The Devil's Apprentice by Patrick Stewart (polar express read aloud TXT) 📕

Chrissy was right. Emily needed immediate medical attention. He and Karen had arrived at this place in her Porsche. That would be the fastest way to a hospital.

He took three steps towards it when the voice in his head returned.

“You can’t go,” it said. “This isn’t over!” 

“What do you mean it’s not over?” Alex grumbled out loud.

Naturally, both Chrissy and Karen turned their heads towards him.

Alex sighed. He didn’t see the point in hiding it any longer. Compared to everything that had happened tonight, everything he’d been through in his short time as a Demon Hunter, it suddenly seemed pretty insignificant that he had a voice in his head. So, he told them. “There’s a voice in my head.”

“A voice in your head?” Karen asked.

Alex nodded. “Why can’t we leave?” he asked the voice out loud.

“He’s coming out. We have to stop him while he’s still weak. If he gains strength, then it's game over.” 

“Who’s coming out?”

“Satan, dumbass. The spell worked. He’s climbing out of hell right this moment and he’s pretty pissed.”

The entire building had collapsed. The circle was surely covered by rubble. Was it really possible for Satan to still be climbing out of hell?

“Think Satan made it out in time?” Alex asked.

Karen shrugged. “It’s possible. Otherwise it would be a stupid place to hold the ceremony. Free Satan, then watch him fall back to hell as the building collapses?”

“Maybe Jamie didn’t know the spell would cause the building to collapse?” Alex persisted.

Karen shrugged again. “Jamie did strike me as a little arrogant and dim. Want to stick around and see if Satan’s head pops out?”

Chrissy pulled on Alex’s sleeve. “If Satan did break out, shouldn’t we run?”

“Girl’s got a point, actually,” Karen said. “If Satan’s really out, we won't be able to stop him. He might literally eat us alive.”

 “We have to stop him, Alex. This is our only chance. We need to send him back to hell whilst he’s still weak! If we don’t, millions of humans will die.” 

As if to confirm Satan’s arrival, there was a tremor amongst the rubble of the building. Small at first, it was followed by a larger one. Bricks, blocks of cement and slates tumbled down from the top.

“I think Satan did make it out,” Karen mumbled.

Alex passed Emily over to Karen. “Take her to the hospital.”

“You’re going to stay here?” Karen asked, shocked. “You can’t defeat Satan!”

Alex ignored her. With sword in hand, he walked towards the rubble as the remaining demons and humans fled.

“This is it,” the voice said. “My final battle with Satan…” 

Chapter 42

Alex stood at the edge of the collapsed building, his feet inches away from the rubble. The broken bricks, hardened cement, timber and roof slates edged towards him, tumbling down as the ground continued to vibrate.  The few demons and humans that had made it out of the building had fled in terror. Either they knew nothing about Jamie’s little ritual to free Satan, or they knew, but were now terrified of it actually happening.

This was Satan. The original devil. The beginning of evil, according to most prevalent religions. Satan was breaking free from a prison he had been trapped in god knows for how long. He wasn’t going to be happy. Part of Alex was afraid. It must have been the sane part.

Having helped Chrissy and Emily to her car and given them the keys, Karen returned to stand beside Alex.

“So, you’re going to battle Satan, then?”

Alex nodded. That was the plan, though he wasn’t sure whose plan it was. Something had changed with the voice in his head. Alex recalled how he’d escaped the building. As it collapsed around them, stairs disappearing from under his feet, bricks falling over him, dust clouding his sight, Alex moved with an ease that belied his size. He was quick and nimble. At the same time, he’d had immense strength flowing through his body. It was more than what the voice usually gave him.

“Want to talk about the voice in your head?”

Alex met Karen eyes. He could see worry in them, though she tried to disguise it. Was the concern regarding the voice in his head, or Satan breaking out, Alex couldn’t tell.

“Is it unusual to hear voices?” Alex asked.

Karen let out a nervous laugh. “Not unless you’re suddenly a prophet.”

That was a thought. Alex had never considered it. Was the voice in his head what prophets heard when they claimed the world was about to end, that the devil was going to return?

“No,” the voice said. “You’re not a prophet. I am definitely not god, nor have I been sent by that bastard. But we will battle Satan to save the world.” 

“He says I’m not a prophet,” Alex mumbled.

“Good,” Karen said. “Most of them died horrible deaths. Their followers didn’t fare much better. I’m not ready to die yet.”

Again, Alex turned his attention onto her. Karen was no longer wearing the demon suit. She was dressed for battle. Which meant she was wearing her chainmail bra and panties. The girl was insanely hot. The bits of dust and debris stuck to her black hair took none of it away. Karen was one of the good Demon Hunters. They were a rare breed. Going up against Satan, it was a possibility they could become extinct.

“You don’t have to be here,” he told her.

She flashed him a smile. “Because you’ve got this?”

Alex smiled back. “Nah. If I thought I had this, I'd tell you to stick around and watch me in action. Maybe I’d get some action after…” he winked.

Karen rolled her eyes. “You’re so bad at flirting,” she said. “It’s a good thing you’re easy on the eye. If we survive this, you can have whatever “action” from me