The Dimensional forks appeared before us and I held onto him as we passed through.
The Forks were quite new to me and I wasn't used to them quite yet.
I was told to hold onto his arm in the meantime because he hadn't taught me how to use them on my own yet.
"That's the Cabin I was speaking of.
Rumor has it that it's haunted by the restless spirit of a little girl".
"And is it?"
He challenged me as we trudged forward a little ways towards the cabin.
"It is in a matter of speaking.
Only she's not exactly spirit.
She is definitely restless though but she's not really a ghost.
She's not human but she's still very much alive."
Sure enough the little girl I was talking so much about came hovering over to us, her feet not touching the ground and she a
was surrounded by a light green aura and her very skin emanated the lime soda glow.
"What in heavens is that?"
You could tell Jebadiah had never seen anything like her before.
"Oh this is Clara.
She's quite harmless.
She's the little girl I was speaking of."
" Are You quite sure she's not a ghost?"
"Goodness yes of course I'm sure.
She had an encounter with my ex, it was a nasty one at that and ever since she's never been the same.
You see she's a survivor.
The rest of his victims they never survived but she did.
I don't know the exact details of what happened that day when he came to her, but I believe he bit her, the bite got infected, and then it turned her into this.
The sad thing is now that she's been turned she can never go back.
She's just too different and she knows no one will accept her.
You know she's got a point because yes she would be considered a freak by the rest of the humans but her parents deserve to have their child back.
I'm sure they'd do anything to keep their daughter, no matter what she looks like.
Honestly I've tried bringing her back with me but everytime she refuses.
She was only 10 years old when this happened to her and it's been nearly 10 years since the incident.
She hasn't aged a day as you can tell.
You see its for innocents like her that I continue my work as a detective.
Justice must be done and the monsters that commit such atrocities must be stopped".
"Did you ever...stop him...from claiming other innocent lives?"
I smiled darkly in a secretive way.
"Yes I did.
The moment I found out who he truly was and what he had done I confronted him.
Ever since that day that I confronted him he hasn't harmed a soul since."
"Oh my...did you really scare him...that badly?"
"Oh I didn't have to scare him.
All I had to do was tell him the truth and it was the truth that scared him and so he ran from my presence and I never saw him again.
He knew there were consequences for killing all those innocent people.
I didn't threaten him, I just told him there was price and a cost for taking the lives of the innocent.
The cost and price was of course losing me.
I said there were many consequences for his actions but the one consequence he could be certain of was losing me...forever.
When he knew that he'd lost me, he couldn't bear to stay any longer so he fled from me, back into these woods where I had found him."
"Sounds like quite the coward."
"Yes he was yet I'm glad he's gone.
I mean honestly I'm glad he decided to leave.
I couldn't even stand to look at him after I found out what he'd done.
I've moved on since then.
His face has faded from my mind and so has my feelings for him."
"Strange you should say that especially since you've been alone ever since".
"I decided to be alone on my own.
He had nothing to do with it.
Besides I like being alone.
It's less for me to worry about and I have more independence this way.
One can hardly breathe without informing the other.
It's ridiculous, I don't want to have to inform anyone of every move I make.
I just want to do what I want, when I want without having someone question what I'm doing.
That's not too much to ask for now is it?"
"No there is nothing wrong with that.
You are entitled to your own freedom.
It's your life, you can do what you want with it.
I was just making a simple observation, a observation of your past".
"What do you know of my past?"
My voice was doubtful and accusing.
"I've seen inside your mind more than that a few times, that's how I know."
"How the hell did you get inside my head and why would you do such a thing?!"
"I was curious.
You're probably familiar with the term dream walking.
Well I've walked within your dreams many times.
Allow me to explain, the mind is the most susceptible and vulnerable when it's in a dream state.
The defenses are down and the gates of the mind are wide open and the doors are all open especially such doors where memories are stored.
It's a very easy task to accomplish.
It's not hard to access memories when the mind is going through REM cycles.
It was strange there were certain doorways that remained unopened.
They appeared to be locked with chains, bars and padlocks.
