MEMENTO

IV.

            "I get that it was that window," Ally responded impatiently, narrowing her eyes at Drew. "You've already explained that."

Drew had initially started out strong with his stalling but was beginning to crack each second Erica was gone. It turns out they hadn't really thought this plan through enough.

"But what was the shape you saw lurking around the house?" Drew continued erratically, stepping before her as she turned to glance into the house. Cecilia and Sol exchanged confused glances at his behavior.

"You already asked me that," Ally pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest.

"It's important to get every single detail, though," Drew insisted, chewing on his bottom lip.

"I'm not going to remember more about it than I did a minute ago," Ally snapped at him.

"Erica's taking a long time," Sol pointed out, glancing at the sliding door to which Drew nearly combusted. He felt his hard work in stalling Ally crumbling around him as their cover was blown and Ally wandered inside. However, Cecilia cut in, murmuring, "Sol, she's in the bathroom. You shouldn't point that out. It's weird."

At that, Drew's shoulders slackened, and he relaxed if only a bit, wondering what Erica had encountered upstairs.

His relief only lasted a moment, though, as Erica's scream reverberated above them from the attic window and each of them straightened up.

"What was that?" Ally muttered, freezing. Drew opened his mouth to, well, he wasn't sure what to say, but was cut off by Dux sliding open the glass door and panting.

"Sister," she breathed, pressing a hand to her chest. "She's in the attic."

Ally balked at that, color draining from her face as she asked, "What? How did she get in there?"

"No time for that," Dux insisted, gesturing for her to follow. "We have to save her first."

"Save her?" Sol repeated, eyebrows knitting together. "Save her from what?"

"No time," Dux murmured once more and then dashed away, up the stairs, and out of sight once more.

"Just stay here if you know what's good for you," Ally snapped at all of them, scurrying after Dux. They all exchanged looks before wordlessly following the sisters upstairs.

*

Erica hung in the air by her ankle, hissing at the sharp pain as the demon's claws dug into her skin. The blood rushed to her head, and she felt her stomach flip at the sudden motion as it grabbed at her so suddenly.

She squirmed in its clasp which only made the grip tighten, making her stop for a moment and allow herself to be examined by the two sunken holes in its head where the crimson pupils radiated.

"So, you're the one they won't shut up about?" the demon remarked, its voice gravelly and scratching at her ears. Its words seemed foreign coming off its tongue, as if it hadn't spoken aloud in years. "Erica Solomon, heaven's gift, huh?"

She froze, shuddering at the malice that rolled off its tongue as it uttered her name.

"Don't tell me they summoned me for your weak, pathetic form," it spat out. With each word it spoke, it tugged her closer to its lips so she could smell the rotting flesh, making another wave of nausea sweep over her. "I was expecting more from you."