Prowl. Part 20

"No." Wesley bounded up to me, pried my fingers from the rails. "He's too late."

My body swayed, my arms flailed. I latched on to Wesley.

"Do it. Jump. Make him watch. See if he can survive it again," Wesley pushed me. I grappled for the railing.

"Mackenzie! Don't jump!" Isaac stood below me now on the bridge.

"I can't get down. He won't let me go, Isaac!"

"Call on Jesus. Rebuke him. It's the only way."

"No!" Wesley clutched his head with his hands.

In his momentary distraction I was able to grab hold of the rail and hold myself steady.

"Do it, Kenzie. Call on Jesus. Only He can save you."

I thought of all the things Wesley said. I remembered the Bible verses, the preacher's message at church, and Sandy's words. She knew Wesley was trying to destroy me, and she told me I couldn't fight him on my own. Was Jesus the one person who could save me?

Wesley regained composure and reached out to shove me.

I didn't want to die. Please Jesus, save me.

"Jesus!" I hollered at the top of my lungs, my battle cry.

Wesley's screams pierced the air. He cowered, his head in his hands.

"Rebuke him! Say it! Say, I rebuke you in Jesus name." Isaac instructed me.

"I rebuke you in Jesus name!" I yelled.

Wesley's screams intensified. So loud it burned my eardrums. In a plume of smoke, Wesley disintegrated into thin air. Just as he did, my feet slipped.

"Isaac!" I lost my balance, swayed back and forth. Thrusting my arm out, I reached for the railing but it was too late. I fell.

"No!" I heard Isaac's voice as I plummeted to the water.

I closed my eyes. "Jesus," I prayed. "I believe. I believe."

Just when I braced myself for the cold water my body was propelled upward as if I was being carried. I opened my eyes, squinted against a harsh light. The arms of a man held me. I looked into the most beautiful, loving eyes I'd ever seen. The intensity in them was overwhelming and I found it hard to keep looking. My head swirled and spun. I leaned my head against the stranger's shoulder and darkness enveloped me.

I was cradled in someone's arms, rocked back and forth like an infant. I felt fingers in my hair, lips brushed against my forehead. The scent of the lake, flowers and night air filled my senses. The rush of the water rumbled beneath me and I felt the scratchiness of the bridge under my legs. Memories of how I got there returned and fear surfaced.

My eyelids popped open. I was in Isaac's arms. His face was ravaged with pain and tears stained his cheeks.

"Oh, thank G.o.d you're okay." He pulled me to him, wept into my hair. "I thought I lost you, just like I lost him."

"Who?"

"My brother."

"Oh, I'm sorry. This reminded you of that, huh? Because he drowned?"

"Kenzie, he didn't just drown. He jumped off a bridge just like you almost did tonight."

I felt sick.

"You wanna know why I have such a problem with Rhiannon? It's because witchcraft is what killed my brother. He got involved in the occult and ended up killing himself."

I recalled Wesley's words. Do it. Jump. Make him watch. See if he can survive it again.

"He knew. That's why he wanted me to do it in front of you. Then it would destroy both of us. Oh, Isaac I'm so sorry." A noise startled me. My gaze darted around. "Wesley?"

"It's okay. He's gone. He can't hurt you now."

"How did you find me?"

"I followed you."

I furrowed my brow, confused.

"I was watching you. I knew he'd come back to kill you and I couldn't let that happen. When he took you last night I got in my car and followed."

"Isaac, I'm sorry about everything. I made such a mess of things."

"Shhh. It's alright. We all make mistakes but it's over now."

"How can you say that? I'm an evil, awful person."

"We were all evil sinners before we believed. But you're a new creation now. You called on the greatest power of all tonight. You believed, Kenzie."

I remembered the man carrying me. "Isaac, I saw an angel. He saved me."

Isaac smiled. "I know. It's pretty incredible, isn't it?"

It's amazing."

"You know what else is amazing?"

"What?"

"You."

My heart leapt in my chest.

"I love you, Mackenzie."

Tears filled my eyes at the words I'd always wanted to hear. "I love you too, Isaac." He stroked my cheek, leaned down and covered his mouth with mine.

Chapter Eighteen.

"I can't believe you're coming home today," Haley squealed through the line.

"I know. It'll be so great to see you again." I balanced the phone on my shoulder while I shoved the last few items of clothing into my suitcase. "I have so much to tell you."

"So, you've been holding out on me, huh?"

"There was just no way to tell you everything over the phone. In order to hear all my stories we need to have an all night gab session."

"Oooh, complete with popcorn and mint chip ice cream?"

"For sure."

"I can't wait! I also have some news to share with you too."

"Let me guess. You and Derek are back together?"

"No. I don't even want him. I've met someone new."

"Anyone I know?"

"No. He's new to the area."

"I can't wait to hear all about him."

When we hung up, the familiar sound of a basketball dribbling drew my attention. I peeked out of the blinds and saw Isaac in his driveway shooting hoops. My heart tugged. I would miss him so much. How would I survive without him? Sure we'd made endless promises to stay in touch through email and phone, but it wouldn't be the same.

"Ready?" Mom filled the doorway. She looked happier than ever before. This trip had been good for her. It had been good for all of us.

I nodded, hoisted up my suitcase.

"Grandma's unlocked the car so you can throw your stuff in the trunk.

I walked past her, pulling my luggage behind me. While I shoved it in the trunk I saw Rhiannon approaching out of the corner of my eye.

"You weren't gonna leave without saying good-bye, were you?"

"Of course not. I was just gonna head over to your house."

"It was quite a summer, wasn't it?"

I smiled warily. "I'm sorry about everything I put you through."

She batted away my apology. "Please. You've apologized like a million times."

"It's just that I feel bad."

"Well stop. I'm over it." Her ruby red lips curved in a smile. "It was probably good anyway."

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"Well, for one thing I've stopped fooling around with magic. After seeing how dangerous it can be I don't want anything to do with it anymore."

"That's probably smart."

Mom stepped out on the porch. "Kenzie. We need to get going. Come inside and make sure you got everything."

"I guess this is good-bye," Rhiannon said.

"For now. We'll be back for Christmas."

"Cool."

I hugged her tight. "I'll miss you."

"Okay, okay." She shoved me away. "Let's not get all mushy."

I giggled. "See you later."

"Yeah. Later."

I went inside, scoured the house one last time. Memories of Wesley lurked in every corner of every room. I would miss Grandma but it would be nice to be out of this house for a little while.

"Got everything?" Mom asked.

"Yep."

She glanced at her watch. "We have a few minutes. You better go say good-bye to him now."

My heart broke at the mere mention of it. I tore out of the house, raced next door. Tears were on my cheeks before I even saw him. He stood in the driveway, basketball in hand. This is where he was the first time I'd seen him and it's exactly how I would remember him. Without saying a word he dropped the ball, bridged the gap between us and took me in his arms.

I wept into his s.h.i.+rt, soaking it with my salty tears. They lingered on my tongue, burned my eyes.

"Don't cry," he said.

"I can't help it. I'm gonna miss you."

"I'll miss you too."

I peered up at him, my hair falling in my face. He gently brushed it away from my eyes, leaned down to kiss me tenderly on the lips.