Hell's Gifts - Complete Series Boxset

by Mark Russo

  Charlie did not comment on that. “Talk to Emma again. You might even force your hand. Push her to admit if he has already reached out to her. That said, I would still tackle the James issue first.”

  “Business management shit. Come on. Do you even hear yourself?”

  “I’m trying hard to stick to the human’s jargon. You should do it as well.”

  I grunted from between his arms, I think I made my point clear.

  “Besides you not appreciating me using business language, James is an issue.”

  “I’m well aware of that, Charles. We don’t like humans acquainted with the Paths at all.”

  “Exactly. We hate that. We had established only one human would have skills. Not a single one more.”

  “That’s why we’re sending a Shadow to track him down. Once we have his location, we’ll deploy heavy artillery.”

  “So, I should be okay with you using human military expressions?”

  “Fuck you, Charlie. Okay, I see the rift over there.”

  I jumped off his arms and approached it. The hole in the ground looked smaller than I remembered, and it was not emitting a single ray of light. It was not exactly what I had expected.

  “What happened down here?”.

  “We have more proxies. They take regular care of this. Most nights, they come here, dig up some soil elsewhere and throw it in.”

  “Charlie, can I ask you something?”

  “Sure, go ahead, my soft friend.”

  “Are you fucking retarded?”

  “What have I done now? I—”

  “You feed Plane K with materials from another plane. Do you think it’s a smart thing to do?”

  “I had no—”

  “Why the hell didn’t you ask me?”

  “I have no idea what will happen, but, at some point, Plane K will reject the foreign material. And I can’t tell what shape it will have.” He pouted.

  “Get one human to stay put in here. We don’t want whatever will come from the rift to roam freely in the woods.”

  “I’ll get one of them here right away. Can you do the other thing now?”

  “I’m doing it. Can’t you see it?”

  An intangible, black Shadow rippled from the hole. It stood almost two meters tall in its transparent body.

  I told her to locate James. She left right away.

  “Do you think Shadows can understand humans’ languages?” the dean asked.

  “I guess not. That’s why I used my mind to talk with it.”

  “That body-versus-mind distinction they do here means nothing to me.”

  “I think the same. But what can you do? The Great Communion has its own plans to tackle this too.”

  “I know, I know. Let’s go back.”

  “Why? Don’t you want to hug me in the dark of the night, dumbass?”

  That time, he laughed.

  7

  Emma

  “Let me rephrase, Ms. Shaktar, okay?” Abigail asked, wearing her frilly shirt.

  She nodded rigidly.

  “DMT stands for Decision-Making Tool.”

  “I think everyone would agree with that, Abby,” the bony business woman answered.

  “Yes, I just want to be sure I understood everything correctly. We can use this software to process the output of DPT. By that, I mean, it processes the answers to its questions and makes the best decision possible. A business decision.”

  “Again, you are not mistaken. Our DMT can identify the best course of action, given a certain business scenario. We’ve seen some examples. Do you want me to go through those again?”

  I guess she addressed the entire classroom, as we all muttered some sounds or nodded.

  “Okay, guys. We all agree, DPT helps us in processing our data in a more intuitive way. Once we process our data and have a clearer understanding of how to use it, we still have the more complicated task in front of us. I’m talking about decision making. You, Matis, do you find it difficult to choose? Do you like war or porn TL worlds better?”

  Most of us appeared to reflect about that. Me? I like porn much better. Gore is my second best choice.

  “I wouldn’t be capable of choosing on the spot,” Matis replied.

  Ms. Shaktar face contorted into a smile. “I asked Matis this time, but I could have asked anyone. It’s very difficult to make a choice. In a recent global survey, fifty-eight percent of the respondents claimed they might need some help when deciding between two equally appealing alternatives. The questionnaire featured items like, ‘Is coffee or tea better?’ or ‘Do you favor red or blue?’ If we struggle to choose in our everyday life, you can easily imagine how much we struggle when it comes to business decisions. DMT is the answer.”

