*****
Pops makes his way across the back yard that the two houses share. The light on top of the utility pole had been broken two days previous. Pop has no memory of doing it. He’s been having black outs but doesn’t mention them to anyone. He figures that he’s been falling asleep. He runs through ankle deep grass. His body bent low, until he’s covered by the back of the house, he pulls out lock picking tools. He’s in the house within minutes. The house is quiet and hot. The light is on over the stove. He walks down the hall and goes to the bedroom. She’s sleeping. Pops hesitate for a moment. He knows what he’s doing is wrong. He’s known Josette since her mom brought her home from the hospital. She seems nice enough; keeps to herself mostly, doesn’t really speak to anyone but isn’t he the same way. He shakes his head in an attempt to clear it, but it has the opposite affect and his eyes glaze over again and he moves closer to the bed.
His eyes, there’s something in his eyes. Pops is kneeling over me and his hand is under my shirt. He’s calm and looks right at me but his expression is blank, like he’s not really there. Max. Where’s Max? I need him. In my fight I see him sitting on his grandmother’s porch. He’s been watching the house since I left, like he’s standing guard. There is a look of frustration on his face like he knows something is not right but he can’t figure out what.
Pops eyes change when I start to fight. Now his eyes are full of hate and rage. He still doesn’t say anything as I struggle beneath him. He bites me but the pain is muted by the panic that has consumed me. Pops’ hand is over my mouth, any sound I make come out in grunts. Tears of fear are making his hands slick and maybe it’ll slip off long enough for me to scream. I see Max sit up and grab the arms of the chair he’s sitting in. I see him move. He stops long enough to open the screen. He turns his body to the side so his shoulder hits the door snapping the lock easily. It doesn’t take him a full minute to get to my bedroom but he’s shocked by what he sees when he rounds the corner.
Rage. Such rage. He’s almost blinded by it. It sucks the air out of the room. There’s a rumble, starting from his chest that forms a growl. He stands only for a second before grabbing Pops around his neck.
“Josette baby, it’s a dream. Wake up.” I feel Max grab and hold me in his arms. I struggle with the demon that is in my dream. “It’s ok, I’m here. No one will ever hurt you again.”
Chapter Six
Lupa (Second Edition) Page 10