Lord Liverchester

Chapter 14

Why, oh why couldn't I have a normal happy day for once? The sun was out, I could see it hidden behind the wall of ivy over the windows. I just wanted to be out there, walking in the glow. I didn't want to worry, to be scared. But there I was, in this dark shell of a room, full of panic as once again I wondered if my best friend was a permanent snack for demons. When I told myself I had to leave, Dorian agreed, suddenly awakening from the horrifying silence with a heartbreaking screaming sob. I dragged him to the door, all my stuff in tow. I carried him and my stuff down the hallway, running as fast as I could. I nearly lost him, his weight too much for me to carry like that. He struggled to stand, getting to his feet at the end of the nauseating green hallway. There was no time to waste as we hurried out of the building, ridding ourselves of that nasty room and its dark haunting corners. Even after it was over, I could still hear Dorian's screams yelling at me to get out. He wanted me to leave him behind. My heart hurt from the thought, the sounds, the running, the putrid moldy odor of the whole place. There was this tone in Dorian's voice that I had become familiar with. It happened a lot when he sang. It was this sharp edge, something that came from deep in his mid-throat. I don't know what it was, just part of his existence that managed to worm its way into my soul and filled me with uncertainty. It was a tone that could mean anything, whether it was pain, or the sound that lingered after a good joke, or overwhelming love. My original theory was that he sounded like that when he was out of breath, trying to choke out words. But there was too much air in it for that. Maybe it was weird to get stuck on something like that, but that one sound held meaning, and I was determined to figure it out.

Silence fell over us after that. We were far from that hell, recovering slowly from whatever it was. I so badly wanted to ask Dorian what he experienced, but now wasn't the time. He was still shaken up, startled by everything. It was a bright day again, so people were out on the streets with us. Every time somebody passed by, Dorian avoided them and shrank up against the row of buildings. We passed the art studio and he avoided it completely, waiting for a clear space to walk around it. When all the people came our direction and disappeared somewhere behind us, Dorian ran past that block of buildings and didn't wait for me. I was left far behind him, carrying all my stuff without help. I felt like crying, so much on my mind, weighing heavily upon me. I worried about Dorian, and while I knew by now that he didn't want me to, I wouldn't let him push it to the side. I tried not to be so illogical, finally catching up to him. He stood at a street lamp waiting for me, emotionless but so full of it at the same time. I hated that feeling, the heavy avoidance. I wanted to stop there and talk to him, to know what he felt. There was no way he could scream that way, with such guttural intensity, and not be feeling something just mere minutes later. He was fucking crying before, and now nothing was there. I remembered his face, so scared, eyes wide and tearful, red and bloodshot. Now he was sauntering down the street, standing up straight as an arrow, head up high. Granted, he was limping, favoring his right leg. We reached the woods and he turned around to check on me. I held my breath, waiting for whatever was coming. I loved the look on his face, finally assuring me I wasn't crazy. It was a kind and loving expression, a twinkle of understanding and gratefulness shining in his eyes. After walking several more feet, the mouth of the woods covered by identical trees covered in ivy and thick grass, we sat down to talk about it. There was an air of reluctance, but before long, Dorian was telling me everything. It wasn't the worst thing I'd ever heard, just that everyone we ever loved was trapped in some kind of demonic limbo and they needed our help to be freed. Plus, there were still some cruel people living in our world, and they needed to be sent back one by one. Our rituals were working, and the gatekeeper took our cabbages. But our work was nowhere near over. Sobbing, I asked what we had to do now. More than anything, it hurt to know our beloved family members were stuck in almost literal hell. That's never what I imagined; I always thought they were free and happy. Irvine hadn't mentioned anything like that. I had so many questions, so close to beating myself up for not knowing what I had no way of obtaining knowledge of. Dorian engulfed me in a warm hug, squeezing me as he whispered in my ear.