All Hope Lost (19 page)

“But surely they would have been guarded?” Myra asked
concerned.

“We have a few beings that have trained their Shielding
technique to the highest possible range, so these people take turns in keeping
watch. However a Shield is not full proof, it is only as strong as the person
wielding it, and only works whilst conscious.”

“So if they get tired, or are knocked out by someone,
then they are susceptible to the prisoners’ whim?” Alex spoke.

Robert nodded. “We believe
this has been a clever attack, made by the prisoners themselves, who somehow
have managed to get hold of someone then use them to spread the word of a
rebellion, a war.”

“Would those who are taken over by the prisoners know
that they have been?” I asked.

Robert shook his head. “We
don’t believe so. Though there have been some cases where the persons involved
were already willing to cooperate with the prisoners and so they work in
tandem. However most people, are used, and no matter how much they fight, once
they are under a prisoner’s ability, escape is usually impossible until the
prisoner lets you go.”

I spoke again. “So do we know
which prisoner is currently running amok in the living realm, and which ones
are still fighting here?”

Robert nodded again. “Yes, we
are aware of which prisoner is in the living realm. Luckily for us, he is not
as dangerous as the one in this realm, who is still imprisoned. The one in
question is named Loki.”

“Loki!?” I exclaimed. “You don’t mean the God Loki?”

Robert laughed. “Actually yes,
that is the one in the same if you believe such a thing. Loki has been around
for as long as anyone can remember. If you don’t know your Norse Mythology,
Loki was the God of Mischief. However, this Loki is no longer that same God. He
has been imprisoned for so long I believe his image of himself is now to cause
as much suffering as possible because of it. He seeks revenge for being locked
away.”

I sighed.
Great; a revengeful ex-God on the loose, and
we have to stop him?

“So how do we stop such a being?” Alex asked. “What can we
do?”

“Each of you has specific abilities as you already know.
I need you three, to work as a team to track down and capture Loki. The other
Daemon’s of the other realms will also be joining you, for the world is a big
place, and he could be anywhere. As for the other escaped prisoners, those of
us here with the means, will attempt to recapture them before they find a way
to the living realm as well.”

“So where do we start, what would you suggest?” Alex
spoke for us all.

Robert thought a moment. “Well you three are each from
various parts of the world. It might be best you all go back to your own
country and start investigating from there.”

“And how will we be able to stay in contact whilst on the
living realm?” I added.

“Take these,” Robert handed us each a small, round, black
device. “Put these in your ears. To communicate with each other, just touch
them with your finger to turn them on and off.”

I took one and admired the
small gadget. “Looks just like a Bluetooth device.” I said. Alex and Myra nodded
in agreement. “Who would have thought, the Realm of the Dead had a need for
gadgets?”

Alex chuckled. Myra fiddled with her device in her ear.

“So what happens when we locate Loki? How do we capture
him?” Alex spoke up again.

Robert looked at us all one by
one. “Unfortunately, this is unprecedented. We have no idea how you can capture
him but capture him, you must! I am sure you will be able to figure out a way
if you all combine your efforts. There is a building in London, England, home
to Mi5, which is the meeting point for all Daemons’. I would suggest meeting
there first, coordinate your efforts with the others, and then spread out and
search. Loki will be bound to use his mischief some way to bring himself to our
attention, he likes an audience and won’t stay hidden forever.”

“What about our own personal tasks?” I asked quietly.

Robert focused his gaze upon
my own. “Remember your own tasks, but be sure to make Loki your priority. For
example if you are needed to help another Daemon and you are about to haunt
someone, Loki comes first. Drop what you are doing and head straight to where
you are needed.”

We all nodded, understanding.
I was still torn though. I had to see Sam, I had to find my murderers.
Why
did this have to happen now!? I have so much to do!

“That is the way of things I am afraid, Sharon.” Robert
had read my mind again. “Being a Daemon is a huge task to be given, yet those
powers are not just for your use alone, you work for the Realm of the Dead now,
and you have been called upon to serve. This is a price we all pay for having
the gifts granted upon us. Many do not get them, and they can end up bitter and
twisted after death so much because they have no form of release.”

“What happens to them?” Myra spoke.

Robert grimaced. “They become
twisted, evil things. You might find them in the forests outside, they live
underground in the darkness and they no longer appear human. Some things are
best left alone.”

Finally Robert stood up. “So,
I wish you all luck, remember you can return at any time if you require
assistance here or knowledge. Knowledge is power, as they say, and in this
case, they may be right! Sharon, can you stay a moment. Alex, Myra, we shall
meet again soon.”

Alex and Myra left the room leaving me alone with Robert.

“Sharon, I have a request to ask of you. Some of the
other teachers here may require your unusual abilities in a few days, so I ask
that you return in three days’ time. Come alone and find this room once more. I
will await you here, and then take you to the others.”

“What do they need from me?” I asked worried.

“No need to know right now, just focus on the task at
hand. Loki is dangerous, so please be careful. I will see you in a few days.” I
nodded and Robert snapped a finger and disappeared, leaving me alone. I headed
out into the corridor to find Alex chatting with Myra.

“What was that about?” Alex asked me, curiosity written
across his face. I waved him off.

“I have been asked to return in three days’ time. For
what, I have no idea.”

“I’ll come with you then,” Alex suggested.

I shook my head. “I have to come back alone. Must be some
big secret, but they won’t even tell me until I return.”

Myra squinted her eyes at me
and scowled. “I don’t know you, and you give off a strange resonance to me. I
don’t trust you, there is something wrong, but I don’t know what it is. I just
ask you to stay well away from me.”

I stood there shocked at her outburst.

Alex was also shocked. “Myra! How can you say such a
thing?”

