EgoBlood Synopsis:

A story about a rock band with members that have all made contracts with powerful demons.

Author's Note:

I wrote this story in November of 2022, in participation of NanoWriMo for my Creative Writing Class. I enjoyed writing the story and it's characters so im putting it here too!

Chapter 1

In a small town between Heaven and Hell, gathered a small rock band called Ego Blood. Their lead singer, Amir, was walking to their studio from a nearby convenience store. The sun had set and most people were closing up shop. The sunset bathed his familiar streets in orange-golden light, with fallen brown leaves clogging storm drains. Walking back, Amir held two plastic bags filled with the favorite snacks of each band member, and a small sandwich for himself.

While crossing an intersection he noticed a black sigil burned into the road in front of him. It definitely hadn't been there before. As he got closer the sigil started to burn, he felt a sharp pain in his gut, then a tiny, deformed demon emerged from the ground. It was no larger than a baby but had slimy white skin and red eyes.

What the hell, a third? Amir thought. The baby started foaming at the mouth and had a vacant look in its eyes. As Amir looked down at it, he grimaced and placed both bags in his left hand. He had a small bottle of holy water in his back pocket for this exact situation. The tiny baby growled and lunged at his feet, gnawing into his shoes. Quickly Amir lifted his foot and slammed it back down onto the demon's neck. It howled and writhed in pain. Amir popped the cap off the holy water with his teeth and poured it directly down its throat.

The baby screamed and tried to thrash its way from under his grasp, but Amir raised his foot again and smashed it cleanly into the demon's skull. Splattering green blood all over his black leather dress shoes.

The demon stopped wriggling, its eyes going black, and turned into dark ash.

"Damn flunkies-!" Amir gritted his teeth and looked down at the damage, demon blood doesn't wash off easily…

Too bad. This had been the third time this week someone’s little demon baby had come to attack him. He hadn’t been prepared with holy water for the last two incidents, so he made sure not to be caught lacking this time. He straightened his suit and fixed his glasses, wanting to get back to the studio before it became too dark, therefore, no more distractions.

A little while later, he reached their hangout spot. A run-down hole in the wall where someone previously-stored metal pipes. Their drummer, Aaron discovered it and brought two couches to make it a cozy spot. Amir later brought in a long hazelnut coffee table to make the space homely. Some EDM-type music was blasting from inside, so they couldn't hear him knocking. He fumbled with some keys in his pocket until he found the right ones and opened the door. Aaron looked over and a smile spread across his face.

"He's back!!!" the drummer said, jumping up to “help” Amir set the bags on the table.

"Good evening to you, too." Amir sighed.  He’d bought them all something, donut holes for Aaron, cheap spicy ramen for Vincent, goat blood for Liam, and two chocolate bars for Renee.

Amir sat the bags down on their coffee table and sat next to Liam, who was sleeping. Vincent was too busy grooving to notice the bags and kept dancing. Aaron sat on the same couch as him and cheerfully dug into his donut holes. Despite the jarring music, everything was quite peaceful, they had just come off the ride of a big show, and gained a bunch of new fans. Everyone put their all into it but was exhausted now. Amir noticed someone was missing from the couches.

“Aaron!” Amir shouted from a few feet away.

“Huh”

“Where’s Renee?”

“Out back! Staring at the clouds and stuff.” Aaron said. “I think something’s up with him!”

Right, he did seem a little off when I left.

Amir got up and headed towards the back door, which led to a small porch and a backyard with dead grass and concrete. There he saw Renee, leaning on the terrace and dragging on a cigarette.  His hands were trembling.

“I thought you threw away all your packs?” Amir said. He leaned on the terrace with Renee.

“I snuck a few in my pocket, sorry.” he laughed.

It was chilly tonight, and the slight breeze hardly made it easier to stand out there. The clouds were beautiful, moonlight gave them an entirely new form. It was easy to get lost in their allure.

“Is there something bothering you?” Amir said abruptly.

“Straight to the point then,” Renee said. He let out a dry chuckle, snuffing his cigarette in an ashtray.

“My debt collection is coming soon, and I have nothing to give him.”

Our debt. A wave of thoughts raced through Amir’s mind.

“Do you…know what they’re going to take next?”

“No idea, but…probably a piece of my lung.” Renee clutched his throat and looked to the sky.

“Soon there won’t be anything left for them to take-! How much longer does this have to go on for us…?” he hugged his sides.

Amir rushed to him and clutched his shoulders.

