CHAPTER SEVEN

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BLOOD POOL

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‘Who’s the trash, now?’

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On the following morning, which happened to be Halloween, the 31st of October, a chill hung in the air, slightly colder than the day before. However, what troubled Allen the most were the two substantial puncture wounds marking the juncture of his shoulder and neck. As he roused from slumber, a faint weariness clung to him, the ache in his muscles a testament to the exhausting events of the previous night.

What awaited him that morning was nothing short of eerie and unsettling. As he opened his eyes, he found himself snugly tucked in bed, surrounded by a bizarre arrangement of organs and body parts. Intestines, hearts, skulls, kidneys, lungs, and various other human pieces were meticulously displayed in a circle around his bed on the floor.

The gruesome scene was overwhelming, causing him to immediately lose consciousness, too fragile to endure such a sight.

An hour later, when Allen regained consciousness, he rushed to tidy up his room with a sense of urgency, terrified at the prospect of the authorities discovering the grotesque scene while he was away at college. He was utterly baffled by Circe's disturbing actions, and the thought of encountering her again filled him with dread. He couldn't shake the fear that he might become her next victim, joining the unfortunate individuals whose remains were callously displayed in his bedroom like macabre trophies of her horrifying deeds.

Allen prepared for the day, having taken a dose of anxiety medication to soothe his frayed nerves.

As he readied himself, he couldn't help but wonder, 'Where could Circe be? What did she do with that grisly display in my bedroom? I blacked out after she inflicted those painful wounds on my acromioclavicular joint, so I have no idea what transpired afterward or what set her off on such a rampage. I wish I could uncover all the answers to find a way to escape her if that's even possible.'

Considering I haven't come across her anywhere in my house, I assume she might have left for good.' Allen's thoughts were consumed by memories of the beautiful yet ruthless demon girl from the previous night. She had left him cocooned in the comfort of his own bed, with death lingering in his bedroom after he had blacked out in the midst of the process of her 'claiming him as hers.'

Allen found it ironic that such a malevolent being could also display kindness towards him, choosing not to leave him on the cold, unforgiving floor. His previous understanding of creatures like Circe led him to believe that they were inherently devoid of concern for humans and notorious for their heartlessness.

Indeed, Allen had vowed to himself that he wouldn't get too near the demon. She was known to revel in killing for her own amusement, and it was abundantly clear that his life hung precariously in the balance should she decide to target him.

Now, Allen pondered whether that was indeed the truth or not. He released a weary sigh as he adjusted his chestnut bangs in front of the mirror. After one last glance at his reflection, he put on his black and white canvas sneakers, which complemented his black jeans and pristine white hoodie perfectly.

His sole desire at the moment was to leave his house as swiftly as he could, as the scent of blood continued to linger in his bedroom and living room, a grim reminder of the horrific events of the previous night.

Allen descended the staircase, his gaze sweeping across his surroundings, only to confirm that there was no trace of the raspberry-haired demon. Unconsciously, he pondered where Circe had disappeared after their eventful night. His anticipation for her return was driven by a strong desire for answers, even as he attempted to disregard the nagging feeling in his gut, warning him that something was amiss or that impending trouble lurked on the horizon.

Nonetheless, he was determined to uncover the reasons behind her gruesome acts, such as the inexplicable murders and the macabre display of the victims in his room, as if his personal space had been turned into a sinister dumping ground.

Allen left his home and embarked on the journey to his high school, all the while consumed by his contemplation of Circe, which intermittently sent shivers down his spine. As he arrived at the school on a blustery day that intensified the chill in the air, he scanned the corridors of the esteemed institution, searching for any sign of Emery.

Walking down the corridor that housed the lockers, Allen's keen eyes eagerly sought out his longtime crush, Emery. However, his quest proved fruitless as she was conspicuously absent. Resigned to his search being futile, he opted to continue down the hallway, surmising that he might locate the brunette girl in one of the classrooms. It was highly likely that she was participating in the preparations for the Halloween party later that evening. The school encouraged every student to join the effort and contribute their unique ideas to transform the school into a Halloween-themed wonderland.

As Allen made his way toward the hall's exit, he noticed the decorations that adorned the space. The predominant colors were the classic Halloween hues of orange and black, setting the eerie ambiance in line with the season. Yet, the hall remained oddly silent and devoid of students. This serene atmosphere resulted from most students being occupied elsewhere, some in classrooms, and others out in the garden.

They were fervently engaged in setting up skeletons, and pumpkins, and stringing vibrant orange and red fairy lights to create a festive Halloween atmosphere.

Before Allen could make his way out of the hall, an unseen force abruptly yanked him backward by grabbing onto his hoodie's hood, thrusting him against the lockers with a jolt that sent a sharp pang through his spine. A gasp involuntarily escaped his lips as pain surged up his back, akin to a searing blaze. Despite his throbbing head, which had also taken a hit against the locker, he managed to raise his gaze swiftly.

What met his eyes was Drake, who was sporting his typical malevolent smirk and the familiar, menacing glare that had long served as an unmistakable forewarning that Allen's safety was anything but assured.

