The GhostMan - Part 4

CHAPTER 7: TO BLACKNESS

I carried on walking on the red plain, lonely I felt. Did I have a heart?, I wondered I could feel nothing beating. I noticed more on the plain, it was red grass I was walking on. I could see very small red trees with shiny gold leaves as big as my bare foot, I only just realised I was naked. I looked at my hands, arms, anything I could see, my skin was a lighter shade of pink. Ahead I could see small silver rocks. The women's words I kept thinking of, “follow your heart and you will find the way out, good luck to you my friend” she had said before she vanished. I moved on at a fair pace, all the time I found new things. I saw a small butterfly which was yellow and silver, I noticed there was sky, red like the grass with a hazy bright green sun-like object blazing down green rays. I found a black stone object on the floor as big as an apple, what it was made of I couldn't determine. It was hard as lead and shiny, not a scratch on it. It was really heavy so I put it back down. In the distance the silver rocks I saw were getting bigger as I walked. I then noticed two tall towers reaching up to the sky, they looked thin and a light blue colour, contrasting with the red sky and grass. I headed for the rocks and the towers. I counted seven rocks altogether, some square, triangle, pyramid and one larger one which was a circle. I moved faster with eagerness, sure I was reaching a way out. When I finally reached the shiny silver rocks I was disappointed, I could see no way out but I stopped at looked at all the rocks. Some of the rocks had strange symbols on them, I didn't know what they meant. As I looked closer at the big circle one I felt something, an emptiness. I walked around in several times then I saw what I was looking for. “follow your heart and you will find the way out, good luck to you my friend” her words once more came into my mind. On the big circle rock were the words “Heartless, follow your heart” I said as I read the words out aloud. I touched the words, nothing happened, I climbed on to the rock nothing happened. I decided to carry on and head for the towers. Upon nearing the light blue towers I began to feel that emptiness again. I could see no windows or doors on the towers, they had a spike at the top and a silver circle on the base of both towers. I walked closer then suddenly black tendrils snaked out from the two towers towards me, I felt no fear. Several of them came from the towers, I stood and waited, it felt like forever. When they reached me I felt even more empty and drained, they circled around me, covering all of me. I couldn't see anything but black now, I felt nothing. I felt myself falling, I couldn't move. If this was the end of me then so be it I thought, after all I was only a clone, man made.

CHAPTER 8: knowledge

Alpha sat in the garden with a cigarette and a cup of tea. It was a lovely day, the sun was shining and not a cloud to be seen in the sky. Her thoughts wondered about the knowledge currently been processed which Mega and her recovered from the now dead Dr Sango. Several things had been found so far. There was lots of cloning details and details of all the clones he had made so far. The documents found at the Drs house had backed this up too. The problem with application of the thought recovery system was the accuracy of what was a thought and what was a dream, this could be potentially dangerous if anyone used the knowledge and it was incorrect. She and Mega worked for BETA, which stood for Best Entertainment Training Academy. This was a secret organization working under a false name and guise. They had a premises where they employed teachers to really teach young people in the arts of photography, Media Studies, dance, drama, music and a whole host of things, this also provided revenue to fund the real BETA. Mega walked into the garden, cup of coffee in hand, she sat on the patio steps. “you OK Mega?” alpha asked with a smile. “Am OK, just worried and anxious about the findings and what we will be doing with them.” she replied quietly. “It will be fine Mega, don't worry and if your not happy with anything just let me know OK”. “I will and I hope your right, what we did was dangerous and what we have found is even more dangerous”. She stood up and paced the garden. “Everything will be fine, why are you so concerned? You have never been this worried before?” Alpha smiled, mega wondered if she ever stopped smiling. “The other scientist, the one who killed his wife and his body never found” “What of him?” Alpha said looking puzzled. “I knew him before he met his wife”. she stopped talking, there was silence for a few seconds. “I loved him Alpha, with all my heart”. She said quietly, tears forming in her eyes. Mega sat down again, Alpha sat with her and put her arms around her. “Did you ever tell him you loved him?”. Asked Alpha softly. “I never told him, then he asked Helen to marry him and then I never saw him again”. “Aww poor you magic mega”. She hugged her tight. “I just cant get him out of my mind or heart”. “He's gone Mega, dead.” Alpha spoke softly. “I have seen some of the reports about this Ghostworld, he may be in there somewhere, I could recover him from it Alpha”. Mega spoke with hope. “It would be a long shot, but anything is possible, although they never found his body did they?”. “no they never found it”. “If we could get DNA samples we could clone him, he would have a body, but how do you get the rest of him back inside his body?, that is if this Ghostworld is even real” said Alpha with almost excitement. “The TRS will be done soon, maybe the reports will come up with the answers”. Replied Mega sounding a bit more happier. “Yes it wont be long, you really want to try this, for real?”. “with all my heart”. “BETA will never give you the go-ahead though Mega”. “I wont be asking them, can I trust you Alpha?”. “always and forever, your like a sister to me” she smiled. “I have a secret installation underground, a secret laboratory” She blurted. “A what?” puzzled Alpha. “before I was given this job for BETA I had my own secret laboratory , I didn't get enough funds so I shut it”. she paused, “I never sold it though and I left Evie to look after it”. “Evie?” inquired Alpha. “My security and personal computer system”. “You surprise me sister” Alpha smiled. “I surprise myself sister”

