Rachael drove through the bleak blackness of what felt like a never-ending night. Such uncertainty compelled her to look at the clock in her car to see the time. She did not know what to expect, but after everything that happened, finding out it was only three in the morning did not seem right. Very little time had passed at all. In fact, not even a day had gone by since Andy went missing and too much ensued between then and now. There had been many events in her life that were odd or overwhelming, but for so many to occur one after another seemed too coincidental. An answer was needed along with much more. And she knew exactly who to ask.
Perhaps the fact that night was still upon Darkess was a good thing then. Once the sun rose, she would lose her chance to make contact until the next day ended. But, with all their lives in the grip of peril, there was no certainty that any of them would still be alive by then.
Time was best not wasted. However, with the need for certain supplies, Rachael stopped at a convenience store. Unfortunately, options were lacking. Instead of candles, she ended up having to buy five cheap flashlights, the kind made of translucent, colorful plastic. And there were no salt containers to be purchased, so she resorted to stealing a handful of salt packets that were provided when buying fries from the self-service area. Though not required, she also bought a quality flip lighter to act as a protective talisman. Lastly, an energy drink and protein bar would keep her going.
Once out of the store, next was to find a place where she could work. Nothing special being required, she found the nearest motel.
While parked in the empty lot, Rachael pressed back into her seat while cupping her face with both hands to suppress her sleep deprivation. Dragging her fingers down her face tried to pull the tiredness out. A deep breath, shaking her head, and bouncing her leg were more small attempts to do the same. None helped but she was not going to let sleep stop her. She forced herself out of the car.
Straight into the building confronted the concierge behind the front desk. He was a tired sort of guy who did the job without asking questions. He barely got paid enough to care. That made their exchange simple, she asked to stay one night, paid upfront, and got a keycard.
She headed to the room, having to go back outside and up to the second floor. Rounding the first corner at the top brought a sudden fright at the sight of a pale face. She stumbled back and sucked in a breath. Then she realized she recognized the ghost. After finding footing, she pressed a hand to her chest as she exhaled with relief.
“We should be with the others,” Ligaya argued.
“Then go be with them,” Rachael shooed as she continued on. “I plan on doing this on my own anyway.”
“You can’t ignore the threat,” Ligaya stressed.
“I can’t keep ignoring Andy,” Rachael gave a reminder of what her current priority was.
“Fine,” Ligaya quickly conceded only to place herself right into the situation, “I’ll help you.”
“I’d prefer if you didn’t,” was Rachael’s kindest way of saying ‘go away.’
“So, what are we doing here anyway?” Ligaya completely ignored the attempt to have her begone.
Rachael rolled her eyes. “How are you even able to appear on me? I cleansed you two days ago.”
“It’s like you forgot how this works,” Ligaya criticized. “You talked directly to me which reconnected our link.” She held her hands together to form a heart as a way to further mock Rachael. “Looks like we’ll be forever bound together. So, are you going to answer my question? That would only be fair.”
“I need information,” Rachael replied simply as she entered the room.
“Another ritual?” Ligaya assumed. “Who?”
Rachael was uncertain if she should reveal any details and decided to tell, “The Raven Man.”
“Raven man?” Ligaya was not familiar with the being.
“For a spirit, you don’t know much about the Dead Realms,” which seemed to be the strangest thing of all.
“I spend most of my time among the people of our group,” Ligaya gave as her excuse.
“Sure,” that made partial sense. But “How long had you been an Aswang before you attached to us?”
“I died then woke up while you were playing your game seven years ago,” Ligaya recalled. “So, never.”
That was a surprise that Rachael never knew. The new aspect brought into question what Ligaya might actually be. She did have every characteristic of an Aswang except for the behavior which was unheard of before. “Maybe that’s why you’re not that evil.”
“You don’t think I’m evil anymore?” was what Ligaya attached to.
Rachael felt embarrassed for saying something considerate to the person she had considered a menace for the last seven years. The thought was dismissed, “Never mind that. Give me some silence to set things up.”
“You said, ‘You’re not that evil.’” Ligaya was very pleased.
“Enough,” Rachael tried to sweep away her own words, red-faced. “I need silence.”
“No, you don’t,” Ligaya knew otherwise and smiled like a taunt. “So, I’m going to keep talking until you actually need me to be quiet.” She softly floated up to do a slow-motion flip as she delicately landed on the bed like a feather. “Tell me about this raven man.”
“You’re so annoying,” Rachael declared but carried the conversation on anyways, pausing her work as she wondered, “Do you really want to know or are you just talking?”
