Demon Moon

Bryan had always been jealous of his big brother Stefan. As seemed to be quite stereotypical, one brother had been blessed with the good looks and body of a model while Bryan was destined to be the brainy skinny nerd of the family. And of course, their parents had given him the cool name as well. Plain old blah Bryan. While the brothers were not that far apart in age, Stefan never let him forget just who was the alpha in the family, which only made Bryan even more despondent.

Stefan had been particularly cruel today, taunting Brian mercilessly when he had caught him trying on some of his clothes.

“Hey twerp! Maybe you should go shopping at babies are us. You probably could find something to fit you there. Leave the real clothes for the real men.” Stefan had left laughing to go meet his buddies. Humiliated once again, Bryan ran to his room to hide away from the world. Still, while he might not have his brother’s good looks, he wasn’t the dumb jock. He had an actual future that he wouldn’t trade for anything.

His cell rang - his only friend Nicholas, or as everyone called him, Nick. Even Nick had a way cooler name. Life just wasn’t fair. Nick was popular, cool, and, like Stefan, a great looking jock. Bryan could never figure out why he had ever chosen Bryan to be his friend. He could tell Nick anything and he wouldn’t get laughed at or teased. Nick stopped the bullies from pounding him into oblivion. He would even take Bryan for rides on his hot motorcycle. Stefan certainly would never think of doing something nice like that.  Somehow Nick always knew when he needed someone to talk to, someone who could always make him feel better. Bryan adored Nick and only wished he had been his brother instead of Stefan.

“Hello?”

“Hey Bry, my man. How about we go for a ride? You name it and we’ll go.” Good old Nick.

“Not today, okay?”

“What’s the matter bro? Stefan been at it again?”

“I just don’t want to go today.”

“Come on man. I’ll be over in five.” Nick hung up. He never would take no for an answer. Maybe that was another reason Bryan liked him so much. Nick was always there for him. True to his word, Bryan heard the rumble of Nick’s bike coming down the street soon after. “Where do you want to go?” He said as he dismounted.

“I really don’t want to go anywhere.”

“You’re going and that is that. If you don’t want to pick then I will. Now get on Bryan.” Nick rarely called him by his full name unless he meant business. The two got on and Nick sped off to parts unknown, Bryan reluctantly enjoying the thrill of the ride and being close to Nick. In the end they wound up spending the day by an isolated lake, just talking and savoring the moments they spent together. “Halloween is coming soon. Don’t make plans. I have something special planned for you. In the meantime, don’t let your douchebag brother bother you.” They headed back to Bryan’s house, both feeling tired but happy. “Talk with you soon bro.” Nick said as he sped away and Bryan went in.

The weeks went by and Halloween came. The usual assortment of kids dressed as Thor or Ironman or some other Avenger showed up at their door for candy, with an occasional traditional ghost or ghoul added to the mix. The moon had just risen when Nick came roaring up the street. Clad all in black leather that clung in all the right places, he was ready for the night. Bryan was dressed in typical fashion with his jeans and hoodie covering his entire body.

“Ready Bry?”

“Ready for what?” Bryan had no idea what Nick had planned. Knowing Nick, it could be anything.

“Just hop on the bike and you’ll see. Oh, and put this blindfold on.” Nick handed him an old sleep mask to cover his eyes.

“You’re being very mysterious tonight.”

“Trust me. You’ll like this. I promise.” Once all had been prepared and Nick was sure Bryan couldn’t see anything, they took off. It seemed like hours to Bryan, not that he was complaining, before the bike came to a halt. Nick helped him off the bike, not yet allowing him to uncover his eyes, and led him. Pine needles and dried leaves crunched beneath his feet until finally they stopped and Nick removed the mask. Moonlight filtered through the trees, exposing the clearing in which they stood. Soon Nick had made a fire and the two sat, the chill in the air adding to the creepy feeling Bryan was getting.

“Where are we? This is freaking me out.” Bryan never did like scary feeling places and this one definitely was a prime candidate for scary.

“Chill bro. Get closer to the fire and warm yourself.” The fire cast dancing shadows around the glade, like tortured lost souls doomed forever to the fires of hell.

A far away howl pierced the night air, sending chills down Bryan’s spine.  An owl hooted ominously from the towering trees as a flight of night birds suddenly took to the air, startled by some unseen presence.

“Drink this bro. It will make you feel better.” Nick handed him a flask and Bryan drank. Whatever the liquid was sure tasted bitter and it burned all the way down his throat. But Bryan trusted Nick, knowing he would never harm him. A few more swigs and he started to relax.

“Tonight, there is a Demon Moon.” Nick spoke softly as the glade once again fell into silence.

“What is a Demon Moon?” Bryan interrupted.

“If there is a full blood moon on Halloween, then it is called a Demon Moon.” Bryan looked up to the sky as the trees seemed to part ever so slightly, revealing a reddish colored full moon. He involuntarily shuddered.

“Take me home, Nick. Please. This is creeping me out.” Bryan begged like a little kid who didn’t want to go into the graveyard while trick or treating.

“Not just yet bro. Not just yet.” Bryan was stunned by his response, so uncharacteristic of his friend.

“The Demon Moon, according to folk legend, allows demons to cross realms and enter our world. Minor demons are mischievous only, causing mayhem but doing no real harm to man or beast. The major demons attempt to corrupt the souls of man and, if the demon is a soul eater, consume them. Usually the Demon Moon does not occur but once in a millennia. However, …” He paused briefly, allowing his words to sink into Bryan’s mind then continued.

