Marcus: The Risen Warrior

By Angela McCurdy

Marcus Allard has been chosen to be the leader of a trio of warriors to fight a war against the forces of darkness. Three teenage boys make up this band of champions. But there is a problem with the third warrior; he does not understand that he has been designated as a soldier to fight against the evil wanting to consume humanity. He unknowingly makes a blood covenant with the very demonic powers he must go to battle against. It is up to Marcus to release the third warrior from his captors in order for the trio to step out into battle and overcome the forces of darkness. The battlefield is in the mind and the forces of darkness have the power to overtake the unsuspecting. Marcus is not one of those. He fully understands where the real power comes from. He has gone through basic training and is now learning to harness the power that he possesses to fight the unseen forces of evil.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 4, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644165300

Book preview

Chapter 2

Marcus and Matthew headed to first period. Finn and his gang were nowhere in sight. Marcus felt secure as long as Matthew was around; however, they did not share every class; he would be alone third and sixth period.

They parted company after second period, and Marcus headed toward his third class. While walking, he felt as if someone was following him closely. The hair rose on the back of Marcus’s neck, he stopped and turned around. It was Dre; he was staring, not saying a word. He stood there smiling and giving Marcus a strange look. Marcus couldn’t figure out what was happening. He just stood there, trying to process it all. He realized that he got the same feeling around Dre as he did when he encountered the old man. Somehow they must be connected. They both had the same eyes and the same stare.

Marcus passed Dre quickly and headed toward class. While sitting in third period before lunch, Marcus caught some movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked out the classroom window, and there the old man was again, standing across the street.

You’ve got to be kidding, he thought. Just like earlier he couldn’t take his eyes off the old man. The two stared at one another and Marcus began to believe his mind was playing tricks on him. It was if he was outside of himself watching a movie and he could see this man talking to him.

The old man’s eyes seemed to have the power to draw Marcus slowly out of his seat toward him; it was as if he was having an out of body experience. Marcus felt like he was moving in slow motion, trying to scream, but nothing was coming out. The closer he got to the old man; he could almost make out what he was saying. Marcus read his lips, You are dead!

Just then, the bell rang and caused Marcus to jump. He quickly looked to the front and then back. The old man was nowhere, just gone.

As all the students filed out of the classroom, Marcus stayed frozen in his seat. He knew seeing that old man again wasn’t a coincidence. He shuddered at the realization that his stare was just like Dre’s. He couldn’t believe this. Were those two related?

Marcus sat there for the longest time. He failed to notice that the teacher had walked up to him and called out his name. Finally, he snapped out of it and looked at her. She asked if he was all right and he nodded yes. He bolted from his desk with one thought on his mind and that was, find Matthew.

As Marcus was looking for Matthew, he felt like he was standing at the bottom of a pit with all kinds of bugs crawling over him. He stood there trying to shake everything off, and then Dre came back to mind. He couldn’t get over how their stares were identical. The thought came to his mind that they both wanted him dead. Why two people, one he had never seen before until today, and the other, he had never had two words with, want him dead? What could he have done to warrant this attention?

He took several deep breaths, trying to clear his mind and calm down. He looked down the hall and finally saw Matthew. As they were walking toward the cafeteria, Matthew could tell something was wrong with Marcus. Matthew started to ask, but as they turned the corner, there stood Finn and his gang. As the gang walked toward them, Marcus noticed Dre standing at the back. He was staring at Marcus with that same stare of death. He shuddered at such an evil look.

Still shaken from what had just occurred with the old man, Marcus realized it was happening again—everything was moving in slow motion but this time it was happening with Dre.

Before he had a chance to give it any more thought, Finn started in on him. Well, well, well, if it isn’t Narcus Allard, Finn spoke sarcastically. Don’t think for a moment you are getting away with turning me in. Allard, your days are numbered.

As unsettling as Finn’s words were, Marcus could not get his eyes off Dre. The more they stared at one another, the more Marcus thought he could here laughter coming from everywhere. He snapped back to reality as Finn was speaking to Matthew.

And as for you, Matthew, I would take this as a warning; you keep hanging out with this snitch and . . . well, let’s just say, you will find yourself in trouble with no way out. So I strongly suggest you find another friend.

Marcus spoke up, Look, Finn, you stole money from us, man, we worked hard for it. I wasn’t about to let you get away with it.

Who appointed you the watchman? It really doesn’t matter, because you are going to pay for turning me in.

Before Marcus could say anymore, Finn and his gang began to charge the boys. At that moment, a stench began to permeate the air, the smell was worse than rotten potatoes. From the look that Finn gave him, Marcus knew they were in trouble. The problem with Finn was secondary, compared to the way Dre was fixated on Marcus. It was as if everything was getting ready to explode.

