//

THEY DID A BIG MEMORIAL ASSEMBLY FOR CARA AT THE SCHOOL DAYS LATER. And they had to watch another presentation about curfews and the buddy system...and how to deal with grief. But nobody seemed to care anymore. It seemed like sorrow was last week's emotion. Sure, they all hoped this would be the last funeral, but Nate knew better. So after everything Jonathan told him, he did some research. Paranormal research.

In a few hours, Nate had come to learn Jonathan was a creature known as a incubus who were offered as a virgin to Satan. If the sacrifice is impure, they become demons who are flesh-eating monsters. He also learned that a demon is weakest when hungry, but a blade to the heart is the surest way to kill the beast.

Jonathan and Nate hadn't spoken since their encounter in Nate's room. Actually, Nate hadn't really spoken to anyone which most found odd since he was probably one of the most social people in the school.

Nate sat criss-cross in the hallway on the floor against some lockers. The combination locks hanging on the doors dug into his back but he didn't pay any mind to it.

His gaze was focused on Jonathan across the hall who was talking to some other guys. Jonathan slowly looked over at Nate as people kept walking through the hall.

As someone walked in Nate's view, Nate saw blood coated all over Jonathan's mouth, dripping from his chin.

Nate rapidly blinked to see if it was he was just imagining it, rubbing his eyes before opening them.

Jonathan turned away with a clean face as the blood Nate imagined was gone.

Someone stepped into Nate's view causing Nate to raise his gaze, seeing Casey standing in front of him. "Hey. Did you buy our formal tickets?" she asked.

"Casey," Nate spoke, moving to stand up. "I can't go to the dance with you."

Casey's expression fell. "What? Why?" she asked.

"Look, just trust me. You shouldn't go at all," Nate replied.

"What are you talking about?" she questioned.

Nate glanced in Jonathan's direction before back at Casey. "Not here," he stated, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the school library.

"What's going on? Are you breaking up with me?" she questioned.

"No, I'm not," Nate answered, still pulling her.

"Then why are you acting weird?"

Nate stopped, pleading, "Please, Case! I just need to show you something."

"Is this about Jonathan?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered causing her to sigh. "But I promise you this is the last thing-"

"Nate," she spoke softly, cupping his face. "I care about you. A lot. As a person, not just some guy. And I'm scared of what's happening to you. You're acting really fucked up."

Nate removed her hand from his face, holding it in his, pulling her towards the school library doors. "Just let me show you and I'll drop it."

They enter the library to which Nate dropped his backpack on the floor, sitting at a table as did she beside him. "Okay," he began, nervously exhaling. "Jonathan's evil."

Casey nodded. "I know. He's been acting like an asshole for months."

"No, I mean, he's actually evil. Not high-school evil," he answered, unzipping his backpack, reaching in as he continued speaking, "I've been through the occult section at the library five times."

"Our library has an occult section?" Casey questioned.

"Yeah, it's um-it's really small," he answered, dropping a book onto the table, flipping open to the page that had a bookmark sticking out of it. He pointed to a small paragraph on the page, pushing the book in Casey's direction. "Read this."

"'Demonic transference'," she read out loud in a question.

Nate nodded. "Uh, it's something that happens when you try to sacrifice a virgin to Satan...without using an actual virgin," he explained. "The guys in the band Low Shoulder tried to sacrifice Jonathan in the woods. But what they didn't know is that he wasn't a virgin. I mean, he hasn't been after his first time with What's-Her-Face from a while ago. It all makes sense now." He flipped to the next page. "'If the human sacrifice is impure, the result may still be attained, but the demon will forever reside in the soul of the victim. He must forever feed on flesh to sustain the demon'," he read.

"Okay..." Casey trailed off.

"She's eating girls!" Nate exclaimed, earning a shush from someone at the table closeby to which he lowered his tone continuing, "He didn't like Jessica since she was a bitch to him and Cara-" he paused. "I don't know why he killed her but...They, like, make him really handsome and glowy...I mean, he looks amazing. And then when he's hungry, he's weak and cranky and ugly. I mean, like, ugly for him. Don't you get it? The dance," he emphasized. "For him, it'll be like eating at Golden Corral all day."

Casey looked concerned. "...Nate, I think you need help."

"Oh, my fucking God," he mumbled, closing the book with a thump. "You don't believe me."

"It's not that I don't believe you. I just don't believe this," she said, pointing to the book.

He slammed his fist on the table in frustration. "God. This is a nightmare," he uttered, running his hand through his hair.

"Well, what about the dance?" Casey asked.

"Who gives a shit about the goddamn dance, Casey?" he nearly snapped.

"I do!" she exclaimed, once again she was shushed by some student closeby. "We'll most likely be crowned king and queen and you don't fucking care."

"It's a plastic crown, Case. They sell them at Walmart. I'll buy you one if it makes you happy," he replied.

"Nate-" she began.

"Look, I'll be at the dance. I just need to keep an eye on Jonathan," he stated. "But promise me you're not gonna go."

"God, you should've just asked Nate to be your date instead of me," she remarked.

"Don't go, Casey," he repeated. "You just can't or..." he trailed off with a sigh.

"Nate, are you breaking up with me?" she asked.

"Casey..." he spoke before adding, "Maybe I am. If it protects you, then yeah. It's not safe for us to be together right now."

She merely scoffed, standing up angrily from the table and stalking out of the library, leaving Nate alone.

Frankly, that's how he wanted it.

***

Short chapter but for those who have watched Jennifer's Body...you know what is next.