Escape (9 page)

            “We used to spend a lot of time together. We used to go on vacations all over, but we haven’t done that in years. They’ve become so committed to their work that they hardly have time for vacation. I’m sure they want it, but they never take the time off for it.”

            Amelia’s mind flashed to all the moments when her parents had the opportunity to spend time with her, but they didn’t. “It was especially hard over the summer and holidays. The banks and offices would be closed, but somehow they still found something to keep them busy at home. Some days during the summer break, I’d only see them when they left in the morning and they’d be gone all day. Sometimes I wonder if they even knew I was out of school. I’d stay home all day, alone.”

            A lump rose in her throat that couldn’t be suppressed. “The day I left, I got a letter in the mail. I was accepted to a university. That’s a big deal where I come from. It was my dream to get into college and I hoped that when I told them, they would be happy and congratulate me.” Tears breached in her eyes and she couldn’t stop the flood now.

            “I called my mom and she didn’t even listen to me. I never got to tell them. I didn’t tell anybody. In fact, you’re the only other person that knows.” Amelia tried to swallow the lump, but it wouldn’t budge. A tear seeped from her lids as she squeezed them shut.

            “I don’t have any friends, no one likes me at school. I’m a teacher’s pet and everyone calls me a nerd, a show off, a bookworm, a geek, and every nasty name you can think of, someone has called me it. The teachers love me for how hard I work, but they never ask why my parents never show up for award ceremonies or PTA meetings. No one really seems to know I exist and now I’ve got a chance to go to this great school and… and…” Amelia could contain her sobs no longer.

            She had never thought of all these things at once, not in one sitting. She had almost completely forgotten that Connor was watching her meltdown. The weight of her world crashed upon her shoulder so suddenly that it was too much to take. Her whole meaningless life flashed before her and she wondered what it was all for. Why did she try so hard when nothing worked? Why did she make such an effort only for everything to go unnoticed? What was it all for? Amelia snapped and realized the truth.

            “I don’t wanna go back home!”

            She buried her face in her arms and cried in such a way that she hadn’t done in years. It wasn’t crying for fear, but for utter misery. All of the repressed emotions, the stifled sobs at night, the tears that she fought back so hard during the day all came out in the wave of turmoil that she could have lost herself in. Amelia knew she must have looked so pathetic to Connor, but she didn’t care anymore. Her defenses were shattered in one moment of openness and there was no reversing it. Once the page was ripped, there was no way it could be whole again.

            Suddenly, she felt a warmth envelope her. Strong arms wrapped around her shoulders and a body was pressed against her back. Amelia lifted her head and with reddened, puffy eyes saw Connor’s legs stretch out from behind her on both sides.

            Before she could realize what he was doing, his forehead leaned against her temple. His breath was warm against her neck and Amelia tried to stifle her sobs just for a moment, but it was unsuccessful.

            “It’s ok,” he whispered, his deep voice like a palliative to her shattered heart.

            With his consent, she let the tears flow freely. It felt like such a release to cry about all the hurts that she kept bottled inside for all of these years. The biting words spoken to her, the lonely nights spent at home, the neglect that she felt every day. It was almost too much for her to bear.

            But, an odd sensation emerged from the rubble of her sufferings. It almost felt as if some of it was being taken away. When the pain threatened to spill over and consume her, the excess was whisked away and she didn’t feel its bitter sting. It was like when Connor had massaged her legs and back.

            She peeked at him from the corner of her eyes and saw that his whole body took on a subtle glow, not as bright as his hands from before, but just enough that it was noticeable. And it was then that she saw something else. It was on his face. His expression was bland, void of emotion, but his cheeks told another story.

            There were tears streaming from his eyes, just as much as they were from hers. Could he be feeling her pain the way that she felt it? Could demons be so sympathetic to the blight of a mere human? But perhaps since Connor once was human, he could relate to her more than she would have imagined possible.   

 
          Amelia thought she would feel like a fool when the crying had finally eased to a stop, but Connor was extraordinarily understanding with her. When they had pulled away, his glowing faded and he tried to act like the remains of the tears weren’t there, but Amelia would never forget them.

            The gnomes gave them both a meager bowl of vegetable soup, which they slurped up rather quickly. Their hosts were eager to get rid of the demon, so they wouldn’t permit them to stay much longer. Connor was fine with that.

            They found their way back to the path that wound through the small country of Phantasia. The scenery was much more pleasant here than in Augustine, but Amelia wouldn’t comment upon it. It was Connor’s safe haven after all.

            They walked side by side now, Amelia feeling no longer afraid of Connor and his wrath. He was quiet, as he usually was, but there was something peculiar about him now. There was more sentiment in his eyes than before. It was like witnessing the slow unraveling of a cocoon. Amelia knew that he was becoming more comfortable around her. She wondered if he still hated her, but the hug they shared was enough evidence for her to believe that he didn’t.

            An icy wind peeled through the path and Amelia visibly shivered. It had stopped snowing hours ago after their run across the graveyard, but it never seemed to get any warmer as they traveled further.

