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Songs referenced in this are “London Bridge” by Fergie, “Hell to the Naw Naw” by Bishop Bullwinkle, “No” by Meghan Trainor, and the violin screech from Psycho. They appear in the order listed. I do not own any of them and am not making a profit by including them in my story.
I own all the characters (except Bishop Bullwinkle and Meghan Trainor). Any resemblance to real life people is coincidental (except for the two listed above).
********************
It was a peaceful Sunday morning. Mass had just ended, and Father Francis kept himself busy by tidying up the hall, conversing with the last few visitors, and praying for them before they left.
For the last couple weeks, the priest had wholy dedicated his time and efforts to serving the church. It made him feel like he was helping the community and distracted him from memories of...
He mentally slapped himself. Now was not the time to dwell on past mistakes. To refocus, he sat on the front pew and started reading his pocket Bible. It helped to ease his mind, and he allowed himself to immersed in the Scripture.
“Hello, Father,” a masculine voice said.
Father Francis turned to the speaker and felt his stomach drop. The man appeared to be in his late twenties. He had dark brown hair and wore the same leather jacket that Father Francis recognized from when they... No! Focus! One distinct difference was the man’s smile, which looked genuine.
No, it can’t be him, Father Francis thought frantically. His smile is too friendly. Besides, this is holy ground!
He realized that he neglected to reply and said in what he hoped was a genial tone, “Greetings, sir. Welcome to the church.” He stood up and held his hand out. “I’m Father Francis, the priest of this church. It is nice to meet you.”
The man shook his hand. “Thanks. It’s nice to meet you, too. My name is Jordan.”
(First Ending)
Father Francis felt his blood turn to ice. It might have been his imagination, but he could have sworn that he heard a group of guys yelling, “OH S**T!” over and over in the background.
(Second Ending)
Father Francis felt his blood turn to ice. It might have been his imagination, but he could have sworn that a dark skinned man wearing a nice suit and cowboy hat started singing, “Hell to the naw, to the naw naw naw” a few yards away.
(Third Ending)
Father Francis felt his blood turn to ice. It might have been his imagination, but he could have sworn that a blonde woman started singing, “Nah to the ah to the no no no” on the other side of the hall.
(Fourth Ending)
Father Francis felt his blood turn to ice. It might have been his imagination, but he could have sworn that one of the workers checking on the band instruments picked up the violin and played the Psycho violin screech.
(Bonus Ending)
Father Francis felt his blood turn to ice. Before he could respond, he jumped as a loud cacophony of “OH S**T”, “Hell to the naw, to the naw naw naw”, “Nah to the ah to the no no no”, and violin screech erupted. When he looked around, he saw that he and the man were surrounded by a boombox, a dark skinned man in a nice suit, a blonde woman, and a church worker with a violin.
A flying purple pig appeared out of nowhere and said, “That was beautiful.”
The man looked around dumbfoundedly and asked, “What was that?”
The pig shrugged as best as it could. “Just something I put together. Thought it was fitting since you said your name is Jordan.”
This earned a frown. “Why? What’s wrong with my name?”
“Oh, it’s not you,” the pig assured, waving a wing dismissively. “It’s the demon that possesses you and happens to share your name.”
“Ah, okay,” the man replied, nodding absently. Then the words sunk in, and he froze before whipping around. “Wait, what?!”
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A story that I wrote a few days ago. I wrote the first draft in an hour and, upon rereading it, realized I butchered the characterization of one of my characters. I wrote a second draft, this time making a loose outline, and I’m much happier with how it turned out.
I own all the characters. Any resemblance to real life people is coincidental.
********************
Jordan leaned against the bar counter, drink in hand. A variety of people occupied the crowded pub, and he observed them as they went about their business.
He became aware of a nearby demonic presence and scanned the room for the culprit. In the opposite corner, he spotted a lean, attractive looking man who appeared to also be observing the bar patrons. Although his aura was dimmed down, it was still visible, and the swirling cloud of darkness surrounding him was unmistakable.
Apparently, the realization was mutual. At the same moment, the demon turned to look at Jordan. He walked over and stood next to him. “Fancy meeting you here,” he said, leaning against the counter. “Last time I saw you, the Greeks were building a wooden horse.”
“I remember that,” Jordan replied. He gave the newcomer a once-over and said, “You’re an incubus, correct? It’s been a while since I last saw one of you.”
“You would be correct.” The incubus grabbed a nearby drink, ignoring the angry protests from the owner, and chugged it. He slammed the empty tumbler on the counter before asking. “So what brings you out here?”
Jordan shrugged. “Just getting some drinks. It’s been a slow night.” He turned to look at the surrounding people. “What about you?”
“The usual,” the incubus answered nonchalantly. “Just finding more mortals to seduce.” He turned and gave a leery grin. “I already got three people this night.”
“Did you?” asked Jordan, tone remaining impassive.
Apparently, this was not the response the incubus was expecting. He said, “I manage to tempt three women and am going for a fourth. My high score is seven in one night, and I want to see if I can beat that record.”
“I figured.” Jordan sloshed his drink around absentmindedly, staring at the contents within.
The incubus’s smile turned slightly annoyed. He said with an underlying edge, “Yeah, I can seduce anyone in this bar. Hell, I bet I could seduce you if I wanted.”
The last comment caused Jordan to raise an eyebrow. “You seem sure of yourself,” he said unconcernedly.
The subtle jab did not go unnoticed. The incubus stepped forward and said challengingly, “Why shouldn’t I be? I’ve been doing this for the past forty thousand years.” He puffed his chest out.
Instead of appearing impressed, Jordan deadpanned, “Isn’t that adorable?”
The incubus slammed his fists against the counter, causing a few nearby humans to jump. “Fine then, Mr. Hot Shot. If you want, I can prove what I said earlier about being able to seduce anyone right now.”
“Is that a challenge?” Jordan asked. He chugged the rest of his drink and set the empty glass down with a thud. While the bartender refilled it, he inspected the sea of faces. After a minute, he pointed at a lone woman sitting at a corner table. “If you can get her to want to hook up with you, then I’ll take your word.”
The incubus looked to where he was pointing and smirked. “Easy.” He slicked his hair back and strutted over.
Jordan watched from the counter as the incubus attempted to woo the woman. Even from his spot, he could tell that she was hesitating. He couldn’t hear their conversation over the surrounding chatter, but he guessed that the incubus’s tactics were slowly working.
Suddenly, a man exited the restroom, spotted the pair, and jabbed a finger accusingly at them while shouting obscenities. The woman pointed at the incubus, prompting the man to punch him in the jaw. The incubus did not expect the sudden strike and crumpled to the floor. A crowd gathered around the table, waiting for a fight to break out.
In an instant, the incubus sat up. He glared at the man, and it was clear that he wanted to retaliate. However, he made no move, and the man walked away with the woman following close behind.
Jordan watched the spectacle unfold, amusement in his eyes. When the incubus stomped back over, he asked, “So how did that go?”
“Shut up,” the incubus snapped back. He held his jaw with one hand and muttered under his breath, “Stupid mortal man.”
“To be fair, you were just hitting on his girlfriend.”
The incubus frowned. “Huh? How did you know that?”
Jordan sipped his drink and explained, “Before you came over, I saw the two getting all touchy-feely with each other. Then, while searching the crowd, I spotted the man kissing the woman and heading to the restroom.”
Hearing his answer, the incubus paused mid grumbling and whipped around to face him. “You knew that was going to happen,” he accused. “You intentionally set me up to fail.”
“I do not deny nor confirm your statement.” The humor in his tone was clear as day.
The incubus’s gaze darkened. “You better watch your back, bastard,” he threatened. “I was not lying earlier.”
“What? When you said you could seduce me?” Jordan wrinkled his nose. “Is that your brilliant revenge scheme?”
“Do not underestimate my power.” The incubus’s eyes glowed faintly red. “I have abilities beyond what is immediately obvious.”
A beep sounded, and Jordan pulled out his phone. He slipped it back into his pocket and said. “Well, as fun as this has been, I have business elsewhere.”
The incubus did not reply, simply choosing to glower in silence.
Jordan nodded and started to leave. The bartender snapped that he still needed to pay, and he set a $20 bill on the counter before heading out the exit.
Another story I wrote while doing laundry. Josh Adler and Robert Long have a deep, meaningful discussion about unicorns. Again, I own all the characters. Any resemblance to real life people is coincidental.
********************
Josh and Robert were lying on the L shaped couch, their feet inches apart. Robert was on his phone, and Josh attempted to solve a Rubik’s cube. Occasionally, one of them would make a comment, but for the most part, it was quiet.
After a while, Josh set the completed Rubik’s cube on the coffee table with a thud. “Finished.”
“Wow,” Robert said, temporarily looking up from his phone. “That was fast. One could almost say you’re a real ‘speed demon’.”
“Shut up,” replied Josh, trying and failing to conceal his amusement.
Robert laughed and said, “Hey, it’s true.” A disappointed beep sounded from his phone, and he cursed when he looked back at the screen.
“What’re you playing?” Josh asked, flipping to his side.
“Just this Robot Unicorn game,” Robert replied, eyes fixated on his phone. “Trying to beat my high score.”
Josh nodded in response, and a pause followed. He appeared to have thought of something, and asked, “That reminds me. Remember that speech you gave to me about friendship and not leaving me?”
“You make it sound sappier than it really was,” Robert replied. “And I’d hardly call a few sentences a speech.”
“Whatever. My point is that you remember the first thing you said, right?”
“Of course I do.”
Josh’s smile turned devious. “Then you remember how you mentioned unicorns?”
Robert’s finger froze, and another disappointed beep sounded. Neither of them paid attention. “Maaaaybe,” he said cautiously.
