My Demonic Ghost #3: Hunters and Creators (21 page)

Chapter Thirty-Seven:

When I next awoke, I had a severe headache and an upset stomach. I immediately rolled over and vomited over the side of the bed. There were tubes in my arms, feeding some sort of drug into my system. I tried to lift my hand, but my body was incredibly weakened. Evan appeared above me, glancing down and caressed my cheek. His face was blurred and darkened, so all I could really see were his eyes scolding through the haze. He spoke to me, but I couldn’t understand because everything tingled.

“Rach? Rach?” He sounded exhausted. I rolled my head up to look at him.

“Evan?” I replied in a raspy growl. I sounded worse. “What’s…. happening?”

“They’ve drugged you. Rach, you need to wake up, they’re trying to tear us apart.”

“Don’t…. Don’t…” My head rolled back against the pillow, sleep overtaking me again, “Don’t… let them.”

During my long sleeps I would regain consciousness for brief moments. My sleeps were dreamless, so when I could hear noises or see images they jumped out at me like fireworks.

“I’ve never seen a spirit react like that before. William had put it through the Transmission for two hours without a single beep…”

“The spirit classified as ‘Evan’ is demonstrating behaviour patterns of abnormal heightened protection, unlike the other subjects that seemed to care more about their own well-being than that of their hosts…”

“It’s stubborn, I can’t even get it to leave the room without her...”

“Charge the voltage higher. Maybe we can destroy it…”

“They brought in another one, room 13 D. It killed the host before we could get it out...”

“Her chances are really low, look at these readings. Her health is already taking a hit…”

“It’s time… we need to wake her up.”

When I woke, the heaviness in my body that kept me anchored to the bed was gone. I still felt drowsy, but not to the point I couldn’t see or speak. The room shifted into a beige brown swirl.

“She’s awake!”

“Miss Hastings? Miss Hastings, can you hear me?”

“Heart rate is just below 40.”

“Rachael, look over here.” A torch shined into my eyes, causing me to wince.  Voices surrounded the bleak space above my head and I was able to finally focus my eyes and understand where I was. Immediately, I shrank away, as the man at my side reached his hand out to sooth my palm.

“Don’t panic. We’re not going to hurt you.” It was Doctor Hearth again, but this time dressed like the regular medical staff. He wore a strange type of computerized goggles that concealed his eyes from me.

“Where am I?”

“You’re safe.” He adjusted his goggles and pulled them down around his neck. They were making strange noises like a mechanical hum. I glanced around and found that I was alone.

“Where’s Evan?”

“The demon? It’s in another room.”

“What are those?” I asked and pointed at his goggles.

“These allow me to see the demons, by using screens and electronic waves. Spirits can be invisible to the naked eye, unless you have a medium or a connection with the ghost; but we’ve managed ways to keep track of them. We kept you sedated to try and see if we can separate you from whatever that creature is inside your body. It seems unfazed by our current methods; it is not like the others. I was hoping you could tell us a bit more about what it is?”

“You can’t.” I muttered, “It’s not a Banished.”

“Banished?” He looked over his shoulder, “Is that what the demons are called?”

I nodded, “Please, just let me go. I want to see my parents. I want to see Evan.”

“Your attachment with the demon is what’s keeping it connected to you. Do you understand what is happening? These things kill their hosts and feel no remorse.”

“He won’t kill me.” I growled. 

“It has to go to its resting spot. We need you to tell it to go away.”

              “
He
isn’t a bad person. He’s the one been keeping me safe.”

“Safe? Safe from what?” I pressed my lips shut and lowered my head. I wasn’t bound to the bed this time which was a nice surprise. The Doctor sighed gently and stepped closer. 

“I understand you’re scared and you probably don’t trust us, but you need to know we’re on your side. You’re not the first patient we’ve seen that is protective of the demon. Many of the hosts have a type of Stockholm syndrome and empathise with the ghost. It will kill you, though, and that’s a guarantee. It’s in its nature. Let me explain to you everything that we are, maybe it’ll help you feel more at ease with us. Are you thirsty?”

I nodded and he handed me a glass of orange juice. “It’s not drugged is it?” I snapped, but he chuckled lightly into his chest.

“Promise, no more surprises. I’ll take you to Evan if you’ll like.”

