Fall Foretold

Sleepover Night

"I wasn't expecting the two of you, here together", Lucifer said, on his wheelchair. He sat on the same spot where Cedric had found him. "It's nice to have such an absurd duo".

Cedric and John had come together, this time. The Shadowmask would join them.

"You lied to me", Cedric said.

"How could I have?", he replied and turned. "You never asked if he was alive"

"Well, we came here for-", John said but Cedric cut him short.

"Why did you kill him?". He had been questioning Lucifer's decisions from the start. He wondered why Lucifer still appeared humane to him while the world considered him a 'demon'. He was probably yet to see the demon in him.

"Because I did not put the key in his hands. Once the key gets to your heart, there's no turning back. There was no going back for him"

"B-...", He wanted an excuse to shout at Lucifer but he was right. There was no reverse for the key's hypnosis. A loud thud shook them all; the Shadowmask landed. He was probably flying.

"That's the surprise guest. Another dramatic entrance", Lucifer commented.

"We might have to put that aside, now", the Shadowmask said. "We need to find the key before it gets to your daughter"

"Looks like you found your body already. Didn't think you would be out, so early", Lucifer said and turned his back on them, going back to his sightseeing fun. "She would get the key if she desired. Nothing can hold her back. She doesn't have it yet because she's not seeking it yet. She's not seeking it yet because she doesn't want it yet. She doesn't want it yet, because she's not done with her business yet."

"We can stop her together", John said. "We should have the key first. Then, we'll deal with what comes after".

"That's brave of you, John", Lucifer said. "You might be able to hold the key... but when she comes for it, your life's at stake"

"Who did you give the key to?"

"A priest. St. Raphael has it. Wherever he has kept the key, It's sanctified to ward off evil"

"Is it safe enough to hinder your daughter?", Cedric asked. "You said she will get it when she wants it, irrespective of who holds it"

"A sanctified room can be entered. When she wants the key, she will find her way. Just be ready for the war. It can't be prevented"

"You are not to decide that", the Shadowmask said, as they turned to leave.

"Before you go, you should know; the prophecy goes a lot deeper than you think. You should read it again and again. There is always a replacement for characters in a prophecy; characters in destiny. In summary, if you are not careful, you may not survive this war"

★

"... I can remember a time when we made kids believe Superman was real. The case of the masked man, now called Shadowmask, is only different in reality aspect. I can compare the Shadowmask story to The Batman Vs Superman movie where Superman was portrayed as a powerful being, worshipped by the people for this reason. We should not worship a vigilante. The more support you give to him, the more power he has... Besides that, after the first paranormal appearance of the Shadowmask, people seem to ignore his rebellious activities. His crimes include vandalism, aiding the escape of a criminal and so on. He's posing a threat to security. If we don't stand against him now, he might have grown too strong to be stopped when he begins to wage war...."

Albert Romero was finally on air. Cyrus stared at the tv, forcing vodka into his mouth. He had been given a task to get the key and deliver it to Stan. It was Stan's time to keep the key till the Devil's daughter would be ready for the Unchaining.

A guy barged in. "Hey, man", he dropped on a seat. "I'm back"

"What do you have?", he switched off the tv.

"The Shadowmask is a teenage boy. The sightseer was probably right"

"Is that all you dug up, all this while?"

"Well, the i***t at the divination was charging too much for each part of the story. There's a sleepover at his school, this Friday. He has the ability to sense danger when it's coming to a relative so the guy gave me an idea", he moved closer to Cyrus. "You'll send your boys in two groups. One has to attack his home. They'll make sure he's already in school, before they do that. Once that is done, he will come to save his parents. Immediately he is seen, the second group has to be notified so they'll kidnap his girlfriend. She'll be in the boys' toilet, then, dressed in pyjamas. That's how they'll know her"

"This is crazy", Cyrus said. "You'll go with them"

"Uhn?"

"You heard me right. Only you can understand what you just said. We're not missing this chance"

★

"Who's there?", she asked, fearfully. Her heart was pounding, as she remembered the last visit from a stranger.

"We are from the church. We are here to see St. Raphael", the visitors replied.

She hesitated to open the door. She held a knife, muttering the Lord's prayer, silently.

She opened the door, hiding behind it.

"We are here for peace. "John said, as she saw the knife in her hand.

"My husband is dead. What do you want with him?"

"We're sorry for your loss", Cedric said.

"The church has promised to support", she said and sat down. "Why did you come?"

"Your husband was given a key. It's capable of evil things. The Devil's daughter might come for it. We have to take it somewhere safe"

"Did the key kill my husband?"

"How do you mean?"

"My husband attacked St. Sylvester with a pistol. He would never do that. Then, he shot himself in the head. Did the key cause my husband's death?"

John and Cedric stared at each other. "The key is capable of doing that. It's powers should be held back if it remained in the sanctified room"

The woman burst into tears. "It didn't... Earlier that day, I found the key on the dining table. My husband might have brought it out. I had ignored it for a while, then I remembered he told us never to enter the sanctified room if it wasn't important. The items in the sanctified room were forbidden for us to touch. I thought my children might have brought it out so I picked up the key. It made me shiver. My head ached like it would fall off my neck. I anointed myself and threw it back into the sanctified room... Later, that day, a man came in with a gun. He told me about my husband's death and that he came for the key"

"Has he taken the key?", Cedric asked. "Did he introduce himself?"

"Yes, he called himself Ken. He wasn't able to take the key. He left, angrily".

"Let's get the key", John said. "If anyone comes for it, refer them to the police force""

The woman brought out a glass of blessed oil anointed them. She led them into the sanctified room.

"The key was right there. I threw it there", she said. The key was not in the room.

