The Charles family were celebrating the eighth birthday of their youngest daughter Chloe. They had just cut the cake and shared it for the family members.
Little Chloe walked up to Daddy and asked. “daddy, I have a request. ”
Mr Charles lifted Chloe from the floor.
“Tell Daddy your request and he will make sure he does it.”
“Really?” Chloe asked him.
“Daddy never goes back on his word, does he?”
“Okay Daddy. I wish you would take some of the cake to the Petersons next door. ”
Mr Charles was not pleased with this request at all. The Petersons were a creepy family of two old couple and a teenage daughter whom is hardly seen. Mr Charles knew he couldn't go back on his words.
Mr Charles dropped Chloe and said. “Let me go cut some cake for them.” He headed straight to the fridge.
Mr Charles entered the Petersons yard. Goose bumps surfaced on his skin. He was kind of scared even as a man the place gave him the creeps. The staircase leading to the balcony creeked as he stepped on it. The goosebumps surfaced again as he knocked on the door.
No answer came from within. He tried knocking several times but no answer came. Then the strangest thing happened.
The door opened itself. Mr Charles was scared but curiosity got the better of him. He stepped in and the door closed behind him. He tried all he could to open it but to no avail.
“Come!” A voice spoke from a dark room.
Mr Charles dropped the cake. His arms were trembling, his pulse racing.
“COME!” The voice said with anger this time.
Like he was enchanted, Mr Charles walked into the dark room.
What was heard next was his scream.
Mr Petersons got home and was surprised to see blood everywhere in his house. What had happened? He followed the blood to whatever was left of Mr Charles. Only Mr Charles shirt remained and Mr Peterson recognized it.
“What a poor soul.” Mr. Peterson said out of remorse.
Selina was confused on what to do next. Going to her family might put them in danger. She reminisced on this as she walked down the alley.
People were moving about minding their own business. None even took notice of her or recognized her as the girl who appeared in the middle of the road.
Selina took a curve which led her to the open fields.
She sat down trying to clear her head. What had she done? Did she just escape from paradise? It was all still like a dream to her.
Who was that man who helped her? Maybe he was a rebel son like Sirach or maybe he was just a soul like the others in paradise.
She felt like praying to the Author for direction but she restrained herself by making herself believe that the Author is a Creator who doesn't care about the world.
The sun was going down and She needed a safe place to sleep. She got up and started walking. She was embarking on a journey of no destination.
Selina had not gone far when she heard howls coming from some metres from where she stood. She looked up; it was a full moon and this meant that the Werewolves were already transformed. Her being outside by this time outs her in grave danger. Selina quickned her steps.
She had not gone far when she heard a growl behind her. She didn't need to turn to check what it was, she already knew what they were. Selina ran with all her might hoping to outrun the Werewolves but that were faster and had better night vision than her
A wolf pounced on her knocking her down. She fought to break free but she couldn't. Was this going to be her end? She thought as the wolf was going for the bite. Suddenly a loud gunshot was heard. It sent the wolves running. Selina just laid there unconscious but before she passed out she saw her rescuer an old man with grey hair and a rifle in his hand. Then she passed out.
Selena opened her eyes slowly. The first thing she saw was a tiled roof. Where was she? She asked herself while trying to recall what had happened.
First, she recalled the Werewolves attack and then her savior. Is this his place? Or someone's.
Selena tried to get up but she felt a sharp pain coming from her right arm. She checked the arm. It was bandaged because of the Werewolves scratch.
A man walked in holding a tray on which there was a glass of orange juice and a plate of hot bean soup.
Selena recognized him as the man who saved her.
“Oh! You are awake.” Said the man.
Selena took note of the man's physical features; His hair was grey indicating that he was full of years, his eyes were swollen out of their sockets.
The man dropped the tray on a shelf close to the bed where Selena lay.
“Thank you.” Selena said as she grabbed the cup of juice.
“What was a young girl like you doing out that late? ” He asked her.
“I can't explain.” she replied. “You won't believe me”
A loud scream came from the next room.
The scream made the man feel uneasy and Selina took note.
“Please, excuse me. ” The man excused himself and left.
Selina was invited to have dinner with the couple in the dining room.
