The Wrath Walker (The Wrath Series Book 1) by Matthew Newson (moboreader txt) 📕

go into a certain part of the jungle because there was a powerful witch doctor that had killed other missionaries that had tried to convert him before. After hearing that, I knew exactly what I was going to do that night.

Once everyone had gone to sleep, I quietly snuck out of my small hut and went into the jungle in search of the witch doctor. To my surprise he was waiting on me at the edge of the village, and he motioned for me to follow him back to his hut. His face was painted like a skull, and his clothing was comprised of various animal skins all patched together that hung loosely off his waist and shoulders. When we got to his hut, there was a small fire in a pit inside with two seats for us to sit on. The witch doctor started chanting as soon as we sat down, and a being made of golden light appeared. He said his name was Lucifer, the light bringer, and for his crimes of trying to help humanity, the other spirits lied about him to people by calling him the devil and that he wanted to kill all humanity.”

“So, you met the devil,” I said with a smirk.

“Not the devil... Lucifer. Weren’t you listening? Anyway, he too confirmed the non-existence of God, and how he was the only one who could give me true power, so I dedicated my life to him that night. He laid his hands on my shoulders, and bestowed upon me the giftings of signs, wonders, and miracles—the very power I had been after my whole life.”

“That’s why you never experienced God’s presence, because you were only seeking his hand. I haven’t been to church in a long time, and even I know that.”

“I never experienced his presence or his power because he doesn’t exist, and after that day I experienced power all right. I prophesied over the villagers, and all I prayed for that day got healed. I kept the name of the one I prayed in quiet for obvious reasons of course, because my classmates were still believing in the God of the Bible nonsense. But you should have seen their faces when I moved in the power Lucifer gifted me with on that trip. They were so jealous, and it felt great. I continued to pursue Lucifer, who told me to start this church and to do all that I have done up to this moment, and after tonight I will be immortal like him.”

“Immortality. That is what this whole thing has been about?”

“Yes. As I got older, I had the revelation that once I die, all of this is over. Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust so to speak. There are no fluffy white clouds to go and relax on. Once you’re gone that’s it, and I didn’t want that. So, one night I sought an audience with Lucifer. He said if I were to sacrifice Elizabeth over there, and plunge the town into his purifying presence, it would cleanse and liberate the race of man from all deception of religion. Once the task is completed this evening I will be on the same plane of existence as Lucifer and the other spirits of old. I can hardly contain my excitement.”

I squeezed the key in my hand so hard the edges began to cut into my skin. “You are out of your mind. If what you say happened is true, then you have been played by the devil your entire life!”

“He’s not the devil, he is Lucifer, the light bringer.”

“He’s the devil, and you will live forever in Hell, in what I hope is the hottest and fieriest part of it for what you have done!”

Phillip stood, enraged by my words, with his face twisted in hatred as he straightened his black robe. He called out to one of his warlocks to give him the revolver they had taken off of me, and once it was handed to him, he pushed the barrel hard against my forehead.

“I have heard just about enough out of you with your endless whining about how your parents died, Ron betrayed you, and how that woman over there doesn’t love you anymore. But what I won’t stand for is you saying those vicious lies about my Lucifer!”

“Go ahead and do it, but you will only make God’s wrath worse upon your head.”

“Ahhhh,” Phillip yelled at me as he pressed the gun harder against my forehead before he removed it. “I’m not going to kill you like this, it would be too easy for you to go this way. You have been taking the easy way out for years, and I’m stopping that tonight. Instead, you will watch as we sacrifice the woman whom you love so much, but completely despises you.”

“No!”

“Oh yes, and then, instead of torturing you to death with my newfound abilities, I am going to turn you over to your former brothers in blue. You are going down for the murder of the Amaras for ruining your wretched life, and for the brutal slaying of Elizabeth for not loving you back. Now, get up. On your feet!”

I slowly stood with my eyes locked in on Phillip’s hate-filled stare.

“Listen to me, Phillip, you don’t know what you’re doing. If you kill Elizabeth, we are all dead. You have to stop!”

“The time for begging is over, and you had your chance to be on the winning side. You are going to stand by while we sacrifice the love of your life, knowing there is nothing you or your so-called friend can do to stop us. Have you even bothered to ask yourself if Wrath was so powerful why hasn’t he shown up here and put an end to all of this?”

I hated to admit it, but I had been thinking about that the entire time since Wrath disappeared to go to his brothers, but I would never tell Phillip that. I said nothing as I