I thought to myself, "I couldn't stop it from happening". The balance of power shifted off the cosmic scale and the third kingdom on Earth is no longer protected. It's all my fault. I was not enough. I have failed again.

The Gates of Hell are opening.

I laid there on the hillside looking up to the sky. It is cloudy with big, thick dark grey clouds looming over me. Soft sounds of thunder are echoing in the distance. The storm was moving closer to the hills where I lay, unprotected, beaten, bloodied, a sitting duck. The wind changed directions, picking up a little more speed navigating the storm where the sound of thunder is growing toward me. By the looks of it, I had fifteen minutes to get the heck out of there. 

That's also fifteen more minutes to stay where I was, lying down and not moving too much. It hurt to move. Every muscle in my body ached, I couldn't feel my left arm, that's not good, and I think I lost enough blood where I will bleed out soon before chaos is reaped on this world. I think that is the death that I want to have. It's better than the alternative coming. Haven't I done enough? Didn't I do my best? It was all beyond my power.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. In through the nose and out through the mouth. One more time, in through the nose and out through the mouth. Okay, one more time, in through the nose and out through the mouth. I opened my eyes and moved my head to the right looking to my side. Blades of grass cool to the touch rested against my cheek as I forced myself to get my bearings. My right arm was pretty banged up. A little bruised with some scorch marks on my hand. It looks like my right arm is still usable. A droplet of sweat ran down my left eye and I wiped it away with my right hand. As I brought it back away from my face the droplet of sweat was painted crimson red with blood.

A roar of thunder echoed closer, announcing the storm approaching.

I pulled myself up off my back feeling more wind brush through my hair. Tendons making popping and cracking sounds in my joints. My body feels like it just finished a long day on the farm. I am tired, worn out and have very little Soul Power left to fight anyone or anything. It hurt a lot but I forced myself to stand. I eyed the storm tracking its movements approaching the valley below. I turned my head left and right searching for Goliath, my sawed off double barrel shotgun. My eyes locked on an irregular shape sticking out of a few medium sized rocks up the hill toward the remains of what used to be a church. It looked like the sword in the stone from the King Arthur tales. I hobbled my way up the hillside toward my weapon, toward what may be my last line of defense. I passed a few trees on the way with bricks scattered all over this side of the hill. White mason bricks covered in scorch marks and damaged from being tossed a few hundred feet. The same bricks that came from the church that exploded after a big boss fight went wrong. The same boss fight that I needed to win to prevent the end of the world from happening. 

I stopped two feet short from my shotgun sticking out of the rocks. A moment of clarity hit me hard. A wave of emotion I was pushing down deep inside was gushing up. Fear, Sadness, Regret, Anger. All of these emotions became real just now. Tears started to well up in my eyes clouding my vision. A heaviness set in my chest and I the weight of my body became overwhelming, too much to stand. I closed my eyes, fell to my knees and kept myself up with my right hand bracing myself against the ground, my left arm dangling loosely, bowed my head and cried. 

"Why? Why did this happen? I did everything you asked me to do! I fought with everything I had! I fought with everything! None of this makes sense! Why would you allow this to happen!"

I screamed and cried. Tears kept flowing down my eyes and the emotions kept circling through my heart and mind. I lost the battle and because of that billions of people will die. Entire continents will be decimated. The world is not prepared for this. I am not prepared for this. 

Just then as I was wallowing in my own self pity, the earth began to stir. It was very faint but I felt a low vibration in my knees and right hand on the ground. A gust of wind picked up and blew my tattered cloak over my shoulders and head whipping up over me and carrying a stench of rot. The wind roared and forced me slightly off balance. I had to readjust my hand placement on the ground to brace myself from falling forward and hitting my head on a rock or broken brick or even worse landing on Goliath, the sawed off shotgun, putting a hole in me the size of a tire on a pickup truck. The wind died down a little and I pivoted onto my butt and tossed my ripped up cloak off my head to look behind me in the direction of the storm. I wiped away my tears from my eyes to clear my vision to scan the scenery below. Down the hillside was several miles of forest covering loose soil on top of bedrock. Beyond the forest at the base of the hill was the valley covered in more bedrock and grass, stretching across as far as the eye can see to the horizon where there were more hills surrounding the land enclosing nature within. Beyond that are small towns and villages falling victim to the wrath of the epicenter of the storm. I imagine whole families are looking out their windows in amazement to the spectacular mass of the storm. I am sure news agencies are telling people to stay inside their doors and away from the windows as strong winds are building. Storm sirens are probably going off to alert everyone who is in bed to wake and take cover. 

