Chapter 39 Fighting Demons
It just keeps getting better and better, spiraling in on the awesome ending. Oh, and if you can would you guys check out my new Harvest Moon humor RPG forum? I don't have enough members on it yet. Thanks.
Dark clouds covered the sky, causing much unrest among the Angelic Ranks.
"Easy," Julius said. "It's happening."
Thunder rumbled, but I saw no lightning. The sky was completely covered by the dark clouds. Over the sound of thunder, I detected a fell voice laughing.
"We gotta go!" I shouted, dragging Ann down the hill. Suddenly a bolt of lighting shot down and scorched the ground right where the two of us had been previously standing.
The evil laughter continued, rising loudly above the sound of thunder. I came to a stop, and turned towards the clouds.
"C'mon Zach," Ann said with fear in her eyes. "Let's get out of here! Its trying to kill us."
I ignored her pleas, and turned to the storm.
"Who are you," I shouted above the winds.
"YOU KNOW WHO I AM MORTAL! I AM THE RIGHT HAND!"
"Please," Ann said, tugging on my arm.
I complied.
The clouds grew thick, and roared with the energy of Satan.
"Its the Right Hand," Jordar said.
"He has come," Julius said.
Jordar extended the Glory of God, but Julius held his hand up.
"Don't Jordar," he said. "This has to happen. It is decision time for those people down there."
'Well what do we have here?' a spiritual voice issued from the clouds down into the minds of all the Angels. 'I'm just gliding between the Twin Mountains of the Goddess, and who do I run into? Sardana! If it isn't you. You look different then I last recall. All shiny and bright, and those wings?'
"My name is Julius," Julius shouted at the Right Hand.
'Ooo renounced Satan did we?' the Right Hand said mockingly. 'You are a very naughty boy indeed.'
"I have returned to my father."
'You have returned, but in truth you are still a demon inside.'
"I have been forgiven."
'I'd like to see how much forgiveness your "father" has after this.'
"Extend the Glory of God!" Julius shouted to the Angelic Legion.
All the Angels held out their tall shining swords. The clouds seemed to form into a face which leered down at all the Angels.
'Impressive display Sardana,' the Right Hand laughed. 'But your numbers are far too few. Flee this island, and you will be spared.'
"We do not budge!"
'Oh, but what do your warriors say to that? Angels, you must leave. There are millions of Demonic warriors here, and only three hundred of you. Have you ever felt the power of Satan coursing through yourself? Painful it is indeed. As if every edge of your soul was scalded by intense fury of darkness. It strikes at your center. At the very light which is you. You fight against it, but it stains your clean white spirit. It burns at your being. The darkness then covers all the light that is in you, and the fist of Satan wraps around your neck and drags you kicking and screaming into the Abyss. I have seen many Angels succumb to this fate. Scream they did, and gnash their teeth in the Lake of Fire. I was a good distance away, but I could hear their chains lashing.'
"Don't listen to him," Julius said, "he exaggerates. All Angels who are right with God will not fall into the Abyss."
'What makes you so sure of that?'
Suddenly thousands of the Spirits appeared all over the face of the two mountains. They cackled, and shouted down at their Angel brothers, spouting blasphemies against God.
"Look at the size of that army," Elasian said in amazement.
The demons then rose in a war cry, before launching themselves down upon their brethren.
"That is more than just a cloud," Gotz said, staring out at the dark mass which had appeared between the twin mountains. "I have a very bad feeling about that cloud."
"Didn't Zach and Ann say they were going to Mother's Hill?" Kai asked.
Doug looked at him with terror in his eyes.
We ran through the forest, blindly charging through the trees. Limbs and branches lashed against the two of us as we ran for our lives. I turned my head, and noticed with terror that the dark clouds were following us, maintaining their position directly above the two of us.
"YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE ME!" the voice of the Right Hand shouted. "I WILL DESTROY YOU!"
Then a horrible laugh rose above us again, and then suddenly, the mass of clouds stopped where it was, and we shot ahead.
"It's letting us go," I said to myself. "It wants to take the whole town with one blow. We must warn them all!"
We burst back into my farm, and were quickly joined by the others. They had seen the dark shadow appear out over the forest as well.
"We must warn everyone," I said. "That is no ordinary cloud. It is the Right Hand."
We ran into the town, and were met by all the town's people. Everyone had seen the cloud. Unfortunately, Won stood in front of them. He was now their master.
