20. Jason
Twenty
Jason
The house is quiet, a stillness that prevails like the walls are holding their breath. We’ve protected the town from the immediate threat, but I know it’s not over.
For now, we’re safe. Daisy is safe.
My children, you did so well, the voice croons, suddenly back. This is just the beginning. We must find the remaining blights and destroy them. Soon, we will reclaim Grimwood.
A wave of reassurance courses through my body, yet I can’t help but wonder what the voice’s other plans are for us.
You will know in due time.
My shoulders shrug lazily. I’m happy to wait and see, but only because of the hot girl walking beside me. Daisy is my newest obsession. She might have been the one to catch me, but after tonight…I’m never going to let her go.
“That was so much fun,” Daisy says happily, a smile tugging at her lips. I scoff and bump her shoulder with mine. The energy around us dissolves into something easy and familiar. It reminds me of what I have with Nicky.
“Fun is one way to put fucking my ass or becoming monster hunters while being high out of our minds.”
From the basement, we enter an old laundry room. A red exit sign hangs above the door in front of us. The haunted house is almost over, but the night, on the other hand, is just getting started.
“You were about to cry at the beginning, little scaredy-cat.”
“I don’t think so. Must have been part of your imagination.”
I snort. “Biggest lie.”
“Must have been my imagination that my big, tough brother is actually a submissive slut,” Daisy whispers, though purposely loud enough for me to hear.
Oh. That does it.
I slam my hands beside her head, pinning Daisy against the door.
“Careful. Brats get punished.” I click my tongue, my breath skimming her cheek.
“Maybe I need to put you in your place.” I snap my teeth together and watch as she shivers.
There are times I don’t mind surrendering control, but my fangs grow back quickly.
Though with Daisy, I have a feeling she’ll have me submitting more than I normally would.
There’s something about her, maybe her attitude that rivals mine, and I don’t mind losing the dominance battle with her from time to time.
Her head tilts up to face me head-on. “I dare you.”
I shake my head and laugh. This will be fun. I picture dragging Daisy up to my room and showing her what kind of toys I have to make her behave, because just like me, she craves being used. Maybe having a new stepsister isn’t so bad after all.
I take a step back and grab Daisy’s hand, eager to get going back home.
With every step, my body aches, but it’s a good, I’ve been thoroughly fucked, kind of ache.
Though I don’t think my dick will be able to come again.
Ever. I’m pretty sure it’s broken. I shake my head. Nicky will find this all hilarious.
My hand wraps around the door handle, soft and squishy under my grip, and I twist, yanking it open. Fucking hell, I was beginning to think that the drugs were wearing off, but they’re still lingering. Cool air immediately rushes at us, and I breathe deeply.
We step outside to see red and blue lights dancing through the night. I tilt my head in confusion. Someone is crying, and I roll my eyes, laughing. They must have gotten too scared in the house. What a loser. The trees bend over us as the wind rattles through the area.
“Get on the ground!” a voice shouts, full of authority. Instantly, my back straightens, ready to revolt against anyone in charge. I’ll fight them. Who the hell do they think they are to talk to me like that?
Daisy grips my hand tighter and I squint, the flashing colors making it difficult to see. It takes a moment for my vision to clear and sharpen, but as soon as I notice the guns pointed at us, my hackles rise. What the fuck.
I glare at the police officers, though their faces are blurred as if smudged where they stand by their vehicles for protection.
They don’t seem real, and I almost want to ignore them, but an unmistakable threat lingers, telling me to keep my teeth bared.
Their presence isn’t a good sign. It’s never a good sign.
I pull Daisy closer. I don’t like this. What the hell is happening?
“Get on the ground!”
“Jason, what’s going on?” Daisy whispers as her body begins to tremble. Fuck, I don’t like seeing her scared. I growl, my grip tightening, because why are there guns being pointed at us? We just saved the town. How dare they scare my girl!
The world is alive, buzzing against my skin as I take a step forward. Weapons snap towards me.
I look inward, attempting to communicate with the voice to ask it what to do, but I’m met with complete silence. Our God has vanished. I blink, confused, and reach out again.
Nothing. I’m alone. Where has it gone?