This time, it was Josh who laughed. “Really? Out of all the species you could have named, you chose the unicorn?”
Robert huffed. “It was the first mythological species that came to mind. Besides, I was more focused on the fact that you were about to enter a death match with three other demons.” Then, before he could stop himself, he muttered under his breath, “Don’t be hating on unicorns.”
He had hoped that Josh hadn’t heard, but that wasn’t the case. “Oh, really?” Josh asked, one eyebrow raised. “Are you some sort of unicorn fan?”
Robert gaped for a second, seeking out an answer. Eventually, he settled with, “Don’t give me that tone, Adler. Unicorns are cool.”
The challenging tone in Josh’s voice prompted Robert to ditch his phone and sit up. “I shall. Unicorns are magical creatures. It is said they can fly through the air and fart rainbows.”
Instead of appearing impressed, Josh burst out laughing. “Well, that sounds fine and dandy,” he said mockingly between breaths. “It’s making me wish I were a unicorn.”
“I bet you do,” Robert said, pointing a finger out. “I bet you’re just jealous that you’re not a unicorn.”
“Now, why would I be jealous?” Josh crossed his legs and propped his head on one fist. “What do unicorns have that I don’t?”
“First of all,” Robert said, counting off on his fingers, “They have a long, pointy horn that springs from their forehead.”
“I have two horns. They curl outward from my temples.” Josh pointed two fingers to the sides of his head, about an inch above his ears. “Well, not while in this form. You’ve seen them.”
Robert grudgingly nodded, admitting defeat on that point. “Well, they usually have rainbow hair.”
“Sadly, I do not,” Josh said sarcastically, running a hand through his hair. “I just have boring black hair. Sorry to disappoint.”
Robert smiled smugly. “Score one for me.” He thought for a moment. “They can fly.”
“Who needs to fly when you can teleport?”
The smile turned into a frown. “It’s not the same.”
“Oh? And why not?”
“Teleportation is so boring.” Robert flapped his arms as if he had wings. “With flying, you can soar through the sky with the wind in your hair. It’s exciting.”
“Exciting?” A knowing grin crept onto Josh’s face. “Robert Long, last time we went to the amusement part, you refused to even watch the people riding the Space Shot. No way would you find a unicorn flight anything but terrifying.”
“Shut up,” Robert sulked. “Alright, you win that one as well.”
“I thought so.” Josh shifted so he was lying on his stomach, his feet pointing in the opposite direction from prior. “Have I made my point?"
“Not yet,” Robert said, holding up a finger. “There’s more.”
“You sound like one of those infomercial guys.”
Robert rolled his eyes. “Anyways, unicorns can create rainbows and sparkles.”
Josh brought his hand up, and a ball of rainbow fire ignited in his palm. “I can set things on fire and change the color of the flame.” He closed his fist, extinguishing the flame, and crossed his arms again. “As for the sparkles part, you could just go to the store and buy a tub of glitter.”
“That’s not the same,” Robert protested. “It’s not magical.”
He realized what he’d said too late and huffed in annoyance as Josh cracked up. Once Josh’s laughter died down, he continued, “Yeah, well that’s not the only magical power they have. They can also inspire love, friendship, and joy in humans.”
“I’ve been told that my aura inspires feelings of dread, despair, and hatred.”
Robert scoffed, “Sure, close enough.” Curiosity soon took over, and he asked, “Really?”
“Yeah,” Josh replied sincerely.
Robert squinted. “Oh, yeah? Prove it.”
“Alright, since you asked so nicely.” Josh scooted forward a few inches and gestured for Robert to come closer.
Robert hesitated for a second, but then changed his position so he was also lying on his stomach. He turned slightly so his face was a few inches from Josh’s. “So how does this work?”
“Hold on,” Josh replied. “I haven’t done this in a while, and it takes focus.”
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, they were pure black. Robert had been expecting that to happen and only felt his heart stop for a second. Then, he tried to feel for any differences in the air.
He became aware of a slight temperature drop and was about to comment when a tingling sensation entered his stomach. It steadily increased until he swore an invisible hand was squeezing his insides. His leg muscles locked up, and it felt as though his heart had crawled into his throat.
“Alright, enough,” Robert said, shooting up and scooting away. “You proved your point. You can stop now.”
With a satisfied smile, Josh turned his eye back to normal. He sat up as well and said, “Told you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Robert said, trying to calm his jumbled nerves. Once he no longer felt like his heart was going to leap out of his chest, he commented, “Man, that is freaky.”
“Thanks.” The smile on Josh’s face widened ever so slightly. “Glad to see I haven’t lost my edge, and to think I wasn’t even using all of my power.”
In response, Robert stuck his tongue out. “Show off.” He paused for a moment to think and asked, “So would that be a point for you or me?”
“I think I should get that point.” Josh pointed at him. “Try scaring off your enemies with friendship and love powers. See how well that works out.”
“But that’s not what unicorns - never mind. We’ll say that no one gets that.” Robert tallied up the points in his head and realized he had lost. A frown formed on his face. “Alright, you win,” he said grudgingly. He crossed his arms. “I still think you’re just jealous.”
“Oh, yeah?” Josh crossed his arms as well. “How do we know you’re not the jealous one?”
Robert gasped dramatically and put a hand to his chest. “I am not jealous of unicorns, and the fact that you would suggest I am is crazy.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Unicorns are cool.”
Robert threw a couch pillow at him. “Hey, I can point out the good qualities of something without being jealous.” He huffed at Josh’s barely repressed snickering. “Laugh it up, but I can name a unicorn skill I also happen to have.”
“Do you, now?” Josh asked, mock enthusiasm in his voice. “What is it? Can you secretly fart rainbows, or do you have brightly colored hair that you hide with a wig?”
“Neither.” A smile tugged at Robert’s lips and he moved to sit next to Josh, who was watching him warily. “Can you guess what it is?”
Josh’s gaze flitted across Robert. “Unless there’s something you’re not telling me about your anatomy, I have no clue.”
Instead of replying right away, he put a hand on Josh’s shoulder. “I may not have a magic aura that makes people feel all warm and fuzzy, but I can inspire friendship and joy in those I care about.”
To his surprise, Josh also put a hand on his shoulder. “By that logic, I would also get a point for that.” He paused and added, “Wait, but you also mentioned love. Did you forget that?”
Robert smirked before pulling Josh in for a hug. “Way ahead of you.” He felt Josh hug back and whispered into his ear, “Joshie Woshie.”
He laughed as Josh lightly hit him on the shoulder. “Never call me Joshie Woshie again.” The humor in his tone undermined his serious words.
They separated, and Robert grabbed his phone to check what time it was. “I should leave now,” he said. “It’s almost dinnertime.” He stood up and slid his phone into his pocket. “See you later.”
“Yeah, see you later,” Josh replied.
Robert exited the house and headed back to his car. As he drove home, he reflected on the bizarreness that was his life. Five years ago, he did not believe that paranormal entities were real. He certainly did not expect to be best friends with a demon. Somehow, the thought did not bother him. As he said to Josh himself, he did not care if he was a human, demon, or unicorn, they were still friends, and species would not change that fact.
A story I wrote while doing laundry. Tyler Smith and Josh Privet watch a horror movie and discuss the plausibility of a group of teenagers accidentally summoning a demon somehow. I own the characters. Any resemblance to real life people is coincidental.
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Tyler Smith and Josh Privet sat on the living room couch, eyes fixed on the TV in front of them. A high pitched scream erupted, and both boys flinched back.
“Man, this story is so unrealistic,” Tyler commented, trying to sound dismissive.
“Don’t even start,” Josh quipped back. “You know movies aren’t supposed to be exact copies of real life.”
“Yeah, but still.” Tyler gestured to the screen with both hands. “I doubt it would be that easy to summon a demon.”
Instead of answering, Josh stood up and walked over to the stairwell. He looked up and called, “Hey, other me! Get down here!”
A second later, Josh Adler walked down the stairs. He stopped in front of Josh Privet and asked, “Yeah?”
Privet stuck his hands out towards Adler in a sort of “ta-da” gesture. Both Adler and Tyler were confused, so he explained, “See? It is that easy to summon a demon.”
Tyler still looked baffled, not understanding his friend’s logic. Meanwhile, Adler gave Privet an exasperated glance before heading back upstairs.
A story that I wrote over winter break. Father Francis, the priest of a small village, is distressed when possibly demonic disasters strike. He is visited by Lilian Avauss, who tells him that she knows a man who could help out. However, she neglected to tell him a crucial detail about said man... although perhaps man is not the correct term.
I also recommend that you all read Photographs before this, because that story explains Lilian’s origins, and The Meeting presumes that you are at least somewhat knowledgeable about her.
I own all the characters. Any resemblance to real life people is coincidental.
**********
Father Francis was at his wit’s end. He had just received the third account of possibly demonic activity this week. He was trying to remain calm for the sake of the people, but he found it increasingly difficult.
“Lord, help me,” he prayed while kneeling on the hard church floor. “Help me find a solution to this problem that torments this fair village. Clear the mist that obscures my vision and allow me to see the truth.”
Just outside the prayer room door, a feminine voice said, “Father Francis?”
He stood up and opened the door. Just as he expected, a red headed woman was waiting there expectantly.
“Greetings, Lilian,” he said. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been well.” She straightened her jacket and said enthusiastically, “Good news. I found someone who might be able to help with the problems you’ve been facing.”
“Splendid,” he replied, grateful that his prayer had been answered. “Pray, where can I meet this person?”
“He’s outside,” Lilian replied, already heading towards the church entrance. “Come on.”
