Worthy (Complete)

Chapter 8

Ackmen paced the floor, trying to figure out where the massive-sized enemy soldiers had come from and how many of them there might be out there. Who was praying their interference into play? He had to find out. It had to be stopped.

He grabbed the living room curtain and moved it to the side, staring at Katelyn who had sat unmoved in the car for almost a half an hour. "At least those mettlesome angels have disappeared." His long pointed nail scratched the bottom of his chin. "Or have they? Why does that even worry me? They have no rule here. Who are they trying to fool anyway?" He flapped his wings behind him, then looked down at the spirit that was hovering near the floor. "You, go, find re-enforcements."

Ackmen let go of the curtain and made his way to what used to be Cara's bedroom. "Ah. This place always rejuvenates me." He picked up a brown book from the bed stand and thumbed through the pages.

"The very book that started the whole takeover of this family. How nice." His nails drummed against the cover of the book as he circled the bed. He stopped in front of the window and glanced at the car below. "Hmmm, I wonder." A sly smile parted his lips. "It never hurts to try."

He flew out the window and brought his body to an abrupt stop on the hood of Katelyn's small car, slightly denting in the sides under his weight. "You want answers, little one?" He tossed the book down and it thumped as it came in contact with the metal hood.

Katelyn swallowed hard. Ackmen never took his gaze off her as he slid the book out in front of him. "You'll find them in here, just as your sweet Aunt Cara did, and her mother Marie, and her mother Lizzie. Your family has long sought out our leader and his ways. Now it's your turn. You don't know how important you are." A hiss crept forth from his mouth.

Ackmen stepped off the hood of the car and ran his long gray claw down it, peeling the paint as it went. "Don't take too long. I'm not known for my patience."

Katelyn sat wide-eyed, her back glued to the seat. She wasn't sure what pure evil felt like – until then. The presence that filled the car and surrounded her had left no doubt in her mind that this was not something she wanted any part of.

A smothering sense of dread and sadness came over her. Think of something fun, think of Trevor. Just think of something!

Nothing worked. Second by passing second she become more enslaved to the fear that was squeezing every ounce of courage out of her.

"There's no use fighting me. You will not win." Ackmen's yellow eyes remained centered on her as he floated backward through the air. Only when he disappeared from her sight did the heavy cloud of emotions leave her.

She quickly looked back and forth from the door to her phone several times before finally keeping her eyes on the screen in front of her. She dialed her mom's number and waited.

"Hello?"

"Mom! Help me!"

"Katelyn what's wrong? Where are you?"

"I'm at Cara's still. I think I know what you were talking about concerning Aunt Cara."

"You've seen them then?"

"I've seen something, Mom. This thing is huge and it's scary. But I've also seen very tall man-like beings. They didn't scare me, though. They actually made me feel kind of peaceful. They spoke to the creepy things for a moment before turning to me and telling me to pray."

"Katelyn, there's still hope. Pray. They are angels. God has sent them to fight alongside you. Don't ignore their words. Don't show fear, don't be afraid. The demons feed off that."

"But Mom, I'm not saved. I don't even know if I believe in God."

"I know, Katelyn, but He believes in you."

"Mom?"

"I've been attending church. I've been learning a lot. Trust me, Katelyn. He wants you free of what's been passed down through your dad's family. I didn't believe it was true for a long time. But certain things that happened made me wonder."

"I don't want to be alone right now, Mom. My car won't start, and I'm not going back into that house. Should I leave?"

"No, I'm coming. Call Trevor, he's closer. The Lord will fight for us tonight. We won't run."

"Please hurry."

"I will, Katelyn. I'm in my car now. Pray."

The click informed Katelyn of the disconnected call. She thought about Trevor. It was true that he was closer, but would he understand all this? "His parents are Christians," she reasoned.

Thoughts of her aunt being caught up in all of this nonsense distracted her. How was it possible to ignore the evidence before her on the hood? Conflict rose within her. Part of her wanted to know the truth, and part of her yearned for all this to be over.

She turned the key over again and pumped the gas pedal as fast as her leg would allow. "Come on! Lord, please let it start."

Nothing.

She gave up and a few minutes later dialed Trevor's number. "I can't stay here any longer."

"Hey, miss me already, huh?" Trevor's country accent filled her ear.

"Well, ya know. What can I say? What are you doing right now?" The deep inhaled breath before she spoke didn't hide the fear in her voice like she had hoped.

"Just watching some television before heading to bed. Why? What's wrong?

Hurry up, think of something.

"Oh, ummm, I was just wondering if you'd like to go out for a little bit. I need some things from the store, and I didn't want to go alone."

She knew her excuse was lame, but she couldn't risk telling him the truth to have him laugh it off and not come at all.

"It's a little late to be going to the store, but sure, I'll go with you. Let me get my shoes on and I'll be on my way."

"Great!"

Chill out. He's going to think you're crazy.

"I didn't know going to the store was so exciting."

"Well, you know, you had to drag me out of this place, and now, I just love to go."

"Oh, okay then. I'll be leaving in a few minutes."

"All right, see ya soon. Oh and, Trev, thanks."

"No problem."

She twirled the phone in her hand. "Just a few more minutes and I'll be out of here." She inhaled; the muggy, stale air filled her lungs. She looked towards the house and then back out in front of her. "Crap, the book. What am I suppose to do with that?"

She looked around the front seat but didn't see anything that would be of any help, so she turned towards the back. A multicolored umbrella lay off to the right hand side, next to the door. "Yes." She pushed her feet against the floor of the car and stretched out until she was able to reach it, then pulled it to her.

Her fingers trembled as she wrapped them around the knob of the handle. With each gradual turn the glass beside her disappeared a little more, widening the open gap between it and the frame. She kept her sights on the front door as she slid half her body out the window and lined the tip of the umbrella up with the edge of the book. She pulled the umbrella back and then shoved it forward as hard as she could. The book slid and landed with a thud on the gravel in front of the car.

She faced the house, unaware of the multitude of glowing yellow and green eyes that glared back at her from all different directions.

Wasting no time she returned inside the car and rolled up the window as fast as she could. Her efforts were brought to a stop by an invisible force.

"Leave me alone," she screamed.

"I can't do that. I've already told you, you are too important." The unseen demon laughed in her ear before returning back to the house, book in hand.