The Broken IV: Vengeance

by A. L. Frances

  “Father, please, just listen to me. There is no way you can get up to her, it would take a miracle, and how often do they come around?”

  “Often enough for me to know that I’m not sending my daughter to do my dirty work. I brought her into our lives, I’m going to be the one that finishes this.”

  “Mate, I think you should hear her out. She’s the only one who can get close to her without raising concern.”

  “Would you send your daughter up there?” Matthew shouts at Phil.

  “Father, please. I really need you to be on board with this as I’m running out of time. She will soon have infused the two elements and the portal will arrive. Then it’s game over for mankind.”

  Giving in, Matthew says, “Fine. We’ll try it your way, but I’m not happy about it.”

  “Thank you. Okay, so I will shoot up, snatch the heart from around her neck as she is reaching her climax and then I will bring this to you. Father, you must combine the crucifix with the locket immediately, do you understand?”

  “Yeah, I mean that sounds easy in comparison to what we thought we had to do.”

  “Father, by any chance do you have the matching locket?”

  “Yes, it’s here, look...” Matthew says as he retrieves the tainted item from his trouser pocket.

  Matthew’s hands tremble. The pair stare each other dead in the eye.

  “Promise me, you will do everything I ask of you?” Eve says.

  “I promise.”

  “I love you so much, Father. Thank you for not giving up on me.”

  “You’re my daughter, Evelyn Jade, I would do anything for you,” Matthew says as he tucks the loose strand of hair behind her ear.

  “I get a feeling that you would.” Eve smiles. “Right, stay here and wait for my signal. Once I shout, you come and retrieve the locket from me.”

  Unable to stop himself, Matthew grabs her a final time and holds her tight. “I have never stopped loving you,” he cries.

  “I have to go,” Eve says, wiping the tears that have fallen from her eyes.

  Letting go of her as she turns, Matthew falls to the ground and cups his head in his hands.

  “Mate, we need to go and hide,” Phil says.

  “How can I have been so stupid and just let her go like that? I’ve only just got her back. I’ve just made a huge mistake, I have to get her back,” Matthew says as he goes to chase after her.

  Holding him back, Phil shouts, “Mate, you have to let her go. She’s grown now. Please, you don’t want to get her or the rest of us killed, just come and hide behind this tree.”

  Dragging Matthew away from the direction of the chaos, the threesome retreat into the forest out of sight.

  Looking high, Eve sees Jezebel summoning the portal. The sky is dark grey, with a huge whirlpool forming. Huge bolts of electricity are surging at a rapid rate through the sky and are crashing down on the ground. Transforming back into her evil form, Eve leaves the forest.

  “What took you so long?” Elisabeth shouts.

  “It was a false alarm. An animal was rushing around, and I had to take care of it to ensure it doesn’t cause any chaos.”

  Seeing Elisabeth staring at her with a sceptical eye, Eve barks, “Check over there, will you.” She points in the opposite direction of where her father and his friends are. “Make yourself useful.”

  Staring up high, Eve hears Jezebel chanting. She knows the words. If she is going to do this, she will need to act fast, as there’s about two minutes left before the takeover is complete. Leaping off the ground, Eve takes off. Flying up over the orphanage, as she peers down, Eve sees the reality. There are people screaming and running around everywhere. Possessed children of all ages are wreaking havoc across the streets.

  “It’s time to put an end to this,” she shouts.

  As she shoots towards Jezebel at full speed, a huge bolt of electricity shoots past her body, narrowly missing her head. Fighting against the wind that is circling at an unnatural rate, Eve pushes through the pain. She’s almost there. Feeling a tug on her leg, Eve doesn’t even bother to look back. She stays focused on her mission. She can’t let her daughter down, she has to do this for her. Pushing one a final time, Eve reaches Jezebel. Releasing her razor-sharp nails, Eve slashes through the back of the chain and rips it off her neck.