CHAPTER 9: HELEN

“Waves and Waves of blackness, red blood flying all around. Ashes from dead bodies and screams that make no sound. An Evil place to wonder, I cry out but no ones there. My body is gone and I know my pain is there”

“Deadly shrieks in the night, my lover, I know died last night. Maybe he will come to end this dark slum. No angels in this place, Evil makes and takes, no way out but to revel in deadly shouts”

She stood on top of a blood red hill making poems up as the spirits wondered around this place. A searing anger was upon her face as she realised what her husband had done. She vowed revenge, but how was she to achieve this, stuck here. She had one hope, as last night she just new her lover Dr Sango was dead, she saw a vision while while taking off somones head. Her brilliant scientist lover could get them out from here, hope filled her heart.

This place was pure evil, It was like earth but with red sneaking up every location, There were houses, trees, mountains, grass, snow, rivers, supermarkets but life didn't exist only rage. Many times she had fought off spirits attacking her, she held a long Sharp knife she had stolen from a dead spirits ghost-form. They never stay dead for long though. There was no true death, just endless wondering here and nothing was as it seemed. A pretty child once walked up to her smiling, only to turn into a monster with black sharp teeth and jump and bite her, she had fought her off and killed the little girl who then looked all sweet again lying on the patch of blood the wound had made.

Helen had been searching for a way out of this place for a long time but she had given up herself, now she longed for Dr Sangos rescue and company. Initially she had betrayed her husband and slept with the Dr for cash and had planned on leaving her husband when she had enough but she had fell in love with him. The Dr was smart and desire had filled her every time she was with him. He looked after her while her husband was off on his research trips or in the laboratory. She had been at the lab while they were going to stage two of the project. Her husband was watching the main console, too busy to bother with her and then he had fallen asleep in the chair. She and the Dr had sneaked off quietly to the guest rooms and made love rough and with the greatest passion. It was then when her husband had woken and heard noises and went to investigate and caught them. He went into a really mad rage and left them. He came back with a long sharp knife and grabbed Helen and slit her throat. She had died instantly, seeing the pain on her husbands face. She didn't know what had happened since but she knew her husband must pay, if it was possible. It was no coincidence what she held in her hand now she thought to herself bemused.

