It Travels with Them

Chapter Fourteen - Monologues are Amazing

Trauler storms into the room and shoves us away from the bound demon.

"How the hell did you find this room!?"

Alex tries to answer, "Ah, well. You see.."

"Don't.. don't answer that." Trauler runs a hand down his face.

"I have a question," Alex crosses their arms.

"How in the flappy-flying-frick did HE even get here!?" They point to the bound demon.

I cover my mouth in an effort not to laugh at their creative curse and I see Mike do the same. But before Trauler could say anything the demon answers with a grunting chuckle, "You humans are so predictable, all I had to do was get here before you," then he glares at Trauler, "but—" He coughs, spraying blood again.

"Yeah yeah, we get it. Things didn't go as planned," Trauler waves a hand in his direction, "Now shut yer' trap, no one asked you."

I turn to look at dad, who looks exhausted, he sees me looking and manages a smile.

"Alright y'all've had a good look, now shoo. Go on git," Trauler makes a shooing motion at us with his hands and we make our way back out of the attic with Alex bringing up the rear. As we do I could hear Mike grumbling behind me.

"So much for exploring the house."

We sorta wander down the hall, not sure what to do when we stop in front of some bedrooms.

"So... are we gonna sleep separately or together?" Alex voiced the question.

It was a good one; we were all used to sleeping in the same room, honestly the thought of sleeping alone was strange... uncomfortable even.

"Well, I claim this room," Mike gestures to the door he's closest to.

Of course he's gotta be all macho about this, he's gotta be macho about everything. I huff derisively but he doesn't seem to notice.

In the end me and Alex ended up sharing a room, neither of us liked the idea of sleeping alone. Safety in numbers I suppose.

We drag an extra mattress into the room across from Michael and haphazardly throw our things next to our corresponding beds.

Despite the darkness and the late hour none of us were tired, so we ended up just sitting in the living room.

I heard Mike mutter something but it was too quiet for me to hear.

"What?" Alex asks a moment before I could.

"Ah I was just wondering when was the last time we just sorta..." he pauses gesturing around vaguely , "...sat. In like, a real living room. In an actual house."

Alex and I exchanged a glance then shrug, "Hell if I know." I smile ruefully.

"Well that's depressing," Michael grumbles, leaning back into the cushions of the love seat.

"It doesn't have to be," Alex says.

Michael raises an eyebrow dubiously.

"I mean, think about it, do you think you'd be very content living here? We're not exactly the type to settle down or stay put. But I don't find that very depressing," they smile softly as they speak. "Honestly I've never really thought of 'home' as a place; as many people do. I think of it as more of a feeling, or people," they laugh awkwardly. "I guess what I'm trying to get at is: I could be anywhere, in a car or a hotel or even a house like this, and I would be content as long as I'm with you guys," they pause. "That sounded really cheesy."

I laugh, "Pff when did you get so philosophical?"

They cross their arms and push out their bottom lip, "I was just sayin'."

Michael chuckles, "Well if you put it that way, it really doesn't seem so bad."

Alex smiles wryly, meeting his gaze. The eye contact lasts a little too long and they both look away awkwardly.

It took a lot of willpower to keep a laugh from exploding from my mouth and in the end a smirk still played across my lips.

These two idiots.

I could tell they liked each other but they're both too dense to recognize the other's feelings. Originally I was going to help them out but I changed my mind. Honestly I found their exchanges hilarious, so I left them alone. It was sorta like my own personal TV show, one of those dumb teen romances but a little less cheesy. Just a little.

I could feel the awkward tension growing between the two until Trauler and Dad walked in the room. They both seemed to sigh in relief when they did.

"Well that's to be expected.." Dad was saying until he saw we were in the room.

"What are you kids still doing up?"

We shrug, "Not tired," I answer for us.

He sighs, "Fair enough."

"Anyway, we'll be staying here for a while so you'd best make yourselves comfortable."

Trauler nods in agreement.

"Are there any towns close to here?" Mike asks.

Trauler nods, "There's one a little ways up the road—but I warn you," he shakes his finger at us, focusing mainly on Michael and Alex, "it's a small town so don't go startin' any trouble yah got that?"

Alex smirks and nods while Mike mutters assent.

"Good."

I clear my throat, "Well since we're up, does anyone want some food?"

Alex jumps up, "Ooh me!"

Michael nods saying, "I'm down."

Both Dad and Trauler agree.

I go into the kitchen and Alex follows enthusiastically. It's a relatively large room with an island in the center and a fridge, oven and stove top situated around the room. Walking to the fridge I open it and take out a package of chilled hotdogs. Together Alex and I, after an ungodly amount of rummaging through cabinets, get the hotdogs and some buns we found cooked.
Alex immediately grabbed one and began scarfing it down but they had to pause because of how hot it still was.
"Haut haut hoo ow."
I laugh, "Yeah there hot we just finished cooking them."
They finally swallow, "Oof ouch my mouth."
I roll my eyes, they never learn. Mike comes into the kitchen followed by my Dad and Trauler.
"Geez took yah long enough," Michael says taking a dog.
I smirk as he tries to take a bite, burning his tongue in the process.
"Ouch!" He stuck out his tongue to try and cool it, "thath futhing hut!"
"Bwahahaha!!" Alex doubled over laughing.
I snicker along with them and Michael's face turns red.
"Oh shut up!" He barks and blows on the hotdog.

[IM BACK MUAHAHAHAHA
ENJOY SUM WORDS YAH HOOLIGANS

OUT
Author~kun]