CHAPTER TWENTY
Every cell I passed was occupied with men of all ages, large and small, black and white. What I found incredible was the amount of stuff they had in their cells. Some of them probably had better lives inside prison than they would normally have at home! This was another thing that irritated me, which was our justice system. How can this be justice when other people out there lived their lives honestly, respectfully, and yet were worse off than this scum? It would have made my blood boil if I had any.
I continued through each area filled with cells, some were open, and the inmates were free to walk about in their main communal space and socialise with the others. Many were still sat within their cells, their doors locked. I could only assume that they had to take turns for time out of the cells. I passed through the next holding space and saw a door leading outside to a basketball court. Inmates were there playing, some sat on the benches around the edge taking in the game, or just relaxing in the fresh air. This really didn’t seem to be a bad life for bad people. I sighed and continued on.
Row after row, cell after cell came and passed, but I didn’t see my murderers. Where are they? I fumed. I decided to head downstairs, and ended up in a large kitchen. Guards were posted at every spot possible, some standing, others on patrol. The inmates were bustling here and there making lunch for the others, some preparing vegetables, others stirring pots, a few washing dishes. At a counter, a man stood with his back to me, but even then, he rang alarm bells for me. Was it one of my killers? He seems familiar but why? I stared at him for a moment, then bent over as though I was back on my kitchen table and looked at him side on. I noted the hair pulled back, the way he stood, his overall stance. I remembered that stance, the one who had been rooting through my knife drawer those few months ago. The man turned around, so I could see him full on. My brow furrowed. I didn’t recognise him this way. How can I teach my killers a lesson if I can’t even remember them!?
Thinking back, I recalled the mirror in the strange tower. It had shown a man who I recognised, and it had been one of my killers. Maybe it would be able to show me them all? I thought. I can’t just go around haunting all the inmates until I find the right one. I know one has a scar on his nose, and yellow teeth, but what of the others? I knew then, that I had to return to the tower. I had to get a good visual of my three killers before I could get my revenge. I sighed heavily. Damn. I really wanted to scare the shit out of them too!
So how to get back to the Land of the Dead? I pondered. Closing my eyes, I imagined myself standing by the tall black tower. Do I need to click my heels together or something? Nothing was happening. I couldn’t recall if I was told how to reach the place or not, just how to leave. I grumbled frustrated.
“All I want is to go the tower. How difficult is that?” I exclaimed to the world in general. At that moment, I was sucked backwards and after a few moments of feeling stretched, I popped out the other side on a desolate path, the surroundings grey and barren.
“Thank you!” I spoke aloud to no one, then started heading forward along the path. The journey was the same as before, the path was long but eventually the black tower came into view, gradually getting bigger the closer I got. The tower walls still fascinated me as I drew close, the stars in the walls twinkled within, and not in the sky as normal. I opened the door upon reaching it, and stepped inside, the door closing softly behind me. I was surprised to see some familiar faces as I walked into the hall. The same lady who had shied away from me was still here, pacing around a sofa, the man who tried to stop me from heading up the stairs was still hovering at the stair bottom. I walked over, and on seeing me he stepped aside, eyes wide, but silent in speech. I smiled at him as I walked past, and began the two flights of stairs upwards.
The second floor was just as I remembered. The corridor was long, and mirrors dotted the walls every now and then. I drew close to the one I recalled showing me one of my murderers and stared into it. The reflection stared back, but was only myself. Frustrated I moved on to the next one, but again the image in the glass was just myself. I continued on, to each mirror, getting more and more annoyed as they refused to show me what I wanted to see; what I needed to see. I finally found myself at the foot of another flight of stairs heading upwards. I took them two at a time, and found myself on yet another floor filled with benches and bookcases. Slowly I passed them, then stopped suddenly between two chairs. I peered at the door. That shouldn’t be there. I thought.
I looked back at where I had come from. I had been heading in a clockwise direction upwards. The outer tower wall to my left, the inner rooms to my right; but this door was on the left. How can there be a door on the left? It would open into thin air? I turned from it and headed further down the corridor. More doors appeared but on the right side this time, one opening and a figure emerged, closing the door behind them and walking back the way I had come from. Turning around I headed back to the chairs and paused as I drew closer. The door had vanished. What on earth is going on? I thought. Maybe I had imagined it? I continued on, further around the corridor. It felt as if it would go on forever until I met with another flight of stairs heading upwards. I sighed. There were no mirrors on that floor, so I decided to continue upwards, curious at what was upstairs.
