The biggest night of Ian's life began quite normally, at least for him. He and the Circle (as they called themselves) had decided to hold a séance. Even before they started Ian felt a little strange. Unusually confident and optimistic, he was strangely certain that tonight's ceremony would work. The ritual came from a very old tract written by a Victorian age Occultist named Baron Von Raddiz. Unlike most such rites it made did not claim to summon specific ghosts, or even that it would summon a HUMAN spirit at all. Rather it promised to 'open a doore way into ye mysterious worlde of spirits' and that it would attract SOMETHING. The modesty of the promise made the ritual sound more legit; most spells would promise to conjure anyone you asked for, this one just promised you a chance to talk to someone or something. For another, according to the book the tract was in, Von Raddiz hadn't been selling his pamphlet; he'd been giving it away "in an attempt to raise the spiritual consciousness of his peers". The way Ian saw it, either the good baron was really on to something, or he was out of his fucking mind.
Either way, it would be a good night. Everyone had brought something to help the party along. Monique had brought a collection of music from New Orleans voodoo culture. Ian thought that stuff was a little stupid, but the music had a kick ass rhythm. Peter had brought a case of beer; no matter how Goth he tried to be Peter wouldn't change his drinking habits. Life might be bleak and dark, he said, but he could take it so long as there was beer. Crystal brought a bag of reefer fresh from her commune's garden. Ian had a bottle of vodka; real Russian stuff too, pure as Crystal. Robert brought a bottle of absinthe, which impressed Ian since the licorice-tasting liquor was illegal. Ian figured that this way, even f things didn't work out with the spirit world, they could get so blasted they wouldn't care.
They came together at Ian's apartment at eleven thirty. Ian's place wasn't the nicest among them (he referred to it as The Pit) nor was it the closest. However both Robert and Crystal said that it was teeming with spirit energy; not the whole building, just his place. This didn't bother Ian, he figured that his life was shitty enough that ghostly roommates were the LEAST of his worries. Besides, if life after death was as unpleasant as the life before, he figured the poor bastards could use a hangout.
At midnight they began the ritual. Ian drew a circle on the floor, using a mix of powdered bones and ashes, then made a series of intricate symbols around it. They set up a table in the middle and began the rite. They read out the spell and joined hands and chanted as they waited for something to make contact.
They didn't wait long.
About thirty seconds after the spell was read, the room began to shake. Gently at first but soon the shaking was as violent as an earthquake. Books fell off the shelves, cups fell from his battered and stained coffee table along with his worn-out TV. Off in the bathroom, Ian heard first the sound of his only mirror shattering and then the sound of his toilet exploding (a shattering sound as the ceramic bowl burst, followed by a huge gout of water). Then, as suddenly as it started, it stopped.
"I can't believe it" Robert yelled, sounding more excited than afraid "This is incredible! I've never heard of a rite calling a spirit this powerful the first time!"
"Man are you nuts" Peter said, a great deal more afraid than excited "that wasn't no spirit. That was an-an-an EARTHQUAKE!" He yelled the last word as though he was desperately trying to convince himself
Then they heard a voice. Or not heard. It was more like they REMEMBERED hearing it a half-second after it had stopped speaking. The voice was strong, booming, at its words his window exploded outwards, and the liquor bottles followed suite.
AHHH, GREETINGS IAN CLANCEY FROST. LONG HAVE I WAITED FOR YOU TO CONTACT ME. AND GREETINGS TO ALL THE REST OF YOU, MY CHILDREN.
At this, Peter and Monique leapt out of their chairs. "Fuck this" Monique shrieked, clearly well over the edge of panic "I'm out!"
Crystal, still seated, still holding Ian's hand called out "wait! The ritual isn't done. Let's hear what the spirit has to say before…"
"You fuckin' heard what that thing had to say" Peter yelled, fumbling with the door "its been waiting for Ian. I say let it have 'im, and the rest of us get the fuck OUT!"
"Gee thanks Pete, I love you too" Ian said. It was strange but he felt totally unafraid. He was if anything, angry. For one things otwo of his only friends had just demonstrated a willingness to abandon him to save their asses. Second his apartment was totally ruined- or rather it was even more ruined than it had been before. And lastly, with all this noise, someone had probably complained to the cops, which meant ANOTHER citation for disturbing the peace. Furthermore, he didn't feel the same as he had a few minutes ago. The whole universe seemed…darker. Emptier. Worse, if that was possible.
