Passing

This is a short chapter sorry but I'm having to jump start the muse after the break. The move into the new house and my latest class is done so I'm hoping to get back into writing regularly again. The chapter is rated PG.

Demons

Overlooking I-25 and the sweeping vista that is the US Air Force Academy was the headquarters of Focus on the Family. From what I’d been able to find out on the Internet it was Christian based organization dedicated to solving family problems. Frankly until my search for Michele lead me there, I had never heard of the place. The few references I had seen since seemed to indicate they were more concerned with saving the world from gays than saving families.

My inquiries at the door lead me to a book store where Michele was working.
“Michele Thompson?” I asked when I found her.
I had little trouble recognizing her despite the changes, the little girl I had grabbed out of the crowd that day had turned in a mature woman but I could still see the sweet child inside.
“Yes,” she answered.
“I’m Melody. I don’t know if you remember me, we met a long time ago when you were little. I rescued you from the crowd at the park in Manitou Springs.”
Her hand flew to her mouth.
“Oh my God! Yes, how could I forget? I never got to thank you properly.”

“Well I’m hoping you could help me. There is a man I lost contact with and I’m trying to find him. He was there too and…”
I stopped at the dark look that came over her face.
“He had sandy hair and came in after you,” it was more a statement than a question.
“Yes that’s him.”
“Stay away from him Ms. Melody, if you know what is good for you. Forget him and go home.”
“I don’t understand.”

She looked around to see if anyone else was close enough to overhear then leaned closer.
“He is a demon, Ms. Melody. A demon from hell. I saw him when those boys were doing what they were doing to you. He turned into a demonic beast with claws, animal ears and…”
“A tail?” I finished breathlessly.
“You saw it too?” Her stare at me was intense as if desperate for my confirmation.
“In a dream,” I whispered.
“He tore those boys apart, there was blood everywhere. It was a miracle that none of them died.”
“I don’t think he wanted to kill them,” I said absently. “I think he only wanted to protect me.”
“Demons don’t protect people; he didn’t kill them because it was God’s will.”
I hardly heard what she said; the world was whirling around me. I need to get outside to fresh air. I wandered out of the shop heading for the doors, Claire and Peter following looking concerned.

‘It wasn’t a dream,’ kept passing through my head.
Somehow I had always known deep down but it was too fantastic to accept. Was he some sort of demon? Did it matter?
“Stay away from him, Ms. Melody!” Michele yelled after me. “He will steal your soul if he gets the chance!”
“Too late,” I heard myself mutter as the world faded around me.

~~~

I awoke in the emergency room. The doctor said I had just fainted, probably from the stress. I suddenly wanted to giggle. Yes, having it confirmed that first love is some sort of coyote demon might be called stressful.
“Your son told me about your condition,” he said with disapproval written all over his face.
“Did he also tell you its untreatable?”
“New breakthroughs are happening all the time.”
“So my doctor back home said but not for me. He was quite clear on my chances. My life is measured in months at this point.”
“Months that you are cutting short by the stress of traveling to this altitude.”
“It doesn’t matter, am I free to go?”

I did the paperwork and gathered my family around me and set out again. Michele had turned out to be a dead end. Tomorrow I would drive out and try to find Spirit Peak. My memories of that trip were very fuzzy, particularly since I never drove it myself but it was all I had left. I may be cutting my life short to do it but Human or Demon, I had to find him. If for no other reason than to say 'I'm Sorry' and ‘I love you’ one more time.