My Demonic Ghost #3: Hunters and Creators (25 page)

Chapter Forty-Five:

My body continued to drop, but my consciousness rose above it, lingering in the air while Evan eased me down. I felt disconnected for a moment. Unable to comprehend thoughts and feelings, but his touch and familiar face helped ease my confusion. His hands were on my shoulders and he looked terrified that he could actually touch me. We floated through a tissue like material that brought us into a large open field. The colours were all wrong, the grass pink, the sky was silver, and the waterfall overhead seemed to crash into a bottomless cave below, but didn’t make a sound. I turned around. It was a vast land of mountains and forests, without a single house or manmade creation. It wasn’t perfect. At least not what I imagined Heaven to be like, but it was wild and pure. It made sense that land could only belong to a certain type of spirit, Creators. I could feel their stares as they blended in with nature. The other spirits that lived here appeared unfrightened by the Creators’ presence. 

“Where am I?” I whispered. My head felt light and detached, like this was merely a dream.

“This is the Third Realm. A resting place for all spirits…” Evan explained as he stepped up to me.

“The third realm?” I gasped, “You finally found it.” He lifted his hand to mine and took it into his grasp. Our fingers touched and pins and needles skittered through my entire body. I was a ghost now, but I wasn’t scared. I felt weightless, finally free from my problems. Birds took off into the sky, creating a triangle as they disappeared beyond the horizon. Trees as sturdy as metal pipes sprouted from the earth, bearing fruits of all colours from their thick branches. Feathers fell from the branches’ fingertips, raining on of us and becoming tangled in my hair. I was surprised to find my hair had darkened to the dark hue of a Banished spirit. I am tainted too now, but least I’m not trapped with the sins.

“Yes, we can stay here forever.” He pulled my hand towards him so I stumbled into his body. “A place that accepts the Banished.” This was paradise. Other spirits lounged in the grass, hands outstretched to catch the leaves and play an eternal game of tag. They were lost in their own worlds, their voices gentle echoes as they ran around the fields laughing. There were two Creators lingering close by, a little duckling that floated carelessly along the water and a brown possum. The possum Creator was picking up acorns, leaping impossible lengths from tree to tree, while the duckling buried its beak into the pillow of its chest.

“This place is beautiful…” I mumbled as Evan laughed.

“It stretches on forever you know; there are all sorts of landscapes to enjoy. I hear you can even reach the moon from here.”

My smile dropped, thinking back to all those we left on earth.
Would their souls ever reach here; or did Miira take them and turn them into Hunters or worse…fuel?

“Did I stop it? The Crow Creator?” I asked numbly.

Evan’s head dropped, and he bit his lower lip. Then he stepped forward, pulled my shoulders into his chest, and said, “You did, but there were others. When they lost you…” He then shook his head, “How hard is it not to die, hmm? You are the worst at listening to orders.”

I chuckled weakly, “I’m sorry I worried you.”

Then he sighed, “No, I’m sorry that you didn’t get to live your life…” He brought my face to his, “But I don’t intend to give you up again.” I smiled bashfully in his hands; I didn’t understand how he was able to say that with such a straight face.

Is this for real? Did I really get to live happily ever after here with Evan?

A part of me felt tense, like I couldn’t accept this reality; whereas another part of me was incredibly relieved. I could still see things, smells things, feel and experience emotions.
What was a ghost but a human without a body?
I was exactly the same, but at the same time completely different. It made me question the reason for going through human life in the first place. Was it like a cooking stage that moulded the soul into what it is? Was that our whole purpose, to figure out who we really were, so we could be welcomed into this new spiritual existence?  When souls become corrupted, were they destroyed and re-sent back into the world to live life all over again? Maybe that was the point; it was a way to give us memories. To experience excitement and happiness and loss. To develop an appreciation for ourselves, of our choices, and for those we care for? Did the spirits that remained become a part of a new society? It was human nature to conform and create a hierarchy system to maintain order and control.
Was that what Heaven was like? Is that what Miira envisioned?
  Here in the realm of the Creators no one was considered more powerful than the other, and everyone remained until they wanted to return back to life on earth in order to re-experience their adventures.

We
could
stay here forever, untouched by humanity’s faults, and enjoy serenity. I melted into his arms and pressed my forehead to his.
This felt right
. “Maybe that’s what I always wanted…” He pulled me in closer, his soft body trembling in disbelief.

