by David Falchi
He was right, of course. But I couldn’t let fear decide for me. How could I enter another haunted place if I had run away right now? My mission would have been irremediably compromised.
And according to my assistant I’ve been putting my life at risk for quite a long time now. For months I’ve only thought about my job. If I hadn’t been able to do that then I would have been left with nothing. I would have become my own ghost.
At the moment it couldn’t detect me. The spell was still working. I wanted to see things clearly before I escaped. After all, our friend might have taken the gun to study it. There was a chance that it didn’t even know what to do with it.
«There are too many things that we don’t know. The possibility of remaining trapped in here is too big. Do what you want, Kiesel. It’s clear that you are driven by a self-destructive instinct. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about».
He was talking about the way that he died, the same way that had turned him into what he was. Well, our situations were quite different. Especially because I didn’t mean to commit a real suicide. I didn’t want to die in that house, I just wanted to get to the bottom of that bloody issue.
I went back to the ground floor, and it looked exactly how I left it. The entity was still unaware of my presence. I remembered Mr. Guidi’s story: he said that the smell of decomposition came from the upper floor. This meant that my theory could still be verified, I only needed to climb the stairs and search better. If the curse had come from an object, solving the case would have been a piece of cake, no matter how dangerous the haunting force might have been. I only needed to smash the object that contained the spirit and then the entity would have just evaporated like the fog does at noon.
I climbed the first stairs, trying to pay attention to the slightest noise. Everything seemed quiet but I didn’t want to go too far from the entrance door. The more I stayed inside that house the more I risked to have a silver bullet in my heart.
I reached the aisle that the presence had walked earlier today. There was no sign of its blood or any trace of its passage. This meant that the entity still lacked of a permanent corporeal shape, otherwise I should have found something.
In front of me there was an ajar door. The inside of the room seemed dark. On the right there was another door, and this time it was open: a reddish daylight came out of it. I saw a queen-size mattress and I supposed that must have been the master bedroom. Near this room there was another small room that must have been a bathroom or a storage closet. There was one last room on the left, at the end of the aisle. In the corner, there was a bar made of metal, with a hook on top of it. I looked above and I noticed that there was a hatchet. If I had pulled the hook, I could have accessed the attic. Considering that I had to rule out the basement, I immediately thought the possession must have been upstairs.
«I don’t like this place. It’s poisoning even this side of the mirror. Have a look around, but try to hurry, before that thing might manage to hold sway over the spirits that are protecting you. And while you are at it, try to find your gun. I can’t see it from here».
I didn’t expect to find it in the aisle. The entity must have brought it in the place where it felt safer. Once again I thought about the attic. If the presence emanation was having an effect on Lerner, it was probably doing the same thing to the ebony crown, exhausting the protection spell. I could only explore one room, so I was ready to bet everything on the upper floor. But first, I took a peek at the mirror. I wanted to know whether my assistant was telling the truth or if he was exaggerating in the hope to escape from a place that he considered to be dangerous.
I stared at the mirror and I remained quiet for a little while.
«Do you believe me now, Kiesel? »
I could have hardly consider him a liar. It was the first time that the reflecting surface was a perfect a copy of the real world. Everything just looked a bit run-down, as if the house inside the mirror was ten years older than this one. But what stroke me the most was Lerner’s image. He stood still and he was right behind me, but he was barely visible. His stringy hair was down and his face was even paler than usual. I could see a wooden railing through his body. It was as if he had been fading.
I let out a whisper. «What’s happening? »
It was as if the whole house had stopped. I didn’t hear anything but I felt a swift change of perception.
«I’m not sure, but you should hurry or you’ll have to find a new assistant. Oh, wait. If you stay here long enough there’s a very good chance that you’ll become your own assistant».
I’d already walked down the hall, until I had reached the metal bar. I lifted it, and I managed to grab the protruding iron part of the hatchet with the hook. I applied a gentle pressure and then I pulled down the iron folding ladder. The clank that it made was intense and deafening. Until that very moment I had cloaked my presence, but now it was as if I had rung a bell. I didn’t think, I simply started to climb those wonky stairs. I’ve never been particularly chubby but my one hundred and sixty-five pounds seemed a bit heavy for that scaffolding. I leaned on the banister, ignoring Lerner’s words that were still being shielded by the spirits. Above me, there was a light, so I supposed that maybe the windows upstairs had no shutters to cover the glasses. Those must have been the last rays of a dying sun.
As I climbed the stairs I realized that I had been deceived. The glare didn’t come from outside the windows as I first thought, but it came from a spot right in the middle of that enormous room.
It was a swirling bright ball, suspended in mid-air, surrounded by sparks that revolved around itself just like planets that orbit the solar system.
I was paralyzed, and I couldn’t help but staring at that weird phenomenon. I couldn’t take another step forward, and I couldn’t even bring myself to go downstairs. I realized that the presence had been looking at me, just like I was. The ball levitated and left a dazzling trail behind that was suddenly swallowed by darkness. Then, the light took the shape of a human face and changed its shades. First, it became red like the sun when it’s about to set, and then it got darker, just like coagulated blood. A moment later, while I was standing still on the ladder, the ball showed a sneering human face. The eyes of that diabolic face were fixed on me. He was really looking at me. He tried to move his lips, but he didn’t produce any sound.
