Lisa stood there, battered and shaken staring at the knife below her.
"..."
In that moment she was feeling so many emotions...
Fear, anger, hatred...
This bastard had admitted to brutally torturing her father, and killing him in cold blood, she pictured his state that he was in when he did it, how can someone be so cruel? So sadistic? So screwed up?
"Go on... Take your revenge."
And he was offering her to let her take his life, why? What could he possibly have to gain?
She grabbed the knife and pondered wether or not to do it. "It would be so easy wouldn't it ms Elwood?... Just one little flick of the rist
to my throat, or maybe you could plunge it into my stomach, over and over... As many times as you'd like-"
She pictured it, stabbing him on his face, his eye's, his stomach and private's, avenging her father and doing the world a favor by removing this scum from it.
But...
It hit her, that's what he wanted...
Because he managed to turn the daughter of Thomas Elwood into a ruthless avenger, unlike those before her, who gave there enemies a chance to repent, to forgive them just as Jesus commanded.
'But does he deserve forgiveness?' she thought.
This man has took her father from her after all, and not only that but the lives of so many other's, he was about to sacrifice a child to Baal, And no doubt he would want to kill again after this. 'He needs to die.'
She stepped closer to him.
'he's gotta die.'
She raised the blade and aimed it right at his chest. 'he has to pay for what he's done!'
He grinned.
"Yes! Do it!"
She was about to do it but then...
She stopped, she rembered what her father taught her, it's not up to us to condem sinners, even the most vile, detestable death worshipping killers, no, It is for God.
And the words of the Lord came to her.
"But if you do not forgive men there sins, then neither will your father in heaven forgive yours."
And while she hadn't forgave her him yet, if she cut him down now she might never have the chance to forgive him in the future, and he might go to hell. And dispight her hate for him, she wouldn't wish that on anyone.
She looked upon the blade, and with all her strength she threw it to the side. "No-"
Her gaze met his.
"I won't kill you, I refuse too."
His smile faded.
"But... I beg of you, for your sake.
Stop this... All of it, let that girl go and destroy this high place and repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ. Inspite of everything you've done, I know he'll forgive you. Not because your good, but because he's good... And rich on love and mercy."
He just stared at her for a moment, there was a mix of disappointment, anger, and amazement in his eyes.
Then he spoke.
"No. I will not." He reached out his hand and a black tendril shot out and rapped around her neck. "!"
"I should have known you didn't have it in you to do what your father was too weak to do, no matter. I wasn't going to let you kill me anyway- I just wanted to see if you'd break that moral code of yours. Guess I was wrong."
He shrugged.
"But like your father, I will make you die a horrible, slow, painful and humiliating death... But not before sacrificing that child. You will watch as I slice her neck and drain her blood and light her body aflame, And you will watch knowing you couldn't do a damn thing to-"
"Hey!"
Suddenly a voice called out.
He turned his attention towards the entrance.
And there, standing in the doorway was Jack Turner.
His fists clinched, his gaze filled with anger.
"Let. Her. Go." He sed in a commanding tone.
Lisa saw him.
"Jack-" her voice was strained.
"N-no."
"I sed put Lisa down!"
He yelled.
Nicolai looked at him curiously,
"Who are you?... And how do you know ms elwood?"
Jack didn't say anything, he just stood there looking angry. The cultest scanned his eyes over the boy. Then he recognized his features, Reginald had told him what the boy who the seal manifested on looked like.
Spiky brown hair, a rather lean athletic build, green eyes with an intense gaze, and a childlike face. "You were there the night Lisa first fought my apprentice yes?"
Jack sed nothing still.
"He told me of you, he told me of how the so-called 'most high' raised you from the dead, And how he gave you a seal on your hand."
"..."
He released the tendril around Lisa's neck and manifested three more and rapped them around her arms and legs and held her up.
"Gasp!"
Lisa looked up at Jack, Nikolai was walking towards him, this was exactly how it was on that night he was killed right in front of her, And Nicolai was a much more powerful sorcerer then the man in black, fear took over her, jack was going to be killed again!
She knew it!
Yes God raised him from the dead, and yes he defeated a goblin Lord but, this sorcerer was on another level. He was gonna die, only he wouldn't do it in one blow, he'd be slow and sadistic about it. She couldn't bare for that to happen to him, nicolai took her father and now he was gonna take the love of her life too! And there's no garentee God was gonna bring him back this time too.
She yelled out.
"JACK! RUN! GET OUT IF HEAR GO! GO!
RUN!-" she begged and pleaded.
"RUN JACK! PLEASE! HE'LL KILL YOU-"
"SHUT UP LISA!" Jack barked.
"..."
