Oct. 7

I’m not going to say yesterday didn’t end in disaster. I want to say after we got our tacos, we went to our local demon hunting supply store and had a good time. Well…

“Get out of my store,” I remembered the harsh, almost angry tone of old man McCyrus. The instant Owen asked if he knew him and his sister, the old shopkeeper went ballistic. Without even giving Caleb a bag of soul dew, he kicked us out of the store, then closed the shop. We tried to knock, ask him what was wrong, but he didn’t open up the store for the rest of the day.

I felt bad for him. I also felt bad about the twins. Was there something going on with McCyrus? Did he actually know them? Was there another repressed issue we had to deal with now?

I hated having these raw unanswerable questions, especially when I was trying to eat breakfast. I set the empty plate in my sink and sat down on my couch. My little studio apartment was as quiet as it was every day. I’ve been living on my own for years now, maybe since I died in 2009. Still, the loneliness filled me with sadness. I could work on my art, or god forbid my homework, but I felt like I was longing for some friends.

I pulled out my phone to see my messages. There was a text from Reyes, ‘Hey could I borrow your lang book? We should study.’ I felt ecstatic that someone actually wanted to be in my presence. Like, I know my I’m wanted and loved by my friends. But with my past life, there were always shrowds of darkness in my mind. Nevermind that thought; I replied back to him, ‘Yeah! Brb.’

I packed up my backpack and headed out of my house. The last thing I noticed was the the painting easel with my latest work partially finished. There would always be time to finish it later. In the parking lot, I found my baby. My black 2009 jeep patriot, Janie. That car had lasted me through high school, into death, and now is one of the only things that keeps me tethered to my past. She was my life, and without it, I would be nothing. I sped along the idle road to get to the apartment complex. Outside the same green peeling walls welcomed me with open arms.

“Hunter!”

“Heya Reyes how yo-” He brashly yanked on my arm, quickly pulling me into the suite. “Ow! Dude!” Once he forcefully led me in the house, I took back control of my limb, massaging the strained joints.

“Has Caleb texted you?” His tone seemed flustered, and you can tell he felt disdain from his mannerisms. There was a tinge of pain when he said, Caleb.

I answered back cautiously, “No? Why?”

There was a pause in his speech, “He told me you guys have a hunt tomorrow. Thought he would have texted you…”

As if right on cue, my phone vibrated to the sound of our seer-hunter’s news. ‘Queued in some hot demon news on the 9th, meet at ten, outside Gregor’s pub.’ I replied with him then set my phone down. “Actually just got it. Why? What’s up?”

“I…” A lump filled in his throat. “I- got another vision.”

Oh no. Since his rebirth last year, we learned Reyes had a special ability as a Hunter. During the Hallowed Month, he received visions of the future, usually premonitions of bad things to come. Hearing Reyes had a vision is like hearing you or your friends are on their way to the guillotine. I tried to stay calm, “Surely it's not a vision of tonight. Yours never come that soon-”

“Gregor’s pub parking lot.”

“Y...yeah but-”

“But nothing,” His tone sounded aggravated, “Do you want me to tell you or not? I think you're the only one who can stop it.”

“Oh god,” I slumped down on his couch. “Okay, lay it on me.”

“Listen, I know you can stop this.” He clenched his hands in his lap. “I saw Caleb. He thought the hunt was over, let his guard down, then succumbed to the pumpkin.”

“Oh god.” I felt my heart ache with the countered thoughts of despair. It had to be him: Caleb, not only my dear friend, but also the boy I’ve crushed on. If it was anyone else, I would be determined to stop it, but with him… I knew there was no room for error.

“You have to stop it,” His hands entertwined in each other. I knew he wished he could be there to stop it, but no. No, it was on me to change fate. “And you can’t let Caleb know. If he does, it might fuck up the future even more, maybe for the worse. Just, please find a way to stop it.”

This time there was a lump in my throat. So much pressure, but I knew it was urgent. I swallowed up my fear, “Of course.”

Reyes took a deep inhale, just to let it out in relief. “Alright. If anything happens, be sure to text me right away, ok?”

“Ok…” The tension of the room was like a hazy fog. My hands tingled with panic while my stomach tied in knots. So this is what it was like to know something bad was going to happen, being the only one to stop it.

Reyes took a hopeful breath. “Okay. Now we have two options.” My brow raised in anticipation. “We could actually study, or-” He grabbed a PlayStation controller, powering up the game system. I gave him an arch smile. Well, one thing for certain; there goes my English grade.