UnEarthed

Chapter 24

The clock on the wall of the motel room ticks loudly as the minutes pass and Kenzy stares at it with exasperation. She knows stopping when she is this close to finding answers is ignorant but she also realizes driving through fatigue is even dumber. She sits at the end of the bed with her foot vigorously tapping that ground with anxiety. Her body is drained of energy but her mind is too restless to sleep. Laying back on the bed, she closes her eyes and tries to relax. Almost instantly, the silence is stirred by a knock at the door. Kenzy grabs her gun and slowly proceeds to the door.

"Kenzy, it's me Theresa." The familiar voice calms Kenzy's nerves and she opens the door.

"Theresa, what in the hell are you doing here?"

Theresa enters the room and immediately locks the door behind her. "I came to find you. Your team said you took off on your own... stupid move by the way." Theresa picks through the window blinds, searching the parking lot for movement.

"Why are you acting so spooked?" Kenzy asks and sits on the bed.

Theresa turns to her. "Why aren't you acting spooked, Kenzy? You are being hunted by demons and you are unprotected here."

"Theresa, I have been running from demons for years. I think I can handle it by now."

"Not here!" She snaps and immediately regrets it when she sees the look of bafflement on Kenzy's face. She sits next to her on the bed. "Kenzy, I haven't told you everything about myself. I promise I will and in return you must promise me you will go back to your team. Nebraska is dangerous. For some reason the demon numbers are triple here."

"Fine... what are you not telling me, Theresa?"

Theresa lets out a deep sigh and silently prays that Kenzy understands what she is about to tell her but she knows she has to.

"I met your father several years ago in a hunters bar. He was asking all of these strange questions about demons, making the other hunters nervous. I introduced myself and we got to talking. He started telling me about you and your mom. He seemed to think demons were after you."

Theresa takes Kenzy's hand. "Your father would not say much about your mother but believed her death was somehow caused by demons and he was desperate for help. He knew nothing about demons or how to defeat them. I told him I would help him find answers. After doing a little research and torturing a few demons for answers I discovered his fears were accurate. The demons were after you. I kept being told that they had plans for you but never could get anything else out of them."

Theresa gives Kenzy a moment to collect her thoughts before continuing. "I started teaching your dad about demons; how to kill them, how to perform exorcisms. I felt compelled to help him. When he called me one night worried that he was getting in over his head, I promised him that no matter what, I would protect you... he was killed 2 weeks later... It's my job to protect you, Kenzy."

"I can't believe this." Kenzy stands from the bed and begins pacing back and forth. "You worked with my dad and you're just now telling me?"

"Kenzy, I promise I planned on telling you. I was just waiting for the right time. I know it's a lot to take in..."

"A lot to take in? Theresa, how am I supposed to trust you when you hid that from me?" Kenzy shouts uncontrollably and tears fill her eyes. "For years, I have searched for answers to my father's death. It has eaten away at me. I've had nightmares about it and all along, you've had the answers. Why did the demons kill him?"

"Kenzy, listen..."

"Why did they kill my father?" Kenzy shouts louder and Theresa's mouth drops open.