"Are you okay?" Jack patted my shoulder in History.
"Yeah," I sat straight and tried to sound normal.
"Thought you were feeling dizzy", he sounded tensed.
"No," I smiled, "I'm just fine".
"Miss. Valdez", called Mr. Cortez, the History teacher, "I would appreciate if you keep silence in the class for more fifteen minutes".
"Oh", I looked down at the book, "Sorry, sir".
That was embarrassing. I have never been talked like that by the teachers before. I blushed as the whole class stared at me while he called my name. In PE, the coach was not happy with me as I was the only one, sitting in pavilion, without playing.
"Miss. Valdez", he said curtly, "This is the last time I'm seeing you up there. Next time, I wanna see you play with the rest".
That was like another hammer, hitting my head.
"Sure, coach", I obeyed.
As I walked through the lawn, passing several students, I saw him leaning against the wall at a side of main gate. He was staring up at the sky with a blank look. As if sensing my arrival, he stared at me. His blue eyes sparkled as if it was an indication that he was happy to see me.
"Hey", he grinned, "How was your day?" This was the usual question.
"Good", I looked in his eyes. They were still by then.
"Let's go then", he walked towards the car parked on the driveway.
"Don't forget to take me tonight", I nudged his arm.
"Oh man!" he was frustrated, "You're still sticking to your thought?"
"Of course", I giggled, "You must have thought that I've already forgotten it".
"Yeah, actually", he answered, "Okay, I will take you. But promise me you're not gonna tell it to anybody".
"I won't", I frowned, "I promise".
"Good", he was convinced, "Then meet me downstairs an hour after dinner".
I nodded, staring at his face. It looked more beautiful this time than it was in morning, like a Greek God.
There was no one at home. It was only me and him. It felt quite awkward sitting and watching TV on the couch beside him. He was engrossed in another baseball game. I was only staring blankly at the TV.
"I'm gonna make some fried chicken", I got up, finally, "Do you want?"
"Nope", he answered, without releasing his eyes from the TV.
I went in the kitchen and took out all the ingredients to make fried chicken. As I flipped the pieces of chicken on the pan, I felt someone standing next to me.
"Hey", I turned to look at him, "Weren't you watching a game?" It was weird that I didn't even get the sound of his footsteps when he came beside me.
"Yeah" he chuckled, "But I got bored and came to check on you".
"I'm not a kid and I don't need checking frequently", I frowned, looking away.
"Oh, I see", he laughed, "I actually came to take a can of Coke".
Taking out a Coke from the fridge, I handed it to him. Instead of going back to living room, he sat on the kitchen counter.
"You don't have any homework today,I guess", he sipped his Coke.
"I do have. I'll do it later", I said, putting the chicken on a plate and placing it on the dining table.
I ate in silence. After a minute or two, he stood up and frowned, keeping his can away.
"What's wrong?" I asked, looking up at him.
"Hang on", he said and almost ran out.
"Peter?" I yelled, "Where are you going?"
"I'll be right back", I heard him shout as he ran outside, shutting the door behind him with a bang.
The kitchen faced the front garden. I peeked through the kitchen window but couldn't see him. Where did he vanish? Then it happened all so suddenly.
I saw a boy like Peter standing outside. He was skinny, wearing jeans and a T shirt. He was standing just in front of the gate. I saw Peter standing, facing him. I couldn't remember seeing him a second ago. I couldn't see his face as he had his back on me. I thought the guy was a friend of his.
They were talking in low voices and suddenly that guy took out something from inside of his jeans pocket. It sparkled in sunlight. It was a sharp knife. The guy gripped the knife in his hand and almost stabbed Peter on his arm. My mouth fell open in shock. I tried to scream but no sound came out of my mouth. In one swift move, Peter climbed on his back, gripped his shoulder tightly and kicked the knife out of the guy's hand. I heard the knife clatter as it fell on the road.
