Chapter Six
After I hung up the phone, Gabe's words were still repeating in my mind. Help Fi before it's too late. What was I going to do? I can't say I believed what Gabe had told me, but when it was my own sister's life that was on the line, I wasn't about to take any chances. Grabbing my jacket, I told Aunt Melinda that I was going for a walk and left the house. I was really going to find Fi and Rob and get Fi away from him. Even if he wasn't a demon, he still seemed dangerous. I wasn't about to let anyone hurt my sister.
Finally, after walking along the streets for about fifteen minutes, I saw them. They were at a small Italian restaurant, sitting near the window. I was able to spot them right away since Rob was the only person wearing sunglasses. I briefly wondered if that had some sort of demonic connection, and then shook my head. I'm being illogical.
I crept closer, trying to get a better view. My previous plan to march into the restaurant and drag Fi out by her hair no longer seemed like the best idea. Maybe it would be more reasonable to try and see what was going on.
I noticed a bush right below the window of the table they were at and crouched down behind it. The window was open and if I was quiet enough, I could hear what they were saying.
"...and the only reason I left the tour was to get away from her. Always worrying, always looking out for me. I was so sick of it. I was sixteen years old and my mom treated me like a little kid." It was Fi's voice, but it didn't sound like something Fi would ever say, especially about Mom.
"And Jack?" I heard Rob ask.
"Oh, God. He's the worst. He thinks that he looks after for me, but he does nothing but get in the way. He thinks he knows everything. It's disgusting! I don't know why he has to spend the month with me. Mom was probably trying to get rid of him." I couldn't believe my ears. Why was Fi saying all of that? Was that how she really felt about me? Or was Gabe right?
"You sound like you need to get away from them," Rob said. God, how I hated him. "Why don't we run away, Fiona? Just you and me. You'll never hear from your family again."
There was silence, and I held my breath. "When do we leave?"
No! I thought. Why was Fi doing this? This wasn't like her at all.
"Meet me tomorrow night at eleven. I'll be at the corner of 4th and 45th Street."
They talked some more, but I was too lost in my thoughts to hear them. How would I ever be able to stop Fi? I didn't know if she was possessed, but it was certain that she was definitely under Rob's control.
I realized that the talking had stopped, and when I looked back up at the window, they were gone. I must have missed their exit. Scampering out from behind the bush, I ran back to Aunt Melinda's house, and got there just in time to see Fi going inside and Rob walking away from the door.
Without really thinking about what I was doing, I ran up to him. "Who are you?" I demanded.
Rob looked at me, with that same evil stare. "Your worst enemy."
Chapter Seven
I wanted to pound him into the ground, but something told me not to mess with the devil (no pun intended). Rob turned on his heel and continued down the sidewalk. I ran into the house, needing to find Fi. As I walked past the kitchen, I noticed a piece of paper on the table.
9:03 p.m. Jack and Fi, an emergency came up with a friend of mine. I had to leave right away. I'll be back before noon on Monday. Love, Aunt Melinda
Monday! This couldn't be happening, it just couldn't. Now not even she could help me save Fi. How would I ever be able to stop her on my own? I ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. The door to Fi's bedroom was open just a crack and I could see that her light was still on. Good, she's still awake. "Fi?" I called softly, pushing open the door.
"What do you want?" she snapped, not bothering to look up from the book she was reading in her bed.
This wasn't going to be easy. It was best for me to try and apologize to her first. "Fiona, I'm sorry about the way I've been acting over the past few days. I was really a jerk. I just wanted to spend more time with you, that's all. I haven't seen you for seven months." Fi turned a page of her book and still didn't look at me. Was she even listening? I decided to continue anyway. "You know, I remember when you were still on tour with us... always running off on your paranormal adventures. I miss that, Fi."
"Things change," she said dully.
"Yeah," I said slowly. "Yeah, I guess they do. But I can't change the fact that I still miss it." She yawned, and I could tell that it wasn't from being tired. "You know what?" I asked. "You're right, Fi. Things do change. But I never thought that you would. And I don't like the person that you've become." A tear rolled down my cheek, and I brushed it away quickly, blinking away the ones that were about to follow. Fi turned another page of her book, and I shook my head. Useless, absolutely useless. I couldn't even get through to my own sister anymore. I left her room and collapsed onto my bed, holding my head in my hands.
Chapter Eight
I guess I must have fallen asleep, because when I lifted my head up again, it was morning. I groggily stepped into the hallway and noticed that Fi left her bedroom door wide open. I peeked in, but she wasn't in her bed. A few minutes later, I discovered that she wasn't downstairs either. She wasn't anywhere to be found.
