You can kill the devil with prayer. However, it's impossible to remember what the prayer was.

The devil is a term we humans use to describe a malevolent entity that most people have encountered. Perhaps it's an old hag, a young girl, a man in the forest, or a tall, slender figure with horns. It doesn't really matter. What's important to know is that the devil is real.<br><br>He's said to roam the streets at night, preying on unsuspecting travelers, or hide in abandoned houses and forests. <br><br>Some say he can only be killed by holy objects like crosses or the water from the fountain of life, but the truth is that prayer is the only thing that can kill the devil. <br><br>The problem is that nobody has been able to remember such a prayer in time before the devil kills them, and thus the legend was born, and with it, the fear that it carries. <br><br>We can only hope that one day, someone will find a way to defeat the devil, for we know not what he wants, or why he kills.<br><br>---<br><br>With that said, I was walking home from the grocery store one day, when I noticed that I wasn't alone.<br><br>A tall, slender man with horns on his head was walking in front of me, and I could feel something terrible watching me from the shadows, and I knew in that instant that I was doomed. <br><br>I started to run, and I heard footsteps behind me, and then, I tripped. <br><br>I fell flat on my face and noticed that the man with horns had turned around. <br><br>He was the devil. <br><br>That was my last thought before a hand reached down and picked me up by the throat. <br><br>I tried to struggle, but it was no use. <br><br>I was about to die. <br><br>And then, it happened. <br><br>I heard a voice saying the Lord's prayer. <br><br>"Our father. Who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom. The power. And the glory. For ever and ever. Amen." <br><br>The devil let go of me and fell onto the ground. <br><br>It was dead.<br><br>There was a hand on my shoulder, and when I looked up, I saw the man with horns. He was the one who saved me. <br><br>"Who are you?" I asked.<br><br>"I'm just a man." He replied.<br><br>"But...but you had horns. And you were the first person I saw when I sensed the devil's presence." I said.<br><br>"I'm not the devil. I just have horns. My father was the devil, but he was killed centuries ago." He said.<br><br>"But the prayer." I said.<br><br>"What about it?" He asked.<br><br>"You know it." I said.<br><br>"Of course." He replied.<br><br>"Why didn't you say it then? Why didn't you say it when he was about to kill me?" I asked.<br><br>"I'm the only person left to carry on his legacy. You see...my father may have been the devil, but he was the only family I had, and when he died, I was filled with sadness." He said.<br><br>"But why are you killing people?" I asked.<br><br>"I'm not. I'm just protecting myself. You see...every time people find out who I am, they try to kill me. And my father may have been the devil, but he taught me to defend myself. And with him gone, I have nobody else, and I'm scared, and I don't know what else to do. And I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. And I'm tired of living like this, and I'm tired of being scared, and I thought that perhaps...perhaps you could help me." He said.<br><br>I thought about it for a second. <br><br>This man had just saved my life, and he was all alone. <br><br>And I couldn't just leave him like that. <br><br>So I decided to help him.<br><br>"Yes. I'll help you." I said.<br><br>"Thank you." He said.<br><br>"Don't mention it. But I have one question." I said.<br><br>"What is it?" He asked.<br><br>"Why did you let yourself get caught? Why didn't you run away or fight back when people tried to kill you?" I asked.<br><br>"Because I wanted to die. I wanted to feel death's embrace. Because I felt that I didn't deserve to live. But when I saw you...I don't know...I just...I don't know." He said.<br><br>We walked in silence for a while.<br><br>"You know...my name is Eryndor Thorne." He said.<br><br>"Mine is...uh...I'm Christian. Nice to meet you." I said.<br><br>"It's nice to meet you too, Christian." He replied.<br><br>We talked for hours, and I learned a lot about Eryndor. <br><br>He wasn't a bad person. <br><br>He was just a sad boy who wanted someone to lean on. <br><br>And I think I can be that person.<br><br>Things might change for the better now.<br><br>And if they don't. <br><br>Then we'll just have to try harder.<br><br>---<br><br>This is the end of the story. <br><br>But the journey has just begun.