The Hunt

A Big Gamble

Chapter Eleven

A Big Gamble

The leg was flying at me face fast. I just barely ducked in time. I was getting better, but not good enough. Michael brought his knee up and hit me in the forehead. I fell over and grabbed my head. " FUDGE!" I yelled. It was the seventh time Michael had gotten the better of me in a fight. John stood by the apple tree. Though he didn’t say anything, but the disappointment was in his face. I gritted my teeth. I prepared for another spare with Michael. He too got ready, his face was grim. The first few time he won he had laughed and even mocked me, but it was becoming obvious I wasn’t winning any of these matches. " Okay," Michael said. " I’m a demon and I am about to attack you. What is your first move?"

"Um…run?" Michael closed his eyes and shook his head, " Holy water genius. Followed by a devil’s trap if possible. Then exorcism, If no devil’s trap be ready to fight or go straight to exorcism." I nodded, " okay."

" Okay so next surprise attacked then," Michael said , " What do you do?" I was about to answer when someone plowed in to me from behind. I landed hard on my face and the breath was knocked out of me. There was a huge weight crushing me. I heard Michael breath in and say, " Well please don’t kill him." John sighed and climbed off my back. I gasped and coughed. I looked at John, and thought he was a lot heavier than he looked. I got up and looked at my feet. I was completely useless in a fight.

We were resting under the apple tree when Michael looked at me and said, " Is it genetic?" I narrowed my eyes at him, " Huh?" " Well you look like you got some muscle. Yet you can’t fight or defend yourself to save your life. So are your muscles genetic?" I chuckled, " No baseball. Mostly pitching." " Ah."

We got back up to try again. I actually go some good hits in to is sides and head. I kicked him in the shin and tripped him. He stood up and put his hand out," Not bad. Not great, but better." I took his hand. He then grabbed my upper arm and wrist, turned away from me, threw my arm over his shoulder, and flipped me. I landed on my back and he put his foot on my chest. It hurt, but not bad. I looked up at a laughing Michael. He put his handout and helped me up.

We went in to the house and John said, "Well?" Michael started laughing again and said , " Gooder." John scrunched his brows, " Gooder?" Michael shrugged. Sam – who was in the room – "remember the song, mom taught us?" " No Sammy please. Enlighten me." Michael said. Sam rolled her eyes and whispered as if embarrassed, " Good, better, best. Never let it rest till your good gets better and your better gets best." Michel raised his eyebrows and left the room talking to himself. I was staring at Sam like she was crazy. "What?" She snapped. I pit my hands up in surrender, " Nothing. Nothing at all."

" Ya that’s what I thought."

Later that afternoon Claire and Michael were setting outside. I was with in earshot so I sat there listening. It wasn’t that I was being nosey, but I didn’t want to disturb them by moving. So I sat uncomfortably behind the Camaro bored out of my mind. "So Maybe we could go out and see a movie or something. I’m sure Sam could find someone to go with." Michael said. I heard Claire sigh, " Michael I get Sam is your sister and all, but you don’t have to take her everywhere you go." ‘I can’t just leave her," "Well then you take her and I’ll stay here." " Well what about us? We never go out!" Michael complained. Claire sat up and practically hissed, " Us? There is no us, Michael. It always you, me , and Sam. As long as Sam is surgically attached at your hip there will NEVER be an us." She got up and walked away without another word. I sat there unmoving and unsure of what to do. " Joey! How long have you been there?" Darn it, I thought. "Um… not long?" " So you heard the whole thing then?" I nodded. "So can you do me a favor. After all you owe me one." Michael said. " How do I ‘owe’ you one?" I asked. " I saved your behind from that demon. You could be dead if it weren’t for me." He bragged. ": You a little full of yourself today. Aren’t you?" I said. He looked down and shook his head. " You ungrateful little…" John came walking up and he looked beyond mad. Michael and I stood very still. When John was happy he was scary, imagine him angry. Imagine a rattlesnake before it sees you, scary right? Now imagine that same snake as it prepares to strike. "MICHAEL! Where is it?" " Where’s what?" Michael asked. "Where’s what." John mocked angrily. " My keys!" He yelled when Michael didn’t say anything. I walked away not wanting to be there anymore.