CHAPTER 4: GRIEF

“I’ll kill them.” Chris muttered, purely out of blind anger. He checked the documents once again. He couldn’t grasp the entirety of his parents’ work but he is certain that they are killed because of it.

“Heh, you should see them first before you do that.” Damien materialized beside him and handed over his phone, “Someone called you earlier when you are all frantic searching for the truth. The man over the phone told me that he's a close friend of your parents, from the company they are working from.” The demon grinned after seeing Chris’ reaction. There is obvious distrust in his eyes, he now sees everyone as an adversary.

“You talked to them? What did you tell them about you?” Chris had to ask, he simply can’t explain Damien’s existence to people.

The demon rolled his eyes, “I told them the simplest lie, that I’m your friend. What, do you really think I would go around and tell people that I’m a demon?” Damien didn’t give Chris a chance to answer and pulled him out of the bedroom.

“Wait. I need money…” He’s not like the demon that can materialize anywhere! The demon sighed and showed him a familiar key, the key to his father’s spare car.

Chris’ eyes widened, “Where did you get that?”

“Quit asking, you’re starting to get on my nerves.” Damien went to the garage and Chris followed quietly this time. He feels alienated with what is happening. They already hit the road before he could absorb that Damien is driving. His father promised him to personally teach him how to drive once he reached his legal age, another promise that his parents couldn’t fulfill.

There was silence for a while. The demon is focused on driving and is quite delicate about it which bothers Chris a bit. The silence started getting on him, he realized that he’s going to see his parents’ dead bodies. He suddenly wanted to get off the car.

“Please stop the car.” Chris muttered but the demon ignored him and even sped up.

“I said stop the car!”

Tears started welling on his eyes, “You’re crying again?!” Damien whined but his eyes are focused on the road. He can’t afford killing his host from a car accident.

Chris started sobbing. Denial is creeping unto him.

Grief is eating him alive.

He doesn’t want to believe that his parents are dead and to top it all, he can’t accept the fact that they died because of the line of their work, which Chris didn’t even know. He feels like a complete idiot, all this time he feel sad because he felt neglected but little did he know that his parents are literally risking their lives for him. He feels so selfish.

He doesn’t want any wealth, he just wants his parents back but even that is a selfish thing to say.

Damien finally lost his patience and parked the car, “Stop crying.” His words are firm and intimidating, an order instead of comforting words. Chris didn’t stop, he can’t stop crying. It is the only thing he could do, or he would lose his mind.

“You said you’re going to take your revenge, with that weak head of yours? I might end up killing you before you achieve your goal.” The demon spoke bluntly. Damien wouldn’t admit, but he’s amazed with how strong Chris’ mind is before, but all he could see now is a susceptible mind.

Demons corrupt humans by tapping into their minds. The weaker the human’s mind the deeper the demons could dive into their minds, they find their deepest desires and translate it into sinful acts. That way the humans’ souls will totally be succumbed into darkness, making their soul perfect to be fed on by damned creatures.

The demon did try to do it with Chris but Damien miserably failed every single time. The most that he could do is to give him nightmares in hopes of making his mind vulnerable so that it could infiltrate the human’s mind

But with Chris’ current state, even humans can easily twist and completely break his mind.

“You can’t kill me. W-we agreed to a contract." Chris spoke while uncontrollably sobbing. He could hardly breathe, he feels so helpless.

He hates himself.

“Fool, I’m a demon Chris. I don’t give a shit about rules. I could snap your neck right now if I wanted to.” Chris bit his lower lip and refrain himself from answering. His frustration only doubled with Damien’s words, everything is so messed up.

“Collect yourself if you wanted to get your revenge. The people behind your parents’ death would laugh at you if they saw you in that state.” the demon scoffed, “It’s an instant victory for them the moment they saw how weak you are. They wouldn’t even consider you as a puny threat. It’s game over before you can even lift your sword.” Damien’s words hit Chris like meteor. He knows that Damien is right.

The demon started the engine and went back to the road without saying anything. Chris on the other hand is still busy calming himself. He carelessly wiped away his tears. He can’t face his parents in such messed up state.

--

“Chris.” Someone called his name as they enter the hospital. A man he has never seen before approached them. The man is around six feet, on his early 40’s and looks very serious.

The man introduced himself after seeing Chris’ confused face, “I’m the one who called you earlier. I am Fidel Elrod, a close friend of your parents.” Chris took his words with a grain of salt. He wouldn’t trust anyone, not even the people who claims that they are his parents’ comrades.

“You must be his friend that I have talked to earlier, thank you for being with him and even tagging along here. What's your name again?” Fidel turned to Damien and that is when Chris figured out that other people could see him now, he assumes that it’s part of the contract. As Damien said, normal humans can’t see demons.

“I’m Cole, sir. Cole Lewis.” The demon gave a kind smile. Chris had to hide his surprise, it is creepy that the demon is smiling kindly and that he even used Kurt’s last name. What exactly did he told to Fidel when they talked over the phone?

