Chapter 14 A Light in the Darkness
Hey everybody. How's life? Thanks to all the new reviewers. I appreciate it. I'm glad that this apparently has scared a person, for I was a bit worried that it wasn't scary enough. Don't worry, it will get much scarier in the future. And I mean MUCH scarier. I'm dang serious. Their is a scene which is so dang scary. But that's not until later in the book. Thank you K.H. Lycan for reviewing my story. I appreciate that, and I respect your shock at what is in this story. You see, I don't think that religion should be such a hush-hush subject. We are Christians, and I don't think we should be ashamed of it, for the Bible says that if we are ashamed of Jesus before man then Jesus will be ashamed of us before the father. I think we should let the world know that we are Christians, and if they are prejudice against us, then they are no better than the people who were prejudice against black people back in the past. Yes, this is the reason I wrote this story, as an outreach. I want to show the world who Satan really is, how dangerous he is. He is dark, and he enslaves people. That is why I think this story can be very scary at times. Its because it is not some false horror story, this stuff is real. Demons are real, Satan is real. Demons really do possess people, and their is real Spiritual warfare. I do believe that I exaggerated the power of demons a bit, for I'm not sure that in real life they can tear the soul of a person from their body (killing them instantly) but you can never be sure. Yeah, and exorcisms aren't a happy subject. They aren't joyful, and they aren't simple. The exorcist has to dang well fight the demon. I actually researched exorcisms while writing these scenes. When I read that in a stage of an exorcism, the exorcist is in spiritual battle with the demon, I came up with the idea for the demons tearing souls from bodies. But calling on the name of Jesus is like poison for them.
Millions and millions of Spirits flew through the air through the darkened clouds that they had created. Below them Spiritloosener leaped upon the mortal, tearing at his soul, trying to coax it into letting go. The legions of dark creatures shrieked as their demonic master wrestled with the spirit of the threat, trying to remove its hold from the body. But the mortal's faith was strong, and his soul remained firmly rooted to his body.
Suddenly something wrong began to happen. The mortal began rebuking Spiritloosener with the hated name. The legions stopped shrieking in victory, and began crying out each time the hated word left the man's mouth. Then he commanded Spiritloosener to the pit. The legions all gasped in amazement, and fear as their leader had nothing to say. Then, Spiritloosener began screaming, and released the mortal. His shadowy figure began spinning around as if grasped by some unseen force. As he spun, he cried out more blasphemies against the hated one, before disappearing into a dark blast of energy. The legions of evil spirits gasped. Spiritloosener had been sent to the Abyss. Then, true fear gripped their hearts as they began thinking that this man could send them to the Abyss as well. Then, with cries of fear and agony, the millions of demons flew out of the sky, away from the town, and disappeared into the mountains.
The dark evil clouds floated away, letting the rays of sun shine down on the broken village. The grass was blackened in several places from the bolts of lighting, and the roof of the Inn was a mess. The mortal collapsed on the ground, for his spirit had nearly been torn from his body. The Innkeeper picked him up, and carried him towards the Inn. All around him the town's people watched what he did carefully. The Innkeeper turned and gave them a look which could only mean: "Why didn't any of you help us?"
A pastel darkness surrounded me as I flowed through the gray world. Voices, speaking, telling me things I knew, and things I didn't know. One voice stood out above all the rest. One voice spoke of my past in Mineral Town. I listened closely, and found myself reliving the memory again.
The next day the girl and I climbed to the top of Mother's Hill, and played together for a long time. I was sad, because deep inside, I knew that today was my last day here in Mineral Town. My parents would come and pick me up later to bring me back home. But I didn't want to go home. I would miss this girl more than anything else here. For she had become a great friend to me ever since I had come here. It would be heartbreaking to leave her behind. Then the time came.
"I- I have to go home now," I said sheepishly to the girl.
"WHAT! You're leaving already? But you just got here."
"I know," I said. "I have to go, my parents have come to pick me up."
"No," tears came to her eyes as the little girl looked at me for probably the last time. "P-promise me... promise me you will return one day."
"I promise," I said looking down at my feet while trying to hold in my own tears.
The little girl made no attempt. She let her tears fall from her eyes down to the ground.
"Now, (sob) everything will be boring again without you."
"We will see each other again," I said putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You just wait and see."
I got on the car, and looked out the window at the small girl waving at me as I disappeared into the distance. The memory ended, and I was brought back out into the misty world again.
"No!" I shouted. "Why did this have to happen? That little girl was my friend. But I don't remember her name, or anything about her. Is it fare that I should lose my friends?"
