‡ Promise 12: Following Rules ‡

-As told by Jody-

hat hellish night, I could barely drive myself home. I was shaking like crazy, as I maneuvered through the dark streets, trying to make sense of what had happened. One moment we were in the woods, following a strange path under interlocking trees, the next moment we were trapped in nightmarish world. That thing had swooped down and saved us all, pushing us back into the forest, away from the monsters.
But my mind struggled with this information. None of this made any sense! That creature was Keith Rolmir, that world was his world, he had threaten to kill us all. A scramble of twisted and rotting faces flashed through my head. I screamed out, swerving sharply, to avoid a neighbor's mailbox. What had happened to me? Nothing made sense anymore.
The scrape on my knee stung, as I climbed the stairs, heading for the bathroom. I remember hurting my knee, while chasing after Tommy and Lily, but it was as if was a faraway memory. My anger, at the time of the chase, seemed like a scene from something that had happened many years before and not something that had happened just two hours ago. As I clean the cut on my knee, I remember the angry words of Tommy, "No one invited you here, so just go home, Jody!"
Maybe... I should have listened. But I felt so lonely, then. They we're off on something foolish, I knew, but Tommy's anger... It was if Lily was now his friend... and that he didn't need me anymore. And on top of it, it felt like Lily wasn't going to be my friend either. Suddenly, I felt alone then. I wanted to gain both of their friendships back, so I went along, knowing it was wrong and dangerous. Yet, I didn't want to be alone. Tommy's words cut deeper than the wound on my knee and I wanted to cry at the moment.
But now, as I stare into the mirror; my face and wild hair caked with sweat and dirt, I was feeling another emotion. Anger again. I have been kind to Tommy, for years, the only kid in school who hasn't made fun of him or used him! How dare he turn on me, just like that, because I didn't want to run into danger? And Lily, I was the only one brave enough to be her friend in the whole school! Everyone views her as a freak and a weirdo! How could she- "Wait, isn't that a little harsh?" Well, Lily did try to speak up for me, during Tommy's outburst. She didn't totally turn a cold shoulder on me, unlike Tommy did. But still, her own obsession with darkness didn't discourage him. She is partly to blame too.
I step into the shower, to wash away the dirt, still trying to figure it all out. But my brain just won't cooperate. Demons and hell are things written in books and in movies, stories told to little girls and boys, in order to get them to behave. And now I was suppose to believe that, under the quiet and small sleepy town of Promise Falls, there was a hell-world? That demons existed, not in a religion sense, but in true reality? And that a famous horror author, Keith Rolmir, is such a creature in human disguise?
I shudder, thinking of all the times I had enjoyed his books, his movies, admired him. And all along, he wasn't even human. I've had a crush on some unholy creature? I shudder again, but this time it's because the water is now cold. I slowly turn the knobs, shutting off the water, and step from the shower.
By the next morning, I couldn't bring myself to face school or anyone else. I stayed in my bed, curled in a ball, staring at a wall. My mother came into the room, after she realized that I wasn't coming down for breakfast. "What's going on?" she frowns, "Did you oversleep? Hurry, you'll be late for school." "I'm not going." I said, my voice numb. My mother sat on the bed, placing a hand on my shoulder, "What's wrong, Jody?" "I don't feel well." I answer, still staring at the wall.
My mother felt my forehead. "Yeah," she nods, "Feels like you have a temperature. Alright. You're staying home, I'll bring your breakfast up, unless you want soup." "Breakfast is fine." I say, but I'm in no mood for any food. For the rest of the day, I lay there and stare at the wall. My mother tells me that Lily has called, but I wave the phone away. Then a few minutes later, it was Tommy. Again, I didn't want to answer. I am still angry with them both. Another day goes by and I still don't go into school. But by the end of that day, I am eating meals again, and my thoughts began to gather and make sense.
It's by the third day that I decide to go back to school, but I'm still angry with Tommy and Lily. I avoid them both all day, making sure I wasn't seen or heard by either, which wasn't too hard to do. Lily faced the floor, the whole day, resembling a wounded animal. Tommy was too busy, living in denial, being abused by various "friends". By lunch time, I felt sorry for both, and decide to think of way to ensure I wouldn't get hurt if I were to forgive them.
I start with a very weepy Lily, asking her to never talk about Keith or that night again. She agrees. I then left her briefly and head for Tommy's table. "I need to talk to you." I said to him, firmly. "Jody." he said, surprised, "Sure! Um... see you guys later?" The people at the table snorted and rolled their eyes. One mumbled, "Not if we can help it." I pulled Tommy into an empty corner, as a nervous Lily watches from across the room. "Look," I said, "I have three rules now. You don't ever go after 'it', or mention anything about that night, and you never speak about strange 'fetus' monsters again. Agreed?"
