Page 29 of Rescuing Air

No—killing myself couldn’t be the only way out of this. The angels wouldn’t create something and come to personally tell me I was stronger than I realized without it being true. The beings of Heaven couldn’t lie, even if I was just a human. I was also blessed. I couldn’t let the Dark Lord take more from me. Taking my own life would be the easy way out but I would be failing so many people. Sure, I would be free of this whole mess, but then who would protect the rest of the world?

“You’re right, I do have to live with the choices I’ve made, and that is exactly what I plan on doing. This battle isn’t over until I breathe my last breath and that moment isn’t now,” I snapped, reaching for my power.

Normally in this place, I could never find my own power but something told me that was a lie. Sure enough, there it was, glowing brightly within me. This whole time, I’d been able to use it but up until now, I hadn’t believed in myself or realized the lie that it was trapping me here with the Dark Lord. The master of lies and deception had planted the idea and fear that I couldn’t save myself in this darkness, but the truth was, I was the light. The beacon of truth that would lead others away from the darkness. The true power of Synergy, combining all the elements together to make them stronger, pushing back the darkness in the world. Alone, light could be powerful but when you spread that light, it became unstoppable.

“This will be the last time we’re meeting like this, Dark Lord. The next time will be face-to-face in battle when I wipe you from existence. Darkness can’t thrive where there is light, and I plan to shine brighter than the sun!” With that proclamation, I let my power burst forth from me, purging my body of the darkness I let live within me, and the lies that I believed kept me from my full potential. The Dark Lord roared in anger as I thrust him out of my mind and body, sealing the opening he’d been using to get into my mind so he would never again have access.

Gasping, I sat up on the squeaky cot, feeling like I was burning alive as a sheen of sweat covered my body. The burning became more intense, and it reminded me of having the Dark Lord carve all those symbols into my skin, making me scream as I clutched myself. Just when I thought I couldn’t take it any longer, the pain stopped, and I was left panting and sobbing into the blanket still wrapped around me.

What the hell happened to me?

I slipped an arm out of the blanket to push my hair out of my face when I noticed that it was back to normal. Scrambling out of the bed, I stood and yanked my shirt over my head and looked over my skin to find that all the marks the Dark Lord put on me were gone. My power had burned them away, just as it had the remnants of darkness I’d let live inside me for so long. It was proof that I was no longer demon tainted, but free from his hold in all ways. This time when I dropped to my knees and sobbed into my shirt, it was tears of joy. Finally, I was free! I’d been trapped in that darkness, letting it fester in me, giving him power where he had none.

The sound of running footsteps echoed in the quiet and I quickly tugged my shirt back over my head.

“What the hell is going on in here?” a guard yelled as he approached my cell with his cattle prod out.

How did I even answer that? Oh, sorry, I was just purging the Dark Lord from my body. It was just a nightmare? Did they even know they were working for a Prince of Hell?

“Sorry, it was just a nightmare. It happens after you’ve faced down the devil,” I answered, getting to my feet and wiping off my cheeks with the sleeve of my shirt. “So sorry to have bothered you as you stand guard, keeping me locked away for no good reason.”

I’d reached the point where I would no longer keep silent about what was happening here. Makoto was a traitor and either his men knew it and followed him or they were idiots who believed everything they were told.

“Just keep it down. No one likes to listen to someone screaming like their soul is being ripped out of their body,” the guard muttered as he walked away.

“Oh, do you know what that sounds like from personal experience, or have you been allowed to keep your soul? Has the great Makoto kept some of his men out of the Dark Lord’s clutches? I wonder what system he uses to choose between who he’ll banish to Hell for eternity and who can live as a normal human for just a little longer?”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” the guard said as he stopped and turned to face me. “The world is going to change and I plan to be on the winning side, no matter what it takes.”

“Really? What makes you so sure that this is the winning side? See, if someone told me I was working for a Prince of Hell, I’m not sure I would trust anything that is promised. Demons are known for being the best liars and manipulators, kind of a rule for them, I believe,” I taunted. Clearly, being freed from the Dark Lord had removed all my fears about my imment torture and death with the way I was spouting at this man.

The guard laughed at me. “You think I should put my trust in a group of kids who aren’t even out of college yet? Yeah, that sounds like such a better idea. Makoto has saved my life and never steered me wrong in the ten years I’ve worked for him. Try selling your bullshit to someone who might believe you. Enjoy the time you have left. I hear Makoto has big plans for you and none of them are helping to keep you alive longer.”

Not having a response to that, I let him leave and I returned to the cot, feeling a weariness in my bones. I knew Makoto wouldn’t bother to keep me around much longer and I had a feeling that it would become an even shorter length of time once the Dark Lord had zero control over me. At least when I slept, I wouldn’t have to worry about him visiting my dreams ever again. It would finally be safe for me to rest. I wasn’t delusional enough to think all my nightmares would be gone, but I would be safe. This time when I closed my eyes, I pulled up images of the guys and moments that we’d shared with each other as a group and on our own, hoping to lose myself in happier times.

eighteen

Lailah

“Time to get up,” a voice snapped, shattering my sleep.

Cracking open an eye, I found two men standing just inside my cell door, ready and waiting for me to fight back. Too bad for them I wasn’t going to play that game. It was what they expected from me and I wasn’t going to give them what they assumed I would do. Instead, I slowly sat up, yawning and stretching before I got up and walked over to them.

“Are you doing cuffs this morning or is the fact you’re much larger than me effective enough for you?” I asked before I was close enough for them to grab me.

“Do we need to cuff you or are you going to do as you’re told?” one asked, tapping the cattle prod on his hand menacingly.

“Intimidation it is,” I answered before stepping forward. “I assume we’re going back to the same room I fought the demon yesterday? Makoto did say he wanted to do lots of testing and I doubt he got enough information yesterday... was that yesterday? With no windows it’s hard to tell how long I’ve been held against my will.”

“For someone being held captive, you sure are awfully chatty,” the man on my left muttered.

I flashed him a smile. “Funny thing about being caged is it puts things into perspective. I figured out that I refuse to die being scared. Honestly, I’ve gone up against the Dark Lord several times and you’re just not all that scary anymore.”

“You’ve gone head-to-head with the Dark Lord?” The right guard scoffed. “I don’t think so. You wouldn’t be alive if that was the case.”

“Ah, so you’ve met the Prince of Hell?” I inquired, raising a brow at him.

The man opened his mouth to say something but Makoto appeared in the hallway. “What is taking so long? I asked you to bring her to the training room right away and here I find you gossiping in the halls.”