Central Nebraska



After the events that had taken place outside of Papa Midnite's, Roxanne had directed me to The Roadhouse, which, as she had explained on the way, served as a Haven of sorts for Hunters from all over. Apparently, a few years back, it had been burned to the ground by demons, killing all those inside, save for two female hunters who were fortunate enough not to have been there at the time. A Hunter named Michael, along with his brother, Asher, had later re-built it from the ashes. Michael had since had to retire, due to being paralyzed during a hunt, and now worked from home. Asher had ceased hunting for the most part, choosing to stay there and bar-tend while he cared for his older brother.

"So, what's your story?" Roxanne asked, setting down her glass of Jack and Coke. "How'd you get yourself mixed up in this life?" she asked. "You're clearly inexperienced, but nobody becomes a Hunter without a cause."
"Long story."
"And I just asked for it." she pushed. "Out with it."
"I was Eighteen years old, I'd just gotten my first chance to try out for a band, and I choked." I paused for a moment, taking a swig of my beer. "I was desperate, impulsive, so I decided to test if the Robert Johnson legend was true."
"You summoned a demon." she guessed, rolling her eyes. "Moron."
"He made me into a guitar god, I got into the band, and for awhile, life was sweet."
"You mind explaining to me how the hell you haven't been torn apart by Hellhounds?"
"If you'd left me finish." I retorted.
"Go on, then."
"Almost ten years later, when our band was at its peak, and I had just proposed to my long-time girlfriend, my best friend overdosed." I paused again, as the recollection of Jimmy's near-death experience caused my chest to tighten. "His chances of survival were slim, and even if he did, he could've potentially been paralyzed for the rest of his life, or, even worse, a complete vegetable."
"Damn, dude..."
"So, I went back to the crossroads, and negotiated the terms of my deal." I continued. "My eternal loyalty; I drag the rogues back to hell, and Jimmy gets to live a full life."
"And thus, you became said demon's bitch." she smirked, taking another sip of her drink. "That's rough, dude, especially when you're completely fucking hopeless at it."
"Are you just gonna bust my balls?" I snapped, getting fed up with her attitude. "Or are you gonna help me?"
"I'm still mulling it over." she said, nonchalantly. "Why didn't you just say No?"
"My best friend was dying!"
"Everyone dies." she said. "But you had a good, Apple Pie life, you could have kept on living it."
"A world where Jimmy doesn't exist, is not a world I want to live in."
"Gay." she snorted.
If looks could kill, my eyes would have burned her to ashes in that moment.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry." she chuckled.
"If I were really that gay, I would'nt have proposed to Michelle."
"And what's she think of you running off to go play Demon Hunter?"
"She doesn't know."
"That's healthy."
"Because she's dead." I frowned.
"Oh..." she said, her snark suddenly disappearing.
"A few hours after Jimmy got better, I went home, only to find her pinned to the ceiling, her stomach slashed open." I recalled, feeling sick to my stomach. "This... insane fire broke out, spread faster than was logically explainable, it burned my home to the ground..." I closed my eyes for a moment, drawing in a deep breath. "With her still trapped inside."
Roxanne had gone dead quiet, and her body seemed to have tensed up a little.
"What?"
"It's just..." she sighed, shaking her head. "That's horrible, I'm truly sorry."
"It is what it is." I said, downing the last of my beer. "So, what's your story?" I asked, turning the question back on her.
She took a deep breath. "I was only sixteen years old..."

*Flashback*

I gazed in horror at the beast before me. Razor sharp teeth, bright blue eyes, clawed, yellowed fingernails, drool dripping from its lower lip. If not for its warped features, the creature would easily pass for human. And it had, for a month, until tonight.

"Roxy!" my father croaked, choking on his own blood from across the room. "It's up to you, now!" he snarled, sliding his pistol across the floor toward me. "End this!"

I whimpered, snatching up the gun and pointing it straight at the beast's head. My hand was trembling, making it impossible to focus on getting a clear shot. A baby's cry sounded in the distance.

"ROXANNE!" Dad howled. "SHOOT!"
"I..." I cried. "I can't!"
"Yes, you can!" he urged.
"I'm not like you..."
"Hunting is in your blood." he wheezed. "This thing killed your mother, it's got me an inch away from death, and it's gonna get your baby brother..." he coughed, and spit out blood. "You can stop it... you're the only one who can stop it."

I sniffled, raising the pistol once more, but to no avail. My pulse pounded in my ears and my arm wouldn't stop shaking. The gun slipped from my hand, falling to the floor with a thud.

"Roxanne!" Dad's voice was faint now, he'd lost too much blood and was barely conscious. "Shaun needs you..." he choked with his dying breath.

The baby cried again, and the beast tore from the room.
A moment later, the crying stopped... and all was silent...

*End of Flashback*

"I was a coward..." she frowned, tracing the rim of her glass with her index finger. "And I got my family killed." she sniffed, and a lone tear rolled down her cheek. "My baby brother... barely three months old, died, because of me..." she downed the rest of her drink. "So yeah." she nodded. "I know what it's like to lose the ones you love."
"That's truly unfortunate." I sympathized. "The fire that killed Michelle... that was the work of a demon."
"Your crossroads guy?"
"No." I shook my head. "Someone else, and that someone is going to pay for what they did."
She was quiet for a long moment before she finally spoke again. "You said she was pinned to the ceiling?"
I nodded.
"I know two guys who might be able to help..."

Notes

So it's been two months, I know
Been busy, really focused on my other works

I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but I went for a drive with my Supernatural-fanatic of a friend last night, and he made me wanna update this - as well as a comment from Synyster Harlot

Comment, Subscribe
And maybe I'll update this again soon

Until next time!! xx