Father Francis carefully stood up and followed her. He’d met Lilian a few months ago. She’d claimed to be a visitor and had been enraptured by all the knowledge he gave her. She also had quite a lot of knowledge of her own, much more than he’d expected from one as young as her. With her helping out, Father Francis had little doubts that an answer would pop up soon. He crossed the main church hall, greeting a churchgoer on the way, and opened the heavy wooden doors of the church entrance.
About ten feet away, Lilian was talking to a man younger than her. His back was facing the church, making it impossible to catch a glimpse of his face. From the bits and pieces that Father Francis could hear, Lilian was telling the man about the issue at hand. The priest stood there, listening to their conversation, before reminding himself that there was no time to waste. He walked down the front steps and approached the pair.
**********
Josh listened patiently as Lilian described the events that had taken place the past week. First, a spontaneous fire broke out with no apparent cause. Then, one of the villagers reported a plot of his crops had been destroyed during the night. The most recent case involved a shipment of holy relics that had gone missing, only to be later found wrecked beyond repair. The man driving the delivery truck was also discovered hanging from a tree by a slimy noose. While he thought it possible that humans could have been the cause, he was still willing to consider the possibility of demonic activity.
Partway through the explanation, Lilian looked over his shoulder and said, “Great. You’re here.” She walked past him and up to a middle-aged man in a brown robe. “Father Francis, meet Josh. Josh, this is Father Francis. He’s the priest of this church.”
Father Francis turned to Josh. His eyes widened significantly, and before Josh knew what was going on, he was standing in front of Lilian protectively as if shielding her.
“Father?” Lilian asked, worry seeping into her tone. She tried to edge around him.
He stuck an arm out and warned, “Stay behind me. He’s dangerous.”
Josh whipped around, looking for potential threats and spotting none. When he turned back, Father Francis was still glaring at him. It did not take long for him to realize that he was the perceived threat.
Luckily, Lilian chose to ask the question he was wondering himself. “Father, what’s wrong?”
“Can’t you see it?” Father Francis said, keeping his gaze fixed on Josh. “The eyes? The teeth? The aura of darkness? He’s a demon! A fiend! Probably one of the ones that caused all these disasters.”
Josh felt a jolt past through his being. How could this mortal man see that? He almost never showed his true face anymore. Whatever the reason was, he could debate on it later. Right now, there was a bigger problem at hand: what the priest would do next.
He took a cautious step forward, putting his hands up. “Look, I’m not here to cause any trouble.”
“Stay back, demon,” snapped Father Francis, holding a cross out. “I will not allow you to cause any further harm.”
It took Josh a moment to respond. “Further harm?” he asked incredulously. “You think I caused the damage? The only reason I’m here is because Lilian requested my help. Otherwise, I wouldn’t go within a hundred feet of your precious church.”
Fire ignited within the priest’s eyes. “So you have deceived a fair lady into believing that you have good intentions? Approached her with the goal of corrupting her to your side? Leave it to a vile creature such as yourself to commit such an underhanded trick.”
This accusation caused Josh to see red. Focusing his thoughts on Lilian and his loved ones, he managed to take a breath and say in what he hoped was a steady tone, “I don’t know if you have brain problems from the candle smoke you’ve been inhaling, but I did not go to her. She came to me. On top of that, you claim to know my intentions even though you haven’t even met me.”
A steely glint entered Father Francis’s eyes and he said, “I know everything I need to know about your kind, and you have stayed here for far too long.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment paper.
Behind him, Lilian stood on her toes and attempted to read it over his shoulder. She gasped and said frantically, “Father Francis, wait!”
“Hear my words, demon, that I speak with the power of the Lord and all that is holy.” He said this in an authoritative tone, not having heard Lilian’s plea.
Josh felt his blood turn to ice. An exorcism. By the time he realized what was going on, it was too late to teleport out. Ethereal hooks seemed to bore into his essence, and he winced as a surge of pain pulsed through his vessel.
“Father Francis, stop!” cried Lilian.
Unfortunately, he ignored her. The priest continued the chant, determined to banish the perceived tormentor of his home village.
Josh could barely hear Lilian’s outburst, the priest’s exorcism sounding like a stampede in his head. The sensation of hot metal hooks increased tenfold, and it took all of his willpower not to snap the priest’s neck. Although he doubted that he could even if he tried. Just staying attached to his meatsuit was becoming steadily more difficult.
A white-hot flash of pain caused him to yell and fall to the ground. He got on his hands and knees, grateful that they cooperated, and took efforts to steady his breathing. He was interrupted by a coughing fit, which he tried to stifle with one hand. A wet, sticky substance splattered on his palm, and when he went to look at it, he saw it was blood.
He was vaguely aware of someone appearing next to him, but that was not his primary focus. Darkness clouded his thoughts, blotting out any restrictions he’d had up to this point. He had tried to act civil and not cause chaos for Lilian’s sake. However, now was not the time to be nice. He had to act now if he wanted to prevent being exorcised. Feelings of hatred, vengeance, and violence that he managed to keep at bay were now bubbling upward and spilling out, and they were motivating him towards one goal: eliminate Father Francis.
**********
Lilian knew that she had messed up badly. Having a priest and a demon meet up? It was bound to end in disaster.
Then she remembered why she didn’t believe there would be an issue. Father Francis had always struck her as a kind and caring man. In hindsight, she had only seen him around other humans, but she didn’t think there was anything about Josh’s appearance that betrayed his real species.
When Josh crumpled to the ground, Lilian knew she had to intervene. In a flash, she’d darted out from behind Father Francis and lunged at the paper. Her hand fazed through it, and she mentally cursed herself for forgetting again.
It did help, fortunately. Not having expected the sudden swipe, Father Francis dropped the paper and froze up. Once he regained his bearing, he asked, “What was that?”
Lilian didn’t bother to answer, instead re-projecting next to Josh. She studied him and grimaced at the blood in his hand. “Josh?” Concern rang clear in her tone. “Are you okay?”
Suddenly, Josh snapped his head up. His usually brown eyes had turned completely black. All traces of friendliness vanished, his expression having gone stone cold.
Lilian had to repress the urge to flee and only barely succeeded. “Josh?”
“Enough,” said he. In a flash, he was back on his feet. Before Lilian had time to react, he slammed his hands into Father Francis’s shoulders, causing him to fly back a few feet.
“Josh!’ Lilian exclaimed. “Don’t do this!”
Once again, he ignored her. Josh stepped past her and onto the crumpled-up exorcism sheet. He glanced down at it, and it immediately burst into flames. With that gone, he strode over to the priest, who was struggling to stand up again.
Father Francis reached into his robe pocket again, and Lilian feared that he was going to try another exorcism. Instead, he unscrewed the cap on a water vial and began flinging the contents of it at Josh.
A small puddle of water formed at Josh’s feet. He halted and managed to avoid stepping in it, but had to take a second to regain his balance due to forward momentum and inertia.
It didn’t take much thought to know why he had done this: holy water was like acid to demons. She recalled how Josh was reluctant to go to the church because he said they might start flinging holy water at him. She’d laughed it off at first, but now started to think that he had a point.
When she turned back to Father Francis, she saw that he was scurrying towards the church. Instead of opening the front door as she’d expected, he grabbed a hose attached to a wall hook and frantically tried to turn the water on.
Unfortunately, the puddle of holy water proved to be an ineffective barrier. Josh stepped around it and headed over towards the priest, who was struggling to turn the rusty knob.
Lilian whipped around and gulped at Josh’s sinister smile. Her fear increased when she noticed that he held what looked like a ball of indigo fire in his right hand. She lunged forward, yelling, “No!” but it was futile. Like a baseball player throwing a fastball, he lobbed it at the priest’s face.
She fully expected Father Francis to catch on fire or to have his face peel off. Instead, he merely blinked and shook his head as if he had just recovered from a daze. Then, he took one look at the hose in his hand, screamed loudly, and backed into the church wall.
“Father Francis!” Lilian was next to him in an instant. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”
The priest’s eyes were like saucers, his hands shook, and even through the robe, Lilian could see that his entire body was locking up. With a trembling hand, he pointed at the hose on the ground. “Sn… Sn… Snake,” he stuttered.
Lilian turned to look at the hose and sure enough, it was sliding across the ground in a way that resembled a serpent. The priest could only watch in petrified terror as the hose coiled around his legs and slithered up his torso.
A low laugh from behind her caused her to start and turn around. Josh’s smile had turned into a full-blown grin and he traced his pointer finger through the air. Lilian felt her stomach (metaphorically) plummet as everything clicked into place. He’d tricked Father Francis into believing the hose was a snake and was now going to use it to kill him, most likely by strangulation. She couldn’t let that happen.
Once again, she re-projected herself so she was right in front of Josh. “Okay, you’ve done enough,” she said. “You can stop now. You’re both even.”
His tone was like ice. “Oh, we will be even soon enough.”
It was worse than she had feared. She put her hands on the side of his head and leaned forward until her face was inches away from his. “Josh, you need to stop. This isn’t you. Don’t let your inner darkness win.”
“Get out of my way,” he demanded. She realized that his hand had gone still. She hoped that Father Francis was okay, but she didn’t want to lose focus.
“No,” she said, mustering as much courage as she could. “I refuse to stand by and let you torture Father Francis in a way that would confirm his prejudices.”
He tried to move around her, but she merely reappeared in front of him every time. “Get. Out. Of. My. Way,” he repeated, emphasizing each individual word.
Lilian sighed. She didn’t want to do this, but it was her last option. “Think about your friends. Your loved ones that know who and what you are, yet never stopped supporting you.” Her faced flickered and resembled that of a man around Josh’s age. “Think about me.”