“Look at me, Renee! I’m going to set them straight.” his jaw clenched.

“I have some cash saved from commissions-”

“You don’t have to do that.” Renee turned away, staring at the ashtray.

“It’s been decided. Please don’t worry about it.” Amir said, fixing his glasses. He leaned over the terrace and looked up to the sky.

“I brought chocolate.”

“Really...?” he smiled.

All the members of EgoBlood were indebted in some way to a demon. Several, in Amir’s case. They were to be repaid in money, blood, or a percentage of their soul. Blood was often the most viable down payment, as the other options were hardly feasible. Amir believed this vicious cycle had to end. None of his friends should repay with their lives. Many times he contemplated killing the demons that plagued them all, but it wouldn’t be as simple as stomping one out in the street. They were powerful, and had all sorts of henchmen they could sick on him at any moment, but something had to give.

Back inside, the music was quieter, and everyone was awake. Aaron was mixing a random beat on his laptop, and Vincent was watching him.

“This sounds kinda…goofy. Why are you adding airhorns?” Liam said.

“Hey! Don’t judge the process!” Aaron snapped back.

Amir prayed he wouldn’t have to sing over that beat, but Vincent seemed to enjoy it.

Renee got up and headed towards a closet where all of them put their shoes. He stored his occult books there too. There were some on blessings, prayers, and exorcisms. He grabbed a book about ritual knives and sat down. Amir sat back and took off his shoe, bringing the leftover gunk into view for everyone.

“Woah…Did you have an accident?” Aaron perked up.  

"Hilarious." Amir groaned, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket. The blood had dried onto his shoes and started crusting up in chunky, yellowing flakes. His shoes piqued Liam's interest.

"Demon blood?" he asked.

"Why, yes… Someone sent their little bloodclot to chew up my shoes-!" he said, wiping furiously at the crust.

"It was tiny? Tiny with green blood..." Liam whispered.

"Yes-"

"Red eyes?"

"Yes?" Amir was almost suspicious.

"Did it look like an ugly baby!?"

"Yes, yes. No need to shout."

"Then-" he paused. "It could have been one of Atlum's minions."

Amir grew cold at the name and looked to Liam. He caught himself from flinching and continued wiping the shoe feverishly as if to rub the leather raw, but still made no progress.

"Let me help with that-" Liam snatched the shoe and spat on it. The acid from his spit spread onto the dried blood and dissolved it instantly. He placed the shoe back into Amir's hands.

"He's no one I've ever worked for anyway. Such a scumbag..." Liam rolled his eyes and slouched into the couch.

"You don't say?"

Chapter 2

November 18th, the next day, Amir called a meeting at a local breakfast diner in the afternoon. Renee was the first to show up, still in his pajamas, followed by Liam. Vincent and Aaron arrived together, half an hour late. They all sat down at one large booth near the back of the restaurant. It was near empty save for an old man reading the newspaper near the front- he was the manager. A waitress handed them menus. They had an assortment of pancakes, waffles, and burgers, a very typical diner. Amir cleared his throat.

"I've gathered everyone here to discuss our current financial state. We need to talk about our contracts-"

Everyone let out a groan of protest.

“Can I finish-?”

 They all hated talking about their debts. It was depressing.

"Not even a good morning? That's cold, Amir!" Vincent said.

"It's two in the afternoon," Amir said, glancing at his watch.

"Anyway," he continued. "Mines is coming to collect on the 21st, and he wants about...  four-thousand three fifty this month."

"THREE FIFTY? Where'd the extra three hundred come from?" Renee said, suddenly feeling wide awake.

"Inflation. More women. Who knows? I have it covered." Amir flipped a fork around his fingers and stared past Renee's head. Aaron sat to his left side already dozing off, and Vincent hunched over the menu, eyeing the hell out of some waffles.

“Vincent, when is yours coming to collect?” Amir asked him.

“She isn’t collecting anymore, she’s started taking my memory.”

Amir’s heart dropped. Vincent put down the menu.

“Small things, like my sister’s cat’s name and the high school I went to. But a week ago, I woke up and forgot who I was…” he looked away. “It’s not the first time this happened either…”

“How often does this happen?” Amir asked.

“Twice a month! Just like collections!” Vincent chuckled to himself, wiping a tear from his eye. “It’s kinda funny, isn’t it? What she takes may change, but when she does never changes!” Vincent was laughing hysterically now, a wave of dread washed over them all.

