~ CATHERINE ~
I shot across the road and headed down Highwick Park Drive, the phone call I’d gotten from Christopher telling me to meet him at the playground. He hadn’t said anything else, just to be there, then had hung up. I hadn’t thought twice about sneaking out to meet him, but it was the following call from his grandfather that made me look at every shadow, listen to every sound, the goosebumps pebbling my flesh not from the cold night, but straight up fear.
I ran towards the playground, desperate to get this over with quick. I needed to see with my own eyes that Christopher was all right, then let him know that I couldn’t leave with him.
A car drove past, causing me to dart behind a fence. I hid until I was sure it had gone, then sprinted across the road, jumping up onto the raised medium strip. I jumped down onto the other side, not slowing to cross the dead-end street. The swings in the playground lay still, an eerie quality surrounding them. I sat down on one, shivering in my bomber jacket and black jeans, the swing’s creaking putting me even more on edge.
I scanned the park and the small enclave of trees behind it, tensing as a shadow emerged from the trees, a tall figure walking towards me. I quickly pushed off the swing, praying it was Christopher, and that this wasn’t all one giant trap. My hand instinctively went to my rosary as the dark figure drew closer, ready to attack if it was someone else.
The dark figure pulled their hood back, revealing Christopher. My relief only lasted a second, his upset expression making my heart plummet.
I went to him. “What happened?” I asked, grabbing his hand. “Are you all right?”
He shook his head. “I fought with my famiglia. They tied me up and locked me in the study. But my mother freed me.”
I squeezed his hand, wondering whether my call had made the difference. “Why did they do it?”
“They caught me stealing money, realised I was going to run away. They basically forced me down.” His voice hitched. “I can’t believe this. Can’t believe they think what they did was right. How could they do that to me? That’s not love, that’s... Dio! I don’t know what it is, but it’s not love.”
“It’s demonic,” I replied.
He jerked his hand out of mine. “Don’t say that.”
“Why deny it? They’re obviously demons. It’s the only explanation for their behaviour.”
He brought his hand to his forehead. “My mother said something similar, was yelling at my father about it. He denied it.”
“He can deny it all he wants, but your mum’s telling the truth. It said in one of Sister Cecile’s books that all Merges are born angels, and that we only become demons if we allow our souls to be corrupted. It’s not hereditary, it’s by choice.”
“What does that mean for me?”
“You’re good, you’re an angel, but your granddad... I scoured the books about possession, went through all of them, and they all said that only demons can possess innocents without consent. If your granddad’s threats about possessing you are real, then he’s a demon.”
“He could just be part.”
“There are no part demons, Merges are either full angels or full demons. The book I read was quite clear about that.”
“But my father treats my grandfather like an angel.”
“He’s a Denier.”
“That’s not what a Denier is. It’s to do with Merges forsaking their heritage for human culture.”
“As well as demons thinking they’re angels.”
He shook his head. “No, that’s not—”
“It is, there was a whole chapter about it. Deniers aren’t just Merges wanting to be humans, they’re also demon Merges wanting to be angels, just without actually being good. And I think your family are like that.”
“No! A demon attacked me because I’m an angel. Because my famiglia are angels.”
“Demons attack each other, constantly fighting over the legendary rosaries. They have a need for what angels have, but angels only want what belongs to them, which is their own rosaries, not others.”
He went silent, horror colouring his expression, the night unable to hide it. I moved behind him, placing a hand on his back. He flinched, but didn’t avoid my touch. I ran my fingers down his back, over where his scars were. “There are angel wings carved here for a reason. That demon who attacked you would’ve sensed the good in you. Could sense that you’re an angel at heart, no matter who your parents are.”
He turned to face me. “I felt hate, real hate today. How can an angel feel that? Maybe I’m a demon like them.”
I shook my head. “No, you’re good.”
His upset expression didn’t change, Christopher clearly not believing me. Wanting to comfort him, I wrapped my arms around him. His body was so stiff, so unrelenting. I placed my head against his chest, feeling his heartbeat, which was racing far too fast.
“You are good,” I asserted, willing him to believe me, to have faith in his good intentions. “You’re an angel through and through.”
His arms moved around me, the two of us now locked in each other’s embrace. He lowered his head, resting it on top of mine. “Grazie for believing in me,” he said.
“I’m the one who should be thanking you.” I gave him a squeeze. “You have risked so much for me.”
“You’re worth it.” Breaking our hug, he took hold of my hand and tugged me towards the trees. “Let’s go to my auntie’s. She’ll help us get to Mount Maunganui.”
I slipped my hand out of his. “I can’t go with you.”
He tensed. “But you agreed—”
“Things have changed. I have to fight your granddad now.”
