Baron tilted his head at a unnatural angle however I could tell he was doing that out of curiosity rather than in aggression.
"You don't recognize me do you?"
I didn't know what else to say since I was so shocked to see him.
"Why should I recognize you?
Better yet how do you know my name?"
I could feel his coarse fingers curl around my throat.
Jebadiah I could tell was furious and he wanted to step in but i gestured for him to stay back and let me handle this.
"You were the monster in my closet...the monster under my bed... and every night you came to me.
I even brought you to school once.
You used to scare all the bullies away for me.
You used to play with me for hours on end, you'd tell me scary stories every night so I'd get to sleep.
You always watched out for me.
I was your friend and you were always mine.
Don't you remember all that?"
"Maggie".
He nearly choked on the words.
"You grew up".
"Yes I grew up.
Are you surprised?"
"No...you must excuse me but I never imagined I'd find you here.
So what brings you here?"
"I'm searching for a certain creature, he's caused a lot of trouble in Talisman and it's imperative that I find him.
Hopefully so I can stop him from causing anymore trouble".
"Oh So you're a monster hunter eh?"
"No I'm a private eye detective actually".
"So I've heard but still you're hunting for a monster, a monster without face, without a name that leaves no trace.
That almost would be amusing if I hadn't actually encountered him myself."
I could see him falter and slightly slump over from possible exhaustion.
He was weak I could feel it as I tried steadying him.
"He needs attention.
The medical kind and fast if we can help it".
My voice was authoritative and demanding like it used to be whenever I was conducting a investigation.
Maybe I hadn't lost my touch after all.
Maybe I was actually getting stronger.
I could feel new strength flow through me.
"I suppose you want me to do something about it.
It's nice to see you haven't lost your confidence.
Very well...he can come and I shall attend to him.
The girl can come along as well... if you wish."
There was a considerable amount of displeasure that was his face especially when it came to the the disgusted grimace that twisted his mouth up.
"Are you serious?
I mean you don't seem very happy about it.
Are you sure you want to go through with this?
They'll be staying at your place, in your home, near your work, way too close to your comfort zone."
"They will not interfere with my work...in any way.
I already told you I am rarely happy and as for comfort I have none.
Let me make myself very clear Magenta you're little friends here, their stay in my so called place will be brief and extremely short lived.
It's to be temporary in the most literal sense.
Is that understood?"
"Oh well my little friends as you call them I'm sure they have no intention of wearing out their welcome.
Baron is a restless old soul and Clara will be my responsibility.
So you have nothing to worry about except hopefully curing them of whatever ails them.
There won't be a problem...in fact there won't be any problems.
I'm sorry I'm rambling again."
"Ramble no more; we have no time for rambling. Just bring them to the dimensional forks...quickly."
"So you'll help cure Clara?"
"Yes if you hurry up I will".
There was sinister edge to his tone so I decided not to disagree with him and do as I was told.
So I beckoned to Clara and Baron with my hand, gesturing for them to follow me.
I was not much of follower, I'd always been a leader.
I wasn't quite sure why he was in a hurry.
Why all the urgency?
I held onto Baron in fear of him collapsing onto the forest floor.
"So he'll fix me, Maggie?"
Clara placed her icy hand into mine and followed me to the dimensional fork ahead.
When we finally arrived to the mortuary, Clara squeezed my hand so hard is felt like icicles were being driven through my skin.
"I don't like this place, Maggie.
It scares me. I don't want to stay here, it smells funny and It's way too warm.
Is that a coffin?"
Her gaze was frozen on a display coffin that was propped up on a wheeled frame that stood 4 feet from the ground.
It was beyond a set of white doors that were partially open.
"Yes it is, Clara.
We're in a mortuary yet besides being creepy and reeking of formaldehyde it's a nice place, it's also a safe place and you'll only be here for a little while.
It won't be forever I promise you.
It's temporary, trust me."
She let go of my hand and rubbed her arm as if she had some sort of soreness in her soreness.
"You know it is rather hot in here.
