Chapter 2

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"Back up"

The room fell silent as Theo scrambled to get to his feet, fighting against his shaking legs.

"I'm sorry?" The thing asked, it's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

Theo held the cross up higher and extended his arm out as much as he could, but he couldn't bring himself to get any closer to the thing, which still seemed abnormally calm.

"What do you think that does? Because it isn't near as threatening to me as you seem to think" the creature said with a sigh.

Theo glanced at the cross in his hand. If it didn't hurt the creature, then the creature must not be anything demonic, he thought.

He relaxed and let his hand with the cross in it drop to his side. His heart rate calmed and he felt he could breathe easier. He still believed the thing was a threat, but perhaps not as bad as he thought.

"What are you?" Theo asked sternly, demand coating itself in his voice.

The creature shut its eyes and pinched its nose. Its shoulders sagged and it sighed as it opened its eyes once again. It mumbled something under its breath but Theo couldn't hear and wasn't willing to ask it to repeat itself.

"I'm a demon" it spoke nonchalantly.

Theo's mouth opened slightly and his hand tightened around the cross. Despite the fact that he was staring at the clearly inhuman creature that most definitely fit the description of a "demon", hearing it admit to being one left him speechless. The reality of the situation hit him like a wave and his body froze with fear.

"I sort of thought you'd figured that out.. hence y'know.. this" the creature—demon— gestured to himself and then to the room.

Theo stuttered a few times, but failed to get any words out. He wasn't even sure what he would say.

In the midst of his panic he made eye contact with the thing. He realized for the first time how tall it was, standing significantly taller than his own 5'10. Around 6'6 if he had to guess.

As intimating as its height was, Theo could tell it wasn't going to attack him. Besides, it hadn't done anything thus far.

With this thought and the sliver of courage he had gathered Theo set down his cross and moved as quick as he could around the demon, ignoring the pain in his leg as best he could.

"Stay back!" He shouted when the creature turned around to face him.

Theo had grabbed his Bible from off the floor and was holding it like a weapon. Perhaps the cross didn't work, but no demon would be able to do anything against a Bible.

That's what Theo believed, at least.

The demon glanced around, seeming taken aback and even a bit confused.

"I think there's been a misunderstanding" it spoke lowly.

The words went in one of Theo's ears and out the other. He had convinced himself the Bible would give him some kind of defense against the demon. If it didn't, Theo knew he was hopeless.

"Do what I say" He demanded, locking eyes with the demon.

The pitch black color of them made him shudder, but he pushed back the feeling.

At last the demon sighed and it's shoulder dropped.

"Alright then"

Theo instantly felt a weight lift off his chest. He had the upper hand.

"Walk out the door. Slowly" He grumbled, using the sternest voice he could muster.

The demon obliged, opening the door and walking out before it glanced back at Theo for more instructions.

With great caution and patience Theo led the demon to the basement.

From his spot at the top of the stairs Theo shouted down to the demon, who was at the bottom.

"I will be right outside this door, with the Bible, so don't even try to escape" he ordered before closing the door.

The demons face didn't give off the slightest hint of fear, but Theo brushed it off. The thought of him being completely vulnerable to the thing scared him so much he didn't even consider it a possibility.

He grabbed a nearby chair and dragged it in front of the basement door. His grip loosened on the Bible but still remained tight.

As he began to calm his leg began to ache more and more. He pulled up his pant leg only to find a dark purple bruise the size of a baseball placed in the center of his shin. He pressed it a bit but immediately pulled back in pain.

His eyes took little time to travel back to the door before him.

This must be God testing him, he thought.

But what was he supposed to do about it?

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Can you tell his is a slow burn? (I'm so sorry)

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