Free Dimensions of Genesis by Danielle Q. Lee Page B

pertaining to exorcism protocol
when he heard an audible click from the other end.
    The priest had hung up.
    Gabe stared at the receiver for a moment,
tempted to call the old man back and decline the invitation.
Stunned by the old priest’s rude behavior, he closed his eyes and
tried to center himself.
    Every time he closed his eyes, however, all
he could picture was Lily’s eyes blazing passionately at him.
    Glancing at the clock, Gabe realized how late
in the day it was. Already two thirty, his stomach flipped as he
anticipated all the horrible things he might experience at the
exorcism. Packing his ceremonial robes and rosary into his back
pack, he then retrieved his personal bible from the desk.
    A present from his mother on the day of his
graduation from seminary school, the bible was black with gold
letters on the front. Inside was an inscription written in
Greek.
    My Dearest Gabriel,
    Your father smiles down upon you from Heaven
this day.
    Love Mama
    Tucking the bible into his back pack, Gabe
wondered how much more drama he could endure today.
    Leaving the church, he hopped onto his bike
and pulled his helmet on. Revving up the bike, listening to the
roar of the motor beneath him, he again thought of Lily.
    Where on earth could she be? Gabe thought
worriedly as he pulled away from the church parking lot.
     
    ~
     
    The wind blew lightly through the trees,
making the leaves quiver like a million butterfly wings. In the
distance, the sound of chattering chipmunks echoed through the
forest. The pond ebbed silently onto the shore; its waters
sparkling like tiny diamonds dancing on glass.
    Lily huddled in a far corner of the old tree
house, her knees hugged tight to her chest. Sighing, she tried to
push away the pain that had been burrowing through her chest all
day.
    After the church incident with Gabe, she
drove home with angry tears streaming down her cheeks. She decided
she needed to be alone for a few days. Devising a plan that would
deter her parents from looking for her, she called her childhood
friend, Sarah, when she arrived home.
    “Hello?” Sarah answered.
    “Sarah! Hi, it’s Lily.”
    “Oh! Hey Lily! How’s it going?” Sarah
asked.
    “Well,” Lily began, “it could be better
actually. I was wondering if you could do me a huge favor.”
    “What’s wrong?”
    “Nothing really, it’s...a long story. I need
you to pretend like I’m at your house for a few days.” Lily stated,
hoping it would be alright.
    Sarah paused for a moment, “I guess so,
you’re not in any trouble are you?”
    “Oh no, I just need some time to think, get
away from everybody.” Lily confessed, “Please Sarah. I promise I’ll
explain everything later. All I need is for you to tell my mom I’m
there if she calls to check, okay?”
    “Okay,” Sarah still sounded unsure, “where
are you going?”
    “The only place where no one will find me.”
Lily said as she thought about Gabe and how she yearned to hate him
for what happened, but couldn’t.
    After discussing a few of the details, the
girls hung up. With her plan in motion, she retreated to the tree
house behind her home. After Lily’s little escapade when she was
twelve, her father forbade his children to play in the tree
house.
    Lily often sought refuge in her quiet cottage
in the trees, she never told anyone, as it was her own little
sanctuary. Until today, however, she hadn’t visited the tree house
for at least a year. It was in dire need of a good cleaning as many
spiders had made it their own.
    After Lily tidied up, she set out all her
food, blankets, candles and many necessities she figured she’d need
for a few days.
    An old abandoned outhouse sat a distance from
the tree house, she felt it would suffice for the few days that she
needed it. It was decrepit and awful smelling, but she and her
brothers endured it when they were too lazy to walk back to the
main house.
    Lying on a pillow she’d brought from her
room, she turned onto her side and balled up