CHAPTER 10: REALIZATION

I woke up sweating, my head hurt. Ghostman was next to me on the sofa, he was reading a book. “awake at last then Otherme”. “I feel crap” I said gingerly. “I feel great, I put channel 69 on and you should have seen the size of her” I cut him off “I don't want to know Ghostman, need coffee”. “on its way” he said as he was halfway to the kitchen. I sat there in a bad mood, I picked up the book he had been reading that he had left on the sofa. The book was called Ghostman. It was a coincidence I didn't like one bit. It was by someone called Paul Robinson and it was his first book and the publisher was Orpit publishing incorporated. I began reading the prologue, it was titled “my sad life” I said as I read it and that seemed familiar. Ghostman returned with a steaming large mug of coffee, the mug I hadn't noticed before, It had pictures of large breasts on it. “thank you” I said, “where did you find this mug?” I asked. “It was under the sink, I thought it might cheer you up”. “look at mine!” he said excitedly. I looked it was of a naked lady bent over and the other side was a front view of the same lady, I just laughed. An uneasy feeling was building in me, I couldn't say why, but it was. I sighed and curled myself up on the sofa, my mind all over the place. I was here with this man who looked like me but wasn't me. I couldn't get out my flat, I so wanted to get out and breath the summer air. My memories were mostly gone, I didn't even know my own name. I didn't know what had happened but new nothing was right. The answers I felt were somewhere but I had to do something to find them.

I went to try the front door once more. It opened! To my surprise, I gasped. I could see the path leading to the outside, it was there. I could see birds singing, and cars driving past. I had ignored the windows for so long and not looked out but now the door was open I could see my beautiful world, the place I had lived for so long. I stood still, thinking about this, was it real? I took one step outside, then another, then another.

I was showing Otherme the mugs I had found but then he went back to sleep. I left him on the sofa and went to the table and sat on a chair. I had found Bob the Wielder crayons and some A4 paper in a small box, again under the bed. Before I started I wrote my name at the top. What shall I draw I thought, I let my mind wonder. I drew a castle and at the bottom of the castle I drew a hole, I don't know why it just seemed right. The hole was right at the big door which led inside the castle. The castle was grey with large towers atop it and had a moat around it filled with red water and the bridge was up so no one could get in. I drew and drew and really enjoyed it. I drew a naked women looking out of one of the windows, and on the top of one of the towers I drew a shiny silver sword and a shiny silver staff. I drew a creature, all castles have a creature or two I thought as I drew. I gave the creature a red face with black horns and a strong muscular body. The creature held a big red axe with blood dripping from it. I drew another picture but ill tell you later about that one.

All went black, I couldn't see, I was falling. I shivered, my arms trying to grip on thin air. The wind roared around me. I saw a big large spike below me, to my left. That's all I saw and It became nearer all the time. The wind blew so strong around me all I could see was darkness, blackness, and the spike. It looked red and silver and shiny. It became closer and closer and closer, I screamed. I could only scream as I was about to be impaled, I should never have left the flat. Is this my end now, will I die soon and leave poor Ghostman all alone. God Dam!! my sad life is going to end like this. I screamed “NO......................................”.

I finished drawing and put the crayons away, I went into the kitchen to make a nice cup of tea. I was just taking the bag out when I heard a Scream!, it was Otherme. I moved as fast as I could, he was on the sofa, mouth wide open and as pale as a ghost. He was screaming “NO....”. “Otherme what's wrong, what's wrong Otherme” I said in alarm.

I woke up with my scream still sounding in my mind, I looked around and Ghostman was there and I was on the sofa. It took me a few minutes to realize I was safe and It was all a dream or something.

Otherme stopped screaming and looked around then he got up and checked the doors, they still would not open. I looked at him then he said “I am OK, it was just a nightmare”. He sat on the sofa, I sat next to him. He explained the dream which did sound scary, I never remember my dreams. I made us drinks and got us some cake, which was right at the back of the cupboard in the kitchen. It was a Lora The Explorer birthday cake.

