Demonic Dora

by Claire Chilton

  Kieron laughed at the idea. “Demon possession is such a myth, as if we’d choose a helpless human to ride around the world in.”

  “Why wouldn’t you?” she asked as her curiosity overrode her concern.

  “Would you steal a bicycle if you owned a Ferrari?”

  “Fair point.”

  “So, what spell do they cast on witches?” he asked. “Maybe I’ll get into your pants this time?”

  Dora aimed a punch at him, and he held up his hands in surrender.

  “I mean be attacked by them!”

  She lowered her fist. “I don’t know what they do to witches, but it’s the first time they’ve put the bolt on the outside of my door.”

  “That’s not a good sign.” He studied the door for a moment. “I can open it, you know.”

  “Yeah I know, but I think we’re better off waiting to see what happens for now. Anyway, we’ve got nowhere else to go.” She thought about it all.

  Who are the council?

  Her stomach interrupted her thoughts as it rumbled with hunger. She hadn’t eaten anything yet today. “What are we going to do about food?”

  “Not a problem.” He winked, and her bag full of snacks materialised on the carpet.

  “Maybe you are here to save me, after all,” she muttered as she grabbed a Twinkie and devoured it. Kieron sank to the floor opposite her and helped himself to one too.

  “All the signs are pointing that way,” he replied, after swallowing his Twinkie in one bite. He stretched out on the fluffy pink carpet like a languid cat and stared up at the ceiling as if deep in thought.

  “Well, I guess we’ve got a lot of time to kill. Tell me about Hell.” Dora folded her legs beneath her, sitting cross-legged on the floor. She rested her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands in preparation of a good story. She liked listening to Kieron’s stories about Hell. It almost sounded like a fun place.

  Kieron rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow. He flashed a smile that made her pulse race. She tightened her stomach muscles and her skin heated up under his intense gaze. He appeared oblivious to the effect he had on her and nodded. “In the third level of Hell there are amusement parks, all of them. Where the rollercoasters make you so sick, you know you’ve been to DisneyLevel if you’ve vomited on Mickey Mouse’s head.” He grinned at the memories. “The guy in the mouse suit is the one in Hell there.”

  Dora laughed. “That’s so gross.”

  “Yes.” He nodded. “Gross is good in Hell.”

  She was about to ask more when a loud thud made her jump as something hard hit her window. She and Kieron both locked eyes for a moment before rushing to the window to see what had hit it.

  Dora brushed aside the curtain and gasped when she saw the street below. Hundreds of people were standing on the front lawn of the church, staring up at her window. It looked as if half the town was down there. She flinched as another rock bounced off the glass near her face.

  “What the hell?” She noticed the people on the lawn were chanting something, but she couldn’t hear what they were saying through the double-glazing. She cracked open the window enough to let the sound in, but not enough to let the rocks in.

  “Witch, witch, kill the bitch!” The voices of the people below chanted.

  “Do you think they mean me?” she asked Kieron.

  “I think they mean for you to kill me,” he replied. “Witch.” He pointed to Dora. “Kill the bitch.” He pointed to himself. “You’re not going to kill me are you, Dora-minx?”

  “No, don’t be silly. I don’t think they know you’re my bitch. I think they’re calling me a bitch and are suggesting I should be killed.”

  She stared out of the window again and narrowed her eyes. “Traitorous old bats!” she cried.

  “What is it?” Kieron asked.

  “The fucking Wiccans are there! They’re witches too—bloody hypocrites.” Her face heated up as it flushed in anger.

  A devilish grin grew on Kieron’s face. He mumbled something under his breath before wiggling his fingers at the Wicca group on the lawn. Dora snorted with laughter when their pants ignited in a burst of flames. They screamed while struggling out of their fiery underwear in public.

  “Ah, there’s nothing like burnt genitals in the morning.” He inhaled, flashing an evil grin.

  Dora burst out laughing. “You need to show me that spell.”

  Kieron winked. “I will. It’s called Fireknackers.”