            Connor saw her briskly rub one of her arms to fight away the cold. Without hesitation, he slid his jacket off and offered it out to her. He couldn’t deny that he cared for her and he was tired of trying. Holding her back at the gnomes’ tree, he couldn’t control his need to comfort her.

            Demons in general craved destruction, fear, anger, hatred, and found joy in the suffering of others. Connor enjoyed that once too, but time had changed him. She had changed him. Her innocence and the hidden strength within her intrigued him. When he held her, he wanted so desperately to take her pain away and make her forget about everything that had caused it.

            But again, it was too great. There was nothing he possessed that could heal such hurt. But he would do everything in his power to try.  

            Amelia looked at the jacket and took it from him with a strained smile. They paused for a moment to allow her to slide her arms through the jacket sleeves. Connor quickly took up the box in an effort to ease her load.

            He had long since healed from the tragedy of losing his family, but he could see the same suffering in her that he had experienced long ago. When she noticed he had taken the box, she sighed.

            “You don’t have to baby me just because I bawled like one earlier.”

            Connor peered at her in confusion. “I’m not trying to baby you. I’m just trying to help.”

            They continued their casual march down the path. “You seem more eager to help now than you did before. What changed?”

            Amelia was growing braver in her questions, but Connor would not be as free with his explanations as before.

            “I don’t know.”

            Amelia folded her arms over her stomach and snuggled into the jacket, savoring its warmth and scent. She appreciated the gesture.

            “Thank you anyway,” she said softly. He had never replied to her words of gratitude before, so she wasn’t expecting a response back.

            “You’re welcome.” His voice was just loud enough that she could hear him.

            Amelia smiled at him, though he didn’t see it. “So, if there are demons, are there angels too?”

            Connor glanced down to her. “I’ve never met one, but I’ve heard of them.”

            “I suppose demons and angels war against each other?”

            “On Earth, yes. I never encountered one on my missions there.”

            Amelia grew more curious. “Missions? So you were like a demon soldier?”

            Connor shrugged. “I suppose you could say that.”

            “And I guess you did stuff like tempting people?”

            His expression hardened. “Yes, and much worse.”

            “Dare I ask or should I leave it alone?”

            “I’d prefer you leave it alone.”

            Amelia could sense the edginess in his tone and nodded in understanding. “What did you do while you were in Flagler? I saw that people had jobs. Did you have one?” She hardly knew if calling the monsters
people
was appropriate, but it was the only word she could think of that he wouldn’t take offense to.

            “I taught combat,” he replied, his voice lifting a little as if in pride.

            “So you taught all those moves like you used back at the graveyard?”

            Connor looked to her nodded in reply.

            “That’s really cool. Can you show me something?” Amelia’s face was illuminated with excitement. She always wanted to learn some sort of martial arts, but she was never able to because she needed her parents to sign consent forms and pay for the classes. She didn’t know if she had ever bothered to discuss the idea with her parents at all.

            “Sure,” Connor replied. They stopped in the middle of the path and set the box down. Amelia waited excitedly as he settled himself into a fighting stance.

            She watched with fascination as he bounced on the balls of his feet like a boxer, his loose fists were raised at the ready. If Amelia blinked, she might have missed his incredible roundhouse combo with a spin flying kick. Connor moved so quickly that she could hardly keep track of how many kicks he extended in what seemed like one fluid motion, but what really was a several-step routine.

            Amelia thought it was beautiful. When he returned back to his original fighting stance, she smiled in amazement. “That was awesome!” she exclaimed.

            For a fleeting moment, she saw it. Connor smiled. She didn’t know whether it was with pride or satisfaction, but she saw it and relished it. It was a wonderful smile. She could distinctly see his sharp teeth glisten from below his lips, but they didn’t scare her anymore.

            But, as quickly as that toothy grin appeared, it disappeared into a soft smirk. He picked the box back up and they continued.

            “Do you think you could teach me some of that?” Amelia asked eagerly.

            “When would I? You’re going home soon. We’re about half way to the bay.”

            “Oh, right.” The color and exuberance drained from Amelia’s face. She had forgotten about that. What she had said earlier was not born of a tantrum or emotional outburst. She really didn’t want to go home anymore. She didn’t want to stay either. The idea of living in a world of darkness and monsters, with her as the only human around, wasn’t a comforting idea. But the thought of going back to a place where no one cared about her anymore was far less idyllic.

            “I suppose I can’t stay, can I?” she asked, melancholy laced in every word.

            They came upon a wide river in the path with an arching wooden bridge built over it to accommodate travelers. The dull roar of the current filled the still air. Moonbeams glittered upon its ever-restless surface like sparkling diamonds atop a deep blue cloth.

            Connor sighed and shook his head. “No, you can’t. This isn’t your home.”

            “Not much more than it is home for you.”

            Connor didn’t reply as they came to the middle of the bridge. Amelia looked up and down the river, seeing how it went on for miles and miles, winding through the trees, the lifeblood of the forest. She didn’t get to see many like this back in her world.

            She continued to walk on, but Connor suddenly stopped.

            “Do you hear that?” he asked, his eyes straining for the source of some unknown sound that Amelia couldn’t hear.

