Ch1: The Offer
The 1st of September was a terrifying day.
Not because I met a demon for the first time, but because it was my first day in my last year of school. I fucking hate school.
I was walking to school alone, minding my own business—Giza Power Plant by Blood Incantation cracking my skull—and heading, as usual, to my favorite coffee shop on the way: “He’s Dead to Me”, which my friend Joseph opened after the death of his father, who he never met. It was more of a “symbolic death,” I was told.
Right by the corner leading from the narrow alley to the main street and the coffee shop, he appeared. Or maybe it? Not sure.
A grand knight stood in front of me. It blocked the sun and eclipsed the street. All I could see was this out-of-place intruder: a suit of white and gold armor, like it had stepped out of a museum. No face, no eyes—just a hollow suit with a dark green cape, radiating hate and anger, making the air feel tight.
“It is not hate, nor anger,” said the knight in a deep masculine voice, resembling the voice of our headmaster, Mr. Isac—the kind that turns your spine into a ruler.
“What?” I said, my voice cracking, shocked because I did not say that out loud. “Listen, dude, if this is a joke, it is really not funny. Fuck off.” I tried to sound confident and cool. My legs were not agreeing with my tone.
“You can only fool yourself, Ilya,” he said, amused. I imagined him smiling.
“How do you know my name, you creep? And what do you want?” I screamed at him—not because I was worried he wouldn’t hear, but because of fear. I was shaking.
“Ilya, listen to me and remember. Times of trouble and trials are coming. You will be tested. You will be punished. You will be persecuted… and you will die.” He said it without hesitation, as if he already saw it happening.
I wanted to argue that I was still young. People don’t just die.
“You have to decide today,” he continued. “I am a messenger from our Lord Shaytan. He wants you in his army—the army of the good. The brave. The light.”
“Hmm. I think you are confused, no?” I said with a nervous laugh, trying to convince myself I was definitely hallucinating. “You guys are the bad ones, no? Evil and all?”
The knight rose into the sky and vanished. “You have until midnight,” he whispered in both ears at once. My whole body shivered.
He disappeared. So why couldn’t I see the sun yet?
“I’m cold” I thought.
I collapsed.
What happened next? Well, I wasn’t sure. I found myself with Joseph in his coffee shop, lying on one of the wooden benches, teeth were chattering, my backpack as a billow under and covered with my own school jacket, as well as Joseph’s, and .. Another jacket was covering my legs, I recognized it immediately. It was Duni .. I mean, Dunia.
But why was she here? She won’t miss the first day of school even if they gave her a million dollars. What time is it? I did not know.
My eyes were open but I did not say a thing. Was that a dream? Lack of sleep all these last days? Or, was the answer more serious and sinister than that?
“Hey man!” said Joseph in a calm voice, contradicting how I usually know him. “We were worried sick man, what the hell happened? Dunia found you on the floor in the middle of the street unconscious man and .. well .. we didn’t know what to do man so we brought your flat ass here and …”
He kept talking but I stopped listening.
Looking at Dunia, noticed her long smooth brown hair laying on her white, and not fully buttoned, shirt. I was so happy she was next to me, yet so upset she found me passed out on the floor. That is not the coolest way to start the school year for the first time - officially - as my girlfriend.
She cast her eyes toward me, those sea-colored eyes held me like I was something worth saving.
That smile on that day, remained engraved in my mind and heart forever. Regardless of what happened afterwards.
I wanted to open my mouth but I just realized, it is dark outside. I shoved my hand into my pocket and checked my phone. It was 23:44. I looked at both of them and wanted to speak, but my throat tightened. Nothing came out.
“What was that?” asked Joseph, holding his usual black cat mug in his hand.
“I think …” I swallowed and tried again .. “I think I am fucked”.
And suddenly, the sky began to brighten.
The sun was rising.
Not cool.
My posts represent my opinions, thoughts and ideas and does not represent my employer
Copyright Mohamed Elgadhafi