  While they both stared down at the angry mob below, she considered her options. She realised Kieron must have been having similar thoughts when he broke the silence. “I think we need to get out of here.”

  “And go where?” she asked. “I’m sure I can sort this out. It’s just a misunderstanding, right?”

  “I dunno. Everything I learned about humans implies when they group together they become a pain in the ass and very, very stupid. Kind of like a can of condensed moron that’s about to explode.” He studied the people on the lawn before shooting Dora a thoughtful glance. “Why don’t you come to Hell with me? It’s nice there. You’d fit in, I reckon. It’s not as if the people here appreciate your talents.”

  She was tempted. It was kinda lame here, and she trusted Kieron. No matter how bad Hell was, she wouldn’t be alone there, which was an improvement on this life. She sighed.

  What about my parents?

  They were messed up, sure, but she couldn’t just abandon them. They’d never get over it.

  Another rock hit the window and a crack appeared in the glass. She took a step back. “I better see if I can sort this out first.” She smiled at Kieron. “But thank you.”

  Kieron frowned at the people below. “I don’t think there will be an easy fix for this, Dora-minx. People are often stupid and evil. It is why Hell is so full of them.”

  Dora jumped when there was a loud knock at her door. She silently motioned for Kieron to go in the closet by waving him away with her hands. She waited a few seconds until he was out of sight before inhaling a deep breath and opening the door with a smile. She jumped back to avoid being hit in the face by the door when it was forcefully shoved open. Her father and three other men rushed into the room and grabbed her. She attempted to scream, but Principal Jackson’s sweaty hand covered her mouth.

  Dora glared at her captors, recognising all of them. The men restraining her were her father, Police Chief Dawson, Principal Jackson and Mayor Taylor.

  This must be the council , she realised.

  The council members are all from the fucking rotary club!

  As they dragged her out of the room, she panicked. She kicked and tried to scream, but they restrained her in an iron grip. She struggled and jerked, but quickly discovered there was no getting away from them. Her pulse raced, and her heart beat so loudly she was surprised no one else could hear it. She felt as if she’d had the air knocked out of her lungs and found it difficult to breathe. She tried to think rationally, but her mind was a mess.

  What the hell is going on?

  After a mild panic attack, she realised they were planning to take her out of the building when she noticed the muddy boots they all wore. She realised she had a much better chance of getting away from them if she walked on her own legs, instead of them carrying her. She forced herself to calm down and stop struggling.

  The group stopped at the top of the narrow staircase, which led down to the ground floor. They set her on her feet, just as she’d hoped they would.

  “We should read her, her rights,” Dora’s father said.

  Mayor Taylor nodded. “You’re right, Theodore. We are remiss in not doing so earlier.”

  “Don’t make a sound, witch, or you’ll regret it.” Principal Jackson hissed in her ear before he removed his hand from her mouth.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Dora shouted.

  Principal Jackson scowled at her before brushing his lank grey hair out of his icy blue eyes. Her father shook his head at her and exhaled a disap
pointed sigh.

  “Ahem.” The mayor cleared his throat.

  She glanced at Mayor Taylor. He smoothed his black moustache with shaking fingers as a nervous smile appeared on his usually red jovial face. “Dora Carridine, you are being arrested under suspicion of being a witch. You have been accused of consorting with demons and committing dark crimes against humanity. You will be taken from this place to trial, where you will be judged. Do you understand?”

  “Can I call my lawyer?” Dora asked.

  The mayor and her father glanced at each other, appearing confused. The mayor held up his hand to indicate she should wait a moment before the two men huddled together whispering for a few minutes.

  Meanwhile, Police Chief Dawson grabbed her wrists and handcuffed her hands behind her back.

  After a lot of nodding and shaking of heads, the mayor and her father came back to the group.

  “You will be represented legally by the word of God,” Mayor Taylor said.

  “Are you shitting me? An invisible being is going to be my fucking lawyer?” Dora cried, trying to get her hands out of the cuffs.

  “You have the right to remain silen—” Chief Dawson began.

