Demon (The Mike Rawlins Series Book 1)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “Arf!”

  “Oh great!” Joanie spoke up for the first time as she and Laura walked into the kitchen. “I suppose we’ll be transporting the worm to school every day now.”

  “Yeah, if you’re lucky, Sis. Denny’s golden with me. Get used to it.”

  Joanie snorted her displeasure. Laura had stayed in Joanie’s room when Mike had returned the night before. She sat down at the kitchen table now next to Jenny, while Joanie plopped down next to Mike.

  “Denny impressed me,” Laura said. “He captured enough in low light for the whole thing to be incredibly horrifying. Sorry I didn’t wait up, but I figured I’d just make a fool out of myself. That was one terrifying reality show. I never imagined anything like this when we first hooked up with Demon, even as supernatural as that was. Have you given any thought to how difficult the public attention and media will be?”

  “We have,” Jenny told her, patting Laura’s hands where they were clasped atop the table. “The genie’s out of the bottle now. There’s not much point in trying to turn back. Dan’s business has been skyrocketing since the notoriety. Jerry, Stan, Connie, and Jan all called in last night after you texted them about what was going on. The only thing any of them mentioned was they wished they were with Mike. Whatever rift allowed Demon to cross over also caused something to change in paranormal activity here. We can’t change that either.”

  Laura smiled. “I guess we’re all strapped into this rocket, and opening the escape hatch is not an option.”

  “Arf!” Demon agreed, eliciting the usual laughter at his understanding of complex comments.

  “I’m glad you’re up early, Sis. We need to arrive at school ahead of the crowds for a while. I don’t want any more confrontations before school. I’m glad you like Denny, Laura. We need him.”

  “Last night sure put Moomoo and your fight on the back page,” Joanie replied. “I guess it would be a mistake to forget about them though.”

  “Not much doubt about that.” Mike looked down at Demon with a grin. “I’m making you breakfast this morning. How about ham and eggs, a very deserved treat for pulling my bacon out of the fire last night?”

  “Arf!” Demon jumped around excitedly as Mike went to the stove, waving Jenny off.

  “I got this, Mom. You can only imagine how glad I was when Dipshit and his shotgun got redirected. I remember what life was before Demon, but I can’t imagine it without him.”

  “Amen to that, kid,” Dan said. “Get cookin’. Me and D have to go in and ride the wave of notoriety today. Are you coming over after school to clean up what’s left, Mike, or do you need some space?”

  “I’ll be there. Denny and Joanie get dropped off and I’ll be in to do anything you have left, including cleanup, for as long as it takes.”

  Joanie waved her hand in mock excitement. “What do you think will be the chances of us all having a perfect day?”

  “I’ll take that,” Dan waved back. “Slim and none.”

  Chapter 16

  Confrontations

  Mike, Denny, and Joanie walked toward the school with the first light of day blinking through the clouds. It had been a pleasant drive with Denny giving a blow by blow description of the encounter with death the night before. He managed to turn the horrendous into laughable with very little effort. As they approached the school from the parking lot, a group of hulking figures walked toward them from the school buildings. Brad Sanderson was leading them.

  “Oh crap,” Joanie muttered.

  “Bradley ain’t too bright,” Mike commented, his mouth tightening. “He may have brought enough guys to kick my ass, but he hasn’t brought enough for me to not be able to kick his ass. When I create a diversion, you get Joanie into the Chevy and away from here.”

  Denny caught the Chevy keys Mike tossed him. He immediately passed them to Joanie. “Joanie can drive away. I ain’t leavin’ you, Mike, no matter what. After last night, I decided I’m not runnin’, and especially if it means leavin’ you.”

  “Not to worry, boys,” Joanie said, holding her iPad up. “Let’s see how these clowns like being filmed committing a felony.”

  Mike smiled at his sister. Her hand shook as she held the iPad, and Denny had his fists clenched in front of him, staring grim faced at the approaching group. The darkness washed over Mike, leaving only anticipation. Sanderson proved he could learn from past errors in judgment by halting his entourage well out of Mike’s roundhouse kicking range.

  “We heard your damn dog killed somebody, Rawlins. He’s a menace that needs to be put down.”