“I felt so guilty for so many years; all I ever yearned for is you to join me up here. It was a greedy wish and I felt so angry with myself for thinking such things. But you’re here now, even though the noble thing would be to wish you back to your family; but I don’t want to. I don’t care anymore because you’re here, and I would rather be destroyed than watch you leave me again.” 

I pulled back to look into his eyes. The Evan that had starved to death on the attic floor, I never thought I could see him smile like this. “I won’t leave you, you won’t be alone anymore.”

His breath was unsteady with nerves as he kissed me. I could feel his nose pressed against my cheek, how his breath danced along my skin. His lips were cold against the warmth of his every breath. My heart accelerated, excitement tingled under my skin and spanned across my entire foggy body. For a moment, my mind went blank. That the simple act of inching forward, of closing the gap between us, had me almost squealing felt absurd. With strong arms, he cradled my head, keeping me close to him. Wind was gentle here, lifting my hair as his fringe tickled my forehead.

For so many years he had watched me from a distance. Even knowing I had forgotten him, he could’ve left for salvation; and I would never have been the wiser, but he chose to wait. He had chosen to stay on the earth, hunted by Angels, hated by humans, and forced into hiding; all because he didn’t want to leave me behind.
How could a boy who died unloved be able to give so much love to someone else?
He had yearned for acceptance, to prove his worth, and he had seen his salvation in me. He had clung onto his memories of us, keeping himself lifted above tides of darkness and regret. All he ever wanted was a chance to be happy, and he truly believed I was his answer. If that meant waiting an eternity, then he would wait.

“I forgot you...” Tears spilled from my eyes. While he lay in the attic, I promised him, right after he had fallen to his death that I would never let him feel alone again. “I promised to never forget....”

He ran his thumb along my cheek, wiping away my tears, “And you didn’t… you remembered.”

I nibbled on my lip before gently lowering my head. “I can’t believe that we’re here…” I pulled away to look out to the open fields.

He reluctantly dropped his hands. I glanced back, sensing his hesitation. “I have eternity to spend with you, and I plan on spending every moment by your side. But right now I can’t stay.”

“What?”

He turned his face away, angry with himself. “I can’t stay here. Jordon is still down there, fighting for his survival. I have to help my brother. Reapers can’t stay in the Third Realm, not while Miira is still in control. I promise you Rachael, I promise I’ll be back and we can stay here forever.”

“Evan!” I pulled him back to me, shaking my head. I had seen the destruction; I had seen the Hunters and the power at Miira’s control. “You won’t come back if you leave.”

He shook his head unfazed, “I’ll come back. No matter what.”

He let my hands go and turned away. Darkness blanketed the skies and I felt myself tear up. Remorse was a giant lump in my throat that I just couldn’t swallow. Thunder boomed from above, and sunlight vanished as gloomy blue smoke rose from the soil beneath our feet. Evan hesitated and he glanced up at the abrupt change. All the spirits scattered in fear. Creators emerged from their animal forms, encircling me. 

I brought my hand to my eyes and discovered my tears were black and thick. “W-What?” I whispered. Evan quickly returned.

“Rachael are you okay? What’s wrong?” He then tilted my chin, “Your eyes are black again…”

That’s right.... I had dark eyes.
The first time I died I turned into a Banished with black eyes. It happened so long ago I had forgotten about it. Thunder crashed across the land once more as the enraged Creators stalked closer.

“Wh-what’s going on?” I stuttered as Evan glanced around frantically. The Creators arched their backs, threatened by my presence. Black tears kept escaping my eyes and I suddenly clutched my stomach and vomited. More black liquid escaped my body as I choked on my breaths.

“No…No you can’t do this…” Evan put himself in front of me, barring the Creators from my body. “Get back! Get back! Just leave her alone!” 

“E-Evan?” He turned around in time to watch more darkness dribble from my nose and ears, and excruciating pain started to tremble from the base of my spine. It moved upwards, causing goose bumps to rise to the top of my pale skin and my muscles to clench. I could feel my bones breaking. My lungs filled with the darkness.  I couldn’t spit it out and the black goo dripped down my forehead from my hair follicles. Panicking, I kept wiping my mouth to clear my airways, but I couldn’t breathe. The Creators shoved Evan aside easily as they raced up to me.

Evan’s distant howls of, ‘No! No! Leave her alone!’ were lost when the Creators shoved me backward and out of their realm.

“Evan?” I gurgled as I disappeared from their world and landed harshly on my back.

