Chapter 16: Light Em' Up
This decision that was put on poor Danny shoulders, to either let the bruises stay where they are and get worse or have a treatment that makes them go away with benefits. "I-" He hesitated. He then thought of Emily, and what life would be like with her being his mother. "Yes," He said quietly. Ms. Yuri then removed the flame away and her hands turned back to normal. She then rubbed the bridge of her nose and grabbed her glasses from the podium and turned away from Danny. The pain that he now felt would be released, by no other than the two. "We are agreeing to this right?" Danny said in a quiet timid voice. When Danny met the teacher's eyes, the shock was flushing her out completely. His hand was extended out for a handshake. She stood in disbelief. "I am not Lucifer, I don't do handshakes." Ms. Yuri said with a growl. Danny looked down at his hand and just giggled. "Then how can I trust you?" She stood as if she were afraid to shake his hand as if she might accidentally break his hand. She stared at his hands the pure innocence that had filled him mixed with the mysterious black blood that she had. "If I do this...nothing will be back to normal. This is a promise that will haunt you forever until you die. However, I don't make decisions I help create them. Are you sure?" Danny nodded his head quickly. "Yes I want it to happen please let it happen!"
Then the band door swung open to show Zach standing there with headphones in. Both Danny and Ms.Yuri quickly snapped their attention towards him. However, Zach was oblivious and just put his instrument in the storage and walked out to sit on one of the riser floors. "When was that assignment due Ms. Yuri?" Danny walked over to Zach's side and sat down right next to him. His teacher says confused. "I'm sorry assignment?" Zach nodded "yeah it was on the classroom page." My. Yuri then sat at the podium chair. "I don't recall ever posting an assignment, Sara might've for the color guard but I don't believe I did." Danny leaned over to see what Zach was doing on his phone. Zach took one of his earbuds out and gave it to Danny he smiled as he put it in his other ear. Ms. Yuri rolled her eyes and said "y'all are weird." The two laughed as they were watching a funny video. Ms. Yuri smiles as she went into her band office and sat down at the desk that was now gathering dust from having no use of it over the summer. "August came way too quickly..." she said as she rustled the folders that contained music.
Zach was smiling and laughing when Danny was confused about one of the videos. "Wait...the man....became a chicken?" Zach leaned backward and laid down and laughed. "You don't get it to do you?" Danny tilted his head as he saw his friend on the ground dying of such laughter. "No...I don't get it at all." Danny said with concern. "The guys a chicken ninja protector of chickens!" Zach said collecting himself back to where he was able to stand. "I still don't get it," Danny said. Zach then went up the riser stairs to the back storage room. Danny followed the junior like a puppy. Until the door closed Danny grabbed the trombone out from the locker and put it together. "Danny tell me something..." Zach said as he quickly changed the mood. Danny looked up at the boy gripping on to his sleeve that was hiding bandages. "Why were you here so early?" Danny's eyes widened. "I needed help from Ms. Yuri" Zach then gestured to himself "what about your section? We can help. That is what we are here for Danny, " Danny shifted his gaze to the ground. "Not like that kind of help Zach." Zach began grabbing slide oil and running it down his slide. "All men go through puberty Danny boi" Danny became embarrassed and red as a cherry. "Nothing like that Zach." He said as he pulled the mouthpiece off and start buzzing notes to the show. "It's your father isn't it?"
Danny made an abrupt stopped and looked at Zach who was leaning on his trombone. "No" he answered as he put the brass instrument back to his lips as he began playing the first, Zach cut him off again. "Don't kid, I know it's true." Danny put his trombone down. "Don't be silly Zach, I would never talk to her about that, you don't talk about that to your teacher let alone a band director."
Zach didn't say anything or respond to Danny's answer. So Danny began to practice again only to be cut off again. But this time Danny was more agitated. "But you know she's not human...you want her to do something do you?" Danny looked over at Zach staring at his curious figure. "Can I practice please?" Zach smiled and shook his head "Why were you here early?" Danny put the trombone to the side "I just told you, Zach, it was to get help." Zach shook his head.