Josh’s eyes widened and his face went slack. “Rob?”
This time, when Lilian spoke, her voice sounded deeper. “‘Human, demon, unicorn: I don’t care. You’re my friend, and I will not leave you to face this alone.’”
For a second, a small smile appeared on Josh’s face. To Lilian’s relief, this one looked more genuine. It quickly disappeared, being replaced by an expression of deep thought. Slowly, he brought a hand up, and Lilian held her breath in anticipation of what he would do next.
He snapped his fingers. When no loud scream or explosion erupted behind her, she turned around. The hose went limp, having previously been squeezing Father Francis. The same indigo fire from before hovered over his face before dissipating, and when the priest saw that he was wrapped in a garden hose, he collapsed against the wall behind him.
Lilian hurried over to his side and asked, “Father Francis, are you okay?”
In her peripheral vision, she watched Josh stand a few feet away from them. Luckily, his eyes were back to their usual color, although she wasn’t sure if that would help much.
Father Francis stirred for a moment before sitting up. “Ow, my head hurts,” he said, blinking a few times. He caught sight of Josh and tried to get up again, only to trip and be further entangled in the hose.
“Hold on, I’ll help,” she started to say before remembering. She turned to Josh, “Can you help untangle this hose?”
“No!” shouted Father Francis, struggling more. “Keep that hell spawn away.”
In response, Josh sighed and snapped his fingers again. The hose was wrapped around the hook on the wall again like it was before.
Father Francis went still, confused by what just happened. Then he leaped up and began searching through his pockets.
This time, Lilian was quick to act. She stepped in front of the priest and said, “Father, enough. I have brought Josh here because he has useful knowledge that can help us solve the problems the village is facing. Attacking him will solve nothing.”
“He tried to kill me,” he protested. “With demonic powers, no less.”
“Only because you were trying to exorcise him.” She turned back to look at Josh, who was turned away from them but most likely eavesdropping. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him separately later. What he did was unacceptable, but we can’t dwell on that now.”
Father Francis explained patiently, “Lilian, you don’t know what his kind is like. They deceive and manipulate good folks into doing bad things.”
“So? There are humans who do that, but you don’t shun every person who walks into your church. Why should Josh be any different?”
He shook his head sadly. “I know you want to see potential in everyone, but there are some who simply cannot be good.”
“And how do we know if Josh is one of them?” She desperately tried to think of what to say to make Father Francis understand. “It’s like what Josh said earlier, you don’t even give him a chance to prove his intentions. Isn’t there a way to prove that he is not here for malicious purposes?”
For a while, Father Francis said nothing. He had a contemplative look on his face. Finally, he said, “There is one option. I must get some supplies from the church.”
“Fantastic,” Lilian said, smiling. “You can go get those and I’ll talk to Josh.”
Reluctance was still clear in his expression, but he walked away and entered the church. Lilian watched him go before turning to Josh and saying, “He’s gone now. You can come over.”
His sigh of relief did not go unnoticed, nor did the fact that his posture was less stiff looking. He walked over and asked, “What’s he doing now?”
“He’s getting materials for something,” she answered.
“Great.” The sarcasm packed in that one word was practically tangible. “If it’s another exorcism, then I’m out of here.”
“It’s not an exorcism, or at least it shouldn’t be,” Lilian said, not wanting to have to break up another fight. “I convinced him to give you a chance to prove that you don’t have ulterior motives.”
Although Josh didn’t seem too keen on the idea, he didn’t protest.
At that moment, Father Francis returned with a bag slung over his shoulder. He said, “Alright, I have everything I need.” While talking, he kept his eyes fixed on Lilian. “There’s a room in the back that is empty and has a good seating area. We can discuss things further there.”
“Hold on,” Josh interrupted as Father Francis turned around. “Is there any other place we can talk that is not on holy ground? Last time I went in a church, things did not end well for me.”
“I thought the doctors said you didn’t suffer any permanent damage,” Lilian said, remembering what Josh had told her before.
“True, but I’d rather not risk again if I can.”
Father Francis frowned at this, but chose not to pry. “Very well, then. There’s a one room shack not too far behind the church. It’s pretty empty from what I remember and I can’t guarantee a good seat, but it’s the next best option.”
“That works,” Lilian said.
It took a bit longer for Josh to answer, but he eventually said, “Alright. Let’s do it.”
On that note, the three of them set off. Josh was careful to stay away from the church, and Lilian kept an eye on Father Francis to make sure he wasn’t injured too badly.
Tense silence filled the air. Neither Father Francis nor Josh appeared to be in a conversational mood, and Lilian knew better than to attempt small talk. She figured that they each had questions for her and while she planned to answer them, she wanted to do so one-on-one.
Just as Father Francis had said, behind the church was a large, grassy field with a wooden shack. When they got a few yards away from it, Father Francis said, “Wait out here. I have some things I need to prepare.”
He hurried into the shack, leaving Lilian and Josh alone.
Lilian watched as Josh stared at the field and small woods beyond for a few seconds before sighing. Even though she wasn’t eager to do this, but she knew that he deserved answers. She stood next to him and said cautiously, “Hey. I’m guessing you have a few questions.”
Josh rounded on her. “You bet. First of all, why didn’t you tell me that he is a priest?”
She blinked a few times before asking, “I didn’t?”
“Yes. You said – and I quote – ‘Hey, there’s a man I know who’s dealing with possible demon problems. Any chance you could help out?’”
The conversation briefly played in her mind and she said, “Oh, yeah, you’re right. I guess it slipped my mind.”
“Figures. On a similar note, why didn’t you tell him that I’m a demon?”
This was something that Lilian had asked herself earlier. She figured that she might as well confess. “Well, I didn’t think it was necessary. Father Francis has always been a warm and welcoming man.” She frowned when she saw Josh’s eye roll. “It’s true. Besides, you don’t look or act demonic-” Flashback to earlier fiasco “-most of the time, so I didn’t expect there to be an issue.”
“Unfortunately, there was an issue.” He turned back to look at the shack for a moment before continuing. “If you had told him in advance, he could have either objected or been prepared, both of which would have prevented the chaos earlier.”
“Okay, fine, I’m sorry,” snapped Lilian. “I should have thought this through better.”
“No kidding,” he huffed. A brief lull entered the conversation. Then, he asked, “That reminds me, how was he able to see so much? Most mortals cannot perceive more than just outer appearance. Unless he used some sort of magic or-”
“Finished,” Father Francis called from within the shack entryway. “You can come over.”
Lilian looked over at Josh. “You ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he replied.
They headed over to where Father Francis was standing. The shack looked old and seemed to have fallen into a state of disrepair. Lining the doorway were various sigils made with cheap paint. They stopped a foot away from it and waited for Father Francis to say what to do next.
He scanned both of them and said, “So here is the shack. Any chance that either of you recognize these symbols?” He gestured to the doorframe above.
Lilian attempted to decipher the symbols before saying, “They look vaguely familiar. I might have seen them before, or maybe I’m mistaking them for something else.”
Likewise, Josh scrutinized them carefully. His eyes widened in recognition, and he muttered something under his breath.
“What is it?” asked Lilian.
“Warding symbols,” he answered. “Designed to keep out unwanted intruders. These specific ones are aimed against any who intend to cause harm to the owners.” He took a careful step forward. “I’ve seen some households with similar safeguards, but those were written out in English or whatever language the family spoke. These symbols are the real deal.”
“Correct,” said Father Francis. “These sigils are meant to prevent anyone with evil motives from entering, and since the shack is on public grounds, all villagers and under their protection.”
“Interesting, and what happens if someone with evil motives tries to get in?” asked Lilian.
“Nothing good, I’d assume,” said Josh.
“Exactly,” Father Francis said. “It’s a way to test if your intentions are as noble as you claim they are, demon. If you can pass through with no problem, then I will take your word. If not, then you will not like what happens next.”
Josh stood there for a minute as if he was thinking things through. Then, he stepped forward until he was face to face with Father Francis. The priest stepped aside, giving room for him to enter. Without missing a beat, Josh stepped over the threshold and in to the shack.
Lilian held her breath for what felt like hours but was only a few seconds. When nothing happened, she relaxed and walked over to Father Francis. “See? I told you he was here to help.”
He nodded grudgingly and said, “It would appear that he holds no ill aims.” He gestures to the room interior. “Well, come in so we may begin our discussion.”
With that, he entered the wooden shack. Lilian smiled to herself, grateful that that had been successful, before taking on a more serious expression and following.
A story I wrote for two of my OCs. It captures various moments of their lives through the photographs they took together. I own all the characters. Any resemblance to real life people is coincidental.
**********
“Mrs. Avauss, say hello to your two baby girls.”
The words of the doctor caught Mrs. Avauss’s attention, and when she looked at the twins in her arms, she felt her heart swell with joy.
Her husband, Mr. Avauss, stepped next to her. He watched, wonder clear in his eyes, as the doctor carefully handed the newborns to them. “We ran some tests. They’re both breathing well and are in good shape. If you feel ready, then you may bring them back to your house.”
“You’re welcome,” the doctor replied. “What are you going to name them?”
She exchanged a glance with her husband before pointing to the babies and saying, “This one is Lilian, and the other is Layla.” Lilian was looking around at her surroundings while Layla slept.
“Lilian and Layla?” repeated the doctor, writing them down on a notepad. “Good names. I’ll add them to the records.”
Mrs. Avauss smiled down at her daughters and whispered to her husband, “They’re beautiful, aren’t they?”
“I agree,” he said. “Hold on, I need to get a photo of this.” He walked up to the doctor and held out a camera. “Would you?”
“Sure,” she replied, taking it from him.
