Music played through the wide-open doors of the cafeteria and bright-colored lights flickered on the walls. The announcement echoed as “Low” by Flo Rida played. Balloons and silver paper stars decorate the entryway. They didn’t shine bright as the stars above, highlighted by a full moon, along a desert landscape. Tonight was prom; the night where sixteen-year-old girls had the time of their lives for one magical moment. Whether it took the form of a kiss, a slow dance, or a time to celebrate one night of fun before they blast toward graduation.But tonight? It was a night of misery and heartbreak as a young, blonde teen sat on the steps near the cafeteria. Her makeup smeared from tears. She held her smartphone to her ear, bedazzled with stickers and sniffed as she tried to compose herself, taking a deep breath before giving a small sigh.“Daddy? You have no idea what my date did to me. He humiliated me. I was supposed to be prom queen, but he made out with my best friend, Amelia, and called me a Bible thumper. I thought he genuinely loved me. He promised he’d never insult my faith like that. Now? I have no one in my life; please take me home,” she sobbed quietly. There was a quiet shushing noise on the other end.“I’m sorry, princess. I know how hard it is at your age. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve been heartbroken. But hey, your birthday is tomorrow. Want me to pick you up a cake? We can listen to Bon Jovi and watch The Chosen tonight. I don’t think Jesus himself would want your sorrow to squander your night. He loves you, like I do,” her father’s familiar phrase echoed from the receiver.The blonde teen gave a soft smile and wiped away a tear. “You always know what to say, Daddy. I think I’ll try calling Kyleen again. If I can’t reach her, I’ll let you know. I love you,” she whispered, lowering the phone. She took a deep breath before glancing down to call her cousin, only to see the phone screen darken to black. Her brown eyes widened in fear as she hyperventilated. Did her phone die? Has it now got worse?“No, no, no, no, please turn back on. Please, Jesus… I can’t be stranded. You love me, right?” She sniffed; her heart raced a million miles per hour. Panic’s icy tentacles crawled up her spine; what if she didn’t have a way to get home? The ride she came with would no doubt leave her for dead given the choice.“Can I help you, miss?” A voice said as she gasped in surprise. A tall, green-eyed man with silver hair and a beard to match looked at her in concern. Once she relaxed, the older gentleman smiled, holding out a hand for her in true gentleman’s fashion.“Thank you. I just got dumped by my boyfriend. I’m waiting for a ride home,” she said as the man lightly squeezed her hand in a reassuring fashion. However, certain qualities didn’t add up. First, who would wear a business suit in the middle of an event like prom, near a high school? Second, he appeared to be a man waiting to strike a deal at a business conference. A predatory glare burned in his eyes, like a lion ready to swallow her whole. Her heartbeat raced as she snatched her hand away and grasped her silver cross necklace.“My dad is five minutes away; he’ll be here soon,” she said as she gave a polite smile. The gentleman laughed as she slowly backed away from him. She shivered even though it was a warm night. Her flesh crawled as he stared at her as if she were a delicious cheesesteak sandwich.“Oh darling, my precious Mimi, I haven’t even introduced myself or anything. My name is Lucifer Deville. I want to grant your wish. I’ll show you a better time than your savior ever could,” he whispered as the teen widened her eyes with terror.“No, my name is Maria James. Mimi is not my name, asshole. My dad will be here any minute. Please, back off before I call the cops,” she swiveled her head around and screamed. The man grabbed her arm roughly, and she let out a small whimper.“I don’t care what your name is. Mimi is who I came for, you remember? You may have everybody around you fooled, maybe even your precious date, but let’s face it: You’re no ‘good Christian’. You cheated on your precious date, allowing another to whisper sweet nothings. And once he had his way, giving you beer for payment, it was only a matter of time before your date saw the light, repaying betrayal with betrayal. Your dad? Won’t save you. Your God? Is not here. Tonight? You’re mine,” Lucifer growled in her ear.“Your best bet is to follow my commands and climb in the truck. Oh, and mind your language, sweetie. Your precious Jesus won’t care for that sin, will he?” Lucifer added with a laugh as he dug his fingers into her arm. He led her across the parking lot to the red truck nearby. Was it there before or after her boyfriend humiliated her? Lucifer swung open the passenger door with his left arm and shoved her inside.