《"God's" Door》


 Part 1

    Someone once said, ¡°Humans have a great power within them.¡± They couldn¡¯t have been more right.


    In the late 2000¡¯s, Humanity stumbled upon a secret in the genetic code. More specifically, a door to their untapped potential.


    Thus leading to the discovery of "God" within. Upon further investigation, these doors could, in fact, make the idea of magic possible and an unlimited amount of knowledge was bestowed upon humans.


    Each "God" is different as is each door inside of people. No one is clear on how much can be drawn out of the gate though one thing is clear. The door has the power to grant a wish, but in return, the door opens and kills you after it is fulfilled.


    You would be amazed how little anyone actually tried to wish for world peace. Literally, thousands for the world to end. It is amazing how many hate the world. I suppose humanity is just never ready for the option to fix itself. Foolishness to the max. But enough about that.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The ¡°God¡± always asks the same thing ¡°What do you desire?¡± At that moment, a crawling feeling enters your head. Then ¡°God¡± knows all your not so pleasant secrets. The ones we all hide from everyone.


    The desire can be simple or complex. But in the end, if you make the wish poof you¡¯re dead. I¡¯m not exactly sure if the wish creates a new reality for the asker, but that in its own way, is granting the wish is it not?


    The toll required for the wish is simpler still. The toll is the ¡°soul¡±, or the essence of the person. No one can tell what is on the other side. Many don''t wish to know. Could you blame them? Many died over the idea


    What is on the other side?


    But death can only stop so many. Some brave souls, requested for the door to open and learn its secrets. If they succeeded is anyone''s guess. As their lips are covered in six feet of dirt. One could say they went on to the next plane of existence or, for others, just ended completely. As I would love to go on, I should move on to my tale.


    I will be telling you. In fact, the story follows the rare one among humankind. The man said to not have a door to "God." A man left on the borderline between human and devil.


    His name: Lance Conner.

 Part 2

    Lance shifted his weight trying his best not to fall from where he was. He was again in this large tree attempting to retrieve his shoes. Lance didn''t bother getting mad anymore this was the fifteenth times this month. Lance clung to the tree branch for dear life and no matter how many times he did it, being six feet of the ground was unsettling.


    Lance carefully retrieved his shoes and slid his body back toward the base of the tree. Lance then heard a large crack. Almost immediately he felt his face going downward and his distant to the ground shrinking fast. He made a last ditch effort for a nearby branch.


    Lance barely caught it in time as it hit the ground with a loud and quick thump. Lance hung with one arm on the branch, while the other held his shoes. He quickly dropped them and got a better grip, and he moved to the base once more and descended quickly.


    Damn Lance cursed in his head. He examined his arms. There usually tan shine was now replaced with a raw red that covered his lower arms to the palms of his hands. It, however, did little to hide the marks lining his arms.


    Lance looked around after nursing his wounds. He wanted desperately to find the culprits, but he would never know you to suspect. Lance knew all too well in this school there are no ¡°friends¡± waiting for him. The only people here are enemies. Lance thought bitterly. Just the thought made his mouth tasted awful. He didn¡¯t like having this kind of mindset, but it wouldn¡¯t change the reality of his situation.


    Lance quickly moved away from the old maple tree; he had climbed, and turn the corner of his school. He had walked a good while before he saw the natural shine of the gates. Though every time Lance saw it, he was reminded of the prison he lived in and how much he hated this place.


    Lance mind wandered out to more bitter thoughts. That day my life was decided Lance thought angrily. Lance at a young age learned of his inability to find the said ¡°door¡± inside of himself much less "God." The doctors were baffled. He was apparently a unique child. Which now that Lance thought about it says this ¡°This kid''s life is over or how many will pity him or the worst he has been forsaken by God.¡± Their eyes that day had said it all.


    Lance passed the corner of the building and found himself in the halls. At first, he was glad to see them, but then the silent halls were filled with a prolonged ringing. Then the figures came. Lance at his young age of 7 lost his ability to see humans as humans. Instead, all he saw were black figures without features and nothing that keeps them apart as individuals. Everyone was the same, none of them ever stuck out. Their voices, thankfully, were a deciding factor for gender. Lance listened well and used that as the most distinct trait for each shadow. Though he could never tell again after that.


    They all acted the same around him and Lance around them. Lance grew a headache just thinking about it. He quickly rounded a corner to escape all the shadows that were looking at him with their blank white eyes. Lance quickly found the bathroom, His familiar place of residing until the second bell rang or there were few moments before it did to get to class.


    Lance passed the mirror and once again his face was the only thing he could see. His short, yet thick black hair and his tan skin. His eyes, however, he could have gone without seeing. They looked like the eyes of a dead fish. The never seemed warm and always gave him a cold feeling just seeing them.


    Lance then looked over the rest of himself. He was above average height for a 17-year-old. Though it was a guess. All the shadows had the same height. He was taller than them so that is why he figured above average.


    His clothing was always ugly. Just a random color shirt and jeans, He had no one to impress nor did he feel the need to put in effort over clothes. His moment was interrupted when the second bell rang. Lance cursed and moved on to his class.


    He enters the room and as usual, no one seems to care. Not even the teacher paid him any mind and¡­.suddenly Lance stopped dead in his tracks. In his usual seat, next to the window, sat a blob of black. It turned his face to him. He never had this before. Had the teacher finally started to torment me too? Lance thought. He gathered the will to protest, but the shadow raised its hand and stopped him before he could.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Teacher, how long are you going to let this guy stand here?¡± She asked. The feminine voice had caught him off guard. The teacher, who was in the middle of writing something, turned and looked at me.


    ¡°Ah, you''re right.¡± The teacher responded without a care. He then pointed his finger at Lance. ¡°You, as punishment for being late, shall stand in the hallway till the bell.¡± I could tell even without the face. The person was smiling as were all the other kids.They were laughing, but not letting it out.


    Lance could feel the disgust building in him. Lance didn¡¯t heist. He moved out into the hall and stood there. ¡°All this because of no stinking door huh,¡± Lance grumbled out loud. He had always dealt with this and never thought it was strange until things became more active as he ended up in fights for not having the "door." Lance rubbed the scar on his cheek. When one such event has led to a knife being drawn and used against him. He shuddered at the memory. The cops had shown up in time to stop it, but no charge was pressed against them.


    He spent the time daydreaming Though none of them were good. He could''ve just headed home, but no one would be waiting for him. His father determined to find a cure for his ¡°disease¡± left on a journey. His mother had made a wish shortly after his ¡°disease¡± was found out and died soon after. He never really got attached to his mom or father, so when they both left he didn¡¯t feel anything about it.


    Then suddenly the door to the room swung open, and the shadows came bursting out. He looked at the clock down the hall and realized class was over. Now it was lunch, yet Lance''s hunger was far away and the least of his worries. Lance moved away from the wall, but a shadow was blocking him.


    Lance annoyed, placed a frown on his face. ¡°What do you want?¡± he said clearly not willing to be dealing with this. The shadow didn''t budge, and then a familiar voice came out of it.


    ¡°Are you ok with how you are treated?¡± The shadow that had taken my seat said. Lance was taken by surprise. No one had asked him before. She must be new here. Lance thought. He felt no need to answer. For all, he knew this could be a trap to get into a group of shadows.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter what I think. Even if I did voice it no one would care or listen¡± Lance said as a matter of fact. He had long given up on trying to persuade anyone to his cause or to help him. He didn¡¯t trust humans, and Lance didn''t care to hear them try.


    ¡°That''s just not right!¡± The shadow yelled. Lance jumped back and was having a massive mental pause. Lance couldn¡¯t think. His mind went blank, and he didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    ¡°Ah I need lunch,¡± Lance quickly sprinted away and was glad to be get away from the weird shadow. He couldn''t think of what to say, so running was the best option. Lance hoped never to run into ¡°her¡± again. Thought he would never notice ¡°her¡± in a crowd anyway.


    Lance found his way into the lunchroom. Like always the lunchroom was big and well lit though it still smelled like old leaves. Lance skillfully maneuvered down the hall though he doubted he went unnoticed. He found his way up to the serving area, Where he got soup, with some fruit and some milk. Lance sat in the back. At his table, near the back, Lance sat there so he could foresee any violence that came his way. He also was glad not to be near anyone, as he never had anything to say. Lance¡¯s peace was soon ruined by a soft thump a crossed his small square table.


    He looked up to see a familiar shadow at this point. He noticed the usual blank white eyes, were replaced with Amber colored eyes.


    ¡°You are surprisingly easy to find,¡± ¡°she,¡± said. ¡°She¡± sat down and continued to look at him. The stare only made Lance like she was waiting to say a punch line or something. He felt uneasy and couldn''t guess what she wanted.


    Instead of saying her purpose she began to eat like it was normal for her to do it or even be there. Lance sighed then started to eat. He felt the liquid go down his throat, but as usual, he didn¡¯t taste anything. The food was just food; it never was great or terrible. At first, he thought someone might be playing a joke on him, but the shadows reacted differently to the food every day, so it was just him.


    He mechanically finished the food and felt a wave of dissatisfaction wash over him. Lance was sick of this routine but knew he couldn''t do anything about it. His own worthless sickened him, and that made sitting in this uncomfortable place all the more painful. He looked at the shadow and once again sighed. Lance got up and walked away from the table. He felt nothing about it and mechanically finished school like normal.

 Part 3

    Lance skillfully dodged the most crowded places in the school and waited in the back until he could leave. He looked at his phone. 4:37 huh Lance thought. Good enough. He set off for the gates to freedom.


    He saw the gate and almost felt good until he rounded it and saw a shadow waiting for him. The reason he waited till after school was to avoid the shadows. Lance was never sure who would jump him after school, so the waiting was to discourage them or just let them get bored waiting. Lance instinctively touched his wallet in his back pocket and took a more defensive stance. He might as well try and keep his money this time.


    ¡°What''s up with the sudden fighting spirit¡± the female voice, shocking him out of his defensive pose. The same ¡°girl¡± from today. Why is she so driven to see or talk to me? Lance wondered. I don''t know her, and there is no way I could have seen or done anything to make her fall in love with me.


    The only thing that made sense was this was a trap to bring him to the certain group that would beat him. His gut twisted with disgust and a hollow feeling wrapped his heart.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lance asked. Might as well figure what she wants.


    ¡°Well, I was hoping to walk home with you,¡± She added to so quickly it threw Lance off again.


    ¡°Why?¡± Lance said without thinking. Did just step on a landmine? What if she gets angry and the group makes a move!


    The shadow went into thinking pose for a moment. It then nodded and looked him dead in the eye.


    ¡°Well, to be frank, I found you to be interesting¡± Lance was stunned. That came straight out of left field. Why is this happening! Lance cursed inside his head. So instead of beating I''m going to be an experiment now?! If this was their new tactic, it was lower than low.


    Negative thoughts took over. So she found the guy without a ¡°door¡± impressive. So this is just a fun event for ¡°her¡±. I;m just way to pass the time! He felt his anger flow out.


    ¡°Listen, if you are doing this to ease your boredom, there are a million other things to do. I don''t need a pest who only hopes to use the guy without the ¡°door.¡± It was more than just the current situation. He yelled for more than just that.


    ¡°Why don''t you just join one of the thousands of hate group for my existence? I don''t need this! So just go away already!. He turned his back. But he had to say one more thing.


