chapter seven

devils advocate

☆

    WHY ALEXANDRA DECIDED walking through woods would be the best way to get home from Steve's, she didn't know. It was stupid, sue her, she was bored and didn't want to go home just yet — and it wasn't like she had much else to do, Deena had already told her that she wouldn't be home, Dustin was at his stupid friend's house so there was no chance of her annoying him and her mom had gone for her annual Thursday night dinner with the neighbour ( aka, getting drunk on some cheap wine as they gossip about all the other parents in the neighbourhood ).

    The weed definitely wasn't helping the paranoia that ran through her veins as she continued her venture. Her head snapped around in haste, hair flailing about as she did. She was certain she was certifiably insane. The Henderson inhaled deeply at the voice she was sure she heard.

    "Great fuckin' idea it was walking through the woods, Alex," she murmured to herself, hand reaching down to her wrist to anxiously fiddle with her bracelet.

The loud grumble of thunder cracked through the air, the sound of leaves crunching under her feet filled the air with a restless, bristling energy. Alexandra felt off. Something wasn't right.

Whether that was the weed talking or genuine concern, she hadn't a clue — but nonetheless she didn't like it, at all.

"It's the weed, you paranoid fuck." She told herself over and over in her head, trying to calm her nerves — but alas, she came to no avail.

Honestly, she didn't want to come out here, but she felt compelled to, she felt like she had to go this way home rather than the shorter way, but she had convinced herself that this was better.

Alexandra rubbed a hand across her face as she continued her trek home. The Henderson came to a sudden halt, stopping in place as she stared ahead, brows knitted together in both confusion and fear.

Either she was tripping from the amount of weed she had endured during her walk or there was someone staring back at her. It was a dark October night so she could barely see anything as it was but the shine of the moon landed delicately on the figure before her and her breath hitched at the sight — it was almost as though the figure had no face. Just a long, lean body staring back at her, watching her closely.

The Henderson wasn't completely stupid, she had seen horror movies, duh; where the idiotic side character walks towards the killer rather than away and ends up dead. Alexandra wasn't in a 'I wanna die tonight' kinda mood so she backed up, swallowing roughly as she kept her eyes on the figure but they made no move towards her, still just standing there, idly watching by.

Her stomach churned, heart dropping to her ass as she watched the faceless figure's head tilt aside in a creepy manner. Fuck this, she thought.

Then she ran like she was a goddamn runner training for the Olympics.

She'd face the embarrassment of running from absolutely fuck all tomorrow, right now, she was too paranoid to be concerned about that; but still she couldn't shake that feeling, that feeling when you know something bad is about to happen.

Her heart rammed against her rib cage at a fast pace, beating like there was no tomorrow, perhaps that was it, perhaps there wasn't a tomorrow for her.

Except there was, only she wouldn't be the same girl that she was when she entered the woods.

A screamed was lodged in her throat as she felt something clasp around her ankle, her body fell forward, front colliding with the hard, wet ground. The aftermath of the small, light downpour that had happened earlier in the day.

A shrill, screech called out from behind her and she found the sound all too familiar. Her fingernails dug into the ground, trying to pull her body further away as she felt a tug on her ankle, something pulling her back.

But, alas, that did nothing in comparison to match the strength of whatever it was that had captured her. Her body was pulled back, screams fell from Alexandra's throat.

A loud cry left her mouth as she she felt a sharp pain in her lower leg, her legs flailed out behind her — trying to kick away whatever it was, but still, nothing helped as that tight grip on her ankle held her still, helpless and unable to move.

The Henderson let out a scream as she felt that very same place her scars sat on her shoulders be cut into, the skin opening up again.

Crimson stained her clothes, running along the porcelain skin of her body, leaves and dirt carried in her hair as she tried and tried to get away, but nothing could save her now.

Whether she knew it or not the deed had been done, an unknown deal with the devil himself had been made and she had no choice but to comply as her life would be on the line.

A dark gravely voice rumbled in her head once again, filling her mind, taking over every other thought she had in there. "You serve me now." It spoke, cracking from the deep rumble she heard in her head to a much younger tone. "You will get me my army or I will end your brother."

Alexandra's hands clasped over head, eyes forced shut as she tried to block out the unknown voice, begging and pleading under her breath. Her body felt out of control, as though it wasn't her own, mind growing hazy and a dizzy sensation bubbled in her head.

Her tear stained face fell forward as her breath hitched one last time before her head met the ground.

☆

Alexandra's head was banging.

Mind hazy as a ringing sound plummeted through her ears. She felt weak, her hands heavy as she proceeded to lift herself up from the ground. Her head hung low, a pained groan leaving her lips as she stumbled to a stand.

