Chapter 18: Plan

I held my head in my hands between my knees. My head was killing me. What had I been doing? I didn't feel like puking and my stomach was warm and full, but god did my body hurt. I turned my head and looked out the sliding glass door as the rising sun sent beams of glowing light reflecting through the windows. Something about it reminded me of golden hair. I blinked hard. It didn't matter. I had a job to do. It was Saturday, my day for the early shift.

I slowly sat up and then attempted to stand. My knees gave way. I barely caught myself on the edge of the day-bed. Anton grumbled and rolled over. He let out a ripping fart. I stumbled across the room to get away from it, coughing and choking on the air. How long was that freeloader going to be stinking up our apartment? I would have to talk to Mila about it. Mila... Mila... That was... no. Everything was fine. Just too much to drink was all. I must have been pre-partying for my upcoming birthday again. Why did I keep blacking out from it?

I leaned heavily on the wall as I heaved my body one painful step at a time down the hall. I pushed open the door to find Mila asleep on my bed. At least it was better than her stinky brother. I continued my march to the bathroom. The bright lights over the mirror illuminated the angry red lines coursing up my arms. Those marks, they were... a tattoo? I twisted my right arm back and forth looking at the swirling double lines. They were a scar? I moved my aching left arm in a circle. That car accident had certainly done a number on it. I paused. Blood.... no blood. The red on my arm pulsed with black for a moment. I blinked. Mila... Rem-...

The door burst open next to me.

"Sup?" Anton gave me a head nod as he walked past. He unzipped his pants and started whizzing right next to me.

I sighed loudly. "How long are you going to be around?"

"How long is rent paid?" He asked.

The feeling of déjà vu settled on my so heavily I couldn't reply for a moment. The air was filled with only the sound of his extremely long pee and a faint smell of urine.

When he finished, he zipped up his pants and left the bathroom. I stood staring at the mirror as the feeling passed. What was I thinking again? Rent? I shrugged and started the shower. After the daily ritual, I was out the door and dragging my tired legs down the sidewalk. My heavy tote bag over my arm banged my side with every step. Creatures and odd looking people caught my eye. I did a double-take, but the second look I would just see a normal person. I must have been slipped some sort of weird drug at a party last night. No more pre-birthday drinking for me. I didn't know if I could handle much more of this.

I unlocked the back door to the store. Why did I even go out drinking last night? I didn't normally go out if I had to work early the next morning. That wasn't a good decision. Mila must have coerced me. Mila... Mila... Rem-

"Good Morning, Kira," the manager said as he walked in the back door.

"Good Morning," I greeted. I closed my locker fast and went about the task of opening up the store. I didn't like being stuck alone with him, something about his gave me the creeps. Sometimes out of the corner of my eye, I'd see his eyes turn completely black. I dismissed the idea. That was absurd.

The Saturday morning rush settled in quickly. My lane was so jammed packed with customers, I couldn't even remember if I asked them the standards questions. In fact, I might have even asked each of them twice.

I saw Mila bounce in around noon. She was... odd. Like too bouncy. Like she was not touching the ground. Almost as if she was floating. I squeezed my eyes. I must need a break. I pressed the button. Another cashier stepped in and took over my lane. I headed to the locker room. Mila smiled and waved cheerfully. I nodded back and kept moving. She was... stiff, maybe? Was that it?

I shot one look back over my shoulder. She was watching me, then she grinned. It took up too much of her face. It showed all her teeth. And her eyes... they bulged. I blinked. Mila wasn't even looking at me, she was helping a customer. I guessed I was just seeing things.

There was no one else in the breakroom when I got there. I sat heavily at the table after grabbing a yogurt out of the fridge. Did I really see her grin like that? Were her teeth pointed? The image held steady in my mind. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't banish it.

I left my half eaten yogurt on the table as I got up to go to the restroom. The private breakroom restroom was just off the main room. I locked the door. I stood in front of the mirror and stared at myself. Maybe I was just tired. I did look pale. And when did I get these red marks on my arms? I tilted my head to the side. Were those... bruises on my neck?

I traced my fingers along each purple and green mark. Some had teeth marks. The image of a dark haired man with golden eyes flashed in my mind. R... Richard... no... Roger.... Re...Re...

