Riley's Box

Part 45

The rain came to an end, in due course, as the sun started to set on the horizon.

I glanced out of the window, as I sat upon my bed, and watched as the sky continued to change colours.  I hoped for a rainbow to appear in the, now slightly clearer, sky, but I had a feeling it would probably be a little too late in the day for that. It was a shame, because rainbows never failed to make me feel better. I had a lot of thoughts on my mind, too, and really could have used the distraction, but I knew that now was quite simply not the time for distractions. Now was the time to try to work out where those last two pesky shadow spirits had got to. North America would eventually be safe again...from the shadow spirits. 

Of course, there was still plenty out there in my home country, and the wider world, to be concerned about. Nonetheless, I was sure that I would be able to go to sleep with a little more peace of mind, if I was able to remove the shadow beings before they attempted to wreak havoc on the entire planet. 

My window drifted open and a mild breeze drifted in through it. I found myself getting tired. After all, it had been a long day and there had been plenty to discuss with both Jason and the Sins. That wasn't to mention how much I had managed to speak to Eric Reos about, either. I wasn't sure what we could consider ourselves, now, but I was beginning to think of him as an ally. I just wasn't sure that I would be rushing to tell him all about the Sins any time soon. It wasn't exactly as if it was an easy topic of conversation to bring up. Besides, for all I knew, he could be a devoutly religious person, and a conversation about sins might not be top on his list of things to do. 

"I think we should check the forests, tomorrow," a voice spoke by my side, startling me a little. 

I turned to find that Avidicci was stood beside me. 

In my interest, I raised an eyebrow at him. 

"Something tells me that the shadow spirits are going to want to try to find somewhere to hide, if they can manage it. Of course, it's not easy on Earth and occasionally they may try to blend in on camouflage themselves with their surroundings. Even so, we have to try. We have to do more than try, actually, because if we don't succeed-" 

I cut him off, as I started to speak. "If we don't succeed, the entire world will burn up in eternal flames. Yada, yada, yada," I said. 

"Indeed," Avidicci said tersely. "We could try the beach, too." 

"The beach is quite a drive away," I replied. 

"Understandable...but you do have a Jason," he said. 

"This is true. I have a best friend, who can actually drive. It's a possibility," I said, deciding that we could take a trip to the beach, in search of a shadow spirit. I doubted that Jason would mind the trip very much, either. He had always craved adventure, now was the time to get it. "We could try Central Park, too," I considered. I hadn't been there in quite some time. I missed the churros and the hot dogs, of course, but the food was only one of the reasons why I wanted to return there. There was a chance that the shadow spirits might get hungry- maybe they would look for spare food in the park bins. 

Avidicci considered my suggestion for a second and then nodded in agreement. 

"We'll be able to pick up some weapons to help us, then," he said. 

"What weapons can you find in a forest?" I asked...or on a beach, or in a park, for that matter.

"Oh, you would be surprised what you can find, when you go looking for it," Avidicci told me. 

He probably had a philosophical point somewhere in there, but I yawned, not able to pay the notion too much notice. 

"Let me guess- you're getting tired," Avidicci said. 

"How did you know?" I joked, with the faint trace of a friendly smile. I was too tired to smile properly. 

"I made a good guess," Avidicci said, returning my smile. "Thank you for helping us, Riley," he added. 

"You're welcome," I said sleepily. 

He nodded. 

"It's rare that we are able to approach a human and get them to help us...especially a teenager, they tend to be quite dramatic at times. Pandora was a great example of that...she used to be very difficult. However, you're just fine," he said. "You're a great benefit to our cause. If there ever comes a day when you should go there, I am sure that there will be a special place reserved in Hell for you." 

"Oh, er..." 

He chuckled in response to my concerned expression. 

"You needn't worry about that, though. It is much more likely that you will go to the other side," he said. 

Right. The other side. 

It was weird to think about. I had always been agnostic up until this point, but things around me were changing, as was my world-view. 

"Thank you, Avidicci. Just know that you can always talk to me about these things. My grandmother was your safe-keeper and I'm not going to let her down!" I said with determination in my tone. 

Avidicci's eyes brightened with admiration. 

"Are you going to be alright? When you go back to Hell, I mean? Is it that bad down there?" I asked. 

"Only if you're one of the prisoners," he said. 

"Ah," I replied. I wasn't about to inquire into the methods of torment available in Hell. I could leave that much up to my own imagination. 

"We get treated quite well by the Devil, actually. He knows my tastes. Obviously, the Sin of Greed wouldn't be able to deal with a boring, cheap life," he told me. 

"I wouldn't expect anything less for you than a life of luxury," I said. It was only a half-joke. "Anyway, goodnight, Avidicci." 

He turned and walked towards the box, but before he could enter it again, he said one last word to me. "Goodnight." 

Then, I drifted off to sleep.