THE BEGINNING OF THE END

‘Are you sure?’ Jubel asked the man in the oversized hooded robe. He nodded.

‘Yes, we just received word. If she is who you truly believe she is, then we need to leave, now!’

Jubel shook his head.

‘We are not leaving, it’s just them. They are the ones who will be escorting her where she need to be and keeping her sage. I must go back to them now.

As Jubel was getting ready to leave, the man in the oversized hood grabbed his arm and made him halt. Jubel looked up at him, the oversized hood still covering the man’s face.

‘What’s the matter with you? Let go!’ Jubel tried to pull his arm away from the hooded man, but he tightened his grip around Jubel’s arm. The man in the oversized hood, took his other hand and revealed his face. He had scars all over his face, burns, and cuts. He smiled a crooked smile as the scars around his face caressed his lips. He started to giggle, and it echoed and bounced off the walls.

Amelia startled by the doors slamming shut. She stood and pressed her face against the door, peeping through a small gap between the door and the frame. She stayed quiet as a mouse as she watched. She recognized Jubel, but not the man with the oversized hood.

She tried to listen, but she couldn’t make anything out that either one were saying. She watched them, Jubel seemed calm. As he walked away, the man in ‘Why was this man grabbing him like that? What was said between the two of them? Then, like a bad case of déjà vu, there was a familiar laugh that made a shiver go down Amelia’s spine.

‘The giggle - ghost man’, she whispered to herself. She watched him as he pulled his hood back, revealing his face. His hair was a greasy black, his face was precisely scarred in perfect placement on his face. The look on Bel’s face went from confused to enraged.

‘YOU!’ He yanked his arm out of his grasp as hard as he could, making the greasy scarred man take a step back.

What’s the matter old man? Didn’t think this day would finally come? Have you finally lost faith?’ The man started to giggle, sending shivers down Amelia’s spine.

Bel took a step back and started swinging his arms as he shouted, sending a bolt of light at the giggle man, knocking him backwards and onto the ground, sliding about 15 feet. The giggle man coughed as he got up off the ground.

‘Wow, been a long time since I felt that bee sting.’ He dusted himself off.

‘This isn’t over Bel, he knows she’s here.’

Before bell could say anything, the giggle man waved his hands in front of his body and a shadow covered him before he was gone.

Amelia opened the door to the confessional, making her presence known to Bel. He looked over at Amelia, seeing the shocked look on her face, he slowly made his way to her.

‘That man…’ Amelia spoke softly as Bel reached for her arm to guide her into a sitting position.

‘Shhhh… It’s alright, he’s gone.’ Bel spoke softly to try and keep Amelia calm.

‘I know him, I’ve seen him before. He used to come into my room and watch me sleep!’ Amelia fell into Bel’s arms and sobbed.

‘What is happening?’ She cried. Bel gently patted her back, reassuring her that everything was going to be okay. He then helped her to her feet and guided her back to the room with the rest of the group where they patiently waited.

Bel guided Amelia back to her chair and let her sit down before he started to speak.

‘Now, there isn’t much time.’ Bel handed Amelia a scroll. Amelia looked up at him and he nodded.

‘Amelia this is for you.’ Amelia looked at the very old scripture in her hand and began to read:-

‘A Day will come to light when the misfortune will rise. Warriors from above, descending to those in need. A baby born, bathed in Holy Light. A battle long ago was decreed. But in the End, one will know, that new life will overthrow.’

There was a long silence as they all sat after she read the scroll out loud. Bel was the one to speak first, placing his hand on Amelia’s shoulder.

‘Many have died trying to find out. Dees protected you from the day you were born, knowing who you are and who you are still yet to become. We need you Amelia, the world need you and we are all here to fight with you.’

Amelia looked around at everyone at the table, Astrid placed her hand on Amelia’s and nodded. Whitey also nodded at Amelia. She looked at Harry who was still sitting in his chair, looking down at the scroll in her hand. He shook his head.

‘My father once told me that I was born to do great things in this world. He told me the day he was born God spoke to him. Said that he needed to protect me because one day the world was going to need a warrior, a soldier to guide people to the right path and help them fight through the darkness of the world. I never believed him until tonight.’ Harry stood up and looked Amelia in the eyes.

‘I’ll help you Amelia, I’ll fight for you and with you till my dying breath. I believe it’s what my father would have wanted, what he spent his life for before he died, to make sure I would be here for this.’

Bel smiled as he looked at every single one of them. He then walked over to a small bookshelf by the door and grabbed a very large piece of parchment. He threw it open over the table and began pointing around what looked like a very old map.

‘There is another church that you need to go to Amelia. There is a dear friend of mine there and he will be able to help you further. He is a little, ‘Out There’ if I may say.’ Bel said with slight worry.

