me and the devil - kai parker

16

Houston, Texas

May 10th, 1994 - day 1250

Madelene was walking down the dusty streets, boots clicking against the pavement, a wide-brimmed hat shielding her face from the relentless sun. At first, she got the hat as a joke, but she grew to like it. She walked slowly soaking in the imagery of the city, her mind wandered to the cool, crisp air of an Oregon autumn and how she longed to experience it at least once more in her life, but she knew it was impossible. She shook her head with a small smile at the reminiscing of her past life. In the last three years, or so, she had traveled the entire continent. She wanted to still experience life, to do the iconic road trip she wanted. It was not the same, but life stood still in the prison world, she was the only thing moving. She and Malachai of course, she was lucky enough to spot him just once since Las Vegas, and he didn't see her then, lucky, she thought of herself. It was back in Portland when she grew homesick.

She parked at the bus stop she used to always get off at from school and walked straight through the woods until she reached the familiarity of home. Her mother's car was in the driveway, the lights were on in the living room, and the door was open wide just as she left them that day. She strolled inside and looked around, inhaling the familiar scent that brought tears to her eyes. For some reason she expected her mother to lay on the floor by the stairs. Eyes wide open in shock, cold, dead. But the house was clean, there was no blood on the floor, and everything was frozen in time as she walked up the stairs to her room.

The door to the bedroom was wide open, and her heart stopped when she saw a large figure lying on the bed.

Kai was curled up in a crocheted flower blanket on top of her mattress, eyes shut, mouth slightly opened as gentle breaths escaped his mouth. He looked like an angel in peaceful slumber. Fists curled up against her pillow. 

Madelene froze in track, covering her mouth to stop the whine coming from her mouth. All she wanted was to lay down next to him, curl up into his torso, and go to sleep safely for the first time in years. But she knew it was all a disguise, he was a demon dressed like an angel, and she needed to run. If he were to wake up now, she'd be dead. So she did, she turned around on her heel and ran out of the house, she ran through the woods until she was far enough. Until her lungs burned and her cheeks were red and warm. And that's when she promised herself never to go back to Oregon again.

As she strolled, lost in her thoughts, she felt a sudden hunger. Her eyes met with one of many restaurants planted on the street, and without thinking she walked inside the closest one. It was a Mexican restaurant with a stereotypical sombrero in a logo and matching interior design. Madelene walked into the kitchen and raided the fridges getting out the ingredients that matched her liking, she decided to make a simple sandwich, she was no chef, and food was only a fuel not to die anyway.

Something shifted as she sat down on a high chair by the bar with her meal. And then the doorbell signaling an entry rang loud and clear, a whiff of air coming inside.

"Still eating like a toddler I see"

Turning her head, she saw him—Kai. Panic surged through her. She swallowed hard, the taste of her sandwich turning to ash in her mouth. Hunger was gone replaced with nausea.

She bolted for the back door, her heart pounding. But Kai was faster. He caught up to her quickly, pushing her against a wall and wrapping his hand around her throat, his grip firm but controlled. Before he moved her head from the wall and slammed her against it again with more strength, Madelene's head started spinning as she felt blood accumulating at the back of her head.