Trevor drove down one winding dirt road after another. The car sometimes shook so violently that he contemplated pulling over to check for damage.
Nevertheless, the importance of this mission dwarfed everything, even the love he had for his recently purchased vehicle. They don't make them like they used to, Trevor thought. Something definitely broke, I just don't know what, yet.
Part-timer had spent the last week recovering from his injury. The doctors said he might lose sight in his right eye. He refused to go into detail regarding how he got hurt, but Trevor couldn't begin to imagine a demon strong enough to potentially cause him permanent damage. Despite being an anti-social weirdo, Part-timer was exceptional at killing demons, never once leaving an encounter with so much as a scratch.
Surrounded by swaths of untamed wilderness, Trevor cruised ahead, soaking up the gorgeous sunset—a fusion of soft pinks and oranges, blending seamlessly into deeper shades of red and purple as he looked higher.
With the house in view, he double tapped his temple, turning off his GPS navigation. He parked his car a good distance from the home proper and got out for a quick stretch. Standing at six-foot-six, Trevor's long, thin legs ached as he performed a series of high steps.
Nestled in the heart of the boondocks stood a solitary house composed of weathered wooden planks and a sloping tin roof. It was as if Trevor entered another world, one in which tranquility was more valued than technological advancement.
An unwavering focus replaced the fatigue he felt after his nearly three hour long drive. He grabbed his water gun from the glove compartment, holstering it as he walked toward his trunk.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
With his gun holstered and his axe in hand, Trevor jogged toward the quaint little house. The sun disappeared behind the horizon, replacing the mesmerizing display of colors with a night sky dotted by stars so bright, he paused in admiration.
Standing before the house enveloped in the serene sounds of rustling leaves and calling crickets, he recalled the parameters of his mission. Unlike Part-timer, who ended up making a mess of things, Trevor vowed to remain undetected. But as he gazed upon the front porch, adorned with rocking chairs and potted plants, a simmering rage began to form.
Burn.
Trevor tried to calm himself, focusing on his breath as he did every morning. But flashes of Summer's sunken eyes and cold disposition awoke something in him. An anger so potent, he glared in disgust at the rustic scenery before him.
Burn.
La'el was allowed to live a peaceful life of solitude after what he did? After committing an act so heinous it shook Trevor to his core? After robbing Summer of her smile?
A heat haze formed around him. Just once, he thought. If I could see her smile one more time, I'd die a happy man.
She was his light. A source of joy in a world so bleak.
You took that away from me. Flames erupted from his body. Trevor closed his eyes and searched within for something, anything to anchor him. Circular waves of fire emanated from his feet, charring the surrounding grass.
Then, the memory of Summer rescuing him from SooHoo park broke through his defenses.
Trevor dropped to his knees, tears stinging his eyes as a violent orange and white explosion seared away his clothes. Surrounded by scorched earth, naked as the day he was born, he lifted his head and glanced at the house once more.
He submitted to his fury, releasing a series of waves composed of harsh blue flame.