Blade

25 - Demon in Human Skin

Someone knocked on my door, and my trembling increased exponentially. I felt a bead of perspiration slide down my face to my chin. What if it was him? Dr. Benjamin. The thought was so chilling that I was almost sure the bead of sweat froze on my chin.

Our last conversion still replayed in my head, clear as day.

I'm sorry, Rachel, but I have my orders. As long as you remain under my care, Mr. Frederick will never set foot in this room.

I pulled my knees closer to my chest, refusing to acknowledge the repeated knocks on the door.

Please just go away. Leave me alone...

It was all I could do not to dissolve into a pool of tears.

Mr. Frederick had been right there all this time, and yet, in my ignorance, I had rejected his helping hand. Now I was forbidden from seeing him. This Whisperer demon had made sure of it. It was all my fault. I should have listened.

"Rachel?" I flinched at the sound, but it was not the voice of my psychiatrist. It was...

"Xander?"

"Yes, it's me," he replied. I was so relieved that a tear slipped from the corner of my eye.

"Come in," I replied in a trembling voice.

Xander pushed the door open hesitantly, shutting it behind him. He smiled slightly upon sighting me.

"I brought pizza," he announced with forced enthusiasm.

I turned away from him, wiping stray tears from my eyes. Just because I was in a sour mood didn't mean I had to ruin his mood as well.

"Thanks, Xander."

I tried to sound excited, but the tremble in my voice gave away my tension.

My brother's eyes turned sad, and he walked over to sit in the chair next to my bed. The same one Dr. Benjamin had occupied. I almost yelled for him not to sit, but I swallowed the words. There was no need to alarm him.

"You look really pale," he observed, his right hand cupping my face, eyes gazing at me with such tenderness that the tears returned. He said nothing as he watched me cry, catching the tears with his thumb as he held my face in his other palm as well. For several moments, we remained like that-him holding my face, me gripping his arms. It was comforting, to just vent in the arms of someone who truly cared.

Soon, he had his arms around my trembling body, holding me securely. I felt grounded, if only for a moment.

"The pizza's gonna get cold," he whispered finally after several minutes of intense sobbing.

I sniffled.

"Okay," was all I said in response.

Gently, he pulled away, smiling brightly at me. He reached for the paper bag he had brought with him, placing it on the bed right next to me.

It was pepperoni pizza. I smiled in spite of myself, wiping the rest of my tears away.

"I'm not even going to protest right now. I'll take anything over hospital food," I said wearily.

Xander frowned.

"You don't like pepperoni?" He asked, already pulling out a piece for himself. I watched as he munched on the dough, shutting his eyes momentarily in delicious bliss.

Pepperoni was okay. It just wasn't my go-to topping, especially after a major session of crying. I could feel a headache mounting in my skull.

I reached out and picked up a piece to Xander's delight.