by David Falchi
I took a few steps forward, determined to cross the passage. I was ready to feel that sense of nausea that I was sure that I’d have had once both the spirit and the body would have reunited.
But nothing happened.
I walked through the ripple, but nothing changed. I was still in the destroyed version of the attic. I looked back: the passage was still there. I drew near a hand and I realized that it was losing its consistency. The illusion of being alive disappeared once I tried to walk into the real world.
The truth was hard to accept. Lerner had betrayed me. He had driven me away to eat his meal. And now I was a prison in his own world, and I was unable to go back into my body. During my adventures I had only used dark magic in rare occasions, but this time I was ready to throw a curse. I would have given it a try if only I’d been sure that it would have worked where I was.
I continued to keep my eyes on the world beyond the mirror, so close and yet impossible to reach.
And in that moment I saw my own body sitting. At that sight, I lost all my fears, and I burst forth, with the intention of passing though the passage. As I expected, I didn’t succeed. And is if this wasn’t enough, I noticed that the door that I had used to enter the house had been replaced by a wall of bricks. This was the second time that I had been locked up in the same day, and the situation was about to get worst. With a huge effort I watched the other me standing up; firstly by leaning a hand against the wall, and then teetering till it reached the window.
«Lerner, may you be damned», I hissed. «You didn’t just take your freedom, you’ve taken my life too».
Then my doppelganger turned toward me - or better, toward the mirror where I had been imprisoned – and he tried to smile, opening the mouth and showing the teeth. Then he continued to walk in a bizarre way in my direction, until he disappeared. He had left the enchanted object where it was. Now he seemed to have lost every interest in the object.
That was the time to do my best to get out of there. I would have tried to go back into my body with an emergency spell. I didn’t know if casting the spell from the world in the mirror would have worked, because no one had ever tested this before. I didn’t even have the time to analyze the situation and think about the possible consequences of this act. I only knew that if Lerner had gone too far, I would have had zero chances to go back into my world.
«I won’t give up that easily», I declared.
I closed my eyes, and I replaced the anger with concentration. The formula was easy, and in the blink of an eye my body started to float. With a great will effort I ordered my body to go back, and I immediately pushed away the panic that I felt when I realized that the space in which I was wandering around wasn’t the one that I expected. I was being pulled forward, and that was a sign that something at least had happened. Suddenly I was wrapped by a light halo and that confirmed that I was moving. I didn’t know if I was going to end in my own body or if I was going to wander in that universe of dazzling light. For one more time, fear knocked at my mind’s door and even now I managed to push that feeling away, taking control of myself. Losing concentration in a spell was like signing a death warrant.
When I got back into my body I screamed for the pain. The nausea was already there, but before that there was a huge physical pain. I realized that I was falling on my knees, even though I couldn’t see where I was. I was blind. But, I wasn’t alone. There was a presence with me, inside of me. That inner darkness was suffocating and I had to use all my energies to get rid of it. I hit something with my left arm, but that didn’t stop me and I continued to fidget. Each one of my muscle had cramps and I could barely breathe. My throat was being squeezed by invisible fingers. But, despite this, I never lost my determination. Even though I was in pain I was sure that those were my limbs. I was back in my body. I just had to continue to fight, drive off the enemy and crush it for good.
I find hard to put into words how an inner fight might take place, because in those terrible moments you feel like you’re fighting against a part of yourself. I know that the entity came from the outside, but somehow it felt as if that was still me. The screams of pain that filled my brain were mines. While I slithered along the floor, the plotter and rational part of my mind reminded me that Lerner couldn’t be responsible for such a thing. Something must have gone wrong on the other side of the mirror, and the presence that I was fighting now must have been the same one that had invaded the Guidis’ mansion.
«What’s going on? » asked a female voice.
I instinctively turned in that direction, and I saw something moving behind the shadows. I tried to tell to whoever that was to go away, but I was only able to mumble.
Somebody else replied, but I couldn’t identify the source because it was too far.
I tried to distance myself. Staying close to me in that moment was like being with a kamikaze that’s about to blow up. I didn’t want to hurt innocent people. I didn’t know what the enemy was ready to do once it had realized that it had to leave my mortal remains.
The point was that I couldn’t find anything to hold on and win this battle. It was as if I had been fighting against a shadow in the deepest darkness.
«What got into you? » asked again the woman.
That idiot was following me, ignoring all the efforts that I’d put to try to distance myself from her. I mumbled something that made no sense and I continued to slither away from that voice. All my muscles were tensed and my bones ached, so every move that I made was a struggle. It was as if I had been put inside a press. My heart continued to pump blood, making a throbbing and disturbing sound that perfectly blended with my inner chaos. I stopped going forth and I continued to tremble, while the entity exulted. It must have taught that I was giving up.
But I was going to surprise it.
