It is not good to live a life full of spilling lies

Eventually people will stop listening and pass you by

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Thus no one listens to a liar even when they beg on their knees

For example, the story of the girl who cried wolf reveals to the youth

If you lie too much, people won't believe you when you tell the truth

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The King of Lust

Once the words had reached Jules' ears, it continued to echo in her thoughts. It echoed so loudly that she was only able to register Abby's moving lips and not her words. Still, she nodded her head anyway, too eager to be in the comfort of her apartment to care about what more Abby had to say. Jules had heard enough.

However, she did not feel the comfort she needed once she closed her front door and was met with silence. Today was Saturday and her mother would not be home until a few more hours. If Jules wasn't so exhausted already, she would have ran to the bakery just so she could be engulfed in her mother's arms and hear her say that everything was going to be okay.

Jules felt like she was drowning. How could everything suddenly go so wrong?

If life was an ocean, Reville Oaks was a ball and chain attached to Jules' ankle. She had spent so many years trying to stay happy in a place that shunned her. Moving to Dalmellington had given her a false sense that she was free, that she could float above the water and look at the beautiful skies and feel the sun's warmth. But now, an unknown creature had plundered her deep into the water. So deep that she had been transported into another world. One of darkness. One where the sun's light did not reach.

What was she supposed to do now? She couldn't tell her mother. Her mother would think she was hallucinating and would worry to death. It was a burden she needed to figure out herself.

Think Jules. Think.

Freaking out wasn't going to do anything. It would over stress her body and she would pass out again. Staying calm was a priority.

Abby had just thrown a load of information on her. Jules needed to piece everything together.

With the many dots starting to connect, there was still some dots left detached.

For one, how could she be a Peccator? She had been faithful to God all her life and would never make a deal with someone working for the devil.

And what was the note of scratched out names on Abby's desk? Why did it have Jack's name on it?

Note

Jules could feel a distant memory clawing to resurface. She ran up the stairs and opened her closet door with such a force, it left her clothes shaking roughly on their hangers. She thrust her hand deep inside the closet and pulled out a plain shoe box covered in smeared images of crayon-drawn flowers. It had been worn out from years of use and it was where she stored important letters, pictures, and items.

She fumbled through the papers frantically, throwing out things she didn't need. Jules tensed up when she accidentally grabbed the instant film image of her pregnant mother. It brought back flashbacks of the horrifying things she she saw in the mirror at the party. She couldn't look at image for long and threw it in the pile beside her.

After minutes of searching, she found a yellow piece of paper crunched up between one of her mini notebooks and grabbed it.

She smoothed out the crumples on her lap. In large, bold handwriting was the phrase I'LL BE BACK.

It was the last push Jules needed to crack her box of locked-up memories. It all came flooding back to her, crashing at her brutally like waves on a cliff during a storm. The memories that haunted her childhood became memories that haunted her now.

White lilies. Getting lost. Little boy. Friends. Crows. Screams. Blood.....Dixon.

For so many years, Jules was convinced that something was wrong with her. That her brain created hallucinations as a coping mechanism for the absence of her father. She was young and naive back then but now she was sure. Satan was real and his corruption was undeniable.

Jules was disgusted. How could someone take advantage of a vulnerable child like that? This man...thing...Dealer--whatever he was. He was evil.

Jules clenched her fist. She could feel her frustration desperately wanting to turn into anger, but she would not allow it to do so. When her father first left, her mother always emphasized James 1:20.

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

What has happened has happened. Letting anger control her would not solve anything. Now she needed to focus on finding a solution.

After a few moments of thoughtless brainstorming, Jules sighed and rubbed at her temples. She still needed more answers.

She needed to talk with Dr. Johnson--her therapist from Reville Oaks who turned into a close friend over the years. Whenever Jules was upset or conflicted about anything, Dr. Johnson had been the one she could confide in. It was their number one rule that Jules would always tell the truth and in return Dr. Johnson would always believe her.

The only issue was Jules did not own a phone. She would have to wait and borrow her mother's once she got home from work.

In the end, she decided that the best thing she could do right now was pray.

Jules took her ruby rosary out of the drawer and knelt in front of the large cross hanging above the wall opposite of where her bed was. She prayed for God's guidance and for the strength to fight the evil coming her way. Jules was so deep in prayer that she did not feel the ache in her knees as hours passed by, nor did she hear the front door of the apartment open.

Jules nearly screamed when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry sweet pea. I didn't mean to scare you."

Jules felt like she could cry. Looking at her mother's kind hazel eyes made her feel so safe. She wanted to get up as quickly as she could but kneeling for so long had made her knees feel like jelly.

"Slow down honey. What you rushing for? Let me help you." Maribelle Moore pulled her daughter up from the ground. Before she could comment on Jules' carpet indented red knees, Jules had hugged her so tightly that the two almost toppled over.

