Demon Hunters (43 page)

“Your mother always said you took after
him.”

“I know. I got so sick of hearing it.”

“It’s true though. I can see the same spirit
in your eyes as I saw in his. I also sense the same insecurity you
have in closing the door on someone who is so close to you. Whether
you like them or not. He always was a difficult man to know. He
wanted to let the love in, but at the same time he feared it. He
feared hurting those he cared most about. I see that same concern
in you. You keep too many people at arm’s length, but that’s no way
to live your life.”

“So you’re saying I should forgive him?”

“I didn’t say that either. He was always
good at keeping people away. Mostly due to the demon.”

“The demon. He said something about that
today. Are you telling me he was really possessed? Mom told me
about that, but it seemed so unbelievable.”

“He was indeed possessed by a demon due to
the curse of the Corba family. I was witness to the power of the
demon on more than one occasion. That was the reason he had for
keeping people at arm’s length. You, however, seem to keep people
at bay for more conventional reasons.”

“So, I have issues. So what? Who doesn’t?
Look, this is getting confusing. Whose side are you on here? What
are you telling me I should do? Should I forgive him or not?” I ask
at last. Uncle Ivar smiles softly and gets up.

“As always, I’m on your side, Larissa, and
I’m just telling you to allow yourself to feel what you really feel
and do what you feel is right. That is all.” He says and gently
kisses my forehead and turns to walk out of the diner. I remain to
finish my coffee and figure out what the Hell he just said.

A One Size Fits All Bullseye

I get back to my life and push away my
father once again. I have more to worry about than some bad winter
storm. Finding a job for one. I’ve been sending out resumes for the
past week. I’m hoping I can secure an interview at least before my
birthday, which is only a few days away at this point. I don’t want
to ring in my twenty-fifth year on the unemployment line.

It’s Monday morning and I’ve done my early
round of resume send outs. I search all the job boards and the
local networks as well. I have a lot of experience in a lot of
different things so it’s pretty much wide open for me. Craigslist
has a lot of possibilities, but as I click send on the last email
of the day, I feel a sense of futility. I rewrote my resume and
updated all my cover letters, but I was still getting zero
response. I look around and realize I’ve been trapped in my four
walls for days now. I decide it’s time to get out and greet the
world once more. I dress and check myself in the mirror. The hair
needs a little attention and a coat of makeup wouldn’t kill me, so
I rectify those sins and head out the door. I figure a quick cup of
coffee at the coffee house down the street would be good exercise.
As I turn from my door, I stop in my tracks as I see Mike standing
in front his door at the same time.

“Hi.” He says.

“Hello. I thought your church owned that
apartment.”

“They do. I sub-let it from them. It’s good
rent. Can’t pass that up, right?”

“Are you here to work me or what?”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m sure they told you that I met with my
father last week. Aren’t you here to pressure me into doing his
bidding?”

“Uh, no. I didn’t know anything about that.
I’m glad you met with your father though. It’s important to be with
your family.”

“If you say so.” I say and turn from him and
start on my way. I hear him race up behind me.

“Look, how many times do I have to say I’m
sorry?”

“I don’t know. How many times does that
make?”

“I was only delivering a message. You act
like I was going to drug you and drag you off.”

“Weren’t you?”

“No! That’s not what the Church Of Corba
preaches.”

“Don’t talk to me about the Church Of Corba.
I know all I need to know.” I continue on my way and he is like my
shadow. “Do you mind?” I ask as he follows me into the
elevator.

“I live here too. I have every right to take
the elevator.” He says quickly.

“Fine.” I say and mash the button for the
lobby. I stand apart from Mike on the other side of the car.

“You’re really mature, by the way.” He
says.

“Shut up. I can be any way I want.”

“Wow. I really got under your skin.”

“What did you say?”

“You heard me.”

“You got under nothing.”

“Then why are you being so hostile?”

“Because I hate you, that’s why!”

