Page 31 of Darkness

M&Ms served as lunch. The human method of feeding added so much variety. Back home, energy was energy was energy. Some, resembling what humans called incubi and succubi, claimed feedings varied depending on the strength of the emotion they fed upon, something Farren had never experienced since his work contract stated clearly no feeding from humans.

He relaxed like he had countless times before, opening himself to the atmosphere yet again in hopes something had changed. Back home, he’d pull in nourishment from the very air around him. Nothing. Not the first inkling of energy. Yet his power had only increased, not diminished.

He wasn’t home. And he’d grown to love the variety of human foods. Particularly M&Ms. And especially the green ones. They tasted better. How ironic it would be if they enhanced his abilities.

Arianna poked her head through the door. “Farren. It’s five o’clock, and you came in early. You should go home.”

Go home. As if Farren could. "I'll be leaving soon," he assured her.

“Suit yourself.” She secured the oversized bag slung over one arm more securely, then turned on her heel, tossing, “I’ll be in the cafeteria at six if you want company,” over one shoulder.

The cafeteria. While human eating styles offered variety, the cafeteria did not. Maybe Farren would order out for pizza or get industrious and cook in his apartment.

All the task force’s travelers lived within the complex—a glorified prison in Farren’s mind—as did a few human members. Someone must have thought this arrangement safer long ago, plus, easier to send someone out at a moment’s notice.

As the good people of the state of Georgia often said, If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Besides, some of the newer travelers still wrestled with the urge to consume human emotions rather than a Big Mac and fries.

No wonder they were labeled as demons by humans.

Farren took the stairs to the lowest level instead of the elevator. Cool air raised bumps on his arms as the hair stood on end. He scanned his badge to open the door. Only a small group of people could enter this room or even knew of its existence.

A Nutrix nurse in scrubs gave him a brief smile in passing before scurrying off to attend her charges. Only two right now, a man and a woman. Both bodies were physically fine, or at least, were now.

The possessed body from the alley should’ve been brought here. It wasn’t every day a human consciousness remained in their body after possession. He must’ve had a strong will to live. Maybe Farren or a Nutrix could have helped him.

Life support kept the two patients breathing and their blood circulating until the task force higher-ups decided what to do with them.

Leary hadn’t been the only one to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The bodies travelers assumed might age slower than a normal human, but eventually, they grew old and died.

Somewhere out in the city, black market suppliers provided wealthy travelers with a chance at near-eternal life by inhabiting a young man or woman's body. Entire businesses had sprung up to arrange for “grandchildren” to inherit before another possessed man or woman left a used-up body behind. Some travelers who'd lived in the Terran realm long enough needed a second or maybe a third host.

Though wealth couldn’t cross realms, there were other ways to accumulate riches.

Here, the traveler couple chose their hosts’ actual granddaughter and her husband. Farren could never do that to anyone, let alone his own flesh and blood. Or his body’s, rather.

The team hadn’t gotten to the unfortunate young couple early enough to find out their side of things, but Grandma put on a convincing performance of making the granddaughter her sole heir and introducing her to lawyers, friends, etcetera.

The unfortunate girl must’ve thought Grandma loved her and, head spinning from a sudden change in fortunes, didn’t ask too many questions.

Other victims were poor and probably lured with cash. Sometimes, the dealer just told them he could make their dreams come true. Other people agreed to possession because they called it bullshit and easy money, or maybe they thought they’d share a body, not get forced out.

Whatever the case, these two people had been robbed of their chance to live. If a traveler team member became seriously injured, they might make use of the bodies once they passed a few ethical hurdles. Most already occupied their current bodies when they’d joined the team.

Per the Terra-Domus agreement, claiming a body was only sanctioned if it was impossible to preserve the original life inside. Even now, the bodies behind the glass were shutting down organs. Soon they’d be beyond use.

There the couple lay; victims of the law being broken. Souls gone. Young lives over. The elderly couple and the dealer who’d intended to help with the transference were now banished to oblivion. Five lives lost. For what? More time?

So, so many lives lost.

Farren’s heart broke for each one.

Despite the tragic end, some travelers still took the chance at near immortality. A prospect the task force called job security.

Farren would rather be out of a job.

***

Arianna was nowhere in sight, and the staff had dismantled the steam tables by the time Farren reached the cafeteria. A kindly Servus warmed a bowl of stew and prepared a sandwich, which Farren took to his apartment.

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