Tommy turns pale for a moment. I can tell he was weighing some things, but after a few seconds he answers, "Sure. Okay. Fine." "I mean it," I say, firmly, "Or we can't be friends." "Yeah." he nods. "Good," I say, satisfied, "Now, lets all sit together and have lunch." We head back to the table and Lily lets out a tired sigh. "Okay," I nod, "All friends again?" Lily nods and Tommy takes a sip of his chocolate milk. And suddenly, my anger towards them both was lifted. I began some small talk, explaining that my mother was getting a new shipment of school books today, and my plans to stop by there after school.
"That reminds me," says Lily, "In math class... there really is a test coming up. And I need some help studying." She blushes a little, remembering the lie her and Tommy had told me in the hall, some days ago. "I see," I grin, "Well, I can help you out with that. Just come with me to the bookstore, this-" "No, wait." she frowns, "Um... can't we just study at my place?" "At your place..." I said, slowly, thinking about her neighbor. Both Tommy and Lily were thinking about him, I could tell, but didn't say anything to break my new rules. They just gave each other an uneasy look.
"I-it's just," she stammers quickly, "I hate going anywhere public, just yet. The people stare at me and whisper. B-but, I can handle it! Bookstore, after school, right?" She was right, in the bookstore, we would hardly have any peace to study. Students visit there all the time and so do many of the adults of Promise Falls. Reading is the number one source of entertainment in this town. And people here are so close-minded to other cultures and trends, all they would do is stare and whisper about Lily. So, neither of us could concentrate there. I thought about inviting her to my house instead, but my mother has a "no company in the house" unless she's there rule.
"No," I sigh, "Your place is fine." "I'll close the curtains." she offers and I felt a little better. "What are you going to do, after school, Tommy?" I ask, quickly changing the subject. "I don't know." he shrugs, "Probably stop by the bookstore." "You could come study with us." offers Lily. "Nah," he waves, "I'll pass on that." "You know," I sigh, a little annoyed, "You could get that math grade up, a bit." "Yes, mother." he tease, grinning. "I'm serious!" I laugh, punching him lightly in the arm. The rest of the day was fine, everything was back to normal again, and I forgotten about that night in the woods.
Until we pulled up in front of Lily's house, that is. The terrifying flashbacks started, as soon as I parked the car. "It's okay," assures Lily, reading the worry on my face, "We'll just head for my room and study." I felt as if at any moment, he would appear, stepping out onto his porch or heading for his car. But there was no one around. My heart pounded and didn't stop until I was safely inside Lily's home. "Are your parents here?" I ask weakly, my legs still shaking. "No," shrugs Lily, "Dad's at work. And since I called my mom and told her I was getting a ride from you, she went fabric shopping." "Oh," I said, not sure if I felt okay in a empty house.
We head for Lily's room and she quickly closes the curtains, just like she promised to. That left the room a little dim, with only two lamps for light, but it didn't seem to bother Lily. We sat on her bed and began pulling our books out. Lily suddenly grabs my hand, "Are you okay? Hey, you're shaking!" "I'm okay." I muttered. "You're afraid?" she ask, confused. "Why wouldn't I be?" I frown. "Well," she says, in a small voice, "There's nothing to be afraid of." "Yeah, right!" I frown, "With that thing living next door, there's plenty."
"He's not a 'thing'." she said, defensively. And then blushed a little, "I mean, he kinda is. But, he's no one to be afraid of. He's actually kinda cool." "How would you know that?" I ask, pretty much guessing what her response would be. "I've talked with him." she shrugs. "What!?" I hiss, "Are you crazy!?" "I just wanted to apologize," she said, "For stalking him! He was still pissed with me, but I think he's okay with it now." "Do you even hear yourself?" I huff, "You apologized to a demon and asked for it's forgiveness? This is madness!"
"I know this all sounds weird." she says. "Well, duh!" I yell. "But," Lily continues, "You really don't have anything to worry about. He's not a blood-thirsty creature, he's pretty much tamed, because he's half human too. And if we don't bother him, he won't bother us." "Hey," I frown, "Didn't we agree to not talk about him again?" "Well," she said, smoothly, "You bought the topic up, remember? I just responded, so I didn't break the rule." I blushed, she was right. "Well," I sigh, "Let's not talk about it anymore."