Healing A Shattered Soul

Chapter 14: Waking The Demon

Steve and Claire walked down to the fabric where they had their band practice. It had been a most interesting week for both of them, Ashley had begun to make all of the guys to physically attack Steve anyway they could, but this only gave him inspiration to write songs. Claire found the red heads attraction to the pain scary, he walked up to the guys and made them attack him at times. She didn't like it at all, his stomach was full of marks and wounds from whippings, punches and kicks. And yet he seemed to like it. She wanted to just….. she didn't know what she wanted, she was confused, about him, about herself, everything just turned more complicated day after day, at least for her, he didn't seem affected at all. He smiled more and more, and after every beating he laughed with joy, seeming pleased with his new wounds. She was worried, she was scared, and more than she would even dare to admit.

The male teenager just thought about the lyrics he had written, he loved them himself, the glorious beatings he had gotten since gym, he had gotten more inspiration than before, nothing had given him so much inspiration before, and the lyrics piled up, the pile got larger every day, but there was only one lyric he truly loved, and that was the song he had written the first day he had been beaten. He called it Waking The Demon. He loved the feeling of his so called demon waking up, he loved the feeling he got every time he was beaten, he loved the rage, he loved the feeling that he could have a payback, he didn't have feelings for these people, he could do what he wanted….. to limits of course but still. He loved it. He had the reasons, all he needed to do was getting to it, but it was too early, he wanted to feel this some more before he began.

The male started to whistle, breaking the silence that had occurred between the two teenagers. Claire looked at him with curious eyes and then down at the piece of paper he held in his hands. Steve only carried this today, some days ago he had bought a new guitar, a cheaper one than the Gibson he used at home. The guitar he had placed in the fabric was a Gibson SG Junior '60s, it was a decent guitar and he had a small amplifier there also, no need to carry anything anymore. Steve himself loved the change, but he was kind enough at times to help Claire carry her amp or the bass. She looked worried but he couldn't put his finger on it. He continued to whistle to himself and he was wide awake, the band practice where later than before, making Steve get his needed sleep.

They reached their destination and got inside, they where there first as normal and began to warm up, they didn't speak, silence was between them. Claire found this awkward herself, but the red head was lost in his guitar, going finger exercises and some quick sweep picking. After some time Carlos and Billy came, the warmed up themselves and they started to play together some covers and You Better Die Young. They continued to just play for themselves after that and Billy played a good riff.

'' What song is that? '' Steve asked him curiously.

'' It's no song, I just made it. ''

Steve smile and grabbed his paper '' Well let's continue working on it? ''

And so it went, the guys tried to make something that fit together, but they just couldn't there was just something that was off, something was just wrong. Steve didn't know what it was but it seemed like they played four different songs. Ussualy it just came out perfectly, but not today, today there was no point.

'' Let's try a bit longer, maybe something will happen. '' He thouht and tried to make something that went with the riff Billy made. They continued, but there was some sort of tension in the air, like something was about to blow up. Everyone seemed stressed or worried or something, Steve couldn't put his finger on it.

He stopped playing and placed his guitar in the guitar rack, and started to walk out the door. '' Where are you going? '' Billy asked, sound pissed and ready to fight him right there and then. '' I'm going home. This is going nowhere, I'd rather go home and work with something, if you don't mind. '' Steve anwsered as calmly as he could. Billy could break something in Steve, and even thought he loved inspiration, he didn't want to go too far.

Claire started packing and Carlos got away from the drums. Billy cursed and did the same. They went outside and locked the building before leaving. They said their goodbyes and went their different ways.

Claire and Steve walked once more, back to their homes, but Claire wanted some answers, but how could she demand them? One month and one week since he got here, or was it more? She couldn't remember. Even though, she wouldn't really ask him to open himself like that. If he asked, she wouldn't do it, she couldn't. She sighed and Steve looked at her '' Is something bothering you Claire? '' she looked at him and sighed '' Yes, but let's talk about that later, I'm not really in the mood to argue... ''

They continued their walk in silence and when they reached their destination they said farewell and went inside their homes. Claire ran up stairs and jumped in her bed and put her head in her pillow, wanting to scream. She was so confused, why would she care that Steve wanted it? It was his choice? Wasn't it? Would it be wrong if she didn't try to get him out of it? Maybe it would be wrong to try to stop him? Steve was a person she just, felt attracted to, she loved his personality and he was quite handsome. What was this feeling she wondered, a crush? Maybe, maybe not. For all she knew he didn't like her the same, he hadn't responded to the kiss on the cheek? Was he just ignoring it? Or was he really lost in his thoughts? She hadn't felt this worry for anyone, she hadn't felt this attraction for someone, she had never been as scared for someone. All these mixed emotions made her scream into her pillow.

She looked out her window and saw Steve, she felt her heart race and she found herself staring at him, he held an acoustic steel string guitar in his hands, it looked brand new, he started to tune it then he started to play and sang softly

Seize the day or die regretting the time you lost
It's empty and cold without you here, too many people to ache over

He stopped and nodded, he seemed pleased with the guitar, he got out of Claire's vision and she could hear him play some cords on the guitar. Claire continued to stare at his window, hoping the handsome boy would peak out again. But he never came, the teenaged girl sighed and laid down in her bed again. Suddenly someone knocked on the door.

'' Come in '' She muttered tiredly.

Her father entered the room, he looked like an older verion of Chris and some white hairs '' Me and your mother are leaving for the air port today. ''

Claire looked at her father confused and he continued '' We are going on a business trip, it has been planned for a long time. '' he sighed '' I told you a lot of times Claire. ''

'' WELL I HAVE HAD A LOT ON MY MIND! '' She yelled. She placed her head down in the pillow again '' Sorry dad. ''

'' It's okay princess, we can talk about it when I get home again okay? '' He smiled the Redfield smile at her and she smiled back, nodding in approval.

He closed the door and after some minutes she heard a car's engine followed by a car leaving. Claire rolled around and sighed '' Me and Chris home alone, again, once more, the same routine. '' she left her room and down to the kitchen, she saw Chris standing in the phone with his partner at work. Jill was her name, a childhood friend of Chris, he usually spent all his time with her. Claire found a cola in the fridge and walked back to her room. She looked out her window and saw Steve standing looking at a knife she continued to watch as he placed the knife in his palm, he seemed utterly calm and relaxed. He moved the knife to his middle finger, he cut a small rift in his skin and some blood came out from it. Claire was in shock, she knew he liked pain, but enough to hurt himself. Okay it was a small cut but still! If it continued, maybe he would cut his….

'' No he wouldn't, would he? '' Steves face looked terrified, and yet calm. His eye was clouded and he could she him muttering something to himself, she couldn't make out all of what he said but she got one small part '' hauting me''

She laid in bed and closed her eyes. What's haunting him? or maybe it's who? '' There is more to this than a relationship going wrong. '' After the statement, she started to breath more calmly, letting sleep give her mind some rest from this mystery.

Edited and rewritten: 22.04.13