Endangered The Demons Of M A Pt 05

Endangered: The Demons of Monstrum Academy Pt. 5

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© 2024 S. Round. All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author. All sexually active characters in this work are eighteen (18) years of age or older.

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Ch. 39

"It happened the summer after my junior year," Evan said, eyes downcast to the floor.

Ms. May sat across from him in her office in the same set up as last time. She had her pen poised to jot down notes, but her face was fixed on Evan, waiting for him to reveal the tragic story he had been bottling up for too long.

"There was a party," Evan said. "One of our friends that just graduated had gotten his hands on some alcohol and was inviting everyone he knew over to his place. Our group hadn't had many chances to try alcohol at that point, so we pretty much all jumped at the chance to be a little bad."

"We knew there wasn't going to be any strangers or people we didn't like there, so it sounded like it was going to be a lot of fun," Evan said. "But Amanda said she couldn't go. And... for some reason... I just couldn't accept that."

"What do you mean?" Ms. May said.

"I knew she wanted to go," Evan said. "She was always talking about how she had never been to a party before. Any time we'd see kids partying in movies, or whatever, she would go on and on about how it looked so fun. But, when an opportunity finally came to do it for real, she said no? It didn't make sense."

"At first, she said she was too busy," he said. "But she wouldn't say what she was doing, so I kept pressing her. Eventually she finally told me that there was no way her dad would let her go. Looking back now, she sounded scared when she told me. But at the time, I didn't notice. I was just angry for her. So, I started working on a way to get her to the party."

"Why did it matter so much to you that she went?" Ms. May said. "Did you have romantic feelings for her?"

"No, it wasn't like that. We never had feelings for each other," Evan said. "But she was one of my best friends. We had known each other since kindergarten. If I'm being honest, I think I wanted her to go mainly so I wouldn't feel so out of place. Like, I'd be more comfortable if I could just hang with her in our own awkward corner, you know?"

"So, what did you do?"

"Her parents had always been strict," Evan said. "It was rare for her to get permission to go out unless it was a school function or a ball game. I knew there wasn't any excuse we could make up that they would accept on such short notice. So... I told her she had to sneak out."

Evan shifted in his seat and let out a big sigh.

"She rejected that idea completely at first," he said. "But I just kept pestering her about it. What finally got her to consider it was when she heard her dad would be working late. He often worked late and wouldn't get home until well after dark. On those nights, her mom left her alone, and she wouldn't see either of them until the next morning. We worked it out that she could probably sneak out and back in without them ever knowing. Still, she was hesitant. It was only after I literally begged her to do it that she agreed to come."

Evan scoffed and shook his head like he was disgusted. He briefly looked up and saw Ms. May leaning on her armrest with her chin in her hand, studying his expressions carefully. She remained silent and waited for him to continue his story.

"I borrowed my mother's car and waited a block away from Amanda's house," Evan said. "She successfully snuck out and joined me, and we were at the party right after."

"The party really wasn't anything special," he said. "But it was new to us, so that made it exciting, you know? Amanda was really tense for a while, but she eventually loosened up. We had some drinks, made fun of each other, all the normal things. It was a great night, until..."

Silence enveloped the room as Evan struggled to spit out the rest of the story. What if he just stopped there? Would it be so bad to keep it inside a little longer? Truthfully, he had wanted to change the subject several times already. But whenever he thought about running away again, he remembered that horrible dream he had. If this was what he had to do to avoid experiencing that nightmare again, he had no choice.

"It was late, we had already been at the party for hours," Evan said. "I remember we were just sitting on the couch talking when there was a loud bang on the door. Everyone stopped what they were doing and just stared for a second. And then we heard a man shout from outside. He was asking for his daughter."

"Most of us were a little freaked, but when I saw Amanda's face, it was totally different," Evan said. "She was so pale, shaking, eyes fixed on the door. She was terrified. I knew then that she recognized whose voice that was."

