An Unholy Redemption Chapter 4 continued

“As you wish, there will be no more discussion about you.” Lucifer knew somehow that Christopher was lying and his knees clicked as he sat down and positioned himself next to this frail old man. “You know Luther, all my life I have been a charitable person helping people wherever or whenever I could. My love and possessions have always been theirs as they have been mine, although I think I have been guilty of loving too much and giving what I have to those in need. Unfortunately that led me to my downfall where people took advantage of me so much that I became poor and penniless, but I have been a God-fearing person and God has blessed most of my life with happiness and for that I am truly grateful. However, I fear now that my time to ascend is getting very close indeed. I was going to tell you earlier, but it didn’t feel right. In fact, I feel that this very night is my final hour on this earthly plane. It’s true you know when they say people are aware when their time is near. I feel it; I just hope God makes my passing as peaceful and comfortable as possible.”

Just then a raindrop left a dense cloud from up above and made its way downward, gathering

speed until it exploded on Christopher’s head. It wasn’t long before both of them were covered in raindrops. “I don’t know about a peaceful and comfortable death. It’s certainly going to be a wet one.” Lucifer refrained from allowing himself a smile at the thought of Christopher’s watery death. “You see, even in your last few hours on earth God isn’t listening. After all that kindness and faithfulness you’ve shown - what a waste.”

He was now shouting his blasphemies at Christopher above the sound of the heavy rainfall.

“Don’t curse God Luther, nature sometimes has a mind of its own. I won’t tolerate anyone

speaking bad about God, especially in my final hours. I didn’t tell you earlier when I spoke about my vision of a falling star. I was told that the gift I would receive from this stranger would be black and of great comfort. Would you grant me this final wish and fulfil the vision by giving me that coat in a time of great need.” Lucifer looked at the long black coat lying over his arms, the raindrops rolling off it like crystal teardrops dancing in the dark. He thought, Why should I give it to him? After all, it was a gift from Simon and the message and sign was very clear. “Nooo,” Lucifer shouted at the top of his voice. “It’s mine and I won’t let you have it.” Lucifer took hold of the wound on the back of his head as it began to burn. It was as though the feeling of God’s presence was encroaching into his mind like a hot iron, in order to observe whether he would help this man who had shown him so much kindness.

“I won’t give in to him,” he screamed. “Test me as much as you want.”

“Please, please this is all I ask of you. In God’s name can I have the coat?” Lucifer took one more look at the old man’s face now beginning to turn pale, matching the colour of his white hair and beard now drenched with rain. “No, why don’t you just die you stupid soul?”

“Giving it to me will be your salvation.”

Christopher now took hold of Lucifer’s coat and tightly gripped it in his hand. The sky above

had now turned a sinister colour black, with the clouds moving and merging violently releasing their rain. Lucifer and Christopher were now in a slippery tug of war, the coat tugged to and fro in a battle of wills. On one side, Christopher was trying to get hold of it like his life depended on

it. In a stubborn arrogant frenzy, still wanting power and control, Lucifer pulled back. Lucifer’s mind drifted back to when he and Michael were fighting in heaven on opposing sides. Only this time the battle was not with swords but over a coat. As Christopher got the upper hand, a blue light started emanating from the coat bringing Lucifer back from his memory. Realising that Christopher’s will was prevailing, Lucifer took a firmer grip and summoned all his strength, creating a change in the light and turning it to a crimson red.

“Pleasssse … Luther.” Christopher was now using his final attempt against Lucifer’s will, making Lucifer focus all his mind.

“Nooo,” he roared like a lion. In a moment, time seemed to slow down and everything happened at once. A flash of lightning ripped through the sky above as Christopher’s hands lost control and the coat left his hands. Finding himself off balance, he slipped in the mud and fell backwards, crashing his skull on the litter bin behind him, causing the bin to uproot and roll down the hill. Christopher slumped face down in the mud. Standing in the rain above the body, Lucifer smiled, which caused a white light like electricity begin to glow in the dark and resonate, moving slowly over the surface of the coat, making him release it to the ground. Just then Lucifer remembered the vision he had earlier in the café. As he stretched out his hand to turn Christopher’s body over, he knew why he was doing this. He wanted to find out what he had been guarding so carefully in his pocket. Like in the vision, as Christopher’s face was lit up by a flash of lightening, he saw blood running down the side of his mouth dripping into the muddy water below. Lucifer searched frantically in every pocket. It was strange but he had this notion that whatever was in the pocket was an answer of some kind for him. However, the search proved fruitless. With disgust, he dropped Christopher’s head back in

