Who was the man?
A.N.: the following chapter contains strong Catholic content.
"Who the heck was that?" Carl asked Akiva.
"I don't know," replied Akiva, "But, I don't mind telling you, that guy scares me."
"I could have sworn even the bookshelves were trembling," said Carl.
"I need to do something," said Akiva.
"Where are you going?" asked Carl.
Akiva just walked out the double-doors of the library without saying a word, "Where's Akiva going?" Carl asked Gabriel who was coming down a flight of stairs.
"To pray," said Gabriel.
"Oh," replied Carl I should do some reading, do you have a Bible?"
"I'm an angel," said Gabriel.
"What does that mean?" asked Carl.
"It's in my office," Gabriel replied.
"Thanks," said Carl and he went into Gabriel's office and found a large and rather ancient book with a cross and 'THE HOLY BIBLE' written on its cover. He opened the bible and scrolled through its pages until he found 'THE NEW TESTAMENT OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR: JESUS CHRIST'. In this section he looked for everything he could about Satan (he had a strong feeling that the man clad in black was the Devil), he found in the 'The Gospel according to St. John': "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.'
If Jesus was right, then what the man (Satan) said about killing them might have been a lie and that gave him some comfort, but did not tell him how to protect himself (and Akiva) from the Devil. He suddenly remembered something and rushed up to his room and rummaged through his trunk to find a small book with: THE ROMAN RITUALS written on its cover, he flipped through it and found the prayer of St. Michael the Archangel against the Devil and an exorcism ritual beneath it. He closed the book and put it in his coat pocket (he always wore a black suit with a blue shirt underneath his coat. As he was leaving the room he saw a scapular and a Holy Rosary on his bedside table and a note with: 'These will help' written across it, "Thanks Gabriel," said Carl and put both the Scapular and the Rosary around his neck and left the room.
With his crucifix, Scapular, Rosary and Star of David around his neck, Carl felt much safer now. When Akiva got back, Carl said, "Feel better?"
"Yes," Akiva replied, "I always feel better after praying."
"I think that guy was Satan," said Carl.
"I knew it," said Akiva.
"We need to work together to defeat him," said Carl.
"Only God can defeat him," said Akiva.
"Yes, I understand," said Carl, "But we need to work together to be protected from him."
"I agree," said Akiva, and they shook hands and Akiva left the building, "Jesus help us," said Carl and he kissed his crucifix.