The Open Door

Prologue
I tightened my jacket around my freezing body that was attacked by the constant wind which was creeping inside the numerous holes in my clothes, as I tried as hard as I could to block the endless shivers that were biting at my scrawny body.
I focused on the little clouds of fog that occurred due to my exhaling, and I wished at that moment that I was curled up on my dusty couch, covered with my old, patched blanket, sipping on some hot tea that never failed to leave me in pure satisfaction.
A spark of hope and yearning ignited throughout my whole body when I finally saw my apartment on a distance of ten meters, as I all but ran towards it.
Once I was at my doorstep, I shoved my key inside the rusty keyhole and twisted it open, as the familiar smell of my obsolete looking apartment hit my nostrils.
It looked exactly the same as I left it this early morning, absolutely dusty and as destroyed as it can get.
"Victoria, is that you?" I heard my grandmother's guttural voice say from inside the tiny and only bedroom that was in the apartment.
"Yes, Ma." I replied and headed towards the room and flicked the switch on to light up the room with the dim light that was placed.
"How are you?" I asked her as I approached her hard, small bed and sat on the very end of it.
"I could be better," She said, laughing a little, but the laugh soon desisted as she started coughing rapidly.
"Oh Ma," I said softly as I felt nothing but sympathy.
I stroked her rough, grayish hair and smiled while saying, "I got you your medicine."
"Heavens child, that godforsaken thing costs a fortune. How did you get it?"
I laughed, "Don't underestimate your grandchild, Ma. I've been working extra so I can buy it for you."
She looks at me lovingly while squinting her eyes and said, "Oh dear, thank you. You didn't have to."
"But I wanted to, you most definitely need it. And nothing matters more to me than your health."
"But what about the rent, child? Colton stopped by today and told me that we should pay the rent soon or he'll kick us out. There's something about that man that seems plain odd, whatever it is I want you to try and stay away from him as much as you can." She said.
"It's okay, Ma. I'll handle it." I said, thinking about paying that guy a visit.
"Have you eaten?" I asked.
"Yes dear, Linda stopped by and made me some cabbage soup." She replied.
"But what about you, have you eaten?" She then added.
"Yes, Ma." I lied.
She looked at me suspiciously, and I decided to change the subject for the best of it, "Here, take your medicine and get some rest, Ma." I said and pulled out the bag that had the medicine from inside my jacket.
I fed her a spoonful of it as it said on the instructions, and then I kissed her forehead, "Get some sleep, Ma. I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back in an hour." I said.
"Where are you going at this forsaken hour, child?"
"I just got to pay someone a visit; I'll be back before you know it. Now rest please, you need it." I said and walked away while turning off the light in my way.
I locked the old wooden door that led to my apartment and walked out as it started raining buckets of pure water.
I shivered as my old and only clothes got wet; nevertheless I continued my walk because it was more than necessary.
Once I reached the door that's paint was peeling off slowly, I knocked on it swiftly, shuddering from the dampness.
Moments later, the door opened revealing a man in his mid-twenties, with blonde fluffy hair and brown hypnotizing eyes.
"Colton," I greeted.
"Ah, Victoria. Come in." He said deviously.
I walked in slowly and cautiously, not liking the constant smirks that he was giving me.
I stood in the middle of the little room and stared at him, "So what brings you this hour, Victoria?" He asked mischievously.
"My intentions are nothing of what you think if that's what you're aiming at." I state firmly.
"My apologies, but really, what brings you here?" He asked, this time with genuine curiosity.
"I am here to talk about the rent."
"Ah yes, about that, is the money yet ready?" He asked seriously.
"No." I replied honestly.
"Well, then. I am afraid to say that I have to kick you out in two days then." He bluntly said.
"But-"
"Ah, ah, no buts'. I have waited long enough for you to pay."
"Please, give me more time." I pleaded.
"Why should I?" He asked, the mischievous look etching his features once again.
I glared at him, "Never mind. I will pay you in two days. Goodbye." I said and almost ran out of the room, not feeling comfortable under his scrutinizing gaze.
As I walked back home, the rain had stopped falling, lingering the enjoyable scent of the rain in the moist air.
I sighed, how will I ever find the money for the rent? I barely have a five dollar bill.
As I continued my walk, a sound made me stop abruptly in my track as I turned into the direction of the sound.
