Marco sat at his Home, doing Schoolwork at the Kitchen Table. He hadn’t gone to school ever since he saw Tommy die. He could barely bring himself to get out of bed sometimes. His Homeroom Teacher, Katelyn Scarlets had been bringing him his Schoolwork and assignments. She was a kind lady who always did her best for her students. Katelyn finished sorting the Schoolwork that Marco had to do, and turned to him.
KATELYN : This should be all of it, Marco.
MARCO : Mhm…
Marco was just sitting, looking almost emotionless. Katelyn gently put her hand on his shoulder…
KATELYN : I…I know what you’ve been through is hard, Marco. I miss Thomas too. And I’m not gonna say “but…” because there’s no “getting over” what you went through. I just…I wish you the best.
MARCO : …Thanks, Mrs. Scarlets…
KATELYN : It’s Ms. Scarlets, remember? I’m not married y’know.
Katelyn and Marco chuckled a bit and Katelyn left to head back to the School. She passed through Forest Park on the way. It was a beautiful park, and she liked to enjoy the sights and fresh air when she could. However, as she was walking through the Park, she noticed someone asleep on a bench. They had a newspaper covering their face. She approached the bench and gently shook their shoulder.
KATELYN : Hello? Hey, are you alright?
The person didn’t move, which made Katelyn a bit concerned. She hesitantly grabbed the newspaper and lifted it to see their face, and after a second she jumped back and yelped out of shock!
KATELYN : WH-WHAT?! WHA…TOMMY?!
Tommy sat up, surprised, with his hair a bit messed up. He saw Katelyn and immediately got up.
TOMMY : M-Ms. Scarlets, I-I can explain-
KATELYN : Wh-what do you mean you can explain?! You’re DEAD! …Right?
TOMMY : Well I was, but-
Tommy, realizing that revealing what happened might make him look insane, decided he needed to make up some kind of story, but he didn’t want to say it’s a Prank again. Especially since he knew that Ms. Scarlets knows he isn’t that kind of person…
TOMMY : Uh…well…you see…I…I was just in a coma! I guess people just…assumed I was dead?
KATELYN : Uh…I see…
Katelyn seemed skeptical, however she looked at her Watch and realized she was going to be late.
KATELYN : Oh, shoot! I need to get going, I have to get to School!
TOMMY : W-wait, it’s a School Day?!
KATELYN : Oh, right…you don’t have to go.
TOMMY : Huh? Wh-why?
KATELYN : Well everyone thinks you’re dead, so…you kind of aren’t enrolled anymore. O-oh, that reminds me! You should go see Marco, he’s at his house.
TOMMY : M-Marco…
As Katelyn ran off, Tommy felt uneasy…he turned in the direction of Marco’s House, when Jason began to speak to him from the Black Mask…
JASON : You shouldn’t lie, Thomas.
TOMMY : I know, I know…if I could, I would tell her the Truth…
JASON : Why can’t you?
TOMMY : Well…if I told someone I went to Purgatory, made a deal with the Devil, and came back to be the host of a Demon in a Mask…they would think I’m crazy and put me in a mental institution.
JASON : . . .
TOMMY : …A place for crazy people to be rehabilitated.
JASON : …Mm.
Marco had gone upstairs, simultaneously wanting to go back to sleep and not wanting to sleep, fearing having nightmares about Tommy again. In the Hallway, he bumped into his older Sister, Lola, who stopped him.
LOLA : Not going to School again?
MARCO : Uh, well…I was thinking of going back to sleep…
LOLA : Right…well, I’m going to Work, hermanito. Try and get some rest.
Lola patted Marco’s head, making him smile a little, before leaving to go to her Job. Marco’s smile soon faded, and he went back to his room. He just stood and looked at his bed for a minute, before he sighed and sat next to it. He curled up a bit and hung his head as he hugged his legs close. He couldn’t get the image of Tommy being hit by that truck out of his head, or seeing him being lowered into the ground and buried. Tommy was his best friend, and other than their friend, Andrew, Marco was Tommy’s ONLY friend. Above all else, he felt he could’ve saved him. If he had come out of the Arcade just a few seconds earlier, he could’ve pulled Tommy back onto the sidewalk in time. At least, that’s what he keeps telling himself. He felt guilty, even if he knew it wasn’t his fault. However, Marco was snapped back into reality when he heard a strange noise…it sounded like an animal snarling, but it sounded almost Human. Confused, he looked around, feeling his heart start to race.
