by N. Phillips
“Pretending I was here the whole time. Just hurry up and leave. I’ll call you later.”
I waited until he climbed out the window before opening the door to see my mother with an angry look on her face.
“Hey, Mom.” I greeted her with a wide smile. “What’s up?”
“Don’t try to act innocent, Aliyah. Why was the door locked? When did you get back in the house in the first place?”
I pretended to yawn before saying, “I got back in earlier and fell asleep. My door was locked because I have a thief for a little sister who likes to steal my makeup when I’m not looking. I don’t want to see my products on her face when we’re leaving out for school tomorrow.”
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion until she saw the bruises on my brown skin. “Where did those marks come from? Is Lucas putting his hands on you, Aliyah?”
“Whoa, chill with the accusations, Mom. The school started a girl’s wrestling team recently and I tried out for it. I ended up getting my ass kicked, though.”
Lying was never my thing, but wow did I get good at it over the last few months. She scrutinized me before inspecting the room and asking, “Why is the window open when you barely have any clothes on? You know the neighbors across the street have a son that’s a year younger than you.”
“Aw, I think it’s kinda cute being the girl next door he dreams about but can never have.”
“There’s nothing cute about that,” she retorted, walking to the window and closing it. Thank God she didn’t peek her head out and spot Lucas’s car parked a block away. “Get rid of this promiscuous mentality you have before you turn into an attention whore.”
“Wow. Language, Mom. I’m just playing around.”
“Well, I’m being serious, Aliyah. Either you cover up, or you turn off the lights. Goodnight.”
She walked out the room and shut the door behind her, leaving me to get ready for bed. I put a T-shirt on before opening the window and looking outside to check if Lucas’s car was still there. Though I didn’t see his vehicle, the view of something disturbing made the hairs on my body stand on end.
“What the...” My words trailed off at the sight of a girl with jet-black hair and red highlights standing under a streetlight across from my house. She wore a black denim jacket and appeared to be around my age. Looking up at my window with a blank expression, her gray eyes only added to her mystique.
What frightened me more was that I couldn’t see the girl’s aura or sense her negative emotions like I could with anyone else. If she didn’t have any cruel intentions, why did her presence cause such an unsettling feeling to erupt in my stomach?
Creeped out, I shut the window and pulled the curtains together before backing away and getting into my bed. Tonight, I had fought demons and a possessed man ready to end my life, but the alarming image of the girl outside terrified me the most.
Walking through the maize brick halls of Ravenvale High School the next morning was unnerving with thoughts of the strange chick still lingering in my mind. I did my best to shake them off and maneuver past a group of students to reach my locker, where I grabbed a textbook for my second class of the day. What I didn’t expect to see after turning around was my childhood friend towering over me.
“What the hell, Tyler?” I yelled. “Don’t be a weirdo.”
He half-smiled, combing through his box fade. “Damn, you get scared too easily to be a superhero. How was the date last night?”
“Normal,” I said as we sauntered in the direction of my classroom. “What happened in my room afterwards was hot, though. Until my mom ruined it.”
“Yeah, like I needed that image in my head first thing in the morning.” He gave me a look of disgust. “Anyway, I heard a ton of money was returned to the bank last night. I’m guessing that was your doing?”
“Of course, it was. I’m good at what I do.”
“Well shit, someone’s cocky. You might wanna check out something I saw online, though. Maybe it’ll bring you back down to reality.”
He removed his cell phone from his pocket, causing me to snort at the sight of it. “Uh, I think you’re the one out of touch with reality if you’re still using that old thing.”
“Just read the damn article. Not everyone’s obsessed with the latest tech.”
I rolled my eyes and took the phone, peering at the words on the screen. “A trio of drug lords were found dead last night after evading police custody. No word yet on who tipped off officials, or if the person played a pivotal role in these murders.”
My brows creased in confusion. “Uh, what does this have to do with me?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” he asked with a mocking grin. “Someone’s out there doing your job, but better.”
I shoved the phone against his chest for him to take. “It’s just a coincidence, and I’m saving people from their sins, not killing them for their crimes.”
“Either way, it’s still strange. You mind explaining how the whole magic show works again?”
Did he really ask me that? I had explained it to him a thousand times already.
“You can’t be serious. It’s like everything I’ve told you and Lucas for the past few months has gone in one ear and out the other. It’s simple; after I use my power on someone influenced by a demon, their sins are reversed and the person forgets everything that happened while they were under its control. It’s clean and effective.”
“Yeah, and super convenient for you. Don’t you ever feel like you’re stripping away a person’s free will? I mean, think about it. People have reasons for doing what they do. If you take away someone’s desire, good or bad, wouldn’t that be robbing them of their freedom?”
We stopped outside of my classroom before I answered. “It’s not that deep, Ty. My light only works against people who’re being manipulated by demons. I can’t run around like some white knight aiding everyone with their problems.”
“I guess you’re right. Man, I wish I had superpowers. I’d make you my sidekick.”
