That damned curse-creature-thing is still in my house!
I am thankful that it doesn't appear to be able to open doors or even move when I'm in the room with it, but still...it's nasty. I just want it gone.
The last vestiges of sleep still cling to my shoulders and I shake myself out. I'm not coming home till I question the last two on my list.
I hole myself up in the bathroom and decide to take a cold shower before I go, to give me that extra boost. However, I freeze when I remove my top and catch sight of my reflection in the mirror.
Where did I get these scars!?
Long pinkish scars cover my shoulders, five jagged lines arcing over each shoulder from my pecs to my shoulder blades, and a scattering of pinprick scars dot my skin like stars all over my chest and on my arms above the elbow. I turn. There are two gnarled sets of five scars at my waist too.
Wait, five lines...five fingers.
I catch sight of my own wide-eyed glance in the mirror...and the small ring of scars peeking out from under the edges of my hair. The memory of my first meeting with Lucionis seems to merge with my reflection; the head-splitting pain that vanished as I touched the penny, the same headache that would flare up regularly accompanied by the worsening of the ever-constant aching of my shoulders.
"Like the weight of the world is on your shoulders." I whisper the cliched phrase as the realisation strikes me.
The pitiful cry of the curse-creature outside the door breaks the silence. The image of its wicked claws and bladed teeth flares red in my mind.
I have to get rid of that thing. Forget the shower.
I pull my shirt back on and throw the penny up.
* * *
Today's brownie is a blue-clad fellow with a cheery disposition who introduces themselves by the nickname Avon. My suspicion that the brownies are gossips is immediately proven by Avon's greeting of, "who would you like to see today, sir?"
I decide to just rip the plaster off as quickly as possible, and ask for Magnis. Avon grins, all sharp teeth and wide blacked-out staring eyes, then gestures for me to follow.
After two hours, Magnis finally comes into view in one of the many garden courtyards. What was the point of rambling through the whole Manor, if he's outside.
Avon cheerily waves me off, before their mount bounds up a wall and scrabbles through a small window.
I give silent thanks to whichever god decided to make my life easier today, because he's not alone, a man I don't recognise is walking with him. That has to be Shatter.
"Excuse me, I need to ask you both some questions."
The one I presume to be Shatter, looks at me with pity. "He doesn't want to talk to you."
He slowed down marginally to respond to me, so I take the opportunity to speed up and join the trio.
"Can you answer some questions then?"
A look of surprise at my boldness flashes on his face. He glances at Magnis' back. "I don't like to talk and walk."
"Alright then, you stop and let hothead go on ahead."
"Nobody wants you here, Sightless." Magnis calls over his shoulder.
Irritation at this childish behaviour sets my teeth grinding and I snap. "Do you want an innocent man to die?"
YOU ARE READING
When the Penny Drops | ONC2023
Paranormal"You have 7 days to solve a murder...before your luck runs out." Aaron Mathews is cursed...or at least that's what it feels like. Bad luck follows him wherever he goes. He spills every coffee he orders. He trips on every second stair. He's spent m...
