Later that day after the bakery closed Red and the Garriths went upstairs to have dinner. While it wasn't unusual for Red to stay for dinner it wasn't common either. The stifled smiles both of them wore only added to Red's curiosity.
Mr. G put the food on the table while his wife put out the utensils and glasses. Red was told to wash up in the meantime. He did what he was told with a sly smile on his face. He knew something was up. The upstairs was always clean. Mrs. G saw to that. Everything was always dusted and in its place. She has to occasionally smack her husband over the head to help with the cleaning, but he always would in the end.
Red went back into the kitchen and sat down. The three of them made small talk for awhile before Mr. G cleared his throat. Red looked up at him and waited. "So, uh..." Mr. G began, "you know our son, Tim, was planning on coming home this summer?"
"Yeah?" Red responded.
"Well, he called us the other day and said he was moving to the other side of the country with his girlfriend, so we aren't gonna need his room anymore. See, we've been thinking we'd give it to you."
Red looked at one of them to the other. Were they serious? No, but then why would they joke about something like this?
"We know you don't have anywhere nice to live, we'd feel better knowing you were somewhere safe." Mrs. G chimed in.
Red took a long and slow sip of water as he thought. "Sorry but I can't."
The Garriths looked at each other. "Why not?" Mrs. G asked quietly.
"It wouldn't be right. Besides, I'm leaving soon anyway."
Mr. G studied him carefully. "Leaving, huh? Where you plan on goin'?"
"I don't know yet, but I hate hanging around one place for to long." It pained him to say that. He wanted to stay, but he stuck around for to long as is. The monsters would be here soon if they weren't already. Mr. and Mrs. G's pained faces weren't making it any easier.
"Well..." Mr. G began, "you go and get then."
"Henry!" Mrs. G yelled at her husband. "He can at least finish his dinner."
Red felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Something was coming, no it was already here. Uh oh.
The Garrith's bickering was cut off mid sentence by a blade swooping down from the ceiling taking the married couple with it. Red screamed and lunged at the blade, grabbing it in his hand. He tried to yank it out of the attacker's grip, ignoring the pain as the blade cut into his palms. It was then he saw the sword wasn't being held in anyone's hand, it was the hand.
He looked up and saw a monster snarling at him. Its six eyes were all focused on him. Red jumped back and ran out of the room with the monster hot on his trail. Red burst into the Garrith's room and slammed it shut. The monster collided into the door causing Red to push on it with all his might to close it again. He fumbled for the lock, his sweaty hands sliding all over the handle. Finally he found the lock and turned it.
He backed away hurriedly as the monster continued to slam against the door. The wood began to crack. Red looked and spotted the closet. He opened the door and grabbed a shoe box. His sweat dripped down his nose onto the box as he tore the lid open. Inside were two twin pistols, one silver and one black. Mr. G told him about these. They were a gift from his father who had purchased them from a stranger who claimed they were magic, that they would never wear. However, they also took no bullets. There wasn't even a way to open them to put bullets in. The stranger claimed that magic was needed to make them work. Regardless they felt right. Something inside of him resonated with the pistols.
The sound of the door breaking open brought Red back. He spun around with the guns in his hands and pulled the triggers. There was a loud crack and the monster cried out in pain. It wasn't enough though. It quickly got back on its feet.
Red continued firing at the monster. Most of the shots missed, but they kept the monster back. Red slowly backed up to the window and, one gun still firing at the monster, jumped through. He landed on the rooftop of the neighboring building and ran. He heard the sharp cry of the monster, but he never stopped running.
