Chapter 3

I do not own Ace Combat 5

One day later… Kevin returned home from school that Friday around the usually time as always. Katie was still at work and wouldn't be back till a little bit later. So Kevin went upstairs, closed himself in his bedroom with the sound of strings being played.

Now Kevin has only been practicing for three months. He first fell in love with the instrument at a celebration in Plymouth Park. At this event, people played games, feasted on barbeque, and enjoyed the music of entertainers. But what really got Kevin's attention was the guitarist who played a solo during the show. He was just amazed by the melody and the speed of the player's fingers. After the performance, and the celebration, all Kevin could think about was the sound of the beautiful guitar.

"Some day, I'll be able to play like that."

The day after the party, Kevin told Katie of his desire to play. This came as a bit of a shock for Kate, since Kevin had hardly any personal interest in anything. Before, Kevin would read, or play with his toys, or do his chores around the house. Katie couldn't believe how many things the young boy wanted to do to keep everything. He would mow the lawn, clean the dishes and windows, take out the trash, ect. It just seemed like too much for such a young child, but on hearing about a guitar, Katie could only be overjoyed.

"Finally Kevin was coming out of his shell. He's taking his first steps into the open world." thought Kate. She then remembered the old guitar in the basement. The one that had been kept down in there for nearly ten years. It was Andrew's old guitar, it belonged to Kevin's father. She could remember Andrew sitting on his roof, just playing whatever cords that came into his mind. Katie planned on passing it along to Kevin when he was a little bit older, but thought that this was a good a time as ever. Katie showed Kevin his fathers own heirloom and smiled heartily as she saw how his eyes then sparkled in surprise.

"This is a big step in growing up. You know that right?"

"I do."

"Your father had this since he was in high school. He loved this thing almost as much as he loved you and your mother. How he must be smiling up in Heaven right now. I know he would be proud of you to take this."

Kevin just stared with tears forming in his eyes.

"Thank you dad." Was all he could say.

A Mr. Victor Yan agreed to be Kevin's guitar teacher the day after he received his prized gift. Now the thing was kind of big for Kevin and Victor thought that he would have a problem with his practicing. But he was surprised when he saw how quickly Kevin adjusted and how fast he learned. It was as if he inherited his old mans talent. Everyday Kevin showed greater improvement and eventually started thinking about coming up with songs of his own. But for now, he still has to get the rhythm and tempo going. But Kevin thought that it shouldn't take him long to get the basics down. For three months, the house of Katie Warner was filled with sound. At first, it was the sound of just one string at a time, but now it was smoother and more pleasing to the ear. But it was still a ways from perfect.

At around the same time, Kevin was getting more involved in his local church. He was reading his Bible often at home and in the church building on Sundays. He read the Good Book like a scholar, completely focused to the pages. Kevin would read the countless stories from the works of Creation, to the stories relating to the end of the world. His favorite stories where those of Angels and God protecting the prophets from harm and danger. Those tales were just fascinating to him. That one could be in a hopeless situation, with no escape in sight, to all of a sudden be saved by some supernatural force.

Kevin also had regular conversations with Rev. McDonald. He would ask him questions and volunteer around the church and help out with the organized events. But on one occasion, Kevin was pondering about something. Something about the servants of God.

"Reverend, can I talk to you about something?"

"Of course my boy. Please step into my private office."

"Reverend, what exactly are angels and what do they do? I've seen the pictures of people with wings, but that's not enough for me."

"Well, the Bible only gives us a limited picture on angels. It does mention them as beings with bird-like wings a as shinning men, for they glowed like the Holy Spirit." The Reverend then had a thought and asked "But did you know, Kevin, that there is a second group of angels?"

"No sir."

"They are demons. The devil himself was an angel and went up against the Lord, and took one-third of the angels with him."

"I never really read about that. Those types of things always made me feel un comfortable."

This actually scared Kevin a bit. It made his eyebrows go a little higher, and his forehead would sweat a bit. Rev McDonald noticed this and tried to steer the subject to a less feared topic.

"That is understandable. Demons have been symbolized as evil beings in both Scripture and in human legend. One legend that I am very familiar with is the Legend of the Razgriz. A demon that awoke when history was changing and it would rain death upon the land. It would then die, but return again as a hero. Though that creature is just myth, a story to scare children with eons ago. It still does to this day."

"I never heard of that myth before."

"Strange that you would say that. A lot of people have heard of it. Well that's nothing to be afraid of since it doesn't exist."

Kevin felt a little easier at this point, but there was still fear in him. But that was extinguished after the following by McDonald.

"God loves you Kevin, and He always protects you. That is why He sent His Son, Jesus, down to earth and die on the cross. Are you familiar with that story?"

"Yes. I have read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John."

"Excellent! I know God will continue to shed His grace upon you and guide you accordingly to His plan. Know as for the duties of angels, they do a number of things. They are messengers, assistants in the Lord's government, and protectors of the Throne and people. That's been their job since the beginning of time."

"I like that last duty the best. The protecting part."

"Why is that?"

"No one should have to be afraid. I know that there are a lot of bad people in the world, and many can't protect themselves against them. They need to be protected. If someone doesn't, who will?"

"God is watching over everyone, and He would never allow such horrible events to happen that are against His Will. That is a duty of an angel."

Kevin just sat there for a minute, collecting his thoughts. McDonald was about to ask if he was okay, when Kevin jumped out of the chair and said "Thank you Reverend. I really needed that."

McDonald then smiled and replied "Go with God my Son." And Kevin left the office and the building and headed back home.

On that day, Kevin accepted God and Jesus into his life and became a Christian. He decided that he would live better for the Lord and prayed even harder that he could protect others and to keep everyone safe.

I know that there hasn't been much action going on, but I promise it would get better. The next chapter is about when he decides to enter the military. The chapter after will describe his experience in the academy, and I promise I will make that more interesting. Blaze will beat the living tar out of someone in that chapter.

Seraph 8, Thanks for reviewing.