Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time

Chapter 23

 Within the next couple days, Brendon wakes up in the middle of the night. His breath is heavy, and his palms are drenched in sweat. Emmett's face comes back to haunt him. His lifeless eyes stare into the musician's soul, and there's so much blood. The last time he'd even had a nightmare was more than a month ago. It's as though his dwelling thoughts and negative mood brought out these horrid visions. Some days he wonders if these disturbing pictures in his mind are real. They seem so vivid. There is no sense of paranoia this time, and part of him feels like that just might be a scarier notion.

It's a Saturday morning, and Brendon's tired body is still tucked under the covers. He'd been up for several hours just before sunrise. Usually he'd be more adamant, getting up around the time Sarah did, but today isn't one of those days. He can feel the right side of the bed rise. He exhales deeply, hoping Sarah doesn't suggest he wakes up. She'd been up with him most of the time after having these nightmares, yet she'd still have the energy to get up bright and early. He could never admit how truly drained he's becoming to her... but he knows she's concerned.

The next time Brendon opens his eyes, it's one in the afternoon. He sighs before slowly getting out of bed. He walks into the bathroom and turns to look in the mirror. There's dark circles under his eyes. Another deep sigh escapes his breath before he turns on the shower, slips off his boxers, and steps inside. He stands for a few minutes, letting the warm water fall down his skin. He stares at the nob and begins to turn it progressively warmer. It's hot now, and the water practically stings his skin. He looks down at his chest and arms noting how red they're becoming. He closes his eyes for a moment, proceeding to take long, deep breaths. Then he hears a knock on the wall of the archway connecting the bedroom to the bathroom.

"Babe, I gotta take a shower real quick before I leave." Sarah says.

Brendon can see her figure walk closer in the room through the fogged up glass. He turns the temperature down quickly before opening the door just enough to stick his head out.

"I've only been in here for, like, five minutes." Brendon guesses.

"Hand me my soaps, I'll use the guest bathroom."

Brendon's chest tightens briefly, shaking his head in protest, "Nah-ah."

"Bren, c'mon." Sarah says, looking very unamused.

"Join me, m'lady." Brendon says in a silly voice.

She gives him the expression of 'Really?' but proceeds to peel off her robe, continuing to join Brendon in the shower. They both smile towards each other and the musician pulls her in for a soft kiss. Usually she didn't protest sharing the shower with Brendon, but he didn't blame her for the hesitation. He knows she can tell something is off. She'd question his dreams, and he'd never tell her. It must have been frustrating, but still, his secrecy sustained his sanity.

~~~

It's a full moon, and Jake is more than motivated to try and find Brendon. All previous attempts were unsuccessful. The black eyed demon can only assume he'd been regressing more and more into who is truly is, and he couldn't wait to feast his eyes upon The Chosen One in all his glory.

"You actually think you'll run into him tonight?" Kenny asks.

"He has to loop back to his local bar at some point, doesn't he?" Jake says, fixing his hair briefly.

"Good luck..." Kenny says, almost under his breath while checking his phone.

Jake walks over with a lazy smile. He sits next to Kenny, swinging his legs across the shorter demon's. Kenny reminds unfazed, still staring at his phone.