The Torn Weft ~ COMPLET

Extraction

note : I'm taking a break for the holidays. We'll meet again on 8 May. Enjoy your reading!

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Gwen suddenly opened his eyes and took a deep breath of air. His body arched before he fell back onto the pillow. His heart was pounding, his eyes swiveled around trying to take in his surroundings. Where was he? How long had he been there? The room was white, sanitized and cold. It didn't look like the one in the infirmary, or his own. The door opened to reveal a man who looked at him with concern. Gwen didn't know him and something seemed strange... it took him a while to realise that the man seemed... too small. He wasn't a dwarf. He was a man. He had dark hair and eyes, an expressive and gentle face, pale skin. He smiled softly at him but walked towards him with fear. The man spoke.

- Don't try to talk, Griffin. You are safe, but you will be gone for a long time. For the time being, rest. You are at home. The Master will be glad to hear of your return.

The man checked his pulse and heartbeat, shone a light in his eyes and continued to speak.

- My name is Melvan. I am the closest thing to a healer. I am human. I have mastered healing spells and am a trained physician.

Indeed, the little man waved a willow wand over him and Gwen felt a warmth as the spell surrounded him followed by a ringing message on a phone. Melvan looked at the data and nodded.

- You are healthy but your heart is too fast. I swear you are safe here. I'll take care of you

Gwen tried to speak but even though his mouth opened, the only sound that came out was an unintelligible grumble. The man smiled and patted his arm.

- Your body has been in stasis for over two years, it is normal that you cannot move or speak. It will be my job to accompany you in your rehabilitation. Rest as much as possible. I will be back.

The man smiled at him and left the room. Gwen could only whimper pathetically.

Once alone he tried to calm himself, to remember. His last clear memory was of the laboratory of horrors. He had tried to save the urns and of the eighteen, only three had escaped. He had taken the full brunt of the intrusion attempts and had retreated, calling Griffin to the rescue. And Griffin had taken his place as he fell asleep. Safe and sound, he had not noticed anything. Then his "dream"... their meeting at last, Griffin was stronger. He was no longer just a shadow, he was right there, too right there...He had deceived him... Gwen trusted him and Griffin had used his new strength to pull him behind the mirror... a beautiful allegory of the cage. Gwen had resisted but Griffin was strong. Griffin had taken his place in everything. He'd lived his life...made love to Misery who hadn't realised anything...Oh, how it had hurt Gwen! The pleasure was there, the feelings too...but not for him. Griffin made a better Partner than he did. He had managed to tell him while Griffin was fast asleep. Just to say he was sorry, that he loved him...But he had been pushed away. Then Johan... he remembered Johan, trapped behind Griffin's eyes he had been able to analyse, to realise that something was wrong... Murmur should have wiped his memory after the exorcism, it was procedure. And he'd thought about it... He had tried to warn Griffin but Griffin had held the collar too tightly. Johan was not Johan... Johan was the demon that had taken over his body and his life... just like he was right now. But unlike him, Johan was dead, his essence absorbed and the body's life expectancy shortened to nothing, as it was for Mutulu, worse since the human's body was not suited to the demon's. What this implied chilled his blood...It would mean that Murmur had allowed this. That Murmur...but that was crazy! Why would Murmur have protected Griffin in the first place by hiding him in his body only to give him to the cat-eyed man ten years later? Gwen groaned softly...Also realizing that he too was like Johann, that Griffin too was like Johann...which meant he was dying...But that was put off until later, what terrified him was the danger that Misery and his group were in. Murmur was a traitor, was dangerous...surely he had a plan and he couldn't tell anyone...and if he did, maybe no one wanted him back? Tears began to flow from his eyes. No one had realised the impersonation... so what was the point?