Killer From Purgatory || BBS

Chapter 10

Nervously, the boy stood outside in the cool evening air, leaning against the silver car that was parked next to his own. His hands were shoved into the small pockets of his navy blue bomber jacket, the golden zipper reflecting the dim light of the light post a few feet away. Smitty shuffled in his spot, biting at his lip as he waited for Craig to exit the antique shop.

There had been a sinking feeling in the boy's chest ever since Scott had left their once shared apartment. For days, the feeling had clawed at his insides, telling him that something was wrong.

Finally, he decided to tell the only person who wouldn't brush the feeling away. Craig, who had always told him that he would be there for him if he ever needed something. This was that something. His eyes lifted to the doors of the shop as he heard the jingling of keys. Craig was approaching him, his dark eyes on the screen of his phone. The demon smiled to himself as he typed a message briefly before he looked up into the eyes of a nervous Smitty.

"Smitty? What's wrong?" He shoved his phone into the pocket of his gray jeans. Craig tightened his grip on his keys so they wouldn't fall out of his hand as Smitty pulled him into a tight hug, slightly shaking.

"I'm sorry." Were the first words to leave the boy's lips.

—————

Jonathan threaded his fingers through his hair, a bouquet of pale yellow roses clutched in his right hand. Mason loved the color yellow, especially when the shade was soft and soothing. He let out a sigh, shutting his eyes as he braced himself for opening the car door.

He never bought Evan flowers.

His eyes fluttered open, immediately looking down to his phone for the time, he was still ten minutes early, If he wanted to turn back, he could, he still had time to stand Mason up before things got too serious. Before either one of them got attached and was destined to get ruined. It was inevitable with Jonathan's track record. He clutched the flowers tightly, guilt filling his stomach for no other reason other than he should've gone to all this trouble for Evan, who had needed him far more than Mason. For all he knows, Mason doesn't even need him. Another reason to leave him before he could get left himself, save them both the trouble for when it happened down the line.

For when Jonathan broke him just like he had broken everyone else, including himself.

The door bell was muffled by the wooden door, nerves now fluttering through Jonathan's chest, a smile planting itself on his lips as he waited. Inside, he could hear the excited bark of a dog, it's nails clicking against tile flooring. He focused on the golden knocker on the front door as he patiently waited.

From inside his pocket, his phone buzzed with a missed call from Craig.

—————

"Shit, he didn't answer. Probably on a date with Mason or something-" Craig ran his hand through his hair, leaning against his car while Smitty paced in front of him, wringing his hands.

"Who's Mason?" The boy stopped, curious. He shivered in the air of the cool night.

"Some dude he's been seeing, but I don't think they're official yet. Whatever their status is, Jonathan doesn't deserve him, like usual." Craig answered, putting his phone away. "Doesn't mean I don't have to protect him." He looked crossly at the ground. "Why does he deserve saving?" He asked aloud, but mostly to himself. Smitty stayed quiet.

"So," he broke his silence after a few minutes of nothing happening, "what are we gonna do?"

The demon sighed. "I don't know."

———

Scott pulled his newly bought curtains shut, plunging the apartment into darkness briefly as Scott blindly searched for the lamp he had placed on the small table next to his couch. After a few minutes, the light clicked on, shedding just a bit of light on the living room.

It had taken a couple of weeks, but the demon was finally unpacked completely. Much like his apartment back in hell, there was nothing around that really made it feel like a home. It had been a while since he had a place that felt home-like, not since he had become a demon and left his human self behind to become a bounty hunter.

At first, it had been hard to live like that, bouncing between realms constantly, training himself so that he could do what he did without being detected. Living outside the law was tough, but he managed to persevere. But now, standing in his new apartment, it was as if he was back to square one. All alone, like he was used to, but now it felt different. Usually, he was comforted by loneliness, but now it just made him feel empty, like the hole in his heart had spread throughout his chest and was so big there was hardly anything left of him. Hollow.

A sigh left his lips as he fell back onto his couch, reaching for the bowl of sweets he had on his coffee table, digging his hand through the bowl as if he were mixing it up. Finally, he fished out a lollipop, unwrapping it within a few seconds and popping it into his mouth. He crumpled its wrapper in seconds as the flavor of root beer filled his mouth, he sucked on the candy as he leaned back, kicking his feet up. Closing his eyes, he let himself relax, curling and uncurling his fists into the couch cushion beneath him. He pushed around the candy in his mouth with his tongue, shifting in his seat restlessly.

——

THREE YEARS EARLIER

The bell above the cafe door rang as the boy stepped inside. Scott looked up at the door, curious about who had walked in. The dark haired boy who stood there immediately caught his attention. As he walked to the counter, where the employee had happily greeted him, he seemed fidgety, as if he were worried about something. Scott tilted his head, lips curved into a lazy smile as he watched this stranger fumble with his money.

He watched as the boy let out a sigh of relief as he gazed around the cafe to find a place to sit after he had finished at the counter by shoving his change in his pocket and picking up his table marker. His number was eight. Still, Scott watched, infatuated.

"What the hell are you looking at?" Smitty, his roommate, asked after the fifth time Scott hadn't heard him when he called his name. Again, Scott ignored him and continued to look at whatever it was rather than answer him. With a frustrated groan, Smitty turned in his seat and followed Scott's gaze. There, sat down at a table intended for two, sat a dark-haired boy who rested his head in the palm of his hand, eyes closed. Smitty fought back the urge to smile, but eventually it fought its way to his lips as he turned back around. "It's kind of creepy that you're watching him sleep."

"But, look at him." Scott spoke softly, his gaze resting on the sleeping boy in a way that Smitty has never seen on his roommate. "He looks exhausted, poor guy."

"Oh my god, just ask for his number and be done with it."

"I can't, he's sleeping. You can't just wake someone up like that." Finally, Scott broke his gaze on the boy and turned his attention back to boy sat in front of him. "A guy needs plenty of sleep if they want to keep looking like that."

"I'll go get his number for you-" Smitty made a move to stand up from his chair.

"No!" Scott dove for his arm, but Smitty had pulled it away to prevent his friend from stopping him. "Don't wake him, he'll probably hate us or something."

Smitty smirked. "Well, good thing he's a stranger, then." He said as he stood up from the table and began to walk over. Instinctively, Scott straightened up, before realizing that he looked too unnatural so he slouched just a bit.

He looked away shyly as Smitty pointed him out to the kid he had just woken up, who had jumped up with fright. There was something about the way he had panicked that made Scott frown, but quickly smiled once he realized Smitty was gesturing to him. He averted his gaze from the one the boy gave him.

Scott looked back up just in time to see the boy scribble something down on a napkin before leaving. His heart stopped for a moment, thinking his roommate was unsuccessful until Smitty turned to him with a big grin, walking back over to him in triumph.

"Here you are, my good fellow." Smitty presented the napkin with a bow and Scott grabbed it eagerly. "I know, I'm the best roommate ever." He said as Scott read the napkin's contents.

His name was Evan.