Investigation: Day 80

Miracles hardly happen in her dreams, so how would there be a day when a miracle would happen in her real life and she would be rescued in the middle of nowhere? Well, there was almost a 0% possibility of that, but what exactly was that? She just experienced something that can’t be described with any laws of reality at all. And she is still unconscious, fighting her miseries in her dreams. And then suddenly a jolt of fear brings her back to the present moment, and she finally opens her eyes to reality.

And her reality is much different from what she expected it to be. As she wakes up, she finds herself in the comfort of her sofa. Miraculously, she is back in her quarter, but this time, the red-skinned man is not there. Her main door is closed and there are no signs or footprints left behind. No trace of anything that seems to have happened to her. She immediately stands up and looks around the house. Nothing special is there. She checks herself, and she doesn’t have any bruises either. 

Was it all an elaborate nightmare? Is she that delusional that she just dreamt of a situation and now she can’t bring herself to believe that it wasn’t real?

And it seems that today is the day of surprise for her. In a moment of all this confusion, she receives a voice note from Lily and she informs her, “Got a call from Caius today. He was asking about you. I just discussed it a bit, and he said he wants to help you. We have been investigating the case, and he doesn’t seem directly connected or anything. So, ping me if you want to consider his help. Personally, I don’t think he has negative intentions, at least not for you. Let me know what you think and take care. I’ll see you tomorrow! Love you.”

Maya is a private person, and it doesn’t feel right that Lily discussed her situation with other people, especially with Caius of all people. But Maya also understands that Lily worries a lot. Especially after witnessing Maya’s traumatic episodes and sudden screams. Given the situation, her intentions are more important than her actions. So, Maya agrees and Lily gives Caius Maya’s address.

And of course, Caius seems a bit too worried about her. He decides to visit her house as soon as he receives the address. Meaning, the same day. And he doesn’t seem to be interested in a telephone conversation, even though it would have been normal to call someone first and then visit their premises. But anyway, he reaches her quarters in the early evening and knocks at her door. 

Maya’s initial reaction was fear because she wasn’t expecting anyone to visit her anytime soon. But she musters her courage and opens the door, only to find Caius standing there, with a worrisome expression on his face. He looks at Maya and questions even before entering the house, “Are you alright? What happened?”

Maya is taken aback, and then she makes way for him to enter. Then answers, “Life happened.”

Caius takes out a pack of paper from his bag and gives it to her, saying, “I have researched your symptoms that I heard of. Seeing you right now, I’m sure I don’t know the entire story. I have found some therapies that would be really helpful to you. And if you don’t mind, please fill me in with the gap and I wish to help you in any way possible. I understand that you have your own reservations, and I don’t mind them. I have mine too. But let me help you in any way I can. It is the least I can do.”

Maya is a bit uncomfortable and mostly stunned by his words. She reacts. “You are a very helpful guy, aren’t you? I don’t think we have that happy memories for you to be helping me to this extent. The last I remember was me suspecting you for the murder of 4 people and I did send you a summons for that as well. Don’t you think your friendly behavior is a bit… odd?”

Caius looks at her, nods, and then replies, “I believe that’s just how normal people would think. I have been to police agencies, courts, and even jails multiple times during the research, for research purposes, of course. So, summoning me for investigation doesn’t leave a dent in my dignity. Even at this moment, I’ll be willing to help in the investigation, even if it means me facing some heat instead if you let me. And as you know, I teach people. And I don’t just teach people, I build their moral ground as well. And it would be impossible for me to do that if my own morals were in a questionable state. Please, just let me help you.”

Maya has no words to refute him, but it is certain that his sudden change is weird, to say the least. But Maya too is in a very vulnerable state at the moment, so accepting any moral help and resources would make her life better. So she takes a seat on the sofa, and Caius is leaning on the wall, near the window, standing far enough for her comfort and close enough so that he can hear her words. She hints towards the fridge and Caius helps himself with the water and then goes back to his wall space. 

Seeing him standing up against the wall is a bit eerie considering what she dreamt recently, but she doesn’t press on anything further and describes her condition in detail. She describes her physical condition, her mental condition, and her nightmares that are too real for her. Keeping his expression in check the whole time to see if she finds anything suspicious. But that doesn’t happen. He seems like a guy who is worried about it... a bit too much. But he is visibly worried and attentive.

And then she mentions how Stygias mentioned that she should have been dead. And then she asks, “Do you have any idea of why he would think that? Why is it happening? Am I really something unholy in the vision of your kind?” Her question was mostly to uncover his face, intentions, or something. But it wouldn’t be wrong to say that she was half-serious and curious about his answer as well.

Caius was visibly puzzled and worried about her situation. He answers, “There’s no such thing as an unholy person. I am not sure how and why Stygias would mention such a story, but it does seem like he was going through some mental distress. And you know, his treatment is underway. So you should not take him seriously. At least not when he is being delusional. Even good people can harm in diverse circumstances.”

He gave a 15-minute lecture on how she was the best human being who saves others in their worst time and that in terms of angel-demon discussion, she cannot be anything but an angel. After that, Caius convinces her to take a therapy session for her mental relief and he believes that he might be able to help her in reducing her symptoms without the medications.

Medications are killing her from the inside, so when she sees the hope of getting some cure without the medications, she takes the chance. But even after all of this, her doubt is still there. She never truly believes Caius and thus applies an additional precautionary measure in her session. She ensures that the whole process of therapy is video-taped and done under the direction of one other expert. 

Caius is more than happy to oblige. And as the sessions start, her worries are becoming a bit pointless. All of his attempts are ethical and practical. And most importantly, the sessions are in the comfort of her own home. What is there to question? The picture seems very positive and after the therapies, her symptoms started fading down to some point, but her personality started shifting towards a side that she never wanted to see. She is starting to feel pleasure in negativity. Her mind is always telling her to do something to herself and she starts developing the urge to see dead bodies. All the horrors of her occupation are becoming a dream and pleasure for her.

It is almost like her demonic side was uncovering itself. And she is addicted to the feeling instantly, mostly after the second session, which was a big red flag as well. He is giving her 3 therapy sessions in a week and it goes on for a month. Even though Caius is visibly trying to help her, adopting new methods every time to see how she responds, the result is changing her personality altogether. 

Her current state is better and worse at the same time. Even though Caius manages to give her a life where she is no longer completely dependent on medications for bodily pain. All her pain went away, leaving her with a bit better appearance than before. But only she knows the fact that her mental health is actually declining. Visibly, she gained weight and her health improved as well. But mentally, her distress is getting worse, and she is no longer in a state where she can manage herself. Her suicidal tendencies are growing, and it is becoming hard for her to manage such thoughts. The Worst part of it... that she attempts every risky suicidal thing in her sleep. In a semi-conscious state where her body is no longer in her control.

She even starts chaining herself to the bed before sleeping, to ensure that she wakes up on a bed and not on the rooftop or in the middle of the street. There is no hope... for hope. She isn’t even thinking about any kind of positivity anymore.

She is broken, to the point that she is now convinced that she is the devil in disguise. She is convinced that she is an abomination. She is convinced that she should have died long ago.