Angel
04-21-2004, 10:16 AM
Visions
Detective Alex Walker was shuffling papers and looking through his files in his rusty, beaten office when someone had knocked on the door.
“Come in,” he said, not taking his eyes off his papers.
The door opened to reveal a middle-aged man of around 35 with long tan brown hair and was wearing a blazer. He had large, round, concave glasses that made him appear owl-eyed. His large, bulky head seemed too big for his diminutive build. If Frankenstein’s Monster ever had a double, this would be him. Alex was clearly unimpressed and annoyed by this sudden intrusion, but perhaps he would get another case. He put away his papers, straightened his tie, and came up to the man and then Alex said:
“Hello! My name is Alex Walker, Detective, First Class, NYPD. How may I be of service to you?” he said warmly while extending a hand.
The man didn’t accept it. He merely sat down on the chair by the desk and sighed and then said, “I’m Riley Green, a real estate agent. Been having a house problem. You know the Crock House on Wood Street? Well, I’ve been trying to sell it for months! It’s not selling so far…”
“What’s the problem? Broken walls, bad floors, foundation problems?” Alex inquired.
“No, the house is perfect. In 100% perfect condition. It looks brand-new! But, each one of the buyers gave it back to me for a loss. They complained of paranormal disturbances and wanted not to come even near the house. I personally suspect foul play. I didn’t know who to go to until I saw your ad. Could you please help?” he said in sincere panic.
“You were wise to come to me. Are you sure your clients have total psychological integrity?” Alex said slowly, carefully choosing his words.
“Yes, but a few went insane after the incidents. It seems that “ghosts” and other “demons” haunted that house and some of my clients were supposedly killed by them. They swore of walls being destroyed and such, but no such damage has been found. We hired an inspector to look over the house, and 5 minutes later he came out screaming and then he took the first blade he could find and stabbed himself to death!” he said rapidly.
“Hmmm..,” Alex thought. “well, I guess I am going to have to investigate this house. Could you give me the key to it?”
“Sure, hold on a sec, here it is.”
“Thank you and good-bye.”
“Good luck!”
~~**__<<__>>__**~~
“So, this is the place... Come on Jack! Hurry up!! Hustle, hustle!!!” Alex said, dusting off his sweater and calling his partner, Jack Wilson.
Alex placed his flashlight at his side from his 2003 Lincoln Navigator and also took a magnifying glass, a digital camcorder, his laptop, a cell-phone, and a recorder. He handed the camcorder to Jack as he was the cameraman. He sighed into the cold November air, gathered his strength and ran towards the door as the sun slipped into darkness. He got out the brass key and, using it, opened the door. The large lion knocker seemed to stare at him, as if mocking him. For a brief second, he saw a flash of red light. He could have swore it was the lion’s eyes. Little did he know that as he closed the door behind him, the lion-head’s mouth came upward into a sinister smile.
Jack and Alex’s first impression of the house was of awe. Riley was not exaggerating when he said it was absolutely perfect. The walls had Art from Da Vinci. In the dining area was a large scale model of Michelangelo’s David. The furniture and the framework suggested royalty almost. This was a truly great house. Jack walked off into the dining area. Alex thought, That freeloader! He came just to eat?! That’s not very professional! Alex then searched the area around the living room and looked for any evidence, but to no avail. He then walked into the living area and saw a TV and a tape lying by it. It bore no name and it had struck Alex’s curiosity. He pushed it into the TV, turned it on, and pressed play.
Apparently, this was the film of a family when they had actually bought the house. The first few scenes were just of touring the house and praising it. Nothing interesting. However, soon, the wife, Anne, left to see they kitchen while the husband was in the living room. Then, there was a scream and the husband ran for the kitchen. However, the camcorder fell from his hands and all you could here was screaming and shrieks and sinister laughing. Then, then there was just static.
