Chereads / Dark Decent / Chapter 8 - ~Chapter 8 The Diner~

Chapter 8 - ~Chapter 8 The Diner~

Julian sits outside the building looking at the ground. They arrive at diner "H-hello...who are you? Why are you sitting outside, silly?" Says Alex innocently. He looks up to see the boy and sees Daro and Jack.

"Julian! Thank god you're alright!" She embraces him.

"I'm glad you got away from.... Marek...he is still around.... with you, isn't he?" asks Jack, she looked at Jack then Julian.

"Marek....head...." he struggles to say, Daro gulped.

"Is he trying to control you?" Asks Daro.

Alex looks confused and perplexed "Is you hurt?"

"Oh god" says Daro gasping under her breath. "Is he planning something, Julian?" He nods.

"Hes.. hes trying to get you and Jack..."

"What? But w-why?" Daro says in complete shock and disbelief. Julian tries to get up and holds his head, Daro goes to him and sits him down. "D-does this mean that Marek is coming?" Julian nods his head. Jack was worried and scared, he had to protect Alex, he didn't know when Marek would just show up and attack them!

"Alex! Go inside!"

"But why?" he looks up at his dad confused.

"Don't ask why! Just go and hide till we come and get you." Jack moves Daro away from him and pulls out his gun.

"JACK NO!"

"I'm sorry Daro! But that BASTARD is inside of him! Its him or us!" He pulled the trigger till it clicked. They hear a rustle in the bushes, he turns his gun that way. Julian leans against the building "You have to handle this on your own.... I'm too weak" Malicai stumbles forth, looking rough and rubbing his head.

"Malicai!?" Says Daro, Jack puts his gun down but is watchful of Julian.

"Oh, damn. So, you made it? That's good. Sorry, the other was so much stronger...forced past the tattoos and knocked me out."

"So, this really does mean that we have to face him alone then?" Says Daro.

"I can act as bait; I'll make a deal" says Julian.

"As long as Darkness himself does not show, we may just have a chance. Have you run into anyone else?" Asks Malicai.

"Only Alex" says Daro.

"Hmm...all the better. I try to limit contact. If you haven't noticed...most of these people are way to friendly and happy."

"Yeah..." says Julian still out of breath.

"Who is Alex? By the way. Can he be trusted?"

"He's Jack's son" says Daro.

"My guess...he's inside? There is a secluded corner table I usually sit at. Come on." Daro looks at the empty street again, seeing something move in the shadows.

"Go...go go go! Inside now!" Demands Julian.

"You two go inside. I'll deal with it" Jack worries and Julian runs inside with Jack. She walks to the edge of the sidewalk.

Meanwhile inside the dinner. "Hello, Malicai...your table is ready as always!"

"Thanks. Follow me." He leads them to table and slides into his usual spot.

Alex sees Julian and walks up "Hi! Where's daddy's friend? Who is your new friend?"

"Well Daddy's friend is busy, and this is..." He looks over at Malicai.

"Oh right...I'm Malicai. Nice to meet both of you." He smiles at Alex, his hand glitched for an instant and then back to normal. Alex sits next to Julian.

The Waitress walks over to the table "Coffee as usual, Malicai?" he nods "What can I get you three?"

"Strip basket, please!" He says excitedly, Jack smiles lightly to his innocence.

"Strip basket as well" says Julian.

"Eggs, hard boiled, and sausage please. Oh, and coffee" she nod, putting the order down on paper with a smile.

"I'll be right back with your order, coming right up! Such a little cutie!"

Malicai looks at Alex, his eyes change for a second and back, one of Alex's eyes go milky white, recognizing him then goes back. Jack senses Marek for an instant but isn't sure where, he looks and scans the area. Jack becomes more cautious.

Waitress brings coffee and food "Here you are, cutie?"

"Thanks." says Malicai, she smiles and walks off. "How's the food, little man?" Asks Malicai.

"These are great! It's my favorite!" He grinned widely.

"Eat up, you need your strength" says Jack, Alex nods.

"Hey daddy! You should try some." He hands Jack a couple of fries "This is Ma-ma- uhhh."

"It's me...Malicai." he put his hand on the trigger. "Is it?" The air was heavy and intense. He had to be cautious with Alex there, he watched him. His heart rate slowed down in pace, he looked into Malicai's eyes, his eyes were different from the last time he saw him.

"Your eyes seem a little "Dark"er than last time." He raised an eyebrow.