The fourth floor appeared just as the third, with more benches and bookcases, some laden with books, others with oddments. Passing two doors on my right, I found myself confronting another door on the left. Should I open it? Or will it disappear like before? I voted for the first option, and reaching for the handle, slowly twisted it. The door swung open violently, as though a gust of wind had caught it, yet beyond, there was a straight corridor. How can this be? It’s impossible! Edging closer to the entrance, I grabbed the architrave, and cautiously put my foot across the threshold; it found solid floor beneath. Still clutching the entrance with one hand I stepped through, expecting the corridor to disappear and let me fall; plummet to the ground. What would happen if I did though? I couldn’t die, I was already dead. The thought hung there a moment before I let go of the door frame. I stepped further in, and the door slammed shut behind me. Turning, I grabbed the handle and twisted it, but the door wouldn’t budge. Shit, locked. Typical! I faced back around and the corridor loomed off into the distance, doors closed every so often.
I headed for the first door on the left and knocked. There was no answer, so I opened it slowly. Inside the room was darkened by windows with black out blinds. Numerous tables were lined up in orderly rows, and oddly on top of each one, a person lay asleep. Or I hoped they were. I walked over to one and looked over them. Each person was dressed in a black robe, their skin pale, but all appeared to be sleeping calmly. I couldn’t see their chests rising or falling, the dead didn’t require air to breathe, but somehow I knew they were still aware of me in the room.
“How did you get in here?” a voice sounded behind me, making me squeal in alarm. “You should not be here!” The figure of a tall man loomed above me. He was extremely imposing, and must have been nearly seven feet tall. His black robes fell about him swirling around his legs.
“I, I I’m sorry”, I stammered, “I opened the wrong door!” My hands entwined each other, nervously. I couldn’t see the man’s face, the hood of his robe cast a dark shadow within, so only a deep voice emanated from it.
“Leave. Now.” The voice spoke. I nodded and quickly darted around the figure and headed out the door so fast I nearly fell over my own feet. The door slammed behind me, and I heard a key turn, the lock clicking into place. If my heart could beat right now, I’m sure it would be pounding. I’ll just have to try each room. I headed to the next door which was on the right hand side and tapped on the wood.
“Enter.” A voice sounded from within. I opened the door slowly, to be met with a small group of people, sat in a circle. A lady, whom I assumed was the teacher smiled at me. “One moment class.” She stood and walked over to me, ushering me back outside.
“Are you lost my dear?” she aske
d me.
“Er, I’m not sure where I am. I came through a door, and it locked behind me.” I decided the truth may be best here rather than lying. I didn’t know enough about the place to do so.
The lady looked at me head to toe. “The door let you in?” I nodded in response. “interesting. It’s been a while since it has opened its door to just anyone. Though from the feel of you, you are not just anyone; am I correct?” Her head tilted slightly to one side.
“Robert explained as best he could to what I was. He has been training me.”
The ladies eyebrow cocked slightly when I mentioned his name. “Is something wrong?” I asked.
She smiled at me then. “Of course not. Though Robert is a little, how do I say, surreal. Plus he gets in your head when you least expect it. He is a Mesmer of sorts you know?”
“Oh yes I am aware. But he has no power over me. I can influence him though, which is very odd, but he can read my mind.” I didn’t know why I had spoken so freely then. The woman before me felt trustworthy. I frowned.
“So who are you? What do you do here?” I asked her politely.
“Oh, I hold my class here for the ‘special ones’. I cannot speak of what I do here of course. As a matter of fact, you probably don’t realise that this area is, well, let’s say top secret.” She tapped her nose. “From the smell of you, you should be in room twelve. Sixth room on the right.” She smiled again, then backed into her room and shut the door.
Room twelve eh. Time to find out why I am in this strange place. I walked ahead slowly, checking each door as I passed. Some rooms sounded quiet, others had very strange, sinister noises sounding from them, and others were just locked. I soon came upon the twelfth room, and knocked upon it.
“Come in.” I opened the door slowly, and peered in. Two other people were sat at desks, Robert at the head of the class. “Ah, Sharon. You came back, and found us! Welcome back!” He gestured for me to enter, so shutting the door behind me, I found a chair and sat down. “I believe you have already met Alex and Myra.” I looked over at the other two occupants, and recognised them both. Alex waved at me again. Myra looked like she wanted to flee.
“Hello again,” I spoke. “I’m Sharon, nice to meet you both properly.” Myra mumbled a response I didn’t quite hear, but Alex spoke confidently.
“Glad to see you found your way back. I trust your exit was pleasant for your first time?” he grinned at me and I smiled in return.
“Yes, thank you for showing me how to leave. I think I would have been stuck here for a very, very long time otherwise.”
“Pleasure was mine, Sharon.”
Robert piped up. “Ok, enough with the pleasantries folks, we have work to do.” He tapped a pointer at the board, which showed a map of the United Kingdom. “Now then. You three have much work to do, being what you are.” I tried to speak then, but Robert continued. “I know you all have your own business to work through as well, but being Daemon’s is not just a gift. It is a job. And I am here to explain to you all, what that job is.” I glanced quickly at Myra and Alex, who in turn looked at each other then back at Robert. It appeared they were just as confused as I was.