  We applauded, genuinely. Most of us also smiled. I was smiling. I made eye contact with Maria; she sat in the very next armchair. She gave me a thumbs up; I did the same.

  I had left the classroom for not even a second when I finally realized something. That lost thought that lingered in the back of my mind for days now was crystal clear. These softwares and systems needed no kind of human control or supervision. We were completely useless to DST, DPT, and most of all, DMT. I mean, those things together scraped data, organized them and decided based on the outcomes of the analysis. Even if they would not kill me on the school premises before time, I really stood no chance against technology. None of us had.

  I had to talk with the only friend I had at EIBM, Maria. I needed someone else’s opinion. Before Ms. Shaktar praised our beloved tools, Maria said something about the proxies. Maybe she had gathered some new information about that as well. I also had to remember I could not share any details about the latest events. I had to protect her. Or maybe, should I have told her to run like hell, far away from that place? I did not have a clear picture about what would have been better.

  I knew where I was going next. What was better than spending time with her?

  “I really had no idea you might be this good at cooking, Maria. What’s the name of this delicacy I’m devouring?”

  “Tortilla de patatas. It’s not that hard to make. I can teach your Swiss ass.”

  I shook my head. “No, hon. I’m terrible in the kitchen. I can barely, barely use a microwave. It took me some time to even learn that.”

  She giggled, her cheeks pinkening.

  “Now that we’ve had enough fun, tell me something. Were you trying to say something about our beloved proxies before that Indian dinosaur started blabbering?”

  Her face became serious. “I overheard nothing relevant. There is one thing though. Do you remember that guy I talked to you about?”

  “I do not. Who?” I wasn’t sure I understood.

  “That guy in the canteen. The one who used the word proxy.”

  “Oh, yes. I get it now. What about him?”

  “Well, Emma. I never saw him again after that day.” I crossed my legs.

  “Maybe he was just visiting; maybe he left. We don’t know. I wouldn’t consider the most extreme implications only because he was not around for a few days.”

  She got closer. “I remember him saying he was just granted this new research assignment and—”

  I laughed. “My God, Maria. How long were you listening to them?”

  She pointed at me. “You know I’m the best at doing that anyhow, for quite some time. This guy was saying he had just arrived here. Point blank, he’s not around anymore. I would totally wave a red flag here.” She was exaggerating, but I didn’t want to be too direct.

  “I understand your concern. Let’s keep our eyes open. If he does not return in a few days, we’ll look around, we’ll ask for him. If we only knew his name …” She pointed at herself. “His name is Hans. I guess he was, like, Austrian. He’s accent pointed in that direction.”

  Well, that was something. “Come on. Where's your FBI badge? I want to see it.”

  She hugged me and laughed, hurting my ears.

  When she returned to her chair and my pri
vate space was restored, I digressed. “What do you think about EIBM’s software? Do you like how they work?”

  “Well, I’d say yes. They are kind of cool. Why?”

  My eyebrows fluttered. “Let’s say, I have a different opinion. Like, why do they even need a human being to handle them?”

  She moved her chair back. “What do you mean by that? You didn’t enjoy our classes? I mean, I never had lectures in person, like they do here.”

  “It’s not that. It’s more like one software gets data, the next one analyzes them, and the last decides for you. What does this leave for me to do there?” She frowned, maybe unconvinced. “Well, Emma. What this leaves for you is to choose a business problem to solve. Once the system has provided a decision for you, you can discard it. Nobody would force you to use it.”

  “So much for a business lady! So I feed the machine and wait for it to solve my life?” My face reddened.

  “What did you expect? A team of data analysts? It’s not twenty-twenty, honey.”

  I’ve never seen that social climber side in her before. It stung me. “What do you mean by that? So, who doesn’t know how to handle software should just fuck off? Not everyone has these skills.”

  “I know. What you’re saying is true, but business is not for everyone.”