"Fi?" I called. "Fi, where are you?" My hands were clammy. It was Rob, I just knew it. He came in the middle of the night and kidnapped her a day early. She probably tried calling my name, but I was sleeping, and I didn't hear her. Oh God, it was all my fault. I could have done something; I could have stopped him...
Slam!
I spun around to see Fi march through the front door, right past me, and into the next room. "Hey!" I shouted after her, suddenly no longer able to tolerate her attitude. "Hey Fi, we have to talk!" I ran after her.
"No, we don't," Fi shouted back, stomping up the stairs. "Don't bother, Jack! I don't need you to look after me."
"Yes, you do," I argued. "Fi, Rob is evil! You have to stay away from him. He's going to hurt you!"
"Yeah, right," she replied.
"Please," I begged her, "why won't you believe me?"
"Why should I?" Fi yelled. "What about all those times when you never believed me? Tell me, Jack, why should I believe you?" She ran into her room and slammed her door.
Tears welled up in my eyes. She was right. I never listened to Fiona; I never believed her when she told me all those crazy things she discovered. Even if Gabe was right, even if Rob was slowly possessing her, there was truth to her words.
I then went and did something that I hardly ever do. I turned on Aunt Melinda's computer and logged onto the Internet. And then, of all things, I, Jack Phillips, the "logical" one of the family, went to an online search engine and typed in "demons".
With trembling hands, I waited for the page to load. I couldn't believe I was actually doing this. And even worse, I wanted it to be true. I wanted Rob to be a demon, because if he wasn't, that meant the everything that my sister said, everything that she thought about me, and Mom, was true. And I couldn't handle that.
An endless list of links came up. How would I ever get through all of them? I clicked on one after another, but they all seemed to be a re-hash of what Gabe had told me on the phone. I needed more proof, something that would tell me what I needed to know. And then I saw a link that I somehow knew would give me the answer: Fi's So Weird Page - Demons.
I clicked on it without hesitation, and quickly skimmed over what Fi had written. Even though she claimed that she was no longer interested in the paranormal, she hadn't taken down her website. And then, I saw it: the answer to my question.
"Most demons are heliophobic, that is, they are scared of the light and avoid it at all costs."
That was it! That was all I needed. Rob was heliophobic, and that was why he was always wearing sunglasses even when it wasn't sunny. "He's a demon," I said aloud, trying to get used to the idea. And then it dawned on me: if Rob was really a demon, then that meant that tonight, it was all over.
Chapter Nine
Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays
I'll send them howling
I don't care
I've got ways
I sat on my bed, waiting. It was five to eleven and Fi would be leaving the house any minute. I was going to follow her. I was going to save her. Her life was in my hands now.
No one's gonna hurt you
No one's gonna dare
Others can desert you
Not to worry, whistle, I'll be there
I heard the door being closed and leaped off my bed. That was my cue. A minute later I was hiding in the shadows of Fi's path, about twenty feet behind her. I had to be careful not to be caught, at least not yet. Fi's fate depended on what I did now.
Demons will charm you with a smile
For a while, but in time
Nothing can harm you
Not while I'm around
"Ah, angel, so you've made it." It was Rob - I could see him clearly now. I leaned against the side of a building, being careful to stay out of their view. He wrapped his arm around Fi.
"Of course I did," she replied. "I'd never break a promise to you. Are we leaving, now?"
"We will soon," Rob said. "But first, I want to have some fun." He grinned. No, Rob, not yet, not now, don't hurt her, please...
"Okay," Fi agreed, as though she had no control over her words. She probably didn't.
"You stupid girl," Rob growled, smacking her with such force that she fell to the ground. That was enough for me.
"Get away from her!" I shouted, running over to him. I glanced at Fi, who seemed to have been knocked unconscious.
"Well, look who showed up," Rob commented. "Fiona's caring older brother. How sweet."
"I know what you're doing," I said. "You're going to possess her. I've read all about people like you, Rob. I know what you are: a demon."
He laughed. "Don't believe everything you read, Jack. I'm not going to possess your sister."
"Then what are you doing?" I demanded.
Rob shrugged. "I'm only going to kill her, that's all."
My heart pounded in my chest, angry thoughts flooding my mind. "Why? Why her?" I asked. Why not me?
"Demons don't possess people, they just control them. Don't worry, Jack, it's a common misconception. Some spirits don't even know the difference," he smirked. "I need to take Fiona's life because mine is about to run out."
"But why Fi?" I pressed.
"Why not? She just seemed like a good target. Besides, I can't stand your father. The jerk almost revealed me when he alive. And anyway, I can't kill you."
