Angel in the Shadows, Book 1 by Lisa Grace (Angel Series) (8 page)

“Zadok, are you my guardian angel?” Zadok stops.
We’re getting close to the kitchen and people. He turns to me and
says, “Not in the way you think. I’ve been sent to talk to you and
encourage you for these few short days at camp. It’s not for me to
know or to tell you if I did know, what’s going to happen when you
get home. That’s where your faith must be relied on. I do know that
God sends us to be encouragers.”

“So that means something is coming that I’m
going to need encouragement for.” My heart starts to sink. I’m not
looking forward to leaving camp.

“Yes,” Zadok answers.

“We still have a couple more days. Enjoy them
while you can,” Zadok smiles. “Remember you did have a victory
today. Enjoy that. I do.” Zadok and I finish our walk and he opens
the screen door. There are people bouncing in and out and our
privacy is gone. Another camper asks Zadok a question and he leaves
to help them. I’m not prepared and don’t think I will be by the end
of camp.

I leave the kitchen and head back to the
campfire and Seth. I smile at him and he smiles back. I am going to
enjoy what remains of this week. Everything else can wait until I
get home. Sure. Like I can force myself to forget. I’m going to try
for a few hours anyway.

That evening as Seth walks me to my cabin, we
hear what sounds like a far off scream. Seth says, “Did you hear
that?”

I try not to laugh, “I think that was
Robby.”

“No, it sounded like a girl,” Seth answers.

I burst out laughing. Seth looks at me and says,
“You didn’t.”

I’m laughing so hard I can’t talk, so I just nod
my head. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to end the day.

The next two days pass quickly. If anything, the
dark angel seems to be avoiding me. Every time I catch a glimpse of
it, it either backs away or disappears. That dark angel knows I’m
going to try to undo whatever damage he does. I’m not afraid of it
anymore. Maybe I should be.

***

Seth and I meet up every chance we can these
last two days, just to hang out. We meet at our special place at
night to watch the bats and the shooting stars. We kiss, hug, hold
hands, and give each other back rubs. Zadok sends someone to get us
whenever we get too romantic. He is definitely acting like a
guardian angel.

***

I can’t believe today is our last day. Seth
meets me in the dining room and gives me a big hug in front of
everyone. The adults know it’s our last day together so they don’t
say anything and look the other way. I get my coffee and bagel and
he grabs his usual six doughnuts and a Coke.

“I don’t know how you can eat all that sugar and
fat and stay so thin,” I say.

“Fast metabolism. Besides I’m still growing.
Coach back home says I’ll probably grow three or four more
inches.”

I look at him and say, “I think I’m done. What
you see is what you get.”

He looks at me with powder sugar on his nose,
“You’re exactly what I want. We’re on for Busch Gardens later this
month, right?”

I brush the sugar off his nose.

“Absolutely,” I squeeze one of his sticky
hands.

I’m so glad Seth goes to a small private school
so he doesn’t have oodles of cute new girls chasing him. Most of
the girls at his school he says he has known since kindergarten so
they’re more like sisters.

I ask, “You don’t mind going back to texting do
you?” with a hint of anxiety in my voice.

“Megs, you’re everything I want. I mean that.
I’m going to text you when I can. Otherwise I’ll be studying,
playing sports, or hanging with Robby learning disgusting
habits.”

“Like burping the alphabet?”

“Exactly.” He smiles, and brushes back my
hair.

“Okay that makes me feel better.” I see Paige
and excuse myself to go talk to her. “Hi. How’s it going?” I ask. I
notice she won’t even look at me.

“Fine. I’m going to see someone when I get back
home. A counselor who’s had the same problem.”

“Good. If you want to talk you can give me a
call.”

“Yeah?.” She laughs, then answers, “No thanks.”
She looks down at her food, dismissing me.

I sigh, “Well, maybe I’ll see you next
year.”

“Maybe,” Paige says.

I don’t think Paige hates me, but she’s not
ready to be my friend either. I walk off as some of Paige’s cabin
kids come up to her.

Seth and I head down to the beach for our last
swim together. Mrs. Davis is walking around with a digital camera
taking photos of everyone to post on our camp page. She takes one
of Seth and me smiling in the water. I’m standing behind him with
my arms around his neck looking over his shoulder. It’s one of my
favorite pictures. We look so happy.

