Thursday January 17th, 2013 - 6:30 A.M.
Econo Lodge Motel - Cortland N.Y.
Emmy lay half asleep, half awake, with her eyes locked mostly on her friend. Her thoughts kept her nodding in and out of sleep for hours now and all she could do was keep waking up. The cycle continued like that, but each time she awoke, an odd, irking feeling took hold. It felt cold all around her, yet Lizzie was laying with only a sheet covering her body. Not even the warm, cream colored walls alongside the mimicking lights could lift the frigidness. Am I going crazy? I'm staring at her like I'm insane or something. Shivering formed all over her; the goose bumps that she had forming a while ago continued to mock her even still.
Just keep focusing on something to keep your mind off the cold. Look at the room; what do you see? Her attention flitted towards Lizzie; her head wouldn't stop shaking. I-I see a queen sized bed, just one… A-A… The thermostat; it's nearby the wall leading to the doorway. Think… Her eyes clenched shut as the attempted to combat this torture failed; a prickly icy sensation ravaged her lungs, but she ignored it. Come on Em! What else d-do you see? "Yes Emmy. What do you see?" Suddenly there was nothing but paralysis as that terrifying voice came back to her. It was the man who spoke only hours before now.
"What do you want?" she was fearful of waking Lizzie up so she forced her voice to remain at a whisper, though it was getting harder as time drew on. Her heart kept beating, despite it feeling constricted as if that man's hands were clenching it in his fist. The longer he stayed nearby, the worse this feeling became. Just practice your breathing. Remember, he's actually there. This is not all in your head like dad used to say. Mom always knew that, so did grandma. Breath in, two three four, hold two three four, out two three four, and repeat. It was working, she knew it was. Her lungs no longer felt as if she were submerged in the icy waters of the Atlantic.
The boa constrictor sensation from before was slowly fading away. Even the air seemed to heat up; she forced her eyes back open. At that exact moment, she wished she hadn't, but it was far too late to go back. The man was there, as clear as day, standing only a foot from her face. When he smiled, rotted teeth came into view, followed by the most foul odor greeting her nostrils. It was at that instant she nearly regurgitated, onto the floor, but she fought it back.
"Look at me." his voice seemed to seize up every bit of her muscles, just like before, only worse now. Now she had a visual of the voice, though she wanted nothing more than to act as if it never happened. "I SAID LOOK AT ME!" Every single inch of her jolted; instinctively her attention flew back to the man before her. The once bluish aura went away, as a more human -like color formed. The man had the most greasy hair she had ever seen, which was dark brown, running down past his shoulders. He was very tall, and stocky, giving him an incredible dominating presence.
His lower jaw jutted out a bit, and his eyes were wide and light brown. A scar ran across the bridge of his nose, which was very wide and crooked. He had an enormous forehead and incredibly tiny ears. For reasons unknown to her, he was shirtless and had on a pair of ripped up jeans. "What happened to your face?" These words had already flew from her mouth before she could stop them. What the fuck's wrong with you Em?! She tried to escape back into her head, forcing her attention down to her legs. A warm, sticky feeling took over, followed by a stain that was appearing before her very eyes. Did you seriously just piss yourself? How dare he be here, doing these things! God, please make this man go away! Who is he?! Why won't he leave me alone?
"You know you don't have to be so afraid of me. You're not my type after all." The smugness of his reply wasn't settling right with her. Look at him. He deserves to be told off!
It took most of her energy, but Emmy was able to muster up just enough to give the man her full attention. Her nerves were kicked into high gear, preparing her for the worst. "I am a lost soul in need of assistance," the man stated. He had already gotten to one knee; the putrid dental odor had returned. She forced herself to not cover her mouth as to not disrespect him. Every spirit deserves a chance to explain his or herself. Or at least that's what grandma and mom used to say. "Your elders are very wise. You would do well to heed their words."
She hadn't even realized, until now, that she was looking back at her legs again. "I do not blame you for being frightened, but I must speak regardless if you look at me or not. You see… I've been lost for some time now. My body has been disposed of over two decades ago, but that is not the point." His hot breaths were now running around the top of her head. She could already tell that he was only inches from her, and was unable to give him the attention he sought. "Why have you b-…" Unexpectedly, she gulped mid sentence. Fuck! Don't ever show the spirits vulnerability or they'll take you right over in an instant. Remember what they told you.
