Demon Run Chapter 8
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
Chapter 14
And the earth was in violence, and the great valley was destroyed, and the people scattered. -The Book of the Nephilim
August 29, 2021
***
Jason drove down the interstate to the hospital. It was almost 9:00 PM, and the roads were not as busy as they had been on the drive back. He gripped the wheel, he knew where he was going, but he liked to watch the signs anyway. He was looking for the I-40/I-25 interchange. He glanced over at the passenger seat where his overnight bag was packed and his staff rested from the floor. He didn’t know why he bothered to bring it.
That doctor fellow, Derrick had explained some disturbing things to him, but all he wanted to do was get back to John in the hospital. Odd, that he never had that urge before. He had boyfriends, and they had been close, but he could never remember there being such a burning need to be next to him.
Lightning started to flicker in the western part of the city. He couldn't recall there being a possibility of rain in the forecast, but New Mexico was a monster when it came to trying to figure out the weather patterns. The problem was, after his night, he wasn’t sure if this was a sign, omen, or something else that was indicating a horrible future. He sighed. It was just rain.
***
Jason walked into the hospital room 15 minutes later. The longest part was getting a parking spot and then making his way to John’s room. The hospital bed back had been raised up, so that John could sit up and was watching the television. Next to him was the tray of food they had brought him for dinner. It was half eaten.
“What was for dinner?” He asked with a smile as he walked in. John turned and his face lit up. There was something about him that Jason couldn’t dismiss, and he had only known him for a couple of days, but he felt the need to be near him, as if they had been together since…the start. Derrick's story echoed in his mind.
“It was tomato soup, cheese sandwich, juice, crackers, and a nice slice of chocolate cake.” John wiggled a bit, and reached his arms out. He wanted to have Jason next to him.
Jason dropped his bags in the nearest chair and leaned in and gave John a deep kiss. He pressed his lips hard against John’s. In return, John responded by showing his own desire, and pressed back. Jason could feel John’s heart beat, and he didn’t want the moment to end, but they were not in the best location for anything more.
“Better be careful.” Jason pulled back with a sigh. He felt coldness run through his veins. “Don’t want to set the machine off and have a pack of nurses in here.” He still had John’s hand in his. It was not what he wanted, what he needed, but it was the best he could do in this situation.
“I don’t know.” John looked at the door. “That nurse is kinda cute.” He looked at Jason who had a frown on his face.
“That’s it. I am staying the night!” Jason laughed, and let go of John’s hand. Again that cold feeling moved through him. “I am just lucky I thought you would fall for some hot nurse, so I already have my bag packed.” He sat it down on the little couch that was against the window that could be pulled out and made into a guest bed. He grabbed the chair and pushed it next to John. He didn’t want to sleep, he didn’t want anything but to be near John. He felt creepy, and like he was needy.
John smiled and turned his attention back to the television. The nightly news was about to come on.
“I thought only old people liked to watch the news.” Jason laughed as John turned the volume up a bit to hear better.
“That's why I have it on.” He grinned slyly. “I know you're old and need to see the news.” He chuckled. “Especially the weather report. I know how much old people like it.”
“Jerk.” Jason toy punched him in the shoulder, but turned his attention to the news. He was interested in the weather report, but not because he was old. That thunderstorm moving into the valley concerned him.
The first story was about a tragedy that happened in China, when a mine collapsed in China. They were still trying to recover bodies, and looking for survivors. He was an expert on most thing European, and Latin America, but not so much on China, and the names were hard to pronounce.
“Those poor people.” John said softly. Jason turned to look at him, and he had a tear in his eye.
Jason pondered the action for a bit. It was a tragedy, but it was so far away, and they didn't know anyone, or at least he assumed that. He felt ashamed at the thought. They were people, and all people deserved a moment of respect.
“Hey!” John said loudly, which caused Jason to jump. “It’s okay to not have feelings for them. I just get emotional when a disaster hits. I just feel sorry for them, as I know I can’t help them.”
Jason raised an eyebrow. “How… did you know what I was thinking?”
“Thinking?” John pondered for a moment, and looked back at the TV set. “I just felt how you were feeling. The look on your face?”
“Oh.” Jason thought back to when he touched John and he could feel his heartbeat, when he gave him the passionate kiss that he never had done before, and again could feel it again. They were connected in some way.
They continued to watch the news, and the weather. While the storm was not expected, it was welcome moisture, and there was nothing unusual about it. Just another desert storm that arose, and would disappear as quickly as it rose.
“So?” John turned the television off. “Did you bring enough warm clothes to survive the mild temperature tomorrow?”
Jason just glanced at him and glared. “I brought my jammies and they are fuzzy and warm, just so you know.”
“Shame.” John flopped his hands on the bed like a little kid that did not get his Christmas gift he wanted. “I kinda was hoping for the traditional night time attire.”
Jason laughed hard. Of course he would have preferred the ritual that had taken place for the last few nights, but again it was inappropriate for the hospital setting. “Maybe I can give you a sponge bath?”
