Chapter 33:

*LUNA'S POV:

Apollo perked up, barking and jumping off the couch to guard the door. The stranger kept banging on the door as I made the trip over. Twisting the knob with my good hand, I peeked out of the small crack between the door and frame. When the sight was clear as to who it was, I swung it open the entire way.

Drenched from head to toe, Zoie stood under the overhand as she shivered aggressively. She looked up at me and back down at her feet, clutching herself. Though her face was streamed with raindrops, it was obvious she was crying. "I caught Jared cheating on- on me and I- I didn't know where else to g- go."

I pushed my problems aside and felt remorse for my best friend. Tears fell from my eyes as I embraced her tightly, reassuring her that I was here. She was cold and slippery to the touch, shaking as my shoulder was slightly used as a tissue. Come in, let me get you a towel, I nodded, guiding Luna inside and running to the laundry room. Still in the same spot, the towel was draped over the girl's shoulders and we started to my room. As she changed into dry clothes I offered, I grabbed the tub of ice cream from the freezer. Girls know how it is. Placing the spoons and comfort food between us on the bed, I spoke softly yet firmly, "Tell me what happened."

"I a-asked Jared if he wanted to do something today since we haven't hung out in a week or two. He told me he wasn't feeling well, that he had caught something from his sister and needed to stay home. Me, being the girlfriend I am, decided to make a care package so he wouldn't be completely miserable, right? So I whip up this whole thing with food, medicine, and little notes to remind him how much I love him. Assuming he'd let me stay for a bit and care for him, I had my sister drop me off at the house on her way to work. I knock on the door and his m-mom answers and gives me this big hug and starts asking where I've been and stuff like that. When I finally asked about Jared, this puzzled look appeared on her face. His sister hasn't been home for a month, she said, and he was never sick. All she knew was that he went to the diner with a few friends."

Luna paused for some ice cream as did I. She continued, "I left the package there with his mom and decided to walk to the diner. I figured maybe he could've been with you and Eddie and if I saw you, I could apologize for the other day. At least that's what I told myself so I wouldn't get pissed at the fact that he had lied to me. The diner wasn't really crowded like always, so I'm looking to see if I can find this boy and low and behold, he's there."

She paused again, staring at the comforter below. Tears brimmed the lining of her eyes as she bit her lip. Giving her a moment to recoil was the least I could do. "I found him but he wasn't with you or Eddie, or anyone we knew for that matter. He was making out with some girl sitting on the same side of the booth."

"Luna, I-"

"I didn't know what to do. The dramatic part of me wanted to make this big scene like they do in the movies where I throw his ice cold drink on the both of them and storm out of the diner, but I couldn't move. I physically could not move and I could not stop feeling like every single bone in my body was shattering. It hurt so bad, Cait."

The girl threw her spoon down and covered her face with her hands, sobbing uncontrollably once again. I moved the tub and scooted next to her, letting my shoulder act as a pillow. I mumbled, "I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."

"I g-guess I had been standing there frozen for a while because the hostess had to yell in order to get my attention. That drew everyone's focus on the front entrance, including Jared's. He saw m-me standing there, just crying away. I ran out sobbing and with no ride home, I had to walk by myself. Then it star-started raining and your house was closer and I really needed to talk s-someone. I missed you."

"You don't need him anyway. He doesn't deserve you."

"Is it my fault, though? We've been together for almost two years. I thought he was happy with me."

"Absolutely not. Don't you dare blame any of this on yourself. You did nothing but be the best damn girlfriend. If that asshole can't see that, he doesn't deserve you. Did he even run after you? Try to make up some shit to explain?"

"No, not at all."

"Wow, says it right there! Never go back to him, you hear me?"

"I would never go back to him after what he did. Once a cheater, always a cheater." she said, taking her spoon back and scooping.

"That's right. Now's the time to cleanse yourself of the relationship. You might think you want to sulk in your bedroom at three in the morning, crying over all the gifts, pictures, and memories, but you can't do that. The more you attach yourself, the more you're gonna want to stay. Delete all your pictures, burn all his stuff, anything!" I said, holding up her phone.

She laughed for the first time, which made me happy, too. It was silent for a second, until she stuck her spoon into the slightly melted ice cream and spoke up. "Caitlin, thank you."

"For what?"

"For what? I made an entire scene the other day and nearly ruined our friendship, and here you are acting like it never happened because I needed someone. You just wasted your ice cream on me! I just, I really need to-"

I finished her sentence, "You don't need to apologize."

"No, Cait, I need to apologize. What I said and how I reacted was completely unnecessary and I should've realized at the time. You had something going on that you were not ready to talk about and I should have respected that. I think it just reminded me of what Jared was doing and I felt like I was losing two people who I cared about the most. I'm so sorry for overreacting, so so sorry."

"I accept your apology, and I hope you can accept mine, too. I shouldn't have yelled either. It was a sensitive topic at the moment and I- I didn't think you'd believe me."

"You can tell me anything, you know that right? I keep an open mind when it comes to. . .what the hell happened to your hand?!" she boasted, finally noticing the bandage wrapped around it.

"Oh, um, yeah, about that," I stuttered, "I think I'm ready to explain what I was hiding. Believe it or not, but it's gonna be said."

A deep breath filled my lungs and escaped from my lips in a relaxing exhale. The story of the ancestors started the explanation as it did with Eddie's. Though she seemed confused with this random tale, Luna nodded attentively and continued to spoon the dessert into her mouth. Next came the recent of my grandparents, the strange doings and behaviors of my Grandpa, and where I broke the news that his suicide wasn't a suicide.