Alex shuddered and a chill went down his spine. There was something evil about this house and he was determined to find it out. Suddenly, the TV went haywire and exploded. Alex shielded his eyes and viewed the rubble of the TV. It was in pieces all over floor, yes but, there were no remaining components to the TV or the tape!!! A blast of that magnitude couldn’t have vaporized all of the components! What had he watched? He knew did not know. He thought, What was in that tape? There’s something seriously wrong with this house! Maybe spending a night here might help… All the while, Jack was looking at other rooms recording them and admiring them.
“Great house, eh Boss?”
“Uh huh,” said Alex not paying attention, making mental notes to himself.
“Alex! Alex! Anyone there?” Jack said waving a hand in front of Alex.
“W-What?! What is it?!”
“You were drifting off into space, wake up you know.”
“Sorry,” Alex said sheepishly. “Note to self. Environment is fine and in perfect condition. Evidence suggests foul play and suspects are none. Most likely to be a insane killer,” he said into the recorder.
“Jack, I think we should spend the night…
“Okay. Let’s just tour the house a bit more, Alex!”
“’Kay, I’ll just look over the house.”
Alex walked upstairs. He went into the Master Bedroom, by the stairs. It was a huge room! There were French tapestries on the walls and windows, the ceiling had a many paintings from the Renaissance, and the bed was worth two king-size beds. There was a canopy over the bed as well. Alex though admiring the room, saw there was something wrong with the situation. So far, they had found no evidence. Alex’s interest then heightened as he examined a slightly dented wall. He knocked on it. It seemed to be hollow! He knocked on it again but strangely it no longer sounded hollow. Alex pondered over this and sat down on the bed. Paranormal disturbances are out. Insane killers couldn’t do this well of a job. Who was it? He got out the his laptop and hooked up wirelessly to the Internet. Riley had said that the list of owners were the Green family, the Jackson family, the Brown family, the Smith family, and the Clark family. He went to police records, online of course, and then searched each family. There was nothing unusual there. Each had a Social Security number, a valid address, James Green had cheated his wife Anne Green… Wait! Alex then found something of some interest. Ronald Smith had once been in a gang that he had turned in… Maybe, just maybe, the gang members after parole went on a hunt for him. But, what could connect him to the others? There seemed to be no connection between anyone. So, it’s back to square one. What to do now? For that question, Alex had no idea.
Alex closed is laptop and got up off the bed and almost had a heart attack. A girl of not more than 7 with cold, emotionless eyes stared back at him. She had faint, pale skin and as he touched her she felt deathly cold. Alex however relaxed and then said, “Alright little lady. How did you get here? Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to come to this house?”
“THY ART SO FOOLISH. I HAVE NO TIME FOR SUCH FOLLY. THOU SHALT PERISH!”
“Ahhh!” Alex screamed. The voice was huge! The girl had not said anything and continued staring. Alex’s blood ran cold. What in all worlds is going on! She then grabbed him and Alex screamed in terror, not of her but of the many images that flashed through his mind. Death, sadness, flames, darkness, black, shadow, burning buildings, war, aggression, WHAT DO THESE MEAN!!! She let go of Alex and he immediately fell. He held his hand to his head for it was pounding. The girl was gone! Alex was amazed as Jack came running in.
“Alex! What happened!”
“Did you manage to see the girl that ran past?”
“What girl?”
“You know… Are you saying you didn’t see her run off?”
“Alex are you okay? Those long work hours must be getting to you…”
“No, no, I’m fine,” Alex said while dusting off his clothes.
“Okaaayy…”
Alex continued touring the house. He was very shaken from the incident but he felt a little better. Alex then went into the living area when then he saw the formerly beautiful wall thrashed! Alex was taken aback. He got in closer to see it a little better when suddenly words were being written on the wall in blood. Alex was frightened. The words were of an unknown language. Alex took a step back and then he felt a tap. No one there. Alex then turned around and saw the girl again. Alex stumbled backward and fell down. He got back up to see there was no girl and the walls were fine and there was no writing. Alex then smelled something, faint, but unmistakable to be some chemical. He followed it to the dining room when he saw what was a fiery pit. It seemed as if Hell itself was gaping up at him. Alex then passed out and fell into the abyss.
