I felt as if my entire brain was shut off before being violently shredded. Once shredded my brain was then rearranged into its previous order of existence and glued back together. It felt like an instant but the pain was so violent I collapsed upon touching the ground. It took everything left in my constitution to not throw up on the ground where I lay. It was familiar. A simple carpet texture that I recognized despite the dark. It was my bedroom.
I tried to stand up on shaking legs and my eyes quickly adjusted. My bed was still there. The desk was as I left it with its laptop still closed and plugged in. The desk chair laid on its side where Sofia had kicked it. On my bed posts, there were four handcuffs where I had been chained by Sofia previously. I couldn’t see a key for them anywhere.
I heard a ding from my phone receiving a text. It was on my desk and it lit up my entire room when it came in. I unsteadily walked over using my bed for support. I grabbed it and saw a notification from a number I didn’t recognize. What was unusual about this was that a contact had been created for that I didn’t have previously. It was simply listed as ‘Alice’.
Alice: I will watch you from the cameras in your home and computer. I won’t do anything invasive don’t worry
That was an oxymoron. You will remain watching from my phone and computer while also being uninvasive? That didn’t sound possible. I didn’t text as such though. Alice was someone I liked, but she kept poor company that I needed to be wary of.
I didn’t understand why they needed me. They wanted me to track Roxane, and we found her. Now why was I being kept around. I’m not advocating for being discarded or disposed of. I just wish to understand what purpose they had for me. Or I guess realistically, whoever their boss was. I don’t know if I can trust Alice as a friend. But I could possibly trust her as a source of information. I decided to test that. I text back.
Alan: Why watch me? What is your boss planning?
She sat down on my bed and waited. It was a quick response by Alice.
Alice: I don’t know exactly why. She probably wants to use the tracking talents you have again
I decided to push further in my questions.
Alan: Who is the boss?
She typed for a little bit before stopping. She then submitted another text.
Alice: I can’t say everything. But she's powerful
That wasn’t the answer I was looking for. I needed to push further.
Alan: Powerful enough to write the contracts?
Alice: Yeah
A one word response wasn’t ideal. Even if that's what she’s willing to say, I guess I’ll just ask another yes or no question.
Alan: Is she a demon?
Alice: Kinda
Well that wasn’t helpful but it told me a lot. Whoever was watching me and trying to use me wasn’t human. A pit formed in my stomach and my eyes grew wide as I stared at the message. A being on par with a devil is watching me and using me for their plans. There was no way I could run from this. Police can’t do anything against the forces of Satan. I felt my palms grow sweaty and tried to stand up from the bed. Another message from Alice came in.
Alice: Don’t do anything reckless or crazy. Nothing will let you escape. Church won’t save you. Just try to survive. You’re smart so I think you can do that :)
I dropped the phone on the bed. I stumbled out of my room. The door immediately across from my bedroom was the bathroom. I opened it and fell down in front of the toilet bowl. Suddenly, every image I wish I had not seen was there. I remember seeing the dead couple in Peterstown, Roxane aiming her gun at me, Sofia’s guts threatening to fall out while she laughed and moaned, Doctor Marusic offering me to rape her wound. Every time I hear that message in my head.
Nothing will let you escape.
I couldn’t do this anymore. I vomited up anything I had in my stomach. I felt tears roll down my face. I just wanted to get rid of this feeling of being trapped. I wanted to do anything to escape it. I raised my fist and smashed the wall next to me. I wasn’t strong enough to even damage the drywall, but I did it over and over and over. It never broke, but my knuckles grew bruised.
“Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!!!”
Gripping the toilet bowl I managed to push myself to standing. I flushed the toilet of the vomited contents. A mirror was above the sink in the bathroom. I washed my hands and watched my reflection. I was tired. My outfit was dirty and had splatters of blood on it that I failed to notice before. My hair was a mess and I was in desperate need of a shower. They caused this. They made me fall apart like this. I was someone. I was Dark Explorations. Who cares if the internet thought I was crazy. I’ll prove that I can’t be teased or thrown around like someone’s unloved toy. I’ll show them I’m right, I’m always right.
I exited the bathroom and watched as the window showed the lights of the morning sun. This wasn’t my fate. I wasn’t going to be dragged into hell by some demon without a fight. I’d go kicking and screaming and showing the world that I was right on the way there. Right now though, I needed a nap.