“No! You said—”
“That I would go if your granddad didn’t go after my parents. But he called me, threatened to burn my house down with them in it if I didn’t show tomorrow. So, I can’t leave with you.”
“But he’ll kill you.”
“And if I leave, he’ll kill my parents.” I took a step back, putting distance between us, his anger now worrying me.
“I don’t care, you’re not going!” he snapped.
“Well, I care. You may not love your parents, but I love mine.”
His anger instantly disappeared, his voice softening, the sudden change putting me on edge. “Please don’t go.”
“You know I can’t stay.”
He reached for me, something telling me to avoid his touch, his behaviour not right.
“Why can’t I hug you?” he asked, sounding hurt.
“I...” Feeling guilty for rejecting his hug, I reached out to touch his hand. He grabbed it and yanked me to him, wrapping his arms around me. “Chris! What are you doing?”
“I’m not letting you go,” he said, holding me tight.
I struggled to pull free, but his grip was too strong. “Chris! Let go!”
“No.” He picked me up, throwing me over his shoulder in a fireman’s hold, what he was doing shocking me. But as soon as he began walking towards the trees, I started kicking and screaming, panicked that he was going to get my parents killed.
“Let me down!” I hollered.
Ignoring me, he continued walking.
“Where are you taking me?” I asked, struggling against his hold.
“Stephen’s house,” he replied, tightening his grip on me.
“Chris, you’re hurting me. Don’t make me use the rosary against you.”
He stopped at my words. “You wouldn’t dare; you said that you love me.”
“I never said—”
“Don’t lie. You whispered it at Buckland’s Reserve. You didn’t think I heard, but I did.”
I grimaced, surprised he’d heard that, but it didn’t change a thing. I still couldn’t let him take me, my parents’ lives were at stake. So I allowed the lie to slip from my mouth, hoping it would free me.
“It was a trick,” I said. “I was reeling you in, using you to get at your granddad, so you might as well let me go, because I don’t feel a thing for you.”
He resumed walking. “I don’t believe you.”
Knowing I had no other choice, I willed a controlled burst of water to knock him down. Christopher stumbled and tripped, letting go of me. I landed on top of him, knocking the wind out of him. Taking advantage, I scrambled to my feet and went to run, falling over as he kicked out, tripping me up. But I was back on my feet in a heartbeat, recovering quicker than him. I sprinted towards the road, glancing back to see if he was following me.
He sprung up and ran after me, his long legs chewing up the distance faster than I could get away. A car drove towards us. Seeing my opportunity, I shot in front of it, knowing I had enough time to get past. Tyres screeched hard, but the car stopped well clear of me. I glanced back to see where Christopher was. He went to run around the car, but the driver jumped out, going ballistic at him, his posture threatening. I stopped a little up the road, afraid the man would attack Christopher.
“She’s my girlfriend, you idiot!” Christopher hollered at him.
The man said something, then advanced on Christopher. I went to go back, not willing to let him get hurt, but Christopher threw a punch at the stranger, knocking him to the ground. He then looked across the car at me. I took off again, heading for my house.
As I crossed Sumner Street, the sound of screeching tyres cut through the night. Glancing back, I noticed the car that had stopped was heading for me. My eyes widened at the sight of Christopher behind the wheel. Darting into a driveway, I ran to the end of the property and scaled the fence. A car door slammed shut, closely followed by running footsteps. I scaled over a couple more fences, then darted behind a shed, hoping that Christopher would pass by. The footsteps came, but not in my direction. Then out of the blue, a loud burst of barking ripped through the air. The lights in the neighbouring house turned on. Christopher swore and took off.
I glanced around the shed, only seeing the dog, who was behind a wire fence in the neighbouring property. The dog’s owner shouted at it through the window, then switched off the lights. Once all was clear, I shot around the side of the house and across Balwyn Road, slowing down as I neared my property, worried that Christopher could be lying in wait. When I didn’t see him, I ran to my front door and let myself in, locking it behind me.
Careful not to wake my parents, I tiptoed upstairs and slipped into my room, freezing at the sound of a car pulling up outside. I remained where I was, praying it wasn’t Christopher, but still prepared to run downstairs to get him to leave. When no knock came, I sat down on my bed and exhaled, so freaking wired I was shaking. But my relief was short-lived, the iron gate at the side of my house opening.
I went to my window, looking down at the path that ran between the house and pool. With his hood back on, Christopher looked up at the bedrooms. His eyes swept over my parents’ room, landing on me peering down at him.
The Alsatian next door started barking, making him jump. Lights came on in my parents’ room, as well as the neighbour’s. Christopher turned and ran, disappearing into the night.
I just hoped it wasn’t the last time I saw him.