Krystansnorted. “Seriously? The Bloods and the Crips?”
Phillip and theagentgave her a stony look. Her incredulous expression melted into a more somber one.
“There is a reason you know their names, they are both active and notorious gangs in Denver,” Phillip said before turning back to the report. “Two were declared dead on the scene, one injured. This afternoon,a girlfriendwent to the local hangoutof the Bloodsanddiscoveredall seven membersdead on the scene.”
Chin propped in hishands;Gregory shook his head. “For it to feed on that many at once...it’s powers would grow exponentially with that many sacrifices.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
The agent answered for him. “A monstrousbeing was caughton camera, walking off the premises.”
We all jumped up at that. Phillip pulled out some photos and we crowded around him.
Even looking at the picture of the demon brought me back to themoment I was on my knees, my machete pressed against my own throat.The creature resembled the form of aneight-footman,but the upper half of his body was overdeveloped compared to hisskinnytorso and legscausing him to hunch over.Itwore a blackskintightsuit that seem to be stapledintoits chest. Rows of tiny sharp teeth were offset by two bulging eyes that glowed. I didn’t rememberactually seeingthe creature but looking into the eyesbrought a metallic taste to my mouth.Thedread and fear it inspired in me was all too familiarblack feathers hung around it’s shoulders andlong pointed spikes jutted off itsback. His skin resembled a corpse’s somewhere between white and purple.Smiling manically, withlongjet-black hair jutting up and back like its spikes, I realizedthe demonresembled ahorrific clown.
The uglysonofbitchmademe not want to live in the same realm as him.Judging by the flurries on the picture, the cold snap had arrived. With a quick glance at the window, I confirmed that snow was starting to dump down.
Theagentwent on. “At first, we thought the footage was corrupt because it was flickering in and out of view, but some additional eye accounts corroborate that the creatureitself keeps phasing in and out as if it’s not strong enough to hold form.”
“Did you engage?” Phillip asked.
Theagentshook his head. “No sir, we followed your orders not to engage. This photo was taken fifteen minutes ago.
“What’s happening?”Krystanasked.“Are people just killing themselves in the streets nowif they cross his path?”
“It appears to be making its way to a more densely populated area and our agents have been ushering civilians away from itspath, but we’velosta couple of our own. It is making its way toward the Cherry Creek mall.”
“Fanfuckingtastic,”Krystansaid,dragging hernails through her hair. “We just learned what the hell this thingis,and now we have to take it down before it causesmass suicide at the mall during holiday shopping. Hohoho, kids.”
Gregory stood. “The girl, Astrid, she said she could draw it to her. Perhaps we could make her lure it to us and away from the civilians.”
“And then what?”Krystanasked,throwing her hands out.“It’ll take us out. You don’t know how powerful this thing is. Even knowing what it is and how it works, Iknow I can’tfight it.” She caught my eyes.“No one isimmune.Itcan grab multiple people at once, and the moment we get close to it, we will be compelled to slice our own throats.”
“You’re not entirely right,” I said. “Sophie’s immune.”
Krystan’sface darkened.“I’m sorry, are you suggesting we take Sophie straight to the suicide demon?”
Phillip rubbed his chin. “Yes, she is the only one who seems to have an immunity at the moment. We could use that to our advantage.”
“Are you kidding me?”Krystansaid,taking a step back.
Gregory looked at Phillip. “We would need to find a way to protect the others in the immediate vicinity.”
Phillip nodded. “Yes, Sophie was able to banishtheShinigamifor a short while,but it has grown stronger. We can’t count on her being able to defeat it entirely on her own.”
“Butshe couldweaken it,” I said.
“Um, hello?”Krystanwaved her hands around.“Has everyone lost their marbles? She’s five. Or ten. Or whatever, she’s young.”
I didn’t like it either, but I knew what was at stake.“Krystan, you know what that thing can do. It’s headed straight toward a mall with a ton of people, other little kids included. Unless you have a better idea, Sophie is the only real weapon we have."
Krystangot in my face. “She’s not a goddamn weapon.You want to send in a little girl to fight a demon alone. And these two nutbags are backing you up. Is this because I'm a woman? No one wants to listen to the chick in the situation?”
I yelled over her. “Then what do you suggest we do? Sit here and let hundreds of people die until the Shinigami gets so powerful it can take out thousands at a time? I don’t like the idea ofusing Sophie for this either. If you’vegot a better idea, now is your time to step up and share.”
Hatred seethed out from her eyes, but uncertainty cracked the rage. She didn’t have a better idea. There wasn’t one. We had one option.
“She can do thisKrystan.”Silence fell in the living room. Awkward, tense, andominousbecause we knew this was it. Our only option.