While we’re in the water, I look up and see the
dark angel. It’s decided to take on more of a human form. Or maybe
I’m getting better at seeing them. It almost looks like a shadow.
It’s not near anyone. It’s just hanging out on one of the paths by
the trees.

“Seth, come on,” I get out of the water and head
after the darkness. When I get to the start of the trail it takes
off into the woods. I follow. I’m not sure why. I’m wearing my
water shoes so the rough terrain is easier to handle. My legs still
manage to get scratched by wild vines and the tangled mess of
undergrowth.

I yell in frustration, “Stop!”

It does. It turns around and comes toward me
slowly, gathering itself into a human form. Further ahead more
movement catches my eye. It’s another one heading my way, and
another off to the left. I was wrong. There’s more than one. The
one in front of me is looking more like the ghost of a human as it
takes shape.

“I know you’re not a ghost. I know what you
are.”

An evil laugh comes out of it.

The other two draw closer. And suddenly, I feel
I’ve made a mistake. Now that I’ve made it stop, and more are
coming towards me, what can I do?

“Megan!” It’s Seth‘s voice. He’s somewhere in
the woods behind me.

I call out, “I’m here!”

The presence comes closer and I instinctively
step back. A branch breaks beneath my foot, and I fall.

Seth calls out again as I tumble, “Megan!” The
three forms dissolve back into dark clouds and fly right over my
head, out of sight.

“Are you all right?” Seth is next to me helping
me get up. He helps to brush off the debris.

“I’m fine.”

“Why did you run out here?”

“I saw something or someone. I don’t know. I
guess it was stupid.”

He shakes his head. “You can’t take off and
leave the kids like that. Someone could have drown.”

“I’m sorry.” He shakes his head. “It’s okay. I
found someone to watch the kids so I could follow. Let’s get
back.”

I know after I leave tomorrow those evil beings
will still be here looking to steal someone’s faith. The worst part
is there is nothing I can do about it.

Seth and I grab sandwiches for lunch and take
them down to our place for the last time. Seth has his shirt off
and I can’t help but notice how handsome and tan he is.

“Wow I can’t believe how fast camp went,” he
says.

“Yeah, I know. I’m going to miss you so
much.”

Seth puts his arm around my shoulder, “Me
too.”

I lean my head on his shoulder. Even after a
swim, he still smells good. I close my eyes for a minute getting
dizzy just on his scent.

We sit quietly for such a long time that a small
otter comes running across the rocks and under the dock, not even
realizing we’re here. He scuttles out and continues on his way.

“Wanna sneak out tonight and see how many
shooting stars we can see?” Seth brushes away a blue dragonfly that
lands on his knee.

“Sure, I’d love too.”

“Great ‘cause I have a surprise for you.”

“You do? What is it?”

“You’ll just have to wait until tonight.”

Seth goes to stand up and gives me his hand. “I
think you’ll like it.”

“I like anything from you.”

We walk back to reality. I have my last classes
of arts and crafts and Seth has his archery; then one last dinner
and one final night on the dock.

Later, while on my way to kitchen duty, I run
into Zadok.

“Hey,” I say.

“Hi. Megan come over and walk with me for a
minute.”

“I guess this will be my last meeting with you.”
I say. I’m at a loss for words. How do you say goodbye to an angel?
How do you say thank you? Does he even care?

As if he heard my thoughts he says, “You know,
angels have feelings too. I’m going to miss you. I hope we meet
again. I want you to know, I will be feeling joy for every victory
you have and sorrow for the losses.”

I stop and give him a hug. He feels so human.
“Thank you,” I say, “you have helped me.” I step back, “Maybe when
I get to Heaven, you can show me around.” Zadok throws his head
back and laughs. “Oh what a day that will be. Remember, you are not
alone. Maybe I’ll be sent to help again. You never know. Don’t try
to fix things on your own, ask Him first.” Zadok looks up at the
sky.

“I have so many questions, but when I’m with
you, I just can’t seem to think of any.” I pause, “Zadok, that dark
force is going to stay here, isn’t it? But you and I are leaving.
Who will be here to stop it?” I ask.

“The Lord’s people and his word are here. That’s
enough,” Zadok looks confident. “Goodbye, Megan,” he waves and
disappears.