"You're wondering as to why I've been lost?" "Y-Yes." Look at him. You mustn't show your weakness! This time it had been even harder than before for her to even muster the strength to lift her head. Those cold, dead eyes were peering into her own; they kept making her shiver. The way the man grinned, still baring the few rotted teeth he had left, had nearly become too hard to look at. The only thing keeping her from running was her friend, who seemed to always sleep or pass right through these confrontations.
"I'd help you sir, b-but you…" The man had a distinct evil presence in the background. Their eyes were locked once again; it took a moment or two, but soon she was diving into them; flashes of lights wizzed past. Her stomach became light and feathery, like she was plummeting down a steep hill of a roller coaster. The light grew brighter, almost blinding towards the end until she shattered through an unseen barrier. Before her very eyes, she could see thick red streams dripping from a slit throat.
A tiny body dropped to the floor; she immediately fell to her knees. A manly grunt issued from her as she stuck a blade deep into the sternum of what looked like a young boy. Oh my god… Oh god! G-Get me out of here! She couldn't stop thrusting the blade; her hands moved in a steady rhythm. The more she stabbed the corpse before her, the more heat burst through her every vein. Arousal started to come shortly thereafter; her stomach immediately churned. She had no control over what was going on. That's when the realization dawned upon her as a pair of enormous forearms and hands appeared. Oh lord… I; I'm him?!
They were incredibly hairy, with a tattoo of a bleeding heart set into the skin of the right. Blood trickled between those fingers; without hesitation, they plunged into the boy's open stomach. Get me out! Let me out; let me out! PLEASE GOD! Then, all around, the light was back. Wind rushed through her hair; the familiar blinding white flashed by. Before she knew it, those brown irises were staring back at her; this time, however, they had a certain gleam to them.
She felt her own welling thick with tears, knowing fully that they were laced with sadness. The way that man looked, told her he didn't feel remorse, at least not back then. "I know purgatory c-can be a h-horrendous thing, and that hell h-…" There goes the light again… When it disappeared, she saw the little boy resting on the bed. A silent scream was rising up her throat. Blood had been strewn everywhere; this time she was watching this man from her own perspective, though she felt a lot shorter. Why am I back here? I wasn't going into someone's mind… A set of tiny frail hands replaced the massive ones from before.
An emotion she hadn't felt from the previous mental encounter had already been raging within her. Her palms were clammy; sweat beaded on her back and forehead. She winced when the back of her head touched the wall she was sitting against. A sharp pain shot out from her right side, forcing her to cringe. When a long set of blonde hair appeared, dangling in front of her, she realized who she was. Why does this keep happening? Why won't this man tell me who he is? Her eyes immediately locked onto the boy who was pleading on the edge of a filthy old bed. Old, dried blood had covered the hardened carpet, as well as most of the crumbling walls.
How many kids did you kill in here?! That's when the horrible monster of a man appeared; a long knife in hand. Close your eyes. Remember mommy. Remember your happy place? Go there! The girl's thoughts took over. Emmy was unable to fight back, as her eyes shut on their own; her ears were already covered as she buried her small face behind a pair of very thin legs. Happy place, Maggie. Go-to-your-safe-zone.
Her body kept rocking; the sound of flesh tearing and the gurgling boy, followed by the grunt the man made, met her ears. "Let-me-OUT!" The girl screamed. Why the fuck am I still here?! Emmy's own thoughts were starting to return. She felt the little girl's heart beating faster, making her throat ache. No matter how much she swallowed, she couldn't reopen the airways. The monster was coming to kill her; she knew she had only seconds left to live. Emmy tried her hardest to escape. She kept focusing her thoughts on the hotel she and Lizzie were residing. Please let me go. Pleeeeasse! The man grabbed her frail neck, lifting her up off the floor.
She could actually feel the girl's throat being crushed. The air to her lungs was being constricted more and more. Just then, that same blinding abyss reappeared; the room had gone away. "Please be gone," Emmy whispered to herself. Her eyes were still shut; Lizzie's light snores verified she was back. Thank you God! P-Please banish this man. I'm begging you… Please! A bright light flashed right in front of her, followed by a different male voice. She hadn't even realized that her chair moved, putting her only a couple of feet away from the T.V.
She watched a man appear, with short black hair speaking to a camera crew. He had a chiseled chin and cheekbones, a long face, wide, hazel eyes and a widened nose. "Hello everyone, my name is Paul Brue; I am speaking live for Channel Eleven News! We are only twenty feet from a motel just off I-81 here in Polkville, New York." The camera had shifted to show a makeshift motel off in the short distance. Dark gray clouds were billowing across the sky, as well as multi colored trees, blowing in the wind.