‘He has been through more than a lot of people would ever endure in one lifetime. He has seen it all and been through even more. I trust this man with my life and my soul. Find him as fast as you can, he will be able to tell you what you need to do.’

Harry looked at the map, looking for the fastest route to where they needed to go. He marked down their stops and where they needed to fuel up and where to stop and sleep so they weren’t travelling in the dark with those things out in the night. Astrid stood up.

‘Well, let’s get this show on the road people.’ She nudged Whitey as she walked past him. Whitey followed her over to the door. Amelia turned to Bel and whispered.

‘What did you do to that man earlier?’ Bel looked at her softly, knowing what she was referring to. He took a breath.

‘Now is not the time for a chat like that. We will see each other again and when we do, that will be when I can give you the answers to all the questions you will have for me by then. I’ll see you on the next full moon.’

Amelia gave him a strange look before shaking his hand and walking over to Astrid and Whitey. She watched Harry as he walked over to Bel. Harry was speaking quietly to him and before he turned away, Bel put his hand on Harry’s shoulder and whispered something in his ear. Amelia watched them, and as Bel finished whatever he whispered, he looked at Amelia and smiled. Harry hugged Bel before joining the others.

‘We better get a move on then, its a couple days travel with not being able to drive at night.’ Harry moved passed the group and down the hall to the great doors that everyone first entered through.

The face of this watch showed him that it was half past 2 in the afternoon. That gave them plenty of time to get a few hundred kilometers in before the sun went down. Harry, Astrid, and Whitey made their way to the vehicle and packed up their things. Amelia trailed behind to speak to Bel once last time.

‘Why me? What makes me so different from everyone else?’ Amelia waited for his response, but he just stood there and smiled at her.

‘Well?’ she asked, impatiently waiting for him to answer her.

‘You are more special than you realize and more powerful than you understand Amelia. The day will come when you need to believe that in yourself, to save everyone.’ Bel took her hand in his.

‘I believe in you Amelia, even before you were born. You have an army of good behind you and they are willing to die for you.’

Amelia looked at Harry, he was starting the jeep as Astrid clipped her seatbelt in place. Whitey was looking over the parchment that Bel had given them, mapping out their drive to find the safest way to where they needed to go. Bel kissed Amelia’s hand.

‘Remember, the next full moon.’

He let go of Amelia’s hand and she walked down the steps of the church. Making her way to the vehicle, she opened the back door on the driver’s side and sat down next to Astrid. No one said anything as Harry backed up and accelerated towards the exit of the church. Amelia turned around in her seat to take a last look at the church, Bel was gone, and the church looked abandoned.

No one said anything for a while. Harry drove whilst Whitey navigated, and Astrid was fast asleep within the first thirty minutes of the drive. Amelia watched the colours of green and brown fly past her as Harry drove faster than the speed limit to make a better time. Her brown hair whipped around as the winds tunnelled through the open windows. The smell of cut grass and hay moved with the winds as they drove down the road. Amelia inhaled through her nose, basking in the smell of the fresh air and grass.

‘I feel like the inside of my nostrils were burned with incense and sage being in that church for so long.’ Amelia spoke, breaking the silence between her and the others. Harry looked in the review mirror and smiled.

‘If I didn’t have lung problems going in, I’m positive I do now.’ Harry chuckled, making Amelia smile.

‘You young people always have something to complain about.’  Whitey said, rolling his eyes in the process.

‘Whitey, either you are used to it or that’s the reason your hair is that white.’ Harry tried to hide his big grin after roasting Whitey. Amelia couldn’t help herself and laughed loudly, waking Astrid in the process.

‘At a time like this, what could we be possibly laughing at?” Astrid spoke groggily as she stretched out her arms.

‘I’m old.’ Whitey stated as he rolled his eyes once more. Astrid snorted.

‘Ain’t that the truth?’

They all began to laugh loudly, even Whitey.

A few hours had gone by as the sun began to set. Harry and Whitey looked at the map for any motels to stay at for the night.

‘If I remember correctly, there should be a small little Inn up the road about another 10 to 15 kilometers or so.’ Astrid pointed up ahead of us as he scooched herself towards the middle between Whitey and Harry so she could see the road better. They made their way down the road, manoeuvring around abandoned cars that were scattered on the road. A few minutes later Astrid pointed ahead.

‘There on the left, just pull up towards the vending machine.’

Harry followed Astrid’s directions and parked the car in front of the vending machine.

‘Why here?’

Astrid got out of the car.

‘Because I’m freaking hungry and the snacks that whack job gave us at the church sucks and I need chips.’

Amelia giggled to herself as she, Harry and Whitey got out of the vehicle and walked towards the Inn’s front desk.