Ghost Prison

¿Friend or enemy?

Family lunch was something that we didn't do for a long time ago. When everyone arrived, they did what they wanted. My father went back to bed again, like Ale. Hannah and my mother sat down to eat. They were probably the only two people in the family that most closely looked like a normal person. I usually locked myself in my room to read or practice Shin for a while. Yes, I'm an applied child who takes advantage of time.

Well, that was our last day in the apartment. It was time to change again. We always did it at night, so we could have the whole afternoon free.

I went out for a little walk and visited some shops. Normally I went out to look for books, typical food of the country we were in, pencils or occasionally another sketchbook, when mine ran out. The least I could do was buy souvenirs like those typical dolls or plates that had the image of a city or something like that. They take up a lot of space and even my little two-dimensional suitcase would probably be completely filled by now. The most I got was to buy a bracelet. But that was only when the one I wore seemed to be held by my wrist only by my father's comprehension.

Anyway, I went for a walk when suddenly I felt the presence of a strange aura. It was similar to when I felt that someone who could control the Shin or the Ssen was approaching, but in a different way. It was not the first time either. We had already come across these entities. We did not know what they were, only where it came from. But we had already seen many times how they used people or animals, so it was predetermined to eliminate them when they appeared.

I followed the presence into an alley. Yes, I know, I know. Too cliché, right? As much as it is, it's not like I can do anything, it was there.

It was one of those back exits of a fine restaurant. One of those I've never been to. Inside one of those garbage cans was a dog. It was one of those you could see lying on the ground in the middle of a park sleeping, not caring if someone got to kick him or anything like that. He was trying to open a black bag, which probably contained all the leftovers people didn't want to eat. The presence I felt came from that dog. When I stared at him I could see how he had a soft, constant purple glow.

The dog was beautiful. It was a Husky. Dirty, with long gray hair and totally tangled, but you could tell it was a Husky.

I put my hand into one of the shadows that created a pipe and pulled out the chain that attached my knives. When I pulled it out completely and it hit the ground, the dog lifted both ears, which made it clear that he had noticed my presence.

The alley had two exits, one that connected the street I had just entered and one on the other side. But without caring about that detail, he pounced on me showing all his fangs. Without hesitation, I threw the knife at his neck. The weapon pierced the canine completely, which fell to the ground in a stroke. For the dog lovers who were already waiting for an answer in the office so they could throw me a lawsuit for animal abuse: five seconds after he fell, the dog got up, and, totally ignoring my presence, went to the other side of the alley.

I was turning around when I realized there was another presence right there. It was weaker enough for me to overlook it, if not because I was right next to it.

I pointed to the place where I felt it was (which was a can of Kola, half crushed, grated and full of ants. It had probably been there for weeks), and I stabbed it in half, hoping to get rid of the other presence. But the sensation was still there. I approached with the other weapon held high and when I was close enough, I pulled the chain to remove the can and see what was there.

I didn't know what to expect, if magically when I lifted the can a 17000 meter high monster appeared and attacked me or something like that. Instead there was only a small, shiny sphere the size of a golf ball floating a few millimetres off the ground, completely still.

I was used to seeing strange things for most people, but a floating sphere was new. It didn't seem threatening (of course, it was probably about four or five, what was I going to do? Devour me?), so I came closer to see it more closely. Although with the things I had lived, I wasn't very confident, so I didn't keep my weapon away either.

I knelt down and stretched out my hand to touch it, but at that moment two things quickly moved from both sides. With my incredible-mazing reflexes, I took a step back and lifted the chains.

-No! No! No! I'm innocent! I was only here because they brought me to learn something I didn't want and I had to come because if I didn't they were going to mistreat me and I didn't want that because I'm very weak and I can't defend myself but I didn't want to come here either because I had heard it was dangerous but they wanted me to come but I didn't want to and now who brought me here isn't here I don't know what I'm going to do they're going to say it's my fault that I had to help and t....

I didn't understand what was happening. So much for the fact that he spoke without stopping and for the incredulity that a marble was speaking.

-... what happens to me because I let myself be carried away by the pressure of the group and do what they tell me, but I don't have the willpower to do anything....

-Hey...

-...like I never had anyone to forge my character or anyone to protect me because I didn't have older brothers or close friends who could do the same...

-Hey...

-...other friends with whom I met some of whom I had already come without returning (unless they did but I didn't notice) but here I am asking for mercy in order to be able to return...

-Hey! -he was talking so much that I had to raise my voice a little to get his attention. This seemed to have an effect, since suddenly the silence returned to the place (without counting the horns of the cars in the streets or the insults of the drivers, clearly). I got closer kneeling again, only this time I kept my gun away.- Don't be scared, I won't do anything bad to you. At least as long as you don't give me reasons to do it. Will you do it?

-No... - It was obvious that I was totally scared. I sighed.

-Right now I'm as confused as you are. Not scared, but confused. Now, being like this is something I don't like, so I want to stop being like this. Do you understand?

-Yes...

-Well, I just want to ask you a few questions, will you let me ask them? I won't harm you, don't worry.

-If it doesn't hurt me... -he said after a moment of silence, clearly so afraid that he seemed to be trying really hard just to talk. I don't understand why it was so hard for him now, after having spoken so much less than a minute ago. I shook my head.- So... can I put my arms down now?

Apparently those little splinters were his arms.

-Of course, no problem.

Now, a bit calmer, but still with some mistrust, he lowered his hands slowly.

I sat with my legs crossed facing each other.

-Let's see. Let's start with the basics. Who...? Or rather, what are you?

The ball turned around (I could tell by the trajectory that his arms took), and I could notice that in all the time he was carrying, it was totally backwards to me.

The moment he stopped, at the bottom of the sphere, a crack appeared, which gradually widened until I saw a few completely white teeth.

-I am one of the nine misfortunes that will fall on your world.