“They say the opposite of love is
indifference. Not hate.”

“What does that have to do with anything? Do
you think I like you or something?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. I think you like
me.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because you invited me to your place for
drinks after nearly breaking my spine.”

“That was guilt. You’re better now,
right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then we’re good.” The elevator stops and I
run out the doors. I hurry out of the building and I can see the
coffee house just ahead.

“Mmm. Coffee. Good idea.” I turn and see
Mike right next to me.

“What the Hell is this? Are you stalking
me?”

“No. I was going out for some coffee too. I
come here all the time.”

“You can’t come here. This is my coffee
place.”

“Yours? You own it?”

“No, but I was here first.”

“Seriously.”

“I have two sanctuaries in this world. My
apartment and my coffee place. This is a part of my world.
Mine!”

“How about you just pee on the door here?
Then I’ll know to keep away.”

“Don’t be gross.”

“The world outside your apartment is public
domain. I have as much right to come here as you do. That being the
case, we may run into each other once in a while. That is something
you are just going to have to deal with. So you can either accept
it and sit down for a drink with me, or go back to your apartment
and wait for me to die.”

“Don’t tempt me.”

“I’m buying.”

“Fine. I’ll have their most expensive drink.
Large.”

I take a table far in the back while Mike
gets our drinks. He gingerly walks over and places the cups down on
the table and sits across from me. He smiles that smile of his and
I can’t help but clench my teeth.

“Smells good, huh? Peruvian, I think. I put
a shot of Hazelnut in mine. You want a taste?”

“Why do you have to be so damn nice?” I
snap.

“I’m sorry?”

“Why did you have to be so cute and so nice
and so, so, perfect!”

“Perfect?”

“When I saw you looking at me on the subway,
I thought you were just another crazy fanatic, but you were also a
lot better looking than most of the other freaks who stalk me. You
looked normal. You looked like you had a brain in your head. When I
found out you weren’t stalking me, I, for the briefest of seconds,
thought there could have been a future there. You were so charming
and sweet. I felt so, I don’t know, at ease with you. Then you
ruined it.”

“How did I ruin it?”

“You told me you were there for the church.
You told me that my father was asking for me. You ruined everything
I had built up in my mind with those few words. You destroyed it
all.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“I know. That’s what kills me. I know it’s
me. I let these things happen. I just wish for once, one good thing
could happen for me and not be spoiled by my father or that damn
church!”

“We can start over. I gave you my message so
I’m a free agent now. I just won’t talk about my religion.”

“You won’t?”

“Not a peep. So, maybe we could try this
again?”

“I guess.”

“
My name’s Mike Barnes and I
am an Atheist.” He says with a bright smile. I can’t help but
laugh.

“Hi, Mike. I’m Larissa.”

“Lovely to meet you, Larissa.”

“Thank you. You should be warned however, I
am unemployed.”

“What? For real?”

“Yeah. They slid my job out from under me
last week. One of the reasons I had to get out. I can’t stand being
trapped up there with nothing to do but worry.”

“You’ve been checking online, right?”

“Of course. I’m not an amateur.”

“You should check the paper.”

“No one checks the paper for jobs
anymore.”

“It doesn’t hurt to try. Hold on.” Mike then
gets up and hurries to a small wood table set next to the door,
which has a pile of discarded newspapers sitting on top of it. He
quickly returns with a thick stack.

“Those aren’t all want ads, are they?”

“No. I scored. Today’s paper still intact.
Here,” He says as he hands me the classified section. “While you
look for a job, I can check the sports page,” He pulls the paper
open and a headline catches my eye. I grab it quickly and scan the
article. “What is it?”

“The Church Of Corba has made an
unprecedented announcement. Their leader, Jake Corba, has
proclaimed that the current storm hanging over New York is actually
the first sign of a coming apocalypse.” I read. Mike grabs the
paper from me and finds the same article.