Pausing before I continued into our side of the situation, she spoke beforehand. "You're not gonna say what I think you're gonna say, are you?"

"Depends. . .what do you think I'm gonna say?"

"Eddie's possessed by the same Noken demon as your Grandpa and he's trying to devour your soul so he can drag you to hell."

"Well when you put it that way. . .yes, that's exactly what you think I'm gonna say."

"You can't. . .can't be serious?"

"I wish I wasn't."

"So all those nightmares, all those outbursts and random acts of violence, those were all because he's possessed?"

"Yeah, sadly." I sighed, fumbling with my fingers. "It sounds completely insane but he was never insane."

"And your hand? Did he hurt you?"

"So- um, yeah- but- okay, so after I told Eddie the same thing I just told you, he had trouble sinking it in and just abruptly left. Then last night he had called apologizing and asked to come over to work out a solution. Of course he showed up completely normal, but as time went on Noken revealed himself and conflict occurred. There was glass everywhere and I cut my hand on a shard."

"Oh my god! How'd you get him to leave? How do you handle these situations now knowing it's a supernatural issue?"

"Apollo came to the rescue actually and I couldn't have been more thankful. Usually his threats are generalized, but he was getting oddly specific and I was about to break. I've never, ever, seen Apollo present himself like that but again, I'm thankful he did."

"Jesus. . .now I'm extremely sorry about how I reacted the other day. This is more than a sensitive topic! And here I am just crying about a cheating scandal!"

Both of us laughed at her comment, but she still offered to help in any way she could. She's here for me and I'm here for her. That's the package deal of friendship. Apparently that package also includes break-up clean-ups, in which Luna kindly asked if I'd help erase all evidence of the longest relationship she'd ever had. It was difficult nonetheless considering she loved Jared, but cheating is cheating and she wanted to accept the heartbreak. We scavenged all social media and deleted one post after another, often changing captions if it involved his name and such. By the time we were finished, Luna looked like she'd been single for years. Believe me, when we do something, we do it the right way.

"Did you ever find out who the girl was?" I casually asked, scrolling through Luna's pictures.

"Yeah, actually. I just found her."

"Who is she?" 

"I don't even know. Someone named Bridget."

***

*EDDIE'S POV:

Complete control over my own body isn't possible anymore. Everything was normal as I went to fetch the mail. It wasn't until my legs continued towards my Jeep and my arms refused to move the way I wanted them to when I realized it was happening again. Words were trying to slip off my tongue but they didn't escape from my vocal cords. He had control over everything while I had nothing. It wasn't me who turned the key in the ignition. It wasn't me who drove to Cait's house. It wasn't me who talked. It wasn't me who made Cait cut her hand. It was all he and it still is.

He had a normal conversation with my aunt and uncle when. . .we?. . .got home. Screaming as loud as I could, nothing came out. The words weren't mine but his.

I feel so useless.

"I'm loving this."

Give me back my body.

"Why? That's no fun! Today was quite the treat, wasn't it? I thought progress was made. I learned how great of an actor I am! Our lovely Caitlin was even fooled!"

Don't you dare blame her.

"Are we really going to argue again? I'm a little tired of that."

We wouldn't be arguing if you didn't exist.

"Slight problem with that, huh? Since I do exist."

Give me back my body.

"Go to sleep, lover boy. We'll see how you feel in the morning."

Why should I? So you can go terrorize the neighborhood without me knowing?

"You want back your body so much? Here, have control again."

I almost fell over when a rush of energy flooded through me. I could feel everything again, from the wiggling of my fingers to the steps of my feet. I made random noises through my mouth while moving my arms around. I had all control and it felt amazing─minus the killer pain coming from my jaw. Cait has one hell of a kick.

"Happy? Now will you shut up for once?"

I'm the one who needs to shut up? Are you kidding me?

"Aren't you becoming a humorous one,"

I learned from the best fucking asshole who ever who ever walked this earth.

"What a compliment!"

Refusing to answer him back, I headed to the shower so the water could calm me down a bit. I never thought I'd have to, but I was praying to keep my body in the shower. The last thing I need is him having me run through my house naked.

"That sounds like an intriguing idea."

Don't you fucking dare.

"Don't worry─I go for anguish, not embarrassment."

Luckily, the host of my spirit was still in my control, but I was too worried to do anything but lie in bed. Though it was late and I should've been sleeping, I couldn't help but panic and overthink everything. Never did I ever think I'd go to bed wondering if the evil spirit possessing me would take full control of my body again before I woke up. It's just not normal.

"I think my business is done here, Eddie."

"What?"

"I don't need you anymore. I have everything I need."

What's that supposed to mean? That's kinda freaking me out. He's not going to kill me is he? Dispose of me like some useless item?

"Don't worry, I'm not going to kill you. In fact, it's the exact opposite. You're free."

Another strange, almost ecstatic, feeling shot through my body. It felt as if a hundred pound weight was lifted off of my chest. I didn't even have time to think about what happened. It felt so good. I felt the best that I have all summer. I instantly fell asleep, having a dreamless slumber filled with silence.....................................................A/N: No worries! It was only Luna at the door! What a beautiful friendship make-up that was, hm? But how about that cheating scandal? Anyone possibly recognize the girl's name. . .?

Oh boy, and what happened at the end there? Eddie's free? Whaaaaaaaat? Is he really, or am I just fucking with you for the thousandth time? Guess we'll have to find out!!!!!!

Again, only a few chapters left. It's about time.

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