IDENTITY-LESS

Chapter 1

He possessed me, every part of me. I had no control over my own life, my actions, my brain, nothing. I was pushed into a corner of my mind and locked in a cage. I could hear everything happening around me, the screams and the pain that my hands caused. A mass murder is what he became in three years. I could read every now and then when he tortured me and let me see through my eyes, it would always read Big Time Murders, Big Time City, Small Town Girl and then the articles would always say how the body was found, most of the time the body was mangled and disfigured. The victims would have no faces, no identity left. I thanked God that there was technology out there that would determine whom the victim was. Mostly it was religious people or people who were affiliated with religion, which is most people.

There was no limit to his rage, to his hunger, to his desire to kill. His drive was insatiable and never palatable. He would rip their souls out and feed on them, lifeless little creatures as he would call them. They just get digested like we digest food, one moment you heard the faint screeches of souls realizing their demise and then nothing. Silence. Utter silence. My ears would ring from the soundless surroundings. Empty. That is what is was, emptiness, all around me.

He made one grave mistake that ended his life on this domain and brought mine back. The one mistake that he never thought would happen. He slipped up. He prayed on a powerful priest, one that knew the signs of possession more vividly than anyone he ever encountered. He went for the one priest that was so high in the church. He would only feed on the bottom feeders, as he called them. A priest here and there whose faith hung on like a thread, never strong enough. This priest outmatched him.

As soon as he walked into the office, he knew he was beat. The priest started to chant in Latin and my whole body erupted in fire, it felt like it was being picked apart, it was excruciating. I screamed and screamed and fought and fought to get out of my cage, I was not dying in there. I was not dying without a fight.

Then there was light, a light that dulled my pain. A light that seemed to draw me out. That was the first and only time I met him, Michael.

The priest, whose name was Samuel begged me to stay under the church's protection, they could keep me safe but as the sirens grew louder, I knew there was no escaping the trail of nightmares the monster that took over me left behind. He wore me like a puppet and I couldn't run from the fate he set out for me.

So now, here I am, in an asylum. I attend one on one therapy sessions once a day and I have group therapy twice a day as well as medicine that is meant to clear my mind but in fact just made me feel sick. Very sick.

''Adria, would you like to share with the group on how you are doing?'' the therapist asked.

''I haven't had an episode since last week'' I said softly

''That is good news!'' she said almost too excitedly.

I inwardly shook my head. These ''episodes'' that they refer to is me having a mental exhaustion breakdown. I can still feel him, I can still hear him at times and I would get so scared that I would shake and cry uncontrollably. He still had power of me and that was scary. I had been in this place for a couple of months. The priest, Samuel, would come and visit me every other day but my family threw me aside. What was I to them? Nothing but a murderer and a Satanist. They all believed that I was playing with the dark arts before he took a hold of me. Which is not true.

I was a witch yes but I haven't practiced with my own hands since the possession. Today was the day Samuel was coming to see me. Today I will share my story with him.

''Adria?'' another patient by the name of Rose asked

I looked up at her. She was a victim of constant abuse, mentally and physically. She survived but her mind didn't. Rose was someone I knew I could never get to close to for the sake of her safety.

''Yes'' I replied

''The session is over, want to go and grab a coffee with me?'' she offered with a smile to bright.

I nodded and followed her. We grabbed the coffee and went to sit on the couches outside, staring onto a beautiful landscape that was surrounded by horrible high dense fencing.

''I know that you aren't lying by the way'' she said as she sipped her coffee ''they do exist''

''Who exists?'' I asked

''The demons'' she shrugged her answer off like it was nothing

I swirled the coffee in my hand and pretended I didn't hear what she had said to me.

''Maybe you should draw them'' she mentioned

''Draw what?'' I sighed

''The faces'' she almost demanded

I froze in my seat. People here don't often talk to others about their pasts or how to deal with things. They leave that alone because really, who will listen?

''How do you know what the faces?'' I asked almost hesitantly

''Adria, I know what trauma does and I know that it can be a plague to your mind'' she smiled ''so just try and have an outlet''

I nodded and got up to leave when I smelt something familiar. I felt smelt wood burning and I smelt the perfume of a woman, it was soft and sweet. I turned and there he was standing, he smiled and held out a burnt finger of a woman that was a victim, his victim, our victim.

''Adria...'' he whispered and I fell to my knees, clutching my hands to the side of my head as a persistent loud ringing erupted. I screamed, but I couldn't hear myself. I could feel the flames tickling my skin and I could smell the fire and smoke as if I was in it.

It felt like hours but when I opened my eyes, I saw nurses and I saw Rose standing beside them, she looked horrified and was shaking violently.

''Adria can you hear me?'' the question was faint but I nodded

''Get her up and out of here!'' the voice shouted

''Where sir? The other nurses don't want to deal with her anymore'' another voice shouted back

''Then take her to the damn bunker hospital!'' another shout, my head started to throb, I couldn't feel my body, I was numb

''Sir that is where all the...'' and the voice was cut off

''NOW!''

I felt myself being lifted up and carried. I opened my eyes for a second and saw him again, Michael's blue eyes boring into mine.

''Michael'' I faintly said and run my hand along his face and then, nothing. Blank. Dark.