“Okay, well” says an automaton in our small group. “No reason to-”
Suddenly again, with much less theatrics this time, that same voice booms through the hall, “Hmph. Upon further inspection, there are too many of you assigned to this task to be an efficient use of resources. I've decided: some of your services are no longer required.”
Suddenly nearly half of us were grasped by dark tendrils and dragged deeper into the dark.
They were gone so fast. They weren’t even given the chance to call out.
Suddenly people are yelling, others run deeper into the darkness, many seeming to shut down.
Aren’t these people calling themselves exorcists? Getting startled by the most basic show of power? They really do know nothing.
“Ever-”
“Everyone!” Snaps the automaton, draped in a sapphire overcoat and dark turtleneck, before I could even start, “Panicking now will do none of us any good.” He makes a tear in space and pulls out a thin blanket and carefully drapes it over Cain Salvatori, who was now a complete wreck.
Every drop of any previous confidence was drained from him and replaced with crushing guilt and dread. Reduced to only muttering to himself about how this is all his fault.
hat’s a lot of weight to put on himself. He’s not the one locking doors and making threats.
“And letting this-... Entity do whatever it wants will!?” I’m taken out of my thoughts by a shout from a man in a reseda green coat, more out of fear and confusion than in anger.
I finally speak up, “I don't think we know enough to do anything about that right now regardless.”
“It would be much better spent getting everyone still here together and then we can talk next steps” The automaton expresses while gesturing at some of the others who didn't look much better than Cain does, "Letting ‘this Entity’ rile us up till we're at each other's throats would be more detrimental I think.”
Apparently that was a convincing enough argument to get everyone that hasn't already shut down to settle a bit but that you could still feel that anxious energy in the air. The automaton, whose name was “Lens”, used more of those tears to summon more blankets and food for the others. Someone asks why he can't make a tear outside, This researcher by the name of Zetsel. The explanation was a little over my head though.
I stayed a little while longer as people converse over food and huddle against the still quite cold air of the terminal entrance. But it quickly became abundantly clear that this was going to last a while. We should be here for the spirits not… having some cookout for ourselves.
I stand.
“While you're collecting yourselves I'm going to see what this haunting situation looks like.”
“By yourself?” Says another automaton. This one was apparently looking for someone who disappeared shortly after everyone else got taken. At least that's what I gleaned from their conversation with the man in the coat, perhaps they were speaking because he was the only one smart enough to bring a lantern.
“I'll be quite alright.”
And I leave.
—
Despite being closed long enough to become haunted it's remarkably clean. No damage or trash or graffiti though given how hard the trek up would have been to most people it's not too surprising but there seemed little signs of pests or dust either. The only sounds remaining being the sound of the buzzing lights and the echo of my footsteps.
Echoes do sound like that right?
I try to navigate through the dimness until I finally come across a map that, like everything else, hasn't faded much if at all.
If the spirits have been spending so much energy toward keeping even the maps fresh then where are all of them?
I take a photo with my phone, taking note of the location of the infirmary. I doubt many people died there given the look of everything here but it's a good enough place to start looking compared to any other. Fortunately I still have 70% battery but who knows how long I'm going to need it. Regardless, for now, I start heading there.
Echoes definitely don't sound like that.
“Whose there?”
Silence.
“Reveal yourself.”
I turn back to face the darkness where I heard the extra footsteps coming from. Too loud to be a spirit but still I pull out my warding charm and my stand-in. I really should have prepared a call for someone to act as a defender but that’s more for other hostile spirits anyway. Regardless it would be better than me encountering whoever this is on my own. I snap my fingers and-
I hit the stone floor and am then pinned there by a snarling- wolf? No. Wolfkin.
“Calm down Lyra, it's just a book.”
She steps off me and I sit up and get a better look at the two. Both beastkin. While Lyra was large, probably a whole head taller than me, and looked much like her animal counterpart, the other looked much more humanoid. Couldn’t have been more than sixteen, brown hair with large cat ears. He had an eyepatch that barely covered these odd scars and walked with a prosthetic. Lyra had on a well maintained outfit and collar and the other an ill fitting cloak and scarf, also hiding a collar given the extra bulk.
