Within Maximine

Chapter 10

"Hey," Max called from the porch. "You coming in? Azazel is talking about going to the human city to get some real food, not this demon stuff."

I hesitated, my eyes still fixed on the spot where I thought I'd seen...something. "Yeah, just a second," I called back, my mind racing. 

Should I mention what I saw? Or thought I saw? No, I decided. They'd probably think I was imagining things. And maybe I was. But a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach told me otherwise.

"Actually," I said. "I think I'm going to take a quick walk. Clear my head a bit before dinner."

Max raised an eyebrow. "You sure? It's getting dark."

I forced a smile. "I won't go far. Just need some fresh air after all that training." 

He looked like he wanted to oargue, but after a moment, he nodded. "Alright. Don't be too long, okay? And shout if you need anything,"

"Will do," I promised, already headed for the trees.

As soon as I was out of sight of the house, I picked up my pace. The rational part of my brain was screaming at me to turn back, to forget about the mysterious figure and go enjoy some well-earned food. But curiosity and a deep-seated need for answers propelled me forward. 

The woods were alive with sounds of evening- birds settling in for the night, small animals rustling in the underbrush. With each step, the shadows grew longer, the spaces between trees darker. I shivered, suddenly wishing I'd grabbed a jacket before embarking on this impromptu adventure.

"Hello?" I called out softly, feeling slightly ridiculous. "Is anyone there?"

Only the whisper of wind through leaves answered me.

I was about to turn back, chalking the whole thing up to an overactive imagination, when I head it: a twig snapping, followed by the unmistakable sound of footsteps.

My heart raced as I spun around, searching for the source of the noise. "Beline?" I called out, louder this time. "Is that you?"

The footsteps stopped. For a long moment, there was nothing but silence. Then, a voice. "Salve?"

"Hello?"

"Abamo te. Seccurro!" Please. Help!

As I approached the source of the voice, I froze in shock. Before me stood a young girl who looked eerily familiar. She had solid grass-green eyes that sparkled with a familiar hidden mischief, and waist-long brown hair. It was like looking  into a mirror of my past.

"Are you lost, little one? What is your name?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The girl tilted her head, studying me with those impossible green eyes. "Idem ac tuum," She replied. The same as yours. 

Realization dawned on me. This was one of Max's manifestations- a younger version of me he had created to understand my past. But how had she escaped his mind?

Before I could ponder further, the young girl- who I decided to call Christine- let out a high-pitched squeal. "Run!"

Without thinking, I scooped her up and took off at full demon speed. As we rounded a corner, I came to an abrupt halt. The energy in the air had changed dramatically. It wasn't like mine or Max's. This was pure demonic energy, unlike anything I had ever felt before. 

"What do we do now?" I asked Christine. "What should I call you?" I had already named her, but I wanted to be polite. Sure enough, she proved my suspicion.

"Mihi nomen tuum," she replied. "Call me by your name."

We stopped at the end of a corridor, listening to the eerie sound of liquid dripping. Was it water... or blood? Christine squeezed my hand tightly, fear radiating off of her in waves.