Chapter Two: Turbulence:

Meanwhile, Mike started to face his past.

-Last Night-

Vivian lay asleep next to him. Mike couldn’t sleep on the other hand. His mind sank into a dark place. The demon stared at the fan turning overhead. The night had been an unusually hot one. But, his mind clouded everything around him. Mike stared intently at the ceiling fan.

Swish. Swish. Swish.

He had his eyes on the dark blades. Mike’s mind sank into a place he thought he had abandoned. Deeper… Deeper… Deeper… Deeper…

Vivian awoke panicked as two large hands closed around her throat. She didn’t know what was going on at first. The wolf demon gagged as she tried to fight off her attacker. Vivian got a good look above her. Mike stared down at her. Something wasn’t right though. His eyes looked so empty. He didn’t appear to be doing this consciously. Vivian tried to smack him off, but he wouldn’t give. His grip tightened around her throat. Of course she couldn’t scream for help.

“Mike? Vivian?” Hotaru asked. “What’s going on?” The loli demon wandered down the hall to their room. She looked half-asleep during her walk.

“Mike? Viv?” Hotaru asked. “What are…?” She woke up when she saw what was happening in front of her.

“Oh Jesus!” she screamed. The loli demon ran over and grabbed Mike off as fast as she could. The American demon hit the floor with a thud. Vivian ran out of the room and locked herself in the bathroom. Mike sat up with a bewildered look on his face.

“Mike!” Hotaru said. “What the hell? What’s gotten into you?” He sat there staring at her. The demon couldn’t speak. He didn’t seem to grasp her question.

“Mike? Mike?” Hotaru asked. She started to shake him on the shoulder.

“Mike? Mike?” she asked. The demon flinched away from her. All of the color drained from his face. Hotaru grabbed him by the cheeks.

“Talk to me,” she said. “What is wrong with you?” He stared, silent. She didn’t need him to speak. The loli demon saw what she needed to know.

“Oh no…” Hotaru murmured. She pressed her lips together.

“Mike, listen to me,” she said. “Please don’t do anything you will regret. Tell me this is the first time you’ve hurt that girl. Tell me this was the first time.” Mike sat silent and wide-eyed. Hotaru bit her lower lip.

“Blink one or nod once,” Hotaru said. Mike slowly nodded. The loli demon breathed out.

“Oh good,” she said. “Good. Good. There is still hope.” Hotaru bowed her head. Mike still hadn’t come back from his sunken place.

--------

Vivian sat on the bathroom floor, trembling. What was that? Mike’s never been violent with her before. No. That wasn’t him. That wasn’t Mike. She didn’t know who that was, but she hoped to never see him again.

Vivian fell on the floor and started crying. She wouldn’t come out until morning.