Misty

Here is a problem with the plans. They don't go as planned when someone sucker punches you and changes your plan. While Nixon's plan was good in theory, we didn't account for the schmuck's rage.

Usually, Nash is with me like a second skin, making it difficult for a demon to get their scummy mitts on me. Unfortunately, today was not that day.

I made a detour to the bathroom to empty my bladder before class. Ugh, too much coffee and cold weather make a girl have to pee. Since the bathroom wasn't far from our classroom, we didn't think it was an issue. Well, we were wrong on all accounts.

After emptying my bladder, I opened the stall door as a fist connected with my face. I stumbled back before the fist slammed into my face again, making me stumble backward since it threw off my equilibrium. The person grabbed me by the neck and lifted me from my feet, cutting off my air supply.

"I enjoyed how everyone thought they were smarter than me." The guy brought my face to his. "I give them zero points since they thought I didn't notice the tracking device."

I blinked to focus on the two guys and realized it was the schmucks we were trying to capture.

His eyes trailed to my necklace as it glowed brightly. He grabbed it, ripped it from my neck, and held it up to me. "Did you think this piece of garbage would stop me?" He tossed it aside and yanked my bloody face to his. "Night, night, pest."

My eyes fluttered close as darkness engulfed me.

******
Eden

Marissa and I headed to a coffee shop to grab a coffee before class. We needed the caffeine to stay awake. The idea didn't thrill Aiden, but he had class. Plus, I refused to hide from Wayne.

We entered the coffee house, trying to warm ourselves, when Marissa headed for the bathroom. The girl has a smaller bladder than an ant. We'll call her Penny pees a lot.

Unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea. The long line gave me a chance to read their coffee selections while waiting for Marissa to finish in the bathroom.

"You always needed your coffee fix," a voice said into my ear.

My body tensed when I recognized that voice. The same one I've come to loathe. I turned slowly to face Wayne and kept my expression neutral.

Wayne smiled with mirth. "It's been a while, Eden."

"It hasn't been long enough in my book."

"Now, is that any way to talk to someone you spent five years with? " Wayne fake pouted.

"Five years too long if you asked me."

"Hmm, I didn't see you complaining when you were hiding from your family. Wasn't that the whole reason you spent time with me? To get away from them."

"Things have changed." I folded my arms, already annoyed by this conversation.

"Oh, that's right. Your stepdaddy and evil step-sister are no longer an issue. I made sure of that." His lips curled into a sinister smirk.

A chill ran down my spine.

Wayne leaned into me. "Just like I took care of that old hag and others. While your little friends were busy fending off the wrong demon, I was clearing a path to get what I wanted. Imagine when I found someone filled with unbelievable rage."

"You won't do anything to draw attention to yourself. Plus, I'm not alone." I smirked.

"Oh, you mean your little cousin who's locked in the bathroom?"

My smirk faded.

Wayne leaned into me until our faces were mere inches apart. "Unless you want these people to suffer, I suggest you come with me."

I glanced around at the innocent people ordering coffee or drinking it at a table. If I refused, there's no telling what this thing would do to them. The only thing I knew about Rueben and Mia was that they were dead. I didn't know the details of how they died.

"Tick, tick, Eden. I have little patience, and it's hanging on by a thread. Perhaps I can help you decide faster. Misty received a surprise visit from me. However, she disappointed me when she didn't put up much of a fight. I expected more from her." Wayne's lips curled into a sickening smile.

"Fine. But you don't hurt anyone here."

Wayne moved to my side and gripped my arm. "Make a noise to alert anyone, and you will cause an unfortunate accident for these people."

I nodded feverishly but didn't speak.

Wayne tightened his grip on my upper arm and led me out of the coffeehouse without anyone the wiser. To anyone in the coffeehouse, it appeared my boyfriend was with me. Did I like the idea of Wayne having his filthy hands on me? No. I would need a disinfectant to rid myself of this scummy touch or burn my coat.

******
Valentino

Class started, and Mags still hadn't returned from the bathroom. I tried to leave, but the professor stopped me, which irritated the piss out of me. Unless it was an emergency, you couldn't leave class.

I sat in class and rubbed my chest as a dull ache formed. The class was interminable as the professor droned on while the ache increased. What the hell was happening to my chest? It felt like I was having a heart attack.

Once the class ended, I quickly gathered my books and rushed out of the classroom, almost knocking over people. I burst out of the classroom to find Nix and Kat waiting.

