1 Mark Of The Devil

**Choosen**

It was dark; you could hear the cries of the people, and they all stood in the rain, praying to God. Ethan, a boy, stood by his window side, as he stared outside. The blood moon is arriving, and soon the devil's mark will appear on someone, and that person will be his beloved.

"Ethan, what are you doing here? Come, let's go pray to God. Do you want to be the devil's beloved?"

As Ethan's mom was about to hold his hand, he quickly pushed it away as he stared at her.

"What God do you want me to pray to? A god who sees everything and yet could not stop the devil, a god who watches life being taken away and yet no one is safe. Many people pray to God for help, yet nothing happens."

He didn't get to finish his words when he felt a slap on his face, and he looked at his mom who stared angrily at him.

"Watch your mouth. Don't tell me you are already giving up. Do you want to bear the mark of the devil and be his beloved? The blood moon is arriving and you speak such words, how dare you."

Ethan didn't say a word as his mom dragged him out of the house and walked over to where the other people stood, kneeling and praying to God.

Ethan stared at them and then up at the sky as the rain kept dropping heavily on him. He whispered, "There is no God."

He looked down, feeling anger, his fists clenched tight, not knowing when his family would have the sense and knowledge to understand that God doesn't exist.

As the rain got heavier and the cries of women filled the air, Ethan quickly walked away, his footsteps splashing through puddles. No matter how his mother yelled his name, he didn't care to even look back for a moment.

As Ethan walked back home, raindrops trickling down his face, he sat on the bed without taking off his clothes, staring at the wall, his mind swirling with turmoil. He felt anger burning within him, he felt hatred boiling in his veins, and he felt like destroying everyone. How could everyone be so foolish and say there is a god? If God truly exists, then he should stop whatever is happening.

After what felt like hours, he saw the door open, creaking loudly, and then his mom walked in angrily, her brows furrowed in frustration.

"You are more like a devil. What has made your faith die? What has made you lose hope and forget everything I have taught you?" she demanded, her voice sharp with disappointment.

Ethan looked right at his mom, his eyes blazing with defiance. What's the point of speaking when he knows very well that whatever he says right now will be pointless if his mom wants him to believe in this God? Then let all those who worship him prove it.

Ethan stood, his jaw set in determination, walked away from his mom, and no matter how she yelled his name, he didn't care and acted as if he wasn't the one being called.

He walked to the back of the house, the wet grass squelching beneath his feet, standing there as if he had a lot on his mind. He looked up at the sky, raindrops mingling with his tears, lifted his finger, and yelled, "Fuck you, God, fuck you."

He was angry and picked up a stone, his arm tensing as he threw it to the sky. He didn't care if he had the mark of the devil, for he knew soon everyone in the village would die, and their prayers would be in vain.

He felt a movement behind him, his heart pounding in his chest, and when he turned around, all he saw was darkness. He decided not to be scared of anything, to be brave by himself and protect himself instead of calling on a god who doesn't really exist.

Soon, he felt a hand on his back, a chill running down his spine, and just as he turned around, all he met was nothing.

"What the hell," he whispered, his voice trembling with fear, feeling as if he was about to go insane. He stared up at the sky for a moment and yelled, "Stop playing tricks on me. You don't exist, and I will not come to you for help."

Before he could finish his words, a lightning struck him from above, his body convulsing in agony, and he fell to the floor. He quickly opened his eyes, feeling pain coursing through every fiber of his being. What was that? Did God really strike him down?

He quickly walked back inside, deciding to change and fall into a deep sleep. He didn't care if everyone kept praying, but he wondered who would bear the devil's mark this time.

As he fell asleep, he felt a movement close to him, and each time he opened his eyes, all he could see was darkness.

Soon, he felt weak as he slowly started falling into a deep sleep, and before he knew it, he heard a whisper close to him.

"Beloved."

The next day, Ethan slowly opened his eyes, feeling strange as if something had happened the night before, yet he could not remember a single thing.

As he walked into the bathroom, he took a bath and got dressed, ready to go out and see what the day might bring.

As he walked out of the house, he could still see how people kept calling on their God. He chuckled, just looking at them, and slowly walked towards where they were.

"He has the mark," he heard a lady scream as he turned around to stare at her, and that was when he noticed how everyone was moving away in fear.

Ethan stood confused, unable to explain what was going on. Just then, he noticed his mother covering her mouth in fear and moving back.

"Mom, what's wrong?" he asked, only for his mom to look back and run towards the place where everyone had gathered for praying, calling out to God.

Ethan walked back into his house, feeling confused. He needed to know what they were all talking about and understand the reason they kept moving away.

He wanted to know why they were scared. It was not the blood moon yet, so why would the mark of the devil appear?

Just as he took a closer look in the mirror, that was when he saw it: the mark of the devil.