Chapter Forty-Six:

I groaned and turned over. Wiping my face clear I saw a quiet, dense forest with a gentle layer of fog shimmering on top of the grass. The trees were crooked and seemed to stretch forever in an unnatural silence. Not even the gentle hum of bugs lived in this jungle. It didn’t feel right; it was like a photo had been stretched up in front of me. The goo that wept continuously from my hair smelled of rotten fish, I had to tilt my head back to stop it from smothering me. Pain anchored me to the ground, my muscles knotted in pain. The fall must’ve paralysed me, because I couldn’t lift my knees or wiggle my toes.

I didn’t know ghosts could be harmed or feel pain, but here I was in a bed of leaves feeling every ache pulsate through me.
What the hell is happening to me?
I didn’t understand why I had been exiled from the one place meant to welcome all types of spirits, or why darkness was leeching out of my body like play dough being pushed through a strainer. There was a low hum against my ear drums, like a revving purr coming from inside my head. I tried to rattle it out, but the weeping darkness kept clogging my throat.

Through the mess, I could hear Evan’s echoing cry off in the distance.  “Rachael?”

I froze as all my muscles locked. My ribs shattered and I screamed, only to be suffocated by the black, syrupy goo. I hoisted myself up into a tree, so I sat awkwardly, and peered down at my legs. It took me two seconds to comprehend what was happening to my body. My skin all along my legs had started to melt and fuse together. I watched, helplessly, as my flesh melted into puddles on the ground, which had me bending over and vomiting again.

             
No! No! No! No! Stop it! Stop it!
I desperately tried to force my legs apart, but the sticky tar forming between each thigh refused to separate. Every time I pulled, strings kept them attached, drawing them back in so my knees knocked together.  The worst part was when my bones fused together and formed a thick stumpy tail.

“Rachael?” Evan called again, his voice venturing closer and closer. I panicked; using my arms, I heaved myself through the thick trees and shrubs. Blinded and scared, I pulled myself forward on my stomach, my nails digging into the dirt as the weight behind me held me to an incredibly slow pace. I hit a ditch and tumbled down, landing on my back again, wheezing. Pockets opened in my torso, pushing aside what I could only imagine to be bone and muscle; and five more arms sprouted. I could hear the orchestra of bones snapping and popping into place. The pain was so intense I couldn’t stand it any longer. I wanted to scream, but the fluid choked me, forcing me to just grit my teeth and bear it. Seven arms, weeping hair, and a tail. This could only mean one thing.
Am I turning into Mother?
Angry, I thrashed; my new tail whipped out and cut through a tree, toppling it over.

“Rachael?” Evan called to me as he rushed towards my direction. I didn’t want him to see me like this. I didn’t want anyone to see me.
Rachael…
A female voice echoed through the woods in a hot whisper. Evan got closer, his shouts closing in on my location. I didn’t know how to move with this new tail and my body felt so heavy. I convulsed like a fish flops out of water.

Rachael…
The gentle voice called again,
Pick up the mask
.

“Rachael? Rachael! Can you hear me?”

Don’t come any closer! I don’t want you to see!
I shrieked, but only clicks escaped my mouth. I was completely blind now, no matter how much I wiped my face the goo wasn’t clearing.

Take the mask!

Where’s the mask?  Where is it?

My eyes adjusted to the dark and I found my vision behind the veil of muck starting to change. It was slow and subtle, but soon I was able to see objects and sense presences that I hadn’t before. Even with my human eyes, I’d never seen as clearly as I did now looking through the curtain of Mother’s hair. My tail had grown long and thick and damp green scales climbed up my torso. My arms snapped and cracked into place before I awkwardly pulled myself into a seated position. My back seemed to move sinuously, like a ripple bouncing back and forth against a wall. There were masks in my palms that I hadn’t even realised I had been holding.  Seven arms for seven masks; even though the marks looked distorted, each one emitted a unique colour and smell. Each type of pheromone I could recognise.
Vanity, Lust…
I inhaled deeply,
Gluttony, Greed and Wrath…

There was one mask in particular that drew me towards it; its foreign aroma didn’t belong to a Sin, but to something far more powerful. Twigs snapped overhead as I brought the mask up to my face, remembering how Mother used to control the power. I clasped it in place just as Evan leapt into view. I was swallowed into the mask before he could say anything, I wasn’t even sure if he knew it was me beneath the darkness.