Devil's Pathway

by Vicki V Lucas

  Maybe there’s something to what Rob is saying. I don’t know of any other person who has my problems. Maybe I need the help of someone who isn’t mortal to show me what to do.

  I clear my throat. The words are stuck in my throat.

  The sound of a car engine interrupts us. Aunt Kate and Ryan are back. They start honking the horn, long blaring beeps.

  “NIC!” Aunt Kate shouts over the noise! “Nic! Where are you? Come here!”

  “I’ve got to go.” Maybe I’ll take Rob up on his offer later, but I feel relieved to get away from him right now. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

  But as I dash away, Rob says something that haunts me.

  “You’re going to get worse.”

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Grumpy

  I tear through the house, eager to avoid thinking about what Rob said and desperate to shake the rage inside, but when I run out the front door, I stop dead in my tracks.

  Aunt Kate is standing beside her car while honking the horn. Ryan is nowhere to be seen. She stops when she sees me and grins.

  “Come here!” She looks like a kid who has been given a boatload of candy.

  Jumping down the steps, I join her and try to pull out of the despair I feel to match her happiness. “What’s going on? Where’s Ryan?”

  “Oh, you’ll see!” She reaches into her car to press the horn two times.

  “Not going to tell me, are you?” Despite everything that has happened today, I can’t stop the grin from creeping over my face. Aunt Kate is so happy that I’m catching it, too.

  There’s an answering horn, and an engine starts up. My jaw drops.

  Is Ryan in another car? Why would they have two cars with them?

  A newer black Honda Civic pulls in the driveway. Ryan stops beside Aunt Kate’s car and steps out with the motor still running. He’s watching me with a huge smile on his face.

  “Well, what do you think?” he asks as he joins us.

  “What do I think about what?” I demand. But I think I know the answer.

  “I don’t think he gets it.” Aunt Kate laughs.

  I do think I get it. I hope I’m right, but I don’t dare get too excited, so I say nothing.

  She continues. “Nic, we know the change has been difficult, and it’s hard to be out here when you’re used to taking a bus wherever you want to go.”

  “So,” Ryan interrupts. He’s almost jumping up and down, reminding me of a kid too excited to stay still. “We decided to get you this car! A friend of mine at work was selling it, and I thought it was perfect for you. Like it?”

  “It’s mine?” It’s exactly what I hoped for, but I didn’t dare think it would be possible.

  “No more bumming rides off us,” Aunt Kate grins. “Not that we minded, but we thought you’d like some freedom.” She points a finger at me. “No dangerous driving, you hear!”

  Oh, if you knew what happened today! You’d kill me.

  Sudden tears well up. I blink quickly so they don’t show. “Thank you. It’s amazing.” My voice cracks. I dare not say more, even though this is the best gift I’ve ever gotten.

  “Our pleasure.” Ryan thumps my shoulder, and I know that he gets what I’m trying to say.

  “It needs a name,” Aunt Kate suggests as I give her a one-armed hug.

  Mom’s tradition.

  According to Aunt Kate, she named all of our cars and gave them different traits and personalities. When they were kids, they had an older Chevy named Grumpy that never started in the morning. Mom said that it wasn’t a morning car.

  “I’ll have to think about it.” I can’t wrap my head around the thought that I have a car, much less give it a name. “This is the greatest! Thank you! Can I take it out?”

  I can’t wait to take it out and see what it can do. It looks like it can be fast with the spoiler on the back.

  “Go for it!” Ryan laughs. “It’s fun to drive!”

  I slide in and let loose a loud “Cool!” when I see the sunroof. I take time to play with the buttons to open and close it a few times.

  “Sweet!” I burst out.

  Aunt Kate laughs as I grip the steering wheel. I can’t help joining her while I fidget with the radio.

  “It has a few miles on it.” Ryan tries to downplay it a little. “But it’s in great condition.”

  I take in the tan interior. There aren’t any rips or stains at all. I turn up the volume and hear my favorite CD playing. They thought of everything that would make this a great moment.

  The tears start to rise again. I don’t know if Ryan notices them or not, but he kicks the front bumper gently.

  “Get out of here!” he orders. “Go see what it can do. Unless you want us to come with you.”

  “I’ll be right back!”

  Aunt Kate shuts the door and steps back. As much as I don’t mind if she comes, she’d be all worried about the rules of the road. Ryan would be a little more easy-going about that kind of stuff, but he used to be a cop, and I might get a lecture at some point.

  I put the shift into reverse and grin. I haven’t even driven it an inch, and I love it. I pull out of the driveway and push on the gas.

  It responds beautifully, cornering at speeds much faster than the truck as it hugs tight to the pavement. The road breaks out of the mountains and heads straight to Grangeville over rolling hills. There’s no one in sight. I press on the gas pedal and laugh as the car responds. I don’t let off until I’m at the turn for the drive-in theater. I slow and turn back to home.

  Keeping it down to the speed limit on the return home, I revel in the feel of it and the knowledge that I have a car. I start up the hill and begin to navigate through the twists and turns of the road.

  I slow at our driveway and think of what Aunt Kate and Ryan did for me. The thought I had in the driveway resounds over my music.

