Spirit of Sin

Written By:

Anthony “I'm gonna legalize gnome punting as a sport” Lindsey

Prologue

The waves were finally beginning to die down. I had feared for the longest time that they would never return and then I worried that they would swallow everything. Redundant, eh? I would want to agree but I was too grateful that they are splashing up gently against my weary feet.

“Hey, Steven? You awake, buddy?” I asked the figure lying in the sand next to me. He doesn't stir. I grab a handful of water and splash him on the face.

“Wake up.”

He finally stirs after a moment and pulls himself up to his feet. I want to tell him everything, how I feel about what has happened, how glad I am to feel the water on my feet, and how thankful I am that we managed to survive everything that we have been put through.

But somehow, I feel that it really isn't needed. One glance into his brown eyes tells me everything I need to know. He understands. We both have walked through the sands of hell to get to this little lake of water. I don't think it is more than three hundred feet round but at least it is there and not threatening to kill us.

“What's up? I was enjoying something I haven't had in over 400 years.”

Sarcastic as always. He knows just how to get on my nerves. “You know, you can sleep after we finally get back home. Besides, it's been only three weeks since you had a good night's sleep. That's what, 20 something days?”

He snorts at my comeback and begins to stretch. “No. Technically it has been 473 years and seven weeks. That's172,106 days, give or take a few for estimation purposes.”

“Steven, why do you need to be so sarcastic? I lost track of time.” I asked. Not only is he sarcastic as hell, but he's smart enough to make me look like a fool.

“You managed to lose track of how many years? I suggest a planner. School provided you one. Where is it?”

He is really starting to get on my nerves and ruin the moment of happiness I had before I woke him up. There is a grin on his face but I can tell he is just trying to cope with what we have done.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sue me. At least we are alive, isn't that enough? Need to hound me to death too?” That sting seems to crack the grin for a moment and I feel a bit sorry for him.

He plops down in the sand next to me and tosses a rock off the beach into the ocean. “Yeah. The demons didn't finish the job, so I figured I would.”

We exchange a look and both break out laughing. Both of us wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the other. I don't like owing anyone anything but I admit I owe my life to my shallow-faced brother of this adventure.

“Fine. I won't bother healing you next time spikers rip you apart.” I chide.

He takes it with a look of shock and feigned indignation. “And I will let them rip you to shreds because you suck at offensive magic. I mean, dude, you couldn't use a fire spell to save your life.”

I sighed and disregarded the invitation to an argument. “Whatever. You say that but I remember saving your butt more than once with my wussy attack spells.”

He pulls himself back up again and pulls his battered sandals on. He looks at me curiously before I give him a small smile. There really hasn't been much to smile about and every chance I get, I try to at least find some reason to.

“So... Are we staying here or going to risk going home?”

“We'll have to ask the others. I think that Dick might want to stay here and be the hero.”

Steven laughs for the first time since that fateful day at the beach. “You would think that he killed all the demons and slain Sin all by himself by the way he's gloating.”

“Hmmm. Well, are you ready?”

“Lead the way back home, Kane. You managed to defeat a being that almost obliterated Earth and saved the fragments of Humanity. I don't think a little thing like 473 years will stop you.”

I have nothing to reply. I am afraid, completely and utterly frightened of how we got here. Any misstep could kill everyone. What do you do when there are no good options left?

I snap out of my funk quickly. I haven't had a single good option this entire time! Why should I let death stop me now?

“Hehe. Might as well try. There isn't any turning back now!”

There wasn't any turning back.