In my defense, it wasn't my idea to summon the creature that killed Aidan.
Granted, I probably should have done more to stop it from happening. I did protest the idea when Todd first brought it up, especially when I saw the dark look in his eyes, but then Deidra backed him up and I just... deflated. Even though all four - three of us are the same age, she's been doing this for far longer than we have. I figured she knew better than I did. "This is something he has to do," she'd said. "He needs to work it out on his own. Get his vengeance for his brother."
Now, as I'm listening to the loud cracking and groaning sounds emanating from the summoning circle Todd had drawn on the floor, I'm sorely regretting keeping my mouth shut. When is summoning anything ever a good idea?
A hole is forming in the wood along the outline of the chalk circle. As we watch, the creaky old floorboards break and stretch, rearrange themselves, and start forming a staircase down onto who knows where. The sound is almost like gunshots going off at random intervals. Luckily there isn't another human around for miles. Any person in their right mind probably would have called the cops by now.
The creaking slows to a stop. I tense, my hands tightening on my banishing gun. I’m standing in the corner of the decrepit living room, as far away from the circle as possible, but I can see a glimpse of the descending staircase as it forms. I guess it's good that there's no one around to complain about renovations.
I send a worried glance in Todd and Deidra’s direction. Deidra's stance is battle-ready, waiting for whatever comes out of the hole. Todd's normally happy-go-lucky expression is unnervingly stony. He has a white-knuckled grip on his Blade.
All is silent.
I shift uneasily. This feels a little too much like the tense moment before a jumpscare in a horror movie. Why did I let him do this? Deidra was wrong. We're risking way too much. We all want revenge for Todd's death, but we should have-
Heavy footsteps, quickly pounding up the staircase. Deidra takes a step back, bat at the ready. Todd flinches but otherwise holds his ground when the thing appears. Faster than I can register, his arm is arcing up and burying his Blade up to the hilt in the side of the thing's neck.
It looks surprised. Then again, I’d probably be surprised, too, if I exited my domain only to be greeted by a stab in the neck. I expect it to start gurgling, clawing at the weapon buried in its throat. You know, dying. Instead, though, it turns its gaze on Todd.
For a moment they just glare at each other, an eerily similar rage gleaming in both their gazes. Then, Todd yanks out his Blade and steps back, clearly expecting it to collapse at his feet.
It screeches and lunges instead, clawing at his face. Todd falls with a surprised shout. I start shooting, because this whole “letting him work this out on his own” thing clearly isn't working out. It screeches again and stumbles off of him, furious gaze whipping in my direction. Crap.
Todd's stumbling as Deidra helps him up. There's blood running down his temple. His Blade, which is supposed to kill everything, didn't kill this thing. That means this isn't its actual body. They probably have to go down into her domain to find it. They need time. I have a gun. Alright, then.
"You guys get down there and find its actual body!" I tell them.
"Ok, but leave your comm on," Deidra calls in response. She grabs Todd's bicep and booking it for the stairs descending into wherever.
Not-Muriel seems unsure who to target. In the brief moment of stillness that follows, I get a good look at the creature. It looks like an old lady. It’s plump, soft-looking, perfect for hugs if it were an actual person. It’s about a half a head shorter than Todd. It almost looks like Muriel from Courage the Cowardly Dog, with the yellow dress and glasses and everything. If Muriel had dark pink skin, black scleras, and glowing green irises, then this thing could have been her twin.
It's creepy, but it's nowhere near my top ten of most intimidating monsters. It's almost disappointing.
It finally decides to go after Todd and Deidra. Not on my watch; I fire an incentive shot into its side, smirking when it wails and whirls in my direction. Good. Let it hurt. After all, Aidan/3 was my friend, too.
Todd's not the only one who wants revenge.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.