Present Time

I’m Marcello Kiesel and this is the first time that I feel bold enough to write something about my job; not because I’m afraid people won’t believe me, or because of some sort of professional secrecy. The thing is that the last case that I worked on made me realize a very important truth, which, up until now, I seem to have always underestimated. Every intervention, no matter how ordinary this might look, could always be the last.

I know, it’s a cliché, but only when you are about to meet your own death – or worse – you realize how much you’ve underestimated the risks that you’ve taken, and how lightly you’ve lived till that very moment. It must be some sort of self-defense mechanism of the human mind.

But the truth is very easy: we can be experts, we can be skillful, careful and even lucky, but some forces can’t just be controlled. And that’s simply because the energies that we have to deal with often come from brand-new entities. And even the slightest variation of what we think we know can lead to a series of consequences that can be lethal for the Purifiers.

This time I got pretty close. I haven’t been able to get out of my bed for two days before I could find the strengths to get up, eat something, and sit at my desk to analyze the situation.

My phone is still ringing but I don’t feel like talking at the moment. I know, somebody might need my services, but right now I’m afraid I won’t be of much help, and my intervention could only cause more dangers.

Besides, I don’t like to talk to a client without my usual self-control. People who have already met me are familiar with my cool and relaxed attitude. I’ve often been complimented for my strong moral fiber.

While now I’m trembling so much that I can barely hold the fountain pen with my hand.

The light of the candles illuminate the room and the smell of incense is so strong that I feel like I’m in a temple. The protection symbols on the walls reflect the flames of the candles, which only makes the room scarier than ever. But there’s nothing that I can do about it.

I still can’t bring myself to relax. Perhaps, I’ll be able to reorganize my memories and to put my last experience into paper. The only positive aspect of this situation is that the word last no longer seems so final.  A Purifier doesn’t necessarily need to die to put an end to his career. Sometimes, losing one’s right mind can be enough to leave this life for good. And this time, I hate to admit it, I was nearly touched by madness.