"Are they? It must be the lighting" The light from outside hits his eyes and he makes them lighter. He leans up to his ear.

"I'm onto you.... I know who you are.... Marek...." he looks over to not see Daro nearby. "We're not done here, stay here Alex!" He runs outside with his gun.

Daro hears a twig snap from the sidewalk and immediately turns around to look towards the source of the sound. She hears the low growl of a creature in the brushes of the trees, she sees eyes piercing through the brush. The birds fled in fear of whatever lied within the forest, Daro looks around seeing the animals flee. Every urge inside her tells her to run or she would die, yet curiosity got the best of her, she walks further into the trees. She noticed what looks to be the shape of someone standing completely still."Sowly "come closer...come..."

"W-who are y-you?" her voice trembled; her eyes showed fear.

The creature quickly cocked its head. "Come...I will show you" Daro takes a few steps toward the unknown being and stops a couple steps away from it.

The creature's breath, heavy and malevolent, it smiles evilly, to see sharp jagged teeth and droll dripping to the ground. The creature suddenly twitches in its movement "Yes...that's it...your fear...it calls" her voice chilling and yet alluring.

"So, who are you?" Daro mustering enough courage to ask it the question again.

You hear the bones crack in her body as she forms into a tall disformed like being. "I AM FARROW!" Farrow suddenly has a widened inhuman grin.

"W-what…Is it that you want?" Gulped Daro.

Farrows voice whispers at first then slowly builds "Fear...fear...fear...fear...FEAR..." in one sudden twitchy movement, her hand reaches out to grab Daro. She quickly moves out of the way but trips and falls over a fallen branch. Daro screamed as Farrow approached her. Farrow got shot and she roared in pain a bit from the light bullets. "Don't....touch....my.... fiancée" he points the gun at her again. Daro runs to his side.

Farrow laughed "Come...come...come here!" reaches for Daro, again wanting the fear to build.

"G-get away from me!" She starts backing away from her. Jack stood in the way of Daro and shot at Farrow, she dodged his light bullets with ease. Farrow maniacally laughed at his attempt to take her down, her eyes were now on a new prey and that was Jack.

Alex hears gunshot and runs out of diner "Daddy?!" Farrow moves closer in a twitchy sudden movement. Daro quickly stands back up but feels another dark presence nearby. Julian keeps a calm manor as farrow gets closer.

Fear starts to grow as Daro begins to panic. "Stay calm Daro, go inside"

"I-I"

"Go inside!" Says Julian. Alex and Malicai run towards the trees.

Farrow breathes in the fear "Yes! Fear...panic..." Daro runs towards the dinner.

"What in the...?" Marek senses the entity inside Malicai's mind.

"Mother?" Says Malicai. Daro gets into the diner and watches from the glass window with Julian. Malicai walks towards where Farrow is. Farrow comes out of the darkness the embodiment of fear itself; her fear essence spreads throughout the area like heavy smoke, seeping on the ground. Rolling on the open field like cold dry ice. Julian leaves the diner and follows Malicai with Daro leaving the diner as well. Farrow sniffs and grins with a devilish smile as Malicai gets close "I'd recognize that scent anywhere." low growl. "Finally back home, son!" His eyes glistened the eyes of a demon with his hands behind his back in a calm and collected composure.

"Only to take out the demon trash"

Daro conjures a magical flame in her hands and is ready for battle. "You're afraid...stop fighting it..." she turns towards Alex "the child...he knows..."

"Back off!" Yells Julian.

Jack points the gun. "Touch my son and you will regret it! You.... Pulls the barrel on the gun. "You have been warned" He gave her a serious face but was also watching Malicai as well. Julian snarls at Farrow.

Alex screams and runs to Jack. "Leave...him...ALONE! GET OUT! THIS ISN'T YOUR HOME ANYMORE, IT'S MINE!" He roared with the wind blowing violently behind him. He spoke under his breath growls "Mother..."

"Alex! Stay close!" Jack holds him close. Daro's eyes widen upon hearing the last word, mother....

Farrow laughs "None of you scare me! I... am... FEAR!" Daro wanted to move but could not. Daro's feet felt like they were glued to the ground, Julian grabs her hand and helps her move. Jack shoots once again at Farrow, she tilts her head back in agony from the bullet, but she popped it back out of her arm like it was nothing, it burned out of the wound. "It's okay Alex. I won't let them hurt you" he aimed again this time for her head, Alex struggled and made him miss by an inch. Daros whole body bursts into flames, before leaping into the air and punching Farrow in the jaw. She pops her jaw back in place with ease, you could hear the bone pop back. Marek tried to control Julian and in doing so, Julian had prevented it by punching himself in the face and Daro worried about Julian. Jack shot Marek in the shoulder, he cried in agony.

