The Demons Strike at Dawn |Phan

Chapter Six

(Happy fourth day of Halloween!!! Prepare for Spooky Week, TABINOF, TATINOF, and general October awesomeness)

Phil wasn't sure what to think.
As Dan finished reading the exorcism over, Phil paced back and forth. He just didn't get it. Why would fate pay the King of Hell to create a case for the two of them specifically?
It made all sorts of sense though. Kidnapping the other hunters so only Dan and Phil could take it, why the demons let them go so easy, it all fit.
So why did he get the feeling something was off?
"I think I'm ready." Dan said, bringing Phil out of his thoughts. Phil looked to Dan and nodded swiftly. "I think I have it memorized."
Phil glanced at the scroll through the corner of his eye. He was still nervous, even though he definitely trusted Dan.
Nodding, Phil took a blade out of his coat pocket. He looked back up at Dan. Despite their obvious age-difference, Phil had to look up at the boy.
Dan scrunched his eyebrows together. "Are you okay, Phil?" He asked. The boy looked worried. He was fidgety, even paler than usual. Dan understood why. It all seemed too easy.
Hope nagged at the back of Dan's mind. Maybe it was easy. Something had to be easy for once, didn't it? He hoped so.
Although neither boy believed in miracles, they both had hope inside them. Maybe something would finally go their way. Maybe they could get a sort of break from all the hunting they'd done over the years.
Phil had jumped from Hunter to Hunter, never wanting to be alone, yet never finding someone he could work with. Dan had only ever fought with Ingrid, but other than that he was okay fighting alone.
Dan patted Phil's shoulder, and the two headed out for the car.
The plan was simple. Steal a helicopter, spray paint a Devils Trap onto the library, read the exorcism from the microphone. Considering, there were no humans but Dan and Phil left, and every demon was inside the library, it was easier than it should've been.
That thought put Phil in edge, but he tried to shake it off.
Dan slung a duffel bag over his shoulder. He almost didn't want the case to be over. He would miss working with Phil, the giant baby man that he was. He watched as Phil organized the salt and spray paint into the other bag.
Dan made his way to the Impala, slipping into the drivers seat and tossing his bag into the back. Phil did the same in the passenger seat. With a key in the ignition, the car pulled dangerously onto the empty street.
***
Phil was against this with every bone in his body.
Dan gracefully lifted off, the sound of the helicopter the only thing either of them could hear. Surprisingly, Dan was a better driver in air than on the street. He turned swiftly right, and began the let down the red paint.
Phil had seen them spray pesticides over farms, but never paint. Dan moved his hand over the steering wheel- whatever that was called on a helicopter- and gently let the aircraft turn.
Phil stared down in amazement at the grace Dan held. The Devils trap was so perfect, surely better than the ones the did on the ground with a can of spray paint. Soon, Dan finished the huge Devils trap and picked up the megaphone. He stared at Phil.
"You ready?" He asked him. Phil nodded. With a deep breath, Dan began to read the exorcism.
"Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica protestus, omnic incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio omnis congregatio, et secta diabolica, ergo draco maledicte ecclesium tuam securi tibi, facias libertate servire, te rogamus!" Dan recited from memory, trying hard to get every word right. Phil stared at the black vapor coming from the building expelling all the demons. With an eyebrow raised, Phil watched as the smoke simply disappeared, as if it never existed.
Dan took a deep breath, and landed the helicopter.
Phil looked towards the demon-free building. His friends were inside there, still tied up. As soon as Dan got out, they ran inside the building, to save the only family they'd ever known.

Three hours later, the bar was back in full swing.
The laughter and light had returned, the alcoholic hunters and the social butterflies trading tales of the two boys that saved their lives.
Meanwhile, the boys were in their separate rooms, getting dressed and ready to hit the road.
Phil watched his reflection in the mirror, pondering over what Tyler had said. How fate had made a deal with him to force the boys together. What was an all powerful force like fat doing with two measly hunters? Phil didn't know, but he sure as hell was planning on finding out.
Walking across the hall, Phil knocked on the one and only Dan Howell's door, pleased to hear footsteps approaching him. With a creak, the door swung open to reveal a shirtless Dan, and Phil's voice caught in his throat. Dan's cheeks tinted pink, but he stepped aside for Phil to come in.
Phil tried to look anywhere but Dan. "So, I was thinking about the whole thing with fate-" Phil started, and Dan interrupted with a sigh.
"I know, Phil. I have, too. But what about we just enjoy the night, think about it in the morning? We need a break. They," he nodded his head towards the door, indicating the other hunters, "need a break. All we've done is stress. I don't know about you, but I've been on the go for four straight days, my best friend just died and I really haven't had a chance to just relax in a long time." Dan argued, and Phil understood. Oh, how he knew.
Phil studied the brown of Dans eyes. They were a pretty brown, the color of chocolate the good things always were. Phil patted Dans naked back awkwardly on his way out.
"I understand. Let's do it your way." Phil said, going to leave, but Dans voice stopped him.
"Are you ever going to mention that night?" Dan asked, completely out of nowhere. He stared at Phil, knowing he understood.
Phil rubbed the back of his neck. "You mean the one from a year ago? Um, yeah, I was, uh-" he stuttered, not knowing what to say. "Thanks."
Dan raised an eyebrow at Phil. "Thanks? For what?"
Phil squinted at him. Did he not remember shooting the ghost to save Phil's life? Or was he talking about a different night?
"You saved my life." Phil said, putting his hand in his pocket. "You shot that ghost. You left the safety of the salt circle to save me."
Dan laughed. "You saved my life, Phil. You were the one to break into my house, shove me in that salt circle. You rescued me." Phil shook his head.
"I guess we saved each other, then." He said, quietly, staring at Dan's beautifully handsome features. Particularly his rosy, perfect lips. He felt a sudden desire overcome him, and little did he know Dan was feeling it, too.
A cough sounded from the doorway, interrupting their intrusive thoughts.
The two looked to find Zoella, the beautiful bartender.
"Hey, boys." She said, looking back and forth between the two. "They're waiting for you." She said. As Dan slipped on a shirt, Phil made his way out to the bar, where the hunters applauded for him.
Dan watched from the hallway as Phil got celebratory pats on the back. He smiled to himself. After all these years, Phil deserved the recognition. Dan glanced one more time at the beaming boy, and retreated to his room.