I nodded suspiciously, but it was a chance to get out of the bed and stretch my muscles. They had given me a change of clothes, an unflattering and very simple white gown often found in hospitals with white matching pants. I wobbled slightly as I stretched out my back, feeling the knots pull on my arms. My muscles ached and my skin felt clammy and tight. He took me out of my room and into the halls. He made special note to point out the strange tiling fitted along all the walls. The halls were symmetrical and painted in a static white, lights shone overhead and reflected off the tile making my eyes sting. A few doctors and nurses followed cautiously behind me until the Doctor shooed them away with a dismissive wave.

“We’re an organisation founded after the so called ‘Apocalypse’ event. It has been brought to the attention of many that there is a spiritual world as powerful and as real as our own. It has also opened our eyes to the possibility that we are not alone on this planet and that bad spirits exist as much as the good. If you notice here, all of these walls are fitted with heavy lead with a magnetised shell, making it impossible for spirits to slip in and out of the room. It also makes it hard for other spirits to locate us; it creates a blockage for their receptors. They have to be made of something right? Even air is made up of particles, even if we may not be able to see or touch them.”

As I walked along the hall, the rooms on either side housed patients much like myself. I sipped on my drink nervously, feeling that uneasy itch when wandering in an unfamiliar area. The windows lined along the walls were the size of 80 inch TV screens. It felt like the people inside the rooms were put on display, like animals in a zoo. I stopped by one window to watch a woman inside thrashing about on her back. She was throwing a tantrum like some two year old child. Standing in the corner, as strict and still as the walls, was her Banished ghost staring at the window without blinking. I felt as if he could see me, until I continued to walk and his eyes didn’t follow. He had golden eyes and a scarring frown, his head lowered and shoulders hunched menacingly. Despite his host’s distress, he seemed calm. 

“This one here calls himself Limbs; he has had that female host for only four weeks now and just look at her condition. She’s in constant fear and is plagued by unforgiving nightmares, images of horrific crimes I would never wish that on my enemy. In the beginning, she was also one of the hosts that fought to keep the demon, look how he repays her kindness. And over here....”

He ushered me forward as we got to the next window, where a boy no older than I huddled on his bed. He didn’t seem distraught or in agony. He glanced over warily at the Banished female who was whispering something into his ear. She looked up at us smirking, while the boy nodded, copying her chilling smile. The last room in the corridor belonged to an older man and his Banished spirit. The scientists held up a type of metal prongs towards the ghost. It caused great distress for the Banished, but it appeared completely harmless to his male host. The Banished snarled and snapped, spitting at the scientists as he tried to disappear into ash only to be pinned to the wall. I couldn’t hear anything, but I could see the strain on its face as he roared.  

The Doctor stopped me as he clasped his hands together. “Here we have Throttle; he is a particular nasty demon. This is what we call a Weakening, where we chip away the bond between human and spirit using these electronic waves. It could take hours and regular sessions to detach the demon.”

“How do you stop the demon from attaching to you?”

The doctor motioned to his clothes, “Special clothing of course, just like in the walls.”

“So, what do you do with them once they’ve released the Host?”

“We put them in a special engineered jar for now, until we can figure out how to dispose of them entirely. So far, our collection is over 80,000.” He ushered me onwards, and we turned down another corridor littered with scientists all scribbling in their notebooks.

“The director and founder had originally noticed abnormal behaviour in his son and young daughter not too long after the event. Some would have dismissed it as a phase or attention seeking, but when quizzed they could answer questions the children couldn’t possibly know without outside help. When their health appeared to unnaturally decline, he investigated the possibility of spiritual influences. These trapped spirits are like leeches, they have the ability to possess and drain the health and life from living people.” He stopped me outside a window with its blinds pulled, “Using ghost hunting technology we discovered there was a way to see these spirits and interact with them. We used a type of magnetised electric current that sends out waves of light that hit on the same wavelength as their ghostly bodies. We can trap them. We can hurt them and send them away. The sickening part was just how many demons there were among our population already without us even knowing. We caught a few and investigated their origins, tested out our machines, and theories. Based on our research, the demons have been here for centuries; but it’s only recently they are appearing in these vast numbers. Now why is that, you may wonder? We think it’s because someone or something tore open the pathway between our world and theirs. Like a doorway, they’ve been invited in. They want to take our world for themselves. We also think you may be carrying their leader.”

“What? Do you mean Evan?” I scoffed.

“No,” He pointed at my forehead, “There’s something inside you much more powerful. A different type of spirit. Something that is triggered only when you are mad or upset, but every time we trigger it, it ends up trying to hurt everyone. That’s why we’ve had to keep you sedated. You trashed the last room and put four of my best men in hospital wards.”

