The Demon's plaything

~Ava's POV

"I saw him. I saw Tharros. He called my name. I saw him," I cried.

"Get your things Ava, we're leaving," Mom spoke.

I was still there on the ground when mom stood up and she packed our things from the wardrobe. I still couldn't get the image of what happened few minutes ago off my mind.

The sight of Thaross' deadly smile and the breathlessness that I felt couldn't be forgotten. A smile was meant to make me at ease, but this one terrified me.

Mom suddenly grabbed my hand, pulling me out of my misfortune. I stood up and ran behind her. I got into the car, desperately chewing on my own fingers.

I kept my eyes fixed on the house while mom ignited the car engine.

She drove, and slowly, the image of the house kept getting distant.

My whole body was still shaking.

I saw Tharros, and he called my name. I didn't know the sound of my own name could scare me.

I can't imagine spending the rest of my life with him. I kept chewing on my fingers, and suddenly, the car stopped.

"Ava! You're hurting yourself!" Mother yelled, looking at me with her eyes streaming with tears.

I flinched and when I took my hands out of my mouth, my fingers were bleeding.

"I'm sorry, mom," I mouthed and she heaved a sigh. She stretched her hand backwards and reached out to me. "We'll be fine, Ava. We'll definitely be free. Don't worry, you're definitely going to live the beautiful life that you deserve," Mom assured. Her hand found its way to my face.

My gaze shifted from my mom's reassuring eyes to the road, and another car was speeding towards us.

"Mom! Mom! Mom!" I screamed, tapping her but it was just too late.

Crash.

In less than a second, my head echoed. My breathing was tight and I couldn't feel my whole body. My mouth was slightly opened and my vision was blurring.

"Mom…" I mouthed, my eyes, shut!

******

I opened my eyes to the beeping sound of the hospital machine. It felt like my brain was being compressed.

I groaned quietly as I sat up.

"Ava, are you okay?" She asked and I nodded.

"What happened?" I asked, still trying very hard to regulate my breathing.

"We're fine, Ava. That's all that matters," Mom answered.

Then, realization hit me.

No way.

"We aren't going back to that house, are we? We can't go back there, mom. I can't sleep in that house. Why can't we leave? Why won't he let us leave?" I asked, crying and shivering.

Mom pulled me into her embrace. "Keep your voice down, Ava. Someone might hear you," she whispered directly into my ear.

I whimpered and shook my head. "I am not going back," I mouthed and mom gently strike my hair.

"We haven't been able to leave the house because he wouldn't let us. But don't worry, Ava. I have an old friend who used to lock up demons. I spoke to her and she promised to help us," mom said.

My eyes widned.

I had a feeling of hope and anger at the same time.

"You have someone who could get rid of him all this while?" I asked, with my voice a bit raised and she sighed. "That isn't what matters now, Ava. All that matters now is what happens next. I'll go and pay our bills now and we'll get going. He'll meet us at the house," Mom said and I nodded.

She walked out of the ward and I kept my long hair behind me.

I heaved a sigh and I looked around. My heart was racing.

What's going to happen?

******

Mom came back with a warm smile on her face. I hadn't seen her smile like that for years. And even in that smile, I still saw that shade of darkness.

"How did you manage to hide your wound?" I asked as she walked me out of the ward.

"Remember I have a friend here. They didn't see it," mom answered.

The walk out of the hospital was silent. We got into the Uber, and as we went down those familiar roads, a sense of fear hit me.

But it's all going to end today, right?

The Uber driver pulled over, we stepped out and he drove off.

I looked at my mother, and I finally had the chance to ask the question that lived rent-free in my head.

"What if it doesn't work?" I asked.

Mom glared at me, then she looked away.

"What if Tharros kills him?" I asked, with my voice lowered. Mom glared at me one more time.

"Keep your mouth shut, Ava," she said before walking towards the man standing in front of our door.

I bit my lips and I sniffled.

Mom never listens.

I walked towards them and rhe man had his bangs covering his face. His lips were quite the size and he had this dark aura around him. Standing next to him was a very little girl.

"You brought a child?" I asked, with my voice sharp and my eye brows creased.

"She's my daughter," he answered.

"Do you know what you're here for? You came to deal with a god damn demon and you brought a child!" I yelled at him.

I am 17 and I am as terrified as hell.

The child wouldn't even survive the fear.

"I know what I'm doing," the man coldly said.

"Ava, will you just behave yourself for once? What exactly is wrong with you! Get inside and keep your mouth shut!" She yelled. "I won't tell you to keep quiet one more time," she sneered and i walked in.

****

We were all sitted in the living room. The windows were covered with black curtains and not a single light made it's way into the house.

He lit the house with a single candle and he kept us in a circle of salt.

Then he brought out an old radio and he played a soft, yet disturbing music.

He made a soft chant, and the candle light went off. The child was breathing heavily…..she was sobbing already.

The winds blowed the curtains and his grip was tight on my hand. The child's cries grew louder and his chants grew louder as well.

This isn't a good idea.

I can feel his presence.

There was music, there was cries of a child, there was chanting and darkness….and someone lurking around, there was Tharros.