Author's Note: Thank you for continuing to read! Again this story takes liberties with and different interpretations of Judeo-Christian beliefs. If this possibly could offend, please stop reading.
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***
Demon Run
***
And God declared that all offspring, both Nephilim and Kindred, should be put to death. - The Book of the Nephilim
August 28, 2012
Jason’s House
***
John leaned against Jason as they shared the coach together. He loved the touch of Jason, and his smell was intoxicating. He wanted to go upstairs so badly, but he also wanted to get through this journal that Jason had discovered. John had been obsessed with the photo, and the fact that he looked exactly like Luke.
The journal was interesting, as it continued the story that the journals had left off from, plus it gave some idea of who Luke was.
According to the first few pages, Luke had decided to leave his wife, and join Jeremy on his road in life. He had always had feelings for Johnathan, but he wouldn't admit them, but after almost dying in an attack of some kind, he couldn’t help but gravitate towards Jeremy. His wife seemed to accept the decision, as she had suspected something of the nature but didn’t say anything about it. Give to the old days to be less demeaning and intolerant than the modern age. He still visited and took care of his wife and two daughters.
Jermey and Luke decided to move to a remote area in the western frontier, away from population. For some reason, they were always under attack, but he never went into that. As the Civil War started, he had moved his wife and kids to the West Coast, so they would be away from the major fighting.
Then, suddenly, an entry had a very different tone than the rest. It was dated September 18, 1862.
“The Demons have moved against the North in this atrocity that is called the Civil War. To this point, they have remained in the South, and their quarter of New Orleans. They have broken all protocol, and established the need for intervention. We shall leave at sunup in the morning to New Orleans. The Division shall not be tolerated.”
“What the hell is this?” John said hold the book up for Jason to see. “Demons? Division?” He thought back to his vision of the angel, and then the man at the bank and his row of sharp teeth.
“I don’t know.” Jason shrugged. He pulled John closer to him. “It is out of the ordinary. The date is the day after the Battle of Antietam. I figure that is the event he was talking about. There is one other entry like that further in. Actually, it's the last entry of the journal.”
John flipped the book to the last page. It had the same tone as the first but was written several years later: May 5, 1865.
“May the angels protect us. They have decided to mount a last offensive against us. They are desperate to win this war, and they have come to meet their doom. We shall be victorious, even if our lives are lost. This will be the place forever known as Demon Run, for they shall run, and they shall be defeated.”
“That is a few days prior to the end of the Civil War.” Jason nodded at the date in the book. “Looks like whatever happened, they made a last ditch effort. Guess neither of them survived.”
John had a knot in his stomach as he thought these were the last written words of Luke. it was sombering.
“That leaves this.” Jason held out the photo. “If that was a last ditch effort, then why is there a picture with the words on it?”
“And why did I just now find it?” John picked up his own journal that he had of Jeremy. “I swear there was no place to hide it.”
“Maybe it was the creep at the bank?” Sam said coming in with a bowl of popcorn. “He was odd.”
“Why would he have the picture?” John asked, not to anyone in particular, but to everyone. He again thought of the teeth.
“And why do you see weapons in their hands, but we do not see anything?” John said, clicking his tongue against his teeth.
“You believe me?” John asked, looking at Jason.
“Why shouldn’t I?” Jason said with a grin. He leaned over and gave John a kiss that was deep and smooth, but behind it was a fire and passion.
“Get a room.” Sam said, throwing a piece of popcorn at the two, and flipped on the television. She would be alone till Tina arrived in a couple of hours from work.
“I think,” Jason said, standing up and picking up John, “That is what we shall do.”
***
John sat upright, his head pounding, as if his head was about to explode. He tried to open his eyes, but when he did, he felt as if his eyes were going to burn by a bright white light. He wanted to scream, but no words came out of his mouth. He grabbed either side of his head, trying to cover his ears, hoping that would stop.
“John.” a voice said, sounding to be from the distance.
“John!” the voice was getting louder, and he could feel the pounding in his head diminish.
“John!” The voice was clear this time, and it was Jason. He felt a hand grab his shoulder and give it a light shake. He could feel a warmth pass through his body, and the last remeninants of the terror left his body, leaving him feeling calm, and the event only a dream. “Are you okay?”