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He looked under his bed. Nothing. He looked in his closet. Nothing. He looked out his window. Still nothing. Just then, he felt something touch his shoulder. He looked over and felt it with his fingers. It was some kind of liquid…it smelled horrible, like something rotten. It clicked in his brain…he looked up.
On his ceiling was a horrific monster, a beast with a vaguely human face, and several hoofed limbs protruding from its body. Drool leaked from its mouth, which was full of jagged teeth. Its eyes were piercing and goat-like…it was as if it was staring into Marco’s very soul. He was frozen, standing there as he stared up at it…it just stared back. Its mouth almost looked like it was grinning, though it looked more like it was poised to bite. After a second, Marco tried to move, going for his door, and it was then that the monster lunged down, hitting the floor, and just as quickly lunged again to knock Marco to the floor! Marco tried to hold it back as it repeatedly snapped at his face, trying its best to bite him. Marco cried and yelled for help, but it was no use. Lola had left, and his Parents had left to go shopping. Feeling it was inevitable, Marco closed his eyes as he held the monster back with all his might…and then he heard a voice…
“Hey, Demon…”
The monster stopped, and slowly turned to face the window. Marco slowly opened his eyes and saw a huge man climbing through his window…they had long purple hair, and seemed to be wearing a mask? The man fully climbed inside and what looked like green flames gathered around his hand. The flames cleared away and revealed a handgun. Fast as lightning, the man raised his hand and shot the monster, sending it flying into the hallway. Marco looked up at the man, still shaking with fear and adrenaline. He glanced at Marco, then turned back to the monster as it got back on its feet…
JASON : Stay low, kid.
The monster leapt at Jason, vaulting over Marco. The green flames appeared again, and when they vanished, what looked like a Roman Gladius was gripped in his hand, in place of the pistol that was there previously. In one swift motion, he thrusted the blade up, piercing the monster through the heart. As it went limp, its body evaporated into dust, which swirled around the man before vanishing. The man exhaled calmly and knelt down…
JASON : Hey…are you okay?
Marco laid on the ground, still shocked and silent…
JASON : I’m not going to hurt you. I’m a…friend.
Marco finally managed to find his voice, and spoke…
MARCO : What…what was that thing?
JASON : A Demon. Likely, it was a-
Marco suddenly sprang up and ran downstairs. Confused, Jason followed and found him flipping through a Bible.
MARCO : GOD IN HEAVEN I KNOW I’VE BEEN LAZY RECENTLY, PLEASE DON’T ABANDON ME NOW! Where is it, where is it?! Where’s the freaking cross we used as a bookmark?!
Jason carefully put his hand on Marco’s wrist to get his attention.
JASON : Kid, it’s fine. God hasn’t abandoned you. That Demon was drawn to your Guilt.
MARCO : My…my guilt?...hang on…are you even Human?...Are you a guardian angel?!
JASON : I am far from-
MARCO : ‘Cause if I’m being honest, you’re definitely hot enough to be an Angel, I mean you’re packed with muscles and- W-WAIT! I-Is being Gay actually a sin?! I-IF SO, I’M NOT-
JASON : Kid, you talk way too much. First of all, I’m not a Guardian Angel, I’m a Demon.
MARCO: A WHAT-
JASON : A GOOD Demon.
MARCO : What the hell is a “GOOD” Demon?
JASON : SECOND…your sexuality isn’t a Sin. Third- GET DOWN!
