บท 33: The one before you

River found Henric's friends easily . They were in the chapel with everyone else . The service seems to coming to an end as he could hear one Sister giving a final prayer. The room was as wide as he remembered it , the ceiling the same faded wood , the only difference was that there were no pictures of the saints . How sad , he thought .

River moved to and fro between the pews until he found one of Henric's friends . He remembered him well because he was the one who placed rose petals in his fountain sometimes . His hair was shining and yellow , and if River remembered correctly , his eyes were as blue as the sea . He looked at his face and smiled , he was as beautiful as himself.

Now that I've found one how am I to bring him back to that person ? He wondered then .

This was not good , if he materialized then everyone would see him and he did not want that .

He moved around until he found the boy who cleaned the fountain . His head was bowed , like everyone else and his eyes were shut . Only his lips moved to the prayer but as River listened he noticed that the boy wasn't saying the same words the Sister was . River moved closer to listen better and what he heard left him confused .

" I didn't mean to hurt his - it's feelings Lord . You know this , I was just afraid . Afraid to feel what I feel and i still am . Because it's sinful and I should not sin , Sister Cali taught me to always obey what's right . But now , I ... want to disobey her . The person in the mirror ... he seems so sad and I ... want to help him . Lord is this right ? What if I free him and he is a demon . This question consumes me and my heart grows heavily with it . Please Lord , show me the way , guide me , use me to fulfill your purpose . Tell me what I must do . "

That's it ! River thought with a smile , he could guide them to him . He left Henric then , completely forgetting what he said . He went back to Stuart and gave an excited laugh . It had been ages since he'd done this .

River turned around and slowly backed up until his essence fell into Stuart's body . But unknown to the ghost , someone was watching him the whole time .

...

The night air was cool and River shivered for the first time in a really long time . He'd forgotten how sensitive the human body could be and he wished he had dressed it in warmer clothes .

" What are you doing ? " The person asked River as he entered the garden , " And where did you get that ? "

The ' that ' being mentioned was the body that River was wearing like a glove . He had entered the boys body during the Mass but he'd not begun controlling it until he was inside the boys room . He'd felt over the moon when he'd looked at it up close .

It was not too muscular and was more slender , just like River's original body . That had made it a bit easy to use it and he'd left the room to go and check on the person.

" I took this body so I can bring Henric's friends here and you can tell them about yourself . " River said using Stuart's voice . He knew the boys name now , they shared the same mind .

Bizarre ...

" Henric ... how did you learn his - "

" I'm using this boys memories . I can see everything he's ever thought or done . " River said with a smile but it slipped and he frowned , " But most of it is sad and confusing ... that's not right . "

" What was that ? " The person asked and his voice drew River back from Stuart's mind .

" It was nothing . Truly nothing . I will now go and bring the other boy here . " River said with a smile and the person used his presence to crush the air inside Stuart's lungs .

River started to choke on the air itself and he began to cough .

" If I find out you lied to me ... I will make you regret it ." The person said before releasing him and Stuart's body almost slumped to the ground .

" That was ... not nice . " River said as he turned around and left the garden .

Little did he know the impact his words had on the person behind him . A hush fell in the garden and all the roses closed their petals in unison until they were like buds .

" Weeping . Weeping . " The person cried and no one but the statue heard him .

.....

" What do you speak of ? What manner of madness is this ? " Henric asked Stuart for the third time .

" That's a fine question . Would you mind answering love ? " Link said next to Henric as both boys stood in their night pants , in the garden .

Stuart had awoken Link first and the dark haired boy had been surprised when he opened the door and saw his lover. He'd thought maybe Stuart was taking the initiative but then he'd been dragged until they were at Henric's room .

Henric hadn't been that pleased to see them though . Link had seen tear stains on his cheeks but decided to keep quiet about it . It was not his business .Then he'd been dragged again , this time with Henric until they were in the garden .

" Stuart , where are you taking us ? " Henric had asked him .

" To meet the person who is trapped ." Stuart had said casually and it was if someone touched Henric with a snakes tongue . The boy had recoiled and Link had seen the fear , apprehension and sadness in his eyes . He'd expected Stuart to say something but the blonde boy had just let his hand slide and stood on the grass with a smile on his face . It was one Link had never seen Stuart use before .

" He called me to fetch you friends or rather allies . So you won't be alone . " Stuart said and both boys frowned in confusion .

Links confusion was born from ignorance , he did not know anything about the mirror or the entity around them . But Henric's confusion was born of fear , because he was afraid that something bad had happened . He had noticed Stuart's strange behaviour and his heart had practically fallen out of his chest when Stuart started talking about the person in the mirror .

Did they know each other ? Had they met ? Is that where he went ? To talk to Stuart ? What did this mean ?

" He knows what I'm talking about , do you not Henric ? " Stuart gave him a wide grin and it seemed too forced and a moment later Stuart touched his lips .

" I smiled too hard . " He said with a chuckle and Link spoke up .

" Love what are we doing here ? I don't understand anything about this . " He asked him and raised his hand to take his lover's . But Stuart's reaction confused him .

" Henric , " Stuart said looking as tense as a stick , he was looking at Link's hand with his own and a frightened expression was on his face , " Look in the water . Show them what you see . I have to depart. "

Before the words were completely out of his mouth , Stuart closed his eyes and his body fell limp . He would have fallen to the ground if Link hadn't caught him in his arms .

" Love ? Love ? Stuart ? " Link said frantically and Henric looked around them to make sure no one was around . It was only then that he remembered that them being outside at night was against the rules . How could he forget that ?