  “I’m not the ASPCA, Brad. Maybe you ought to take your campfire girls and appeal your case with them.”

  A huge figure detached from the group to saunter up next to Sanderson while pointing at Mike. “Who the hell you callin’ campfire girl, pussy?”

  Mike set his backpack aside and walked forward, gesturing with his hands in a come on type manner. “I’m just one guy, Sasquatch. Come get some.”

  The big guy bull rushed him immediately with a growl. Mike allowed his attacker’s momentum within his grasp, grabbing the teen’s shirtfront and multiplying his forward thrust. Gripped tightly in Mike’s two handed grasp, his larger foe’s face turned from rage to belated recognition he was about to sail over and onto his back. Seconds later Mike had full over the top control, fist upraised in striking position. He patted his attacker’s face lightly and jumped free to face the rest. He shrugged.

  “Obviously, someone’s going to get hurt if the rest of you follow Bradley numb-nuts here.” Mike gestured at the slow to rise teen at his feet, still gasping for breath from his slam onto the concrete. “That was a light hearted demo of what’s to come anytime I get faced off. Next encounter I go full bore and people go to the emergency room or the morgue. Why not bring it yourself, Bradley, if you want it so bad?”

  Silence reigned, with Sanderson’s frustration nearly a palpable entity, but he didn’t speak or move. Mike helped the still breathless teen at his feet up from the pavement, gently propelling him toward his friends. “Yeah, that’s what I thought. When you see me from now on, Brad, cross the street, duck into a room, or get on your knees with your hands over your head. Anything else, and I’m going to prison, understand?”

  Sanderson’s face drooped in acceptance. He backed away, but Mike rushed forward to grip the front of Sanderson’s jacket. “I’m talkin’ to you, shit-for-brains! Acknowledge or I rearrange your face right here!”

  “I…I understand.”

  It wasn’t enough. Mike saw the look of abject fear, but the darkness he had been fighting rushed over him in a tidal wave. A slow tight smile spread across his mouth, his fist rising. Only Joanie’s yelp and dive onto his arm kept Mike from smashing Sanderson. Mike grabbed Joanie, blackness coloring his perception until Denny rushed in to put his hands up in Mike’s face.

  “Mike! It’s us Mike!”

  Reality swirled into Mike’s consciousness like a locomotive. He released Joanie and staggered back pointing at the stunned Sanderson and his crew, fists clenching. “Anyone still here when I count to three parties with me. One…”

  Sanderson’s group turned away with Sanderson taking the lead. Some of the group glanced back at Mike speculatively. Mike stared after them, his hands clenched so tightly the knuckles glowed whitely. Joanie started forward to get his attention, but Denny held her away with a shushing motion. They watched side by side as Mike’s hands relaxed a little at a time until he turned to pick up his pack. He pointed at Denny as he shouldered the backpack.

  “Thanks, Denny.”

  “Mike,” Joanie whispered. “You didn’t send us away to protect us. You…you… what’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing, Sis.” Mike turned toward the school, with Joanie grasping Denny’s hand to follow along. “I have a different perspective. I’m sick of tiptoeing around taking shit from assholes like Bradley. If intimidation is the name of the game then I plan on being a very unwanted target.”

  Joan
ie and Denny exchanged knowing glances.

  “Mission accomplished, Mike,” Denny called out. Joanie giggled as Mike halted momentarily, allowing them to catch up.

  “Sorry. I’m beginning to feel nostalgic for the times when football players only wanted to stuff me into a drainage pipe.”

  “On the plus side, I doubt they’ll even give that a thought, Mike,” Denny replied, barely blocking the elbow Joanie launched at his ribcage.

  “No hitting Denny, Sis! I’ll tell Mom, and she’ll ground you until you’re in college.”

  “Fine! How about this?” Joanie stopped, clutched Denny around the neck, and kissed him. What had been a planned tweak of Mike escalated into a no holds barred passionate exchange Joanie broke away from in shock. She immediately jogged away from Denny and Mike without a word.

  Denny stared at Joanie’s receding figure for a moment in complete confusion before looking up into Mike’s smiling countenance. “Wha…what did I do?”