"You can't?"
"You're protected." Rob made a face. "Angels. That stupid necklace that your sweetheart gave you is serving as your armor against death."
Instinctively, my hand flew to the chain around my neck. I was protected? Gabe and her angels were protecting me?
"Well, now that I've explained all of this to you, would you mind stepping aside while I take care of business?"
"No!" I shouted. "You're not killing her, Rob. I won't let you," I said. I kneeled down next to Fi and undid the clasp on my necklace. Gingerly, I placed it around Fi's neck. She sat straight up immediately.
"Jack, what's happening?" she asked, looking from me, to Rob, back to me again. "Why are we here?"
Before I could answer, Rob cut in. "We're here," he said, "to get me a new life." The last thing I felt was my head being slammed against the ground.
Chapter Ten
"I should have listened to you, Jack. Why didn't I listen to you? You knew that Rob was evil. You could sense that. You were just trying to look out for me - why didn't I let you? This was supposed to be our time. You came here to see me. I should have devoted the month to spending time with you, not some dumb boyfriend." I was standing in the doorway of Fi's bedroom, listening to her monologue. Why did she just tell me to my face that that was how she felt? She was sitting on her bed, her back to me. I could hear her sniffles and choked sobs.
"Fi, it's okay now. We're both okay. We survived," I said. I expected some sort of reaction, but got none. She still faced the other way and continued to cry.
"If I just listened to you, this never would have happened," Fi added. "It's all my fault. How could I let this happen, Jack?"
"Don't say that," I said, walking closer to her. "It's not your fault. You couldn't do anything - Rob was controlling you."
"I only wish you could hear me now," Fi said. "I'm so sorry."
"I can hear you." She didn't turn around, her body still trembling.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped. "She can't hear you, Jack."
I turned around. "Dad?" He nodded. "What's going on?"
"You gave up your life to save Fi," Dad said. "You were very brave. I figured that you'd want to hear this before we go." He glanced upwards. "We can't stay much longer."
I walked over to Fi, now standing in front of her. In her hands she held a photograph of the two of us, now tear-stained. "I never got to say goodbye," she whispered. "Goodbye, Jack."
"Goodbye, Fi," I whispered back. Then Dad held my hand in his, and together, we left.
THE END
After I hung up the phone, Gabe's words were still repeating in my mind. Help Fi before it's too late. What was I going to do? I can't say I believed what Gabe had told me, but when it was my own sister's life that was on the line, I wasn't about to take any chances. Grabbing my jacket, I told Aunt Melinda that I was going for a walk and left the house. I was really going to find Fi and Rob and get Fi away from him. Even if he wasn't a demon, he still seemed dangerous. I wasn't about to let anyone hurt my sister.
Finally, after walking along the streets for about fifteen minutes, I saw them. They were at a small Italian restaurant, sitting near the window. I was able to spot them right away since Rob was the only person wearing sunglasses. I briefly wondered if that had some sort of demonic connection, and then shook my head. I'm being illogical.
I crept closer, trying to get a better view. My previous plan to march into the restaurant and drag Fi out by her hair no longer seemed like the best idea. Maybe it would be more reasonable to try and see what was going on.
I noticed a bush right below the window of the table they were at and crouched down behind it. The window was open and if I was quiet enough, I could hear what they were saying.
"...and the only reason I left the tour was to get away from her. Always worrying, always looking out for me. I was so sick of it. I was sixteen years old and my mom treated me like a little kid." It was Fi's voice, but it didn't sound like something Fi would ever say, especially about Mom.
"And Jack?" I heard Rob ask.
"Oh, God. He's the worst. He thinks that he looks after for me, but he does nothing but get in the way. He thinks he knows everything. It's disgusting! I don't know why he has to spend the month with me. Mom was probably trying to get rid of him." I couldn't believe my ears. Why was Fi saying all of that? Was that how she really felt about me? Or was Gabe right?
"You sound like you need to get away from them," Rob said. God, how I hated him. "Why don't we run away, Fiona? Just you and me. You'll never hear from your family again."
There was silence, and I held my breath. "When do we leave?"
No! I thought. Why was Fi doing this? This wasn't like her at all.
"Meet me tomorrow night at eleven. I'll be at the corner of 4th and 45th Street."
They talked some more, but I was too lost in my thoughts to hear them. How would I ever be able to stop Fi? I didn't know if she was possessed, but it was certain that she was definitely under Rob's control.
I realized that the talking had stopped, and when I looked back up at the window, they were gone. I must have missed their exit. Scampering out from behind the bush, I ran back to Aunt Melinda's house, and got there just in time to see Fi going inside and Rob walking away from the door.
