It Travels with Them

Chapter Two - Backstory Still!?

I bring my arms up to block her and feel her nails rake into my skin. I bare my teeth, plant my feet and shove her back. One of her feet catches on a rock and she stumbles. Taking advantage of this I slash at her neck and feel the knife bite deep into her flesh. I flinch as hot blood splatters on my hand and face. She grabs her neck and lets out a gurgling snarl then, lunges at me. I take a step forward, into her attack and use her momentum against her. I plunge the knife into her chest and drag it down. Quickly I fumble for the salt in my pocket and throw it at her. She screams and I bolt back towards Mr. Henry and his sons. 

I can hear her behind me and I glance back at her, she's starting to gain on me. With a burst of adrenaline I make it back and grab my father's shotgun. Henry must've picked it up. I spin and start to fire into the demon. The noise brought Henry to me and he dumps a flask of holy water onto the demon. It screams and falls to its knees and Henry quickly ties it up. Then he turns to me, "Are you okay?!" I nod stiffly and stare down at my blood soaked hands. Then I whisper, "I killed her..." I start to shake, emotion closing my throat. 

Henry puts a hand on my shoulder and I look up at him. "I-I killed her. When we exorcise her she'll be dead, because of me." My voice broke. Henry starts to lead me to a small creek to wash up. "It's not your fault. You did what you had to do," he says gently. I stay quiet. After washing the blood off my skin we walk back to the demon. It's working at its bindings, trying to get out. 

Hands shaking I start to speak, "Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus, omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis congregatio et secta diabolica, ergo draco maledicte, ut ecclesiam tuam secura, tibi facias libertate servire, te rogamus, audi nos!" The demon lets out a gurgling snarl and black smoke roils out of the woman's mouth.

"Wow, you memorized it?" Henry asks, sounding impressed. I nod and sit by the body. I stare at it for a moment then fall backwards and stare at the sky. I blink, once, twice then close my eyes.

I'm exhausted.

Before I know it I fall asleep.

[P.O.V. HENRY]

I sigh, poor kid.

God dammit Terry, why'd you have to let them down so bad. Terry (Alex's dad) was a high school friend of his. In the past he had been a very polite person, studious, a good son. But apparently not a good father.

I gently pick Alex up and set them in the back seat of my pickup. You know what Terry, you might've given up on this kid but I won't.

I walk over to Michael and Tyler, my sons, they're sitting on the ground talking in whispers a little ways away so I can just barely see them.

"Mikey, Ty! Come'er for a second," I call. They stand and jog over to me, "Yeah?" Michael says.

"You know that guy I was talking about in the car, the one I went to school with?"

"Yeah...?" Michael says.

"Oh Terry's his name right?" Tyler responds.

I nod, "Yes Terry was his name—"

"Wait. Was?" Michael asks.

"—Yes now don't interrupt. Terry was the man we were following, and that is his kid," I point to Alex. "Terry was a good kid in school but it seems he was not a good father. So I've decided to take Alex it. They will be staying with us." I look at the two of them, Michael looks shocked and angry while Tyler looks more intrigued.

"So where are they?" Tyler asks.

"They're resting right now, so we shouldn't bother them. Let's get packed up," I say starting to walk back towards the car.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Michael yells. He turns to Tyler, "So you're just going to accept this!? Some stranger is going to be living with us! I mean what the hell!? And—"

"Mike! You need to calm down." I grip his shoulders. "I know this is all very sudden, and because of that I need you to be understanding, Alex just lost their dad."

Michael nods, reluctantly accepting my words.

[P.O.V. ALEX]

"Hey kiddo, wake up. You need to eat."

Groggily I open my eyes, recognizing the voice as belonging to Henry. I sit up, he's standing in front of me with a plate.

"How many hot dogs?"

Hesitantly I hold up two fingers. "Alrighty, two hotdogs it is!"

He walks towards a small cook-fire with a wire stand over it. On the stand sizzles hot dogs. Henry puts two buns on the plate then uses tongs to retrieve the hotdogs.

"Order up!" He says and hands me the plate. I take it and sit on a log near the fire. Henry's youngest son, Tyler, sits next to me.

"Heya I'm Tyler, what's your name?" He says. I look at him, he's tall with sandy blonde hair and a little on the skinny side. Quietly I reply, "Alex."

"That's a cool name!" Then he points at the other brother, "That's my brother, Michael."

Michael is on the other side of the fire and he looks up. He glances at Tyler then he looks at me and glares. I know exactly why he's mad and I look down at my feet.

Henry walks over and sits with us. He has a hotdog as well and I wait for him to eat. He notices me watching him and asks, "What are you waiting for? Eat."

Confused I say, "I have to wait for you to eat."

Henry straightens, "What do you mean?" He sounds serious. Suddenly nervous I explain that my dad had always made me wait until he was done eating until I ate.

Henry looks angry and expecting a blow I duck my head, hiding my face. After a moment of not getting hit I look up, still a bit scared. Henry is staring intensely at his plate, as if thinking. Then he looks up and smiles at me, "Well it isn't like that here, you can eat when you want."

I blink, then I look down at my plate then back at Henry. Swallowing I cautiously pick up a hotdog.

No pain.

I start to eat, wolfing down the food. I hadn't eaten in a day or two, so I was starving. "Christ, don't choke," Michael said sarcastically.

"Michael, stop it," Tyler says as I look up.

[TIME-SKIP (Two weeks)]

It's been two weeks since the Foret's took me in. Tyler was welcoming and we grew close fast, he's like the big brother I never had. Michael took more time to get used to me, but he still isn't fond of me. He treats me almost like a rival, though it's better than treating me like an intruder.

Henry has been a really big help. I've found myself falling out of the habits my father forced me into. Henry also made me eat more. Without realizing it I had grown so thin from not getting enough to eat that you could easily see my ribs. I had grown healthier with Henry and I'm much happier without the fear that constantly hovered over me. All's well that ends well...

I guess?