Chapter 13: Faith, Confidences, and New Friendships in Mystic Falls

"Sheriff, can I ask you something?" I asked Elizabeth as we drove through the dark streets of Mystic Falls.

"What?" she replied, curious.

"Do you believe in God?" I asked, looking at her.

Elizabeth seemed surprised by the question, but she answered truthfully, "I'm a little skeptical about that, Clark. But I'm sure that after all these years on the force, someone up there has protected me more than once." She turned to me and asked, "What about you?"

"I believe in God, just as I believe in various folklores around the world," I replied with conviction. "Everyone has a story behind them. You were born into a story, and these stories are told by grandparents to their grandchildren, and by grandchildren to their children..."

"You know, all this stuff about witches and werewolves and everything else out there, it's always been derived from something real," I continued enthusiastically. "For example, we have evidence that dinosaurs existed on Earth. But skeptics who don't believe in the Bible impose their opinions on it, like the fact that God doesn't exist because nothing in the Bible proves the science behind it. My faith in God gives me an answer to that question."

"Scientists say that the world is over 5 billion years old. God created everything in 6 days and rested for 1 day. But it is also said in the Bible that God's time is very different from our time. Perhaps this time of rest, or even the 5 days, was billions of years. But this still raises doubts. So, a more concrete explanation for the destruction of the dinosaurs is that it was caused by a meteor that destroyed everything on Earth at that time, and a great smoke screen was created over the world..."

"My theory is also that the meteor was Lucifer and his legion of angels falling like meteors to Earth and destroying everything on it...", I added, quoting Isaiah 14:12-15.

"I understand why I believe in all these 'fairy tale stories,'" I concluded.

Elizabeth seemed shocked by my words. "I never thought about any of this, Clark. But now you've really opened my mind about all these things," she admitted. "But what exactly are you trying to do by telling me all this?"

Caroline, who had been quiet until then, butted into the conversation: "Context: about all these things, but what exactly are you trying to do by telling us all this?"

"Actually, I just said all this so that you would believe in God more," I explained with a smile. "Because this girl sitting next to me is already God's work. We are all God's children. Whatever we do, God up there is taking care of everything and everyone."

Elizabeth and Caroline were silent for a moment, absorbing my words.

"Haha, sorry about all that. Did I create an awkward atmosphere?" I asked awkwardly. "I didn't mean to. I just don't like the silence..."

"Actually, Clark, it really opened my eyes about everything," Elizabeth confessed. "I thought everything was a matter of chance, that we ourselves shaped our future. "But everything is in God's hands..."

"I didn't understand much of what you said, Clark, but thank you for calling me God's work. 🤗", Caroline thanked, with a smile.

"Hahah, no need to thank me, Caroline," I replied, laughing.

"Actually, Clark, I also wanted to ask you where you're staying tonight," Caroline said, changing the subject. "It's getting late. Do you have a place to stay yet?"

"Yes, Clark, I also want to know where you're staying," Elizabeth agreed.

"I actually hadn't even thought about it," I admitted. "I was going to arrive and stay in a hotel for a day and then rent a house."

"I understand. But why don't you stay at my place today?" Elizabeth offered. "Tomorrow you'll be more relaxed, because at this time it's very difficult to find a hotel available."

"Yes, Clark, it's very late. Tomorrow, calmly, you can go out and look for a place to stay...", Caroline agreed.

"I won't bother you, right?" I asked hesitantly.

"No way, Clark. You won't bother me. You're Caroline's friend, of course I'll help you," Elizabeth replied, with a gentle smile.

"Thank you very much, Eliza and Caroline," I said, relieved. "I'll be leaving tomorrow morning and won't bother you anymore."

"I told you, you're not a bother..." Elizabeth insisted.

9am the next day...

"Well, I'm going, Caroline and Sheriff," I said goodbye, at the door of Elizabeth's house.

"Clark, if you need anything, you know where I live. Just come find me," Elizabeth offered.

"Thanks, Sheriff...and Caroline," I said.

"If you have any questions, there's a place called Mystic Grill," Caroline said. "If you have any questions about anything, ask them there. There's always someone there who knows a little bit about everything."

"Thank you so much, girls. Bye and thanks for everything," I said goodbye, waving to them.

"Well, finally alone in the city," I thought, as I walked through the streets of Mystic Falls. "Let's gather information now. What I know is that nothing interesting will happen here for now. And also, when it starts, or I see that it has already started, what I want here is to gather 'friends' and people who can provide information."

"I also need to research not just this place, but this world as well. I don't know anything. Because if these guys exist in this world, what makes me believe that they could be the only ones? I need to know everything, all the lore of this world, to understand what I'm dealing with..."