Without really thinking about what I was doing, I ran up to him. "Who are you?" I demanded.
Rob looked at me, with that same evil stare. "Your worst enemy."
Chapter Seven
I wanted to pound him into the ground, but something told me not to mess with the devil (no pun intended). Rob turned on his heel and continued down the sidewalk. I ran into the house, needing to find Fi. As I walked past the kitchen, I noticed a piece of paper on the table.
9:03 p.m. Jack and Fi, an emergency came up with a friend of mine. I had to leave right away. I'll be back before noon on Monday. Love, Aunt Melinda
Monday! This couldn't be happening, it just couldn't. Now not even she could help me save Fi. How would I ever be able to stop her on my own? I ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. The door to Fi's bedroom was open just a crack and I could see that her light was still on. Good, she's still awake. "Fi?" I called softly, pushing open the door.
"What do you want?" she snapped, not bothering to look up from the book she was reading in her bed.
This wasn't going to be easy. It was best for me to try and apologize to her first. "Fiona, I'm sorry about the way I've been acting over the past few days. I was really a jerk. I just wanted to spend more time with you, that's all. I haven't seen you for seven months." Fi turned a page of her book and still didn't look at me. Was she even listening? I decided to continue anyway. "You know, I remember when you were still on tour with us... always running off on your paranormal adventures. I miss that, Fi."
"Things change," she said dully.
"Yeah," I said slowly. "Yeah, I guess they do. But I can't change the fact that I still miss it." She yawned, and I could tell that it wasn't from being tired. "You know what?" I asked. "You're right, Fi. Things do change. But I never thought that you would. And I don't like the person that you've become." A tear rolled down my cheek, and I brushed it away quickly, blinking away the ones that were about to follow. Fi turned another page of her book, and I shook my head. Useless, absolutely useless. I couldn't even get through to my own sister anymore. I left her room and collapsed onto my bed, holding my head in my hands.
Chapter Eight
I guess I must have fallen asleep, because when I lifted my head up again, it was morning. I groggily stepped into the hallway and noticed that Fi left her bedroom door wide open. I peeked in, but she wasn't in her bed. A few minutes later, I discovered that she wasn't downstairs either. She wasn't anywhere to be found.
"Fi?" I called. "Fi, where are you?" My hands were clammy. It was Rob, I just knew it. He came in the middle of the night and kidnapped her a day early. She probably tried calling my name, but I was sleeping, and I didn't hear her. Oh God, it was all my fault. I could have done something; I could have stopped him...
Slam!
I spun around to see Fi march through the front door, right past me, and into the next room. "Hey!" I shouted after her, suddenly no longer able to tolerate her attitude. "Hey Fi, we have to talk!" I ran after her.
"No, we don't," Fi shouted back, stomping up the stairs. "Don't bother, Jack! I don't need you to look after me."
"Yes, you do," I argued. "Fi, Rob is evil! You have to stay away from him. He's going to hurt you!"
"Yeah, right," she replied.
"Please," I begged her, "why won't you believe me?"
"Why should I?" Fi yelled. "What about all those times when you never believed me? Tell me, Jack, why should I believe you?" She ran into her room and slammed her door.
Tears welled up in my eyes. She was right. I never listened to Fiona; I never believed her when she told me all those crazy things she discovered. Even if Gabe was right, even if Rob was slowly possessing her, there was truth to her words.
I then went and did something that I hardly ever do. I turned on Aunt Melinda's computer and logged onto the Internet. And then, of all things, I, Jack Phillips, the "logical" one of the family, went to an online search engine and typed in "demons".
With trembling hands, I waited for the page to load. I couldn't believe I was actually doing this. And even worse, I wanted it to be true. I wanted Rob to be a demon, because if he wasn't, that meant the everything that my sister said, everything that she thought about me, and Mom, was true. And I couldn't handle that.
An endless list of links came up. How would I ever get through all of them? I clicked on one after another, but they all seemed to be a re-hash of what Gabe had told me on the phone. I needed more proof, something that would tell me what I needed to know. And then I saw a link that I somehow knew would give me the answer: Fi's So Weird Page - Demons.
I clicked on it without hesitation, and quickly skimmed over what Fi had written. Even though she claimed that she was no longer interested in the paranormal, she hadn't taken down her website. And then, I saw it: the answer to my question.
"Most demons are heliophobic, that is, they are scared of the light and avoid it at all costs."
