Chapter 94

Andrew was home alone. He was sitting on a couch in the TV room staring out the window. He tried to figure out how all this would end. He had asked Craig to go to Brian and explain things to him. He needed more protection for his family and neighbour.

Andrew thought about Delmar and Bernard. He knew they might be in trouble too because they were friends. Andrew picked up his phone and dialled.

'Hey Andy,' Delmar's voice came through the speaker. 'What's up?'

'Delmar, it's happening,' Andrew said with a flat tone. 'You need to listen carefully. There's not much time.'

'Take it easy, I don't follow,' Delmar said.

'They've taken my mother. I will tell you everything once all of this is over. Can you please phone Bernard and tell him that you guys might be in danger as well? Victor and his friends have taken my mom and I know why, but that is a story for later. Emily and Patrick are with our neighbour. They should be safe there. Victor and his friends are coming for me. Just be on the lookout for these fuckers, okay. Be safe. It would probably be best if you guys stick together, maybe join Emily and Pat next door.'

'Are you all right?' Delmar asked concerned.

'I'm fine,' Andrew said. 'Speak to you soon.'

'Call me if you need any help,' Delmar said.

'Thank you,' Andrew said before disconnecting the call.

Andrew sat in silence. He wanted more answers. The voice in his head was gone when he needed it most. Odin had said that he was part of Andrew, but Andrew still did not know where Patrick fitted into the picture. How were they supposed to banish the demons if they did not know how? Andrew got up and walked to the bathroom. Maybe the mirror would have answers.

Andrew stared at himself in the mirror. His reflection looked tired and old. There was something in his eyes again. His face was grim and all the joy from life had been gone. He had been turned into a remorseless killing machine overnight. He knew he had no choice, but he needed the knowledge to finish the job.

'Come on Odin, talk to me,' Andrew said to his reflection. 'I've got the weapon. I pledged my life to it. I've got the staff which I don't know what to do with, my mother has been taken and then there is Patrick which is supposed to be part of this, but how?'

There was only the ticking of the clock on the kitchen wall echoing through the house as time unwound.

'Odin, if you are there, I need you now more than ever. Come on, where are you?'

Andrew looked away from his reflection and hung his head over the basin. He heard the screams of those vivid nightmares from the past.

Andrew lifted his head and looked at himself again, he felt alone and angry.

'Talk to me!' he shouted. He brought his head forward and shattered his reflection into many pieces. 'Where are you?' Andrew connected the mirror again feeling the glass cutting his forehead. In the shattered glass, he could see the red running down his face. Soon blood was dripping in the white basin. Andrew sighed and bowed his head. 'I guess I'll just have to figure this out for myself then.'

He noticed a fragment of the mirror lying in the basin. He picked it up and closed his fingers around it. He started to squeeze and blood was seeping through his fingers. He took the fragment from his bloody hand and pressed it hard on his left forearm. He slowly pulled it and looked at the way the glass cut a deep trail into his flesh. Blood started pouring out and ran down his elbow, 'that's for Tommy,' he said. He made another cut just next to that one, 'that's for Francois.' Something happened which caused Andrew to frown. The first cut started to heal almost instantly and soon only the blood remained. Moments later the second cut was also gone. Only two small white adjacent lines were visible where the cuts have been. He imagined that the cuts on his forehead were gone as well.

I'm here Andrew the voice spoke.

'Thank God,' Andrew said and looked up at his shattered reflection in the broken mirror. 'Where have you been?'

I've been watching you...waiting...

'Waiting for what?'

Waiting for you.

'What do you mean, waiting for me? I've been here all along,' Andrew said.

No, I've been waiting for the real you, the killer, the monster, the slayer, the monster in the mirror. I waited for the first kill and I waited some more. I wanted to see something snap in you.

Andrew nodded at his broken reflection.

You had to find out who you were on your own terms. I did not want to force you into anything. I know it was not a mistake by choosing you. You are the true warrior. You are the war machine you never knew existed. You have always been all those things, Andrew. It was a small part buried Deep Inside of You, a fraction of your imagination, lying dormant, deeply embedded in your soul, but it was always there. It was given life when the situation called for it. You bear the axe of ages, no one will ever be your equal. They fear you and so they should.

'What about Patrick?'

Patrick will be fine as long as you protect him at all cost. He is the key to banishing evil. You must give the staff to Patrick. He has to take the staff to the portal of hell. Only a person with a pure heart can banish evil. Patrick will have to be strong for the forces at the gate would be strong and persuasive. He will need to enter the portal with an open mind and a pure heart. Patrick will be attacked by the demons the moment they sense that he is about to enter the portal. Do not fear my boy.

Andrew nodded.

Your time has come. Now go and feel your destiny. We are with you and we are unstoppable. We are many and we are one. Go now and do what must be done, my son.

Andrew stared in the mirror. The voice was gone again. He knew he had a lot of responsibility resting on his shoulders. He had his family to protect and avenge the enemy who destroyed Odin's clan. It was much to absorb, but somehow he had comfort in the words he just received from Odin. He was not alone, and he knew that for certain, now more than anything else. First, he had to find his mother.