  Plummeting back down, Eve turns to ensure Jezebel isn’t coming after her. Thankfully she is locked inside her transition trance. Her eyes are not open, and she is not present, as all her power travels around the globe rapidly. However, Eve does see Elisabeth, and she’s hot on her tail. The clock is ticking. Jezebel will be stuck for at least the next ninety seconds. Trying to push harder, Eve struggles against the force of the vortex, which is now pulling her back up. Believing she’s going to make it, all of a sudden Eve feels a hand grip her leg. Looking over her shoulder, she sees it’s Elisabeth!

  “You’re going to die!”

  As the pair spin out of control, Eve drops the locket. Floating down, she is unable to catch it as Elisabeth tugs on her, trying to fight her mid-air.

  Seeing a woman’s face appear, Eve hears, “Do it for your daughter. I am so proud of you, my darling. I believe in you.”

  Eve knows this is her mother. “Noooo!” she screams.

  Determination fills her body. Eve is ready to end Elisabeth. No one is going to get in the way of her saving her daughter. Surges of electricity blast past the pair. Eve reaches for Elisabeth’s eyes and presses them back inside her head. Eve’s face suddenly burns as Elisabeth gashes it with her nails. Eve pushes her eyeballs deeper into their sockets, and Elisabeth finally let’s go of her grip. Regaining her balance, Eve launches her body back down through the sky to the ground. The locket is still drifting back down. Around sixty seconds left. Eve’s heart is racing.

  Now millimetres away from grabbing the chain, Eve shouts, “Father, now!”

  Seeing Matthew run from out of the forest, Eve grabs the chain and throws it in his direction. He reaches up high and catches it. Stumbling back, he trips and lands on his back. Finally, reaching the ground, Eve rushes to his aid. Just ten seconds are remaining.

  “Did you catch it?”

  “Yes,” Matthew replies. His hands shaking, he pulls the other locket and the crucifix from his trouser pocket. As she’s about to give Matthew the next instructions, Eve gets a sudden chill down her spine. “Oh no.”

  “What?” Matthew replies as he looks up. Peering over Eve’s shoulder, Matthew’s eyes widen.

  “Eve, please!” Lewis bellows from afar.

  “Come here…” Jezebel turns to him and says.

  “Please, just do as she asks,” Lewis pleads as he approaches.

  No longer in control of her body, Eve turns, and with her head low, she makes her way to Jezebel. Eve’s heart skips a beat as she sees Jezebel has her arm around Lewis’s head and her bladed nail to his throat.

  “Please, don’t hurt him,” she begs. “I’ll do anything.”

  “Oh, now you want to do as you’re told,” Jezebel taunts. “Didn’t think I’d have a backup plan to your defiance. This one came running as soon as I summonsed him. So obedient,” Jezebel says as she licks his face with her grey coarse tongue.

  “Please, Dark Empress. Do not punish Lewis for my rebellious behaviour.” Crying, Eve pleads a final time. “Please. Take me instead.”

  “Where’s the fun in that?” she replies as she lets out an almighty laugh and slits his throat. She throws him to the ground.

  “Nooo!” Eve cries as she falls to her knees.

  Lewis has transitioned back to his human form. “Eve,” he gasps, holding his bleeding throat.

  “No… Lewis!” Phil shouts as he charges towards Jezebel. “My boy. Not my boy.”

  Suddenly, a whirring sound in the distance distracts Jezebel.

  “Father no
w! Stab the hearts now!”

  “But I don’t know which one it is,” Matthew says, looking panicked.

  Tears are gushing down Eve’s face. “Please, you have to stab them both.”

  “But you’ll die!” Matthew cries.

  “I have to go, dad. Please, you have to let me go.”

  “No way, Eve, I’m not losing you again. You’re coming home with me.”

  “Father, please, you have to save my daughter.”

  “No, Eve, I can’t. I won’t lose you again. Please, I can’t do this.” Matthew’s face is covered in tears and his nose is gushing.

  “You have to let me go. I have to die with her, it’s the only way. We are one. I promise I’ll be okay. Mother and Thomas are waiting for me. Please, I will do anything to save my daughter. Just take good care of her.”

  Matthew freezes.

  Jezebel approaches. Phil jumps up, but is instantly slashed across the face. He lies on the ground bleeding heavily. She reaches out to inflict more pain upon him.