~~**__<<__>>__**~~
How long had he been falling? The fire around faded and then the living area of the house came into view. Alex was still in the same house. He was in the living area, having fun and partying. However, he became surprised as he saw everyone turn into a skeleton with little flesh hanging on their skin, and with crimson pools of blood red eyes, grinned diabolically. Suddenly, the music stopped and everyone around exploded. He was left in the aftermath in the pile bones, surprised and alone.
“Life is strength,” said a voice.
Alex turned around and the living area vanished and was replaced with an endless void of nothingness. He saw the speaker to have a hood and a dark blue robe, but the hood was lifted and instead of a head, there was a skull. Again, it possessed those mad blood red eyes of crimson. It had a halo of fire surrounding it’s head. A ring of dark blue fire then surrounded them. Alex was trapped.
“Who are you!?” Alex cried.
“I am the Messenger of Obliteration and I seek you!!!” he, no, it replied grinning menacingly in a strange manner.
“Again, as I said, they say life is strength. Take this woman for example,” he said as a woman came out of thin air, no thin darkness. His voice became maddeningly clear. “Her husband was killed, yet she persevered. Her children are well-fed, she works hard day by day and she is well respected. You can say she achieved much in her life and gained strength and meant something. Yet now she is dead.” it said harshly.
Dark flames erupted from his hands and overtook the woman and she gave a final shriek, and then faded into oblivion. There was no trace left of her.
“So you like her will fade into darkness and be forgotten!” he said coldly as he then grabbed Alex, who struggled and then the demon branded Alex with a slash and Alex’s arm was in flames. Alex screamed, not before seeing many images of dark flames, screams of others, and the true face of doom itself and then a large scar in darkness itself. The cut expanded into a dark endless void and Alex fell into nothingness.
~~**__<<__>>__**~~
Alex awoke with a start. It felt like the burning was still there. His arm felt like it really had been cut. Alex then noticed he was shuddering and sweating heavily. Apparently, Jack was kind enough to put him on a bed when he passed out. Alex then stopped himself and then, while laughing and scolding himself for getting scared over a nightmare, took off the covers. He looked down at his arm and saw the charred, burnt flesh and the deep gash with much blood flowing out.
~~**__<<__>>__**~~
“Boss! Boss! What is it?! You’re shuddering pretty badly! Boss!”
Alex threw aside the covers and said, “We’re getting out!”
“He ran into the living room and screamed, ”WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!!! ANSWER ME!!!”
“Boss, boss, calm down!”
“Shut it, Jack! Pack your things, no, on second thought, forget them! We’re getting out now!”
Alex briefly looked at his arm, and no gash was there. Alex suddenly realized the truth.
The chemicals I smelled! I get it now! This house, it’s not haunted at all! All that enter just experience hallucinations due to psycho-reactive chemicals in the air! My subconscious is creating all this and I feel as if it is real!
“Boss! Boss! It’s okay!”
“No, it’s not! We’re getting out now!”
Alex ran to the door and tried opening the door, but it wouldn’t budge. He shrieked in frustration and unleashed his fury on the door but to no avail. The demon’s message was still fresh in his mind.
Oh, no! My subconscious is making me think this place is haunted and won’t let me out! Curse those horror movies!
“Alex! Alex! As your friend and partner, GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF!”
“NO! NO! I won’t!”
He ran to the kitchen, but he then stumbled and fell on the smooth tiling. He got up and then his heart froze. He saw the girl right in front of him. She stared at him, emotionless, apathetic. An ominous feeling of doom overtook Alex and made him shiver. He stared into her eyes to find they were not eyes but endless voids of oblivion. Alex felt at any moment he would surely die of a heart attack.
