Why I Stayed

Chapter Five

We arrived back at Scappoose about two hours later. There was a traffic jam. So we ended up walking half the time and catching rides when it proved to be more effective. I was on a high alert operating system at this point. Anyone and anything can kill me. I guess that was the basic principles of living in the human world, but at least there aren't demonic creatures actively hunting you. "Why are they called Seraphim anyway? Seraphim are supposed to be angelic creatures," I asked him as we walked around Scappoose. "Once you pass over as a Seraphim, you join the Geek gods. They're the ones who control us, how everything in the Geek world works. It's quite the position and they're always recruiting. The definition of Seraphim could also be the highest form of celestial hierarchy. It's actually the perfect system," he said, nudging a stick with his foot. "Then why doesn't everyone do it?" I countered. "Do you want to be responsible for the Geek world for the rest of eternity, or chillax in wherever you believe in for the rest of eternity?" He asked me seriously. I get it now. I nodded to show I understood what he was saying. "As a small bonus though, the Geek Gods can visit the higher realm every now and then, but their responsibility lies with the Geek Gods and their realm. It's only for people who are truly power hungry," he said. "Anymore questions?" He asked, lightly laughing. "Yeah, why do you always wear those weird glove things over your hands?" I responded, gesturing to his leather clad palms. He smiled and held up his hands like he just jumped out at someone from behind a corner. "Traction," he simply responded. I narrowed my eyes. "Traction for what?" I pressed. "You don't live in an easy going world anymore. Sometimes you have to grab onto fast moving cars and trains. These are my everyday survival gloves," he said, flexing his hands at all the right times for emphasis. It was an adequate excuse, so I let it slide. "Well, I'm going home," Bo said, stretching out his arms. "Wait, what? What about the Seraphim?" I panicked. "Relax, nothing happens in towns like this. That one this morning was like a one in a million kind of thing. Look, there's your boyfriend's house. You'll be safe there I'm sure," he reassured me. I just gave him the look. "Oh, so now you want me around," he added smiling. "I never said that-" "You pretty much did," he said, cutting me off. Fine, be an ass. I turned around and headed towards Henry's house. I haven't forgotten my mission. I could tell Bo had left without turning around to look, I felt like someone had ripped something away from my hands. I shrugged it off and stared at the door I had to figure out how to open. "Hello? Anyone home?" I tried yelling. I almost screamed when it actually did open. It was Connie standing in the doorway. She stared straight at me. "I thought I heard something," she called back inside. I slid inside the door, her eyes following me. There's no way. No way in hell. She walked back over to the couch where Henry was sitting. He had his head in his hands. When he lifted it, I could tell that his eyes looked more sunken in. Like he hasn't slept in days. Even though it's been less than one. It's amazing what a few hours of stress can do to you. "Connie?" I ventured. She didn't acknowledge my presence, but just stretched her arm around Henry. "Hey, I need some air for a few seconds, ok?" She whispered to him. He didn't move. Connie got up and walked past me without glancing at me. I followed her outside. "You just can't leave, can you?" She said as soon as the door closed. "Wait, what? Are you talking to me?" I asked incredulously. "Yes I'm talking to you, who else would I be talking to? I've been like this for as long as I can remember. I've always been able to see dead people, I've just never told anyone," She said irritably. "This is great! Oh my god! I've missed you so much! That's it! That's how I'll complete my mission! You need to give a message to Henr-" "NO! That's the last thing he needs! Why can't you just leave?" She yelled at me. I took a step back. What was she saying? "Wait, what?" I said in utter shock. "You heard me! I've been in love with Henry since freshman year, and then here you come in just this year, and Henry's already obsessed with you! It's not fair! You get everything! You're tall, pretty and you get an awesome older brother, it's just not fair! I thought you had finally left, and then here you are again! Still trying to take what clearly isn't yours!" She screamed at me, tears in her eyes. "I've tried to be happy for you, be supportive of you! But I've had the short end of the stick for far too long and I'm fed up with it. I'm taking charge of my own life now!" She hissed. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This was Connie, my best friend. How long has she felt like this? That's not important right now. If she is blocking me from completing my mission, then I'll end up... I'm not thinking about that right now. She needs to understand what the real consequences are here. "Ok, I'm sorry. About all of that. But you need to listen to me. My mission is way more import-" "Don't bother telling me about that. I already know all about that. I've been talking to Geeks for years. I know what happens, or what could possibly happen if you don't complete your mission," She cut me off, with no regret in her voice. She watched me closely, her eyes following my every slight movement. So she knows, she knows what happens and she still doesn't care. How is this happening? Who was this girl? Who am I? My best friend is not who I thought she was, maybe I should reconsider all my relationships. I've been madly in love with this boy for a year, but I'm finding myself backing off. "You want to know why I'm being this harsh? You think I'm condemning you to Hell or wherever, don't you? Well I'm not. Because Henry isn't your mission," she spat at me. I feel like I'm getting hit with bombs every three seconds. I can't tell if she's lying to me, just trying to get me away from Henry. Her face softened a bit, looking a bit more like the Connie I thought I knew. "I know what people look like when they're close to completing their mission. I can already tell you're letting Henry go. Little by little. I really hope you discover yours, but Henry isn't it. So you need to leave him alone, because you really are causing him more pain by being around him. Every human can sense the presence of a Geek, even if they don't realise it," she explained, dipping her head as she finished. While I felt somewhat relieved that she hadn't completely betrayed me, I couldn't help but feel locked out. Connie ripped apart the last tie to my old life. She didn't want anything to do with me or want me to have anything to do with Henry. I knew she was right too. Any connection I ever felt to Henry had been completely smashed and erased. I just felt empty now, but with a strange longing for something more. I backed away from her, knowing that there was nothing left for me here. "AMELIA! LOOK OUT!" Connie screamed all of a sudden. I whirled around just to be face to face with a pair of satanic red eyes. Connie leapt forward, pushing me out of the way. She brought her hands up to her head and closed her eyes. I watched in amazement as the Seraphim fizzled out right in front of me. Ok seriously, was I the only one who can't kill these things? "Look out, for those things," she panted. I slowly turned to face her. I nodded to show that I understood. I wasn't going to bother her with trying to find out how to destroy them. I'll get it out of Bo eventually. She looked at me for probably the last time, then turned around and went inside. I knew she was still my best friend.