-1Hey thanks all for reading coughinfanty4chough I hope you like the next part as well. I may have changed styles a little half way though, so sorry if it changes suddenly, I was having a hard time.

Heaven or Earth

Part 2

He smiled devilishly at me.

"You catch on quick."

Well it wasn't rocket science. But still, why did he think I wouldn't want to go to heaven. Why on earth (no pun intended) would he think I would want to go back?

"Heaven's not all it's cracked up to be." He said, reading my mind again. "All that stuff He showed you before? That's just the cool free gift you get, to get you to buy the crappy appliance. Believe me…I've been there." Believe him? Yeah right. Didn't the bible say he was the king of lies?

"Bible shmible." He said, rolling his eyes. I didn't like it much when he read my mind. "You don't actually believe that book is true, do you? It just a bunch of stories!"

I snorted in disbelief.

"They're trying to say that Hitler and the Holocaust didn't happen either." I said, gaining my courage back.

"Ah… Hitler." He stared dreamily up at the sky, lost in memory. "Wonderful guy." I snorted again, and rolled my eyes.

"A person who has millions of deaths on his shoulders is not what I call a wonderful guy."

Satan looked back at me arrogantly, with narrowed eyes. "He was a Christian, wasn't he?" He sneered.

"Well, who is he with? Jesus or you?" Satan's frown changed into an amused smile. It sent chills up my spine. "I need to go." I said, remembering I wasn't here to argue with Satan over truth.

"Fine." He said giving me a sharp wave of dismissal. "Go. Leave your family in tears. Don't worry about them, they'll be fine." He glanced at me innocently. I could feel a stab of guilt In stomach. Maybe I was leaving them to soon. Just for heaven?

"Kind of selfish, isn't it? I mean for a Christian and all."

But it was heaven! HEAVEN!

"You'll get there eventually."

He had a point.

"And think about all the things you wouldn't get! How bout that family you always dreamed of! Your like what, 15?"

"Try 20." I said irritably.

"Details, details. The point is, you're to young to die. You have your WHOLE life ahead of you! You're just getting started!"

I thought about it. I had always wanted to have a large family. With six kids. I had all the names planned out when I was eight.

"And that husband! The one God will lead you to, the one your waiting for. You don't want to miss out on him, do you? Just think! He could end up being just like me."

The thought almost made me laugh. Like that was a good thing!

"I mean looks wise."

"Right." I said, giving him a sarcastic smile. Satan frowned at me, unamused.

"Look," He said glancing up at the sky. The puffy white clouds had turned to a cotton candy pink. I wondered if they really did taste like cotton candy?

"Focus woman!" He said, annoyed. "You're to young, your family needs you, now make your wish, I'll send you back down and you'll come back in about another 80 years. It's a done deal!" I looked at him, confusion was rapped up in my head. I didn't really know what to do. It sounded good to me, but. He was the DEVIL. Why was he trying so hard to get me back down there?

"Ok ok. Do you really want to know why you should go back?" His fists were clenched and it was then I realized that I was taking more time then he wanted. I nodded, there was really nothing else I could have done. He would have told me anyway.

"If you go up there now. Just think how many souls will be lost for Jesus." I took a step back. He was right! How many souls could I reach if I stayed. How could I have been so selfish!

"See!!? Jesus NEEDS you down there! You're the only one who can save those poor pathetic souls from having a date with me." I looked at him. His eyes were burning. He knew he made a mistake. God could use anyone, It didn't have to be me. What was it my Sunday School teacher always told us? God will not fall off his throne if we don't obey him?"

"That's not the point!" He yelled, his rage growing. He got nearer to me and I suddenly realized how much taller he was then me. He loomed over me, intimidating and threatening. I cowered and shielded myself with my hands. His eyes were full of malice. He was not the charming man I had seen just a moment ago, his face had turned black.

"God will never let you into heaven unless you get more souls! You've done nothing for him! You are worthless in his eyes!" I didn't want to believe it. It went against everything the bible taught. But It felt so true. I had done nothing for him.

Satan calmed back down, and plastered that charming smile on his face again.

"So?" He said like a used car salesman, trying to get me to buy.

"I just need a minute to think." I said desperately. I felt so helpless here. I just needed to be alone, to think.

"Sorry, honey I can't go anywhere until you make a choice."