"Remi," I whispered. The red marks flared golden. My mind swirled. The bruises, the running, the bridge, Mila.... the darkness. I remembered it all. Mila was being worn like a suit by the darkness.

A cold shiver descended on me. I felt the darkness press in even in the bright restroom. A firefly of light reflected in the mirror. I spun.

"Remi," I said to the shadow man leaning against the door.

His mouth quirked up at one side. "So, you do remember my name."

"I remember it all."

"How do you know you remember all of it if you can't remember what you forgot?"

"Cut the crap. My mother said you know how to help me save Mila."

Remi lifted his chin in a large nod. "I see, so you do remember something."

"Come on, spill before the Veil rewrites my memory again."

He shrugged. "Alright, alright, just calm down. If you want to banish the darkness from Mila you need two things." He held up a finger. "One, the blood of your father." He held up the second finger. "Two, the blood of your mother. Then, you'll preform this spell and the darkness will be banished from Mila."

I quirked an eyebrow. "That's it. Can you give me more details? What's the spell? It is like real magic stuff?"

He shook his head. "Even if I tell you now, you'll just forget." He closed the distance between us. "Besides," he whispered in a sexy growl, "I like it when you call my name."

Goosebumps ran up my spine. The memory of his fingers on my hips and his lips on my neck drew a blush to my cheeks, but I pushed those thoughts aside. I had to help my friend first. Besides, wasn't he a demon?

"Why the blood of my father and mother? What does that have to do with Mila? Does it give me power or something?"

Remi shrugged. "Hell if I know. I'm not a witch. I just relay the messages."

"A witch? Like witchcraft?" My eyebrows scrunch. All of this just seemed like so much nonsense. I had a scientific mind, and none of this, I mean absolutely none of this, made any sense.

He shrugged again. He leaned in closer. I could smell the charcoal of him. He pulled a bit of my blonde hair away from my face and to the side.

There was something in his eyes that held me still. It was like a deep sadness that didn't reflect his actions towards me. He was half caring father, half horny boyfriend, and yet behind it all there was something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

A knock came at the door drawing my attention. Remi and his shadows vanished. I didn't even see it change. It was just back to normal.

"One second," I said probably way too late.

I opened the door to a smiling Mila. Her smile seemed normal, but her eyes seemed too big, like the way the Barbie doll's eyes have changed from when I was a kid. Too big and too creepy.

"Oh, hi Mila."

"Hi, Kira." She stepped forward and hugged me. It was not an uncommon thing for her to do, but I had to fight off a full body shudder as her arms wrapped around me and her small frame held me. There was something so wrong about it all. This wasn't my best friend. This thing wasn't even human, this was something else.

I tried my best to pat her on the back. "Hey Mila, I think I'm going to take a few days off. I'm not feeling well."

"Oh? Do you want me to make you some soup when I get home?"

"No, no. It's not that. I think I'm just a little homesick. I was thinking of taking a trip to visit home."

She stepped back and assessed me. "I thought you said you were never going back there?" Her voice had a little heat to it. I guess whatever held her had read her memories, too. But Mila would never say anything mean to me, not in that tone.

"I did, but I guess I just need to be more careful when I say the word never."

"Well, maybe I can come with you? We can make it a road trip."

If this had been the real Mila, she would be jumping up and down singing about snacks and making plans already. She wouldn't be standing her watching me and waiting for my response.

"That would be a lot of fun," I said hesitantly, "But I really don't think we should leave your brother alone in our apartment. Besides, I'm not on good terms with my family. I think it's best if I go on my own. Sorry."

Mila didn't look down and dejected like I would expect. Instead she just shrugged and nodded. "Okay, bestie, whatever you say."

I stood looking at her as she looked at me. She must have suspected that I knew she wasn't Mila.

"I really do need to pee, though," she said.

"Oh, right, sure." I got out of the way. Of course that's what she wanted. Maybe I was just reading into this a little too much.

I checked in with the creepy manager and informed him of the vacation days I would be taking. He grumbled a bit but let me go. After my shift, I grabbed my heavy tote from my locker then pushed open the back door. The orange hornet's engine revved high. Mila waved at me from the driver's seat.

"Hey, Bestie!" She shouted over the engine.

I heaved a heavy sigh. I don't know how she got the dang thing to run or how I was going to get through this trip. I plastered on a smile and entered the car. It was going to be an interesting ride.