“Thanks.” He then walked back over to his wife and leaned over her, smiling.
The doctor held up the camera and took a picture of the new family. It would be the first of many.
**********
“Happy birthday, Lilian and Layla!”
The two girls leaned forward and blew out the candles on their birthday cake while their friends cheered around them. Mrs. Avauss was standing off to the side, ready to cut and serve the cake. At the same time, Mr. Avauss sorted the large stack of presents into two piles.
Unbeknownst to the twins, their parents had teamed up with some of the neighborhood adults and planned a surprise party for them. Originally, they were only told that they were going to play in the park for their special day. They never anticipated that their friends would be there, along with cake, presents, and colorful balloons. The wide grins on their faces let the parents know that they had done an exceptional job.
Lilian and Layla got their cake first since they were the birthday girls. While the other children talked among themselves, Lilian said, “This is the best day ever.”
“Yeah,” Layla agreed, eating a bite of cake. “The cake is yummy, and I can’t wait until it is time to open presents.”
Just then, Mr. Avauss walked over with two gifts boxes in his hands. “Your mother and I wanted you two to open these first. We got them just for you.”
In a flash, Lilian and Layla were tearing the packages open. They gasped at the shiny new cameras and hugged their father while thanking him excitedly.
Mr. Avauss laughed and said, “Yeah, happy birthday, girls. Make sure you take care of those, as they are brand new.”
He walked away, and Layla asked, “What are you going to use this for first?”
Lilian thought for a moment and then pulled Layla close. “Smile,” she said, taking a photo.
“Hey,” Layla protested. “You should have warned me. I didn’t get to smile.”
Lilian snickered and said, “Fine, I’ll take another picture, since you asked so nicely.”
The two sisters scooted closer and posed with frosting covered smiles. This time, Layla was the one to take the picture. It was a snapshot of a joyous and innocent time.
**********
“Ugh, these high heels are impossible to walk in.”
Layla laughed as Lilian yanked off her shoes and looked for a place to put them. “You should have worn flats like me,” she remarked. “Or at least gotten shorter heels.”
“Shut up,” Lilian said in a halfhearted manner. She eventually gave up and decided to set the shoes down on the floor. With that out of the way, she turned to her sister and asked, “So where did your guy go? Is he off talking with his friends?”
“He’s putting his jacket in the car,” replied Layla. “I don’t blame him. It’s getting really hot in here, what with everyone gathered in one place.”
“Really? That sounds like a good idea.” Lilian gestured down to her shoes again. “I would have done that, too, except I don’t want to have to walk over gravel with bare feet.”
A dark haired man walked over to the two and said to Lilian, “Hey, Layla. I’m back.” He then noticed Layla standing behind him and blushed, saying, “Oh, sorry. You’re Lilian.”
Both girls laughed as he tried to cover up his mistake. “It’s okay, Mark,” Layla said. “People mistake us for each other a lot.”
“That’s not surprising,” Mark said. “You two look alike, and your dresses are even matching.”
Hearing this, they compared their dresses and realized that they were both the same shade of purple. The realization caused them to laugh more, and Lilian said, “This is golden. I’m taking a picture of this.”
She pulled out her phone and aimed the camera towards her and Layla. They both smiled, and a bright flash emitted. Lilian said, “Well, I’m going to rejoin my group now. They’re probably wondering where I am right now.” She waved before turning away and leaving.
Mark stood to the side, not wanting to interrupt. Once Lilian left, he said, “Your sister is a lot like you. You two could be twins.”
“We are twins,” Layla responded. “Identical twins, to be exact.”
She laughed as Mark’s expression turned to one of realization. He then asked, “Anyways, there’s still some time left before the dance is over. Want to go back?”
“Sure,” Layla said, grabbing his arm. “Let’s.”
**********
“Congratulations, class of 2008. You have all graduated successfully.”
Applause erupted from the audience as the university president concluded the graduation ceremony. All the new alumni cleared out of the stadium and began meeting up with their friends and family members.
Layla had just finished congratulating some of her friends when her sister tackle hugged her from the side. “Congratulations,” Lilian practically gushed.
The ecstatic greeting earned an eye roll from Layla. “Don’t act so shocked.” She then grinned and hugged her back. “Congratulations to you, too.”
They separated, and Lilian asked, “So are you excited for grad school? I heard that the university is really nice, and there’s a noodle restaurant nearby.”
“That is correct. Honestly, you should be the one going there, you and your love of noodles.” Layla turned serious and said, “I am excited as well as nervous. I heard that the school work is a lot more difficult there than here.”
“Aw, don’t be. You’re smart, you’ll do well.”
“Easy for you to say when you’re ranked as best in your department.”
Lilian smiled and said, “Thanks, but seriously, you’ll be fine. Besides, you’re not the only one going to grad school.”
“I know,” Layla said. “So we’re going to have to endure yet more years of schooling. Fun.”
“Exactly,” Lilian said. Her eyes widened, and she exclaimed, “Oh! I almost forgot.”
“What?” Layla asked, sounding concerned.
Instead of answering, Lilian pulled out her phone and said, “Cheese.”
By this point, Layla had gotten used to this sort of behavior. She smiled, and Lilian held out the phone before taking a picture.
Just then, their parents walked up to them. Mrs. Avauss said, “Congratulations, dears. You’re finished with college.”
“Yeah. We knew you could do it,” Mr. Avauss agreed. He looked like he was about to say more, but then his expression turned serious.
“What is it, dear?” asked Mrs. Avauss, noticing the sudden shift in mood.
“I forgot to repay the meter,” he said, fear in his tone. “We need to hurry back, or I’ll get a ticket.”
His wife face palmed while the two girls laughed. They luckily made it back before the meter maid showed up: a small event that added to the already glorious day.
**********
“Merry Christmas, Lilian. Now come in here. You must be freezing.”
Lilian stepped over the threshold and out of the bitter cold. Layla closed the door behind her, and the two entered the house that they had grown up in. Her parents could be spotted in the kitchen, preparing the large feast that would be consumed at dinnertime.
Mrs. Avauss glanced up from the vegetables she was chopping and hurried over to greet her daughters. “Hello, dears. It’s been a while. Bill, get over here.” The last sentence was directed at the father, who was still obsessing over the sweet potatoes. He was soon standing along with them, and after the exchanging of hugs, Mrs. Avauss asked, “How have you two been?”
Layla was the first to speak. “Well, I’ve been doing well. Work has certainly been interesting. Right now, we’re studying a species of sea turtle and its habitat.”
Mr. Avauss gave a thumbs up. “That’s my girl, always seeking out new facts.”
“What about you, Lilian?” Mrs. Avauss asked.
Lilian had an expression of repressed excitement. She said in a controlled tone, “Okay, so you heard about what the department’s planning, right?” The question was addressed to her father.
“I’ve heard bits and pieces, yes,” Mr. Avauss replied. “Something about an interdimensional portal.”
“Really?” Mrs. Avauss asked skeptically. “That sounds like science fiction to me.”
“I know it does,” Lilian said, impatient to tell the rest of her story. “I thought that, too, but I watched them test it out with remote cars and robots, and it really works. The best part is that they’re sending a person to use it, and they chose me!”
“No way!” Layla exclaimed. “That is awesome. You’ve got to send pictures of what happens.”
Mr. Avauss also seemed thrilled at the news. “Are you going to be recording what happens, or are you taking notes? I imagine that the lab will want data from your explorations.”
“Neither,” Lilian said. When it seemed like they were going to interrupt, she explained, “I won’t have to. They built a device that allows me to project a hologram here, allowing me to give first hand reports of what I witness. I wear it over my head, and I can see and hear into this dimension. I can also make it so they can see and hear me. I’ve tested it out already, and it works like a charm. I can’t wait until the actual tests start.”
Mrs. Avauss did not seem as enthusiastic as the others. “Are you sure it is safe?” she asked, concern evident in her tone. “They did thorough tests of the equipment, right? Made sure that everything was running properly?”
“Yes, they did,” she replied. “Don’t worry, mom. It’ll be safe.”
She nodded and said, “If you say it’s safe, then I trust you. Just be careful, okay?”
“I will,” assured Lilian.
“A projection device,” Layla said contemplatively. “Would you happen to have a picture of what it looks like?”
“Even better,” Lilian said. She reached into her purse and pulled out a complex device that resembled a cross between a pair of ski goggles and headphones. “I got a prototype. This one doesn’t work, unfortunately, but it looks exactly like the real one.”
“Amazing,” Mr. Avauss said. “Put it on quickly. I’ll grab the camera.”
As he rushed off, Lilian put the device on her head. He returned shortly, and Lilian and Layla stood side by side, smiling as usual.
“Say ‘cheese’,” said Mr. Avauss, snapping the photo. He started fiddling with the camera, but then a loud beeping noise sounded. “Oh, that would be the oven. Don’t want the food to overcook.”
He sprinted back into the kitchen, and Mrs. Avauss followed at a calmer pace. Lilian and Layla shared a glance before heading towards the kitchen. Their father, as intelligent as he was, still struggled with the oven, and they would have to make sure he didn’t burn the house down in his quest to conquer his long time enemy.
**********
“I’m so sorry, Layla. Your sister… She didn’t make it.”
That was all that Layla processed. As the man explained just how the tragic incident had happened, she felt her world collapse around her. Her twin – her best friend – was gone forever. The work phone slipped out of her hand and hit the ground with a crash, but even that went unnoticed. A colleague who was walking past grabbed the phone and handed it back to her. She took it numbly, still in shock over the bombshell that had just dropped.
“Layla. Layla?” the colleague asked, sounding far away. “Are you okay?”
She looked at him and realized that she’d been staring blankly into space for the past minute. “I need a break.”