I know the fate of all of those people. I truly know whats going to happen to them. Taking cover is not going to save them. I am not going to save them. God is not going to save them. It's ironic, I have the power of a Soul Keeper and yet I am powerless to do anything. I am powerless to save anyone from the destruction that is coming. 

I gritted my teeth. As I looked upon the valley the storm finally reached the borders and is moving over the valley. Lightning is flashing within the clouds following louder booms of thunder. I can feel the presence of the storm, the malicious intent. The feeling of fear and despair pressing against my senses. Its like having a fever and pressing both of your thumbs to the side of your temples hard. There is a hint of ozone that is filling the air and the vibrations under me are starting to shake the small pebbles around me. 

I need to move now! 

Suddenly, as I thought about moving, I felt strength back in my legs and right arm. My head was clear of anguish and sorrow. The pressure on my temples lifted and the aches and pains of my body were still there but was not immediately present. The cuts felt less painful or actually maybe it was more accurate to say that my battered body just didn't matter. I felt like I received a second wind and can keep going. I felt like I can move and do this. It's not over yet. I may not be able to save everyone but dammit I can save many. As long as I had breath I was not going to sit around and watch the end of the world from happening. I am a Soul Keeper and my duty is to protect the human race. I pushed my self up with my legs feeling a little tension in them. They ached and popped as if I have been sitting down for hours, I turned and took Goliath out of the rock with my right hand, took a moment to inspect it for damage and noticed a few scratches on the wood and metal but other than that, no dents were visible and it seems like it will put a hole in a wall just fine. 

I trekked up the hill passing some brush and a few trees charred by fire. Bricks laid scattered over the hillside and as I watched my step to avoid any sprained ankles from happening. I reached the church thirty paces later and analyzed the battleground. The church used to be a very old beautiful building. It had white brick walls that reached as high as a three story building, several wooden benches that sat people who came to pray a century ago from the historical remains of a village nearby. It had a arched rooftop and a stained glass window above the front doors displaying the sign of the cross. Along the sides of the church overlooking the benches and facing each other were several stained glass artwork of biblical figures on each wall. Mother Mary, Saint Francis, Jesus Christ, and some Arch Angels lined up side by side with different colored stained glass. There was a middle aisle with a worn brownish carpet that looked like it was red at one time leading up the aisle between the benches and stained glass windows to a raised level where the priest conducted Sunday Mass. On the raised level stood a concrete altar which held some old goblets, bronze bowls and a candelabra. Behind the altar was a big wooden cross held in the air with two chains on both arms of the cross connected to the ceiling. It was a church filled with joy and worship from generations ago. It was beautiful at one time. 

Now its in ruin. 

I looked around at the rubble, the front half of the church was blown apart from the blast. Scorch marks from the blast covered the floor black and all but leveled the walls surrounding the front half of the church. Most of the back wall was still standing but parts of the roof can be seen crushing benches in the middle of the church. Other pieces of the roof were blasted behind me, scattered down the hillside were I laid broken. The large wooden cross was no longer hanging from the ceiling. Instead it was blasted by fire in smaller chunks and laid scattered among the floor of the church still burning a red glow of embers. Some glass shards remained inside the building from the stained windows and half of the benches were broken and the other half were already turning to ash from the fire. I scanned again the ruins of the church from where I stood, staying alert for any movement in the shadows, keeping my grip on Goliath tight and ready to use.

There was no sign of him. 

I closed my eyes and reached down inside my mind. I took a deep breath and concentrated for a moment. I collected a little bit of soul power and focused it into my eyes. A cooling sensation was present on my closed eyelids like an air conditioner hitting your face after a hot summer day. I felt a subtle pop sensation of the soul power locked in place and opened my eyes. 

The ruins of the church became much brighter. Everything shifted into focus and the shadows disappeared. The fires were still there but became more like dancing outlines instead of sources of light and heat. There was small signs of darkness clouding around certain areas of the church. An imprint of power during our last battle. I extended my senses to reach past the church into the surrounding area and felt no malicious power immediately around me. Though, I did sense a massive, frightening power behind me pressing hard against my back.

