The View Frøm The Shadøws

9- Hope Turned Enemy

It took a few days and help from almost every single collector, but I finally had a just enough power to start at least visiting earth again. I could maybe do a little bit to start effecting Josh, but I'm still weaker than when I very first became a Collector.

It's extremely frustrating considering how powerful I'm used to being. On my first visit back I went straight to Tyler's, well I guess its Josh's again, apartment. He was on the phone with his mom making plans to go over to her house for dinner. He started quickly scribbling out a shopping list before sliding on his shoes.

When he looked at himself in the mirror before leaving, I used every bit of power I had to change the way he saw himself. I made it so he saw himself with pale skin, red hair, and red all around his eyes, the same way I showed him to Tyler when I was trying to convince Tyler that Josh was evil.

He closed his eyes and shook his head a bit, so I let his reflection turn back to normal. He just shrugged a bit before continuing out the door. After only doing that little bit, I was exhausted and went back to hell.

I hung out in the corner of the room, avoiding the pitying gazes of the other collectors. I used to be intimidating to them, but now I was a bit of a joke. Everything I had been working so hard for was gone, just like that.

I was able to return to Josh later that night, but all I could do was make the image of him flash in his mind for a few moments as he fell asleep. Hopefully it's enough to make him realize it's not all over yet.

The next night, I had even more strength thankfully. One of the other Collectors knew she was going to be defeated any day now, so she gave me as much of her strength as she could. I was no longer light gray in color; I was almost black, and a bit more opaque.

The most important thing though, is I have enough strength to get Josh tonight. I didn't do anything to him during the day; I was saving all my strength for tonight because I knew he wouldn't be going down without a fight. I went to his apartment and right as I appeared he was coming back in. I assume he was out with Tyler.

As he got ready for bed I watched for the perfect chance to mess with him. When he leaned over to spit the toothpaste out in the sink, I made his hair color change from blue to red. Right as I did that, Patrick and Pete appeared in the room. Groaning in frustration I shrunk back to watch what was going to happen.

I heard Pete mention to Josh that he liked his new hair and I smirked. They have no idea. Pete went to go talk to Tyler to see if he knew anything and Patrick stayed here to watch out for Josh, not that that would help much. Nothing Patrick can do can prevent what I have planned.

Tyler's greatest hope is going to become is greatest enemy.

As Josh was asleep, I decided it was time. I drifted over to Josh and started to take over his mind and body, he woke up and started coughing heavily, alerting Patrick to my presence.

He was panicking and asking Josh what he could do, but neither of them had an answer. I had to struggle with Josh's mind, but I was slowly gaining control of him. When I took over his motor functions his body fell limply back to the bed, like nothing had happened, but I was still struggling to push Josh into the back of his own mind.

At some point Tyler came into the room, but I couldn't focus on him too much, because Josh was trying to speak to him. I was able to cut Josh off and instead speak my own words.

"You didn't really think it would be that easy, did you?"