Gloom

Chapter 3

I suppressed a sigh. Rain was commonplace in the state of  Oregon , nothing new. The thunder, on the other hand, wasn't so much, so I couldn't help but feel strange. Through the window, I could see that the sky was too dark. The total absence of any noise in the house made me know that it was already very late, and that my family was sleeping.

I rubbed my eyelids hard and sighed, because I knew I was going to have a hard time sleeping again. But he had to try to do it, or else in the morning he was going to have dark circles even worse than they already were.

I nodded—half sleepily—as I distractedly noticed the religious objects on the nightstand next to my bed. I pursed my lips.

On the one hand, I was inwardly grateful that the thunder outside woke me up, since at that moment I remembered that I had left my cell phone in the living room. I slapped myself on the head, getting angry with myself. If I finally managed to sleep again I had to go get him, or else I would fall asleep. I wasn't going to be able to wake up alone, not with the exhaustion I was carrying. An uncomfortable weight settled on my stomach, but the tiny sane side of my brain urged me down. That, and the fact that I had to get up on time to go to work.

I felt a bit foolish as I grabbed the little bottle of holy water along with the rosary, and stuffed them into the pockets of my baggy pajama bottoms. But, despite that, they also gave me some security to start down the stairs.

When I touched the last step with my bare feet, I turned my head to the sides, observing every corner of the living room, the kitchen and the dining room. There was no one.

"Of course there is no one. What did you expect?» the voice in my head taunted.

I sighed, feeling like a little girl afraid of the dark again. I reached the living room, telling myself that I had to behave like an adult, and saw the sleeping pills on the coffee table. I knew I had to take them if I didn't want to toss and turn until exhaustion got the better of me.

So after swallowing two tasteless pills, I grabbed my phone and started turning off the lights. I went up the stairs, but as I was about to reach the bottom step, the lights on the first floor came on by themselves, all at once.

My heart gave a violent flip.

I backed up very slowly. I turned off the light in the room again, and after two seconds it came back on. I swallowed, my breathing becoming ragged. My legs began to shake. I tried to convince myself that the vials were damaged, although it was ridiculous to think that they had all gone at the same time.

Also, the lights don't turn on by themselves .

I stopped my thinking. This couldn't be happening. There had to be another explanation. It must have been the pills, I must be hallucinating again… I must be going crazy!

I took steps back involuntarily.

"Nice pajamas...

My breath caught in my throat at the sound  of that  voice. I turned around, not quite ready yet, or not even knowing why I did it.

The figure of the tall, pale-skinned man in dark pants and impressive black feathered wings stood right in front of me.

The air escaped from my lungs, while I felt how the blood left my body. She was awake, she was fully aware that she was awake. Last night had not been a hallucination, much less a dream. It was for  real .

Just as it was right now.

I saw the corners of his lips turn up, showing that wicked smile again.

"Hello again, Amy," he said in a low, husky voice.

I froze.

It couldn't be true. No matter how much I looked at him, no matter how sure I was of his presence in front of me, I couldn't believe that this guy was  real . I squeezed my eyelids together.

Lightning thundered outside the house and I jumped, but I didn't open my eyes.

"It's a nightmare. It's a nightmare. Wake up!" .

-That? I heard him ask, trailing a slight chuckle. Do lightning scare you?

At that moment, I heard a couple of  clicks  and was able to tell that we were in complete darkness. My heart felt like it was going to burst at any moment.

"It's not real…" I muttered to myself, with a small voice. It's a hallucination. You are not   real.

I clenched my fists and dug my nails into my palms so hard they hurt. I was doing my best to steel myself, but I wasn't sure how long I could go on like this. I had no idea when I was going to collapse.

-I'm not? The guy spoke in a low, lazy voice. He didn't sound upset like the day before.

Through my eyelids, I could detect the lights coming back on. I was able to hear, with dread, that the demon began to advance.

I opened my eyes.

It was closer now. I took a couple of steps back immediately, but in doing so I tripped over my own feet and fell to the ground. I ignored my own pain and looked up at him. His countenance was serious. too much He cocked his head as he stared at me, and narrowed his eyes.

