Chapter 19: Secrets Spilled in Darkness

Finding the doctor wasn't as hard as Gareth had feared. With Wren to guide them, now back in his disguise as Dr. Connors, they found him easily, tied up and gagged in a broom closet, only a few doors away from his office. The bonds were tied up in a sloppy way and it wasn't hard for Gareth to untie him.

Your hands are so big, Olban said. Are all humans in your world so... clunky?

"I'm going to ignore that," Gareth snorted, rolling his eyes. "My hands work just fine."

Only because the bonds are so loose. Wren really is rather incompetent, isn't he?

"Jeez, Eloise, no need to be so rude. Wren's on our side now, and he's helped us so far. Besides, wasn’t taming him your idea?”

Sorry, Eloise said, sounding genuinely remorseful. You’re right.

When the doctor saw Wren behind them, he was stirred into a panic— probably because Wren looked like his doppelgänger.

“Uh, Wren, you might want to shift into a different form. You’re scaring the doctor,” Gareth muttered. “Man, this is gonna be a weird conversation.

Wren sighed.

“It’s too bad, I kind of like this form. It suits me.”

Dr. Connors moaned his dissent, his eyes rolling to the back of his head.

Wren shrugged.

“Ah well,” he said. As they watched, he changed from Dr. Connors, to a formless monster, and then into a middle aged woman with big ears and greying hair.

“Tina?” Dr. Connors whimpered, the gag finally off his mouth. “Why are you…”

“Relax, dude,” Wren interrupted, his voice now high pitched and feminine. “I’m not actually Tina. I just look like her. My name is Wren.”

“Oh,” Dr. Connors said, gulping so loudly that it sounded as if he’d swallowed his Adam’s apple. “I- I see.”

“Why do you have to be someone he recognizes?” Gareth asked.

“I can only shift into someone I’ve seen before. Currently that list is very short, especially with my memories mostly gone. He’s gonna have to live with Tina.”

“Gareth… what’s going on?” Dr. Connors asked, finally recovering enough consciousness to speak.

“Dr. Connors… we’re here to tell you about magic. Although it seems you’ve already had your first encounter.”

“M-magic? But, Gareth, that’s…”

“I know how it sounds. But you’ve seen Wren. It’s obvious he’s not from our world… and that’s why I’m here. In order to properly do what I need to do, I have to make you understand what’s happening.”

“Why? What’s… what’s going on?”

“You might want to sit down, Wren said with a dry chuckle. I’m sure these travelers have quite a story. After all, if the Nameless One wants them dead, they must hold monumental power.”

“I… I think I’ll sit down,” Dr. Connors agreed.

Is this a good idea? Olban asked. After all, this could be another minion. Wren could be leading us into a trap. Do we really want to reveal everything?

Olban has a point, Eloise says. I hadn’t thought of that.

Maybe just leave out a few key details. And whatever you do, DON’T tell them about the armbands. This kind of power is best kept hidden. Explain as best as you can.

“Jeez, you guys are so paranoid. Whatever, I’ll do it. I see where you’re coming from, anyway.”

“What?”

“Oh, just talking to myse— haha, wait. No use lying anymore. I guess I’ll start with that. Dr. Connors, I don’t have Dissociative Identity Disorder. The person in my head— well, I guess it’s people now— they are real, and they are both from different universes. Wren is from Olban’s world, and Eloise— she’s the new member— is from a world similar to mine.”

Dr. Connors looked completely confused.

“But… what… how…”

Maybe tell him to save his questions for the end, Eloise suggests. Otherwise we’ll be here all day.

Gareth continued, and soon he’d gotten the whole story out. Well, almost the whole story. Per Olban’s request, Gareth removed a few key details whenever he could, just to be safe. Dr. Connors, understandably, had many questions, and Gareth did his best (with help from Olban and Eloise) to answer. Even so, some confusions would never be cleared up. Dr. Connors, by all accounts a practical man, would never be the same.

And as Gareth and Wren returned to Gareth’s apartment, Dr. Connors got up and did something he hadn’t done in over a decade.

He went to church, and he prayed.

Gareth and Olban slept easily, but Eloise was trapped in some realm between consciousness and sleep. She couldn’t really be awake, because her host body was asleep, but she couldn’t sleep, either. It was a dangerous line, although Eloise had no way of knowing that. And in this blurred realm between dreams and reality, the Nameless One crept silently into her mind.

Do you want to know a secret, little girl? it’s voice asked, shrill and wispy in the fogs of Eloise’s fragile mind.

Who are you? Eloise called out. Olban? Gareth?

They cannot hear you, the Nameless One hissed, horrifying laughter emanating from everywhere at once. You are alone, Eloise, as you will always be.

You’re wrong, Eloise shouted. When this is all over, I’m going to go back to my body and everything will go back to the way it was. To the way it should be. Her voice broke into whispery sobs. All along, she’d been harboring her regrets, nursing her doubt, her anger, her pain. Why did I have to try and kill them? Why couldn’t I have just left it alone?

But are you certain, little girl? Are you certain that you will be allowed to return?

Of course I will! Olban and Gareth are making the rings to transport us all!

She realized her mistake a moment too late, clapping a hand to her mouth.

The damage had been done. The Nameless One now knew what the three of them were up to. And, worse, he knew about the rings.

It seemed to become a great snake in the darkness, curling tighter and tighter around her as it laughed.

Ah Eloise, said the Nameless One, his voice as raspy and dry as a snake’s hiss. Suddenly he sounded so much clearer, as if he were speaking right into her ear. As if he were more real now, more solid. So young, so naive… what are you doing here, in this world of monsters and magic? You don’t belong. You can’t belong.

Leave me alone, Eloise sobbed, her voice suddenly small and insignificant. Please, just leave me alone.

They plan to trap you in Olban’s world. Out of place, out of time. They believe you are a danger to everyone around you. A threat to the universe itself.

Eloise’s breath caught in her throat.

No, that… that can’t be right. You’re lying.

I am not, it said, almost sounding offended at the accusation. Why would I lie to you, when the truth is more damaging than any lie?

I refuse to believe it, Eloise cried. You’re wrong. You’re evil and you’re wrong!

The serpent laughed as it retreated, formless, back into the darkness and the mist.

Think about what I’ve said, little girl. And the next time you are alone and awake in the night, I will return.

Despite the violently churning thoughts in her head, Eloise found herself slipping, falling, into a dark abyss of dreamless sleep. Deeper and almost evil, somehow. The kind of sleep that felt like death.

And from the shadows of a distant void, an ancient evil laughed with scornful glee.