Universal

Chapter 9

Troy tried to sit up, but the burns were so painful. When he laid back down on the hay he found that to be excruciating also. There were burns all over his body at this point. His shirt and pants were charred and sticking to the flesh that was now open and bleeding. He cried out in pain. 

Judson, obviously taken back by what he saw didn't ask any questions. Instead, he helped the boy up and carried him into the house. When he finally settled Troy on his cot, he fell into his own bed. His body was drained as he had used all of his energy to help Troy. He laid there for a minute before pushing through his own pain so that he could tend to Troy's injuries. He removed the shirt and pants that were covered in char and using a soft wet cloth began to clean the wounds. 

"I have to get you to the hospital." Judson said. 

"I cant move again," Troy replied through clenched teeth. "I promise, it will kill me if I try." He used his arm and limply pointed to the counter where a block of home made butter sat wrapped in a piece of cheese cloth. "Just grab that butter and help me wipe it on the burns." His mother and grandmother had done this anytime he had been burned before, and he thought it was a safer choice than trying to explain his wounds to a doctor. 

Judson doubted that butter would make anything better, but decided to go along with the boys plan while he was thinking of another. While Troy didn't voice his concern about a doctor seeing his burns out loud, Judson's mind was in the same place. Judson had a suspicion that the Dark One had been responsible for Troy's injuries. Until he knew for sure the best course of action was to lay low. Judson grabbed the butter and began coating the streaks of burned flesh. 

Troy was strong, but his strength had met it's match. As Judson rubbed the greasy substance on his skin bile rose up in Troy's throat. The pain and the smell were working together in the worst way. For a few minutes he lay there, perfectly still as Judson continued to massage the open flesh, but when Judson made his way to the burns across his chest, Troy fainted. 

Judson looked at the unconscious state of the boy and sat down in defeat. He felt responsible for the fact that Troy had been hurt.  He was there to save the universe, yet he couldn't even keep one 17 year old kid safe? He called out to the Creator, hoping for words of guidance. "What am I supposed to do?"

The next words came to him in a thought, but Judson knew they were from the Creator. "From me you were created. My power runs through your veins. Touch the boy, and he will awake whole. When he does, he must be told the truth. The time has come." 

Reaching over, with careful fingers, Judson placed his hand over Troy's heart. Judson could feel the power rushing through his body and out through the tips of his fingers. A soft glow came from his hand and illuminated the body of the boy. When the glowing light faded, Judson realized that the marks were gone as well. 

"The power is there when I call upon it." He heard the Creator say, "You need only ask."

Troy was sleeping, peacefully now, and Judson climbed into his own bed to follow suit. They would talk in the morning. Like the Creator said, it was finally time. 

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The next morning Troy awoke dazed and confused. Had he remembered the events of last night correctly? He lifted the sheet that had covered him while he slept and found no marks from a demon's fiery chains. This would have been enough to convince him that it was all just a bad dream, and he was ready to take that as truth until he noticed a greasy film coating his skin. Using his finger he wiped at some of the goop on his chest and smelled it. Butter? Why was he covered in butter? The events of the night before rolled through his mind. He vividly remembered being carried from the barn by Judson, who was sleeping soundly in his bed a few feet away. He remembered being in so much pain that he had convinced Judson not to move him again to the truck in order to go to the hospital. He also remembered sharing with Judson his Grandmother's home remedy for burns. Butter. Surely it had all been a dream. Surely he had just walked through the house in his sleep and wiped the butter on himself. An uneasy feeling told him otherwise. Throwing the thin sheet and old quilt off of the rest of his body, Troy got out of bed and went to wake Judson. It only took one shake of the older man's shoulder before he opened his eyes and looked up at Troy. "We've got to talk." Troy said. 

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Troy had barely let Judson climb from the bed and brew a pot of coffee before he started demanding answers and an explanation for what he remembered. 

"Go ahead and take a seat." Judson said, inhaling the aroma as much as the hot liquid that he had poured into his mug. He loved coffee. 

Troy was too worked up to sit, so he paced the floors instead. "Have it your way," Judson said as he pulled out the kitchen chair and slowly lowered his body, still aching, into the seat. 

"What happened last night?" Troy demanded. "Why do I keep having these horrible dreams, and why did that thing try to kill me?" 

Judson started to answer but Troy kept talking. "Where are the burns that were all over my body last night? Why am I covered in butter?" He started to ask another question but Judson interrupted him. 

"If you would just sit down and shut up, I could answer some of your questions!"

The young man was still anxious, but his boss's tone brought him back down to earth and he sat. He stared a hole through Judson as he watched him drain the last sips of coffee from the mug. When Judson finished, he put the cup in front of him and leaned over the table towards Troy. "Do you remember that talk we had about people being created for a reason?" Judson asked. 

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