"It's not here", Cedric said, looking round.

"It might have rolled somewhere. Let's look around", John said.

"No. If the key was here, we wouldn't have to search for it. You would feel it", Cedric said and his eyes fell on the broken windows, with blood on it's glasses. "Except someone broke in"

"It's a sanctified room. You can't just break in", the woman said.

"Well, we're in", Cedric looked into the hole, which led to another room. There was a hole in there which led to another room and another hole. "Whoever came in here must have come with a blessed oil... and perfect information"

FIFTEEN MINUTES EARLIER

He smashed the glasses with his hammer. No one could hear him. He was confident of that. Cyrus had come prepared.

He broke the glass of oil he had been given and annointed himself. Then, he forced himself into the room, sustaining a cut from a broken glass.

His eyes moved straight to the key. The room felt hot, like the well known he'll was next door. He pulled out the white napkin he had been given, then, he picked up the key with the napkin. The key glowed, golden in colour.

"Yes, he called himself Ken", he could hear a voice, as he moved closer to the kitchen door. "He wasn't able to take-..."

Whoever was speaking and whoever was listening; they were about to walk into the kitchen. He ran back, forcing himself through the window hole, again, cutting his wound deeper, as his skin rubbed against the sharp-edged broken glasses. He ran back, through the holes he had dug in. The key was with him already. He had to deliver it to Stan... and stay away from sight, he was back in Sterling City.

★

His heart was beating heavily, like he was heading to a war with giants. “I didn’t think this day was going to come”, Felix commented, throwing a weird smiling face which only made Joe feel more nervous.

“I don’t think I’m doing this, man”, Joe said. Jackson threw a threatening look at him.

“Sorry bro. You’re doing it tonight. Once you make a promise, you have to fulfil it”

“I can’t remember promising anyone. As far as I’m concerned, I only nodded”, Joe replied.

Laura came in, from nowhere. “What are you guys talking about? I’ve been looking for you”

“Oh my God”, Felix threw another smiling face at Laura. “She has been searching for you. So cute”

“Felix!”, a voice called. “Come over!”

He didn’t know who called or why he was called but he was glad to leave the place. “Perfect timing”, he muttered to himself. Then, he moved closer to Joe and whispered, “Do it tonight or I’ll break your heart too”

Joe could only stare at her outfit. “You came to school in pyjamas?”

“Yea. Did you come in uniform?”, She asked and sat beside the two of them.

“Well, it’s kind of weird to be dressed in pajamas but I’ll shut up”, Jackson said. “Sorry. I have to go deal with Charles. Be back in less than thirty minutes”

Jackson winked at Joe and walked away. “Looks like we’re left here”, Laura said. “How are you feeling now?”

“Uhn?”

“You once told me you were worried about some things. Are you better now?”

“Oh. I’ve taken control of things, already”, Joe replied. “I wanted to tell you something else”

“Ok. What’s That?.... We’re not dancing now, if that’s what you’re thinking”

“Are you kidding,?”, Joe laughed. “I was definitely drunk, that day. What was I thinking?”

“I know, right? So what’s it? You’ve got a girl?”

“If I wanted Miss Stephanie, would you help me out?”

Laura laughed, poking him. “I can… That’s crazy”

Joe’s eyes glowed for a second. His veins brightened up. He sensed danger, again, or he was just being nervous and his brain cells were urging him to run away. “I need to use the toilet”, he told her and walked into the bathroom. He needed to go home.

****

“Let’s check on them”, Felix said to Jackson. “He might have done it, already”

“No, let’s give him some time”, Jackson replied. “It would just be nice to hear him say it”

“Damn! He’s going to cry”, Felix jested. “Let’s spy on them. We’ll hide and listen to the conversation”

“Good idea”

“Where are these kids who are supposed to be sleeping?”, they could hear a teacher shouting. They would definitely come looking for them. “Felix is missing! Nelly is missing! Hmmm!”, the voice said, loudly.

“What!?!”, Felix exclaimed, as they moved closer to where Laura sat, hiding from her sight.

Joe’s bag had been open. She dipped her hand in and brought out a book; the Diary. Felix jumped out, as she was about to open the book. “Hey, Laura! Where did everyone go?”

Jackson also jumped out. “Hey, Laura. Where did Joe go?”

“He’s using the bathroom”, she said and opened the diary. Jackson moved closer and slammed it close.

“I think that’s his diary”, he said. “It would be wrong to read it without his permission”

“Yes but don’t you want to know what he’s hiding from us?”

“Bad idea, girl”, Felix said. “He already told me about the contents of his diary. It contains his hidden feelings and things he wants no one to know. Reading it will break his heart”

“Ok, then. I’ll go ask for his permission”, she dropped the book and walked away.

“She’s kidding, right?”, Felix asked, smiling.

“She can’t walk into the boys’ bathroom”, Jackson replied. “Have you actually read the book? You know what Joe is hiding?”

“He wouldn’t let me open it so I decided not to read it till he wants me to”, Felix lied. “Have you read the book? You seem to know what it contains”

“You think he’ll just tell me all of his secrets because we’re talking, now? He must not see my hands on that book. I just wonder what could be in it”

“When he gets back, we should talk about it”, Felix said.

Laura walked into the boys’ bathroom. “Hey, Joe! You’re not done?”, she called, walking around.

There were three bathrooms. Two of them were locked from the front so, if he was still in there, he was definitely in the third room. “Joe? Are you in there? I came to seek your permission!”

There was complete silence. It was beginning to scare her. “Hello? I’ll come in if you don’t respond… Joe? Are you dead or something? I’m coming in”, her heart was pounding, heavily, as she pushed the door open. It was empty and clean. There was no one in there; just footprints on the toilet seat.