  That sentence was when I’d had enough. “You know what? I think I’ll just go. I have to do a few things.”

  “Okay,” she replied, her eyes stationary.

  I stood and left.

  I instinctively brought my first to my chest, and I clenched it as soon as I was out her door. I had forgotten something in Maria’s studio, but I decided I wouldn’t go back. I contemplated pranking other colleagues, but I gave up on that. I didn’t need that. I could not decide whether to inform Maria or not. I knew she was in danger, but as long as she was at EIBM, I could keep an eye on her, I had some control over that situation, or a delusion about having it.

  “Look at my favorite human. It seems you’re relishing this invisibility, aren’t you?”

  He had found me again. There in front of me. This time he wore a suit, and it just felt out of place on him.

  “I was not expecting a visit from you this … this early.” My hands were profusely sweating.

  “Who’s saying when it’s too early? I was keen on meeting you again.”

  That smirk. I didn’t want to cry already.

  “I ... I already told you I would help. What do I have to do? I’ll do it today. Now.”

  “You’re suggesting you want to skip all the fun?”

  My face itched. Tears welled next.

  “Don’t. Please. Just don’t.”

  “I see you remember accurately what happened last time we met.”

  Someone passed us in the corridor. People walk in corridors.

  “Don’t bother with them. We are not really here, Emma. They won’t disturb us.”

  Another illusion, another trick. I really was trying hard not to burst into tears.

  “Let me be straightforward with you, human. If you behave, maybe I won’t kill you. I’m feeling generous today. I’m giving you a chance.” He placed his right hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eye. “You have to do one thing for me. One of my people, a very sneaky and deceitful one, played a real mean trick to me.” He put his arm around my neck and forced me to walk.

  I didn’t resist. I said nothing; I just walked.

  “The bear. We have to get rid of him. Do you get what I’m saying?”

  I nodded like a kid whose parent has offered ice cream.

  “I’m happy to see you’re smart. Good. You have one day. Destroy the bear’s body. He won’t get in my way long enough for me to commandeer this world of yours.” Again that smile. It really looked like he had no idea how to do it without looking stilted. “Let me ask you once more. Will you get rid of your teddy bear, Emma?”

  “Yes. I will. I will do it this very evening.”

  “Fantastic. I’m very satisfied with your answer.” He turned and left. When he was like ten meters ahead, he turned to face me. “I don’t know if I made myself clear. If Mr. Sweet is not a goner by tomorrow, you will be. Did you get this part?”

  My eyes widened. “Yes, I got that part.”

  “See you tomorrow then,” he said and disappeared.

  I closed the door to my studio apartment with too much to process crowding my mind. My throat was dry, so I rushed to the fridge and gulped orange juice. I regarded some food, but nothing looked appetizing. It was weird; I always relied on eating when I felt down.

  I undressed and wore my pajamas. It felt loose on me. I didn’t know how much weight I had lost, but it was blatant. It was late, but I was far from being sleepy. In my luggage, I found so many clothes I’ve never worn. I remember buying them specifically for EIBM. All of them looked big, not my size for sure.

  It was Mr. Sweet or me. How would I even do that? I had to find him, I had to. I had no idea what I would have done.

  Someone nonchalantly knocked on the door.

  I opened it and, when I saw Maria, I couldn’t have been any happier.

  She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me.

  I hugged her back, and we stayed on my room’s doorstep for a very long time. Even with her—someone who cared about me and who was actually proving it—I couldn’t let myself cry.

  When she left, she whispered, “See you tomorrow.”

  “Yes, tomorrow,” came from my mouth.

  I was in my room, and Mr. Sweet was there.

  “This is not really you, is my guess.”

  “You can recognize doubles? You know how to make a teacher proud.”

  I just shrugged. “I’m ready to learn more. I practiced a lot with my invisibility, and I can control doubles.”

  “Show me.”

  “What is it you’d like to see?” my image asked, kneeling on his right-hand side.

