Tuesday......Day 7
Jaiden opened his eyes as the bright sunlight invaded his room. He sat up,running his fingers through his thick black hair. His green eyes adjusted to the light,and he looked out his window but the black bars in his window made him look away. A reminder of the life he was living, a prisoner in his own home. He looked over at his alarm clock. The red numbers stared back, 8:50am. In about ten minutes, his father would unlock his door. He would eat breakfeast, get dressed, then return downstairs to meet his home tutor. The same routine everyday for the past five years. The punishment for trying to run away. He reached for his television remote and turned on the television. He flipped through the channels untill he was convinced nothing was on and turned it off.
He lay back on his bed and closed his eyes. It was unfair for him to live this way. Everything was this way because of his parents selfishness. The need to have a child was so strong for them, they condemned their child. They made a deal with a demon eightteen years ago. Devastation hit them hard after their third miscarriage, and they became desperate. With the help of a coworker, who worked with Jaidens mother, led them to the dark arts, they stumbled upon Desilus. Desilus agreed to make their baby live, but with three conditions. One, the baby would become Desilus' son. Two, the baby's soul would belong to Desilus. Three, the baby would act as a vessel, bringing him to earth. Jaiden's mother was hesitant, but Jaiden's father hastily agreed. The deal sealed, Jaiden was born a year later.
Over the years, Jaiden grew to hate his parents. The life they put him through, the imprisonment. He lived his entire life in isolation, away from other people. His only friend had been a boy named Damien. Except he hadn't seen Damien in five years. Now, Jaiden would give anything to live a normal life. He sat up as he heard his door open. His father came in the room.
"Good morning Jaiden."
"Whatever."
"Look Jaiden, I know you hate us-"
"Hate is an understatement. I despise you."
"Why?"
"You gave me to a demon!"
"We did it for you!"
"Oh right. 'Hey, Jaiden, since we love you so much, we're going to give your soul away.'" Jaiden said sarcasticly.
"That's enough! You wouldn't even be here if we hadn't!"
"Maybe, I don't want to be here!"
"You don't have a choice. Now come eat."
Jaiden got off the bed and followed his father downstairs. The smell of eggs and bacon filled the air. Despite his anger, Jaiden was hungry. He sat down at the dining room table, waiting for his mother to serve him. She had always insisted on serving the family its food. His mother came in the room, placing a plate of eggs and bacon in front of him and his father. She went back into the kitchen and returned with a cup of coffee for herself. Jaiden ate his food while his father and mother talked. He always excluded himself from them.
"I think we need to begin preperations. Jaiden's eightteenth birthday is only a week away." His mother was saying.
"Have you contacted the church, yet?" His father asked.
"Yes, they're coming over today. They want to go over the ritual with us and Jaiden."
"Wait," Jaiden said,"These people are coming here?"
"Yes, so I want you to be nice. No attitude."
Jaiden ignored her, returning to his breakfeast. His mind was blurring ideas in his head. If people were coming over, his parents would be occupied. He wouldn't be as closely watched. If so, just maybe, he could get out. He put down his fork.
"I'm done. I'll be upstairs if you want me."
"Okay. We'll call you down when our guests get here."
"Whatever."
Jaiden got up, hurrying upstairs. He shut his door and paced his room. He needed an open door. How was he supposed to get out though? Every door and window had either a lock or was tied to the house alarm. His parents installed the alarm after his unsuccessfull attempt to run away five years ago. It wasn't so much to keep burglars out, it was really meant to keep him in. If he tried to go out the front or back door, the alarm would sound. He didn't know the code to turn it off, so his best bet was a window. The problem was finding one that wasn't nailed shut. He went over to his dresser, deciding to get dressed. He pulled on a pair of black jeans and a Slipknot t-shirt. He tied up his shoes and sat on his bed. Escaping was starting to seem impossible, the more he thought about it.
Around noon, he heard people arriving downstairs. A few minutes later, he heard his mother call him. He sighed. It was time to entertain the demon worshipping weird-o's. The downstairs was silent as he decended the stairs. He felt all eyes upon him as he stood at the foot of the stairs. He was surprised at the diversity in the group. He had expected a bunch of middle-aged goth people. What he saw were people who were goth and preppy. They were younger than him and some who were around sixty. A man with graying hair and cold eyes stepped forward.
"Hello Jaiden. My name is Simon Carter. It's an honor to meet the son of the great Desilus." Simon turned to the other people."These are my fellow followers of you father, Chris, Jon, Bethany, Sarah and Mellisa."
"So you all are the freaks?"Jaiden asked.
"Jaiden!" His mother gasped.
"Freaks! Funny boy!"Simon laughed."Your quite the rude little boy aren't you?"
"I'm not a little boy. I'm seventeen."
"On the outside you are. We're getting off track here. Where's your birthmark?"
"Why?"
"So I know you are who you say you are."
"I never said I was anything."
"Show them Jaiden!"His dad barked.
Grudgingly, he raised his shirt just above his bellybutton. Above it, almost carved into his skin, was a small pentagram. It was ink black and reeked of demonic power. Simon reached out to touch it, but Jaiden yanked down his shirt. Simon smiled.
"I wonder why you seem so displeased with your fate. It's such an honor."
