Demon Boy // Awsten Knight (ON HOLD)

VII: Life

So, Awsten did have a life before being a demon.

Part of me was relieved that he was human, in a way. But that made me think more about it all.

If he's a demon now, wouldn't he have had to do something terrible in his life to be one when he died? Did he kill a person? Did he kill more than one person? He had to do something.

The question replayed in my head again.

"Would it comfort or scare you if I told you I had a life before, too?"

His eyes came up to meet mine, searching for the answer himself since I hadn't answered him yet. I could tell with the emotions in his eyes that he was a tiny bit nervous, as well. Though he probably wouldn't want me to see that. So far, he's shown that he tries to hide any intense emotions he feels. I'm starting to feel that he doesn't want to appear vulnerable.

There had to be a reason why.

"Would it make sense to say both?" I gave him the truthful answer.

Awsten hummed, giving a small nod and furrowing his brows.

"Why both?" he asked, letting his hand rest on my knee. Again, thankful it wasn't any further up; he seemed to have at least some respect for touching. 

I thought about a way to put it.

"I guess comforting because at least I know you, at least I assume, feel all the same emotions and everything. It probably sounds dumb, I'm sorry. I still know nothing about how this whole afterlife thing works."

I was nervous again, rubbing my hand on my arm, letting the fingertips graze it with light scratching. Awsten noticed and gently took my hand away from my arm, his hand holding my wrist.

He smiled as softly as he spoke, "It's not dumb, Sabrina. There's a lot to learn," his face went back into a frown, "But why scared, too?"

I gulped, nervous to ask. The last thing I wanted was for him to flip out, snap, anything. I still didn't know him the way that Otto and Geoff did. Even then, they've only known him for a few years since their death; I'm sure there were things they didn't know, either.

"Um," I paused as a shiver rushed through me involuntarily. "Would that mean you did something to end up with this afterlife?"

"Like, something bad?" he wanted to make sure he knew what I meant.

I nodded, nervous to make eye contact. I scooted a just a little bit away as I noticed him clench his jaw, his hand now off of my knee as he ran it through his hair. It seemed like he was anticipating that question but still didn't want to hear it.

He sighed before nodding, "I guess you can say that."

I felt my body stiffen. What could he have done? I wanted to know. No, I needed to know. If I was going to be stuck with him, this was going to be necessary information for me.

I licked my lips, noticing they were dry, before asking, "What did you do?"

He looked away as he was fumbling with his own hands. It must have been his own tick for being nervous, as far as I could tell.

"I killed two people."

Murder. He murdered two people. Well, if I were to include myself, Geoff, and Otto, that would be five people.