Devil's Elbow

Act III: Chapter 16

Gavriella opened her eyes and found herself in a house she had never seen, leaving her more confused than she already was.

“Where... am I?”

Before she could answer her own question, she heard a vehicle screech to a stop outside the house.

“John!”

She widened her eyes hearing the voice and immediately put a face to it as he punched his knuckles on the door.

“Shani, what-”

She turned to find an older man walking up with rage in his eyes and cruelness in his smile.

Even with these two aspects and emotions, Gavriella easily matched the face of another she knew.

John… Shani’s father.

As she saw the man open the door, she felt a sense of dread as she watched Shani, holding his baseball bat until his knuckles paled.

“Where is he?”

“The f**k you gonna do if I don’t-”

The older man didn't finish as Shani swung his bat at his leg, making the man shout and fall. “WHERE?!”

“You little s**t!”

Gavriella stared in horror as John grabbed Shani by his shirt collar and throat and threw him into the wall in a rage. “Shani!”

“Throwing your f*****g hands on me?!” John growled before spitting square in Shani’s face and before he could do more, Shani tackled the man with unknown strength and dropped him on his back before grabbing his bat and swinging at his leg again, making the man scream in agony.

“All the beatings..!”

He didn't finish as he swung again and shattered his knee making the man scream as he crawled.

“All the words…”

He didn't stop as he swung at his back, making the man stop as the air left his body.

“S-Shani…” John tried to crawl, blood from his mouth slowly beginning to form as Shani glared at him.

“You have done this my whole life… to me, my mother… Jalen. Not again.” He growled as he lifted the bat, making Gavriella shake her head, shocked by what she was witnessing.

“Shani… please… I am your father.” The man whimpered.

Shani froze and, for a moment, Gavriella saw her best friend return before his eyes went cold as he leaned down glaring at his father.

“And in peace,” He leaned down and whispered. “Sons must always bury their fathers.”

The man widened his eyes and screamed as Shani raised his bat and swung it upon his head, indenting it with Gavriella standing still with a hand to her mouth, horrified as she saw the new blood dripping from the bat.

“Shani-!”

She didn't finish as she saw the tears in his eyes as he clenched his teeth and swung again, growling with each swing as they broke into a long single scream as his father’s head became split open.

“THIS IS ALL YOUR f*****g FAULT, YOU SON OF A b***h!” He cried before taking one last swing as Gavriella found the strength to move.

“SHANI NO!!!”

Gavriella woke inside the same cave, horrified in fear and confusion. She heard a mixture of groans and saw her friends, each unconscious and battered. Among them she focused harder since it was hard to see in the darkness until she saw Shani and smiled before remembering the scene she had witnessed.

“Shani?”

Shani fluttered his eyes open, his eyes as confused as hers were as he looked around. “Gavri..?”

“I’m here, Shani!” She said as she finally was able to see everyone. “Shani!”

Shani followed her eyes and smiled widely, seeing Vincent mangled but still alive before him. After hearing that he may have survived, he honestly thought that the Entity was lying. He couldn't even deny being happy as tears came to his face.

“Vinnie!”

The Asian boy opened his eyes slowly and looked around. “ S… Shani?” As he looked at Shani and smirked weakly at Gavriella. “Damn girl… can't stay out of trouble for a minute?”

“Ass…” She smiled and looked around. “This place…”

Shani nodded, recognizing every detail despite the little misty fog that shrouded them. And even then he could not deny what his headache confirmed. “It's the cave. It has to be The Entity’s hideout-”

“Hideout? Horrible place to describe a home, I think.”

Everyone froze hearing the gravelly yet deep voice as a large shape approached. A body with no neck, a bearlike body with a head of what he could only describe as birdlike in a form of shadows and smoke. But it wasn't alone as it brought a body to the room. A body that Shani immediately recognized. “Mica!” He shouted as her eyes slowly opened.

“Shani..?” She looked around groggily before seeing Gavriella. “Gavri! Vincent! Shani!”

“Get your scaly hands off of her, you sonuvabitch!” Vincent said, growling in pain from his wounds.