“It can be anything emotional, not just anger. Fear is the strongest reaction. That’s why you shouldn’t lock me up like this, it’s dangerous.”

“We just want to know what it wants. Is its purpose here to take over our world?”

“No, of course not. It’s not a violent spirit; it’s just trapped in the middle of this stupid war…”

“War? War between whom?”

“The angels and the demons of course.”

He crossed his arms, “You sure know a lot for someone who doesn’t know what they are doing.”

I also crossed my arms, “I talk to them, not electrocute them. Why are you even holding me here? Am I under arrest?”

“All of our patients need to be dealt with before they can return to society. You’re a bit more of a higher security risk!”

“In other words, you kidnap people. I still have rights; you can’t just tie me up to a bed. I want to see my parents. And where’s Evan? I want to speak to Evan.” 

Doctor Hearth exhaled before tapping on the window. The curtain was pulled to the side, revealing an open room and three more radiating large lamps all turned towards Evan. He was curled up on the ground, arms over his head and knees drawn to his chest. Once they removed the lamps, his body loosened and unfolded.

“Evan?” I planted two hands against the window before running through the door. The surrounding scientists all fell back as I dropped to my knees. My hands hovered above his body despite the itching temptation to scoop him into a stand.

“Evan? Evan are you okay?”

“I’m… okay….” He replied hoarsely, “Just… need… to rest…”

“What did you do to him?” I shouted. Doctor Hearth had lost his smile, his face now a cruel frown as he turned back towards the door.

“You can’t keep helping him! In the end we will destroy it; it’s for the good of the world. Please escort Ms. Rachael back to her room.” He opened the door and let himself out.

I shouted out after him, “You’re not allowed to do this stuff anymore. Do you hear me? You cannot touch him anymore!” The walls shook as I hammered my hand against the ground, causing the tiles to crack and shatter. The door slammed behind him.

Chapter Thirty-Eight:

I sat with my back to the wall back in my cell, hugging my knees to my chest. I felt so small and frail, and so incredibly alone. Evan didn’t move a muscle as he slept, not even a twitch of his eyebrow or dreaming murmur. I hadn’t seen any of the scientists or the Doctor since this afternoon, but I knew they were watching me. I couldn’t sleep, so I just sat there, rocking back and forth, waiting for Evan to wake up. When his body rolled over, followed by a disgruntled groan, I sighed.

“How are you feeling?” I scooted over so I could peer into his gaze. Evan cringed, expecting someone else before he let out a throaty laugh. 

“You’re a sight for sore eyes.”

“Seriously Evan…” He sat up and eased himself against the wall.

“Well at least we know they can’t kill me, it just hurts like hell. Remind me to thank them when I feel better…” He grumbled before losing his smile all together. He looked up at me with a tender frown, “Something’s not right.”

I nodded, “I’m sorry for leaving you alone with them. I’ll make sure they never-”

“No… no with you.” His brows towed upwards in his concern, “Something is wrong with you.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your life line, it’s depleting at twice the normal rate. It’s not me doing it either.”

“So, it’s Chō?”

He nibbled on his lip, the exhaustion teasing his hair so it flicked out like the layers of a rose in bloom. “It just doesn’t make sense. It’s a Creator; it shouldn’t need to borrow life and energy so he shouldn’t be taking anything away.”

“Let’s not worry about me for a change, okay? I’m alright. You’re the one they’re trying to fry.”

“Yeah but I’m invincible, you’re the one who is delicate.” He mocked.

“Strong enough to throw Nathan around like a toy.” I chuckled but quickly stopped when Evan’s face went taut in his severity, “Sorry, I shouldn’t joke…”

“No,” He quickly shook his head, “He’s always been such a jerk… but to target you because of me - I just can’t understand.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“It has to be, otherwise why would he do it?” He twisted around to face me, “Why Nathan, out of all the Hunters? It just can’t be a coincidence. When Jordon told me about what you had said, I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to.”

I licked my lips nervously, “Gargoyle recruited him because of his hatred towards your brother. He was a torment to you too, wasn’t he?” Evan shifted uncomfortably.

“He blamed me for his parents’ break-up; saying it was me and my mum’s fault his mum deserted him.” He sighed and propped his head against the wall, “I’m just sick and tired of always being so scared. The one thing I liked about death is that I never had to be scared of him again… well, I used to think that. Figures he’d become the one spirit that can hurt me the most.”