I don't know whatever made me follow the sound, but whatever it was, I felt the need to follow it.
The sound led me into an alleyway and I hesitated on entering, but once I heard the sound again I followed mindlessly.
I stood in the middle of the alleyway when the sounds had stopped, and I looked around in confusion because there was nothing in the alleyway but walls.
A bright light caught my eye as I turned towards it, and I gasped at the sight in front of me.
I watched in awe as the once cemented wall turned into a golden door sequenced with odd, almost demonic carvings.
"Ingredi(1) Victoria." An alluring voice loudly whispered from inside the door and I stared in awe, my feet slowly closing the distance between the door and I as it slightly opened, a blinding light coming through the small space.
"Tenebrae, -arum(2)." The voice said in an unknown language to me, and my hand reached for the door knob, and just as I was about to touch it, a light from outside the alleyway flickered my way, "Hey, kid! What're you doing down there?" A manly voice yelled.
And just like that, with a blink of an eye, the door disappeared and I stared at the now cemented wall in shock.
"Kid, hey. You shouldn't be out here alone in this time." The manly voice said again, only this time it was closer.
I turned around towards the sound of the voice and smiled sheepishly though I doubted he could see me, "Sorry," I said and walked away.
Throughout my whole walk back home I couldn't help but doubt my sanity as the images of the door repeated in my mind like a never-ending movie, the whole time I followed the voice it was like I was being lured and hypnotized, and I wasn't even thinking straight.
I couldn't be hallucinating, could I?
I couldn't help but think about the incident the whole night when I got home, and when I went to sleep I had one thing on my mind; I had to find out what it was, no matter what.





















Chapter One
"There is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable."



I don't know what woke me up this very early morning, perhaps it was the rapid blowing of the wind, or the sound of the pitter-patting of the rain; each raindrop as it falls telling a different story. Whatever it was I knew that once I was awake I couldn't go back to sleep because I had too much on my mind.
I fixed myself some steamy, sweet tea on the almost destroyed oven that was provided. Once it was finished, I poured it in an old-looking mug and went to the living room where I usually sleep since there was only one room in the apartment which my Grandmother occupied.
I grabbed the blanket that was on the old beat-up couch that's colors were fading, and I laid down the patched blanket on the cold, dusty floor in front of the only window in the house and sat down, sipping on my tea.
I watched as each perfectly shaped raindrop fell onto the ground almost gracefully, changing the color of the ground into a darker shade due to the wetness. I sighed, feeling almost content.
How foreign that word was to me, I haven't felt happy for so long I almost forgot what it's like.
It's not like I am not grateful for my life, I am really - there are plenty of other people out there suffering even more than me, and I am most definitely thankful for what I have. Though sometimes I just wish I hadn't gotten the bad end of the straw.
But I guess it's just my fate, I can't really change that.
I focused my attention back to the raindrops that were falling without a care in the world, as a small smile formed onto my face.
But that smile soon disappeared when I saw a manly cloaked figure standing a few feet away from my house, his back to me and I wondered how I hadn't noticed his presence before.
I don't know what made me slip on my worn-out coat, my hat and my faded boots and go out to get a closer look at that man, perhaps it was out of pure and genuine curiosity.
I mean, who would want to stand outside in a dreadful weather like that?
I opened the door soundlessly, the sudden coldness making me shudder, and the rain damping me in a matter of seconds; nevertheless I walked out in the pouring rain towards the cloaked figure.
"Hey, you!" I yelled once I was at a merely close distance, hoping he'd hear me over the raging blowing of the wind and the violent falling of the rain.
Much to my disappointment the man didn't turn around and I stepped a few steps closer and said in an audible voice, "Hey, sir? What are you doing out? Are you okay?"
I got no reply again and I groaned in frustration. I gave up and turned around ready to head back home, my feet splashing the puddles of water underneath me. I was mad at myself for even going out and getting damp for no reason. Once I was two steps away from my house, a strong hand held onto my forearm preventing me from moving any further, as I jumped in shock.
I turned out, and to my utmost surprise it was the same man who didn't reply. I looked up questionably and stared straight into his brown almost golden eyes, feeling my mind go blank.
"You shouldn't have come out." His deep voice said, a scowl forming onto his face.
"I - I just wanted to see if you're okay, because you were out in the rain and all."
