The Misadventures of Daria Pigwidgeon

by Amy Lunderman

  When I go quiet, he smiles once more. “There now, no more of that nonsense. We wouldn’t want to be interrupted before we have a chance to bond. Not when I’ve worked so hard to get you here.”

  Another scream tries to build inside, but there is no breath to guide it out. Instead a whimper slips out, carrying something warm and wet that tastes of copper. The need to escape hits at me like a gong, but my body is a useless numb shell. All I have left is the ability to watch as Toby survey’s my struggles. He seems rather amused too. I can’t even muster the strength to flinch when he places a hand on my cheek. His hand is clammy and rough, I don’t like it. I really don’t like it when he brushes my hair out of the way and eyes me in an almost tender fashion.

  He stops within seconds of touching me, like he didn’t realize what he was doing.

  Then he glares at me.

  My stomach rolls when he smiles again. “You know. I’ve been trying to get to you for some time now. You’re not an easy bird to catch. At first I wasn’t even sure what you were. I thought maybe we were the same and you just were ignorant. But you’re not ignorant are you? No. You know what you are. I like what you are Daria. It fills me with all that happy stuff humans are so fond of.”

  He laughs at something I don’t understand and leans back on his haunches.

  Is this it then?

  Toby is going to be the one to kill me? It feels kind of like a let down. I mean shouldn’t I be bleeding out in the snow? Dying in a sub shop by this Harry Potter wannabe really sucks nasty demon breath. I want so bad to tell him so, but I can’t get my mouth to form the words. All that comes out is another whimper.

  He continues to watch me with this glowing smile. It’s really rather creepy.

  He claps his hands together. I finally manage a flinch. Pain makes me whimper again.

  “It’s truly fascinating being able to see it without you blocking Daria. I have to say I’m kind of jealous. Not completely of course, because it’ll be mine soon enough. But it sure is a pretty sigh to take in. All shiny and bright. It fits you. I hope it fits me just as nicely.”

  What is he talking about?

  I must look confused, because he stops assessing me long enough to watch me with interest.

  “Oh.” He laughs. “I bet you didn’t know about that did you? I’m sure there is never a mirror around when you work the funky little magic only you can provide. The only other time its present is when you are dying.” He moves in close again. “Your soul is shining little demon. It knows it’s time is running out and it’s trying to take a stand. Too bad all it’s going to be able to do is comfort me while I take it from you.”

  I shine? That’s not weird or anything. And he’s going to take my soul?

  “I just bet you didn’t even know that was possible did you? You’re very naïve Daria. I almost feel bad about having to kill you. Or I would if the bounty wasn’t so spectacular. But is it and I will.”

  Sweet. Baby. Jesus.

  Will he just get it over with already? It’s bad enough I’m going to die. Does he have to add evil mastermind commentary to it as well? I’m really getting the short end of the stick here. I manage to close my eyes in protest of it all. A fresh wave of pain and fear snaps them back open.

  Toby is glaring at me. “Am I boring you Daria? Because I can make things more fun if you like. I had planned on making this easy for you. There was a time I even tried to be nice, but your recent companions made that difficult. So if my niceties aren’t working for you, I can do it the hard way. You should know I like it when you’re scared.”

  As if to prove he means what he says, the numbing fear pulls back enough that the paralysis fades. Then there is only pain. It rises up like a rotting thing taking any rational thought I might have had about trying to get away. My blood pumps harder as it works its way out of me. A warped whimper stretches and pulls out of my mouth. All these sensations play over me on an endless loop until I’m sure it’ll never stop. But when it does, I cry out in relief.

  My relief is short lived though.

  In its place is the soul sucking fog that teases my mind. It’s urging me to let go. I want to listen to it, I really do. But I can’t. Not when Toby sit’s idly by watching me with a smirking marring his now hideous face. With the little bit of myself I have left, I push back. I mentally shriek for my soul to hear my pleas. Surprisingly, it answers me, in the most unusual way. The fog from below and the wind from around me comes from inside for the first time. It stirs as if it has always been there just waiting for me to use it. I’m wrapping it around me when Toby is in my face again.