    ¡°Tell the group waiting to beat me up or steal from me, to get it over with already!¡± Resentment toward other burned in his heart. The silent flame had been smoldering in his heart for years. All the abuse, names calling, and threats to his life, had finally taken too much. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    Everyone who treated me like dirt, should go just and di¡­.


    Lance then felt a pain on his cheek. It was quick and hard. He should''ve expected this. ¡°She" had slapped him. He did say some mean things. Now this farce is over. I can be free of the annoyance. "She" pulled her hand back and looked Lance dead in the eye once again, yet this time, the amber eyes were hurt and twisted with pain.


    ¡°Did that jog some sense into your head?¡± He couldn''t see her expression, but he guessed she was mad.


    ¡°I think it should be clear, but I just transferred here today.¡± The thought had crossed his mind. ¡°I have heard and seen the treatment of you. I was even told do just what you said, but..¡± She took a breath and I stood straight up.


    ¡°I have no intention to be like those others!¡± Lance flinched. ¡°Why should I treat another human being so badly, just because he doesn''t have "God" inside of him. You are you with a ¡°door¡± or no ¡°door¡±! A human being!¡± She yelled at me. It seemed, to Lance, she was letting all her anger. She must have held in ¡°her¡± thoughts throughout the whole day.


    A¡­.human being? Had a single person even treated or called him that. It was then that the wild fire in his heart cooled.


    Lance was having a mental breakdown, and his mind processed as fast as it could. Then a suddenly the shadow slapped ¡°her¡± hands together. Getting Lance back to reality.


    ¡°Now that that is done shall we go?¡± ¡°she,¡± said, ¡°she" grabbed his hand and pulled lightly. Lance, his mind blown, simply trudged along like a drone.


    Is this a trick or is she honest? Is someone willing to accept me? No, it has to be a trap. , but....What if......She can be trusted. He felt something warm burn in his chest and for a moment, almost like time had stopped, a flash of brown hair caught his eye, and before Lance stood not a shadow, but an actual girl.


    She was a bit shorter than him, but that made her feel more important than him. She was dignified down to every corner of her face.


    The long brown hair, looked like wheat, with the way it reflects the lowering sun. Her skin was a darker white, yet it showed like a bronze statue.


    He felt the grip on his hand. His hand was bigger than her¡¯s, but hers had the grace to them that his didn''t. So this is a feminine touch? It was strangely beautiful and warmer that he could have ever dreamed.


    Her arms were thin but had a bulky to them. She, all around, looked frail, but from her attitude, Lance guessed she had a healthy bite to her.


    Lance was paralyzed, His grip on her hand faded, and he let go. He rubbed his eyes; The warm feeling burned in his chest more intensely this time. Lance felt like crying for some reason. Lance rubbed his eyes to see if there were actual his eyes. He was in such confusion and was scared.


    ¡°Hey you coming?¡± Lance looked up and felt despair, the girl was replaced again, by the shadow, but it still held her shape.


    Lance snapped himself out of it and decided to say something.. ¡°Hey,¡± it came out smaller and lighter than he had intended. She turned to look at him with a confused look on her. He suddenly felt a heat come over his face.


    He felt like he was burning up. Why now of all times was he bothered about her being a girl?


    ¡°Well¡­.hey, listen, if we are going to be friends, I need to know your name?¡± Lance said all this while rubbing his head and looking at the ground. Shyness filled his every word.


    ¡°Well, I think that is fair,¡± She extended her finger and pointed at Lance. ¡°Well your Lance Conner¡± She may have said it normally, but it sounded like the first time someone had said his name in a long time. Plus without any malice mixed in.


    She moved her finger back at herself. ¡°and I''m Alice Monte¡±, she added a smile while saying it.

 Part 4

    The next few days were a dream for Lance. He finally made a friend, and he enjoyed her presence. Though he would have enjoyed the sight of the girl, not just her eyes and shape.


    Lance only saw her exact form that one time and tried many times to see it again, but to no avail.


    Lance was just glad she was willing to deal with his routine of leaving school. Well, at least, Alice was until after the second day. She grew impatient and said she would come up with a plan to help him.


    Her plan was bold, to say the least. Alice decided he should stop hiding altogether. So, very reluctantly, Lance agreed to her plan.


    Lance¡¯s heart was pumping a thousand beats per second. He wanted to throw up and just wait and not be seen by all these shadows. He wanted to run, but his legs continued the forward march toward the gate, where Alice was waiting.


    Lance made slow work of the distance between them. Lance could feel the stares on me. The people around Lance could of at least tried it hide their distaste.


    ¡°That¡¯s him right?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s gots balls to come out now.¡±


    ¡°I forgot he was even at this school.¡±


    Okay, Lance thought. That last one was just mean. Granted, I did leave after everyone else, but still. Lance didn''t need to hear this. The instinct to run was acting up, and he was sweating profusely.


    Just as Lance made it to Alice. He saw a movement and turned to see a can thrown at him. Lance¡¯s threw up his arms in defense, but nothing hit him. He looked through up his arms and saw the can on the ground while the contest was sprayed over an invisible wall that was defending him. Alice grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the gate.


    ¡°Do you like my barrier?¡± She poked at Lance with a playful voice. Lance, having very few chances to witness magic, was in awe of it. Even if he hated this world and the people he was mysteriously drawn to magic, but it was a pipe dream, now and then.


    ¡°Yeah. Thanks for the save back there.¡± He managed a weak smile. Lance hated himself for not being able to smile right.


    ¡°It not a problem. I mean I don''t want these pieces of TRASH to hurt you.¡± Alarms were going off in Lance''s mind. The volume of it was deafening, and Lance was sure many people could hear it. He could practically taste the hate in the air.


    He felt holes burning into his back. Alice, either had the greatest poker face than he imagined or was just dense, as she kept a straight face and was unaffected by them. She just kept on walking.


    Lance wanted to leave the school in a hurry, but Alice kept her normal pace, and they went slowly. However, this was lowering years of Lance¡¯s life.


    ¡°Ca¡­.Can we take a break I need to rest?¡± Lance held his heart as the stress was building in him. He felt like his legs would give any second.


    They sat a nearby bench. Lance laid back and let his eyes look into the sky. However it¡¯s gray luster did nothing for him, except make the situation even worse. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a vending machine.


    He rose and flashed a single finger for one minute. He then continued to the machine. He searched his pockets and found the right change.


    He pressed the button and popped the can open. Drinking the orange liquid with great vigor. He coughed as some of it went down the wrong pipe. Man, I don''t want this anymore. I hate this. Maybe I should just run now he thought. A sudden barrage of raindrops brought him back to his senses.


    He cursed and ran back to the beach, but when he got there it was vacant, and Alice was nowhere to be seen. Did she leave? No, she wouldn''t do that.....Right? She wouldn''t leave him behind.


    A barking broke his negative thoughts. He searched for it, but couldn¡¯t find the source. He looked his left and saw the bridge. Maybe over there


    He moved quickly and looked around. Then he saw Alice¡¯s shadow in the river. What the heck was she doing? Upon closer inspection, he saw a bundle of fur clinging to a rock in the middle of the river. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The river at normal was waist deep, but with the rain, it would undoubtedly be rising, and it would only get harder over time. He needed to move., so he ran down the side and jumped over the edge of the ridge. He hit the slope at a severe angle and tumbled down like a log.


    It happens so fast Lance needed time to gain his bearings. He felt the warm blood on his hands, and his knee was bruised.


    He rose from his position and without regard to his clothes.Lance went right into the dark river.


    The river was like a gale force wind. It was difficult just to stand up, let alone move and try to save a dog. Nonetheless, Lance moved slowly toward the Alice and the dog.


    He got to the rock, with a lot of difficult. Lance heard the tree swaying and thunder and lightning dancing in the sky. The river echoed loud in his ears. As he had guessed, he was up to his shoulders in water.


    Lance held on the to the rock, but it was very slick and hard to get a good grip on it. ¡°What are....¡± Before Lance could finish, a wave of water smack into him and go down his mouth.


    Lance coughed violently, and when he hopped his eyes, his mind was filled with a dream.


    Alice, holding the dog, had lost her grip. She was barely holding onto a branch from a nearby tree farther down. She wore a pained expression. Her grunts of pain were audible from where she was.


    Why doesn¡¯t she just let go of the dog? Is one dog worth your life? Lance''s mental thoughts, apparently, wouldn''t reach her, but he couldn¡¯t help it. Nothing she was doing made any sense to Lance.


    He found a good grip on the rock and moved to help them, but his foot found no ground that he could stand on, he was stuck there. Meanwhile, Alice¡¯s body was out of arm''s reach, but then an idea struck him.


    He moved on the rock and extended his hand ¡°Here!! Take my hand!¡± Lance tried his best to scream. He felt the immense strain on his arms. He cursed himself for not keeping in shape.


    The water smacked his arm and made his grip loosen. ¡°Hurry! I can''t hold on much longer¡± Lance shouted again, but still no response. Through his barely opened eyes. He saw her move.


    Yes! She moved and extended her arm.


    Lance could have jumped for joy, His plan was working, but his joy and hope were dashed almost immediately.


    Why!? Lance mind raced. Instead of a hand touch his he felt wet fur. Surprise Lance forced one eye open and saw that instead of her hand Alice put the dog first.


    Lance¡¯s horror filled eyes looked at Alice''s face. She didn¡¯t look scared. Her shadow just smiled. The smile crushed his heart. Stop smiling like you don¡¯t have a care in the world!


    Lance found his voice and his anger rose ¡°Idiot give me your hand, not the dog!¡± Again she only smiled and nodded no to him. Lance''s heart was shattering, and he felt the sting of tears.


    Lance had to choose now. Take the dog and go free or hope that Alice would see the error and give up.


    Lance knew the second would never happen. She was too headstrong and held saving others more important than saving herself. His only evidence was himself. She had extended it to him after all.


    Lance, against what his mind screamed, Took the dog by the fur and nodded to her. He gritted his teeth and knew all too well he had no strength for a return trip. So he went with her wishes even if they would leave him with pain.


    Lance struggled and used all his remains strength to battle the coming waves. He lost his footing and nearly went under the water. He caught himself. He breathing hard, and his legs ached from all the water that was coming in. Small low pitched whines kept him up.


    Lance found solid ground and threw himself onto his. He landed with a hard thud. His back hit the solid dirt, and all the air in his lungs came out.


    He wanted to scream, but he couldn¡¯t do anything. His body refused to move. He urged it many times but could do nothing else. He let the dog run out his arms and managed to look at it. All he saw were sad eyes. Was it urging him to go back to his savior?


    What do you want me to do? I can''t move anymore. It is better if I just give up....Yeah giving up is what I do best. He looked at Alice, but now she back to begin just a shadow like all the rest. No brown hair, that held a cinnamon scent. No eyes that would look straight through him, Nor hands that would hold his.


    Lance felt something go down his cheek. He moved his hands and wiped away the tears,


    Why am I crying? I gave up. There is no point in saving her. I can¡¯t do it! He screamed at himself. His body was starting to move. His memories together ran through his mind. It was short, but for some reason, he found new strength. He was able to stand.


    Yeah, now I can leave this place. Lance was heard a snap and watch in horror as Alice went under and away with the current.


