The Septic Curse

Twenty

That idea had sent a shiver down Marvin's spine.

When he went downstairs, he saw Chase cooking up breakfast. Just as he had suspected.

"Hey, Da- Chase?" The magician cleared his throat once he got behind the other, making Chase hum an acknowledgement. "We have a tiny problem..." Marvin chuckled nervously as the other turned slowly to him. He didn't do anything wrong; he was sure... 

But the second Chase turned to him, Marvin remembered that the other was an ACTUAL Dad... And his mind drifted back to Sam. 

Something clawed at his chest- or more specifically, his heart. 

Was it... 

Was he really feeling guilty? But why?

It didn't matter. 

Brushing it off, Marvin realized that Chase had finished cooking and was now brushing past him. Grabbing a plate and accepting his warm milk from Jackie, the magician scurried after the fatherly ego. 

"Alright, what did you do this time?" The father sighed, dishing out the scrambled eggs and bacon. "Who did vhat?" Henrik looked up from his newspaper, immediately looking over to Marvin. "Why do you all assume that I did something??" The magician scoffed.

"Just spill already." Chase gave him a look. "Okay, okay... Uh... Where do I start...? Okay, just... Sam tried to impersonate you, it tried to get me away from the book, I saw its less demonic form up close, forgot to spell it, and instead realized its height-" Marvin tried to get it all out in one breath, but ended up panting heavily before he even finished. 

"Whoa, whoa! Slow down there! Tried to impersonate ME?" The father startled, nearly dropping Robbie's plate. "Yes. Now, if you let me finish-" "HOW?!" Jackie interrupted with a burst of energy, looking very alarmed. "It just tried to talk like Chase through the door, trying to get me to leave the book behind." Marvin grunted, "but don't worry, it can't change its appearance much- if at all."

"Okay... Fuck." Chase sighed, too tired for this already. "Anyways... Hen, Chase... When I saw its form, I noticed that it was a bit... Short. Like... A few inches shorter than me." Marvin finally got it out, "not only that, but it was pouting. Arms crossed and everything... Hen, do you remember how you called it a demon-child? I-" "Stop right zhere."

Marvin shut his mouth at the doctor's growl. "You have no proof. It is one zhing to call it a child due to its behavior, vut ve have no real proof zhat it is an ACTUAL child." "No, I think he's right. I've seen the thing. Looks like a teen, at most. It acts like a child, its short, and it's easy to scold... Dude, I'm sorry, but it's not unheard of for there to be a kid that's a ghost." Chase shook his head, biting his lip.

"Vut even so- ve cannot be swayed! Ve have no proof, it could just be short. And if it IS true, zhat should be even more reason to go zhrough vith zhis! Ve cannot allow a child to continue suffering... Or anything zhat acts like a child. Zhat kind of innocence shouldn't go zhrough such torment." Henrik reasoned, his voice cracking for a second. 

Marvin fell silent. For some reason, he wanted to argue. But he didn't. 

That was that then. 

It didn't matter if it was a child, adult, demon, or even a fucking angel. They were getting rid of it. 

---

Marvin was setting up a trap.