1 July 2012
Chapter 11 - No More Sacrifice
-one week later-
Tears ran silently down her cheeks as she sat gripping her knees to her chest.
He can't be gone, her mind flickered through the same thoughts over and over, he can't be gone, he can't be gone...
Suddenly anger filled her, he had promised never to go near that damned cave. He had promised! Then she wept, spasms shaking her body; he was too young, my poor boy, how can he be gone... He can't be gone.
Yet here she was, gently rocking in this corner as despair ran through her bones. Something inside her had been ripped out, stolen, leaving a space that was devoid of... Everything.
Nothing would ever fill that hole again, she thought, that was the space inside her reserved for her baby boy, her little Jacob, too young... He can't be gone...
•••
John held his face in his large hands, fighting back tears as he felt grief sink into him.
Regret swam around the room as he thought over the last week since the demons had been exposed, since the boys had been possessed...
He felt his chest rise and fall in an involuntary sigh, but then a noise broke into his thoughts.
Looking up his heart sank even further - Derek was behind bars, trapped at the centre of the star. Red eyes flashed towards him as the boy prowled the edge of the circle.
It wasn't Derek anymore, John knew the demon had taken him. And no matter how many animals were slaughtered to appease the curse the demon refused to leave this 15 year old's body.
Release him, John silently prayed, then wondered if God was bored with hearing those two words. But then, God left this town a long time ago.
Someone coughed, John span around to see Mickey approaching.
"How's he doing?" Mickey looked over to his friend. All John could do was shrug and sigh.
Derek's body hissed, blood-red eyes wide with hunger.
"It isn't your fault, you know," Mickey put a small hand on the big man's broad shoulder, "What happened with Jacob..."
John frowned, shook his head, "No, Mickey, it is my fault. How could I not see the demons? How could I get so close to letting one hurt you? Why didn't I see it sooner? Why didn't I see that the sacrifices were failing?"
John sighed, "I was helpless, I couldn't save Jacob... Just twelve years old, only exploring the woods... He didn't deserve to die the way he did. I should have stopped it - I swore to protect this town, Mickey, I promised I'd stop this... But... I've failed - again." He glanced over at Derek in his cage, the helplessness was overwhelming.
Crimson eyes stared back, and the darkness crept in; releasing him from the pain, pushing it away to numb his mind...
Broken Promises • Opuss № I