The monster smirked and shifted forms until he took up an almost human form. Though the body was still large with black wings, he was more lean and tall, filled in ebony feathers with half his now blue-tinted skin replaced with black etched claws and lower body with birdlike talons, with the tail remaining intact. What everyone noticed though, was the Entity’s face… which seemed angelic and almost human until that same inhuman smile and, to Shani’s chagrin, the same yellow eyes, only now more vibrant and fiery.

“So is this another form of yours?” He asked, growling at the nearly seven-foot demon.

“Felt you all survived my game enough to see a different side of me. Especially since I have seen all the sides to each of you.” It grinned, it's once deep voice replaced with a deep yet creepily soft tone.

“The hell are you on about now?” Vincent asked, glaring.

“As you all slept, I managed to do some digging. What drives you, what inspires you,” it said, gazing at Gavriella, who froze.

What despairs you?

She froze as she winced back at memories she wanted to keep hidden in her past. All of her self-loathing, her doubts… her pain. It all came the moment the yellow eyes locked with hers as a sharp shock came through her body, making her scream.

“LEAVE HER ALONE, YOU BASTARD!” Shani shouted at the Entity, his arms stretching the strange black gunk that kept him to the wall.

“What the hell do you want?!” Mica growled as she moved to stab the Entity, only to be stopped by an unknown force.

“Go sit down, little miss hero.” It said before she was repulsed towards the wall with black tendrils slithering up her arms and legs, each going through her clothes and wrapped tight enough to hurt her.

“I already told you all what I want. Well, I guess more specifically what I need,” they said and looked in Gavriella’s eyes as it gripped her cheeks with a grin. “Your despair,” they said and kissed her cheek, inciting more anger from Shani.

“And each of you have been abundant with all of your secrets and pain.” It smirked at them. “I could have feasted on that Kodi for ages before you killed him.”

Gavriella and Mica both widened their eyes as they saw the color leave Shani’s face. “Wait… what?”

The Entity looked at the two girls, its eyes in a squint reading them, and then its grin stretched as it realized why the two were confused.

“Ahhh, you didn’t tell them. Didn't you, boyo?”

Shani looked down as Vincent also lost his color in his cheeks as well. “Shut up…”

“Well, I guess since the boy was begging for his life, it must have been easier on your conscience, unlike-”

“I said shut up!”

Shani felt his body being forced into the wall with enough weight that it felt like he was being crushed.

“Stop!” Mica shouted before he finally slumped. “Shani…”

“I didn't want to…”

“And yet, you didn't even try to save him, did you?” It asked grinning. “Death must come so easily for you, boyo.” The Entity said as it lifted his head and kissed his cheek as he winced.

“Don't listen to it, Shani!”

“Ah yes, the everlasting White Knight,”it said as it walked over to Vincent. “I must say, of the ones here, you only have the secrets of helping Shani hide the body.”

Gavriella froze, remembering the memory she saw, but could still hardly believe it was real. “Shani…”

“I didn't want to…”

Everyone looked at Shani. The Entity smiled and grinned at the young man and walked up. “Why don't you enlighten us fully then… especially since you will not survive and escape.”

Shani looked at his friends and, in that instant, they all but saw a small flicker of light in his eyes, knowing they wanted answers as well.

“Gavriella… Do you remember what I said about my father being a real piece of shit..?”

Gavriella froze, realizing this had to do with what she saw.

“Yes..?”

“Well I didn't tell you how much… There was once a time I loved John. I wanted to be like him. Make him proud…” He said with a smile and a cracked voice. “But the older I got, the meaner he got. Was into everything from drinking, to smoking, to the nearest pipe. And the higher the highs... the lowest of the lows.

As he described his father, the trio began seeing images flash through their thoughts. The beginning were visuals of a six-year-old boy. Despite his hair being shorter and his smile retaining a form of innocence to him, all three recognized the boy to be Shani and a taller white man who shared the same smile as he had his son on his shoulders spinning.

And for a moment the scene brought a smile to Mica’s face before she saw Gavriella and Vincent’s glares as though they knew something she didn't. And before she had the opportunity to ask, she saw the surroundings change into a living room where Shani was inside the living room of an apartment, with a woman now arguing with the boy's father. He looked now at about eleven or twelve years of age in the corner of the doorway as the two yelled slurs of hate and animosity.

