Mesmerized | ✓

8

In the midst of his infatuation, confusion and guilt Carl completely forgot that he was supposed to have dinner with his parents. When his phone rang and Yuli saw that it was his mother, his whole face lit up and he asked Carl to put it on speaker.

Deep in a trance, Carl didn't think much of it and did as he was told. His mother's worried voice made him think a little more clearly again and the curious look on Yuli's face made a chill run through his bones as he thought about the boy's intention.

"Is everything okay?" His mother asked. "You were supposed to come over yesterday. I made your favorite chicken soup, we all waited for you and then you never bothered to even call that you weren't coming."

A vague memory of his mother complaining that he was not visiting them often enough and then him reluctantly setting up the date entered his mind. "Oh, yeah." He said. "I forgot. I'm sorry."

"Come tomorrow then." His mother proposed. "We miss you." She added in a soft voice.

Yuli nodded his head eagerly and pointed at himself. "Can I bring a friend?"

There was a short pause on the other end. "Of course." His mother sounded surprised but happy. "Bring whoever you want. We will be just happy to have you."

After a quick good-bye Carl hang up the phone and an uncomfortable silence fell between the two of them. "You're not going to eat my parents, are you?" Though he felt ridiculous asking that question he was being completely serious.

Yuli chuckled with a shake of his head. "We will see how the night progresses." When Carl opened his mouth he held up his hand silencing him. "Why do you even ask, Carl? You don't care what I do to your parents." He grabbed his stubbly chin. Carl hadn't bothered to shave for a few days. Their eyes met and Yuli held his gaze but this time his face lacked the usual flirty smile. "If I decide to suck the blood of your parents you will just sit patiently by my side and then hand me a towel so I can wipe the blood off my face."

It felt like Yuli allowed the spell to wear off just enough to make him realize the gravity of the situation. And it worked because for a fraction of a second Carl saw Yuli for who he truly was. A parasitic predator that had chosen him for his host as he searched for new victims. Carl felt tears well up in his eyes. In the rare moment of clarity Carl knew that there was no escape, no exit route that he could take.

The moment was cut short when Yuli started spreading his charm once again and soon all was well in the world.

*****

Carl felt some kind of agitation as he unlocked the door and pushed it open with Yuli following him. They entered the house and Carl felt the heavenly smell of his favorite foods fill his nostrils. Everything looked familiar yet it didn't hit his senses like it usually would. He looked at the family picture on the wall, of his parents, his little sister and his own younger self.

He felt numb looking at the picture and yet his gaze was still drawn to it. "They look nice." Yuli said resting his hand on Carl's shoulder.

"They do." Carl mumbled as he heard familiar set of footsteps approaching.

The woman that appeared looked effortlessly elegant even with her hair tied in a messy bun and an apron tied around her waist. Seeing her son she smiled warmly and pulled him into her arms not paying any attention to Yuli who was looking curiously at the exchange.

Carl went stiff in her arms with his eyes fixed on Yuli while he rested his head on the woman's shoulder. "You haven't visited your poor parents it such a long time."

"I'm sorry for that, mom." Carl said half-heatedly trying not to think about Yuli's threats, trying not to imagine him biting in his mother's neck. Yuli seemed to know exactly what he was thinking about as he continued to look at him with a knowing smile.