EPILOGUE

The engine of the boat was humming steadily and Tomas relaxed on the deck, watching as the front of the boat tore through the water, creating waves. The air was cold and he had Marcus's old jacket on, which kept him nicely warm. It was several months since they left Chicago and things have changed.

After three weeks they spent at the cabin trying to figure out their next move and waiting for Peter's contacts to work their magic, they finally got word back that things were prepared. Peter drove off on a Monday morning and returned a day later with new identities for all of them. Tomas was just happy he could keep his first name, even though everything else about him has changed. Strangely, Olivia was the one to accept the changes the easiest. It seemed that not having the weight of the world on her shoulders to bear alone let her relax. So they packed up, got in the car and drove further to the North West, until they ended up near Seattle. Their plan was clear. Stick to one of the smaller islands, preferably near the Canadian borders so they could leave the country quickly if needed.

Peter was the first to find a job. It was no wonder. He had the most experience on the job market from all of them and the clearest idea of what he wanted to do. With his PhD in marine biology he got the job in the Fish and Wildlife service. The best perk of the job was the boat and the amount of freedom it gave him. Away from his job of selling marine tech to fishermen, Peter was for once fully enjoying being out on the waters himself. As a bonus, there was a smaller need to interact with people, definitely less need to try and talk folks into buying stuff they can probably do without.

Olivia tried to look for a job on one of the surrounding islands as well, but nothing seemed to fit and Tomas knew that despite everything, Olivia really missed the life in the city. Or the chance to finish school. At first, she was okay with it, but the longer she spent on the island, the more she started focusing on Tomas and their whole situation. It made things just a bit difficult.

As father Simon had revealed, the demons were quite aware of Tomas. So until Tomas and Marcus figured out a way to make him somehow less 'visible' or make sure he was able to spot any danger first, they decided keeping Tomas away from heavily populated areas was the smart thing to do. Tomas didn't mind, really. It just meant less of a chance of getting a vision. He was still trying to deal with everything that happened back in Chicago and sometimes even the presence of his newfound family felt a bit too stifling. He couldn't even imagine going back to school with the need to look over his shoulder constantly.

That's why it was decided Tomas would be home schooled by Marcus. What the man didn't know, the internet could teach and Peter assured him that he would be able to get his GDE. Not to mention Marcus could prepare Tomas more for what was to come if he decided to return to normal life, find a normal job in the future.

Tomas knew he needed to be prepared. The nightmares reminded him of it quite often. Which was perhaps one of the reasons why he was actually happy that Olivia decided to return to school. While he harbored some doubts and fears about her being away, Tomas was also happy for his sister. She worked hard all her life and the last year or so wasn't easy on her. Their mother's passing left a mark, almost as deep as their bad financial situation. So getting the chance to have some of that worry taken away from her served as a balm on Olivia's rattled nerves. While she still had to find a job to help along with her studies, right now she only had to take care of herself. The baggage that was Tomas had fallen off her shoulders, even though she would've never phrased it like that.

It wasn't an issue that was lightly taken anyway. Olivia took her time deciding to leave Tomas with Marcus and Peter. At first she didn't want to hear about it.

"You're my brother, I'm responsible for you! I won't leave you again!"

But as the days turned into weeks and Olivia could witness the way Marcus and Peter fussed and cared over Tomas even more so than herself, she relaxed. She saw the love and the strange but working family all four of them created. When it was Tomas who asked her if she was planning to become a housewife, she glared at him. Tomas shrugged, looking at the breakfast he had on his plate.

"Just asking. If so, maybe you could try and learn how to cook?"

That earned Tomas a smack with the kitchen towel and a muffled chortle from Marcus, who tried hard to look as if he didn't hear a word. The next day, instead of a burned breakfast, Olivia had out her laptop looking through schools and scholarship options. Tomas had to admit, he was proud of himself.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Marcus leaned over the railing right next to Tomas, handing him a cup of hot tea, freshly poured from the thermos. Tomas accepted with a smile and took a sip.

"Are you sure you have a penny to spare?"

"Sure I do! Didn't you hear? I just sold one of my paintings," Marcus said with a proud smirk and Tomas rolled his eyes, though he was grinning as well. Of course he knew. It was the reason for this little trip. Marcus had to stop by the city to collect his check and while Tomas stayed on the boat during the transaction, afterwards Peter promised them a nice boat ride along the neighborhood islands. So here they were, Peter pointing out his favorite coves and telling them interesting tidbits about each island.