Dozens of questions swim in my head but as I adjust to the remaining pain from Lyra tackling me I am left to just asking a weak, confused “Why?”
“We’ll like to leave, quickly, and you’re the only exorcist doing anything so we followed you to make sure you also don’t get yourself killed.” says the kid.
Like I don’t know what I’m doing.
“We thought you were launching a fire spell at us so we acted.”
I pick up the Ones That Passed and push myself off the floor.
“Well thank you for your concern but I’ll be okay.”
They both look at each other then back at me with faces of doubt.
Okay rude.
“And I take that as you yourselves are not exorcist, well neither am I”
I start back off toward the Infirmary. They follow. The one talking taking up an accusatory tone.
“What do you mean you’re not an exorcist?"
“Exorcists at best are scammers trying to get a quick buck and at worst kick poor spirits out of the only shelter they could find and have the gall to call that ‘bringing them to rest.’ No, I’m acting as a guide, someone to lead them back to one of our own haunts and give them the help and resources to pass on themselves. That’s what this is actually.” I show them the book, “Some offer to be called upon afterward and I need this to do it.”
I look back to gauge their reactions. They seem to accept my elaboration but aren't curious to know more.
“We… also don’t even know if anyone is dead yet.”
The kid rebuts “I’m sure all those taken people are having a lovely tea party right now.”
“The Entity's goals include ridding this place of its current spirits, I don’t think adding to the count would be very useful would it? They’re probably still alive in the building somewhere.”
“So you trust this thing?!”
“No, but sometimes you can still glean useful information from untrustworthy sources.”
Just up ahead I can see the infirmary door.
“Well if we are to be traveling together would you mind giving me your name? I already know Lyra’s here.”
“You first.”
I have done nothing wrong.
I give a polite smile toward him “Val Halmore.”
“Moss.”
“Well it’s nice to meet you Moss. You as well Lyra.”
She responds with a quick huff as I head inside.
It was a small space with several beds separated with thin sheets, each beside long deactivated monitors. On the other wall was a long counter still stocked with various medical supplies: gloves, bandages, a horde's worth of burn equipment. Separating itself from the rest of the counter was a small desk area with pens, schedules and a log book.
I elect to start looking through the logs. Hopefully the nurse noted any events here that might've been the cause of a major haunting.
If there even is one at this point.
Lyra and Moss communicate something silently to each other and begin to explore the rest of the room more.
The logs only extended over a couple days, mostly noting minor incidents, a kid scraping their knee or someone forgetting medication, all dated about a hundred years ago.
…Concerning.
The last written page read:
Despite all the commotion after the implosion at the portal bays, the only patient admitted was a 85 year old agon woman, humanoid, presenting with symptoms of a headache and mild confusion after falling during the panic. Currently being treated for concussion. Otherwise several people have been reported missing, all of which so far were expected to be in transit during the time of the incident.
Looks like this portal incident is why this place shut down. I recall several areas labeled “portal bays” on the map. One should be a few minutes away.
“Val!” Moss calls out. The two were staring very intently at one of the beds. I join them, peering behind the separator to… meet our first two spirits!
Finally.
One was sitting on the edge of the bed, horns poking out through long hair, strong and missing one arm, tail swishing agitatedly. The other standing next to the bed behind her, cat-like ears pulled back with worry and holding a tail of fire behind her. The oddest thing about them was how… normal they both looked. Like they were just called here, not slowly decaying for nearly a hundred years, not trying to rip our bodies from us or rambling madness. Just cyan tinted forms and confused looks.
“Is there something we can help you with?" Says the standing catkin.
“Don’t mind my uh- associates” I move past them so that I’m in the center of all of them, “We just want to help you leave this place to-”
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Says the one on the bed.