  They thought of everything that would make this the best moment of my life.

  It dawns on me that they really do love me. I guess I’ve always thought about how I didn’t have anyone else to look after me, so Aunt Kate had to take me. I never even thought that she did it out of love for me or her sister. I just thought she had to.

  And Ryan? Well, I came along with Aunt Kate. If he wanted to marry her, he had to like me.

  But she isn’t just fulfilling a responsibility and he’s not taking on a burden. They love me.

  I blink back tears. I’m not going to leave them without any explanation to why I disappeared and make them grieve over my unexplained absence. I’m going to try to love them back as much as they love me.

  And no one is going to hurt them. Not even me. I’m not going to let it happen.

  Chapter Fifty-Four

  What’s Left

  The next morning I decide that as much as I want to drive my new car, I would rather tag along with Ryan and Aunt Kate to church. We no longer argue about this church thing, and since they were awesome enough to get me a car, I don’t think I should protest about the one thing they want me to do.

  I climb into the back seat of the truck behind Aunt Kate.

  “Not driving yourself?” Ryan raises his eyebrows as he glances over his shoulder. We spent most of last night poring over the engine, checking every dipstick, fluid level, and more things I didn’t know about. When we were done with that, we sat in the living room until dark, talking cars.

  “I didn’t see you guys all day yesterday.” I shrug. “We can take it out later.”

  Aunt Kate grins at me like I have given her a million dollars.

  We pull out of the driveway and head down the hill to Grangeville. Ryan and Aunt Kate are busy chatting about his work while they hold hands. I have to smile at the way they manage to shift without letting go.

  We’re at the bottom of the hill when my breath becomes shallow and my heart begins to race. I squirm in my seat, wanting to be out of the truck to run away from whatever is hunting me. Ryan glances back but gives no indication that he feels the same way.
/>   My palms are sweaty. It’s either time to run faster than ever or stand and fight for my life.

  What is out there watching me? Why won’t they just leave me alone?

  I peer out the windows, searching for what may have brought this feeling on me. The road stretches straight for a time before twisting one last time down to the rolling hills.

  The road is empty except for us.

  I check back up the mountain. This time I scan the trees and the peaks of the hills for some sign, any sign, of what is causing this reaction.

  I see nothing.

  Am I losing all my control?

  Perhaps this is the next step to being completely overwhelmed by the darkness. The moment I’ve feared for so long is here. I’m losing all the control I’ve built.

  I whip around to face forward again. Ryan and Aunt Kate haven’t noticed a thing yet.

  Something in the woods to my left catches my eye. When the road straightens, Liam steps out from the shadows of the trees and into the road.

  He watches us speed away, his hands hanging loosely at his side. The hate on his face chills me. It’s pure and strong, oozing out of him like a black cloud. But the look in his eyes is what makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

  I’ve seen that look before. I was at a zoo, and a tiger saw something about a person that it didn’t like. The tiger got to its feet and stalked the person like prey. I was close enough I could see the intense focus in its eyes. If not for the fence, that tiger would have ripped the person apart.

  Liam is that tiger, and I am his prey.

  I face forward and wince. My good mood is shot by the time we enter the church. I flop down in the pew while Mr. Harris begins to gather everyone for the service to start. Matthew drops down beside me, and Megan pounds out the first song. I nod, but I don’t want to deal with anyone right now.

  I’m suddenly thankful there is no time to talk. If Megan and Matthew get chatting, the whole story of my life will be spilled.

  There’s the brief time to shake hands, but I deter Matthew from any questions by asking him how the homeschooling is going.

  “It’s boring.” Matthew pauses and grins at me. “We don’t play such interesting games like you guys do.”

  He’s not talking about football or basketball. I shift with the reminder of being on the receiving end of Knockout that I unwillingly participated in.

  “Sounds horrible.” I force a smile. “If I was nice, I’d trade you.”

  He laughs as if I said something funny, and the service continues. I go through the motions, not paying any sort of attention. Yesterday runs through my head like a bad rerun.

  I manage to miss the entire sermon and don’t come back to what’s happening in front of me until Pastor Tom prays. I begin to stand up, ready to get out of there, when Aunt Kate nudges me.

  Pastor Tom keeps talking. “If the elders could come forward now, we’ll have communion.”

  Communion?

  I remember this from so long ago with Mom. I settle back down in the pew as Pastor Tom keeps talking.

  Megan slips up to the piano and starts playing some peaceful music in the background. I wonder what everyone in the room would think if I told them we were in the middle of a battle between angels and demons yesterday.

  Pastor Tom nods to the elders to pass around the plates. “Communion is an essential part of the Christian life. The very first one took place right before Jesus was crucified. I Corinthians 11:23 tells us He first gave thanks. Take a minute to thank the Lord for something.”

  I’m still alive. I could thank God for that. Megan is out of trouble. I squeeze my eyes shut while the negative thoughts swirl and control my mind.

  What about that Mom was killed? That I have one of the rarest blood types? Do I thank God that I got to witness not one but several murders?

  I shift in the pew. I have nothing to thank God for. I pick up a small piece of cracker and stare at it before holding it gently in my hand.

