Chapter One-Bad Omen

We all know what we are capable of.

A murder committed out of hatred.

A murder committed out of love.

A robbery.

An injustice.

An argument that ends terribly.

Destruction.

Pollution.

Some actions may seem insignificant.

Just one among millions.

A small act of harm lost among all the others.

But what would happen if all those actions had a limit?

For years, something had been waiting.

Waiting for humanity to cross that limit.

And finally, it did.

Laughter.

-Boo!

-Damn it! You scared me! I almost had a heart attack! -Luis complained as he headed toward the school bathrooms.

Luck burst out laughing.

-It's not a big deal. I just wanted to prank you. Besides, you pull the same pranks on me.

-That was a good one, but we should get back to class. It's getting late -Luis said, somewhat worried.

Luck complained a little. That day, they had the super, mega, ultra-boring teacher on the planet.

-Right, we have her today... -Luis said, sounding both annoyed and worried.

LANGUAGE

-Open your books to page 239. Today we'll be going over prepositions...

-Hey, Luis, pssst...

-Are you awake? I can't. I'm seriously falling asleep.

-What's wrong, Luck? I'm trying to sleep. We're almost done with her class anyway, right?

-Actually, we have to wait until it ends because Miss is giving us a test. Aren't you excited? -Martha replied, the most disciplined student in the class.

Everyone was excited about the test.

Everyone was sleeping.

-Gods, get me out of here -Luck complained sadly and angrily.

After school

Luck and Luis talked about the class they had just had.

-I'm seriously going to fail. I don't even know if I'll get more than 11.

-Yeah, it was difficult -Luis replied sadly.

While the friends were talking, a group of students from the school approached them with a flyer.

-Hello?... Uh, we're gathering some students for our group. By the way, our gr...

-Yeah, yeah, the cult group? You guys are those people, right? Do you really believe in demons? Are you going to summon one or something? -Luck interrupted the member of the Shadows Forever club.

-Hey, Luck, don't make fun of them. If they believe in that stuff, leave them alone -Luis replied.

-Well, yeah, you're right. But why do you want people to join? -Luck asked, curious about the invitation.

-Well... WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING AMAZING ON FRIDAY NIGHT! -the shy girl from the club replied.

-And what are you going to do? -the two friends asked at the same time.

-Well... for more information, join the club.

The friends complained at the same time.

-So...? Are you joining? -the girl asked.

-Well... I'm out.

-We're passing.

-Uh... okay, I understand. Anyway, thanks for listening. Goodbye.

-That was really weird -Luis said.

-Yeah, really weird.

-Yeah, really weird... so weird that... it looks like that girl liked you -Luis said, teasing his friend.

-What? I didn't even notice! Besides, she's kind of shy and she believes in something I don't. And I'm not interested in a relationship.

-Well, whatever you say, Luck. I don't want to see you with her later, hahaha.

-Yeah, yeah, whatever you say. Instead of saying that, how about we walk home? It's getting late.

-Okay, okay, I'll stop joking around. Whoever gets home last has to buy the other something tomorrow. See yaaa!

-Hey, that's not fair! Just wait!

And that's how the afternoon went. The friends spent the walk home playing around until they reached their houses.

Luck opened the door to his house.

-I'm home -he said, leaving his backpack on the couch.

-Hiiii, brother!

-Hey, Henry. How have you been? Did you eat everything? Did you clean up? Did you play with your toys after washing up or before?

-No, brother. Grandpa did that. I just played when I got home from school.

-Oh, okay. What a life you have.

Luck walked toward the kitchen while continuing to joke around with his brother.

-Hi, Grandpa. How are you? I see you're getting fitter every day.

-Hahaha. I'm good, son. How was school?

-It was fine, Grandpa. Except there was one really boring class. And afterward, look, they offered me a chance to join some satanism club or something. Don't you find it funny that people believe in demons? I mean, I'm religious, but believing that they could actually appear... that's really weird and strange.

-Oh, son, I don't believe it either. Still, when you were a kid, you believed in all sorts of things, just like your father did when he was young.

-Really? I can't imagine Dad believing in that kind of stuff. By the way, let Henry do his own thing. You're spoiling him.

-Don't listen to him, Grandpa. What you're doing is fine -Henry replied, having just arrived in the kitchen.

-And where did you come from? Go back to your little corner with your tablet.

-Your food is in the microwave, son.

-Thanks, Grandpa. I'll eat upstairs in my room and do my homework afterward. And you, kid, put that tablet away or your eyes are going to fall out.

-NEVERRR!

-Haha. There he goes, Henry.

After that, a normal afternoon passed until night arrived.

Luck woke up because of the noise. His parents were arguing loudly. The shouting was so intense that Henry became scared and ran to Luck's room.

-Brother, Mom and Dad are arguing. I'm scared. I don't want them to split up, really.

Luck tried to calm his brother down, but he could hear the shouting getting louder and louder. For a moment, he wanted to intervene and was about to open the door to leave his room, but decided not to.

-Hey, Henry. Everything will be fine. You know Mom and Dad always fight. They'll probably calm down, or Grandpa will make them stop.

Henry simply cried while Luck hugged him.

The next day

Henry went to school again, looking a little down.

Luis saw Luck and asked him what was wrong.

-My parents fought again. It's something that happens all the time, but I don't like seeing Henry get scared because of it.