    See, it was pointless to worry. I should''ve never gotten involved with her. He felt his heart go cold. All his feelings left him, and he felt nothing. He was finally back to normal.


    He turned to go, but the¡±world¡± that waited for him was cold and colorless. That¡¯s right This is my world. It is about time I went back.


    All it would take was one step forward, and his life would go back to normal. Free of warmth, or a shred of human dignity. And that was okay by him.


    Like hell it is! His mind screamed, and his body listened. He plugged in the cold river water.


    I can¡¯t go back! I need her!

 Part 5

    The rain beat the ground like an angry wife. It was uncaring and fell as hard as it pleased. Lance looked up at the sky. The sun was covered completely, so no heat would reach him.


    His body ached all over, and he was about ready to keel over any minute but the person(or burden at this point) was keeping him up.


    Lance, after diving straight into the river, caught up to Alice quickly. He wrapped his arms around her and put all his new found energy into his legs. Thought it may have been futile to try, Lance knew he wouldn''t stop no matter what. For the first time in his life, his resolve was firm.


    Through miracle or luck, the river lessened its hold on them, and Lance shot to the shore.


    He dragged the unconscious Alice to shore. Lance placed her on the ground and tried to find a pulse. Thankfully, Alice''s body was not a shadow, but her real form. But Lance had little time to pay any heed to that fact.


    Lance wished he should''ve paid more attention in health class. He needed to do CPR, but he had no experience. I think they put their lips together and breathe right? Lance had no time to hope and so, he did what he believed to be CPR.


    He did the best he could. Breathing air in and attempting proper chest compression. For minutes no sign of life. He added more air and did deeper compression. He wouldn''t lose her. He couldn''t afford it.


    She can¡¯t die!


    ¡°Ga¡± A small sound caught Lance¡¯s ear. He got in close and almost took the full brunt of water coming from her mouth. Holding back his own urge to throw up, he tilted her to the side.


    Alice had started breathing again, but she did not regain consciousness. Lance thought of calling an ambulance, but he had left his phone in his pocket when he jumped in.


    He decided, since his house was closer, to take her to his place to get dried off and rest. Lance put her piggy-back style on his back. He was reluctant to touch her, but he couldn¡¯t risk her getting a fever or worse from the weather.


    The feeling of wet socks and shoes wore Lance down more than carrying the girl. Lance was pissed, happy, and very annoyed all at the same time. He felt her warm breath on his neck. He felt his heartbeat skip a little bit.


    Damn my pure self Lance cursed his years of solitude.


    ¡°You better pay me back for this,¡± He grumbled through his breaths. After what felt like an eternity of walking. Lance street was in sight, as well as his house.


    Lance¡¯s house stood alone. The other house were old and were mostly torn down already. So it was left standing in the street by itself. Now that Lance thought about it could''ve passed for a haunted house given the surrounding area.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Though small, the building¡¯s interior was far more exciting. The outside was a modest white building, with few windows to see the streets. The house just screamed middle class, but Lance never did care for highways of living. In fact, he did his best to live cheaply and efficiently.


    Once at the door, Lance maneuvered to where Alice''s weight was on one side, and he used his other arm to get the damn thing open.


    The refreshing smells of his house came out like the wind. Lance saw a black object dash into the room.


    ¡°You gotta be kidding me. You followed me home?!¡± Lance yelled at the dog, that was knowing running through his house. He didn¡¯t have time for this.


    Lance moved past the living room and turned left down the long hallway. There half way down was his bedroom. He went in, closing the door to makes sure the dog wouldn¡¯t get in.


    ¡°I should probably remove her wet clothes and wrap her in some towels or sheet.¡¯ Lance spoke to himself. A single thought broke through Lance''s mind.


    ¡°Which means I have...to...do¡­.it,¡± Lance felt his now calm heart shift into overdrive.


    Well, I just found mission impossible. This is way too stressful for a high school student! He gulped down his fear and went to work. He removed her school uniform, attempting to keep his eyes half closed.Once the shirt was off he removed her skirt, the second he thought of removing more, his brain shut down and he stopped. Before he could make such a daring decision, he wrapped a blanket around her and placed her on his bed.


    I think I saw a black¡­.No that is dangerous thinking me. Lance rubbed his head and tried to rid himself of the thoughts. I need to sleep Lance toyed with the idea, but then a smell of wet dog and his own hit him.


    ¡°Guess since you''re here, might as well clean you¡± He left the room and took himself and the dog to the bathroom.


    While washing the dog, Lance learned it was a boy and a spray one at that. Lance had to hold him steady while he washed the fur, but soon gave up and let the dog run free.


    First undressing a girl and now cleaning a dog, I might really be a mad at this point. Why he didn¡¯t refer to himself as a butler I will never know.


    He went to wash his hands at his sink. Lance Looked up at the mirror to get a look at his face, but the steam had fogged it over. He used his hands to wipe it away. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t. I don¡¯t want to see my eye¡­.Before Lance could finish his thought.


    A new sight stood before him. Instead of his dead eyes, his gray eyes were bright and full of life. Lance felt the warm feeling in his chest and wonder what had changed.


    Lance overjoyed with his change, did a little jump in the air, but slipped and botched his landing. The dog seeing him go down ran up next to him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that?¡± the dog seems to be giving him a pitying look.


    Lance looked at the clock, and it was half past seven already. Since his bed was...occupied. Lance took a few spare sheets out of the closet and placed them on his couch in the living room.


    Lane was glad it was Friday, and he wouldn¡¯t have to go back to school for awhile.


    Lance checked on Alice once more, then went to his makeshift bed. He laid his head down and felt his eyelids get heavy.

 Part 6

    A few fast licks to the face woke Lance from his slumber. He shot up and launched the small dog on the other side of the couch


    ¡°Why..is there a do¡­.¡± the events of yesterday played through his mind. He then remembered Alice and went to check on her. He opened the door and saw she was still asleep. Lance tiptoed in and sat down next to his bed on the floor.


    Lance was glad he had cleaned his house up a few days before. Lance felt Alice move in his bed. Sudden he felt his heart move faster. His breathing slowed, and Lance stood completely still.


    After a few long seconds, He released his breath ¡°I wonder, why I saved you?¡± it didn''t¡¯ make sense. He almost whispered. ¡°I always gave up and left things alone, but not you.¡± His eyes fell to the ground.


    ¡°I know I am a terrible person who never fights back and lets others have their way with him, but that was the only thing I knew!" He raised his voice, he tried to calm down and tried again. "Maybe If had met you before all this I could have had more fun and lived my life better. Perhaps," His words caught in his mouth. ¡°I could have been happy for a long time. Maybe even felt love or something.¡±


    He looked at the ceiling. ¡°Not that I will ever know if you feel the same since I am too much of a coward to say this when you are awake. Maybe you could have explained this warmth in my heart.¡±


    Then light as a feather and as quietly as a mouse. A pair of arms wrapped around Lance''s head and drew him close. Lance could hear the heartbeat. The rhythmically sound echoing in his ears. It was so fast.


    ¡°What if I was awake the whole time?¡± Alice whispered into Lance''s ear. Lance felt his face go a deep red, and all he could do was look down.


    ¡°This is so embarrassing!¡± Lance screamed as a feeling of humiliation swept over him.


    ¡°Hahaha,¡± His despair was met by laughing. Then Lance¡¯s head was pulled to where he was staring at the ceiling. Alice''s face appeared soon after and as gently as a feather touching the ground, their lips touched.


    At that moment time stopped. Lance felt his mind melt away.


    Unfortunately, Lance¡¯s surprise kicked in and he shot out of her embrace and slammed his head into this desk across the room.


    Well, there goes that moment. When he looked back, a pair of seductive eyes meets him. He felt his legs go numb.With a finger on her lips, she may have been beauty incarnate.


    ¡°You could, at least, take your reward like a man¡± a devilish smile appeared on her lips, cheeks a faint red. However, laughter escaped her lips. I am beginning not rethink my choice of saving her. Wait more importantly my first kiss was treated as a reward¡­.Not bad.


    As Lance had his internal debate, Alice stopped laughing. She wiped away the tears that had formed and looked at him again.


    ¡°So, my savior, how about getting me some clothes and some food?¡± She added a smile as if to make it even harder to say no.


    From savior to maid huh?


    Lance quickly got up and went to his laundry room, where he placed her clothes the night before. He grabbed them quickly and instead of going in, he threw them at her and went out just as quick.


    Lance wasted no time and went straight to the kitchen, where he began setting up breakfast. He got out a few pans. One the first Lance spread some butter and set the temp on the stove. The next he grabbed some bacon strips and set them near the next to the other pan. He cracked some eggs and went to work whisking them to perfection.


    He went to the rest of his, and in no time, he was done. He places to plates on the circle table a few feet from the kitchen he sprinkles some ginger on Alice portion. The ginger should warm her up more. He thought happily.


    As if on cue, Alice, now in her uniform, walked out from the hallways and set down in the available chair for her. She looked at the meal and then looked at him


    ¡°You can cook?¡± She asked to surprise evident in her voice.


    ¡°Yes. Since I leave alone, it only makes sense to cook for myself.¡± he breathed nervously out of his lips.


    ¡°Well, there goes impressing you with food. The girl power is strong in you¡± she complained as she sat down. Lance didn¡¯t know to feel joy or insulted by the words.


    Lance brushed it off and moved to grab the bacon, crisp and ready for consumption.


    He placed a glass of water in front of her, and Lance made himself some green tea. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Once the preparation was done, Lance waited for Alice to start eating. After the first bite, a smile came onto her face, and she looked like she was in heaven. Her speed picked up. Alice started to choke on it. He pushed the glass of water closer to her, and she inhaled it.


    Damn, Never get between her and food, he thought frighted out of his mind. Alice then gave him a death glare and pointed her fork at him.


    ¡°Your thinking something rude right?¡¯ She questioned as if she read his mind.


    ¡°No, not at all¡±¡¯ Lance quickly throw up his hands to deny. Lance felt his face go flush.


    ¡°Good, now you should eat. It tastes great.¡±


    ¡°Yeah,¡± Easier said than done. Lance may have been good at cooking, but he never could taste his products. He mostly guessed they weren¡¯t bad


    He began his machine eating of his food, until the first bite. Once it hit his mouth, he dropped his fork.


    I can taste it? His whole body shivered. It was a strangely warm feeling enveloping his body.


    Alice, alarmed, looked up from her plate and at him.


    ¡°Hey, why are you crying!?¡± Concern clearly in her voice. Lance then realized the droplets l of water were falling from his eyes.


    For the first time in years, he tasted something. He thought all too long it was some sick joke. It was like a dream come true. He felt his heart large; It has to be wrong to be this happy about food.


    ¡°...ah¡± Alice herself dropped her fork. Lance looked at her and asked what was wrong.


    ¡°It is just....your smiling for the first time,¡± She said as her eyes were as big as light bulbs.


    Lance felt his mouth and indeed, his mouth was in the unusual shape of a smile. Something he thought he had forgotten how to do.


    Lance shook it off, failing horribly, and followed Alice earlier example and dove into his meal. Not letting a single bit got to waste. Of course, the taste was mixed with his tears, so it was a bit salty.


    After eating for a while, a concerned look passed over Alice''s face, but she quickly smiled. For some reason, it sent chills down Lance¡¯s spine.