He ran away screaming, “You’re not real!!!” He reached the bedrooms when he saw her in front of him. She said monotonously, “1 DAY.” Alex ran out, shrieking in terror. “All of this isn’t real! This doesn’t exist!!!” He ran to bathroom where he saw her and the demon again. They said coldly, “1 DAY.” Alex fainted and the room around faded into nothingness.
~~**__<<__>>__**~~
“Boss? Boss? You all right?” said Jack gently.
“My head. Ohhhhh!” Alex said putting his hand to his head.
“You took a pretty nasty spill. You were out for hours,”
Alex’s hand fell and his heart was in his throat. “How many hours?”
“’Bout 6. It’s nearly 12:00 midnight.”
12 midnight?! That means… Oh, no!!! I have to get out! Alex shattered all speed records in his race to get to the door. He dived at the door and slammed against it. Nothing, his own subconscious had trapped him. He attacked with all his might to no avail. Suddenly, a dark pool of despair swelled in Alex’s heart and he was thrown backward. He hit a nearby wall and his right arm was clearly broken.
“BOSS! Boss! Are you all right!”
“J-j-j-Jack! We’re too late. The chemicals have reached their maximum effect,” Alex said weakly, holding on to Jack for support. His gash reappeared and became wider, blood now spilled out like a river, and the pain increased tenfold, like a nail being driven far past his soul. The maddening pain made Alex weaker and weaker as darkness was taking hold. He was screaming in his mind.
“What do you mean Alex?! What do you-!”
Suddenly, a ring of dark flames surrounded them. A row of torches was lit and the whole atmosphere seemed of crimson red. Alex could then see the house in it’s true form, decayed and evil. Evil as evil can be. Alex now knew what the letters had said.
“Wh-Wh-What is this!?!” Jack said panicking.
“THY TIME HATH ENDED, ALEXANDER. THY END BE NIGH. AS FOR THY COMPANION, HE SHALT NOT BE SPARED.” said a voice.
“W-W-Who was that!?” Jack said looking around.
Suddenly, a figure came out from the darkness. It was the Demon.
“AHHHHH!!!” Jack screamed and attempted to run away.
“Now then… Die cur!!!” the Demon said while raising his long, robed and skeletal arms. Unholy blue fire leapt out from his hand and smothered Jack with the flames..
Jack screamed in pain, his flesh seared, and his very skin melting, his eyes rolling back. All was left was a darkened, charred corpse that was once Jack.
“Now, for you!” it said, seemingly amused and cast it’s piercing stare at Alex, it‘s fiery red eyes tearing at Alex‘s soul.
It’s not real! It’s not real! IT”S NOT REAL!!!
“AH, BUT IT IS REAL!”
His subconscious would not listen. It remained fixed in the belief that it was all real. The “demon” came closer and closer, yes, he would now die…
With nerve he never thought he had, his adrenaline pumping, Alex got up and ran. Not caring for the flames licking his body, he ran past the living area and into the bed areas.
“YOU AREN”T REAL!!!” he shouted.
“Art thou so sure?” it said suddenly appearing before Alex. Alex tried to run away, but he tripped down the stairs. His leg was broken and the game was up.
“Fall into darkness!!!”
“The demon stared deep into Alex’s eyes. Alex saw them no longer crimson red, but now 2 dark pools of nothingness. Alex stopped resisting for it was no use, his mind would die and he would die. He stopped like a man who knows he is too die and is beyond pain, beyond fear. It was mere throbbing dull pain.
End it quickly!, Alex prayed.
The void became larger and larger until it swallowed Alex whole. The room vanished and nothingness surrounded him in a color of all colors and yet none. It was not black, it was not white it was nothing but yet everything. The last sound Alex heard was the maddening laughter of the demon. Then a searing mad pain split Alex’s head. The hallucinations had taken hold. Alex gave a final shriek and then faded into oblivion….