"My friend went to answer the door, and sure enough, Amanda's father bursts into the room," he said. "She tried to hide behind me, but there was no stopping him. He ran right up to her and starting yelling about disrespecting him and how much trouble she was in."

"Since I was right in the middle of it, I tried to stick up for her," Evan said. "I told her dad that it was my fault, that I made her come. I was trying to calm him down, you know? But as soon as he turned his attention to me, I shut up. That man was furious like I had never seen before. He told me to stay the hell out of his family's business. I...just backed away."

"He grabbed Amanda roughly by her arm and started pulling her outside. She fought to get free at first, but that just made him angrier. He cocked back his arm and slapped her. Hard. She almost fell to the floor. Everyone saw it happen, and we all couldn't believe it. While we were frozen, he grabbed her again and started dragging her away. Before they left, she looked back at me, and those eyes..."

"They were just like Derek's," he said almost too quietly for Ms. May to hear.

Evan looked up and made proper eye contact with Ms. May for the first time that morning.

"I've thought about that moment a million times since then," he said. "What might have been different if I had actually stood up for her right then? He might have hit me, but maybe I could have allowed her to run away or something. If only I hadn't been so pathetic."

Evan picked up the water he had sitting nearby and took a long drink. It was hard work laying out his painful memories for someone else to see. He was sweating like crazy due to his anxiety. Still, he hadn't completely freaked out yet, so that was something. Ms. May took a few moments to write down some notes before she gently prodded him to continue his story.

"So, what happened after they left the house?"

"When we saw them drive away, everyone started talking about what just happened, specifically that hard slap," Evan said. "None of us had ever seen a parent act like that before. Everyone there thought it was all kinds of messed up. But I was the only one that thought we should do something about it."

"I told them we should call the police," he continued. "But they thought I was crazy. I mean, it seemed obvious to me. That was abuse, and it probably didn't stop just because they went home. But they kept telling me that it wasn't any of our business, and some said she had it coming for sneaking out. They just wanted to keep having their fun."

"Did you call?"

"Yeah," Evan said nodding slowly.

"I made a police report, told them everything that happened," he said. "I said I didn't think she was safe with her dad. They took all the information and told me they could send someone by to do a wellness check."

Evan stood up slowly and sighed. He felt deflated, as if he were completely drained of all energy.

"And...that was it," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "I never saw Amanda again."

Evan turned and slowly started walking to the door.

"Evan, are-?" Ms. May said.

"It's ok," he said cutting her off. "I just need a quick break."

Ms. May nodded and watched as he entered the bathroom. Evan entered the stall, sat down, and put his head in his hands. He sat like that for several minutes in silence, preparing himself for what came next. There was still more story to tell.

Ch. 40

Evan took his time collecting himself in the bathroom, and Ms. May used the opportunity to get up and stretch while she waited for him to come back. The break lasted around fifteen minutes before Evan returned, and they both took up their seated positions once more. Evan still wasn't looking forward to continuing the story, but he felt much better than he had before the break.

"So," Ms. May said. "What happened after the police report?"

Evan took a big breath before finally restarting his story.

"After the police left, my friends just picked up where they left off like nothing happened," he said. "I couldn't enjoy myself anymore though. I was just sitting around nervously wondering if I did the right thing or not. I tried having some more beer, but that didn't help anything. I thought about going home, but I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. I didn't know what to do."

"I was outside pacing in the front yard when I heard the sirens," Evan said. "It sounded like multiple police cars were heading somewhere in town, and I just knew. I knew they were going to Amanda's. I left right then. I got into my car and drove straight to her house. It turned out... I was right. There were all sorts of emergency vehicles parked right outside her place."

Evan sat still and stared a hole into the carpet as he recalled the scene in his mind. He could see it as clearly as if it had happened yesterday.

"What happened?" Ms. May said.

"When I got to the area, I parked nearby and tried to get close," Evan said. "I was stopped by an officer right away, of course. I tried to get him to tell me what was going on, but he refused to say anything. It was only after I got real loud that a detective came over to see what was going on. I told him I was the one that made the police report, and he finally told me what went down."

