The Contract

XVIII - Clarus

-

Every sound that met my ears seemed to flash by me with my knowing. I could hardly hear the screams, the panicked voices, the sirens that wailed in the distance. My forehead was pounding painfully from the impact of it smashing against the steering wheel. I touched it and cringed—surely, I was going to have a terrible bruise. I sat in my car, just staring out the windshield in shock. I didn't dare turn to see the events that had unfolded only seconds before.

I didn't want to see the crash. Seeing it would confirm that it had really happened.

After awhile, I managed to clumsily open the car door and stumble out onto the street. I clutched onto the door, knowing I'd fall to the ground if I let it go. My legs were trembling and I wasn't so sure if I could control them.

Slowly, ever so slowly, I managed to move myself along the car, using it for support. I reached the back and instantly regretted it.

The sight before me made me choke on the air in horror.

No. . . what the hell had I done?

The front of Matt's car was completely demolished. The car that had hit him had came in from the front—Matt had been on the wrong side of the road. The opposing car seemed fine, save the hood. The driver and passenger were already out; the passenger, tucking away a cell phone. The driver was just standing there, as calm as he could be, with a smirk supporting his lips. He turned and looked directly at me, and through his shaggy blond hair, I could see his blood red eyes.

He was possessed.

Just as quickly as I saw them, they merged back into their regular green and the man fell to the ground, trembling, looking exhausted and confused, and not to mention, unbelievably frightened.

Lure.

-

I didn't go to school the next day. My parents had no objections (but of course, my grandpa did—"Suck it up, it happens to a lot of people!").

I wanted to see Lure, but at the same time, I didn't. I wasn't sure whether or not I should have screamed and him for killing Matt, or thanked him for saving my life. Did he make Matt chase me on purpose, so he would die? Or had Matt done that himself?

Matt had died instantly.

I felt guilty as hell. I couldn't go to school to face all his friends—especially Tommy. They didn't know I had anything to do with Matt's death, but I did, and I would never be able to look them in the eyes.

I felt sick.

I needed Lure.

This was Lure's fault, yet I wanted his comfort? There was something seriously wrong with my head. Perhaps I had been thrown down a flight of stairs as an infant. . .

. . . but who else could comfort me? No one but Lure knew what had really happened. My parents and Amanda didn't know it was my fault; they didn't understand why I was upset. They thought it was just because Matt died, while really, it was also that I was the reason he died.

"Are you alright?"

I started when I heard Lure's voice next to me. I turned to face him. He was sitting on the bed next to me, head cocked curiously to one side. He looked strangely hesitant, as if he knew I was on the verge of breaking down. Yet, at the same time, he looked satisfied with himself, and this made me want to scream at him until my voice became hoarse and I passed out from lack of air.