“Do you both… usually hang out in abandoned terminals?”
The catkin speaks up again, “Abandoned? It just opened?”
Amnesiac ghosts? I guess there's always time for something new. Unfortunately.
“I'm sorry but no,” I dig through my bag and pull out the help wanted pamphlet that brought me here and hand it to the horned woman, pointing out the arrival date. She seems to struggle to read it. “It's been nearly a century since this place’s opening and we've been called here to clear it of its spirits”
The Catkin gasps “We're dead?!”
I give a soft nod and the other snaps, “Bullshit. You're trying to pull something trying tell US we're spirits while you're here with your- blue flickering-ness. How could this place be abandoned?! Look at everything!”
Flickering?
“Death often comes with changes with perception.”
She seems to search for another refutation but is struggling to find one.
“I'm sorry you had to find out this way. How about this? I'll give you two a moment and I'll call someone in the meantime. If you choose to, they'll help take you where you should be able to pass on properly with assistance. I think the best option for you would be quickly leaving but the decision is yours ultimately.” I wave for Moss and Lyra to follow me down a couple beds. “Come on.”
“I thought we were just investigating?” I hear Moss say from behind me.
“I said nothing about not helping.”
Lyra gives an impatient huff and Moss asks “But you're just going to let them stay here? Let everyone stay trapped?!”
I turn around to face them, leaning on the new bed, I’ve already started to trail the edge of the Ones That Passed as I try to decide who would be best. “I thought you didn't trust this Entity”
Probably best not to call an ex-exile
“You’ll still let them choose to be left behind?” Lyra asks, almost shocked. I’ve heard her whispering to Moss before but that’s what gets her to speak to me?
“You can't force someone to accept help, not well anyway. Though mind me asking-”
No Emilia would be too… prescriptive.
“-with you both having so little experience with spiritwork, why are you here?”
Lyra’s head snaps accusingly at Moss to glare at him for explanation. Must have struck a nerve.
“With… such a high payout we- I figured that you all would need some extra protection.”
No River would- what?
“You wanted to provide protection? Physically? But you're just a kid?” I say, probably a bit too judgmentally.
Lyra starts growling, staring daggers into me, and Moss refutes with “Never been a problem for us.”
“...Wait, how old are both of you?”
“15.”
“13.”
“You're 13!?” I repeat, hoping I heard the wolfkin wrong.
Lyra just growls louder.
“You two got up the mountain by yourselves?!”
“Like I said, Never been a problem. Now weren't you going to ‘call someone’?”
“Ah yes. Right.”
Might as well go with Oscar. He's usually reliable enough.
I open the book to… a blank page.
“Oh…”
Someone has already faded while I was… stuck here…
No. He's not gone. When spirits fade their pages turn to ash. Why is there a blank page? What is this?
“Uh…”
Let's check Eloise’s… also blank.
“Val?”
Kingston? Blank.
Florence? Blank.
Anthony? Blank.
“Are you okay?”
Each name I could remember only brought up a clean sheet of paper. Not only were the ways to call them missing but their accomplishments, stories, what their loved one had to say about them. Everything was gone, like nothing was ever written there in the first place. The Ones That Passed reduced to an overly decorated notebook.
There was a sudden crackling sound back where we left the spirits accompanied with a flash of more cyan light. The two strangers rush back and I follow, probably notably slower.
The spirits were gone.
“WHAT?!” I shout before the infirmary door open again… to the same two spirits.
?!?!?!
They were having a discussion, paying no attention to us.
“Well at least they gave us a free pair of new tickets." says the catkin.
“I don’t want to keep waiting Marcy. I hate being so useless.”
“You're not useless, not before, not now, not ever. We still have plenty of time, after we get these pain killers we can even look at those games I’ve heard of.”
“But-”
“There is nothing you could have done to fix whatever’s wrong with the portal. Let-”
They suddenly cover their eyes like being flashed by a bright light. Then they looked directly at us.