to the mud and began to think what to do next. As his eyes followed the scarlet life fluid leaking from Christopher’s skull, he tried to recall the rest of his vision. He noticed in the hole, where the bin had been, there was a perfect circle. At its centre lay a white card bobbing under the surface of the water as the rain drops battered down on it. Lucifer leant forward and took hold of the card. The rain stopped immediately. The sudden silence hurt his ears. The only sound was the dripping of water falling from the card into a muddy puddle, creating tiny shock waves of ripples edging outwards. From its reflection, Lucifer noticed a light above and its presence made him shiver. Cautiously, he looked upwards and a figure within the

light started to take shape, a figure Lucifer knew all too well. “Lucifer, oh Lucifer, you don’t know how long I have waited for you to come into my life and for that I thank you.”

Christopher was now like a ghost floating above glowing with a beautiful shining white light.

His face was radiating like the sun, causing Lucifer to squint and shield his eyes.

“Thank me, why? Don’t you realise you are dead because of me? What did you mean you’ve been waiting a long time for me to come in to your life? You didn’t even know who I was.”

“Someone, a long time ago, told me that I would one day meet a poor stranger coming out of a place of healing, holding just a black coat and nursing a wound on the back of his head. I was told it was my duty to look after this person and show him kindness. In turn for my kindness, I would receive a black gift from him and gain my freedom. So every night for twenty years I have watched for a falling star. Only then I would go to the hospital entrance in hope of meeting such a man, the one who would grant me this wonderful gift.”

“You stupid fool, what did your kindness reward you? Nothing, you didn’t even get the gift of my coat.” They both looked at the coat still lying on the floor next to Christopher’s body.

“Don’t you see, Lucifer? The gift wasn’t the coat, it was my freedom. The blackness was my

death before light. I had to see darkness before I knew what light was. That was the real gift of freedom you gave me, without knowing it. Through your evil, greed, anger and refusal of charity, you gave me the ultimate gift of all: love. Only in my death I now know of God, love and freedom. For that I thank and love you as the lost soul you are.” Tears were rolling down Christopher’s ghostly face, as his light grew brighter with emotion.

“Love, what is love?” Lucifer shouted out in anger and confusion for a want or understanding

of this word he had heard so much about. “I don’t know what it is, and I would rather destroy

something than understand it.”

“Christopher, it’s time to go.” From behind Christopher’s head appeared a face Lucifer knew. The familiar green eyes and golden hair of Raphael lit up illuminating the darkness,

“Still God’s little faithful puppy, Raphael, guiding souls back to the Most High, his majesty.”

Raphael looked at Lucifer with eyes filled with sorrow. “Brother, you still don’t know who you are, do you? In time you will understand, I bless you with love.”

“I don’t want your pity. I am Lucifer, enemy of God and the great corrupter of souls. When I

return in my angelic form, you and all the other brethren will kneel before me or die by my sword, do you hear me?” Lucifer continued to shout at the two disappearing figures as they faded into the sky. He heard Christopher whisper in his ear.

“Don’t forget to follow the signs. God has asked me to remind you of his plan and your fate,

which lies entirely in your hands alone. I hope you find your way home. I know I have.”

The light faded away into the dark clouds which dispersed rapidly. The sun started to set

behind a red and orange sky; the sounds of birds could be heard again, preparing their nest for

a night of rest. The bench rocked as Lucifer sat down. He turned over in his mind Christopher’s last words as he looked down at the body looking pale but now at peace. Stupid fool, why on earth would he choose that end for himself? Just because someone told him to, Anyway, what’s on this card? He turned it over and it read: “My dearest Christopher, if you are ever lost and in need of a friend, you will find me at this address, 26 Sanctuary House, Michael Street. Your friend, Sophie. X.” Well, I’ll play God’s little game and follow the sign. I guess this is the place I’m heading. Lucifer cautiously bent forward to pick up the black coat from where it lay on the ground through fear of anymore white light waiting to shock him. To his relief, nothing happened, but as he took it a leaf

floated past his head and landed on Christopher.

“You have got to be kidding me,” He looked up at the tree, which was now in full bloom, branches reaching to the heavens as though in praise and thanks for this day that had come to pass. Lucifer shook his head and smiled at what he thought was another attempt of God’s so called great plan − a plan which he was going to tear apart − as he walked towards a setting sun.