"So you think I don't exist," he said, and began to approach me at a slow pace. I couldn't get up, it was like I couldn't find the urge to do it. My whole body trembled. The dread was so great that all I did was squeeze my eyes shut. Do you imagine this is a dream? Do you think you are hallucinating? My heart stopped and the blood froze in my veins the instant I felt his touch—hot and very,  very  solid—on my forehead. Well, I'm a pretty real hallucination, don't you think?

At that moment, my brain reacted. I opened my eyes, searched urgently in my pocket and pulled out the first thing I grabbed. He removed his hand from my forehead and I saw him sit up quickly as her face changed.

-What are you doing? she demanded, her frown deepening.

I scrambled to my feet and reached out with the wooden rosary in my hand. If it was real, if it really was a demon, this should help me, right?

-What do you want? I asked, my voice high in terror. My chest rose and fell rapidly.

"You can't hurt me with that," he replied.

However, the expression on his face was no longer so calm.

"What are you coming for?"

His head shook in silent denial.

"Put that down, don't be ridiculous.

"Tell me what the fuck you want." The tremor in my voice was evident, but I didn't care.

He squared his shoulders in a haughty gesture.

"You have no idea what to make of it," he said. You will do absolutely nothing to me.

I took a step forward and immediately he backed away. He made a strange face, as if he had ground his teeth. Perhaps it was that my brain was in a slight state of insanity, but for some reason, that gave me a little satisfaction. 

"I don't want to hurt you, Amy," he said suddenly, his tone lower and more serene.

Bewilderment hit me. I prayed that he wouldn't notice.

-Then what do you want?

He narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw, not responding. In a slight burst of courage, I reached into my pocket with my left hand, took out the small glass vial, and showed it to him. I saw him open his eyes wide.

-What's that? She inquired in a hard voice.

"You know what it is." I tried to match his tone, though it wasn't even close. Tell me what are you doing here.

My breathing quickened even more, as he changed his surprised expression to a much more severe one. Then, slowly, he raised both arms slightly, as if I were pointing a gun at him.

“Okay,” he said softly, “maybe I was a little hasty. I scared you too much. But you must believe me when I tell you that I don't want to hurt you at all.

I stared into his haunting gray eyes as he pried off the lid that kept the liquid from leaking out of its container with his thumb.

Her bare chest swelled as she inhaled through her nose.

" Amy …" he uttered, slurring the word. My name sounded like an insult on his lips—, if I really wanted to hurt you, believe me now…

-It was you? He interrupted him, breathing angrily in despair. Have you been watching me all these days? Was it you that I saw yesterday following me?

If this was real and I wasn't losing my mind, I needed to know. I needed to  hear it . Although the answer could very well drive me crazy because, if it was true, then I was in a terribly scary situation... In a circumstance that even in my worst nightmares I would not have imagined.

His jaw clenched.

"Yes," he replied dryly, and I felt a devastating ice run through my veins.

“B-but…why?

"Because I was studying you."

" Studying me?" I repeated without thinking. I quickly shook my head. She couldn't let her guard down. Tell me what you want.

He took a deep breath. Anger was etched entirely into his angular features.

“Put those fucking things down,” he hissed.

-No. Now tell me a damn time! I exclaimed desperately.

His strange eyes widened wider than usual, and then he narrowed them to look at me defiantly. I watched the muscles in her bare shoulders tense.

I squeezed my hand tight over the bottle of holy water. If I had to act and—somehow—get to face him to save myself and my family, I was going to do it. I had  to.

The guy in front of me breathed out hard through his nose.

"Because…" he murmured, and for a moment he seemed to hesitate. Because I need to find out why you are able to challenge my ability. I want to know why I can't  access  your mind.

I frowned. The intense bewilderment that washed over me caused a gasp to escape my lips. Challenge  your skill ? Access  my mind ? But what the hell...?

He took a step forward and alarm went off inside me.

"Don't move," I mumbled.

"Put them down now, will you?"