“What? Who are you? How did you all get there?” says Marcy
I speak up, “Oh, don't mind us. Come on Lyra and Moss, let’s head back, I think I know what’s going on” We move past the spirits and back into the hallway.
“Oh..kay? Nice meeting you?” Is the last thing I hear from Marcy before the door closes.
“Plan to share?” asks Moss.
“This place isn’t haunted. Someone called several spirits here and put some kind of enchantment on them to make them think that it’s still around the opening of the terminal. Explains all the weirdness so far. Well it’s the mostly likely explanation. Not sure what the motive would be but if we can find that enchantment and break it or its marks they should be freed. Shouldn’t be more than a day.” I can't help but notice the shaking in my own voice. I hold the Ones That Passed close to my chest.
Surely this is some magical… bug? Interference? I can fix it if I just find the time. I don't even need it. I'll be fine.
“And you want us to head back instead of handling it now?” says Lyra.
“Well I don’t know where it is. I think it might have something to do with the portals but I don’t want to go poking around those just yet if they really are what shut this place down if those nurses notes are any indication.”
“I know where one of them are!” and Lyra bolts off in the other direction.
“LYRA!” and Moss quickly follows.
Of course.
—
Moss and I make it to the portal bay around the same time. The doors were massive. The tops stretched beyond where the dim lights could illuminate. On the front of them was complicated exposed machinery. You could tell there were segments that were supposed to be lit up as well but didn't have enough power. Near the bottom was a logo. It looked to have gone through a designer or several over the decades but was still recognizable: TITAN.
And under that was a hastily put together “Out of Order” sign.
Dwarfed by the doors' size was Lyra, already there and trying to force them open by herself.
“Lyra it’s locked” Moss walks forward and begins to climb the mechanics. He seems to struggle with the use of his prosthetic on the thin frames but he gets up to the main mechanism swiftly.
Lyra steps back and lays down on the marble, softly growling as she watches him work.
What a waste of time.
Even after unlocking this thing it’s not going to open, even with all of us trying, but it probably isn’t worth the argument, not with her already upset. I just want to get back to the lobby now. Get these two under the care of an adult more equipped than me. Maybe fix my book.
“Are you alright?” I ask.
She just starts to growl louder.
Maybe it is worth the argument- No. she’s a teenager just-
Her growling stops for a brief moment before she asks “What happened back there?”
“Pardon?”
“With your book. You completely froze.”
“Ah, that.” Oh, should I just say ‘I don’t know?’ I’ll sound as incompetent as they are. “Just a bit of oddness I wasn’t expecting. It's fine.”
We are both silent for a moment with just the sound of Moss’ tinkering.
She decides to speak again, “Were you telling the truth? About not being able to force someone to get help?”
“Well if I force someone to do exactly what I want I’m not really ‘helping’ anymore am I?”
“But what if they're being stupid?”
Oh she really is a child. I sit down a ways from her, giving her plenty of space, “Okay. Take those spirits from earlier. I could have whisked them out of here immediately,” I shift the book uncomfortably in my lap, “But if I did, ignoring the enchantment, they’ll just want to come back here instead of properly passing on, and probably hate me in the process. And that would be the reasonable course of action. I should have made sure we had similar goals first."
“Okay?” She says with a snarl.
“Like… all the advice in the world about self improvement would mean nothing to someone still convinced all they need to do is to get revenge on their killer. Our goals are too different and we either have to part ways or one or both of us has to change those goals. Luckily for me that usually means us both changing focus onto just trying to get the spirit to pass on. Maybe for… whoever you’re worried about you can try and find what common goal you both have and can agree to work on that?”
And she's growling again. I look back at Moss to see he has pushed back his cloak to get easier access to the mechanisms and I could see it wasn’t just his eye and leg. He was missing fingers on one of his hands and had several muscle deep scars. All his wounds at different stages of healing. A horrifying case of abuse.
“I don't know how to get him to stay with us. If he would just listen.”