  “No thanks.” She cut in.

  “Anything you say will be, er …”

  “Ignored?”

  “Enough!” Principal Jackson pushed her towards the stairs. “She’s not a bank robber. She’s an instrument of the devil, an evil witch. Let’s get on with this.”

  Dora glanced back at him and shivered when she noticed a wild gleam of insanity in his eyes.

  After she realised she couldn’t rationalise with these lunatics, she walked down the stairs flanked on either side by walls, hoping an opportunity to escape would present itself. Her mind was reeling, but her common sense told her to be patient. With Chief Dawson in front of her and the rest of the group behind her, she was trapped on the staircase. She watched Chief Dawson’s back as he ambled down the stairs. Like all the other men, he was in his late forties or early fifties. He was short and stocky with large meaty arms, and his dark hair was styled in a buzz cut. She glanced back at her father, wondering if he would save her. But his expression was resolute and cold, showing no emotion.

  She walked calmly through the church towards to entrance. Cool on the outside, but inside her heart was hammering. Fear and panic pooled in the back of her throat.

  What are they going to do to me?

  They led her through the large double doors of the church and on to the front lawn. Crowds of people had gathered on the lawn. At least half the population of the small town of Berkville was there, all baying for blood—hers.

  The noise was deafening, and the angry mob was a terrifying sight. Panic turned to debilitating fear, which caused her to freeze in terror when she saw the structure ahead of her. A pyre had appeared on the end of their front lawn. It was a bonfire with a thick post driven through the centre of it. She realised Kieron had been right. People grouped together were morons, and these morons were going to try to burn her alive.

  Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!

  Hands behind her pushed her forward, towards the pyre. She realised her chance of escaping was now or never. “Fuck this,” she muttered as she made a run for it. Her hands cuffed behind her back slowed her down, but she pumped her legs as fast as they would run, making a beeline towards the pyre. She planned on running around the bonfire to avoid the crowds of people on either side of her. Hands tried to grab her as she ran past them, clawing at her clothes as she dodged by. She could hear the heavy footsteps of the four council members pounding on the garden path behind her, gaining on her. She hitched her breath in fear, feeling as if her heart was going to burst out of her chest.

  A brief glance back caused another tremor of fear to shiver down her spine. All she could see was the angry face of her father running after her. She stumbled and fell when she ploughed into someone in her way. She hit the ground hard when they grabbed her and took her down with them.

  No, no, no!

  Dora stared up into her mother’s hazel eyes as she held her down. “Please, Mom.” She begged before strong hands pulled her to her feet and held her captive. Her mother averted her eyes and didn’t say a word.

  Something in Dora broke at that moment. Some part of her could no longer forgive the things they’d done to her. It was the worst kind of betrayal. The crowds of people were a blur around her, all crying out for her to burn.

  Chief Dawson took off her handcuffs, but it was her father who tied her to the post at the centre of the pyre. His face set in steely determination as he bound the rope around her several times.

  She saw Mrs. Smiggins helping her mother off the ground, patting her on the back as if offering her some kind of twisted praise. She heard her mother thanking Mrs. Smiggins for the pumpkin pie.

  Un-fucking-believable!

  “Dad.” Dora called out to him.

  He glanced up at her as he tied the ropes into a knot. “Yes.”

  “I want you to know something. Something I never thought I’d say to you.”

  He stepped off the pyre and nodded for her to continue. There was a look of benevolence in his expression. “Yes, my child.”

  “I’m never going to fucking forgive you for this.” She snarled.

  Her father’s face became a mask of hatred. “You will still burn, witch.”

  Dora could smell wood burning as Principal Jackson lit a wooden torch near the entrance to the church. He held it aloft as he headed towards her, resembling a psychotic Olympic runner.

  She searched the faces of the townspeople for someone who would come to her aid. Each face was watching with gleeful excitement, and not one contained an element of humanity in it. At that moment, they resembled the depictions of demons she had seen in her old grimoire. She decided all demon images must have been based on the faces of humanity because the actual demon in her closet never looked this evil. It was clear that this was what they wanted. No one was going to help her.