'This memory made you return to Mineral Town,' one of the voices said to me. 'Now the same memory makes you angry and sad as you regret your losses. This memory will be the one that will lead you to your complete transformation into darkness.'
"That is not true!"
'You are the only darkness here in this town. You must accept that fact. This memory will unleash the darkness within you as you loose your other friends.'
"You are a liar!"
'I am the voice of the truth.'
"You speak nothing but lies"
'Stop deceiving yourself.'
"I AM NOT DECEIVING MYSELF!"
My eyes opened as the last remnants of my strange dream faded away into nothingness. Above me stood Ann, looking down at me in a concerned manner. She breathed a sigh of relief when I came to.
"Hi Ann," I said quietly.
Doug walked up behind Ann, and nodded at me.
"I'm glad to see you are okay Zach," Doug said. "That Spirit hit you pretty hard."
"Spirit?" Ann asked, her eyes growing wider.
"Yeah," I yawned. "A demon attacked me, and tried to tear my soul from my body. Luckily I managed to command the demon into hell."
"You were attacked!" Ann said in disbelief. "DAD! WHY DID YOU LOCK ME IN THE CLOSET! I COULD HAVE HELPED HIM!"
"You would only have been hurt in the process," Doug said calmly. "The demon would have recognized that you were important to Zach, and would have attacked you to try and injure him. It was best that you didn't get involved. I'm sorry Ann, but know that what I did was for your safety, as well as Zach's."
"All right," Ann said quietly. "I understand Dad. I just... don't want anything to happen to Zach."
Ann reached down, and hugged me. I put my arms around her, and held her close.
"So," I said as I pulled away. "Where am I?"
"The Inn in case you haven't noticed," Cliff said as he entered the room.
Cliff smiled at me, but my features hardened. I had questions which needed answers.
"How did you know what was going to happen earlier today with the demons? Why didn't you warn any of us about it?"
Cliff's face fell.
"I didn't know what was going to happen," he lied as he bowed his head.
"Then why were you running away from the Inn?" I snapped. "And why didn't you say hi to me as you passed?"
"I didn't see you," Cliff mumbled.
"We both know that's a lie," I replied angrily. "Tell me then. What was so desperate that you had to abandon your friends to die? There was a demon back there trying to drag me into hell! He would never have succeeded with that, but he would have succeeded in killing me."
"I knew nothing of what was to come," Cliff said feebly. It was obvious to everyone in the room that he was lying.
"There is something else I need to talk to you about Cliff," I said softening my voice. "Always when I'm around you I feel a sort of dark presence surrounding you. You're not by any chance demon possessed, are you? Is that how you knew about what was going to happen?"
"I have no demon!" Cliff shouted rather defensively. "The voice. The voice told me to do it."
"A demon told you..."
"NO! The voice told me about what was going to happen, and warned me not to get involved in the wrath of the Spirits."
"Sounds like a demon to me," I said looking Cliff in the eyes. "I haven't much training, but I think I can command it out of you. I had to command one today..."
"NO!" Cliff shouted as he leaped up to his feet. "The voice is my friend. The voice is no demon. The voice would never lead me astray. I will not let you remove him from me. He is my guardian. Do you think I don't know my best friend?"
"Would a friend ask you to betray your other friends?" I asked Cliff.
Cliff turned and left the Inn. I could tell he was upset by his words. I actually felt a bit bad about how harsh I had been, and how hard I had pushed him. Cliff was the ideal target of a demon. He had a shattered past, and no doubt the demon helped to keep it shattered. Demons were easily let in by those who had lost all hope. Cliff was one who needed support, not criticism.
'He was sent to the pit.'
'I know of this already. I felt him leave.'
'This is bad. If the threat has learned to rebuke the Spirits, then what hope do we have?'
'He only defeated one. How well do you think he will fare against all of the Spirits?'
'Not so well. But I have a problem. I think he has discovered me. When he last talked to my prey Zach asked if my prey had a demon. Luckily my prey answered wisely.'
'You mean foolishly.'
'Whatever. His "foolish" answer was better for me than any wise answers he will ever have.'
'The world works that way often. But do not worry. The farmer can't very easily call you out of your prey if your prey does not want you to leave. He will fight to keep you in. Besides, you are stronger than Spiritloosener.'
'As are you. What of Darkfor and the others?'
'They have retreated back to me for now. We have time to regroup and plan our next move. This defeat is only a minor one. We will bring down the threat in the end. He will not get in the way of the master plan.'
'Indeed.'
