DEATH JUNCTION

23

It was time.

We stepped out of the car and I couldn't help but stare at the white sand that gritted against my sandals. It was just as I had remembered it. I tried not to think about the distant shouts and screams as my mother and I had basked in the bliss of the cool beach. The last time we had enjoyed ourselves before she died. My breath caught in my throat and I exhaled, trying to still the trembling.

I tried not to think about it but i found it hard not to, still remembering some of the YouTube videos that Pastor Chris had sent to me. I imagined where my mother would have gone after her death, now realizing heaven and hell were real. The thought of my mom stuck in a place where fire and brimstone rained down made stones of dread to drop down my gut.

"Zara, are you alright?"

Realizing I had zoned out, I nodded.

"Do you want to head back?" My dad asked.

"No." I shook my head. The orange rays of the evening sun made the sand shimmer, the light bouncing off of the smooth multicolored pebbles that I could see peeking beyond the sand. We started to walk uphill, the salty air weaving around us as the smooth sway of the ocean continued. Soon the sand gave way to the lumpy, smooth loamy soil and with it the forest.

An oppressive feeling slithered down my spine. The large trees stood over us, imposing figures looking down at us with gnarled downturned branches. I couldn't help the chills that trudged down my spine as I shared a look with them.

"Are you both ready?" Pastor Chris questioned and we nodded.

How could you think of doing any of this?

What if you don't come back out alive?

Are you stupid?

I muttered a short prayer before we descended into the forest. I ducked under a branch dressed in pin straight leaves that stood rigid against the chilling breeze. Roots poked out of the soil, their limbs forming hurdles as we had to watch the ground to avoid tripping over. Slivers of sunlight swept past the canopies of trees and the tingling sensation I had felt in that dream seemed to intensify.

Shadows began to play along tree barks, daunting figures rising and descending in my periphery. My heart thudded faster every time I thought I saw a figure watching me. My stomach tightened again.

What was I thinking?

What have I been thinking?

Did you forget who you are? Then let me remind you, you are a coward.

Did you forget that you can never do anything right?

Did you forget that you are nothing but a disappointment. Nothing you do can change that.

I tried to fight the thoughts that raced through my mind.

You just walked right into a trap.

Your sad and pitiful life ends here.

Don't worry your death would be easy to get over.

"Hey," I hadn't realized I had hunched over until my dad placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Remember the verse I sent you yesterday," Pastor Chris said from in front of me. I nodded, trying to still my breathing.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Reciting it made the turbulent thoughts in the background of my mind to recede, a calm finally enveloping my being.

We continued walking, each step we took made the chills more intense. Soon, we got to the clearing and the chilling sensation reached its pique. The air now had a frigid tone to it, tearing away at my skin as the sun had already set, darkness slowing taking to the scene.

"Look!" Pastor Chris pointed and we saw the dead body but before we took another step, a harsh wind blew against us. My breath caught in my throat as the strange odour intensified before smoke began to draw out, the black fumes swirling at a rate that almost startled me. Fear filled my heart as I faced the smog which soon took shape, plumes of gas reforming into solid.

Within the blink of an eye, the bull had formed in front of us. A tremor spread through the ground and I was swept to the floor, unable to steady myself against the quaking.

Pastor Chris barely wavered as I had to shield my eyes, branches being grabbed by the wind as dust and bits of plastic slowing joining in the frenzy. Leaves fluttered and a low bellow rang in my ears.

The bull picked at the ground again, hooves stretching against the dirt. I tried to rise to my feet before another rumble sent me falling to the floor . My body blared with pain, stones catching my clothes before leaving slight tears and grazes against my skin.

"Are you alright?" My dad shouted as he grabbed me, alarm ringing in his eyes. I could do nothing but cough, my body racking with every dusty breath I took. As soon as I was able to look up, the bull charged at us. My eyes squeezed shut, different thoughts that affirmed my fear stealing my breath away.

You see, you're going to die, to think you thought you could be heroic. How pathetic.

Expecting excruciating pain, I kept my eyes tightly sealed but when I felt nothing I opened my eyes hesitantly before I gasped.

The bull was on its knees. It moaned, eyes livid as it struggled to get back to its feet. The towering stature of the bull now felt miniscule, struggling in front of us as it bobbed its head. Pastor Chris stood right in front of the creature, seemingly unaffected by the otherworldly beast that stared down at him with bloody eyes. He turned to us and gave a smile,

"You did not believe we could do it?" He turned to the bull again.

"That the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth." He said and I couldn't help the awe that gripped me as I watched, the bull cower down, the horn plunging into the dirt as it struggled to raise itself from its fallen state.

"Get up!" He called out to both of us and we shuffled to where he was standing. Now close to the beast, I could see it breathing erratically, grunting as plumes of black evaded my nostrils. I kept close to them, my back still overcome by the chills. He led us to the body of the woman and I couldn't help but notice the strange odor spread farther.

Thrown at the edge of the clearing, the body had black scars tracing the sides, her face barely recognizable as the brown of decay had almost swallowed her features. The dagger that I had seen in the dream sat by the body, now blunt from unuse as the smell of caked blood filled my nostrils. And right at her neck was the necklace that throbbed softly, humming a haunting melody as I could see a tiny wisp of black above it.

Pastor Chris gave me the lighter. I crouched down and pressed the trigger. Suddenly, a tiny flame flickered to life onto its mouth. Then I thrusted its mouth onto the body, causing it to go up in flames. I turned back and I noticed that the bull had disappeared, the large creature no where to be seen. The smallest fragment of a scream flipped through the night as the smell of ash overpowered the foul odor that had once shifted in the air.

The smoke rise up to the sky and for once, I took a deep breath. The air now regained normalcy, the eeriness that it previously held now banished.

It was over.

I smiled to myself and inhaled again.

We did it.

THE END

Chapter word count: 1346
Word count: 34531
Now we are officially done! I am so excited! First, I want to thank God that I was able to finish my once entry at just the right time. This has been a ride but we've reached there finally despite the hurdles. Thank you for accompanying me on this journey and if you liked, vote and comment.