I told Ghostman of the dream and he made us some drinks and got us some cake. I suddenly had memories flooding my mind. I saw two young children, one about three and the other five, I knew they were mine but I couldn't remember their names. I saw a women with them, beautiful with lovely blonde hair, she must have been my wife. I saw a man out walking with a young lady, she looked sweet. I saw a long sharp knife in a man's hand, I saw the blonde beautiful lady in bed with the man I saw. I saw the blonde beautiful lady in bed with another man. I saw the long sharp knife. I jumped and the images faded as Ghostman said “Otherme are you OK?” tears formed in my eyes, “am OK Ghostman” The images I remembered, I couldn't make sense of all of them. “Your upset, is it the nightmare?” “Its everything Ghostman, Its everything”

CHAPTER 11: TRUE HEART

My eyes were closed, I opened them, I couldn't see anything but blackness but I could move my arms and legs. I realized I stood on solid ground that felt hard, like stone or rock. As my eyes got used to the blackness I could see a I was in a cave of some sorts. I reached my arms to the side and felt cold rock. I felt more and could feel what what was properly moss of something, a damp soft texture. I figured out the cave must only be about two meters across. I reached up and I touched the cave top which felt the same as the walls. I moved forward step by step. I suddenly spotted a light ahead of me, it was small. I carried on walking, I found I moved faster as I became nearer to the small stationery light. Eventually I reached it, it was in mid air. What do I do I thought, I examined the light. It was a small gem like object. I reached out and took hold of it, I felt a warm tingling sensation. I kept hold of it, when I released it from my grasp it again floated in mid air. I used the gem object to see better with, it proved very useful and I knew it was no coincidence that it was there.

I carried on forward down the cave which, when I thought about it, wasn't a cave but a tunnel. I carried on and came to other openings, one to my left and one to my right and the tunnel I was following carried on ahead. Which way to go I thought, which way? I took a quick look down the other two and they went on a long way so I returned to my original tunnel and took its path. A fair few steps later I again was met with with the same openings as before, they looked the same. I again returned to my original tunnel and took its path. I once more came upon the same openings. “I think am going round in circles” I said to myself. I decided to take the right opening this time.

The cave to the right grew smaller, less then one meter wide. I then banged my head on something, it hurt. I cursed and put my hand to my head, I could feel no blood but there was a small hole now in my head. “great just what I always wanted” I said to myself. The tunnel had become severely smaller and I had to duck several times along the way, I moved slower now.

I suddenly came to a dead end, rock met me head on. I tried pushing but it was a useless idea. I closely examined the area with my gem for some time, really not liking the idea of going back the way I had come. I spied a letter ground into the rocks it was a letter T. I looked more and found more letters, a U, R, E, A, H, another T and another E and another R. I wondered what they meant. I just sat there thinking for a while. This must be a puzzle of some kind I thought why would someone of something just put random letters on the wall like this? I tried to spell words with what I had. I spelt tree, truth, tear, heat, treat, teat, heat, tart, then I found it “True Heart”. I said it out loud. I heard a grinding sound and suddenly I fell down, the tunnel floor had given way! I hit something hard then started sliding down a very smooth hard surface, it seemed to go on forever.

Deep deep down I slid, on and on. I moved faster and faster, I wasn't scared. Abruptly I met head first red, lots of red all around me, I slowed. I couldn't breath. Red was clinging all over me, I knew what it was, I knew the taste. It was blood. I stopped and looked around. All around me there were hearts, some big, some small, some black and diseased, some perfect in shape. I spotted someone ahead of me, all I could make out was a human form. The form reached to a heart and vanished. This must be where I find my heart, I thought. I remembered the words, “follow your heart and you will find the way out, good luck to you my friend” this is what I needed to do follow my heart, but where was it?

I swam and swam in the thick deep red blood. I must have swallowed so much of it but it didn't seem to matter. I didn't know which way to go, I just swam. I had a feeling that something or someone was pushing me on, I turned around but there was nothing. After a long time I was sure something wanted me to go the way I was going, I went. Eventually I reached a black heart, I could sense the darkness inside it, surely this was not meant to be my heart? I tried to swim away, I could not. I was pulled closer and closer to it, I was not scared, but a heart in better condition would have been good. I laughed to myself, I suddenly felt joy, an evil joy. I began wanting, I wanted this heart, I swam myself to it, something was taking over me. I reached it and put my hand out towards it. Blackness engulfed me, did I die, I did not know.