Wish Upon A Demon

5.

CHAPTER - FIVE

“Go away.”

I begged, turning to the other side. Dark circles formed a band around my eyes, due to the lack of sleep I was getting because of someone. I buried my head under the pillow. All I wanted to do was sleep. My head was hurting – no – it was pounding. This demon had been ruining my sleep for days now, with his masked face and ability to ruin one’s slumber. I could deal with him in the morning, but this was the time I took to relax, and he was ruining it. “No can do.” Demon boy said. I groaned. Tomorrow was supposed to be a good day for me, and it wouldn’t be good if I woke up looking like a zombie. But there was absolutely no way that he would go.

He kept annoying me. Sometimes poking my sides, trying to pull and take away my pillow, run his hand up the fabric of my pajamas and more. I kept shifting and turning and rotating until I finally gave up. “Someone kill me now.” The clock flashed twelve as I said that. December 16th was here. Great, those just had to be the first words I say on my birthday. I shut my eyes. Just for one night, I wished he’d go away. These days, my school had gifted the students with many assignments and projects, and I needed an adequate amount of sleep so I could complete them.

And then I concentrated on my surroundings.

Silence. It was silent. The balcony was open and I could hear the sounds of the crickets chirping, and apart from the moonlight that entered through the open door, there was absolute silence. He was gone. Like last time, he had disappeared through the balcony within the blink of an eye. I lay on my mattress, my head on my pillow, and pulled the comforter over me. And as I closed my eyes, I saw a familiar masked face. Good lord, he had even found his way into my dreams.

My birthday was on a Sunday.

I didn’t feel disappointed that it was on the weekend though, because I never really liked walking into school, with people wishing you. I doubted that anyone knew it was my birthday, yet, I felt happy that most people didn’t. I liked celebrating the day I was born by myself. I didn’t want to go on fancy dinners, or throw a party, or go out with any guy, I wanted to go to the movies, alone. I liked buying popcorn; sipping on cola and watching the characters smile and laugh, all by myself.

It would make me uncomfortable going with someone else.

I zipped up the sweater I was wearing. My hair was combed into a not very messy or neat ponytail, and I had applied the last of the Vaseline from the bottle onto my lips. I had settled for skinny jeans, which were hidden at the back of my closet, and inside the sweater, I had worn a thin, simple shirt. I slipped into the flats and gave myself one more look before walking out. My father had greeted me this morning and left before I could reply saying he had ‘urgent work’ to tend to. I saw a pile of gifts downstairs, which he probably thought would make me happy.

I ignored them as I walked out the house, locking it on the way. Fredrick Martin had an extra key anyways, in case he returned early from ‘work’. I took a bus to the theater. Most malls, here, had theaters as well, but this had been the only one that wasn’t very crowded. I walked into Alliance Cinemas, passing the party room for the kids. Even though this place was quite known here, not many people – students came here.

It was good for me.

I didn’t have a movie picked out; I just chose one of them without a second thought. Turns out, this movie was of the action and romance genre, rated 18+, and luckily, today just happened to be the day I turned 18. I walked into the dark theatre, past the few couples that were probably here to make out, since there weren’t many people. Finding my seat, I was happy to find that the entire row was empty.

More space for me, I guess.

It was halfway through the movie when I felt it. It was like I was being watched. Chewing the popcorn a bit slower, I looked to my left and almost fell off my seat when I turned to my right. The masked demon sat there, picking popcorn from the bucket, lifting his mask a bit and then stuffing them into his mouth. “This movie is not that bad.” He turned to me, and I could feel him smirking. “Never pegged you as an action sort of girl.” He continued. “Well, you thought right, I’m not. I just wanted the theatre to be empty.” I said, regaining myself.

“Is this how humans celebrate their birthdays?” Demon boy asked out loud.

“Why, do you demons throw parties on your birthdays?” I asked, grabbing a handful of popcorn and popping them one by one into my mouth. “Guess you’ll never know.” Said the demon.