Before Finn could get near, under his breath Marcus yelled, Help! He called out to the universe and got an answer just about the time the gang was almost on them. At that moment, two teachers rounded the corner, and Marcus exhaled a sigh of relief.

As the teachers walked toward the boys, Finn’s gang scattered like cockroaches.

Funny, Marcus thought, as soon as the gang left everything was back to normal. And that stink! Where did it go?

Chapter 3

At the end of sixth period, Marcus got a message from the school office that he needed to go home right away. Instantly, a peculiar feeling came over him; his spirit cried out that something was very, very wrong. He began to feel nauseous from a fear that seemed to consume him. Marcus hopped on his bike and he rode like an Olympic champion, fast as the wind.

As he rounded the corner, he looked down the end of his block and could not believe what he was seeing. There standing five houses down from his driveway was the creepy old man. As the fear continued to cover him like a dark blanket, Marcus was determined that this time he was not going to look him in the eye.

As Adlai Tompkins was walking out her front door, the phone rang. She paused for a moment, deciding whether to answer or not. She did not want to get involved in a conversation that might delay her from being with Marcus when he arrived home. As a peculiar chill overcame her, she thought she heard, Answer the phone.

As Adlai picked up the phone, she looked out the kitchen window and saw an old man staring at her from the alley behind her house. Gripped by terror, glued to the floor, she felt as if his eyes were saying, I am going to kill you! Adlai wanted to scream. She wanted to run, but he had some power over her that she could not break. All at once, a foul odor began penetrating the room, while everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. She could not believe the evil that was coming from his stare. Then, right at that moment, she cried out help. With her one simple word, his spell was broken and she was free.

Adlai wasn’t sure how long she had been holding the phone; it wasn’t long, maybe a few seconds. She said Hello, but there was no answer. When she hung up and looked back in the direction of the alley, the old man had disappeared. Her hands were shaking, and she thought she was going to lose her lunch. Adlai couldn’t get out of the house fast enough. She quickly locked the door and ran next door to the Allard’s.

Marcus bolted through the front door, and yelled, I’m home, mom, I’m home.

The house was dead quiet, nothing. He called out again, Mom, I’m home. He paused. Where are you?

His nose was assaulted with the same putrid smell that was in the hallway at school. What is that smell? But before he could reason out what was happening, a knock was at the door. Marcus jumped so high that he almost hit the ceiling.

With his heart pounding out of his chest, Marcus slowly walked toward the door, and asked who it was. With a great sigh of relief, he opened the door. It was Adlai Tompkins. He had known her since birth, and she was his second mother. He affectionately called her Auntie. He looked at her, and could tell she was very upset, but he said nothing. She apologized for not being there when he got home. Then, Adlai noticed something odd. The same strange odor that was at her house was now here.

Before Adlai could get another word out, Marcus had his arms around her. She stood there with her arms around her godchild, and held him for a moment. There was no time to say anything about the smell. She needed to explain to Marcus about his mom’s car accident.

C’mon, I’ll take you to the hospital. Please don’t worry; I am told she’ll be fine. They may have to keep her overnight for observation. I know your dad is out of town and won’t be home until tomorrow. So if your mom has to stay overnight, then you can come home with me.

All the way to the hospital, Marcus felt on edge. Adlai said everything was going to be all right. But she seemed very worried and that scared Marcus. Earlier, he had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. As he was thinking about his mom, he began to get cold, like when you walk down the refrigerated isle at the supermarket.

I’m freezing! Why am I so cold? Is it cold in here, Auntie?

No, Marcus, it is not. Are you feeling all right?

Yeah, I am. But I can’t understand why I feel like I am in a refrigerator.

Adlai reached over and placed her hand on his forehead to see if he had a fever. She felt his arm to see how cold he was. Adlai told him that he did not feel like he had a fever or that he felt cold. While this was going on, Marcus began to feel like everything was moving in slow motion, just like earlier. Again, an overwhelming fear began to rise up in Marcus. He laughed at himself wondering, Is this the new me?

Then, he heard a voice in his head telling him that his mom was not safe. Before he could catch himself, the tears began to flow. The tears weren’t just about his mom. Marcus was not the kind of person that liked surprises. He liked order. However, today was out of order. Marcus was frightened about the old man that wanted him dead, the weird smells and now his mom. He just could not handle it. Adlai reached over and grabbed his hand to console him. She did her best to assure him that everything would be okay.

The look that Marcus gave Adlai frightened her. She had never seen such fear in his eyes. She asked if he was upset about something other than his mom, but he was too upset to say anything. He shook his head no and she just held his hand.

