Thanks to Mr. Carter, My bike is back to normal; he told me it was on the house. I take my bike down Fletcher Road where I head back to the Creep House—that warehouse. I soon ponder maybe that daydream was sort of a Thanks to Mr. Carter, My bike is back to normal; he told me it was on the house. I take my bike down Fletcher Road where I head back to the Creep House—that warehouse. I soon ponder maybe that daydream was sort of a vision. It showed me this place. It must be important.

I cross the broken metal fence and proceed forward. I view the two story, brick house with the outdated colors. Broken windows around the building; several metal beams fallen down. I soon see a gaping hole near the left side. I head to that hole where I enter inside. There I notice three bean bag chairs; a table full with weapons—knives, bottles, and open books. Inside the rusted interior, I notice near the old manager’s office, a figure is doing something. I walk closer until I feel a slash across from my face. I step back to touch right cheek bleeding from a cut.

I soon see a young female close to my age—her dark tan skin, black hair, tied in a straight ponytail with brown eyes. She is wearing a silver leather jacket and is carrying a miniature knife within a hand.

“Whoa! Whoa!” I extend my arms out trying to make sure she would not stab me. “What are you doing?”

“What are you doing here?” She says in a fierce tone.

“I was coming to see Aris.” I answer.

“Why?” She asks.

“He knows something. I want to ask him about this journal some guy named Dantailon sends this to me.” I explain as I show her the dark brown, swede journal.

She looks at the journal hard, and then she jumps “You’re Caden!” She utters.

“How you know me?” I ask.

“From our friend.” She replies.

“What friend?” I ask.

“Who are you?!” A voice shouts out.

I turn around to see someone is coming out of the manager’s office; he is a middle aged man, wearing a black leather jacket, burgundy shirt, and charcoal pants. I look at his face having a cold pale skin, dark medium hair ending to his neckline, and a low cut beard.

“Caden!” I answer.

He pauses not saying a word.

“Do I know you?” I ask him.

Giving no response, his initial blank stare soon changes when he stares at me still not saying anything.

 “My name’s Mal.” He finally replies in a low crispy voice.

“Mal?” I said. “Do I know you?”

“You may not remember me, but I surely remembered you.” He replies.

“Remembered me, how?” I ponder.

“When you were a baby; I understand your mother is taking really good care of you.”

“She’s been a great mother to me.” I respond.

“Good.” He said.

“My mom never told me anything about you.” I say.

“I understand. It was under your father’s digression.” He says.

“My father?” I ask.

I never have seen my father. The only time I heard about him was when he was there when my mother gave birth to me. Sixteen years, I have always heard he has been living out of the country. No picture of him, so I do not know what he look liked. How this Mal person knows my father. He glances at my right hand. He sees I have the journal in my possession.

“Did you open that?” He asks.

“I skimmed over it. I really didn't pay attention to the information except for the hellhounds and demon trials.” I respond.

“Wait! Did you say hellhounds?” The female ask.

“Why? Who are you?” I wonder.

“Oh, my name’s Karina.” She answers as she puts down the knife.“Sorry, I thought you was a hellion.”

“A what?” I question.

“Demonic hellions are demons that serve the Acolytes.” Mal continues, “The Acolytes and the hellions are led by an Archdemon named...”

“Demons?!” I continue, “You have got to be kidding me!”

“Caden, Mal is right about this. Yet why you read something hellhounds.”

“Because he was almost attacked by one!” says Aris, who shows up from out of nowhere.

“Aris, you never told us about this.” Mal says.

“Sorry, Mal but I needed to know why the hellhounds went after him.” Aris states.

“Hellhounds weren't created for that purpose.” Karina says.

“I spoke to my brother down there. He told me the Archdemon changed the creatures’ goals. They are task to find him.” Aris says as he points to me.

I look totally confused with they are saying. I reopen the journal back to that hellhound page and see what Dantailon wrote about them hurting so-called Nobloods. What are Nobloods? I turn around to see Mal and hope he has the answers I’m searching for.

“What is going on?!” I ponder.

“Caden, go back to your house. Stay there until it is safe.” Mal states.

“What for?” I ask him.

“Because, those hellhounds are only messengers. Their prime directive is not to kill; demonic hellions do that.” Mal says.

“So what I can’t defend myself.” I say.

“You’re not ready, Caden.” He tells me.

“Ready for what?” I ask.

“This is not the time. You will know.”  He says.

“So when?” I ask wanting to know why this journal was sent to me and why I need to be ready.

“You will know. Trust me.” He says.

“How can I trust you if you given me all this nonsense.” I state.

Mal just smirks awkwardly and not showing any indication of why the journal is in my possession and why is really here. And why should I be careful. Karina comes by me as she places her hand over my left shoulder.

“Caden, I think Mal is trying to tell you; you can’t face these hellions yourself.” She says.

“So what you guys are not telling me?” I ask wondering.

“Let him go, Karina. He’s hardheaded.” Aris says.

“You will trust us in due time Caden. However, you need to be careful.” Mal says.