"What's wrong?" Nix asked.

"Have you seen Mags?" I asked.

"Not since this morning. We just got done with class."

"Mags had to use the bathroom before class. She never showed up for class." I kept rubbing my chest.

Nix noticed the movement. "Kitty Kat, can you check the ladies' room to see what's taking Maggie so long?"

"Uh, sure," Kat said.

We started walking toward the lady's room when we heard screams, and the girls ran from it. We quickened our pace, rushed into the ladies' room, and stopped.

"Oh, my god," Kat gasped.

We stared at the blood coming from a stall.

Nix walked toward it, trying to avoid the blood and peering into the stall. He disappeared for a few minutes before returning with a bloody object dangling from his hand. "We have a huge fucking problem, Nash."

I rushed toward him and snatched Mags's locket from his hand. I didn't care if I got blood on me. I was holding Mags's bloody locket in my hands. Then my eyes narrowed to a slit. "Get Nathan and Noah and bring them to me." I lifted my gaze to Nix. "I want them to explain how this bastard got his hands on Mags and took her."

Nix nodded but didn't defend them. What could he possibly say to make this situation fucking better?

******
Eden

Wayne led me to a building far from the college, opened a door, and shoved me inside. I stumbled forward as he slammed the door shut behind him. Once I caught my footing, I turned to face him only to have his fist slammed into my face. I fell backward onto the floor and touched my face with trembling hands to feel something sticky.

He flicked a light to reveal blood on my hands. He leaned over me and smiled. "Not as impressive as what I did to that other bitch, but still so satisfying." He lifted his head backward, closed his eyes, and fluttered his lips.

I tried to calm my nerves, which was quite tricky when someone was getting pure enjoyment out of hurting me. I turned my head to see Maggie tied to a chair with her head hanging down. Wayne raised his boot and slammed it into my side, causing me to roll and gasp from the impact. I got to my hands and knees, held my side, and coughed. He grabbed a fistful of hair, yanked my head backward, and slammed his fist into my face again. Pain shot through my cheek.

With each blow, it felt like my face wanted to explode while pain shot through my body. After a while, I let the pain take over as darkness shrouded me.

*******
Valentino

We skipped our class and headed home. I had Mags's bloody locker clasped into my hand while my chest throbbed. When we arrived, the others were waiting for us.

I walked over to Nathan and Noah, seething. "I want that asshole found before shit gets real."

"Nash..." Nathan said.

I grabbed a living room chair and flipped it, making everyone step back. I spun on Nathan and held up my finger to him. "Don't. Don't tell me how you fucked up and lost that sonofabitch."

Aiden, Diego, and Marissa burst into the house, getting our attention.

"Eden's missing," Aiden announced.

"What do you mean Eden's missing?" Nix asked.

"Eden and I went to the coffee house to grab a coffee before class. I used the bathroom and got locked inside. I texted Diego to get me out after no one heard me pounding on the damn door. How the hell do you not hear someone pounding and yelling to let you out?" Marissa asked.

"Unless this thing made it so no one could hear you," Nix said.

I rubbed my face in frustration and irritation. It didn't help my temper was increasing by the minute.

Nix walked over to Emilio. "Yo, demon hunter! Get your ass in gear and find this dick."

"It's not like I can summon a demon," Emilio said.

"You better do something before Nash loses his shit," Nolan said.

Emilio moved his head back and forth, figuring out what to do.

"Can you speed this up before our cousin kills us? I would hate for Uncle Val to explain to my dad why I'm not coming home," Noah said.

"Uh."

"Hurry, you halfwit," Nathan ordered.

"Uh. Hang on." Emilio ran upstairs, leaving us to plan his death if he didn't hurry the fuck up.

"Nash, bottle your temper until we find this twit," Nix said.

I glared at Nix.

Emilio came downstairs, wearing a Ghostbuster's suit with a contraption strapped to his back.

"You got to be kidding me," Nathan huffed.

Emilio flipped down the goggles. "Let's roll. We got a demon to find." He headed for the front door before leaving.

"Great. We have a Ghostbuster wannabe helping us. I don't see an issue with this whatsoever," Nix said.

I rolled my eyes and followed Emilio. He better find the location of this demon, or he would need a priest to give him last rites because I'll kill him.

Get ready because if you thought Matthew and Aiden's tempers were explosive, you haven't seen anything yet. Nash's temper will explode like a volcano.