With an incredible will effort I moved my right arm. It felt so stiff that it was like trying to bring to life a wooden limb. I was growing weaker by the minute, I repeated myself, and I didn’t have a choice. In my actual condition, trying to concentrate and cast one last spell wasn’t an option. Finally, I felt my fingers around the knife grip.
When the enemy realized what I was going to do the screams of joy turned into screams of fear. I squeezed the hand. At first, I tried to extract the blade from the pocket, but the enemy was keeping me from moving my shaking arm. I smiled at the idea of ruining such a comfortable shirt. I placed the point of the dagger on the fabric but I barely felt it. However, the darkness were slowly thinning out, allowing me to start seeing something.
Somebody was shaking my shoulders but I couldn’t pay attention to that new stimulus now. I told myself that the pain couldn’t possibly be worse than the one that I had felt until that moment, so I applied some pressure with the hand. The enchanted metal cut the jacket, the shirt and then it went under in my skin. I was in an excruciating pain and it made me scream. Suddenly that groan stopped and for a few moments I was incapable of making any sound, despite the most intense pain that I’ve ever felt. The being that had taking possession of my body had somehow found a way to corrupt it, and now the knife was having on me that same effect that it would have had on an evil spirit.
Something was passing through my esophagus. I would have never thought that I’d be on the other side, but that was exactly what was happening. While the blood stained my hip – and I was happy that I was able to feel it – that mass had now reached my throat. While I opened my mouth I felt my limbs shivering. A bitter taste that reminded me of bitumen invaded my palate. Then, I puked, and while I was getting rid of the unwanted guest I tried not to think about the burning sensation that I felt in my throat. It only took a few seconds but they looked like hours to me. I opened my eyes right on time to see a shadow disappear above me.
I allowed myself to fall on the ground, exhausted. I had won a little fight in a war that didn’t seem to have an end. With that positive thought I passed out.
12
When I woke up some hands were shaking me. I kn
ew that I was on the real side of the Guidis’ mansion, but I was still confused, probably for the violent battle that I’d just fought.
As soon as I managed to see things clearly I saw a very concerned Mrs. Guidi. I opened my eyes wide and I was about to say something, when I noticed that Mr. Guidi was there too.
I cleared my throat but I still had that disgusting taste on my tongue. «What the hell are you doing here? I’ve been pretty clear about this».
Then Mr. Guidi stepped forward, and replied. His expression was unreadable, and I couldn’t tell whether he was being suspicious or impatient. «We haven’t heard from you for over twenty-four hours and we’ve decided to come and check if you were okay. You have no idea of how brave we had to be to come here. And, apparently, coming here was the right thing to do. We just saved your life».
I hilted again on the ground, and my wounded hip sent me another pain signal. Somehow, I had been caged in the mirror for more than a day. And those two idiots, instead of tearing down the house, as I ordered, had decided to come take a peek. And, just to give you an idea of their level of comprehension, they even convinced themselves that they were the ones who saved me.
«Let’s bring you out of here» said again Mr. Guidi. «And then you’ll tell us what the hell happened here. We’ve been worried sick».
«Well, at least he seemed to have succeed», continued the woman. «The house looks different from last time we saw it. It’s not that dark now. It seems less... threatening».
I tried to sit but I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
«We’re taking you out of here», said Mrs. Guidi. «Even to a hospital if it’s necessary».
«Wait a second», I mumbled, leaving out the fact that probably we would have never got out of the house. «I left the mirror upstairs. I have to go get it».
The man suddenly turned. «And where is it exactly? I’ll get it for you».
«In the attic». I tried to tell him not to go but I was too weak and my blood pressure had dropped, probably for the stress or for the blood loss. Even my pants were wet. I think that the lack of physical pain had brought me to cut me deeper than I was supposed to.
Mrs. Guidi remained with me, while her husband went upstairs. My senses were foggy, and I wasn’t able to tell how far the threat was. I must have injured it too, I was sure of that, but I also knew that I still hadn’t defeated it. It must have been somewhere in the house, feeling angry and in pain, just waiting for the right moment to strike. And this time we were defenseless.
«Help me», I said, while I clang to the woman’s shoulder. For a moment I could see clearly, but then everything became blurred.
«How? » she asked.
I’ve never been in such a terrible state during a case. After an exorcism I’ve always suggested that the patient had stayed in bed for at least a week, with lots of vitamins and a clear head. My situation wasn’t that different, after all, the entity had been in my body for some long and painful minutes. I should have rested and allowed my soul to heal from all the scars. But, Alas, I was still struggling with an evil presence and two spouses that didn’t seem to understand how dangerous their house was. Lerner would have said that I was living what I usually just explained to my clients.
Thinking about my assistant made me feel even weaker. I didn’t know what had happened to him. Maybe Lerner was being punished for his sins: he had spent years devouring other spirits, and now the same thing must have happened to him. I know that was a selfish thing to say but I realized that now I really was alone. I was no longer allowed to enjoy the company of the dead.
