The Darkest One

The Darkest One Ch. 26 Demon's Power (Edited)

Chapter 26 Demon’s Power

I was on lockdown.

Mentally and physically locked down.  I refused to see anyone when Kole and I returned and I’ve been holed up in my room ever since. I heard them pause at the door; some of them knocked, some of them didn’t. Sooner or later I knew they’ll just leave me be.

The longer I stayed in that room the more I noticed the fog was clearing. It cleared from my mind and I could think clearly again. It was a blessing and a curse. I no longer felt the overwhelming urge to run back to Grimshaw and I no longer wanted to kill everything in sight. But with that fog gone I no longer had an explanation for what I did.

I killed someone… for something that didn’t even make sense. I would have killed again too, if I stayed there any longer. Thinking clearly now… only brought forth the guilt and shame I should have been feeling from the start. I killed the woman who threw a statue at my head and almost killed Robert, the officer. Jet said he had been talking to Drew from Aduro. I knew I could talk to him if I wanted to. I felt so ashamed though. He had died trying to protect me. Nobody knew how he died either. But it was my entire fault, I knew it.

I sat upright with a start. What was that noise? Slowly, when I didn’t hear it again, I got out of my bed. My feet sunk into the lush carpet and I glanced around my room. Then I heard it again. My gaze shot to the closet and felt a small bubble of panic lodge in my gut. No! This wasn’t supposed to be happening, not again! Emma said she shielded the whole apartment.

They couldn’t get back in, not in less some let them in.

I jumped when a loud knock emanated from the closet. It rang throughout of the room leaving my head ringing from how loud it had become. I stumbled to the door, fumbling with the lock for a few seconds. The whole time the banging and the knocking got persistently louder and louder.

It ceased when I finally got my door opened. I felt lighter and more relaxed the further I got away. I’d have to talk to Emma about this. She said she blocked them, if that were true that shouldn’t have happened yet it did. I paused mid-step. I would have to talk to everyone about what happened. How could I explain what happened when I could barely understand it myself?

I could go back right now. Right back to my room, no one was around; no one would ever know. I glanced back at my room and felt unease settle over me. I wasn’t going back to that room.  I took a step forward. I’d rather face my own demons than that demon.

I rushed around the corner nearly running over Kole. Kole and I both stopped where we were. He didn’t look like he expected to see me and I still didn’t know how to explain anything.

Then he grinned, “You’re up.” I nodded mutely. “Great.” He grinned, “Everyone was taking bets on when you’d come out.”

I had to laugh at that, “Who won?”

“Elim did.”

“We should probably go tell him then.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

He grabbed my hand and squeezed, then dragged me into the living room. Only Jet and Emma were there and they we’re sharing the loveseat so Kole and I draped ourselves across the couch. They looked pretty shocked to see me. Both their mouths had dropped opened and their eyes bugged out. It made me laugh; they could catch flies if their mouths hung any lower.

They seemed to get over their shock fairly quickly. A huge grin filled Jet’s face. “Hey, you’re out and about.”

I heard the implied finally but I was glad he didn’t say it aloud. “Yup,” I mumbled, “Out and about.” We feel into an uneasy silence. I had no idea what to do or what to say. By the look of them, they had no idea either.