Gift For A Demon

Death Is An Escape

Some say, crying lets the sad out. For Evangeline it simply isn’t working. Three days have passed since the death of her beloved Papa. He was more like a father to her and she just can’t seem to get over his absence.

Her honey colored eyes are red and puffy, surrounded by dark circles. She has cried almost nonstop since she found him that morning. It’s hard on her, being the only person in the cabin that seems to even care he is gone. She can’t eat or sleep, while everyone still expects three meals a day and chores to be done. The worst part is Nana. All day long she asks where Papa is. Eve hasn’t the heart to tell her that he is dead, so she simply tells her that he is gone. This seems to work for a time, until she asks again.

The funeral is today, but the world hasn’t noticed. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and everyone is getting dressed up as if they were going out to lunch. The kids aren’t crying, the twins are complaining, and Krista is busy with her own appearance. Eve helps Nana into a plain black dress similar to her own and braids her long gray hair.

Since Papa was a paranormal, they have been allowed to bury him in the town cemetery. Thankfully the family is permitted to attend as well. Eve hates the very idea and knows Papa would have rather been buried somewhere in the woods. Perhaps, next to her own mother’s grave.

It’s a slow walk with Nana to the end of the gravel road. Krista and her children went on ahead to the cemetery without waiting for them to catch up. Eve doesn’t care and is relieved to see Alan when she makes it about halfway down to the town. He flashes a warm smile at Eve, squeezes her upper arm, and places a swift kiss on her cheek. He tries to handle the intense waves of emotions coming from her as he takes Nana by her other arm.

By the time they make it to the funeral, everyone looks kind of bored. Evangeline feels anger rising up in her chest. None of these people even need to be here! In fact, who is this funeral for? Papa wouldn’t want to be here, Eve doesn’t want to say goodbye, and Nana.. Sweet Nana doesn’t even know what’s going on. There are a few other people at the funeral as well, even though it’s supposed to be private. Mostly a few older people that must have known Nana or Papa. Out of place is Mr. Grogen. The sleazy creep has no reason to be here at all, but Krista seems to have all of his attention.

Eve didn’t want Krista or her children to know about her and Alan, whatever it is that they might be. However, when the funeral ceremony starts she finds his embrace more than comforting. He has his arm wrapped around her, rubbing her shoulder. She knows it must be hard for him.. Anything she feels, he feels too. Right now, she is a mess of different emotions.

The ceremony is short and sad. When the funeral officiant asks if anyone wants to say anything, everyone stands quiet. Eve has plenty to say, but this is not the audience she wishes to share her feelings with. Alan squeezes her shoulder as they remain silent. Soon after, the coffin is lowered into the ground and people begin to leave one by one. It’s time for her to walk Nana back to the cabin. Though, Eve gets the idea that they won’t be staying there long.

Her eyes trace over Krista and Mr. Grogen suspiciously. That man is pure trouble, the entire town knows it. All of a sudden, Evangeline feels as though she is being watched and begins to look around. There is a man standing some distance away, leaning up against a tree. He is wearing a black suit, as dark as the curly shoulder length hair on his head. His cigarette raises to his mouth and she can just barely tell that he has some sort of tattoo on the back of his hand. She freezes instantly. There is some sort of connection between them. Has she seen this man before?

“What’s wrong, Eve?” Alan questions with worry in his voice.

She can’t seem to look away from the dark stranger. Sensing this, he turns behind the tree and begins to walk away. Her initial reaction is to follow him, but she feels the weight of Nana connected to her arm.

“Eve.. Do you know that man, is everything okay?” Alan can feel a strangeness within her.

“I’m not sure.. There is something familiar about him, but I can’t say what it is..” Eve furrows her brow and makes herself look away from the stranger.

“Let’s go. I’ll walk you back home. As far as you’ll let me anyways.” Alan takes Eve by her free arm.

It’s a quiet walk back towards the cabin with many things on Evangeline’s mind. She is thinking about her and Nana’s future. Her mind is concentrating on her Papa’s last words, but it’s hard to stay focused when her thoughts keep wandering to the mysterious man from the cemetery. What is it about him that bothers her so? At least she is comforted by the occasional squeezes to her hand from Alan.

Alan.. Could he help her to be free from Krista’s hateful grasp? It’s not like Eve is a child anymore and with Papa gone, she can take Nana and flee. There is a chance she could live her own life. The thought of being with Alan and giving herself to him completely is okay to her, but is just okay enough?

“What are you thinking about, Eve?” Alan questions in a caring way.

“Oh, can’t you tell?” She jokes with him.

