He’s always there, waiting, beckoning, taunting. “Come,” he calls. That’s all I ever hear from him. “Come.” A whisper in my ear. I never try to see him. He’s always at the edge of my vision, always there, but just out of my sight. “Come.” I cringed. I believe that I’m the only one who hears him, sees him. That dark shadow that’s creeping just out of reach.
“Miss?” I inhaled sharply before realizing it was just the man at the register. Blinking, I took my change, grabbed my bag, mumbled a thank you, and hurried out the door. The clerk was just another person, not him. I’m too paranoid and walking home didn’t ease my nerves. It was difficult to keep my eyes forward when I could feel him watching.
“Come.” Don’t cringe. Don’t cringe.
“Risa!” I flinched. “Sorry.” I relaxed the moment I saw Brian. He was an old friend and lived near my apartment, so we often run into each other.
“Brian, hi.”
“What are you up to?”
Clutching my bag tighter, I smiled. “More books.”
“You and your books. Haven’t you read them all by now?” I smiled and shook my head. He’s the only person I felt comfortable around. “Well, I guess there’s always new books being written. But any who, movie night at your place tonight?”
“Um, sure. Come by around six?”
“Perfect. I’ll see ya then!” Brian winked as he walked away, waving.
Once home, I put my new books on the table. My bookshelf was overstuffed and probably ready to collapse soon anyway. Some quick cleaning, throwing take-out boxes away, and small vacuuming, I decided the place was clean enough. Settling on the couch, I opened one of my new books, only to instantly shut it. “Come.” The shadow was back. It was always lurking. Usually reaching out when I was alone. Reading books sometimes helped. While my mind was away in an author’s words, I would lose track of the world I lived in. His voice fading away. Today, it seemed stronger, deeper, more consuming. Glancing at the clock, I prayed the six would come sooner, it was only three. “Soon, my child.” My back locked dead straight. He said something different. Nerves were standing on end, firing through every cell, sending me into near hyperventilation. I didn’t want to know what was coming. All I wanted was a night with Brian, a good movie with a good friend. I would do anything to have the shadow leave me. Why was it even following me to begin with? Knock, knock, knock. I jumped, squealing slightly.
“Risa?” Pulling the pillow off my head, I stared at the door, then the clock. Hours had passed, far too quickly. Another knock and I was up, opening the door, and giving Brian one of the biggest hugs I’d ever given a person. “Good to see you too.” Stepping back, I welcomed him. “So, there’s something I need to tell you.” I don’t like surprises and it felt like this was going to be a big one. Taking my hand, he led me to my couch. Once I sat down, I tensed. The shadow was back.
“Soon.”
Brian held my hand tighter. “I’m leaving.”
“What?”
“I want you to come with me.” His smile was small, sad.
“What? Where? Better question, why?” I had knots twisting in my stomach.
Brian looked at our hands. “My father wants me to go home. I’ve already spent too much time here as it is.” My confusion grew. He never spoke of home or his father. Last time I brought them up, his fists clenched and he quickly changed the subject to the weather. “There’s something else. You’re supposed to come with me.”
“Why?” Now I was being overly cautious.
“My father, he…” His jaw tightened and I saw his eyes flick toward the corner. My heart nearly stopped. He was over there, watching. Could Brian see him? No, only I could. “He’s a demon.” My hands let go of his. Did I just hear him correctly? “And years ago, I chose you to be my bride someday.” Ok, he was crazy. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know he would be following you.” Crap! I slid back on my couch, away from him. “Risa, please!” Holding his arms toward me, Brian appeared genuinely concerned. But if he was the son of a demon, and it was his father following me, what was I supposed to do? I had believed that the shadow wanted me to go with him and I resisted. Brian’s hands rested on my shoulders. “I’ll protect you, Risa. I won’t let anyone else hurt you.” My skin grew cold. My vision darkening. My heart racing faster. “Come with me Risa.” That was it. My eyes tightened and I felt everything fade away. The shadow following me for years has finally received what it wants. Brian’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer to him. I felt tears falling down my cheeks. “You’ll be with me. You know that I’ll stand with you.” That was my only comfort. I knew Brian. I’ve known him for years. He’s attentive, protective, and always there when I needed something. So when I opened my eyes to the burning landscape, it was Brian that I held onto. If I was going to live with a demon behind me, I was going to hold onto the one person I could trust, even if he did hide his heritage from me.
“Don’t leave me Brian.”
“I won’t, Risa. I will never leave you.”
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