章 21: Glass and wind

Sister Naomi ran as fast as she could , her abbot swayed in the wind like a kite in a storm . Because a storm was about . As she raced through the corridor , she could hear the wind howling like a banshee and the drops hitting the window glass like fists . This was by far , scarier than the dark , she thought .

She turned a corner and saw some boys looking out of the windows .

" Go to the kitchen , all of you ." She said briskly .

The kitchen had a cellar , which was their place of safety in the event of a terrible storm . The boys quickly hurried to do as she said and she took a moment to catch her breath . She still had another round to go , no boy could be left out . Oh , her fifty years were finally catching up to her .

She looked up and saw a boy walking across the corridor end .

" You , get to the kitchen . " She called out and the boy turned to her and the Sister caught her breath .

The boy was disheveled and wet , with a drip of red on his face that made her think of blood . In his hands was a silver object , grey in the dark corridor .

" Hey ! Where are you - " Sister Naomi called again as the boy ran away .

What was that about ? She wondered , who was that ?

...

Selena moved next to Sister Anthony anxiously . Her body kept twitching and her hands were wriggling next to her .

" Calm down , the kitchen is a few turns over there . The storm won't kill us . " Sister Anthony said harshly , disgusted by the other woman's fear .

Except Selena wasn't afraid . Her body was tingling because she could feel power , all around her . In the very air itself , which meant one thing ; the storm wasn't natural . Someone or something was causing it .

But what ? She couldn't ask the woman next to her , though .

" Boy ! " Sister Anthony shouted and Selena turned to where she was looking at .

She saw the boy from earlier , the one who liked magic ... but what was that thing glowing in his hand ?

" Child , you must - where on earth is he running to ? " Sister Anthony said when the lad turned around and ran away .

" We best go to the kitchen then . " Selena said continuing to walk and Sister Anthony quickly caught up and took the lead again .

Selena smiled , knowing Sister Anthony was now thinking about her and not the boy . But her smile fell , something was wrong . Something was coming ... she could feel it .

...

" Please ! Please ! Help me ! " The voice echoed inside Henric's mind and ears again and he took a moment to lean against a wall feeling tired .

The voice was consuming his mind and he could barely think . He wasn't sure what he was even doing anymore . The voice had started calling him after the windows shattered in the Reverend father's office . He'd been knocked down and banged his head on the floor , the blood had luckily dried up a while ago .

When he'd first heard it , he'd been afraid , thinking it was a demon but then he'd felt a touch . No , not a touch , but the lingering sensation of being touched . With it came a sense of pain and longing . He'd looked around and there had been his mirror , next to his hand . He'd taken it without thinking and gotten up .

The Reverend father's office had been wet and the wind blew inside with the strength of an elephant from the broken windows . He'd noticed the Reverend father laying on his side , a few feet away . He'd began to move towards him but then another touch landed on him , or the sensation of it . He had felt like two hands touched his chest , stopping him from moving forward .

" Please , free me ." The voice had said and he'd looked at the mirror in his hand . A crack was on it , but it didn't have anymore damage like in his dream .

" Help me . Please ." The voice had said and he'd lifted the mirror and looked at it up close .

" What do you want ? " He had said slowly .

" I want to be free . Please help me ." The voice said from the mirror and then the mirror had glazed over . It turned into a murky misty grey and a hand had appeared on the glass , startling Henric so much he almost dropped the glass .

" Please ... I beg you . " The voice had said as the hand disappeared .

Henric hadn't known what to do . Should he help it , whatever it was or should he get help from the Sisters ? As soon as the thought entered his mind he felt a drop land on his eye making him form a tear .

" Don't let them take me . " The voice said and Henric could hear it's fear and pain .

" What do I do ? " He asked out loud .

" Break the glass . Free me ." The voice said , " Then I'll be ... whole ."

Henric hadn't understood the last sentence but nodded his head . He had hoped he was making the right choice . The Reverend father's prone form had gotten his attention again and he'd wanted to check if he was alright .

" Do not help the wicked man . " The voice said , " He wanted to hurt you . I helped you ... Help me . Free me ! " . Henric had placed a hand on his head , feeling the voice in his skull . He'd turned around and left the office , praying God forgave him .

" Hurry , please ." The voice said in a whisper and Henric thought it sounded hesitant .

" Why so quiet now ? " He asked as he turned around the corner again and began to move . He still didn't know where he was going .

" You are angry I told you to leave the wicked man . You won't free me . " The voice said in anguish and Henric stopped .

" No , I will help you . I just don't want God to smite me for my sin . " Henric said turning the last turn .

" Will you free me ? " The voice asked as Henric walked slowly to his destination .

" Yes . " Henric said softly .

He stood in the garden , rain water dripping from the sky like wet stones , pelting his body. The statue was gloomy in the darkness and Henric felt a bit of pity . When he walked up , the rain lessened and became more bearable .

" Let me out ! " The voice yelled and he moved towards the statue .

" Alright . I'll free you ... but tell me . What will you do when you're free ? Kill and harm ? " He asked the mirror .

" You still believe I am a demon ? " The voice said and Henric thought he sensed some hurt in it .

" I don't know what you are . You have not said . I do not wish to free a demon unto the world . " He said softly .

A touch landed on his hand and Henric felt a electric thrill from it . The touch lifted and went to his cheek , like someone was cupping his face with their hand but nothing was there but air .

" I am not a demon . I am alone . I just want to be free . I just want to be ... complete . Please help me ." The voice said and Henric was shocked .

It wasn't the words that shocked him but the voice itself . It had been speaking with a flat monotony this whole time , indistinguishable whether it was a boy or girl . But right then , it had changed to a high note with a slight base . It sounded like a boy . Was it a boy ?

" Yes. I am . Free me , please ." The voice said desperately and the mirror glowed blue .

Henric looked at it and saw the hand again on its surface , but the reflection was less murky and he could see it was a male hand . A brown skinned hand .

" Free me ! " The voice yelled and Henric banged the mirror against the fountain . The glass cracked to pieces and shards , and exploded in his hand . Henric felt a wave of light headedness rush through him and a moment later , he collapsed to the ground .

The rain beat down slowly after five minutes , the water becoming tranquil in the garden . A young looking man appeared from thin air behind the statue and looked at the collapsed and unconscious boy on the ground . Then he looked at the person who stood next to the boy .

The person stood still , unmoving as if like a statue . Finally he said one word ;

" Free ."

Then he vanished and the rain stopped .