Matthew walked in front of everyone using his Sense Others skill to search for imps hiding in the buildings. He preferred to walk distant from the others. That way it was easier to control his dark impulses. Even Ffyr was made to follow behind him.

They met some civilians along the way that joined the group to march to Sarah's school, a government designed safe point.

Matthew shot down a couple of imps before they could get too close from the group. Some teenagers, who were among the civilians, started to talk to each other and even make jokes. A sense of security came over all of them seeing how Matthew downed imps like they were merely ducks and they were just duck hunting.

The school was surrounded by police cars and two military trucks that carried troops. Both policemen and army personnel were in position to ward off any demon coming to the school.

Civilians were quickly brought in. The one who were hurt were sent to the school infirmary where the school nurses, military doctors and volunteers treated them. The others were sent inside, to the huge gym that now served as an improvised barracks for civilians to rest inside.

As soon as Matthew stepped in the school he cast Purification on himself. When the demon mana went back inside of him, his heart accelerated again. He started to tremble and had to hold in tears.

Matthew and his family found a corner in the gym that was unoccupied to rest on. The police gave them blankets and some protein bars with chocolate.

Matthew was quick to embrace himself with the blankets and sit down with his back against the wall.

"Are you cold, bro?" Sarah asked sitting beside him with her blanket still neatly folded in her hand.

"Something like it." He said not looking at her.

Sarah studied his face for some time and then asked:

"What's going on Matt? You're not yourself today."

Matthew didn't answer. He didn't know how to explain.

"He's scared." Ffyr explained sitting on his shoulder and patting his face. "But it's ok now. You don't need to fight them anymore." The fairy consoled him.

"Why is he scared?" Sarah asked confused. "He can kill those little things with a single bullet. Coming here was like a walk in the park."

That question made Matthew contort as if he was in pain. He knew she was right, but even so, the imps scared him to death. Images of what he has been through when he was in hell flashed on his mind constantly. He could hear the song as if it was the soundtrack of his life.

"It's not that simple." Ffyr said. "Those demons were the type of demons he had to face in hell."

Sarah widened her eyes. Her hand passed through Matthew's shoulder and she hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry Matt. Seeing them again must've brought bad memories." Sarah apologized.

Matthew's mother sat on his other side and hugged him too, she was listening into their conversation. His father too.

"My poor baby." Matthew's mother said patting his head.

"Why are you scared?" Matthew's father wasn't so gentle. "You're now so strong that you can destroy hordes of them on your own, can't you?"

Matthew looked at him with a face that showed he was very close to crying.

"Why are you scared, son?" His father repeated the question.

"I'm scared of them." Matthew said hiding his face looking to the ground.

"Dad. You're not helping." Sarah defended Matthew.

"That's not what I asked." Their father ignored Sarah and asked again. "Why are you scared?"

Matthew didn't answer.

"You can't be scared to die. Or to be hurt. You never were before. You fought countless enemies stronger than yourself and never once have you backed down with fear, have you, son?" The patriarch continued.

Matthew shook his head saying no.

"But they're different. You haven't seen what I saw." Matthew whispered.

"Then you're scared of something you saw." Matthew's dad concluded. "You saw something horrible that those things did and you're scared of seeing it again."

Matthew looked at his father with wide eyes. Yes. He wasn't scared of the imps. Even the first time he faced them, he was strong enough to kill them. It wasn't fighting the imps that scared him. It was what the imps did to those they defeated.

He didn't even check if his neighbor was alive. He just assumed the worst. Why? Why didn't he went inside to check on the old lady?

Matthew didn't want to see the state her body would be in.

When he got to the mall, he was expecting to see a carnage. To see the scenes he saw in hell. But it wasn't like that.

Matthew's dad knelt in front of him and put his hand over his shoulder.

"Son. Tell me. What you saw in there?"

Matthew's eyes filled with tears. With a voice struggling against his crying, Matthew described his whole experience in hell. The first time he talked about it out loud. He told them about the battle. How they were defeated. How the demons kept him and the others alive to have an audience. And then he described the horror.

His family's faces contorted in disgust, anger and pain while Matthew described the vile things he saw. The torture, the rape, the playing with the dead. The song…

"They looked like children playing in the playground." Matthew cried. "But they were playing with people's bodies."

Matthew covered his face so that no one could see him crying.

After a moment in silence, he hugged his father tightly and cried on his shirt. Feeling his father smell and warmth he felt safe, like when he was a kid and his father came to help him and everything ended up ok.

But this time was different. His father didn't have the power to fix things that time. Matthew was the one who was powerful there. He was a level 35 adventurer. Most people his level were guild masters or legends. A lot of them would certainly be heading to the portal. They would be fighting the demons and protecting the city.

Meanwhile Matthew was sitting scared in a corner. He felt ashamed.

"You have the power to not let that happen again, son." Matthew''s father said patting his back. "I understand that must be hard for you. But you're strong, son. You can do it. You don't need to be afraid. You can stop them this time."

You can stop them this time. Could he? Even if he could. What would he find going back there and facing hell again?

Sarah's phone buzzed. She picked it up, it was Faralynn. She told the elf where they were and how Matthew was.

"I don't think he'll be able to help you." Sarah informed making Matthew look at her.

"Help Lynn where? Is she alright?" He asked concerned about his girlfriend.

"Lynn and the others are teaming up to help defend the city." Sarah said.

Erin was out throughout the worst part in hell, so she wasn't traumatized. But Faralynn… Faralynn saw what he saw. She felt what he felt. They were together there. Why would she put herself in that position again?

Matthew took the phone from Sarah and put on his face:

"Lynn?!" He called her concerned.

"Hey Matt." Faralynn said. Their relationship still too early to use pet names.

"You're really going?" He asked with his voice wavering.

"I am. I can't let that happen in the city." Faralynn said. When Matthew didn't answer she added: "Don't worry. Faynn will be with us. You can stay there with your family. I'll protect you this time. I love you. Got to go!"

"Love you too…" Matthew said just moments before Faralynn hung up the phone.

Matthew then got up cleaning his face from the tears.

"You're going?" Sarah asked surprised. "You don't need to." She said.

Matthew looked at his father who just nodded at him.

"I need to face this. I can stop it. This time I can." Matthew said checking his weapons.

"I believe in you, son." His mother said getting up and cleaning his face with a tissue she got from her purse. "You're my hero."

Sarah hugged him from behind.

"You're a jerk. Making us get worried about you like this." She said breathing relieved seeing his brother almost back to normal.

"Thank you. Mom, dad, sis… Thank very much for being here for me all this time." Matthew said hugging the three of them. "I'll be right back." He added before walking away.

"May god be with you." His mother wished.

"Kick their butts." His father smiled.

"Come back safe." His sister ordered.

Ffyr got up on his shoulder and smiled at him.

"You're really ready for this?" She asked with a docile voice.

"No." Matthew said showing his hands trembling to her when his family could no longer see him. "But I can't let Lynn and the others face this while I hide."

Ffyr just smiled at him and nodded.

"Let's go."

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