  The clock has almost ticked its final tock. The vortex is now almost at full sustainability. Matthew needs to act fast! There is rustling from all directions. Hundreds of demonic children appear, all on their way towards Matthew.

  “Father, please, let me go!” Eve shouts.

  “Matthew, you have to do something fast,” Hermon says.

  Tears are gushing down Matthew’s face. “I love you so much, Evelyn Jade. Tell your mum I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you both!”

  “Father, I promise, just please do it. You have to, for my daughter.”

  “I’m so sorry, Eve. I will always love you!”

  “I will always love you too, father.”

  Screaming, Matthew raises his arm. He stabs the hearts together onto the crucifix. A bright beam of light bursts from the centre, accompanied by a powerful force. Matthew drops the lockets and crucifix and is thrown back. He hits his head on a rock and is knocked out cold.

  The Final Chapter!

  The day is bright, breezy and full of hope. Standing in the living room of his luxury three-storey home, Matthew Honey gazes out at the beautiful serenity of the small English beach. He’s wearing pale blue chinos, a white t-shirt, and his wrist is filled with tatty cotton friendship bracelets of every colour. It’s a more chilled-out, laid-back look for Matthew. Even his hairstyle is more relaxed.

  Standing with his back to the white living room door that’s now covered with children’s drawings, Matthew continues to stare peacefully out of the window at the sea. He looks up to the piercing blue crystal-clear sky and watches as delicate white clouds drift gracefully by, a subtle reminder that the world is continually passing with ease.

  A gentle smile begins to form on Matthew’s face. “Good morning, my family,” he whispers.

  Hearing a stampede of footsteps coming from behind him, Matthew turns.

  “There you are, Granddaddy!”

  Matthew beams from ear to ear as he sees his precious granddaughter Honey looking all angelic in her birthday dress holding Gregg in her hand. Swooping down, he collects her from off the ground. Twirling her around, he says, “There’s my birthday girl.”

  Letting out a deep tummy tickle giggle, Honey says, “Granddaddy, I’m going to get dizzy in a minute.”

  Stopping, Matthew holds her in his arms, and as he looks her in the eye, he says, “I cannot believe you’re six already. I’m going to have to charge you rent soon, missy.”

  Honey sets off giggling again. “No, Granddaddy, I can’t pay rent, I’m too little.”

  “What, you’re too little with these beanpole legs?” Matthew jokes.

  Admiring his granddaughter’s toothless grin, Matthew sees his own daughter in her, he sees Eve. Welling up with tears and not wanting to cry in front of Honey, Matthew puts her down and says, “Oh would you look at that, it’s almost time to go. Have you got your balloons?”

  “Yep,” Honey says as she skips out the door.

  Patting down his pockets, Matthew feels for his phone.

  Seeing Honey entering the room again, wrestling with the five oversized heart-shaped helium balloons, Matthew chuckles. “Come here, princess, let me help you.”

  Laughing, Honey counts them as she passes them to him. “One for Mummy. One for Daddy. One for Uncle Thomas. One for Grandma Lauren. And one for Grandma Alice.”

  “You’re so clever.” Kissing her on the head, Matthew says, “Right, let’s go.”

  “Yay, let’s go beach.”

  “Okay, I’ll hold the balloons so that they don’t escape and fly off, and I’ll pass them to you when it’s time to let them go.”

  “Okay, Granddaddy.”

  Matthew and Honey walk across the road hand in hand to the beach. As soon as the sand touches her toes, Honey removes her sandals and runs off. Doing cartwheels and rolling around, Honey is having the best time.

  “Hey, princess, look, who’s that over there?”

  “Where?” Honey shouts, stroking the hair out of her eyes and spitting the sand out of her mouth.

  “There.” Matthew points straight ahead.

  “Grandpops!” Honey shouts.

  Beaming, Matthew’s heart warms as he sees her running through the sand towards Phil, Selena, Hope, Freddie, Terence and Rupert.

  Throwing his arms out, Phil shouts, “Happy sixth birthday, peanut!”

  “Thank you, Grandpops,” Honey says as she leaps in for a cuddle.

