The Lucky Seven

Part 10 - Sacrifice

Devon got to their spot fast. He knew the path very well. All too well.

He remembered the conversations he had with his father all those years ago. How upset he was for losing the Swiss knife he gave him for his 16th birthday. He didn't tell him the whole truth. He reminded him of how his mother was against it as a birthday gift. A month after his birthday she died in a car accident.

Devon's father told him he was very proud of him. He even gave him a brand new pocket knife as a graduation gift. He was even prouder when he passed the bar.

He was hoping he would stay. Become part of the law firm. But Devon had big dreams, and he and Andrew were going to make a name for themselves. Just not in Minnesota. A year later he left Minnesota his father passed away.

Frederick's parents died shortly after he was ordained. Father Moore became both a father and mother to him. When all the other members of the lucky seven moved out of Minnesota, they all gradually moved their families to live with them. Only Devon's father stayed. Devon never offered to have him moved to New York.

Now he's back. For the wrong yet very important reason. He has to finish this. Once and for all.

He took out the Swiss knife that his father gave him as graduation gift. He looked at the tree and read the names. Their names.

"I'm so sorry, Andrew! I'm so sorry I pushed you away. I'm so sorry that I made you think that you needed me to become somebody. You never needed me when we were kids to get to anywhere and you never needed me after that!"

Then he crossed Andrew's name out.

"Brian and Charlie! Sorry for making fun of you because you guys loved to cook. Charlie you are one of the most unselfish person I have ever met! I am so sorry this happened."

He crossed their names out.

"I'm so sorry, Ethan. I'm so sorry for taking Allison away from you. I knew you really liked her but since you weren't doing anything about it, I figured.... I'm so sorry for hurting the both of you. I'm so sorry for what happened five years ago. I'm sorry Christie left you in Texas. She left you because she felt so guilty because of me. I am so sorry!

Then Ethan's name was crossed out.

"None of you deserved to die. None of you deserved to be taken away like that. Frederick and Gareth. I'm so sorry for being the jerk of a friend that you always had to be patient with. Thank you for being such great friends," he said as the tears fell.

And you. Whatever you are? I am ending this. I am breaking my rule and I am breaking yours. You're not taking any more of my friends! You hear me!? I am ending this you son of a bitch!

"Devon!?"

Devon turned around and was surprised to see that Gareth, Frederick and Allison where in the woods with him.

"How? What?"

"Devon!"

They ran towards him as he lost consciousness. There was blood all over.

Allison did her best to perform first aid to stop the bleeding. Gareth called 911. Frederick went towards the tree. He saw the names that had been crossed out. Then he saw Devon's.

"He's trying to break the chain."

"Hang in there, Devon!" Allison said as he put pressure on the wounds.

"Stay with us, Dev! Stay with us!"

Frederick was praying in the Chapel. Devon was still in surgery. Allison was with Father Moore in the lobby.

Gareth went outside to get some air. He was waiting for that eerie feeling to come back. He was expecting some kind of angry retaliation after what Devon tried to do.

He dared it again, he thought. He dared it again and now he doesn't know what consequences that action had brought.

"Oh God please. Please, please...."

A cold wind blew. It brought chills through him. Once more he was waiting for that eerie feeling he got that night twenty years ago. He was waiting for that shadow to appear and the whisper. But none of that happened. He was still feeling creepy but that eerie feeling was not there anymore. Something was different this time.