"I don't care if I die... I don't, all that matters is that your safe and that girl is too. And if I die in the process of saving you then who cares!"
"Well, well, hehe... I see. So you must really care for her? What is she your lover? It must be killing you to see her like this...
Helpless and at my mercy."
He rapped a tendril around her stomach and tightened it constructing her air.
"!"
Jack gritted his teeth.
"Tell you what, ill let her go, but only if we get to have a sacrifice... "
"What?"
"!"
Nicolai smiled.
"Yes, you sed it yourself... You don't care if you die, so long as she and that girl on that alter is safe... So... Hears my deal, it's you... Or the girls."
"!" Lisa with whatever air she has left yelled.
"Jack! Don't do it!" The black tendril tightened even more, pushing out more of her breath.
"You!"
Nicolai chuckled.
"Come on, it's more then a fair trade, one life to save two... The needs of the many out way the few as they say, so... What will it be... You, or them?"
"..."
A few seconds past... Then-
"Yes. Take me instead."
The tendril loosed on her she got her air back in seconds, she screamed. "NO!"
"Brothers. Go on, feel free to execute him in anyway you please."
The cultest gathered around him.
Jack kept his eyes on Lisa...
"I'm sorry."
He uttered.
"Your life is worth more then mine."
He smiled as they began to chant and black energy began to form into humanoid body's, trying to comfort her even though he was afraid.
"Just know that... The last few weeks in my life have been the best and... You made my dream come true..." The figures formed arms, heads, fingers and eyes, razer sharp teeth and eyes that looked like voids. Jack knew they were demons.
"The reason why I wanted to become a hunter was to be a hero... That's the truth...
And well, I got to be your's... So... Thanks."
He wasn't sure if God would bring him back or not, so he figured it was the last chance to tell someone his dream, and who better then the girl he loved, and it might be the last time to tell her what's in his heart.
"I love you Lisa elwood... "
The demons smiled as they walked forward towards him.
"Jack... " Tears bagan to run from her eye's.
"AHHHHHH!!!!! "
Jack screamed as the leapt onto him and began to bite and rip into his flesh.
Lisa looked in shock and horror.
"AAAHHH!!!! RAAAAHAAA!!!"
They ripped off his arm and opened his guts and began to feast on his intrails, blood and gore stained the floor.
"No... " All Lisa could say is "no." Over and over. She tried to look away, but Nicolai teleported right in front of her and forced her to look. "Watch."
"No- no- no- no-"
By the end of it... Jack's insides were completely devourerd, His empty carcass was all that remained.
Lisa shook as her eyes became blank and lifeless... He was gone.
"Jack... "
"Well, it's done. Your boyfriend must have really loved you to give his life for yours... However, it was in vain."
Lisa didn't move her head. She just kept her gaze opon the boy she loved who laid there lifeless. "Jack... Jack... Jack... "
She uttered his name over and over, as if to try and bring him back by calling his name.
"I'm sorry." She hung her head, if she hadn't been so stubborn he wouldn't have been killed, they could have gotten help, but no.
Her pride wouldn't let her, and this is the result. "Oh my darling I'm so sorry... "
She cried.
Nicolai laughed.
"It looks like your completely broken, you don't even care anymore that she's gonna be killed, or you...don't worry, I'll give you this mercy and let you be killed before the girl and you'll be reunited with your love in 'heaven'."
He came close to her, grabbing the gold dagger got ready to stab her.
Lisa didn't care, she only wanted her darling back. "Jack... Jack... My Jack." She mutterd underneath her breath.
He was about to strike. But.
"No..."
"What?" That voice, it came from behind him. He looked.
"No..." It was weak, but filled with determination...
"It... It can't be!"
The boy's torso was still ripped open, but his insides were glowing. he slowly got to his legs, they were shaking...
They were weak, but he was raising,
In place of his arm was a white flame that seemed to be slowly getting more and more intense, the demons themselves could sense what was happening, it was there creator, he was healing him. The boy's eyes began to glow bright white.
"How!?"
"Get... Away... From... Lisa..." His voice became more intense. More powerful.
A white orah was emanating from him, Lisa looked. "Jack?"
Her love was standing, he was alive.
And he didn't look like some zombie, or weak, his guts exploded into white flames, the flame's formed a new left arm.
golden Hebrew letters appeared on his hand as his torso was completely healed, entrails and intestines formed out of light and flame and his guts closed over, The demons shreaked and fell on there backs.
Her love had came back to her, God had brought him back, and he seemed more powerful then ever, nikolai was shaken at the sight of this.
He quickly put The knife to her throat and yelled. "Touch me and I'll kill her! Right here right now!"
