The Torn Weft ~ COMPLET

Visions and Nightmares

They were sitting around the living room table. In the centre of the table was a map of the nature reserve. A blue line showed the path the kids should have taken. A red line showed how far they had gone and where they had come out. Tragedy was the difference between the red line and the blue line.

— There is a good twenty miles between the two points.

Agony frowned.

— Are we sure of the point of disappearance?

Gwen shook his head.

— Approximately. They had passed the crossroads here between half an hour and an hour before they no longer recognised the path.

Agony crossed her arms and sighed tragically.

— So the gap can be anywhere between this point and this point.

Tragedy looked at his sister and smiled wide.

— A bit of hiking doesn't hurt.

Agony pouted.

— I hate it! Plus with the rain my hair will curl!

Gwen cocked his head to one side.

— You can't cut back any more.

Misery quickly touched Gwen's forearm.

— We've already reduced a lot thanks to you. We'll leave tomorrow morning with everything we need.

He looked at Tragedy, then at Mutulu. The latter was pale and barely responsive. He hadn't opened his mouth since they left. He looked sick. Misery pursed his lips. Tragedy returned his gaze, as serious as his own, and closed his eyes for a moment. Misery resumed.

— Tragedy, you should stay here with Mutulu. We won't need you here, but you can help the children by changing their memories a bit.

Tragedy nodded with relief.

— That was my plan. Mutulu is not in good shape.

Gwen wanted to open his mouth but closed it again, glancing at his partner. The latter caught honeyed eyes and nodded imperceptibly, indicating that they would talk about it later. Misery grabbed Gwen's forearm again.

— Go on. Tell us what you found out.

Gwen took a deep breath.

— I don't know if my opinion is right but... I could talk with Johan. I think... I think he is like me. Like me in the beginning. I don't know what creature is inside him, but we have to take him now before it synchronizes and takes over.

Agony looked at him seriously.

— Are you talking about exorcism?

Gwen pursed his lips.

— Is there another method of extraction? As long as the creature has not regained its strength, it is possible to save the boy before it takes over.

He gave a pale smile.

— Well, it's different for me because I've been designated as his prison and I've been infected on purpose. But for Johan, it's like having a stowaway. But if the kid can be saved...

Tragedy reflects on Gwen's words.

— A possession was to be expected with this passage through the Weft. What made you think of this?

— He told me about his nightmares. Like he was someone else and what he saw, sometimes in broad daylight, was like a hallucination... Like me, at the beginning, with Griffin.

Tragedy pursed his lips.

— I'll refer to Murmur, maybe he'll have an idea on what to do.

He glanced at his partner.