Young Writers Society

Finnley blinked, then looked back and forth between Monica and the burning door. "Monica! You can't go up against that thing, it's a demon! Didn't you see it setting fire to the entrance?" he hissed, grabbing her shoulders.

There was just the ghost of a smile on her face, and she gently pushed his hands away. "I know what I'm doing," she replied calmly. "I can get to the living room from a door in the kitchen; Fred is going to wait outside, and I need you to come with me so that we can get Mia and her family out safely."

Fred nodded sternly and patted them each on the back for good luck. Then he left them alone in the house. A scream sounded from the adjacent room, and Monica dragged Finnley into the back of the house. She nimbly avoided the debris that littered the hallway, leaving Finnley to try his best to keep up behind her.

Monica sprang to a doorway and looked through, holding her hand out to prevent Finnley from going past her. He could tell by the heat that he was getting nearer to the demon, and quickly shucked off his jacket. "Wait here, and stay quiet," Monica directed him in hushed tones. "I'll make sure Mia and her family get towards you. Remember: I'm just the distraction. I'll be fine, but if you make any sudden moves, the demon will look towards you and then our plan is dead. Got it?"

Finnley nodded mutely, then gave Monica a quick, tight hug. Surprised, she patted him on the back a little helplessly. "Good luck," he whispered, and it was her turn to nod. As she slipped into the room, Finnley felt a sudden fear, just a tightening of the chest, a constricting of the lungs, and it was not for him or his mother's car this time.

Finnley peered around the corner of the door, and what he saw was a scene of utter destruction. Most, if not all, of the plants in the room were burning, creating a forest of fire which was terrifying to behold. Flames licked the ceiling, turning the white paint black, and the air shimmered with a simmering heat. The demon took up almost the whole of the living room, even with wings closed, and its eyes and its heart were the only spots of light in the writhing mass of black ash. Finnley got the haunting feeling that if the room didn't smell like smoke from the demon's fire, it would reek of decay and the smell of ancient things.

Worse than all of that, though, was the sight of the Harts. Mia's mother was on the ground, head barely visible from behind the counter, and Mia was hovering over her with a look of shock and horror plastered on her face. Finnley could feel his own face contorting to mirror her expression, and his heart started galloping. Mr. Hart was standing between his wife and daughter and the demon, though his determined expression wavered a little bit more each time he looked back at his family.

Monica slipped into the kitchen, then grabbed possibly the only potted plant not currently on fire from the sink where it was lying. Then, reaching under the sink, she pulled out a bright red fire extinguisher and held it pressed to her back with one hand. She crept towards the back of the demon, and just as it opened its great mouth to shoot fire at the Harts, she hurled the plant at the ground nearest the demon, sending bits of broken pottery flying everywhere with a single crash that made Finnley jump.

With a roar that shook the house, the demon whipped its head around to face Monica, who was moving fast again. She had her back pressed up against the wall opposite Mia's family and was shuffling sideways, still keeping the fire extinguisher out of sight. She nodded decisively, and though she didn't take her eyes off the demon, Finnley knew it was time to get Mia and her parents out of there. Careful not to move too much, he caught Mr. Hart's eye and made a "come here" signal with his hand. He touched his daughter's arm, and together they helped Mrs. Hart into the kitchen and behind the counter with them, where they knelt down on the floor. Finnley could see now that Mrs. Hart had a severely burned leg and was bearing it bravely.

There was a sudden whoooshing sound, and Finnley's attention turned back to Monica, who had was pointing and spraying the fire extinguisher at the demon. The demon made a higher pitched screaming noise and reared up. In an instant, Monica had dropped the extinguisher and pressed herself against the window. Fingers pressed against the glass, she was slowly inching it up. Finnley wanted to call out to her, but remembered what she'd said about keeping the demon focused on her and held his tongue.

The demon, opening its mouth once more, advanced on Monica. Just as flames erupted from its mouth, she ducked and rolled out the window. Furious, the demon reared up once more, exposing its chest, and that's when Fred took the final shot. The heart of flames leaped up, then sputtered out as the demon collapsed into a heap of ashes.

After a moment, Finnley shook himself. "Monica!" he cried, tripping over the ashes at his feet as he tried to run for the window.

"I'm here!" she replied, standing up on the other side of the window. She was covered from head to toe with the ashes of the demon. "You are too," she said, pointing at him, when she'd noticed his stare.

Finnley managed a smile as he tried to calm down. He was about to say something else when Fred came in. He stood in the doorway where had Finnley had only just stood, covered in soot with gun in hand, looking grim but relieved.

"Fred!" Mr. Hart exclaimed, voice full of wonder. "Fred, I don't believe it!"

"No one hurts my family," he replied gruffly, scratching the back of his neck. Was he... embarrassed? For the first time, he noticed Mrs. Hart on the ground. "Alice! You're hurt!" He quickly knelt down beside her to examine it, though he was careful to keep his dirty hands far away. "It's red and blistering, but not much more than that... I'd say it's a second degree burn. Not too bad, but we should call 911 anyway. Mia, you do that now. John, you wash up with me and we'll get some cool water on that leg and maybe a bandage. Finnley and Monica? Make sure all the other fires are out. Be very thorough."

Finnley was amazed at how quickly Fred had assumed control of the situation. He immediately went to his work, trying to take his mind off the close encounter they had just had with the demon.

"Fred?" Mr. Hart was saying as he washed his hands in the sink. "I think it's high time you've come back to the family."