“I do want to know,” Ligaya echoed. “The Raven Man sounds like something that can be dangerous if not taken seriously. What are we getting into?”
Rachael continued setting up, and talked while doing so, “We could be doing something very dangerous. Truth is, I don’t know much about The Raven Man either. I’ve heard he’s docile as long as the ritual is done correctly. But he is a being from one of the Dead Realms, Ma’at, home of the Beastheads. Their social structure is entirely based on strength.”
“Then why do this?” Ligaya questioned.
“He knows everything, supposably,” Rachael did have a real answer.
“Do you believe that?” Ligaya asked for a personal opinion.
“I couldn’t say,” Rachael confessed. “But since we already tried getting answers from a demon, I might as well try getting answers from a creature of death. I really do hope this works because I don’t know what else I can do afterward. Alright, done.”
A thin circle of salt had been made using the packets.
“I doubt that could hold a spirit,” Ligaya voiced her concern.
“I agree,” Rachael shared the feeling. “But it’s what I’ve got. Let’s hope him being docile is true.”
The five flashlights were lined in front of the circle and placed on their butts to have their light shine up toward the ceiling. Rachael drew the curtains and flipped off the fixtures to make the room as dark as possible. She then found her way back and took a seat on the ground. Slowly, each device was turned on as she recited the verses, not the traditional ones of the standard ritual but those of insolvency …
“O Raven man.
“I have come not in a group of three, tis but only me with no virgin girl to give as fee.
“Nor is the hour right for I have missed midnight and call to you during the approach of light.
“Forgive this treason which holds no reason and may act to your palate in poor season.
“Appear to me even so from the place below to hear my desperate cry and crow …
Only the middle light remained unswitched. She pressed a finger hard against the cut on her hand to draw blood from the now scabbed-over wound. It began to bleed again, and a drop was dripped on the lens before delivering the last line, “The light is thy beacon. The blood is my sacrifice.” Then the final light was turned on, casting red beams that filled the room with a haunting atmosphere.
There was no immediate occurrence leaving Rachael to believe she had been ignored at first. That was until the world beneath her suddenly vanished and she began falling into the blackest abyss. Arms instinctively reached to grab a hold of something when nothing was there. But, in that attempt, she ended up looking upward as she plummeted. Above was The Raven Man diving directly at her.
He was practically nothing more than a shade in the shape of a bird. But one of enormous size that must have towered three stories. The edges of his silhouette constantly shifted like black flames.
Talons extended to ensnare their prey, which was her, and she could do nothing. Death seemed inevitable, whether at the hands of this creature or by the force of gravity.
Ligaya changed that outcome as she materialized and quickly grabbed hold of Rachael by the arm. The descent was slowed, and Rachael was swung out of danger.
The Raven Man barely missed. But that did not matter much. Impacting the ground with finesse had him spring back into the air and swoop around rapidly.
Ligaya released Rachael before charging at The Raven Man and vanishing as they collided. That had acted as enough of a distraction for Rachael to find safety for the moment.
She had landed hard on the solid stone that made up the floor of this realm. The landing hurt, but in times like these, pain was rejected, and she was quick to get back on her feet. Cover was found behind the nearest thing, a stone pillar. Looking around found endless series of pillars in every direction. This seemed a place where she could stay hidden for a while.
Seemed was the optimal word for a terrifying discovery was made. Because of just the smallest movement, something was shifted ever so slightly, and it gave off a dull rattle. Looking at what it was saw old bones of many creatures. Human remains were among them. This place was revealed to be a hunting ground and hiding was part of the game.
Rachael was aware that much of the ritual had been improper but wondered what exactly caused the downfall since most of her rituals were improper. As long as the rules were followed, there should not have been an issue. Then seeing Ligaya appear right beside revealed the answer. It was supposed to be conducted either alone or in a group of three. Apparently, Ligaya counted as a participant and made them a pair of two. Such a small mistake and now they were in this life-or-death scenario.
The Raven Man perched each talon, of which he had four, on individual pillars and crawled over the tops more like a beast than a bird. He scanned a wide area for anything obvious. Then he stuck his head between the gaps to look down the rows but found nothing yet. So, he stood up on two legs and remained at a standstill in deep contemplation. Then a voice like the death rattle of a million men spoke from the very air itself – Your fear will betray you. Flight was taken again to vanish completely in the darkness of this world.
The Raven Man would attack when least expected. Hiding and running were pointless. Fighting was probably impossible. That left a direct confrontation as the only option regardless that it would just as likely end in death. But there was only one way to find out.