“As you are all aware, you are Daemon’s. However, you are not just an average Daemon, you are unique. Well, Sharon is totally unique, but you Alex, and you Myra have both interesting gifts as well, which you will train and train until you are fully honed on those gifts. Sharon, you on the other hand have so many abilities, I am unsure if they will all be as powerful as these two, but you will have access to much, much more.”
Alex locked eyes with me. “You’re an Ultima?” he asked. I shrugged.
“No.” Robert began. “She is not an Ultima, but something new entirely. What could be better than an Ultima Daemon though I am unsure; However, I can find out.” He scratched his nose. “Right now though, let’s focus on you three.” He flourished his pointer at us all.
“Firstly, I need to inform you all that what I am about to say is of the utmost importance. It is also highly confidential. So no gossiping about it to the other dead, or the living if you can communicate with them.” He glanced at me then.
“Secondly, we are in this classroom and not in our normal second floor room because of the confidentiality. Only those with the highest powers, abilities, gifts, are able to come into this area. The door only shows itself to us when we are alone. You may not bring others in with you unless they are welcome here. Like you three, for instance.”
“Thirdly, you all need to sign this,” he waved the pointer and a piece of paper appeared before each of us with a quill and ink pot. “This is an NDA, a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Signing this you will be bound to secrecy for eternity, unless first disclosed by the one upstairs, the big boss, the all-seeing one. So before I can continue, you either sign, or leave now.”
“What happens if we sign and we accidently speak of whatever this is for?” Alex asked.
Robert grimaced. “Then you will be sent to the eternal docks for punishment. What that punishment may be, I would hate to even begin to think on it. I will just say, it will be very bad, and most likely never-ending. So think carefully.”
I sat there then, bewildered at what was happening. I only came here to find out what my killers looked like, and now here I am about to enter some sort of secret society. I sighed and Robert laughed. He was staring at me.
“Excuse me,” I said, “I didn’t say you could read my thoughts!”
“Sorry, but you don’t shield yourself. You’re like a beacon” Robert replied. “Whatever you decide I will teach you how to shield yourself against telepaths. No doubt you will all need it.”
Cryptic, very interesting. Do I really want to know what is happening? I’m so new to all this, am I ready? What about Michael and Steve? What about my forum friends? What about Sam? Sam! Shit! What’s happened to Sam? The last couple of weeks had been so hectic I had actually forgotten about my best friend. I must see her as soon as I leave here, I promised myself. Robert was pretending not to listen, but I could tell he was, his glances in my direction obvious to me. I saw Alex pick up his quill and dip it within the ink well. He had read his paper whilst I had been deep in thought, and was now signing it with a flourish. I looked at Myra, who was still reading it, her head in her hands.
I looked at the paper before me and started to read:
NON DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT
I, Sharon Hartman, on behalf of the Realm of the Dead, acknowledge that the information received or generated, directly or indirectly, while working as a Daemon for the Realm of the Dead Association(henceforth referred to as RoDA) on contract is confidential and that the nature of the business of the Association is such that the following conditions are reasonable, and therefore:
I warrant, covenant and agree as follows:
I, or any others employed or engaged by the RoDA, agree not to disclose, directly or indirectly, any information with respect to any business conducted by the Association. Without restricting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that we will not disclose;
Plans, strategies and any other general knowledge or any other proprietary information not known generally to the public or in the public domain relating in any way to the business of the Association, or any other information regarding the management or method of operation of the Association, and;
That we will not copy or reproduce, in any form, information provided to us by the Association for the purpose of distribution or use outside the scope of the attached contract, and that all documentation provided to us will be returned to the Association;
Unless otherwise approved, in writing, by the All Seeing One of said RoDA.
This obligation of confidence shall continue after the conclusion of the contract for eternity unless made void by the All Seeing One.
I acknowledge that the aforesaid restrictions are necessary and fundamental to the business and welfare of the Association, as well as the Land of the Dead and of the Living, and are reasonable giv
en the nature of the business carried out by the Association. I agree that this agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Realm of the Dead’s laws. I agree that each provision of this agreement is separate and distinct, and is severable from all other separate and distinct provisions.
I enter into this agreement totally voluntarily, with full knowledge of its meaning, and without duress.
Written and Read at the Realm of the Dead, The Dark Tower.
Name
Signature
I picked up the quill and dipped it in the ink well. I reminded myself that curiosity had killed the cat, but then I was already dead, so with a shaking hand, I printed and signed my name. I looked up at Myra, who was holding her quill steady, poised to sign but unable too. She looked over at Alex then at me, so I smiled and gave her a small nod. She hastily looked away but Alex caught her eye and he nodded to her as well. She sighed, and dipped her own quill, and signed quickly.
As we all put down our quills, Robert snapped his fingers, and the paperwork lifted into the air, and vanished with a sprinkling of gold dust.
“Right then; I guess I had better explain to you all what this is all about!”
All Hope Lost Page 13