The guy put both his hands on Peter and tried to push him out of his back. But Peter was strong enough to fall. He caught the guy's neck and then there was a 'crack'. The guy's head flew off from his body and fell three feet away. Thick green liquid oozed out of the body. Suddenly, a rancid smell hit my nose and I felt nauseated. Peter turned to look at me. I froze. He looked ferocious...his eyes glowing, his innocent face seemed to be like a face of a monster.
"Rose", someone called. I jumped and looked behind. It was Peter, looking at me worriedly.
"W-w-what w-as that?" I stammered.
I didn't know how much time has passed and I was still standing beside the kitchen window in shock and fear.
"Come in my room", he gestured towards his bedroom, upstairs. I was too scared to follow his orders. Too scared of him.
"Rose," he moved closer to me, "There's nothing to fear. I won't hurt you". His eyes sparkled again and relief rushed through me. That meant he was back to normal. And he seriously won't hurt me. I followed him
like an obedient child.
For the first time, I entered in his room. It was just like mine. Only the decoration was boyish. A medium sized bed was at the side of the window, a table next to the bed and there was a chair. Posters of The Beatles, Britney Spears, X-Men were all over the room. I sat on the edge of his bed, beside him.
"You freaked out", he asked, "Didn't you?"
"But what was that?" I gasped.
"It was a demon", he answered flatly.
”A what?" my mouth fell open in shock.
"A demon", he said broodingly, "the ones you read about in stories and you watch on movies".
"That's impossible", I whispered.
"Everything is possible, Rose", he took my hand. It felt so warm and comfortable.
"Everything you read about in books about such imaginary creatures, are real", he squeezed my hand.
"B-but", I bit my lip, "It was horrible".
"It's a natural thing for you", he caressed my hand, "Humans don't usually prefer to see such things".
"Humans?" I stared at him, bug-eyed, "What are y-you?"
"Finally," he grinned, looking straight in my eyes, "I'm a demon hunter".
"So does that mean that you're not human?" I shivered.
"I have a part of humanity in me", he answered, looking down at my hand, "I belong to the Alaskan clan. It's a clan of demon hunters like me. I'm here to protect humans from danger of demons. There are our kinds everywhere".
"I think I'm dreaming", I felt a lump in my throat.
"This is the reality", he patted my back, "You'll have to adapt to this".
"What did that guy ask for?" I was curious.
"He was just another demon, you know", his face was expressionless. "He knew that I'm here and so he wanted to kill me". He released my hand.
"How did he know?" I asked.
"Demons track their killers by their scent", he was glazed.
Just then the doorbell rang. Megan arrived from her ballet program.
"Guys", she said in glee as she stepped in the house, "Mamma and Daddy won't return tonight. They will stay at Arizona for a week".
"Great", Peter laughed, "We have the house to ourselves".
"That doesn't mean you can call up all your friends here and party", Megan said sternly, sitting on the couch.
"I don't have any friend", Peter answered, "Guys hardly approach me, you know".
"What about the blonde girl who had come to you last year?" Megan teased.
"She was a class bumpkin", Peter chuckled, "She was head over heels for me. But I rejected immediately".
"Thank god you did that", Megan started untying her ballet shoes, "That girl was a badass".
"I knew it", he said wanly, "I'm hungry and sleepy."
He walked to the kitchen and I heard opening of the cabinets and then the noise of wrappers being opened.
"How was school?" Megan turned to me. I was on the opposite couch.
"Good", I said, "With lots of home tasks".
"That sucks", she said and placed her shoes at the corner. "I hope you're-".
Megan couldn't finish her sentence as there was a loud bang from the
kitchen.
"Jesus!" Megan rushed in the kitchen and I was right next to her.
In the kitchen, everything was in a mess. Peanut butter was all over the floor, utensils thrown everywhere and at a side sat Peter with a big rat in his hand.
"Ow! Megan screamed, "Peter, please throw it away". I hated rats, too.
"Do you want to have a feast with this tonight?" he said with a wolfish grin.
"Peter", I yelled, "Throw it".
"Okay, Madam", he bowed and raced out to discard the rat in trash can.
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