"Hello there, bookworm, you seem positively cheerful today. I trust you won't take offense if I borrow a bit of that joy, will you?" Drake muttered; his dark brown eyes fixated on Allen. Allen swallowed hard, unsure whether Drake was about to unleash some random act of bullying or if he had done something unwittingly to provoke this early morning outburst. If it was the latter, Allen was utterly clueless about what might have caused the giant to vent his frustration so early in the day.

Allen nervously swallowed the irrational thoughts that had flooded his mind about Drake as he questioned, "What do you want?" Drake appeared on the verge of responding when Anna, Jake, and Adalyn arrived, their anger apparent.

Adalyn, especially, unleashed a barrage of accusations at Allen, blaming him for their failed ritual. "You, worthless piece of trash! It's your fault our ritual flopped. You were supposed to chant with us, but your idiotic self either forgot to chant the spell, or your chanting was utterly meaningless. I'm absolutely furious with you, you nerdy misfit!" She spoke with righteous indignation, laying blame on Allen, though they hadn't even instructed him to participate in the chanting. But in retrospect, he might have asked for clarification.

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As a well-mannered and empathetic person, Allen could only manage a nervous gulp, his anxiety, fear, and tension intensifying. He bore a secret that others remained oblivious to. At this moment, he felt utterly lost, unsure of how to proceed. He feared that unveiling Circe's true identity could lead to dire consequences, so he chose to keep the secret hidden until a more opportune moment presented itself.

Yet, that moment never seemed to arrive.

"I'm sorry, Adalyn... maybe next time—" Allen's sentence was abruptly cut short as Adalyn interjected, her tone becoming harsh and impolite. "So, there was going to be a next time too? Okay! Then let's make that next time today, right now." Allen's anxiety surged as he thought, 'Oh no, what have I just set in motion?' Realizing he had unwittingly landed himself in trouble once more, Allen nervously shook his head while attempting to break free from Drake's strong and imposing grip on his shoulders, the hands thick, powerful, and veined.

"Allen, don't make this any more difficult than it needs to be," Adalyn growled in frustration. She nodded toward Drake, who seized Allen's wrist and attempted to pull him in a direction he was unwilling to go. Allen resisted, gripping the locker handle tightly, unwilling to partake in the ritual when he was already bound to a demon, determined not to invite any more demons into his life.

Drake gasped and quickly turned to the others, proclaiming, "Guys, he doesn't have that knife wound from last night." All three wore expressions of deep bewilderment, and Adalyn, in response, advanced toward Allen, gripping both of his hands tightly as she examined them. Meanwhile, Allen's heart raced in his chest, and his breath grew increasingly irregular.

Fear coursed through him, causing his heart to beat erratically.

"Hey, nerd, are you keeping something from us? That wound on your hand should have taken weeks to heal, and it would have left a scar. So, Allen, where's this demon of ours?" Adalyn pressed, her jaw tight and her eyes narrowed. Allen swallowed hard, attempting to retreat from the hall, but his escape was thwarted when Jake snagged his hood from behind and delivered a forceful punch to his stomach.

Drake followed with another punch, driving it into Allen's ribs. The force of the blow left the brunette boy struggling to breathe, his blue eyes squeezed shut in response to the excruciating pain that radiated from his stomach and chest, making each breath a painful endeavor.

Despite the agony, Allen refused to divulge the secret of the raspberry-red-haired demon. His sixth sense, an inner guide he had learned to trust over time, whispered firmly that revealing her to them was not an option. It had never led him astray in the past, and he wasn't about to doubt it now.

Brought to his knees, clutching his stomach in pain, Allen found himself at the mercy of Adalyn's ominous words. With a menacing tone, she warned, "Listen here, you, geek freak! If you don't spill the beans on that demon's location, you'll wish you were never born."

On his knees, Allen vigorously shook his head, attempting to convey that he truly didn't know the demon's whereabouts. However, the four bullies misinterpreted his response, taking it as a refusal to cooperate. Even in the absence of this misunderstanding, Drake still proceeded to strike Allen in the jaw.

Just before he could enact a harmful pejorative action, Drake's hand was seized with an icy grip, and his fingers were cruelly contorted to the point of inhuman breakage. In his excruciating pain, Drake let out a harrowing scream, locking eyes with none other than Circe, her sinister smirk unmistakably present.

Allen's breath caught in his throat as he gazed up at Circe, who stood imposingly before him with her menacing aura, gripping Drake's mangled fingers as he struggled in vain, oblivious to the fact that escape was only possible with the demon's consent.

"Why are you squealing and whimpering like a frightened rodent? Just moments ago, you were ruthlessly causing pain to what belongs to me. It's quite comical to witness a predator reduced to a quivering mess. Drake, do you even qualify as a predator? If you do, then start acting like one!" Circe taunted the boy who now found himself completely vulnerable. With no response forthcoming, her smirk widened, and she ruthlessly seized the blonde boy's jaw, tearing his head away from his body in a savage act that splattered blood across the pristine white tiles, her face, clothing, and hair. Drake's decapitation left a gruesome pool of blood in its wake, a chilling testament to the brutality of the scene.

