The Third Omen

PART FOUR: NEVER LET ME GO

Was it possible? After all this time.... Is this really Daniel, though? That was one of their talents: mirror your loved ones. Of course. It's just another predator playing with its next victim.

"It's b-been a...while," the creature—Daniel?—grumbled hoarsely.

"No," I let out, my limbs moving as if an inexperienced person controlled them. "No, you're not him." It couldn't be him. I had seen the guy I loved die, and even if this thing looked exactly like Daniel—my Daniel—I wouldn't believe its act.

Lauren, as shitty as it is living underground, possibly bound to never seeing the surface one more time, you gave me hope that day we met, his words lingered. Like they were giving me time to think.

I'd seen him walking around the tunnels for a while, but that specific time he was strolling in front of me, down the northeast corridor, headed to the kitchen. I clearly remember how one of the wall's wires must've been overcharged, because it went flying across the corridor.

Had I not pulled him back, it would've beheaded him instantly. That's when he started calling me...

"Angel." It was all it took to shut down any kind of potential excuse I could think of to convince myself this wasn't him, because it was him. The tears stung my eyes, burning with old memories coming back.

"It is you." My hand reacted unwillingly, reaching out to feel the previously smooth face, which was now spotted with blisters here and there. Immediately, though, he backed away, a growl escaping his mouth. The needle-like teeth carried a metallic smell, and I could almost feel the small, remaining pieces of Bones flying all over me.

"No!" He slouched back, his spine arching while both feet ruffled the sandy dirt beneath them. "Don't touch.... Dangerous."

"I don't care," I whispered, allowing myself to crawl out of the wall and get slowly near him—I wouldn't call Daniel an 'it'. "I am so sorry, Danny."

He swished his head, panting soft moans. "Not...your fault."

"They think they found a cure," I said, letting the words out in hopes of soothing my guilt rather than the other way around. "I'll get it for you and everything will be okay."

"No cure...Angel," he heaved, his eyes darting up. Something stirred the white tornado inside of them, and I knew by heart nothing good would come next.

"Dan—"

"Need you t-to...kill me."

The words were out, and as much as I wanted to believe I'd misheard them, I knew I hadn't. A scrunching pain settled inside me, and some distant voice broke the shock. "We gotta move faster! C'mon."

Daniel's head followed the sound, finding a slim guy running toward the growing crowd, but he quickly ignored him. I saw him reach for somethings on the remnants of Bones and his friend instead, putting those somethings in front of me with begging eyes. "No."

"Please...."

"No!" I pushed the old knife and pocket lighter away, shaking my head when he stubbornly caught it. "How dare you ask me to do that? I won't." He opened his mouth—though it wasn't necessary since it was starting to loll open by itself—but I spoke over him. "I lost you once, and it almost killed me. That's not gonna happen again. Forget it."

"You d-don't understand," he stuttered, a slight growl threatening to come out. "I did...things. Bad things."

"That doesn't matter now, Danny. We're together and that's what matters."

"If y-you ever loved me...k-kill me, Angel." He got closer, breaking his own rule of closeness equaling danger. I could almost feel him again, our faces only inches away. "Please."