Ivan Poole is Not a Demon
By Emily Camp

          It was odd for Annie to be the first one out of her friends to notice the cute boy sitting in the back of the church. Grace and Madison, on one side of her, were huddled together giggling over their phones. They were the ones that were boy crazy. Annie was level headed and focused. At least that’s what the adults said. Annie’s older sister, Katie, was at her other side. Katie hands were in the air and her eyes closed as she belted out the lyrics to the worship song. Annie tried to focus on God, but she couldn’t help but look back at the boy. His piercing blue eyes met hers. She quickly turned around. 

Why her? Out of all her friends? Her friends were all so much prettier than her anyway, but tonight she hadn’t even made an effort. Her hair was in two low pigtails and her t-shirt faded. She scratched at the white toothpaste stain above the stretched out words stating “God’s Girl,” and ran her hand through her right pigtail. When she glanced back again, she tried not to be too obvious, moving her mouth like she was singing along, looking at a couple other people before glancing at him again. He was still staring. Their eyes met for a second. One of her pigtails hit Katie when she swung back around. Katie opened one eye enough to glare at Annie.
“Sorry,” Annie whispered.
By the time worship ended and they were dismissed to youth group, she’d made the decision to talk to him. Annie twisted the purity ring on her finger as she made her way toward him. She made a vow when she was fourteen that she would not date until she was out of college. Besides, this wasn’t like she was approaching him for a date, she was just inviting him to youth group. Normally, Madison and Grace would have jumped at the chance to talk to a boy, but they walked right by him like he wasn’t even there.
Almost losing her nerve, as he’d been staring at her the entire time, she thrust out her hand before she could change her mind. “I’m Annie.” She might have been too loud or overbearing. She winced at her own words. There weren’t that many boys in their youth group to begin with, and new ones were a novelty.
His hands were shoved deep in his pockets, his shoulders to his ears. Now that she was right in front of him, his eyes darted around the room as if he was confused. Annie wondered if he was on drugs. Even so, he was at church and this was the place for him to get free. Finally, after what seemed like entirely too long, he removed his hand from the pocket of his ripped jeans and offered it to her. “Ivan,” he said.
Annie flinched when she touched his ice-cold hand.
“How old are you?” She’d guessed her age, seventeen, but Annie knew that not everyone looked their age. She had been told many times how she looked like she was fourteen.
“Eighteen,” Ivan looked at the ceiling. His skin pale, like porcelain. She could see the blue veins in his neck.
“You should come upstairs. We’re having youth group tonight.”
“Youth group?” He scratched the back of his head. His dark hair tousled.
Annie liked the sound of his raspy voice. Most boys her age were loud and high pitched.
“For teens.” She pointed up.
Above the ceiling was what they coined as the ‘Upper Room.’ Named after the room in the book of Acts.
He rubbed the back of his neck. His t-shirt slid up his arm, revealing a small tattoo on the inside of his bicep, but she couldn’t tell what it was and didn’t want to look too long. “I’m uh, I’m new to this.”
“You mean church?” She lifted an eyebrow. Or staring at girls?
He looked around again, confused. Then shook his head and shrugged.
“Well, come on, I’ll show you.” She waved for him to follow. And they walked through the sparse crowd to the stairs. She was three steps up when she turned around and saw he was no longer following, but standing at the bottom of the steps, looking up at her confused again.
She pointed upstairs. “It’s just up here.”
He didn’t move, only furrowed his brow.
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know why … I can’t … I can’t follow you.”
She laughed. “What do you mean?”
He reached down and grasped his thigh making a show of tugging on it. “I physically cannot lift my foot.”
Maybe it’s spiritual. I should pray. She thought but couldn’t bring herself to say it. She didn’t want to look like a weirdo in front of one of the few boys she’d ever talked to.
He began to blink quickly, then pulled on his other leg. “Why can’t I walk up these steps?”
“What do you mean?” she said. Was he playing a trick on her?
“Annie, who are you talking to?” Madison called from upstairs.
“Ivan,” she said as if everyone should know him.
His face drained even more. “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
“Come on, are you being serious?” She didn’t know what to think of him.
“Yes.” He acted like he couldn’t lean forward now.
“This isn’t funny. Did Madison put you up to this?”
“Madison?”
“She was …”
“Ivan who?” Grace shouted. Annie was alarmed when Grace wasn’t snickering. Grace could never play a joke without giving it away.
“They’re going to start without us.” She took his arm, his skin still shockingly cold. She tugged. He didn’t budge. Annie knew she wasn’t strong, but this was odd. She dropped his hand as if it were like fire, not ice. Fear lurched in her and she knew that fear was of the devil. “Who are you?”
“I told you, Ivan.”
“Do you have a last name?” She said, with her hand gripped on the rail, ready to bolt upstairs.
“Ivan Poole.” His eyes darted around the room again.