“Why in the hell would he lie?!”

“Because you forced him to! You kept pushing him, asking him if he stole your friend’s s**t and no matter what he said, you got the answer you wanted.”

“b***h, you don't know what f*****g answer I wanted!”

“Dad-” Shani moved forward to try and intervene as he sat his two-year-old brother down. As he did, he didn't have time to prepare for the glass cup flying his way as his mother moved and was popped in the head.

“DeShan!” His mom ran over and held him as his head began bleeding.

“Let the little fucker learn. Stay out of grown folks' business.”

As the addict walked away, he didn't see the blood trickle down his scarred head… or the angry and sad tears that mixed with them.

Gavriella stared and reached for him as though to hug him. Mica also did the same as she saw and as they did, the scene then changed to a different apartment. A now twelve year old Shani reading before the door to his room was slammed open.

“Where is it?” The father asked before taking the boy by his arm, making the boy wince terrified and in pain.

“Dad, what did I do?” Shani asked as he was yanked and thrown to the floor.

“What did I f*****g tell you about touching my s**t?” The man asked coldly as confusion came to the boy's face.

“Dad, I didn't take any-”

He didn't finish as his father made a loud slap across his face that stunned the boy into silence.

“I am tired of your f*****g lies!”

“I’m not lying, I swear!” Shani cried, whimpering.

“Oh stop crying you f*****g sissy, before I give you something to cry about! Now where is my damn stash!” The man said cruelly as he all of a sudden had a belt, the jingle sending a chill as Shani knew what was coming. Gavriella covered her mouth as tears threatened to come out.

The boy tried to crawl, afraid. “Dad please… I didn't take it-”

He didn't finish as he was whipped on his back by the belt and screamed as the man did not even show signs of stopping.

“Stop f*****g lying to me!” He said as Shani tried crawling the whips on his back, leaving welts and scars the more the onslaught went. Mica felt tears well up as she recognized the scars. When Mica held him, she thought she felt old scars on his back but thought they were just imaginary in the moment… and even when she suspected his father was doing something when they first met, only now did she realize the truth.

John didn't just try to hurt his son… he tried to break him.

“For ten years, that bastard spent every waking minute harming anything in the house that disagreed with him. I was just a small kid so I could never do anything. But after I was twelve… I wasn't afraid. My mom eventually took me and Jaelyn away from John and for a while, a short while, things were quiet and we never saw him again… Until I was in college and my brother was in middle school. John had found Jalen and beat my mom before taking him. Vincent tried to help me find him but… he didn't get to me in time.”

Vincent looked down and felt his heart sink as he knew what was coming.

“Shani…” Gavriella looked at him hoping against all that she saw. “What happened to John?”

The Entity smirked at him and began walking up. “Yes, Shani, tell the girls your secret. That one darkest moment in your life.”

Shani looked up and had red eyes from tears that were down his cheeks. “I took my brother’s bat… found John… and bashed his skull with every ounce of strength he took from me. By the time I was done, his head was hardly recognizable.”

Vincent looked down as Shani spoke, a look that immediately gave him away to Mica’s perceptive gaze.

Mica stared at him, shocked and horrified, as Gavriella shared the same expression. “That year you didn't talk to anyone in the group…”

Vincent nodded, answering Gavri’s lingering question. “I ended up helping bury the body and hiding it. Shani didn't want to risk this coming back to haunt you and Jalen,” Vincent said and sighed.

“Makes sense, you would know a thing or two about burying skeletons inside the closet. Wouldn't you, cutie pie?” The Entity asked, raking its long finger against the asian boy's jawline seductively, making Vincent shift uncomfortably.

“Enough.” Shani said, looking up finally. “A week later the body was found but they didn't find the evidence. We had a closed casket funeral for him and buried his body…” He said sadly as everyone let the news sink in.

“Shani… he hurt you-”

“And that makes it okay?! I killed my father with just a single second thought. I watched as he begged me to stop beating his head in.... and you know what? I enjoyed it!” He said to Gavriella, who flinched. “I have tried ever since then to do right by Jaelyn, my mom… my friends.”

“And you do-”

“NO, I FAIL!” He shouted at them with enough bass in his voice to surprise even the Entity. “Every time that I ever try to do right by anyone, someone gets hurt.”

