The Freaks | Sally Face

Chapter 69: The Devourers of God Origins Part 1

Sal's POV:-

I was in a state of shock, Larry's long lost Dad was standing right in front of me and I didn't have an answer for him. I felt a tremendous sense of guilt knowing that I was speaking to him rather than Larry, considering how much it pains him to speak about his Dad. I scratched the base of my neck, feeling rather uncomfortable as Mr Johnson's piercing green eyes went through me. It wasn't just the fact I was speaking to him and Larry wasn't that was making me on edge, it was more the fact that he was here... in another reality.

"I erm.. I don't know how to respond to you really..." I stuttered and locked eyes with him.

"I understand. It's probably a real shock for you really. I mean I've never met you before and well, we're talking here now..." he looked to the floor with a sad expression. "Before you ask, I never wanted to hurt Larry. I did what I did to keep him and Lisa away from harm..."

"I n-never..." I paused for a moment. "He hasn't really gone into detail about what happened... I suppose he doesn't really know what happened to you.."

"Of course he would never know the true reason I left Sal. He was just a kid..." Mr Johnson patted Larry's shoulders one final time before walking over to the window and perching himself on the ledge. "I better introduce myself properly. I'm Jim. Jim Johnson" he outstretched his large manly hands to shake mine. I walked over slowly with a bit of worry before putting my far smaller hands into his.

"Sal. Fisher" I smile weakly. "Nice to meet you Jim"

"I've seen what you've done for Larry, Sal. I want to thank you for being there for my family in my absence. You're just a kid yourself but yet you've really been there for them in more ways than you could ever know. I know Lisa adores you and treats you like another son, she's such a maternal woman and always has been.. I guess what I'm trying to say is, thank you" he lets go of my hand and puts it into his jacket pocket. "I suppose I had better explain why I'm here really..."

"I mean, it would really help.." I laugh nervously and sit in a nearby chair. "I'm just so confused Jim, I don't understand why I'm here. I don't remember getting here or how I ended up in this situation" I sigh in frustration.

"Sometimes it's hard to recall how you get to this point, hell sometimes I even forget how I came to this place. It comes in small fragments but not even I understand it"

"You don't even know how long you've been here?" I question feeling more anxious than ever that I may never leave this strange place.

"I know I've been here long enough to see my son grow into a young man. I mean I left them with no explanation just kissing them both goodbye before I..."

"Left?" I finished his sentence prompting him to nod at me. "But I don't understand, you say it was to protect them but surely staying with them would keep them safer?"

"Oh no Sal, you have no idea what I got myself involved in. If they found out about my family more so than they already probably guessed..they would've killed them before I had the chance to yell stop" he sighed and stroked his head. "It was the only way I knew how to protect them at the time, if I could do it all again... I would've never got myself involved with them regardless of the circumstances. But I had to finish it with me, not with them..."

"What had to finish with you?" I raise an eyebrow.

"The Devourers of God..." he spoke painfully and the shudder down my spine came back with a vengeance.

"How... how do you know about..." I stuttered and grabbed the glowing part of my arm for comfort.

"They've been around for years Sal... I was... part of them. Not by my own choice..." he frowned and bowed his head. "I did what I could to save my friend. To save him from that evil darkness... but it was too late..."