Shreds of an Archive

Lucifers Misgivings

"You said that your building blocks can do what?" Ryan asked, shocked to hear such a advance concepts from his young nephew

"My blocks can create things with words" Shane replied, he was only five years old, but he spoke with clarity and there was a bright intelligence hidden behind his young blue eyes.

Ryan looked at him, He only recently learned to read, and now he's already come up with something like this? He pondered.

"Look" Shane tugged his sleeve, motioning him to his family's playroom.

He let himself get pulled along, deciding to humor his nephew for a while.

Shane picked a block up, Inscribed on it was the letter L, He gingerly placed it on the carpet, and excitedly moved to grab the next block, placing the letter I next to the first block. Shane frowned for a moment, looking deep in thought.

"What's wrong?" Shane questioned.

"How do you spell Light?" Ryan moved over to sit beside him.

"Well, you take the letter G" Ryan explained, placing the corresponding block in its place "Then combine it with the letter H to create a new sound, and finally, it ends with the letter T, which makes the TUH sound" Before Ryan could place the final letter, Shane grabbed his arm, looking him in the eyes.

"Turn off the lights first" He indicated towards the lightswitch, practically bouncing up and down with excitement.

With a sigh, Ryan stood, and turned off the lights, using the fading moonlight to find his way back to the block pile, Shane grabbed the letter T, and looked at Ryan with a seriousness that shouldn't be seen on a five year olds face.

"Can I place the final letter?" Shane questioned, Ryan nodded, gesturing to the line of blocks.

Shane- with utmost caution, placed the final block gingerly at the end of the word. Ryan was caught up in the theatrics of it, and was convinced that this truly was a magical moment and not just some preschoolers fantasy.

A few moments passed, nothing happened. He exhaled a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, Really? I was convinced by a five year old that something was going to happen- Before Ryan's thoughts could fully manifest, a blinding ray of light shone in through the window, illuminating the entire play room in a bright yellow light. I must be dreaming.

"See!" Shane was jumping up and down now, giddy with the action. A few more moments passed, and the light dissipated into nothing. Ryan looked in the window- searching for any indication of what had just happened. There was nothing there.

For real? This is really happening. . .

"Shane, where did you get these blocks?" Ryan stared at his younger nephew, seeing him in a new light.

"From the man, the giving man that lives on the corner of the block." Shane said it as it was an obvious fact. Ryan looked at him quizzically, the name not ringing any bells.

"Tell me more about this man." Ryan said, knowing the consequence of mis-handeling the situation.

"He's always nice to us kids, gives us things like toys and candy. He called himself Lucifer." The last word struck Ryan like a sword in his heart, a terrifying chill ran down his spine.

Shane began working on a new task, suddenly inspired and quickly gathered different blocks to form a new word.

"Shane, let's not play with these toys anymore!" Ryan said, his hands were clammy and an edge of panic slipped into his mind.

Shane ignored him, entirely focused on his new task, Ryan moved towards him, grabbing his arm as he reached for another block.

In a moment, Ryan was thrown back by an immense strength, He looked up to see Shane's face snarling at him inhumanly.

"Let. Me. Play." His voice had turned deep, it was no longer that of a five year old boy but now was something else- something unholy.

In a daze, Ryan watched as he spelled the new word. B. . . U. . . Ryan worried Please be burger, please be burger!

Shane continued, growing more intense as he proceeded. R. . . he paused, savoring the final placement of the block. Burn.

An explosion shook the house, flames erupted out of nowhere, spewing and spitting violently. Ryan moved to get up, but Shane held him down with a firm grip around his neck. Slowly, and violently, they wrapped up around Shanes clothes, searing his flesh leaving a pungent, horrible burning smell in the air. The flames languidly traveled towards him, catching on his shirt, then spreading the rest of the body.

He spent the last breaths of his life staring into the lifeless eyes of his nephew.