"This part, I only know what the police told me," Evan said, briefly making eye contact with Ms. May. "An officer went to the house with someone from CPS to check on Amanda. I didn't know CPS would get involved, but I was glad they had taken it seriously. Anyway, the detective said Amanda's dad had answered the door and refused to allow them inside. Apparently, he had gotten violently angry when the CPS lady identified herself. He yelled at them for a while and slammed the door in their faces."

"I guess there wasn't much they could do once they were denied entry," Evan said. "They told me they would have had to request an emergency order or some shit? Whatever, it's stupid. I had already told them Amanda was in danger, but I guess that wasn't enough. Well, they were still at the property discussing their next actions when... they heard gunshots. From inside the house."

"The officer rushed into the home then, but it was too late," Evan said. "Amanda's dad had retrieved his gun in a fit of rage and shot both his wife... and Amanda. The officer got to him just in time to see him point the gun at himself and fire."

"..."

"The detective told me Amanda's dad was prone to violence. I guess there had been several prior reports of domestic violence in the home that I had no idea about, involving both Amanda and her mom," Evan said. "I guess that night, he just snapped. Something about the authorities coming to question his parenting skills after he was already fuming about the party, I don't know. He was just evil. There was no reason...no need to do what he did."

Evan's lip trembled as he struggled to hold back the emotions trying to pour out of him. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ms. May put down her notebook and walk over to the couch. She took a seat next to him and unexpectedly pulled him into a hug. It took Evan a moment to realize what was happening, but he was soon squeezing her small frame tightly, fresh tears falling down his cheeks.

"You did a good job sharing, Evan," Ms. May said as she gently rubbed his back. "And I'm so sorry."

The hug lasted a few minutes. The whole time Evan just silently held on. The tears kept falling, but it was a gentle cry compared to the hysterical fits he had recently. It was a relief of pressure instead of a breaking of the dam. It felt good. Eventually they separated, but Ms. May remained seated on the couch next to him with a caring smile.

"How were things for you after that night?" she said.

"My parents were really worried about me," Evan said. "They didn't know what to do, but they tried their best to make me feel better. My friends... well, I pretty much stopped seeing them."

"Did you not want to spend time with them anymore?"

"More like the opposite," Evan said. "I could tell how they all looked at me that first week back in school. They all blamed me for what happened."

"Did they ever actually say that to you?"

"No...but there was one kid that made a joke about me calling the police any time I got scared," he said. "But they didn't need to say anything. I knew."

"So, you cut them out of your life..."

Evan nodded.

"It seems to me you were determined to be responsible for what happened," Ms. May said.

"What does that mean?"

"It means you felt so guilty about your role in the events that took place that you were projecting those feelings onto others around you as well," she said. "It's likely that many of your friends would have recognized that you tried to help more than anyone. But you assumed they blamed you from the beginning and chose to cut off all contact instead."

"..."

"Judging by the contents of that dream you shared with me," Ms. May said. "It's obvious that the hard feelings you felt directed at you by your friends left a large wound, whether those feelings were real or imagined."

At the mention of his recent nightmare, Evan's eyes quickly went to his forearm. The red handprint had long since faded, but he shuddered every time he remembered it.

"That dream...I've never felt one so real before," he said. "Or one so terrifying."

"It's just more proof that those wounds inside of you have been left too long to fester without any treatment," she said. "But this is good, Evan. You've taken your first steps on your path to healing."

"I guess," he said.

Evan had told Ms. May all about his terrible nightmare as soon as he got to her office. She listened carefully, but she was not too alarmed by what he said. She claimed it was just a manifestation of the hurt hidden inside of him and urged him to tell his story, which he did. Evan wasn't convinced that the dream could be so easily explained away, but she was the expert on the matter, not him.

"What do we do now?"

"Now we work together to get to the heart of your troubles and work on a plan for treatment," Ms. May said. "And I've already identified two core issues we'll need to focus on going forward."