At dinner, Seth and I eat quickly and head out
to the fishing dock. There is a bench at the end where we can sit.
We hold hands enjoying this time alone. Robby and Carrie join us on
the dock.

“So what are you guys going to do without each
other?” Robby says.

“I was hoping you could teach me how to burp the
alphabet. That way I have something to impress Megan with the next
time,” Seth says.

Carrie groans, “Don’t get him started.”

“Maybe when Seth comes down to Busch Gardens,
you could bring Robby, and Carrie could come with me,” I say.

Carrie says, “Really?”

Seth, says, “I’m sure my parents wouldn’t
mind.”

Carrie looks at him and answers, “Really?”

“This is beginning to sound like a double date,”
Robby says.

Carrie smiles at Robby, “Really?”

We all turn to Carrie and say, “Really!”
Everybody starts to laugh.

After campfire, I get the girls back to the
cabin. Everybody’s busy packing their stuff. I throw mine together
quickly and pull Bri aside.

“I’m going out for a little while to say goodbye
to Seth, can you get everyone to bed? I won’t be too late. We’re
just going down to the old dock by the lake.”

Bri says, “Well, I do owe you one for putting
that snake in Robby’s bunk. The memory of that scream is priceless.
Sure, go for it.”

“Thanks,” I grab a flashlight.

“I’ll see you guys later,” I say to the Venus
girls. They’re so excited they hardly notice I’m gone.

I get to the dock before Seth. The moon is
almost full tonight so I turn my flashlight off. Because of the
stars and the moon, I can see pretty clearly. Bats are diving
toward the water, preying on the flying bugs, hunting over the
lake. I look behind me toward the woods for the dark forces, but
they’re either not there or blending in so well I can’t see them.
The waves are lapping at the shore in short rhythmic bursts. I hear
the night sounds and wish I could spend everyday in such a
wonderful place. I feel so at peace.

I hear a step on the dock and turn my head to
greet Seth with a smile on my face. It’s not Seth. It’s a dark
thing. It’s constantly moving, swaying, growing, and shrinking; and
it’s only about two feet away from me. Fear makes a stab at me, but
I summon anger instead. How dare this thing try to ruin my last
night with Seth!

“Leave me alone,” I say loudly, afraid my voice
will quiver or come out like a whisper. It stays, moving
closer.

It speaks sounding just like I imagined a demon
would, “We know you. Stop or we will destroy you. Stop, and we will
go.” I hear moaning and deep guttural sounds. I remember my
flashlight and turn it on the creature. The light has no effect.
“You can’t hurt me unless it is my Lord’s will, Now LEAVE ME
ALONE!” I shout.

I hear Seth’s voice from the path, “Megan is
that you, are you okay? Megan?” I hear him break into a run.

The creature looms over me and in more than one
voice says, “We know you. We see you. You can‘t hide.” It
disappears.

Seth grabs me, “Are you okay? For a minute, I
thought I saw someone with you, then I heard you scream ‘leave me
alone’. What’s going on?”

I fall into Seth’s arms, shaking, and just let
him hold me for a minute. Do I try to explain? This is not how I
wanted our last night to be. I calm down. I can’t tell him; I just
can’t. “There’s no one here but me, I just got spooked by a shadow,
that’s why I yelled. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, Megs. I’m here. You’re shaking.
There’s nothing to be frightened of. Sometimes the moonlight can
play tricks on your eyes. Have you been here long?”

“No. I feel silly. I love it out here, and I
feel safe with you,” I hug him again and just stand there breathing
in his scent. Shampoo and freshness, the smell of love and comfort.
I guess I’ve made my decision not to tell him. Yet.

I can feel his heartbeat slow down. Mine soon
matches his. We sit on the edge of the dock, leaning against each
other. “Remember I said I had something to give you?” Seth says
into my hair.

“Yes,” I say.

He pulls a ring off his finger, “I want you to
have it.”

“Oh—what is it?” I say as I put it on. It’s
silver and has an intertwined vine pattern on it. It’s too big for
my ring finger, but it fits on my middle one.

It’s my purity ring. I promise to be faithful
and wait for you. And I want you to save yourself for me. Before
God someday, when we take our vows in front of him we can be what
He wants. Your first time is a special gift to me, and mine, to
you. It’s like giving you my heart. Please don’t break it,” Seth
kisses me on the top of my head.