Detective Alex Walker was shuffling papers and looking through his files in his rusty, beaten office when someone had knocked on the door.
“Come in,” he said, not taking his eyes off his papers.
The door opened to reveal a middle-aged man of around 35 with long tan brown hair and was wearing a blazer. He had large, round, concave glasses that made him appear owl-eyed. His large, bulky head seemed too big for his diminutive build. If Frankenstein’s Monster ever had a double, this would be him. Alex was clearly unimpressed and annoyed by this sudden intrusion, but perhaps he would get another case. He put away his papers, straightened his tie, and came up to the man and then Alex said:
“Hello! My name is Alex Walker, Detective, First Class, NYPD. How may I be of service to you?” he said warmly while extending a hand.
The man didn’t accept it. He merely sat down on the chair by the desk and sighed and then said, “I’m Riley Green, a real estate agent. Been having a house problem. You know the Crock House on Wood Street? Well, I’ve been trying to sell it for months! It’s not selling so far…”
“What’s the problem? Broken walls, bad floors, foundation problems?” Alex inquired.
“No, the house is perfect. In 100% perfect condition. It looks brand-new! But, each one of the buyers gave it back to me for a loss. They complained of paranormal disturbances and wanted not to come even near the house. I personally suspect foul play. I didn’t know who to go to until I saw your ad. Could you please help?” he said in sincere panic.
“You were wise to come to me. Are you sure your clients have total psychological integrity?” Alex said slowly, carefully choosing his words.
“Yes, but a few went insane after the incidents. It seems that “ghosts” and other “demons” haunted that house and some of my clients were supposedly killed by them. They swore of walls being destroyed and such, but no such damage has been found. We hired an inspector to look over the house, and 5 minutes later he came out screaming and then he took the first blade he could find and stabbed himself to death!” he said rapidly.
“Hmmm..,” Alex thought. “well, I guess I am going to have to investigate this house. Could you give me the key to it?”
“Sure, hold on a sec, here it is.”
“Thank you and good-bye.”
“Good luck!”
~~**__<<__>>__**~~
“So, this is the place... Come on Jack! Hurry up!! Hustle, hustle!!!” Alex said, dusting off his sweater and calling his partner, Jack Wilson.
Alex placed his flashlight at his side from his 2003 Lincoln Navigator and also took a magnifying glass, a digital camcorder, his laptop, a cell-phone, and a recorder. He handed the camcorder to Jack as he was the cameraman. He sighed into the cold November air, gathered his strength and ran towards the door as the sun slipped into darkness. He got out the brass key and, using it, opened the door. The large lion knocker seemed to stare at him, as if mocking him. For a brief second, he saw a flash of red light. He could have swore it was the lion’s eyes. Little did he know that as he closed the door behind him, the lion-head’s mouth came upward into a sinister smile.
Jack and Alex’s first impression of the house was of awe. Riley was not exaggerating when he said it was absolutely perfect. The walls had Art from Da Vinci. In the dining area was a large scale model of Michelangelo’s David. The furniture and the framework suggested royalty almost. This was a truly great house. Jack walked off into the dining area. Alex thought, That freeloader! He came just to eat?! That’s not very professional! Alex then searched the area around the living room and looked for any evidence, but to no avail. He then walked into the living area and saw a TV and a tape lying by it. It bore no name and it had struck Alex’s curiosity. He pushed it into the TV, turned it on, and pressed play.
Apparently, this was the film of a family when they had actually bought the house. The first few scenes were just of touring the house and praising it. Nothing interesting. However, soon, the wife, Anne, left to see they kitchen while the husband was in the living room. Then, there was a scream and the husband ran for the kitchen. However, the camcorder fell from his hands and all you could here was screaming and shrieks and sinister laughing. Then, then there was just static.
