111 Crossbow Lane

Front door, back door?

I walk to the front door, but a light coming from the basement draws my attention. I open the door and go down the stairs. Somehow I'm more confident in my movements and more bold with my choices.

Am I getting comfortable with blood and murder? I hope not. I'm not a killer, I'm a damn writer.

I hear someone speaking, no chanting. I get to the bottom of the stairs and peek into the room. It's yet another version of Gideon. I see a gun on the table right at the door. Should I attempt to take it? To shoot him?

I move closer and pick up the gun. I squeeze through the door, not wanting to open it further. As I'm inside and aiming the gun, Gideon suddenly speaks.

"Ah, I was wondering when you would show up."

"What do you mean?"

"I've seen you before. You took out my other self from a different plane. You're ruthless aren't you darlin?"

"No I'm not. But even if I were, it's all because of you."

"I didn't make you kill anyone. You did that on your own.Thing is you're wrong about me. I'm the innocent victim in all of this. He's bloody manipulative isn't he?"

"Who?"

He laughs and turns to face me. "Little Brian of course ."

I look at him, amazed that he would blame a little boy for all that has happened and still is happening. He's delusional, he doesn't see he is the killer here.

"How can you stand there and tell me that Brian is manipulating everyone. You are killing him in every plane or whatever it is that we seem to find ourselves in."

"Yes I am. But with good reason."

Now it's my turn to laugh. "You really don't see how wrong you are? You believe that you are in the right when you are killing this innocent boy."

"Let me explain to you. Then if you still think I'm wrong, kill me."

"I know you are wrong. But let's hear it."

"He's not what you think he is. He's a demon. He uses the form of this innocent little boy. He made it seem that I was a serial killer and the people in town all turned on me. The police hunted me down."

"I would think so. You don't fool me."

"Please let me finish. He manipulates everyone and kills a lot of innocent children and some others too. No one cared to hear me out, they condemned me. Just like you are. They cornered me and caught me. They took matters into their own hands."

He looks at me, I almost start to believe some of what he tells me.

"They burned me at the stake and performed a ritual that trapped my soul in the house. They thought they sent me to hell, but they trapped me."

"How can I believe this. Come on, he's a boy. If he was a demon, then how come everytime he gets killed?"

"Did he get killed? Or was that maybe not all a show? It's a vicious cycle. I've waited for so long to get someone who could help me. To get rid of him for good and salvage something of my life. I can return with your help."

"I can't. I've seen you kill. Hell you even tried to kill me." I'm full of doubts, he seems genuine, but I've seen him do monstrous things. Someone who's innocent wouldn't do those things would he?

"Please, just help me with this once. If he's not evil, then try the next plane and save him and kill me. But give me a chance."

I look at him again. He has moved closer to me. I didn't even notice this. Until now...

"Stay back!" I shout at him pointing the gun at him. I mean business, I will shoot him.

"Okay, okay. Don't shoot." He slowly puts his hands up in the air.

"I won't try anything, you're in charge. You're holding the gun."

"Yes, I am. And I won't hesitate to use it. I've seen how ruthless you can be."

"Yes, I can be. I've had to be. Now if I really were a ruthless killer, I would've already made a move on you and killed you." He puts his hands down. He walks over slowly and looks at me.

"Stay away!" I point the gun again, but he just walks closer. I squeeze the trigger, it just clicks. Click...click...

He steps in front of me and takes the gun from me. "The safety is on darlin."

He puts the gun into his waistband and walks over to a table. Reading again from a book in a language I don't understand.

What is he doing?

I walk over and look at the book. I take the cover and flip it over.

"Book of the damned?"

"Yes. I'm trying to find a spell to cast to get myself out of this predicament."

Maybe there's more to this whole thing than I originally thought.

"I'll go get him."

"What do you mean you'll go get him?" I was just starting to believe maybe there was something more to this, he's going to kill Brian again.

"Well, I've got him upstairs. I have to kill him in order to use his blood to lift the curse."

"No. I just can't let you do that."

"Well, darlin I don't care if you want me to kill him or not. It has to happen and I'll kill you if you get in my way."

"I knew it! You lied! He's not evil."

"Move out of my way darlin."

"No!"

He pushes past me and I try to grab hold of him. He shoves me to the ground and heads up the stairs. I get up and follow him.

I hear Brian yelling from the living room, as I enter I see Gideon holding him by the arm. He shoves the gun against his head and tells him to walk to the basement door.

I have to act now. I run over and push Gideon through the door and down the stairs. He falls awkwardly and lays there not moving. Brian also fell and I see him moving slightly. I rush down the stairs and as I get to them I see Gideon move.

Before I can act he pulls the trigger and Brian's body goes limp.

"No!" I scream, I failed him again. I grab the gun from Gideon and turn to him.

"You monster!" I shout as I squeeze off a shot. I hit him in the chest, I must've hit a vital organ as he slumps over. Dead.

I can't do this anymore, I'll go insane. I drop the gun and get up. I head up the stairs. At the top I close the door to the basement. I'm not opening that door again.

I walk to the kitchen. I walk into the pantry and get a juice. I drink from it and take a moment to myself to think things through.

I'm not sure what to believe anymore. All I know is I want to go home. Then get the hell away from there. Far away.

I walk out and see Gideon busy at the kitchen table again. Guess I'm back to the original version...