When Mouse returned, Tomas was asleep. The room was just as she had left it, the glass of water on the bedside table still full, the trashcan empty. Only Tomas changed position. Now he lay on his stomach, one hand under the pillow the other hanging off the side of the bed, the blankets scrunched up under his feet. She looked at his face, hoping to see brown eyes peeking at her, but all she saw were the lines of tension on his face and a thin sheen of sweat. The few hours of sleep and the pill didn't seem to be of much help and Mouse bit her lip in frustration.
She needed Tomas on his feet and ready to travel as soon as possible, because everything she found pointed to trouble, but she could hardly wrestle the priest into the truck and drive with him across the states while he looked like death warmed over. She ran a hand over her hair and fought back a yawn. If possible, she'd had even less sleep than Tomas and while she was more than used to it, her body started to protest. The fact there was nothing she could really do until her contact called back and that there was a perfectly fine bed right in front of her, made it impossible to suppress the next yawn.
Maybe Tomas had the right idea about sleep. She should rest while she could. Once they knew more, they would have to move... whether Tomas was ready or not.
Tomas knew he was dreaming, but that didn't make the scene any less scary. Nowadays, his dreams tended to be mixed with nightmares and visions and waking seemed to be impossible.
He was back in the attic, with Andy lying in the corner, his body rotting from inside out yet his eyes still bright.
"It's my fault, I let it inside," Andy spoke and Tomas shook his head in frustration, because they were already over this... arguing whose fault it was, who was the weak one and who deserved to die, while the demon was gaining strength from their own guilt. Tomas could see the paintings around him melting, the colors fusing into a sickening metal black and running down the walls, coalescing into a puddle.
"This is just a nightmare... this isn't real," Tomas mumbled and took a step back, reaching for the door, but it was locked and he was stuck, just like before.
The dark liquid started gaining shape and Tomas found himself praying, eyes clenched shut in an attempt to discard the image.
"Tomas!" there was a choked call and Tomas' eyes shot open, because whether it was a nightmare or not, he couldn't handle Andy suffering any more.
"Let him go!" Tomas snarled at the dark figure that was leaning over Andy. Andy, who was trying to push it off without success. The figure turned and Tomas stumbled back. This wasn't the woman that tried to suck the life out of him... this wasn't some stranger.
"Bennett?" Tomas uttered with disbelief. The priest, whose black clothes now transformed into a ridiculously bright hospital gown, gave him a smile that sent shivers running through Tomas' spine.
"What happened to you?" Tomas asked and foolishly took a step forward, the knowledge that this was all just a play of his own mind long forgotten.
"What do you think, father Tomas?" Bennett's smile didn't change, but his eyes did. A second pupil appeared where there should be only one and Tomas felt sick to his stomach as the realization hit him.
"Leave an exorcist in a hospital without protection..." Bennett waved his arm and the smile vanished, replaced by a cold smirk.
"The little church mouse did us a favor, truly. Please, convey her our thanks."
"No, this isn't true. Bennett would never succumb to your lies-" Tomas shook his head, teeth gritted in anger and disbelief.
The demon laughed and the sound of the laugh tore through Tomas' brain like a razor. Tomas doubled over, grabbing at his head with a moan of pain.
"Ayúdame Dios," he hissed, the pain bringing him to his knees and suddenly he was surrounded by the darkness and screams of the souls that were taken over by the demon.
"God can't help you now, Tomas," Bennett's voice whispered into his ear and Tomas screamed, the sound raw and tearing at his throat but it also tore through the darkness, knocking the demon off its feet. When Tomas opened his eyes he wasn't in the attic anymore... he was in the forest cabin, Andy's dead body lying in front of him, the bullet hole in his left temple a clear sign that they failed, that Tomas let this get too far.
Mouse was standing next to him, like a frozen frame and Marcus... Marcus had a gun in his hand and a look of a broken man on his face.
"No," Tomas whispered and took a step towards Marcus, his hand just about to touch the older man when Marcus raised his head and looked him straight in the eyes.
"You told me to bring you back."
Tomas faltered.
"Look what you made me do!" Marcus was on his feet, his eyes shining with tears and anger. The gun waved in his hand dangerously and Tomas raised his hands in a plea for forgiveness.
"I didn't want this, Marcus. I never wanted this."
"Oh, but you did, didn't you?" It was Bennett, stepping out of the shadows with that blasted smile on his face and Tomas started shaking with sudden anger.
"I never wanted this!" Tomas shouted, pointing at Andy's body, at Marcus holding the gun. "I was ready to pay the price, I was ready to give up my soul!"
"Were you though?" Bennett inclined his head in question.
'I don't want to lose you'
'Then bring me back'
Tomas heard the words as clear as ever and he cringed, because yes, even when he asked to take Andy's place, he still hoped that somehow Marcus would manage to bring him back. And in that moment he put his faith not in God, but in Marcus...
The realization of it made Tomas stumble and he felt Mouse grab his shoulder in silent support.
"I did that..." Tomas muttered with disbelief and looked at Marcus. "I asked you to save me."
