All Hope Lost (21 page)

“You know, you should be a detective with those smarts!”
I smiled.

“Oh, ha ha” he replied sarcastically. “What made you do
what you did? From what the reports say, they are all too gruesome to be shown
on daytime TV.”

“Well, let’s just say they got their just desserts. Permanently.”

Michael nodded. “Anything else I should know?”

I shook my head. “Nothing I’m allowed to disclose I’m
afraid. Sorry Michael!”

“Dammit. Worth a try though.” He gave me a cheeky grin.
“So what are you up to now?”

“Well now, I am just going to rest up a little more and
then I have been summoned elsewhere. I cannot say about what though, or where.
I did however go see Sam earlier, my friend across the street.”

“Oh, yeah? How is she?”

I shook my head sadly. “She’s
a mess. I got over there and for a moment I thought she had killed herself. She
also lost her job because of what happened. I don’t know why but I feel so
guilty. But I think my visit to her cheered her up a little.”

“Good. I’m glad. I had an odd visitor by the way. I don’t
think he realised I could see him though. I didn’t say anything.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah this figure appeared in our kitchen. It wasn’t you,
obviously, but he was there when I was making tea. He just appeared in a black
cloak, but inside the cloak it was all stars? Does that ring any bells with
you?”

I thought about it then shook
my head. “Afraid not. It could be one of the higher ups keeping an eye on me.
They do that apparently.”

Michael nodded. “Ok, I thought I had better check with
you just in case.”

“Thanks for letting me know. I’ll go check him out
later.” I smiled. “For now though, I had better get a move on! I need to borrow
the laptop.” Michael opened the laptop and I hopped in. “See you later!”

Searching the web, I found the
point to the Mi5 building nearby, and travelled swiftly along it. It took a few
minutes to reach there, but at the other end, I recognised the building. Now
all I had to do was get inside and find the right room.

I headed inside. The building
was huge, the entrance was guarded and had walk-through sensors. People were
coming and going with ease but I didn’t have a clue about this place. I looked
around and decided to follow someone. I followed after a lady in a well fitted
suit, carrying a laptop, who arrived at the entrance to numerous lifts.
The doors pinged open and I walked in with her and a few other people. The lift
quickly became full, and in doing so, I was forced to stand inside people,
making them shiver and moan about the faulty air con. People got off, and
others got on as we headed upwards. Finally on the fifth floor, the lady
stepped off, so I followed her. She headed off towards a group of desks and so
left me wondering where to go next.

I decided to head to the
nearest corridor.
Surely there must be signs in this place?
I thought.
As I made my way through a doorway into a corridor I spotted a wall map.
Scanning it, I pin pointed my place in the building and continued upwards. I
wasn’t sure which room I had to go too, but I was sure there would be others
around that could help.

Reaching the top floor I
turned right and strolled down the corridor. A few people came and went but
then I found myself alone at a junction. Hallways headed off in all directions,
doors everywhere. I closed my eyes for a moment, wondering why they had to pick
such a ridiculous building to meet in, when I heard my name.

“Sharon over here!” a male voice sounded. I opened my
eyes, locating the source. I found Alex waving at me. “Good, you made it. We
were wondering what had happened to you, then we saw the news!” His words were
spilling out faster than he could keep up. He looked excited but also worried.

“Are you ok? What happened?”

I waved him off. “Why do you think that was me?” I asked.

“Well it’s pretty obvious who it was, don’t you think?”

I shrugged. “I needed my revenge. I got it.” I had to
keep it short. I really didn’t want to get into the gory details now.

“The reporters can’t even show the images of what you
did, they are too explicit! Damn I wish I could have seen that!”

I grimaced and Alex was grinning from ear to ear. “We better
get inside, see what all the fuss is about, eh.”