    ¡°Lance?¡± Alice called out with her chilling smile.


    ¡°Y...yeah¡± Lance muttered. He knew he didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Why was she angry? Lanc¡¯s mind was in a panic mode. He replayed all his memories from birth till that very moment.


    ¡°Well. I was just wondering,¡± She played with her fork as she spoke. ¡°I was just wondering if you saw anything you shouldn¡¯t have.¡± her eyes looked around then fell on him ¡°When you undressed me¡± in that instant a blade of guilt struck Lance.


    Lance remember the flash of black. She must have seen the idea dawn on him because her stare only grew colder.


    ¡°So you did huh?¡±


    Where to run in this instant? He begged for an answer and, unbelievably, one came.


    The soft sound filled the house. Lance took a few seconds to realize the doorbell had ringed. He jumped at his chance to get away from this tension. Lance jumped up and moved fast to the door.


    ¡°I better get that!¡±


    ¡°Hey don¡¯t run away!¡± he ignored the voice trailing behind him.


    He opened the front door, and the mailman had several big boxes.


    ¡°Mr. Conner, I have the usual today,¡± he said cheerfully. By usual he meant the large stack of boxes currently stacked in front of the door.


    How he gets all this here is amazing.


    ¡°Thanks, Frank. Sorry to make you carry all of those.¡± the mailman was a common sight, so Lance could be friendly especially after this man helped carry in all his father¡¯s mail. However, he failed to realize something.


    The mailman wasn¡¯t a shadow.


    Lance having never seen it glossed over the fact, but the middle-aged man in front of him was a sight to see.


    ¡°No problem, just need you to sign here.¡±


    Lance skillfully wrote his signature and handed back to the man. Frank tipped his hat then he walking back to his car.


    Lance began the long trip of moving the box in one by one; There were five in total. All looking hefty and taking up a lot of space.


    ¡°What is all this?¡± Alice rounded the corner and saw all the boxes and stared in disbelief.


    ¡°Well, you see my father is traveling to find a cure for my "disease", and he sends all these things back that he finds.¡± An idea struck Lance like a hammer on a nail. ¡°How about you help me sort through this stuff."


    Alice seemed to think about and agreed. Lance was glad. Hopefully, this would get them away from the talk they were having earlier.


    After spend the day moving all the boxes and cleaning them out, when finished the result were three old swords, Several pictures of unrecognizable things, A few hundred trinkets and jewelry pieces.


    Alice took a like to few of them, and so Lance gave them to her.


    ¡°You sure?¡±


    ¡°Yeah I don''t wear them anyway¡±


    As the sun was setting, they got to the last, box where the found more paints and few more odd items, but Lance found a small box at the bottom with a note on it;


    ¡°I think this one has the potential for a cure¡± Is all it said and Lance unfazed by it ripped it up and throw the note in the trash.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Alice has seen the box and crawled over from her place of sorting.


    ¡°No idea¡± Lance waved his finger at the small wooden box and found the latch to open it.


    With a low snap, the box came open and inside lay a pocket watch, It had a had no design on the front, it had engraved on the back.


    When Lance pushed the button on the top, it popped open to reveal the clock, but it wasn''t moving.


    Lance tinkered with it, but the hands never moved from the twelve o''clock mark. Lance closed the lid and moved it to the junk pile to throw or be sold, but Alice stopped him.


    ¡°I think you should keep it. Your dad did say it has potential, you never know¡± Lance swore the look in her eyes was saying you have no real choice. Lance signed and the finished the last box in time for Alice to go home and Lance to get some more sleep.

 Part 7

    Monday rolled around far faster than Lance would have hoped. The day was like normal, but the shadows were acting differently. They kept their distance more and the stole a lot more glances as Lance walked by them.


    Strange. Not bad but strange Lance thought. The treatment continued the same as normal until the end of the day. Lance was in a good mood after all that had happened and was not bothered, until Alice didn¡¯t show up at the gate.


    ¡°Maybe she got held up by a teacher?¡± he moved to the teacher lounge, a place he¡¯d never actually been too. Having so many adults in one room terrified him.


    ¡°Has Alice Monte been here?¡± his quiet voice broke the concentration of a few teachers.


    A shadow, at a nearby desk, stood up and came over to him.


    ¡°Alice Monte?¡± the shadow¡¯s hand went to its chin. ¡°Oh, you mean the transfer student. No, no one called her in here today.¡± His fist plopped down not his plan like a stroke of genius had struck him.


    His friendly masculine tone shocked Lance, but negative thoughts soon took over. Too many witnesses to be mean to me huh?


    After suffering a disappointing adventure, he walked down toward the lockers. He listlessly walked toward his one. He noticed something white sticking out of the corner.


    ¡°What the heck?¡± To Lance, something being in his locker was old news. He always got the occasional bug or stink bomb, but a letter was new.


    He examined it closed half expecting it to blow up. Hie gingerly took his finger on the crease and opened it.


    The large bolded letters were the first catch his attention. The message was clear.


    The letter was a challenge.


    ¡°Come to the school year at six o¡¯clock, or else.¡± His blood froze as he read it out loud. He didn¡¯t dare guess what the what else was. Then a strange smell caught Lance¡¯s nose. It was coming from his locker.


    He opened it, and a white glove fell face down on the floor. Lance felt his pulse race. Inside the glove was a picture.


    Please be wrong, Please!!


    Lance flipped the picture. Dread and fear pierced through him like bullets. His hand tightened into a fist.


    ¡°Why?¡± the question hung in the silent hallway.


    In the photo, Alice was face down. Her hands and feet were tied. Blood visible on her forehead. He didn¡¯t need to wonder if it was hers. The slide of the photo was dabbed in it.


    Lance looked at the glove for a long time. One of the school rare rules were issuing a challenge. The school board saw fights as an extracurricular activity as pope might learn magic or something not random points thanks to their ¡°Door¡±. But one such dual stood above all of them.


    A magic duel, or to Lance a public execution. Of course, not everyone had or even could use magic. The ¡°Door¡± granted knowledge and nothing more. Magic was just a byproduct of that knowledge. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    But he was scared for a different reason. The school chose the white glove as an issue because it was a sign of an honorable fight. Meaning if he didn''t show up he would be further down than trash.


    Lance punched the wall.


    What can I do? I have no magic, and if I showed up, I would die. A duel was different from a fight. People could get killed or seriously injured, and no one would bat an eye. Because interfering in a dual was a grave offense. Since the two or more fighting made the choice of their own free will.


    The stares he got today made it clear. His felt numb. Lance had to choices before him.


    It was no easy choice. Getting invoiced meant suffering worse pain than he ever experienced before.His heart felt tight.


    Or, once and for all, killing his heart by leave Alice to her fate.


    To run or fight? Why Do iIhave to choose?!¡±


    Lance gripped his skull.


    ¡°What can I DO!?¡± he yelled. Going meant death. Leaving meant giving up on everything. The small happiness he had would die forever and he knew he would never go back.


    Fear and anxiety wormed their way into his heart. He was nobody. A flicker on a screen. He felt his heart grow cold.


    I could just run. Leave forever and never come back. Surely That would solve it. He tried and tried, but his brain refused to accept the pitiful solution he came up with


    ¡°Hey!¡± A new voice restored in his mind. ¡°What are you doing here so late!?¡± Lance didn''t catch the last part.


    His fear took over. He did the one thing he had done his whole life.


    He ran.


    Lance flew through his front door. His foot caught, and he fell face first on his wooden floor. The impact didn¡¯t hurt too bad, but even still Lance couldn¡¯t get up. He was in always like this. His only choice was to run.


    ¡°Why can''t I find joy. WHY!!! What have I don''t to deserve this?!¡± He cried out, but on the silent halls of his house answered.


    He wanted desperately to blame someone. He couldn¡¯t blame ¡°god¡±. That was too low for him. He could only blame himself for not trying harder.


    I am pathetic. I should have never gotten close to her. Yet he still tried to get up from the ground.


    Do I think I''m some kind of hero! I can''t do anything!


    He flipped over and looked at his ceiling. It only raised his annoyance.


    ¡°Why did I have to live alone?! What does everyone else get a happy life, but I am left alone to suffer?¡± He saw a picture of his father on the wall. ¡°Fuck finding a cure I JUST WANT A FAMILY DAMN IT¡± He yelled and yelled, but no answer ever came to his pleas. His voice finally stopped after a few more shouts. His throat ached.


    If I went to fight, I would die, but if I don¡¯t....Lance thought trailed off. I shouldn¡¯t think of it. I need to live. I shouldn;t go.


    Was he willing to die for a person he had only met five days ago? Lance stretched his arm out and felt the familiar wood of the box. There before he lay the pocket watch. It was a mistake.


    Warm memories infect his mind. Tears streamed down his face.


    Potential to give me strength? Alice¡¯s words boomed in his head. Even if it is pathetic and miserable as long as I can do something!. He clung to his desperate thought as best he could.


    Lance moved his hand forward and grabbed the pocket watch in his hand. He rolled over and looked up at it. It was his only option. He begged the object.


    ¡°Right now,¡± he closed his eyes. ¡°Someone I love is being hurt,¡± he spoke to the pocket watch. ¡°If you do have some power or something in you. I ask that you give it to me!¡± His father had never used such words before. If even the slimmest possibilities exist.


    Nothing came. Not spark of power, nor some hidden gift.


    The pocket watch just sat in his hand, the hand on his clock still stuck in place.


    I guess it is a pipe dream in the end. Maybe if I died today, the pain would go away forever. Bearing nothing, but his negative thought, Lance placed the pocket watch in his pocket and walked out the door. The steps he took were hollow and faint.


    The world was dyed black.

 Part 8

    ¡°Fuck¡± the whisper left his lips as he clutched his wounded leg.


    The ¡°fight¡± hadn''t even begun. He had just shown up and one of the shadows pointed and a hole was ripped thru his leg.


    Lance crumpled to the floor easily and without resistant. He started at the orange sky. Its beauty was slowly dyed black like the rest of the world around lance.


    ¡°Why..did...I...come?!¡± he panted. His choice still baffled him. Sure he resigned himself to taking his newest beating, but he could still question himself till the end at least.


    ¡°Dying like a dog so soon?¡± He threw his head back and got an upside down view of the shadow slowly surging toward him.


    ¡°Better move a little¡±


    The ¡°fight" came as it was to be expected. With no start.


    The group launched projectiles of condensed magic. He only had one choice in the matter.


    ¡°Son of a bit...AGH!!¡±


    Lance barely dodged the first volley of attack. His wounded leg caved under the sudden strain of pressure. His jump to the side was pathetic. He barely rolled to safety.


    Sweat poured down his body, almost matching his blood loss. His body was heavy and he could only kneel before his oppressors.


    And yet the crowd cheered.


    The shadows all cheered. It was like a big show to them. Bastards. He could''ve spit on them if only they were closer and he didn''t have a hole in his leg.


    The group that was attacking him finally moved toward him.


    Lance couldn¡¯t count the punches or kicks that hit him. His vision went black many times. Pain roared through his body, but it never escaped his throat.


    His consciousness barely held on.


    ¡°Fucking trash!¡±


    Lance lost track of everything. Insult fell like rain on him, but they failed to register. The hard thuds were just barely keeping him conscious. He used pain as a way to tell if he was still alive.