"And I would do it again, Tomas," Marcus said, the gun slipping from his fingers as he turned away from Bennett and stepped towards Tomas. "Always."
Tomas blinked, trying to see through the haze of wetness.
"Then stay. Please."
Marcus took another step towards Tomas, one hand reaching out to cup the back of his neck, when the sound of laughter interrupted the moment.
"Oh, that is sweet, but... I'm afraid I can't allow that to happen."
Tomas' eyes widened as he saw that Bennett was now standing much closer and that he somehow managed to take hold of the gun, without any of them noticing.
"No-" Tomas spoke, but it was too late. This time when the shot rang out it wasn't Marcus pulling the trigger.
Tomas blinked as he felt the spray of something warm hitting his face. He could see the surprised look on Marcus' face before it vanished in a mess of redness and the body of his friend, of his brother, crumpled to the floor in a boneless heap.
Mouse woke up with the thought of an earthquake and she was already half off the bed when she realized that it wasn't the ground shaking, just the mattress. A keening sound broke through the silence.
'What in bloody hell?' she turned towards the source of the sound.
"Tomas?" she called out, the sleepy haze quickly being replaced by worry.
Tomas was thrashing around on the bed, knees bent and arms clutching at his head. His shirt was sticky with sweat and his breath was coming out in panting gasps, occasionally interrupted by a pained groan or a hissed word.
Mouse crossed the bed, no longer wondering if this was a normal occurrence. Marcus would definitely mention this kind of reaction before leaving his protégé in her hands.
"Tomas?" she asked once again, trying to bring him out of the nightmare as gently as possible, but Tomas didn't react. She reached for his face, hating how his whole body was shaking and how his face was scrunched up in obvious pain.
"Come on, wake up. It's just a dream, Tomas. Wake up." She patted his face, one hand taking hold of his arm and pulling it away from his face.
"I never wanted this," Tomas mumbled, sounding so much like a lost kid that Mouse ran a hand over his forehead in a soothing gesture.
"It's not real, Tomas," Mouse said, but there was a moment of doubt as Tomas' lips kept moving in silent words. Her hand paused on his forehead, then slipped down and she gently lifted one of his eyelids... she didn't really expect the white film covering the brown iris and she almost pulled back in surprise, her own eyes going wide.
"Bloody hell!" she cursed, unsure of how to proceed. He was clearly trapped in some kind of a vision and she started praying just like she did when she discovered him locked up in the closet of Andy's house. Her fingers made a small cross over his forehead, but Tomas didn't seem to react to it.
"Stay. Please," Tomas asked, almost begging and Mouse grimaced, her hand touching his face.
"No, don't listen to it, Tomas. Just wake up," she said and as if he heard her, Tomas stopped thrashing. It took her a moment to realize that his shaking stopped, maybe because she was focused on how tense his body became... like a taut spring.
"Tomas?"
"No," he breathed out, then his body jerked as if hit and Mouse moved back, just in time.
Tomas eyes snapped open, wide and terrified as he sat up on the bed, almost sending Mouse crashing to the floor.
"Marcus!" he shouted with such anguish that, in that moment, Mouse was convinced the ex-priest was lying somewhere dead.
"No, no, no-" Tomas kept repeating like a mantra, rubbing at his face as if trying to clean some invisible dirt, his whole frame shaking.
"Tomas... hey, it's okay, you're safe. It's okay." Mouse touched his shoulder and Tomas startled, looking at her with confusion and fear.
"Just a dream... it was just a dream," she said, knowing well she was probably lying. "Relax. Breathe. You're okay."
But it wasn't himself Tomas was worried for and she saw that as his face blanched.
"I need to-" Tomas pushed himself off the bed, stumbling drunkenly towards the bathroom. Mouse followed him but stopped at the door when she once again heard the sound of heaving.
The toilet flushed and Tomas stepped over to the sink, splashing his face with cold water. He looked up into the mirror, staring at something that wasn't there, still slightly shaky. Mouse cleared her throat and Tomas looked back down at the sink and running water.
"What did you see?" she asked and Tomas swallowed, slowly turning off the water.
"Nothing. It was... nothing," he said, trying to convince himself, but failing miserably.
"Nothing won't cause this," Mouse nodded at the state he was in. "Nothing won't make your eyes white," she added and that made Tomas' head snap up.
"What?"
"I checked your eyes while you were thrashing around. They were white...just like when you were in a vision. So, tell me Tomas, what did you see?"
"No, that can't be true..." Tomas shook his head, hissing and grabbing at his temple when he was reminded of his still existing headache. Mouse' eyes softened and she reached out to him.
"Come on, back to bed."
Tomas followed her without a word, his eyebrows scrunched up in thought and worry. He sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, both hands grasping the mattress as if for support. Mouse pulled up a chair and sat down opposite to him, so close their knees almost touched.
"Talk to me, Tomas. What did you see?"
Tomas shook his head.
"It had to be a dream... maybe a reaction to the meds," he tried to argue, until Mouse reached out and touched his chin.
