Where All My Hope Is

The Devil's Grin

The world had gone black. I gasped as if the air had been stolen from my lungs. My heart rate had begun to quicken.

"Ezra!" I shouted into the darkness. And then I silently reprimanded myself, reminded of his betrayal.

I scrambled to my feet and waved my arms in every direction looking for something... anything to tell me where I was and what was happening.

I felt hot tears on my face and felt an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia filling me. Somehow, even though I seemed to be in a completely empty expanse of eternity, it felt like I was slowly being crushed inside a tiny box.

Now I was sobbing, I felt like I couldn't breathe. Between my cries, I screamed into the abyss, "Adonai! Please deliver me through this!"

The second these words left my mouth, the darkness vanished, washed away by an overwhelming golden light. Standing a few feet in front of me was Immanuel.

I gasped. Floating in front of him was the same golden book from my dream.

"Hello my child." His warm voice instantly calmed every nerve in my body. I ran towards him, melting in his arms, allowing myself to truly relax for the first time in days.

He chuckled, filling my whole body with joy. I let go of him, taking a step back to get a clearer view of my situation. The golden book had floated a foot or so to the side. Afraid that it would disappear, I reached for it, gently grasping its glowing cover.

I looked up at Immanuel, pure awe filling my eyes. "Immanuel, you mustn't get me wrong, I am overjoyed to see you, but I have to ask, how? And why? Why am I here? And where am I? Why haven't you freed us from The Fallens Stars clutches? Why did Ezra betray me? Why—"

The Son of Man was shaking his head. "Be still, and know that I am with you." He placed his hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. "I can not answer all your questions right now. Just know that not everything is as it seems and those who have been lost in your eyes, are simply wondering in mine."

Once again we embraced and he whispered into my ear, "Do not lose all hope in your friend."

Then he disappeared.

I looked down at the golden book still sitting in my hands. The pages suddenly began to flip, settling on a page with one verse highlighted, the words repeated what Immanuel had said earlier.

"Be still, and know that I am with you."

Just like before, the second I finished reading, the book disappeared. And with it the golden light that had illuminated the space disappeared as well.

Once again, my whole entire world was pitch black. Slowly, my head became foggy and my eyes glued themselves shut. Before I had realized what had happened, I felt my head slam against a hard surface. My eyes blinked open and I realized I was in some sort of throne room. The space was lit by flickering red flame torches that were mounted throughout every wall. My gaze shifted towards the large throne, made of dried bones. Black vines wrapped around the throne, rapping between bones and growing between empty eye sockets.

Sitting on the throne was a man in his early twenties. Everything about him seemed normal... average, except two things. His hazy red eyes, and his smile.

His smile, if you could even call it that, sent chills down my spine. Something about it seemed so wrong. The only thing I could think to compare it to is the devil's grin.

I pulled my strength together and dragged myself to my feet. My body was bruised and sore, but I managed to keep myself standing.

I just remembered about Asher and spun around to find him cowering behind me, seemingly afraid of the man's gaze. I rushed towards him to make sure he was alright. I placed my hand on his shoulder, causing him to jump. "Asher, are you ok?" I asked in a hushed voice.

Asher turned his eyes towards me, and I realized just how much trouble we were in. His eyes in this moment contained more fear than most men endured in a lifetime. "As of right now I am, but if my guess is right Malum will be adding two new skulls to his collection soon if we don't get out of here."

"Malum?" I questioned, "Who's Ma—-"

Someone coughed from not too far behind me, and I whirled around. Right behind me, stood the man from the throne, his awful grin still plastered on his face. "Let me introduce myself. I am Lucifer Malum, your gracious host."

His words infuriated me. "Gracious?" I growled, "Your men tied me to a chair and tortured me for information!" My anger was clear, yet for some reason Lucifer Malum's smile just grew larger, and with it, my rage.

"You kidnapped my friend and then nearly beat him to death! You have kept us as prisoners in a dirty cell with hardly any food or water! What sort of lunatic would consider that gracious!?" With each word, my rage boiled hotter and hotter.

Malum's grin turned into a smirk. "You're still alive aren't you? I consider that fairly gracious of myself."

I wanted to strangle him. My hold on my temper was slipping and I knew it would soon free itself from my grasp all together.

All of a sudden, I felt at complete and utter peace. I glanced to my side and there stood Immanuel. He had placed His hand on my shoulder and was smiling at me. I turned back to Lucifer Malum, my anger expelled.

His smirk had fled from his face, replaced by a look of pure hatred. He shrunk away from The Son of Man's figure.

I glanced at Asher to see how he had reacted, but he was still staring at Lucifer with fear, unaware of the holy presence filling the room.

Immanuel spoke, "It is time." He turned to me, still smiling, filling me to the brim with confidence.

Then a chorus of trumpets filled the room, announcing the presence of Adonai's army.