Part Two
That night at dinner it was completely silent. I didn't think I have ever seen Austin so quiet. Finally my mom stood up and demanded we tell her whatever was bothering us.
I gave a great big sigh. “Mom, Dallin came to talk to us after school today.”
It took her a minute to process the information. “He what? Oh, the nerve of him! He hasn't spoken to me or paid child support in twelve years and now he thinks he can just walk right back into your lives? Well, he had another thing coming! I'll go to court if I have to!”
“Who's Dallin?” Mark asked. It was kind of weird. He didn't really know much at all and yet he was going to be married to her in a couple days. My mom was really stressing out about it. And the closer it came, the more stressed she became.
“Oh Mark. I know I don't talk about him much. He was my ex-husband.”
“Really? And he just came to talk to her randomly? Shouldn't the school have some sort of protection against that?”
“It's high school,” I told him. “They really don't care.”
“Well, we should complain to the school. They have to make a policy.” That was Mark's way out of everything, complain to someone. He was a nice guy, but he really needed to learn how to do things himself.
“Everyone, calm down,” my mother said. “We'll all be one big family in only a couple of days. No need to start fighting already.”
The next few days just seemed to zoom on by. I never heard a word from Dallin, and honestly I was glad I hadn't. Mark had done just what he said he would and now he was put on a no contact list. The urge to do bad was getting so much worse, and I wanted nothing more than to chuck this stupid necklace. I went over the prophecy lots of times in my head, but the next line didn't make any sense. If she succeeds she will find herself face-to-face. Face to face with what? And have I not succeeded in proving myself yet?
And here I was in a white dress, looking down at my mother and Mark. Today was finally the day my mother had been stressing about, and I was probably more nervous than her. And that was really saying a lot. The lines of the prophecy still ran though my head.
My mother had chosen me as the maid of honor. I admit I was a little scared at first, but then I realized the maid of honor really didn’t do much. My brother thought his job as the ring boy was an honor, but I just found it funny to watch him drop the ring about four times. If only I had a camera, then I could have major black mail.
The preacher of course said you may now kiss the bride, and Mark and my mother kissed. I was grateful this thing was finally over. Now all I had to deal with was the reception and I would be free.
I walked into the room and saw all my family there. There were close family like my mom's parents, and then there was really long distance family like my third cousin. I tried to just smile as they came around to shake my hand. I had never been much of a people person.
Then came everyone's favorite part, the cutting of the cake. My mother had been looking forward to this all day. She carefully took the knife and cut down into it. But just as she hit the bottom the ground started to shake.
Everyone started to scream and run around like maniacs. I held on to the door frame, like I had been taught when I was little. I heard my brother yell, “Earthquake!” and then he came to join me. We sat there paralyzed with fear for a little while, until the shaking finally started to die down.
Once the shaking had completely stopped I looked out to the crowd. No one had seemed hurt to me. That was a huge relief. But my mother wasn't as optimistic.
“My wedding's ruined!” she sobbed. “This was supposed to be my special day! I was only supposed to get married once! This is not fair!” Mark tried to make her feel better by putting his arm around her, but she just pulled away.
“Anne,” he said. “You can't help it if there's a natural disaster! It's all unexpected.” Despite his efforts, she just kept crying.
I looked out the window of the church and to the horizon. There was something up there, something dark. And now suddenly I knew what I had to do for the prophecy. I took off my high heels and started to run up there. My mother saw me leave and started to get concerned.
“Kaylee! Where are you going? You can't leave right in the middle of the wedding!” Just what I was afraid of, she started to follow me. Then Mark started to follow her, with Austin close behind them.
“Of course!” I shouted to myself. “I'll be face-to-face with the devil! I have to fight him!”
“What on earth are you talking about?” my mother shouted as she tried to keep up in her dress. “Kaylee, this is crazy! What are you doing?”
I stopped and turned to them. “I'm really sorry mom,” I said. “I didn't mean to ruin your wedding. But this is a life or death circumstance. If I don't do this now, the whole world will be affected.”
She gave me a very concerned look, like she thought I was crazy. “Honey are you feeling alright? The whole world will not be affected by whatever this is.”
“Yes it will.” Then I turned around. “You'll understand later.”
I booked it all the way to the top of the hill with Mark, my mother, and Austin close behind me. Then came that horrible feeling again. The presence of pure evil, I could feel it. They must have all felt it too, because they all stopped suddenly and looked around worriedly.
Just then a figure leaped out from behind the bushes. I knew exactly who it was.
“Who are you?” my mother asked him.
“They call me Lucifer,” he said with an evil grin.