It was rather odd".
"You know what else will be odd?
When you go dream walking and you find every door and gate completly closed...and. locked up permanently.
So if I ever find you in my dreams again, I'll mozy on over into your dreams one of these days, waltz in and I'll unlock all of your nightmares.
I really don't care how open everything is in my head when I'm asleep and I could care even less about how curious you are of me you still have no business floating around in my head.
My brain is off limits even when I'm not using it.
Anyway I'm glad we had this talk.
Boundaries are so important especially amongst your friends and the people you work with.
Oh by the way this cabin has a story all it's own outside of the supposed hauntings.
The Cabin was said to be inhabited by a witch.
She was known to be kind and gentle in nature by all who knew her.
She possessed a beautiful spirit and her beauty was of equal quality.
Unfortunately her power had become too great and terrible that it began to scare the rest of the townsfolk.
She was a healer and at times the only thing close enough to a doctor at the time.
Still the townsfolk decided to banish her from the town itself and she fled to the center of the woods.
They burned her home down in their fear.
They had hoped to burn the home with her inside but by the time the mob arrived she had already left.
When they searched the ashes they found no human remains left and since they were not very bright they thought the flames had consumed her completely because of all her terrible sins.
She really wasn't a witch, she was just a woman that no one understood at the time.
It was said that she was able to create this cabin with her incredible powers.
Some say she was no witch at all but instead some wingless fairy.
There are those that claim she was descended from the great dark fey Maleficent.
However the rumors continued; how she had exchanged her wings and her very soul for true Love.
They call this woman of mystery Kelvira, so to this day it is known as Kelvira's Cabin.
End of story"
"Well that's quite a story especially the way you tell it".
"Why thank you.
He's been here recently."
"How can you tell?"
I loved being able to stump him.
"I've been here before.
Something smells off.
The scent of this place is different.
It usually smells of peppermint, cinnamon, fungus and wet dirt.
The air has changed, the air has shifted directions, it rarely does that.
There are patches of grass here that are missing.
Notice how the grass looks like it's been trimmed and that lemon scent suggests it's been cut quite recently.
This is a abandoned place, nobody comes here not even on a dare because it's way too far into the forest.
Believe me I used to walk here everyday, so I know what I'm talking about.
Clara has anybody been here recently".
"3 days from today there were others."
Her voice reverberated with foreboding, regret and fear.
"What do you mean others?"
"One is still here the other one left.
One had a face the other did not.
The faceless one spoke with a thousand whispers.
He said he'd been here before.
He claimed that he had lived here and he wished to live here again".
"Did he ask you to leave by any chance Clara?"
"No he said nothing about leaving but he said he'd be back.
It was hard to understand him.
Since he didn't have a mouth he spoke right into my head.
His face was blank as a sheet and though he had no eyes to see me he knew I was there.
It was horrible Maggie.
He frightened me Maggie.
I wish he wouldn't come again.
If he comes again please make him leave.
He scares me like the boogyman.
I don't want him here.
Make him go away Maggie."
"This faceless creature whoever he is I'm sure wouldn't dare harm you. I promise you as long I'm around he won't hurt you so of course I'll protect you.
I'll send him running and packing his bags right of here."
"Hasn't he hurt other people Maggie?
There are whispers in the forest of terrible murders.
The trees speak of a horrible creature that leaves no traces behind.
Are those whispers true?"
"Well I'm not going to lie to you Clara but yes they are true but I'm going to put a stop to him and all his evil deeds.
I'm on his trail right now and I plan to catch him.
Look I know this is difficult but is there anything else you can tell me about that faceless monster that came here?"
"He...he appeared almost human...he looked like a man but he was too tall and thin...and he had these long arms...they were so long...that I was surprised they didn't hang down to ground and drag behind him.
He didn't just have two arms either.
They were all gooey and stretchy like dough.
He was looking for someone".
"Did he ever say who he was looking for?"
"No he didn't at first..he just kept saying something about children.
He liked children he said.
He kept chanting over and over again how the children would lead the way.
Oh Maggie he's not going to hurt any children is he?"