"Hasn't mommy taught you not to talk to strangers?" He taunted.
My stare hardened as I thought about my mother; nevertheless I kept a cool fade on and said, "Well then, I'm sorry for being a compassionate person and checking to see if another human being needs help."
"Ah, pathetic." He shook his head disapprovingly.
I was about to retort when I noticed that he still had his hand tightly wrapped around my arm as I said, "Could you let go?"
"Why should I? You're the one who decided to come out and check on a complete stranger to you. I could be a rapist for all you know." He said deviously.
I felt my body go still as I whispered my voice barely audible due to the rain, "Please."
His eyes darkened for a fraction of a second as he obliged to my plea and let go.
"They're coming for you, Victoria." He suddenly said.
My body shook in fear as I stuttered, "W-who? And how do you know my n-name?"
"I know everything about you."
My eyes widened in both fear and shock as he backed away and said, "Tenebrae, -arum." Then he disappeared into thin air.
I stared at the place he was once standing on, trying to figure out what in the world just happened.
I remembered those foreign words from last night, as I ran back into the house finding safety in it, while locking the door thrice. My body was trembling with fear as I replayed his words like a never-ending melody.
Was I hallucinating again? Had I gone absolutely crazy?
A knock on the door made me jump in fear for I still had my back pressed to it. I inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm down my raged breathing.
Once I felt my breathing calm down a tad tiny bit, I unlocked the door cautiously and opened it just a little bit, and peeked through the space.
Much to my relief and utmost dismay, it was only Colton, scowling at me.
I opened the door wider, wide enough for him to get a good view at my damp body.
He looked me up and down and said, "Why are you wet?"
"I - I just had to see something outside."
"In such a terrible weather like this? Couldn't it wait?"
"I could say the same thing to you," I retorted, referring to his almost damp clothes.
He ignored my comment and invited himself in; he did after all own the place.
"So," I cautiously begin.
"What brings you here?"
"I just came here to remind you that you only have a day left to pay the rent, or else I'm kicking you out." He warned.
"You came all the way here in this awful weather just to tell me that?" I asked in disbelief.
"No."
"Then?"
"I wanted to see you." He boldly replied.
My eyes widened in shock as my mouth formed into a small scowl, disgusted by him.
"I'm afraid to say the feeling's not mutual."
"Ah, Tori. Your feistiness still exists I see." He smirked.
"Only with you," I sighed angrily.
We stared at each other for a minute or so when I said out of courtesy and nothing more, "Would you like to stay for a cup of tea?"
He smiled a genuine smile but shook his head no, "I must be going."
I breathed an internal sigh of relief, and nodded sadly. Though I was anything but sad, I was happy to say the least. That man appalled me in so many different levels.
"Well," I said, opening the door, "Goodbye, Colton."
He walked towards the door slowly, almost teasingly and once he reached it he stood in front of me.
"I can give you everything you need, Victoria." He said, and I knew what he meant by his words as I cringed in disgust.
"No, thank you."
My reply didn't seem to faze him as he leaned down and placed a chaste kiss to my mouth, much to my utmost refusal.
"Goodbye." He said and walked away before I could say anything, leaving me flabbergasted at the door.
"Bastard," I muttered once I was over my surprise. I stared at his retreating back and I wished more than anything that he would drop dead at that moment.
I held onto the rusty door handle, and just as I was about to close the door, a speeding car came and crashed into Colton, sending his body flying across the street.
I stared with wide eyes, my mouth forming an 'o' shape due to my gasp.
I ran towards his almost lifeless body lying on the ground, and bent down beside him, forgetting all the despise I felt towards him.
"Oh my god! Colton!" I gasped as I looked all over his injured body not exactly knowing what to do.
Just as I was about to touch his face, his eyes looked straight into mine, almost afraid as his body burnt into flames that came out of nowhere, and just like that, in a snap of a finger there was nothing left of him but ashes. And though the fire didn't touch me, I backed away in complete and utter horror.
There were no words that could describe the dread and fear that I felt as I stared at the ground where his once almost alive body laid.
It all seemed to have happened in slow motion, really. It seemed like something you would only see out of the movies, because in my eyes it was more than just surreal.
My eyes filled with tears, as I tried to make sense out of what just happened.
I felt eyes on my back and I turned around, my eyes widening due to the sight before my eyes.