“Whatever. I wish Lucas could be this enthusiastic. I promised him last night that I wouldn’t do anything crazy, but it’s hard for me to fight the feeling I get whenever I sense someone’s in trouble. Maybe this is my way of changing society for the better, you know? And I don’t want to stop now, especially after I’ve gotten used to it. Sending demons back to hell these days is almost as easy as beating you in Call of Duty.”
“And there’s that conceitedness again,” he mumbled with his brown eyes looking everywhere but at me. They landed on my disapproving face when he was ready to ask a question. “By the way, have you seen or spoken to Valeria today?”
“No. I forgot to call her back last night, but I hit her up this morning and didn’t get a text back. Why, what’s up?”
“It could be nothing, but I’m a little worried. Her foster parents have been treating her worse these past couple of days. Since you two tell each other everything, I figured she’d talk to you about what’s going on more than she would with me.”
Before I could voice my concerns, the late bell rang. “I’ll find her after class,” I told him.
After a quick nod, he turned to walk away as I stepped into the classroom. I took my seat in the front row and tried to concentrate on the lesson, but thoughts of Valeria clouded my focus. With time slowly passing, I knew it would be quite a while before I could run to my best friend’s aid.
Overtaken by an odd sensation during the final few minutes of class, my attention turned to the purple mist circulating outside of the classroom.
You can’t be serious, I thought to myself. With the amount of negativity radiating off the students in this school, it didn’t surprise me that a demon would come here to find a puppet to string along.
I contemplated whether to take action or keep my word to Lucas and ignore my calling. A decision came a minute later after I could no longer resist the urge to get rid of the evil in the air.
“I need to use the bathroom,” I said, raising
my hand. “It’s an emergency.”
The teacher groaned. “Go ahead.”
Getting out my seat, I rushed into the hall and followed the shadow current, bumping into a man wearing a navy-blue suit in the process. After climbing a secluded stairway up to the third floor, I halted after seeing the girl from last night coming down the stairs that led to the roof.
“I wouldn’t go up there if I were you,” she said, standing in my way. She was less scary to me now that we were face-to-face, but I still couldn’t sense any emotion from her. “Trust me; you’re gonna get your ass killed. There’s too many of them to fight.”
“I’m sorry, who are you? What do you mean there’s too many of them?”
“Too many demons, obviously. Isn’t that why you’re here? And who I am isn’t important; just know that the girl up there ready to kill herself is too far gone. You’re only gonna die trying to save her.”
Who the hell did she think she was?
“Look, I don’t know who you are, how you know about the demons, or why you were stalking me last night; but if you’re not gonna do anything about the situation, I’d suggest you mind your own business.”
She snickered at my remark and walked past me with a brush of her shoulder. “Your funeral, sweetheart. I’ll see you on the other side when I get there.”
Ignoring her comment, I walked upwards to the roof door and opened it. The winds that smacked across my face held an uncanny chill, but nothing was more disturbing than the sight before me.
“Val?” my voice quavered as a gut-tightening feeling dispelled my confidence. “What are you doing up here? Are you about to—”
“Go away. Don’t try to stop me.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening. My best friend stood near the edge of the building with her vision fixated on the ground three stories below. A strong gust blew her chestnut brown hair into the air, bringing with it an evil presence. My eyes widened at the ogre-like demon now hovering over her.
“N-no. Not her. G-get away from her.” My shaky words diminished into silence as I took small steps forward.
Valeria turned to face me, her eyes red and puffy. “Please, just let it be over. I’m tired of being abused, and I’m sick of being judged by everyone. I can’t wake up to the same miserable life anymore, Aliyah. I just can’t.”
“Val, please, you have to fight the voice in your head. Remember those monsters I’ve been telling you about for the past few months? One of them is manipulating you. I’m going to do my part and get rid of it, but I need you to think about the good things in life, okay? Think about Tyler.”
“Tyler will be happy again once I’m gone. We fight and argue every day because I’m so depressed and can’t enjoy myself. I want to leave this place and be forgotten. Why can’t you understand?”
Hearing her turmoil, I marched forward to her side, but the demon threatened to intervene by wrapping its sizable frame around her. Normally, I’d try talking the individual through defeating their demons so that the person remembers their wrongs and not hold on to the same sinful desire, but this was far from the usual situation. Valeria could die any second.
The demon opened its mouth and whispered an incoherent message in Valeria’s ear. “No, don’t listen to it. Confide in me, Val. Don’t hold back your feelings from me.”
“I can’t ever talk to you about how I feel anymore because you’re always too busy helping strangers instead of the people closest to you. Even if you were to take the time out to hear what I have to say, it would just be out of pity. Your life is perfect compared to mine. You have a real family to go home to.”
“Val, you are my family. You’re like a sister to me. Please, don’t let the demon influence you.”
Tears began to break free from my eyes. I had encountered people with strong resolves in the past, but none with the complexity and personal attachment to me as Valeria. She wasn’t just someone with a sinful desire, but my best friend who I knew and loved.
“Why do you want me to stay here and suffer, Aliyah? So that you can be happy? You’re so damn selfish.”
