13
It was like I was in a daze as I stared down at Lance's lifeless body on the ground, the back of his head staring at me. I was happy for this; I didn't want to see how deformed and shredded his face was. Axel just stared down at the body for a moment, blood pooled around his feet. He looked at me now, eyes bright and innocent. They were so soft looking and young, truly a child. He leaned over and picked something up from Lance and moved over to the bed. I recoiled some and watched him climb on the bed and sit on his bottom before me. My eyes just followed his small form as he made an attempt to get comfy on the bed. Once he was sitting straight up, he held out his pale closed fist to me and I looked at it.
He jiggled his fist in front of me waiting for my hand and I slowly raised my hand and opened my palm to him and slowly he dropped what was in his hand and staring back at me was one of Lance's blue eyes. My eyes widened some and I swallowed hard as I just stared at the bloody thing. My palm shook very slowly. Suddenly I'm constricted and I gasp and look down raising my arms some to see Axel's arm around my chest. His cheek nuzzled right over my heart.
"I made a mess… please don't be mad, Mommy." he whispered, his voice muffled a bit. I looked at the top of his messy hair and then looked at my hand and slowly curled my finger around the slick and wet eye. I slowly looked up and noticed the full body mirror across the room and saw our reflection only this this time, it wasn't me sitting there. My hair was braided in numerous twists, my skin a grey tint, I am wrapped in the white wrap and long skirt. My eyes are an endless black and I was in awe at what I was seeing Braids and beads decorated my neck and bracelets peppered my arms and wrists. Axel's form was still the same but slowly, my head leaned over and I felt my cheek gently pressing into the top of his head, my arms wrapping around his form.
The shiver I was used to feeling now turned into a warm ball in the pit of my stomach as our bodies embraced each other. He was my kid, I could feel it, I could smell his scent on his skin.
"I didn't like the smell of your fear." Axel admits and I looked down at him pulling back some and looking at him for a moment. The music burst through my ears and I heard glass shattering making us both look up. I had almost forgotten where I was and I looked down at Lance, still dead on the ground.
"Oh shit." I said moving to get off the bed, holding Axel in my arms. He had removed the eye from my hand and had plucked it in his mouth as if it were candy and moved to the door and paused upon hearing tons of people in the hall. Lance's body was right across the door too. We couldn't get out that way. I looked around wondering what it was I was doing before seeing the window on the other side of the room. I moved over towards it and sat Axel down to look out it. This room was on the side of the house where no one was near. I looked out down the street to see the rows of cars parked on the sides of the road. I looked down at Axel.
"Do you want to come with me?" I asked and he nodded almost immediately. I nodded and opened the window quickly. With everyone drinking and partying, they would hardly remember that I was here. Hopefully. The warm air hit my skin and I looked down some to see there was nothing but grass below. I would have to be careful. I could probably get down from here. I lifted Axel up and he clung to my chest. I climbed out the window and it took some time before I was finally dangling from the window and I inhaled slowly and just let go. We weren't too high up so I landed and wobbled a bit before regaining my composure. I looked around making sure no one else was around before moving swiftly down the street. Once I was at my car, I moved to the passenger side and opened the door and finally sat Axel down, I just remained in my crouch staring at him. This is the longest I have ever seen anything super natural.
Axel just sat there staring at me for a moment. I didn't know what to think of this, let alone him. But suddenly a loud scream made me look up. Someone found Lance's body and I quickly shut the door, got in the driver's side and hurried away. I blinked rapidly glancing at Axel from time to time. He was so small, very fragile looking. He chewed on his hand, saliva dripping down his chin like I was used to. What should I do with him? What can I do with him? He couldn't stay with me. If he was like his… father, he was bound to get hungry again.
"So are you full?" I asked lowly and he just rocked around kicking his feet together as if there was a song playing in his he/ad
"Yes." he replied and I nodded looking ahead at the darkness. There were trees on either side of us and I just watched him carefully, unsure if I should keep conversation. Who knows what he would do with silence.
"So how many brothers and sisters are there?" I asked calmly, or at least trying to be calm.
"Fifteen." he said and my eyes widened some as I heard his words.
"Fifteen?" I asked and he nodded.
"Yes." he said knowing on his hands some. It was like he was sharpening his teeth or something and I swallowed some.
"Fifteen." I said to myself and shook my head. Maybe I should head over to Henry's place or the others. They needed to know. But I looked back at Axel now and realized, I couldn't take him to any of them. To them, he was the creature that haunted them, killed a lot of children, and now is out of my body and looking for revenge. But to me, he is my child. I couldn't let them hurt him or him them. Suddenly, the passenger's door swings open and Axel is gone and I scream in shock.
"AXEL!" I yell my hand reaching out to him, stopping my car, causing it to screech. I panted at what I saw and got out of my car and ran around the front watching as he suddenly runs into the darkness of the forest. Just as his body disappears, I see numerous pairs of gold eyes staring at me, bright and wild. I paused beside my car and just look at all the eyes staring back at me. I was met with low growls of different pitches.
"You are a priestess of voodoo, you will NOT be afraid." It was like I was thinking to myself but in the spirits tone. I am not afraid, I am not afraid, I am not afraid. Flickering above me was the street light. It went out and I was drowned by darkness and I looked at the numerous pairs of eyes. The lights flickered on I saw all the clowns standing there in a large group. The street lights went off and then on and they were even closer. This cycle kept repeating and they were getting closer and closer. An attempt that made me nervous, but I had to push back the fear. Should I run? Would they kill me? No they can't I am protected by the magic. No I couldn't run. I can't run. That option was gone as they now stood above me now, jaws open, rows of teeth facing me.
I examined all their faces. Same make up, but the girls had small mounds on their chests and long eye lashes. Some of their hair was in pig tails with braids while some of the boys had choppy hair. Yet their white painted faces were flawless and their outfits were all the same. Just like his. I closed my eyes tapping into my magic, or at least tempting too. I had to focus. I am a voodoo priestess and these children would not destroy me. I opened my eyes now and saw them all recoil a bit and I looked down at my body to see I was barefoot and in the same attire as the reflection I saw back in Sally's house. This was my power. I was my power. I looked up at the children and waited for them to try and do something.
They all reached out toward me attempting to touch my face and shoulders, but they didn't get too close. They hissed and growled and gurgled and instead they all faded back with great speed back into the forest. I watched as now only Axel and another clown stood their hands in each other's. They both just stared at me for a moment, golden eyes calmer now, but still cautious. But they were also curious.
They retreated back into the darkness with the others and I had no idea what that meant. I sighed with relief and as I did, I felt my shoes constrict my feet yet again and I turned and looked around at the street lights to see them all on. I had to get out of here, I had to see Henry.