"Why was telling me that you work here a long story?" Roxy leaned against Gunner's shoulder as they waited for their turn to be seen. He seemed rather pleased to have his arm wrapped around her. She supposed that the emergency room would be like a second home after spending so much time there.
"It's not like I'm a doctor. It's what most people assume, but I'm a nurse," Gunner quietly commented. "But that's not the long story."
Roxy glanced up at his face, curious what he meant. "What is then? Or am I being dense and ruining your innuendo?"
"Hmm. It might sound crazy but..."
"But...?"
"You already know magic is real."
Roxy nodded. "Of course."
"I don't think Rich is being honest about what he's been up to all this time. I think he's been involved with some death cult." Gunner soothingly rubbed Roxy's arm as he explained. "The way he's been acting is weird. The Cave is a unique place to do that ritual."
Roxy blinked in surprise. How did Gunner know so much? What had she missed about the importance of the club? "Why is it called the Cave?"
"If you remember that big flood 4 years ago, this weird bricked up entrance to a man made cave was uncovered in the spot where that party room was. No one knows when or where it appeared but it was only uncovered recently. It has a weird vibe." Gunner frowned. "I found rumors about a cult in the area during a series of disappearances but nothing else. The old timers don't want to talk about it."
Roxy pursed her lips together. Time moved differently between worlds, it was possible that the gate having opened twice in the past day meant it had been open earlier. She was one of a series of children that sealed away the demon king. But the ring of nightmares was the key to his power being restored and it was stored... in her soul. She lightly chewed for lower lip for a moment. "These sorts of things exist on a cycle like El Nino. He might be a part of a line of cultists trying to perpetuate it."
"Likely. Did you notice anything else strange? Sometimes drugs are used in rituals."
"...My drink had something in it." Roxy shook her head once Gunner started to voice his concerns. "I already took care of it. I'm fine."
Gunner kissed the top of her forehead. Roxy blushed. "I don't think it's safe for you to contact him again. He tried to hurt you once, you might not be so lucky the next time."
"This makes things complicated." Roxy pouted. Gunner looked concerned.
"What do you mean? Are you still... hung up on him after all this time?" He frowned as he watched her expression. He smiled when he noticed her nose wrinkle in disgust. "I see. That's a relief. Why go out with him then?"
Roxy fiddled with the cuff of her shirt. "He hurt me and I want to pay him back tenfold." She frowned. "Does that make me a bad person?"
Gunner gently hugged her. "There are better ways to do it. Let me help you." He smiled, and for a moment, Roxy saw something that reminded her of Mannu. Her instincts told her to trust him.
"I wasn't expecting him to...." It dawned on Roxy that Richard might have recognized her somehow. If he did then he'd know that the ring was sealed inside her. The ritual might have had a secondary purpose to pull the ring into reality again unless the consequence was that she was the ring's replacement. "I... damn."
Gunner nudged her to continue. "You what?"
"It's crazy." Roxy shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "I think he needs me for his ritual."
"I don't think restraining orders work against magic but he can't come near you legally in public," he suggested.
It was a logical mundane solution to a part of the problem. That sort of legal paperwork in a small city might get around fast but it was hard to say if such a serious implication without charges would do anything to Richard's reputation. If he was using demonic magic to influence people then her original plan wouldn't work. She needed to cut him off from the demon king or seal his power somehow. Killing Richard was the easiest solution unless there was more to it than that. She really didn't know. Bantu might've known something more but she couldn't call her friend for help.
Roxy's grim expression resulted in Gunner trying to reassure her with another affectionate squeeze. "You're not alone. I'm here to help you for as much as you'll let me. When we get out of here, we can talk more about what happened... if you feel comfortable doing that."
After a few moments, Roxy told Gunner everything. The ring, the demon, Ayla, Richard's betrayal and Roxy's suicide. He didn't interrupt her. When she finished, her cheeks were damp with tears. He gently wiped her cheek and nodded.
"We'll do this. I'll protect you this time."
Roxy felt a wave of relief wash through her. It felt like things would be okay.
Outside there was a racket of shouting and what sounded like a gunshot. Roxy felt a jolt of ice shatter her sense of calm as Richard stormed through the sliding glass door, wild eyed and covered in blood.
"Roxy!! Where is she?!" Richard brandished a pistol at the others in the waiting room. They pressed back against their chairs and tried to look harmless.
"Who?" One patient stammered.
Gunner pushed Roxy behind him to block her from view. They had settled into a back corner but it wouldn't take Richard long to spot them.
"Hot chick, nice rack, pinkish hair," Richard hissed at the man, shoving the barrel of the gun into his face. "Seen her?"
Roxy clutched the back of Gunner's shirt. She didn't want anyone else to get hurt for her sake. Not again. Her voice was soft as she pressed her forehead against Gunner's back. "I won't be safe until he's dead. I have to save myself."
Gunner's body tensed as he rose from his chair. "I'll buy you time. Hurry."