When the camera man turned his attention back to Paul, he was already clamboring up a hill. Emmy's curiosity had piqued beyond obsession by now as the camera man followed his subject uphill. Even though her brain had something new to latch onto, the different turn of events wasn't enough to jar her out of the last vision she had. It's always been one of the things I hate most about this gift. I love to help spirits cross over and all, but… I…; I hate that feeling of dread when I'm in the victim's perspective. Why did this man kill children? Why?! Those poor; poor kids. Her thoughts were rapid, but she kept her attention focused on Paul; she knew she had to in order to move on.
Paul was heaving heavily as the camera emerged from a thick set of bushes. Below them, buried in leaves and sticks, was a round wooden hatch. Emmy, without hesitation, felt herself sliding to the edge of her seat. What's in there? Her nostrils began to sting again, shortly thereafter; the new spirit had returned. "Why're you watching this shit? It's not important…" "Shut up!" She couldn't take him being there anymore, so she started putting up walls around her brain. They were impenetrable; the man's voice no longer filled her ears. For the first time since he appeared, her heart fluttered freely.
Paul's voice caught her attention immediately, helping her in the journey to ignoring this spirit. He was throwing the sticks around, shuffling the leaves all the while. A set of somewhat rotted planks appeared. "N-Now, according to our anonymous tip, something of grave importance lies within this well. Let's; ugh… God, that stink!" the man immediately backed off, whilst the camera focused down the hole.
Emmy kept sitting on the edge; she couldn't pull herself away. The similar buzz that came from discovery rushed through her. She slid off of the chair; the carpet fibers warmed her knees as saw the T.V. drawing ever so close. Paul was throwing up, and even the camera man was stifling his own sickness. "We'll be right back." Paul stated. The screen flashed, as white static appeared; it stung her eyes, but she refused to turn away. Something wanted her to see what was on this screen, so she kept watching. Sure enough, the reporter was back in view as the camera re-focused.
A long chain had been resting within the well and was being cranked up. The way Paul kept grasping his hair, gulping all the while, told her he was nervous. I would be too if I was making this discovery. It has to be huge, otherwise I would've woken up by now. These visions that came to her, usually put her into a trance, and they came at random. She knew that, normally they dealt with a spirit of some sort who needed restitution so he or she could finally cross over. She also knew that this man was no different, even though his name never came up, until now.
She heard it, off in the distance as if she were only a few yards away. "Daryl Xaveria." Paul's voice echoed throughout her head. "So his name was Daryl. I; I'm sure I'll get an explanation to all of this." She hadn't even noticed that her fingers were bleeding a bit; blood had stained her one of her thumbnails. Really?! I'm picking at my fingers again? I thought I was over this already!
Paul's voice came back; she instantly looked into the man's sorrow filled face. He had been watching something on the ground, as the chain kept lifting behind him. "It seems as if Daryl Xaviera, the infamous drug lord, turned child murderer has been discovered! Police have been looking for this man for over five years now, as he was stringed to a series of gruesome murders throughout the late nineties to the early two thousands. His last victims… They… My god. They were his own children. Y-You gotta give me a minute here." Paul had walked past the camera, leaving only the chain behind.
Attached to the bottom, was a horrendously deteriorated body. It looked familiar to her; she leaned up a bit closer to get a better look. The left eye had been gouged out, with its roots resting on the man's face. Most of his teeth were gone; a couple still hung from his gums. Both of his hands were torn completely off, and maggots were eating away his intestines. "My god…" Emmy nearly puked again; her belly was filling to the brim with disgust and whatever she had for dinner the previous night. To her right, a cooling whisper of wind rushed past her.
Daryl was back; she felt him surrounding her entirely. "I c-can't help you sir and I'm not sorry." She tried to break through the freezing barrier that he created, but it kept following her around the room. Lizzie was still sound asleep, resting just beyond the invisible aura she was being swallowed by. "Please help me." she wanted to reach out and grab her friend, but couldn't break his control. "I won't leave unless you assist me in crossing over. I know what I did was wrong… But I couldn't help myself. My father abused me as a child! He did horrible things to my mother and I; I… d-didn't know any better."