She is surprised, but thankful that he can’t actually read her mind.

“Very funny, but no. I can’t tell how you really feel right now. It’s just one fluctuating wave after another yet, I have the slightest sensation that I might be on your mind.” He pauses. “You know.. If there is anything I can do for you.. I will.”

“Yes. I do know, Alan. I’ve always been grateful for you and the way you have treated me all these years.” She stops walking and Nana seems to go on without noticing.

“Tell me.. Whatever it is. I’m here for you.” His eyes are staring at her so intensely, just waiting for her to say what he wants to hear.

“I think I might need your help. Soon..” She looks up and down the gravel road. “I just need to be sure first.”

Alan takes her jaw into both of his hands and kisses her lips tenderly with a hunger that he is trying to keep under control. This is still so new to her and for a moment she feels rigid before finally relaxing into his embrace. He almost forgets where they are and only pulls away when Nana calls for Eve. The beautiful young women in front of him has sparkling eyes, rosy cheeks, and pouty pink lips still moist from his kiss.

She places her hands on his wrists and holds them for a moment. The expression on her face says it all. It’s a sweet goodbye. He kisses her on the cheek before she turns to walk away.

“Eve!” He shouts. “If you need me.. Just think of me and I’ll come to you!”

This is a strange thought that she flips over in her head a few times as she catches up with Nana. Together they make it back to the quiet and empty cabin. Nana takes her place on the porch. Eve opens the door and steps inside. She looks around at everything and feels detached somehow, as if she’s in a foreign place with nothing familiar around her.

Her feet take her to the narrow door that leads to her small bed. She grabs her few pieces if clothing and carries them to the room Nana and Papa shared. This is where she will be sleeping from now on.

Finally, she feels tired enough to lay down. The scent of her Papa lingers on his pillow. Her heavy eyelids fall shut as she willingly drifts off to sleep.

Hours go by before Nana opens the door to the bedroom and walks in. Light from the main room fill the now darkened space. Eve must have slept for more than a few hours uninterrupted. Now she can hear the raised voices coming from behind Nana. The old woman shuffles in and crawls into her side of the bed.

The bedroom door slowly swings almost shut, leaving a small crack of light. Curiously, Eve gets out of the bed to tiptoe closer to the voices.

It’s definitely Krista. She is yelling at the two twins. Her voice sounds as though she may have been drinking.. It is very clear what the problem is. She is cursing at the twins for being useless and lazy, for bringing no money into the house. Now that Papa is gone it will be even harder for them to make ends meet.

Krista slams her hand down on the table, demanding for them to explain themselves to her. Liam claims he is close to getting a real job and will continue to work at the mill part time. Delilah sighs and pulls money out of her bra and hands it over. Krista looks pleased and doesn’t ask any further questions. This makes Eve uncomfortable.

“Now.. There is one more matter to be dealt with..” Krista purrs evilly as she stalks over to Eve’s small door.

She whips it open and growls at the empty bed in front of her.

“Eve! Where the f**k are you?!” She screams. “Get out here, now!”

As if she has been trained over the years, Eve quickly makes her appearance in the main room.

“We need money and you are going to work for it.” Krista says casually.

“Okay.. There is plenty I can do. Papa taught me how to make butter and I can..” Eve is cut short by another slam to the table.

“Shut up! I’m done with scraping by on that f*****g butter..” All of the sudden the corners of her mouth curl upwards. “I found the perfect job for you and it starts tomorrow morning.”

Eve stands quiet. Her heart is pounding, her body is frozen. The look on Krista’s darkened face is one Eve knows all too well.

“At dawn you will walk down to town and cross over the bridge to Mr. Grogen’s farm. He has work for you to do and he says he will pay you well as long as you comply to his wishes.” Krista narrows her eyes at Eve with a tight snobby smile.

“Mr. Grogen?!” The very name nearly chokes her. “But.. But everyone knows how he treats women!”

“Enough!” Krista moves at lightning speed to slap Eve across the face, busting her lip. “So you would rather starve? I’ll stop feeding the old woman too, if you don’t go to work!”

No.. How could this be?! Her mind begins to race, trying to comprehend the situation. That’s when another slap sends her reeling backwards to the floor.

“Get up! Go back to bed.. You have work to do in the morning.” Krista laughs and turns to walk up the stairs to her own room.

The twins stare down at Eve uncaring, Delilah even yawns. Then they both go to their room for the night.

Right then and there, Eve makes a choice. She will have to leave in the morning, but she isn’t going to Mr. Grogen’s. No. She will have to escape.