He nodded, seeming to have picked up from her body language that she’d just received tragic news. “Okay, go then. I’ll tell the supervisor about it, no problem.”
“Thanks,” she said, giving a weak smile.
He nodded in return and walked away. Layla took off her lab coat and goggles, hanging them on her spot on the wall. In a daze, she walked out of the research institution. Some of the other employees gave her inquiring looks, but didn’t bother her. Likewise, she took no notice of them. By the time she refocused on her surroundings, she found herself sitting on a bench outside a café. It was completely dark, and the streets were empty.
Once Layla confirmed that she was alone, she allowed the wall she’d carefully constructed to collapse. Tears streamed down her face, and she slumped forward, wrapping her arms around her knees.
She lost track of how much time had passed, but she caught sight of someone outside her peripheral vision. At first, she wasn’t going to acknowledge them, but then she heard a familiar voice say, “I’m sorry, Layla.”
Her head snapped to the side, and she almost tripped running over to the speaker. “Lilian!” she shouted, her arms out.
To her horror, her hands fazed right through as though passing through air. She stopped abruptly and barely managed to avoid face planting on the concrete. She turned back and stared wide eyed at her sister.
Lilian looked exactly like she did the last time they talked. She wore a long white lab coat, a red shirt, and a pair of jeans. What was different was the grave expression that replaced her usually cheery look.
In a voice barely above a whisper, Layla asked, “How are you here? What happened?”
“It’s a long story,” Lilian said. “So Douglas called you already? What did he say?”
It took a while for Layla to remember the name. Eventually, she answered, “He said… he said that you died, that you didn’t make it.”
Hearing this, Lilian said, “Well… that is only half correct.”
This struck her as off. She took a few breaths to steady herself and repeated, “So what happened? How did you end up like this?”
“I’ll tell you. First, we need to go somewhere else. I don’t want anyone eavesdropping.”
Layla nodded in understanding and headed back the way she came. Upon returning to the lab, she explained to her supervisor that she’d received news of her sister’s death. The supervisor apologized and told her she could have the rest of the night off.
Once she headed back outside, Lilian reappeared next to her. “So where are we going?”
“My apartment, I guess,” Layla said. “It’s the most private place I have, and the neighbors are out for the night.”
It was a quick drive back, and once they were inside, Layla collapsed on the couch. Lilian stood awkwardly nearby. “So anyways, I guess I should tell you the story.”
Layla listened as Lilian explained what had gone wrong. Apparently, the energy generator had overheated, causing a series of malfunctions and threatening meltdown. Lilian had still been in the portal when it collapsed, and now she was trapped in the gap between dimensions with no means of getting out. Throughout, Layla merely listened, not wanting to interrupt.
Once she was fairly certain that the story was over, she asked, “How could they let that happen? They should’ve made sure the equipment was functioning properly.” Her voice began to rise steadily. “They shouldn’t have been so careless. Not when your life was on the line!” By the end, she was nearly shouting.
To her surprise, Lilian looked guilty. “Don’t blame them. I am also partially at fault.”
“What?” The question was packed with incredulity. “How can you blame yourself for this?”
Lilian shuffled her feet and said, “I didn’t follow protocol. I was only supposed to visit nearby dimensions, but in my curiosity, I went farther than I was supposed to. If I had just done what I was told, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Layla could not respond, too shocked to speak.
“When Douglas figured out what I was doing, he gave me a stern lecture and warned me not to do it again. Instead of listening, I snapped at him that he needed to lay off and quit worrying. That was the last time we spoke face to face. What I would give to redo that conversation.”
At that moment, Layla regained her ability to speak. “You promised Mom that you’d be careful,” she whispered. “You promised!”
“I know I did!” Lilian retorted. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that since I ended up here.” She sighed and said once more, “I’m sorry. Mom, Dad, Douglas, you: I’ve failed all of you.”
Despite knowing that her sister was not physically there, Layla reached for her hand. “I’m sorry, too.” A lull entered the conversation. Then, she asked, “Have you told Mom and Dad yet?”
“No, I haven’t,” Lilian answered. “Better that they think that I’m dead. I don’t want to get their hopes up just to crush them.”
Layla blinked. “Then why did you tell me?”
“Because you’re my twin. We grew up together, and I don’t feel right keeping this from you.”
Although she didn’t agree with not telling their parents, she decided not to press the matter. For a while, neither of them said anything. A melancholic mood blanketed the air.
Finally, Layla asked, “So, you still didn’t answer how you are here. Did you become a ghost?”
“No,” Lilian said. She pointed to her forehead. “Remember the device I told you about last year? I’m using that in order to project a hologram here.”
“Oh, right,” replied Layla. She thought for a moment before pulling her phone out of her pocket.
“What are you doing?” Lilian asked curiously.
“I want to see if you can show up on camera. Besides, you were always the one who loved taking pictures.”
Layla opened up the camera app and switched it to the lens facing her. She started when Lilian suddenly reappeared behind her.
“Sorry,” Lilian said. “Still getting used to this.”
Instead of replying, Layla smiled weakly and turned back to the screen. The camera picked up both of them well enough, even though Lilian looked slightly fuzzy. She pressed the snap button and took a picture. With that done, she continued to lay on the couch before eventually falling into an uneasy sleep.
When she woke up the next morning, Lilian was gone. She could have almost convinced herself that it was all a horrible nightmare, if not for the photo.
**********
“The winner of the Dylan Walter fellowship award goes to Dr. Layla Antonis.”
Hearing her name called, Layla stood up and walked on to the stage, where she received her award and shook hands with the heads of the Marine Biology Association. She returned to her seat and politely applauded her colleagues and other researchers as they received their plaques. Once the ceremony was over, the head principal said that there would be a reception in the conference room with food and drinks.
At the reception, Layla was congratulated by many of her friends and lab associates. Her old supervisor in particular told her that he was proud of her having accomplished so much since she worked under him. She thanked all of them between bites of chocolate chip cookie.
Later, while talking with an old friend from college about her most recent research project, she realized that her drink was empty. She pardoned herself and left to search for the drink table. On the way, she spotted Lilian standing in the lawn outside. The drink now forgotten, Layla exited through the nearest door and approached her sister.
“Hi, Lilian,” Layla greeted. She was about to hug her but then stopped at the last minute. “I didn’t think that you would show up.”
“Of course I was planning to come,” Lilian replied. “After all, you just won an awesome award. Who would I be if I didn’t support you?”
Layla smiled and said, “Good point.” She then finished the rest of her cookie and asked, “I didn’t see you in the auditorium. Were you sitting in the back?”
“Actually, I was in the front row, seated just above the man with the green tie.”
The answer caused Layla to laugh. “Really? I’m pretty sure you would have stuck out if you had.”
“Hey, I don’t have to always make myself visible.” To prove her point, she disappeared and reappeared a few times. “Benefits of this hologram device.”
“Be careful,” Layla said, trying to sound serious and failing. “Someone might see you.”
“No, they won’t. Everyone’s too busy at the reception right now. I doubt anyone is wandering off.” She decided to change the topic and asked, “Can I see the plaque you got?”
Layla held out the plaque for inspection. Lilian studied it carefully, her gaze scanning over the inscribed words. Eventually, she exclaimed, “Sweet. You should take a picture with it. I’d do it myself, but I don’t have a camera with me.”
“Sure. I have my phone with me.” Layla grabbed her phone from her blazer pocket and held up the plaque so it showed up in the picture. This time, she did not flinch when Lilian suddenly reappeared next to her. She took a snapshot and set it as her new phone background as a reminder of the exciting day.
**********
“Come on, kids. Time to meet your nana.”
The two boys and one girl ran up the walkway and hugged Layla, who was waiting on the front porch. Their parents walked behind them, carrying the luggage along.
“Hello, Amelia. It’s so great to see you again,” greeted Layla while hugging her daughter. She then hugged her son-in-law. “You, two, Eric. It’s been so long. How have you been faring?”
“It’s great to see you, too,” Amelia replied. “We’ve been doing well, thanks for asking. Katie just started kindergarten, and Milo joined a soccer team.”
“That’s wonderful,” said Layla. “Anyways, I have the guest rooms prepared. You all can head it and set down your luggage. I’m sure you’re tired of carrying it.”
The children started to whine, “But Nana, we want to stay outside with you.”
Amelia smiled and said, “You guys can stay out here for now. Your father and I will be inside.” She leaned down and kissed each of the children’s foreheads. “Make sure you behave.”
After the parents disappeared inside the house, Layla turned her attention towards the children. “So how is school going?”
“School is fun,” Katie said with a wide grin. “We draw and play games and sing songs and a lot of other fun stuff.”
Layla was about to respond, but then she noticed a figure in the backyard. She stood up and said, “That sounds great. Now hurry inside. I need to take care of something.”
Without bothering to see if they would obey, she stepped off the front porch and slowly headed towards the backyard. She wasn’t sure who it was, but she didn’t want to take any chances. Once she was close enough, she saw that it was Lilian. Relief flooded her, and she walked over to where her sister was standing.
“Hey, Lilian. What brings you here?”
Lilian turned towards her sister and her expression lit up. “Hi, Layla. I just thought it would be a good idea to check up on you. It feels like forever since we last talked.”
“What do you mean forever?” Layla asked. “We met up a few months ago during Christmas.”
“Months?” Confusion was evident in her expression. It was replaced by realization and she corrected her mistake. “Oh, right, only a few months have passed in this dimension. I forgot.”
Before Layla could say anything, she was vaguely aware of being watched. When she turned towards the house, she spotted the three children trying to spy on them from the windowsill. They immediately ducked down, but she’d already seen them. She walked up to the window and tapped on the glass, causing them to glance up.