“People change. The way you stood up to him was amazing.”

“I got my ass handed to me don’t you mean? You had to swoop in and go all ultra-power just to save my sorry behind.”

I scooted over a little closer, “I never really thanked you for coming back for me. The last time we spoke, I thought you had given up. I thought you stopped caring.”

“The moment he took you away I knew right there and then that I can’t just shut you out. It’s not a switch I can turn on and off. Even if I wanted to, I just can’t, you’ve imprinted yourself on me and I can never get away.” He lowered his voice, the weight of his words making my heart flutter nervously. “I will always love you, even if you can’t love me back.” Heartache tore through me. My immediate reaction was to deny; to reassure him that love between us was possible, but a lingering fear kept my mouth shut.

              I gently whispered, “I never should have said those things before, I was inconsiderate. I know it might not be love just yet, but I care for you. I can see why I fell for someone like you…”

Evan looked shocked to have heard me say that, and a bashful smile relaxed his face. “Then I’ll have to make you fall in love with me all over again…” There was a heavy knock on my cell door before it was pushed open, revealing a stern looking Doctor and two scientists at his flank. Evan immediately tensed to the point the lights in the room flickered, his tight shoulders and fierce glare radiating darkness into the space.

The Doctor held his hand up gently, “We’re not here for you.” Not two seconds later, mum and dad came rushing through the door. I scrambled to stand before running to them, practically jumping into my mother’s arms. She pulled me close and squeezed tightly, tears I didn’t realise I was holding overspilled from my eyes.

“Rachael my baby girl, you’re okay. We’ve been so worried! My darling daughter. Don’t you ever, EVER do that to us again.” Mum brought my head in and suffocated me with kisses. I pulled away to go hug my father, when I noticed he had dropped a lot of weight. Guilt poked me with a hot stick.
What was I thinking? Not telling my parents where I was or that I was okay? They have been so miserable because of me! I’m the worst daughter ever!

“I am so sorry. I am so sorry mum and dad. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t think.” Dad’s blood shot eyes softened in relief. The stress had been horrible to him; mum looked exhausted, but dad looked seriously ill.

“These men have been saying such bizarre things. They keep telling us about spirits and demons I just… I don’t want you to have any part of this. Come on, I’m taking you home.” Mum pulled on my arm just as dad replied with a sharp ‘No’.

She looked accusingly over at him as if he had just slapped her, “George! We’re taking our baby girl home. This is ridiculous.”

“I want nothing more than to take her home too, but it’s not ridiculous.” He peered around the room scornfully, “He’s here… isn’t he Rachael?” I cocked my head to the side, not sure who dad was referring to. Evan inhaled sharply as he tried to melt into the shadows.

“What are you talking about?” Mum asked.

“Dad?”

“Do you remember how we always had a dark spot in our memories? How for five years of my life I couldn’t remember details or events that had happened? It’s been coming back to me now piece by piece. Every night I remember more and more… I remember there was a ghost, a demon. A boy they called Lock.”

Evan tensed upwards and I whipped my head towards him. He had guilt written all over his face. It had looked like he was attempting to explain himself, but words failed to form.

“How on earth would you know that?” I asked dad suspiciously.

“Because he is the one that ruined my life.”  

Oh my God…. Wait… I remember that.
Images and lost moments flashed through my mind; the realization caused my face to go slack with unease. He was right. I didn’t know how or why now, but the mention of my father’s failing health had dug up all the memories I had long lost. He was sick and dying, his mind polluted with hate and his life chipped down from joyous accountant to a psych patient, house bound at the Whitehaven estate. Mum and dad’s marriage had fallen a part, he had lost his job and with it all sense of happiness and sanity. I took two steps backwards, bringing my hand to my mouth. 

“Rachael…” Evan whispered softly, “I can explain…”

“Is it true?”

His face paled with remorse, “It’s complicated.”

“I love you sweetheart, but if what I think happened to me is now happening to you, we absolutely must destroy it.” Dad shook his head like the words were too painful to say.

“George!”

“No Dianne, I can’t have our daughter live through that hell. You remember too, don’t you? All of those fights we had, those sleepless nights never knowing where I was or what I was doing. Don’t you remember all the resentment?”

Mum grit her teeth, fighting back tears that threatened to fall. “So, are you saying that some demon attacked you five years ago but blocked all of our memories of the incident and is now attacking our daughter?”