"Honey? What's the matter? Did something happen?" Her mom began rubbing soothing circles on her back.

Jules had to hold back from breaking down. She already decided on keeping the issue a secret from her hardworking mother.

"I just really missed you." Jules whispered out. Her mother's bakery scent never failed to provide comfort.

"Awww, I missed you too baby girl. Did you have fun?"

"It was quite an experience." Jules replied truthfully.

Her mother smiled, exposing small crinkles beside the slit of her eyes.

"I'm happy to hear that you're making new friends. I want you to tell me all about it during dinner! Also..." Maribelle held her daughter's face in both hands excitedly. "I have a early birthday present for you."

Jules followed her mother to the kitchen and smiled at the ribbon wrapped box sitting on the counter.

"Am I supposed to open it now?"

"Of course! I practically ran home just so I could give it to you."

It was then that Jules noticed her mother's flushed cheeks and the perspiration still left on her shiny forehead. It warmed her heart. Her mother always did little things to make her feel loved.

Jules began unwrapping the box, eager to see the contents inside.

She gasped, "Mother...I don't even know what to say. This must have cost a fortune."

It was a phone that looked similar to the one she had borrowed from Randall, but it was much smaller in size.

Her mother shook her head. "It wasn't too expensive. I told Mrs. Watson that I wanted to buy you a nice phone and she introduced me to one of her good friend who was selling a used one for cheap."

"Thank you so much mamma. I love it." Jules hugged her mother once again and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"You can use my phone to add Dr. Johnson's number and that friend of yours who called me last night. I'll start cooking dinner."

Jules decided she would give Dr. Johnson a call tomorrow and added Abby's number even though she had no desire to talk to the girl at the moment. Right now her life felt normal and she did not want to think about things that would ruin her peace.

To keep her mind from wandering, Jules played around with her new phone and even learned how to set up a wallpaper. She found a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ on the internet and used it as her lock screen image.

After half an hour passed, Jules helped her mother set the table. It was starting to get darker outside so she lit some candles.

They held hands and said grace together before digging in.

"Tell me about the party."

Jules gulped the tasty roast beef in her mouth nervously. She did not want to talk about that night but she knew it was inevitable for her mom to ask about it.

"Randall's house was like a castle. It was something I have only read in books. There were dazzling lights--" Jules was cut off by the sound of ringing. It was her mother's phone.

Her mother squinted her eyes at the small flip phone's screen.

"Oh, your friend Abby is calling. I'll send her your number so you can test out your new phone!"

Jules furrowed her eyebrows. Why would Abby call her right now?

It didn't take long for Jules' phone to start buzzing. Her mother would think it was suspicious if she didn't answer.

"I'll be back mamma."

"Take your time dear."

Jules ran to her room and closed the door.

"Hello?"

"Jules, where are you?" Abby asked urgently.

"I'm at home eating dinner with my mom. What's--"

"You need to come to the academy now. Hurry, the sun has almost set."

"What? Why?" Jules was confused.

"I don't have time to explain--"

"I'm sorry, " Jules interrupted, "I will call you back after I finish dinner."

"Wait! Jules, please--"

Jules ended the call. She did not know what was going on, but she couldn't think of any good reasons why she should go to school at this hour. It sounded like another trap. She wanted to stay as far away from the academy students as she could. With that in thought, she silenced her phone before going back to eat.

By the time Jules finished dinner, Abby had called her more than twenty times. She was going to call her back but her attention was snatched by a glowing light outside. She walked out onto her balcony to take a closer look.

It was an oval shaped light that hid a figure at its center.

Was it an angel that heard her prayers and was coming to help her?

A gust of wind flew by and closed the balcony door.

Jules smiled and watched as the light started to float towards her. Once it got to Jules' eye level, its light began to dim. Jules' smile slowly turned into a frown as the light morphed into a horrifying, shadowed creature with horns on top of its flesh-less skull. Fire ignited out of its eye sockets and its mouth was filled with dozens of sharp teeth.

She quickly turned around to open the door. It was locked. No matter how hard she rattled it, the door wouldn't budge. Jules banged the glass and screamed.

"Help! Someone help! Mom!"

She turned back around and felt her chest constrict painfully. The creature was now inches away--she could feel its fire radiate onto her skin.

Before the creature could get close enough to burn her, it let out a piercing scream that sounded like scraping a fork on a plate.

Jules' eyes widened. The creature dispersed into dust and Jonathan stood there with white light radiating off his hands.

The sound of honking boomed from below.

In front of her balcony was Abby and the seven members of the student council looking crazily disheveled. They were sitting in a roofless green car that looked like it belonged in a safari.

"Get in loser, we're going shopping." Ellen joked.

Jules stared at them in bewilderment. Her eyes shot to the right at the sound of screeching. More shadows were flooding down the street and heading towards them.

"No, seriously, get your a*s in the car if you want to live."