“What does he know about Bruce’s murder?” Misty demanded. She was pacing the room slowly as Arden sat on her bed. Every now and then her soul light would flicker towards her hands again, making their stomach flip nervously.
“He was killed to summon my brother, Crantraeth,” Benny said, “He’s trying to escape the cage I locked him in. He can’t get free. He’ll destroy everything.”
“He needs to kill people with tainted souls,” Arden added, “Bruce’s soul was the most tainted soul I had ever seen.”
“Wait, you can see souls?” Misty asked, sounding stunned. Arden nodded.
“It’s a recent ability. It only happened after we got into the fight with those football players,” they explained, “Souls are mostly a light. The brighter they are, the better a person they belong to. Bruce’s and those other kids … their souls were almost pitch black. They’re definitely the next target.”
“How many more people need to die to raise your – to raise Benny’s brother?” Misty asked. Arden frowned, not sure. They could feel Benny’s uncertainty as well.
“I’m not sure,” Benny finally admitted, “It depends on how long the killer’s been at this. There’s a good chance Bruce wasn’t the first victim.”
“Well lucky for you two, that’s what I was working on when you showed up,” Misty said, “I was able to get in touch with my cousin down in Salem. He’s looking into any mysterious and violent deaths that happened here.”
Arden remembered the candles that Misty had on her pentagram. That must have been how she communicated with her cousin. That made sense, since all of their phone calls on the Center’s landlines were monitored.
“Benny, how many points did the symbol on Crantraeth’s cage have?” Arden asked, having a hard time remembering what the symbol looked like. The blood from Bruce’s body had obscured it a little bit.
“Seven,” Benny replied. Arden nodded.
“So if your cousin finds less than six deaths, we’re good,” they said, directing the statement to Misty, “We’ll at least have a little bit of time to stop whoever is killing people.”
A shock of heat suddenly appeared near Arden’s face, making them flinch and duck. A fluttering sound appeared and the sound of Misty grabbing something that made a crunching sound.
“What was that?” Arden asked, startled.
“Dark note,” Misty said, the paper crinkling as she unfolded it. Arden waited for her to explain. He’d never heard of a dark note before.
“It’s like passing notes with a fire spell. Helpful since I can’t have my damn phone in here,” she explained.
“We never use them,” Benny added, “Arden can’t see them and I can’t hold their sight long enough to read anything on them. Besides, who am I going to be passing dark notes with?”
Misty made a noise that almost resembled a laugh as she unfolded the paper.
I think she’s starting to like me, Benny said quietly.
Don’t get your hopes up, bud, Arden replied.
“Shit,” Misty muttered, “There have been five murders like this one over the last twelve years. The first three were in two different Juvenile Centers, one was in a hospital, and one was in a prison. The symbol is the only way to connect the killings. Police don’t even have a suspect.”
“So that makes Bruce number six,” Arden said. Benny swore quietly.
“Great. Who do you think is the next victim? If they’re not already dead,” Misty said. Her bed squeaked again as she sat back down. Arden made their way over and sat down next to her, rubbing their forehead.
“It could be one of the other two kids that showed up with Bruce. Or –”
Arden stopped talking, not wanting to say anything.
“Or what?” Misty pushed. Arden tried to keep their mouth shut, but Benny forced it open.
“Or it could be Arden,” he said. Arden cringed and shook their head.
“Thanks man,” they said bitterly.
“Do you want her help or not?” Benny snapped at Arden, but softening his tone when he turned back to Misty, “Having a demon possessing you isn’t exactly good for the soul. I wanted them to try to get me out so they would be safe.”
“Get you out like … an exorcism?”
“No. Neither of us will survive that,” Benny said, “It would be fine if I don’t make it, but I’m not letting Arden die.”
“That’s the last thing I could imagine a demon saying,” Misty admitted, “You really care about Arden.”
Benny made Arden’s shoulders shrug, but didn’t say anything.
“He’s not great at opening up,” Arden said, “We’re working on that.”
“So what do we do? How do we figure out who the killer is?” Benny asked, making Arden stand up and start pacing.
“My cousin said all the victims had some kind of mark that left them open to demonic energy. Bruce’s tattoo was a handmade pentagram,” Misty said, “I didn’t notice if any of the others had tattoos like that.”
“It doesn’t have to be a tattoo,” Benny said. Arden sighed, knowing what he was talking about. They rolled up with shirt sleeves, showing off their scars. Misty’s soft gasp that came from her told Arden that they were just as intense looking as ever.
“I got these when Benny got trapped inside me,” Arden explained, “I try not to show them off.”
“Anyone that knows anything about magic can tell that those aren’t natural scars,” Misty said. Her fingers ran over Arden’s scars, making them flinch and pull back. They weren’t used to someone touching them, not even their parents.
“I’ll just start going around with my sleeves rolled up and see if the killer bites. I’ll be bait,” they said, trying to sound casual despite the fact that their heart threatened to jump out of their chest just saying it.
“NO!” Benny roared, making the teenagers jump. Arden stood up and held up a finger to Misty.
We’re not doing this. Let one of the murderers be the bait. They’re likely to end up in Hell anyway, Benny insisted, irritated.
No, we’ve been over this. I’m not putting someone else in danger. It’s not happening. It would just be selfish, Arden said.
Selfishness isn’t always a bad thing, Benny muttered.
No offense, but your selfishness is kind of what got us into this mess, Arden said a little more harshly than they intended, If you hadn’t had to take me to Hell to prove a point to your boss, then we wouldn’t be here in the first place.
That’s different, Benny protested, If we fail and you get sacrificed, then we’ll both be dead and my brother will be raised from Hell. I’m not being selfish here. I’m not trying to get a promotion in Hell here; I’m trying to keep you alive.
Arden had to admit that they felt touched by that. They sighed and rubbed their eyes. They weren’t sure how to vocalize that while they appreciated Benny trying to keep them alive, they couldn’t in good conscience risk another person’s life. Their thoughts of guilt and anxiety swirled around in their head, but Benny seemed to get the idea.
You’re being stupid and stubborn, Benny said, I’ve seriously dealt with demons that are more likely to budge than you are.
But?
But … fine, Benny grumbled. Arden nodded, turning back towards Misty.
“Alright, Benny’s on board,” they said, “I’ll be bait and if the killer comes after us, we’ll … stop them.”
“Stop them how?” Misty asked, “Are you seriously going to kill someone? Even if he’s a killer, can you actually go through with that?”
“They won’t have to,” Benny said, “I’ll do it. Their hands will be clean.”
“That’s a terrible plan,” Misty said, “How would that work? You’re in the same body!”
“It really is,” Benny agreed.
“Look, we’ll figure out the details later,” Arden explained, trying to give Misty what he hoped was a reassuring smile, “It’s going to be fine, you guys.”
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