    ¡­.dying¡­.


    Then everything stopped. It took lance a few moment to realize they had stopped and he was still alive¡­.Well mostly.


    Hot blood flowed out his nose. One of his eyes was puffed up badly. One hand was broken and the rest of him was covered in dirt and his own blood.


    Am I dead yet? No...it hurts too much for death.


    The shadows moved away except one, who stood with a foot on his back keeping his chin in the dirt. His vision was halved, but he could still register one thing. The one thing in the black world that retained color.


    ¡°A...l¡­.ice¡± the broken words may have come from his mouth, but even Lance wasn''t positive it was him talking. It was like hearing a recording of his own voice.


    Alice, held up by one shade, stood in front of him. In a rapid motion, at least to Lance, it delivered a slap to her face. Lance could tell it was hard, by the sound it gave off.


    Like plates smashing to the ground.


    It crushed Lance''s, heart. His limp fingers shook as he gripped the soft dirt below him.


    Leave her alone. Just punish me damn it!


    The desperate shout never reached his throat.


    Lance couldn¡¯t move, but he could hear it all too well. ¡°Do you defend this beast woman?¡± the ¡°male¡± shouted. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    Alice only response was spitting blood on the ground and look at him with a fierce look. She never did give an inch. It was one of her best qualities. One that had saved him, but put her in a perilous spot.


    The Shadow above lance saw his slight movement. A hard impact came from his side.


    ¡°Gah!!¡± air jettisoned out his throat. His insides burned, but he couldn¡¯t scream. His throat was constricted by pain.


    Stop!!


    In front of him, the slaps rained down. Lance could tell. She was hurting, more than he was. It was her eyes that told him.


    She blames herself, but-


    -This is all my fault!


    What kind of world is this!?


    Lance meet blow after blow as he tried to move. He wanted desperately to stop the injustices coming to Alice.


    What kind of despair does it need to be happy!?


    Before he could even try, her legs gave, and she was practically kneeling before the shadow.


    It drew a sword from its side. The sharp point rest close to Alice''s throat.


    ¡°I will ask once more. Do you defend this monster abandoned by God?¡±


    It finally sunk into Lance. He had been enjoying their time together so much he never wondered.


    How was she doing in class?


    It chilled his blood. His broken fist tightened. ¡°I¡¯m so FUCKING Stupid!¡± he shouted at the ground. It sounds only reaching his own ears.


    I¡¯m so stupid.


    Lance never saw the signs. How could he? Alice hid them like a magician hiding their tricks. He never knew anything.


    I just lived in the bliss she gave me! Like a fucking idiot!


    Lance never saw it, but Alice was assaulted daily by classmates and teachers. Horrid things scribbled on her desk. Tacks were placed in her shoes and her gym clothe were always ripped to pieces. She was absolutely alone.


    All because she held on to his hand.


    ¡°We warned you many times, but you never listened! Why go so far for a reject like him?¡±


    Alice responses were just a glance at me.


    Time seemed to slow for me there. Her smile was a sad one, and she mouthed it.


    The one thing reserved for just me.


    ¡°Sorry.¡±


    No, don''t apologize! It all my fault!


    She turned to the show and smiled evilly. ¡°Please don''t look down on the one I love.¡± Lance scream filled the void, as Alice''s chest was pierced.


    ¡°AH!!!¡± Lance''s head shook side to side.


    Time slowed. Blood droplets filled the air as the sword was yanked out. The dull sound of her body hitting the ground broke something inside of him.


    ¡°God damn it.¡±


    What the fuck do you want from me!


    ¡°I don''t have anything left!¡±


    What the hell do you want from me!


    Tears broke free, and Lance held his head down cursing like never before. He didn''t even realize he was smashing his head repeatedly into the ground. A blood splatter slowly growing bigger every time he struck the ground.


    His broken hand was nothing compared to his heart.


    Slowly turning black.


    ¡°Get up here you, monster.¡± Lance was hoisted up. His arm in a vice grip, but the pain was far way. The only thing left in his cold world was dead. He felt the chillness of death suddenly welcoming.


    But then he heard them.


    ¡°Yeah, the Satanist is dead.¡±


    ¡°Good, now I can sleep better.¡±


    ¡°Can we just kill the monster now!?¡±


    The Lance felt it. A searing pain emanating from his chest. The world was solid black, like an artist has dabbed it with nothing but black. Lance looked and felt nothing at the blackness.


    ¡°We better end this Demon¡± Those words resonated out of thin air. But Lance eyes never left her. His free hand reached toward her.


    Then he looked at his own hand.


    Broken and bleeding. It was not the hand of a human


    So I am a demon?


    Maybe I should just stop being human?


    No words would bring her back. He was alone once more.


    The place he belonged to no longer existed. Then a dark emotion he been holding on against for years was set free.


    Ah, that''s right¡­.


    I hate this world. His body went cold.


    ¡°I was never living in the first place.¡± His words fell on silent ears.


    He was a corpse. One pushed along by hate and despair.


    ¡°I curse you,¡± He looked the sky ¡°I hate everything¡± This world had robbed him of his light. It stamped it out just because "God" wasn¡¯t in him.


    A world like that doesn''t need to exist.


    This kind of world doesn''t deserve to exist.


    A fire burned in his body. His body was limp, but he was still very much alive.


    I hate this world!


    Tick


    A sound shattered the his world

 Part 9

    The stiffness left him. Pain vanished. The world around him new and different.


    ¡°!?¡±


    Lance looked around from his position.The blackness now had a red tint to it. Like red lightning bolt had struck it. But even that spectacle was nothing.


    For before Lance very eyes-


    -Stood a tall black door.


    But lance¡¯s attention was stolen, not by it, but by the man simmering beside it.


    His long black hair flowed for no reason as if a wind blew just for him. His form shimmered until a man in his thirties walked forward.


    His clothes gave him a nicely dressed man for the medieval times. A long black cloak was wrapped around him. His image that of a vine. He looked prickly with all the strange point of his clothes.


    The color, though the same, still held their own against the blackness around them.


    His presence was impossible to ignore. Every step took Lance¡¯s breath away.


    The man¡¯s face was etched into perfection. Lance got red in the face just glimpsing at him.


    A being he should never lay eyes on stood near him


    If Lance was tall then the man was a giant. He towered above him. A smile was on his face, but not a pleasant one. The kind swindler makes when he finds easy prey.


    ¡°To think you would finally arrive here." The man''s voice flowed beautifully. Lance was taken in completely by them. Like a moth to a flame.


    ¡°Who are you and where am I?!¡± Lance snapped out of it and found his voice. He needed to get back. He had to.


    The man flashed a surprised look, then he began to laugh. The man held his sides and the outburst lasted for a while.


    ¡°To think you are that dense,¡± The man''s looked to the top of the blackness. ¡°You have come to the place you cursed the most,¡± he looked down his nose at Lance. ¡°and you have known of my existence for a long time¡­..Lance.¡±


    Lance''s brain processed the best it could. Then the question came to his mind.


    ¡°It can¡¯t¡­¡± Their eyes meet. A guilty smile appeared on his face. Fear gripped his heart.


    ¡°Your¡­...God?¡± But the gears kept turning in his head. ¡°And that is my door?¡± He looked start at the door. Half-expecting it to disappear.


    The man''s seemed to think for a bit ¡°well, yes and no. I am God, but I am not¡± The man spoke in such a way that Lance was lost.


    The man nodded to himself and looked down at me. ¡°Then I shall explain to the dumb idiot¡± He stated then went on before Lance could protest the comment.


    ¡°You see God is not a single thing,¡± He pursed his lips, but he quickly snapped his fingers. ¡°More a collection of human thoughts that rose above and took form.¡± The man spoke slowly, but even then it still sent Lance head spinning.


    ¡°But as the thought kept coming to God soon developed human feelings. The strongest being boredom. Watching you humans, was boring and uneventful. So he decided to do something,¡± He smiled evilly. ¡°Can you guess what God did?¡± it sounded like a question a first-grade teacher asked a problem student.


    The only thing that made sense was¡­ ¡°He made the ¡°door¡± right?¡±


    ¡°Bingo,¡± He cheered as Lance gave the right answer. ¡°God sent pieces of himself down to earth. These pieces soon wormed their way right next to the human soul.¡± He pointed his finger at Lance. ¡°And then you humans finally found it. Took you a few centuries but you did.¡±


    Lance listened well but lacked the mental processing ability to keep up at all. The man sighed.


    ¡°Basically, I am a part of the whole God which you humans created through your constant belief.¡± He pointed to himself ¡° And my appearance is shaped by said beliefs.¡± Understanding dawned on Lance.


    ¡°So God broke into a million pieces, then those pieces became their own individuals with forms and personas depending on the person they resided in.¡±


    ¡°It is as you say¡± it was a lot to take in. Here was a part of god. A being people worshiped since the beginning of the human race.


    ¡°Why did you appear now? Why appear after I am going to die?¡± The word nearly caught in his mouth. ¡°Wait I can''t stay here! I need to go back!¡±


    ¡°And do what? Eat dirt while you are mercilessly killed for fun. Just like that girl¡± The look he gave broke a nerve in Lance.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± He was already near dead. Why fear a part of god? ¡°What right do you have to lecture me when you haven¡¯t helped me once. You are about as useless as a damn twig!¡±


    God fell silent. God closed his eyes for awhile then opened them.


    ¡°I¡¯m truly glad,¡± yet he smiled unaffected by Lance¡¯s words. ¡°You are more than ready.¡± It wasn¡¯t the words that scared lance. It was his eyes.


    A burning desire resided in them. ¡°Please allow God to enlighten you, foolish human.¡±


    And so Lance¡¯s years of pain were uncovered.


    ¡°You see your ¡°door¡± is very special. Only six other people have one just like it.¡± God ran his finger down the darkened frame. ¡°Your ¡°Door¡± is so much more than anyone could have ever imagined.¡¯ he looked to Lance again. ¡°Calling you an ¡®Abandoned by God¡¯ Is rather close.¡± Lance could only stare at him. ¡°Surely you must realize it now. The bible and many things talk about them. I believe the word is a called..¡± He seems to search for the word. He then snapped his fingers.


    ¡°A Deadly Sin¡±


    Lance''s heart froze. His blood chilled. ¡°I¡¯m¡­..a sin?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Quite the nasty one at that. Surely people¡¯s behavior toward you was struck you as odd.¡± It was like ¡°you drew their very hate toward you?¡±


    All his years of suffering. All of them. The bullying. The isolation. The very hate toward his being. All of the made sense now.


    He was a sin. A being that drew out negative emotions.


    I am forsaken by god. Why¡­.did I have to be born?


    God grabbed Lance by the hair and pulled him up till they were face to face. ¡°That¡¯s it. Those dark empty eyes. You hate this world yes?¡± His form looked to be riddled with joy.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.


    ¡°It marked you as abandoned, they even went as far to isolate you completely. Human beings are not worth your time. You are special.¡± he let go of Lance¡¯s hair and spread his arms wide like he was entertaining an audience.


    Lance, through his pain, shouted out. "Why do I have a sin inside of me!?¡±


    God let go and Lance¡¯s chin fell hard into the ground. ¡°Is it really that surprising¡± It not like you humans are pure creatures.¡± he pursed his lips once more ¡°You can''t see anything in gray. Always black or white.¡± He twirled around to face Lance.