I shook my head and placed a
hand on Alex’s shoulder. “It’s ok Alex.” I looked at Myra, straight in the eye.
“I admit, I am unsure what I am capable of yet, but whatever is within me,
whatever I can do, I will not do anything to harm us all, you have my word.”

Myra shook her head quickly.
“Your word does not count in this. I have strong senses, and you just smell
wrong. I am sorry, but I cannot trust you.” She turned on a heel and headed
down the corridor.

Looking to Alex, I asked him, “Do I smell wrong to you
too?”

He shook his head. “No, but
then I don’t have that ability. I sense nothing wrong in you, though there is
something different there. Be it good or evil, I cannot tell. For me though
Sharon, I go by my instincts, and I trust you. You seem to be a good lady, one
of justice and you are not afraid to hand it out, however harsh it may seem to
some. I would rather be in your good books than cast you as an enemy.”

I smiled. “I’m glad you
believe that, Alex. At least I have someone I can trust here. Oh by the way.
Have you come across some mirrors that show you faces that are not your own?”

“Oh yes. There is a special hall that is full of them.
Come, I will take you to them.”

“Thank you,” I replied as he led me back down the
corridor to the entrance.

“Do you know what they are for?” he asked me. I shook my
head in response. “They are the memory mirrors. They show you things, people
that you need to recall. What are you needing to find?”

“My murderers.” I said flatly.

“Ah.” Alex replied, and in silence, he guided me back to
the main tower, and took me up another flight of stairs. The hallway was wide
here. On each wall, mirrors were lined up, some large, some small, other
mirrors that appeared to float in the air in the middle of the room. There were
a few other people here too gazing at the mirrors, searching their own memories.

“Here we go,” Alex gestured to a mirror. “Good luck and I
will see you in the living realm. Try not to be too long, ok?” I smiled at him
again and nodded my reply.

Alex headed off to the stairs
once more and disappeared from my view. I looked about at the mirrors and
headed towards the first one on the wall. I felt disappointment when all it did
was show me myself. I edged over to the next. Again, just me.

As I made my way around the
mirrors, one that was in the middle of the room started to shimmer as I drew
closer. I focused on it and stood before the glass. It was misty, and no image
of me or anything showed. Gazing at it, my head tilted slightly as something
started to come into focus. It was dark, and looked like broken glass. The
image shifted to show a dark alleyway. My eyes widened as I realised it was
showing me my last moments on Earth. My brow furrowed as three men appeared out
of nowhere and surrounded me, catching me off guard. The image I saw was like
watching myself; I wasn’t seeing through my eyes, but from a little way above
me. I watched as they dragged me to my house, punched me and shoved me indoors.
The images shifted to the inside of my kitchen, and I could see what each man
was doing around me. Scarface was pinning me to the desk, the bulky man behind
me was pulling at my skirt and tights, and the last man had his back to me,
facing the sink. I still couldn’t see him properly.

The image suddenly shifted,
and the face of the man with a scar on his nose appeared. I knew him; Scarface.
An image appeared next to him with a photograph of himself and the newspaper
heading below.

Gary Oldham, 29

Another face appeared, this
time of the larger man who had raped me first. His face was large, eyes too
close together, a small goatee on his chin. I shuddered. Another newspaper
clipping appeared alongside it.

 Frederick Banner, 35

I waited as the mirror image
started to merge into another face. This time of one I didn’t recognise.
This
must be the one who cut me with the broken bottle.
His face was slim, high
cheekbones, squinty eyes, and a thin mono-brow.
Ew
w. The newspaper
clipping came up beside it, this time with the name;

 Ray Winner, 30

I continued to gaze at the
mirror as the image swirled into a fine mist, then disappeared, leaving only my
reflection. “Thank you.” I spoke to the mirror, and headed for the stairs. I
had to leave and find these men before I was summoned to find Loki first. I ran
as quickly as I could once reaching the outside, down the path to where my door
waited. I plunged myself through.

I had hoped on reaching the
other side I would be back in the prison, but no, I was back beside my old
kitchen table.
I guess this is my portal to come back.
As I was here, I
headed out the front door, not even bothering to see if anyone was home and
headed across the street. I had to see Sam. I couldn’t believe I had left it
this long.
Poor Sam, I hope you are ok.

I reached her door and headed
inside. The house was a mess, the rooms cluttered with paperwork, takeaway
boxes and tissues. I scouted the house room by room. There was no one
downstairs. I headed up, and tried the first bedroom. Well bedroom, was a long
shot, it was a storage room. Boxes were piled high on top of each other,
curtains closed. I headed to the next room, the master bedroom, the bed covers
were strewn everywhere. I searched about the room and noticed something on the
bedside table. A glass of water was standing beside a small bottle of pills, a
few of them scattered over the side. I felt suddenly panicky, and rushed into
the bathroom. I had not prepared myself for this.
Please no.
My mind was
racing.

The bathroom floor was wet,
from bath water spilt over the edge, the shower curtain was drawn across it.
Slowly I reached for the curtain and shakily pulled it to one side. The scream
made me jump.

“Who’s there?” Sam cried, sloshing about in the water.
Grabbing a towel off the side, she wrapped herself in it and climbed out.
Drying herself down she donned a dressing gown, and stepped into the hallway
listening. “Where are you!? Show yourself!” she shouted. She had no form of
defence on her, and I was surprised by her outburst. I was just glad she hadn’t
killed herself.
If I had been an intruder though, what was she playing at?
Did she want to die?

“Come on, you scum! Do your worst! Not like I have
anything to live for any way!” Sam was ranting now, fuming. She searched both
her bedrooms and then ran downstairs, expecting to find someone waiting for
her.

She wanted to die? Why Sam, why?
I despaired. I
had to do something. This wasn’t the Sam I knew. Following her, I entered her
living room.