“Who's-”
“GOT IT!” Moss steps off the door and wraps the cloak back around himself as Lyra hops up and rushes to make another attempt. The doors groan with Lyra’s effort but suddenly stops again before even a crack is made.
“I think something this big is going to need some actual power to open it. Not whatever is keeping these lights on. Maybe if there’s a way to do so we can come back.”
“Can’t you just summon a ghost to walk through there and tell us what’s going on?” ask Moss walking back next to me.
“I do not know what we are looking for and calling a spirit has its costs.”
“But-”
“Until I know more this is a waste of time. Let’s. Head. Back.”
They both don’t look happy about this outcome but they do follow me back to the lobby.
__
Just a few more feet and we’ll be back in the lobby and I can figure this mess out.
“HELP!!!”
So close.
We hear a yell from one of the other hallways. We all change paths to follow it.
This hallway was narrower than the others with just a few doors on either side. Pacing in the dim glow at the end was another spirit. This one a large bipedal dragon armed with some kind of handgun in uniform, a security guard? Behind them read a door that said “staff only”. They looked… terrified.
They snap to attention and look in our direction but not at us. “Who’s there?!”
The two behind me look ready to fight but I’m faster, “Val Halmore. We mean you no harm.”
“This is for staff only! Whoever you are you need to leave! Q-Quickly!”
“I think that someone might be trapped here. Let us get them and we’’ll be-”
BANG
They shot at me! The bullet leaving a crack in the wall behind me. A physical crack.
“T-Take that as a warning shot!” They do something with their jaw, sending sparks forward from their mouth, “The next won’t miss!”
That’s a physical mark. The spirit weapon left a physical mark.
I feel an intense heat and then a strong hit to my side and I'm suddenly in a small office room given the desk and the scattered papers.
I start to turn and try to face the two, “Thanks Lyra. I really froze there. I would’ve-” and I’m met with the barrel of a rifle pointed directly at me.
“Hey… Moss…. Why do you have a gun? Where did you get a gun?”
“Who are you!?”
“What?!”
Lyra looked ready to tear me apart, a wild look like a feral animal. Moss just… staring into me, waiting for the right moment. Aren't these just kids?
“Why are you lying about knowing ghosts!?”
“How-”
And I look down to see the Ones That Passed. On the floor. Open. Blank.
“...”
“This is not the time for you to finally shut up.”
“It didn’t always look like that.”
“Sure.”
I start to involuntarily reach for my book and Lyra nearly bites my hand off. Moss moves his finger to the trigger and I can see. He hides it concerningly well but…
He’s scared out of his mind.
“I don’t know what happened to either of you for you to be here but I’m not going to hurt you. I mean look at me.”
Neither of them move.
“I’m only here because I want to help. Not just the spirits but the people here too. That includes you both.”
Neither of them move.
“Please. You see that it’s useless now but it still means a lot to me.”
We stood there like that for what felt like hours till Moss gave a quick nod of the head signaling Lyra to give me more space. I slowly pick it up and right myself. Softly turning the pages. Not looking for anyone in particular but it’s much more comforting than staring down a gun.
“I don’t… I don’t know why it’s like this. I was going to fix it. Something about this Veil-forsaken building must be blocking them. All my friends and family are completely disconnected from me. I’m here alone.”
Another painful moment before Moss lowers his weapon, “So your stuff isn’t working too. Fucking fantastic.”
Lyra makes her way toward the door.
“No you can’t!”
“OH WHAT NOW!?” She snaps back.
“No he’s right. It’s wouldn’t be smart to fight a dragon.”
“We’ve taken out bigger targets! Isn’t that what your stupid gun is for!”
“What?! Targets?!” I don’t think this conversation is for me.
“I don't think it works as well against ghosts.”
In my idle flipping I spot something in my peripheral vision... This page isn’t blank…
“THEN WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO!? JUST FUCKING STARVE HERE!?”
A red bookmark on the side. A label for “Do not engage.”
