Child • Jøshler

chapter twenty three

After Fell Out Kids played their original song, they started playing covers; Green Day, Misfits, Ramones, My Chemical Romance. Everybody was dancing and having a good time, even though many kids didn't even know the songs the band was playing. The music was just so damn good, they couldn't restrain themselves from dancing.

Pete was behaving like a biggest fan, jumping in the very front row and screaming out lyrics. Between every song, he'd scream out "I love you Patrick!" or "Fell Out Kids rock!". It would make Patrick blush and send a kiss to his boyfren a few times.

The band playing was the literal highlight of the night, nothing else important happened.

And it was like that for everyone.

Except Brendon.

Too worried about his wings, Brendon didn't join the crowd and just danced by himself in the back. Only Dallon stood by him, until Andy dragged him to join the crowd. Dallon didn't want to, but it was Andy, so he didn't really have a choice.

But, everything started getting bad when Brendon fell onto his knees and started to cry. Everything - literally everything - hurt. He couldn't hold his wings in place anymore and they just covered his body protectively. His forehead touched the ground as he cried in pain.

Source of the pain? Starvation.

Brendon hasn't eaten in months. Beneath his clothes, he'd hide skin and bones. But nobody knew. His powers allowed him to make an illusion for his frens' eyes. Everybody saw him as healthy and good-looking, but he wasn't. His feeding was something he had to think about himself, it wasn't something anyone else should bother with.

Of course he'd eat what Mrs Kacey made for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He'd eat when he'd go out with the guys. Hell, he stuffed himself with chocolate more than anyone this night.

But did you really think that food would satisfy a demon's stomach?

There used to be a satanic cult at the end of Valley Street, but those people got arrested for sacrificing innocent people to the devil. They didn't even know they were actually feeding a teenage boy who lived a few blocks away in a pastel yellow house with his foster parents.

But Brendon was far too busy with school and his frens' problems to actually go search for a new cult. He always put others' needs before his own, which was starting to seriously harm his health.

"C'mon you idiot, stand up" he said to himself. He honestly believed he could last longer. He was stronger than this. And why the hell tonight? On Halloween?

Actually, the fact it was Halloween might be helpful. Such a holiday probably got out many cults.

But he can't just leave his frens. It would be a rude thing to do. He came here to have fun. And what kind of a fren is he if he doesn't support his frens' band's first ever performance.

"Get up, asshole" Brendon said to himself again.

He moved his wings to get rid of the cocoon he was hiding in. Shakily, he pushed himself up. He noticed his hands were starting to lose the dark color. He was starting to transform back to his human state. He swore.

"Brendon?!" Dallon appeared next to the demon boy and helped him up "Are you okay?!"

Brendon coughed into his fist once he was on his both feet again. He was too weak to his his appearance from Dallon now. Thus, he hid his body with his wings; the only part of him that was still somewhat strong.

"I'm okay" Brendon lied, leaning onto the table behind him "Why aren't you dancing?"

"I saw you on the floor and went to check if everything was alrig- Oh my God!" Dallon's eyes popped as he moved away Brendon's wings and stared at Brendon's sick body.

Brendon started to cry harder, feeling his horns getting smaller as he was becoming human against his will "Don't look at me, Dal"

"You need help! You- You need help!" Dallon started to panic, pulling his hair and turning around himself. Finally, he turned to the crowd and screamed "Pete! Pete! Andy!"

"No" Brendon managed to whisper. He couldn't have the guys worry about him. Thus, with all strength he had left, he walked out of the school. The exit was fortunately close.

Once out in the cold night, he frowned and forced himself to become a demon again. The transformation hurt more than ever. He stretched his wings and looked at the school one last time, hoping nobody followed him. He blinked his yellow eyes which he knew were losing their glow.

Then, Dallon appeared in the school's yard with Pete and Andy.

"I knew something was wrong" Pete commented.

"Why didn't you do something if you knew?!" Dallon shouted angrily.

"Hey, punks, there he is" Andy pointed at the spot on which Brendon was standing shakily.

"What's going on?" Josh appeared out of nowhere.

Before the guys could run over to Brendon, he pushed himself off he ground and flew away. His flying wasn't looking good and he looked like he was going to collapse any moment now.

Dallon started to cry. Pete pulled him in for a hug and thus he cried into Pete's shoulder as Pete, Andy and Josh watched Brendon fly away. Andy started to explain to Josh what Dallon previously explained to him.