“To draw me away,” I said, my feet guiding me out of the office and down the hall before I could hear Nathaniel’s response.
He’s hiding something. He’s hiding something. He’s hiding something.
The light in the hallway flickered violently and followed me toward the back garden where Joe and the women had disappeared.
“Joe!” I yelled.
Every head turned my way, a blend of bewilderment, confusion and anger. Joe's eyes narrowed to slits as he trailed his eyes up and down my body.
“It’s still in you, isn’t it?” he asked quietly.
I paused, my resolve fading at the realisation that Nathaniel would bear witness to this—would learn about the Devil inside of me. Up until now, it was a mere metaphor. But if he heard any more of this conversation, he would know the truth.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lied. “Where is my mother?”
“I already told you, dear boy,” he said, his followers parting like the red sea as he moved toward me. “She’s in North Lane. But I can’t let you return to her…not with the Devil eating at your soul.”
“Oh, save him!” one of the women said. Her bronze hair was tied up in a bun, loose strands decorating the side of her freckled cheeks. “Save his soul!”
“He doesn’t need saving.” It was Nathaniel. He stood beside me, one hand on my shoulder as he stared Joe down. “There is no Devil.”
Joe titled his head to the side. “Has he told you, boy? Has he told you about–”
“ENOUGH!” I shouted. Dark clouds swallowed the sun, the back garden shrouded in a grey gloom. I could feel the Devil stirring, threatening to come out. I held him back, not wanting Nathaniel to see.
“Let’s go, Augustus,” Nathaniel whispered gently in my ear. “There is nothing more for us here.”
Trembling, I turned to follow Nathaniel—turned to leave Joe and this quest to find my mother behind. But Joe’s voice made me halt. He recited familiar words—words I could not understand but recognised from that night in North Lane.
The exorcism,the demon hissed.
Alarmed, I reached for Nathaniel’s hand. I heard him shout something, a warning, and then everything went black.
***
I awoke to the sound of my name. It was soft, gentle—an angelic hymn that silenced the Devil, though my head still pounded as though his fists were slamming against my skull.
“What…happened?”
Nathaniel tucked a curl behind my ear, expression grim. "You were drugged." He turned his head to reveal a trickle of dry blood on the side of his neck. "Me too."
My fingers traced the red line of blood along his neck, a flood of anger cascading through my veins. He'd gotten hurt. Because of me. Who knew what else they would do?
You know. You know what they will do.
The Devil hovered behind Nathaniel, black eyes wet with unshed tears. He blinked, slowly, lips pressed together as though he were in pain. I averted my gaze, only for the Devil to appear to my left. And then again to my right. I inhaled sharply.
Mirrors.
Memories of the mirrored room flashed behind my closed eyelids as I buried my face in my hands, hiding from the mirror's cruel torment. The Devil and I were inseparable here. There was nowhere for me to hide.
“The door is locked,” Nathaniel spoke up. “I heard voices outside a few minutes ago, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.”
“We need to get out of here,” I said, voice muffled. I refused to lift my head in case Nathaniel caught my reflection in the mirror.
"There are no windows. No other exits other than the locked door.”
“We need to get out of here,” I repeated.
