A Deadly Game, A Dangerous Midnight

Provoke

Jake's P.O.V

After separating, Walter and I headed off for the home theater.

It was huge! Rows of soft, comfy couches lined up behind a massive wall screen TV. Beside me stood a large desk containing countless number of movies, ranging from silly comedies to bone-chilling horrors. Wow. Alex and her family must really love movies.

Walter casually sauntered to the table and picked up a movie.

"The Exorcist?" he laughed quietly.

"Hey man, put that back."

"Insidious?" he giggled. "The Conjuring?"

"Dude, put that back and let's go!"

He ignored me and picked up yet another movie. 

"CUJO?" he burst into a fit of giggles. 

"Walter..."

"What rubbish!" he scoffed. "Just like the Midnight dude."

I gasped. What. Did. He. Just. Say.

As he continued to laugh, I backed away quietly. He was blocking the doorway, so I had no choice but to venture deeper into the theater. If the demon decided to come in, I would have no escape. But it was better than standing close to Walter, especially when he was attracting unwanted attention. 

"Jake, what's wrong?" Walter's voice wavered as he got cold feet at the sight of me slinking back into the shadows.

"What did you just do, Walter?"

"What?"

"Don't ever provoke the-"

I was cut off by him laughing, again. He laughed so hard that he looked like he was actually choking.

"Oh, Jake!" he was still giggling. "How could you believe all this junk?"

"Don't ever-"

"Oh what, you're now superstitious?" his tone carried a hint of annoyance. "You should know that all of this is fake."

Unexpectedly, he opened his arms wide, revealing his broad chest. His expression was mocking. 

"Come and get me, Man of the Midnight, come and get me if you dare!" he jokingly invited. Unbeknownst to him, he was actually attracting the demon. "Oh wait, you aren't even real!"

'Here he comes,' I thought when the room's temperature dropped. I felt myself freezing, as if I was caught in one of Antarctica's harsh, bitter winter seasons. I could only stare as Walter's candle flickered once, then died away. Almost immediately, he panicked. 

"Grab your lighter!" I shouted.

He grabbed his lighter out of his pocket and made several attempts to light his candle, but they were all in vain. 

"It's out of fuel!" he shrieked.

"Walter, you have no more time!" I shouted back. "Salt circle! NOW!"

Upon hearing that, Walter stuck a hand in his pocket, and upon doing that, his face fell.

"I DON'T HAVE IT!" his scream brought fear and hopelessness to my heart.

How could he not have prepared it? Had he simply forgotten, or was he too arrogant that all of this was a joke that he didn't even bother to? 

There was no hope for him. Ten seconds were up. After 3:33 a.m, he would either be insane, or dead. That was it. Lose your sanity or lose your life. Walter seemed to have thought of this, because he suddenly lost it and let out one high-pitched wail. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground in a heap, eyes rolling uncontrollably.

"Walter?" I glanced at his immobile state. 

He jerked his head up at me, shooting me a crazed look. 

"ARGHHHH!" He screamed, clutching at his hair. 

He tore handfuls of his cocoa-brown hair off, screaming and wailing at the same time. Scratches appeared at his face, his arms, his legs. Blood gushed out of his eyes, nose and mouth, staining the lush carpet. His whole body shook as he erupted into a fit of sobs. 

I knew he was battling with his inner fears. The scratches and blood were very minor for him, but the real cause of his suffering were the hallucinations. The Midnight Man had a way of knowing your innermost  fears. He was forcing Walter to relive each moment, each painstaking detail of his worst fears. Some people could will themselves to hold it, to make it to the end, but some would let go and perish. As I listened to Walter's endless wails, I doubt he would make it to 3:33 a.m.

Guilt coursed through my veins. I dropped my head in shame. Shouldn't I be helping him? Shouldn't I be doing something to stop this endless torture? My shoulders dropped and I hung my head in defeat. I couldn't help him without the chance of possibly suffering the same fate. Now that was a selfish move.

"HEEEELP MEEE!" he shrieked once more, making me fight the urge to do just that.

A second later, Alex came rushing in.