"Fuck you mr.Gloom-and-Doom I WANT TO LIVE!" Peter screamed.
"Why Peter" Robert said, his voice dripping with sarcasm "I thought you hated life? That it was..oh what was it now.. 'a long dark tunnel with no light at the end'?" the huge voice chuckled, causing things to shake gently once again.
"FUCK YOU!" Peter shrieked, terrified. He finally managed to undo the locks on the door and he and Monique vanished into the night.
GOOD RIDDANCE the voice said. There seemed to be no change in volume, but there was a sense that it was speaking under Its breath
"Uh-huh" Ian said "I guess so. Now, whoever the fuck you are, I got some questions, and you better damn well have the answers"
"IAN!" Crystal said sounding completely scandalized "you can't talk to spirits like that! You have to show respect"
"The fuck I will" Ian retorted, angry but not at her "This thing's trashed my place, pissed off my neighbours and worst of all wrecked my booze and my TV! The apartment's no loss but my life's too crappy to get by without a stiff drink and TV! So, me-laddo, lets have some answers. Who are you? Why have you been waiting for me? Why are we your children? Who's paying to get my crap fixed?"
I AM THE SPIRIT OF THE CITY. I AM THE COLLECTIVE SOUL OF EVERY BUILDING, BUSINESS, CITIZEN, AND VEHICLE THAT EXISTS WITHIN MY LIMITS.
"Oookaayy" Ian drawled "and can you prove ANY of this?"
"IAN!" Robert and Crystal warned together
Another titanic chuckle shook the room . ALWAYS A DOUBTER, EH IAN? VERY WELL, LOOK OUT THE WINDOW.
As one, the three moved to the now-ruined window. They looked out over the city, Montreal, in all her glory. A million lights winked out. The building next door suddenly went dark, which was odd because it was a police station. Suddenly the lights in some windows came on. First they formed an I, then an A, then a very small N. Ian.
SATISFIED?
"Yeah, I guess. Ok, that's one question down. Now what about the rest?"
SIT DOWN IAN, AND HERE ME WELL. I AM SICK. THOSE WHO DWELL WITHIN ME OFTEN HURT ME WITHOUT KNOWING, AND THIS IS WHY THINGS WITHIN ME ARE NOT AS THEY SHOULD BE. CRIMINALS AND CORPORATIONS HARM MY CITIZENS, WHO ARE MY LIFES BLOOD. CORRUPT OFFICIALS LEECH MY STRENGTH. ENVIRONMENTALISTS SEEK TO TEAR OUT MY HEART AND REPLACE IT WITH A FOREST. THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT. SINCE YOU WERE BORN YOU KNEW THIS.
"Did I now?" Ian said, sarcastic
HAVE YOU NOT ALWAYS FELT THAT LIFE IN THE CITY WAS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE? THAT THINGS WITHIN WERE JUST NOT RIGHT?
"Doesn't prove a damn thing" Ian said "Whole world's gone to hell, not just you"
PERHAPS. BUT YOU CAN HELP ME. YOU HEAR MY VOICE, AND CAN WIELD THE MYSTIC POWERS OF THE UNIVERSE.
"Mystic powers?" Ian scoffed "You sound like Crystal, trying to tell me the worlds a happy magical place. It ain't.Even if it were, I sure as hell don't have magic powers"
THEN HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE FACT THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY SPEAKING TO THE SPIRIT OF MONTREAL?
"Hmm. Good point. So, maybe I can hear you but that damn sure don't mean I can help you. And even if I could, why should I? Like I said, whole world's going to pieces, why should I turn into some superhero to save one city?"
YOU CAN LEARN THE REST OF YOUR ABILITIES FROM EITHER OF YOUR COMPANIONS HERE. AS FOR WHY YOU SHOULD, LET US SIMPLY SAY THAT ALL BANKS AND UTILITIES ARE PART OF ME TOO. I TAKE CARE OF MY OWN. THINK ON THESE THINGS, IAN. WHEN YOU HAVE AN ANSWER, SUMMON ME AGAIN.
There was no change noticeable in the room, yet noone doubted that the City was gone.
End chapter 2
this is how a living city would view attempts to increase the Green Space (parks and forests and such)
