Dusk & Dawn

Chapter 33

Mason grasped my hand firmly, leading us away from my father's unwelcome presence.

 "Can we please leave? I don't want to see him," I pleaded, my gaze fixated on the ground as we walked.

"Sure, no problem," Mason responded, his voice laced with concern. I withdrew my hand from his, taking out my phone to send a quick message to Lexi. Her swift reply brought a smile to my face.

"She said her parents are fine with driving them back. They want more time with her and Zach," I shared, slipping my phone into my back pocket. Nervously, I clutched onto my dog tag, finding peace in its presence—a tiny source of courage.

As Mason pressed the remote, the car's indicators blinked, momentarily illuminating the surroundings. In that burst of light, I caught sight of a trailing shadow. I knew exactly who it belonged to.

"Dad, come out. I know you're following me," I called out, crossing my arms with a mix of annoyance and apprehension. His head peered out from behind some shrubs, and my disappointment deepened.

"State your name!" he bellowed, his voice carrying a tinge of aggression.

"Dad, come on. It's me, Quinn," I replied, growing tired of his bizarre behaviour.

"State your name!" he insisted, his tone growing more forceful.

"Uh, it's Quinn. Dad, just come out. What are you doing here?" I implored, hoping to understand his intentions.

"I've come to save my daughter. State your name, demon, or I'll call upon divine help," he declared, holding his Bible aloft as if it were a protective shield.

"Dad, I'm not possessed," I sighed, rolling my eyes. Mason couldn't help but chuckle, fully aware of the absurdity of the situation. Slowly, my father emerged from the bushes, brandishing his cross and Bible as if they were weapons aimed at me.

"He's serious?" Mason whispered in disbelief, his expression mirroring my own embarrassment. I gritted my teeth and nodded, the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

"My daughter would never lead a sinful life. I raised her better than that. And when she reached adulthood, you took her away from me!" anger etched deep lines across his face, accentuating his wild eyes.

"Dad, when I 'came of age,' I wanted to experience life. I wanted to embrace it, especially after..." I trailed off, sensing his resistance to hear me out.

"Stop! Stop talking, demon!" he interrupted, reaching into his pocket to retrieve a small plastic bottle. I raised my hands in surrender, a knot forming in my stomach, fearing the worst—a harmful chemical or acid. Protective, Mason positioned himself in front of me, shielding me from any harm.

As my father uncapped the bottle, he lunged to the side, flinging the clear liquid with a force that splattered across my face. The cascading droplets drenched my hair and seeped through the fabric of my shirt, leaving a chilling trail. To my surprise, the liquid also managed to graze Mason's sleeve, a testament to my father's skilled side-angle throw.

"Water? Thank God it's just water," I murmured, grateful that it was a harmless substance.

"Holy water? Really, Dad?" I wiped my face with my hand, the remnants of the liquid leaving a faint residue. I couldn't help but spit out the remaining drops, disbelief evident in my voice.

"But... if you're not possessed... then... you chose to do those things? You CHOSE?!" My father's hands dropped to his sides, his face a mask of sheer distress, as if my choices had wounded him more deeply than any supernatural affliction ever could.

"Yes, Dad, that's exactly what I've been trying to tell you. I wanted to experience life like any normal person. Dancing, singing, drawing, wearing makeup—they're not sins, Dad. They're just expressions of who I am." I softened my tone, hoping to bridge the gap between us, watching as he wiped away a few tear-stained trails.