“When did you find out?”

“Did you not hear what I said? Months ago, Felix. Months ago. You were late back from a church meeting one day, some kind of theology discussion with the other pastors you said. So I decided to get lunch at La Marie’s and text you to meet me there when you finished up at church, but much to my startled amusement. I saw you in the restaurant. I saw you before I'd even crossed the street, and do you know what I saw you doing?”

Felix could feel blood rushing to his head. He could barely think straight. “...no.”

“No? Oh dear, oh dear me, your memory must be going spotty, because I'd certainly remember if I had my lips locked against another woman’s. I started asking around after that. Every time you'd go out for a church meeting, I’d slip a question to one of the other pastors. A “how was the meeting” to Greg, a “I hope he's not running late, I talked his ear off” to Peter. I think you get the idea.” Felicity was almost yelling.

“Why… why not ask me about it, why wait all this time.”

“Oh trust me, I didn't want to, the waiting was the hardest part. But I had to see you suffer, see you suffer the way I was suffering. Every time you asked me what's wrong, every time I moved away from you in bed, or jerked away from your kiss in the morning, every single time I took pleasure in knowing that you were suffering.”

Felicity walked over to the couch and sat down, reaching for the tv remote. She looked over at her husband. “You know, I was wondering, deep down, how long it would take you to figure it out. How long it would take you to put two and two together and drop to your knees, apologising like a man possessed. But you never did.”

Felix could see the pain gathering in Felicity's face, could see it swirling with rage like the bird's eye-view of a storm. He almost believed he could really see it. It was some kind of shock induced hallucination.

Felicity looked away. “There's a bed made up in Kyle's old room, you can sleep there tonight.”

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Can't we talk about this?”

“As far as I’m concerned, we already have.”

----------

Benny could feel the creature’s thoughts. It was pacing back to the woods at an ungodly pace, but no, no, he practically screamed despite, in this realm, for all intents and purposes, having no mouth. He needed to go back, to see who the creature had killed, he.. he needed to know who would be next.

The fire seemed to meld into a blue sea of sharp flowers. The creature was walking back, like a rewound movie, back… back… to a house, covered in blood, its fur matted and filthy. But he couldn't see who was in the house.

Benny felt himself tumbling, losing grip of his extra sensory vision, but he was too exhausted to fight for control of it. The blue flowers melted into a purple sea of sludge and the creature ran forward, towards the woods, to the woods where it dematerialised.

Of course, thought Benny, that's just my fucking luck.

But it was too late, much too late, and the spell was winding down, preparing to drag him back to from whence he came.

--------

Micheal crept down the stairs. He’d been awoken by the sound of raised voices, but had no idea what his parents had been talking about.

He saw his mother curled up on the couch, dry tear marks on her face.

“Mom? Are you alright?”

“Hmm?” She looked up at Micheal as if she was coming out of a daze. “Oh, yes, I’m fine. It’s just.. it’s just been an emotional day.

Micheal was silent for a while before sitting down next to her.

“.. Is it about dad?”

“I. Yes, I’m afraid it is. How did you know?”

“I heard you two, talking, I just figured..” Micheal trailed off. “I’m sorry.”

Felicity started crying again. “Oh Mike, so am I.”

Micheal held his mother as she began to sob. For a moment he entertained an intrusive thought. He could kill him, he could tear him limb from limb. He could shred his father’s flesh from his bones with his bare hands, as easily as anyone else could shred pulled pork. He didn't understand his condition, not in the slightest, but he knew he could do that… he shook the thought away, it was too hideous to entertain.

And yet he had.