Alex shuddered and a chill went down his spine. There was something evil about this house and he was determined to find it out. Suddenly, the TV went haywire and exploded. Alex shielded his eyes and viewed the rubble of the TV. It was in pieces all over floor, yes but, there were no remaining components to the TV or the tape!!! A blast of that magnitude couldn’t have vaporized all of the components! What had he watched? He knew did not know. He thought, What was in that tape? There’s something seriously wrong with this house! Maybe spending a night here might help… All the while, Jack was looking at other rooms recording them and admiring them.
“Great house, eh Boss?”
“Uh huh,” said Alex not paying attention, making mental notes to himself.
“Alex! Alex! Anyone there?” Jack said waving a hand in front of Alex.
“W-What?! What is it?!”
“You were drifting off into space, wake up you know.”
“Sorry,” Alex said sheepishly. “Note to self. Environment is fine and in perfect condition. Evidence suggests foul play and suspects are none. Most likely to be a insane killer,” he said into the recorder.
“Jack, I think we should spend the night…
“Okay. Let’s just tour the house a bit more, Alex!”
“’Kay, I’ll just look over the house.”
Alex walked upstairs. He went into the Master Bedroom, by the stairs. It was a huge room! There were French tapestries on the walls and windows, the ceiling had a many paintings from the Renaissance, and the bed was worth two king-size beds. There was a canopy over the bed as well. Alex though admiring the room, saw there was something wrong with the situation. So far, they had found no evidence. Alex’s interest then heightened as he examined a slightly dented wall. He knocked on it. It seemed to be hollow! He knocked on it again but strangely it no longer sounded hollow. Alex pondered over this and sat down on the bed. Paranormal disturbances are out. Insane killers couldn’t do this well of a job. Who was it? He got out the his laptop and hooked up wirelessly to the Internet. Riley had said that the list of owners were the Green family, the Jackson family, the Brown family, the Smith family, and the Clark family. He went to police records, online of course, and then searched each family. There was nothing unusual there. Each had a Social Security number, a valid address, James Green had cheated his wife Anne Green… Wait! Alex then found something of some interest. Ronald Smith had once been in a gang that he had turned in… Maybe, just maybe, the gang members after parole went on a hunt for him. But, what could connect him to the others? There seemed to be no connection between anyone. So, it’s back to square one. What to do now? For that question, Alex had no idea.
Alex closed is laptop and got up off the bed and almost had a heart attack. A girl of not more than 7 with cold, emotionless eyes stared back at him. She had faint, pale skin and as he touched her she felt deathly cold. Alex however relaxed and then said, “Alright little lady. How did you get here? Didn’t your mother ever tell you not to come to this house?”
“THY ART SO FOOLISH. I HAVE NO TIME FOR SUCH FOLLY. THOU SHALT PERISH!”
“Ahhh!” Alex screamed. The voice was huge! The girl had not said anything and continued staring. Alex’s blood ran cold. What in all worlds is going on! She then grabbed him and Alex screamed in terror, not of her but of the many images that flashed through his mind. Death, sadness, flames, darkness, black, shadow, burning buildings, war, aggression, WHAT DO THESE MEAN!!! She let go of Alex and he immediately fell. He held his hand to his head for it was pounding. The girl was gone! Alex was amazed as Jack came running in.
“Alex! What happened!”
“Did you manage to see the girl that ran past?”
“What girl?”
“You know… Are you saying you didn’t see her run off?”
“Alex are you okay? Those long work hours must be getting to you…”
“No, no, I’m fine,” Alex said while dusting off his clothes.
“Okaaayy…”
Alex continued touring the house. He was very shaken from the incident but he felt a little better. Alex then went into the living area when then he saw the formerly beautiful wall thrashed! Alex was taken aback. He got in closer to see it a little better when suddenly words were being written on the wall in blood. Alex was frightened. The words were of an unknown language. Alex took a step back and then he felt a tap. No one there. Alex then turned around and saw the girl again. Alex stumbled backward and fell down. He got back up to see there was no girl and the walls were fine and there was no writing. Alex then smelled something, faint, but unmistakable to be some chemical. He followed it to the dining room when he saw what was a fiery pit. It seemed as if Hell itself was gaping up at him. Alex then passed out and fell into the abyss.