Fuck.
My brain scrambles to come up with a plan. Keeping Daisy safe is my priority. Not even my own life matters.
“Get on the ground now!”
Panic rises within me. Daisy is scared. Someone screams. My thoughts are loud, frantically trying to work out what to do. Sirens blare. Radios crackle. Too much noise. There’s too much noise. Everyone just needs to—
“Shut up!” I roar. “We just saved everyone, you bastards!” I thrust a finger towards the house. “There were fucking monsters in there.”
“Blights. They were blights, and they were going to infect everyone. We were all going to die, we had to destroy them,” Daisy babbles. “Jason, please take me home. I’m scared,” she adds quietly.
I yank Daisy behind me, shielding her body with my own before taking a step forward. If they want her, they’ll have to go through me. No one is going to touch her. She protected me, and I’m going to take care of her.
“Do not take another step, son,” someone warns.
“Get on the ground!” another shouts.
My body shakes with indignation, nostrils flaring, and I throw my hands out in rage, letting go of Daisy. “Fuck you!” I snarl. “We’re the saviors of Grimwood. You should be thanking us, you pigs. Bow down to us, or we will rain hell upon you.”
Everything is silent, and I think maybe they understand.
“Jesus Christ, they’re crazy.”
“You think they’re on drugs? High out of their mind?”
“Fuck man, it’s all the people they ate. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
People? They were blights. If they thought they were humans, then they’re idiots. The God chose Daisy and me for a reason. We could see the blights for what they really are—monsters in need of exterminating. “Your eyes are closed and you’re going to die for it,” I shake my head, lip curling.
Daisy screams, an officer grabbing her from behind while I’m distracted. “Get off of her,” I yell, and I spin around, giving my back to the threat behind me. The air shifts. Rough hands grab at me before they yank my arms behind my back. I thrust my body, trying to wriggle out of their hold.
“Get off me!”
They kick the back of my legs and my knees slam into the dirt. Pain bursts behind my eyes as my hair is gripped in fistfuls and I’m forced to kiss the ground.
A primal roar surges from me, and I sink my teeth into the nearest wrist. Sweat bursts along my tongue before a familiar taste floods my mouth.
The officer yanks his hand back with a yelp. “He’s trying to eat me! Little freaky bastard.”
It’s the distraction I need, and I scramble to my hands and knees, pushing off the ground.
I sprint towards Daisy, my hand outstretched to grab her.
She reaches out and our fingertips brush—she’s so close—before I’m tackled to the ground with a thud.
The wind is knocked out of my lungs, and I wheeze, trying to breathe.
Forcefully, I’m twisted around, not getting a chance to think, to fight.
My face is crushed into the dirt while my arms are being yanked behind me.
Coldness bites around my wrists, shackles clamping down.
Soil fills my mouth, and I spit as I’m yanked upright.
Anger erupts in me at being manhandled and mistreated despite everything we’ve sacrificed. We risked our lives. I almost died.
“I’m going to kill you. We are darkness, forged in sin and fire.
The voice speaks to us. You will have no place in this new world we will build.
” My vision blurs, imagining fire blazing in the distance.
Under our rule, Grimwood will transform into something greater, and it won’t have bastards like these pigs, or people like Jerry.
At the mention of the voice, Daisy speaks up. “The voice is our God, our savior. It’s gifted us powers. We are not alone. Just you wait, you’ll see.”
Our God might have left us right now, but it will return. It loves us.
Rough hands hold me in a kneeling position, and all I can do is spit and growl like a wild animal. My eyes trace their exposed flesh, and for a moment, I see a blight where the officer is. A flicker, a glitch in the universe.
Drool slips from my mouth. I need a taste. I need to destroy them and feed on their flesh.
“Daisy,” I croak out. Does she see the monsters too? My eyes widen as blights surround us, their human disguises slipping to reveal the disgusting evil hiding within.
“I see them…Jason, they’re everywhere.”
“You know what this means, Daisy?”
“We’re going to eat you,” we scream together, our voices completely in sync. Daisy begins to laugh and I join in, cackling.
Our divine work is far from over, and we’re hungry.