Troy froze, startled, and snapped his head around.
The newcor wore a priest's black cassock, but his skin was yellow-toned, his face youthful.
"Who the hell are you?" Troy demanded, certain he'd never seen this man before.
"You're young," Gideon Black said mildly, "but your thods are already cruel enough."
Off to the side, Jas suddenly lunged at Gideon, hoping to knock him down by surprise.
But just as he got within arm's reach, the priest sidestepped with ease, sticking out a foot at just the right mont. Jas stumbled forward, caught nothing but air, and went crashing face-first into a rock—losing a tooth in the process.
Troy struggled to break free, but it was like his arm had been clamped inside an iron wall.
"Gideon!" Dustin's eyes lit up with excitent when he recognized the newcor.
"I thought you weren't coming!"
"Ran into so trouble on the way," Gideon said with a faint smile. "Got delayed."
Mike and Lucas stared curiously at the young priest. They'd heard Dustin brag about him for days, but seeing him in person… he looked barely older than Nancy. Could he really be as formidable as Dustin claid?
anwhile, Troy had pieced things together from their conversation.
"Hey, let go," he barked. "Or I'll get my mom involved!"
It was his usual threat. His parents were big donors to Hawkins Middle School and well-connected in town. Whenever Troy caused trouble, Mommy made it disappear.
"I don't care what church you're from," Troy sneered. "I'll file a complaint with your parish!"
In Hawkins, a single letter from a wealthy patron could cause a priest serious headaches. But Gideon wasn't from here, and the threat rolled right off him.
He was about to give the bully a lesson when sothing made him pause.
Sothing was coming.
Gideon let go of Troy and stepped back a few paces.
Troy, misreading entirely, smirked in triumph.
"Thought so. Now, get on your knees!" He jabbed a finger at the ground.
Mike and Lucas exchanged looks of despair. Dustin was boiling inside—how could Gideon be afraid of Troy?
Then, without warning, a black shape burst out of the bushes and hurtled toward Troy.
Gideon caught a good look at it.
A Demobat?
His brow lifted slightly. In the original world, these creatures lived in the "Upside Down," each the size of a human head, vicious and usually traveling in swarms.
But here there was only one.
The Demobat slamd into Troy's face. He yelped and clawed at it, but its talons dug in, and the long proboscis tore at his flesh.
Jas wanted to help, but his legs trembled too hard to move.
Gideon rely crossed his arms and watched. From his judgnt, the Demobat wasn't even that dangerous —no need to rush. Besides, it was a good chance for the school bully to learn sothing.
After a few monts, when Troy was truly panicking, Gideon finally called out in mock urgency:
"Need a hand?"
"Yes! Help ! Get it off!" Troy gasped, barely able to speak between struggling and screaming.
Gideon produced a vial of holy water and beckoned Dustin and the others over.
"Dustin," he said loudly—loud enough for Troy to hear, "he's in serious danger. You'll have to pour the holy water on the creature. Then…" He stressed the words, "make sure to stomp hard and break its wings."
Turning back to Troy, he added almost gently, "It might hurt a little."
"I don't care! Just do it!" Troy shouted desperately. "It's tearing my face apart!"
Gideon handed the vial to Dustin, giving him a knowing look.
The boys got the ssage. They darted around the monster, crouched beside Troy, popped the cork, and dumped the holy water straight onto the Demobat.
The creature screeched, smoke rising as its flesh sizzled and dissolved.
Then ca the stomping—Dustin, Mike, and Lucas taking turns, their feet coming down again and again.
All the while, they kept their voices perfectly "concerned."
"Troy! Are you okay?!"
"Hang in there—we're almost done!"
…
Gideon nodded approvingly. Good boys.
Jas looked on nervously, worried they might actually hurt Troy. He glanced at Gideon several tis, wanting to intervene, but didn't dare.
No one in that clearing was in more pain than Troy.
Earlier, Troy had already been mauled by the Demobat.
Now, with Dustin, Mike, and Lucas stomping down hard, his misery reached a whole new level.
But he didn't dare tell them to stop—what if the creature wasn't completely dead yet? All he could do was grit his teeth and endure the punishnt.
Sticky fluids, slick intestines, the stench of blood and rot—
When all these sensations hit his brain, Troy broke down and cried.
He regretted it deeply.
He never should have followed Dustin and the others here.
After a while, Gideon finally gave the signal to stop.
The three boys reluctantly stepped away from Troy. Today was, without a doubt, their happiest day since starting middle school. The humiliation and resentnt they had bottled up from years of Troy's bullying had all poured out in that mont.
They had finally learned sothing important—
A bully is not invincible. Even he has sothing to fear.
The three looked toward Gideon.
Aside from Dustin, who already idolized him, Mike and Lucas now gazed at the young priest with wide-eyed admiration.
He really could exorcise demons.
And he had helped them defeat Troy.
This was like having a paladin from Dungeons & Dragons fighting by their side.
Across the way, Troy staggered to his feet. His clothes were filthy, and he'd clearly gotten sothing in his mouth.
He gagged, nearly vomiting.
Jas stepped forward to help him up, but one whiff of the foul stench made him think twice.
Limping and hunched, Troy started to shuffle away.
"Hold it."
Gideon's calm voice stopped him in his tracks.
"We just saved your life. Not even a thank you?"
Troy kept his head down, unable to et Gideon's gaze.
"Th-thanks…" he muttered.
"Didn't hear you. Louder," Gideon's voice sharpened suddenly.
Troy flinched hard, his body trembling.
"Th-thank you… thank you for saving ."
Seeing the school bully so ek, Dustin, Mike, and Lucas felt their hearts racing with an intoxicating thrill they had never experienced before.
"Go on," Gideon waved him off.
Troy, ignoring the pain in his body, jogged away as fast as he could, Jas trailing behind.
"Gideon! You're the best!"
Dustin rushed forward and hugged him. Today had been even better than his birthday.
"See? I told you Gideon was amazing! I wasn't lying!" he boasted to his friends, hopping in excitent.
Mike and Lucas nodded eagerly.
"Listen up, kids," Gideon said, motioning them closer.
"When you're out there, stand your ground. You don't have to be polite to those who show you no respect—manners are for the people who deserve them."
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