Save My Soul

by K. S. Haigwood

  My dad was taking this a lot better than I thought he would. I even heard Adam mention fishing and hunting. I didn't know if he did any of those things, but he knew my dad did, and I was sure he would buy a gun and a fishing pole if he thought it would help get in my dad's good graces.

  I tried to get Adam's attention a few times, but it was like they were in their own little world; neither of them could hear me. I looked at my mom. "Welcome to my world, Kendra. I never thought you would find someone exactly like your father…but I guess you have." she said with a smile.

  "Adam." He looked up at me like he just realized I was there. I pointed at my watch. "It's eleven o'clock." I tried to tell him with my eyes, that we only had an hour before we had to start keeping a watch out for bad shit to happen. He seemed to get my meaning, because the excitement drained away from his expression.

  He looked at my mom. "It was really nice meeting you, Diane." He shook my mother's hand then looked at my dad. "Robert."

  My dad shook his hand. "Call me Bobby, Adam. You make her bring you back, all right?"

  Adam smiled. "Will do, Sir."

  I gave my parents each a hug and we said our goodbyes.

  Adam was smiling when he got in the car. "Your folks are great. And you were worried your dad and I wouldn't play nice," he joked.

  I smiled. "I am very happy with the outcome. They both like you very much. Now, you'll only have to be around them another fifteen times or so before you can ask permission to marry me."

  His jaw dropped, and I laughed. "You're kidding, right?"

  I laughed. "Yes, I am kidding. My mother would have us married tomorrow if it was up to her, but you may need to see my dad a couple more times to be on the safe side."

  He nodded. I guessed he was okay with that. "How did things go with Aven?"

  I frowned. "They didn't."

  "You don't want to talk about it?" he asked.

  I shrugged. "I'm sure you saw him leave. He confessed to me that he's been in love with me since Junior High. It was news to me. The only reason he doesn't like you is because I love you, and not him. He said he's been waiting for the perfect moment to tell me. I guess he missed that perfect moment. Not that it would have mattered."

  I saw him glance at the clock again. It was the third time in five minutes. It was 11:17 p.m., and I was praying Murry didn't jump the gun. Or maybe I was hoping he would so I wouldn't lose my soul, but then I wouldn't have Adam. I knew one thing for sure; I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

  I turned the radio on and he immediately turned it off. "What if I just drove off a cliff right now? Would that save your soul?"

  The questions stunned me. I really hadn't thought he would suggest such a thing. I took in a deep breath then let it out. I shook my head. "If my death is intentional, my soul still belongs to Mason. I mean Murry. I already thought of that and asked Rhyan to do something, but he couldn't."

  He looked as though he were thinking again. He had a far off look in his eye with his fist up to his mouth. "Adam?"

  He shook his head. "We'll go to my apartment then. It's closer to the Trauma Center, so if something happens, we won't be far away." He looked at the clock again; 11:20. "We have time to go by your place so you can get a few things if you need them. You can bring Hercules if you want."

  I didn't respond; I only looked out my window. Adam had no intention of letting me be alone. I couldn't argue that his apartment would be the best place for me to be.

  We drove to my place so I could get some of my own things and Hercules; I wasn't leaving without him. When we got there, I looked at the clock as I ran through the door. It read 11:28. Hercules was barking, and his short legs were trying to keep up with me as I ran through the house. "Outside, Hercules, outside!" He looked up at me and turned his head sideways. He knew there was something wrong and he didn't want to leave me to go out in the yard to pee.

  "Adam, will you take him outside to do his business before we go so I can get some stuff together?" I said as he walked through my bedroom door. He didn't hesitate; he just picked up the little dog and left the room.

  I grabbed a backpack from under the bed then went to the bathroom for my hair dryer, flat iron, toothbrush and deodorant. I threw them in the pack and went for underwear and clothes. After I had them in the pack and had it zipped up, I grabbed Hercules' food and water bowl and his pet carrier. Maybe Adam would take care of him if something happened to me. I was counting on it.

