Chapter 3

Gabriel stands in a room not unlike a locker room. To the sides are numerous decorated lockers fitting with various stickers and art. Each one has its own nameplate stuck to it.

Gabriel heard some talking before he stepped in, but now the room is silent.

A putrid stench fills Gabe’s nose, making him cough.

Gabe counts thirteen people in the room including himself and Julius.

A few of them turn and look at Gabe as he enters.

Julius: “This is my team. Go introduce yourself. Or not. I don’t really care.”

Julius walks over to what seems to be some kind of office in the back.

Gabe rubs his hands together.

He walks over to one of the lockers, reading the nameplate.

He hears a voice behind him.

Voice: “Are you the baby guy?”

Gabe spins around. In front of him is a girl.

She is standing close.

Too close.

Her hands are wrapped and there are bruises up and down her arms.

Gabe: “Uh, yeah.”

The girl promptly punches him in the face.

Gabe falls back onto the locker.

Gabe: “Ow! What the fuck?”

Girl: “Idiot. Stay away from my locker.”

The girl spins and walks away.

Gabe looks back at the locker he was just looking at. It is covered in rainbows and glitter.

Gabe laughs quietly to himself, rubbing his cheek.

He reads the nameplate: Julie Evermore, Violence Demon.

Gabe: “Yeah, that makes sense.”

Gabe hears someone else approaching. He puts his hands up.

This time it’s a man’s voice.

Man: “Woah, sorry about that. That’s just how Julie introduces herself.”

Gabe looks up.

Before him is a man around his age with curly brown hair and a plain t-shirt.

Gabe blinks.

Man: “I’m Michael by the way. I have the pride demon.”

Gabe brings himself to his feet.

He looks around.

Michael: “Here, I’ll give you a rundown of everyone. That over there is Phillip. He has the sloth demon.”

Michael points to a guy laying down on a bench in the middle of everyone. He doesn’t move when Michael points to him.

Michael: “You already met Julie. You can meet the others later.”

Gabe looks around, but no one meets his gaze.

Gabe doesn’t say anything for a second.

Michael: “I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”

Gabe: “Where’s the bathroom?”

Michael freezes.

Then he points to a door in the back.

Gabe starts making his way over to it. He steps over one person on the way there. He has some kind of foam coming from his mouth.

A few people stare as he makes his way over.

-

Gabe sits on the toilet seat.

Gabe: “Barth you there?”

Gabe waits. There’s no response.

Gabe: “Of course he’s asleep.”

He leans back.

Gabe flushes the toilet.

He walks over to the mirror, inspecting himself. He flashes himself a smile, then it slowly fades.

He stares at himself in the mirror for a second.

He looks down at his still tied hands.

He sighs.

Gabe steps out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Suddenly, Julius steps out of his office.

Everyone stops what they are doing and turns to look at him.

Julius: “Michael. Come here. And bring Julie and the new guy.”

-

Gabe sits in a cramped office with Julie to his right and Michael to his left.

Julius: “I just got a call about a demon in Sharpsville. I want you three to deal with it.”

Julie: “Seriously?”

Julie glances at Gabe.

Gabe stiffens.

Julie: “I’m not doing anything with this psycho.”

Julius: “I’m not fucking asking you.”

Julie’s eyes widen. Then she scoffs.

Julius looks at Michael.

Julius: “I’m putting you lead here. Understand?”

Michael looks at Julie and Gabe. Then he nods.

Gabe clenches his jaw.

Gabe: “What is even happening? Who are you people? What am I supposed to do?”

Julius sits up in his chair.

Julius: “You mean no one told you?”

Gabe just stares back.

Julius sighs.

Julius: “We work for the government. It's our job to stop demons when they get too big of heads.”

Gabe: “Wait, really?”

He looks at Michael for confirmation.

Gabe: “So you guys just get to go around beating up demons?”

Julius: “This isn’t some damn game. It’s serious. With new demons sprouting up everywhere, someone has to stop them.”

Gabe: “Awesome.”

Julius stares at him. Julie and Michael just face forwards.

Julius: “I’ll show you just how fucking awesome this is when I shove my foot up your puny-”

Michael stands up.

Michael: “We should probably get going.”

Julie stands up too.

Gabe notices that he’s the only one sitting and stands up.

Michael: “Thank you, sir. We won’t let you down.”

Michael bows, grabbing Gabe’s neck and forcing him to bow as well. Gabe hits his head on the desk in front of him.

Then, Michael drags Gabe out the door. Julie follows shortly after.

Gabe: “Can I at least get these ropes off?”

No one responds to him.

Gabe: “Guys?”