  Before I can flex my power outward, his hands grip my shoulders and flip me onto my back in one pain filled motion. My breath escapes me in a whoosh as he leans over me and screams in my face. His eyes are two black pools behind his glasses. The fear seeps out of him and back into me. But I’m protected this time. There is no paralysis or mind numbing paranoia. I’m still me. Weak and dying, but still me. He knows it too. The fear spikes to the point that my body convulses beneath his hands.

  I bite back a scream and find my voice. “Toby stop! Please!”

  He laughs.

  His hands fall to his sides and leans his face even closer to mine. “Didn’t I tell you I like it when you’re scared? This is fun right? I could end it now if you want.”

  Oh God help me.

  Toby smiles at me again. This time he seems almost relieved that he can get what he wants. He must be the type that can’t take playing with his food for very long. Lucky me. When he leans back and disappears from my line of sight, my body relaxes instantly. I don’t have long before he tries something else, so I use the little bit of me I have left to try and move. I hate this plan as soon as I manage a twitch. Pain rushes through me in spades, but despite it all, I actually get my arms up. From there I push upwards. My stomach rips and tears in spikes of torture that almost make me fall back down.

  I’m able to drag myself backwards for maybe an inch or so before Toby is back before me. He keeps his distance as he watches; arms crossed and smile firmly in place. I know he’s only playing with me in letting me think I’m getting away. But I can’t stop from trying. Not now. So I force my quacking arms to push all of my dead weight some more. I gain a few more inches away from Toby’s looming figure, when fear slams me crashing back onto the floor.

  My eyes close as laughter surrounds me.

  “Oh Daria. You really are making this so much fun for me. Seriously. I don’t remember the last time I had such a blast.”

  I grit my teeth in frustration. “Glad I could help you friend.”

  “Now, don’t be like that. It’s all in good fun.”

  I bet.

  I force my eyes open past the fear that urges me to keep them close. A glare worth a thousand more times the amount of pain that I feel is sent towards the boy that was able to full me for months. It knocks the smile from his face. That pleases me.

  “You don’t have to do this Toby. It’s not too late. I’ve never done anything to you, in fact, I thought we were friends. We were weren’t we?” I plead.

  He shakes his head. “That would be a no cupcake. I only wanted you to think that. Even if you weren’t what you are, I’d still probably suck you dry and kill you just because I can. But since your you with your pretty little soul, I find myself the luckiest earth demon in town. This alone will get me quite a hefty promotion.”

  A promotion…that’s, just wrong on so many levels.

  “Please you don’t-” I start, but his unnatural growl cuts me off.

  “No more talking demon girl. I want what’s mine for the taking.” He smiles again. “I want to play now.”

  He uncrosses his arms and flashes the bloody knife so I can see it. The sight of it sends my stomach rolling, bile rises upwards and the only thing that keeps it down is the fear he pushes at me again. Chills rushes through me as my breath tries to be pulled from me. A fog presses on my mind and I know my defenses are slipping if I can
feel like before. The urge to sleep takes hold and my eyes slip closed. Trapped in the darkness of my mind everything swims in running currents of vibrating dizziness. It feels as if I’m free floating without a body of my own.

  But I know that’s not the case.

  Toby kneels down beside me, his knees poking into my side, and places his hands on my stomach. The blade of the knife lays flat across me, teasing the gaping hole it already made of my flesh. My muscles clench in anticipation of the new pain I’m about to feel. Instead of pain, there is only taste. Just beyond the bitter copper coating my mouth is the barest hint of ozone. My throat burns with it. Shocks flitter through me, zapping the fear that controls me, but I remain immobile. Toby hasn’t noticed yet. It won’t last. Within seconds of the first taste, a pressure builds in my head. The fog squeezes in response, but I fight back.

  An electrical spark goes off in my head, causing my eyes to open wide as I thrash from the pressure.

  Toby jumps away from me with a startled yelp.