    ¡°Just look at your history. Millions murdered. Thousand left to die. Hundreds more lost for no reason. Your very nature is dyed crimson with the blood of you own ancestors.¡± Lance couldn''t refute his words. Simply because what he described was happening right now.


    A picture perfect example of human cruelty.


    ¡°It is only natural that dark emotions would be a part of god. I believe you called them seven heavenly virtues and seven deadly sins. Though the former is never spoke of. Most people don¡¯t know about them.¡± He walked slowly around Lance. ¡°Mankind''s best and worst qualities. Every little detail of feeling was sent to the entity of God¡±


    ¡°Why send them out at all?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? God developed boredom. He needed to be stimulated by something.¡± he came close again. ¡°What Better way to do so then to come down and become a part of the action.¡± A smile was one his face as he looked up to the heaven.


    ¡°So if you want to blame anyone. Blame you race for tainting God.¡± He could only stare in shock as the god went on.


    ¡°But enough complaining about your broken species. Most of my words come foryou know. I can only act and think as you do." that made it all the harder to accept. He had ignored his negative thoughts for years.


    ¡°It so fucking stupid¡± All his years of suffering were happening for a reason.


    For God to have fun. To lower his boredom.


    ¡°Now let me answer the question in your mind.¡±


    ¡°The thing in your back pocket activated this zone-Err more helped it finally manifest.¡± Lance pulled out the pocket watch. He brought it to his ear.


    Tick


    A faint ticking resounded in his ear drum. His hand was shaking terribly.


    He dared to open it. Only to see a strange spectacle. The two hands were spinning, clockwise, at high speeds. As if the two hands were having a race.


    ¡°The second¡± is the sin of your door had been released.¡± God suddenly was up close and personal again. His breath was warm on Lance''s ear. He knew the name before God spoke it.


    Wrath.


    ¡°Your Wrath is burning. If I remember your exact words were ¡®I hate his world¡¯ right?¡± Lance stared at God.


    ¡°Do you get it? Those words sparked the hate, it is almost sad how much rage is pouring out of you and yet you are none the wiser.¡±


    The hell is he going on about? Lance thought furiously. God seemed to look through Lance like before. He waved of Lance''s questioning gaze and move back to the door.


    ¡°It seems you need to be shown.¡± he snapped his fingers. Lance stopped breathing. Geh was back in the field. But now he was standing over the battered body.


    ¡°What the hell¡± he shook his head. ¡°This can¡¯t¡±


    ¡°Oh but it is. Just look at your face. Look at the absolute hate. The fire burning in your eyes. I can almost see your darkness slaughtering all of them.


    ¡°No¡­. I DON¡¯T DO THIS. THIS ISN¡¯T ME!¡±


    ¡°No running.¡± A hand seized his neck and brought him in closer to his own face. The face of a demon. ¡°This is you. Look long and hard and realize you were a demon.¡±


    ¡°....¡± Lance¡¯s face was contorted into an inhuman expression. A wild beast was the best way to put it. His eyes bulged. His teeth were bared like fangs. A deadly light was deep in his eyes.


    I can''t believe this.!It is an illusion!


    ¡°Oh don¡¯t be so surprised. You knew this whole time. I should know. I know you inside¡­..and out.¡± His tone was damning. Lance flat lie he was in a sinking swap. Slowly being consumed, the blackness around him.


    His legs were already pitch black.


    ¡°Enough.¡± suddenly a chair materialized behind him and he sat crossed leg and rest his chin on his fist, ¡°Why don''t you just let your wrath take over?¡± His voice rose in excitement.


    ¡°Why?¡± he was half sunk in the blackness. ¡°Because there is still time.¡± Lance''s eyes flickered.


    ¡°Yes, you can still have your revenge. I did say your ¡°Door¡± is different. The toll will be the same, but you ¡°Wish¡± will actual be granted.¡± God chimed in excitement evident in his voice. He was like a kid with a new toy.


    ¡°Actual granted?¡±


    ¡°Oh did I fail to mention something important.¡± He tapped his brain. For a moment he flickered and glowed, but it soon stopped.


    ¡°You see, my thoughts and feelings might be yours but I still know many things. Like the fact that every door other that ones like your don¡¯t grant wishes at all.¡±


    ¡°What?! But hundred of people have done it! Surely one wish got granted!¡±


    ¡°Not a single one. Most are just shown an illusion of their desired wish. It never truly happens.¡±


    How many people died for nothing? The new reports as in his childhood were filled with people dying from the door.


    ¡°Yep all of them pointless deaths. Why would god give such power to every human? Things would get boring too quickly.¡± God looked up to the heaven.


    ¡°The higher power sure is a sick monster, isn¡¯t he? Giving all you humans such a test knowing full well you will fail it.¡±


    His own mother¡­.dead for a false hope. A rigid test from God.


    Burn it to the ground. Reduce it all to ashes.


    A blackness enclosed his heart. His body was swallowed by the blackness. Only his head was safe.


    ¡°No! I am not like this surely I was human. I was born a human being!¡±


    ¡°And yet the world sees a monster. A mutant to the human race.¡± God waved his hand, Or in the distance, it appeared.


    Alice corpse.


    ¡°God played his hand. A hand that got you hated and her killed¡± His gripped his fist and her visage was gone.


    ¡°I am not¡­¡±


    You are!


    ¡°NO!¡±


    ¡°Then what kind of world treat you this way? Surely they have a good reason for treating you like dirt.¡±


    The blackness was slowly going up his neck.


    Something inside him was breaking.


    ¡°Enough.¡± God doned a soft expression. Almost like a parent worried about their child. ¡°You have suffered enough.¡±


    ¡°....¡±


    ¡°Fight back. Lay waste to them all. Have your revenge.¡±


    There was nothing left. Lance world was crumbling.


    I don''t want this anymore.


    I have nothing but hate.


    This world¡­... should just burn.


    ¡°Will I know how to use the power right away?¡± His voice lacked ay emotion. Only a beast hidden in human skin remained.


    ¡°Yes, I will supply you with the knowledge for it. Though I will need you to offer blood to make it set in stone.¡± The blackness had gone inside of him¡­.No, it had been there the whole time.


    Lance looked over his body. Three ribs, his nose, and his knee were broken. Lance stared for a long moment at the hole in his leg. Plus the hundred bruises all over his body.


    ¡°Do you have a preference from where?¡±


    In that moment, God shivered. Before him, a human being broke. But instantly a demon took its place.


    Truly terrifying. He threw away his humanity like it was nothing.


    ¡°Rage is the only thing I have left in me. No, it was the only thing I ever had. God even gave it to me. I might as well test it¡± A fist formed and the grip tightening until blood trickled from his palm.


    ¡°I would love to pay them back for it,¡± Lance said this with evil intent burned into each word. Lance was unaware his dead eyes were alive but darker than ever before. An even darker smile on his face.


    ¡°I love it, Lance! Our time may have been short, but I am glad to have finally met you." He gripped the open hand.


    Creak.


    The door made a soft creaking as it open. A black light shot out of it as it opened. Lance felt a burning sensation on his lower neck.He screamed loud as it lasted for what seemed like an eternity. He rolled and shouted but nothing eased his pain.


    ¡°AHAHAHAHAHAHAH¡±


    ¡°That tattoo is the contract, Just feed it your blood and anger or others. You will be given power in exchange.¡± God sounded like a little kid, he was jumping for joy almost. An evil smile lit his face. ¡°Here just look.¡±


    The pain finally subsided and Lance inspected his new mark thanks to a mirror having to materialized out of nowhere.


    It had five marks that look like a wave like arms each curved slightly to the left.


    The arms shot out of a circle, with a just blank space in the middle. The length of each arm was a rush of sorts. It looked like a very menacing starfish with a hole in the middle.


    ¡°Now, go and reap your vengeance! Let the world see TRUE wraith!¡± god snapped his finger and the world began to collapse.

 I swear I will get this updated soon.

    Alright, I have slowed if not borderline been ignoring updating this. For which I kind of apologize for. Especially since I kind of cut off at a really bad piont so sorry. Hopeful no one had passed on due to the not knowing. Anyways I will try to releasethe latest part of the story sometime this week(maybe tomorrow depending on how I feel). I wouldalso like tomake it clear that this will be a short story. So it might end sooner rather than later. But anyway that is it for my attempt at persuading you to not losehope in the storybeing updated.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

 Part 10

    ¡°Look at the monster. He thinks he can get up.¡± The voice was full of malice and mockery, but they fell on silenced ears.


    The human Lance was gone.


    Now only wrath incarnate was present.


    His arms stretched. His fingers feel the dirt below. Like a machine, He began to rise off the ground as if final awakened from a long slumber.


    ¡°What the hell!¡± Slowly the man with his foot on Lance¡¯s back was being overpowered.


    ¡°Hey, moron you have to hold him!¡±


    ¡°I''m trying but he won''t stay down,¡± His leg shook from the effort as he pushed down.


    ¡°Ah!!¡± but he was soon overtaken and pushed off.


    ¡°How the hell?¡± His voice almost echoed, as most fell silent at the sight before them.


    He stood in the middle of the field, yet everything felt so far away. People surrounded the area. Lance noticed all the people. His eyes seeing every feature of their faces, but not caring at all.


    I may have rushed my choice it seems.


    A number large number of people were sad and weeping over Alice''s death or looked to actually want to stop this. He silently thanked them.


    But it is too late now.


    He bit into his thumb, blood flowed out without hesitation.


    He took in all his attackers. Their appearances completely visible to him.


    None of them had any particular features. Nor did he care to imprint them in his mind. He didn¡¯t need to remember them.


    There never was much need to remember the dead.


    He fed the mark his blood.


    ¡°Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!¡±


    Lance let go of his restraint and felt the anger and rage boil over. Years of holding back and powerlessness released.


    ¡°What the hell is that!¡±


    The mark glowed and it sent lines out that covered Lance body from head to toe. The glowed a blood red visible thru his tattered clothes. They closed and mended his wounds as they went. Lance was fixed up in seconds-


    -Yet far from the same.


    ¡°He is just a demon¡­...¡± He never finished the sentence. Something hit the ground with a thud.


    No one breathed. They all could only slow turned their heads.


    To see their comrade¡¯s head removed from his body.


    ¡°What the hell! What happened to him?¡± The dismembered head was thrown away. But even then no eyes followed it, only staring at Lance covered in blood as he stood over a dead corpse spewing red out a crossed the field.


    ¡°We need to kill him!¡± A man¡¯s voice shattered their fear. One stuck his hand forward and fired a large fireball


    The fireball consumed his sight. He was confident no man could survive. That was until a severely burned pierced thru the ball of fire.


    ¡°!!!!!¡± His mouth was open but no words came out.


    His body slammed into the ground, but the force didn''t stop. His organs broke apart, blood poured from his mouth, but not a single scream left his throat. Only blood.


    Surrender was not an option-


    His heart exploded.


    -Only death awaited them


    His silent struggle ended.


    The beast swayed as it walked away for the bloody mess it had made. His arm was caked in blood. Barely hiding the blackness of the burned arm. His clothes drenched, but an inhuman expression lined his face.


