Terrible Friend

9

Albert walked the few short blocks to his truck. Trying to ignore the chorus of panicked voices in his head. Jax had remained silent while the others mumbled and whined about exorcisms and agonizing bindings. Albert couldn't shut them out. As he continued to hear words like Master, apocalypse, and Dongorul, his anger grew to boiling.

He shoved the key into the lock of Ol' Blue and slid into his seat. He leaned his head back against the headrest and rubbed the bridge of his nose between his fingers. "Shut up!" He yelled at the voices with every bit of anger and sincerity he could muster.

Jax finally spoke. <I didn't have a choice Al, she summoned me, I had to . 

Albert shushed him too. He didn't want to spend another moment thinking about it. He was done with this particular case and would hear no more about it. Albert ran his hand through his hair and down the back of his neck before slipping the key into the ignition.

Jax, in true fashion, refused to let things go. He had allowed Albert to believe that he was just a figment of his imagination for all these years. A blink of an eye to Jax, but a lifetime for Albert. Jax had enjoyed the time with Al, and was starting to see the damage he had actually caused him. They were all in trouble now, and he needed Al to believe and help him stop the devouring one.

He started to explain things to Albert. <So, when you were young, I was already over a thousand years old. I don't know what happened, but suddenly, I was inside you. You were so young and I had no idea how I had gotten there, but I felt safe. The last thing I wanted was to be exorcised, so I hid. I pretended to be an imaginary friend to avoid detection. I'm not a bad guy Al.>

Albert slammed his hands against the steering wheel. "I said I didn't want to hear anymore about it. I have a mental disorder. It causes me to hear voices. I take medication for it, and apparently, I need to go see my doc and get something changed. I will go ask him to give me the heavy stuff. You will go away, and I can live some kind of normal life...as a medicated zombie.

<I am not a hallucination. I am a demon!> Jax's voice boomed through the truck, rattling the windows. Medication has never worked Al. No amount of it will. You were a small child when I was forced into you. I had no desire to harm you, so I convinced you that I was just an imaginary friend. Every one had one. I let you believe that I was nothing more than a voice. The time has come for you to hear and understand.>

Albert didn't want to hear anymore. "I've really heard enough of this bullshit for today Jax. Give it a rest. Albert put the truck into drive and rolled toward home.

Jax was far from finished. He asked Albert, <What makes it bullshit Al? It's not like medication has ever worked. You can't shut me up, and you have trusted me for 30 years now. A mental disorder is treatable. I am not.>

Albert stopped listening. He shoved his hand in his pocket. He was going to squeeze that stupid necklace as hard as he could. He was tired of hearing about this. He didn't want to talk or think about it anymore. The world as he knew it, his world, was supposed to be in danger. He wanted answers, but not the one's he was getting. Right now, he just wanted silence and a chance to think.

The necklace was gone though. He was back to being stuck with Jax's meanderings and moans. He regretted giving it back. It was the only thing that in 32 years that had ever silenced the voices. He desperately wanted it back right now.

He yelled at Jax. Just shut the hell up already!" Albert pounded the steering wheel. I don't care what you are. I just wish you were gone!"

<Whoa,why don't you tell me how you really feel. Why would you say something like that? I've been so good to you Al. Why would you want that?>