  I locked my front door then looked up at Adam's car. Adam was sitting in the drivers' side, and Hercules had his paws up on the passenger door, looking out the window at me. I really wanted a photo of that, but who would develop it after I was gone?

  I heard thunder and looked up at the sky. Streaks of lightening danced across the western horizon. I didn't know if it was really a storm or evil coming to get me. I didn't care if it was only a storm. Even a bad one I would welcome, but I was leery of the evil that was lurking in the windy darkness. I knew it was coming for me, and there was nothing I could do about it. Adam didn't seem like he was going to do anything to stop it, so I was up shit creek without a paddle, so to speak.

  I didn't hold it against him. I knew he was scared to death that he wouldn't be able to save me. There was another, louder thunderclap as I got into Adam's car. The first drop of rain hit my arm as I shut the door.

  He didn't waste any time waiting for me to secure myself with the seatbelt. He already had it in first gear before I even shut the door. I looked at him. "I have a dying wish."

  "You're not dying, Kendra." He said sharply, then looked at me and calmed down. I had asked for something and he was curious now. "What do you want? I will give you anything you ask for."

  I smiled and said, "I want to drive this car."

  His eyes got a little bigger. "Can you drive a stick?"

  I gave him a look. "Does a bear shit in the woods?"

  He smiled. "Can you get us to my apartment before midnight?"

  "Faster than you can," I said with a smirk.

  He smiled and slammed on the brakes. "I doubt that, but if you can get us there before midnight, then you can drive my car." He opened his door and got out. I climbed over the console and sat behind the wheel. I had to scoot the seat up a little, then I buckled myself in. I put my foot on the clutch then shoved it in first. I was spinning tires before Adam even shut his door.

  The rain was coming down harder and I searched quickly for the wiper switch. I found it and put them on high. I wasn't trying to get us killed, but I had limited time and the rain was pouring so hard. If it happened, well, it would just happen. I wondered if I'd go to heaven if I truly died by accident?

  "Try to get there safely, Kendra." Rhyan said.

  I took that as a no, or that he really didn't know. I floored it, knowing I was a better driver than most; I was comfortable with speed. I'd only had four speeding tickets in the last year. I guess my profession should have been NASCAR. I smiled as I took a sharp curve at sixty, the back end of the car slid around and I got it under control in impeccable timing.

  "I'm impressed," he said. I looked at him and he was smiling.

  "Glad I can make you happy," I said with a smile.

  "Oh you do, Kendra, you do." He had that seductive look in his eyes again, and I prayed Murry would give me enough time to let him fulfill his promise to me. My heart sped up, but I didn't have time to think about playing with Adam with the storm bearing down on us.

  "You would have really run this sweet ass car off a cliff to save my soul?" I was smiling, but when I looked at him, he wasn't, so I lost mine.

  "Do you really have to ask me if I would?"

  "I was joking. I know you would if you knew it would help."

  He looked back out the windshield. "Just get us to my apartment."

  I pursed my lips. I'd only been trying to make light of a bad situation. I knew he was on edge, but so was I. Arguing wouldn't get us anywhere. I didn't say anything more. I just drove as hard and fast as
the car would allow me on the wet pavement.

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  Chapter Forty-six

  We had two minutes to spare when I pulled into the parking garage. Adam had lost the smug look, and was clearly back in panic mode. I started for the elevator, but he grabbed my hand and led me to the stairwell.

  "The stairs will be safer." I nodded in agreement. If I was going to die, I didn't want it to be in an elevator. I was guessing that wouldn't allow me to have an open casket; maybe, but probably not.

  I glanced at my watch then looked at Adam. It was 12:02, and I was no longer safe from losing my soul to Murry. He squeezed my hand a little tighter and took the steps a little faster.

  We were almost to the fourth floor when I looked up and saw a lone figure in a black hoodie. I came to a halt and almost yanked Adam back down the stairs. The guy was just leaning up against the fourth floor stairwell door.