There stood probably the most beautiful creature, with midnight black hair and golden, almost crimson eyes. His features were carved into perfection, from his thin, straight nose, to his perfectly shaped jaw.
I stared at him in awe, forgetting the incident that had just happened due to his undeniable beauty.
In a blink of an eye, the distance of ten meters that was between us turned into a distance where a paper could not probably fit in, as I gawked at him, completely speechless.
"Mine," he whispered.
"W-what, what are you? What had just happened?" I asked, feeling completely insane.
"Tenebrae, -arum."          He replied with those words that were once foreign to me.
I stared into his eyes as they swirled and changed to a coal black.
What the hell is going on?
That was the last thing I thought, before my body fell limply to the ground, as I lost consciousness.

























































Chapter Two
"It's true... we're all a little insane."



I tried to open my eyes but they were blinded by the bright light coming from the side of my face, the light finally went away and I was able to open them. When I finally opened my eyes, my hand shot up to my head due to its unbearable pounding, as I took in my surroundings.
Once I realized that I wasn't home, my body shot straight up and I tried to remember how and when I got here.
After several failed attempts remembering because each time I tried my mind would go blank, I sighed in defeat and stood up slowly, trying to bear with the excruciating pounding of my head.
I realized that I was in that alleyway where I saw or hallucinated of that door a few days ago, and I started panicking.
I tried harder to retain information but my mind was not cooperating.
The wind blew violently around me and small specks of snow started falling from the sky, so I knew that I had to get home quickly before I get attacked by a violent snowstorm.
My attention focused on the small specks of snow as I turned around and started making my way out of the alleyway.
I watched how the small untainted specks fell to the ground, lingering there like a thin blanket, covering the dirty ground with pureness.
I almost felt bad as my shoes kept making footprints on the ground, melting the snow beneath my feet.
However the feeling of guilt was soon replaced with anxiousness. Once I was almost out of the tall alleyway, I felt a presence behind me so I abruptly stopped in my tracks.
I could feel and hear the footsteps walking closer to me, and though my mind was yelling at me to run, my feet had a mind of their own as they stilled on the ground.
The footsteps stopped and I felt breathing on my neck, knowing that whoever it is was standing very close to me.
The cool breaths blowing at my neck made me shiver in a feeling which almost seemed close to delight, and at the moment I wondered if I was truly insane.
Here I am, enjoying the cool breath blowing at my neck from a complete stranger.
And audible gasp escaped my lips as I felt icy cold fingers trail down the side of my neck and onto my arm, until they reached my hand and interlocked my fingers with it. I shivered involuntarily, wanting the odd feeling running throughout my body to stay forever.
Curiosity was burning through me, so I turned around slowly; almost afraid that whoever it was would disappear into thin air.
As if reading my thoughts, the second I turned around I saw nothing but the snow falling peacefully, and I knew that whoever it was had indeed disappeared.
I shook my head in anger, and called out, my voice making an echo, "Whoever you are, I know you're somewhere in here!"
"Tenebrae, -arum (1)." An almost familiar voice whispered those words that I was now used to hearing, yet I still have no idea what they meant.
"Show yourself!" I ordered firmly, although my body was shaking with fear.
I felt the pleasant breathing on my neck again as a manly voice said in my ear, his voice a mere whisper, "Mortem (2)."
What happened next was too fast for my brain to process, for I was violently thrown out of the alleyway and onto my back, a deafening scream almost piercing my ears as it cried out in agony.
My breathing was raged, as I scrambled up from the ground ignoring the pain in my back, and I ran as fast as my legs could take me back towards my house.
After a mere five minutes of running, I was finally able to see my wrecked home and I sped towards it, unlocking it and entering then locking it once again.
I breathed heavily and I couldn't contain the sobs that escaped my mouth, as I slid down the door and onto the ground, curling up into a little ball.
I tried to make sense out of what just happened but I simply couldn't, and at the moment I really felt crazy.
Was what happened even possible?
My sobbing stopped abruptly as I heard my grandmother's raspy voice say, "Victoria! Come here, dear! Are you okay?"
I wiped at my eyes, removing any trace of tears as I put on a fake smile and entered her room.