That was it! That was all I needed. Rob was heliophobic, and that was why he was always wearing sunglasses even when it wasn't sunny. "He's a demon," I said aloud, trying to get used to the idea. And then it dawned on me: if Rob was really a demon, then that meant that tonight, it was all over.
Chapter Nine
Demons are prowling everywhere, nowadays
I'll send them howling
I don't care
I've got ways
I sat on my bed, waiting. It was five to eleven and Fi would be leaving the house any minute. I was going to follow her. I was going to save her. Her life was in my hands now.
No one's gonna hurt you
No one's gonna dare
Others can desert you
Not to worry, whistle, I'll be there
I heard the door being closed and leaped off my bed. That was my cue. A minute later I was hiding in the shadows of Fi's path, about twenty feet behind her. I had to be careful not to be caught, at least not yet. Fi's fate depended on what I did now.
Demons will charm you with a smile
For a while, but in time
Nothing can harm you
Not while I'm around
"Ah, angel, so you've made it." It was Rob - I could see him clearly now. I leaned against the side of a building, being careful to stay out of their view. He wrapped his arm around Fi.
"Of course I did," she replied. "I'd never break a promise to you. Are we leaving, now?"
"We will soon," Rob said. "But first, I want to have some fun." He grinned. No, Rob, not yet, not now, don't hurt her, please...
"Okay," Fi agreed, as though she had no control over her words. She probably didn't.
"You stupid girl," Rob growled, smacking her with such force that she fell to the ground. That was enough for me.
"Get away from her!" I shouted, running over to him. I glanced at Fi, who seemed to have been knocked unconscious.
"Well, look who showed up," Rob commented. "Fiona's caring older brother. How sweet."
"I know what you're doing," I said. "You're going to possess her. I've read all about people like you, Rob. I know what you are: a demon."
He laughed. "Don't believe everything you read, Jack. I'm not going to possess your sister."
"Then what are you doing?" I demanded.
Rob shrugged. "I'm only going to kill her, that's all."
My heart pounded in my chest, angry thoughts flooding my mind. "Why? Why her?" I asked. Why not me?
"Demons don't possess people, they just control them. Don't worry, Jack, it's a common misconception. Some spirits don't even know the difference," he smirked. "I need to take Fiona's life because mine is about to run out."
"But why Fi?" I pressed.
"Why not? She just seemed like a good target. Besides, I can't stand your father. The jerk almost revealed me when he alive. And anyway, I can't kill you."
"You can't?"
"You're protected." Rob made a face. "Angels. That stupid necklace that your sweetheart gave you is serving as your armor against death."
Instinctively, my hand flew to the chain around my neck. I was protected? Gabe and her angels were protecting me?
"Well, now that I've explained all of this to you, would you mind stepping aside while I take care of business?"
"No!" I shouted. "You're not killing her, Rob. I won't let you," I said. I kneeled down next to Fi and undid the clasp on my necklace. Gingerly, I placed it around Fi's neck. She sat straight up immediately.
"Jack, what's happening?" she asked, looking from me, to Rob, back to me again. "Why are we here?"
Before I could answer, Rob cut in. "We're here," he said, "to get me a new life." The last thing I felt was my head being slammed against the ground.
Chapter Ten
"I should have listened to you, Jack. Why didn't I listen to you? You knew that Rob was evil. You could sense that. You were just trying to look out for me - why didn't I let you? This was supposed to be our time. You came here to see me. I should have devoted the month to spending time with you, not some dumb boyfriend." I was standing in the doorway of Fi's bedroom, listening to her monologue. Why did she just tell me to my face that that was how she felt? She was sitting on her bed, her back to me. I could hear her sniffles and choked sobs.
"Fi, it's okay now. We're both okay. We survived," I said. I expected some sort of reaction, but got none. She still faced the other way and continued to cry.
"If I just listened to you, this never would have happened," Fi added. "It's all my fault. How could I let this happen, Jack?"
"Don't say that," I said, walking closer to her. "It's not your fault. You couldn't do anything - Rob was controlling you."
"I only wish you could hear me now," Fi said. "I'm so sorry."
"I can hear you." She didn't turn around, her body still trembling.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and jumped. "She can't hear you, Jack."
I turned around. "Dad?" He nodded. "What's going on?"
"You gave up your life to save Fi," Dad said. "You were very brave. I figured that you'd want to hear this before we go." He glanced upwards. "We can't stay much longer."
I walked over to Fi, now standing in front of her. In her hands she held a photograph of the two of us, now tear-stained. "I never got to say goodbye," she whispered. "Goodbye, Jack."
"Goodbye, Fi," I whispered back. Then Dad held my hand in his, and together, we left.