Amir looked to Liam, his resolve hardened.  

“If one party dies, then the contracts are terminated, right?”

“Yes…” Liam said, reluctant to answer.

“Then we kill them-” Amir sneered. “Why perpetually pay our debt, sacrificing our lives for eternity, when we can simply end it? What do you think, Liam?” he said, leaning towards Liam.

“You’ve been waiting to say that, huh?” Liam replied.

Amir clasped his hands together, saying nothing.

“Are you familiar with the demon's hierarchy?"

“Vaguely.”

"First class, second class, third class, and fourth class. I'm in the fourth class. Bottom of the barrel, but the demons you're dealing with are in the second and higher classes. All of this is to say that if you want to kill them, you're in deep shit."

“I’m aware,” Amir said.”But it is our most timely option, as we don’t have much time. I would-”

“Are you gentlemen ready to order?” the waitress asked them and smiled. When did she even get here?

“Oh, erm. A black coffee for me, please.” Amir said, hardly glancing at the menu.

“And a hot chocolate for him,” he said nodding to Aaron, who was asleep.

“Orange juice,” Vincent said.

“I’ll have a lemonade, thank you.” Renee was scrambling through the menu.

“A bloody Mary, please.” Liam grinned. Amir side-eyed him.

The waitress closed her notebook and promptly disappeared into the kitchen.

Vincent drew his gaze to Amir.

“Is killing them even possible?” he looked incredibly somber. “They’ve got to be immortal or something...”

“We will make it happen, Vincent. Trust me.” Amir smiled and pat him on the back.

“She is no one to play with, she’s really bad news, y’know? I want to help take her down if you’re serious.”

After breakfast, everyone went their separate ways. Amir and Renee went to the hangout spot, Liam went back to his apartment in Hell, and Aaron went home most likely to mix some more beats.

When Vincent returned home, he found scribbled on his bedroom walls, “My Name is Vincent, My Name is Vincent” written in black paint.  A quaint reminder. The rest of his room was in shambles, with sheets ripped off the bed, and paper shredded all over the black carpet. On several post-it notes, a grocery list was written. Eggs, cheese, hot pockets, and so on. He laid down in his bed and stared at the ceiling. It was so, quiet. Deafeningly quiet.

“Maybe I’ll get online…” He tried sitting at his computer, but his vision grew clouded and black, and he fell asleep in his gaming chair.

Later that night at the hideout, Amir was trying to contact an old friend. He’d gotten a gift for her, sealed in a box that he placed in his suit pocket. He’d asked Renee to help him paint a portal sigil to Hell.

“Are you sure this is going to work?”

Renee was shivering, Amir seemed unfazed. They were in the backyard drawing black sigils on the concrete in the shape of one big circle.

“I’ve done it before-” Amir finally replied. “I’ll place the candles.”

He got up and carefully placed about six wax candles all around the circle.

“Grimoura is a good friend of mine either way. It won’t hurt to visit her.”

“Eh.” Renee groaned, he didn’t like Grimoura very much.

“Stay behind me,” Amir said.

Then, standing on the circle's outer ring, he sliced his left palm and let the blood drip. Renee winced. When two drops of blood fell on the sigils, they lit up and turned a brilliant royal blue. The blue flames of the candles grew and reached for each other in the center. The air between them got colder, and the ground beneath the sigil heaved and collapsed in on itself, forming a grandiose portal.

“I won’t be there for long, just make sure no one tries to join us inside of here.”

“I know the drill-” Renee said, he brought his athames outside too, just in case.

Renee stepped up to Amir and started wrapping his left hand with gauze.

Amir looked up at his face, his cheeks were slightly gaunt and his eyes looked a little distant.

“I apologize for asking you to help me so late, I know it’s not a very ideal Friday night…” Amir said.

Renee laughed, grinning at him.

 “It’s alright, nobody should have to go and open up portals by themselves anyway-”

“I’m serious. I am… grateful to be by your side, Renee.” Amir looked at the ground beneath them. The portals’ low hum verberated behind them.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Renee said, tying up the gauze on Amir’s hand into a neat bow.

“Demons and all?” Amir asked, pushing his glasses back and turning toward the portal.

“Eh. Why not.” Renee said.

“Thank you,” Amir said, before jumping into the portal.

The hole swallowed him up, and closed up, only leaving a 1-inch pinhole in its place.