"No there's a reason you are this early, Ms. Yuri doesn't open the band room doors till 6:30, so how is it that you manage to get in here, better yet why did she let you in?" Danny didn't say anything he looked down at his shoes that had holes in the laced fabric. "I just want to practice Zach...let me please," Danny begged. It was truly begging, the look giving, the amount of it in his voice. He truly had meant it. "I came here to practice. That's all I did" Zach shrugged "ok, just don't get into any deals with her" Danny tilted his head "a deal?" Zach nodded as he pulled up his scales. "I figured out what she was, A creutair cùmhnant, in English is also known as a Contract Creature. They form contracts that hold you against anything and everything." Danny shook his head "but she's not holding us against our will." Zach shook his head "I've become so obsessed haven't I?" Danny didn't answer. "Maybe it's just...you have to let it go Zach" Zach shook his head "just listen to me...don't make a deal with her." Danny's view of Zach had now shifted from a boy who was the normal band geek to a curiosity-driven boy with a twisted mind. Danny didn't believe in what Zach said. And for the first time, Danny had lied "I won't I promise"
"Good," Zach said as he left the room. When he shut the door Danny became the kid that he was, in the beginning, shaking in his boots, afraid of outcomes, afraid of everything. Band camp had flown by and their show was almost ready except for a few movements and adjustments. When they were getting ready to go home. Danny opened the case for his trombone and found a note. 'Meet me by the post office' there was no name on this note and then the clarinetist picked up the note and looked at Danny. "Oh uh...Zach look" Zach who had his arm aligned over his girlfriend's shoulder stood and took the note from her. "You got a crush boy." Danny turned red as he did before, he covered his face with his oversized hoodie "no, no, no, and no thank you!" Zach and Ella laughed. "So did you get fitted?" Danny's red had been flushed out by an unknown force. "Fitting? Uniforms?" Zach nodded "well?" Danny shook his head "I think mines tomorrow I have box 10." Zach smiled "well then go meet your mystery person." He said as he hugged Ella he smiled and turned red when a clarinet player yelled "PDA!!"
While the two reeled their arms back. Danny was packing up his trombone and making his way to the commons. As he was walking he thought of Zach's words, "Don't let her make a deal with you? But she's asking nothing in return, is she?" He whispered to himself. As he made it into the commons he noticed loud noises coming from the gym on his right. The commons layout was the big area where noticeably there would be tables and such to stay out while waiting for the bell, then a smaller hallway that leads to the lunchroom which was rather big compared to the other schools around them. on the left, there was the entrance to the commons from the outside, on the right were the gyms, at Elken there were two big gyms and three smaller ones, by one of the gyms that they called "The memorial gym" if you had walked through those doors you were hit with automatic sorrow as the walls were lined from teachers who had been deceased and one was rather fairly new. It was Zach's chemistry teacher Mrs.Rodway, Danny had assumed that the police declared her deceased.
Danny walked had to walk through that gym to avoid getting tangled with passing people in the band hallway that was right beside the memorial gym. As Danny opened the door he had the feeling someone was watching him. He quickly turned around, no one was there so he proceeded. Now to get to the post office you need to go down the hallway by the entrance of the commons from the outside. When he had made a B line straight towards two upperclassmen were blocking the door. They were taller then Danny and looked as if they had just finished a workout. "Oh look at that Michael it's a band geek." said what Danny presumed to be a Sophmore or freshmen by the way he had said it. Danny didn't reply, the one that stood taller and leaner looked like he was a senior or a junior he answered with a "Sam, leave the band kid alone, didn't you understand what coach said, they truly mean no harm." Sam turned around and stared at the senior who Danny assumed was Micheal, Michael was leaning on the door frame and looked down at the younger freshmen. "Don't you get it? they are always in the way!" Sam said. Michael looked over at Danny "Kid, do you need to go through?" Danny nodded and tried to move to pass the two. "Oh no, you don't!" Sam said as he grabbed him. "There is a toll" Sam then grabbed the trombone case and raised it higher then Danny could reach. "Sam! Knock it off! Leave him alone!" Michael said as he began to reach for the instrument to bring it down. But it was too late, Sam began smashing the case down to where the case began cracking showing the styrofoam protection. Danny couldn't move, watching the horror prevail right before him. "Sam! Why?! Let it go!!! They did nothing to us!" Sam picked up the instrument and slammed it down once more Danny stood and watched as pieces of his trombone began to be seen and the dents of the trombone his mother had given him. This was the one thing that he took care of the most was being smashed." Sam then picked up the case and dropped kicked it to where it hit a trophy case. Glass shattered and everything was silent. Danny stood with wide eyes as he looked down at his trombone. Sam, who was breathing heavily turned to Michael with a smile. "You know well that I can never let it go what they did to my grandfather, they are no good pieces of shit and you were one of them for two years!" Micheal then punched Sam across his face. "Don't talk down about a band who supports everything this school does! We are as worse than them yes, I said it! The basketball team! Why do you think they avoid us?! You should be ashamed after all this is a freshman!"