I closed my eyes and released the Soul Power within them. Just like that everything returned to normal. The shadows inside the church returned, the glowing embers on the broken cross gave a subtle glowing light. The darkness from the storm above me returned. I turned to look at the storm that is now directly in front of the hill positioning itself over the valley. Lightning was flashing and thunder was clapping. There was a powerful sense of electricity in the air and the hairs on the back of my neck and arms were standing. 

I had a few minutes tops until the world changed forever. I turned back toward the church and walked in where the doors used to be, no longer there and walked briskly towards the alter. I reached down in the pouch on my belt and drew out a blue stone and held it in my hand. The stone was a rounded piece said to be sculpted by an angel, among Soul Keepers it is known to be a soul stone. Each Soul Stone was rare and is said to have a piece of an Angel's light inside. When used it can take you to any place you think of. For me, its back to basecamp to regroup with the other Soul Keepers and to begin preparations to fight for the survival of the human race. I held the Soul Stone in my right hand and above my head towards the sky. I focused my concentration on it and mustered up enough of Soul Power, almost all of what was left in me to activate the Soul Stone. I dug deep in my heart and mind to sync my spirit and flow of Heaven's light within me. The sensation in my mind started to grow more tense and I was about to feel the locking mechanism take hold when rubble moved in the corner of the church.

I immediately dropped the Soul Stone and reached for Goliath at my hip, shifted my focus away from my Soul Stone and transitioned the built up power into a shield around me and flowed my power into Goliath. I raised the double barrel shotgun toward the rubble in the corner of the church and held my power in place, ready to blast an overwhelming shot of raw power into anything scary that came at me. I squinted my eyes and stared at the wreckage in the corner, holding Goliath study in front of me with packed power ready to shoot. I called out...

"Don't move! State your name and come out peacefully!"

The rubble started to shift and move and rocks started to slowly fall away from the corner. Underneath the rocks was something that looked human. I took a few steps closer with my shotgun never waiving from its target. I looked down and it was a woman wrapped in a large blanket. I asked her to state her name. She looked up with glossy eyes and blood on her face. She didn't look like she had much time left. Was she inside the church when the battle took place? I don't remember sensing her there before. I lowered my weapon and placed it back on my hip. I didn't, however, lower my shield. I had no idea who this woman was or how she survived the blast inside the church but I was not about to let my guard down. She looked up at me and whispered out my name...

"Fa...ther...Jac...ob. Please, take my boy, his name is Seth."

Out from under the blanket the mother showed her carrying a son. A baby. The baby had its umbilical cord severed and looked only a few hours old. Jesus Christ on the Cross! Did she just give birth to him during this whole mess? How did she even get out here? The nearest town is fifteen miles away,  five miles on foot down the hillside and to the valley. 

More importantly, how did she know my name? Do we know each other? Suddenly, light was growing behind me and my shadow in front of me grew longer and longer on the floor of the church. I turned away from the mother and looked at the storm. In the dark clouds energy has amassed on an epic scale focusing in one point to unleash its fury onto the Earth. 

I was out of time.

Out of instinct I leaped toward the Soul Stone I dropped a few feet away and concentrated my shield surrounding me and place all of it in layers in front between me and the storm. I poured all of my Soul Power into three pyramid shaped shields in front of me. I hoped it was enough to protect me, the mother and her child. The storms energy was growing rapidly, ten times, no one hundred times in power and unleashed a single lightning bolt down into the center of the valley. Right when the last shield came up a shock wave the size of a small atom bomb hit the hillside and my three layered shield. Debris went flying at super sonic speed. Bricks flew by and disintegrated against my shield. A loud sonic boom followed and deafen my ears. Cracks and fractures erupted from the surface and the first layer completely gave out and dismantled. The second layer held out but not without several cracks showing. 

I looked down at the valley and saw the the dark clouds circling in the sky. The ground where the lightning struck was red hot and had a massive cracks in it. It looked like the Earth was cracked open like an egg on the edge of a frying pan. I checked behind me and saw the mother on all fours  shielding the baby with her body and a large shield in front of her. A very Large shield. This was no ordinary person. She had to be a Soul Keeper. Though I do not know any Soul Keeper that can produce a shield like that. I inspected her shield from where I stood and as far as I can tell her shield withstood an atomic blast and barely had any scratches on it. Who is she?

