The Grace of Demons

Chapter 1

ONE YEAR LATER

I run a hand through my dyed blonde hair, sighing heavily. I couldn’t believe I had agreed to this. But, the guy promised me a lot of money. Which I definitely needed if I was going to pay rent.

“Here's the thing we started off friends
It was cool but it was all pretend
Yeah yeah
Since you've been gone

“You dedicated you took the time
Wasn't long till I called you mine
Yeah yeah
Since you've been gone

“And all you'd ever hear me say
Is how I pictured me with you
That's all you'd ever hear me say

“But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so movin' on, yeah yeah
Thanks to you now I get what I want
Since you've been gone

“How can I put it? You put me on
I even fell for that stupid love song
Yeah yeah
Since you've been gone

“How come I'd never hear you say?
?I just wanna be with you?
I guess you never felt that way

“But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so movin' on, yeah yeah
Thanks to now I get, I get what I want
Since you've been gone

“You had your chance you blew it
Out of sight, out of mind
Shut your mouth I just can't take it
Again and again and again and again

“Since you've been gone
(Since you've been gone)
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so movin' on, yeah yeah
Thanks to you
(Thanks to you)
Now I get, I get what I want

“I can breathe for the first time
I'm so movin' on, yeah yeah
Thanks to you
(Thanks to you)
Now I get
(I get)
You should know
(You should know)
That I get, I get what I want
Since you've been gone
Since you've been gone
Since you've been gone”

The crowd gave me a standing ovation, but I couldn’t stop the sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach. I swallowed back the lump in my throat, trying to get rid of the nausea, and started to sing another song as they cheered.

“I'm standing on the bridge
I'm waitin' in the dark
I thought that you'd be here by now
There's nothing but the rain
No footsteps on the ground
I'm listening but there's no sound

“Isn't anyone tryin' to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home?
It's a damn cold night
I'm tryin' to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand?
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I'm, I'm with you
I'm with you
Hmm hmm hmm

“I'm looking for a place
I'm searching for a face
Is anybody here I know?
'Cause nothing's going right
And everything's a mess
And no one likes to be alone

“Isn't any tryin' to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home?
It's a damn cold night
I try to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand?
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I'm, I'm with you
I'm with you
Yea yea

“Oh, why is everything so confusing?
Maybe I'm just out of my mind
Yea eee yeah, yea eee yeah
Yea eee yea, yea eee yeah,yeah

“It's a damn cold night
Tryin' to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand?
Take me somewhere new
I don't who you are
But I'm, I'm with you, yea
I'm with you, yea

“Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I'm, I'm with you, oh
I'm with you
I'm with you”

Tears sprang to my eyes, but they wouldn’t fall. I stood up off the stool I had been sitting on, and walked off the stage. My father had told me that if lyrics didn’t have meaning, then I shouldn’t sing them.

I put on my coat as I headed out of the door of the restuarant. Just a year ago I would’ve never pictured this lifestyle of mine. Sometimes I wish that I had been dreaming, wish that I hadn’t ran away.

But, I’m a survivor.

• • •

I walk out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped tightly around myself, and music blaring from my stereo system. It was surprising how I was able to afford it, but definitely worth it.

I picked out my clothes for the day, changing into them quickly. I start putting on my makeup, staring back at my reflection sadly. I missed my old life, but I couldn’t go back. I was safer like this, though at times I hardly believed it.

I heard the familiar meow of my kitten, and smiled to myself. I look over my shoulder, seeing the tiny mixed breed with the childish ways. Her odd fur patterns made her seem all the more unique.

“What, Ariel?”

She meows. I roll my eyes, petting her gently. She purrs, and I smile. Ariel is my only comfort in the façade that I live in now. I love her to pieces, though at times she is very demanding. I found her on the streets much like I was at the time.

I sigh. I had to get ready for my job tonight. I’ve already paid the rent for this month, and all of the other debt that I’ve gotten myself into. I supposed I could spend a little on myself. I smile at the thought.

“G’bye, Ariel! I’ll see yah later!” I say, running to grab my coat, and heading out of the apartment door. I stopped as I opened the door. There was a glass vase filled with roses at my doormat — white roses. “Well, who left this for me?” I murmur to myself, picking up the vase. There was a card attached to it, which read:

Dear Katherine,

You are so beautiful, even though you try to hide it. I have admired you for the past few months, and I think I have fallen.

Will you go on a date with me?

[]Yes [ ]No

I giggle to myself, rolling my eyes at the note. It was flattering, but I didn’t have a clue who this guy was. Oh, well. It couldn’t hurt to go on one date. I pull out a pen from my pocket, and check off []Yes. I leave the note on my doorstep, taking one of the roses out of the vase, and sticking it into my dyed-blonde hair. I walk down the steps in the apartment building, and out onto the busy Georgia street.

It’s time to shop.