Identical Body

Chapter Four

-Mary's P.OV.-

I've learnt more about the shadow man that stalks the souls of the mentally insane, including myself.

He feeds off the fear of everyone when they hear the stories of himself. He feeds of their living souls that gradually grow too weak to fight off his parasite and eventually die of some sort of body failure.

Many of them went completely insane by having a voice in their head and the nurses not believing a word that they would say.

They'd try to warn them of what evil possessed the halls of the institute, but the doctors and nurses would only dismiss the warnings with a wave of their hand.

In the last two months of being in the mental institute, I've seen four people leave without a breath from them. They were headed six feet down in the ground...

I sighed as I dangled my legs over the edge of the bed, seeing no reason to get up and pretend to explore the hallways of the mental institue.

I knew the hallway inside out and could probably manage with my eyes closed without walking into any walls or drawers, but that still didn't stop the fear of knowing the shadow was still out and hunting for a new victim.

What if the darkness was able to get to me before I was released?

Maybe I'm too weak to fight off the parasite that feeds off living souls..

"Mary, it'll be okay. We are going to keep you safe," Carrie assured.

I smiled slightly, feeling a bit better from her assurance.

The ones living in my head were the only ones who could see the shadow. Other than the ones already being taken over by it.

"But be warned with us around the shadow will try everything in its power to get to you. Don't let his voice in. Don't give him power over your mind. He'll promise you happiness with no pain. A lie that seems so great. Everything comes with a price and some are not strong enough to say no to something they are craving to have. Be strong and say no to the luxuries you want that he promises to give." Kyle said seriously.

I nodded and made a mental note of that. Say no to the things I want most. It will all be a lie. Everything had a cost to pay. A life isn't worth the lie of a promise.

I knew it was going to be difficult. What I wanted most was to see my family. Not once have they come to visit me and I stopped asking the nurses. I could see in their eyes that they felt bad for me. I was hoping that out of all the times I asked, I would get the answer I was hoping for.

"Yes, they'll be here soon actually."

But it never came. It was always the same, "sorry, maybe next week" or "not this time. Hopefully when they aren't busy they'll pop in and see you."

I bit my lip, trying to keep the tears away. I couldn't help the fear that they may have forgotten me or worse; terrified to see me again because I was a monster.

"Don't be too hard on yourself," James said sincerely before adding, "and don't get use to me being nice. I'm just saying don't blame yourself cause of my entertainment in pain."

I shivered and looked around my plain white room. The only way to keep the shadow away from me was to show no sadness or fear. I need to be strong.

I brought my legs up onto my bed and rocked myself back and fourth, repeating to myself that my family loved me and were doing their best to keep me safe.
I sighed, "someone take over and please help me."

With that, I felt myself succumb to darkness itself and fell unconscious.

-Annabel's P.O.V.-

I listened to Marys request and took over her body. I smiled and quickly jumped off the body to go explore.

It had been awhile since I've been out and the feeling of the cold ground against my bare feet was weird. I slipped my feet into a pair of slippers before leaving my room.

I looked around and saw a girl run around another corner. Curious, I decided to follow her.

"Where are you going? You only have a little while till lights off and bed time," A nurse advised.

I turned and gave her a small smile, " I know. I just want to explore before bed time."

The nurse nodded and I quickly turned back and tried to find the girl.

I stopped at the corner where I last saw her and notice black smudges on the wall. The smudges continued on till a door. I followed the smudged and tried the door, but found it lock.

As I was about to turn around and try to find where she went, I heard voices.

"What do you want?" A voice whimpered.

"What you promised to give me when I gave you the ability to dream instead of dreamless nights of darkness," A voice I recognized as the shadow.

"But I haven't had a dream yet. I've only had nightmares of a twisted life," the voice argued.

"To me, a nightmare is a dream. I never specified. I said I'd give be you a dream instead of Darkness. That I gave you," the shadow man said with a sinister laugh that sent chills down my spine.

"Well I wanted a dream. So you can't have what you want!" The terrified voice yelled.

"You don't decide. Now this will be quick," he whispered before a high pitch scream was heard.

I tried the door again, but it was still locked. I banged my fists on it, hoping that would give the girl more time.

"Annabel, stop! He'll notice you and come for us next," Kyle warned.

I ignored his warning and continuing till I heard a faint thud.

My heart dropped.

Was she dead now?

I stepped away from the door and watched as it slowly swung open with the girls lifeless body on the ground and a shadow smiling.

I looked at the shadow before running back the way I came.

I heard a loud laugh and the sound of footsteps along with knocks on the walls beside me.

I ran faster and ran into my room while closing the door.

I panted, placing my hands on my knees.

"We're in trouble now," James growled.
"Hopefully Mary can withstand his empty promise," Kyle said hopefully.

I nodded in agreement, whispering a sorry into the air.

I slowly walked over to the bed and sat down before pulling away and letting Mary take over her body once again.

-Mary's P.O.V.-

I opened my eyes and shivered, looking around my room. Everything looked right in the place. I smiled and laid down, asking out loud, "how'd it go?"

"He's coming. He saw me. He's coming for you. Mary, you need to be strong now," Anabel confessed.

I shivered in fear and gulped.

That's not good, I thought.

After a few minutes, I felt a cold sensation travel over my body, but it was different. It wasn't the same as when one of the others took over. It was a fear cold that covered me.

"Its here." Annabel whispered in fear.