  Mike put his arm around Denny’s shoulders. “Don’t ask, Denny. Enjoy the moment.”

  Denny touched his lips as Mike propelled him along toward school. “I think I’m better at facing monsters.”

  Mike chuckled. “We all are, Denny… we all are.”

  Mike was summoned at the end of first period. In the office the principal, Patricia Franz, met him and gestured for him to follow. Principal Franz was only an inch or two over five feet tall, plump, with dark brown hair, glasses, and nearing fifty years of age. She motioned for Mike to sit down after guiding him into her office. Mike sat down in front of Principal Franz’s desk while she took her seat behind it. She leaned forward excitedly.

  “I don’t pretend to understand what you and that dog of yours do, but it is incredible. The newscasts since Jimmy was returned home are heartrending. I’ve already heard what happened this morning with Brad Sanderson. That will never happen again. I’ve gathered a complete accounting of what happened yesterday morning. While I don’t condone any violence in this school, stuff happens no matter how many precautions I take. I’ve made sure the coaches know if they or their gridiron proxies continue this feud the coaches involved will be fired. Getting Jimmy Manjetti back to his parents puts you on my solid gold list, Mike. If you have trouble, please bring it to me, okay?”

  “I will, Ms. Franz. When Brad and his friends confronted me yesterday before school I overreacted because of something he said about my sister. I will be more cautious in the future.”

  Franz smiled. “You mean like this morning’s follow up with Sanderson?”

  Mike shrugged. “Brad brought a crowd this morning for back up, and I was unsure of how far he planned to take the meeting.”

  “Fair enough. I’m planning on a fight free year for you until graduation. Let’s work together to make sure it happens, okay?”

  Mike clasped Principal Franz’s extended hand. “I will do everything in my power to make sure of it.”

  “That’s all I ask.” Franz signed a slip and handed it to Mike. “Take this to your next class. Let me in on anything of a paranormal nature in the future, okay?”

  “I’ll bring Demon around for you to meet when things settle down,” Mike promised, getting up to go.

  “I’d like that very much, Mike. Be careful around Mr. Sanderson.”

  “Oh believe me, I will. Thanks again for your understanding. The last thing I want in this world is for my being here to turn Arroyo into a war zone. Coach-“

  “I know.” Principal Franz gestured in a dismissive wave. “I remember the rumors swirling about his involvement in the altercation during your sophomore year. Mike, I promise you that stops now.”

  “My folks will be glad to hear that. I will keep you in the loop as to Demon Inc’s future involvement while I’m a student.”

  “That’s all I ask. Take care, Mike. I’m glad you’re a student here.”

  “Thanks,” Mike replied, hoping she wouldn’t regret that statement before graduation.

  * * *

  Denny waited for Mike outside the school cafeteria, excited by the rumors swirling through school about Jimmy’s rescue. He leaned against the outside wall with more anticipation than he could remember from anything. The kiss from Joanie had set his world afire. His classes, interactions, and all thinking processes centered on it. He felt the hand on his shoulder in surprise. Turning, he saw Joanie’s face with both joy and trepidation.

  “Worm, about this morning, I-”

  “Joanie! Could we please just accept something good happened without dissecting it? I don’t expect anything from you because of it. It’s… I don’t know… nice.”

  Joanie blushed, her memory of the kiss blotting out simple interpretations. “I…I didn’t want any… misunderstandings.”

  Denny chuckled, his insides rebelling. “Forget it. I’ll survive. I’m waiting on Mike to hear how his day’s going. Mine is the bomb. Kids that wouldn’t have glanced my way if I was on fire are patting me on the back and shaking my hand. I hope Officer Huang wasn’t too upset with the video going viral. I guess Laura didn’t warn Janice about him getting final say on whether to upload it. Going with Mike last night is without doubt the best thing I’ve done in my life.”

  “Even though you nearly got a shotgun blast in the face?”

  Denny shrugged, a shiver running through him as Joanie’s reminder sent an image of the open maw of the shotgun barrel turning dead on them as Mike tried to shove him behind. He felt a thrill too that he had kept on recording the video. “Big payoffs mean big gambles. Demon ate that sucker’s lunch… I mean throat.”