“This can’t be happening… this can’t be happening to me.” The door slammed shut. She hyperventilated again and broke down in  quiet sobs. The driver’s door opened and slammed shut quickly. She shivered as Lucifer brushed a strand of hair out of her face.“Awww, don’t cry; we haven’t even left the parking lot yet. Unless of course you want me to kill you here and now? Cause a scene? Oh, that would get messy real quick. You don’t want that to happen, do you?” Lucifer said with a large, sinister grin on his face. He gave a dark chuckle before starting the engine. Survival instinct and quick thinking kicked in, letting her fingertips touch his shoulder. She hoped and prayed it distracted him long enough to make a plan.“Why me? Out of all the easy picking you have for killing, why me? That’s it. And if you know my God, my Jesus, you know that either way, whether I die here, on an empty road, or five years from now, I’ll be in heaven with my Savior. And you know He will stop you at the last battle. Now that will get messy, won’t it?” Maria slightly raises her eyebrow. Her blood ran cold with a single glare from the man in the driver’s seat.“Because you, like all creation, are despicable. I’m doing us both a favor by ensuring I grant your death wish. God should never have created man. You filthy pigs don’t deserve God. You really want to die? To meet your Maker in Heaven? And risk him saying those infamous words, ‘Depart from Me, for I never knew you’?” Lucifer said with another smirk. Maria blinked away tears and nodded, reaffirming the desperate wish she wanted from the devil himself.“I know I don’t deserve life, or salvation, or Jesus. I tried to justify what I did by seeing that stranger, because I never felt loved or appreciated enough. Even had him call me Mimi. I thought it’d be fun to add mystery, like in a rom-com, but it deepened the pain and loneliness tenfold. Maybe tonight I am meant to see Jesus face-to-face. Just like maybe you are meant to send me to him. So please kill me now. Before anyone sees this,” she gently grabbed Lucifer’s calloused hand, lightly squeezed it in reassurance. She smiled as the evil before her laughed at the gesture. She took his other hand, gently guided them to her neck, allowing him to squeeze it.“Oh, this is just precious. You’re willing to risk it all, aren’t you? This is delicious indeed. Almost as much as Jesus wondered why his father had forsaken him. Honey, I will oblige and take your life. And you will find out how wrong you really are about everything,” Lucifer said as he tightened his grip around her throat. Maria made choking sounds, her ability to breathe weakening.Lucifer pinned her down as the choking sounds continued for several seconds more. She felt her life drain from her and knew it would be over soon. The driver’s door swung open, and Lucifer’s heavy weight lifted from her petite body. He fell onto the asphalt hard. Maria coughed violently, and a gentle hand reached to help her from the passenger seat. The arms held her in a protective embrace as she gazed into soft brown eyes full of concern.Maria blinked and coughed a little more; her vision blurred. However, she could make out some of the man’s features. A goatee, tan skin, dark raven-black hair, and a face one could easily recognize. When her vision cleared, she knew who he was without question.“Lord..?” Maria whispered softly and the man gave a soft chuckle. She must admit the stranger reminded her of the actor Avraham Aviv Alush from The Shack. Tears filled her eyes, streamed down her face, and her Savior gently wiped them away. She sniffed and melted into the cradle of his arms, clinging onto his neck like a child.“I’m sorry, Lord, I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t desired death, if I were patient maybe five minutes more? I’d already be home without having.. him try to take my life. I brought this on myself,” Maria whispers. He made soft shushing noises and slowly walked away from the truck. She hiccupped as she held onto his neck, resting her head on his chest.“Where are you taking me, Lord?” she heard an angry scream, followed by obscene curses behind them from Lucifer. His screaming became a distant echo the longer her lord carried her away from the parking lot. She gave another sniff, and she dared not say another word to her rescuer.“Home. Don’t worry, Maria, my precious daughter, you’re safe now,” her Lord said as she closed her eyes. The sound of his footsteps lulled her into a sense of security. Silence fell between them until she dared to lift her head towards his face. She blinked away her tears with an apologetic expression. As if she had committed a great sin by allowing her Lord to rescue her from death. One glance from him proved genuine comfort, permitting her to rest her head once more upon his chest.

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Editor: Shannon Hensley & Michelle Naragon