Her hands were covered in dirt, the odd stick stuck to her palm before she brushed them off along with the remains of the dirt.

Her hands reached up to nurse the side of her head as she felt something trickle along her temple. The Henderson brought her hand back down to her eyeline, catching the sight of a dark crimson liquid on her fingers — almost black, even.

The teenage girl frowned, confusion setting in even deeper than before. Alexandra only remembered parts of the event that had just taken place no more than ten minutes before.

The only thing that she remembered was the stinging, sharp sensation pulsating in her leg and shoulder and that damned voice. Alexandra staggered out of the woods, continuing her course home, eyes suddenly unblinking as she followed the barely there path.

Upon reaching the main road entering her neighbourhood, the moonlight hit her face. A dry, sore cough erupted from her mouth. Her stomach rumbled, a sudden hunger growing within her.

Her eyes followed the lone boy, who went to her school, as he sauntered down the road, Walkman held on his jeans, headphones snugly sat on his ears.

Subconsciously, Alexandra dragged her feet over to him. The teenage boy jumped at her sudden presence, her face pale, blood struck, crimson stuck in her hair. Her clothes were ragged and ripped, coat hanging off of her shoulder showing the blood seeping wound.

"Alexandra?" The boy questioned with a heavy frown, pulling the headphones from his ears.

"Vince." His name was all she said in return.

"Are you, uh, okay?" The boy took a cautious step back.

"Do I look fuckin' okay?" She grumbled, throat dry, sore with each word she spoke. Her head tilted.

"No . . . " he let out a nervous laugh, shying from the dark gaze she was sending him.

"I'm sorry," she murmured.

"What . . . what are you-"

Her hands met his shoulders, pushing him against the tree behind him, a groan left his mouth, eyes widening in surprise and fear as she let out a monstrous noise, mouth widening allowing a sharp set of teeth to replace her own.

Vince's screams echoed the streets as her animal like fangs met his skin, tearing his neck apart with one movement.

☆

"G-Ginger?" Alexandra heard a voice stutter as she got to her front door.

She paused, hand hovering over the doorknob. She stared forward at the door, unmoving before she angled her head behind her.

Dustin stood behind her, eyes wide, his shaky hands dropped his bike as he took in the sight of his blood soaked sister. Yep . . . blood, that was definitely blood.

"Oh my shitballs!" Dustin screeched. "What happened? Are you okay? Is that your blood, oh God. Oh my God. What the Hell is . . . please tell me that's not your blood . . . wait, tell me it isn't someone else's blood. Oh my God!" Dustin rambled, eyes wide, head locking downwards, staring at the floor as his hands shook tremendously.

Looking back up, he jumped at the sight of Alexandra in front of him. He gulped, "G-Ginger?"

"Can you stop shouting, dillweed?" She whisper shouted. "Wake the whole fuckin' street, why don't you?"

"Alex, what . . . what happened?"

Alexandra stared at him for a moment. "You're fine now, he won't hurt you," she breathed out, only further adding to the confusion and fear Dustin felt in the moment. "I saved you."

"What . . . Alex what are you talking about?"

"You're safe." She only continued. The words that voice had spoken played on her mind repeatedly, I will end your brother. She and Dustin might've had their moments, but most siblings do — she would still do anything for him, if it made her a bad person then so be it. She knew what she needed to do to keep them both alive.

"Alex, whose blood is that?"

She hesitated, staring down at him. "Mine," she answered, before lifting a shoulder. "Vince's."

"What- what-?" He took a step back from her. "What's going on?"

Alex looked around, "Not out here."

"Huh?"

Alexandra's eyes snapped down to his. "Inside and you're not allowed to freak out."

"I'm already freaking out!" Dustin screeched.

"Then stop!" She matched his tone, grabbing the material of his coat. "Go, it's past your curfew, by the way, ass-hat."

He looked back at her with a pointed stare, "Really? You're concerned about my curfew?"

"Yeah, yeah I am." She nodded, looking back as she heard Dustin quietly turn the doorknob.

Once she was inside Dustin didn't give her a moment before shoving her straight into her bedroom. He closed the door behind him, crossing his arms across his chest, "Explain."

"So . . . I kinda ate someone."

Dustin's jaw dropped.

"It wasn't in a cannibal kinda way," she defended. "More like a . . . fucked up supernatural way."

AUTHOR'S NOTE !
alex has been jennifer
check'd

except the whole band thing.
nah she just got attacked by vecna
and now is whatever tf jen is

SO BASICALLY how jen
has to kill and munch on ppl
to stay alive is baso what
alex has to do only the
people she kills serve vecna
as well as keep her alive so
she has no choice if ygm???