Haunted House Flipper

Chapter 39

I didn't say anything for a second because I was really upset by his response. I was pretty sure the demon wouldn't bug us down on the lawn during the day, but then I thought about seeing him being attacked by a demon on the street. When I was attacked by a demon, it was something I had walked into. If I had gone through what he had, I'd probably be saying the same thing. Something very new to me happened. My heart softened.

"No I get it man. I'll find a way to get rid of that demon, and then we can start working on the house. Sound good?" I said.

"Yes. Thank you so much. I'm sorry."

"No I get it. I don't blame you."

There was no way I could go back to face that demon without the sword, but I couldn't find the sword. I wondered if there was any other way to get a sword. All the demons I had faced so far had swords, but they were nothing compared to the one I lost.

I needed to start somewhere.

"So Cordo, you said this homeless shelter has demons around?" I asked.

"Oh yeah. The people that stay there have usually been through a lot of messed up stuff. I was always grateful for a place to stay, but after a while I just couldn't go back. I'd rather find someplace on the streets," he said.

"Can you tell me how to get there?" I asked.

"Why would you ever want to go there?" Cordo sad.

"Because the only place I know to get another sword to fight that demon with is from another demon," I said.

"I see. So you're going looking for demons. Well, just be careful man."

"I will. So where is it?" I asked.

"It's on 3rd Street downtown. Between Caster street and Main. It's a few blocks from that burger place where you order outside."

"Rick's Burgers?"

"That's the one."

"Alright thanks. I'll try and be back by dinnertime and we can go grab something to eat. Hopefully by then the demon will be gone and we can get to work," I said.

"I'll be here," Cordo said.

I left the church and headed downtown. It felt wrong to be there without Claire. Thinking of her made me want a diet soda. I fished in my pocket for change and headed for the soda machine. I bought a diet and walked to my car. I cracked it open and sipped slowly from it as I drove downtown.

I thought about how there were now three people in my life I could call friends. It was a week full of many new experiences for me. Finding magic tool. Fighting demons. Making friends. What was happening to me?

I parked at the burger place and got out. I ordered a bag full of burgers so they wouldn't worry about my car staying there for a while, and then headed toward the homeless shelter. I pulled a cheeseburger out as I walked and started eating it. It was what I call a greasy got bombed, but there was nothing else like it in town and it was very good. I regretted not getting fries and a shake because they complemented the unique taste perfectly, but I figured I could use the cheeseburgers to my advantage where I was going. Nothing speaks to a man like food, and homeless men always wanted food.

A realtor's mind is always trying to find a way to get a customer to the sale. That's why we always send you those cool little knick knacks like calendars and magnets for your fridge. It would be nice to have some sort of peace offering while I walked into this rougher part of town. Apparently the only way I know how to try and make friends is with food.

I could tell I was getting close, because there were a lot of tough looking people the further down the street I walked. They all looked at me like I had offended them somehow, but the few men I passed didn't hassle me. I had the glasses on, as always, and was looking around for any hint of a glow. The street led to a small tunnel under a bridge. There was no glowing inside the dark tube, but I could see movement. As I approached what looked like a group of guys one yelled out at me.

"Hey! Where are you going? Those are some nice clothes you got there."

"Hey guys. Just passing through," I said.

I was still about 10 yards away from them, and I couldn't see their faces, but I was scared. There were three of them.

"What you got in that bag? Smells good," another one said. His voice was a lot lower, and he seemed to have a little trouble forming his words. Then the smell of alcohol hit me. He had definitely been drinking.

"Yeah I grabbed some burgers at Rick's back there. You guys want one? I bought some extras," I said.

I was ready to turn and run back to my car at any second, but I wanted I get through. The guy who had remained quiet took a step toward me.

"Man I'm starving. That would be awesome. You're alright man," he said.

"It's really no problem," I said.

I crammed the rest of the burger I was eating in my mouth and pushed the top of the bag open by spreading my hands in the top of it. I fished out a burger and handed it to the guy who I hoped would stay nice and keep his other friends at bay for a tasty cheeseburger. He immediately ripped open the rapper and started eating it. My hand started back into the bag and a few seconds later his friends were also ripping into their cheeseburgers.

"Enjoy guys!"

I passed them and started walking as fast as I could while trying not to look scared. Just as the sun hit my face one of them yelled at me.

"Hey!"

I stopped and turned back.

"You got anymore?"

"Yeah sure," I said.

I put the bag down at my feet.

"You guys have the rest," I said.

Then I turned and started jogging down the street to get away from them. I could hear them laughing, but I didn't care. I had way more on my mind then worrying about being made fun of by a few homeless guys. I walked half a block past some people sleeping against the building, and another group of guys smoking something. They didn't give me a second glance. I still hadn't seen any demons. I saw a sign hanging above the street from the next building. It read:

St. Paul Shelter

I was about to go in, when I thought I saw a glow for just a quick second coming from further down the street. I looked over. I saw the glow rock out away from the next building and then back behind a wall. I walked toward it. The closer I got, the stronger the distinct smell of urine and booze became, assaulting my nose. Then the glow was clear. There was a man sitting off to the side facing toward the building with his back to me. He was tucked away from the street in front of the boarded up entrance of the next building, with a demon perched on top of his back. He was rocking back and forth in a slow constant rhythm. I walked closer. I could hear him mumbling nonsense to himself.

The demon was crouched down, whispering things into the poor man's ear. Both of them were clueless to my presence on the street behind them. I had seen these demons move faster than any human so I wasn't about to just grab the sword hanging from his back and run. I figured the only way to escape with the demon's sword was too brutally attack him with it before he realized what was going on. I slowed my pace and tried to keep my footsteps from making any noise. When I was close enough I reached out for the sword.