Rachael stepped around the corner. However, somehow, she had stepped back into her own world, finding herself in the kitchen of some house. At least, that was the way it seemed at first. She quickly noticed the strangeness of the scene. Everything around her appeared much larger, from the counters and cupboards to the table to the room itself. They were not merely large in size but tall as if her perspective was lower to the ground. Looking at her own hands discovered them to be more delicate than usual as was her body when looked upon. She was a child once more. That meant this was an illusion. Still, being trapped in this made her easy prey.
As she examined her surroundings more thoroughly, the place appeared familiar even though this was not her home. The smell was old and ashy as the walls were stained and browned by a layer of nicotine from too many smoked cigarettes. Beneath that pungent aroma was another that she could not place at the moment but also felt a familiarity toward. Besides that, this kitchen offered no more recollection. She decided to move on to the next room for answers or a way out. What she found was immediate regret.
Decay smelled most heinous, but death was something else entirely. The four fresh bodies did not reek as much as they exuded naturally foul odors like that of a baby, smelling of urine, gas, and saliva.
Now Rachael remembered this day. Old lady Ann, who lived on the same street as the Liminals, turned out to be a rather selfish monster. Too afraid to die alone, she had poisoned her whole family, her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, along with herself. While Rachael was playing outside, she had seen little Sue and was beckoned to the house not knowing the girl was already a ghost at that time. To this day, it was never determined if the spirit’s actions were a trap or a desperate call for help.
Just like back then, the body of the old woman sat slumped in her chair with a smile on her face. But she also stood in the corner of the room as a spectral version of herself. That version, that monster slowly began to turn toward the new person that had entered. Her shrill voice spoke, “Come to me, my sweet girl.”
Rachael quickly backed out and turned to run regardless that this might be nothing more than a magic-induce deception. Her actions turned out to be correct even if useless as she did not get far. A sharp pain was inflicted to her ankle and a sudden yank caused her to fall flat on her face. Left momentarily dazed, there was no fight as she was slowly dragged back into the living room.
Once the haze finally began to leave her head, she looked to see what had grabbed her. The shock from the sight almost made her faint again. The old woman had stretched her neck across the room and bit with sharp teeth. The old body began to slowly jitter closer. Rachael dug her nails into the carpet desperately, but the monster was on her shortly, only releasing its bite when hands had taken hold.
“It’s time for soup, Susie,” it said. “I made a special pot.”
One of the decrepit hands stretched to another part of the room and grabbed hold of a spoon left in a cold bowl of chunky broth. The other gripped Rachael by the face, squeezing her cheeks to force her lips to part. The metal utensil was aggressively shoved, clicking and scraping her teeth until they began to bleed.
“Eat, sweety. Please eat.”
Rachael had let the panic cloud her mind but quickly remembered that this happened before. The thought came back to what she had done years ago, a disgusting solution. She opened her mouth to eat the soup. The cold chunks mushed into a thick chicken liquid. She dared not swallow and spat.
“Why are you being so picky today?” The monster reached back over to get another spoonful.
During this moment when not being force-fed, Rachael dug her front teeth into the hand gripping her face, carving a chunk out of the loose, old skin like it was foam. Her mouth was filled with the taste of mold that bubbled and dissolved. She dug again even so, taking another chunk. The destroyed hand lost strength and Rachael was able to slip free from the fingers. She ran again.
The monster leered sideways with a crooked neck and smile. Its eyes were wide and dark. Body turned with a waddle and head began to stretch forward.
Rachael made it to the kitchen with teeth nipping at her heels and she dove under the dining table. The chairs acted as enough of an obstacle to keep from being caught as the neck got tangled between the legs. She was able to crawl out the other side without being caught and she darted to the side door. Wood screeched as the table and chairs were tossed aside. A breathy growl was heard rising in pitch as the monster became more frustrated. Rachael reached the handle and pulled. But the door did not budge. That was when she remembered that Andy was the one who saved her by opening the door from the other side. But where was he? He was trapped in an Otherworld. There was nobody to save her this time.
The hinges popped and a helping hand reached through to grab and drag Rachael out. Instantly, reality returned as the illusion was escaped from. She was back in the tomb of The Raven Man alongside Ligaya.
Rachael stared at the face of another ghost. But this one was not the same kind of haunt that she had come to fear. She saw, instead, a kind and concerned look.
“Where were you just now?” Ligaya asked, unaware of the illusion.
“Just trapped in my past,” Rachael said sort of sarcastically as if to hide some truth. “Thank you.”
“Well, we’re still trapped here,” Ligaya reminded.
