Page 25 of An Unexpected Ascension
“Why? It’s so peaceful and you can swim.”
He shrugs, flipping his ball cap backwards, a little piece of his blond bangs poke through the hole of the closure.
“Rumor has it that the demon is seen a lot over there.”
My mouth falls into a frown, and I wonder why Will has never mentioned that before.
“Really? Has he ever... condemned anyone who wasn’t meant to be condemned?”
“Not that I know of. For the most part, he’s just a black cloud on a sunny day, you know?”
“Yeah.”
I don’t getthe chance to ask Will about the rumors of Galsip Falls and the demon. He still hasn’t come around. A part of me wants to summon him here, but I think that may be rude. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure what the etiquette is on that, but the last time, he didn’t seem too pleased. Instead, I find myself bored, staring at my grey walls.
Days go by and even though I’ve recited a millionHail Marys, only fifty of them count. Maybe I wasn’t paying much attention while tracking.
What’s worse is my memories are blurry again as if the reel to my movie has been scratched or smudged with fingerprints. The pictures flicker in and out, tormenting me. At this point, I’d rather relive nothing than have to deal with the utter annoyance of it all.
I’d annoy my neighbors, but Sarah May has officially moved into her new home, and John just snarls at me grumpily every time I wave to him from my front door. Besides, he’s not known for his good company.
I pace my living room, walking in circles around the cement bench. There’s this nagging little thought in the back of my brain just begging me to go back to the falls, to visit the cave again, but then I run the possibility of encountering the demon again.
Perhaps I’ll visit the Garden of Eden on my own today. I can always go back when Will finally decides to show up.
Yes, to the garden.
Just through the forest, past the falls, and to the garden...
Except, my body jerks to a halt at the foot of a familiar cliff. Without so much as a thought in my head, I begin to climb.
Screw the demon, he doesn’t own this cave. Besides, it’s perfectly empty today. With that reassurance, I find a seat on the damp ground and tuck my knees into my chest, wrapping my arms around them, and let the memories flood forward.
“What are you doing here?”I whisper shout, pushing up my bedroom window.
“I needed to see you.”
Matt’s blond hair was soaked with the light autumn drizzle and his clothes cling to his skin as he climbs into my room.
“It’s a school night and I still have to study for the ACTs.”
“You have so much time to study. ACTs aren’t until spring.”
He inches closer and I let his lips touch mine while his fingertips graze my nipples still covered by a free blood donor T-shirt with a shredded hem. When that touch descends toward my rolled shorts, I push him away.
“My mom is right downstairs.”
“Then lock the door.”
“We said we would wait. Until Prom, next year,” I remind him as he brings our mouths together again before locking the door for me.
And then, he’s kicking off his shoes and pulling off his shirt.
“We don’t have to go all the way tonight. I just...” He sighs. “You know how my dad is sometimes. I just need you right now. Can you be there for me?”
My heart sinks. “Of course.”
Matt leans me against the bed, lowering me onto the mattress. His kisses are hurried and sloppy, like a teenager overwhelmed by hormones. What starts as heavy petting ends with scattered clothes and a broken promise.