The Entity stared at the boy as it processed the information given and smiled. “Such a delicious secret. No wonder you were being so aggressive. You’re a killer.”

Shani widened his eyes as the words sunk in. “I’m not…”

“Shani, don't listen to it! This thing doesn't know anything about you at all!” Mica said, trying to reach some part of Shani that wasn't succumbing to the darkness around him.

“Oh, and you do, Miss Perceptive?” The Entity asked her, smiling as it walked up.

“Hey, back away from her!”

“Oh shut up, White Knight,” It said, directing its gaze upon Vincent. “Not much of a threat without a gun hmm?” He asked and raked his back to Mica. “Your vision may be pretty strong little Mica, but I have sharper eyes and right now I can see the real reason you came.”

As he spoke, Shani looked at her confused as to why it made her freeze. “Mica?”

“You can’t…” She said to him, “Perhaps we will take a stroll down your lane then.” He grinned as she, along with her friends screamed in pain.

Mica looked around, opening her eyes before finding out where she was.

“Wait… this is-”

“Carter! I’m home!”

She turned and saw herself and was taken aback. Same freckles, same hair… but moreover, the same clothes of one particular day.

“No! Nononono-!”

As her copy walked ahead to the living room, she froze inside the studio apartment seeing a young man in bed turning with another girl, making both redheads' hearts sink, with Mica’s sinking far lower at having to see it again.

“Mica, I-I thought you had to-”

“Get. Out.” She heard herself say as tears streamed down both cheeks.

“But wait, I can-”

“GET THE HELL OUT!” She said and grabbed his things immediately and the blonde.

“b***h if you don't get your hands-”

“You. Will. What, b***h?” Mica said with fury in her eyes before throwing the half-naked girl into the hallway before glaring at her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend.

“Gavri told me that she didn't like something about you, but I didn't listen…”

“Mica please, give me another-”

He didn't finish as she shoved him out with his fling.

“There's your chance, right there.”

Before he could speak, she slammed the door and broke into a scream of tears on the bed's pillow.

The current Mica felt familiar eyes watching and was immediately drawn to Shani’s, who looked angry and disgusted by Carter.

“Carter was always an asshole but I didn't think…” He said as she nuzzled into his chest.

“Like I said, Gavriella warned me of the signs. But I was too stubborn to listen.”

“Damn right you were.” Gavriella said, making both look at her with Mica resisting a smile with her tears.

“But that isn’t why we are here.” The Entity whispered with a grin in its tone.

Before Shani could ask, it soon flashed to another scene with Mica looking paler as a knock came to her front door.

“Babe, it's me Gavri.” She heard her best friend say, causing her to look up and back down quickly.

“I told you, Gavri, I don't want to talk.”

“Babe, it's been almost a month. I just wanted to offer something that might help get past Carter for a bit.” She said with a gentle voice.

The past image of Mica came up to the door answering her friend, who smiled. “I have an offer for you.” She grinned.

“Oh god, what?” Mica grumbled.

“So you can always say no, but I was planning a camping trip in a few weeks with some friends.”

Shani smiled until he saw Mica’s face pale, which stirred a sense of worry in his stomach. “Mica?”

“No,” he heard Mica say as she left his arms. “Nonono, stop showing this.”

Though it was nowhere in sight, the four could feel the Entity’s smile and no one felt comfort from it.

Before Shani could ask further, the scene of his closest girls began playing in snippets again.

“Friends? Like who?”

“Mine and Shani’s friends, Kodi, Seth and Vincent.” She smirked as she saw Mica’s face perk up.

“And Shani will be there,” She asked.

“He and I came up with this trip! I didn't tell him I wanted you to come.” She winked. “It would be our little surprise.”

Mica smiled, knowing how much Shani had liked her, and while they hadn't talked nearly as much lately, she couldn't deny the attraction was mutual. She thought a second more about it and nodded. “I suppose it would be fun, sure.” She smiled.

“Great! I will be here to pick you up, so keep your pretty freckled ass out of trouble!” Gavriella said, kissing her best friend on the forehead and began walking off. “Later beautiful!”

