Misty’s room wasn’t very far from Arden’s. They ran their hand along the brick walls as they walked, trying desperately not to think about how the floor had opened up beneath their feet. They just kept putting one foot in front of the other, ignoring the pit in their stomach.

We’re here, Benny said quietly, making Arden stop in front of a door. They hesitated before knocking, not sure of what they would say.

Let me do the talking, Benny said. Arden shook their head.

“Dude, no. That’ll freak her out,” they whispered, “I-I’ll try to explain this whole demon situation with your brother, see if we can even get her to believe it.”

She shouldn’t have a problem with that, Benny said. Arden was about to press for more information, not liking how Benny seemed to know more than they did, when Benny took control of Arden’s hand and made them knock.

You were just going to psych yourself out, Benny pointed out. The door opened up, just a crack based on the squeaking hinges.

“Arden, what’s up? It’s crazy early,” Misty said. Despite her words, she didn’t sound tired. She actually sounded anxious.

“I just wanted to see how you were doing after yesterday,” Arden said, “I couldn’t sleep. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine Arden,” Misty said, “I’m just busy right now, so …”

The door creaked again as she went to close it. Benny shot Arden’s foot out, blocking the door from closing. It was a little painful on their toes and they swore quietly.

“Dude—” Misty started to protest.

We don’t have time for this, Benny growled. Arden had to push back to keep him from taking over their body again and forcing them into Misty’s bedroom.

“I-I’m sorry. But we need to talk,” Arden stammered. Misty let out a sigh of frustration, but the hinges creaked loudly as the door opened up.

“Fine,” she said, pulling them by the arm and slamming the door behind them. Arden stood awkwardly. They had never been inside Misty’s room before, so they didn’t know where they could sit down. Misty must have realized that, because she led them over to a chair.

“So what do you need to talk to me about?” Misty asked, sounding a little impatient. The springs on her bed squeaked as she sat down, and kept squeaking as her knee bounced up and down, a nervous habit that she had.

“Right, um, I-I don’t really know how to word this,” Arden admitted.

Just let me tell her, Benny said impatiently. Arden shook their head and caught themselves, trying to cover their response to Benny by scratching their neck.

“I told you about my brother, Benny?” Arden said, “And-and with Bruce dying, Benny’s got to stop his … wait, no I’m getting ahead of myself …”

“Arden, you know you’re my friend, but you are terrible at saying things,” Misty said, “I’ve got some work to do, so I need you to go. I’m sorry about whatever problems Benny is causing you, but I can’t really deal with that right now.”

Misty’s bed squeaked again as she stood up. She put her hand on their arm to lead them out of her bedroom. Arden stood, but didn’t go along with her.

“Wait, Misty, I-I really need your help, I just … I don’t know how —” Arden stammered.

“Holy crap, I’ll just ask her,” Benny interrupted, using Arden’s mouth to cut them off. Misty cried out and jumped back as Arden clapped their hand to their mouth.

“Dude, what the hell?” Arden hissed behind their palm. Their eyes felt cold as Benny slowly forced their vision back, causing a stab of pain in the back of their eyes. They cringed at the feeling, not used to Benny making them see so much in such a short span of time.

“You were taking too long,” Benny said, “Look.”

Arden looked at the floor of Misty’s room and gasped. There was a pentagram on a piece of pit of cloth that was lying on the floor with lit candles on the points of each star. Arden looked from the pentagram up to Misty, who was staring in terror at Arden.

“Wait, are you …” Arden stammered, pointing towards everything on the floor, their jaw dropping, “You’re – you’re a witch?”

“Yeah,” Misty said, slowly getting up off the bed, “How can you see all that stuff? What was that voice?”

“I told you she’d be able to help,” Benny said, sounding smug. Misty cried out again, clapping her hands to her mouth. Arden turned away from her as their sight disappeared again, lowering their voice.

“You knew about that?” Arden whispered, even though there wasn’t really a point in being quiet at this point, “How did you know but I didn’t?”

I could sense it, Benny replied, answering in Arden’s head this time, It’s why her soul feels warm to you – her affinity is fire.

“I mean, you could have told me,” Arden said, “I kinda feel like a dumbass right now.”

You never asked, Benny said matter-of-factly. Arden rolled their eyes.

“Arden, you’re freaking me out right now, and I’m having a hard time keeping up with what’s happening,” Misty said, “Who are you talking to? How could you see my stuff? Are you even really blind?”

Arden shook their head, kicking themselves again. First Benny scares her, then Arden starts getting mad at seemingly no one. Even if the witch thing hadn’t come up, it would be very hard for them to explain. Arden turned back to face Misty, even though they could only see her soul light now.

“I was talking to Benny,” they finally said.

“Your brother?” Misty asked slowly.

“No. I mean, yes Benny, but he’s not my brother. I had to lie about that to Father Gabriel,” Arden said. They took a deep breath and pulled off their sunglasses, revealing their pitch black eyes. Misty gasped in surprise.

“Benny’s a demon. I’m possessed by a demon,” they said, the words feeling foreign in their mouth. Having a demon in their head was just a fact of life to them, but they had never told anyone about him before.

Misty’s soul light suddenly moved, something Arden had never seen before. The bursts of fire in her chest ran down her arms and into her hands. Misty crossed the room, putting her burning hand in front of Arden’s face. They stepped backwards.

“I could burn the demon out of you right now,” Misty said, making Arden’s blood run cold.

Well this is going well, Benny muttered.

I wonder why, Arden retorted.

“Misty, please listen,” they said, trying to keep their voice steady, “Don’t hurt Benny.”

“You’re asking me not to hurt a demon?” Misty asked, incredulous. The flames around her hands seemed to grow bigger and Arden flinched.

“Pretty much. He won’t hurt you,” Arden assured her, “His name’s Benny. He’s been trapped inside me for fourteen years.”

“Fourteen?” Misty echoed. The flames from her hands flickered out and she stepped back. Arden relaxed a fraction, but they could feel Benny was still tensed up, ready to start throwing things around at the first sign of trouble.

“Look, he won’t hurt you,” Arden explained, “He likes you. He’s harmless.”

“Hey now,” Benny said defensively, “I put those jerks in the hospital, remember?”

“Oh, that is so not helping, Benny,” Arden pointed out, exasperated.

“Arden, Bruce was killed for some demonic ritual!” Misty said, cutting off their argument, “If he can control your mouth and make you see, apparently, what stops him from taking total control and killing people?”

“Arden stops me,” Benny answered, surprising them, “If I kill people Arden is the one that will be punished. I wouldn’t hurt them.”

“Okay, but from my experience demons always have an motive,” Misty said, still sounding skeptical, “I don’t buy that you’re protective over them out of the goodness of your heart.”

“A part of why he’s trapped in me is because he tried to break the demon rules,” Arden explained, “The only way he can get out of me is if he does a selfless act.”

“Demons aren’t capable of selflessness,” Misty said, a little cruelly. Arden and Benny both flinched at her tone.

“We know,” they said at the same time.

“But he’s trying. He’s a hell of a lot better than when he first was trapped in me,” Arden said, “He’s my friend.”

“Demons don’t have friends,” Misty and Benny said at the same time. Arden rolled their eyes. They pointed at the side of their head.

“You, I’m sick of hearing that. I’m in your head too, I can feel that you think we’re friends,” Arden said, turning to point at Misty, “And you don’t have to believe that he’s a good demon. Just believe that he’s trying to help me stop anymore murders from happening.”

“You have five minutes,” Misty finally said, “Tell him to stop making my lights flicker.”

“Sorry,” Benny muttered.