"Yes, Ma?" I asked nonchalantly, pretending that what just happened never occurred.
"Were you crying?" She asked, squinting her eyes, trying to get a better view of my face.
"Of course not, Ma." I lied through my clenched teeth, feeling an incredible amount of guilt running through me.
"Are you sure?" She tried to squint her eyes even more, and sighed when she couldn't see clearly.
"Absolutely."
"Did you just wake up?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Yes. I actually woke up due to the sound of hysterical sobbing. I might be old, but my hearing is still well."
"Oh," I laughed nervously.
"Is there something you're not telling me?" She asked suspiciously.
"Define something..." I trailed off.
She sighed, "Don't play games with me, Victoria. What happened?"
I opened my mouth hesitantly, and just as the words were about to fly out of my mouth, the familiar alluring manly voice whispered into my head, "Don't."
I was about to gasp in shock, but restrained myself once I remembered that I wasn't alone in the room.
My grandmother looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to speak.
"Well you see, I wasn't sobbing. I was actually crying because of both happiness and sadness. Colton died today because of a, err - fire, and we don't have to pay the rent anymore." I lied.
My grandmother's eyes widened as she exclaimed, "Oh my!"
Once she was over her shock, she shook her head sadly and said, "May he rest in peace."
"Yeah," I agreed.
"Are you sure that there's no rent to pay for, anymore?" She asked.
"Definitely."
We sat in silence for a few minutes until I heard the unexpected growling of her stomach.
She laughed a sheepish, weak laugh and apologized.
"I'll go get some cabbage soup from Linda, Ma. Stay here." I smiled at her and kissed her head, and then I walked out.
I rubbed the sides of my head soothingly, trying to stop my mind from thinking too much.
My thoughts were scattered, and my feelings were all over the place, nevertheless I tried to keep my cool as I knocked on my neighbors door.
The old wooden door opened a few moments later and revealed Linda, a woman who was in her forties with hair that was beginning to go gray.
"Victoria!" She exclaimed, pulling me into an embrace.
I patted her back lovingly, "Hello, Linda."
"How are you, dear? Oh, come in, come in." She said, opening the door wider for me to enter.
I entered the small living room, and sat down on the wrecked couch.
"I just wanted to thank you, for feeding Ma yesterday." I started.
"There's no need to thank me, dear. We're all a family."
"Do you want more cabbage soup to take home today?" She then asked.
I nodded my head shyly, "I'm sorry, I'll pay you back. We're just low on supplies this week because I bought the medicine for Ma and all."
"There's no need to apologize, honey! As I said, we're all a family."
"Thank you, you're too kind." I nodded my head gratefully.
"Anytime, dear. So is the medicine kicking in yet?" She asked, as she went to pour some soup in a pot.
"Well, I haven't heard my Ma cough all night, so I guess it's starting to take an effect."
"That's wonderful, dear. And how are you?"
"I'm fine, I suppose." I replied.
"How are you? Anything new?" I then added.
"Well," she started as she came back into the living, a small black pot in her hands.
She placed it on the table in front of me, and sat down beside me as she said, "There was this poor boy who was sitting on the curb of the sidewalk a few days ago when I was coming home, so I invited him to stay here at my home."
I gasped, "But Linda! You don't even know him; he could be a murderer for all you know!" I cried.
"I know I am most definitely not a murderer." A familiar voice suddenly said, as a tall, lean guy entered the room.
"Ah, Andre! There you are!" Linda exclaimed, standing up.
I stared at the guy in front of me with pure and utter shock.
He was exactly the same as the guy I saw when Colton burnt into flames. The same black hair, thin nose, and perfectly shaped jaw. Except his eyes weren't a crimson color, instead they were brown.
"Y-you!" I gasped.
"Me?" The guy asked in fake surprise, smirking a knowing smirk my way.
"H-how?" I exclaimed.
He simply winked at me.
"Do you guys know each other?" Linda asked, confused.
As I was about to open my mouth, he beat me to it and said, "Yes, we met at the grocery store a month ago."
I glared at him, to which he only smirked evilly.
"Oh, how lovely! I will go get some wood from outside to start a fire, I'll be back in a jiffy!" Linda said and walked out.
My whole body trembled in fear as I watched her retreating figure, then I turned my attention back to Andre.
"You're name is Andre, huh?" I snorted, not believing him.
