"Let me be," she said, her voice low and hollow. Her eyes, now abyssal black, reflected nothing of the girl she was no light, no emotion. Her smile carried no warmth, only something sharp and unsettling.
Allan's grip on her hand tightened. "Sorry to say," he muttered, his jaw firm, "but you're not allowed in there."
The thing inside her only tilted her head and smiled wider, stretching Elaine's lips into something that was not hers. " And sorry to say, I'm not leaving until I get what I want."
Alan's eyes shifted , their usual grey turning into a blinding white as power surged through them. His strength pressed down on her like an unseen weight, trying to manipulate the spirit, bending it to his will. For a moment, her body trembled as though she might collapse. But the blackness in her gaze remained, steady and unyielding.
That was when Allan realized the truth.
"It's not forceful possession," he whispered sharply, staring into those endless black eyes. "It's consent, she let you in."
The malicious grin that spread across her face told him he was right.
"Let's just say," the spirit hissed through her lips, dragging out each word with cruel delight, "she willingly opened the door."
"Shut up," Allan snapped, his voice hard as iron. His hand burned with white light, searing into her skin. Smoke rose faintly from the contact, but instead of crying out in pain, she laughed. The laughter was too deep, too cruel echoing in a way that didn't belong to her.
Allan released her, and the black drained from her eyes like ink spilling into water. Elaine blinked rapidly, her face twisting with confusion as she returned to herself, the burn healing at the same time.
She stumbled back a step, clutching her hand. "Why… why did you hold me like that?" she asked, her voice fragile.
Alan said nothing. His gaze lingered on her, torn between frustration and pity. Her soft, familiar features were back but he couldn't forget the thing that had just looked through her eyes. He debated silently, should he help her , or let her fate play out? If the spirit remained too long, there was only one ending, Death, regardless of the host, be it human or a medium.
Elaine frowned, unnerved by his silence. "Why are you staring at me like that?" she whispered.
Instead of answering, he said firmly, "Walk with me."
"Huh?" she blinked, not understanding.
"I believe you're not deaf " he said flatly.
He was already moving forward, leaving her no choice but to follow. Her footsteps echoed hesitantly behind him. "Where are we going?" she pressed.
"To hell".
His answer only deepened her unease. "Please… don't joke like that" she said not liking the mention of the word "hell".
But he didn't look back. His eyes stayed cold, his voice sharp. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Why do you always ask about my well-being?.
"You should never answer my questions with another one" he said as if warning her.
She stared at him for some time before answering "I feel normal as everyday".
"Have you been feeling emotions that contradicts your surroundings and present?" Allan pressed,
"Why are you asking me these "
Ignoring her protest, His tone cut through the air like a blade."What did I say about answering my questions with another one "
Elaine's lips trembled. She wanted to say no, to dismiss it as nonsense, but deep down she knew something had been wrong for days moments when her moods shifted without reason, when she felt fear or anger that wasn't hers. Still, she shook her head. "I can't answer your questions. I don't even know you. It's not safe to share personal informations with a stranger."
Allan sighed heavily, as her found talking to her a hassle . He reached for her hand again.
Elaine gasped and tried to pull back, but the moment his eyes flared white, her body froze, her breath caught in her throat, as though invisible chains bound her still.
He held her by her wrist and invaded her memories.
But instead of a neat stream of recollections, he found fragments jagged pieces scattered with no thread to hold them together. A childhood smile here, a faint cry there. Scenes cut and torn apart, bleeding into nothing. It was like walking through a house of shattered mirrors.
The last thing he heard was the sound of soft, anguished cries. They weren't Elaine's he knew her spirit's voice well enough. These belonged to something else, heavy with despair and torment.
Alan recoiled slightly. The cries were recent. Which meant the spirit had entered her not long ago. A day, maybe two.
He finally released her hand. His face was grim, unreadable.
Elaine stumbled back, her eyes wide with suspicion. "What's wrong with you?" she asked, her voice sharp, but underneath was fear.
Allan didn't reply.
"What exactly are you?" she demanded, staring into his storm-grey eyes.
"It's not in your place to ask," he said shortly, turning on his heel.
Her lips parted in disbelief. "Not in my place to ask?yet you've been prying into me, asking strange questions, making me feel like I'm losing my mind and I don't even know who you are" she grumbled to herself.
Allan's voice was cold. "If you're going to say something, say it loud and clear, don't mumble behind my back."
Elaine froze. He had heard her.
"W-well I'm not following you anymore". She stammered out, halting in her steps.
But then he looked back, his expression sharp and unyielding. "I'm not going to force you, just know this, your life is indanger, when you're ready to Co-operate, look for me".
Elaine stood rooted to the ground, confusion marring her features. He walked away without hesitation, leaving her alone with her racing thoughts.
But the silence around her felt heavier than before, and no matter how much she tried to convince herself, she couldn't shake the lingering fear that Allan was right.