“I don’t know.” John looked at the door again. “That nurse…”
Jason grinned. He liked the playful side of John. He also was glad that he was feeling better. “What did the doctor say?” He already knew the answer, but he didn’t want to tell John yet. He wasn’t sure if he should.
“He said I will be fine.” John shrugged and looked at the monitor they had him hooked up to. It was checking his blood pressure, and oxygen levels. “Of course they will have me come in for some more tests, but that wasn't an emergency.” John turned his attention back to Jason, and looked him deep in the eyes. “He seemed to think I was saved.”
Jason frowned for a bit. Derrick had told him that he had saved John from whatever fate he was destined for. Apparently had died, or was on the verge of dying, but he was able to save him.
“Just out of curiosity,” Jason decided to change the subject, “who had the staff in the picture? Luke and Jeremy?”
“It was Luke.” John said with a slight smile. “Thank you for believing me.”
“And the scythe was in Jeremy’s hand?” Jason asked.
“Yes.” John tilted his head. “Why are you asking?”
“Nothing.” Jason smiled, and pulled John’s hand to his. “I was just curious to know. I believe you saw what you say you saw.” Would John believe his adventure with the shadows? “Take a look at this!”
He jumped up and went to his bag and fished out a photo he had brought with him. After Derrick left, Jason finally looked at the photo that he had tossed on the bed. It was when his father had taken him to a cabin in Oregon one summer.
“Remember how I asked you to go to Oregon with me?” Jason asked, handing the picture to John.
John took the picture and looked at it. It was Jason who was a teenager, and an older looking man, who looked like Jason but different. “You were a cut teenager.” John grinned. But the cabin in the background caught his attention. It was the same cabin that was in the picture he had found at the bank. Or at least he thought he found it at the bank. He now assumed that it was that doctor, or banker, or whatever it was, that had given it to him.
“I think that is the same cabin.” Jason sat back in the chair as he saw the recognition pass over John’s eyes. The intensity, the need to touch and hold John had dissipated. Simply being in his presence was enough to satisfy his want. Not all of them, but that would wait.
“How is this possible?” John looked at Jason.
“That cabin has been in the family for a really long time.” Jason shrugged. The thought crossed his mind that he was a descendant of Luke. After all, Derrick did say that it was a trait of a family line. “I think,” Jason sucked in air as he decided to blast it out, “I am a decendent of Luke, and we are destined to be together forever.”
Chapter 15
And the nephilim walked among man, and man learned to work the earth, and survive outside of the great valley. -The Book of the Nephilim
August 30, 2012
***
Jason ended up sleeping in the chair next to John’s bed. John had insisted that he made the makeshift guest best up, but Jason wanted to be able to touch Jason, at least his hand. Plus he claimed he had been used to sleeping in unusual positions due to his job at various dig sites around Europe and America.
However, Jason found himself waking often, and watch John sleep. He watched his chest rise and fall, and thought how lucky he was. A whirlwind of a few days, he worried that he was attracted to John for the trouble they had gone through. The so-called ‘honeymoon.’ But he had intense relationships before, and they had burned out quickly, but he never had the emotion to back it. The others were just the physical attraction. This was more.
Around 6:00 AM a nurse came in and checked on John. The nurse was highly attractive, and could see what John meant. Jason had been awake, but didn’t say anything to the nurse as he didn’t want to wake John. The nurse smiled at him, checked the last readings and silently left.
“Told you he was hot.” John said with his eyes still closed.
“I am sorry.” Jason blushed. “I know he tried to not wake you.”
“Naw.” John smiled, his eyes still closed. “I could feel him enter the room, and I could for some reason sense your thoughts.”
Jason looked at his hand, which was grasping John’s. Maybe they had an odd connection when they were touching each other? The idea made sense. He had, less than 24 hours, fought off shadow creatures.
“You think he would join in for a threesome?” John smiled, his eyes still closed.
Jason felt rage pass through him. The idea of having to share John with anyone made him feel beyond jealous.
“Whoa!” John jumped up and pulled his hand from Jason. “I was making a joke!” He looked concerned as he focused his eyes on Jason. His eyes were focused on the door, and there was a hint of maliciousness, that if that nurse walked in, Jason might have attacked him. John reached out his hand to touch John’s shoulder. “I was making a joke. I only want you, and no one else. There is no need for anyone else!”
“Sorry.” Jason sighed a bit, and closed his eyes. He had never felt that anger before, or the need to be protective of anyone. It was as if it was the first day he had met John in that cafe. He didn’t know why, but he felt the urge to protect him from whatever was coming towards him. “I don’t want to share with you either. I just…” Why had he responded that way?
“I need to use the restroom.” John said, looking at the stuff connected to him. “Mind helping me?”
Jason nodded, and helped him unplug the equipment keeping him under monitoring. John thought about asking if he needed to call the nurse back in to help, but he figured that would cause too much anger in Jason, and he didn’t want to see that again. But it was nice to know that Jason wanted him.