The man's voice kept spinning around in her head. Her knees were wobbling; the lack of energy dropped her to the edge of the bed. She clenched the blanket, pulling with all her might. Lizzie was right there, only inches away; she needed to break this hold Daryl had on her. "You have to help me! It's the only way I'll ever leave you be." Something stirred in the pit of her stomach and it wasn't the nausea from before. Emmy could feel a sense of empowerment, coming out of nowhere as she forced herself back to her feet. Daryl had been just behind her, breathing onto her, but she didn't care. Nothing would stop her will to banish this man for good.
The edges around her eyes began to twitch; she felt them rolling up into her head as this powerful sensation crashed through her. The sound of her back snapping, cracked like a whip into her ears. Below her, the carpet no longer met her feet; she knew her body was being lifted by her own spirit alone. It was the one thing that had always been there to barricade her soul so it wouldn't become corrupt. Before her, the sounds of Daryl's sobbing came through. Banish him Em. Get rid of this slimey bastard once and for all and make ammends to those children he violated so.
"As you wish." She didn't even have to give a single thought to the commanding spirit within. "I, Emmy Yates, with the power of the ancient soul of banishing, command thee to be gone from this world. With the blood of Jesus Christ, our lord; our savior, I order thine soul to be forever gone from this plain of existence. You are no longer welcome amongst the living nor are you allowed to coexist with the dead, who are paying back their sins in purgatory."
"No… What have you done!" Daryl's shocked voice drew her attention. She saw him cowering away from her as the floor began to open. Fiery lights glowed from a crack that began to sliver off into tinier ones. The heat from Hell itself was meeting her, but only slightly as the goodness of God would not allow it to consume her. She actually felt good; Daryl's imminent doom was coming. A cracking sound, louder than her spine, erupted to her left. Warmth met her eyes; fire was appearing before her. This had been the first time she was forced to banish a soul from the living, yet she knew exactly what to say. The same went for when a soul crossed over to Heaven; that phrase would flow from her like a river, each and every time.
"You can't do this to me!" Daryl was lunged towards her; her heart skipped as his hands began crushing her arm. "G-Get off of me!" The maniacle look that the man gave, with his wide eyes, and menacing snarl burnt straight into her memory. His face was only a foot away; his left eye had been bulging for a while now, until it popped out. He screamed so loud that her ears rang. "Look at me damn it! OH GOD! AHHHHH!" Something was pulling the man's eye out, as it was forcibly ripped from his skull. Blood spewed from his widening mouth, as one tooth after another began being extracted.
He was grasping her arm even harder now; she felt her flesh bruising and her bones achingly fighting to not shatter. Just close your eyes Em, it'll all be over soon, I promise. That little voice in her head had been a savior more than once throughout her life. "OPEN YOUR DAMN EYESSSS; OOOHHHHH JEEESSUUSSSSS!" Flesh was being cut; she could hear the tendons sickeningly rip.
Keep your eyes shut; keep your eyes shut. Please, don't look. You'll regret it. You will! "FUUUUUCCCK!" It was the sound of Darly's bones breaking, that forced her eyes back open. This time, the bile within her won this ongoing battle. It rose up her throat, burning it as much as that man's charring flesh, until it blew out of her like a faucet. Then she saw it; his left hand had still been holding on, but the flesh was being forcibly pulled apart. Ligament after ligament ripped in half; the bone was exposed, as it cracked. Wind began to pick up, pulling even harder on the man, until she saw his hand break clean off. "IT BURRRNSS! OH GOD! OOOWWWWWW! OHHHHH! AAAAAHHHOOOOWWWWWW!"
Bit by bit, his flesh was ripped clean off of him. The last thing she saw, was his remaining eye as it peered into her. She felt herself stumble by the reforming crack, letting the evaporating wind blow her hair around. The chair from before was back in its original spot. Her legs gave out; she felt the cushion forming around her butt, hugging her every aching muscle. Just when she saw the room disappearing, as her eyelids shut, something shook her back to reality. "Emmy? Are you okay honey?" Lizzie was looking at her now; those beautiful eyes she loved so much; they poured a sense of happines into her.
The girl's blonde strands dangled in front of her face, giving her the most adorable expression Emmy ever saw. "You have no idea how happy I am to see that smile." The rest of her energy had drifted away. Her eyelids were growing heavy and soon afterwards, she drifted off. She couldn't stop herself from feeling the elation that caressed her so, for she had rid the world of one of the most vial spirits she had ever met.