Page 3

I do not know how to respond to this. I do not understand these words, nor why he is speaking to me this way. He ought to be trembling in a puddle of his own fluids, as I was told he would.

“Are you not…afraid of me, Theodore Keating?” My voice softens with suspicion and confusion, but he folds his arms across his chest and looks me up and down, the wariness on his face slowly fading.

“Listen…Annatar, or whatever you said your name was–”

“Annoth’zagoz of the Seventh Tower!”

“Sure, ok, Andor-zygote. Look, I’m still not convinced you’re real, but it’s gonna be at least a week or two until I can getthe type of meds that will make you go away. So, unless you’re actually planning on controlling my body to make me push someone down the stairs or whatever, could you…turn my TV back on? And stop fucking with my phone?” Anger and frustration flood through me, and I can no longer hold my physical form. My shadows dissolve and rush back into his body through his mouth, causing him to shudder and gasp.

“Ok, what the fuck was that? Where did you go?”

I am wrapped around your soul, Theodore Keating, and you shall not be rid of me until I break you,I say quietly, weaving my shadowy limbs through his body.

“Whatever you say, Annabel,” he grunts, then he turns his television back on.

Taking control of him ought to be easier than this, but there is something weighing him down. Something that makes it impossible for me to fully bind him to my will. Non-belief, perhaps, but something else as well. I was told that human emotions are the easiest vehicle for control, that I would be able to harness his anger or sadness or hatred, things all humans carry inside them, but this human has nothing for me to latch onto, nothing for me to exploit. No rage or lust or pride, but no joy or hope either. It is as if he is numb to his own feelings, and I cannot control a human who has no fear, no guilt, no envy…nothing.

I am trapped, and I am not in control.

My mission is in jeopardy, and so am I.

3

Theo

There is no wayin hell I’m actually possessed by a demon. That shit isn’t even real. I mean, my Mom believes in it, but she believes a lot of off-the-wall stuff. It has to either be a prank or a hallucination. I really didn’t think I was that deep into the mental crisis hole, but I should probably go to the doctor if I’m seeing shadow-creatures in my living room. The weird voice in my head is quiet now, but I do feel something different.

Maybe my body is finally breaking down from all the pizza. Maybe I should go for a walk or take a shower. Instead, I unlock my phone and flip through the unread texts. I don’t have the energy for my parents or friends right now, but maybe I have just enough for Molly. She’s always good about being there for me, albeit in a mean-big-sister kind of way.

Hey, shitface

Sorry I’ve got Mom blowing you up to get to me

Theo, I stg, you better callher!

Can you do it for me, Mol? Please…

I’m not in a good spot

You’re such a little bitch, you know that?

Fine

I’ll call her, but I want something from you

Tabby has a soccer game on the 15th and she wants Uncle Teddy there

FINE

PLEASE JUST CALL MOM

Tell her I’m alive…sort of

You’d better fucking show up, Theo

You broke her heart last week when you didn’t come

I’ll be there, alright? My new roommate can drive