"It's actually Mortem, but I can't exactly use it here if I want my identity to be discovered."
"You're Mortem? You're the guy who threw me out of the alleyway?" I said, my fear replaced with anger.
"Yes, I'm the guy who you shivered at his touch, and thought of it as 'delightful'."
I glared at him as he took three long strides and was in front of me in a second.
My eyes widened as I tried to back away, but the wall was in my way.
"W-what do you want?" I stuttered.
He simply smirked at me.
I decided to change the question for the best and said, "Who are you?"
"Me? Oh, I'm just a demon." He said nonchalantly, like it was the most casual thing in the world.
"Demons don't exist." I replied, my hands trembling.
"God doesn't exist." He shot back.
"He does!"
"Well then, you must be a hypocrite if you believe in only God and nothing else."
"How dare you? You! You, despicable creature!" I cried.
"Be careful there, Victoria. Wouldn't want you to burn in flames like your friend Colton, now would we?" He warned, his jaw clenched.
I abruptly shut my mouth and stared at him.
He inched closer, and dipped his head in the base of my neck, his pointy teeth grazing it.
My breath hitched as he said, "You'll be mine soon, doll."
"L-leave me alone!" I stuttered, not liking his effect on me.
His eyes swirled into a crimson color as he smirked evilly at me, then he pulled away, his eyes returning to brown.
"Tenebrae, -arum." He then said, and disappeared.
I stared at the now empty space with my mouth wide open.
Linda came back in and looked around in confusion, "Where did Andre go?"
"He - he went out."
"Oh I must've not seen him then." Linda replied.
I nodded my head absentmindedly, and grabbed the black pot and walked towards the door, "Linda, I must be going now, I'm not feeling well. Thank you for the soup."
She nodded her head at me in confusion, and I went out.
What in the world is going on?

























































Chapter Three
"Can't wash it all away, can't wish it all away."



"Excuse me; do you happen to know what language the word Mortem is in?" I asked the lady with graying hair behind the counter.
She smiled at me, her eyes crinkling as she said, "Why, I believe that's in Latin."
"Oh, I see. Do you have a book around here that talks about the Latin heritage or something along those lines?"
"I suppose I do. Come with me, doll." She replied to which I nodded and followed behind her small figure.
She shuffled through the dusty books on the shelves until she stopped at one and pulled it out, blowing at the dust covering it.
"This is the one." She said in her guttural voice.
I took the book from her, the feeling of its old and dusty cover irritating my skin, and asked, "This only translates Latin to English?"
"Oh, no dear!" She exclaimed.
"This talks about the whole Latin heritage, and who used it - what are some words' equivalent in English and such."  She explained.
"Ah and how much is it?" I asked the question I dreaded the most.
"It is..." She trailed off trying to remember.
"Ah, yes! It's ten dollars, dear."
"Oh," I sighed with defeat.
I handed her the book and said, "Well, thank you for your time."
As I was about to exit she stopped me with her throaty voice and said, "I can inform you of what you want to know dear."
I turned around abruptly and exclaimed, "Is that so?"
She nodded her head slowly at me as I beamed at her and said, "Please tell me all."
"Well have a seat." She said as she plopped her figure down on one of the chairs, patting the one besides her as a signal for me to come and join her.
I obliged and sat down gingerly next to her as she asked, "What exactly do you want to know?"
"Well, who used the Latin language?"
"Latin is an ancient Italic language, originally spoken by the Italic Latinos in Latium and Ancient Rome."
"Oh I see, so... it has nothing to do with any demonic language?" I asked slowly.
"Well, demons are spiritual things and they are fluent in every single language. They speak an ancient language which is not studied nor is it common to people. But some people say that they use the Latin language the most, because the Rite of Exorcism is given in Latin."
"The Rite of Exorcism?" I asked confusedly.
"It is the Official Rite for expelling demons from people certified as being possessed by authorized Catholic Priests."
"Oh, I see."
"And what exactly happens if a demon possesses a soul?" I then asked.
"Well, at first - you'll hear voices, agonizing screams and such, then you'll see the demon in front of your own sane eyes - the demon will start to contact you, talk to you - it'll do anything just to be close to you, and finally when the time is right, they'll... - they'll possess you, and take over your soul."
