Truths

Recovery, therapy, and medication, all those things were necessary just for me to get back on my own two feet, for apparently the accident nearly rendered me permanently disabled, the doctors emphasizing that it was due to sheer luck that I was alive, I wasn't relieved. On the good notes, I wasn't in any psychological trauma; Dr. Ian made sure of it, and I was out of the morphine medication so drug abuse was out of the question. One more month of boring and thankfully, uneventful hospital life passed and finally I was discharged. As I was walking out of the hospital I pondered on how expensive this year has been for medical bills since I have more hospital time than working on my case, not that I didn't made any progress. I stayed at home for another two weeks as prescribed but I didn't idle around, I researched and meticulously made a plan for my case. The possession of a body according to Wikipedia was something done by a person voluntarily or was given as a payment in return of a favor, and to kill whatever possessed the person, I must kill the vessel. I knew that this will not be an easy fight hence I prepared for the worse.

"Chris?" I said on the phone soon as I heard him say hello.

"Hey Rob, what's up?" he was a bit upbeat.

"Could you come over tonight if you're not too busy, I need your help with a few things", I said.

"Sure, I'll be there around nine, if you're cool with that."

"Great, bring pizza okay?" he laughed, said yes and clicked off.

One thing down, I need to make a few more calls, everything about this case must be answered. As I checked off Chris from my list I went on dialing another; this time it was Bethany Villafuerte. It took me around five rings before I heard her voice and was a bit surprised since she sounded so much like her sister through the wire.

"Hi", I said, "This is Robin Alkalde, remember the detective?"

"Yes", she answered back, this time her tone was cold, "what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I have just two to three things I need to ask."

"About my sister?"

"Yes."

"Okay, let's make this quick, I'm currently at work right now", she was imperative this time. In the background, I heard people chatting, she must really be at work.

"The crucifix, why was it with Annie? The priest said that it was yours.".

"I lent it to her, she loves things like that, she's a very religious girl", she replied, her imperious tone and coldness vanished again. What I was asking was apparently making her very vulnerable.

"And the demon, why did it attacked you?" I pushed the question.

"I don't know", fear was sensed in her tone, "but I heard it say something like "a traveler in the making, but not my prey."

I was silenced, Bethany was a traveler but not for Annie, then who was she for? Enough, this was not my concern, I went back to my call, thanked her and said goodbye. Maybe that's why she heard Annie, but she can't do anything about her sister. Finally I called Dr. Ian, I asked him to come over and in no more than half an hour he was at my doorstep.

I welcomed him in and offered drinks, and for some time we were silent, drinking coffee and barely saying a word to each other. Breaking the silence I said, "Are you a vessel too?"

I watched as his color drained, I asked that question basing on all the things he knows, and how things will take place. So I was right, he was the same as Annie, but how come he isn't going crazy like Annie? I heard him chuckle, a smile spread on his face not the creepy kind.

"Yes", he said kindly, "how did you know?"

"You know too much", I replied.

"Ah", he said as if it was only natural, he shifted in his seat and drank his coffee a little bit more.

"Why aren't you crazy?"

"Because my demon hasn't found me yet; meaning I haven't got a look at myself on mirrors or pictures. long as I don't see my reflection I'm safe."

Safe. That was something Annie wasn't, she wasn't safe and it was up to me save her. As if that was a very easy job to do. Doctor Ian was smiling at me again, but this time he offered me something I least expected, it was holy water.

"What are the consequences?"

"Her family paid the demon with Annie's and their souls, and the only way to get back what they paid is for Annie to die." He sipped a little more from his cup, "the deal was very simple, the demon keeps Annie alive in exchange for their souls, but in the event Annie specifically her body, dies or is killed, the deal will be forfeited. That's why the demon is really out to get you, because if he loses Annie's body, he will lose so much more."

I clutched the bottle of holy water tightly, and stared at the doctor, he smiled at me kindly and said, "I maybe a vessel of a demon but my faith is still as it was when I was still normal. I'm not yet cursed so I can still be a very devout Christian."

"This is for what?"

"Bless your gun and bullets, so that when you meet with Annie and her demon, you can finish it." He was about to leave when I stopped him with one last question.

"Why did you help her family do this to her?"

"I watched as my daughter die when she was eight Robin, and seeing Annie in that state made me remember. No one deserves to die before their time, and I thought that time I was saving her life, how very wrong I was. I have caused more problem to that family that I could ever atone for, that is why I wanted to help you, so that you could help them."

With Dr. Ian leaving, I was alone in my home, drowning in silence, as I poured salt all over the house so no spirit or demon will be able to come near me, for it feels as if he too was preparing for me. In that silence I learned that I couldn't do anything to help Annie survive all of this.