Demon Soul (1)

VIII

That was probably the most relaxed I'd felt in a very long time. Ryker paid for everything, and I ended up staying with him the whole day. We explored town, and I showed him all the major landmarks he might need to know. By the time we finally finished it was well past three in the afternoon and I knew I needed to get home. He even drove me back to the school so I could get my truck.

"Thank you for taking me out today." I smiled. "I really needed it. Just a big break from all of this."

"No problem." Ryker smiled back at me. "If you ever need a break you can always come find me to talk."

"I think I'd like that."

I waved to him as he left, walking back over to my truck. It started up and I pulled out, beginning the drive back to my house. My parents shouldn't be home until five, considering it was Wednesday, and they always seemed to get held up the later on the week got. Random thoughts like these flitted through my mind as I drove, humming along to the song on the radio on the way. I tapped my blinker and pulled into the driveway, finding that Ronin was already home as well. My mood soured instantly and I grumbled curses as I hopped out. I could see him doing laps in the backyard, running through a course he had set in the trees. He spotted me before I could get inside and called my name.

"Hey Delia!"

"What?!" I shouted.

"Come out here for a sec!"

"Oh boy, he's going to rape me in the woods." I told myself matter-of-factly as I walked over, watching him bury his face in his shirt. I'd always hated seeing him shirtless, and now was no exception.

"So who was that guy?" He asked.

"Ryker is an officer who I happened to know before he came out here to investigate." I said, relaxing a little. "Where were you?"

"I was inside, out freaking cold. That NyQuil knocked my ass out."

"You're sick?" I raised an eyebrow, and he tapped his temple.

"It's just a head thing, I'll get over it soon." Ronin sighed. "That guy seems to be acting like he's you're new boy toy, did you already move on that quick?"

"Jesus Christ Ronin!" I snapped. "What the hell did I say about stupid comments?!"

"Look, I'm just saying, you'd still have a better time with me than anyone else."

"I don't want to hear this." I threw my hands up, turning and beginning my walk back to the house. My anger was already off the charts.

"Blake kind of deserved it too. Guy was an arrogant prick, he had it coming."

I stopped in my tracks, feeling my head tilt to the side. My eyes were wide as my rage finally reached its max, and I whipped around, sending a fist flying at the boy as I screeched. The look on his face turned from nonchalant to horrified in a heartbeat, quite literally. My hand was warm. I tore my eyes off of his for a moment to look down at his chest, where my hand had broken clean through his ribcage. His heart beat in my hand, and I remembered my thought in biology.

I wonder what it's like to take someone's life.

I squeezed. I couldn't help myself. I dug my nails in and they burrowed into the muscle. Ronin coughed up blood as he fell to his knees, and I ripped my hand out of his body as I still held his heart. His body slumped to the side and fell, and I finally took the time to realize exactly what I just did.

I just killed my brother.

I dropped the heart, my hands shaking as I held them to my mouth. I saw claws jutting out from my fingers, and my knuckles looked to be coated in ice. I'd broken through his ribcage, something almost humanely impossible. What the hell am I...?!