Mother's Hill was the perfect place to spend an afternoon. The whole place was full of happiness, and the joyful presence of nature. I felt so close to God out here. When I closed my eyes it felt like I was bowing at the feet of my lord, praising him as he looked down lovingly at me. It was times like these that I truly felt at peace.
Mother's Hill was like a little oasis in the middle of the whole mountains region. Unlike the rest of that area, I truly felt comfortable there. Mother's Hill somehow seemed to be free from the dark evil which plagued this region and was slowly working its way into the town. I did not know how, but it seemed to be a place of good. I knew a Bible verse which was perfect for this picture. "A light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5. That was what Mother's Hill seemed like to me. A light that shone even when it seemed that darkness had conquered all. The last remnants of good which continues to exist in a place of evil. Then I wondered. Was I perhaps a light like that? My thoughts ended when I was hugged from behind.
"Hello Zach," Ann said as she rested her head against my shoulder.
I smiled as I turned to embrace her. I took Ann into my arms, and held her close. Savoring the moment was hard, for deep in my heart that either Ann or I may be destroyed by the evil powers of the island. Plus, Ann was spiritually lost. When we died, I would not see her in heaven, for the dark powers of this town still had a grip on her. Sure, she may not have much faith in the Goddess, but she had no faith in Jesus which would save her from being dragged down to hell by certain unnamed evil spirits. But hope still existed.
"Lets go sit over there," I said pointing at the top of Mother's Hill.
Ann nodded, and we climbed to the top of the hill.
"Sooo..." I said, trying to think of a subject to discuss. "Have you read any in the Bible that I gave you?"
Ann nodded.
"I've read the book of John, and I am three fourths of the way through the book of Luke. The problem is I'm getting tired of basically the same story over and over, and I don't know what other books in the Bible to read."
"Do you want to know what happened to Jesus' followers after he ascended into heaven?"
Ann nodded.
"Check out the book of Acts. Its very good."
"I think it is all quite interesting," Ann said. "I know that you believe in this stuff very strongly, and I... I almost do as well."
"Then what is holding you up?" I asked her. "The only step to take is to accept Jesus as your savior, and lord. Then God will go inside of you, and wash your soul clean of all your sins. Then after death, you and me, we will see each other again."
Ann brightened up at this, and a look of hope crossed her features. Then it was replaced by doubt. I sighed and closed my eyes, and quietly rebuked Satan for inserting doubt into Ann. With God, there was no room for doubt.
"I didn't quite understand all of that either," Ann said. "What exactly is heaven?"
"Heaven," I began as I put an arm around Ann, "is God's domain. When God created the universe he also created Heaven. The supernatural world is divided into two parts. Heaven and Hell. Heaven is where God and all of his angels live when they aren't doing work on Earth. Demons are fallen angels, angels who revolted against God because there leader Satan wanted to have God's power. He was defeated, and he and his followers were banished from heaven. The only other place to go to was Hell. But demons don't want to go to Hell, so they wander the Earth, in search of a home. Hell is a place of eternal suffering. It was created as the place where Satan and his followers will receive justice for there crimes against God. Satan is so angry with God for his defeat, that he now wants to hurt God by dragging God's children, us, down into Hell with him. Satan knows he can't avoid Hell, but he'll drag as many down with him as he can. Only holy beings can enter heaven, so we have no hope, for we are all unworthy. So the only other option is Hell. Luckily God sent his son Jesus to take the punishment for our crimes for us. That is why Jesus was crucified. Heaven is a place of happiness. The Bible says that the streets are paved with Gold in Heaven. All those who turn to Jesus and accept his gift of salvation are protected from going to Hell after they die."
Ann rested her head on my shoulder as I continued speaking of Heaven, and Angels, and God. She always had more questions after I finished answering the first one. I looked out over the horizon as I continued speaking about my Savior. The light from the sun seemed to shine brighter than before, and the forest didn't seem as foreboding anymore. The powers of darkness paled in comparison to the powers of God. God was mighty, and just. I closed my eyes, and prayed that God would help me to defeat the evil in this town. I hoped that one day it would be purged of the evil presence, so that I could live out the rest of my life here in Mineral Town.
The day ended, and I took Ann home before heading back to my house. I slept well that night. I hadn't felt so happy in a while. As my eyes closed and my mind began drifting away, I began speaking to my Holy Father in Heaven.
"Glory to God. Glory to my creator. Glory to my savior."
Oh, and those of you who pray, I have a friend who is in need of prayers. He needs help fighting Satan. And I need prayers as well. Please help my friend and me here.
