A Body of Water

by Tim Simmons

part 4 of 5

Grayson felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. Time seemed meaningless until he felt a cold wetness caress his face. Cold mist swirled up from below him, encircling and disorienting him as he looked around, unable to focus on anything.

There seemed to be little light but slowly, he could make out vague forms of a twisting glass-like mass, ever changing, rising high above and around him. New sounds entered his ears. Sounds like distant souls mourning and screaming, blending and sustaining.

He looked down for the first time and saw that he stood on a column of dark green marble that was just wide enough to support him. The column continued downward until he could no longer distinguish it from the darkness. He felt as if he would faint or throw up, but neither occurred.

Then a stench more nauseating than any other he could remember manifested from all directions, yet was intermingled with a light honeysuckle aroma. He thought to himself that he was taking all of this very well, considering the circumstances. He did not know where he was nor why Jack wasn’t still with him, but he got the feeling that he would soon find out.

Something shot upward behind him and forced him to his knees. His torso was slammed forward and he barely managed to catch himself, stopping his face inches from the marble pillar on which he was now kneeling. His body seemed completely paralyzed. He tried to press his arms to lift his torso but could not.

The screaming increased in intensity and the swirling mass that once looked transparent began to congeal into a more solid form. Grayson could not speak or move. He saw the pulsating mass begin to concentrate itself in front of him. It twisted and folded in upon itself with a motion like the ebb and flow of ocean waves. It made him sick to watch. The mass was huge and towered above Grayson so high that he could not see the top. The screaming had almost become deafening when it abruptly became perfectly silent. Then, there came a voice like ten thousand souls speaking at once.

Grayson Thorne. The voice paused and Grayson felt his head being pushed from behind. His face now pressed against the hard stone pillar to the point of pain. He thought his skull was going to crack at any moment. He was unable to cry out.

The voice became agitated and spoke in a loud shrill tone causing the pillar upon which Grayson knelt to vibrate. Rise and address me. At once, the pressure lifted. Grayson’s body slumped onto the pillar, hands and feet dangling over the edges. He groaned from the pain he felt in his face and felt too weak to stand.

The thought crossed his mind that this being had to know that it was impossible for him to stand in his present condition and would allow him a moment of respite. Grayson felt his left arm jerk upward and behind him and heard the sound of cartilage ripping from bone. The momentum pulled him upward and lifted him into the air for an instant before letting him fall again to his knees. He let out a scream of pain and then began to cry out loud. He looked up in the direction of the towering mass and forced himself to speak, although in a weak and half-sobbing tone.

“What do you want from me?”

It is the other way around. What do you want from me?

“I just want to go back home.”

Come now, Grayson Thorne. You want immortality. Isn’t that true?

Grayson felt a sudden spark of courage. “How do you know so much about me? Who are you?”

Grayson Thorne, I can offer you something no one else has. I can tell you something about your death. I can reveal something about how you will die. However, in return, you must promise to perform a task for me.

“What sort of task?”

First, you will promise to complete the task.

“How can I promise until I know what it is?”

The screaming erupted from beneath Grayson, rushing up and past him with a strength that almost knocked him backwards off of the pillar. His suit jacket flapped violently in the gale and he saw the bottle of Xanax drop onto the pillar and begin rolling toward the edge. Reaching down, his hands began to bend backwards until he thought the very tendons would burst from his wrists. He fell to his knees, paralyzed by the intense pain and watched as the bottle vanished over the edge. Then just as quickly, his hands fell loose as the pain and screams subsided.

I can make things very hard for you, Grayson Thorne. You will promise to complete the task and I will give you the knowledge that no one can know.

Grayson stood up, holding his left wrist. “Okay. I’ll do whatever you want.”

Grayson Thorne, you will not live forever, but I promise you that you will die in a body of water. Now, in return, you must take the life of Jack Sheppard’s wife, Sarah.

The rush of adrenaline caused Grayson’s heart to skip a beat and made him feel faint. He could not believe what he was hearing. He raised his voice in protest, screaming in the direction of the creature. “I can’t do that! You can’t expect me to do that!”

“You have twenty-four hours. If you do not keep your end of the bargain, you will die.

Then, before Grayson could speak another word, the screaming, moaning chorus of agony arose all around him as the shifting mass began to disperse into its former transparent form. Grayson’s senses grew dull as the images around him became darker and darker. He could barely hear the screams, as if they originated from across the universe. No light. No smells. No feeling. Then, pain. Real pain and a small flickering light floating beside him.

“Grayson? Are you okay? Man, you fainted! You’ve been out of it for a few minutes. I was just about to go call an ambulance. How do you feel?”

Grayson tried to sit up, using his left arm to push with. He let out a cry of pain and slumped onto his back. “I think you must have hurt your shoulder when you fell. You look very bad, man. Here, let me help you stand. Maybe I should call an ambulance.”

“I... I’m okay,” Grayson lied. Jack helped him to his feet but the sudden change almost made him black out again. Grayson steadied himself and was able to stand on his own, though still looking like he had drank one too many glasses of his favorite brandy.

“Grayson, I’m sorry this turned out so bad. I really believed that it would work. I shouldn’t have made such a big deal over it. I think I’ve put too much stress on you.” Jack’s face showed a mixture of disappointment and embarrassment. “Let’s forget about this whole damned thing and forget that I even brought it up. It’s just a dumb statue. Man, I can’t believe I fell for all of that legend crap!” Jack paused, looking down at the floor. He then looked at Grayson. “You look a little weak. Maybe you should stay at my place tonight and rest.”

“No! I mean... I’m fine.” Grayson tried to move his left arm and winced at the shooting pain. “Just a bruise.”

“Grayson, I’m really sorry about all of this.”

“Just drive me to my place, all right?” Jack placed the candle on the table and helped Grayson with his shirt. After taking the statue and other items back to the jeep, he pulled a garbage bag over the dead goat and tied a knot in the end of the bag.

“Okay, that’s it. Let’s get out of here.” Jack said as he blew out the candles. The beam of the flashlight illuminated the dark halls until they reached the back door. Upon opening it, Grayson was momentarily blinded as his eyes adjusted to the bright noon sun. Jack helped him into the jeep and they pulled out onto the main street.

As they headed back toward the main part of town, Grayson said nothing. He wanted to be anywhere but around Jack. He couldn’t even bring himself to look at him. An overload of thoughts clouded Grayson’s mind and it seemed as if they all happened simultaneously so that he couldn’t begin to find an answer to one before another would move in to take residence. Jack, seeing that Grayson was troubled, and not wanting to do any more damage, refrained from starting a conversation.

The jeep eased into Grayson’s driveway. Jack turned to Grayson. “Grayson,” he paused for a second, “if you need anything, just call me, okay?

Grayson avoided looking directly at Jack. “I’m fine.” He got out and eased the jeep door shut, not wanting to disturb his left shoulder, which was now throbbing with pain. Jack watched as Grayson fumbled with his keys, finally unlocking the front door. Without waving, he disappeared into the house.

* * *

To be continued...