“I..” John opened his eyes. Jason was sitting in front of him naked, with a look of concern on his face. “I am now.” He grinned.
“That can wait.” Jason’s face didn’t crack a smile. He was truly concerned. “What happened?”
“I am not sure.” John decided to lay back down. He was naked as well, but a light sheet covered him. Jason followed him down and laid on his stomach. “I had this pounding headache, and it felt like my head would explode. I couldn’t scream, or open my eyes.”
“Um…” Jason looked up at John. “You were screaming bloody murder, and your eyes were open the whole time.”
“What?” John lifted his head to look directly at Jason. “I couldn’t see a thing. Your voice seemed to bring me back and make it better.”
“I think you need to go to a doctor.” Jason said with a look of concern on his face. “I am serious. This scared the shit out of me.” He laid his head back down on John’s chest and wrapped his arms around John. He could feel John getting excited. Normally, he would join in, but he was still shaken by John’s episode.
“I will be fine.” John ripped Jason’s hair, rolling the strands in his fingers. “Anyway, I don’t have insurance, and can’t afford the doctor.”
John looked up again. “You’re going.” He put his head down. “Don’t worry about being able to pay for it.”
“You just met me!” John laughed.
“How many times have we done it now?” Jason rolled off John, and moved up to be level with him, and then pulled him into his arms. “7?”
“8.” John moved in to kiss him, letting the last moments of his terror disappear into the background.
***
But a multitude of Angels rebuked the order, and wished to save their children from destruction. - The Book of the Nephilm
***
August 29, 2012
Doctors Office
John said in the chair with his arms folded. He did not want to be here. He was perfectly healthy, and he had performed perfectly with Jason afterwards. Jason sat next to with a grin on his face reading one of the office magazines. He was enjoying this moment too much.
“They think you're my father.” John said with a hiss in his voice.
“Oh,” Jason grinned deeper, “You can call me daddy.”
“That’s not funny!” John chided back. John didn’t care about the age difference, as he had told Jason that from the beginning.
“Listen,” Jason turned to face John. “I want to make sure you are okay. This could be a serious issue that needs to be taken care of. I…” he trailed off not sure if he wanted to continue.
“What?” John asked, looking Jason deep in the eyes.
“Just,” Jason sighed. “I know we have only been seeing each other for two days now, but I feel like I have known you forever and beyond.”
John grinned. “Same.”
Jason wondered if it was something to do with that picture. Maybe they were Luke and Jeremy reincarnated. He didn’t put much stock into the idea, but it was a nice thought. No, there was something else going on here. The picture kept drawing his attention. There was something else about that picture that stuck with him.
“Hey,” Jason said startling John, “Do you want to go on a trip?”
John raised an eye, and grabbed his chest. “Sir, what do you take me for to go with a strange man?”
“9 times remember.” Jason grinned, and John returned the stare.
“Sure,” John said looking around. People kept looking at them, and he wasn’t sure how comfortable Jason was with public displays of affection. Albuquerque was a relatively accepting city, but you could run into the arse once in a while. “Where too?”
“Oregon.” Jason watched John carefully for a reaction.
“Oregon?” John snapped his head quickly. “Why Oregon?”
“That…” Jason started to respond but was cut short by the nurse.
“Johnathan Bentham.” She called out.
“Want me to go with you?” Jason asked as John stood up.
“Of course.” John said, grabbing his hand, which Jason took willfully. “Gotta let my daddy take care of me.”
“You are right.” Jason frowned. “Don’t call me that.”
***
After the initial visit, they were left to sit in the exam room for the doctor. Jason claimed this was the secondary waiting room to justify the big expense of the bill. John again said this was why he didn’t want to come.
“I have enough money.” Jason frowned. “Don’t worry. Your health is most important right now.”
“Gotta make it 20?”
“If your lucky.” Jason leaned over and gave him a kiss.
A knock at the door pulled them apart quickly, as if they were two teenagers that had been caught.
“Mr. Bentham.” The doctor opened the door, and walked in. “I am Doctor Mend.”
“Dr. Mend?” Jason asked, suppressing a laugh.
John was about to punch Jason in the arm but stopped short. The Doctor was the same person that he had see at the bank. The man who he thought was too young to be in a bank. He was definitely too young to be a doctor.