“If saving you means I’m selfish, then I don’t care. I already lost a brother, Val. I am not losing you, too. You need to understand that no one knows what the future will bring. Staying alive means you have options. It means life can get better. You’ll never know that it will if you do this.”
My words put a small smile on her face, and it would appear that they broke the demon’s manipulation had the creature not breathed in Valeria’s ear again. Seeing her step on the edge of the building, I released a ray of light toward the beast. Unfortunately, the beam failed to reach its target due to an army of demons that surfaced and absorbed the light in a cloak of darkness.
Valeria lowered her head and spoke her final words. “I love you. I’m sorry.”
Blocked by the swarm of lesser demons, I was prohibited from reaching her. The larger entity delivered the final message, and I was forced to watch the horrifying moment of my best friend falling to her death.
The creatures backed away and shrieked in pleasure as tears streamed down my face like a running faucet. I was defeated, unable to rescue someone dear to me. For the first time, I wasn’t the winner. I was the loser.
Not wanting to end their reign of terror, the demons pounced on top of me like a pack of wolves, sinking their teeth and claws into my skin. I screamed from the torment inflicted on my body, but I managed to unleash a combination of strikes and throws with my chakram to purge the circle of animals. Falling to my knees, I begged for my suffering to end.
My wish was not granted, as the nightmare continued with another round of bloodthirsty fiends. They ravaged my body and ripped my clothes to shreds, putting scars on my arms and legs. My best attempts to fight back were useless as more joined the battle whenever the fight would sway in my favor.
Covered in blood with no strength or will to carry on, I pleaded once more for my torture to be over. The horde of creatures concluded the brutality with a conjoined swipe that sent my body off the roof of the school.
Falling to the ground, I had expected the last images in my head to be of my family, my boyfriend, and my closest friends. But as I began to plummet faster, all I could visualize were quick fragments of unexplainable thoughts until there was only darkness.
CHAPTER 3
A white gleam illuminated the blurry scene. Was this heaven? No. An antiseptic scent and the beeping sound of a machine gave it away.
With my vision clearing, a hospital room ceiling came into view. I saw the faces of my mom and dad; their joy expressed through broad smiles.
“Aliyah…” my mother began, weeping as she leaned over and wrapped her arms around my neck. “My baby’s fully awake. Thank you, God.”
“Mom? Dad? What happened? Why am I in the hospital?”
“You were found unconscious and injured outside of the school,” my father told me. “Police suspect there was an altercation on the roof and either you had fallen or were thrown off. No one has been able to explain the claw marks on your body, though. It’s like an animal tried to kill you.”
I stared at the white blanket covering me and tried to recollect my memories. “Why would I be on the roof? Please, tell me everything. Anything.”
My parents turned to each other with distress written all over their faces. I felt the squeezing of my chest at their crestfallen expressions. My father said gravely, “No one knows for sure why you were up there. It’s believed that Valeria attacked you before attempting suicide.”
Flashbacks of the moment began to reform in my mind. I sat in a state of shock and looked at my parents with glassy eyes. It took all the courage I had to ask my next question.
“Is she alive?”
“Yes,” my father replied, gripping onto my hand. “But unfortunately, sweetie, she suffered severe brain damage and has been unresponsive since the fall. There’s a high possibility that she may never recover. I’m sorry.”
And just like th
at, I felt the pain of losing her all over again. My dad held me close, sharing my heartache.
“I let you down,” he said. “It’s my job to know when people need help. I should’ve seen the signs.”
It may have been his job as a social worker to see the signs, but I had the power to sense it. Yes, Valeria’s difficulties with her home life created an aura of negativity, but it shouldn’t have been enough to attract as many demons as the ones on the roof. Something must’ve happened the night before the incident. I just didn’t know what.
I laid back and let my thoughts wander in silence. My parents sat in the chairs near my bedside and waited until I was ready to talk.
“Where’s Mya?” I asked, curious about my younger sister’s whereabouts.
“She’s at an art gallery downtown,” my mother informed me. “One of her paintings was chosen to be on the show floor. It’s unbelievable how much she’s improved these past few weeks.”
“Weeks? Mom, what do you mean? Mya told us she wanted to be an artist just a few days ago.”
My father grumbled before my mother took a deep breath and addressed my question. “Aliyah, we planned not to tell you this until you fully recovered, but I guess it’s too late for that now…” She paused, glancing at my dad and back to me.
“You’ve been in the hospital for four weeks.”
I gaped in reaction. The reveal of my absence from the world left my chest heaving and lips quivering. So many days gone. How could I have been asleep for so long?
“F-four weeks? Was I in a coma or something? I don’t remember ever being here.”
“You did open your eyes a few times,” my mom said. “But it was only for a few seconds. Maybe you just don’t remember.”
“No, this can’t be real. Mom, Dad, tell me you’re lying. Please. There’s just no way this is possible.”
The sound of the heart monitor increased. “Aliyah, you need to calm down,” my father urged. “I know that was difficult for you to hear, but this is serious. You can go into cardiac arrest if you don’t relax.”