Alex led me through the door
and into a packed room full of people;
or were they all Daemon’s?
We
found a seat and saw Robert standing with three other senior staff at the front
of the room. Robert waved his arms and spoke. “People, people, quiet please
now.” He let his arms drop as we faced the front. “Now most of you know why we
are here, but for those who do not, it is of the utmost importance that you
relay none of what you are about to see and hear to anyone. This is why you all
had so sign the NDA. I’ll now introduce you to these two fine folks. The lady
here is Mrs Rathcombe, and she is a Daemon, like yourselves. The man next to
her is Mr Harpen, er, I mean, Dr Harpen. Dr Harpen is not a physician, but a
psychiatrist, and will be on hand for anyone that may lose themselves in the
oncoming events. Are you all with me so far?”

My fellow Daemon’s and I just nodded glancing at one
another. Robert continued.

“The reason you have all been summoned here is because
one the prisoners has gotten free and is now somewhere rampaging and causing
mischief across the planet. Our goal, is to find him, capture him, and get him
back where he belongs before the supernatural realm is discovered to the
living. I fear though, that we may be too late for some and those that succumb
to Loki, will now have gone mad.”

The door opened with a crash
at the back of the room, another spirit had entered. “Enter messenger!” Robert
cried, “don’t bother to knock!”

The messenger looked worried.
“I’m sorry sir, but we have news from the Realm of the Dead that another
prisoner has gotten loose.”

Robert scowled. “Is it so hard
to keep prisoners locked up nowadays? Who the hell is free now!?”

The messenger gulped. “Raikenji sir.”

“Raikenji?! Is he in the living realm yet?” Dr Harpen
spoke.

“No sir, but he is causing havoc in our realm. He is
trying to cross realms we believe sir.”

“Cross into which realm?” Robert whispered.

“Avdimi’s realm, sir.”

Robert clutched at his hair in
annoyance. “Shit! He cannot be let free, he cannot!” He looked about hastily
and his eyes landed upon me. “Sharon, I need you to return with me. Everyone
else, spread out and search for Loki. GO GO!”

Robert grabbed my arm. I spun
to face Alex, wide eyed, and he stared at me as Robert and I vanished.

We reappeared in Robert’s classroom. “Sir, please wait,
why me?” Robert still had a hold of my arm as he dragged me out of the room and
we headed up the stairs of the tower. “Where are we going?”

Robert spluttered out the
words as we ran forwards. “Because firstly, you are the most unique of us here
that I can’t manipulate. You may have a power that can keep Avdimi within his
cell, which to answer your other question is where we are going now.”

“But I thought you said I might release him!?” I cried,
my legs trying to keep up.

“True, true, but we currently have no choice. I will hold
off anyone trying to break in. You must stop Avdimi from breaking out.
Understand?”

“Yes, I think so.”

Robert nodded and we raced up
so many stairs I soon lost count.
How high is this place?
I thought.

“Twenty-nine floors.”

“I really wish you wouldn’t read my mind!”

“Sorry, can’t help it. Your thoughts are open like a
book.”

I suddenly remembered. “Wait,
I don’t know how to shield myself! You said you would teach me how. All of us.”

Robert nodded. “I know I’m throwing you into the deep end
here but I’m hoping we will have help arrive before either of us gets
overwhelmed.”

We reached the top of the
tower, and found ourselves face to face with a large, very tall man in some
sort of armour. “A Guardian.” Robert explained.

“Just one?”

“That’s all we need. Luckily, we have him to help, so we
are already not alone. He will enter the cell with you, I will stand watch
here.” He motioned to the Guardian to go with me. It nodded and opened the
door, and slowly, I walked through.”

The door shut solidly behind
us, the room in front was huge, and all that was inside was one giant cell
occupied by one being. It didn’t look threatening, it wasn’t even that big, and
it had its back to us. I looked it over, but all I could see was its deathly
dark, black robe. I kept my eyes fixed on it as I moved past it, the Guardian
halted on the other side of the room watching, poised to strike at any time.

The figure moved slightly and
I paused. It started to turn around slowly, laughing quietly as it did so.
“Ahhhh visitors. Not something I get very often. Welcome to my domain, please
pull up a chair.” His arms raised. “Ah, I forgot, there are no such luxuries up
here.” He finally faced me, his head down, his hood drawn up over his head.
“And who might you be young lady? I see you have a companion. I already have
had the honour of being introduced to him.”

