READ THE WARNING

Chapter twenty one

!TW!~ Brief gore, brief mentioning of cannibalism, alcoholism, domestic verbal abuse

Erebus started accompanying Alex on his visits to Amy and Anthony. He continuously asked Alex to take them back home, but Alex wasn't sure how he would look after two other people twenty four seven. He was stressed every day of his life and had a lot on his hands. He didn't want Amy and Anthony to have to be in that environment, either.

Alex also discovered the reason Marina randomly asked Erebus how old he was. She wanted to make sure he wasn't too old for Alex. It was stupidly annoying how convinced she was that they were in love. Everyone else seemed to have dropped it when Alex said they weren't, but Marina somehow knew. Wait, not knew! Thought! Thou-...fuck.

Why? Why?!

Sighing, Alex laid down in his bed. He had no idea why his stupid heart was trying to convince him he liked Erebus. He knew it could never happen, they could never happen, but his heart continued begging and pleading.

He glimpsed someone out of the corner of his eye and shot up, looking around the room. No one was there anymore. The man from his closet hadn't shown himself in a while, but that didn't mean he was gone. The closet still opened by itself and Alex still felt him watching him, frequently.

He could remember so well the feeling of his head splitting. It felt like his forehead was on fire. All just because of a single touch, and it was enough to knock him out and have him bleeding everywhere. It felt like such a close call, and he couldn't believe his mom and Sammy had been the ones to help him. They felt like some of the least likely people to help him.

Alex heard something fall behind him. He jumped and looked but, once again, no one was there. He sighed and put his face in his hands. He was so sick of this shit.

"Please." He whispered. "Leave me alone. I have enough on my mind."

He sat up straighter, looking around. He knew no one was there, but he wanted to make sure. Still, no sign of anyone, as he expected. Maybe he really was insane.

"You're not insane."

He sprang to his feet, spinning around and quickly backing away, nearly hitting the wall. Still, no one was there.

How?! That can't be possible! He has to be there!

He heard his voice so clearly, even felt breath on his ear. How could that be fake?!

He sank down, sitting against the wall and hugging his knees to his chest. Everything was so confusing now. He wished he'd never followed Sarah that day. If he hadn't died, none of this would be happening in the first place...

But he didn't regret it, and deep down, he knew that. If he hadn't followed Sarah that day, he wouldn't have met Erebus. 

"You're proving to him that you're weak."

Alex looked up. Damien sat across the room from him.

"Stop letting him get to you."

"What, do I just ignore him? That doesn't feel possible." Alex slightly readjusted his position, uncomfortable.

"It's not easy, but it's all you can do if you want to survive this. He will destroy you for fun if you let him, so don't let him."

"Who even is he?! It's been a month and you haven't told me how he's even in relation to you."

"Cassander. He's not...he's not a demon, but he was. He was kicked out of hell for going against the orders he was given. You know the creatures in the space between that try to catch you after you die? Sarah protected you from them when you died, but if you hadn't listened to her, your soul likely would've been eaten by one of them. They eat human, whether it be souls  or bodies, it doesn't matter. When they're trapped in the afterlife, they can only eat souls, but sometimes they're able to find a way out through...a closet. Then they can start travelling to the human world again, like they did when they were real demons, and can't help but eat humans because nothing else satisfies them."