Action Adventure / SOTS: The Shadow of Earth--Chapter four

Elmer’s Secret
        There is a point in one’s life when that person must fight their own self and search within themselves to find their true destiny and fulfill it.  This time seems to have come for Gabriel.  Now he seeks answers from one who knows the truth.  And that is what he seeks, the truth.  It also is what cannot be found.  But the answers are with the one who has defeated the impossible, the one who knows the truth . . . and that is where Gabriel is led.
        Gabriel is nearing the house where the window was smashed in on 156th street. With a look of pity, that finds his face, Gabriel looks through the broken window.  He walks up to the front door as he begins to hear a strange hissing coming from underneath.  “Hissss. Shlick! Ssss.”  Gabriel backs away from the door as the hissing stops for a second. “Get out!” an old raspy voice shudders.  “Spoof! Schreee.”  The door flies open as an elderly man stumbles to attention.  “They . . . are everywhere!” he says.  “I swear it’s the apocalypse!”
        “Who are you?”  Gabriel asks as he almost laughs.  Trying to keep in the laughter is too hard when the man in front of him is wearing a blue bathrobe with yellow ducks scattered along the sides.
        “Why, I’m Elmer.”  The man says.  A crooked smile forms upon his face.  His dentures seem to be a little loose since when he smiled the left side of his teeth fell to the bottom of his jaw.  “How old are you sonny?” He asks as his hand graces his stubbly beard.  “Humph.  Need to shave.”
        “Seventeen sir.”  Gabriel feebly says as his eyes advert for just a second to see the mess inside the old man’s house.  “Seems like you have quite a lot to tend to, so I will be going.”
        “You’re too afraid I guess.”
        “What?” Gabriel snaps back.  “I am not.”
        “Then you’ll listen to what I have to tell you.  The time is now boy.  The world is in a war, and you are the one who needs to join the winning side before it’s too late.”  The man grabs Gabriel by the shoulder as he looks directly into his eyes.  “Your name is Gabriel right?”  He asks as the whole world screams at Gabriel from within those tender blue eyes.
        “Yes.”  Gabriel responds as he envisions his own father through those soft, blue eyes.  “Why does that matter?”  He questions as a sense of anxiety drags on in his voice.  |
        “Why Gabriel, we are not too different.  You are a direct descendant of my son.  But, that however, is not good news.  My son committed suicide at the age of nineteen.  Before he died though, he claimed to have sold his soul to the devil.  He was always afraid.  Up until the last few years, he has been silent, but now that the war is coming to the world, he is leading an assault upon the natural realm.  He ascended or descended, if you think about it, to become the dark angel of fear.”  Gabriel turns away for a moment until the man puts his hand on his shoulder.  “You’re safe my boy, he has no power over you, so long as you believe what you wear on your neck.”  Gabriel’s fingers form around the cross around his neck.  It is warm and almost feels as though it is pulsing.  Rhythmically like a heart.  “The only one who can defeat him is the one who can walk in both worlds.  This walker of both worlds, is the protector of mankind, and will be the only angel that can wield the sword of the spirit.
        Gabriel looks at the man and his smile, and suddenly remembers who the person on the phone was.  It was his mother.  As he walks away from the house, the man closes the door.  As Gabriel turns to walk down the steps he looks to the right and sees the elderly man at the end of the driveway, retrieving his mail.  “Hey Gabriel!” He calls out.  As his mouth nearly drops to the floor, Gabriel stares blankly at the man.
        “How did you . . .do that?”  Gabriel is completely stricken with wonder.  The man smiles as he walks towards Gabriel.
        “You see this is something I wanted to show you.  What good is the protector of mankind if he doesn’t even know how to walk in both worlds?”  His hand flies towards his mouth as he realizes what he just said.
        “Why do I need to know that?”  Gabriel asks, afraid of the answer.
        “Well, I guess there’s no way to get around it now is there?  You are the one boy, the protector of mankind.  You need to know how to separate your body from your spirit.  Now pay attention.”  The man places his hand across Gabriel’s chest as he speaks in a language that Gabriel cannot understand.  Gabriel suddenly feels a strange energy surge through his body.  “Now separate the good from the bad . . . and free your mind . . . and you will feel something try to leave you.  Let it go.  Once you let go of your spirit, you enter into the spirit realm, time will be stopped around you, and demons will begin to arise from the hearts of the wicked, and even the very ground that you walk.  They are looking for a human shell to take and use for their own needs.”  Gabriel tries to follow the man’s commands but he still can’t seem to find a way to.  “Don’t be discouraged when you fail, it will only help you later.”  The man looks at Gabriel as though he has something he needs to tell him, but can’t find the strength to say what it is.  “Gabriel, I have to tell you this, so prepare yourself.”  Gabriel’s brow scrunches up as the all to familiar fear begins to run through his veins.
        The man wipes his face as sweat begins to form on his forehead.  His lip trembles before he looks away from Gabriel sharply.  “You have to die.”  He blurts out.  The words came at Gabriel like the force of a crushing wave, smashing right on him.  He couldn’t believe it.  Was what Grizz had told him earlier really true?  Was he destined to be the savior of mankind?  Would he give his life to save the world?  These questions crashed on Gabriel who was clearly not ready for it.  “I’m sorry Gabriel.”  The man lets out as he walks back inside his home and closes the door.
        “God wants me . . . to die fighting for the world?”  He mumbles the words to himself a few times before he sits on the bus stop bench.  With the weight of the world bearing down on Gabriel’s shoulders, he begins to feel the pressure sink in.  His eyes suddenly become heavier than they have ever been.  He closes his eyes for a moment before a loud car alarm startles him awake.  The questions were still dancing around his head.  How would he do it?  The answer to that question would follow in due time.