"Hey... none of that."
"What?" Tomas blinked, confused.
"I know Marcus warned you away from using your gift and maybe he was right... when it started. But now it's too late to stop. We need any advantage we can get."
Tomas' eyes clouded over and he pulled away.
"This is not a gift," he almost spat the word. "This is what got Andy killed... this is what made Marcus leave."
"No, Tomas. It's not." Mouse said gently. "If we want to win this war, and it is a war, we need to start using everything we can. And your gift is one of them."
"You don't understand," Tomas protested. "I don't know where these visions are coming from. I don't know what they mean and the demons use that... they show me things that aren't real. Can't be real."
Mouse sighed, rubbing at her own face.
"I know what it feels like to have a demon in your head, Tomas. Trust me... I know."
Tomas nodded, his own eyes softening as he acknowledged the fact. But he still had to drive the point home.
"Then you should know not to trust anything I see."
Mouse raised an eyebrow, looking almost amused.
"I don't have to trust it, Tomas. But I need to know what they're playing it, or I can't protect you."
Tomas let that thought run through his mind. She was right in one thing. Keeping things hidden in their situation could be fatal. Whether he liked it or not, the demons could sniff out his deepest thoughts and insecurities and play him like a fiddle. Mouse at least should be aware of what she was taking on.
"I saw Bennett," Tomas spoke and Mouse startled.
"What?"
"In my... dream. I was back at... back at the house. But this time, the demon wasn't Nicole... it was Bennett. I think... I think he was integrated."
Mouse mulled that over, not liking where this was heading, but acknowledging that there might be some truth to it.
"What did he tell you?"
Tomas shrugged.
"Nothing but taunts."
Mouse raised an eyebrow.
"Oh. Good to know demon trash talk can make you scream Marcus' name and throw up. Should I expect that every time you lie down to sleep?" Mouse was baiting him, he knew, but her words still cut him, brought back the sordid image and suddenly he felt petty.
"You want to know what I saw?" he leaned forward, their faces mere inches from each other, anger simmering in his eyes. "I saw Bennett pull the trigger and shoot out Marcus' brain right in front of me. I saw my best friend, my brother dying, I felt his blood and flesh on my own face-"
"Stop," Mouse whispered.
"-as his skull vanished."
"Tomas, stop!" Mouse grabbed his face in both her hands, stopping the tirade.
"It was a lie. It's not true, okay? It was just a stupid lie. That's what they do... demons lie."
"But what if it's true?" Tomas asked, the anger gone, replaced by fear.
"It's not," Mouse assured him. "Marcus is safe."
"How can you know? If Bennett is integrated, we need to warn him. We need to go back to Seattle, retrace his steps... we need to find him!"
Mouse could see the panic in his eyes and the growing resolution to do just that... to pack up and leave right then and there and she had to stop it.
"Tomas, listen to me. Listen!" she gave his cheek a small tap to get his attention and it seemed to work, because Tomas paused, mouth slightly open in protest.
"Just think about it for a second, yes?"
There was no agreement, but there was also no protest, so Mouse took it as a win.
"Just think about it logically. Why would the demon warn you about Marcus being in danger? Or about Bennett being integrated? What possible reason could there be?"
"I don't..." Tomas shook his head. "What if the vision wasn't from a demon, but from Him?"
"Isn't it more logical that the demons want you to lead them back to Marcus? Right now, Marcus is keeping a low profile. Right now, he's done with the church, done with exorcism. He's just a civilian. But do you know who is dangerous for the demons? We are."
Mouse gave Tomas a second to think about it and she could see the cogs turning in his head, despite the state he was in.
"If we go try to chase down Marcus, we will lose precious time, in which Bennett can do real harm. And if we happen to find him, what then? Marcus made his choice and trust me, I know he's as stubborn as a mule when he wants to." Her lip quirked up in a smile and she felt relief when she saw Tomas' lips twitch in reply.
"We need to find out where Bennett is, then we need to warn as many people as we can. Sooner or later the word will get to Marcus too. But we need to focus on winning this war and we can't do it alone."
Tomas took in a deep breath, then nodded. He still wished they would just turn back and find Marcus, but he could also clearly picture the scene from his vision.
"Please, stay," he asked Marcus and the older man reached out, the look in his eyes saying yes. He also heard Bennett's voice saying: "Oh, that is sweet, but... I'm afraid I can't allow that to happen." When the shot rang out.
No, the message was clear. Marcus shall be relatively safe as long as they stay apart. When they reunite... they better be ready, because that's when he will come to harm.
"What... what is the plan?" Tomas asked and pulled away from Mouse, rubbing at his temple to push away the thumping pain.
Mouse gave him a studious look, then sighed.
"Rest, for now. I'm still waiting for word about Bennett. Once we're sure what happened... we hit the road and start rallying the troops."
Tomas looked at her, then nodded. As far as plans went, this one didn't sound worse than any other he and Marcus concocted before. He just hoped that, in the end they would all make it out alive.
'Adios hermano. Not forever. Just for now.'
THE END