" Link , take him to his room . " Henric said to him , " He seems asleep and maybe it was a case of wandering in a dream . "

" Or he was possessed . " Link said and Henric frowned .

" You - you honestly don't believe that do you ? You've never believed in the supernatural . Even with the Lord . " Henric said and Link turned around and gave him a glare because he was right .

Link was not one for believing in superstition or anything beyond his understanding of the world . This was because of a personal secret , something that had stuck with him since he was young . That thing made it so he was doubtful about everything that lacked facts and this unfortunately meant he had trouble with his religious beliefs . How could he believe in a God he could not see ? He used to say and both Henric and Stuart had felt irked by this but understood him enough to know he was just struggling .

But eventually they both accepted his scepticism about everything and warned him to never show it infront of the Sisters . But the main point was that Link didn't believe in the supernatural easily and to hear him say he thought his lover had been possessed was , to Henric , the unthinkable .

" I don't buy into things without first seeing it myself . " Link said , " And right now I saw something that just made me believe Stuart's possessed . "

" What do you mean ? " Henric asked him with a frown .

" Stuart wasn't acting right . The laughing , the smiling and the way he acted when I touched him . My Stuart would never tense up when I took his hand . "

Henric realised that Link was right and not to mention the idea had been circling his mind but he had not wanted to say it out loud . He had thought Link would scoff at him but here he was presenting the idea .

" The water . " Link said drawing Henric from his thoughts .

" What ? " Henric asked him .

" He - he said - go to the water . "

Both boys turned to the blonde boy in Link's arms and when they saw him open his eyes , it was hard to tell who was more relieved between Henric and Link .

" Love , Stuart , you scared me half to death. " Link said placing his head on his chest .

" You scared ? I should be frightened beyond my mind . " Stuart said as he became fully awake , " It was in my head , my HEAD . "

" What was ? " Link and Henric asked at the same time .

Stuart gave a shudder before he spoke , " A g...ghost . "

" A ghost ? " Henric asked with a frown and Link had one aswell .

" Believe me , I am not making this up , not in the slightest . I saw him , in my head . He went inside me at the Mass service and when I fell asleep he ... well , it is like he shoved my soul into the back of mind and used my body like a doll . I saw and heard everything , but I couldn't do anything . I was so afraid ! " Stuart held Link close and let the tears he'd been holding in fall down his cheeks .

The experience would leave a scar that would never heal .

" There , there , love . Calm down , you'll run a fever if you cry too much . " Link said as he wiped Stuart's tears away .

" But there's more , oh Saints and blessed Virgin , there is more . " Stuart said as he looked around the garden as if looking for something . He eventually let his eyes wander till they landed on Henric who was watching them .

" You have to look in the fountain . The ghost told me to tell you that . " Stuart said and he gave Henric a look , " What is going on Henric ! I felt as if the ghost knew you and knew something about you . I want to run to the Sisters right now but I'm waiting for you . What did you do ? "

" Yes , saint , what did you do ? " Link said looking at him with a frown .

Henric opened his mouth and tried to explain but before he could , he saw something . By the fountain , the statue of the boy ... was looking at him . He didn't know how he had known but he felt it , eyes looking at him .

" The statue is looking at us . " Henric said and the boys looked at the statue's eyes .

They were looking down at them and when Stuart saw this he took a step back , his heart already in the back of his throat . Link took his hand and Stuart automatically linked their fingers .

" Please ... help me . "

" It spoke ! I heard it talk ! " Link croaked and Stuart visibly shook in fear .

" Wait ! " Henric said and he walked up to the statue .

" Henric come back . " Stuart said anxiously but the brown haired boy shook his head .

He had heard that voice before , Henric knew that , but that it was coming from the statue was making no sense . The thing in the mirror was talking to him , he knew that , but that it was inside the stone figure was unnerving .

He had to test this .

" Is it you ? " Henric asked the statue and it's eyes moved to him . However the voice that answered him came from somewhere else .

" Help me . " The voice said and Henric turned away from the statue to look at the fountain and what he saw made him gasp in surprise .

" What is it ? Henric ? Should we call the Sisters ? " Stuart asked him but the brown haired boy shook his head .

" Come , you must see this . " Henric waved them over and both boys had looks of apprehension on them .

Stuart didn't want to go . Not after everything that he had felt , seen and heard whilst that ghost was inside him . He couldn't believe it , and that was definitely saying something since he believed in many things beyond explanation . But this ... was beyond him .

Link stood immobile aswell , he was afraid and angry he was . He looked at Henric who had his back to him , gazing into the pool and then he looked up at the statue . It had it's eyes on them , and Link felt like he was staring into something inhuman . Which it was , because it was just a chunk of rock .

Exactly , he told himself fiercely , a rock . It don't matter if it's eyes move .

Link held Stuart's hand firmer and looked at him . Stuart had tears streaming his eyes and he was biting his bottom lip .

" It's okay , love . I got you . " He raised their hands and gave Stuart a reassuring look .

" I'm scared . " Stuart admitted and Link smiled .

" I know . But I'm not . " He lied , " You don't have to be afraid , because I'll protect you . Don't I always ? "

" I ... okay . " Stuart said resolutely . He took a deep breath to steady himself . He would be fine , as long as he had Link .

The boys walked towards Henric and the fountain with their hands still linked . Stuart had his his eyes on the statue that was watching them . Saints !! It was horrifying .

" Oh God , " Link said and drew Stuart's attention . They had reached the fountain and Link was looking into the water with Henric . Both their faces had a glazed look of wonder and Stuart turned to see what they were looking at .

What he saw was beyond belief .