The Child

4

"Ace?"I say.

He looks over at me and then back at the road as he drives.

"You're unusually silent for a man who has stupid car jokes tattooed on his arms."

"I...I think something is wrong."he says quietly.

"What do you mean?"I ask.

He looks in the rear view mirror, seeing Cain asleep in his booster seat.

"I....I think Cain's teacher is a demon."

I take a deep breath and clench my fists so my hands don't shake.

"You think?"I say calmly.

"Do you remember when we first met? The suit? The glasses? They were so thick you couldn't see my eyes."he explains.

"H-he's blind. He's just blind, Ace."I say, my voice shaking.

"I'm just trying to be cautious Alice, I didn-"I cut him off.

"We can't leave again. We have to make sure. We need to call H."I say.

"I fucking hate that guy."Ace groans.

"We need to protect Cain, no matter what."I say.

Ace huffs.

....

I watch as Ace carefully draws the symbol on the floor. I bite my nails as he finishes.

He huffs as he stands up straight, popping his back as he reaches into his pocket, pulling out a handful of salt.

"I can't believe you still keep salt in your pockets."I say.

"Not now, okay."he says before tossing the salt onto the symbol.

The house rumbles a bit and we both turn around.

The house stops rumbling, and we hear someone clear their throat.

We both turn back, seeing the very Hades standing there.

"Well, if it isn't my favorite wonder couple."he smiles.

"Hades, you're looking well."I say.

"The soul game is booming."he smiles sinisterly, rubbing his stomach.

"We need your help."Ace says.

"Help? With what?"he asks before looking around.

"Where's the thing?"

Ace and I look at each other.

"My child?"I question.

"Child, thing, not much of a difference."Hades says, putting his hands on his hips.

"We think...he... Is back."Ace says.

Hades frowns.

"He?"he says, pointing down.

I nod.

"I thought I smelled his stink, but I figured it was just your thing."he says, stepping out of the symbol and walking out of the room.

We quickly follow behind him.

"What are you doing?"I ask.

"I need to talk to it."he says, headed towards Cain's room.

"What! No he doesn't even know if gods exist!"I say.

"Well luckily I look human right."he says before letting himself into Cain's room.

Cain looks up as he was sitting in his tent, reading.

"Oh. He looks just like him doesn't he."Hades says.

"Mommy who is this?"Cain asks.

"Cain this is um..Harold. My friend Harold."I say, making Hades look at me.

"Harold? Really?"he says.

I shrug and he rolls his eyes, looking back towards Cain.

"Alright creature, look at me."Hades demands.

Suddenly Cain's mouth opens and his pupils dilate.

"What haven't you been telling your mother?"

"I have a friend that lives in my closet. He reads to me and we play after bed time."Cain says.

"What?"I say, shocked.

"Is this a friend we can see?"Hades asks.

Cain slowly shakes his head.

"What does he look like?"

"He's tall, he has tattoos like ace and sharp teeth. His hair is long and he always has on a fancy suit."

Hades looks away from Cain and Cain stumbles a bit before falling into his bum.

"Baby."I say, quickly going over to him.

"No horns. No black eyes, no claws. I'm not sure it's he were talking about. You might have a ghost."Hades huffs.

"But I felt him."I say, making Hades stop in his tracks.

"You felt him. Here?"he asks.

"Yes. I'd never forget that feeling."I say.

"When was this?"

"A night ago."I say.

"And have you felt him sense?"he says, turning towards me.

I shake my head no.

He looks around the room and then back to me.

"Put up signs of God up for a few nights. If anything happens, call me back."he says, walking back towards the room he appeared in.

I huff as I look back at Ace as the house rumbles, signaling he had left.

"That wasn't very helpful."I say.

"I noticed."ace says.

....