“There lived a young man in a small town not far from here. John was a poor but kind man who had no family and barely eked out a living on the farm he had inherited from his folks when they passed. Always willing to help others whenever he could, he had earned the respect of all his neighbors… except for one.  Judge Barnes’ son Aaron loved to flaunt his wealth and good looks at John whenever he could. Not that John wasn’t a good-looking guy but he paled in comparison to the vain and haughty Aaron.”

“One night as John was taking a shortcut home through the woods, he met an old beggar man. They struck up an idle conversation about the weather and other trivial matters until John was confessing to the old man how much he envied Aaron’s life, that he wished he could be without a care in the world but being arrogant and uncaring like Aaron would be his worst nightmare. He was so surprised to be admitting such a thing to a total stranger yet somehow it had flown from his mouth. The beggar smiled slyly and abruptly bid John a fond farewell.”

“That night as John lay sleeping he experienced the most horrific dreams. He was being chased by the old beggar man except when the beggar man caught up with him he wasn’t a man at all but rather some sort of vile creature. His skin started to burn when the creature touched him. The intense pain woke John, screaming in agony and dripping with sweat.”

“What does all of this have to do with the Demon Moon?” Bryan asked.

“The most powerful and malevolent of all foul creatures is one known as The Dark Demon. He is a deceiver who preys on the most vulnerable souls. He can make the person’s worst nightmare become real. The Demon Moon had released The Dark Demon from his prison where he had been trapped many eons before.”

Bryan nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. “Please Nick. Let’s go home.”

“Soon Bry. Won’t be long now.” Nick continued his story.

“John was very disoriented. Early dawn light filtered through the curtains covering the windows. As his eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness of the room a cold shiver ran up his spine. He didn’t recognize anything in the room. Indeed, the room itself was unfamiliar and definitely wasn’t his bedroom where he fell asleep. He got out of the bed, his balance off and his head swimming as a wave of nausea came over his whole body. He sat back on the bed, praying he was still dreaming.”

“Aaron. A voice called from the other room. He recognized the voice – Judge Barnes! He must have been sleepwalking and come to the Barnes’ house. He was sure the situation would definitely get worse if the Judge found him here. Aaron. Time to get up. We have a long journey ahead of us today. Judge Barnes burst through the door. Come son. Get yourself dressed. John started to answer, trying to explain what he was doing in what surely must be Aaron’s bedroom, but abruptly stopped when he heard his voice. Judge Barnes stood staring directly at him, not at all surprised to see him here. Is something wrong, Aaron? Get moving. The Judge shook his head as he left the room, leaving John to ponder what had just happened. Surely the Judge had seen he was John but his voice. That hadn’t been his voice at all. It sounded… deeper, like… Aaron’s voice! But how was that possible? Sunlight began to flood the room and as it did John stared down at himself. He didn’t recognize the night clothes adorning his body but more importantly, he didn’t recognize his body. His mind swirled as he caught sight of his reflection in a window. That was not his face. It was Aaron staring back at him! Somehow, he had become Aaron. He told himself to calm down. People don’t just become other people. This couldn’t be real. He felt his face, his reflection mimicking his every move.”

“His consciousness trapped behind the chiseled good looks, he soon found as he went about the day that he also inherited the personality. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t stop himself from behaving like the arrogant Aaron.”

“John never did know what had become of his own body or the real Aaron as all traces of his old life had disappeared as though he never existed. Only he knew the truth and he was doomed to spend the rest of his days living his worst nightmare. Some say The Dark Demon still roams these woods even now, waiting for his next victim.”

“That’s just a story, right? That couldn’t really happen, could it Nick? Nick?” Somehow Nick had quickly disappeared without Bryan noticing. He started to panic. He began to wonder how it was Nick knew the story. Had he just made it up? “Come on Nick. This isn’t funny. Where are you?”

Now in full blown panic mode as he searched for his friend, he froze in his tracks when something brushed by his shoulder. He turned around to find a very amused Nick behind him. “That wasn’t very nice Nick. I was freaking out.”

“Chill bro. Everything will be fine. You’ll see.” Something didn’t seem quite right with Nick. Bryan couldn’t quite put his finger on it but it was like he wasn’t himself. He shrugged the feeling off.

“Where did you hear that story?”

“That wasn’t a story, Bry. That really happened in… let’s see… Well, I can’t quite remember at the moment.”

“Come on Nick. You’re just joking with me, right?”

“No Bryan. That did happen and yes, strange things do occur. By the way… Nick is no longer here.”

“You’re standing right here next to me. Of course you’re here. Stop scaring me Nick.”

“Scared? I have Nick’s body but Nick left the building a long time ago.” Bryan was aghast.

“Then who…” Nick’s eyes glowed a fiery red. Bryan backed away from his friend.

“I think you know who. And I know your worst nightmare.” A sudden wave of nausea overtook Bryan. The last thing he heard was maniacal laughter as his world faded to darkness.

He awoke to hot sunlight streaming down on his body. Sand fell from his torso as he groggily stood. He seemed to recall it was night and he had been in a forest glade but… no, that couldn’t be right. He looked around at the deserted beach. He always liked to come here early in the morning for his workout before the crowds came. No… wait… he didn’t work out… he… was getting confused. Of course he worked out. A short run in the morning before hitting the gym. He had to maintain his body for the photo shoots… and the hot chicks he routinely banged at night. His body was his only asset after all. He had never been a very bright guy but he had his looks and was a great athlete in college. He had even coasted through by playing sports before he dropped out to model. Who needed a fucking degree when he looked this hot? Somewhere in the back of his mind Bryan screamed silently, realizing he was trapped forever in his worst nightmare as the beautiful but dumb Trevor – male model extraordinaire.