You won't hyde

This very night

I came into my senses and saw nothing because of a pitch darkness. I felt dizzy and sick. Probably I hit my head when fell. The only thing that I felt was the warmth of Xavier's body I was lying on. I peeled off immediately:
- Xavier, - I whispered. Xavier did not answer and shiver ran through my skin. - Wake up. - I started shaking him. - Xavier! If you die, I will kill you.

I put Xavier's head on my knees and leaned to him to check breathing.

- I will never forget how scared you were for me, - I heard Xavier's voice near my ear. I could swear he had a slight smirk on his face. I stood up and Xavier's head fell off on the concrete floor. "Ouch!" - I heard in the dark. - Of course, Wednesday. I don't need my head.
- You do not use it anyway, - I said with a cold voice. - We need to find a way out.

Xavier turned on the torcher in his phone so we could observe what was around us. I did not take mine with me so Xavier's Iphone was the only source of light in the dark basement. There was nothing except the old clock on the stone wall and on the dial I could read "Quarles has risen".
- Bring some light here, - I asked.
- What is Quarles? - asked Xavier standing behind my shoulder.
- Not what but who. "Quarles" is Edgar Alan Poe's pseudonym. He was born in 1809.

That was an easy quiz. I set one hand of the clock at 6 pm (that also could mean 18:00) and other one on 9 pm (09:00).

The floor started shaking and moving around. In several seconds the flares were lighted and we got able to see a horrendous figure of the devil and one smaller demon by his side. It took a moment to understand that it was just a dummy in spite of the realistic muzzle with tremendous horns and glass red eyes. The devil had goat legs and was in squatting position. It looked like he was inviting us to play.
- What is that?
- It's a perveted version of Monopoly, - concluded Xavier when he got closer. He took a set of changed rules. We were looking at the mini version of Jericho. - He wants us to play the game with him.
Xavier looked at the devil with disgust and slight fear.
- Can you play? - I asked trying to conceal worrying.
- Yes, my father taught me how to play when I was a child. He reckoned I would learn the ropes of earning money, popularity and status in such a way. He failed, by the way.
- You think you could win?
- I can try at least. Have you ever played Monopoly?
- Never, - I admitted.
I have always considered board games as a waste of time.
- In this case you will have to trust me, - concluded Xavier.

We started the game and I followed everything Xavier ordered me. I did not argue, just obeyed. I hated being obedient but this time that brought me pleasure. In a sadistic way.

Xavier sold "Weathervane" and that was a mistake. He lost a lot of Monopoly money. Suddenly an arrow flew out of nowhere and almost hit me.
- Are you ok? - Xavier got scared.
- I am. Just play more attentively.
- I am doing my best.
- Try harder, - I was tough. Xavier scoffed. - We have to win if we want to get out of here.

It was a high-class game and Xavier pegged away to win it.

Suddenly mini Jericho disappeared under the floor.
- What happened? - I tensed.
- We won, - Xavier smiled with a smile of a victor. - See? It's not painful to trust someone.
- Very doubtful statement, - I said quietly.

Devil opened his mouth and on his rough tongue there was a blue crystal:
- It is that crystal I have drawn for all this time! - Xavier hid the crystal in his pocket.
- Have you still drawn it?
- I draw it when I want to get distracted from obsessive thoughts... - Xavier did not finish his sentence.

The room shook again. We saw that one of the walls of the basement drove away opening up the tunnel which led to obscurity. I headed up there.
- Do you wanna go to this tunnel? - asked Xavier peering into the darkness.
- Do you have any other suggestions? Nota Bene: there are more pleasant ways to die than passing out of hunger here.

Xavier followed me to the darkness enlightening our way with the torch:
- Why did you start talking to me again? - this question was a surprise even for myself. Xavier did not answer for a minute but then I heard:
- Well, you know... all this time when we didn't talk to each other made me reevaluate things.
- Like what?
- Like how strong I can miss someone.
- Even if this "someone" brings you pain?
- There is something pleasant in it, - said Xavier and went ahead. His thoughts were pretty similar to my mine.

Our conversation was interrupted by familiar voices nearby. It was the end of the tunnel so Xavier extinguished the torch. We started listening:
- Everything is almost ready. We are starting at 3 am. "Morning Song"will sound all over the world soon, - I recognised the voice of Bianca's mother. Through the small crack I could see the principal's office. - I will become a Lead Preacher.
- And I will become the Queen, - Rosenberg emphasized. Xavier and I looked at each other. It was so stupid to call themselves the Queen and the preacher. Did Rosenberg and Barclay know that it was not medieval England but the modern USA? - We need to check if all of the members of new parliament have already arrived.
- Do you have that blue stone with you? - asked Barclay.
- Gabrielle, it is not just a blue stone. It is a resurrection crystal called Resourex and it is in a secluded place.
- I will order Bianca to bring it.

Our eyes got round. Bianca was involved in this "MorningSong Cult" story after all.

Rosenberg and Barclay left the office and I pushed the brick that I was sure would open the way to the room. Xavier and I got out through the fireplace. I wanted to find anything useful in Rosenberg's stuff. When my fingers touched the surface of the principal's table I got a vision. Xavier caught me and protectively held me in his arms.
I got the vision about Xavier' death.

I woke up and got the understanding that Xavier was going to die this very night:

- Are you ok? What did you see? - he asked being worried about me.
- Nothing important, - I lied. I tried to conceal the fear and make my body stop shivering.
- We need to find Bianca, - Xavier helped me to get up.
- Yes, but we need to take a detour first.
Xavier did not ask questions and followed me. He trusted me. In vain.

I led Xavier to the Nightshades library hoping there would be nobody there.
- What are we doing here?
- Something vital.
It was semi-darkness in the library. Xavier and could barely see each other:
- Close your eyes, - I almost ordered, but my words were quite.
- Why? - Xavier got puzzled.
- No questions allowed, - I almost whispered because it was easier to conceal that I was getting more and more nervous with every second.
- Okay, - Xavier closed his eyes.
I kissed Xavier and he kissed me back. His lips were warm and soft in comparison with mine.

Xavier's hands were holding my face. It felt like the time had stopped for us both. It was not enough of air to breath in this old dusty library. Or maybe there was another reason for this.
- Yes, it is vital, - Xavier pulled away from me to kiss again in a couple of seconds.

Xavier was tender and I liked only his tenderness. He was the only one whom I wanted to be gentle with me.

I just could not let Xavier die.

My hand was on Xavier's neck. I imperceptibly groped his carotid artery and pressed it. He lost consciousness and fell on the ground. I whispered:
- Sorry, I can save your life only in this way.

If Xavier stayed in the library and did not participate in what was coming up, he would stay alive.

I stepped over Xavier's body and headed up to Bianca having known in advance, if Xavier was going to stay alive this very night, most likely I would be dead.