"No Clara, so far no children have been harmed, so you'll have nothing to worry about.
Now is there anything else you can remember about this creature, anything else you could have forgotten perhaps?"
"He kept asking where the daughter of Kelvira was.
I was so scared that I couldn't awnser him.
I didn't even know who Kelvira was.
Who is Kelvira, Maggie?"
"She's a very old legend.
She's just a story from a long time ago.
This creature must be quite delusional if he's searching for someone that doesn't even exist."
"Indeed."
Jebadiah agreed with me in a low formidable tone.
"Who is he?"
Clara stared with terror and surprise as if she had just noticed that he was there.
However her voice was suspicious and distrustful.
"This is Dr. Morningside.
He's a friend of mine and he's helping me track down that horrible faceless creature you spoke of."
"You're a doctor? A real doctor?" Clara's eyes illuminated 3 times brighter than usual.
"A long time ago I was...yes."
"Yes leeches and blood letting no doubt".
I had to laugh at my own joke.
"No... not quite...that far back.
I was speaking of the 1900's.
I studied traditional medicine which is terribly old fashioned compared to the modern medicine of this day and age.
Of course it was a different era, a different world that I lived in.
An Era where medicine was still quite primitive.
Yet I've learned much more since then.
You could say that I'm rather over qualified now... that's how intelligent and knowledgeable I am".
"Yet still you're a doctor and that's all that matters. Since...you're a doctor...maybe you could...help... fix me".
Clara piped in a squeaky voice.
"I don't help people.
I'm not a miracle worker and I certainly am no healer either."
His voice took on a sharp disgusted edge.
"There's no need to be rude Jebadiah.
She's just a child who happens to be asking for your help.
She doesn't ask just anyone for help.
She must like you".
"Still I don't help people...not even little children.
I don't help...I hurt people...I destroy them.
I destroy cities...I destroy towns...and whole families.
I tore families apart.
Don't you realize there are families to this day that no longer exist because of me.
Don't you get it Magenta?
I'm a murderer."
"Yet maybe you could save mine.
Mr. Morningside all I want to do is go back to my family.
I haven't seen them in such a long time.
I'm afraid they've forgotten me.
Sometimes I wonder if they even bother to look for me anymore.
Maybe they've given up All together."
"Of course your parents do.
They haven't given up...not on you.
Understand they would never forget you.
I'm sure they think of you everyday.
I'm sure they keep hoping that you'll come home to them.
You are important to them.
I mean if I had a little girl like you I'd search for you everyday and I'd put flyers everywhere and I'd never give up up hope.
I'd search every inch of these woods until I found you if you were my child."
I tried to comfort her.
"I wish I was your child...but I'm not and I never will be.
I know you're just trying to be nice but they don't look for me...they didn't search for me...they don't even wait for me to come home.
They used to in the beginning...they put all the posters out... they'd send in search parties...they went to the police station every day but now they don't even bother.
I've watched them... I've seen them.
They've given up on me and now it's too late for me to go back."
"No Clara it's never too late".
There was a familiar voice that came from the cabins doorway.
It was a painful voice, thin and raspy and it had a unsettling and rather creepy twang to it.
I could see unnaturally long fingers grabbing onto the edge of the doorway.
There were two grey and silvery orbs that floated in the darkness and the moonlight revealed a flash of pearl.
The pearl formed a terrifying smile.
"Your parents might've given up on you but you mustn't give up on them."
There emerged a figure that appeared to have stepped out of another era.
He wore ample ruffles on the collar, a red silk waistcoat on top of a strange victorian coat lined with fur and leather.
Tbe design of the coat was however embroidered with gold, brown, white and red.
The ruffles appeared limp and worn especially the ones around the sleeves.
He wore pilgrim penny loafers and brown baggy leather pants.
He had a low brow, a long forehead, dark grey eyes seemed lifeless and dead that reminded me of a shark preserved in formaldehyde.
There were red circles about the eyes, he had a sharp snobby nose and maniacal mouth that had way too many teeth inside.
"Baron...is that you?"
