This story is by Katy Hope and was part of our 2019 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.
My sister sits next to me. My arm hurts.The burn from the cigarette stings. When I bring my arm up closer to see the marks, I can still smell the burnt skin. I liked it. I needed it. I had to get them out because I was the chosen one.
The room is cold. The lights are a bright white and make me squint when I look up. The smell of antiseptic stings my nose. When I move, the sheets on the bed make noise against the plastic mattress cover underneath. I didn’t know where this was. I was at home earlier.
I graduated high school last year. A couple months ago, I came home and swore there was something in the television. It seemed like a distant noise, a buzzing mumbling sound. I told my mom there was something wrong with the TV. There wasn’t. I knew that I was hearing something that no one else could.
As the weeks went on, the noise became clearer. And it became clearer to me that I was getting a sacred message. I was chosen.
Why me? Why was this happening? This couldn’t be real, could it? I knew it wasn’t, but the voice was so clear and loud. I had to listen. It taught me what was hidden in the world. I was special and I could see them now. I could see past the disguise to who they really were.
As I lay still on this bed, the little girl mocks me. She tells me I am not who I say I am, that I will never win. I try not to listen to her. I try to listen to the other voice. The good one.
I see a wisp of my hair fall down over my eyes and feel the dark brown curls tickle my nose as it falls. I won’t cut my hair again. I have always worn it short and neatly trimmed. But now that I know, I can’t cut it. Each strand of hair cut, removes a strip of skin from their children’s bodies. It’s excruciating pain and I won’t let that happen.
When I get back home, I will line up cups on the kitchen table to put a protection spell around my house. I have learned the chants of ancient ones to prevent them from taking over. I gravitate and rise to the ceiling as I say the words now. I chant louder to block the voice that howls and screams for me to kill myself. To end it now.
I know my mom was just concerned. She didn’t understand why I could see them and she couldn’t. She seemed scared. But I know she loves me and is always there for me no matter what. I didn’t think they would use her to get to me.
Last night my head was full of the voices. The demon told me he will torture and destroy the entire world. They recognize my power, that I am the only one that can save them. But to do so, I have to mutilate and hurt myself. It’s the only way I can fight them. I knew immediately what I needed to do. I took my mom’s lighter. They would kill them all, everyone I loved, unless I burned them out. When I came downstairs that next morning for breakfast, it wasn’t my mom standing in the kitchen.
It knew I couldn’t eat. They told me during dinner last night, if I took a bite, I was eating humans. My food became their flesh. If I ate, they would die. More would die. I would not eat again. I had made them angry. I was a threat to them.
The figure that stood before me had a face that was torn and wet with blood. The skin from the right side of its face hung down off the bone. Their eyes were pitch black. Blood dripped from the eyes and ears. I could see its face but at the same time it was completely dark.
I could sense the evil. The presence was taking over. They stood completely still, holding a knife at their side. I could feel the hate and disgust as they stared me down. It knew who I was. It knew I was the chosen one.
When I burned my arm last night, I made the demons mad. I expected to see one this morning. I had to protect my family. It had taken my mom, and I knew it was going to kill my parents. But I was here to save the world. I was an Angel. A warrior of God and I would fight for them all.
I ran toward the beast and knocked it to the ground. Its screams pierced my ears as I hit it over and over and over until it stopped moving. Their blood covered my hands. I was safe. They were safe.
I walked into the living room and sat on the couch. I can’t remember how much time passed. When I opened my eyes, my sister was standing in front of me. I asked her where Mom is. She tells me she needs to take me somewhere.
I trust her. She always follows God, so I know she is on my side. I love my sister. When I look at her, I can see the golden light of righteousness that covers her. The light dances throughout her skin and warmly shines back onto my face.
I wanted to give her something before we leave, because she is good. I told her to open her purse. I pushed out the gold and jewels from my hands into her bag. I wanted to fill it full. Give her all I could,even if it took some of my powers. The jewels glistened. They were beautiful. She deserved them.
She took me on a drive and brought me here, to this room.
My left arm is cuffed to the bed railing. I know my sister understands. I was able to fight the demon because I burned it out. For now, we are safe. I am here to save us. I am the chosen one.
I am fully powerful now. I had killed the demon and it made me stronger. God has given me the ability to see them. To know the real truth. To be able to see beneath the skin and seek out those that are evil. The blood that covers my hands was the cure to saving the world.
I stare at the doctor that enters my room. He is dressed in a white coat with short brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard. I notice his eyes. His eyes are a familiar black. I watch him intently as he walks to the sink to wash his hands. There is no amount of cleaning that will clean the evil from his soul.
He turns and looks into my eyes. A small smile forms on his face. He knows who I am. And he knows I know. He looks at my sister. I will protect her.
I watch him intently. I don’t blink. I can hear his thoughts. He wants to kill and rape her. He wants to ruin my plans. I pull at the handcuff attached to the bed. I can break it.
I frantically thrash back and forth using my powers to melt the metal from around my wrist. I chant the ancient words. It is melting. I smile back at the doctor and hear my sister tell me it is okay, for me to breathe and try and calm down. I feel a pinch.
The room starts to dim. My power is working. I feel my eyelids blink heavier as they become harder to keep open. I look over at my sister. She still sits next to me. The burns on my arm still hurt, but I have saved her. She is safe because I am the chosen one.
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