“I DON’T KNOW! SOMETHING BETTER THAN BEING WILLINGLY FRIED!”
Casimir Adder - The Cursemonger
“I’M NOT HEARING ANY OTHER IDEAS!”
More red pages, all filled: The Beastman, Morrigan Fresco - The Flesh Weaver, Er-
Shit. Why them? Why now?
“It-”
“WHAT!?”
“WHAT!?”
“It works… kind of. I have an idea.”
It doesn’t take long to find the page: Fechnan - The Man Who Tricked Death.
“Kind of?! What do you mean ‘kind of’?!”
“It's not who I would like but don't worry the only person taking a risk would be me.”
I start preparing as the two stare at me intently. Despite being old enough to be such a cautionary tale he has a modern calling method: symbol, scent, blood and fire, Just like Ananya’s. After I light everything the temperature drops immediately causing me to start shivering. And I noticed something…
Spirits are white.
Yes some have different colored mild tints and, in rarer cases, something as vibrant as the cyan the spirits here have. The same cyan as the lights. Perfectly within reason but very unlikely for all three. Maybe that has something to do with the enchantment but something about it makes me… uneasy about my prediction.
Fechnan himself was draped in expensive looking furs, fabric, and jewelry with a massive hat shrouding his face in darkness except for his eyes. He looked more like a clothing rack than a person. I suppose it makes sense for the one who conned a man into selling his own life. He hovered above me and for a split second looked fully confused at being summoned at all before locking eyes with me. His then narrowed and he leaned forward like idly watching a pest.
“...Sp…Spirit Fechnan, we need your assistance.”
“Adorable. ‘Spirit Fechnan’” he rolls his eyes with a malicious chuckle before focusing back on me.
“There's a spirit outside keeping us in here and none of us can combat them.”
“That's it?” He looks me up and down, paying no mind to the other two, "You're one of those cultivatist freaks are you not? Rare to see one all on their own."
“I-”
“Though I suppose we could use that to start dealmaking. You look like you should know your stories. So tell me, what dire straits have you gotten yourself into where you're relying on me of all people. Maybe if it's a good reason enough I'll actually help you”
“...”
“Might want to get to it before I just kill you myself.”
“My… book’s not working. Almost all the pages are blank. Yours is one of the few that isn't.”
He looks… genuinely surprised at this information… before he begins to cackle.
“Oh that's well more than enough. Oh what a choice. Consider it done.” And he dissipates.
“Wait I didn't say what I-!”
Outside we hear the dragon shout out, “You need to leave! Staff only! S-Stay where you are! STAY WHERE YOU ARE!” There's that sparking noise again followed swiftly by a horrid gurgling.
Once everything was silent again I crack open the door and the heat returns to my body. At the end of the hallway there was no sign of Fechnan. Instead there was the dragon, missing their horns and teeth. There was a massive wound in their neck with sinew and bits of bone pulled through above a still growing pool of blood. Parts of the upper torso collapsed with no bone structure underneath to support it.
All in that same cyan. All still here.
A spirit should dissipate from that kind of damage. Taking time to reconstitute. Why are they still here?!
I feel sick
“Damn” Moss had pushed past me, seemingly more impressed at the amount of damage.
“Is anyone still there?” Right. Someone was stuck here.
We open one of the other offices and hiding under the desk is a man I don't recognize.
“Are you part of the expedition?”
He gets from underneath and stands, “Gods no! I just want to get out of here away from these beasts!” He's dressed in typical office clothes, much too thin for the weather here, and shaking violently.
I try to be reassuring “It's alright. It- it was just a security guard who thought they were still on duty.”
“That thing that chased me wasn't some security guard.”
“Just come on. We have something set up in the lobby. Maybe someone can get you a coat.”
We all step into the hallway “Look forward. I don't think you want to see what's back there”
“Wha-”
“LOOK FORWARD. KEEP WALKING.” Also apparent on his uniform is a nametag reading “Simon” and now that very familiar TITAN logo.
“I have some questions to ask you”