“I don’t know how other humans celebrate their birthdays, but this is how I do it,” I said, watching as the male protagonist held the sword in his hand for the first time and the female protagonist gaped along with others. “Such a poser,” The demon remarked. I didn’t bother to comment, because if I did, we’d get into a fight involving comebacks and I was pretty sure that the couple below me wouldn’t like to be disturbed. And then I tuned out. So demon boy knew it was my birthday. I never did expect wishes from anyone, but here he was, eating the popcorn I bought for my birthday and yet, he still doesn’t wish me.

Oh, forget it. It’s not like I want him to wish me anyway.

“Why so quiet Faye?” He whispered. “Angry that I didn’t wish you?” He mocked, and I gritted my teeth. “Stay out of my head,” I warned. “Oh, I didn’t go through your thoughts, but looked like I was right about what you were thinking.” He said, smugly. I hoped that I had the power to lift him up and throw him into another universe. “Oh, Faye, don’t think like that, you’re hurting my feelings.” As if you have any. I ignored his mocking tone. I didn’t want to get angry on my birthday. I just wanted to spend my birthday the calm way I had done every year.

My phone made a chime and I heard a groan from the couple below me. I rolled my eyes and took my phone out. Heading to the messages, I saw it from an unknown number. Opening it, I saw the message.

Happy Birthday, xx. – Michael

How did he even know it was my birthday? I put my phone back inside. What reply could I give anyway? “Did your boyfriend text you?” The demon put an emphasis on ‘boyfriend’. “I don’t see how that is any of your business,” I remarked, crossing my arms.

“Considering how you managed to get a boyfriend after I made you more visually appealing, I believe it is my business.” The demon said. He was probably waiting for an answer, but I kept staring ahead, not paying attention to him or the crunching sounds he made as he chewed the popcorn.The movie ended after a painful thirty minutes with the male protagonist being stabbed in the stomach and the female protagonist living her life and moving on. Another sad ending, I thought and sighed.

I walked out the theatre, hurriedly, and walked towards The Burger’s Priest. It was nearby and the burgers there weren’t all bad but as I took the next step, the demon caught my shoulders and turned me the other way.I fought, I really did, but I was just a human against this supernatural pain in the ass. “I’m not in the mood for Italian Cuisine,” I said as he pushed me towards, Gio Rana’s Really Really Nice. I never did get the name of that place, and today would be the second time I would go inside it.

The first time was with my mother on her birthday. ‘I want Italian,’ She had said to my father, and he was more than happy to oblige. It was the first snow of 2003 in Riverdale that year, and we were in a cozy little place, celebrating my mother’s birthday. And the second time would be now, with an annoying demon at my back, pushing me inside. Dinner went by smoothly and I was surprised how calm, composed and polite the demon was. He was like a true gentleman.

However, only I knew what was when he was alone with me.

I stepped out, thinking of walking back to my house inside of taking the bus, and was surprised again to find him walking beside me. “Go away, damn it,” I said, groaning. “Don’t be silly, I’m not going to let a woman walk home alone.” He said. “Really?” I asked, concerned at where this burst of chivalry had appeared within him. “Nope. I just enjoy torturing you.” He said. I rolled my eyes. Of course, I thought. And true to his word, he bugged me until we reached my house. Spending thirty minutes with him was like an eternity. All I wanted to do now was to collapse on my bed. I reached the door and took out the key, before unlocking it and opening the door. “Faye?” Demon boy called out. I internally groaned. I didn’t turn back but stopped so he would know I was listening.

“Happy Birthday.”

My heart fluttered. Demon boy’s greeting was not loud, nor was it too soft. He wanted to make sure I’d heard it, and I did. But when I turned back, hoping to find him there with his hands in his pockets, he wasn’t there.

He was gone and I was left alone outside the door, with the porch light flickering on and off.