A Red Love Bizarre or The Roswell Chest

Love Conquers the Demon

4-21-99 {Jack}

Rashid and I have gathered everything we need for the ritual to conquer this demon. We are now pulling in the back parking lot of the state FBI building. We notice our friends standing next to the Agent's car and pull up next to them, "Let's get this show on the road." I say to them as I exit the passenger door, "Lead the way, Agent Mulder."

The Agents miraculously grant us all clearance into the evidence locker and we are now inside, setting up our candles and etching good luck runes on the area around the chest. That is, Rashid and I are doing all the work, and the rest of them are standing around in awkward silence. I take a good look at them and notice that all four of them have purplish bruising on their necks, not to mention that the girls are trying to avoid looking at the boys at all costs.

Oh, children. When the Cat's away, the Mice will play.

I nudge Rashid, "This is going to be easier than we thought, my friend." I say, nodding covertly in their general direction.

Rashid takes in their state and smiles, "You can take your time, you know." he says to them, "We're going to be a little while longer. You are friends, you can talk."

A general collective of sighs and clearing of throats emanates from their direction, and Micki pulls Agent Scully off to the side and whispers something that I only partly catch, "...can't do this."

We're almost ready for this to begin. Rashid pulls his signifier cards out of his Tarot deck and places them near the makeshift altar. As I'm lighting the last candle, I spy Ryan looking incredibly sad. He's standing on the other side of the room, looking hopelessly at Micki who is doing her best to focus her line of vision on Agent Scully or what we're doing. I decide to relieve Ryan from his heartache and look up, "So sorry to hear about your parent's divorce, Micki." I say to her.

"How did you know?" Her jaw drops along with Ryan's, and they finally look at each other.

Rashid begins to chant in Arabic as he sits in a rune protection circle with his legs crossed.

"I have my ways." I tell her, then look pointedly at the both of them, "I think you two have a few things to sort out, don't you?"

Ryan mouths "I'm sorry" to her silently and they cross the room to each other.

"They aren't the only ones, Agents." I say abruptly to the two who have been standing in frosty silence, catching them off guard.

Agent Mulder locks gazes with Agent Scully, and he lopes his way toward her, "Whatever it was, I was the asshole, and I'm sorry, Scully." he says, standing in front of her, "I can't lose you."

"I don't want to lose you, either." she whispers in response with glassy eyes.

Meanwhile, Ryan has Micki with his palms on her shoulders, eyes showing concern, "Why didn't you tell me? I'm so sorry, baby." He pulls her into a hug.

"I was depressed and didn't want to talk about it." she sniffles into his chest, a few errant tears running down her cheek, "Besides, what was I supposed to say: Hey Ryan, my parents are divorced and we're no longer cousins, and guess what, I'm in love with you?"

At the very same moment, Agent Mulder says, "I love you so much, Scully, it hurts."

The chest begins to glow brightly and the murmuring voices turn into muffled screaming of what can only be described as sounding half-man, half-animal. They momentarily look away toward the chest in distraction. This is not good. They have to destroy the demon. It's our only chance.

"Do you love them back?!" I yell forcefully. The four of them turn to stare at me in confusion, "Love conquers the Demon!" I bark at them, "Do you, Ryan and Scully, love them as well!?"