Will Love Ever Come?

Chapter 25

HALF AN HOUR LATER Eschewal is back in his town. He feels relieved that he controlled The Dog back in the girl's bathroom. If she did not say, in a sinister way, "So, it's your turn to take me now, yeah?" he would have sex with her.

He looks into his rearview mirror; his reflection shows a man who looks like he is about to be beaten by The Dog. He shakes his head and thinks, 'this task, this goal, it's too big for me.' He feels that in the following situation he encounters, The Dog may win. As the feeling leaves him and he turns off the main road taking a sharp left, coming towards him is the corruption of the rotten core of the city. His eyes meet with the corruption. He visualizes The Dog ripping out of his body, its face twisting in a grotesque form, growling and foaming at the mouth.

He grits his teeth and continues driving. His eyes dart into the rearview mirror.

The corruption waves at him.

He directs his eyes back to the road and tries to fight this filthy temptation. His eyes dart back to the rearview mirror, his foot pumps the brake, and the car halts at the top of the road.

It is too much; The Dog has won tonight. With his heart pounding, he reverses the car to satisfy The Dog.

The temptation of corruption runs up toward his car. He feels his stomach twist. He hates himself already for the deed he is about to do, but The Dog demands that he comply. He has no control.

He glances into his rearview mirror.

The corruption has stopped running and is walking over to another car.

He closes his eyes and says, "Thank you." He opens his eyes and watches as the corruption gets into the car, leaving him alone to face his demons.

He takes a deep breath and pulls back into the road. He shakes his head, knowing he needs to find the girl in the park before he lets himself slip into the world's corruption.