“I’ve got this.”
Rachael dug her nails into her palm, reopening the wound once more. She clenched her hand several times, drawing out and cupping as much blood as possible. Then she stepped out from behind the pillar as she had before so that she could do what she attempted to do the first time.
Kicked bones made a clatter of noise to draw attention. Though The Raven Man was nowhere to be seen, she felt certain he had her in his sights. She listened to the emptiness of the world. There was what sounded like wind even when none blew. The Raven Man was coming, swooping in for the kill. Talons must have been about to seize her. She flipped on the flame of the lighter, the protective talisman she had chosen in case this ritual went wrong. The sudden ignition illuminating was like a burst of light that created a barrier and caused The Raven Man to become visible. He pulled back and hovered in place.
“The light is thy beacon!” Rachael shouted. “The blood is my sacrifice!” She swung her arm to cast a spray of blood. The Raven Man was splattered but did not have the slightest reaction.
You are a brazen one, The Raven Man called her as he loomed.
“Thank you,” Rachael took that as a compliment. Following, with a short bow of her head, she expressed her regret, “I apologize for my mistake. I didn’t think a spirit would be considered as a second participant in the ritual.”
The Raven Man leaned forward very slowly, curiously, extending an arm to point at Ligaya. This is a spirit?
“All knowing—?” Ligaya was humored by the disenchantment.
“Shhh!” Rachael silenced any sass.
Such a strange thing. I’m intrigued by both of you. Breaking from my illusion. Standing before me without fear. Very well. I forgive your transgression. Ask what you will.
Rachael took a breath of relief. Death, which was still right before her at this very moment, had somehow been avoided. As well, her reason for being in this situation, after the chance having seemed lost, was now being offered willingly. Without hesitation, the most important question was asked, “How can I save my brother?”
Open a door to the end of time.
Rachael was in between her feelings. What she had just been given was a time, place, and more. But this was not an actual how. After having to conduct the insolvency version of the ritual and it failing, she was worried about asking for too much. Yet, another needed to be asked, “What method will allow me to do so?”
Only the Devil knows.
She understood that was the answer no matter how cryptic it may have seemed. Now more answers awaited. And how badly she wanted to ask for them. But she needed to restrain herself. If The Raven Man became displeased, then he would continue where he had left off. There was so much more she wanted to ask, but this opportunity had to be let go.
“Thank you,” Rachael gave. The lighter was snapped shut, snuffing the light. In that instance of pitch black, she had been returned to the motel room.
“That didn’t help,” Ligaya felt.
“What do you mean?” Rachael felt otherwise. “The answer is only the Devil knows. That means I need to talk with the Devil.”
“He was speaking literally then?” Ligaya put the piece in place. “Okay. I can get that. But I guess he doesn’t know everything.”
“The fact that he gave us what he did is good enough,” Rachael declared with satisfaction. “But,” breath, “more than anything,” breath, “even if not knowing the specifics,” breath, “knowing that the Devil is the one with the answer is impressive.” A long, pronounced breath. She began toward the door.
“You’re going right now?” Ligaya concerned.
“Yes,” Rachael declared. “The night’s almost over.” Breath. “I won’t be able to beckon the Devil if I wait. It’s already four.”
Taking another step, Rachael was hit by sudden vertigo. Her body swayed to one side and her feet tried to keep her standing. Stumbling sideways, she eventually could no longer step when her leg met the bedframe causing her to fall onto the comforter.
“Are you okay?” Ligaya sincerely worried.
“Yeah,” Rachael filled the word with so much air. “I’m fine. I just tripped.” But no matter how hard she tried to will her body to get up, she felt too heavy.
“You’ve been going non-stop for too long,” Ligaya understood. “You might be telling yourself to keep going, but I don’t think you can.”
“I need to,” but Rachael just laid there unable to move. Then her consciousness faded shortly after.
Ligaya stared at the desperate girl with sympathy. The emotional anguish was clear. And, noticed along with it, was the jagged tear still bleeding. To help, a small towel was grabbed from the bathroom to wrap the wound. Rachael’s hand was taken ahold of and lifted—
That was when a sudden realization struck. Ligaya was making physical contact with a living person. Her effect on the world had always been limited to inanimate objects, and with people, nothing more than a push. Instinct must have been what allowed her to touch another at this moment as well as back when they were falling. However, because of her realization, Rachael’s hand fell through her own.
The fact Ligaya had been able to touch another person meant that something was changing. Unfortunately, she did not know why or who would have the answers. All she could do at the moment was bandaged the wound.