  Frustration and anger burned through her veins as she struggled against the thick ropes, but they were rough and tightly bound her to the post. “Kieron,” she cried. “Help me!”

  Kieron was reading Dora’s grimoire. He had found her summoning spell, but couldn’t figure out why it had trapped him here. It was just a normal portal spell. He sighed and tried several different spells to try to open a portal back to Hell, but none of them worked.

  There was a lot of noise coming from outside, but he ignored it, trying to concentrate on the spell. He frowned for a moment when he heard Dora calling his name. Panic caused a knot to tighten in his stomach, and his heart leapt into his throat. He dropped the book and rushed to the window, staring down in abject horror when he saw his Dora tied to a pyre by crazy people, who appeared to be about to light it.

  Anger and fear burned through him. No, they would not harm his Dora-minx! He would save her from all of this. Hatred burned under his skin and something else shifted inside him. He realised he'd transformed into demon form when a guttural growl came from within his chest. He inhaled a deep breath to regain control of his temper and force his more appealing form return.

  He watched as Dora’s father took hold of the fiery torch, and he realised only a miracle could save her now.

  He narrowed his eyes and clenched his hands into fists. With a grim smile, he called upon the forces of nature to bend them to his will.

  A dark cloud amassed in the distance. It grew in size and travelled towards the church lawn. His eyes widened as the cloud drew closer, and he realised something had gone terribly wrong with his spell. That wasn’t a cloud.

  Oh shit!

  “Stop this! It’s murder, you fucking idiot.” Dora screamed at her father as he held up the burning torch. He shot her a cold glance and lit the pyre. The crowds around him cheered. Their chanting of ‘burn the witch’ grew in volume.

  Dora kicked at the chips of wood under her feet, trying to push it away before licks of flames sprea
d across the pyre towards her. She could smell the wood smoke, and the crowds had faded behind the growing flames.

  “I hope you all die from grossly deforming genital warts!” she shouted when the heat of the fire warmed her skin. She was going to die. She was certain of it. Sweat beads popped up on her skin as the flames drew closer.

  Dora closed her eyes in defeat, and fat tears streamed down her face.

  I can’t believe they’re going to murder me.

  She frowned when a dark shadow passed over her closed eyelids. She heard an alien squawking fill the air, drowning out the baying crowd. She opened her eyes and peered up at the sky.

  A black cloud filled with thousands of birds hovered over the front lawn. The noise coming from them was a deafening scream. Through the flames, she saw a blurry image of people staring up at the birds in horror. The birds emitted a loud squawk in unison before a white splat hit the pyre. Dora peered down at it.

  Gross, bird shit.

  She glanced up again at the worst possible moment. An avalanche of bird shit fell from the skies and splattered all over the pyre and the people on the lawn. She blinked when she saw people knocked on their asses by the force of tons of bird excrement hitting them. A dirty snow-like liquid doused the flames in a loud splat, and the pyre became a white dripping mound.

  Dora laughed when she saw the people of her town crying out in disgust, as they too became white bird-crap covered lumps. Some people threw up, others freaked out while trying to wipe off the ongoing rain of shit. She had to close her eyes as a mountain of bird excrement landed on her.

  Eww!

  Eventually the rain of excrement ended, and the birds flew away with a squawk. The skies were no longer dark, and the fire was no longer burning.

  Dora tested the ropes around her, but they still tightly bound her to the post. She shivered, feeling icky when she glanced down. She wrinkled up her nose. She was covered from head to toe in slimy bird shit. “Divine intervention,” she muttered with a wry smile.

  She gazed up towards her bedroom window at the top of the church. Kieron was standing in it, waving with an apologetic smile on his face. He clicked his fingers, and the ropes binding her crumbled to dust. She rubbed her wrists before stepping off the pyre and walking down the lawn towards the church. People were wallowing in bird crap and crying at her feet. Some cowered as she walked past them, which made her grin.