The Torn Weft ~ COMPLET

Travellers

 For the second time in a few hours, Gwen knew he was sleeping. He was human again, but this time he had been thrown into a room with no ceiling, no walls, no floor... a place with nothing but a row of mirrors like the one that had separated him from Griffin. Each mirror was opaque. He approached the mirror nearest him and it flickered before showing him the reflection of his own bathroom. The door was open and he could see part of the living room. He could see Misery sitting in profile on the sofa, his face blank and his shoulders hunched. He saw him rubbing his face. He tried to scream but no sound came through. He hit the mirror but nothing. He saw two hands resting on his Cerberus' shoulders and he saw himself as the man behind Misery bent down to kiss his neck.

— Griffin...

The bitter taste that lined his tongue made him wince. The demon in his guise now wrapped his arms around Misery's neck as he reached up to stroke his hair. Yet the Cerberus' gaze was dark. Gwen's heart sank. He tried to find the connection between them but found only a thread so tenuous that even trying to make himself heard was futile. He stepped back as the couple embraced. Gwen took a moment to wipe his eyes and calm the pain in his heart before moving to another mirror. The vision in this one was slightly distorted and in a dark filter. The view was peculiar. Gwen found that he could see through the turned—off screen of a television hanging on a living room wall. He could see people moving around on the sofa, in a position that left nothing to the imagination as to their occupation. He was about to pull back, thinking it was another moment between Griffin and Misery, but when the couple separated after a more than passionate kiss, he blushed, recognizing Man and Tragedy. If this was reality, he was happy for them. The third mirror was the back of a teaspoon sitting next to a cup of tea. All he could see was a pair of women's hands turning the pages of a book. He recognised Zia's pendant, which was swinging gently. He stepped aside and looked around. There were hundreds of mirrors...

— Are these all people I know? But is what I'm seeing accurate or just a projection from my unconscious? What kind of spell did Melvan cast on me? How do I know this is true?

— Do you often talk to yourself like this?

Gwen let out a very unmanly sound as he turned towards the voice. Melvan had just appeared beside him. Melvan looked him up and down and smiled.

— I wasn't mistaken. You're not Griffin.

— I'm sorry?

Melvan pinched his nose.

— This is going to take a while.... let's go sit down.

A simple sofa appeared and Melvan sat on it. Gwen hesitated and sat down at the other end. Melvan clapped his hands on his thighs.

— Good. If I say 'astral projection' or 'daydreaming' does that mean anything to you?

Gwen nodded. Melvan smiled with relief.

— We're not starting from scratch, so much the better.

He looked at him, searching for words before asking the all—important question.

— Who are you if you're not Griffin?

And Gwen answered

— Why should I tell you? Why are you on first—name terms with me now? I don't know where I am. I don't know if what I see is real. I don't know who you are and whether I can trust you. I don't know why you brought me here and for what purpose. I don't know if you are manipulating me. Am I on drugs? Am I under a spell?

Melvan held up his hands to stop the tirade.

— Okay... I understand. Stop, it's okay. I don't know if we're going to make it like this.