“Kids,” Layla said, putting her hands on her hips. “What did I tell you about spying on others?”
Katie pointed towards the boys. “I tried to tell them, but they didn’t listen.”
“Nuh-uh. It wasn’t our fault.”
Although Layla was attempting to look stern, she couldn’t help but reflect back on the antics that she had gotten up to with Lilian when they were younger. She’d gotten so lost in thought that she didn’t notice when Lilian appeared next to her until she said, “Wow, those are your grandkids?”
She nearly jumped and said, “Yes. They’re my daughter’s children. I believe that you’ve met her already.”
“Yeah, but last time I saw her, she didn’t have kids.” She leaned forward until she was at face level with the children. “Hello. What are your guys’ names?”
Katie was the first to speak. “Hi. My name is Katie, and these are my brothers, Scott and Milo. Scott’s the taller one, and Milo’s the one with the funny hat.”
“It is not funny,” Milo protested.
“Nice to meet you, Katie,” Lilian said. “Wow, you have two brothers. That must get interesting.”
“It does,” Katie replied.
Scott appeared to carefully study Lilian before asking, “So who are you? Are you a friend of our nana?”
Lilian laughed under her breath, too quietly for the children to perceive. “Why yes, I am. I’ve known your nana since she was a little girl.”
“How is that possible?” Milo asked. “She’s so much older than you. Unless,” he gasped, “Are you a time traveler?”
“I suppose you could say that.”
“Cool!” Milo exclaimed. “I read a book about that once. It talked about a superhero that could travel through time and space. It was incredible. Can you do that?”
This time, Lilian didn’t bother to hide her laughter. “Something like that, although I’m not a superhero, as I don’t have powers.”
“That sounds neat,” Milo said. “I would want to go back to when the dinosaurs lived. Then I could see them in person like in that one movie.”
“I want to travel back to when we took that Disneyworld trip,” Katie said. “It was so much fun meeting the princesses and riding the rides.”
Before the conversation could go any further, Layla gestured to Lilian that she wanted to speak with her. Lilian straightened up and turned away from the window, and Layla did likewise. “What are you doing?” she whispered. “I thought that you didn’t want anyone to know.”
“Relax,” Lilian whispered back. “They’re only kids. Besides, if they tell their parents that they talked with a time traveler, they’ll just dismiss it as childish antics.”
Layla had to admit that they had a point, but she knew that she couldn’t hang around here any longer. “Alright, as fun as this has been, I’m sure she has other things to do, and I need to start making dinner.”
“Aww,” Scott complained. “But I didn’t get to say what I wanted to do.”
“You can tell Milo and Katie later on. Besides, I’m sure this won’t be the only visit.” Layla then got an idea and said, “But before she goes, would you like to get a picture taken with her?”
The three children cheered, and Layla took out her cell phone. The siblings huddled together to get in the frame while the twins flanked the window sill. As soon as the picture was taken, Lilian said, “Anyways, I’m going to go now. It was nice catching up with you, Layla.” She turned back to the window and waved. “Bye, guys.”
“Bye,” they replied in unison, waving excitedly.
Lilian waved back and walked away from the house. She waited until she was out of their range of sight before disappearing.
Layla looked at the photo, a smile on her face. Then, she put her phone away and circled the house to the front porch before entering inside. She still had dinner to make.
**********
“We got the results back and we’re sorry to say that you only have a few weeks left.”
Hearing the doctor’s words, Layla could only nod and thank him for informing her. She’d known that this was coming for a while, what with the visits to the emergency room becoming more common. Despite that, a feeling of dread still flooded her being at the news that she did not have much longer to live.
For the next few months, visitors frequented her room. Family members came to say hello while they still had the chance and some of her old friends from the lab wanted to catch up on recent activities one last time. Between hospital sessions and visits, she either watched TV or read the books that the nurses dropped off per her request. The whole time, Layla was waiting for a visit from a certain someone, and as the days passed with no sign of her, she started to worry about whether she would get to see her.
It was nighttime, and Layla was reading a new novel that she had requested. The nurse was cleaning up the room and checking her vitals on the nearby machine. To Layla’s relief, she did not pry or ask questions, instead leaving as soon as she finished her task. Hushed whispers could be discerned outside the door, but Layla paid them no mind, determined to finish her book on time.
“So it’s true.”
Layla nearly threw the book in the air out of fright. Instead, she merely dropped it on her face and struggled to put it on the nearby stand. When she looked towards the foot of the bed, she saw Lilian standing there, looking the exact same as she did 54 years ago.
“What do you mean?” Layla asked, taking a moment to prop herself up. She suspected that she knew what Lilian was talking about, but she wanted to hear her say it.
“You’re going to die.” Lilian’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I went to your house earlier, but you weren’t there. Then I overheard your daughter on the phone, and she mentioned you being the in the hospital with only a few days left.”
“And you thought that she was lying?” She didn’t intend it to, but the question had an accusatory undertone.
“No, not at all,” Lilian said. Her voice started to crack. “It’s just that I’d hoped she’d been wrong.”
Layla felt her heart break, and she gestured for Lilian to come closer. “I’m sorry,” she consoled. “I shouldn’t have said that.” She sighed, lying back down against the mattress. “I wasn’t happy to hear the news, either. Unfortunately, death is inevitable, and it was only a matter of time.”
“Knowing that doesn’t make it any easier, sadly.” Lilian’s form flickered briefly, something that only happened in times of strong emotion.
In response, Layla merely nodded. Both women fell silent, and the sound of the hustling in the hallway leaked through the closed door. Neither of them knew what to say, and the air was practically suffocating.
Out of nowhere, Lilian asked, “Do you still have them?”
Layla was confused by the ambiguity and asked back, “Have what?”
“The photos we took over the years. Did you keep them?”
“Of course I did,” Layla answered. “They’re records of our times together. Before, I didn’t get your obsession with taking them. Now, I’m starting to wish I had taken more.”
Lilian hesitated and asked, “Well, we could take one last photo. You know, for old time’s sake?”
Without answering, Layla reached into a drawer and pulled out her cell phone. It took a few tries, but eventually she was able to unlock it and pulled up the camera app. Once again, Lilian appeared behind her and gave a sad smile for the camera. Layla took the photo and set the phone back on the nearby stand.
As soon as that was done, Lilian straightened up and said, “Well, I guess I should get going. The nurse will likely come back soon and I don’t want to have to deal with that.” Then, to Layla’s shock, she leaned down and wrapped her arms around her. “Goodbye, Layla.”
Layla tried to hug back, but it felt like she was holding air. Warm tears flowed down her cheeks, and she barely managed to whisper, “Goodbye, Lilian.”
The two separated, and Lilian disappeared just before the nurse came in. She noticed that Layla’s eyes were slightly red as if she’d been crying, but did not comment. Likewise, Layla did not mention the recent visit, instead choosing to focus on finishing her book. Eventually, exhaustion took its toll, and she fell asleep.
**********
“In Loving Memory of Layla Antonis. Born April 5, 1986. Died August 18, 2070.”
Lilian stood in front of the newly installed headstone for what felt like hours, reflecting on past memories. Six months ago, she’d attended the funeral ceremony, making sure to stay invisible throughout it. While the pain of losing her sister had dulled over time, seeing the grave again reawakened old feelings.
Her train of thought was derailed by the sound of a man clearing his throat behind her. “Excuse me, miss. Could you move to the side for a moment?”
When she turned around, she saw a tall young man with a camera strapped around his neck. “What’s the camera for?” she asked, pointing to it.
“I’m a photographer for the local newspaper. I’m taking pictures of newly placed headstones for the obituary column.” His gaze flitted between the headstone and the woman in front of him.
“Oh, okay,” Lilian said. She was about to move out of the way when she thought of an idea. “Hold on. This is one of my relative’s graves. Any chance you could take a picture of me with it?”
The man appeared to think for a moment before shrugging. “I don’t see why not.” He turned the camera on and brought it up to his face. “So how do you want to pose for this? Are you going to stand next to it or behind it?”
Lilian thought about it for a moment before moving to the left side of the headstone. “I’ll stand next to it. Am I in the frame?”
“Perfect,” the man said. He clicked the shutter button. A snap sound was faintly heard, and he said, “Alrighty, then. I’ll get this picture to the office, and it may appear in the upcoming newspaper. Keep an eye out for it.”
“Awesome,” Lilian said. She smiled at him and added, “Thanks.”
“No problem,” the man replied, attention fixed on the camera. “Oh, I almost forgot. What’s your name? If the firm decides to use this picture, then we’ll want a caption including your name along with that on the tombstone.”
He glanced up, but Lilian was already gone. A chill traveled down his spine as a possible explanation for the mysterious woman entered his mind. He quickly dismissed it and moved on to the other new headstones, snapping photos of them.
Unbeknownst to the man, Lilian was still standing there, having simply chosen to become invisible again. She turned to look at the headstone one last time, taking in the details of the engravings and the smooth granite surface. In a voice barely audible above the wind, she said, “I’ll miss you,” before flickering out of existence.
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This is one section of a ten part story that I am writing. It stands out from the rest of the sections due to its dark tone, but I thought it would be a good experience to try writing in a new genre. I own all the characters. Any resemblance to real life people is coincidental.
***********
“I’m so sorry, Layla. Your sister… She didn’t make it.”
That was all that Layla processed. As the man explained just how the tragic incident had happened, she felt her world collapse around her. Her twin – her best friend – was gone forever. The work phone slipped out of her hand and hit the ground with a crash, but even that went unnoticed. A colleague who was walking past grabbed the phone and handed it back to her. She took it numbly, still in shock over the bombshell that had just dropped.