“What are you doing here?” She hated to come across as rude. She believed that everyone should be at church if that was where they wanted to be.
He looked down at himself. The top of his head glistened in one spot as if it was wet. But it didn’t look like water. “I don’t know. I don’t know how I got here.”
“Who is she talking to?” Madison’s voice traveled. She always was one who talked loudly as if she were trying to be heard over everyone else.
“The last thing I remember is fighting with my stepdad.” He put his hand on his head. Directly over the damp spot. “I just wanted … to go to that party.” When he pulled his hand away from his hair, his palm was covered in thick, red liquid. His dark hair had masked the fact that it was blood.
“But how …” Taking a slow step backward, she advanced up a stair.
“Please …” He blinked rapidly. “I saw you. Right before … right before or right after … I don’t know.” He ran his hand over his head, smearing some of the blood. “But I think you can help me.”
“You’re not funny.” She white knuckled the wooden handrail as if that would protect her from him. “Joke’s over.”
“There’s no one there,” Madison said again from upstairs.
“Annie, are you losing your mind?” Grace peeked her head over the railing, seemingly unconcerned about the boy standing in front of her with blood on his face.
“Would you guys stop now? It’s not funny anymore.” Annie said.
“What’s not funny?” Madison called down the stairs.
“You can’t see Ivan?” Annie pointed right at him.
Annie’s heart lurched to her throat, she leaned back. If Madison and Grace couldn’t see him then … “I rebuke you, Satan.”
“I’m not Satan.” His voice cracked. “Why won’t you believe me?”
Annie took a deep breath and tried another approach, what she’d learned all her life. “In the name of Jesus …”
“Yes, Jesus please help me.” Tears trickled from his eyes. “I just want to wake up from this nightmare. I’ll never sneak out again. I’ll never talk back to my stepdad.”
The fear that washed over Ivan’s already placid face was enough for something in Annie to click. Besides, would a demon be asking for Jesus’ help? She looked up at her friends who stared at her like she was going crazy. “I have to go.”
“Who’s Ivan?” Madison asked again.
“Why can’t they see me?” He asked, seeming just as confused as Annie was herself.
When Annie looked at him. Eyes wide and watery with fear. “A boy that needs your prayers. I’ll be back.”
“What? Where are you going?” Madison asked.
“I have to do something.” She rushed out of the stairwell, pulling Ivan behind her. This time he came easily. She went outside with him, no resistance. The crisp autumn air howled against her cheeks.
“Am I a ghost or just stuck between life and death?” He pointed to the church.
“I don’t know,” she said, still a part of her wondering how this could be possible. If they were all playing a joke on her, then they were going along with it for longer than they ever had. And Ivan was an exceptionally good actor.
“What happened to you?” Annie climbed into her car. She grabbed the flannel in her back seat. She’d taken it off earlier when it was warmer, t-shirt weather. Now that the sun was down it was chilly even in her car.
She motioned for Ivan to get in when he just stood outside. It was weird, was he tangible? He had to open the door to get in just like everyone else. She could touch him, but it was as if he was a spirit of some kind. She’d always been taught that spirits, unless the Holy Spirit, were bad.
Ivan wasn’t bad. He was just a scared teenage boy. When he sat down beside her he let out a huff and ran his hands over his jeans. Blood staining the legs.
“There are napkins in the glove compartment.” She pointed by his knees.
“Oh.” He lifted his hand to his injury. “It’s weird, I don’t even feel it.”
“That is weird.” But was it any weirder that no one else could see him or that he couldn’t go upstairs? Or the fact she was sitting with a spirit in her car and the further they got from the church the more peace she felt? Probably not.
“Now what?” She said after starting her car.
“I don’t know?” He opened the glove compartment and fished out the napkins.
“How about you tell me what you can remember.” She gripped the steering wheel.
“I …” He wiped off his hands.
“Dig a little bit deeper.” She cranked the heater. The warm air was nice on her skin. Ivan’s hair moved with the air blowing out, but could he feel it?
“I vaguely remember a water tower.” He crumpled the napkins in his fist and looked on either side of him.
“A water tower … a water tower …” Annie mumbled to herself as she held her palm over the vent. “Lookout Point?” she said. Then again, with more assurance, “Lookout Point.” Annie herself had been up there many times to pray even though it was a known make out spot. She liked the serenity of it, the peacefulness of seeing the entire town below and knowing that the only one with her was God. The water tower wasn’t far from it.
“What?” Ivan settled his balled hand with the napkin on his lap.
“We’re going to Lookout Point.” She was glad it was dark because only then did Annie realize what she just said. But it wasn’t like she was going there to make out with him, whatever he was. He may be tangible, but he was still bleeding from his head and she had a feeling he was running out of time. “You’re still leaking.” She pointed toward her temple.
“Oh.” He unballed the napkin and began to press it to his forehead.
“Do you go to East High?” He asked, dabbing the blood from his head.