I shivered in fear, knowing that some of that stuff has happened to me.
I stood up abruptly, her standing up with me in confusion.
"Thank you for your time and information." I curtly said.
She looked at me with a knowing look, and slyly said, "Be careful, dear."
I nodded my head offhandedly and exited the old book shop, fear trickling underneath my skin.
I walked a few steps until I was stopped by Mortem who was casually leaning on the brick wall, his red eyes glowing and accompanied with a smug look.
"What do you want, Mortem?" I spat.
"Ah, ah. My name is Andre." He tsked, his eyes turning brown.
"Whatever."
"I believe you've went to get information, am I right?"
"I - I don't know what you're talking about." I said briskly and turned around ready to walk.
"I can smell your lie." He suddenly said and I stopped abruptly in my track and turned around to look at him, only to notice that he's stepped closer than before.
"You know that the information will do you know good." He whispered, stepping closer.
"Why won't you leave me the hell alone?" I yelled.
"This is more than just a possession, if I wanted to possess your soul then you would have been long gone by now." He continued, ignoring my lash out.
"Then what the hell is this?"
"We want you to come with us; we want you to enter The Open Door." He said, his voice suddenly sounding like more than one person was speaking at the same time, and it was creepy to say the least.
"We?" I asked confusedly, masking my fear.
"My fellow demons and I."
"No!"
"Enter The Open Door." He said, his hand touching mine and igniting a fire within me.
"The Open Door?"
"Our world, we call it The Open Door because we enter it by a door that comes up out of nowhere, like the one you saw a few days ago."
"This - this is wrong."
"Then if it's so wrong, why does it feel so right? Why are you enjoying it?" He whispered, stepping closer; so close that I could feel his cool breath blowing at my face.
"I'm not."
"You are." He smiled a sinister smile.
"You're a demon." I stated.
"I am more than just that."
"And I don't believe you."
"Believe what you please, everything is crystal clear."
"Nothing is!" I cried.
"Only because you're making yourself believe so," he smiled.
"Look, why can't you just go and find another soul to possess." I said cynically.
"But none are as weak as you are."
"I am most definitely not weak!"
"I beg to differ. When was the last time you've prayed, Victoria?" He asked, cringing when he said the word "Prayed."
"I - that's none of your concern."
"Oh, but it is."
"I - I don't know what you're talking about. I'm going home." I stated, and turned around ready to leave, but he wrapped his cold hand around my arm receiving a shiver from me as he said, "You can't keep running away forever."
I turned around and sent him an icy cold glare to which he responded by tightening his grip on my arm as I winced in pain, nevertheless I snatched my arm away from his hand and walked away.
I was about to go around the corner when a flaming fire that appeared before me out of nowhere stopped me in my tracks.
I gasped an audible gasp as I stepped back while the fire moved forward towards me.
I tried to move back a step but I was stopped by a hard surface behind me, as I felt arms wrap around my waist.
I turned around my head so fast that I think I've cracked a muscle in my neck, only to be faced with Mortem.
I struggled in his grip, but he only laughed a sinister smile, clearly enjoying my struggling.
"Stop! Help!" I yelled to no one in particular as Mortem moved forward towards the fire, me in his arms.
"Let me go!" I cried.
"I don't know, should I?"
"Please," I whimpered, feeling the heat of the fire at my face.
"Not good enough."
"I'll do anything! Please!"
"Anything?" He repeated, and I soon regretted what I said.
"Yes," I sighed, feeling sweat gathering in my palms and onto my forehead due to the high flames of the fire.
Within a blink of an eye, the fire was gone with a snap of a finger as I was let go, my breathing very rapid, as I tried to calm down my racing heart.
I looked up at Mortem who had a devilish smirk plastered on his face, clearly enjoying my struggling.
"Well?" I asked.
"Well what?"
"What do you want? I said I'd do anything, what is it that you want?"
"You're actually fulfilling your promise?" He asked in clear disbelief.
"Why wouldn't I? Unlike you, I'm not a shameful creature, and I actually keep a promise."
His gaze turned hard and warning as he said, "Careful there, Victoria."
I only smirked, feeling a sudden boost of confidence igniting through me.
"So, what do you want?"
He seemed to have been in thought as a playful smirk etched his features while he said, "Enter The Open Door."