Shadows of Our Sins: (Shadow Purgers Series, Book 1)

by N. Phillips

  Though afraid, I forced my way through a group of vapers and got closer to the hooded man. His eyes were on Lucas, and he foamed at the mouth before grunting and taking a gun out of his pocket. An adrenaline rush took over my body at the sight of the weapon.

  “No, don’t shoot,” I shouted at the top of my lungs, getting the attention of a few people and causing them to panic and react with screams. The crowd began to scatter around the large house, and the gunman, exposed, pushed his way toward the front door and scurried out.

  “Ali?”

  I turned around at the sound of my nickname from the microphone, and that’s when I saw Lucas a short distance away, gasping and approaching me in disbelief. Even though I wanted to stay and warn him about Robyn, I had to take care of a more immediate threat: the gunman.

  “I have to go,” I said to Lucas before running out the house in pursuit. The chase went on down several busy streets, with the clouds in the night sky beginning to spit out pearls of water. Soon, the rainfall intensified.

  The gunman rushed in between two apartment buildings, where a barred gate prevented him from running any farther. He turned around to look at me, his hood dropping to reveal his brown, curly hair.

  “You better get the hell away from me,” he demanded in a devilish voice, pulling the gun out of his pocket.

  I put my hands up in surrender. “Relax, okay? Please, I want to help.”

  “No, it’s too late for that. Someone’s gonna die tonight.”

  I turned my head at the sound of footsteps on the wet concrete. “Lucas?”

  “Ali, thank God you’re safe.”

  The assailant aimed the weapon at Lucas, who stepped in front of me like a shield.

  “Listen, dude; you don’t have to do this. Just put the gun down.”

  “Shut up.” The gunman shifted his target to me by pointing the weapon over Lucas’s shoulder. “That’s your main bitch, huh? Well, I’m gonna kill her and ruin your life, just like you did mine.”

  “I don’t even know you, bro. But okay, you want me? Fine. Just let her go. She has nothing to do with whatever problem you have with me.”

  The guy laughed. “Look at you. Mister cool dude, huh? All the girls just wanna hop on your dick so damn bad. That’s supposed to be my spot, you thief.”

  “Why the hell are you accusing me of stealing? I told you I don’t know you.”

  “Oh, yeah? That’s exactly the damn problem. Nobody knows me, and it’s all because of you. You stole my lyrics and got recognition for them. All of those songs you’ve been posting online and performing at those stupid gigs, they should belong to me.”

  I saw the scarlet eyes of a demon in the dark, secluded area. It crawled out the shadows and surrounded the gunman, growing larger as if it were a bloodsucker leeching off his vexation.

  “Whoever you are, you have to calm down. Lucas is telling the truth,” I said to the gunman before tugging Lucas’s arm to get his attention. “You are, right?”

  “Yes, I’m telling the truth. I don’t know what he’s talking about, Ali. Robyn’s been writing our songs since she… wait…” His sentence trailed off with an expression of revelation written on his face. “She didn’t write those songs,” he whispered to himself.

  The gunman stepped closer, waving the weapon at both of us with a shaky hand and an unbalanced posture. “You have my life, and I’m taking it back. The music, the followers on social media—I want it. It should be mine. You wouldn’t be as popular as you are if it weren’t for me.”

  “Is being famous worth killing someone?” I asked.

  “Yes. If you’re not somebody, you’re nothing. The world looks down on guys like me; someone in their mid-twenties who still lives with his mother and doesn’t own a car. Hell, I don’t even mind that stuff, but people don’t care about how I feel because the media has already implanted in our brains what we should and shouldn’t praise. How do you think it feels seeing people my age and younger becoming successful and doing things with their lives? It stinks.”

  I understood him well. The pressure of wanting to be someone important and not just a random person in the crowd can weigh down on you and crush your confidence. But still, he was going about achieving success the wrong way. All he wanted was the fame; to receive attention and swim in a sea of praise.