  Joanie smacked his shoulder. “Eeeeeewwwwwuuuuu… did…did you really see that?”

  “I didn’t see it happen, but I filmed the aftermath for Officer Huang. That I did not send to Laura so it didn’t get YouTubed, thank God. Let’s not get all sidetracked here. What exactly did you mean by misunderstanding, other than dissecting the second greatest thing that’s happened to me?”

  “Look, the kiss was… oh, I don’t know. I just don’t want you getting any ideas of making it into more than it was.”

  Denny smiled. Facing a loaded shotgun had already worked wonders on his outlook toward life. “Agreed. As long as you don’t try and pretend your toes didn’t curl when you kissed me.”

  Joanie gasped, glancing around quickly to see if anyone had been eavesdropping.

  Denny laughed, pointing at her. “Got you. Want me to come over and study tonight with you? You can invite some of your friends so you don’t lose control when we’re alone.”

  Joanie tried to look outraged but she giggled, not able to hold her upset feature mask. “Fine, I wasn’t going to swell your head with this, but three of my friends already asked when they knew you had agreed to tutor us in anything we needed help in.”

  “Mandy too?”

  Joanie frowned, remembering Mandy had collared her right after first period, asking about tutoring with Denny. “What’s with the Mandy deal, worm? I’m not your pimp.”

  “It was an honest question since she was the only one I’ve met.” Denny attempted to look innocent of any subconscious ideas concerning Mandy. He turned it back onto Joanie. “Why would you automatically be resentful of Mandy?”

  “I…I was just joking,” Joanie quickly realized her consternation at Denny’s mentioning of Mandy was about to unravel her attempt at an uncaring attitude toward Denny. “She did mention coming over too.”

  “It’s all good with me then. Any subject, anyone, anywhere.”

  “Hey look! It’s the Rawlins’ spawn and her lapdog… what do they call him… oh yeah, the curve killer. What’s happenin’, killer?”

  Denny instinctively grasped Joanie’s hand, pulling her behind him with the cafeteria wall at his back. He inwardly groaned. Three seniors from his Physics class approached them. He had aced the first surprise quiz that morning without missing a single question. His classmates had been unappreciative. He turned to Joanie.

  “Go on in the cafeteria. I�
�ll talk to these guys. They want to know the secret of good grades.” Denny tried to impart his trepidation with a twisted face and head nod. “I’ll catch up.”

  Joanie immediately understood what was going on and she recognized the huge black student leading the trio: Nate Denkins. “I’ll wait for you. I’ll make this plain for you, Denkins. Leave us the hell alone, or-”

  “Or shit! I ain’t afraid of your brother. He ain’t got his dog with him at school, baby girl!”

  “Mike doesn’t need Demon to-”

  “Don’t Joanie,” Denny urged, gently trying to get her moving inside the cafeteria. “Nate doesn’t want any trouble. I’m going to help him and his friends do well in Physics.”

  Nate moved to the side between Joanie and the cafeteria entrance. “I think lil Sis needs to stay right here.”

  Denny moved in front of Joanie, his fists coming up in a determined stance. “You don’t touch her, Denkins. We’re negotiating here. I’ll help you and your friends in Physics, and you leave Mike’s sister out of it. This is between you and me.”

  Denkins laughed, as did his friends.

  “What’s so funny, Nate?” Mike asked from only inches away from Denkins’ left ear. Denkins two friends noticed Mike Rawlins and backed away. Nate stumbled around in surprise, putting distance between him and Mike. “C’mon Nate, please let me in on this joke with my sister and my friend, Denny. I hope it’s real funny, because if it’s something serious, I’m thinking you and me need to adjourn out to the parking lot and have us a private chat. I’ve promised Principal Franz there wouldn’t be any bloodletting on school property.”

  “You don’t scare me, Rawlins!” Denkins noted his friends were slinking further away, but other students were gathering.

  Mike nodded in agreement. His face radiated quiet menace. His fists opened and closed as if Mike’s subconscious mind couldn’t control their need to batter Denkins. “That’s good, Nate. Let’s go find a place to discuss this in private. I’ll give you all you could hope for in a conversation, pal.”