"More like a great load of bull-"
"Jaiden! Don't speak that way about Desilus! He is your father!"His father barked.
"You're only saying that because you're a big follower now!"
"He chose you! Be proud!"
"I'd rather be dead."
"What a choice Desilus has made in choosing you,"Simon interuppted,"So childish on the outside. I wonder what power you hide."Simon turned to the others."Because we are loyal followers, watching over his son, Desilus will reward us with wealth and power in his new world!"
The people cheered loudly. Jaiden looked over at his parents. Even they were laughing and clapping. He was disgusted at their willingness to let this happen. He had to get out. Simon grabbed his arm, drug him over to the couch and pushed him down.
"About the ritual, It would be best performed inside the church. We need thirtteen candles surrounding the altar. Jaiden will lay on the altar and we need to trace his birthmark in the blood of a lamb. Around this time, the eclipse should just be beginning. With the light overcome by dark, Desilus will rise."
Jaiden rolled his eyes, but on the inside he was worried. These people were serious! They were really going to use him for this! His eyes searched the room, but no escape plan came to him. He needed to hurry and have one soon. His time was running out.
"I can't wait to see our lord in person!"Jaiden heard Mellisa say.
"Oh I know! It will be so amazing!"Bethany agreed.
"You guys are all freaks! Screw this! I'm not doing this!"Jaiden exclaimed.
"You have no choice,"Simon said cooly,"If you don't do this willingly, we will force you."
Jaiden opened his mouth to speak back to Simon, but was instead pulled into the kitchen by his father. His father angrily pulled him through the dining room and into the kitchen. He shoved Jaiden into a chair.
"I thought I was clear that I wanted no attitude from you today."
"Do you even hear these people? They want to destroy humanity dad! How can you let them use me like this?"
"You need to stop acting like this. Your fate is already sealed. Accept it."
"Make me."
"I intend to."His father turned to leave."Stay in here. You've emabarassed your mother and I enough."
He left Jaiden alone in the kitchen. Jaiden sat there at the table, angrily pondering his escape plan. He looked around. He now could only get out through the kitchen. It could work, his parents occupied with the church. The only problem is the back door is tied to the house alarm. The windows are all nailed shut. He just needed one open window. Just one. Then, the answer hit him so fast he smiled. The basement. The windows down there were never shut. His mother had them kept open because she complained it was too hot when she was doing laundry. Quietly, he got up from the table and made his way over to the basement door.
He turned the handle, but to his disappointment, it was locked. He got down on his knees, examining the lock. It looked like it wasn't tied to alarm like the front and back door. It just took a key. He looked around for something to pick the lock with. His excitement at a way out was begining to wane. He could find nothing to pick the lock. He needed the key. He heard someone coming and hurried back to the table. He sat down just as his mother came in the kitchen. She smiled at him.
"You know, your father's angry. You shouldn't have been so rude."She walked over to the sink. Jaiden spotted the key hanging from her back pocket."You should really try to listen to us."
"I know mom. I'm sorry,"He lied,"I guess I kind of freaked out."He stood up and went over to her.He hugged her."I'll try to be more mature about this."As he spoke, he pulled the key from her pocket.
"Thank you sweetie. I'd like to let you back in the living room, but your dad says you have to stay here. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. It's my punishment for acting this way."
His mother smiled and left the kitchen. Jaiden smiled at his acting, heading back to the basement door. He put the key in the lock and turned it. The door opened and Jaiden knew now he had to be quick. He locked the door behind him and hurried down the basement stairs. He picked the window over the washer. He climbed up and squeezed out the small window. His slender body easily fit through. He looked around, seeing he was in the side yard right under the living room windows. Keeping low, he edged his way to the edge of the house. He was prepared to make a run for it when he heard his mother.
"He's gone! Jaiden's gone!"She shrieked.
Jaiden bolted from his spot,running down the sidewalk. He heard the front door fly open,and someone point him out. He heard someone run after him. He turned down the alley, nearly sliding on the loose gravel. He could feel that whoever was chasing him was faster, they were catching up with him. He dashed across the street.
"Stop Jaiden!"The person yelled.
Jaiden ignored them, trying to run faster, but his energy was waning. His lungs were ready to burst as he ran another block. He couldn't stop. Not now, he'd come to far. He felt the person chasing him slam into his back, tackling him to the ground. He slid in the gravel, and the person rolled off of him. He looked over and saw it was Chris who had tackled him. He figured Chris was at least twenty. Jaiden looked around for a weapon or something to defend himself.
He picked up a tree limb and smashed it against Chris's head as he got up. Chris fell to ground, unconcious. Jaiden dropped the tree limb and ran. He ran for about six more blocks before he was sure they had given up. He stopped and sat behind a large tree. He caught his breath, looking around to see where he was. He realized he had no idea where he was. He was never outside in his neighborhood.
He stood up, deciding that he couldn't stay there like a sitting duck. He needed to find someone he could stay with. The only friend he still knew was Damien. The only problem was his parents knew that. They would be at Damien's house or watching it. Jaiden thought for a minute. He knew Damien's girlfriend Christine. He was sure she still lived around here. He racked his memory for her address. He knew it was across the street from their old elementary school. Jaiden still remembered where it was. He quickly ran to Klein Primary School. |
Submission Name: desilus