Then a new voice, one much older sounding began to talk. "Samuel and Micheal! What the hell just happened?" It was their coach. "It was the band kid, sir!" Said Sam quickly. "You liar..." Michael hissed. "Pardon Feltch?" His coach said as he neared the boys. Danny coward in fear, "Coach, Sam, harrassed this band kid who is a freshmen sir." Micheal said quietly. The coach stared at Danny who was cowering. "I'm sorry my dear boy, Sam in my office now you two Michael!" Sam was now the one cowering as Danny quickly picked up his instrument Micheal looked down at the instrument the young freshmen was clutching close to his chest. "I'll pay for the damage, I am so sorry..." Danny didn't cry merely just walked away. "It doesn't matter now, as many repairs that this will need, I would be certain that you can't pay for it," Danny said quietly he then walked down the hallway leaving Michael to question everything that had just happened.
As Danny walked he had tried not to think what had happened, he had no idea that the band kids were hated by the basketball team. But one thing was stirring in Danny's brain, was Michael in the marching band? Danny turned down another hallway to where he could see the post office and Ms.Yuri leaning on a pole that was right next to it with her arms crossed, her head tilted to where she was looking outside at something, her eyes partially closed. The closer that Danny had gotten, the more Ms. Yuri appeared sad. She was staring out the window as if it was a peaceful thing as she turned to look at Danny who had looked down and stared at the ground trying not to make eye contact with her. She shifted her weight to where she was now on her feet. "I have gotten, your letter." Ms.Yuri nodded, but her gaze had fallen on the instrument he was holding. "I would like to know...Who did that?" She said pointing at his instrument. Danny looked down at the case that was only being held together with one spring clip lock which was barely hanging on, and the trombone slide sticking out that was bent out of shape. "Basketball player was slamming it to the ground, but don't worry the coach is dealing with it." Ms. Yuri reached out a hand. "May I have a look?" Danny nodded and willingly handed the instrument. Ms. Yuri had kneeled on the ground and had opened the case to reveal a smashed instrument. She sighed and looked up at the peering. "I'm afraid that this fighting warrior became a fallen warrior." Danny began to feel hot tears falling down his cheek. "No, No, it can't be! You can fix it right!? Maybe Lucy! I..." Ms. Yuri shook her head. "It's beyond repair, I'm sorry Danny, Lucy and I can't be able to fix it." Danny fell to the grab. "No this can't be Ms.Yuri say that you are lying please!" Ms.Yuri had never seen a kid break down and cry about an instrument, but she had a feeling that she knew why. "Your mother gave this to you didn't she?" Danny nodded as he smeared the tears off of his face. "It's the only thing I have left of her." Ms, Yuri had sighed, "Danny I'm sorry," Ms.Yuri stood up and looked upon the crying boy who was curling himself into a ball and leaning himself against the locker. "I know that this is upsetting but...We have another matter on our hands now kiddo." He looked up "What do you mean Yuri?" she held out her hand. "You asked to shake my hand and I declined but I realize now that maybe it isn't such a bad thing." As her hand unfolded from the fist electricity had begun sputtering as if someone had cut wires and power had still been running through them. "Do you want it, Danny?"