~~**__<<__>>__**~~
How long had he been falling? The fire around faded and then the living area of the house came into view. Alex was still in the same house. He was in the living area, having fun and partying. However, he became surprised as he saw everyone turn into a skeleton with little flesh hanging on their skin, and with crimson pools of blood red eyes, grinned diabolically. Suddenly, the music stopped and everyone around exploded. He was left in the aftermath in the pile bones, surprised and alone.
“Life is strength,” said a voice.
Alex turned around and the living area vanished and was replaced with an endless void of nothingness. He saw the speaker to have a hood and a dark blue robe, but the hood was lifted and instead of a head, there was a skull. Again, it possessed those mad blood red eyes of crimson. It had a halo of fire surrounding it’s head. A ring of dark blue fire then surrounded them. Alex was trapped.
“Who are you!?” Alex cried.
“I am the Messenger of Obliteration and I seek you!!!” he, no, it replied grinning menacingly in a strange manner.
“Again, as I said, they say life is strength. Take this woman for example,” he said as a woman came out of thin air, no thin darkness. His voice became maddeningly clear. “Her husband was killed, yet she persevered. Her children are well-fed, she works hard day by day and she is well respected. You can say she achieved much in her life and gained strength and meant something. Yet now she is dead.” it said harshly.
Dark flames erupted from his hands and overtook the woman and she gave a final shriek, and then faded into oblivion. There was no trace left of her.
“So you like her will fade into darkness and be forgotten!” he said coldly as he then grabbed Alex, who struggled and then the demon branded Alex with a slash and Alex’s arm was in flames. Alex screamed, not before seeing many images of dark flames, screams of others, and the true face of doom itself and then a large scar in darkness itself. The cut expanded into a dark endless void and Alex fell into nothingness.
~~**__<<__>>__**~~
Alex awoke with a start. It felt like the burning was still there. His arm felt like it really had been cut. Alex then noticed he was shuddering and sweating heavily. Apparently, Jack was kind enough to put him on a bed when he passed out. Alex then stopped himself and then, while laughing and scolding himself for getting scared over a nightmare, took off the covers. He looked down at his arm and saw the charred, burnt flesh and the deep gash with much blood flowing out.
~~**__<<__>>__**~~
“Boss! Boss! What is it?! You’re shuddering pretty badly! Boss!”
Alex threw aside the covers and said, “We’re getting out!”
“He ran into the living room and screamed, ”WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME!!! ANSWER ME!!!”
“Boss, boss, calm down!”
“Shut it, Jack! Pack your things, no, on second thought, forget them! We’re getting out now!”
Alex briefly looked at his arm, and no gash was there. Alex suddenly realized the truth.
The chemicals I smelled! I get it now! This house, it’s not haunted at all! All that enter just experience hallucinations due to psycho-reactive chemicals in the air! My subconscious is creating all this and I feel as if it is real!
“Boss! Boss! It’s okay!”
“No, it’s not! We’re getting out now!”
Alex ran to the door and tried opening the door, but it wouldn’t budge. He shrieked in frustration and unleashed his fury on the door but to no avail. The demon’s message was still fresh in his mind.
Oh, no! My subconscious is making me think this place is haunted and won’t let me out! Curse those horror movies!
“Alex! Alex! As your friend and partner, GET AHOLD OF YOURSELF!”
“NO! NO! I won’t!”
He ran to the kitchen, but he then stumbled and fell on the smooth tiling. He got up and then his heart froze. He saw the girl right in front of him. She stared at him, emotionless, apathetic. An ominous feeling of doom overtook Alex and made him shiver. He stared into her eyes to find they were not eyes but endless voids of oblivion. Alex felt at any moment he would surely die of a heart attack.