  “Paul goes on to say that Christ took the bread, broke it, and said that it was his body. The broken bread is a reminder to us of what He went through to save us from our sins.” Pastor Tom picks up a cracker. “This is His body. Let us eat and be reminded of His great love.”

  I know it’s a symbol. I know the cracker in my hand is just a cracker. It’s not a body. But I can’t eat it. The darkness stirs in me, and I think of the dead bodies I’ve seen. The cracker crumbles in my hand.

  No one notices me. Pastor Tom munches on his cracker and picks up a tiny cup filled with grape juice.

  “Jesus continues by thanking God, and then He took the cup. He said that it was His blood and to drink it to remember Him.”

  I take a cup from the tray and stare at it as my hand starts to shake. Terrified I’ll spill it, I balance it on my leg and examine it like a poisonous snake I can’t run from. Megan continues to play as the elders work their way to the back of the church.

  Blood.

  Kyle, Matt, and Brandon lay on the floor. Their blood flows over the white floor. I see Mom’s lifeless body.

  I can’t do this.

  I push the cup into Aunt Kate’s hand, no longer worried about spilling it. I’m scared that the darkness will take control like it did yesterday.

  The memories are starting to get stronger. But there are far worse things I keep carefully buried deep down inside of me.

  Now the darkness surges in me, stronger than before. I take deep breaths to slow down my heart and fight back the darkness, but it’s not working. My hands are sweating, and the thudding of my heart covers the sounds of the piano Megan is playing.

  It’s coming back. Just like yesterday.

  If I stay here, I won’t be able to fight it back. I jump out of my seat. Matthew jerks like I’ve caught him by surprise. Aunt Kate raises a hand to stop me, but she can’t while she’s holding onto my cup of juice. Ryan shifts so I can get by him although Aunt Kate is glaring at him.

  Everyone is staring at the floor as I rush past the back pews and out the door. I’m sorry for upsetting their ceremony, but if I allow the darkness to control me, I could ruin their lives, not just the service.

  I jump into Ryan’s truck, grateful that no one locks their vehicles in this town. Away from the juice, the darkness recedes as I inhale deeply.

  But Pastor Tom’s words don’t leave me. He said that communion was an essential part of being a Christian.

  If that’s true, I can’t be a Christian.

  What else is left for me?

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Victory

  I wait in the truck for what feels like forever. No one comes out of the church. I play with my phone, shift, and glance at the building.

  Nothing.

  What are they doing in there?

  With a sigh, I throw my phone on the seat and get out of the cab. There’s nowhere to go. Not even a coffee shop. The only one in town isn’t open on Sundays.

  I slam the truck door shut. There is one place I need to go. Circling the church building, I enter the side door and slip quietly into the bathroom. I’m washing my hands when the door opens, and Cody walks in. He grins when he sees me.

  “Well, look who’s here,” he laughs.

  I back up from the sink and face him without saying a word. There’s no way I can pretend that I don’t see him. I swallow. I’ve been trapped like this before, and it always ended badly.

  “You didn’t tell anyone who knocked you out, did you?” Cody asks.

  “What if I did?”

  “I’ll have to teach you to keep your mouth shut.”

  I glare at him. I could lie. Rage is throbbing to escape and be free. I could push it down, ignore it, and try to walk away.

  I could.

  But I’m not going to.

  * * *

  “Son of Lucifer!” Eli exclaimed.

  Nic was never going to stop placing himself in danger! And now he was going head to head with a Cody, who was twice his size. On to
p of that, Nic chose to confront a boy who enjoyed fighting, having done it most of his life.

  Eli drew his sword. Chasdiel and Sari joined him.

  “Need help?” Sari asked but relaxed when she saw it was just the two boys facing off by the sinks.

  “I don’t know.” Eli bit back the frustration. “Maybe they’ll back off. Besides, what can we do with our current orders?”

  Chasdiel shook his head. “Nic is not turning to the Creator, even after what he saw yesterday. We have lost him.”

  “Don’t say that,” Eli snapped. “We don’t know that yet.”

  “Stop!” Sari broke in before Eli continued to say words he’d probably regret later. “We need to get Nic out of here before he does something terrible.”

  Eli jerked back to his charge. He knew that stubborn look in Nic’s eyes. The boy wasn’t going to back down.

  * * *

  “I told everyone,” I say.

  I let the anger build in me, like a tempest held back by strong gates growing stronger and stronger.

  Cody laughs and grins. “I was hoping you would say that.”

  He swings a punch. I dodge, stepping closer to the sinks. Cody pulls back and comes closer. I realize I’ve made a grave mistake.

  Cody blocks the only way to the door. I’ve trapped myself in a corner. I swallow, trying to think and plan, but the fury inside of me makes it too hard to come up with any sort of action.

  I push off the sink and punch at his face. My foot slips from something on the floor, and I miss him. He steps back and laughs. I can feel my face grow red.

  “Is that all you got?” he mocks.

  He comes in closer and attacks. I throw up a block at the last moment, but the blow to my stomach still bends me over in pain. I stumble back until I run into a sink and try to catch my breath.