Demon Hunters: Last Class

Episode 1: Lyric- Burnout

"Mom, we can't do pizza again," Lydia whined. "Can we please order something else?"

"But I want pizza." Linda pouted, but we all knew she was just trying to leverage her cuteness.

"Today is Lydia's day," Mom said, glancing at us in the rearview mirror. "She gets to decide."

Laurel looked back at me from the passenger seat and I shrugged. Mom usually hated ordering takeout, but she must have been feeling generous.

"Chinese! I want Chinese tonight," Lydia said after taking a moment to think about it.

Linda grumbled under her breath, but she knew how rare takeout was in our house. Whether Chinese or pizza, it would be a treat. I nudged her with my elbow and she looked up, a sly smirk on her face. The little scamp was probably happy we were having Chinese food, but didn't want Lydia to know and change her mind. The two were like that. Always at odds. In most families, it was the younger siblings who fought, but not us.

Linda and I were best friends. I didn't begrudge her for taking my place as the baby. I was just glad I had someone who'd have my back against Lydia. Laurel, being the oldest, merely spectated rather than participating in our constant fighting. She found it all amusing. Don't get me wrong. The four of us were inseparable, but even friends fought.

Mom turned into the driveway and the headlights fell upon a tall lanky figure standing in front of the garage. He stared up at the house as if he were searching for someone, and turned painstakingly slow. The lights reflected off his eyes in a strange way that made my pulse quicken. His clothes looked like he'd been caught in the rainstorm that had only just stopped and his hair hung down on either side of his face like bedraggled black curtains.

He came over and Mom rolled the window down.

"Can I help you?"

I could hear the steel in her voice. Mom could be tough when she wanted to be.

"Messy night, isn't it?" the man responded. His breath stank like a hospital room, sweet and weird. He grinned at Mom's unfriendly look. "Is Collin home by any chance?"

Again that breath. I turned to make a joke about it to Linda and Lydia, but both of them were knocked out. A heavy yawn escaped my lips. I turned back to Mom as she slumped forward and her head hit the steering wheel, filling the air with the blaring of the horn. Despite the noise, I couldn't keep my eyes open.

...

My eyes fluttered open at the sound of Linda's scream. My cheek rested on the cold and dirty warehouse floor. Lydia stared at me from a few feet away, her brown eyes cold and unblinking. We looked so alike people thought we were twins when we wore the same style braids. Even I saw the resemblance. At least until puberty covered my face in pimples. Her perfect chestnut brown skin put my patchwork of blemishes to shame.

"Lydia, where are we?" I asked, my throat hoarse and strained.

I tried to blink away the haze blurring my vision and when that didn't work I tried to wipe my eyes. That's when I felt the rope around my wrists. Energized by the panic thrumming under my skin, I thrashed about in an attempt to free myself. I quickly learned my ankles were bound too. I managed to turn myself over and froze, my blood running cold as if the strength was suddenly yanked out of me.

There were Mom and Laurel. Laying in a puddle of their own blood. Mommy's eyes were empty red pits, her face a mask of violent agony. Laurel's head hung at an impossible angel, her neck crushed and mangled. A scream built in my chest, but wouldn't come out.

I twisted back around, my heart pound in my ears.

"Lydia... Lydia, get up!"

She didn't respond and the weight of her unblinking eyes squeezed my heart. A fly landed on her eyeball, completely oblivious to my turmoil.