"Are we going to actually land on one of those or did you pack some food?" Tomas asked as his stomach gave a loud growl. He couldn't help it. It was past three in the afternoon and he had just hit a growth spurt. He was hungry all the time it seemed.

"Darling? The boy is asking if we are planning a wine and dine or let him starve to death."

"Well, there's a pack of saltines stashed in the emergency supplies, or you can grab the fishing rod and try to catch our dinner," Peter called from the helm. Marcus made a face.

"You heard the man. Eat the saltines or starve. I'm not hungry enough to take up fishing."

Tomas smirked then shook his head.

"Guess I'll starve then. Tell my sister I loved her and it's all your fault."

"Such a drama queen," Marcus snorted but made his way towards Peter. "I'm afraid if we don't feed him soon, he'll call Olivia and accuse us of torture. Is there any place we can grab something to eat?"

Peter mulled it over then adjusted their course a bit.

"Yeah, why not. I'm starving myself and after all, we wanted to celebrate your first sale. I think I can splurge for some Mac and cheese." Peter pulled Marcus towards him for an embrace and a kiss, but Marcus grimaced.

"Blasphemy. I don't kiss unless there's wine involved."

"Ew, stop," Tomas made a face and turned away, though he was smirking. Those two romantics would drive him crazy one day. He was looking forward to the moment he fell in love with someone this much and could rub the fact in the guys' face. He would totally gross them out with his signs of affection... that is if he ever found someone like that. Tomas doubted it.

But he didn't want to think about the future, near or far. Right now everything seemed perfect. He was doing well, the nightmares had lessened in frequency so most nights he even managed to get a decent amount of sleep. There were no visions since that faithful day and Tomas was slowly starting to hope that maybe that was it for him. Maybe that's where it ended and he was finally free of the burden.

He took another sip of the tea, trying to ignore the gentle bickering behind him. He spotted the island where Peter turned their boat and even from the distance he could see the restaurant near the shore. There were only two people sitting outside, though it might've been from the colder weather rather than bad cuisine. Tomas's stomach rumbled again and he was wondering if there was a chance of getting some good burgers or a pizza at a place like that. Then he started to wonder how far away they were from the island with their rented house. Suddenly he was overwhelmed by the urge to return home, to snuggle up on the couch in front of the hearth with a good book.

Tomas shuffled on his feet, feeling a familiar and very unwelcome tension crawling up his shoulders. The smile slipped from his face, replaced by a frown as he squinted, watching the approaching island. When his stomach churned this time it wasn't from hunger but from trepidation. Something was wrong.

There was a lonely figure standing on the dock. Tomas didn't know how he didn't notice before. It was a woman, with long red hair flailing in the wind. Their boat was close enough that he could discern the look on her face. She was smiling, but that didn't put Tomas's mind at ease. If anything it made the fear in his insides intensify. Because there was definitely something wrong with her. There was a permeating darkness staining her skin, creating a terrible looking halo. It was a familiar sight.

That inky, crawly darkness Tomas last saw when he was tied to a chair and thought he would die. He could almost feel it back on his tongue, the tangy taste of blood and rot and pure evil. Tomas felt his stomach clench, fingers going lax. The cup with tea fell from his fingers, clattering off the floor and rolling down into the lake where it vanished underneath. Tomas didn't even notice. He didn't notice Marcus and Peter turning to him, calling his name. He didn't notice Marcus pulling him away from the railing and helping him to sit down, while asking frantically what was wrong.

Tomas couldn't let his eyes off the dock, the woman standing there in a light summer dress. Or the darkness that was reaching its tendrils out towards him hungrily, whispering. There was a flock of birds taking sudden flight and circling over the boat, but Tomas didn't see them. His mind was thrown into the turmoil of a vision, images of violence and pain flashing with terrifying clarity. Things that happened, things that were waiting to happen... a dark promise of the demon occupying the island. A warning to keep away.

Tomas's eyes rolled back into his head as his body went lax then tensed in a jerky movement of a seizure. He didn't hear Marcus calling at Peter to turn the damn boat, or the familiar words of prayer that followed. The only thing that existed was the island and its gory history, all laid out in front of him in a grotesque picture burned inside his mind.

It wasn't until the island vanished from sight that Tomas's body stopped seizing. It took a bit longer for him to open his brown eyes, unfocused and wet with tears. Tomas's lips moved but his voice was too weak. Marcus leaned closer, one hand running through Tomas's hair soothingly.

"What are you trying to say?" Marcus asked, his voice shaking but full of relief upon seeing Tomas awake.

"We need to stop it," Tomas whispered.

"Stop what?" Marcus frowned.

"The evil on that island."

The End