Witness My Greatness

Crunch. Rhodes stepped on a leaf, and it sounded like it was real. He wondered if everything in the dream was the same in reality. Walking barefoot was unhygienic, but he didn't feel like dirt stuck to his soles. Regardless, he reached the spot where the brutal mugging happened. Minimal traces remained, but the dark energy pressed down on Rhodes's astral body.

He couldn't sleep after witnessing Giles go home like a violated man. He was mugged on his way home. They took his car, his phone, his shoes, his belt, and the money he got from a loan. The poor man was forced to endure the cold woods in nothing but his work shirt, underwear, and socks.

Rhodes recognized the place as the fork leading to La Caldero. However, the tracks didn't lead to that place. The thieves just thought it was a good place to ambush an unsuspecting man.

"How long do I have this time?" Rhodes looked to his right. "The last time, I woke up after the game. Can we stay until I get the car back? Can I drive in this form?"

"You are capable of doing everything you like as long as you stay with me, dear," Vanya answered. Unlike before, his lips didn't curl for a warm smile. It was not the time to show affection. His dear spouse was angry, and it radiated all night. He dragged Rhodes into another dream because he felt Rhodes's fury filling up his heart.

He watched Rhodes nod and look around for more tracks. The man in a fedora used his cane's tip to trace the crime scene. "Dear, look."

Rhodes looked over and watched faint light draw the car's outline. He then witnessed a vague recreation of how the muggers attacked and made off with the vehicle. They sped back to the old district while Giles was left half-dead on the side.

"Can we follow that car?" Rhodes stared at Giles's outline. Seeing the man's likeness had his blood boiling. It felt familiar.

"Hold my hand. I'll bring you to the old district." Vanya extended his hand and readily felt Rhodes's hand underneath that long sleeve. The lord's fingers curled around Rhodes's sleeve, and the scenery wavered. When he opened his eyes, they were already in the heart of the quaint streets of Menorosa.

Vanya slowly released Rhodes's hand. "Don't leave my side for too long. I cannot sustain your astral form if you stray too far."

Rhodes nodded and slightly lowered the spit guard to smile. "Thanks. I really didn't know what to expect when I asked for your help. I mean, I have no idea how to do this."

"This is dangerous if attempted alone." Vanya chuckled and walked Rhodes to a corner. He looked to the left and saw the car cruising along the street next to them. It passed them, and Vanya led Rhodes to where it was headed.

The doctor followed quietly. He was so angry tonight. However, his fury was slowly quenched when Vanya came to him. Even if Rhodes couldn't trail the car in the physical realm, Vanya was powerful enough to lead him to it in the other world. He didn't think these worlds existed, but the hauntings and his dreams had become his proof.

The only downside was his astral form. Rhodes didn't know why his soul took on the form of a rabid asylum patient. He understood the first time as if he needed to appear scary. However, his form didn't change tonight. Vanya only said, his astral body reflected the subconscious state of his mind. Rhodes felt like the world imprisoned him. It even drove him insane.

Silence ensued between them during the walk. Vanya had already explained everything Rhodes needed to know for tonight. Other things didn't matter to Rhodes.

"The residual energy ends here." Vanya followed the car to a secret chop shop. "They must have gotten rid of evidence. The energy in this place is shrouded with darkness. A vile entity resides in this dream space. Would you like to enter with me?"

"Is it like what happened in the church?" Rhodes stared at the chop shop. He felt fear spreading across his body. However, knowing he was with Vanya calmed him.

"Yes." Vanya chuckled. This man's ability to jump into strange matters fascinated him. He expected Rhodes to have a thousand questions, but the doctor didn't even ask the usual ones. What was a dream space? How could there be one? Vanya felt relieved not having to explain all of them for now.

Rhodes turned to Vanya. "Can you handle the one inside? I want to see if I can recover a part of the car. In the morning, I'll find a way for the police to raid this trash dump."

Vanya chuckled and did an inviting curtsey. "Please witness my greatness for your cause, my dear. Let us deal with the spirit within this dream space."

The scene before them wavered, and Vanya brought Rhodes's sleeved hand to his face. He peeled back the sleeve and kissed the scraped knuckles. He gently released Rhodes's hand before running to kick the closed shutter of the chop shop. A loud bang followed as the shutters tore from the top. It crashed down, revealing a faint image of a person standing in the middle.

His body parts wavered in different directions as if he was never whole. He murmured in a haunting voice, "This is not mine… This isn't mine…"

"How strange. A spirit born from the spliced energy of the butchered cars…" Vanya lifted his brows. However, he dropped them when the spirit looked his way.

"You…" The spirit gave a broken smile. Even his face was dissected by the wavering image. However, the atmosphere immediately turned hostile. The man's hands lifted, and his fingers grew out into thin blades to chop metal. He cried, "You have one of mine! Give it to me…! Give it to me!"

Vanya raised his cane and aimed the red stone toward the wavering man. The vile entity attacked and swung his arms to slice Vanya. However, the red stone glowed brightly. A scream came from the vile entity, his image erased like a sand drawing hit by a wave. Upon his disappearance, the atmosphere immediately lightened.

The man in a fedora sighed. "The spirit must have killed people in secret. Their deaths couldn't simply be reported to the police. Rhodes, dear, let us continue."

"You killed it just like that?" Rhodes walked to Vanya's side. He chuckled at the man in a fedora. "You're so powerful, Vanya."

"I cannot kill something that doesn't live, dear." 

Vanya chuckled and lowered his cane. However, his hand shot up to cover his face. Rhodes noticed his action. He couldn't hide the blood that dripped from his nose. Vanya frowned at the blood that flooded from his palm. "…I have been wandering the spiritual realm too much. My body is breaking again. Apologies, dear. I cannot keep the dream any longer—"

"What are you doing? Why didn't you tell me?" Rhodes was appalled. He quickly held Vanya's face with both hands. "Obey me! Go home and rest! I'll deal with the chop shop alone. Find me again when you're feeling well. If you get sick, I won't be able to care for you…"

Vanya gasped and chuckled. He leaned his forehead against Rhodes, slowly rousing the doctor from the dream. "I will find you again, dear. Be careful."