Dad frowned, “How else do you explain what’s happening to us? What’s happening to me? It sounds crazy, but I truly believe so.”

Mum shook her head, “I can’t leave her here.”

“Dad, please just take me home.”

“No, no; I’m sorry, but the doctors can fix you. They can fix this.”

I fell silent as Doctor Hearth spoke up at the entrance, “You need not worry, we are doing everything we can to remove it.”

“You’re not hurting my daughter!” Mum shrilled in panic.

“We promise not to harm her; we’re only interested in the ghost.”

“Mum, dad, please don’t leave me here. This man is insane. He had me tied to the bed and pumped drugs into my body.”

“The demon was acting violently through her, we had no other choice. It would have harmed her otherwise.”

“You’re a liar! Please don’t do this, just take me with you. I want to go home!”

“If you come home then you’ll die!” Dad put his foot down and I stepped back sourly. I looked over at mum and she shielded her face from me, her anger and fear rendering her speechless. Feeling outnumbered, I crossed my arms and stormed back to my bed where I sat down.

Mum regained enough composure to speak, “If she stays, then I stay.”

“We can set up a separate room for you. You can arrange visiting hours, but you can’t stay in here for long. These spirits are capable of host jumping. They can easily target you or your husband next.” The Doctor explained. Mum pushed past him and stormed out, her heels clicking angrily as she disappeared down the hall. Dad lingered for a moment longer, his head bowed in thought. I hadn’t noticed it, but his hair was thinning too, revealing a patch of pinkish scalp.

“Is it here?” He asked once more.

The Doctor nodded, “We monitor and track them through these goggles.”

Dad held out his hand, his face scarily serious, “I want to see him.”

I dared a glance over at Evan who stood up warily. The Doctor handed dad the goggles. He held them in his hands, his focus on his feet, before he eventually slipped them on. Evan stepped forward again, his face strong and unwavering as if he was approaching a noose. Dad glanced around the room then checked over his shoulder; making eye contact with Evan, who lingered not two steps away. He flinched as if surprised, but then quickly regained his composure. His brows quirked for a moment before he released a shaky breath.

“I thought… I thought it was the same ghost that had haunted me. It’s not him…” He went to take the glasses off and Evan stepped forward again.

“No, wait!” He shot one last fleeting glance in my direction before his image flickered. He kept his eyes on me, gaging my reaction before lowering his gaze while ash started to foam around his body, billowing up from his toes to his head before dispersing and floating away. Remaining behind was the young boy in his school uniform. Evan was soft in his youth, his gentle cheeks and large, sparkling eyes tight with fear. He looked back to my father and gulped loudly, “It’s me.”

Dad’s breathing tightened, “Wait…Aren’t you…. Aren’t you Ray’s boy?”  He looked over at me for confirmation that he wasn’t crazy. Dad had to support himself on the wall, the surprise more than he could handle. He had never met Evan, none of us had; but looking at Evan now he was identical to the photo in the newspaper. It was unsettling how we didn’t make the connection earlier.

I nodded my head gently as Dad’s lower lip trembled, “What happened? How… why? No, no it’s a trick. It has to be. I don’t know what happened to you, but this isn’t the answer. You have to let go, Evan. You can’t be here anymore!”

“Dad!” I mumbled but he put his hand up, his voice rising.

“I understand, Rachael. I understand that you sympathise with this boy, but he isn’t your cousin. He isn’t my nephew or Ray’s son. Not anymore. He’s just an evil entity that has to be destroyed.”

My chest swelled, “He may be Banished, but he is still Evan, dad; they were all people before they became Banished.”  I argued.

“They are the filth left from a human life and they are no longer human.” He shouted, and I stepped backwards. Evan glared furiously, his lips drawn into a frown.  “You have to let go of my daughter. Just let go!”

Evan’s voice quivered as he spoke, “No.”

Flinging himself forward, dad punched his fist through Evan’s body. Evan didn’t even flinch as dad went straight through him, landing on the far wall. I scrambled up and ran over, and helped him stand. He had his hand to his heart as each cough ripped through his chest. He pushed me away with one hand and eased himself upright with the other. When he looked back, Evan had reverted back to his older appearance, his fists held tightly at his side, and eyes glaring an open challenge.

“You are not Evan; you are not a part of our family. We will destroy you.” He promised before turning to me, “Do the right thing, Rachael. I know you’re a bright girl, do the right thing.” He then followed the Doctor out of the room.