Quicker than he had ever been he placed his hand in hers and gave her a firm shake. When they released hands Ms.Yuri had her eyes the purple slits, the horns sprouting from her head and then the black smokey tail, and her becoming taller. She grabbed Danny and ran into a corner, instead of hitting it she and Danny dissipated into the wall only leaving black smoke. Danny who was holding on tightly was walking with Ms.Yuri who Danny had thought was not her. Her hand was half-decayed to where all you could see was bone. She was wearing the baggy torn up dress shirt with a black vest over it to where you were able to see how skinny she was, her pants were ripped which was probably from her legs, and as you have known before the charms and gun on her hips and a belt over the vest. Her hair was partly braided but most fell to her shoulders and sides, her eyes purple slits, her face with the same stripes as Zach had seen before. She was watching Danny. Then the world in which Danny was taken through where there was black and purple aligned with writing with everything. the words were going to fast to where Danny couldn't have seen them if he had even tried. "We are here," Ms.Yuri said
As the smoked dissipated into thin air, Ms.Yuri sniffed the air and looked over at Danny who was in shock of their travel. "looks like your father is home." She whispered quietly. Her had that was decayed and skeleton-like kept cracking every time she moved it. "Do you have arthritis?" Danny said with a smile. Ms.Yuri smiled. "I'm not that old Danny, I'm only twenty-eight thousand years old." Danny stood wide-eyed as they both crept to the window to see his father drunk on the couch with someone by his side. "Who is that?" Ms.Yuri asked. Danny squinted and stared in shock. "It's Emily, she looks like she got beat too!" Ms.Yuri raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?" Danny looked over at his teacher, who was purple eyes glowed in the night. "She has the same bruises too," Danny whispered. Ms.Yuri sat and stared at the girl and pondered about her until she heard a door open and shut and saw the young girl disappear. Then Danny looked at Ms.Yuri "may I please go in and see him first?" Ms.Yuri smiled at her student. "Do whatever you want Danny."
Danny made his way over to the door as Ms.Yuri watched from the side window. As he walked his dad was sleeping on the couch with stains all over his white tang top he reeked of alcohol. Danny tilted his head one way as if he were inspected the man. Danny then looked on the counter of his house and saw a bottle of cocktail sitting on it. Before he did anything he went into his room and grabbed something from the drawer of his nightstand. It was a picture, but not just any picture, a picture of a happy family, one that will never be seen again. He shoved it in his pocket and went back into the living. He turned off the TV and grabbed that bottle carefully popped the top and poured it all over his dad. With a sudden jolt, his dad had woken up "What the fuck are you doing?!" Danny just walked outside and locked the door with the key he originally had. He walked over to his teacher, Ms.Yuri then looked over at him with no grin insight, for a demon, this would have been delightful, but she was calmer than an insane. The director extended out her arm with her fist face down and dropped it into Danny's hands. "You do the honors." When Danny looked down at the small object that was dropped in his hands, it was a black lighter. Danny looked up, "Will....Do...." As he began walking towards the burn pile that his dad had left and begun lighting it on fire, it had gone up in flames only to spread to the house as well. Ms.Yuri had stood there and watched the hell that would soon fall down.
Ms.Yuri then raised her hand and the ignited flame that was there before had shot up she then drew her other arm back like a bow and fire it taking the flame with it. She then began hitting the house with every flaming shot she had. While Danny began lighting everything outside on fire. Danny's father had opened the window and had looked up at the house and the ambers coming off of it. "You crazy bitch!" He yelled. But once she turned towards showing the fearful sight on what she was she smiled then. "Yes, I am quite crazy, thank you for noticing." she then raised her hands that were ignited with flames and shot a ball of flame at Danny's father knocking him to the ground and causing the entire house to go up in flames. As Danny and Ms.Yuri stood back and watched and listen to Danny's father's screams. They both just watched and never looked at each other. Ms.Yuri then turned back into her old self. Danny looked at her then "I guess you could say you have been pirated." Ms. Yuri stopped and laughed as she was putting her hair. "You dork, that was pretty funny." Ms.Yuri looked up at the sky and smiled. "I think you need to go over to Emily's house." Danny laughed, "I can't believe it! I'm finally free now!" Danny smiled and fell on the grass backward. "I'm free mom! I'm free!" Ms.Yuri just smiled and watched the the teen boy enjoying his final wish.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone