Chapter 4
LUCIA
I sprinted as fast as I could towards Jesse’s apartment. Before I knew it I found myself face to face with a door I had once seen. The building where I had taken Jesse’s grandmother away from him...I reached for the handle. It didn’t budge; locked. Quickly I scanned for any on-lookers. The coast was clear. Swiftly I placed my hand over the handle, and twisted my wrist. I heard the lock snap. With one rapid motion I flung the door open and slipped inside. Frantically I ran up the stairs. Flight after flight after flight. Where was he?!
“-Please just leave!” I heard a voice echo a level above me. My legs responded without hesitation.
It was him I knew it. His voice quivered, he was scared. Lucifer must still be in the apartment.
Finally I found myself in front of his door. It was closed, but luckily unlocked. Swiftly I burst in, and found myself facing Lucifer; his face was just as cruel as I remembered.
“W-Who are you?!” Jesse gasped.
I wanted to throw my hands around him, to hug him, to let him know that he was okay. But I knew I couldn’t. Especially if he didn’t know who I was.
“Lucifer,” I croaked. “Leave! NOW!”
He shook his head, tisk-ing as he did. “Have you not learned yet my child? You must never raise your voice to the devil! You could get into a lot of trouble!”
“Get the hell out! He doesn’t want to go with you. You know just as well as I do that you can’t take things that don’t belong to you.”
He sighed. “Yes, unfortunately. The power of free will can’t be meddled with; such a shame. No matter, I don’t want him to come with me to hell.”
“I don’t care what you want!” I spat.
“Please,” Jesse stammered. “I don’t know who you two are, but please, please leave.”
Lucifer smiled the same gut cringing smile. “Very well, I may be Satan, but it doesn’t mean I can’t be polite.”
Bullshit.
He dipped his head, “I’ll see you soon Jesse. Feel better yes? You’re grandmother is in a better place.” His eyes moved towards me. “Lucia,”
And with that he was gone. He left with a soft fade, as if he wasn’t standing there in the first place. By the time the devil disappeared, the room became quiet.
“Jesse,” I whispered slowly approaching him.
He looked up at me, his eyes bewildered.
“Are you alright?”
“I-I...”
I reached for his hand, his shoulder, his face, anything.
“Leave.” He mumbled.
“What?”
“Leave! Get out!”
“But, Jesse.”
“I said leave!!!”
I stood there for what felt like eternity. My heart slowed down, my breath became shallow. “Jesse...”
His face flashed red, his hands clenched to fist, and he took a step closer. I stared at him as he did. Some part of me wished this was all just a joke. That he actually did remember who I was. “I don’t know who you are...but I don’t want you here.”
I opened my mouth to say something. But nothing came out, so instead I began to turn around. My legs made their way towards the door; slowly. He couldn’t be serious. But he was. I took one last look back. The boy with curly brown hair was hunched over, curled in a ball on the ground. The boy who came to hell, for a girl he barely knew, was on the floor, crying. My heart clenched.
So I left.