  The aura pouring out of him was guzzled down by the demon. Its appetite led to whispers that caused him to vent his frustration even more. “I wrote catchy songs; I just wasn’t getting noticed. Then I heard Goldilocks here using my lyrics for his shitty band’s tracks and got a huge boost in his followers. No one even bothered to listen to me when I told them that this rock star wannabe stole my words. I was hopeless until I found this gun on the ground near my house. I knew I had to use it to kill the prick who did this to me.”

  “Wait a minute,” I began, “I know this is going to sound crazy, but I’m positive a demon manifested that gun so you can carry out your desire to kill Lucas. You were set up.”

  “You think I care?” he cackled. “You think some stupid ass story like that is going to save him?”

  Lucas took small steps toward him. “Dude, I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know they were yours.”

  “Listen to us,” I pleaded. “Don’t let fame and social media define you. The validation you get from it is not real. What’s popular today is irrelevant tomorrow. It doesn’t last.”

  “Liars. It’s all that matters.”

  Lucas grabbed the gunman’s arm and the two tussled over the weapon. Looking on in trepidation, I couldn’t understand why was I so hesitant to do anything about the demon in the background. It snorted in amusement and watched the physical altercation unfold, and when I finally raised my left hand to purge it, not even a shimmer of light released from my palm.

  What’s wrong with me? I thought to myself. My attention shifted to Lucas, who was struck with a forward thrust from the attacker that pushed him against the brick wall. I looked around frantically for a weapon, spotting a steel rod on the ground. The only thing left to do was wait for the right moment to strike.

  The two guys fought hard on the ground, exchanging a few blows before the gunman stood up and backed away with the gun still in his hand. He pointed it down at Lucas, ready to fire.

  On instinct, I swung the rod at his head, making direct contact. Just as he collapsed to the ground, he pulled the trigger, and a loud gunshot rang through the area.

  “Lucas,” I screamed.

  “I’m alright, I’m alright,” he stood up and repeated. “The bullet didn’t hit me.”

  We both looked down at the gunman, watching the blood leak from the side of his head into the puddle of water on the ground. I bent down and grabbed his wrist just as the demon vanished from the scene. The absence of a pulse made me drop it and back away.

  “Oh my God, what did I do?” I asked with my hand over my mouth.

  “You didn’t do anything wrong, okay? This guy was going to kill us. We defended ourselves. Come on; we need to get out of here.”

  Lucas took me by the hand as we escaped from the harrowing incident that would haunt us for the rest of their lives.

  CHAPTER 5

  A sigh of relief escaped my lips as Lucas and I approached my house. Nearing the front door, I tugged his arm and looked him in the eye.

  “Lucas, before I go inside, I want to know something. Is there anything going on between you and that Robyn girl?”

  He brushed my wet hair to the side. “No,” he answered with an intense stare. “I swear, Ali. Honestly, I thought she would be a great asset to the band. That’s all there is to it. I’m so sorry about tonight, too. You don’t know how happy I am now that you’re back.”

  He lowered his head to kiss me, but was met with a face-turning rejection. “I want you to stay away from her,” I demanded, backing away from him. “I don’t care if it sounds unfair or whatever. She’s bad news. If anyone found out she was stealing someone’s lyrics and giving them to the band, you
may as well say goodbye to your reputation.”

  “Yeah, it could be a problem, babe. But right now, we need her as my co-singer. I can’t cut her out the band and ignore her forever, either. She goes to the same school as us.”

  Excuses.

  “Wow, so she means that much to you that you’d go against my decision and not kick her out? What don’t you understand? She’s evil.”

  “Ali, come on, don’t you think evil is a little overboard?”

  Fuck it. I dug into the left pocket of my jeans and took out my house keys. “Fine, whatever. Have fun with your new bitch. You don’t have to worry about me, either. I’ll probably be in prison for murder.”

