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“I just haven’t left the apartment in a few weeks,” he snaps. “I don’t like being around a lot of people anyway, but…I haven’t gone out in a while.”

Why do you become unsettled around other humans? I thought that sociality was part of human nature.

“It is, but…I’m just wired wrong, I guess. I don’t like crowds, ever since I was a kid, but it’s gotten worse recently. Especially since…well, yeah.”

If you do not leave the apartment, we will not be rid of one another, Theodore.

“I know,” he grumbles. “Trust me, I fucking know. Just…stay quiet, ok? Let me focus on not having a panic attack.”

Very well,I reply. Little does he know, he may have just handed me the key to completingmy mission.

11

Theo

I pull a ballcap over my grown-out hair, then lock the door behind me and walk toward the stairs, praying I don’t run into anyone I know. My friends haven’t heard from me in weeks. I’m sure the only way they know I’m still alive is through Ros, who is undoubtedly getting information through her sister, who ismysister’s childhood best friend. Maybe no one will recognize me, between the beard and the hair and the hat. In the lobby of my building, I stop to peek inside my mailbox, which is blessedly empty.

When I step outside, my shoulders automatically hunch and I pull my scarf up a little to hide my face. Walking seven blocks during the post-church lunch rush feels daunting right now, and I have to take a moment in an alcove by the building entrance just to gather myself.

“It’s the only way,” I whisper. “Only way to be done with…this.” Annoth is silent, and I wonder for a moment if leaving my apartment hasn’t triggered the hallucination to dissipate. I carefully call out to her in my head.Annoth?

“Yes, Theodore?” answers a rather husky female voice.Fuck!She’s come out, manifested, whatever it’s called. She’s wearing a ridiculously short plaid skirt that I’m 100% sure she saw on an episode ofFriends, paired with tights, thigh high boots, and a dark green winter coat. Her hair is that light auburn color again, falling in soft waves almost down to her waist,and her weird, ridged ears are concealed by a cream-colored beanie. She’s even given herself some dark red lipstick and eye makeup this time. Once again, she would be stunning if she wasn’t a bloodthirsty demon, but one look at those pointed teeth and I can’t help but shudder.

I step closer to her and hiss, “I told you to stay inside me!”

“And you thought I would stand down and obey? Come now, Theodore. Am I Hellspawn or a pet dog?”

“You’re a hateful bitch,” I say between gritted teeth, anxiety rising up through my body.

“Andyouare a spineless coward,” she replies with a dazzling grin, then she loops her arm through mine and laughs as though I’ve told a very funny joke.

“I’m fucking serious!” I snarl, wrenching out of her grasp. “I know what you’re trying to do!” My chest clenches and I press a hand over my heart. Annoth takes a step toward me, her eyes shining and lips pulled back over her fangs. She can sense it–the way my heart is pounding, the ringing in my ears. A panic attack. A weak spot. A way for her to take control of me. Faces of people on the sidewalk start to blur together and I lean against the wall of the alcove, trying to steady my breathing, but none of my usual grounding techniques are working. Things I can see: just Annoth’s hungry black eyes, boring into me. Things I can hear: sirens and car horns and people yelling. Not helpful. Things I can smell: brimstone and sulfur, cigarette smoke, car exhaust. That’s making it worse. The edges of my vision start to go dark and she moves closer, caging me in with her body.

“Stop it,” I gasp, putting a hand out.

“Give yourself to me, Theodore,” she purrs. “Let go, and I promise–”

“No!” I shove her aside and stumble onto the sidewalk, lurching between passersby. I can feel her following, hunting me like an animal. There’s a bus moving quickly down the street, and my only thought is that I have to end this before she gets control. Beforeshe hurts anyone. I move toward the curb, a vice grip on my heart. I don’t know if it’s her, or my own blind panic. How much longer do I have before she takes over? My joints burn, my eyes water, my breathing feels labored, then suddenly, there’s a firm hand gripping my arm. I try to jerk away, but they refuse to let go.

“Theo!” a familiar voice echoes in my ears. “Theo, hey! Are you alright?”

A flash of spiky hair, dyed purple and pink. Silver piercings in her notched eyebrow and through her bottom lip. Outrageous, glittery blue eyeshadow. A black and white houndstooth jacket and an armful of colorful fliers.

“Mak? W-what…” I stutter, coming to a stop on the edge of the curb and turning to face my best friend. “Where did–”

“Oh my God, Theo, you look terrible! Come here!” As if she can sense what’s happening, she pulls me into a bone-crushing hug. Truly, a feat of strength for someone so tiny. The feeling of her embrace, her sound of her voice, and the smell of that god-awful men’s cologne she always wears brings me crashing violently back down from my panic attack.

I wrap my arms around her and squeeze. “Makie…what…what are you doing here?”

She pulls back and examines my face with a deep frown. “I live three blocks from here, you idiot! I’ve barely heard from you in two whole months and you have the balls to ask me whatI’mdoing here? You’re lucky I haven’t called in a goddamn welfare check, Theo! You were about to step in front of a bus, for Christ’s sake!”

“Yeah, I was just…I guess I wasn’t paying attention,” I mutter, running a hand over my face and looking around for Annoth. She’s standing several feet away, face white as a sheet. Recovering from her shock quickly, she paints a sweet smile on her face and approaches us with her hand out.

“There you are, Theo!” she croons, putting on a weird accent and kissing me on the cheek. “It is very good to see you again. Are you quite well? You look ill.”

“Oh, hello,” says Mak, looking Annoth up and down, her eyes wide with surprise. “Theo, who is–”

“I am Annika,” says the demon. “I am foreign student, here for visit.” Her accent is incredibly realistic-sounding, but for the life of me I can’t figure out what it’s supposed to be. German? Russian? What kind of name is Annika? The fog of the almost-panic attack is still rolling through my body, making it hard for me to formulate any coherent words. Did I really almost throw myself in front of a bus just now? What the fuck was I thinking?