Renee stood alone now in the cold, staring at the sigils they had just drawn. It had to be about midnight now, it was completely dark. He placed the athames in his back pocket down on a table and sat down. The stars shown brighter than they had last night, why was that? Before he could figure it out, a sharp pain pricked his chest. He doubled over, gasping for air when another prick felt like it pierced his lungs.

Coughing and clutching his chest, he looked over to find a shadowy figure standing over him, red flames burning at their feet.

You-? Renee barely sputtered out.

“You’re late.” a booming voice said.

The shadows around him dissipated and revealed a 7ft muscular man with grey skin and black horns coming out of his jaws. He had numerous scars on his face, including two on his eyes that left him nearsighted.

“I have enough money, Vitroth-!”

“Then where is it? I don’t have all night.” Vitroth leaned down to Renee, who was now on the floor.

Renee pushed himself up and looked to his face.

“I-” he was shaking.

“What was that?”

“I..Hope…You...Burn-!” Renee gathered every ounce of saliva he had and spat in Vitroth's face.

The loogie landed on his eye and slid down his face.

“ Fucking punk!” Vitroth, blinded by rage,  gripped Renee by the scalp and lifted him off the ground. He tightened his left fist and punched Renee’s gut, knocking the wind out of him. Renee fell to his knees and sucked in for air, only to be greeted by another blow to the temple. His ears started ringing and his vision went blurry.

Vitroth kneeled down to him and suddenly adopted a nicer tone.

“Apologies, but don’t you want to see your family again? Do they mean nothing to you? Because with the path you’re on, your end of the deal is never gonna be repaid. Shape up for both our sakes, why dontcha?”

“I’ll… ki..ll..you..” Renee’s voice was hoarse and the words hardly strung together.

“Whatever, man. I’m taking a part of your lung as collateral. Ciao!” Vitroth snapped his fingers and Renee’s lungs filled with black smoke, fire consuming every breath he took. Flames appeared under Vitroth's feet once again, and he disappeared into shadow.

Smoke was still pouring out of Renee’s mouth. He looked towards the portal on the concrete, the candles were still blue and lit. Relief washed over him.

“Tha…nk…good..ness.” he said, collapsing to the ground.

Chapter 3

On the other side of the portal, Amir was greeted with a familiar landscape. He was on a path that led to a grandiose palace on a cliff overlooking a city. The sky was a deep crimson red, and it was quite humid, as per usual. Along the path numerous glowing blue mushrooms grew, which were either lethal or hallucinogenic. Grimoura was a fan of acid trips so they probably did both. Amir looked down at his watch, the hour and minute hands were spinning in reverse of each other, while the second hand remained normal. The air smelled vaguely of burnt frankincense, with a bit of citrus.

Before long Amir reached the palace’s doors. They were made of a heavy metal, with two intricate designs of women reaching toward each other on either side of the doors. In the center was a giant engraving of a singular closed eye. Amir tried knocking on the door, but the metal was hot and nearly burnt his hand.  

“Hello-? Grimoura?” he called.

Suddenly the engraved eyeball sprung to life, revealing a bloodshot iris and white pupils.

“Yeesh-” Amir said, unnerved.

The eye looked him up and down before rolling back and opening the door, revealing white pristine halls. Further down the hall were multiple, interchanging staircases, doors, and portals all twisting apart from each other.

“Hurry up.” the eyeball said. Amir side-eyed it. Once he was inside the doors immediately shut him in.

He straightened his suit, where was Grimoura? The grand hall he walked through was much cleaner than it was the last time he came, and now it was lined with ivory pillars. It was much colder inside too, they must have paid for some air conditioning…

Abruptly, a blue sigil blazed onto the floor in front of him. Blue flames danced on top of the symbol and sparks started flying out of it. Smoke gathered around and formed a tornado around it. Heart and star-shaped blue fireworks whizzed out of the smoke and flew past Amir, who made sure none of the sparks landed on his suit.

“Look who dragged his candy-ass all the way from the surface to see little ol’ me!!” Grimoura bellowed.

“Ha-Ha,” Amir said, with a phony smile.

The smoke dispersed and the fireworks hit their climax as it revealed Grimoura, wearing a big church hat and a white bodycon dress with blue satin on the inside. Her skin was jet black, save for her face, which she painted white with elaborate blue makeup. She posed dramatically with a big grin on her face, waiting for applause.

Amir clapped a little bit.

Grimoura bowed multiple times to the applause of her audience.

“Why thank you, thank you! Is there a reason for this gracious visit? Oh! Of course there is! Nobody ever visits me for fun…”

She frowned, then grabbed Amir’s hand and started dragging him towards one of the doors in the hall.