The couple were glad to have someone live with them. According to the story they told Selina, nobody associated with them.
“Once again, we are glad to have you with us, Selena.” Mrs Petersons said
“Thank you.” Selena replied. She felt grateful for their help and kindness.
Selena laid on the bed thinking of her predicament. Had the sons of the Author already found out of her escape? She then thought of her family. Selena knew that going back would put them in harm's way.
Selena was distracted by the same scream she had heard earlier. What or where was it coming from?
Selena stood up and left the room. She walked through the passageway heading for the source of the screaming. Luckily for her, the Petersons had gone to church.
She got to a room whose door was locked. She tried opening it but she couldn't. After series of tries, she gave up and was about heading back to her room when the door mysteriously opened.
The interior of the room was dark. Selena stepped in. “Hello, is anyone in here?” She asked. She walked further in. The door bolted itself after her.
She ran to the door and tried opening it but it was bolted.
Selena heard croaking sounds behind her. She was scared to turn back knowing she might find something horrible there.
She felt a hand on her hair. Before she knew it she was landing on the floor with her back.
Then she caught sight of the thing, it had the shape of a girl who's just reaching adulthood. Her hair were all standing, her eyes red for blood and her clothes stained with blood.
The creature was about pouncing on Selena when something invincible flung it towards the ceiling. It tried to come for her but it was flung towards the wardrobe this time.
The Creature tried to get up but it couldn't. Then something fascinating happened; the creature face became normal. Selena was shocked at this.
“Where are my parents?” She asked Selena.
The Petersons entered the house holding a Bible in their hands. Mrs Petersons dropped hers when she saw her daughter looking normal and sane.
She ran and hugged her daughter.
“Mitchell, you are back.” She said with tears in her eyes. “The Author has finally answered our prayers.”
The father also was happy. “How did it happen?”
Selena came out. “We don't know.”
The Petersons were surprised to see her.
Selena noticed the shocked expression on their faces
“What? Were you expecting to find a dead body?”
Mitchell let go off her mother. “You both promised me you wouldn't provide food for that demon.” She sighed. “I trusted you both and you let me down.”
“We had to, cause we would have lost you if we didn't.” Mr Peterson replied.
“YOU ALREADY LOST ME THE DAY I GOT POSSESSED!!!” She yelled. “You had to sacrifice innocent souls just for your selfish interest.”
“We are sorry.” Mrs Petersons apologized.
“Sorry won't bring back the innocent souls you killed.” Mitchell replied. “You both are worse monsters than the demon in me.” she stopped talking and cried out in pains. “He's trying to take back control; I can feel him.”
Mrs Petersons tried to help her but Mitchell told her to stay back.
“Bring me a bowl of salt, water and a knife.” Mitchell requested.
In a matter of minutes the things were ready.
Mitchell poured the salt in the water and cut herself with the knife allowing her blood to drip into the water.
“With this I exorcise every demon in me.” She drank the potion. At first it seemed nothing had happened then she started crying out blood from her eyes. Her ears were bringing out blood and. Her nostrils also brought out blood. Then a huge figure jumped out of her. The lights went off instantly.
Mrs Petersons tried to find a way to hide herself. Suddenly she felt a hand on her leg dragging her into the darkness.
Mr Petersons was going for the door when a force held him and dragged him back. He cried out his daughter's name as he was being dragged.
Mitchell was at the door with Selena.
“Shouldn't we help them?” Selena asked Mitchell.
“They fed him with souls and that made him grow stronger than he was when I was possessed. They deserve what they are getting and beside that there's nothing we can do to help them.”
The girls went out of the house and locked the door behind them.
“What next?” Mitchell asked Selena.
“We go our separate ways.” Selena replied.
“Really?” Mitchell chuckled. “So you plan on doing this alone?”
“Do what?”
“Escape the forces after you.”
“What forces?”
“I know, Selena; Why do you think the demon wasn't able to harm you?”
“I don't know.”
“Every soul in paradise has a mark which keeps darkness away from them.” Mitchell replied. “You have that mark.” She added. “I know you escaped from Paradise and I know you can't handle what's coming next alone.”
“What is coming next?” Selena asked.
“A big change in the game you are playing.” Mitchell replied.