  Adam blocked my view of the man with his body, and the figure laughed creepily. I knew it was Murry. I looked around Adam as Murry pulled his hood off, revealing his face. I'd been right. Damn!

  Adam was trying to keep me hidden, but I needed to confront this asshole.

  He spoke before I could say anything. "I think it would be stylish to kill the woman you love in the same way I killed your family. Don't you agree, Adam?" Murry pulled out a small black gun from the hands pocket of his hoodie.

  Adam went very still. I had to admit, so did I. "You killed my family?" Adam asked in a disbelieving voice.

  Mason laughed. "I'm a little disappointed you haven't already figured that out. Now…Kendra will come with me and we can do this the easy way, or I'll have to break my promise to her. It really doesn't matter to me either way. I'm usually not one for keeping promises." He pointed the gun at my head, but Adam grabbed my arm a pulled me behind him again.

  "What promise?!" Adam shouted.

  "I promised her that she could have an open casket for her family's benefit."

  "You bastard! I thought you were my friend!"

  Mason made a fake surprised face. "Oh…you didn't get the memo?" His face turned sober again. "You see, Adam, you were my friend; I was your mentor. Coen was beginning to gain complete control of your soul when you were thirteen." He shook his head. "I couldn't let that happen. Now look at what Coen has gone and done. He's introduced you to your soulmate, and you've fallen in love." He shrugged. "It looks as though I have to take matters into my own hands again."

  He began to move toward us and I heard the famous pop. Rhyan grabbed Murry by the shirt collar then slung him up against the wall. "Get her out of here, Adam!" Rhyan shouted as he punched the demon in the mouth then body slammed him on the concrete steps. Murry's foot came within inches of knocking Adam in the head.

  We turned and scrambled down the flights of steps and out into the garage.

  "There is nowhere we can go that he won't find us!" I shouted.

  He started to get in the car, but I shouted at him, "Wait, we need to think of something to do. If we get in that car, he'll just cause us to have an accident, and I will die. If you're injured, how are you going to fix me?"

  He hit the hood of his car with the palm of his hand, then ran both his hands through his hair as he growled and paced. Hercules was barking like crazy in his pet porter, so I set it on the concrete by Adam's car. If something happened to me, I didn't want my dog to get hurt too.

  He stopped and looked at me with tears in his eyes. "Tell me what to do. Where can we go so you'll be safe?"

  I shook my head slowly and my own tears fell. "There is no safe place for me."

  There was a loud pop, and Murry appeared fifty feet from us. He ignored Adam and started for me. Adam ran and threw himself in front of me. There was another loud pop and Rhyan was suddenly in front of Murry. He grabbed the running demon around the neck and placed his palm over the demon's chest. There was a great pop and they were both gone.

  "I don't know what to tell you to do, but I can't hold him much longer. Get to a church. He can't enter there."

  Adam must have heard him too, because he picked Hercules' pet porter up, took my hand with his other, and we ran on foot out of the garage.

  "Where are we going?" My voice was a little winded, I was able to speak at a full out sprint because I ran every day.

  "There's a church about a block from here." Adam's voice, on the other hand, had major windage. Apparently he didn't run every day. It was actually nice to find something about us that wasn't alike, well, except for our professions and religion. I didn't ask him anything else. He needed to save his breath for running.

  I grabbed the pet porter from him. He shot me a questioning glance, then he must have realized that he was slowing me down. I kicked it up a notch and Adam hung in there with me. I could see the great church up ahead of us. Only fifty yards left…now forty…and thirty…twenty left to go. I smiled and kicked it into overdrive, leaving Adam yards behind me. Ten yards from the church, I heard the pop. Murry was directly in front of me and I was going too fast to stop in time. I screamed as I slammed into him. He grabbed me and spun me around. He brought us to a halt and looked up as Adam screamed, "NOOO!" Murry put his hand on my chest and we were gone.