“I get that all the time.” He laughed a bit. “So who is John?”
“I…” John tried to recover. He was hallucinating. “I am John.”
“Nice to meet you.” The man, who had previously been known as Derrick to John, turned his attention to Jason. “And who are you, and your relationship?”
“I am Jason Rivers.” He extended a hand to shake the doctor's hand, which was returned with a friendly motion. “I am John’s….” he wasn’t sure what they were exactly. Lovers? Hook-up?
“Boyfriend.” John filled in the gap.
“Oh.” the doctor smiled. There were those sharp teeth again. John thought back to the journal entries by Luke and how demons had attacked them. Then he noticed the name tag the doctor wore: D. Mend.
“You look young to be a doctor.” Jason said absently. “Sorry don’t want to offend, just very Doogie Houser vibes going here.”
“No offense.” the doctor smiled. “I take it as a complement. It was a good show.”
John was still dazed by the name tag. This was a demon, and he was here to finish him off.
“Now what are we in for?” The doctor sat down on the classic doctor's stool and rolled up and started to check John’s vitals.
“I…” John started to say, but he couldn’t find his voice. The doctor's hands were cold, and if John was honest, they were freezing, as if they had just come out of a bath of ice.
“He woke up during the night, grabbing his head, and screaming bloody hell.” Jason started, realizing that John wasn’t going to be able to tell the doctor. The doctor was cute, but he didn't have to clam up in front of him. “He claims he couldn’t hope for his mouth, and eyes, but they were both open. He also said that his head felt that it would explode.”
“How are you feeling now?” the doctor was looking into John’s eyes.
“I am fine.” He said curtly. He wasn’t sure what this thing was playing at, but he wasn’t going to give it the chance.
“No headache?”
“No.” John again was short.
“I don’t see anything in your eyes, and your heart sounds good. Lets take a listen to those lungs of yours.” He rolled around to the side of John. “Can you pull up your shirt?”
John complied, and let the doctor put the stethoscope on his back. He sucked in air deeply as the ice cold hand touched him.
“Relax.” the doctor said, giving a moment for John to get over the shock of being touched. “I am sorry, my hands are ice cold today for some reason.” He held the listening piece in place. “Take a deep breath.” And he listened was John exhaled.
“I am not hearing anything there.” the doctor rolled back around to the front and crossed his arms with a frown. “How long did this last?”
“It felt like hours.” John responded, trying to recall.
“It was only a few minutes, if that.” Jason replied. “I was awoken by the screams, so I assume it started then, and he seemed to get better the moment I touched him.”
The doctor raised his eyebrows. John wasn’t sure but it looked like he was suppressing a smile. “Well its not a migraine.” He tapped his chin thinking about what should be done. “You don’t have insurance do you?”
“No.” John looked down at his lap.
“Whatever needs to be done, will be taken care of.” Jason picked up. “I don’t care what it takes, we need to make sure it is not serious.”
“Well Mr. Bentham,” the doctor looked at Jason up and down, “It looks like you found the perfect boyfriend here. Better keep him.”
John looked at Jason, and shook his head, but didnt’ say anything. He was getting upset, because whatever this thing in front of him was, he knew what the problem was. He just was toying with him.
“Why don’t you just tell us what is wrong with me?” John blurted out, not being able to control it.
“What?” the doctor looked back at him with a puzzled look.
“You know what is wrong with me D. Mend.” He made the emphasis so that it was his name, but at the same time alluded to the fact that it sounded like ‘demon’. “You were at the bank, and now you are here. What is your game?”
“I…” the doctor started to stutter. “I am sorry, but I don’t know what you are talking about.” The doctor looked at Jason for help.
“John!” Jason said a bit stronger than he said. “This is a doctor, not a banker.”
“But it's the same guy!” He pointed at the name tag. “His first name is Derrick!”
As he did, he felt the same pressure return to his head, and he felt as if it was going to explode. This time he reached up and grabbed his head, and he could feel himself screaming out in pain and agony. He could see through his eyes, but the room was getting brighter, and he wanted to close them, but couldn’t.
Faintly he could hear Jason calling his name, but this time, there was no bringing him back. This time, nothing would allow him to recover. All he wanted was the pain to end.
***