-No. I shook my head. Of course not. I want you to get out of my house, motherfucker.

"I'm not leaving, Amy. I need  to know. —A chill ran down my spine when I heard him say my name again, as if he had known me for a long time. As if he knew anything about me.

"Well... I-I don't know what you're talking about." I took a deep breath, fighting the fear that washed over me. And if you don't go, I'll have a priest come and do shit to you. She frowned, but then his lips spread into a grin and he gave a light laugh. Anger rose in my chest at hearing his taunt. What is so funny?

"Do you really think that any priest can kick me out?" If I don't want to, I won't go. —A dark shade took over his gaze. And I am capable of murdering the damned, and how many you bring if they try to harm me. All you'll get with that is a massacre, a bloodbath in your own home. I have no problem killing a few humans.

My eyes widened at the ease and cruelty with which he spoke of death, and I shuddered as my brain envisioned—with fateful rapidity—the horrible scene.

"You don't have to do that," he said hastily, noticing my reaction. I already told you: I don't want to hurt you.

I clenched my teeth. But what kind of demon was this? If he didn't want to hurt me, then… what did he want?

I couldn't ask my family for help, nor could I have an innocent person come and get hurt. I couldn't go to anyone. If someone else interfered, the individual in front of me would surely end his life. Could he do that, just like that? He wanted  something , without a doubt, and that something had to do with me. He couldn't let anyone risk it for me, but what about my family? What was he supposed to do?

-Do you think I'm stupid? —She inquired hoarsely, filled with the rage and impotence that grew inside me. What made her think that she would swallow her words?

I saw him raise his eyebrows and smile in an arrogant,  mocking gesture . And that alone was enough for anger to win over my cowardice.

I waved the water bottle in his direction. However, he backed away in an incredibly fast movement—almost imperceptible—and most of the contents fell to the floor. Just a few drops reached his forearm, and part of his stomach.

Even so, I observed with astonishment how a light white smoke began to emanate from the skin where the holy water had come. He let out a hoarse groan, wincing at the same time. I heard him mumble something in words I didn't understand, while I watched his chest rise and his size shrink from his heavy breathing. A tiny victory sang in my chest.

"Get out of my house," I threatened in a low whisper.

Suddenly, his expression of pain changed completely from one second to another. Her gray eyes seemed to darken under her scowl and she glared at me with them. Her upper lip drew back, revealing part of her white teeth. Now it was a face that represented fury, it was  pure  anger.

I froze at the savage growl that erupted from deep in his throat.

"Enough…" he muttered. Her tone, cold as ice itself, made fear take over my entire being in a single instant.

I blinked, and in the space of a split second, the ten-foot distance between us dwindled to nothing. I saw it right in front of me.

Before I knew it, he grabbed the collar of my shirt in his fist and lifted me off the ground. His face was a few centimeters from mine, and my breathing stopped automatically. His gaze was relentless, fierce. He was the spitting image of anger.

The fright I felt the day before was nothing compared to the terror that overwhelmed me right now. In front of me was a sinister,  fearsome being , one of those that torment in nightmares and that brings out the fear of even the bravest.

"And now that you've run out of bloody water, what are you going to do?" she asked through gritted teeth.

Instinctively, I made a fist of the hand that had the rosary with the intention of hitting him, but I realized that I no longer had it. I didn't even realize the moment I dropped it. She was helpless. She wasn't even able to breathe. The dread that his expression evoked in me had left me completely frozen.

He fixed his eyes on mine and I couldn't do anything but stay motionless, like a prey before its predator. His face was so close to mine that when he said that, his hot breath hit me squarely.

"I see that I was wrong about you..." he continued under his breath, almost in a whisper. You're just like the rest of the human scum.

Finally, he released me to let me fall on my own two feet. The sudden movement made me lose my balance and I stumbled.

And then, without saying anything else, he was  gone . literally . The entire tall and imposing figure of hers was transformed into a dense black cloud, and she vanished into thin air.

The faint trace of that strange kind of black smoke lasted no more than a second, and then it was completely gone.