***
At around 10:00 AM another doctor came in to fill them in on next steps, and what to do. They would need to make appointments for a variety of tests that John really didn’t understand much about. A bunch of acronyms he was sure of, but he doubted he would get them done. For one he didn’t have the money or insurance to pay for them, and two, Dr. Mend had stated he wouldn’t need them. Jason seemed to be under the same impression.
They were in Jason’s SUV and John felt tired as they headed east along I-40.
“So…” Jason started as he moved the SUV onto the main road in front of the hospital. It was much more packed then it had been the night before. “There is something I need to tell you.”
John felt his heart stop. Nothing ever was good when you started with the words ‘I need to tell you’.
“Something broke into the house last night, and trashed the place.’ Jason sat forward, not even looking at John.
“Something?” John noted the use of something, and not someone. Someone had broken in the other night, and intended to harm them. Something had broken in and trashed the place.
“Well.” Jason gripped the wheel tight. “This is going to sound crazy, but they were these shadow creatures…” he let the word hang in the open, not finishing the thought. He glanced over at John who was looking at him.
John looked back at the road. They were approaching the turn off to take their exit, and Jason maneuvered the vehicle into the right lane to take the exit. A weird doctor that was also a banker, seeing things, and two visions that were nonsensical, why would shadow creatures not be part of the mix?
“I had two dreams that were odd.” John said not looking away from Jason.
“Oh?” Jason was relieved that he wouldn’t be asked a million questions. “What were they about?”
“The first was at your house when we had those three guys break in.” John looked out the window as they were at a stop light waiting to turn. “I dropped that black stone, a soul stone,” he added that bit of knowledge, “and when I went to pick it up, a man in a black suit was there. He looked like me, or Jermey?” He shook his head. “Said the guys were possessed by demons. Said he was an angel.”
“Lucifer?” Jason asked without thinking. That was one of the two angels that he had been told about by Derrick.
John turned his head to look at Jason. “I don’t know. Why do you ask?” John wasn’t upset, he just wanted to know what prompted the response.
“I don’t know.” Jason turned down a street towards his house. His house? Their house? What was it now?
“I don’t know. He never told me.” He thought about the picture in Jason’s office. If the creature in the picture was an angel, it may have been lucier? The dark suit and all. “He told me that I should stay close to you.” He sighed as they pulled into the driveway to the house.
It was almost noon, and the door had been repaired. Jason smiled. Sam worked fast to get things repaired. She didn’t ask what had happened, she just accepted it and got workers to fix the place up early in the morning. Of course the inside would be a more complex story. There was damage that he would have to fix on his own.
“You said two visions?” Jason hit a button and the garage opened, and pulled into the vacant spot.
“Yea.” John was looking around. “Doesn't seem to be much damage?”
“Sam got the door replaced, and the damage is inside. They didn’t do anything out here.” Jason looked around, and felt vulnerable. He didn’t have the feeling of eyes watching him, but he still felt vulnerable. “At least 5 of them. I would wager more.”
“How did you fend them off?” John was not looking hard at Jason. He wanted to touch him, but resisted the urge. They would soon be able to do more once they were upstairs. He hoped the bed was not damaged. Not that it mattered.
“I don’t really know.” He thought back. The voice in his ear told him what to do. “A voice told me what to do, and I did it. I was able to fend them off, and they retreated. I…” He paused. Should he tell him about Derrick visiting? “I was lucky I guess?”
“Hum.” John turned and looked around the garage through the window. He never really got a look at it, as the last time they were in a rush, and his adrenaline was running high. It looked like all the other garages he had ever been in. A shelf full of various supplies for house repairs, a long table that was used to do work on, and some kids toys. Again for his nieces and nephews he was sure. They looked to be about 6 or so based on the types of Tyco toys that were laying around. There was also a sedan sitting next to them.
“The other was when I was in the hospital.” John continued, looking at the toys for a second time. “I was in a cave laying on my back.”
At the mention of the cave Jason snapped his head. “About a foot of water? Dark?”
“Yes.” John turned with his eyes slightly closed as if he was trying to investigate Jason as a criminal. “How do you know?”
“I…” Jason had seen it when he touched him. “While you were laying in the bed sleeping, I had to touch you. When I did I felt your heartbeat and I also saw you lying in a cave, on your back in water. I had the urge to pick you up.” He scrunched up his mouth, contemplating the rest, but decided to share it. “Sam claims I glowed blue, and that light was coming from my hand.”
John jumped across the center console in a weir way and pulled Jason into a deep passionate kiss. It was awkward, but John wanted to hold him and kiss him. He had felt the arms of Jason pick him up and pull him out of that cave. He wanted to feel that again.
“Hey!” Jason said with a laugh as he was able to pull his mouth away from John. He felt cold once again. “Let's go someplace more…” He grinned, and opened the door. John followed him and they ran like little kids into the house on Christmas morning.
***