The Foster Kid

Chapter 9: Inner Demons

Fearing the worst I turned around to see someone that I couldn't believe...myself. It sounds crazy but I knew it was me, except this was a darker version. He was wearing a hoodie with jeans and high-tops just like I was but instead everything he had was black. My heart was racing as we stared at each other and circled around, he maintained his devilish grin.

"You appear surprised to see me Dylan? What's the matter? You're probably still thinking about that girl Melody. Funny what 'love' can make you do."

"Shut up! You know nothing! I never meant to hurt her! It was all his doing!"

We finally stopped walking and just stood a few feet away from each other, "It amuses me how willing you are to ignore your true nature." Then he took one step but disappeared somehow but I could still hear him clearly as he spoke as though he were standing by my ear, "Dylan just end it all, end the burden that you're causing, make everyone happy."

I crouched down and covered my ears, "NO! I'm not a burden!"

"Dylan think about it, would you rather have your precious Melody think of you as this sweet guy who had his life taken unfairly or...live and have her share your feelings and see her eyes filled with fear when your 'moods' take control.. she'll no longer see Dylan... only the monster that you truly are. You'll never escape it, you're exactly like father."

Going on just my emotions I stood up and swung around to punch him to only waste my energy and have my fist fly through the air. "That's not true! I will never stoop to his level! I will never repeat father's mistakes!"

I looked back down at the ground to steady my breathing when I heard her... "I'm so glad I found you!"

My head shot back up once I saw Melody, but my happiness was short lived as I saw her run into the arms of my best friend. He embraced her in his arms, they both looked so happy... it broke me. She giggled and continued to smile at him so lovingly and he back at her.

I slowly fell to my knees. "Maybe you're right. I'll never be the man she needs me to be. There! Are you happy!?"

He appeared right in front of me holding a butcher knife."Very. Use this... do you understand why I chose such an object for you to end your pathetic life."

As I took it from him I kept my eyes on it as it lay on my hands, "...because this is what father used to kill mother." When I looked back to see Melody one last time the mirage of her and Greg turned to dust and blew away. I then took the knife and aimed for my stomach just as father did, "Melody... I'm doing this to save you."

"Dylan! No!"

~Melody's Point of View~

     I asked around town about if they'd seen Dylan and finally I got a tip from a few guys that were standing outside a store saying they saw someone pass by a few minutes ago and it led me to the richer side of town and thankfully there were more people who had seen him. The last person I asked said she saw him run into the nearby wooded park... as though he were being chased.  It took me longer than it should've to find him but I was so grateful when I did... it was almost too late. Dylan held up the knife as he stood on his knees and was about to stab himself in the stomach.