The next morning, his Dad walked into his room and found Jessy still curled under the covers < hey kiddo! still sleeping ?? > Jessy just hummed because he couldn’t sleep after last night. He just texted Lily and told her he got food poisoning and curled up in bed.

< Well, Dave is home ! he is here for the weekend. You should go say hi > his father said in a cheerful voice.

‘‘Dave is home!!’’

The young man sat straight < he is? > His dad smiled; he knew how much his son and all the neighbors' kids loved Dave. He was the older brother to all of them. Lily even had a crush on him; maybe she still has a crush on him. < Yah> the father answered, smiling. < after he joined the Navy, he was barely home, go say hi! > he waved at his son and walked out.

Jessy jumped from the bed and walked out to the balcony. Dave’s balcony and his were touching with a slight height difference. Jessy was happy. He missed Dave, but then last night came back rushing.

Dave was like an older brother. Maybe he can help, but what to say? A monster attacked him and threatened to eat everyone ??

shit

Jessy thought he should never let his Mom hear this. She will cry her eyes out, thinking her son is losing his mind like her uncle did.

The young man sighed, jumped to Dave's balcony, and knocked at his window. < Dave!! open up, man! > Dave used to be the coolest and kindest guy you could know. But someday, he just changed. No one knows what happened . he just shut himself in his room for almost a year to get out and say he was joining the Navy. His mom was just happy he got out of his room.

< Dave!! I know you're home !! open up! > Jessy yelled and knocked again. But Dave just ignored him. he does this a lot lately. He just ignored everybody, so people started walking away from his life. But he was like a brother to Jessy; he couldn't just walk away.

He finally stopped knocking and just begged. < dave … please .. I need you …> came Jessy’s voice like a whisper, but Dave heard it because the door opened.

Dave stood there in his boxer, staring at the younger man. He was just a bit taller but way bigger.

That's what the training does to you.

He glared at Jessy with his sleepy eyes and messy hair and crossed his arms, waiting for an explanation.

< Eh.. well you see .. > what was he thinking the damn thing said he would eat his friends.

Eat ??

‘‘Wait, maybe I am insane.’’

Jessy swallowed, trying to think how to tell his childhood friend that he had lost his mind when a cold hand touched Jessy’s neck, and he jumped. he looked up to see Dave frowning.

< what happened? >

< huh ?? >

< this! > he continued < it looked like a snake choked you ..>

< oh .. >

‘‘So he left a mark on my neck, I don’t even remember him touching my neck .. maybe I am insane ..’’

But .. hallucinations don’t leave marks …

Shit…

Dave made him look up by squeezing the back of the other younger man’s nape.

< who was it? > he asked in a growly and cold way.

He always looked out for Jessy.

The young man let out a deep sigh. If someone was going to help, it was Dave.

< this weird guy …I never saw him … he ..> he swallowed and shifted his weight to the other foot. The floor was cold, and he was barefoot.

< he threatened me, Dave… > he finally said < he said he was going to kill everyone, well, he said he would eat them …> Hearing himself saying something so absurd made Jessy cringe.

Dave pulled him inside the room, and Jessy just sat on the bed while his friend was looking for pants

< what did he want, Jessy? money? drugs? > Jessy shook his head < no .. >

Dave put on his jeans and turned to him < then what? Did he have eyes for Lily? >

Jessy laughed because it wasn’t Lily.

Dave just arched one eyebrow at him, and the boy sitting on the bed blushed, answering.

< no .. not lily … me.> he looked up at Dave's eyes to see them widen in surprise.

< he wants me. > he repeated in a small voice.

The shirt Dave was holding slipped off his fingers, and he said in a small voice < Jessy? .. did he do something to you? > Jessy was a bit surprised at how softly his friend was speaking. He shook his head again.

< he said he wanted me willing …he was so strong and he could do whatever he wanted..>

Dave let out a long sigh and picked up the shirt, putting it on.

< I am not gay, Dave.> Jessy added in a small voice.

< I know> Dave walked out of the room and Jessy followed < even if you were it doesn't mean anyone should force and threaten you for sex. >

True…

He would probably be as freaked out as now if that guy were a girl..

< where are we going? > Jessy asked when he saw they were in front of the house's main door.

< the cops. > Dave answered, and Jessy froze.

< what? no !! Didn’t you hear me? > Jessy yelled in terror

Dave stopped walking and turned to the panicked young man.

< I came to you, Dave!! No cops !! > The younger man started pacing < you don’t understand, he wasn’t normal !! he was so strong and .. and .. he had damn wings !! Do you know someone who has wings, Dave? because this dude has wings !! And guess what !! he flew !!! >

Dave just stood there staring, thinking probably his childhood friend had lost his mind. Jessy finally stopped pacing

< maybe .. if I .. if I just give him what he wants…> The poor boy felt his throat closing, and he couldn’t breathe. He felt dizzy, and his legs gave out on him. But he didn’t reach the floor. Jessy felt a hand on his back and another on his arm, easing him down slowly < breath! >Jessy heard Dave's panicked voice while his vision was blurry with tears.

< Jessy! breath! slowly that's it .. slowly …> The panicked young man finally could breathe again and stared up at Dave, who just sighed and gathered him up in his lap. < ok .. Jessy.. no cops .. > Dave just lulled him in his arms as one would do to a child.

The young man relaxed in his friend's arms, but they jumped in surprise when the door just flew open and a guy walked in.

< jessiiii …. You have been a bad .. bad boy .. I told you not to tell, didn’t I ?> Jessy felt his blood freeze in his veins, and he stared wide-eyed as Dave walked to the stranger full of anger. It took only a second in the blink of an eye, and he heard a thud and turned to see Dave collapse on the floor in a bloody mess.

The monster threw Dave to the wall, and he threw him so hard that he saw blood traces on the wall.

Dave !!

< Dave!! oh god no .. no .. > Jessy screamed and jumped when the monster spoke< I warned you, didn’t I ? > he looked up at the guy with the tears blurring my vision

<, please... I am sorry .. don’t hurt him please >

The monster just stared at him and crooked his head to the side.

< I will do anything .. please … > Jessy begged as he knelt beside Dave. The monster reached for Dave and grabbed his shirt

<no ...> Jessy panicked

< car keys ..> The monster looked at him < fitch the car keys Jessy .. and I may consider not eating him >

the scared boy jumped running to the table where he knew Dave’s mom would leave the car key and he just grabbed them and turned but he found the monster at the front door

< come now lover …we have a long drive ..>he stood there frozen as this thing walked out of the front door to the car dragging an unconscious dave he then stood and turned. He gave a long sigh before he spoke < Jessy.. lover, do I have to kill your parents to prove that I am not playing? > he then shook poor Dave, and blood dripped more on the ground < or I should eat this one huh ?? >

< no … please .. whatever you want ..> jessy walked to him bare foot and trembling. The monster just took the keys, unlocked the car, threw Dave in the back seat, and got in < get in Jessy.. > and he did. Just a second before he drove off, Jessy heard his Dad's voice

< Jessy ??>

He looked at him through his tears, and the older man's expression changed to panic as he ran to them, but the monster in the driver's seat just drove off.