I just stand here not knowing what else to say to him. He cannot tell me the reason I need to be careful and that I’m not ready.

'“Let us handle those hellions. You do what you do best. Be a normal teenager you father wanted you to be. Live a normal life.” Mal says.

“Is my life normal?” I ask.

“You can let it be.” He says.

I rise the journal up close to Mal’s face, so he can see. I open the journal and flip the pages and show him something about “The Demon Trials.”

“Before I go, what do you know about this entry?”

“Dantailon knew this was going to happen.” He says as he looks upon the entry. “Have you read this entry?”

“No!”

“Do it! Go home, read that entry!”

“Why?”

“It will guide you to what your true life really is.”

He gives the journal back to me. I close the book and put near my side carrying with my left arm. I about to head out until Karina come close.

“Caden, if you need help just think about name.” She says.

“Okay, I’ll see.” I say.

I look to Aris who gives me a smug look, and then he lays across a bean bag flipping some type of coin.

“Oh and you’re not a strange here.” Mal says. “This is the Cove. You are always welcome here.”

“You sure?”

“I promise you. If you come here, read that page about the trials, I promise you; I will tell you everything.” He says.

“I would love that.” I say as I smile and head out along with the book.

***

I notice Liana sent me a message on my phone. When I open up the message, Liana tells me that she wants to meet up after school at Zephyr’s Café. I also get an email from Coach Hansen reminded me there is a tomorrow practice. It seems tomorrow is what I hoped for nothing but normalcy. I agree to all of the messages even accepting Megan’s Facebook request. Looking at the journal standing by side of the phone on top of my desk, it’s time to read that page.

I’m very intrigued.

Mal wants me to read this page about the trials and understand this fully. Once I’m finished with this, I’m going to meet him and find out more. I take the journal and open it up to the Trials entry. I see what Dantailon wrote about these trials and what is weird it looks like an instruction manual for…me.

~~~The Demon Trials~~~

There are a series of trials. You must complete each one to know more about yourself.

1: Learn about the Prophecy of the Devos from the Alpheus prophecy. Read what it says. It will give you the knowledge of what to expect.

2: Destroy the page that has info about the Devos from the Daemonum. Do whatever it takes to destroy that page. You will acquire the clarity of knowing what is right and wrong.

3: Search for the Vessel of Nexum. It will have the power to defeat the threats dead set to obtain you.

Be careful, each trial could be dangerous. Expect anything. You can do this. Accomplish this, and you will learn your true identity.

~~~~~~

I close the journal and start try to think deeply on what Dantailon is telling me what to do. However, why me? Why he chose me to do these trials. And this Devos thing. What is that?

Mal better know this. Even Karina and Aris—the other two---they probably know about these trials. 

Wanting to read more, I start to hear mother’s voice.

“Caden…dinner!”

Listening to her, I close the journal and put inside the second desk drawer. I rest my laptop. I get up from the chair and proceed out of my room and to the dining room table.

I walk to the table where I see a delicious baked chicken, red beans and rice, mashed potatoes, and bread rolls. Mom soon brings out two cups and a pitcher of some nice, sweet tea. I sit in a chair and then my mom sits on the other side; we say a little prayer and after blessing our food. We begin eating. As I ate, I continue to think about those trials.

***

I take a quick shower and brush my teeth rubbing the filth out. I head back to my room where I see I put the journal safe inside the second desk drawer. I take off my shirt and put in the rest of the dirty pile. I set the old-looking alarm clock just around 6 AM. I get into bed thinking about the crazy day I just had. As I view the time, I know it is time to get some shut eye so I turn the lights off.

I lay down near the soft pillow caressing my head on the puffy side; I spread over the camouflage bed cover to be more conformable. As I try to go to sleep, I notice a twitch in my left eye. Thinking it might go away, my right eye begins twitching as well. I sit up and sensing something is not right.

The burning pain I experience a few days ago has returned. The pain is so excruciating I turn the lights back on. As I rise up trying to get out of bed, the pain continues and this time it begins to expand to more parts of my body. Now my hands are starting to twitch; it seems something is taking over. The pain lasts for a mere minute or two.

When the pain reaches back to my eyes, I have no clue what is going on with me. I could barely see because the no good pain is just relentless. I run to the bathroom because I just want to see if water could help cool down this burning irritation. I start turning on the silver faucet and I turn the cold side way up wanting to make sure even ice cold water could help ease this irritation.

As I mold both my hands to form a bowl-like shape; I reach to the running water to put some in and use it. When I have enough water in my hands, I try to open up my eyes the best I can; when I do, I splash the water into my eyes hoping the coolness will ease the burning pain.

A minute later the pain that was in my eyes suddenly eases through; probably the water had something to do with it. As I begin to open and close my eyes regularly once again, I look to the mirror to check to see if my pupils had any residue of irritation. However, when I see myself at the mirror, the inner irritation is not what I see. As I look closer, I notice around my eyelids and eyes there are strange black vine-like marks.

It seems the irritation was not in my eyes; it was outside around my eyes.