Make Quiet Things Heard

Chapter 35 : What's Really Holding You Back? (Ep. 4|Part 2)

Hope's POV

I walk inside the office and see Landon by Dr. Saltzman's desk.
"Hey. Josie dropped the barrier spell so I could get in. There's a demon loose
inside the school somewhere. We have to get you to somewhere safe." I say.
"There is nowhere safe." he replies.
"Okay, well, somewhere safer than here." I pick up the sword. Landon slowly walks towards me. "If this is the one thing that can kill an Oni, what if it's the one thing that can kill a phoenix, too?" I ask. He takes the sword from my hands and goes back by the desk. "Josie told me that you think the monsters being back is your fault. But it isn't."

"What do you know about it?" he asks.
"Too much. Trust me, Landon, even though you might have the best intentions, not every sacrifice is worth it. No matter how much you think it is." I say sadly. "You said this isn't my fault?"
"It isn't." I state. "Then whose is it?"
"That doesn't matter. We need to--"
"It matters to me." I sigh and think. But I eventually tell him the truth "It's my fault" I walk closer to Landon. "I'm the one that went into the pit. I thought it was the only way to save... Josie, and everyone in the school." I explain.
"Why would you want to save Josie?"
"Because we were... we were friends." I lie.

"Come on, there had to be more to it than that. Tell me." he urges.
"You're gonna hate me if I do." I warn.
"Let me make that decision for myself." I take in a deep breath and decided to tell him the whole truth.
"Me and Josie, we were in love. Yeah, I know that you don't remember and neither does she... I know that it doesn't make any sense. But I can't let you risk your life because that would cause Josie pain. I don't want that for her. I want her to have a better life. So, no. I won't let you sacrifice yourself and cause Josie pain in the process, because I tried to give up mine to prevent that. So, uh, we have to find another solution. One that doesn't involve you being possessed."
"It's too late." Before I can process what he meant he holds my hed and slams into the cabinet.

***

When I wake up, Dr. Saltzman is in the room. He helps me sit on the couch. A few minutes later Josie walks in.
"What happened? Where's Landon?"
"Josie, just give her a second." Dr. Saltzman says. My head still really hurts like hell. But it'll heal soon.
"But you said you were gonna help. Were you possessed?" she asks.
"No. Landon was." I say.
"That's impossible. How?" Josie asks.
"Uh, we thought Raf was gonna pass the Oni on to somebody at the pep rally." Dr Saltzman stands up and walks over to Kurutta, who I assume is dead based from the smell. "Kurutta must've been possessed after Raf attacked him. " He turns the chair around revealing a dead Kurutta. Josie looks away from the sight.

"The Oni waited to be alone with Landon, took control of him and--" "Sayonara, samurai." Dr. Saltzman interjects me.
"Okay, well, where would he have gone?"
"I mean, my guess is the portal." I say.
"Well, we don't even know where that is."
"Wait. Do you have something of Landon's? 'Cause you both could do a locator spell right now." Dr. Saltzman suggests handing Josie the bag on his desk. "Yeah, but that's not mine." Josie says and pulls something out a note from her bag and hands it to me, she then sits next to me. "Love note?" I try to open the note but Josie stops me before I do. "That's not for you." We stare at each other, before I break eye contact and hold out my hand. We then begin the spell. Then I notice the my bracelet on her hand and I smile.

Josie's POV

The locator spell leads us to the town square. Me and Hope rush there while dad said he has something to take care of. The sun has already sent whem we get there. I see Landon's body on the ground. I check on him and he's dead, but he'll be back. Hopefully. It's only then that I notice Lizzie has chained herself up to a tree. "Lizzie, are you okay?"
"No. I am super crazy. But at least there's a reason this time." her eyes then glow red. "The demon's in me." Just then Hope walks closer to Lizzie and makes sure the chains are secure. Then I hear Lizzie growl at Hope. I know Landon's okay, so I stand up and turn to face them.