I was frozen and stunned, staring at the point where he had left, unable to believe what my eyes caught. What the hell had just happened?

"It is gone?" a voice whispered in my head.

A shaky gasp escaped my lips.

I scanned the space around me, taking in every corner of the room, but the only person there was me. Then, as easy as it came, my fear turned into a wave of relief as I realized that I was finally safe, and my family, especially.

I got to my feet slowly, due to the stiffness that fear left in my muscles. Uncertainty gripped the center of my being as I turned off the lights and the entire first floor went dark. But, after a few seconds, nothing else happened. And I didn't know if I should feel fucking lucky, or if I should continue to be plagued by fear.

I had to make sure my mom and brother were okay and still sleeping before I went to my room. So, with the light still on, I hid under the covers, curled up.

Deep inside, I knew that the fear hadn't left me yet.

I woke up very cautious in the morning. I don't know when I fell asleep, and I was pretty sure the tasteless pills were responsible for it. But even so, I did not spend a good night; I woke up with every little noise I heard outside, startled and with my heart in my hand.

A tiny part of me—the sensible part—told me that I had nothing to worry about, that everything was over. That it was nothing more than a dirty trick of my own brain. However, as much as I wanted to deny it, as much as I longed to convince myself of that, it was clear to me that this was not the case. Deep down I was aware that it did happen, that it was real. That  he  was real.

And that was reason enough not to let down his guard.

My family, just like the day before, didn't seem to have noticed anything. My mother and brother were acting normal, as if they couldn't have been able to hear even a murmur of my confrontation. It was as if they had been totally alien, despite being in the same house, at that very moment. I didn't get it. Why couldn't they hear anything?

"Maybe it was because of that guy. Maybe he did something to them and that's why they didn't hear anything , the insidious voice in my mind suggested, but it seemed absurd to me. A being like him couldn't have that kind of power… could he? Actually, he was completely unaware of it.

My father came home shortly before I left for work. My mom jumped on him as soon as he crossed the threshold of the door and didn't let go, not even when I tried to say goodbye. I smiled to myself; I had grown up watching her love endure through the years, and after having feared for my mother's life the night before, seeing them together made an indescribable relief fill my chest.

In the short time it took me to get to work, I was struck by a curious sense of freedom. Despite all the people circulating around me—each one deep in her own business—I could feel as if I were totally alone, as if no one noticed me, and that comforted me. This was how I used to feel most of the time for as long as I could remember, so the excitement was welcome.

My peace lasted until I walked through the cafeteria door and Diana attacked me with her accusations. First, for not letting him know in time that I had got home safely—again—and second, for not asking for help, calling the police, or doing anything useful when I saw that guy who followed me on the  street  . .

The mere mention of  him  made the memory of his strange gray eyes, in his enraged face, take me by surprise. I shuddered.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, but I wasn't really paying any attention to him anymore.

-This is serious. Do you realize what could have happened to you? —She claimed with annoyance recorded in her expression. Shit, I don't even want to imagine.

"I'm not leaving alone this late again, okay?" I replied, with a certain irritation that I couldn't help. I will be more careful.

"Don't come here to be angry, you hear me?" Plus, you know what? I'll start going to drop you off at your house.

I sighed and then frowned. And if  he  came back? For some reason, the possibility that she might meet the damn demon came to mind. The horror at that very thought gave me a feeling of indescribable dread. For no reason could she let that happen, she shouldn't allow him to do something bad to her. But, on the other hand, he knew that Diana was an incredibly tenacious person; my refusal was not going to leave her satisfied.

She saw the disgusted expression on my face, and pursed her lips impatiently.

"Only when it's too late?" I suggested to calm her down.

He sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Fine, whatever you want." Now come. He tugged on my arm. Warburton is already taking our heads off with his eyes.

I bit my lip uncomfortably, refusing to turn to confirm if that was true.