“Layla. Layla?” the colleague asked, sounding far away. “Are you okay?”
She looked at him and realized that she’d been staring blankly into space for the past minute. “I need a break.”
He nodded, seeming to have picked up from her body language that she’d just received tragic news. “Okay, go then. I’ll tell the supervisor about it, no problem.”
“Thanks,” she said, giving a weak smile.
He nodded in return and walked away. Layla took off her lab coat and goggles, hanging them on her spot on the wall. In a daze, she walked out of the research institution. Some of the other employees gave her inquiring looks, but didn’t bother her. Likewise, she took no notice of them. By the time she refocused on her surroundings, she found herself sitting on a bench outside a café. It was completely dark, and the streets were empty.
Once Layla confirmed that she was alone, she allowed the wall she’d carefully constructed to collapse. Tears streamed down her face, and she slumped forward, wrapping her arms around her knees.
She lost track of how much time had passed, but she caught sight of someone outside her peripheral vision. At first, she wasn’t going to acknowledge them, but then she heard a familiar voice say, “I’m sorry, Layla.”
Her head snapped to the side, and she almost tripped running over to the speaker. “Lilian!” she shouted, her arms out.
To her horror, her hands fazed right through as though passing through air. She stopped abruptly and barely managed to avoid face planting on the concrete. She turned back and stared wide eyed at her sister.
Lilian looked exactly like she did the last time they talked. She wore a long white lab coat, a red shirt, and a pair of jeans. What was different was the grave expression that replaced her usually cheery look.
In a voice barely above a whisper, Layla asked, “How are you here? What happened?”
“It’s a long story,” Lilian said. “So Douglas called you already? What did he say?”
It took a while for Layla to remember the name. Eventually, she answered, “He said… he said that you died, that you didn’t make it.”
Hearing this, Lilian said, “Well… that is only half correct.”
This struck her as off. She took a few breaths to steady herself and repeated, “So what happened? How did you end up like this?”
“I’ll tell you. First, we need to go somewhere else. I don’t want anyone eavesdropping.”
Layla nodded in understanding. She returned to the lab and explained to her supervisor that she’d received news that her sister had died. The supervisor apologized and told her she could have the rest of the night off.
Once she headed back outside, Lilian reappeared next to her. “So where are we going?”
“My apartment, I guess,” Layla said. “It’s the most private place I have, and the neighbors are out for the night.”
It was a quick drive back, and once they were inside, Layla collapsed on the couch. Lilian stood awkwardly nearby. “So anyways, I guess I should tell you the story.”
Layla listened as Lilian explained what had gone wrong. Apparently, the energy generator had overheated, causing a series of malfunctions and threatening meltdown. Lilian had still been in the portal when it collapsed, and now she was trapped in the gap between dimensions with no means of getting out. Throughout, Layla merely listened, not wanting to interrupt.
Once she was fairly certain that the story was over, she asked, “How could they let that happen? They should’ve made sure the equipment was functioning properly.” Her voice began to rise steadily. “They shouldn’t have been so careless. Not when your life was on the line!” By the end, she was nearly shouting.
To her surprise, Lilian looked guilty. “Don’t blame them. I am also partially at fault.”
“What?” The question was packed with incredulity. “How can you blame yourself for this?”
Lilian shuffled her feet and said, “I didn’t follow protocol. I was only supposed to visit nearby dimensions, but in my curiosity, I went farther than I was supposed to. If I had just done what I was told, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Layla could not respond, too shocked to speak.
“When Douglas figured out what I was doing, he gave me a stern lecture and warned me not to do it again. Instead of listening, I snapped at him that he needed to lay off and quit worrying. That was the last time we spoke face to face. What I would give to redo that conversation.”
At that moment, Layla regained her ability to speak. “You promised Mom that you’d be careful,” she whispered. “You promised!”
“I know I did!” Lilian retorted. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that since I ended up here.” She sighed and said once more, “I’m sorry. Mom, Dad, Douglas, you: I’ve failed all of you.”
Despite knowing it wouldn’t work, Layla reached her hand out. “I’m sorry, too.” A lull entered the conversation, and she asked, “Have you told Mom and Dad yet?”
“No, I haven’t,” Lilian answered. “Better that they think that I’m dead. I don’t want to get their hopes up just to crush them.”
Layla blinked. “Then why did you tell me?”
“Because you’re my twin. We grew up together, and I don’t feel right keeping this from you.”
Although she didn’t agree with not telling their parents, she decided not to press the matter. For a while, neither of them said anything. A melancholic mood blanketed the air.
Finally, Layla asked, “So, you still didn’t answer how you are here. Did you become a ghost?”
“No,” Lilian said. She pointed to her forehead. “Remember the device I told you about last year? I’m using that in order to project a hologram here.”
“Oh, right,” replied Layla. She thought for a moment before pulling her phone out of her pocket.
“What are you doing?” Lilian asked curiously.
“I want to see if you can show up on camera. Besides, you were always the one who loved taking pictures.”
Layla opened up the camera app and switched it to the lens facing her. She started when Lilian suddenly reappeared behind her.
“Sorry,” Lilian said. “Still getting used to this.”
Instead of replying, Layla smiled weakly and turned back to the screen. The camera picked up both of them well enough, even though Lilian looked slightly fuzzy. She pressed the snap button and took a picture. With that done, she continued to lay on the couch before eventually falling into an uneasy sleep.
When she woke up the next morning, Lilian was gone. She could have almost convinced herself that it was all a horrible nightmare, if not for the photo.
Unfortunately, the video is quieter than I’d like. I tried to edit it so the dialogue could be heard easier, but I could only do so much. I recommend headphones or earbuds.
Disclaimer: Kohl’s Cares Clownfish belongs to Kohl. Kirby belongs to Nintendo. Captain America belongs to Marvel and Tsum Tsums belong to Disney. Spear of Justice belongs to Toby Fox. Star Spangled Banner is in the public domain.
The story I wrote for the Good Omens Holiday Exchange can be read here: http://go-exchange.livejournal.com/2015/12/27/.
The reason that I’m not posting the parts on here anymore is because I don’t feel like doing any further editing and I don’t want to clog up the Good Omens tag. I apologize for any errors in spelling, grammar, wording, or punctuation.
A Tony clone shows up, except he is made of iron. Heavy electric guitar plays in the background, and Tony clone sings in a somewhat robotic tone, "I am Iron Tony/ I am rich and have a lot of moan-ey." It reaches into its pockets and pulls out two large wads dollar bills that look metallic.
It walks over to an ornamental chair made of iron and continues singing, "I am Iron Tony. /I like to sit on my awesome throne-y."
Thirdly, it pulls out a waffle cone with shiny silver ice cream and sings once more, "I am Iron Tony. /I eat ice cream from a waffle cone-y."
Then it pulls out a really sleek looking cell phone and sings, "I am Iron Tony. /I have a super high tech cell phone-y."
Then it just does the robot while singing the Iron Man chorus with la's.
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Recently I’ve gotten in to the song Stronger Than You from Steven Universe, and with the recent good Loki vs evil Loki plot on chat, I got the idea of writing alternate versions for them.
Loki belongs to Marvel. Stronger Than You belongs to Cartoon Network.
_______
Good Loki:
Listen right now.
You've crossed the line
By killing innocents and forcing them to do your evil deeds for you,
Plus other numerous crimes.
But you will not go unpunished this time.
Guys like you don't follow the rules.
And all your peers, you just treat them like they're lowly tools.
So let's go: just me and you.
This fight is long overdue.
Go ahead and try to hit me if you're able.
Letting you finish your plan is off the table.
I will not do what you say or be complying.
'Cause I know you and how you like lying.
You won't ever win. We'll be here together.
I do not care if it takes forever.
I will derail your fiendish reign of terror
For all those who suffered due to your error.
I am made of love. (x3)
Love. (x3)
This is where it stops.
Do you understand?
If you think you'll get past me
Then you need to think again.
All of your malicious schemes,
I'll bring them to an end.
I won't let you hurt this realm.
I won't let you hurt my friends.
So go ahead and try to hit me if you're able.
Letting you finish your plan is off the table.
Why do you find this evil so gratifying?
Your lack of morals is horrifying!
Back when we were one, you would hold me back,
But with you gone, I will not go off track.
I will defeat you.
I will bring justice.
With my determination.
I am made of love (x3)
Therefore I am stronger than you.
Love (x3)
I am stronger than you.
_______
Evil Loki:
One step left now.
It's almost done.
Soon, my plan will be complete and I will have power over the whole world
I will command everyone.
Your chances of defeating me are now none.
Guys like you are weak, naive fools.
And those like me are not squeamish about being cruel.
So let's go: just me and you.
This fight is long overdue.
Go ahead and try to stop me if you're able.
Can't you see that my determination's stable?
If you wish to live, then you should just quit trying.
Unless you really want to start dying.
Why not let me win? You can't last forever.
Even though we'd make a great team together.
You have great power, skill, and potential too,
But you allow your conscience to restrain you.
I gave up on love (x3).
Love (x3).
"This is where it stops.
Do you understand?"
Quit wasting all your energy
Making feeble, empty threats.
You think by opposing me,
You'll save all of your friends.
Are you just so blind you can't see
I will win this in the end?
So go ahead and try to stop me if you're able.
Can't you see that my determination's stable?
Why you still are here is rather mystifying.
Killing you will be so satisfying.
Back when we were one, you would hold me back.
But with you gone, I can use my full attack.
I will destroy you.
I will bring vengeance.
With my determination.
I gave up on love (x3)
So that makes me stronger than you.
Love (x3)
I am stronger than you.
areudirty
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