Demon's Span

Having just finished another thrilling basketball game, Hayden was walking home with his friends. They were all engrossed in the celebration, cheering and tussling through the dimly lit streets as Trent's team achieved yet another incredible triumph. They were walking through a small suburban neighborhood well after nightfall. Hayden was wearing his go-to gray sweatshirt from Old Navy with jeans. Among the eight other players, all of whom were Sebastian's teammates, Trent, still wearing his red-and-white basketball jersey and shorts, was the team's star player. Serena, Sebastian's girlfriend, attracted attention with her red-and-white cheerleading ensemble, which highlighted her status as the most popular guy's partner with its short skirt and small top. Benefits of dating Sebastian included time spent with him and his closest friends as well as the encouragement he provided by convincing the cheerleading captain to designate her as their head cheerleader.

Indeed! Nine to one, we defeated them! Not for the first time, Trent yelled. His voice rang with joy as he flung his arms in the air. "Hooray!"

"Slow down, Trent. "You'll wake up the whole neighborhood," chuckled one of his teammates.

"Well done! For these folks to hear the wonderful news, they require a wake-up call! Trent returned fire.

"Yeah, but we have one more game left, guys, and we'll be at the Hoop Championship!" With his arm wrapped around Serena's shoulders, Sebastian added his voice. The top ten teams in the state competed in the Hoop Championship, or simply the basketball tournament. The victor brought honor to their school and took home a huge gold trophy.

The cheers of Trent and Sebastian echoed through the silent streets as they high-fived each other.

Hayden grudgingly remarked, "Well, this has been a blast, but I've got to head home."

"See you, man!" As Hayden turned right toward Demon's Span, Trent called. Suicides, auto accidents, and other calamities were commonplace at this black steel building in the town. Hayden began walking across it, toward his home in the town's wooded area. Only a few steps had passed before he noticed her. With her arms extended on the right side of the bridge, she stood on the precipice, seemingly ready to jump. He was all too aware of what lay below: a swift, raging river that would drown her, or knock her out if she struck her head before the current took her.

"Hold on!" With a yelp, Hayden sprinted in her direction as quickly as his legs would allow. He recognized Emily, the black-haired girl on the edge, as he got closer.

“Halt!” she yelled, scowling at him from about five feet away.

With his sneakers scuffing the pavement and pebbles, Hayden skidded to a halt.

Breathless from the run and the knot of nerves tightening in his chest, he begged, "Don't do it."

"Why shouldn't I?" Her voice was a sour frown as she demanded.

In an attempt to divert her attention long enough to take action before she interrupted, he hurriedly said, "You have your entire life to live."

"Don't make that pitiful excuse for me!" She lost her temper.

His lecture came to a halt when she spoke. There was something strange about her, but he assumed that was to be expected since she was on the verge of killing herself.

"If all you have are weak justifications and excuses, you ought to go. With her fists clenched tightly, she spat, "You shouldn't get involved, and I'm not worth it."

"What do you mean when you say that you're not worth it? You deserve it, I promise! He objected, but it sounded more like a last-ditch appeal.

"How? "Prove it if I'm that important," she said, her voice now brimming with rage.

"For my project, I need a partner. He frantically tried to talk her down and reason with her, saying, "I can't do the skit without you." All of his instincts told him to run and grab her, but she might jump if he moved too quickly.

"Weak," she curtly sneered.

He spoke more slowly as he examined the distance between them, saying, "I'm sure your parents would miss you." He might be able to get to her in time if he surprised her.

Emily gave a somber laugh. "My parents passed away. And those in charge of my care, who do want me, only want to take advantage of me.

He waited for her to clarify, asking in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Her lips were pursed. "It doesn't matter. Ignore the last sentence. You shouldn't worry about it.

"Listen, I can help you." His voice was heavy with sincerity as he pleaded, "Life doesn't have to be so bleak." She glared at him, as if it had only made her angrier.

"Aid? Do you genuinely believe that someone can assist me? She blinked, then laughed, a hollow, sarcastic sound. He took the opportunity to lunge forward, but she straightened and leaned away before he had even gone two feet. He cautiously watched her as he skidded to a stop. It could end with one mistake—for both of them.

He would never be able to forgive himself if she died as a result of his failure to calm her down.

"You're more cunning than I realized. He couldn't tell if she was complimenting him when she said, "Very few things can surprise me; even fewer can make me laugh."

He trailed off nervously, "Yeah... well, you don't seem to know many people or talk to them much." He needed to listen and stop talking because he might be making things worse.

"That's true," she said casually. You're also more considerate and perceptive than I initially believed. Most people wouldn't even try to persuade me that death isn't the solution.

"It's not. You're simply being self-centered. His tone was harsher than he had intended when he said, "Your death would hurt people." Perhaps the word "selfish" was too harsh.

"Oh?" Her head was tilted. "Like who?"

"Well, to begin with, me."

"Look who's selfish now," she teased, laughing.

"For starters, I said. He objected, "You didn't let me finish."

He continued, "If I know anything about it, it would hurt Loren," when she remained silent.

She betrayed herself with a slight flinch. Yes, she will move on from it. Old memories eventually fade for people like you.

"My kind?" He inquired feebly, perplexed once more.

She looked at him suspiciously and muttered, "I'm sorry. Once more, I've said too much. When I'm with you, I seem to forget my secrets and my barriers.