Anna's piercing screams filled the air as she bore witness to the horrific spectacle that had just unfolded, a sight that had snatched her beloved from her grasp. Her cries for help echoed through the halls, but she remained oblivious to the fact that her pleas fell on deaf ears, for the demon had already ensnared their minds, preventing anyone from intervening in the infernal retribution being unleashed upon the vile bullies who had dared to harm what belonged to her.

Circe stood as one of the most formidable and malevolent demons of their kind. She held a lofty position in the hierarchy of hell, revered for her immortality and powers that rivaled even those of Satan himself.

Following her grisly work with Drake, Circe vanished into the ether, only to reappear abruptly before the terrified girl whose screams had pierced the air. The demon's icy grip closed around Anna's throat, extinguishing her nerve-wracking cries in an instant. A chilling sound of bones snapping reverberated through the once-silent hall, signaling to the remaining onlookers that Anna's life had been snuffed out in the blink of an eye. Without delay, the demon extracted her heart and sent the lifeless body tumbling to the floor, creating a grotesque tableau of blood on the pristine white surface.

In an instant, the demon vanished from sight, only to reemerge directly before Jake. With a cruel swiftness, she yanked his right arm from his body, transforming the once-limbed young man into a source of gushing blood. Jake's agonized screams filled the air, but his torment was fleeting, for in the blink of an eye, the demon severed his head from his shoulders before anyone could react.

Each death unfolded with astonishing speed and left a gruesome tableau of blood in its wake.

Allen's breath caught in his throat as an overwhelming sense of panic overtook him, rendering him speechless. It felt as though words had abandoned him, and he was left unable to even attempt to plead with the demon. The realization that his fate mirrored that of the recently deceased teenagers struck him, confirming that his own survival was unlikely. With this grim understanding, Allen's faculties, his mind, and his muscles all seemed to shut down, as if in resignation to the inevitable approach of his own demise.

His own despair, Allen realized, had played a role in the tragic demise of those around him. Some lives might have been spared if he had only believed in himself and, most crucially, in the bond they shared with the demon, and if he had reached out to stop her. Yet, as he extended a trembling hand, his vision blurred from the tears that streamed from his eyes.

He found himself utterly helpless, unable to utter a single word before it was all over, too swift for him to grasp.

Having completed her ruthless work with three lifeless bodies, Circe licked her blood-stained claws, then advanced toward Adalyn, who stood frozen with wide, tear-filled eyes amid her surroundings, now awash with the vivid crimson of blood.

The once-pristine hall was on the verge of becoming a scene of unimaginable carnage. With her trembling hand clutching her phone, she managed to summon a fragment of courage and, though stuttering, screamed at the demon, "Leave, you monstrous fiend! Take your trash with you! Just go... please!"

Circe's sinister smirk deepened as she observed the raven-haired girl with red highlights crumble into a river of tears following her last words. In an instant, Circe materialized before Adalyn, who, though gasping in fear, didn't retreat, expecting a fate similar to her friends. Circe leaned close to Adalyn's ear and, with menacing intensity, whispered, "Who's the trash now?" At the utterance of this question, Adalyn's heart seemed to be ripped out of her chest, her scream silenced before it could even fully escape her lips.

The lifeless body tumbled backward as Circe discarded the heart, allowing it to land in a forgotten corner of the hall. Blood streamed from Adalyn's body, leaving a gaping hole in her chest where her heart had once resided. The macabre scene transformed the hall into an eerie canvas for the malevolent demon's work.

Circe's lips curled into an evil smirk after a dark, humorless chuckle escaped her, fingers daintily licked clean. She pivoted around, her menacing, glowing scarlet eyes locking onto the quivering boy.

The moment their gazes met, fear caused a lump to form in his throat, and he couldn't help but gulp audibly.

Allen's legs trembled beneath him, and he knew he couldn't flee from the impending horror. With the last vestiges of his courage, he summoned the strength to shuffle backward until he collided painfully with the lockers.

Circe's form was drenched in crimson, yet she paid it no heed, her focus locked onto someone she cherished for their inner and outer beauty. Her chosen one, her bonded mate, the fragile human she held in her sinister embrace. Allen belonged to her, and she wouldn't allow anyone to harm him.

Her gaze remained locked onto his, but a touch of tenderness crept into her eyes as she witnessed the violent shudders wracking her chosen one's body, despite knowing that his bruised ribs couldn't tolerate such tremors.

She was aware.

All too aware of the ordeal her marked one had endured before her arrival, and the thought of Allen enduring such agony, even with her presence, ignited a fierce anger within her.

Circe knelt before the quivering boy, and he couldn't help but startle out of sheer fear. His trembling intensified, and he panted heavily as he felt the chill of her lips brushing against the curve of his ear, her voice husky and authoritative as she inquired,

"How's my little one?"