  All fear and fog disappear from me completely. And I’m buzzing like a live wire. Every single hair stands on end and each piece of me from my fingers to my toes tingle in little static shocks. Before I know it I’m sitting fully erect and putting as much distance between me and a very pissed of Toby. I drag myself halfway across the room and almost to the front door before Toby registers what it is that I’m doing. He growls out a series of curses and launches himself at me with the knife raised high.

  At the last second I twist away so that he lands beside me rather than on me. I save myself from being stabbed, but I wind up causing an immense pain to take over so that when I fall there is a good possibility that I won’t be able to move again. I do try though. All I manage is a slight shuffle though as Toby takes hold of me and slams me on my back. Screams of pain fill my ears and it takes me a moment to realize that they aren’t coming from me. That’s when I feel the static building in waves of an electrical current along my skin.

  And it passes into Toby.

  He yanks his hands from me. “You bitch!”

  I can’t help but to laugh. He doesn’t find it funny.

  He makes like he’s going to come at me again, but this time I simply lift my hands. When I do, little sparks of live electricity bounces from finger to finger. My hands look like a charged up Taser. It makes him freeze within inches of me.

  For the first time since I saw Toby here today, I actually think I might survive.

  The feeling is short lived.

  Suddenly the knife in his hand is raised and in the next instant he moves in a blur with it pointed right at me. He’s faster this time and as try as I might to avoid him or zap him, he gets passed me. I feel every inch as the knife goes into my skin, pushing through muscle and going deep inside. Its new home in me is very close to the space it once occupied, but all it feels like is an extension of what was already punctured. My heart shutters within me, breath comes out in a wheezing hiccup, and I fall down is dizzying spirals.

  Only Toby still gripping the knives hilt and being so close to me keeps me conscious.

  A hurried buzzing echoes through my entire being. It saps all of my reserve strength and uses it to fuel the pressure on my skin. The surge funnels at the knives location right before it branches outward to my hands. My soul cries out for me to move and I know what I have to do. I just have got to get my hands up to achieve it. When Toby pushes the knife deeper and twists, I know I have to act faster than ever. He’s so close. It would be a waste to not try.

  I force my oh-so-tired arms to move and it feels like ages before they actually do. They feel weighed down and useless, but they take on an upward motion toward the goal before me. Toby doesn’t even see it coming; he’s so busy trying to watch the life spill from my eyes. Then my hands are on him. He really should have worn a coat or something, because I am greeted by bare flesh. There is a sizzle as the sparks jump from me to him, and then there is only the putrid stench of flesh burning. Then there are only screams of pain. And they aren’t mine.

  Toby tries to pull away, but I hold on tight with a strength I didn’t know was possible.

  His body jerks and spasms as one scream after other seeps from his gaping lips. The flesh under my hands softens and becomes so warm and wet. Then it starts to get hot, too hot. And it spreads, but not to me. I watch as the skin on Toby’s arms blisters and melts. It travels upward and outward over his entire body. He lets loose a high pitched squealing sound as he thrashes to free himself. But I hold tight. And I squeeze tighter. Soon there is smoke rising off of him. Then there are flames.

  His cries become crazed as the flames cover him entirely.

  At this point I release him.

  When I do, he simply crashes to the floor. The flames continue to eat him alive. I’m not sure when he stops moving or making a sound, but I do notice when the flames jump from him to the room around me. That’s when I get moving. Or what resembles the act. Doing what I just did, just about took any ounce of strength I might have had, and now I have nothing. Dragging myself to the door, I press my back into it to get it open. The flames are nearing my feet as the door only eases open.

  I fall backwards as my body slips through the crack of the door. Freezing cold air passes over me, clearing my lungs of the smoke I didn’t realize that surrounded me. Heat pushes at me and a burning touches my feet. Thrashing my legs, I scramble backwards. Slipping over the threshold and into the snow, I continue to drag myself away from the flames. The next few moments goes on of me simply staying conscious as I move. At some point I realize that I’m no longer moving, but lying immobile.