  Feeling his phone vibrate, Matthew retrieves it from his trouser pocket with his spare hand. Seeing Alannah’s face flashing on the screen, he smiles as he answers the video call. “Hey you.”

  “I haven’t missed it, have I?”

  “No, we’ve just got here now.”

  “I’m so sorry, it’s been crazy at the orphanage this morning. We’ve got so many children here.”

  “Hey, Rita,” Matthew says as he sees her little face peeping up behind Alannah.

  Shying away, Rita doesn’t reply.

  “So, where’s the birthday girl?” Alannah asks.

  “Hold on one second, she’s just with her grandpops.”

  “Oh, that’s too cute.”

  Brennan’s face appears. “Hey, Matthew.”

  “Hey man, how you doing?”

  “Yeah, I’m all good. We haven’t missed it, have we?” Brennan asks.

  “No, we’ve just got to the beach now.”

  “Great.”

  “Honey, looks who’s on the phone for you.”

  “Lana and Bren Bren. Hi, it’s my birthday today.”

  “We know, beautiful girlie,” the pair say.

  “Happy sixth birthday, you big girl,” Alannah says as she blows her a kiss.

  “Where’s Lizzie?” Honey asks.

  “She’s going to be here any second now,” Brennan says. “Oh, look, as if by magic, here she is.”

  “Lizzie,” Honey shouts. “Lizzie, it’s my birthday.”

  Smiling on the screen of the phone is Elisabeth. “I know, little princess. I’m so happy I got to see you. Happy birthday.”

  “Thank you.”

  “We haven’t missed it, have we?” Elisabeth asks.

  “No, we’ve just got to the beach now,” Matthew replies. “Just one second, guys. We’ll get started in just a second.”

  As they hug one another, Phil says to Matthew, “Can you believe she’s six already?”

  “No, not at all. Time goes too fast, my friend.” Seeing his friend’s wife standing next to him, Matthew reaches over to Selena. “Hey, beautiful. Thanks for coming.”

  “Oh, you know I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Selena replies.

  “Hey guys,” Matthew says to the rest of the Parkinson gang.

  Seeing a familiar face in the distance holding a giant pink box with a
silky ribbon around it, Matthew shouts, “What time do you call this? Last one as always!”

  “Hey, what, I had to go get this one the biggest gift I could find, didn’t I?” Terry shouts.

  “Hey man, how you doing?” Matthew asks as he reaches round and gives Terry a hug.

  “All good. Can’t complain. Finally got my retirement through last week.”

  “Aw, congrats Terry,” Phil says.

  “I know. Looking forward to enjoying some time with the wife.”

  “Uncle Terry!” Honey shouts as she comes rushing over. “It’s my birthday today.”

  “Really, I didn’t know,” Terry says as he hugs her. “I suppose it’s lucky I walk around with spare presents then, isn’t it, just in case it’s a certain little girl’s sixth birthday.”

  “That’s how many I am, Uncle Terry.”

  “Well, I guess this must be yours, then.”

  “Princess, you can open that in a minute, okay,” Matthew says. “Let’s just get this started. Can you all gather round for me, please!”

  “Come here, peanut,” Phil says as he holds Honey close.

  “Selena, can you just hold the phone up for me please, so Alannah, Brennan and Elisabeth can see.”

  “And me.” Rita’s little voice echoes through the speaker.

  “And Rita.”

  “Sure. Of course.”

  Taking his position at the front, Matthew says, “Okay, I just wanted to say thank you so much for coming together today to celebrate our precious little Honey’s birthday. As you all know, there are some people who can’t be here in body.” Matthew pauses as he tries to hold back his tears. “But these five are definitely here in spirit. Five incredibly special people who will always hold a place within our hearts. We love you all.” Matthew says as he looks up high. “Every year, we come together and celebrate the life of our precious little blessing, that is Honey. We celebrate together as a unit under the watchful supervision of those who live in the sky.”

  “That’s where my Mummy, Daddy, Uncle Thomas, Grandma Lauren and Grandma Alice live,” Honey says.

  “Yes, princess,” Matthew replies. “Birthday girl, come here.”