Chapter 11
As we stepped into the woods, darkness enveloped everything, and the only illumination was the full moon's soft glow.
Making our way through the dense woods, we had been searching for my friend Micah for hours, and uneasiness clung to me like the cold. The only sound was the crunch of snow beneath my boots.
The moonlight began to fade behind clouds blowing in from the north. We had to find Micah before the storm that looked to be forming arrived.
Suddenly, something glimmered in the distance. I quickened my pace and found a keychain lying in the snow.
"That's Micah's birthday gift from me. Becky exclaimed, "
My heart began to race.
We immediately followed the direction of the prints in the snow pointed. The further we went, the more worried I became. I couldn't shake off this sick feeling in my stomach.
Suddenly, we heard a faint cry for help in the distance.
It was Micah.
We bolted toward the sound, shoving through branches and bushes. Her voice grew louder, more desperate, though nearly drowned by the howling wind.
The moon had vanished behind thick clouds, and darkness draped everything. Beck and I reached the edge of a mountain. Snow obscured our vision, but through it, we saw Micah's silhouette clinging to the cliffside, dangling above a sheer drop into the icy plunge below.
Without hesitation, we rushed to her aid.
Grabbing her arms, we pulled with everything we had. Micah winced in pain but managed to say she'd slipped off the side while wandering in the dark.
Micah was in excruciating pain, but she managed to tell me that she had stumbled off the side of the mountain in the dark while in the woods.
The winds grew loud, and the snow picked up blizzarding winds, signaling the fast-approaching storm.
I spotted a sturdy branch leaning against a tree nearby. "Beck, grab that—we can use it to pull her up!"
We shouted down to Micah, assuring her we were there. She just needed to hold on. Together, we lowered the branch, grunting and struggling under the weight, and pulled her up.
As her body emerged over the cliff's edge, we saw the blood. Her eyes blazed with a strange, unnatural light.
"Possessed?" Beck questioned, her voice barely a whisper.
"Yes," I replied, heart sinking. We had suspected it—now we knew for sure. A demon had taken hold of her.
What else could we do, knowing that we had to save her?
We were taken aback, unsure of what to do, as Micah lunged at us with inhuman speed and strength.
Micah's screams filled the air as she struggled against the invisible force inside her. Her eyes were wild and filled with terror. This menacing energy took her over.
In a flash, she turned towards us, our friend's once-familiar face now twisted into an unrecognizable scowl. We dodged and weaved, trying to keep a safe distance as she relentlessly attacked us. We realized she could no longer control herself, possessed by a powerful demon.
What cruelty—to be forced to fight our own friend.
Then, a radiant light appeared above us.
It was Baby—our guardian angel—descending from the trees. We'd known she was with us, but we didn't know what she planned. She summoned a glowing cross necklace and threw it to us, instructing us to use it.
Beck and I quickly formulated a plan, using the cross to seal the demon within Micah. With time running out, we knew we had to act before the demon took complete control over her.
As she lunged at Beck, she dodged her, slipping on a patch of ice, and slammed into a tree behind. With this opportunity, we cornered Micah, and I held her still as Beck placed the cross on her neck.
A brilliant light burst from the necklace, engulfing Micah and the demon within her. The demon's agonized shrieks echoed through the storm as it was sealed away; it was trapped within the magical seal. As the light faded, Micah collapsed to the ground, her body exhausted but free from the demon's hold.
We lifted her gently, supporting her as she slowly regained awareness. Her body was weak, but the darkness in her eyes was gone.
Baby leaped down from the trees, her face calm. She explained that Micah has likely been struggling with the demon for a while. Our courage and quick action had finally helped her.
We vowed to help Micah learn to control the demon's lingering influence. With Baby's guidance and the cross's power, we believed she could overcome it.
As the snowstorm finally eased, we made our way back to the edge of the woods, where a park ranger had heard our cries. We stayed with her until she got in the ambulance.
Micah slowly regained her strength and control as they wheeled her into the ambulance. She turned to us and thanked us for finding her.
I returned the smile. "That's what friends are for." Our bond had been tested and strengthened on that terrifying night.
"We three promised to always look out for each other and discuss our issues, no matter what." As the ambulance doors shut, they took Micah to the hospital.
Then, she looked at me. "Now we just have to figure out a story for our parents."
I laughed tiredly. "I agree, but right now I am mentally and physically drained. Micah's safe now, but we'll have to keep an eye on her."
"Definitely. But I've got a lot of questions," Beck added. "Like, where did the demon come from? Was Micah behind those other attacks? And why wasn't she more shocked when Baby, our guardian, started talking?"
"Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. After we get home and rest, call me when you wake up. We can visit her in the hospital and ask her questions, but let's not try to overwhelm her. She may not remember."
"Okay, then. That sounds like a plan, Kaysi. I'll see you tomorrow after we get some good rest."
When I got home that night, just as the sun rose, I thanked Baby.
She smiled. "There are many ways to deal with demons. We'll find the right one—for Micah and for others."
I barely made it inside before my mom stopped me. "Why are you home at such an odd hour?"
"I'm sorry, Mom. My friend got sick at the sleepover, so I came home early."
"Oh, okay, dear. You could have called me, and I would have picked you up."
"No thanks, Mom, it was such an odd hour. I didn't think you would be awake yet."
"Well, it's 6 a.m., and I'm up with my new work. Are you sure you're okay? Do you want me to call you out of school?"
"Yeah, maybe. I think I caught the bug she had."
As I slowly climbed the stairs, I took this chance to rest. I collapsed into bed, falling into a deep sleep, still wearing my shoes.
Beck's call woke me.
"Hey, Kaysi Are you ready to head to the hospital and see how Micah is doing?" she asked.
"Yeah," I said as I yawned. What time is it?"
"It is 3 p.m. We got about 9 hours of sleep if you went to bed at 6 in the morning, as I did."
"Yeah, I did. I barely noticed the time until we got home. That said, I am ready. I already have my shoes on. I chuckled."
"Hold up, didn't I just wake you up?" She questioned?
"Yes, I fell asleep with them on!" I laughed.
"Oh my gosh, you silly girl. At least you're prepared. I'll come to your place, and we'll go together." From there, since you are closer."
"Alright, see you soon," I said as I hung up the phone.
When Beck arrived, I decided to leave Baby behind today. She needed the rest as well, and I didn't want to smuggle her into the hospital room again. Same as Beck did for me.
But when we arrived, the hospital staff said Micah had already been discharged. She had just a few scratches and a cold, but they said she was fine.
"Oh man," how are we so good at missing her?" Beck joked. "But I still want to ask her what she remembers."
We will call and head over to her house. I said as I picked up the hospital phone.
"She better be home," Beck muttered.
We waited for an answer while the phone rang; I teased her, "Now you are finally on board."
When we called, she was indeed at home; her mom told us that she had been released from the hospital. She said she sleepwalked and slipped on some ice during a sleepover."
We feigned confusion. "Oh wow," I said, trying to sound surprised. My acting could definitely use some work.
We headed to her house. The snow was mostly melted now, and the last blast of winter was fading quickly.
When we arrived, Micah sat on her patio, warmed by an outdoor heater. As we approached, we could tell something was weighing on her mind.