"Stop heathens!" he shouted, drawing his Katana, and pointing it at us.
"No," said Gotz, through clenched teeth.
We were all amazed at the confidence in his voice as he said this.
"You stop False Prophet!" he said. "You have dragged these people down long enough. Release them, now! They are not your property you servant of darkness. Long have you sworn yourselves to the powers of darkness, thinking they were working with you. Now the powers of darkness march against you, and you still serve them!"
"You have all seen it," Kai said. "The dark clouds slowly moving towards the town. They have come to take the village. You delved into darkness so long, and now the darkness desires you! It comes for your souls! You must depart from your evil ways. For now the Demons are on your doorstep!"
Some of the people seemed stirred by what we said. But Won took a step forward, and challenged us.
"It is no evil force that marches upon us," Won sneered. "It is the Right Hand. Come to purify the town. All heathens will be burned by it, and all who follow them as well. Stay with me! Face the coming of the Right Hand. Accept it, and you will be spared. Run from it, or join these heathens and you will be destroyed."
"He lies," I said. "The Right Hand is not here to save you. It has come to take you all! To drag you down with it to the pit of the lake of fire. Come with us! You must come with us! Do not be deceived by his lies anymore!"
"They are heathens!" Won snapped. "No one go with them."
"He is not your overlord!" I shouted. "He's not your commander! Don't let Won take you with him! If your Goddess is so kind, then why does she spend so much time burning those who are against her, and so little time helping those who are allied with her?"
"He's right," a man in the crowd suddenly said.
Won immediately turned around, and swung his Katana into the man's chest. The people in the crowd gasped as the body of the man crumpled to the ground, and died. Won sheathed his Katana.
"Is it righteous to follow a murderer?" I asked. "He just killed one of your friends. Will you continue to be fooled by his lies?"
I then drew my sword.
"Won, you will not kill anyone anymore. Do not touch your blade. Let the people decide who they will follow. Don't forget, I have a blade as well!"
Julius swung his blade into one of the Spirits, sending the Demon off in an explosion of dark energy. The Angelic Legion fought back, but the Demonic army was ruthless, and the Angels were far outnumbered. Many of the Angels had fallen. Their ranks were being quickly cut down to size.
"We won't last much longer!" Elasian shouted to Julius.
"I know!" Julius replied. "But we must fight anyways! There is no alternative!"
Suddenly Elasian looked to the west, and saw an amazing sight. Tarana flew over the horizon, just scraping the sides of the sunbeams with his mighty wings. Behind him flew a fleet of Angels. Reinforcements had finally come.
Suddenly Popuri broke out of the crowd, and ran over to Kai's side. Won reached for his Katana. I immediately shoved the tip of my blade against his neck.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," I whispered to him.
Won glared back at me.
"Anymore of you wish to come with us?" Doug asked. "This is your one and only chance."
"Ah've had enough of yew Won," Saibara said, and stepped through the crowd. "Always slashin first, askin questions later. I don't know who this God of your's is, Zach, but I'm sure he's much better than this Goddess we follow."
"You must not go with them," said a strange voice.
All the people in the crowd turned to see who it was. It was Karen. She spoke in a voice deeper, and darker than her own, causing several of the children to grab their mother's in fear. Her eyes held a wild, almost murderous look. I looked at her, remembering that she was the girl that I had known as a kid. I remembered the sweet innocent little girl who loved flowers and making her mother laugh. Quite a sharp contrast to the lost, angry, blood shot eyed, tormented, and frightened girl who stood before us with hellfire burning in her eyes.
"Karen?" I said in surprise. "What's wrong with your voice? It sounds... different."
"He is a heathen," she said, pointing at me. "He would have us all fall into darkness."
"How can you say that about me?" I said angrily. "I am your friend. You know I would never do that."
"Stay your anger Zach," Gotz said. "You don't know what is going on, do you?"
"No."
"She has a demon." Gotz then took a step towards Karen.
"Demon," he said. "Leave this girl, and take away Satan's voice with you! You have caused enough harm!"
Karen turned to Gotz, her eyes filled with hate.
"Silence heathen!" she said, and her eyes flashed.
Something was definitely wrong with her.
"I command you in the name of Jesus to leave Karen," Gotz continued.
"Do not say that word!" she shrieked.
"Long have you poisoned her mind, but no more! What is your name Spirit?"
"You will never have her! She is my prey! Mine! My own! None shall take her from me!"