    Unforgiving rage.


    A beast released from his cage.


    ¡°RAHHHHHHH!¡±


    The howl shivered their souls. There would not survive. The brains knew, but their body readied to fight.


    Its eyes found them


    It burst forward and struck one with a swift elbow strike to the chest. His ribs broke under the pressure. His body was jettisoned like a rocket into the far wall.


    Before anyone could process, three people were dead. The crowd howled. People ran. People were trampled under foot, they cried, but instead of a savior, a large slab of stone came.


    It rammed into the stands. Steel beams creaked, voices were silenced ad most panicked.


    ¡°Holy shit¡± One of the would-be attackers fell on his butt. A large crater now was before him. He couldn''t believe his eyes.


    ¡°How can he be that strong?¡±


    It had kicked the ground and the large slab of dirt was freed. Kicked away within seconds.


    The beast slowly walked toward him. Madness was all he found as he watched it come close. He felt his pants get warm.


    He couldn''t even feel the piss run down his legs.


    The beast stood before him.


    ¡°Hey wa--!!!¡± A kick obliterated his head. All that remained was headless corpse covered in pissed and blood.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    ¡°Everyone make distance! We need to cover the escape of the other students!¡± the teachers appeared almost out of thin air.


    The beast paid them no heed. His targets were scrambled and launching magic attacks in complete confusion.


    It didn''t dodge. It didn''t need to. The magic either dissipated before it reached him or scattered before him and struck the stand behind him.


    It moved at a steady wobble closer to two more. One rushed forward. The Beast threw a punch, but the target slipped below it and placed it in a full nelson.


    ¡°Quick...Attack¡­..AHAHA!!¡± His hold on the beast failed, but not because of any physical resistance.


    ¡°My arms!¡±


    Black line covered his arms. His scream only grew louder as the red glow intensified. He rocked and sway slamming his arms into the ground trying to get them off. All the boy could feel was a horrible pain as they slowly wrapping around his arms and went toward his head.


    His arms only grew heavier. He never would never know why.


    The weight of sin was too much for him.


    The pain vanished. A hand had grabbed his face. Stopping the pain for a moment. He dared to look into its eyes.


    Death.


    Rage.


    Give him a taste of your sin!


    Then the black lines covered his face. Rushing forward like snakes across the grass. All the while, pain echoed across his body, but he could do nothing.


    ¡°AHAAHAHAHAHA!¡±


    His body only grew heavier as it covered and burned him. His screams stopped and his arms fell limp. His body fell backward. Eye balls rolled back into his head.


    He was dead before he hit the ground.


    ¡°Get away from him!!¡± A sudden impact sent the beast flying into the stands.


    People were launched into the air as the impact rocked the unstable stands. Disoriented people became even more desperate to get away.


    Teachers grabbed as many as they could, but the black lines grabbed hold of an unlucky few.


    They too caved under the weight of sin.


    The beast paid no mind. Even with three large gashes in his chest, and a horribly burned arm it still moved on. The black lines converged slowly stitching the gash closed, but not healing him at all.


    ¡°Kill¡±


    The man had summoned a giant tiger and it roared. Vibrating the air around. For a moment, It stopped people in their tracks before the mad dash continued.


    Its large claws dug deep into the ground. Ready to pounce toward the beast at a moment''s notice.


    Hate more! God¡¯s scream echoed in the beast¡¯s head.


    Hate is power, hate them all!


    Killing is all that you need!


    The tiger pounced forward. Ripped rock free as each paw came into contact with the ground.


    HATE!!!


    HATE!!!!!


    HATE!!!!!!!


    But it stopped just as quickly.


    Animal''s instincts were screaming. The urge to run was strong. The beast before it was something far more furious than itself, but it master¡¯s will propelled it forward.


    ¡°Don¡¯t stop! Kill Him!¡± he shouted ignorant of the fear swelling in the tiger¡¯s chest.


    But it still moved in.


    The razor claws swung in from the side. A repeat of the action it had used previously.


    All the beast did was raise its arm in defense. It braced for the impact by placing all its weight on the left side.


    The claws struck home easily-


    ¡°H¡­.How¡­.?¡±


    -But broke like glass as connected to his skin now covered completely in the lines.


    The beast jumped up and drove a roundhouse kick into the tiger¡¯s face. Catapulting its body into the master and two other. Blood spurted out of its eye and mouth.


    The tiger¡¯s large body, at least the size of a truck, fell to the ground and slowly disappeared. As it vanished three blood splatters were made visible. Only a few humans parts remained.


    A hand rolled in the blood along with other random bits and pieces of formerly working organs.


    Kill more!


    Two were standing close together, so the beast pounced and grabbed their heads. With their body off balance, the beast pushed them to the ground and dragged them a crossed the field.


    When it finished, two new trenches appeared the field. But body parts lined filled them from, start to end. With the upper torsos waiting at the end.


    But even a beast knows how to stalk prey. The beast now began a slow walk forward, but it didn''t go far.


    Its left foot was bent at an odd fashion, but it paid no heed and began dragging the now lame leg.


    Its eyes had never left the prey. His eyes only followed it.


    It went toward the only remaining foe.


    The man was screaming things, but the fell on deaf ears. No ears that would not hear any excuses.


    He must suffer.


    Make him bleed.


    He must be killed slowly!


    The prey didn''t move. He was too scared to even breathe. The distance vanished and he took the sword in hand in a downward arc.


    Break his will.


    The beast caught it with two fingers, snapped it in half.


    All with his burned hand.


    Veins broke and blood flowed out lost in the other blood already covering it, but the beast made not even a whimper.


    The burned hand grip the broken part and stabbing it deeply into the prey¡¯s leg.


    ¡°AAHAHAHAH¡± The man blood-curdling scream was deafening.


    More!!!


    He needs to suffer more!!


    Lance grabbed its face and lifted it off the ground. He mouth was clamped shut silenced the screams.


    Not enough.


    Let him squeal like a pig.


    The beast gripped changed and now the throat was in its uninjured hand. The black lines spread across his body. They spread like a disease. Leaving barely any skin left.


    But the prey still spoke.


    ¡°Let me go demon! I have done nothing wrong!¡± Humanity crossed the beast eyes. His rage was beyond control. His burned hand impacted the prey¡¯s side. Hard enough to break ribs.


    The burned hand cracked under the impact.


    The man cried out again, but blood rolled out of his mouth with each scream. His pants grew darker.


    He''s wetting himself!


    Good.


    Keep going.


    "Please let me live! I can give you money or I can replace that woman for..." The prey looked into the beast eyes. Fear gripped his heart. ¡°.....Just please show mercy¡±


    ¡°Hahaahahahahah¡± Inhuman laughter left the throat of the beast.


    Mercy!


    Mercy!!!


    He wants Mercy!


    Here¡­...Give him the answer.


    The laughter stopped. The beast blinked for a bit before it refocused.


    ¡°Do you ever ask Alice that question?¡± The broken and almost inaudible mumble left the beast''s throat.


    It didn''t wait for an answer. It knew already.


    ¡°Do you even think about it?! Did you even know anything about her?!¡¯ The grip on the throat tightened. The beast grit his teeth. Rage seethed for every pore.


    Yes.


    You''re doing it!


    Just one more push!!


    ¡°Please!Please! I m sure you can still save, Alec or something whatever her name was¡­.!!!!!!!!¡± He shouted and went silent.


    He killed her and didn¡¯t even know her name.


    Rage coursed through every vein. Lance free arm pierced his chest like an arrow and struck out the other side-


    Not a sound left his prey¡¯s mouth.


    -The prey''s heart still beating in it.


    The beast¡¯s face was emotionless.


    His rage was beyond expression.


    Unforgivable!


    Unforgivable!


    He must die!!!!!!!


    Death!!


    Give it to him NOW!!!!


    Blood flow in the air. Hollow gasps left the prey¡¯s mouth as he heard the squishing sound.


    The burned hand, bleeding profusely, but in the end, it crushed the heart without a second¡¯s hesitation.


    ¡°God won''t hate me for your death, scum.¡± it withdrew his arm and let the body fall like a sack of potatoes-


    One more for good measure!


    -Until his rage broke and a full force kick sent the body thru the wall of the stadium.

 Part 11

    The arena field was in chaos and people rushed out. Those sound were hollow to Lance.


    No the whole world around Lance was hollow.


    Rage smothered his senses. He was lost in the torment of anger.


    There is no going back.


    I have committed the final sin.


    But I can''t say I regret it.


    He deserved death!


    The person he referred to was his long time bully. Not that he even knew what he looked like. In his ignorance, Lance had gotten close to Alice and the end result was her death.


    The bastard hadn¡¯t even known her name.


    Then his eyes locked onto the body.


    It didn''t move. Why would it? It had been beaten and stabbed. All for the simple reason of being close to him. Then it was left to bleed out like a dog.


    This world shouldn''t exist!


    I¡­..can¡¯t take it anymore!


    I want it all to end!


    His body ached and groaned, but it was all a blur to Lance. He was far away. In a place, he had always been told he belong.


    A monster


    Demon


    He didn¡¯t care what he was called. It wasn¡¯t a matter of opinion anymore. His current form was enough to prove he was something close.


    His left arm was burned horribly. The black skin no longer responsive to his brain¡¯s commands.


    His stance was held together by his rage. His stomach was in shreds but the lines held it together. Even going as far as to close his wounds, but not fix him up.


    No, it only drew him deeper into rage.


    His ankle broken and his walk nothing more than staggered sway. Like a broken man, he crawled forward.


    And he had finally crossed the line.


    He¡¯d committed murder in cold blood.


    Then he marched stopped.


    Lance moved to Alice''s body. His rage subsided just enough for his mind to clear.


    He felt many things. Anger. His overwhelming rage, but his grief won out.


    He fell to his knees.


    Only to feel his body once more. Pain erupted. Tears streamed down his face. His nerves burned and his skin was slowly ripping. His body was closer to breaking down then ending anything.


    Death would have nicer, but even so, his sin propelled him forward.


    Alice body was in a blood puddle of her own blood. Her skin was pale and her face was facing away from her.


    So in death, you can''t look at me? Why would you? I have become a monster. Lance moved and placed her in his arms. He felt his tears and sadness well up.


    Why should I treat another human being so badly!


    Her words rang in his head. His heart ached and fresh tears broke free from his eyes.


    ¡°You didn''t do anything wrong!?¡± He grabbed her head tightly, but at the same time, like holding a child, he kept it safe.


    This doesn''t make sense. I¡¯m the demon why did she die!?This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "I¡¯m sorry!¡± His mind was numb. He could keep his thoughts or words straight. ¡°I ran. I wanted desperately to get away from all of this. To leave you alone to face it all but¡­.¡± his mouth lost its ability to put thoughts into words. He only shook as he tried to push them out.


    He felt a despicable smile form on his face. He was sure it wasn''t something that would convey to her his feelings. ¡°The thought of you dying in my place made me come back.¡± Lance brought her in close and hugged her tight.


    She offered no response.


    "Damn it!" Tears fell like rain and almost as endlessly.


    Why?!


    All she did was befriend me!


    Is that so much of a sin!


    ¡°The sin is inside me so why is she the one dying!?¡± He screamed at the heavens, but his voice was lost in the cries all around him.


    Enough. You don¡¯t need this anymore. Just give in to your rage.