  He tried grabbing my arm, but I swatted his hand away. “Chill out and keep your voice down,” he muttered. “I told you we had no other choice with that guy. It was him or us, and you can at least be more considerate of the other guys on the band. Yeah, Robyn might have stolen some lyrics, but who doesn’t nowadays? We have over fifty thousand subscribers online right now. We’re really taking off, and I don’t want our momentum to fade because you think Robyn’s possessed by a demon.”

  “She is, Lucas. I felt it, okay? Why can’t you believe me?”

  He looked away, sliding his hands into his cargo jean pockets. “The band means too much to me right now. It’s too important to give up. I’m sorry.”

  His words were like daggers piercing my soul. Feeling betrayed, I pushed him back with force and glared. “I’m done talking to you.”

  I unlocked the front door and walked inside without giving him a second look. Premature tears had begun to form in my eyes as I shut the door and started walking up to my room.

  “Aliyah, you’re soaking wet,” my mom shrieked from the top of the staircase. “Where was Lucas? Why didn’t he drive you home?”

  “His car broke down.”

  And the lying queen strikes again.

  “Alright, fine. You better be telling the truth. Go upstairs and get out those clothes before you get sick, because despite me telling your father not to, he signed you up to return to school in two days.”

  Great, back to that place. I nodded and continued walking to my room when I stopped after seeing my sister step out the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head.

  “Mya, hey. I missed you, sis.”

  I approached her with open arms, but she took a step back and turned away.

  “Yeah, hi,” she said before walking into her room and closing the door. Feeling disregarded, I wanted to knock on the door and speak with her, but decided not to. The overwhelming events of the day had already taken its toll on me. I figured the best option was to take a shower and call it a night.

  My eyelids opened and closed repeatedly as I laid in bed later that evening. With my body wrapped in the sheets like a caterpillar in a cocoon, my consciousness was beginning to fade until a blood-curdling chill sent shivers down my spine.

  Quickly sitting up and observing the dark room with apprehension, I got out the bed and stepped in front of my closet. It was then that the demon’s red orbs glowed after sliding the door open.

  I raised my hand in its direction, hoping to pacify it with ease, but the light that would radiate in my palm refused to shine and disperse.

  “Why isn’t it working?”

  “You killed someone today. You can’t save or protect anyone.”

  The demon’s raspy, sinister voice echoed inside my head. It began to cackle as I backed away in terror.

  “I-It was an accident.”

  “You don’t believe that. Do you think Lucas will take the blame for you if the police discover the body? He won’t. He has someone new in his life now.”

  “Shut up. Just shut up.”

  The creature stomped out the closet and continued its intrusion into my thoughts and emotions. I covered my ears and turned away, but what good did that do? This thing was in my mind, and I had no way of getting it out.

  “He’s sleeping with Robyn right now.”

  “No, Lucas loves me. I don’t believe anything you’re telling me.”

  “I’m telling you what you tell yourself. Lucas won’t be alive for much longer. Robyn will devour his heart. He’s going to die. Just like Valeria.”

  Nervous, hopeless, and unhinged, I rushed out my room and ran into the bathroom, praying that it wouldn’t follow me. Powerless to stop my tormentor, I curled into a fetal position inside the bathtub and trembled thinking about the demon’s words.

  He’s going to die. Just like Valeria.

  The next morning, I returned to my room in anguish and contemplated my relationship with Lucas while lying in bed with Cinnamon. I couldn’t entirely put my mind at ease after last night, but at least the demon was gone for now.

  Brushing Cinnamon’s fur and rubbing her head, I asked, “He’s going to be okay, right, girl?”

  She responded with a whimper, which didn’t do me any favors. I sighed and leaned my head back on the headboard.

  “I can’t stay here and do nothing.”

  Putting our argument aside and calling him was the right thing to do. I grabbed my cell phone from underneath my pillow and dialed his number. The phone rang four to five times before there was silence on the other end.

  “Lucas?” I asked in worry, feeling my heart beat faster.

  “He’s busy,” a female voice answered. “I see you’re still alive. Too bad so much has changed since you been gone. I don’t think Lucas has time for you anymore.”

