The Demon Within

Part 4

I slam my fist on my alarm clock. I miss the button and the noise gets louder. I emerge from under my blanket and nearly crush the button. The noise stops, but the scene from yesterday keeps replaying in my mind. How could I have gotten so tangled up in this mess? Damien hasn't talked to me all night. I managed to get a fair amount of sleep.

"Heather, the bus will be here soon," my mother called.

It's already been settled for me. I will not go to school today. I can't, not until this dies down. I don't know who Oliver has told about yesterday. If he's smart, he'll have kept his mouth shut. Maybe Damien can get someone else to get rid of him.

I drag myself out of bed and trudge to my bedroom door. "Mom? I'm not feeling well today. I should stay home, don't you think?"

"If you can get out of bed, open the door, and have enough strength to call for me from the top of the stairs then your well enough to go to school."

"But mom, it could be contagious," I say.

"Get dressed and come down here."

I stomp over to my dresser and snatch some clothes. Damien's presence returns as I'm dressing.

"Feeling any better?" he asks.

"I got some sleep at least. But I'm not sure what to do now."

"Relax. I got word from my associates that the boy hasn't told anyone. He's getting a cast right now for his arm."

"I was just so scared. I froze and didn't know what to do-" I say.

"It's fine. We'll get him one way or another." Damien says. "I might've scared you a little as well."

That's an understatement. Threatening to kill me if Oliver tried to get him out of me is quite a bit more than scary. "What do I do now? I don't even know if you really want to help me."

"I do, Heather. I was just panicking then. I wouldn't hurt you."

I grab my bag and head downstairs. My mom felt my head and looked into my eyes.

"No fever, and your eyes are bright. You're fine, Heather. You must have a test today." she says. "Isn't that party tonight anyway? You wouldn't want to miss that."

I hear the bus start to pull up. My mother kisses me and ushers me out the door. I jog to the bus stop. The yellow sweat van pulls up and stops. The doors open and I climb up inside.

People call to me. Telling me to sit with them. Must be the popularity from the other day. I ignore them and walk to the back of the bus. As I sit down, the bus starts up again. A girl rises from her seat and comes my way.

Gloria glares at me as she walks down the aisle. She sits right next to me and bumps me to the window so I can't leave.

"So, Heather, you wanna explain what happened the other day?" she asks.

I feel the pull return and I let it grow. "You know what they say about karma, Gloria."

Her face flares with anger. She grasps my throat and pins me against the window. I pull at her hands but I can't do anything.

"It's time for your appointment with karma." Gloria shoves me into the window. My head hits the glass. It's pounding in pain as blood races through my veins.

"Let me take care of it," Damien says.

I nod. The bus jumps up from a pot hole. Gloria is lifted out of the seat and crashes into the other rows. I feel my head. The pain feels as if it's being sucked out. I sigh.