"What're those?"

"They're issues closely connected to both the incident with Amanda and the one with Derek," she said. "First, you felt powerless to help people in need in both situations, and this has led to a great deal of guilt building up inside."

"..."

"Second," she said. "Perhaps as a way to avoid any further responsibility for those around you, you have taken great lengths to avoid any situations where you feel vulnerable."

"Now, that isn't too uncommon for people to do for many reasons," she continued. "But it isn't a healthy way to live. And when taken to the extreme, it can lead to a very lonely life. Old relationships die and new ones can never form. A life lived at arm's length from those that care about you is not a happy one. On this, you can take my word for it."

A great sadness passed over Ms. May's face as she spoke. All citizens of Tourmaline were isolated from the outside world, but Evan felt like she was speaking about something a little more personal than that. There was just something in her tone that hinted at something deeper there.

"I'm not sure what to do about that," he said casting his eyes down in shame.

He was aware of how much he had pushed others away in the past. He didn't want to lose his new friends in the same way he lost his old ones, but the more things kept going wrong around him, the more his instincts told him to keep to himself where he could control things and keep everything safe.

"Small steps, Evan," Ms. May said with a smile. "Don't shy away from uncomfortable situations just because they're different. Try something new every now and then. And keep meeting with your friends."

Evan nodded.

"And as for the feelings of powerlessness," she said. "I have something a little more proactive in mind for you."

"...?"

"We're going to exorcise some of those demons and turn your inner hell back into your inner

Evan

!" she said with a big fist pump.

For the first time, Ms. May let some of her goofy teacher persona slip out during one of their sessions with a horrible pun. And for the first time that day, Evan revealed a true smile.

Ch. 41

"I would like Evan to assist in the ongoing search for Derek Volkov," Ms. May said.

"Is that so?" Ms. Vaduva said quirking an eyebrow.

Evan met her eyes and nodded.

Evan followed Ms. May to Ms. Vaduva's office after she explained her plan to him. He didn't have to think about it long before he agreed that it was a good idea. There had been many instances where he had caught himself wishing he could join the search efforts, but he hadn't had the courage to actually step up and offer his services. But with Ms. May's support, he hoped maybe that wish would become a reality.

"As you know, Evan harbors a great deal of guilt about what happened to poor Derek," Ms. May said. "I think actively participating in his recovery will help Evan with his own."

"I see," Ms. Vaduva said nodding. "That makes sense. But it's not so easy. He can't join the search just because he wants to."

"I understand," Ms. May said. "But perhaps if you were to explain the situation to the officers in charge, they could allow Evan to stay in their group under close guard. That way, he could participate without ever leaving their sight."

"Hmm," Ms. Vaduva said. "They might go for that."

"Excuse me?" Evan said.

"Yes?"

"Why can't I just sign up for the search like everyone else?" Evan said. "I mean, they posted fliers on campus looking for recruits, right? If I'm going to do this, I want to really help. I don't want to just be a nuisance that has to be babysat."

"I'm afraid it's too dangerous for you right now, Evan," Ms. Vaduva said.

"What, so, it's fine for other students to join, but I can't!?"

"It isn't about your special status this time," she said. "The security force is taking on student volunteers, but only the ones that have the strength to defend themselves or special abilities that specifically aid in search and rescue operations."

"What kind of abilities are those?"

"Heightened senses for tracking or the ability to fly would be the main ones."

There wasn't much Evan could do about that. Maybe in the future he would be able to use magic to have abilities like that, but that was far beyond him at this point. However, when it came to defending himself, the story was a little different.

"What about defending myself?" Evan said. "What's the benchmark for passing that requirement?"

"Do you remember when you saw me fight those soldiers?"

"Yes."

"How do you think I was able to survive all those bullets?"

"Oh, umm, I don't know," he said thinking about it. "I just thought maybe all vampires had, like, a protective outer shell or something?"

Ms. Vaduva stared at him for a few seconds before she burst out laughing.