  Back to contents

  Chapter Forty-seven

  When I came to, I was lying on a small bed or cot. I could feel something running down my face and I tried to wipe it off with my hand. I realized I couldn't, because I was tied at all four points to the cot. I quickly scanned the room. It was the same room from my first nightmare I'd had about Murry. I glanced over my body, but the blood wasn't there like it had been in my dream, or it wasn't there yet.

  The room was damp and dim. I assumed I was somewhere underground, like in a basement or cellar of some sort. I could hear Hercules whining in his pet porter, and I sent up a silent prayer of thanks; maybe my dog had a guardian angel too.

  What puzzled me was that I was still alive. Murry had been rambling all week that he was going to kill me on Friday; it was Friday, so what was the hold up, not that I was complaining or anything.

  "Rhyan! Rhyan, can you hear me?" he didn't respond. Dammit!

  I heard a door open and my head shot around to Murry walking through a rusty metal door. "Where am I?" I asked with a shaky voice. He didn't answer me so I asked another question. "Why am I still alive?"

  He stopped by my head and looked down at me. "I wanted to take my time killing you. Adam was rushing me." He pulled out a scalpel from the pocket in his scrubs. I immediately tensed. He took my hand and flipped it over so he could see my wrist. I started fighting to get it away from him, but he only laughed then slashed at my flesh. I didn't feel it at first, then I felt the burning and the blood as it ran over my skin. I screamed and kicked as much as the ties would let me.

  He moved to the other side of the bed. I screamed even louder. He grabbed my other hand, and before I could jerk it away, he slit my other wrist. So, this was how I was going to die. I was going to bleed to death in a damp basement, and then I was going to hell. I had to calm down. I did know that the faster my heart raced, the quicker I would bleed out and die.

  I could hear him laughing to himself. "It won't be long now, Kendra. Your precious Adam is not here to save your life. He could still save your soul from where he is right now though, but we both know he won't do it. He's going out of his mind with worry. Rhyan is trying to find you, but I've blocked you from him and he can't hear you. Therefore, he can't find you. When they manage to find your body, you will have been dead far too long to be brought back. Would you like to come back and watch when Adam and Rhyan find your remains? They won't be able to see or hear you, but you will get to see the two men you love one last time." Murry kissed my forehead and tears began to flow out of the corners of my eyes, forming small puddles in my ears.

  I knew this was the end. I could feel my body growing cold from blood loss. I could feel my blood soaking through the back of the dress I'd worn to my final meal.

  "Plea
se…please, Mason, don't do this." My teeth chattered as I pleaded with him. He didn't respond. I cried. I wailed in anguish and jerked at my bindings. I screamed for help. I shouted for Adam and I screamed for Rhyan. No one could hear me.

  My sobbing slowed and my screaming stopped completely. I was going into shock. I had only one thing left to do. Through it all, I had never given up, and I wouldn't give up until I took my last breath. "God…if you can hear me, I'm sorry for making that deal, and I'm sorry for not being able to save Adam's soul. Forgive me Father, for I have many sins."

  Murry rushed over to the bed from the chair he was sitting in. "Shut up, Kendra! He won't help you. He didn't help Adam's family nineteen years ago, and he's not going to help you now." He leaned down to my ear and whispered, "They prayed, Kendra. Oh, how they prayed for me to spare their lives. As evil as I am, I couldn't bring myself to kill that baby. I'm not so squeamish anymore." He kissed my cheek then stood up straight. "When I shot Adam's mother in the head, she fell forward with the baby in her arms. It never made a sound."

  I ignored Murry and resumed staring at the ceiling as I prayed. My voice was low and sluggish, and I only remembered two prayers my mother had taught me, and I began to say them. They may not help, I would know that I died praying to God. "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."

  "Shut the fuck up, Kendra!" Murry shouted as he threw the scalpel across the room.

  I ignored him and spoke as quickly as I could, because I was getting very cold and it was getting harder to keep my eyes open. "Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors…"

  My voice was trailing off and the chattering of my teeth began to override my words. My eyes closed; I was so sleepy. I could barely feel my body, but I made myself say one last verse, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."