            She turned to face him and listened for a moment, but then shook her head. “No, I don’t hear anything but the river.”

            “It sounds like…” Connor’s expression changed from confusion to fascination. “It sounds like music.”

            Amelia raised an eyebrow at him as he glanced to her, then to the water’s surface. He immediately fled to the bridge railing and looked over the edge, staring intently into the water as if he had found the origin of the music. She saw the perplexed glint in his eyes as he leaned farther down, tense like a cougar about to pounce upon its prey.

            “You can listen to the singing fish on the way back,” Amelia said laughingly, thinking his behavior foolish. She then turned to step off the bridge and back onto the forest path.

            She kept walking for a few seconds, and then she heard stirring of water that was contrary to its normal flow. Amelia turned around to see a watery creature rising from the river, the moonlight shimmering in its seductive movements. She watched with disbelief as it began to resemble the form of a woman. Its hand caressed Connor’s face as he fell into a hypnotic trance. The creature’s hair undulated like the gentle flowing of a waterfall, droplets dripping from its tips. Amelia could clearly see the crystal blue, but slightly transparent, feminine facial features of the creature.

            Amelia ran back onto the bridge and tried to get Connor’s attention by tugging on his arm. “Connor, snap out of it!” she shouted. But it was no use.  

            The siren spat river water into Amelia’s face, and then pulled Connor over the railing of the bridge and into the creek, leaving the box sitting on the wooden planks where he was just standing a second ago.

            When Amelia had wiped the water from her eyes, she saw the creature was carrying Connor away down the stream, trying to pull him deep under the surface. His eyes glazed over like he was in some sort of daze. Amelia ran off the bridge and along the shore of the river, following them with the swift current.

            “Connor! Connor, can you hear me? Swim you idiot!” she shouted, but he didn’t hear her. No amount of screaming would even make him turn to look at her. He was more engaged with the siren that was seducing him to sink deeper and deeper into the river.

            She thought of diving in there herself to rescue him, but when she looked downstream, she saw the current only became stronger, leading to rapids that broke over jagged rocks.

            Amelia knew if she didn’t act fast, Connor could crash against the rocks if he didn’t drown first.

            She looked around and found a long, thick branch that had fallen from a nearby tree. By now, Connor was almost completely submerged in the river. She caught up with him and used the stick to jab into his ribs, trying to get his attention.

            The siren grabbed the stick and snatched it from Amelia’s grasp, pulling it into the river. She heard the river witch cackle beneath the current, taunting Amelia.

            As the siren continued to play its song for Connor, its murky hands traveled all over his body, teasing him and playing with him. Connor’s hands did the same, but Amelia knew well enough that the creature had no interest in intimacy with the demon.  

            Amelia ran to the tree line and grabbed a thick, sturdy coil of vines. She dragged it back to the river and tied a large loop into it, creating a lasso. Amelia had never roped before, but she had read about it in plenty of books. How hard could it possibly be?

            She ran far ahead of them, swung the lasso over her head, twirling it around and around, taking aim and waiting until some part of Connor’s body popped above the surface. As the current began to carry him faster downstream, one of Connor’s ankles appeared.

            Amelia threw the lasso.

            She missed.

            With a curse and a prayer, Amelia drew the lasso back to shore and took aim again. She waited, Connor floating closer and closer to the rocks.

            “Connor! Wake up!” she shouted once more.

            She saw his eyes pop open and he jerked away from the siren. Half of his body sprang from the water as he gasped for air and raised one of his arms high above the surface, fingers spread wide to latch onto anything.

            Amelia threw the lasso once more and looped around Connor, capturing his entire arm, shoulder and head inside the loop. She yanked as hard as she could, reeling him in like a fish while she played tug-of-war with the siren.

            “He’s mine!” Amelia shouted at the watery demon.

            The creature’s face morphed into a hideous scowl, once mystic eyes blazed a hellish red and row upon row of shark-like teeth filled her mouth as she screeched against her competitor.

            The sound was so jarring that Amelia was tempted to shield her ears from the cry, but she kept both hands on the vine, tugging with all her strength to bring Connor to safety. He seemed oblivious to the struggle, becoming unconscious.

            Eventually, the siren let go and let out an irritated, ear-shattering shriek of anger before diving back into the river. Amelia watched as the creature dissolved into the depths, leaving no trace of her presence.

            She drew Connor onto the shore and pulled him away from the water’s edge. Amelia struggled to flip him onto his back and then laid her ear against his soaked chest. He didn’t seem to be breathing, but his heart was still beating. Amelia breathed a word of thanks.

            She placed the heel of her palm onto his solar plexus and pressed down in a pounding rhythm.

            Amelia had taken first aid and CPR classes in school, but with how long it took Connor to open his eyes, she wasn’t sure if she was doing everything right.

            “Come on, Connor. Wake up. I don’t know where that bay is. I need you. Please, wake up?” Amelia pleaded as she continued to compress her hand against his broad chest, keeping a close eye on his face for any sign of consciousness. His lungs must have been filled with water.

            Then, it occurred to her. She wasn’t doing something right. She needed to do rescue breathing along with the compressions.