Page 52 of Satan's Son

Chapter 22

Ethan had redefined my outlook on life. How I saw the world wasn’t as clear-cut anymore. In some ways, it felt as if there was no point to life at all. If this was merely a ‘waiting room’ for the next world, what was the point of hanging around?

“Stop eating my food!” Archie shouted.

I looked over my shoulder. “Morning to you, too, Archibald.” I extended the potato chip package. “Want some?”

He snatched the package from my hand. “I told you to stop eating my stuff.”

“You ate my food.”

He scoffed loudly. “A day’s worth of food is nothing to a month’s worth.”

I’d learned a few things within days of leaving Ethan. One, I hated buses. Two, I didn’t like being lonely. So, I tracked down Archie, who had given me his address before he left, in case I wanted to visit him.

I doubted that he ever expected to see my face again.

“Come on, Archi-bald,you know you love having me here.”

“When is Ethan coming to collect you?” he snapped, pulling down his box of Fruit Loops. “You aren’t welcome, may I remind you.”

“No, you may not remind me.”

He huffed, sitting down in the chair across from me: “You didn’t answer my question.”

I never mentioned anything about Ethan ever coming to collect me. In fact, I’m sure here, with Archie, would be the last place he would look for me.

“Ethan’s gone back to Hell.”

His jaw dropped. “Then why are you here? Why have I been putting up with you for a month!”

“Gee, calm down, old man, you might blow a joint.” I dismissed his dramatic display of unhappiness.

“I let you stay here because I thought I was doing a favor for a friend. I didn’t realize you were nothing more than a leech.”

“Well, what do you know, I get breakfast and a show.” I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms, waiting for his lecture to continue.

“I want you out!”

“You can’t kick me out.”

“My house, my rules, and your visit is over. I mean it, Addison.” He leaned across the table, his beady eyes locking with mine. “You better be gone before I get back or, so help me God, I will make the things I did all those years ago look kind.”

With a challenging look, I leaned forward. “I thought you were in this world to do good? Not banish people.”

His lip curled, and he let out a small snarl. “Be gone when I get back!”

“And where are you going?” I asked his retreating figure.

“Away before I kill you!” he yelled before he slammed the front door, leaving me alone in his house.

And that reaction was just from eating a few of his chips. Really, the man had issues!

I didn’t like the idea of being homeless. I also didn’t like the idea of being alone. But where one is not wanted, one cannot stay.

Perhaps I should just go back to Hell. Surely, I could do something cruel and awful that would land me back in Ethan’s company.

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