I glanced at the Guardian.
So
it is a he, then. I couldn’t tell.
The figure chuckled behind the bars. I
was confused then and before I could think, I spoke, “How come the bars hold
you back? Surely you can just walk through them?”

The figure laughed, amused.
“This is the Realm of the Dead, my dear. Objects are just as real here as they
are in the living realm. Solid, see?” He tapped a bony finger against the
metal. I took a step closer, trying to see inside his hood.

“You’re a curious little thing aren’t you?” he mused.
“You really want to see me? Most flee from my sight.” I didn’t answer, not sure
how to respond. I didn’t need to. The figure raised his head, the hood was
still up, but there was nothing within.

“What are you?” I asked.

The figure laughed aloud, making the Guardian flinch in
response. “Why Sharon, were you not told? I am death, destruction and desire,
mixed into one!” I squinted at him then I saw what others saw.

Stars.

I stepped backwards, a memory
suddenly springing to mind, of Michael talking to me in the kitchen. An
intruder, a figure dressed in black, a face made of stars.

I shook my head.
How could
he have been in my kitchen? What’s going on?
 The figure laughed
again. “Oh dear Sharon, I think you have stepped right into my little trap.” He
flung himself at the bars, making them vibrate, and in the blink of an eye, his
arm had pushed between the bars and latched on to my clothing. I felt a jolt
rush through me, then I was knocked aside, as the Guardian flew at the prisoner
causing it to release me. I felt suddenly sick.
The dead don’t get sick do they?
How is that possible?
A pain ripped through me and I screamed, the prisoner
laughing in response. I closed my eyes tightly. Robert flung open the door and
rushed over to me, placing his hands upon my head, trying to read me. All he
saw was blackness. The Guardian was standing still facing the prisoner who had
now backed up further into his cell. The pain was too much, the blackness once
again swamped my head and I fell into a deep sleep.

*****

I awoke surrounded by faces.
Alex, Robert, Dr Harpen. “She awakes” the Dr pointed out.

Alex smiled at me. “Welcome back! How do you feel?”

I tried to sit up, Alex and Robert helped me either side.
“Slowly now. You took some damage we believe.”

Touching my head, my vision
swam momentarily then refocused. “I, I think I’m ok. What happened?”

Robert spoke. “We understand that Avdimi touched you. His
touch is extremely painful, that is what destroys everything in its path. How
you are still here, we can’t fathom. You should be dust!?”

My brow creased. “Lucky me?”

“Understatement of eternity!” Alex replied.  I
laughed. “I think she’s fine folks. Somehow.” Alex helped me stand with the aid
of Robert.

“What about Raikenji? Isn’t he coming to break Avdimi
out?” I asked, worried.

Robert shook his head.
“Thankfully not, though the bad news is Raikenji has broken free into the
living realm as well, so we now have two prisoners on the loose.”

I looked to Alex, then at Dr Harpen and Robert. “Is
Raikenji as bad as Loki?”

Dr Harpen grimaced. “They are
both bad, Sharon. Loki, wields mischief and confusion, Raikenji controls the
air, the wind, he is basically a storm elemental.”

“And Earth doesn’t have enough problems with Mother
Nature doing its worst as it is?” I mused.

Dr Harpen shook his head
again. “The fact is, we have two beings on the loose that could cause the
utmost chaos. If they meet, then who knows what might happen?”

“They’ve never met?” I asked.

“No. None of the high prisoners have met before. Most are
from different beliefs, cultures and ages. I can’t even imagine the
possibilities if they did meet.” Robert scratched his head. “Anyway, we had
better get moving, if you feel ok now Sharon?” I nodded and turned to Alex.

“Why are you here anyway?” I asked him. “I thought we
left you on Earth?”

He nodded. “You did, but….. I felt your pain earlier, I
came as fast as I could.”

I frowned. “You felt my pain?”

Alex nodded. “That is one of my gifts. Anyone I feel
close too, I sense, no matter how far away. We are linked, you and I.”

I felt suddenly embarrassed,
but smiled instead. “Well I’m glad, I think. It’s like having a guardian
angel!”