Jack stood there stoically.
Then he heard a voice, a still small voice.
'command him in my name to not touch the girl.'
Jack obeyed.
"I command you... By the power of Christ-" his arm raised, "Don't you lay a finger on her."
Suddenly. He dropped the knife, uncontrollably. "What?!"
Then Jack added another command. "By the name of Jesus Christ, the son of God I command you to shut your mouth and not speak. So you will not be able to utter any spell to invoke a false deity or demon."
And like that. His mouth shut, he couldn't speak. 'no! His.... His God is giving him power over me!' further more he couldn't even move.
Then, The voice in jacks head commanded once again. "Cross yourself."
Jack didn't know why God asked this, but he knew that obeying him was the only way to get out of this mess.
So... He did it.
"In the name of the father-" his three fingers pressed together and he raised his hand to his forehead, and then his stomach.
"The son-" his right shoulder.
"And the holy Spirit-"
His left...
The cultests couldn't move, nor could the demons, nor anyone in that room, For suddenly the air changed, wind and white fire began to swirl around Jack, a power beyond comprehension was entering the room and settling upon Jack.
* * *
"So reverend maxwell-" sed the bishop of Delaware as he looked down at him from his seat in the council of seven's meeting room.
"You believe that your new apprentice might be the one?"
Billy nodded. "Yes, I'm sure. After all, not only did the scan indicate that he has high amounts of divine energy in his left hand, but he was able to defeat a goblin Lord, he has never fought a goblin a day in his life. Let alone a goblin Lord. Especially one with high regenerative abilities."
"That may be so reverend- " sed the bishop.
"But still, it could have been a fluke."
The bishop of Missouri spoke up.
"Now hold it, didn't ryuji takinawa saw it too? He sed he saw his hand glow, now remember in Deuteronomy nineteen through fifteen it clearly states that the account of two or more witnesses is valled, not only that but a few citizens saw him, they sed he stabbed it and plunged his hand into it, and it 'it was burned alive and exploded into snow.' something like that. So I say he must have some kind of seal-"
"Yeah, but if so what kind of seal?" Sed the bishop of Texas.
Billy spoke up.
"I'm certain he has the seal of anointing."
They all paused.
"Reverend-"
The bishop of New York spoke up finally.
"If what your saying is true, then that means the cult of mal are close to creating their... "
"Yes. I know."
"... Are you sure your not imposing this on the boy because of-"
"No." He cut him off, not wanting them to mention Her.
"I wouldn't want to wish this burden on anyone, no... I've seen what this burden can do to someone... "
They all were silent for a few more seconds. Then the bishop of New York spoke once more. "Regardless... We can't be sure until he's able to summon the weapon of old-"
* * *
The wind became so intense it was like a haracaine, the fire engulfed his body but didn't devour him.
The demons howled in terror and the cultest were completely in shock, Nicolai was completely frozen.
the fire was both white and silver, Jack's eyes glowed so bright they were like headlights. Or something even brighter,
Then jacks finger's subconsciously began to curl, as if to hold an imaginary weapon, and then, A sword made of pure silver energy formed, it was a longsword, with angelic imagery and a cross shape and scripters across the entire blade. Beautiful, powerful, completely terrifying. As if he were welding a weapon made by the Almighty himself.
Jack looked upon it's as the winds died down, yet the flames remained.
"..." The demons were able to stand, Jack looked opon them.
He assumed a stance, then with no hesitation, came at them.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
He had cut down three of them so fast and so easy, it was like it was nothing.
The other demons shreaked and tried to run but he appeared in front them. "There's no escape."
He slashed through them all, they all were burned alive in holy flame until they were no more.
The cultists panicked, they began to shoot as many spells at him as possible, black energy shot at him, he disappeared and ran so fast he couldn't be seen, he ran and bounced from wall to wall, then knocked each of them out with one punch each.
"!"
And it wasn't the speed of an average hunter no, Lisa had broken the sound barrier multiple times, but jack was going much faster, so fast that his speeds rivaled ryuji,
Nicolai looked as his congregation was being taken out by this boy who has become a flaming streak of white light.
He grabbed one and slammed him into the ground, then another one and punched him so hard his ribs cracked, then another he threw into the air and appeared in the air in front of him as he was going up and kicked into the ground, making a small crater.
"HAA!!!!!" He ran through all of them like a streak of light and knocked them all out, eventually leaving just one.
he stood before the man in black, the one who had killed him the first time.
The man in black was still stoic. He pulled out his daggers and prepared for a fight.
Jack had no fear, he rushed at him and punched his gut so fast it was as if he teleported, the man in black fell.
"You didn't stand a chance. Not against the power of God."