Hey Doctor Long Legs why is it so warm in here?"
He gave me a death glare but then his stare softened to a grim gaze of amusement.
"That's my business and none of yours.
I would tell you, gladly but we have guests present, so I shall tell you later hopefully alone."
"Oooh a private conversation.
Oh my we're getting personal aren't we.
So I take it you want to talk to me alone.
To what do I owe the privilege to actually talk to you alone?
Should I be scared?"
I teased him which I could tell made Baron uneasy because I could hear his jaw tighten and his body tense up slightly.
"Nothing scares you, Maggie, dose it".
Baron spoke through full mouth of grinded teeth.
t
"You're right nothing does scare me.
I was just being facetious.
I was only teasing. I haven't lost my sense of humor yet, Baron.
You remember I was always prone to joking around.
I have a rather dry sarcasm these days.
It keeps the depression at bay.
Humor is the best medicine after all.
Anyway I have to keep my spirits up somehow".
"Speaking of spirits is this place haunted by any chance?"
Baron examined the place in curious fascination.
"Heavens no...at least I don't think so... I mean not that I know of.
I'm actually pretty positive it's just a mortuary".
"Pity. Love the atmosphere.
The death, the coffins, the flowers and whatnot.
It would be perfect for a haunted location.
Gather a few ghosts and they'd make themselves right at home".
Baron touched the warm marble with the tip of his finger nail.
"Not if I can help it.
This place is no home to any ordinary ghosts.
The only ghosts that live here are the ones that I've created.
The ghosts that roam these marble halls are all to familiar to me however to you they are mere strangers.
So yes in a way this place is haunted.
Quite haunted indeed but not in the conventional sense".
Jebadiah grimly contemplated.
I didn't know quite what to say.
He had a strange reminiscent expression on his face and there was humor that was pulling at the corners of his mouth.
What he said made no sense to me.
What does that even mean?
Why are speaking in riddles?
Familiar ghosts seriously?
That's the best you can do?
What are you the Grim Reaper?
Oh I get it this is your way of warding off awkward silences.
You're just rambling like I do.
Does Defense mechanism ring a bell?
I was hoping that he heard these thoughts and he did but I wasn't expecting him to awnser me.
Don't be ridiculous
I have no defense mechanisms.
You know why?
I have no weaknesses at least none that anyone can figure out.
I thought my secret was safe and so far it has been but that creature, that monster, it found out my one and only weakness.
That's why he must be destroyed.
If he escapes this town with that information, he may not just move on to another town but to another dimension, another world parellel to our own.
When he has left this realm he may encounter me again and when he does he will remember my weakness and he will use it against me.
He may defeat me, again and again until I no longer exist, not just here but in every dimension.
How is that a problem exactly?
I mentally inquired.
Are you dense?
I exist in every dimension and if I die in every one I will fade out of this universe and next one.
I will become void, nothing, not even a name.
I shall be erased.
The human term I believe is dead.
Yet this death is not the kind that leaves a body behind this will be a death where there is no trace.
You must help me stop him.
Help me destroy him before he destroys me.
Okay fine you don't have to be rude.
I had every intention of helping you stop this monster and you know it.
So I'm not dense.
So what is this weakness anyway since it's so important.
Heat. I need heat.
That's why it's so warm in here.
I must have heat to survive.
I can regulate my temperatures just fine outside these walls but if I'm exposed to extremely low temperatures for too long I can die.
Of course Death for me usually only temporary.
If I die, I can always make a comeback.
That's why I placed myself in every dimension so that if I were to be eliminated another could continue my work in my place.
So you literally just cloned yourself.
Very clever but I think it might have been done before, just saying.
No you're wrong.
No one has ever duplicated themselves to this extent that I have .
I've seen all of time and space so I should know.
Are they all exactly alike?
Oh yes completely.
They have all my memories, all my powers, every nuance and characteristic.
I share a psychic link with each of them.
They are not just versions of myself they are me in every way.
Consider your secret safe.
