Demons Lurking in the Dark

Chapter Two

     "Landon!" My mom shouted as she burst into the house. "Help me with the groceries, please!"

      I leaped up from my chair and ran to the door. She handed me the bags in her hands and kissed my cheek. I brought the bags upstairs and began to unpack them. Noodles, tomato sauce, bread, garlic, butter, beef jerky, oranges, and a few other things. All just stuff we were going to use tonight. Every year on this day, we make a big meal to one to get us to sleep better, and two, have one last treat before a day of suffering.

      Spaghetti has always been my dad's and I's favorite. When I was a toddler, my dad taught me to eat it. I instantly fell in love and together we finished the huge pot full of it.

     "Can you start a pot of water for me while I get the garlic bread ready?" She asked.

     I nodded and grabbed the pot. I filled the pot with some water and began heating it.

     "So, how was school?"

     "Terrible as always," I sighed,

     "I'm sorry, sweetie," She frowned. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

     "I don't know. It just sucked. The same thing that happens every year. Ghost boy and his sidekick."

      "It's just because they don't understand. If they knew the truth of what happens, they wouldn't be laughing," She replied.

     "I guess you're right."

     The rest of our cooking mission went by rather quickly. We just boiled the noodles and had to wait for our sauce and bread.

     I sat down to eat, a sick feeling coming to my stomach. I kept thinking about tomorrow. The day that will bring me so much misery. I propped the picture of my dad at the end of the table before beginning to eat.

     "So um, how was your day, mom?"

     "It was fine. I had a few meetings with two clients and then I headed to the shop."

     My mom works as a therapist. She can't work in our town, of course, so she works in the neighboring town. She's always had fun with her job but I don't know how she can do it and not fall apart. She's so much stronger than anyone I know. I wish I could be like her.

     "That's fun..." I replied.

    "Yeah but not as fun as November 1st will be. Let's do something! We'll have a good day to make up for the bad one. Sound like a plan?" She grinned, her brown curly hair, framing the side of her face as she leaned forward.

    "Sounds like a plan," I smiled softly.

      Together, we finished the pot. I felt like I was going to explode, but it was a good feeling. A little piece of light in the darkness.

     I looked over at the clock and noticed it was already 5:00. I walked to the bathroom and grabbed my toothbrush. I slowly poured the toothpaste onto the brush and began brushing. I watched myself in the mirror and sighed.

     My mom had always said I looked like my dad. We have the same black hair, the same faded blue eyes, and the same pale skin. I always knew inside I was never like him though. He was filled with bravery. He's never been afraid to face his fears, but I've just been a kid who gets torn down by whatever happens. I can't stand up for myself and I can't even raise a fist. I'm a disaster. My mom always tries to change my mind but I know she's wrong. I am a mess and there's no hiding it.

     I shook my head and tried to clear my head but there were so many things spiraling into my head.

      One of the biggest problems with this curse is the fact the dreams are visible as we sleep. We can slightly view them but everything goes down over the course of a millisecond. My mom has always said this was because the demons didn't want us to see what was going to happen. If we fully saw, we'd never lose to them and if we didn't dream of it, they wouldn't have a reason to blame it all on us.

     I sighed and walked to my mother's room. "Goodnight, Mama.'

     "Aww Landy! Sit down for a second. I won't take long," My mother said, putting hair curlers in. Don't ask me why. It was just part of her nightly routine.

      I sat down on the bed, my mom wrapping her arm around me. "Tomorrow's going to be a rough day but we're going to get through it. Just like you do every year. You're such a brave boy, you'll do amazing. Just do what you think is best." She kissed my cheek. "What's the number one rule?"

     "Don't show weakness," I replied with a nod.

     "Good," She ruffled my hair. "If you're nervous, just know this will only last for a day. You're going to be okay as long as you don't panic."

     "I'll do my best to stay calm," I replied.

     She nodded, "I'm sorry you have to go through this."

     I looked up at her, her brown eyes glazed with a film of tears. "It's okay mom. We'll get through this together and if we don't make it, we'll see dad again."

     She smiled softly, "Aww Landon! How did I get so lucky with such a sweet baby boy?"

      She took me in her arms and held me close. It was childish for me to say there but I needed this just as much as she did. I needed to know someone was there and she needed to know that things were okay. She spent way too much of her time trying to better others' lives. She needed to focus on her own as well.

     "Goodnight, sweetie," My mother said and kissed my cheek. "I love you."

     "Love you too," I said and hugged her back. "Night."

     I took a deep breath and headed to my room. My main focus now was sleeping. I had to do my best to clear my mind and act like everything was okay.

     I walked across my dark bedroom and sat down on the bed. Every year to help get myself to sleep, I count sheep. It's the only thing that has ever worked for me. I start at 100 and then go back.

     100...99...98... 97...96...95...94...93....