He ran away screaming, “You’re not real!!!” He reached the bedrooms when he saw her in front of him. She said monotonously, “1 DAY.” Alex ran out, shrieking in terror. “All of this isn’t real! This doesn’t exist!!!” He ran to bathroom where he saw her and the demon again. They said coldly, “1 DAY.” Alex fainted and the room around faded into nothingness.
~~**__<<__>>__**~~
“Boss? Boss? You all right?” said Jack gently.
“My head. Ohhhhh!” Alex said putting his hand to his head.
“You took a pretty nasty spill. You were out for hours,”
Alex’s hand fell and his heart was in his throat. “How many hours?”
“’Bout 6. It’s nearly 12:00 midnight.”
12 midnight?! That means… Oh, no!!! I have to get out! Alex shattered all speed records in his race to get to the door. He dived at the door and slammed against it. Nothing, his own subconscious had trapped him. He attacked with all his might to no avail. Suddenly, a dark pool of despair swelled in Alex’s heart and he was thrown backward. He hit a nearby wall and his right arm was clearly broken.
“BOSS! Boss! Are you all right!”
“J-j-j-Jack! We’re too late. The chemicals have reached their maximum effect,” Alex said weakly, holding on to Jack for support. His gash reappeared and became wider, blood now spilled out like a river, and the pain increased tenfold, like a nail being driven far past his soul. The maddening pain made Alex weaker and weaker as darkness was taking hold. He was screaming in his mind.
“What do you mean Alex?! What do you-!”
Suddenly, a ring of dark flames surrounded them. A row of torches was lit and the whole atmosphere seemed of crimson red. Alex could then see the house in it’s true form, decayed and evil. Evil as evil can be. Alex now knew what the letters had said.
“Wh-Wh-What is this!?!” Jack said panicking.
“THY TIME HATH ENDED, ALEXANDER. THY END BE NIGH. AS FOR THY COMPANION, HE SHALT NOT BE SPARED.” said a voice.
“W-W-Who was that!?” Jack said looking around.
Suddenly, a figure came out from the darkness. It was the Demon.
“AHHHHH!!!” Jack screamed and attempted to run away.
“Now then… Die cur!!!” the Demon said while raising his long, robed and skeletal arms. Unholy blue fire leapt out from his hand and smothered Jack with the flames..
Jack screamed in pain, his flesh seared, and his very skin melting, his eyes rolling back. All was left was a darkened, charred corpse that was once Jack.
“Now, for you!” it said, seemingly amused and cast it’s piercing stare at Alex, it‘s fiery red eyes tearing at Alex‘s soul.
It’s not real! It’s not real! IT”S NOT REAL!!!
“AH, BUT IT IS REAL!”
His subconscious would not listen. It remained fixed in the belief that it was all real. The “demon” came closer and closer, yes, he would now die…
With nerve he never thought he had, his adrenaline pumping, Alex got up and ran. Not caring for the flames licking his body, he ran past the living area and into the bed areas.
“YOU AREN”T REAL!!!” he shouted.
“Art thou so sure?” it said suddenly appearing before Alex. Alex tried to run away, but he tripped down the stairs. His leg was broken and the game was up.
“Fall into darkness!!!”
“The demon stared deep into Alex’s eyes. Alex saw them no longer crimson red, but now 2 dark pools of nothingness. Alex stopped resisting for it was no use, his mind would die and he would die. He stopped like a man who knows he is too die and is beyond pain, beyond fear. It was mere throbbing dull pain.
End it quickly!, Alex prayed.
The void became larger and larger until it swallowed Alex whole. The room vanished and nothingness surrounded him in a color of all colors and yet none. It was not black, it was not white it was nothing but yet everything. The last sound Alex heard was the maddening laughter of the demon. Then a searing mad pain split Alex’s head. The hallucinations had taken hold. Alex gave a final shriek and then faded into oblivion….