Just Like Animals ≫ Blackheart

》t w o《

- o l i v i a -

The next morning, at around 8:30, Johnny's girlfriend's annoying Pomeranian, Axel, decided to come into my room and sit on my face. I let out a low, muffled growl and shove him towards the end of the bed, all the while scowling at him.

"Do that one more time and I'll skin you alive and eat you for breakfast."

Axel draws back his little ears, whimpering softly. Finally, he hops off the bed and scampers out the door.

"I'm dead serious!" I yell after the dog. A few moments later, Johnny's girlfriend, Roxanne, walks in, a cautious glint in her honey brown eyes. She sits down on the foot of my bed, regarding me with an expression of worry. I hate it when she looks at me like that.

"Olivia, you were out almost all of yesterday. What did you do?"

"Don't go around asking questions like you're my mom, because you're not." I don't know why I brought that up. My actual mother was a total bitch after my grandfather died, and even before that, she wasn't particularly good to me. Roxanne, on the other hand, has always been kind and supportive, even when I lash out.

Roxanne smiles sadly. "We could at least be friends?"

I sneer. "No."

Silence assumes its reign, and, as I've said before, I don't like it. Slipping off the side of my bed, I go to my closet and choose a simple black skater dress and a varsity jacket, thereafter bending over to pick up my combat boots. I want to go back to the cemetery early so that I can maybe learn more about Blackheart. As I head downstairs, fully dressed, Johnny, who is sitting at the kitchen table, gives me a look and says, "Where are you going at this hour?" I sigh and quickly craft a lie.

"I was going to visit Grandpa; I think he's lonely."

Johnny's blue eyes soften; He must think I'm crazy. Waving his hand towards the front door, my brother dismisses me. I stroll along the sidewalk, shuddering against the blustery day's chilly wind. The people who pass me (and usually say hello) now remain silent as they go about their business. Not a problem, I haven't lost everything yet. The rusted gates of the cemetery come into view on the horizon, and I quicken my pace, hoping to get there a little faster, and maybe talk to Blackheart again. Upon entering the graveyard, I head towards the large oak tree that stands in the center of the field, and take a seat under it. A breeze picks up, just like yesterday, and a few moments after, Blackheart materializes before me.

"Hi," I say quietly.

"Good morning, Olivia."

"Mornin'," I reply, whilst yawning.

"How are you?" He asks, proceeding to sit down in the grass next to me.

"I'm okay." I pick at my nails nervously, attempting to avoid his gaze as long as possible.

"You are here quite early. Why is that?"

"Uh, couldn't sleep."

"Ah."

"So, what can you tell me about my brother? What was he like when you knew him?"

Blackheart takes his time to answer me.

"Oh, it was many years ago. Johnny was young, curious, and fiery. He made a deal with my father, Mephistopheles, to save his father, who had cancer. Gave up his mortality for him. His father never knew what his son had done for him; what he'd sacrificed. In doing that, he did a favor for my father: Johnny became the Ghost Rider."

"What's a Ghost Rider?"

"Ah, well, a Ghost Rider is a doer of good who, when law's sharp eye fails to catch them, punishes the criminals who've gotten away with murder, treason, robbery, assault...a whole myriad of things."

"What does that make you, then?"

Blackheart deftly avoids my question by telling me more about Johnny. They fought over a piece of paper that was apparently very important, Blackheart lost, and was sent back to hell for a few years.

"How strong were you back then?" I ask, out of curiosity.

"Strong enough." Blackheart replies, looking down as he shreds a blade of grass with his white fingers.

"You know, I've always been fascinated with the concept of nighttime," I say, staring straight ahead.

"Oh?"

"For some, it brings peace and relaxation; for others, it wreaks havoc on their minds, makes their hearts race...When I was little, Johnny used to tell me stories about a monster that would suck the life out of people, without mercy or remorse."

Blackheart's eyes close for a brief moment, nodding a little, and he takes a quiet, deep breath before raising his head.

"It's not you, is it?"

"No, of course not." He responds, rather quickly.

Tension was now so thick between us that I could almost touch it. Shifting uncomfortably, I lean my head against the oak tree's trunk, looking up at the new dawn sky, with its fingertips of rose.

"Olivia, have you heard of San Venganza?"

"Heard of it? Yeah; Johnny mentioned it once."

"Well, my story begins there. I was born in the church that stands, broken, but functional, in the center of the town. I think I may take you with me when I return to that church."

"Aw, you must've been so cute when you were little."

"Demons are born fully-grown."

I bite my lip, and none too gently. It starts to bleed a bit.

"You're bleeding," He states, turning his body to face me.

"I know."

Without saying another word, he reaches up, and wipes the drop of blood from my lips. It sizzles on his finger.

"So pure," Blackheart whispers, more to himself than to me.

"It's funny. You were born in a church, but you're a demon. I don't see how that works."

He smiles sadly.

"God's love only goes so far."

I don't reply.

"You should be going home. It's late."

"But I got here, like, twenty minutes ago." I answer, puzzled.

"No, you've been here a good bit, Olivia. Look at the sky."

I tilt my head skywards. The sky is a deep blue, and the stars twinkle in between the dark clouds like diamonds.

"Oh," I say, and get to my feet. He walks me to the gate, just as he did yesterday. Blackheart is such a gentleman, for a demon. The walk back home is long, especially with the absence of people. Where the hell did they all go? Usually, I see some elderly couples out at this time of night. But today, the streets are deserted. Where have they all gone?