"Oh my god."

I suddenly remembered. I immediately got up from my chair and sprinted through the house. Everyone looked at me in alarm.

"David what's wrong?" My fiance called out to me.

I ran straight for the basement door and sprinted down the stairs. I was too much in a panic to answer her.

I waded through the clutter and cursed how much of a hoarder my grandmother was.

"Yes!" I shouted triumphantly.

"David?"

Emma was on the stairs leading down to the attic. I ran up, sprinting past her. Her eyes widened in realization when she saw what I was holding.

I ran past the crowd of my family members who huddled together in the living room, each having their eyes glued to their phones or watching the telly.

I held a bible. My grandmother's old bible.

As fast as I could I opened the front door and tossed the bible out into the street. As soon as I did that huge red beam washed over the area. Our house was engulfed in a shining white barrier.

"Fucking hell." I whispered in exasperation.

Everyone gathered at the window to look around the neighborhood.

"I figured those two would survive." My auntie spoke out.

Across the street our neighbors were looking out their windows as well. It seemed that most of the neighborhood was protected. We even saw a few cars in the street being surrounded by the shield.

"I guess now we'll have something to talk about."

"David, now is not the time." My mother scolded.

I ignored her. She knew me. Always making light of terrible situations.

"Some family reunion huh?"

I took more tongue-lashing from my mother. Given everything that was going on, I just couldn't bring myself to care.

Thanks for reading. Please review.