    ¡°Is that all I need to do to make it all go away?¡±


    Yes.


    Then I see no point in staying anymore. Lance looked to the sky. It was clear. Just an average day to the heavens. On the ground, he roared like a beast howling at the moon.


    In the end, I changed very little.


    I should''ve just kept you away.


    Lance¡¯s head was filled with her. Her words, actions, and even other unsavory parts of her played in his mind. He had loved her without a doubt but that love drove her to death.


    I think...I will give in. I will let the rage boil over, and then when the fire start to burn brightly enough¡­.I will smother it and die. Like the beast I am


    I¡¯m sure¡­.he closed his eyes. You...would stop me¡­..But you are gone¡­¡­


    It is time to go. Let us set off and cause destruction. Make the world know they were right. God¡¯s words were final.


    Yes. He felt he rage scrap again the back of his brain.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go¡­!¡±


    A Pressure on his hand, made him stop. Lance¡¯s eyes shot open and look at his hand. A Weak grip on it and with one eye open, she managed a smile.


    ¡°W¡­.h¡­.at¡­¡­¡± his mind froze, his rage and conviction withered.


    This is a delusion. The blood loss is playing tricks on me.


    That¡¯s it¡­..That is all this is.


    She¡­..can¡¯t be alive.


    ¡°Up¡±


    He felt his head get closer to her. Her words held him and he needed to know. Even close to the brink¡­.no beast would keep him from her.


    ¡°Hurry up¡­..and get me out of here¡­¡­¡± The tight grip on his hand faded. In that instant rage roared, but not for vengeance but for urgency.


    What are you doing?


    This is your chance. There are all in a panic. Let the beast feed on them.


    You can¡¯t just let this chance go.


    Think about this.


    But he didn¡¯t. His revenge lost its hold. He was corrupted and burned by his sin, but something else was keeping him together.


    Her life needed to be saved.


    That alone would be his atonement for his sin. That alone made him win over his anger.


    I can die after that.


    His legs creaked and moaned, but a surge made him forget all of this. He jumped high in the air with Alice body in his arms.


    I won''t allow this. This isn''t your wish! You want to kill them. Just forget her. You can¡¯t hold on to her anymore. Saving her will not save you in the process.


    ¡°That doesn''t matter. Right now, the one person who called me by my name is still alive...I will save her regardless of the aftereffects.¡± Lance landed on the street outside of the school.


    ¡­¡­ God''s voice went silent. His realm of influence gone.


    ¡°Alright beast, roar all you want but the end destination is the hospital. Get going!¡± Blood fell from his mouth as he spoke. His body was fading, but his spirit alone was enough.


    So it shall be


    At that moment, Lance wraith became cold.


    Lance body fell forward but still shot on. Each step brought a new hole in the ground to life. Each one brought him closer to his goal.


    ¡°More¡­..Faster¡­...We are nearly there!¡±


    A faint roar echoed in his mind.


    The hospital a sight, but Lance realized something. He had prioritized speed. He burned every reserve to get it. His resolve and spirit were empty. Nothing was left to stop his ad charge for the hospital.


    DAMN IT!!! His brain knew. This collision would kill him and her if done wrong. He had one option. The last step forward sent him flying. He spun and placed his back toward the building.


    This was his choice. His body was reinforced with the lines. He should survive, even if he didn¡¯t she would.


    Lance never felt the impact. His mind gone and faded, but his ears caught all the sounds.


    Glass shattered. The sound filled his ears. But he didn''t feel it. Something was creaking under his weight, but he focused only on the thing in his arms. Several Times as he rolled droplets of red filled his vision. Then final he came to a stop.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡¯ he looked around. Lance was on his side, but he was numb and far away.


    Disoriented and confused Lance looked around to see staff rushing to them.


    Kill them!


    ¡°No, just shut up¡± Lance¡¯s will gave. His eyes slowly clouded. He saw a hand came for him.


    ¡°No,¡± everything went black ¡°just¡­.save...he¡­..¡±


    Lance fell unconscious before he could finish the plea.

 Epilogue

    Lance found himself back in the dark world on his back. He looked and saw God was standing by his ¡°door.¡± God gestured him over and Lance got up and walked over to it. His body looked like shit, but still, he walked unaffected by his wounds.


    ¡°You really are strange." His voice was utterly bored. ¡°Not only did you get your revenge, but you weren''t consumed by it.¡± he touched a finger to his head.


    ¡°Even going as far to use that cursed power to keep her alive while you ran.¡± Lance had dreaded his choice. She wouldn''t have survived the run unless he gave her something to stop the blood. So he had forced his mark on too her. Undoubted causing her horrid pain. ¡°You might be the biggest idiot every. Didn''t you want vengeance? You could have made all of them suffer like you did.¡±


    It was true. No saint resided in Lance. He truly had wanted many people to die. To lets himself down in their blood. But before he could do that, a light shattered his darkness and gave him a different direction.


    ¡°I found something better half-way through. So I followed my gut.¡± Lance dared not fall for the half-assed taunt. He knew, if he allowed the words to seep into him, revenge would burn too hot for him to stop this time.


    God moved to the door. ¡°So you settled your demons in such a short time? What a strange kind of wraith you are.¡± God spun toward the door ¡°But no matter. For what it''s worth¡­.I didn''t hate the time we had together kid. Even if you fought me the whole time.¡± I would tell god was getting choked up by all this. It may have been short, but we only had each other this whole time. We were both alone for so long...


    ¡°I can''t say I feel the same. You were kind of a huge bastard the whole time.¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, that I was. But I¡¯m sure I was refreshing to you in a way.¡±


    ¡°Yes, you were.¡± If Lance had not been tormented by his anger the whole time, he would''ve relished talking to his God. He was one of two people who not only used his name but talked to him without restraint.


    ¡°You weren¡¯t all bad...you sack of crap god.¡± Lance decide to let a one-time insult fly from his mouth.


    ¡°Oh, how scathing you shitty excuse of wraith.¡± With a sad smile, he slapped his hand on the door and moved away.


    With a small creak, the wooden door opened once more. However, the time a white light was slowly shown.


    So death will be a little nicer this time huh?


    It quickly enveloped the dark world. It blinded him, yet he saw something fly out. A vision of white filled covered his eyes. Fatigue suddenly ate at him.


    Shit¡­..so tired¡­. No, I have to look.


    He turned his head and found a woman''s face very close to his. Her perfectly symmetrical face was not inched from his. Her expression blissful and her eyes were closed.


    ¡°Well, there goes that emotional farewell¡­.Embarrassing myself for nothing.¡± God¡¯s rants went unnoticed.


    It was an angel without a doubt.The women''s beautiful white wings caressed him and he felt warm penetrate deeper into his core. Not a single bit of pain filled him.


    Her white silk dress simmered in a light. So this is death,?Warmer than I thought it would be. I may have been afraid for nothing. Lance''s peace was broken by god¡¯s laughterA case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    The light began to fade, yet Lance and the angel were still in the dark world. It held Lance its embrace. While God moved away from the door and stood facing Lance and her down.


    A wicked smile was on his face. Lance thought he was going to say something threatening until God raised up his hands in defeat and spoke something unexpected.


    ¡°Well, congratulations Lance¡± he clapped lightly for him. ¡°How does it feel to be loved by someone?¡±


    Lance was confused and didn¡¯t get what he meant. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Well, Lance, do you think that angel is just something that every ¡°door¡± has?¡± Lance looked at the angel and looked back ¡°No right?¡±


    Shit. How the hell did I fuck up dying? I was sure I couldn''t mess that up. Was this angel a really bad sign?!


    ¡°Yes," he nodded and moved around for a bit then looked back at them. ¡°I told you how there are seven sins correct?¡± Lance nodded. He had said there were other like me.


    ¡°Well there are virtues as well and it seems your mother was the holder of Charity.¡± Lance''s eyes grew wide and he saw the angel in a new light ironically enough.


    ¡°It seems your mom opened and use her ¡°door¡± to prevent you from dying an unnatural death.¡± God fell into a chair that had materialized out of nowhere. ¡°Such examples like the instant death of the door. Man, mothers sure can be a terrifying thing.¡± Lance thought back on all the time he cursed his mother for leaving him. So she did love me...no she must have loved me more than anything to give her life to do this.


    ¡°So, Lance..¡±God seemed to hesitate at first. ¡°Since you are free from the toll. Would you like to make another request or wish?¡± God managed a weak laugh with the statement.


    A weak chuckle left both their mouths. They both could see the event that had come to be due to the first wish¡­.but Lance did have one wish. Just a single minor wish.


    Lance broke free of the angel''s embrace. It didn''t try to stop him. He found a smile ¡°I think I might have one."


    ¡°Then let me have it you, insufferable idiot.¡±


    Years later


    The young girl run up the hill to her mother. Her mother had open arms warmingly embraced her.


    ¡°Emily, what have I told you about running off on your own?¡± Her mother scolded. A gust of wind blew through causing the mother¡¯s brown hair to dance in the wind.


    Emily looked deep into her mother amber eyes and smiled big and hugged her more. A thought crossed her mind.


    ¡°Hey, mama? Where dad?¡± Emily asked happily. She was happier than she could be. She loved her father because he spoiled her and she knew it.


    ¡°I''m sure he will be here shortly. You know how much these family picnics mean to him.¡± A barking filled the warm spring air. ¡°Speak of the devil.¡±


    A young black dog playful ran up the hill with a man not far behind. Emily struggled to get free of her mother. She dropped to the ground and went full speed to the dog.


    She caressed its ears and it responded with lots of tail wags. It licked her face and she felt a warm hand on her head.


    "I see you still love the dog more than me," the man said playfully. A warm smile on his face. He knew his daughter loved their dog and cared for it just as much as he did. He moved his arms under her armpits and placed her on his shoulders.


    Emily grabbed onto his brown hair to make sure she wouldn¡¯t fall off. Emily brown hair flowed in the wind and she smiled a big smile as her father rushed up the hill to her mother.


    "Gosh, even after all these years you still make me wait huh?¡± her mother chimed in playfully. ¡°You will never change will you, Lance" She added a smile and grabbed his free hand and placed it on hers.


    ¡°Alice, nothing is going to change. I did make a wish to have a happy life with you¡­.Emily was just a happy bonus¡± Lance smiled at his wife and leaned in for a kiss. They exchanged a few and wouldn''t have stopped unless Emily hadn¡¯t chimed in.


    ¡°Mom, dad I hunger can we eat now?¡± Alice began to laugh. ¡°I see she has your inability to read the mood¡± Lance gave her a quick scowl. They all wore big smiles with the sun warming their backs, the three began their trip down the hill to their regular spot for lunch.


    The end.

 Update4/13/17

    Hello everyone, due to some thinking and a helpful review I have decided my ending for God''s doorjustis not satisfying enough to be called a good ending...So I''mbotching the whole thing..well at mostly the later alter part of the epilogue. within a week, I should have the better, going by my standards, endingout. Sincelike the main character I feel a burning in my chest about it. But seriously thanks for the comments and reviews. I really glad I can max this thing better. Plus I kindof began mulling over the idea of extending this short story into maybe two of them. as I fell the plot would allow my to take the reins and drive it a little farther. I have no set date for the second short story so justhold yourselves while I come up with it.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.