Jason suddenly grabbed Marco and brought him to the floor, just as a large hand burst through the wall and grabbed Jason from behind, pulling him out. Marco looked outside and saw a large, humanoid figure with pitch black skin that looked like it was being pulled taut. It had a large gaping maw for a face, and its body was lined with what looked like teeth. The Demon pulled Jason up to its “face”, as Jason shot a stream of green flames from where his mouth would be. As the flames touched the Demon, it recoiled and let our a horrific noise, a sound that could only be described as agony in sound form. Jason landed on his feet, and held out his hand. Green flames gathered around his hand, and formed into a large black Axe. It had a long handle and a large blade which curved like a devil’s horn at the bottom. Jason spun the axe around, before leaping up and gripping the handle with both hands, before bringing it down on the Demon’s head. A green light erupted from the wound, as the Demon fell backwards and turned to dust. Jason stood and turned back, looking at Marco’s house.
JASON : …damn.
He walked back to Marco’s front lawn, where Marco was silently staring at the hole in his house.
MARCO : …my…MY FREAKING HOUSE! WHAT DO I TELL MY PARENTS?! “OH, SORRY MOM AND DAD! JUST A LITERAL DEMON ATTACKED ME”!! Lo juro por Dios, ¿podría este día empeorar?
Without a word, Jason places his hand on the wall, and the debris began to gather, repairing the wall.
MARCO : …oh…uh, thanks, Mr…
JASON : Jason.
MARCO : Right…I’m Marco.
JASON : I’m aware. Your friend told me about you.
MARCO : …My…friend?
Jason reached up and pulled off the Black Mask. As it morphed back to normal, Tommy’s body returned to normal. Tommy grabbed his glasses off his collar and put them back on, before turning to Marco.
TOMMY : H-hey…
Marco was staring, wide-eyed and silent.
TOMMY : Um…
Tommy pointed to his hair.
TOMMY : Err…B-blueberry.
MARCO : …WHAT THE HELL?!?!
Marco stumbled backward and fell over a lawnmower on his lawn. He scrambled back up and pointed at Tommy.
MARCO : N-NO!! You…YOU AREN’T ALIVE!
TOMMY : L-look, I was just in a co-
MARCO : DON’T LIE TO ME! I SAW YOU GET BURIED!!
Tommy winced, and, seeing no other option…
TOMMY : …O-okay, look…I know it’s gonna sound crazy, but…I can explain…
Tommy and Marco went inside, and Tommy explained everything that happened to Marco. Marco was listening intently, and seemed very focused, albeit a bit disturbed…
TOMMY : And so…Jason sensed the Demon, so I put the Black Mask on and we came to help…um…you have…any questions, man?
MARCO : …Mhm…so…are you like, a Zombie?
TOMMY : …N-no.
MARCO : Hm. Alright…I’m like…60% convinced you’re the real deal, but…just to be sure…what’s my Last Name?
TOMMY : Guerra.
MARCO : What’re my Mom and Dad’s names in order?
TOMMY : Camile and Diego.
MARCO : Okay, okay…I need a tough one…who’s our ONLY other friend?!
TOMMY : Andrew?
MARCO : One more…what’s the name of the Superhero Team that appeared 10 Years Ago?!
TOMMY : The Vanguard…
MARCO : And which one of them signed a Comic Book that was about them?
TOMMY : Oh, man…I think it was, uh…Breakneck! The super fast one.
MARCO : …Alright. I just need one more thing…
Marco grabbed Tommy’s head, and pulled him in, rubbing his hair with his sleeve aggressively.
TOMMY : O-OW! WHAT THE HECK, MARCO?!
MARCO : THE REAL TOMMY DOESN’T USE HAIR DYE! HE’S A NATURAL BLUEBERRY!!
TOMMY : BLIMEY, I’M REAL YOU TOSSER!!
MARCO : …oh my god…the real Tommy’s half-british side comes out when he’s mad! YOU’RE REAL?!
Tommy rubbed his head, looking a bit grumpy. Marco slowly felt Tommy’s hand.
MARCO : Dude, you…
A tear fell from Marco’s face onto Tommy’s hand…
MARCO : You have no idea…how happy I am that you’re alive…!
TOMMY : Marco, I-
Just then, the front door opened.
DIEGO : Marco, we’re Home.
CAMILE : We have the groceries for tonight’s dinn-
They both froze, seeing Tommy sitting next to Marco. It was dead silence for a minute…
TOMMY : I…I get the feeling I’ll have to explain again…