My rational mind suggested that the entity probably hadn’t been able to communicate with me because I was still under the effect of the protection spell. Otherwise, if I had opened a channel of communication with that nightmare I wouldn’t have been able to keep a right mind.
I raised the camera with my right hand, trying to avoid any sudden movement. I pointed it toward the manifestation and I took just one picture, without the flash. The reaction was immediate. Everything went dark, and I found myself staring at an ocean of darkness. I wrapped my fingers around the banister, hesitant about what to do next. Then, I felt that mass of throbbing darkness jumping on me. For a moment I thought I’d been blinded, and I let out a moan, although I managed to stand. I regained my sight, and I realized that I’d been saved by the ebony crown. Lerner, on the other hand, was doing something that I’d never seen him doing before. He was screaming.
I turned, and I finally decided to follow his advice and run away before the entity could strike again. I hadn’t even reached the upper floor when a thunder blew up behind me. Its sound immediately dazed me and so I lost control of my body and I fell forward, realizing that I had been right about the gun.
I don’t know for how long I remained stunned on the floor. Maybe it was just a few minutes, but somehow it felt like I’d been lying there for hours. First, I checked the mirror. Despite what my assistant said I’ve always wanted to keep his world safe. It all seemed ok. My head hurt and my ears were ringing, so I teetered till I reached the stairs. The entity could have been everywhere. I couldn’t see him in that moment, but that didn’t mean anything. He had failed to put a bullet in my chest the first
time, but he could have succeeded if I hadn’t gone outside. And even if I had been outside, he could have shot me from the windows. I heard a soggy sound of steps behind me, and I instinctively turned. The creature that I had seen during my first inspection was still there. Flesh, blood and bones, they were all mixed together in a rough sculpture that resembled a man. Not knowing how to hold a gun, the being had grown some sort of stump in the middle of his chest, right at the breastbone level.
Still in a panic and stunned by the attack, I couldn’t move. I was petrified, and I couldn’t help but stare at that shapeless mass that was walking down the aisle. It turned toward me. The gun was still dancing in the air, as if it had no idea how to point it or where it should aim.
«The spirits are still shielding you, Kiesel. But their effect won’t last for long. Shake off this hypnotic state of yours and go away».
Lerner was right but I decided to take advantage of the presence hesitation to shoot another photo. Maybe I wasn’t really aware of what I was doing or maybe my scientific curiosity had just gotten the best of me. I pushed the button and this time his reflexes seemed sluggish. When he pulled the trigger I had already made half a flight: I was determined to get out of there as fast as I could. I heard the glasses jiggling in the kitchen, while the furniture trembled as if an earthquake was suddenly shaking the foundations of the house. Only this wasn’t due to a natural phenomenon. It was the house itself that was revolting against my escape attempt. Luckily, it couldn’t detect me. I must have looked like a blur on a radar. I reached the front door and despair gave me the strength to grab the handle. I didn’t remember locking up the door, but that’s how I found it. I pulled the handle and I met some sort of resistance. I used more energy and once the opening was big enough I slipped off. I was back outside but I didn’t stay still. I ran toward the car and I locked myself inside, realizing that I had been holding my breath for who knows how long.
Now that I was sitting, I placed the mirror and the instant camera on the passenger’s seat, and then I rolled down the window, trying to breathe normally. The house loomed over me. There was no sign of the entity that almost killed me, except from the front door. Now it was wide open, a clear sign that the entity wanted to invite me back inside those cursed walls.
* * *
Now that I was safe, I suddenly felt like there was no rush. The first thing that I had to do was taking control of myself. I had risked quite a lot, and this was true, but it wasn’t the first time that it happened and lucky for me it wouldn’t even be the last one. I had new information that could help me solve the case. I removed the ebony crown from my head and I put it back in the suitcase. From the trunk I took a phial that contained blueberry nectar, honey and vanilla extract. The blueberries had been grown in a greenhouse with holy soil and purified water. The honey came from a farm run by Sarlo’s priests. They were all part of a clerical group that was devoted to animals’ care. Even the bees seemed to obey to their orders. As for the vanilla, I’m sorry to admit it but I only used it for a personal taste of mine. I swallowed the phial, and I immediately felt better. It was the perfect concentrate to calm the nerves and breathe again in dangerous situations. I decided to bring a few phials with me next time I’d gone inside the house.
«Ok, now that you’re done using drugs, do you think we can go back to the hotel? »
«Since when do you need a different physical place to feel better? »
«Since I risked to see my world been torn to pieces by a silver bullet. And since my human helper is doing everything in his power to make me die again».
«So now I’m “your” assistant? »
« You know what I mean».
Of course I knew what he meant. He only needed to hear my voice to make sure that he was safe. Being dead was awful but risking to become the spiritual nourishment of another entity was even worse. Maybe that was the only thing that we had in common, and we could only count on each other’s help.
