And began his walk to his destination. Due to paying a close eye on her, Charles knows where and when Alice is. He was always so fascinated by her that he started watching her back when they were younger. Therefore became perceptive and naturally self-aware not to get caught or noticed. But he didn’t want to take a trip down memory lane, so he shifted his thoughts to the plan for today.
It wasn’t a far walk to the old abandoned barn. Knowing that it's a Wednesday, this is the meeting place that she and Walter would meet. Where they would engage in multiple activities, so he wanted to get there before she did. He also knows that Walter arrives precisely thirty minutes later after her arrival, which would be his only chance to talk to her.
A little time passed, and Alice arrived. Charles stayed hidden behind the barn stalls. Alice came in and shut and locked the doors. Lit some candles and sat on a crate in the middle of the barn. She crossed her legs so elegantly with little to no effort. Charles watched from afar with aw. He started to sweat for some odd reason. Knowingly he's done this so many times; perhaps it was because Charles just revealed himself without knowing. Yes, he had walked out in front of Alice. She sat calmly, her gaze focused on the man that had just appeared out of nowhere.
Alice became puzzled. This was not what she expected, and she swore Walter was playing a prank again in her mind. But no, it was that drunk man from town that everyone shames and the noblemen get embarrassed by. A man with money but can’t take care of himself. Oh, the smell is awful, she thought in her mind. But she quickly recollected herself so she wouldn’t judge a man she knew nothing about. Spending so much time with those other noblewomen and their antics seemed to get to me.
She adjusted her face and spoke first.
“Well, who are you, and what are you doing here?”
Charles quickly tries to come up with a good lie. But then realizes that Alice should know his name, so he decides that the two can play the game.
“Oh, I was merely taking a nap. When I heard a noise, I got startled and hid.”
She looked perplexed by this, but her face later calmed down. Charles took this as an apology from her for disturbing his “nap.”
“I see. So this place was already occupied. Well, now it will be occupied by me for a while, so if you don’t mind.”
Charles stood a minute processing this. It’s not so much that he wants to leave, but he can’t help but feel annoyed by her tone. Now he began to feel irked by her posture. But Charles can’t tell why he feels this way. Unknowingly to him, he had grabbed a pitchfork. I should do it, he thought; she won’t ever love someone like me. Let alone give me a chance. She didn’t even give me a chance now.
What was that? He thought. I felt a part of me that I've never let outcome about. Something leaked out, and it felt good. Good to be and have control.
“Alice, I have a question to ask you.”
“Please, may you leave? I hardly know you.”
“I’ll have you know I was here first, and you disturbed my slumber.”
“Oh, please don’t be such a child about who was here first or second. Only a person like yourself would sleep in a barn such as this one.”
“And only a woman like you would sneak off to a place like this to engage in lustrous activities.”
The barn became silent. There is a long and awkward pause.
All of a sudden, Charles snapped back to his senses.
Before Alice could do anything, Charles had already stabbed her through the chest with the pitchfork.
“She just wasn’t worth it,” Deejal whispered beside his ear.
“No. This isn’t what I wanted. But I never thought I would do it. Or was it even me?
The Shell distracted itself from Charles and formed a dark shape of a snake. It slithered around the room, laughing as it echoed throughout the barn.
“Kekeke, hahaha, kekeke. You, humans, are so petty and feeble. You simply did what you truly wanted to do unconsciously, and I opened that part of you. Yet you deny yourself what you are. What did you say before you thrust that pitchfork through her heart?”
Charles started to look around the barn frantically. He knows something is in here with him, but he can’t find where the voice is coming from. He tries to hide, but the voice laughs again, saying, “it’s pointless; darkness and hiding is my game.”
“ You can feel it, can’t you, the power you lust for. Give in for me, Charles, give in! Become my calamity!!"
Charles turned around just in time to come face to face with an unknown creature. It twisted itself like a spring. The smile it gave, no, it was the grin. It was uncanny like Charles had never seen. There seemed to be some kind of toxin dripping from the creature's mouth. The one eye seemed to stare into your soul; it felt like it could see everything you are and will ever become. The worst was the face it used, the face of a cat. Suddenly a bright blue eye sprouted from the cat's face with tears running down—the look for a cry for help.
"Murder!"
"No, I never wanted this, I swear! Please, oh great one, save her. I'll do anything!"
"Swear it! Swear on your life that you belong to my master and will obey any command. Swear it damn you!"
"I swear! With every fiber of my being, anything you wish I shall deliver, my life is yours. Just save my dear Alice."
There was a halt. Deejal fell into a pit of pleasure. The grin he made grew, his sharp teeth showed, the toxin steamed, and his eyes became evil themselves.
At that moment, Deejal did just as Charles wished. He prevented Alice from dying at that moment. But her body lay still; Charles was perplexed by this.
"Why isn't she waking, great one?"
"Ss, silence. I am not the great one, and that title is for our master alone. You shall call me m'lord or Lord Deejal. As for your feeble question, I put her in a state where she will appear dead. We need that perfect Walter to find her."
"I see."
“I do warn you. There will be complications.”
“Complications?”
“Yes. First, bringing the dead back to life always has a price for the requested. A heavy curse will be implemented upon your family, Charles. It is an escapable fact. Another is Alice will wander for some time not knowing who she is and will continue to spread hate. She will do it without knowing it. Lastly, she must carry The Shell with her while in that state. This will truly open the eye of The Shell. It is only then can I truly change things from afar. It will be a great time for us to observe her.”
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