“Sorry. I did bring an offering, though.” Amir said.

“Oh?”

They’d finally reached one of the numerous doors against the hall. This one had an intricate design around the door’s arc, like ivy growing on stone, all in white. She opened the door and they slipped inside.

Another all-white room, this time with a tea table and two chairs in the center of it. The back end of the room had an enormous window, carved to match the silhouette of a church’s stained glass window. Outside, the window showed a scene completely unlike the landscape Amir saw when he was outside. The sky was a deep midnight blue with a glowing crescent moon hanging above the clouds. To the right, an array of black castles resting on a cliffside, with heavy groves shrouding their true foundations. For miles on end, there was nothing but thick gray mist stretching toward the horizon. To the left, even more castles. All of them, including Grimoura’s palace, seemed to face toward the heavenly light of the moon.

Amir looked behind him. No one. Grimoura already sat down at the table, a cup of tea in hand. She clapped twice and a candelabra and two plates flew onto the table. Amir sat down at the table when he discovered that the chairs were unbelievably hard.

Grimoura saw his discomfort and said, “Sorry, haven’t replaced those in a while.”

“It’s… fine…” he said, shifting in his seat. “The offering…” He reached into his left breast pocket and pulled out a small black box. Inside was a tiny, delicate pearl necklace.

“PEARLS?!?!” Grimoira lit up. Amir handed her the box. She could hardly contain herself.

“I would KILL for pearls!” She hugged the box to her chest and rocked it like a baby.

“Wait.” she glared at him.

“How did you get this? Aren’t you a little strapped for cash?”

“I have my methods…” Amir said, crossing his arms.

She squinted at him for a little longer before looking back to the necklace.

“Whatever!!” She giggled. “This is super cute anyway!!”

“Glad you enjoy it,” Amir said, clearing his throat. He clasped his hands together.

“I want to ask for a favor…”

Grimoura tilted her head.

“Our demonic contracts have become… severe, for lack of better words.  They’ve been straining us. My members, my friends- all of their contracts are coming to collect soon. None of them let on much, but I feel the pain ebbing from them as if it were my own…”

Amir’s grip tightened and he looked away. Bitterness rose within him.

“Then what are you going to do about that? Kill them?” Grimoura said sarcastically.

“Yes. Could I ask you for assistance?”

“Lower your voice!” Grimoura hushed him and blew out the candles.

She clapped once and their tea table and chairs were hoisted into the air and flown next to the window. There, their faces were lit by moonlight. She clapped again and a mirror flew to her hand.

“Please, Grimoura.”

“I know your not stupid, Amir. Terminating the contracts won’t reverse the side effects.”

“I’m not going to perpetually repay our blood debt, if that’s your alternative. I’m going through with it.”

Grimoura sneered.

“Atlum already knows what you’re up to, doesn’t he?”

Amir sat motionlessly. Of course he knew.

“I’m not afraid of him.” That was a lie. 

“Oh? Then do me a favor.” Grimoura handed him the mirror.

Look through this and tell me what you see.

The mirror reflected Amir, himself, truly. His locs were still tied in a ponytail, and his glasses were still on. But his skin… It was still brown but… The skin around his mouth and jaw had melted away, revealing rotten bone and muscle beneath. His neck's skin turned purple and blue, bruised. When he lifted his hand, all that remained was sinew and bone.  Behind him was the shadowy figure of a man hanging limp. His heart stopped.

He lifted his gaze to Grimoura.

“What does this mean-?”

“Your contract has been sealed. You’re a dead man, Amir.” She took a deep breath.

“Even if your contract was terminated, it’s too late.”

He sat back, gazing at the mirror.

“...How big of a sacrifice would I have to make, contractually?” Amir asked.

Grimoura furrowed her brows and stared at the table.

“Then, my fate is sealed.” Amir looked out the window. The mists still shrouded the horizon. Light rain still fell past them.

“What about everyone else?”

Grimoura closed her eyes in thought, as if to search for the answer.

“They have time.”

“Then I’ll carry on,” he said.

“If that is your wish, then I’ll help you fulfill it, Amir,” she said, placing her fist on the table.

She snapped her fingers and an armoire of silver weapons flew in through the door. Spears, bows, and several shields. But a pair of twin pistols caught Amir’s eye.