“Later!” Mica replied and shut the door before leaning her back against it. “Shani… sorry but you will certainly help.” She said shallowly and almost emotionlessly.

Shani and Gavriella stared stunned as they began to understand what Mica implied.

I was used..?

As Mica gasped, screaming from the memory, everyone was silent. All but the Entity, that is, who laughed hysterically. “And you all think I am a heartless being!”

Shani stared at Mica, his eyes filled with hurt at the emotions he felt. “Did you intend to use me?”

Mica felt the tears forming and saw the glaring stare of Gavriella looking at her. “Gavri, Shani-”

“DID YOU?” He asked louder, his voice making her flinch as it echoed inside the cave, making her flinch slightly.

“I… yes… I didn't at the time care enough to actually be in a relationship with you.” She said to him, earning stunned glares from Gavriella and Vincent alike.

“Mica…”

As Mica couldn't look her best friend in the face, she saw the pain in Shani’s face as he began to lower his head while the Entity laughed.

“MY OH MY! SO MANY SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSETS!” The Entity laughed before directing its eyes at Shani, who slumped down.

“You’re not at all curious about what darkness I may have?” Gavri glared at it, making it stop before it its head c****d, to show it's outstretched smile.

“Why would I? We all know the truth about your darkness,my little two timer?” It asked, making her confused.

“Two timer? What-”

“It is clear, child. You are committed to a fiance, but you wanted that boy for something lustfully delicious.” The Entity grinned, fanning its hand and only then did she understand.

“Cole.”

“Cole,” it laughed in Cole’s voice, turning into Cole in face only. “Face it Gavri, you always wanted me. What, did pretty boy Austin amount to snuff?” The Entity laughed.

“Shut your mouth!” Mica growled and earned the Entity’s attention.

“You have no room to speak heartbreaker.” It said, cupping Shani’s jawline, the latter of whom was not fighting for the first time. “Look at what you did to my precious boy.” The Entity said, licking Shani by his cheek.

“Get off of him!” Gavriella shouted, trying to get free.

“All of your faults…”

Mica looked at Shani, whose face became unreadable to her. “Shani..?”

He looked up and glared at her and Gavriella. “You both are responsible for this.” He glared at Gavri directing his intense eyes at her. “You wanted us to come here! If you didn't, then Cole, Kodi, Seth, they would all be alive right now!”

Gavri froze with a sense of fear. Because behind his eyes was a level of hate she had never seen but one time… when he was pounding into Kodi earlier that night.

What Krista warned us of...

“And you.”

She glanced back at Mica, who looked as though she wanted to help. “Shani I-”

“You what?! You didn't want to hurt me? Because I was nice? Because I was the first man who didn't treat you poorly?” He asked and Gavri could tell by the tears that he believed that that was how she felt. And to her own detriment, all Mica could do was look away.

And this Entity who forced that rage to the open clear for all to see, just smiled.

“Shani, you can't let this thing change you man,” Vincent tried saying as he struggled.

“This thing has been the fairest one to Shani here, White Knight. Gavriella used him like a shield, Mica used him like a w***e, and even you, sweet Vincent, judged his character.” The Entity smiled, reminding Vincent of Shani’s willingness to kill Kod. Vincent felt a ping of regret as Shani’s gaze went at him.

“So here is what I offer to you all.” The Entity smirked. “Kind as I am, I will let you go but at a price.” It said to them and grinned an inhumanly outstretched smile.

“What. Price?” Shani asked, looking back down as the Entity took the center of the cave of skulls.

“One of you must die, that sweet taste of darkness will keep me sated for a long while.”

“You expect us to trust you?” Gavriella said, glaring at the Entity, who just grinned.

“Not you, no. But you,” it said and caressed Shani’s cheek. “I really like you, child. Shani, you show that killer instinct and choose who deserves to die the most, and I will honor my word. The sister who got your friends murdered? The woman you loved, who couldn't give the same decency you showed? Or the best friend, who wasn't as loyal as he seemed?”

“I will kill one of them, and you will let us go,” Shani asked, looking up with a hardened but angered expression.

The three each glanced at each other, before looking the boy in his eyes. And each saw the darkness that had built up since they first stepped into Devil’s Peak.

“I’ll do it.”

Death.