"But I…"

"Sorry." He said. He began to hum the Jeopardy theme.

"I Can't think when you do that!" I groaned.

"You don't need to think. Just do as I say."

"No!" I said, rising to my feet. He had struck a chord in me. There was no way I was going to back down now.

"Why do you want me down there so bad! All you've given me is ways to help God! What good is that to you? It's only If I turn away that you get something out of this!" I stopped. Suddenly it hit me. If I went to heaven now, Satan couldn't reach me anymore, I'd be free of him. But If I went back down there, he'd have plenty more chances to help me screw up.

"So," He said in a haunting whisper "You figured out my plan, good for you." He looked up at me, his face twisted in an evil smile. "Now go down there." He reached out and grabbed my arm and yanked me to him. I struggled but was no march for him. He pushed me to the ground and climbed on top of me, his hands gripped my wrists, so I could not move.

"Let go!" I screamed and his smile widened.

"You can't tell me what to do here, Sammy! You have no power here." I struggled and kicked and hollered and twisted but nothing seemed to loosen his grip. He grabbed my neck and began to choke me. My vision began to get hazy, words entered my head as the world around me silenced. "No power", "Do as I say". I closed my eyes and began to cry, still struggling. Where was God when I needed him most?

"I will wait for you, no matter how long."

The word of my Prince lingered in my head. He was there, waiting, waiting for my call.

"HELP!" I screamed once more. Satan backed up a little, loosening his grip on my throat. He seemed excited by my out cry.

"In the name of Jesus, Christ…" I breathed, trying to catch my breath . "I command you to get away!"

Suddenly, Satan fell back, like he had be burned by fire. Then he stood up, one hand clutching his heart.

"Stop that, little girl. It's not nice to play with fire." He said through clenched teeth.

"I said, In the name of Jesus Christ, be gone." I pointed a finger at him with the words "be gone" Satan's scowl turned to horrid fear and he drew back, away from me. I smiled until I realized he was looking past me. Slowly, I looked over my shoulder and to my utter amazement a group of a dozen angles stood behind me, clothed in battle armor with mighty spears grasped in they're right hand. They shown so bright I had to squint my eyes to see. They're eyes pierced like lightning and my pointed finger dropped to my side. I was almost afraid, I felt such mighty power!

I looked back to where Satan was but all I saw was air. He was gone, without a trace that he had ever been there. I turned my head back over my shoulder to see the angles again but they, too, were gone. I fell to my knees in exhaustion. The only sound was my heavy breath. The sky was dark and the clouds where filled with shadows. Night had fallen and I hadn't even noticed. I looked down at my hands. I still had a choice to make. I couldn't stay here forever. I was terrified by Satan's force but even more amazed at the mighty power of the angles. They had come, with only a few word spoken for help, just for me. I stood up, still weary. Suddenly I found my eyes catching a glimpse of something shinny. I walked over to the sparkle and bent down. The orb! It was the orb Satan had shown me. I lifted it up in my hands, terrified at how easily he had lifted it with his one hand. It was so heavy! I peered into it, the red swirls fading and being replaced by an image of me again. I was asleep on the hospital bed. A unit of blood tied to my arm. The beep beep the machine next to me was the only noise to be heard. I looked harder and the image backed up to a room shot. My brother sat next to me, resting his arms on my legs. Mother sat on my right, next to my head. She held an old book in her hand. I looked again and the image had zoomed closer revealing the words on the pages. She was reading the bible. On the right page a small scripture stood out in highlight marker. I willed the orb to get a closer view. The image switched again. The verse was John 21: 18 and 19. I read it out loud, slowly

18Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go." 19(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, "Follow me."

I looked up from the orb and dropped it aside, knowing what I had to do. It was not an easy decision but I knew my God would help me through it. I stood up gathering myself. Maybe Satan had won, I don't know. Maybe I would fall or stray. But I had a life to live for my Prince and I wasn't about to let the devils fear drive me from doing what I was created for. I looked out at the night sky. Remembering all that my Prince had shown and promised me. Then I swallowed, closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Take me back."

The end

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So….was it what you were expecting? As always I love, I love I LOVE comments! Even flames….sorta

I was thinking about doing more short stories with a topic (such as suicide, drugs, cutting..) so if anyone has suggestions or requests or if you think it's a lame idea you can tell me too. Well thanks, LCG out!