No End in Sight

I lay out the whole truth about banishing demons to Cody as clearly as possible. I know this answer doesn't reassure him. It only clarifies that he's helpless in this situation. He occasionally twirls the handle of his cup, listening intently to everything I'm telling him. When I finish, I glance at Cody.

"So, I'm completely helpless. All that's left for me is to wait until one of them kills me," He says, his words tinged with bitterness.

I struggle to find a response. Partly, it's true. It would be too harsh.

"Cody, demons are terrifying, but that's why we're here. Our sole and primary task is to hunt them," I say, hoping to give him at least a glimmer of hope.

Unfortunately, my words only make the situation worse. Cody's head suddenly jerks up, and his eyes light up with anger, distrust, and despair. He takes a deep breath as if trying to hold back an outburst of emotion with all his might.

"I can't just do nothing and hope that you and your friends always show up on time. I don't want to die doing nothing, waiting for some rescue that may never come," He says angrily, his voice low but intense, ensuring that only I can hear him.

I completely understand his position, but it's the only thing I can tell him. I don't have a magical solution for this unique situation either.

"I know," I sigh. "But you're still alive, right? You said the demons have been chasing you for a while. So, it won't end like this."

Cody looks into my eyes again, and I notice a strange shine. It takes a moment for my sluggish mind to realize that they are tears. Slowly but surely, tears are welling up in his eyes. He quickly turns away and stares into the distance.

"Yes, I'm still alive. But not because of you, not because of your friends. I fought them myself. Yes, I survived, but that's it. I'm constantly running. Running with no end in sight."

*

Cody left the bookstore some time ago, but his words still echo in my mind. The more I think about it, the more I understand his feelings. Sadness. Anger. Fear. Despair. I understand it all, more deeply than I'd like. I know how terrifying it is not to understand why certain things happen. But for Cody, it's at least five times worse. He's just an ordinary guy who shouldn't even know such things exist, let alone face them. His life is hard, not because that's just how it is for normal people, but because he knows and sees too much.

As I wipe the bar counter with a cloth, I sigh deeply. I have no idea how or why he ended up in this mess, but I feel insanely sorry about it.

"Still thinking about that kid?" Arthur's voice sounds nearby.

He sits on the other side of the bar and puts his hands on the countertop.

"I have to admit, yes. I can't understand why he's somehow involved in all of this," I confess.

Arthur sighs.

"That kid's life is insane. But I don't get what Baltazar expects from us either. We can't drop everything and watch him around the clock," He says, then suddenly sits up straight, his eyes sharpening with resolve. "I think it's time we question him a bit."

Before I can respond, Arthur closes his eyes and his head nearly crashes into the bar. Luckily, I catch his forehead just in time, cushioning the impact. I silently curse his impulsiveness and figure I should be there too. I quickly pull up a chair, close my eyes, and follow Arthur into the other realm, no longer concerned about my own head.

When I arrive in the white room, Arthur is already interrogating Baltazar. Seeing me, Baltazar smiles and strides toward me as if Arthur isn't even there anymore.

"Nathaniel," He greets with a wave, "I didn't expect so many visitors today."

"I didn't plan on visiting either, but someone needs to calm him down before he turns your office upside down," I reply, nodding toward my agitated colleague.

Baltazar laughs heartily and pats my shoulder.

"How many times do I have to say it? This is not an office, but a place where two worlds meet. Bardo," He intones solemnly, emphasizing the last word.

I roll my eyes.

"Call it whatever you want. I work here, so it feels like an office to me," I respond, half-joking but also quite serious.

Baltazar just smiles and shakes his head.

"Whatever you call it, what brings you here today?" He asks.

"I already told you, it's about that kid! Cody!" Arthur shouts from across the room.

"Oh, right," Baltazar says, as if suddenly remembering. "What about him?"

"I don't understand what we're supposed to do with him. He's neither a hunter nor a demon. Why are we responsible for him?" Arthur flares up, his frustration evident.

I shoot him a glare, but he ignores me completely. Here we go again.

"I know you've already met him. I'm not sure how much he revealed to you, but I trust you grasp the gravity of the situation. For some reason, demons are chasing Cody." Baltazar explains.

"And? Tell us something we don't know," Arthur interrupts impatiently.

Baltazar demonstratively coughs.

"At the moment, I don't quite understand what's going on either. However, I've been instructed to keep a close eye on him and offer protection if needed. That's the directive from higher authorities. Unfortunately, they haven't disclosed any further details to me."

Arthur snorts. The way he shifts in his seat and the subtle tension in his muscles betray his irritation. I'm not blaming him. We're both grappling with the same feeling of confusion. We're left to piece the puzzle on our own. Expected to handle whatever comes our way without clear guidance or insight. It's a situation that breeds frustration and discomfort, and Arthur's reaction reflects that perfectly.

"That's just great. How do you suggest we do that? We already have our hands full." Arthur persists.

"I understand your concerns, but you'll have to find time for this as well," Baltazar insists, his voice firm. "It's necessary until we find a solution. In all my years of working in the spirit world, I've never encountered anything like this. A human, an ordinary human, who can see demons? I must admit, it frightens me as well."