Chapter Ten #2
I shake my head, getting to my feet. “I’m good. I think I’m actually gonna head out for a walk, get some fresh air.”
They nod, saying their goodbyes, as Simon follows me.
“Need company?” he asks, standing in the hallway. Behind me it goes out to the front doors of the church. The opposite way leads back into the area Evan’s renovated into a pretty luxurious and large house that we all live in.
“I think I need some alone time. I keep getting writer’s block,” I admit.
He nods knowingly. “Alright, mate. I’ll see you later, then.”
With that we part ways.
I can feel a bit of tension leave now that he’s home, even with the bad news he brought.
I step out of the main entrance of the church, the grand doors swinging shut behind me.
It doesn’t take me very long to get to the park that’s my usual destination on my night walks.
This area of town isn’t as populated so no one is really around as I make my way across the street.
I hop the fence since it’s closed after dark and wander a path surrounded by trees until I find my way to a still, lifeless pond.
I sing the same song I sung for him all those nights ago. No idea if it will work.
But yesterday I had a pain in my chest that wouldn’t go away. It brought me to my knees and then to the floor and subsided eventually into a low ache.
Right where his claws had pierced my skin, right where my heart is.
The song wraith must be back. I’m not sure what happened to him, or where he went, but we struck a deal and he hasn’t yet delivered on his end.
“My favorite song,” a voice says from behind me. I turn, seeing the song wraith sitting on a wooden bench a few paces behind where I face the pond.
“I figured it would get your attention.”
“And pray tell, why do you need it?” he asks, that same bored look in his eyes.
“I’ve delivered on our bargain, and you’ve been nowhere to be seen. I want what you promised me.”
He stands up, taking a few steps towards me. I look down at him, though only by a few inches.
He curls his lip at me. “You’ve delivered? Delivered what?”
“Voracious Maw has an audience. That’s what you asked for.”
The song wraith sneers at me. “That isn’t nearly enough of an offering for me. What you’re asking me to do is no simple feat, boy.”
“How much is enough?”
The song wraith’s form is starting to shimmer, as if he’s somehow stepped through the veil into another realm but still has one foot here. “I will let you know when I have what I need.” And then he’s gone.
“Come back, you sick fuck!” I yell, willing my voice to travel after him.
When he doesn’t reappear, I grab a rock lying close by and throw it into the pond with all my might.
The sounds of water crashing and sloshing sends me to my knees, air rushing out of me, and it takes a few moments for me to get my breathing back under control.
Haven’t I given him enough? He’s taken my entire life—my humanity—and is still requesting more? I let out another agonizing scream, my vocal cords constricting around all the pent up anger coiled in my body.
Her face bleeds into my vision as I close my eyes against the tears that leak lazily out of my eyes, at odds with the fervor of my wish that I could forget it all.
That for once I could wake up in the morning not noticing the absence on the other side of the bed.
That I could forget the hollow, harsh sound of her voice after a night of screaming words she supposedly didn’t mean.
That I could forget we ever met, ever crossed paths.
I look down at my arms.
The evidence of everything she ever made me feel.
I pull my sleeves down over my hands, hiding even my fingers within them, and I walk home, going in through a side door so as not to stumble into anyone else’s sight. I want to sit in the dark. I want to feel pain.
My teeth slide out of my gums, elongating.
I consider what my teeth could do to my flesh. I consider how it would look if I ripped open my own arm and peered inside, seeing what the skin hides.
“Sces?” Evan calls from down the hall. His shadowy form emerges into more detail as he comes under the glow of sconces along the wall. “Is something wrong?”
My teeth are still out. I numbly shake my head, while trying to keep my mouth closed.
Evan’s in his pajamas, holding a plate of nachos. He offers one to me, but I shake my head again, focusing on the blue plaid print of his pants. He offers me his arm, but again I shake my head.
“If you’re hungry, you should eat.”
“I’m not hungry,” I manage to grunt out as finally my teeth slide back into my gums. “I’m angry. I want to rip into something so bad I—” I fall short. I take a few deep breaths.
“Eat some nachos,” Evan says, holding the plate towards me again. “Do it. Trust me.”
I glare at him but do as he says, biting into the chip loaded with melted cheese and a jalapeno. The slight spice bites into my taste buds and suddenly that’s what I’m focused on.
I grab another with more jalapenos on it and as I swallow the spice soothes me. I luxuriate in it.
Evan nods with satisfaction and holds the plate up above his head, even though I could still reach it. He leads me to our gamer den, like a human leading a dog using a smelly treat. But I follow, suddenly hungry in the normal way.
We sit our asses down in the bean bag chairs on the floor. Evan puts the plate between us and turns on our latest gaming obsession. Within minutes the plate is empty and my emotions are in check. My anger is quelled and my sadness forgotten, at least for the moment.