Page 51 of The House of Whispers

You’ve had enough time to fix our problem,Casper.

I ducked into the hallway that led to the basement and hid amongst the shadows. “The police know nothing of you, Jakkal!” I snapped, my whispers harsh against the darkness. “Why do you fear being caught when they have no leads?”

A shiver shot through my spine as I felt his presence appear behind me. He gripped my neck as he pressed against my back. “Because, little ghost,” he whispered into my ear, “I didn’t send that note.”

My breathing was constricted beneath his glove as he squeezed tighter, his other hand holding mine firm against my side. “If you didn’t send it,” my voice wheezed, “then pray tell, who did?” I spat.

Jakkal leaned closer, my heart racing as my head throbbed. “That, my dear, is for you to figure out. Stop playing games with the other bouncer and rememberourgame.” He slowly loosened his hold along my neck.

“I’m not playing games with Chesmu.” The words shot through clenched teeth as he turned me to face him. His hand glowed as his magik solidified my stance. I was unable to move or speak as he raised me from the floor.

“Listen to my words, Casper, and listen well. You can lie to yourself but donotlie tome.” His voice has turned into a low growl as he spoke. “Part of you may want Chesmu, but deep down you know you’re mine. And I don’t like sharing.”

He snapped his fingers, dropping me back to my feet. I quickly stood, retrieving the blade from my thigh and aiming it toward Jakkal, touching the underside of his face. He remained unphased as the blade touched beneath the fox mask. “I will never be yours.”

Jakkal tilted his head. “Poor Casper. Your mind truly holds you prisoner. Same as your madame.” He tsked.

I pushed the blade further into his flesh, the tip piercing his skin beneath the mask. The urge to shove the knife through his neck was all I could think about. I could end this madness right now. But something was holding me back, preventing me from striking.

“You can’t do it,” his statement confused me. He knew something I did not.

“Why?” My arm remained still, unable to move further. A small bead of his blood ran down the blade. “Why can’t I kill you?!”

“Because,” Jakkal moved fast. I was unable to react before he blew a handful of his dust into my face. I coughed and choked on the powder as it glistened in the air around me. “You don’t want to kill me, Casper.”

I stepped back, gagging as I tried to breathe. I stumbled down the hallway, my blade still in hand as I tried to escape him. “Leave-leave me be,” I tried to force the powder free from my lungs. “Leave me!” I screamed, my vision blurring as he loomed toward me.

“Stop fighting it, Casper.” I shook my head, my back slamming into the wall as I coughed. “Free your mind and unleash the real you!” The lit candles in the hall flickered.

“No!” I screamed, tossing my knife at Jakkal.

Jakkal dissolved into his magik as my blade shot through him. Chesmu turned into the hallway, calling my name as he barely caught the blade. He eyed the blade then looked back at me.

“Casper?” Chesmu bolted to my side as I slid down the wall, my head screaming as my eyes rolled around my head trying to focus.

“Jak—he,” my throat was dried out from the dust.

“Here.” Chesmu picked me up, my blade still in hand as he held me. “Your head wound must’ve been deeper than I imagined.” He sighed. “Your shift is almost over. I’ll cover you while you rest. Let’s get you to bed.”

My head dropped as he carried me up the back hidden staircase, away from prying eyes. He moved swiftly down the hall and into my room, placing me on my bed. “Chesmu,” he glanced down at me, “don’t leave me.”

Chesmu shushed me, kissing my forehead as he removed my boots and tucked me into bed. “I’ll be right back once my shift ends.” He then placed my knife under my pillow. “Try not to cut yourself until I return alright?” He smiled, winking. “I’ll be back in a few hours.” Chesmu kissed my head once more before leaving the room and closing my door.

I rolled in the bed, struggling to stay conscious as my veins burned and my head throbbed. My heart raced quickly, almost leaping from my chest as I sat up, grabbing my head. I wasn’t going to give into Jakkal’s powder. I wasn’t going to give in to whatever it was he wanted of me. The weight of my skull became crushing as I rolled, falling from the bed onto the floor.

Groaning, I opened my eyes to see a pair of mens boots directly in front of me. His laugh followed as my head rose to see him standing there, watching me.

“Stubborn little ghost.” He crossed his arms as I turned, clawing the floor as I dragged myself toward the washroom. I couldn’t give in, not this time. I had to fight the dust, I had to stay awake. Jakkal moved, slowly shadowing me as I fought the psychedelic effects and moved to the doorway of the washroom. “Curious, but where is it that you think you’re going?”

A loud groan escaped my mouth as I used the wooden doorway to sit up, my muscles screaming as the room spun. “Away from you,” were the only words I could manage.

Jakkal crouched outside the doorway, his head tilting as he watched me. “It pains me to see you suffer.”

“Then why cause me such pain?!” My words growled back at him as my eyes struggled to focus, his frame moving as if swaying.

“It is not I who is the cause of your suffering.” His arm moved toward me, his glove stroking my wound. I winced, crying out as his fingertips touched the laceration. The harsh leather material of his glove scraped along the edges of my sewn wound. “Your mind is what holds you captive. Look how it punishes you for denying it its freedom.”

“What you say makes no sense.” Deep orange flashes caused my eyes to strain as his voice became distorted. The pain of my head slowly faded away, replaced by another feeling as Jakkal’s hand drifted to my face.

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