The day passed slowly, which did not help to alleviate the restlessness that gnawed at me inside. On Mondays there was almost always little flow of people, as if all the people in the city agreed not to visit our premises. At the end of the day, Dee ordered me into her car to drop me off at home. Actually, I was very afraid that doing so would endanger her in some way, but Diana Laurie was famous among those of us who knew her for always getting what she wanted and I, on the other hand, preferred to avoid arguments most of the time.

On the trip home I was able to begin to feel an inexpressible serenity, something I hadn't experienced for a long time. I felt light, unperturbed even by the bustle of a city as big as Portland. Also, after almost two weeks, the feeling that I was being watched was finally gone.

Suddenly, Diana broke my comfortable silence.

—Where did you see that stalker?

“ Um … Down this street, I think. I sighed and shook my head. Don't worry, nothing bad happened to me... And in any case, I lost sight of him that day.

I rubbed my arms in disgust, because the mere memory of what happened made me shudder.

“He's followed you twice already, as far as we know. Don't you know how dangerous that is? Don't you watch news? You have to be more attentive. Every crazy person is on the loose.

His concern overwhelmed me, and I shrank back in the passenger seat, crossing my arms. Diana was not going to forget that incident easily and she knew that she would remind me of it every chance she got.

When we both walked through the door of my house, she greeted my parents with all the confidence she had earned over the years, and then my brother, who was stretched out on the sofa.

"What's up, Tony?" she asked him excitedly. He looked up from her cell phone and greeted her with a nod. Know? I saw Jess the other day,” she commented, then sat down at the other end, next to him.

Only then did my brother turn his full attention to her, and he frowned.

-Where?

—In the mall, I was with someone. Did they break up again?

-No. And that's none of your business. His gaze returned to her phone, but the change in his mood was noticeable.

"Ah, so I guess you're not interested in the photos I took of her…" I watched as Diana held her phone up in the air with a certain mischief while tucking a lock of reddish hair into her ear.

Anthony pursed his lips for a second.

"Okay," he sighed. What do you want?

After all these years, my brother knew Diana as well as I did, so we both knew that she often used blackmail to get what she wanted.

"The number of the guy that's with you in this photo…" She moved her thumb over the screen of her cell phone, and showed it to Anthony.

"From Mark?" He frowned. For an instant, he looked at her in a way that he didn't know how to interpret, but after a few seconds he shrugged. Okay. Send me the photos.

Both focused attention on their respective cell phones. Suddenly, Diana jumped and turned in my direction.

"Do you know who I'm talking about, Amy?" Her,” she inquired, as if she were trying to include me in the conversation. He is a doll with green eyes and tanned skin. And he has a body…! He just looks.

He handed me his phone. I looked at the photo of my brother with her friend with little desire, although I could see that she was right about her physique. I shook my head not recognizing the boy, and forced a smile.

"Of course you don't," Anthony replied. If I introduced my sister to my friends, they would stop hanging out with me.

Diana punched him in the arm as if to defend me, then smiled with new enthusiasm.

"You play sports, right?" -He wanted to know-. He looks like a surfer.

Anthony grimaced.

"I don't know, I guess. He—she ignored him as he began inspecting the photograph of her girlfriend, deep in thought as to who the person she had been with was.

Sometimes Diana seemed to be much more of a sister to him than I was; they shared several personal tastes and could have a good time without my intervention. On occasion I came to think badly about their friendship, to the point of asking them both if they had feelings for each other, but they always denied it.

I pursed my lips and stared at the floor, unsure as to what feeling that caused me, and I didn't want to delve further into my mind to find out. I didn't like having ominous suspicions of the people I loved.

"Diana," my mother called from the kitchen, "will you stay for dinner?"

I had known Diana since she was nine, when my dad handled her parents' divorce. We managed to meet because he occasionally took me to his office in the hope that it would make me want to follow in his footsteps. And Bridget, her mother, brought it from her while they prepared the case. From the beginning I realized that she was a capricious girl, used to having everything she wanted and, therefore, we didn't get along very well at first. Even so, we went to the same school and meeting was inevitable, although it wasn't until we got to high school that we became closer. School is difficult for many, and we both thought it was best that we stick together. And we had continued like this ever since.