«Let’s get out of here», I mumbled.
I should have added that if we had walked even a few more steps we would have had more chances to remain alive. However, I didn’t have the strength to add anything else. I still felt like I was trapped inside the mirror’s muffled world, where my every move was so slow that I could barely think that I was even walking.
«I found your damned mirror», said Mr. Guidi’s voice from above. I turned toward his direction, and I recognized him. His silhouette was surrounded by a darker halo. «Now we can finally bring you to that damned hospital, or is there another complaint that you feel the need to express? »
From what I could see the object that contained Lerner was still intact. That couldn’t be said of my client, instead. The entity was influencing the man, and soon it would have taken full control of his body.
I ignored his words, and I pushed the woman toward the entrance door. But her eyes were fixed on her husband. «What’s wrong with you? »
I recognized the fear in her voice, and a moment later I felt the same feeling when I realized that I had no coercive power over her. If no one had brought me outside of that house I would be butchered.
«I’ll tell you what’s wrong», replied Mr. Guidi, while he climbed down the stairs. «We’ve hired this specialist and what did we get in return? Nothing. We had to come back here and at the end of the story we even had to save him. It’s like paying someone to build a house and then having to build ourselves the bearing walls. It’s ridiculous. Especially because this impostor is going to ask to be paid anyway».
He had made half-flight of stairs, but I could already feel his anger. The enemy must have taken possession of his body but it was now using a new strategy. It wasn’t just trying to control his body like it did with me. In that very moment I realized the truth about the phenomenon that I was up against. The house had never been haunted before but this was only because the presence was very young. I’d been a witness of the first wails of a demon, who, like an infant, was slowly learning how to master its powers. And just like every baby it had a whole load of energies.
«This is all pointless right now», said the woman, maybe trying to put some sense into her husband. «Let’s get out of here. I don’t like this house. Maybe he was right when he suggested that we tore it down».
«Yeah, right, this sounds like the perfect solution. We have a property that’s worth two hundred thousand euros and you think we should destroy it». The man continued to climb down the stairs, and then he threw a punch against the wall. The echo resounded in the entire house. «What a brilliant idea. And why don’t we do the same with the car? And what if we made a barbecue and burn all of our savings? You have no idea of how much you’re pissing me off with these words».
With an extreme effort, I whispered at the woman’s ear. «We have to go, now. You’re not truly talking to your husband».
Her nod was barely perceivable, while her terrified eyes remained stuck on her husband. I knew a little too well that kind of fear: and it was able to immobilize a person. The only thing that had given me the strength to cling on to her was desperation but I could feel that her support was becoming unsteady. Soon, I would have been back on the ground, and there was nothing that I could have done to prevent that fall.
There was a spell that was able to calm a human mind but I didn’t have the strengths to recite it, and perhaps there was no time. Mr. Guidi was almost at the end of the stairs and with a few more steps he would have reached us. When he realized that we’d been looking at him he sniggered and he started to bash the back of the mirror on the palm of his hand. The worse was about to happen and there was no way that I could stop it.
«Why don’t we just leave? » suggested the woman. «We’ll talk about it at the hotel. What do you think about that, honey? »
There was a short pause. The man smiled and then he repeated:
«Honey». He let go of the object, and that immediately fell on the ground, with the reflecting surface that looked upwards. When I saw that, despite the crash, the mirror had remained intact I realized that Lerner was still among us. «You know how much I hate when you try to appease me. It makes me furious. But lucky for you, not as much as this lying son of a bitch, honey».
Mr. Guidi’s eyes now were no longer the eyes of a human being. They were black like the surrounding darkness and they were fixed on me. Soon, the entity would have
ordered him to strike the final blow. Now that he had a body of his own I was useless to it. And so was Mrs. Guidi’s body.
«Leave him on the floor, please», ordered the man. «I don’t think he really need to go to the hospital. We can get him all the attentions that he need right here».
«What are you saying? » asked the woman. Now her voice was trembling.
«Why don’t you go get me a knife from the kitchen? ». Then, he lifted his head and he finally met the worried eyes of his wife. «Actually, I’ll tell you what, why don’t you lie down next to him? Do it quickly, and try not to piss me off».
«What? » mumbled again Mrs. Guidi.
Her husband didn’t give her time to realize what was about to happen. He burst forth and he kicked her abdomen. The woman was immediately thrown backward, while I flopped on the floor. I barely had the energy to use an arm to avoid to hit my head on the floor. I was a few steps away from Lerner’s brass prison.
I turned right on time to see Mr. Guidi heading to his wife. He grabbed her wrist while she moaned something that I couldn’t hear. However, it was easy to guess what she might have asked: she was begging him to spare her life.
If dying for a lack of energy was a bearable thought, watching a woman being hit to death repulsed me. Mr. Guidi’s slaps soon turned into punches. First, he hit her on the face and then on the head. The woman flopped on the floor and continued to moan.