I took down my shields and ran over to her. She lowered her shield as I approached her. As hers lowered her body went limp and she fell next to her baby. The baby immediately woke up and started wailing. I rushed to her side and moved her over onto her back. Her breathing is raspy and her skin was cold to the touch. I took the blanket around her and began rubbing at her exposed skin to try to keep her warm. She looked at me and said...

"Please, Father, take care of Seth, you are the only one who can save him now."

"Who are you? How do you know my name? What are you even doing here?"

She smiled at me and with her left hand reached out to her baby and touched Seth's forehead. A little glowing light transferred from her fingers into the crying baby's forehead and the baby immediately fell silent and opened his eyes looking at his mother. 

She whispered to Seth, "Sweet child, follow your heart and do not lose sight of yourself. I love you with all of my heart. Trust in yourself and you will know what to do when the day comes."

She leaned her head forward and kissed her baby and with that kiss Seth fell asleep. The mysterious woman looked back at me and smiled again, she reached down under the blanket and pulled out an amulet. The amulet was made out of a gold chain and had a locket at the end with a red oval ruby. She passed it to me and placed it in my right hand. 

She said, "Please give this to my son. It will protect him."

"I will. You have my word." I said back to her. And with that her hand let go of the amulet and slid off my hand onto the ground, limp and lifeless. The light in her eyes is gone and she passed on. I looked down at the sleeping baby and untied my cloak and wrapped the baby in it like a blanket on the floor of the church. I took the Soul Stone and placed it on the baby. Then all of a sudden, everything shook. The ground bucked and up-heaved on the hillside. The Earth deep down in the rock screeched and moaned as rock tore all the way up to the surface. I fell back on my butt losing my balance and then I heard the screams. Inhuman, howling screams. The type that will always stay with you and continue to give you nightmares the rest of your life. I stood up and looked to the valley and cracks on the surface exploded up like landmines in rice patties. Fire climbed up to the surface and a dark cloud started spewing from the holes in the valley floor. Though the clouds were moving odd. It looked like they were navigating. I squinted my eyes to focus on it and realized the clouds I was observing where not clouds. It was an army.

"Time to go Seth." I said bending down to pick up the sleeping baby and the Soul Stone with him. I stood up straight watching the army disperse in different directions in the valley. A large portion flying and marching towards the towns on the other side of the hills. The families and communities that were probably told to take cover an hour ago were now in God's hands and his mercy. There was nothing I could do for them. A separate batch of an army is heading to my location. I can see flyers heading up the hillside searching for any souls to take. I closed my eyes and focused my power into my heart and my mind, and synced it with my spirit. A buzzing sound was vibrating in my ears and I locked the power into place. Holding the power in all three spots and thought clearly where I wanted to go. I held the baby tight to my chest and thought of basecamp where my fellow Soul Keepers were. When the image in my mind was clear I let go of the power I was holding and a flash of light expanded between me and the baby engulfing us in its warm light and covering the hillside in its ambiance. I heard howls several yards away and up in the sky as demons approached the light and were blinded by it, hopefully stunning their advancement to by us time to escape. 

A moment later the light faded away and the colors of the world returned. I was standing in the middle of the summoning circle at basecamp. I fell to my knees and almost dropped Seth onto the ground. A wave of pain and exhaustion came rushing back to me. My legs were bleeding heavily, my left arm was in agonizing pain and I felt all the cuts and burns on my right arm as if it was being done at that moment. My temples felt an immense pressure on them and I was doing everything I could just to focus and stay awake. Someone came to my side and took Seth out of my arms and walked away. Another walked to me and had their arms on my shoulders. Ouch! I looked up and saw the person gesture with their finger on their lips, the universal sign of 'be quiet'. I guess I was screaming the whole time because the pain was unbearable. I didn't even notice I was screaming in agony. Two more people came with a stretcher and promptly picked me up and placed me on it. I was looking up at the ceiling of basecamp and tears started to fill my eyes. I was able to save one person for now. But does it matter? The Gates of Hell are opened and with each moment thousands are dying, and here I am on a stretcher with no power left in me to fight and probably several broken bones. I failed to stop the apocalypse from happening and now I made an impossible promise to a dying mother that I was going to protect her son. I can't even protect myself at this point. It would be wonderful to let it all go right now. It would be great to quit the responsibility, leave the Soul Keepers, go back to my farm where it was quiet and peaceful. It would be great if I can live the rest of my days not having to ever remember the sound of those malicious howls from the valley again.