Death's Exception

Chapter Twenty-Three

Dr. Lonest stands, and laces his fingers together in a business-like manner. He paces in front of us nervously. I sit up anxiously, but Carter grabs my arm. I yank my arm from him, and continue to sit up. I feel my stomach churn with anticipation, and I suddenly wish I hadn't eaten such a big breakfast. I swallow hard.

"C-could you tell us about her?" The man whisks around, and buries his face in his hands.

"I knew her for a night. I offered her a drink at a bar. And- we spent the night together." Horrified, I sit back. I don't know what I expected to hear. Maybe about how noble, and kind my mother was. How virtuous, and caring. But humans aren't always like that, as much as I could hope them to be. Carter now sits up, and ruffles his hair with his hand.

"Do you know what year this was?" Mr. Lonest sits, giving me a sad look.

"2008," I do the math in my head, and realize I would have been nine years old. Where was I? Where was my father? How could she have done this to us? A bitter taste fills my mouth. I look up at the ceiling, trying to convince the tears not to fall. I take a shaky breath.

"Have you had any contact with her since?" I manage.

"We never dared to talk to each other after that. I was married, too. I carry the shame every day. Megan- my daughter- that was her mom. My wife left me after that, of course." A shock runs through my blood. This girl that just died, was my sister. A product of sin and shame. A product of betrayal and regret. I stand.

"What was her name?" Mr. Lonest stands, and places a hand on my cheek.

"Her name was Millie Destiel." I shake my head violently, trying to push away the anger that burns in my throat.

"No. What was your daughter's name? M-my sister's name?" Mr. Lonest's face grows white, and his lips tremble. His blue eyes are wet with tears.

"Hazel. Her name was Hazel." The tears come, and I burst out of the door. I hear Carter following me, but I don't slow down. I throw myself into the car, and face the window. Carter sits in the driver's seat silently.

"Millie." I spit it out like it is a disgusting name. Maybe I am overreacting. Maybe I am acting out of hatred for little to no reason. But all I can think about is how she left my father and me. She left us, if only for a night, and had another little girl. Like I wasn't good enough for her. Like she couldn't have just been loyal to her husband. The more I find out about humans, the more I despise them. The more their sin stands out against their forehead, I am unwilling to learn to overlook it. I choke down a sob, and sit back in my chair.

"Give her the benefit of the doubt, Rory. It will help you." I shake my head violently, and bring my hand to my face. I breath heavily.

"I just want to get back to Titus. Please." Carter puts his hand on my shoulder. I swallow hard.

"Listen, I am sorry. I shouldn't have-"

"Carter, just take me back to Titus." I plead. He sighs, and turns to the driving wheel. I lean my head against the cold window, and stare at the raindrops race down the window under the pressure of the wind. I breath heavily, and the window fogs up. I feel the car jerk to a stop, and Carter grabs my arm.

"Crap. Crap, crap, crap." I look up out of the windshield, a shock of terror echoing through my body all at once. A mob of angry men are standing in front of our car, Mr. Trout standing in front of them. His face is written with fury that makes me want to shrink away from him. I look over at Carter wildly. "You had to take Molly." Carter spits. I bite my lip in the realization of how terrible it looked. We had taken this man's daughter. I shake my head over and over. The demon was making me one of his own. And it was working. I get out of the car. Carter cusses loudly, and follows.

"YOU STOLE MY DAUGHTER, MONSTER!" I swallow hard. Mr. Trout was wearing the same worn out tweed suit that he was wearing yesterday at the bakery. Big, snarly men are standing behind him, their arms crossed and their faces twisted. There about five men. I search for my voice, but it does not come. Mr. Trout comes toward me, and grabs my arm forcefully. "Where is she?!" My chest feels heavy with a false sense of guilt.

"She is somewhere safe you-" I glare at Carter. He looks at me, and back at Mr. Trout, and sighs heavily.

"Mr. Trout, please. You left her, and we were only being kind and taking her in for the night." My voice cracks, and wavers under his forceful glare.

"I DIDN' LEAVE 'ER YOU FREAK OF NATURE!" I stumble backwards, and shake my head. How did Mr. Trout find out about me? How did this little isolated town find out about my past?

"Please, we can get her back to you." Carter gives me a murderous look. My heart feels like it is being ripped to shreds. My eyes plead with Carter. He continues to stare at me as if I am the monster my Demon created me to be.

"You are coming with us." One of the men steps up and grabs my hair. I whimper, and follow him.

"Where are you going to take her?" Carter rushes towards me, but Mr. Trout holds him back. 

"You are going to go and get the girl, and give her back, or you will never see this monster again!" The man holding me yells. His breath stinks of tobacco, his teeth stained yellow.

"Please." I whisper. I beg Carter with my eyes, but the man yanks me even harder away from him. I don't know what I want. Molly deserves a long, happy life. A much happier life than I could ever have. I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping Titus is wise and keeps Molly. But he won't be. Because he loves me, and he will come and risk his life for me. Carter punches one of the men closest to him in the gut, and the man keels over.

"Carter!" I yell, and he looks up at me. "Don't."

"Do you know how freaking furious your boyfriend is going to be?" I let out a weak laugh.

"Tell him I love him, and I am okay. Convince him to do what is right." Carter nods, and hops into the car, leaving me in the hands of mad men.