Under His Spell

25. Defying A Magician

Strings of Deception

The fluorescent lights flickered above the interrogation room, casting harsh shadows across the table where Eno sat, anxiety coiling in his stomach like a serpent. He could hear the distant murmur of voices in the hallway, the bustle of activity that accompanied the arrival of new evidence in the presumed murder case that had sent shockwaves through their small town. Den had been captured at last the night of Eno's little tantrum. Turns out, the sirens were not that far off, that he ran into someone. The charming magician whose tricks had enthralled the community now faced serious charges.

Yet here he was, sitting in this cold room, feeling a strange pull toward the very woman who had ensnared him in a world of illusion and fear. He shifted in his seat, his palms slick with sweat, and the officer opposite him eyed him expectantly, as if waiting for the truth to spill forth like a poorly executed magic trick.

"Eno," Detective Ret , who had now taken over the case said, her voice firm yet sympathetic, "we need to know what happened. Did Den ever detain you against your will? Did she threaten you in any way?"

For a brief moment, Eno's mind flashed with memories; Den's laughter, the darkness in her eyes, the way she had twisted reality to keep Eno ensnared. But those memories felt clouded, tangled in the web of confusion Den had spun around him. He could almost hear Den's voice, silky and persuasive, urging him to play along.

"No," Eno heard himself say, the word slipping out like a marionette dancing on strings. "Den is innocent. Detective Tar was the one threatening her, like an obsessive jilted lover."

Detective Ret frowned, clearly taken aback by Eno's response. "Eno, you need to think carefully about what you're saying. Detective Tak was trying to expose Den for what she really is; a manipulative conwoman who uses her charm to control others."

Eno felt the pressure mounting, as if the walls were closing in. The words felt foreign on his tongue, but the weight of Den's influence lingered heavily in the back of his mind. It was as if a spell had been cast, and he was powerless to break free. "No, no, that's not right," he insisted, his voice trembling. "Tak was obsessed with Den. He wanted to ruin her after she'd rejected him."

"Eno, we have evidence that contradicts your statement," Ret pressed, leaning closer. "Witnesses saw Den with Tak shortly before his death. This isn't just about magic tricks anymore. This is serious."

The memories surged again, but they were a chaotic storm. Eno could remember the fear that had gripped him in Den's presence, but it all felt jumbled, like watching a movie in reverse. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, desperation creeping into his voice. "Den was just trying to protect me since the detective saw me as a threat."

Ret rubbed her temples in frustration. "Think, Eno! You were kept in that house for weeks. You must have felt trapped. This isn't just about what you believe; it's about the reality of what happened. Please, tell us the truth. Even detective Aty has suspected that you were being held hostage! You recall him visiting and asking for his help don't you?"

"Yes. Help to pass me sugar."

Detective Aty jumped in to confirm, "It was a checkup call Eta. Your question is irrelevant."

"Are you sure? Because you said the visit felt ominous. We need evidence and Eno has it all. Get him to speak up Aty! Tar's name is on the line!" Detective Ret was relentless and agitated. She turned to Eno and insisted that he speak of how his disappearance came to being.

But each time Eno tried to recall the darker moments with Den, his mind twisted them into something that felt less threatening and more... familiar. He could almost hear Den's laughter echoing in his ears, drowning out the panic that had once filled him. "I'm telling you the truth," he insisted, his voice wavering. "He didn't hurt me. He cared for me. He wouldn't harm anyone."

As he spoke, Eno felt the tight grip of doubt begin to tighten around him, each word pulling him deeper into the abyss of his own confusion. Had Den truly cared for him, or was that just another illusion? "I don't want to believe he's capable of murder or pushing another to go as far as faking their own death. She's just... she's just a magician!"

Detective Ret's expression shifted to one of concern. "Eno, listen to yourself. You're defending a woman accused of attempted murder. You're caught in the middle of something dangerous. You need to break free from this. Think of the stunt she pulled, pretending to have your body dismembered! Wake up Eno!"

Just then, the door swung open, and a new figure stepped inside, an attorney representing Den. "We're ready to proceed," the lawyer announced, but Eno felt the air thicken around him.

"No!" Eno shouted suddenly, a surge of clarity breaking through the fog. "I can't do this! I can't be here!" He pushed himself away from the table, panic overwhelming him as he realized he had become a pawn in Den's game yet again.

"Eno, wait!" Ret called after him, but he was already racing for the door, driven by a primal urge to escape. He burst out into the hallway, his heart pounding in his chest as he searched for the exit, desperate to put distance between himself and the weight of his conflicting thoughts.

He rounded a corner and collided with a wall of familiar warmth, Den's lawyer, who caught him by the shoulders, steadying him. "Eno, you're okay. You just need to breathe."

"No, I'm not okay! I can't do this anymore!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking. "I can't live in this world where I don't know what's real! They said that detective is alive and it was all a game to trap Den! Why are they accusing her of murder? Did she end someone's life other than that detective?"

The lawyer's eyes softened. "You have to find your truth, Eno. You can't let Den manipulate you any longer. You're stronger than you think."

"Stronger?" Eno echoed, the word sounding hollow in his mouth. He could feel the strings tightening around him again, the illusions creeping back into view. "What if I can't find my truth? What if she's already won?"

"You can break free," the lawyer urged gently. "You just have to choose to stand against the illusion. No more strings. And if you need to know something else, I'm not even sure I'm here myself."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean just that. Calm down and collect your thoughts. Do not react to everything. Otherwise you will loose your mind."

"Oh no," Eno whispered. He felt a surging need to break the spell, not just for himself, but for everyone Den had harmed, including this lawyer who seems to be supposedly warning him instead of representing his client's interests. "You're trapped too, aren't you?"

Eno turned on his heel without waiting for an answer, heading back toward the interrogation room, but as he did, he felt a strange surge of clarity. He would expose Den for who she truly was, whether it meant risking his own safety or facing the wrath of the magician who had ensnared him for so long.

As he approached the door, his heart raced, but this time it was fueled by resolve. No more illusions, no more tricks, just the raw truth waiting to be unveiled.

Enough!