"Like I said Marek, where not done" he said with a serious face. Daro did not see the attack from Farrow, and it sent her flying. The blast that she prepared for Farrow was whiplashed back at her and shot a wave of energy at everyone and caused her to collapse.

Farrow growls under her breath "Son..." towards the others, seriously weakened "I will...feed…" slinks away. Jack aims his gun towards her one last time while on the ground but hears Julian call Daros name in a stressful way. She is laying on the ground, motionless. This apparently grabs Marek's attention.

Malicai/Marek holds his arm and looks over at Daro and runs over to her "Daro?!"

"Daro!? Daro wake up!?" Julian shakes Daro trying to wake her up, she does not move. "Shit!" Julian begins to worry.

Alex looks over from Jack's arm "Daddy? What's wrong with her"

"DAROOOO!!!" Yells Jack running to her side, he leads in and listens to her heart. Her heart was weak. He begins to do CPR.

"DONT....YOU..." breathes in her mouth. "LEAVE..." Palpitating. "ME!!!" Jack tries with all his might to keep her alive. Her breath was faint and fading. "DONT, YOU DIE ON ME TOO!!!" says Jack continuing.

Inside Malicai's mind, he rolls his head frustrated and growls. Malicai drops unconscious as Marek enters Daro.

"MALICAI!!" yells Julian, he gets up with a groan and hurting.

(Inside Daro's mind) in Daro's head she can barely see Marek standing in the shadows. She walks into the lighter part of her mind, staring at him.

"Before you freak out, I'm here to help" his voice echoes within the walls of her mind.

"You have nearly killed Jack and me. Why should I trust you now?"

"Well, you're currently dying...I can save you."

"Daro!!" He begins to cry doing all he can to save her, she hears from outside her mind.

"But why should I trust you?" Jack's voice echoes through her mind. "DONT GIVE UP ON ME!!!"

"Look...you've exhausted your power, taking most of your life with it...you weren't prepared acting on instinct, that was a dangerous decision" Marek leaned over with his hands behind his back and he tsk tsk his finger. She looks around as Jack's voice echoes. Tears well up in her eyes before she looked at Marek. Jack kept giving her CPR.

"I... thought I knew what I was doing." She drops her head.

"I don't have a reason for you to trust me but here's a start" he reaches into his heart and sends life into her body. "It's a start but you won't survive without me...I want a trade." He said seriously.

"A t-trade? W-why?"

"I keep you alive until you're well...in return, you're my host. A safe haven for me...my history is with him, not you. I didn't want anything from you, you just happen to be in the way." He light chuckled.

"But-"

"Jack..wait!" Julian sees her breathing and having a steady beat "She's still here..she is making a deal....."

"A Deal?" He wonders, now even more worried.

"I-I don't know if I want that to happen though." She falls to her knees, her head still dropped.

"This is a trade, not a full deal" he hands a different type of paper from the deal pages to her. "If it's to do with Jack...don't worry. You will be in control; I will be the engine keeping you going. Also, there is a barrier at the city limits-once you enter this place, you can't leave...I can get you guys out." She takes the page and reads over it carefully it says:

"TRADE- host and safety for Marek in return for life and a way out. Jack shall not harm Marek in any way, or the trade shall be void, resulting in death once Marek leaves The Host. Full control goes to Daro."

Daro sighs, thinking out loud barely above a whisper "I don't know if I can do this."

"Either you can be up and walking or stuck here...in this town...in a hospital bed hooked up too machines." Tears well up in her eyes as she thinks about Jack and what his life would be like without her.

"I know you want him, he's your top priority in your heart. You're conscious now, because of me." Says Marek. She looks down and away from him. Squeezing her eyes shut, feeling the tears slide down her cheeks.

"I-I didn't want this to happen. I- " Daros voice breaks as the words escape her mouth.

"Of course, of course you didn't. This is just a simple trade. I want to get away from that detective and you need life...accept and I might help you train to pass the time in here." He knew he had the deal all set to his and her needs. She wipes the tears off her face as she looks up at Marek once more.

Daro stares at the page again and with a shaky hand picks it up again and places her signature on it "Then...I accept."