  This bitch.

  “I know this is Robyn. You better put him on the damn phone right now or I swear I’m gonna kill you, slut.”

  “Oh, so now you want to kill? That’s funny, but you shouldn’t make threats like that. You might get your ass whipped. Again. Now wait and let me see if he’s able to talk.”

  Slurs of profanity spewed out my mouth like a volcano. My blood boiled as I waited for him to answer the phone, feeling the urge to throw my cell across the room before finally hearing his voice.

  “Ali? Hey.”

  “What the hell are you doing with her, Lucas? Where are you? Tell me right now.”

  My frustration couldn’t be contained. I banged on the headboard with a closed fist, causing Cinnamon to grow uneasy and jump off the bed.

  “Babe, I’m at the studio. Just calm down, alright? The other guys are here too; you can talk to them if you don’t believe me.”

  “She was taunting me. Are you gonna let her do that? She’s a fraud; get rid of her.”

  “Look, I’m not gonna allow her to mess with you, and I’m not gonna let her get away with taking that guy’s lyrics, either. But I can’t let her go right now. I told you this.”

  I couldn’t believe him. He was really choosing her over me.

  “And why can’t you?” I yelled before calming down. “You know what? I’m starting to realize that all you care about is the band and your new girlfriend. After what happened last night, I need you now more than ever. I can’t get over something like that so easily. But fine, whatever. I see where your heart is, so I’m done. Go do what you want.”

  My finger was inches away from ending the call when I heard him shout. “Wait. You’re right. You’re absolutely right. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want to lose you, but we need Robyn for a few more tracks until the demo is done.”

  “You don’t need her. The song you played for me in the hospital was just fine until I heard her disgusting voice. She has evil inside of her, and I just want you safe.”

  “Listen,” he huffed. “I’ll be there as soon as the next session is over, alright? I promise. Don’t give up on us.”

  I rolled my eyes and remained silent for a brief moment before saying, “Fine.”

  Sitting in the passenger side of his car, I rested my head back against the vinyl seat and stared out the front window with my arms crossed. I couldn’t wait to hear more of his lame excuses.

  “You’re going to be like this the whole day, huh?” he asked. He placed
his hand on my knee, and you can bet I jerked my leg away. “So much for wanting me here.”

  “Yes, Lucas, I want you here. With me. I’m trying to protect you. Why can’t you trust my instincts?”

  “Alright, answer me this: was there one controlling Robyn last night?”

  He couldn’t be serious. Was he still questioning me and trying to find holes in my reasoning to keep this chick?

  “No, but I’m telling you, she’s dangerous. Demons might start manipulating her, and who knows what sort of sinful desires she has.”

  “Look, Ali, I know I said I was cool with you still helping people and fighting evil spirits, but after seeing you put your life in danger, I don’t know if I can handle it. You always make it sound so easy when you go out and do that stuff, but last night, you could’ve been killed.”

  I hated when we’d argue and he’d make a good point. He was right; something was definitely up last night. But it didn’t matter; he needed to leave Robyn alone for good and let me continue doing what I do best.

  “I had it under control,” I mumbled. “Okay, fine, something’s different about me since I came out the hospital, but I’ll get back on track. I don’t want people to die like my brother because of some demon, and I don’t want what happened to Val to ever happen to anyone else. So that’s why I have to keep fighting, Lucas.”

  He groaned and slouched back in his seat. “Okay, can I ask you a question? Do you honestly think Val would want you fighting critters from hell like you’re a damn superhero? No. She would want you either by my side, cheering me on, or finding an actual career path after graduation.”

  Wow. He went there.

  “Oh, an actual career path? You mean like the one you’re chasing after with the fake lifestyle and fake fans who substitute for real friends until your ten seconds of fame is up? No thanks. Making it big is your dream, not mine. That’s why you won’t kick that hoe off the band, isn’t it? You want her so damn bad because you think she can help you achieve your unrealistic dream of being somebody important in the music industry. That’s it, am I right?”