  My eyes open briefly to find that I made it clear across the parking lot. Somehow I’ve even hoisted myself onto the curb. I don’t remember doing that. In front of me is the enflamed building of my prior place of employment. Inside is the boy that befriended me, the demon that tried to kill me, and the person that I murdered. I should probably feel something about that, I should feel anything at all, but I’ve gone numb.

  No.

  I’ve gone cold.

  Ice slips into my veins and has replaced the spot blood once lived. There is no pain, no fear, no longing to survive. I’m oddly at peace in the cold. The end has finally reached me. A laugh wants to spill out, given that I really did make it to the snow to bleed to death, but my eyes are closing and I’m so tired now. Vaguely, I think the knife might still be inside me. Did I or Toby take it out? Does it matter?

  The sky is too bright around me and all I want is to close my eyes. My breathing takes a slow crawl in and out of my restricting lungs. And I think I’m ready to let go. Or I would be if the smoke and flames from the building weren’t trying to reach me. I seriously hope I die before catching on fire. That would suck. But then something strange happens. Shadows seep out from the flames and rise up into the sky above me. They curve around in an umbrella shape and hover some feet away. What’s stranger still, is the fact the no smoke or flames penetrate it.

  Essentially they keep me from harm.

  For only one flickering heartbeat do I worry that Toby is still alive. In the next flicker all of the waning breath inside me stills. My eyes slip shut. I feel myself pulling away from my body and I travel in the wake of incomprehensible whispers. Whether they guide me or just part of my dissolving imagination I don’t know for sure. But soon my own chant joins in on the musical chorus. I call out for Chance. His name is the last thing I comprehend before I fade away.

  Then there is nothing but darkness.

  Chapter Twenty Six

  There is movement in the darkness where there was once nothing. Shocks of pain course through the body that I try desperately try to flee from. I barely feel it really. All I know is the sensation that the body is moving. It’s being lifted and jerked about, as if whoever is involved is struggling. There is no sound, only the demanding quiet of my ethereal spirit. The longer I linger to the body though I’m able to make out little things, like the heat that comes off of the hands th
at hold it. They are sturdy and sure.

  And I think I might recognize them.

  That thought alone brings me closer to the body.

  We’re moving quickly now, almost running. The one that holds us stumbles and we teeter. A cold wetness seeps through to us, startling a jolt of something familiar in me. But I lose what I’m trying to hang on to when we’re up again and moving. It’s faster this time, urgent. Then we stop. The one holding us gently places us on something warm and soft. The hands disappear for a moment and I’m tempted to flea again. But then they are back and so am I.

  At first there is a feather light touch on the body’s cheek. It stirs something inside that has me floating closer to the body. We’re almost one, that’s I close I linger. I’m able to distinguish that the touch is fingertips as they turn into palms that cup and grasp. They are warm and give me the sense that in their hold I’m safe; the body is safe, we’re safe. They call to me to come closer. Then they tighten and I’m sucked back into the body, my body.

  And oh how there is such pain waiting for me.

  But there is also sound, just not made from me.

  I’m trapped in my own body now, unable to move and scream.

  The hands tighten once more. “Rabbit…please…oh God, please. Open your eyes.”

  Rabbit?

  The hands belong to my Chance. He came for me.

  But he’s too late; even I know that I can’t stay in my body for much longer. I don’t belong.

  His hands fade for a moment and I want to cry out for them to come back. There is a slamming sound and the surface I’m on shakes ever so slightly. A heavy solid weight scoots closer to me and I’m lifted and draped across it. His hands are back, but only one is placed on my cold cheek, the other clutches me to his steaming chest. He feels like he’s on fire or maybe it’s just that I’m so cold. All I want is to fade away and go to sleep and never wake, but the pain that churns inside me keeps me trapped.

  Something purrs and rattles beneath us and I get the sense that we’re moving again. Yet I lie so still in Chance’s arms. It takes me a moment to realize that we might be in the back of someone’s car. That’s when I distinguish other voices to know that we are in fact not alone.