“He goes on to say the only person capable
of stopping the imminent disaster is his daughter, Larissa Corba,
who as of this printing, refuses to help.” Mike continues. He looks
up at me.

“What else does it say?”

“You don’t want to know.” Mike says as he
crumples the paper away.

“They can’t do this. That article’s going to
incite riots.” I say just as a small packet of cream lands in my
hair. I look past Mike and see a little old lady looking right at
me with her eyes blazing at me. I can hear whispers begin to take
speed in the room. People start pointing.

“Maybe we better get out of here.” Mike says
as he helps me up and guards me as we hurry to the door. Just as
the door closes, a full cup of steaming coffee slams against the
window. I turn to Mike.

“They can’t do this!” I say. I can instantly
feel the poisonous glares of everyone on the street.

“I know, but maybe being out isn’t the
safest place to be. Let’s get you home.”

“Okay. Fine.”

We hurry back to our building. Mike wraps
his coat around me in an attempt to block me from sight. It seems
even more people are recognizing me, which I find odd. We brush
past Will as we run into the building.

“Bitch.” Will says loudly. Mike stops
suddenly and goes over to Will.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me. I called your girlfriend
there a bitch. We’re all going to die and she’s just going to let
it happen. I’m not too surprised though. She never tips. People
like that are just the kind who’ll let the world die, and the only
word that describes a person like that is ‘bitch’.”

“Is that right?” Mike says and then lays
Will out with one punch.

“Don’t expect any tips from me either.” He
says and quickly bundles me into the elevator.

We get back to my place and I can barely
find words. Mike clearly picks up on my distress and does what he
can to calm me down. He finds some Herbal tea in my pantry and
starts up the water as I flip on my computer. If there’s any
breaking news on this whole mess, it will be online. I jump onto my
browser and the whole story fills my screen right before my
eyes.

“No wonder they recognize me. They put up a
big picture of me online!” I call to Mike who brings me the
tea.

“Don’t read that now. It’ll just upset
you.”

“I don’t have to read it! There’s a video!
Look at this!” I say as I click on a small window and a video of a
press conference begins. There’s my dad flanked by Morgan and Damon
on either side. He begins talking, but the words seem so alien to
me. He just about organized the lynch mob and sicked them on me
himself. I shut the computer down.

“This isn’t so bad.”

“It’s gone viral! You saw them out there! It
was like some damn zombie movie. I guess I can kiss any job
interviews goodbye.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Who’s going to hire the woman who let the
world die?”

“Well, look on the bright side. Maybe your
dad’s wrong and none of this will matter anyway.” Mike says with a
weak smile. I give him a look and that’s all it takes for him to
turn away meekly.

“Maybe he’s wrong? What is that supposed to
mean?”

“I’m just saying if the weather blows over
soon, everyone will know the world is not coming to an end and
you’ll be off the hook.”

“And if it doesn’t? You believe him. You
really think this is the end of the world.”

“I didn’t say that. I’m just trying to keep
an open mind.”

“He is wrong! There is no apocalypse! I know
what he’s really doing. He’s blackmailing me. The only way I can
redeem myself now is to agree to help him and make his flock fall
even deeper in love with him than they are now. Otherwise, I lose
everything. Right now, according to a poll conducted by People
Weekly, I’m more hated than Hitler. You can’t come back from
that.”

“So you’re going to do it?”

“Hell no! I’m not letting him force me do
something like this. I’m just going to let the week go by and when
the world does not end, everything will go back to normal.”

“Okay.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“You sounded a little unsure.”

“I’m just saying I’ve seen some pretty
convincing stuff at the church.” Mike defends.

“I don’t believe this. People have been
predicting the end of the world since the beginning of it. Everyone
was nuts over twenty twelve being the end of the Mayan calendar,
but here we are!”

“I know that, but this storm. You have to
admit, it’s pretty strange. The sun hasn’t been seen in weeks and
it barely ever stops raining. It just feels like something’s coming
to an end.”