Then he looked at Nicolai,
And gave two more commands.
"Now, free her and let me take the girl on the alter and Lisa home... Then you take your men, this idol, and leave town and never return. In the name of Jesus."
She dropped to the floor. "Oof-!"
Jack walked over to her and leaned down.
"Lisa... "
"Jack... Is it... Really you?"
"Yeah... " He smiled at her and took her hand.
"Let's get that kid and go home."
"Yeah."
They walked over and Jack cut her ropes and helped her off the alter. "Thank you... Are you... A super hero?" The little girl asked.
"I'm Jack Turner, this is Lisa Elwood, and... No, were just monster hunter's... Just, I. Wouldn't go telling your sister that. And btw, I know your sister, she goes to my school..."
"Oh... Your that Jack Turner."
"Huh?"
"My sister talks about you all the time."
"Oh."
Lisa felt a pang of jealousy hit her, but she was so traumatized at that point the only thing she wanted to do is cling to Jack and get home.
And so they left.
* * *
By the time they left the sewer the flames died down and the sword disappeared, Jack and Lisa walked Sarah to her house telling her to tell her sister and mother that she was kidnapped by "not magic welding pagan God cultists." But a serial killer. (Not that it's better. It's just more believable.) And they found her in the back of his trunk and ran away.
On there way they stopped at a doller store and got Jack a new T-shirt and track pants, Lisa got it for him and he had to change in the bathroom and scrub as much blood off him as he could, on the way in the store clerk gave him a suspicious look, he told them he had gone hunting and shot a deer and stunned it himself it bled all over him.
Both girls vouched for him so he gave a shrug and let him change, Then they left and turned a left at the next block.
"Ok... Got it... "
She looked at Jack and Lisa.
"Thank you both again for saving me."
Lisa shook her head as she walked.
"No, it wasn't me who saved you. It was Jack-"
Jack spoke up.
"wasn't me either..."
"Then who?" The girl asked.
"It was God. He gave me the ability to save you both, and he saved me too... "
"Oh." The little girl looked at him and gave a nod.
Eventually they made it to Sarah's house on the other side of town, Jack knocked on the door and stood with Sarah beside him and Lisa stood behind him.
Knock- knock-
"Coming-!"
The door unlocked and opened, and there was Miranda lain with her blonde hair done in a bun, no makeup on but still pretty, wearing a blue hoodie on and skinny jeans.
"Jack-?"
She looked down and saw Sarah, her eyes widened. "Sarah-?"
"Sis!"
"Sarah!"
They embraced, she hugged and kissed her little sister and tears bagan to form.
"Where were you?! I've been worried sick!"
"It's a long story but-"
She looked at jack and Lisa and smiled.
"They found me."
Miranda looked at Jack and leaped onto him and hugged him.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!."
Jack blushed.
"No problem... Lisa helped too."
She drew back. "Lisa?"
Lisa stepped from behind Jack, her expression unreadable. "Hey."
"Hey." There was a tension between them, silence fell upon them all.
"Well... Thanks... "
Miranda walked back in and smiled at Jack.
"Really, Im really grateful to you both. I'll see you tomorrow at school... "
Then the door closed.
Jack walked down the step's and looked at Lisa, he could tell there was something bothering her.
"You ok?"
Lisa looked at him.
Then...
She hugged him.
"No... I'm not." She began to cry again.
"He's dead... My father... Daddy's dead... "
Jack rapped his arms around her.
"And... You nearly died all because I wanted to face him myself... You did die... "
Actually he didn't. His heart wasn't ripped out and it was still beating while he was on the floor. But he didn't wanna tell her that, he knew that she needed to cry, many nights he cried by himself over his grandfather, and he
Wanted someone to hold him.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Oh Jack I'm sorry..."
"It's ok... "
"No it's not!"
"Lisa... Listen... " He Wiped her tears away.
"No matter what, I'll always be hear to save you, even if I'm hurt. It doesn't matter, as long as your safe... Then I'll do whatever it takes.
Because... I'm yours and... Your mine."
She sniffled a little and barreid her face into his chest. "Thank you... But... I promise, I'll get stronger and I'll be able to protect you too."
She held on a little longer but then she looked up at him with those big blue eyes and blushed. "Jack um... Look, d-don't get the wrong idea but... Um... I... I don't wanna be alone tonight so... Can I sleep over with you?"
He blushed too.
'She wants to spend the night with me? I know she doesn't want to do anything but still, it's still embarrassing, having a girl staying over at my house. Plus I feel so shy too, and nervous but-'
He thought.
'she needs me.'
"Alright... Come on."
He grabbed her hand and led her back to his townhouse.