-I understand. My parents don't argue that much, but I know it's stressful. But relax. At least we have PE today. You can take your mind off things.

-Yeah, Luis. At least I can clear my head on the field.

And so, the friends spent the morning at school as usual. The only thing that changed was that the club members were handing out flyers again.

-What a pain having to do that History presentation. And the teams were chosen randomly -Luck said with a sigh.

-Don't even remind me. I got stuck with Erick, Matilda, and Jonathan, that lazy guy who does nothing but sleep and play. Seriously.

-Well, at least I have Martha. She's the smartest person in the class.

Just then, they saw another member of the Shadows Forever club handing out flyers to join.

-Look, Luck. They're handing out flyers again. Are you going to join the club?

-No. I'm not getting up in the middle of the night and going to school. Besides, I don't even know what they're going to do.

-Well, you could do it for the girl. Having a girlfriend wouldn't hurt you.

-I told you to stop joking about that. Besides, I don't have the headspace for a girlfriend right now, with all the problems I'm dealing with.

-Alright, alright. It was just a joke -Luis replied. -Still, if they summon a demon at school, we'll get a holiday. Think about it that way, Luck.

-Yeah, right. As if that stuff were real. I mean, look, I do believe in God, but it's different from thinking you can summon demons.

Luis replied:

-Maybe it wouldn't be that different because...

And so they spent the rest of the time debating until they reached their homes.

Luck arrived home and didn't see his brother there to greet him. He headed to the kitchen and found Henry crying beside his grandfather.

-What happened?

His grandfather explained that Henry was very sad and couldn't take his parents' arguments anymore. Then he asked Luck to help him move to the couch, since he was in a wheelchair.

Luck helped him sit down beside Henry.

-What happened yesterday, Grandpa?

-Well... adult problems. Relationship problems. The usual, son. It's just that this time they're a little nervous because you're about to finish high school, and there's not much money for college.

-I understand...

-Don't blame yourself. Like I told you, son, beyond the money, they're having relationship problems.

-Look, Grandpa. Henry fell asleep.

-Haha. Yeah, son. Take him to his room. He'll be more comfortable there.

-Yeah, that's what I was going to do -he said as he picked up his brother.

-Remember, son. It's not your fault.

-Yeah, I know, Grandpa. Thanks.

After that, Luck left his brother in his room and spent a normal afternoon exercising and doing homework until his parents came home from work.

-Damn... they're arguing again.

Luck wondered whether he should intervene or not, until he heard Henry.

-STOP FIGHTING! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! -he cried desperately.

-Don't get involved in this, Henry. It's an adult matter -his parents replied.

-Oscar, don't talk to the boy like that. Control yourself -Grandpa said angrily.

-Don't tell me how to raise my son. Besides, these are relationship problems, and he has no reason to get involved -Carla replied.

-Can you two stop arguing? Can't you see Henry is crying?

-You stay out of it too. You don't know how many things we have to pay for, so go back to your room.

-Damn it, but... can't you see what...

-Go. Now.

Luck frowned and went into his room, slamming the door behind him. He lay on his bed, but he could still hear the shouting. He tried to cover his ears with his pillows.

-Damn it... why can't they just shut up?

Luck looked toward his window. He hesitated for a second, but eventually got ready and decided to leave the house.

He began walking down the cold, dark street covered by the night.

-God... If you're listening to me, I ask you to give me a normal family without problems. I can't stand listening to my parents. I really hate them. Forgive me for saying this, but I really hate seeing how they don't care about me and my brother.

As he walked, he thought about where he could go. Then he remembered the school and the club.

-Well, looks like everything is turned off. Wait...

One light was still on.

-Should I go in? Damn it, I don't want to be an idiot, but I'm really curious -he scolded himself as he climbed over the fence.

He began walking through the hallways toward the room that was lit up. Then he heard murmuring.

-...invo... a... re...

-I hear something. What are they doing? Are they really going to summon a demon?

As he talked to himself, Luck moved closer until he could see through a crack what they were doing.

-We summon you, great and powerful demon. Come out of the darkness with these offerings we have brought you. Demon of darkness, grant us a wish.

-...Seriously? -Luck replied with both amazement and embarrassment.

-We summon you. We offer you our offerings.

-We summon you. We offer you our offerings...

They continued reciting it over and over again. Suddenly, a noise could be heard.

Luck narrowed his eyes.

It was a cat.

-Oh my God. Nothing happened, Sofia. I asked for permission for nothing.

-Yes! I really wanted to make a wish.

-Wait, guys, calm down. Maybe we did the spell wrong or...

While they were talking, Luck thought:

Hahaha, I was right. But for a moment I thought something was going to happen...

A strange sound began to echo. It was a screech that would have made anyone feel uneasy.

A red portal began to form.

A two-meter-tall creature emerged from it. It had horns, red skin, and a sort of incomplete armor. A glowing cable extended from its back and connected directly to the portal.

-What the fuck is that...? -Luck said, completely stunned.

-See? We did it! I told you it would work! -Sofia said, both excited and terrified.

-Wait... did you really summon a demon? -Luck couldn't believe it.

The demon remained motionless.

-I can touch it -Martina said.

-No. It could be dangerous -Emilia replied.

Sofia reached out to touch it.

Until...

The demon opened its eyes.