"You... will... leave... her... in the name of God!" Gotz shouted.
Suddenly Karen's eyes flashed with hate, and she screamed. Her eyelids pulled back, and her eyes turned like those of a demon. Children screamed as all this was happening. This was not natural. Then she leaped upon Gotz, slamming him cruelly to the ground, and she began viciously tearing at him with her hands, her nails now like the claws of a tiger. Gotz held her off as best as he could, but somehow she seemed stronger than ever before. She lurched at his neck, opening her jaws wide, in an attempt to sever his throat with her jaws. Gotz put his hands against her forehead, baring her passage to his neck.
"Get her off of him!" Kai shouted.
I dropped my sword, and ran towards my friend. The air was sliced by the sound of a singing blade, before a jagged edge was pushed against my neck, stopping me in my place. I turned, and saw Won holding his Katana against my neck, and grinning evilly. Out of the corner of my eye, I suddenly saw Rick running over to Karen and Gotz.
"Karen!" he shouted. "Karen! Don't hurt him! You are not yourself."
Rick put a hand on Karen's shoulder, but she turned her head, and sunk her teeth into his hand. Rick screamed and pulled away, before tumbling in a heap to the ground. The face that looked at him was no longer the face of a childhood friend. It was the face of a monster.
"Stay away from me mortal!" Karen, or whatever force was controlling Karen said. "All you are good for is torture. I remember all the times I tortured you in the past. What joy. What fun. That is all you ever will be good for."
Captain Bates ran over to Rick, and helped him back up to his feet.
"She is not Karen right now," Captain Bates said. "Stay with us right now. She has been taken by a demon."
Rick didn't understand what this meant, but he had a feeling that he needed to stay with these heathens, away from Won.
"Mom," he said, turning to the crowd which he had just come from. "You have to come over here. Stay away from Won!"
"Don't you see son?" Lilia, his mother, said in a quiet voice. "We have to wait here for the Right Hand to come and purify us. Do not go with them."
Rick stood there, unsure of what to do.
"Mom," Popuri said, "Rick! We must escape those clouds. They do not come to save us!"
"What do I do?" Rick asked, mostly to himself. "Do I listen to my sister, or to my mom?"
"You must make a decision," Captain Bates said. "Where does your heart belong. With the Goddess, or with God? We may ask you to come with us, but in the end it is your choice. Choose who you will be with, but be ready to live with the consequences of your choice. Whatever choice you make, know this. Jesus commanded that all who wish to be with him must drop everything they own, and follow him. They must be ready to leave everyone behind. And that includes your family, if they refuse to come with you."
Rick looked at Won's crowd. With them he saw his life of worshiping and serving the Goddess. He saw his mother's face. But he also saw death, and a maniacal murderer who lead them. He looked at the crowd of heathens. With them he saw all that he had stood against all his life. He saw the God he had been taught to hate. But he also saw his sister. He saw life. He saw a new beginning. A glorious beginning. Rick's decision was made.
"Karen!" he shouted. "You are a part of something that I know you don't want to be a part of! Something has taken you for its own. But you can escape it. Force it back. Come back to the light. Karen, come back to the light."
Suddenly Karen screeched again, and leaped off of Gotz's body.
"No," she said, in her normal voice. "I will not harm him. I told you that I don't want you anymore. Now leave!"
"I will never leave! You are my prey!" she answered herself in a different voice.
"Silence spirit!" Kai said. "Karen. Do you wish to be free of this demon?"
"No! No!"
"I am not talking to you Spirit. I am talking to Karen."
"Yes," she said softly. "He is no longer my friend. He has become my enemy."
"Spirit, then I command you to leave this girl in the name of the Cross!"
"Never!" Suddenly I recognized the Spirit's voice.
"Darkfor!" I shouted. "It is you!"
'And it is you Mr. Model Christian,' a voice said in my head, so no one could hear it.
"You will leave this girl now! You will leave her in the name of God!"
"I will remain here with my prey!" Karen shouted in the dark voice.
"Karen," I said, walking towards the tormented girl. "Too long have you spent your time in the darkness. Too long have you fallen under that creature's command. Come back to the light!"
Won suddenly lifted his blade away from my neck, and let me pass. Why? I didn't know. Perhaps he was afraid of whatever it was that was inside of Karen. Perhaps he was confused, and frightened. Whatever the reason, he pulled the blade back, and let me pass. Karen suddenly looked afraid. She backed up as I came closer.
