Chapter 6
1309 Words
Louisa's POV
Two days.
It takes me two full days to recover. My body feels as if I’ve been drained of all energy, and even now, a strange heaviness lingers. I don’t understand what happened to me.
Is it because of the book?
Was it something I tried from its pages?
Father hasn’t explained anything. He just keeps bringing me food, saying I need proper nutrition to get better. The calm in his voice, the way he reassures me with such composure, makes me think he knows more than he’s letting on.
Judging by his demeanor, I guess I’m okay. At least, I hope so.
At the school gate, I pause, startled by the intense glare of a familiar figure.
“Where have you been?!”
What....
“Titus?” I frown, confused, as he marches closer.
“You disappeared for two days. I thought…”
“Titus, hey!”
Before he can finish, three girls cut through the tension, their chatter instantly breaking whatever he was about to say.
“Hi, Louisa!”
Titus doesn’t say another word. He turns abruptly and walks away as Melanie, Briana, and Catherine swarm around me.
“Hi, Melanie, Briana, Catherine,” I greet them, relieved I can still remember their names despite everything.
“You were gone for two days,” Briana says as we walk toward the school together.
I nod, sticking to the story my father told me to use. “Yeah, the moving truck came, and I had to clean up our new house since my dad was busy.”
Melanie giggles. “We thought Titus kidn*pped you!”
The others laugh, and I raise an eyebrow. “Why would Titus kidnap me?”
Catherine smirks. “Oh, please. Haven’t you noticed the way he looks at you, girl?”
“Creep,” Melanie adds, rolling her eyes.
“You should stay away from him,” Briana says firmly. “Don’t let him get close to you.”
“That’s why we’re here—to save you!” Catherine declares, as if they’re superheroes.
I almost roll my eyes but stop myself, not wanting to offend them. I simply nod and keep walking. Lucky me, we all share the same first class.
Great...
Still, my mind keeps drifting back to Titus.
What did he want to say?
Why did he seem so upset?
Later, during my break period, I check my phone and smile at the message from my father:
How are you?
He’s always so calm, but I know he’s worried about me.
I’m fine now. Stop worrying, old man, I reply with a grin.
As I put my phone away, movement outside the window catches my eye.
Is that... Titus??
He’s heading toward the back of the school building. Alone?
What’s he doing there?
That area only leads to the abandoned warehouse.
Follow him.
What? No!
You need to follow him.
Oh God, am I arguing with my own thoughts now?
“Fine,” I mutter, cursing my curiosity as I slip out of the classroom and head toward where I saw him go.
The path is eerily quiet.
Several times, I catch sight of dark, shadowy figures lingering in the corners of my vision. I pretend not to see them, but their distorted shapes send chills down my spine.
When I hear a scream, I freeze.
“WHYYY??!!!”
It’s a guy’s voice.
“Titus?” I call out hesitantly.
No response.
“TITUS!” I shout, feeling goosebumps rise on my arms.
I know he’s near.
Suddenly, a voice behind me makes me jump.
“What are you doing here?”
I spin around to see Titus, but something’s wrong.
He isn’t alone.
Behind him stands a terrifying creature with glowing red eyes, its grotesque form almost blending into the shadows.
“Oh my God…”
Can Titus not see it?
She can see us.
Humans who can see us are rare.
My heart pounds as the creature’s deep voice echoes in my mind.
“Titus… what… why?” My voice trembles as I try to form coherent words.
The creature smirks. “The human is weak. He’s ours now.”
My eyes widen.
The demon’s gaze shifts toward me, studying me like I’m prey.
I glance at Titus.
His expression is blank, his eyes unfocused.
“Titus! Wake up!” I plead, shaking him. “Please, open your eyes!”
The creature laughs. “Call him all you want, little girl. He won’t hear you. He’s mine now.”
“Why him? What are you doing to him?!” I demand, trying to sound brave despite the fear gripping me.
The demon’s grin widens. “Heartbreak is profitable. Humans are so deliciously stupid when they’re consumed by despair.”
My gaze shifts to the girl standing behind Titus—Rachel. Her pale, lifeless form sends a jolt of realization through me.
She’s the gate.
The demon is using her sadness to tether itself here.
“I won’t let you take him!” I shout, stepping forward despite the fear threatening to paralyze me.
The demon’s red eyes lock onto mine. “Ah, such spirit. Imagine the power I’ll gain from consuming you, little girl.”
Titus takes a step toward me, his movements slow and unnatural.
I back away. “Stay away from me!”
The demon chuckles darkly. “Come now. It won’t hurt. Much.”
“No!” I cry, raising my trembling hand instinctively.
I don’t know what I’m doing, but I feel something—something deep within me.
“Titus, fight it!” I scream.
The demon sneers. “It’s pointless. He belongs to me.”
“No…” My voice is barely a whisper, but I feel a surge of energy building inside me.
With all the strength I can muster, I raise my hand higher and shout, “LEAVE!”
The demon’s expression twists into one of shock and fury. “What… no… HOW?!”
A blinding light bursts from my hand, and the demon lets out an ear-piercing screech.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
*****
Third-Party POV
“LEAVE!”
I quicken my pace as the girl’s scream echoes through the air.
When I arrive, the sight before me is unbelievable.
The demon is gone, banished by the sheer force of her will.
She did it!!
She cast it out on her own.
The boy collapses to the ground, free of the entity that had possessed him. The girl, too, crumples, unconscious from the effort.
I sigh in relief as I kneel beside her, checking for a pulse.
She’s alive.
Somehow, she survived an encounter that should have destroyed her.
In all my years, I’ve never seen anything like this. A human who can chase away a demon with nothing but a word.
“Leave,” she had said. So simple, yet so powerful.
The phone in her pocket keeps ringing, the screen flashing with the name “Father.”
I answer it.
“Hello, Jack,” I say.
‘Who are you?’
“Your daughter is fine,” I reply bluntly. “She managed to banish a demon from a boy. Impressive, really.”
‘Where is she?!’
“Meet me behind the school, near the old warehouse,” I instruct before ending the call.
I carry the girl over my shoulder and lift the boy with my other arm, moving them to a safer spot. The warehouse is secluded, a good place to regroup.
I glance at the girl’s face as I lay her down, noting how young she looks.
Sixteen, maybe?
Fate is cruel. She shouldn’t have to bear this burden.
The door creaks open, and Jack rushes in, his eyes widening when he sees me.
“You look old, Jack,” I tease, smirking.
He stares at me in shock.
“Dante?”
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- Writer
