Chapter 8 - The Night
DISCLAIMER: All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: a horizontal line indicates a scene change.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This will be a recap of the fifth chapter, from the point where Jack's cousins and Mary leave his room. It is told from David's perspective.
"Well Jack, we'll see you later!" my brother says, waving to our poor cousin.
"Bye guys." he replies.
"Man, I feel real bad for him..." Nick sighs "Losing an eye really looks like a big deal. Get it? LOOKS like a big deal?!" Mary and I just sigh to ignore the joke, even though we know that he just did it to lighten the mood a little "Oh, c'mon guys! What's the matter? Lost your humourous VISION?! Haahahahaa, I kill me!"
"...one more pun, and I'll sock you one." Mary growls at him. I snicker at those words, knowing full well that she'll actually do it.
"Alright, fine... I'll stop... in the blink of an EYE! OHHHHOHOHOOOO!"
BAM!
"OW!" Nick rubs his cheek with pain.
...those two really can't live with or without each other. And besides, she DID warn him. Idiot.
We step outside the hospital and over to Mary's car... which is being vandalized by some street thugs.
"Hey, you assholes! Stop that!" Mary warns them. The thugs just laugh at her words, then approach us with their knives, lead pipes and steel chains.
"What're you gonna do about it, missy?" one of them asks provocatively. I growl at the words.
"Step away from her, or you'll regret it..." I warn him. But it falls upon deaf ears.
The thug just laughs at me, swinging at me with his pipe. It strikes me in the head, and then everything goes black...
I regain my vision, now standing in the area again. But Mary, Nick and the thugs are frozen in place. And somewhere behind them, I see a man in a black cloak.
"David." the man calls out to me "Come. Closer. I wish to make you an offer."
I stay in place, though "...what kind of offer? "
"David. Right now, you are nothing but a slave. Always obedient to those who tell you what to do. Surely you do not wish to remain a slave for the rest of your life?"
"...I... I guess not... but... what else can I do? "
"Accept my offer, David. I can grant you power beyond containing, and you could become a man in this world that's beyond controlling to other mortals. You will do well not to deny the savior in front of your eyes."
I sigh for a moment. It sure sounds very tempting. I'll need everything I can get to protect my family. To protect her.
I nod to the figure "I accept."
"Then... come closer. Give in, David... give in... to the night."
As I approach the figure, I notice that it looks exactly like me. The figure smiles at me, offering me his hand. We shake hands, and then everything goes black again...
Regaining my vision again, I see myself towering over the bodies of the street thugs. I could also feel two arms on each of mine - Nick and Mary were trying to restrain me or something. The blood on my fists drops onto the asphalt. I can see that the thungs are still alive, but in extreme pain.
"Enough already!" I hear Mary crying to me "They're done! And so are you!"
"Yeah... yeah. I'm... I'm okay, babe." I sigh at her. She and Nick then release me.
But I can't help but kick the same asshole who struck me in his gut. But that's all. For now.
"...good thing the hospital's nearby." Nick wise-cracks, as Mary nods and opens the car doors.
She then puts a hand behind my back "Come on, hun. Let's get outta her..."
We drive over to her house. Nick and I join her inside. I sit down at the kitchen table. Nick joins me.
"Dude, since when did you have so much STRENGTH?!" Nick asks me in amazement "I always thought I was the stronger one!"
I sigh at him, rubbing my forehead, as Mary places a glass of water for each of us on the table "I'm... not entirely sure."
"Well, whatever came over you... it sure scared me..." Mary sighs "I really hope you're not gonna make a habit out of it."
I lovingly cup my hand around hers "Not planning on it..."
Mary then smiles at me, then at Nick "You wanna stay here for the night? Or rather go home? I already got the bed made anyway."
"Spare yourself the trouble, girl." Nick replies with a smiling thumbs-up "I'd like to stay here."
She nods to him, then rubs my hand with her fingers "Look... Dave... I love you. You know that, right?"
I nod to her "And I love you too..."
"You're the first man to ever treat me like a person instead of an object. I could never afford to lose you. So, please, do be careful, okay? If not for yourself, then do it for me."
Her words really strike me. Hard. But I know they were the truth and that she was just looking out for me.
"I will..." I smile faintly at her. She smiles more brightly at me.
"Good then." she then kisses me on the cheek, and rubs a hand through Nick's hair "Sorry for punching you before."
Nick just waves it off "Nahhhh, I had it coming!"
END OF THE EIGHTH CHAPTER