Chapter 4

The ten-minute drive to the hospital seemed like hours. As they were driving, Marcus looked out his window, and thought his mind was playing tricks on him. Was there something wrong with his vision? He couldn’t believe it, but there stood the same creepy old man. As they were passing him, their eyes locked for the third time. Shock riveted his body as he quickly turned away.

A few minutes later, the car stopped at a red light. Marcus could not believe what he was seeing. There was the old man stopped, waiting to cross the street. No way! No way could this decrepit old man have gotten to the crossing before they did. He was on foot, and so old, it was not possible that he could run that fast.

This was so creepy that now it bordered on insanity. Unless the old man was some sort of alien or master athlete in disguise, his movements were humanly impossible.

He sat there stunned and then it happened again. The slow motion thing started as the old man walked in front of the car. He was staring a hole through Marcus, and the stare was menacing, spellbinding. Marcus could not get his eyes off him. Something was evil all right. You would have to be a dunce to miss it. Marcus was the brightest student in his school, but this was beyond anything he could figure out. He closed his eyes, hoping it was some kind of bad dream, which would go away. When Marcus looked up, the old man had disappeared, again. Shocked, he laughed without uttering a sound at the word ‘again.’ What a simple word it was, but today, he was using it a lot.

Marcus asked Adlai if she had seen the old man crossing the street and she said yes but nothing more. He desperately tried to figure out what was happening but couldn’t. He thought to himself, Stuff like this only happens in the movies, right?

Adlai was unnerved at seeing the same old man. A quick thought passed through her mind, "Is he following me?" She told herself to take a deep breath and remain calm; they were in the car and safe. She wanted to call Alex but decided to wait until she could talk to her husband in private.

They arrived at the hospital, and both Marcus and Adlai felt relieved.

Finally, they both thought, we are here.

Marcus went to get out of the car but he couldn’t move his legs. Weird, weird, weird! Why can’t I move my legs? Why am I so freaked out? What is going on here? His thoughts raced, Everything is moving in slow motion, again? This is stupid, Marcus, GET OUT OF THE CAR!

Adlai was out of the car, waiting on him. She looked through the window and asked if he was okay.

Sure, I’m just worried about Mom.

Well, come on then, let’s go.

Adlai walked up to the counter and asked for Beatriz Allard’s room number. As they walked toward her room, a familiar smell was present.

Marcus stopped, looked at Adlai and asked, Do you smell that?

Yes, I do. It is the same thing I smelt at my house. Then, when I walked into your house. It was there as well.

They looked at each other, shook their heads and said at the same time, Weird.

Before they could say anything else, they were walking into Beatriz’s room. Marcus sat next to his mom. Her eyes were closed as if she were sleeping.

Mom, Marcus said quietly.

She slowly opened her eyes and said, Oh, there you are . . . I am so glad to see you . . . are you okay?

They hugged, and then Marcus responded, Yeah, I’m okay. Are you? What happened?

I’ve never been in a car wreck before. I remember seeing the light turn red from a distance. Then out of nowhere, there was a car right in front of me. I hit my brakes, but they went to the floor. The car kept going and I just screamed out ‘help.’ Then, the oddest thing happened, there was a long pause, it was as if something reached out and stopped the car. What happened next is hard to explain. Beatriz stared directly at the both of them and said, "I’m not sure if what I am going to tell you happened or not, but right before I hit the car in front of me, I felt something next to me. Everything happened so quickly. I turned to my right, and there was this old man sitting, staring at me, almost laughing. I screamed and then the car behind me hit me, which slammed my car into the car in front of me. I thought I was losing my mind because when I looked again, he was gone."

As Beatriz was telling them about the old man, Marcus and Adlai looked at each other in shock. They both asked in unison, "What did he look like?"

"I really can’t remember. I am somewhat foggy, and my head really hurts. I’m not sure what he looked like. But the one thing I can tell you is that I will never forget those eyes."

Visibly moved, Beatriz lay silent, as Marcus and Adlai stared at each other. They turned back to Beatriz, but before they could say anything, she continued, The doctors say they want to keep me overnight, to make sure I am okay.

Beatriz grabbed Marcus’s hand a little tighter.

Will you be okay if you spend the night with Adlai? She could see the worried look on his face and pulled him closer. Marcus, listen to me . . . I am all right, I promise you. I talked with the doctors, so has dad and Adlai. Nothing bad showed up on the x-rays, and I am going to be fine. They want to keep me overnight just to make sure. Your dad will be home tomorrow, and he will pick you up from school. He is going to take a couple of days off so we can spend some family time together this weekend, okay!

Marcus took a deep breath, and told her that he was okay. He believed his mom was telling him the truth about her getting better and coming home. What scared him