The Devil's Gift/The Bloody Handed

3

All of us sat in the living room of Eddie's trailer waiting for the ceiling to break. The run wasn't too far and it was too quiet for our own food. Eddie and I were by each other with our backs against the wall. Nancy was across the room in a chair and Steve and Robin were standing in the middle of the room talking.

"Pretty face, huh?" He says almost confused. I look at him puzzled but then remember what Steve said in the kitchen. I nod and twist my lips to the side. "Can't say I disagree with that statement." He looks me up and down and I must admit my heart kind of skipped a beat. He was attractive but there was something about him that didn't allow me to get close. A stood in silence unsure of what to say. All I knew is that he was definitely 1) eavesdropping or 2) this house echos a lot. I look over at Steve who is talking to Robin and holding onto his side.

Suddenly, I was no longer with my thoughts. A soft ring starts to sound in my left ear.

"Do you hear that?" I ask Eddie.

"Hear what?" The ringing grew louder and screeching headache starts to take place in my ears. Immediately, I cover them. They burn as though they're going to bleed any moment. I hear painful whimpers come out of me and I start to rock back and forth in hopes it would stop soon.

"Clary!" Hands shake me and several other voices call my name.

A broom starts to poke through the ceiling, creating a gaping hole. With each hit, more and more chunks gave away ultimately leaving us just enough room for each of us to squeeze through. I look as the ceiling shatters onto the ground.

"Clary, we have to go now!" The ringing made it almost impossible for me to hear anyone. I open my eyes and the image of the room that was once still was shaking and vibrating. I see Eddie crouched down in front of me yelling and clapping his hands, Steve behind Eddie yelling to Dustin, and Robin and Nancy alarmingly looking back at me while they haul a rope of sheets through the ceiling. They all shift their gaze towards the boarded windows which were now being bent by something outside, probably the demobats. I open my mouth to try to talk but nothing comes out.

I put my hand on the wall behind me. My nails digging into frail wallpaper. I shut my eyes and try to take a step forward. The ringing turns into various screams and I fall forward. I put my arms over my head and I feel a hand on my back. "It won't go away!" I yell out. My brain felt as if it was about to explode any second.

"Just go!" I shoo Eddie off with my hand, who is still trying to hold me still. "I'll be fine!"

"Fine?! Do you not see what is going on outside?!" He points to the window. I see bat wings intruding through the small cracks.

"It is what it is, Munson! Go! I'll hide and you guys can come back for me later!" I had to yell because I felt as if I was stuck in a never ending tunnel. I feel a warm liquid drip down the sides of my neck. I uncover my ears and look at my shaky hands to reveal smeared blood. I look up at Eddie who is in pure shock.

"Nope." He shouts to everyone and I officially lost my hearing except for these damned piercing rings. They all start to climb the sheet rope and Eddie bends down, picking me up. I was in too much pain to retaliate. The pain felt like it was never ending, like it has carried on for half an hour.

"Go." I think I'm saying something but I can't hear myself say anything.

"Not today, Sparky." He huffs as he bends down, grabs a broken lamp pole, and begins to run upstairs. For someone being so skinny he wasn't so weak. My eyes start to drift in an out of a black abyss. Within moments, we are in what I guessed to be a bedroom. I feel my body meet a springy mattress below me, the ringing is still going strong.