  “I’m impressed, Emma. This is very advanced handling of doubles. I must assume you’ve been doing this a lot in my absence.”

  “That is very much correct. I’ve been playing with my abilities a lot.”

  “Skills. We call these skills.”

  “Okay. I’ll call them whatever you want me to.”

  “Tell me one thing. And I need you to be completely honest. Did someone, let’s say, weird reach out to you lately?”

  I had no idea what he meant. Or maybe … “Not that I can think of. I’m either studying EIBM’s stuff or practicing my skills. I have a friend though. I see no problem with talking to her.” I hope I had dispelled his uncertainty.

  “You can talk to other humans. I don’t care about that. I want you to tell me immediately if something weird goes on, okay?”

  I could almost touch the surface of his doubt. I really had to switch topics fast. “What about having more powers? I was a good kid. When do I get more?”

  “Jeez, you really are impatient, aren’t you?”

  “I’m your best student. I deserve a little prize.” I winked.;

  He shook his head. “We might honor your request, but you'll need to follow me somewhere special.” He extended his right arm on his side.

  Something I would assume to be a door to another dimension opened by the bear’s side.

  “Does your magic need to be this petty all the time? I used to spend most of my time in augmented reality worlds before coming here.”

  “What the fuck is that, Emma?”

  “Oh gosh. I’ll explain once we have enough time. Do we walk through the door into another world?”

  He nodded. “Yes. This gate will bring us to where I’m from. You really need to see it at this point.”

  I was still suspicious that he was fucking with me. “Okay, let’s go to Disneyland. Will you show me the way?”

  “Sure. Tag along, stay behind me at all times. Got it?”

  “I guess so.”

  We walked through the brightness and were no longer in my room. We were, what I would soon l
earn, in Plane K.

  After my eyes recovered from exposure to an excessive amount of light, I recognized where we were walking. “What the f—”

  “Shh, don’t be loud. It may not be pretty, but people live here, okay?”

  I sealed my lips, astonished. “I don’t want to be here. Let’s go back.”

  The bear gave me a killer look. “There is no way back. You wanted more power. This is where we get it. Make peace with your mind.” He turned his back to me and headed into the depths of that haunting cave.

  “What do we do here?” My voice squeaked.

  “I want to give you a chance to learn. You’ll better understand what you’re becoming and—”

  “I’m not becoming anything!”

  “Will you ever stop behaving like a kid at some point? I told you not to raise your fucking voice.”

  I heard a noise. Something creeped among those gleaming rocks.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  “It would surprise you, but we’re not the only ones here at the moment. I told to stay quiet twice already.”

  “Can we go somewhere safe? I don’t like this place. It feels like a nightmare.”

  The thing crawling among the stones moved again. I couldn’t see it yet.

  “Did you hear that? You drew attention to us with your useless human-emotional behavior.”

  “Do you know how to get out of here?” My heart pounding—a very common event recently.

  “Come, let’s go this way. It’s not safe here” The bear poked my leg to draw my attention.

  We rushed. The soft soil below me feet crumbled as I stepped. The noise became louder, and we both stopped. creature I thought only existed in the depths of my mind took shape. We moved backward from the taller and taller growing black mass.

  “Stay behind me. I must deal with this.”

  I nodded. My hands shook as I hid behind a rock. My teddy bear multiplied—I knew those were what he called Doubles. My head spun rapidly, and something blurred my vision.

  A group of teddy bears surrounded the aberration. It revealed arms or tentacles, I could not specify any better. They engaged, the beast hurling his hissing limbs in the air, aiming at multiple targets simultaneously. Mr. Sweet’s copies moved fast enough to avoid part of the attacks. When the monster hit some of them, they’d disappear instantaneously. The little bear used the same skill again. More and more versions of himself crowded the area. There were lots of rapid movement, stuffed animals leaping from rock to rock, mostly trying to avoid the opponent's attacks.