"I rebuke you demon!" I said. "In the name of Jesus I command you to leave her! Jesus is lord!"
"Satan is lord!"
"We rebuke Satan as well!" I shouted, and the demon screamed.
"Satan! No! Satan is great!"
"Satan will fall before the power's of God! Leave her, now!"
"Karen," Rick said, stepping forward. "Karen please."
I could have sworn I saw tears in her eyes. She screamed, and thrashed, and blasphemed God, and cursed me, and yelled at Rick, but tears streaked down her face. The demon was strong within her!
"Can't you see it?" Gotz shouted, standing back up. "She doesn't want you with her anymore! We don't want you here! You have failed! The Goddess has failed! Satan has failed! Now, go back to the darkness from which you came!"
Karen screamed again, and then fell to the ground and went into convulsions. She shrieked, and began clawing at her face with her hands. She then screamed again, and fell limply back against the ground. Rick was immediately at her side. "Karen," he said with concern, cradling her head in his lap.
"Are you alright?" Karen't eyes opened, and she looked up at Rick.
"Rick," she said softly. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for what I have done to you."
"Shhhh," Rick said. "Just rest. You need your rest."
Karen just looked straight up into Rick's eyes lovingly. Then she smiled.
"You helped me defeat it," she said. "Darkfor has been cast away."
Karen then reached up, and placed her hand against Rick's cheek. He blushed, and turned away. But Karen just smiled up at her hero.
"Now," she said. "Let's get out of here."
Rick lifted her up off of the ground, and carried her over to where we were standing. Won glared at him as he passed. He drew his Katana, and held it over his head, as if ready to strike the two of them down. I picked my sword up off of the ground, and pointed it over at Won.
"Your reign of Terror has ended Won," I said. "You will kill no more!"
"I will kill you all!" Won shouted, with venom in his eyes. "The Right Hand will kill you! It is close!"
I turned and looked. He was right. The cloud's were now passing over my farm.
"We must leave this town," I said. "Leave and never return. Darkness has come! This is your last chance to join us!"
"Stu!" Elli shouted. "Come here!"
The small child peeked through the crowd towards his sister.
"Come to me Stu," she said. "Please."
Stu ran through the crowd, and jumped into his older sister's arms.
"Are you coming Grandma?" she said, looking at an elderly lady in the crowd.
"I'm coming sweetheart," Ellen, her Grandmother said, slowly walking through the crowd.
"Stu!" a voice shouted.
We turned, and saw May running through the crowd after him.
"I'm coming too," the little girl said. "I don't like those clouds."
"Stay here May," Barley said, stepping up through the crowd. "We must meet the Right Hand."
May stopped between the two crowds, and looked back at her Grandfather.
"You must come with us May," I said. "The town is falling into darkness."
"She is my Granddaughter!" Barley shouted. "How dare you try and taker her from me! You will leave her with me! We will wait the coming of the Right Hand!"
"This is a child of God!" I said. "She deserves to live! Those who wish to follow must not even ask their families for permission to go. They just must follow."
Suddenly a bolt of neon green fire shot out from the dark clouds into Barley. He screamed as the neon green fire burned through his clothes and skin, until he fell to the ground and the rest of his body burned away. May screamed, and jumped into my arms. I picked her up, and hugged her tightly as she cried into my shoulder. The town's people who decided to stay panicked, and began to run away.
"Stop!" Won shouted, and they stopped. "Barley was not loyal to the Goddess! That is why he was burned! Everyone stay with me! We will meet the Right Hand! All who flee will be destroyed!"
The town's people walked back over to Won.
"Cliff!" I said. "You must come with us!"
Cliff peaked reluctantly our at all of us.
"You must come with us," I said.
"No," Cliff mumbled. "The Right Hand... It is coming."
"We must go now," Kai said, locking arms with Popuri.
"Wait for me!" a voice thundered.
I turned and saw Zack running through the crowd towards us. He joined our troupe, and then all of us turned and ran.
"We have to get these people out of here," I said. "But where will be take them?"
"To the beach," Captain Bates said. "My ship is tied up to the dock. We can escape on it."
I turned and looked back at the remaining town's people as we ran. They had decided to stay. It was kind of hard to think that they would all be taken by the Right Hand, but they had decided their fate. Many of them were my friends, but they had refused to listen to me. And now they were no longer of my concern.