«Did you find out anything? ».
«I don’t know. Right now I’m just happy that I’m still in control of what’s inside the mirror. It’s been pretty hard. The creature had been seizing everything. That thing is like a virus. We’ve never seen anything like that before. Still, something in it seems familiar».
«We’ll discuss it once the Guidis will give us more information, alright? »
«I’m starting to hate that word. I’ve never liked it, I admit it, but I’m seriously starting to despise it. Information. To hell with information ».
«Yep, right to hell», I confirmed while I turned the engine on.
«If this is a joke it’s not funny».
We both knew that I wasn’t kidding. There was something scary in that house, and it had nothing to do with dead souls. Therefore, what we were up against was something worse. I put Lerner back in the box, and then inside the suitcase; I locked it and then I started the car. Once I reached the paved road I realized that the sun had just set. I hadn’t been inside the house that long, but I almost died inside those walls. I just needed to find a way to spend an entire day inside that place and defeat the presence that was haunting it.
In order to get that I needed Mr. Guidi and his information, no matter how much my assistant had started to hate that word.
4
Once I was back in my room I realized how tired I was. The adrenalin rush caused by my last inspection and by the danger that I’d just been exposed was over, and it had left me exhausted and listless. The shower that I’d allowed myself to take had done nothing but increasing the need of laying on a mattress and close my eyes for a few hours. I needed to sleep, and this wasn’t so odd: in the past, I had learnt that I had to get some rest whenever I could. I was about to face some really challenging days so I needed to recharge the batteries.
I had to make an effort to wear civilian clothes and make myself presentable for dinner. I told Mr. Guidi that I would have eaten with them, and only with that promise I had managed to skip the interrogation.
Poor thing! I knew how anxious he must have been. Maybe, when I came back, it’s possible that he even noticed my restlessness. As usual, I would have explained the real situation to my client. He and his wife needed to know that in that precise moment I had more doubts than certainties. On the one hand, maybe I hoped that Mr. Guidi asked me to quit the investigation. Only in that way I would have been able to leave with a clear conscience.
Lerner’s mirror was outside of its box, and it was laying on the bed. I had tried to wring something out of him, but the ghost had decided to hide behind a worrying veil of silence.
«I’m going to dinner», I announced, hoping to get his attention. He didn’t reply and I thought that maybe he hadn’t heard my words so I cleared my voice and I added: «I’d appreciate if you could study our clients. They might hide something and you are the only one that can detect whether they are having an ambiguous behavior».
Lerner’s voice seemed distant and tired. «I’m sorry master, but I think I need some rest to recharge the batteries. Do you mind if I stay where I am? Tomorrow I’ll be ready to be smashed, I promise».
I thought about it while I was putting on a shirt and the spare suit that I had in the trunk. I always bring with me a change of clothes to use in civilian occasions. He had been exposed to a higher risk than I was, therefore he was probably feeling pretty bad. If I’d left him here he might have had the chance to recharge his batteries. I knew that he was going to be in a semi-catatonic state and if he had remained here he would have been able to absorb the spiritual energies of the hotel. It wasn’t a bad idea after all. The next day Lerner would have been as good as new and the place would have been purified, granting me a good night sleep, with no nightmares. When I close my eyes my head needs to be clear. I can’t afford to have any external influence.
I put on some shoes and I hesitated for a little while on the threshold. Then, I grabbed the camera and I carried it with me. After all, that was Mr. and Mrs. Guidi’s house, and
they had the right to see with their own eyes the performance that I’d witnessed. Besides, I needed to analyze their reaction. I was too exhausted to do another spell, and without Lerner’s help I could only rely on human logic.
* * *
«He’s the one who is going to cleanse our house? » asked Mrs. Guidi who didn’t seem that eager to shake my hand. I was still wearing my gloves. If I had touched her fingers I could have gathered some extra information but in the process I might have risked to drain the last drop of lifeblood that I had left.
I had learnt at my expense that I always had to ration my energy. And Lerner exaggerated when he accused me of having become impulsive. I was always the same old me. I’d just been caught off guard by an entity that I’d never met before.
Mrs. Guidi was a short woman, probably around five feet high. She had short blonde hair combed to a side, and the dark circles around her eyes said that she hadn’t had a good night sleep for quite some time now. Her nail polish must have been red once, but now it was all ruined. She must have been so stressed that she had forgotten to re-apply it. To make up for that she had put some make up on, probably in the attempt of looking more decent for the impending dinner.
«That’s the reason why you hired me», I replied, «and I’m going to do my best to achieve that».
«What’s going on? » she asked again.
«Darling», said Mr. Guidi before I could reply. «Why don’t we sit down and start this conversation? Mr. Kiesel must be pretty hungry and might need to eat something first. Am I right? »
«I couldn’t have said it better myself», I confirmed.
The spouses preceded me down the hall, and accompanied me in the restaurant dining room. There were many covers on the tables even though only four table were occupied. Mr. Guidi chose a table in a discreet area of the restaurant where we could talk without being interrupted and above all, without risking of being overheard.