“Homeschooled.” That was another reason why Madison and Grace were more at ease around boys, they went to public school. They were surrounded by boys every day. Annie’s school just consisted of her and her mother since she was the youngest of five and the only one still in high school.
“I feel like I know you,” he said and now that he brought it up, Annie thought he looked familiar, too.
Then he flinched.
“What is it?” Annie didn’t want to take her eyes off the road, but she needed to know what was happening. She glanced his way.
“It’s weird, I feel like I’m tingling.” He poked at his forearm. She wondered if it was still as cold as it was in the church.
“Are you going to disappear?” She looked over to make sure he hadn’t yet. She didn’t want him to vanish until she knew he was okay.
“No…” Now he pinched the back of his hand. “It’s like … something’s pulling me.”
“Something? What something?” Was it heaven, hell?
“I don’t know.” He blinked. “I think we’re going the right way.”
Maybe she was right, whatever he was, he needed to be at Lookout Point. When she glanced at him, there was blood trickling from his hairline again.
“Your head.” She said thankful that she wasn’t one who couldn’t stand the sight of it because it was like he didn’t even realize he was bleeding.
“Oh.” He blinked as if coming out of his thoughts and pressed the napkin to his injury.
“Did your step dad do that to you?” She wasn’t sure if she should bring it up or not.
“It’s possible.”
She glanced at him. He’d pulled the napkin away and was staring at the blood.
“Has he hit you before?”
Ivan’s lack of a response was the only answer she needed.
If the ground was blacktop and not gravel Annie would have squealed into the parking lot. She hurried out of the car as fast as her heart beat in her chest. Ivan didn’t seem to be in as big of a hurry as her, though each step he took seemed to be calculated. As soon as her heart stopped racing she began to follow him. He walked through the high weeds, around trees, and over the rough terrain, slowing and helping her even one handed as he was still holding a napkin to his head with the other. Annie wasn’t sure what she was doing out here. She barely believed it. Was she dreaming?
Her breathing was ragged by the time they made it to the water tower. “Is this it?” She asked, between labored breaths.
On the other side of the tower, there was a path of flattened grass. It was so dark and cold up here. The hoot of an owl made her jump. She moved toward Ivan, but if he was a spirit, what could he do to protect her?
“What the?” Ivan inched closer to the tower.
Annie dug her cell phone out of her pocket and turned on the flashlight. She gasped at the outline of a body. The tall grass surrounded it. The black hair was recognizable. She fell to her knees beside his body, lifted his wrist and held her cheek to his nose. A pulse, but faint. Light breaths tickled her cheek.
Annie looked up at him, barely able to believe this herself. “You’re alive.”
He stared down at the body seeming to be in as much disbelief as she.
“Did you hear me? You’re alive, get back in there!” She pointed wildly at his body. This hadn’t all happened just to watch him die. Or her for that matter. If he got back into his body, she wouldn’t be alone up here.
He just stood there. “I can’t.”
“What do you mean you can’t?” Her voice frantic.
“I want to, but it’s like when I tried to go upstairs.”
“But I didn’t come all the way out here to watch you die.” She put her hands to her head. What should she do? Maybe she should pinch herself and see if she woke.
“But I can’t.” He lurched forward, but then bounced back. “See.”
“I command you right now in Jesus’ name.” She expected his spirit to move right away.
“Maybe you should call an ambulance.” He’d forgotten about his head again, the cut seeped.
Annie looked down at his white, blood covered face on the ground. It took a second for the gravity of the situation to hit her. In the distance, another owl hooted and the breeze blew the grass and trees just enough to make it seem like Ivan wasn’t the only spirit here.
She pulled out her phone and dialed 911. After frantically explaining the situation to dispatch and hanging up she looked up at Ivan’s spirit, but he was gone.
The only thing left with her was the barely breathing body. She lifted his head to her lap and pressed her sleeve to his bloody brow. “You are not going to die.” She told him, because she believed that. She knew that this happened for a reason. That reason was so he could live.
A few minutes later, the sounds of the ambulance racing up the hill was such a relief, tears escaped her eyes.

#

The reporters, police, and everyone else wanted to know how she found him. Annie could never fully explain it.
She stood outside Ivan’s hospital room. His chest rose and fell with each breath. He was connected to tubes and beeping machines. A white bandage covered his forehead. She hesitated before taking a step in. If it wasn’t for the physical evidence of him being here, in front of her, she’d think that it had all been a weird dream.
She hesitated before sitting down by his bed. He was so still and quiet. She reached out, curled her hand around his. It’d been a few days. Though he was physically here, she wondered if his spirit was just a vision, or if he’d remember her. “I wish you’d wake up.”
She startled when he squeezed her hand. His eyes fluttered a moment before they opened, but not far. Enough for her to see the bright blues behind his long, dark lashes. He gave a her a slight grin and said, “You did it, Annie.”