“You mean like the devil? I feel bad for you. I don't know of anyone who would want to have that name.”
“I'm quite found of it actually. Now, be gone!” He waved his hands and the part of the hill that my parents were standing on collapsed, leaving them tumbling to the bottom. I watched my brother hide behind a bush so he wouldn't be seen.
“No!” I shouted.
“Don't worry,” he said with no sympathy. “They're not dead. They will just have a few broken bones. You're lucky I'm in a good mood today.”
I was really scared, but I was tired of standing in the shadows. I went up straight to his face. “What do you want from me?” I asked bravely.
“Oh how sweet,” he mimicked. “You think you actually stand a chance against me. Do you realize who I am? You stand no chance.”
“I'm not going to give up!”
“Well, good for you. But you should just stop now, and do what I tell you.” Then he started to go in circles around me. “You could be great you know. That necklace with my help will give you unlimited power. Like I said before, your soul is already mine, so just give up. You might as well enjoy your time on earth while you still have it. Then it's endless torment. Who knows, I might even let you see your family. But if you keep fighting, you will get nothing.” I didn't like how he had said that last sentence.
“I'm not giving into you,” I repeated. “No matter what you offer me or tell me.”
“Well, if you insist on being difficult.” Then he flicked his finger and I saw a jet of blue light shoot at me. Pain immediately shot through my entire body, and I could barely breathe. I collapsed to the ground and saw him point his finger at me again. “I could kill you now you know,” he whispered in my ear. “Then you would have no chance at even a life. All you have to do is surrender to me, and everything will be okay.”
“No,” I managed to choke out. Then he got ready to shoot another one at me.
“No!” I heard my brother shout as he came out of the bushes. He threw his shoe and the light caused it to explode, but at least it didn't hit me.
“Foolish boy!” the devil shouted. “Don't meddle in my affairs. Just go back to your mommy, or you will suffer the same fate she will.”
“Don't lay another hand on my sister,” he said fiercely.
“Am I supposed to be scared of a ten year old?” he said with a laugh. “I'll give you one last chance to leave.”
“I'll leave with my sister,” he stated.
“Very well then. Don't worry, this will only hurt a lot.” Then he pointed his finger at him. But instead of blue light coming out, it was a red light. I didn't like that at all, but I was paralyzed, so I couldn't move even if I had wanted to.
I watched in horror as the light hit my brother and he fell to the ground. His eyes closed and I swore I saw the light leave them.
“NO!” I shouted at the top of my lungs. Now I was mad. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?”
He just let out another cold laugh. “Don't worry, he's in a better place now. Away from you that is.” Just as he said those words I saw a huge thing of white light. “What?” the devil asked in shock. “What is happening? That boy couldn't have possibly been purely good!”
“No!” I shouted. I had just remembered the next line of the prophecy that I had overlooked before. One from the family must be chosen, the only purely good one left must be sacrificed. But surely the only pure and good one couldn't have been my brother?
“Noooo!” They devil shouted. “This can't be happening!”
In an instant I saw the white light rest upon him, and he was gone. The white light went high up in the sky, and then just disappeared.
I sat there for a moment completely stunned, even though I knew I could move again. I felt hot tears pour down my cheeks as my parents slowly made their way up the hill.
“What is going on!” my mother shouted. “Was that another earthquake?” But I couldn't answer her, because I was too busy crying. “Honey what's wrong? What happened?”
But she answered her own question when she saw my brother's lifeless body laying on the ground. “Austin?” She came up for a closer look and saw that his eyes were closed. “Austin! Can you hear me? Oh please tell me you can hear me.” She started to bawl her eyes out.
“Okay, calm down,” Mark told her. “I can handle this. I took a class in medical when I was in college. I can tell you if he'll be alright.” Then he felt his wrist, checking for a pulse I assumed. I was afraid to hear his answer when I saw the look on his face.
“Well ,is he alright?” my mother asked anxiously.
He looked down sadly. “He doesn't have a pulse. I'm afraid he's dead.” At that my mother started to bawl her eyes out, holding the lifeless body. I did the same and before I knew it all three of us were in each other's arms.
That week was crazy. If I would have been normal at all I probably just would have told myself it was a bad dream. And now I had finally woken up from it. The necklace had completely stopped working, and I just threw it out, finally being able to get it off. But I knew that it wasn't a dream. And the only proof I had of that was the fact that my brother was gone. I know it didn't lose him to the devil, but to death. And I also knew that the devil was still out there. But at least now I had my soul back, and hopefully the devil wouldn't come bugging me again. I would miss my brother, but he died for what was right. And where ever he was now, I hope he realized that.