“I want to see them, my parents.” Chris changed the topic, he did it to divert Fidel’s attention from asking about Damien. He said it with a calm tone but the truth is he’s beyond anxious. He swallowed the lump forming on his throat. He doesn’t want to cry again, not when he’s facing his parents.

He doesn’t want to be weak in front his deceased parents.

"I'm really sorry that this happened to you Chris." The man mumbled on their way to the hospital's morgue.

“You're not the one who killed them, please don't apologize.” Fidel looked surprised by Chris’ cold remarks. The demon almost smirked but kept his kind façade.

The specialist welcomed them in the hospital’s morgue and started explaining the cause of their deaths. Chris is only half listening. He’s still busy composing himself. His eyes wandered everywhere, except for his parents’ bodies covered in white cloth.

“We'll give you some time alone." Fidel excused himself and also Damien. The demon has no choice but to go with him. Chris stared blankly, his mind simply denies that it was his parents underneath the white cloth. He quickly wiped the tears escaping his eyes.

Chris’ grief is being overpowered with wrath once again, “I promise to avenge you. I don’t care what it would take, they will pay.” He mumbled with a determined voice.

--

“Our company would help you organize their wake and burial rites. We promise that we will give you all the help that we could extend. We will also make sure to find the perpetrators behind your parents’ death.” Fidel said as soon as he gets out of the morgue.

“If you really want to help me then please tell me the truth about my parents’ death. I know that it’s not a usual theft.” Fidel is caught off guard once again. He didn’t know how Chris learned about them or he is simply asserting things.

“I will tell you, we are intending to do so, but not here. It’s confidential. I’m sorry Cole.” The demon gave another pretentious kind smile. Chris fought the urge to roll his eyes at the demon’s award winning act.

“I completely understand sir. Be careful Chris.” The demon didn’t waste time and bid his goodbye. Chris started to panic inside, is Damien really leaving him?

He has no choice but to follow Fidel, Chris is getting more and more anxious as they enter his car, he has to hide the shivering of his hands. Chris' gaze went to the rearview mirror, his eyes widened but soon felt relieved. This might be the only time that Chris will say that he’s happy that the demon is around. Damien is in the backseat, casually sitting as if he owns the car.

Chris realized that Fidel can't see the demon so he stayed quiet. He averted his gaze from Damien and put his seatbelt before Fidel start wondering why he’s staring at the rearview mirror.

Fidel didn’t waste any time and started driving. Chris stayed quiet in his seat, he wanted to start asking questions but he can’t trust the man yet.

"Where did you meet Cole?" Fidel asked out of the blue.

Damien chuckled, a very sarcastic one, “Guess this man is more cunning than I assumed. Tell him I’m that noisy kid’s older brother.” Damien spoke before Chris can panic and utter a ridiculous lie.

“Cole is the older brother of Kurt, my best friend.” Chris cautiously picked his words. Fidel simply nodded as a response then focused on driving. Few minutes and they are already entering a parking area of a huge establishment. Chris took a familiar look at the name streamed in the building.

Fantasia Corp. a famous telecommunications company in the country. The company whom Chris thought is a normal company where his parents work. He quietly followed Fidel as they walk inside the establishment, despite his calm demeanor is his unsettled mind. He wanted to know everything yet he’s afraid that he might not be strong enough to face the truth.

“Humans are pretty greedy aren’t they?” Damien spoke while looking around. The demon has been really quiet the whole ride. He stopped talking after Fidel stopped asking about Cole, highly contradicting to the demon’s usual self. Chris almost forgot that the demon is with them.

“Where are we going?” Chris couldn’t contain his curiosity anymore. They’re inside the elevator and he saw Fidel pressing the 15th floor which is the highest floor in the building.

“You’ll know.” Fidel answered and took a glance at the other employees inside the elevator. Chris predicted that his parents’ real work (and also Fidel’s) is a secret to other employees.

The information he saw in the documents he discovered… profiles about people working for a foreign drug manufacturing company. The background profile for each employee is very specific which is unsettling, there are information about people’s gambling habits, bars they usually go  to, illegal activities they do and other information that a telecommunication employee wouldn’t gather.

All other employees have gone out of the elevator and they are the last to get out. He looked around the place as they walk, he can’t see any other rooms except the one ahead. Fidel is walking ahead of him, he felt his knees giving out because of nervousness.

“Stop wavering, you look like you’ll pass out any second.” He glared at the demon but Damien’s mocking made him less nervous. He was actually able to calm down.

They shortly arrived in front of the door. Fidel casually opened the door. They saw two men by the receiving area. The younger man stood and led them to another room.

"Sir, they are here." the man announced before opening the door.

"So we're meeting the big boss?" Damien said. His playful grin is back. Chris discreetly rolled his eyes, he’s sure that the demon already knew something.

Maybe he already knew everything.