Jeremy Chikalto and the Demon Trace (Book III of The Hazy Souls) by T.S. DeBrosse

Author:T.S. DeBrosse
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: angels, paranormal, apocalypse, demons
Publisher: Viral Cat Press

Chapter 23

In Passing

Following the cannibal attack, General Forero recruited more guards to work in shifts twenty-four hours a day walking the perimeter.

Maren visited Tina in the hospital.

“Dork, tell someone you need more rations! You got a friggin' angel baby growing inside you!” said Tina.

“Sshh, keep it down. I'll tell Jeremy as soon as I see him. I couldn't tell him last night. He came to visit me in Frisky's room and I think he was trying to apologize. I just...” Maren sighed, trying to find the right words. “I don't want him to be with me out of some obligation. He has serious trust issues.”

“A lot of issues, yes,” Tina nodded.

“It's just so embarrassing, what he did. He needs to beg for me in order to right things. Last night, he said, 'You look cute,' as his opening line. I can't give in to that. I look like an idiot for even letting him talk to me.”

“Looks like he's not the only one with pride issues, at least.”

Ren and Frisky wandered in. Ren sat down at a chair, saw that Frisky was chairless, and stood up, gesturing to the seat. Frisky waved her hands, as if to say, “No thank you,” and the two continued to gesture at each other politely in turn.

“Oh my God, I'll take it for my feet!” Tina yanked it forward, and then stretched her legs across the upholstered seat. “Or maybe Maren should get it for her feet? That's a thing, right?” Tina smiled.

“Um, no, it's um, barely at that point.” Maren laughed it off, but kept looking at Ren.

“He doesn't know?” asked Tina.

“Later,” said Maren, fidgeting.

“When can we tell people?” whined Tina.

Frisky made a brave face and tucked her brown hair behind her ears. “I told him already. Sorry.”

Maren frowned slightly, but then remembered Ren's loyalty. “It's okay Frisky, but I don't want anyone else to know until after I tell Jeremy.”

Maren excused herself, then wandered out and found Mateo, Wantoro, and Raaychila playing a game of cards in the parlor, apparently gambling over a jar of blueberry preserves. Wantoro frowned under heavy black eyebrows. Raaychila clicked her slender fingers on her husband's arm while he determined his next move.

“Hi,” mumbled Maren.

“You're doing all right, my girl?” asked Mateo. He laid his hand on the table. “Full house.”

“Beats my two pair,” said Raaychila. She slid the blueberry preserves across the table.

Wantoro frowned. “I thought I had it with a three-of-a-kind.”

“Maren! Eat this preserve with me. Pull up a chair!” Mateo twisted the lid off. “After what you've been through,” he winked, “you need to take it easy.”

“Surely you'd want some bread with it,” said Wantoro.

“Maren, do you want to talk about what happened?” Raaychila asked.

“Well,” began Maren uncertain of how best to blurt out the news. “I, so. There's this thing—well, I wouldn't call it a thing—”

“Jeremy will come around again. His ego is just...,” Raaychila nodded, unable to finish the sentence.

“Yes, yes, I know that. I...” Maren groped around awkwardly for a chair to sit on.

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