“Those are…beautiful,” he pointed to them. They were large Desert Eagles, with lacy silver woven on to make the guns look like they were twisted and organic. A large piece of sapphire was embedded into the handles, with small white gems accenting their blue hue.

“Those are my favorites too, don’t break them!!” Grimoura said. The guns descended into Amir’s hands. The sapphire from the handle embedded itself into his palm and then melted. He willed them to appear, and they materialized in his hands again.

“Amazing…” he said, astonished.

“ Thank you. Truly.” He felt indebted to her, again.

“Don’t sweat it, champ.” she smiled. She snapped and the armoire went away. The tiny black box Amir had given her was still on the table.

“Do me one solid and we’ll be even-!” she said, a terrible grin on her face.

“Hm??” his voice hitched.

“Bring me back a double fudge banana sundae with chocolate syrup, strawberries and nuts!”

“Er… just a sundae?”

“With sprinkles-”

“Right, right. No problem.” Amir smiled and got up from the seat, stumbling. His legs had fallen asleep.

“When you get back, make sure to check on your friends. All of them.” She looked out the window. It was no longer midnight, across the horizon sunlight started hitting the clouds.

“Of course…Be well, Grimoura.”

He left her tea room, and closed the door behind him. The hallway with ivory pillars was gone. So was the front door. He looked behind him, all there stood were plains of dark grass and crimson red sky. Following the path he came from, he saw the small portal they had opened still there, barely functioning. It had shrunk considerably, so he pried it open and went through.

Chapter 4 

Two hours had passed. The blue portal on the pavement widened again, and Amir emerged from it, left with a slimy green residue on his clothes and hair from the trip. On the terrace, he found a certain someone slouched against a wall, lighting a cigarette.  

“Renee-!” he said, running to his side. He was pressing an icepack to his right eye, which was bruised and purple.

“You look gross…” Renee said, looking up at Amir.

“Nevermind that. What happened to you?”

“Collections. Vitroth finally caught up to me.” he grimaced. “I hocked a loogie in his eye, then he beat the shit out of me…”

“You spat on him? No wonder.”

“Yeah, yeah. At least I have another month until that happens again. Renee pressed the icepack to his cheek.

“How was your little visit, anyway?” he asked.

“Eventful,” Amir said, materializing the pistols into his hands.

“Grimoura was gracious this time…”

“No shit-!” Renee was awestruck, the silver on the guns glittered under the moonlight. Amir sat down next to him.

“What did Vitroth take, by the way?”

“Blood, of course. And something from my lungs, I probably have a hole in there now or something!” he laughed.

“I’m sorry for not being there. If that is any consolation.”

“Well you’ve got something that’ll help us in the long term, won’t it? A black eye for two hand canons?

“That’s dubious, Renee.”

“Seems like a win to me-! I for one can’t wait to put a bullet through his head, if you’ll let me.”

“Of course.”

The following afternoon, Aaron and Vincent were greeted with the sight of both Amir and Renee passed out on the couches in their hideout.

“Are they dead?” Aaron asked, pushing Renee’s legs to the side, pulled out his laptop, and sat down.

“Seems like it…” Vincent said, poking Amir’s head with a stick he found outside.

At the last poke, Amir flinched and turned around to see who was attacking him.

“Rise and grind Grandpa!!” Vincent said.

“What time is it?” Amir groaned, squinting at Vincent.

“Get-your-ass-up o’clock!!!”

Amir glared at him.

“Just kidding, it’s two-thirty,” he said, laughing slightly then slinking into a seat next to Aaron.

“Right, it’s a bit late…” Amir put on his glasses and looked over to Renee, who was still asleep, face down on the couch cushions.

“Where’s Liam?” Amir asked the room.

“Dunno,” Vincent said. “But he’ll probably come by later.”

That was a little strange. Usually, Liam was one of the first ones there.

“Could you turn on the TV? I wanna see the news…” Vincent asked Aaron.  

“Why can't you?”

“I’m busy.” Vincent said, crossing his arms.

“Then I guess it’s not happening!”

“FINE!!!” Vincent got up in a huff and turned the “TV” on, it played a jingle as the screen lit up. He flipped it to some random news channel and sat back down.

Their “tv” was a computer on a desk with an enormous screen, that acted as both entertainment and a heater in the winter.

Suddenly, Renee stretched himself awake and kicked both Aaron and vincent off the couch.

“HEY!” they yelled.

“Huh? Sorry.” Renee rubbed his eyes and squinted around the room. He saw Amir had fallen back asleep and sat up.