Endings
(Talisman, part XIV)
 
by D. Monster
 
 Several minutes passed.  The gate hadn’t closed.  Dark colors still swirled in the center of the black smudge on the wall.  Lloyd pushed against the gate again.  The gate pushed back.  Lloyd was perplexed.
 
What is it waiting for?
 
His reverie was interrupted by Kate, who turned the corner and stopped, staring at him with a stricken expression on her face.  He couldn’t imagine he looked much happier.
 
“Maya?”  he asked.
 
“Dead,” she croaked, and his stomach clenched.  “Claudia?” she asked.
 
“Worse,” he murmured and suddenly she was there, holding him.
 
He felt the gate behind them throb.  Lloyd broke their embrace and whirled around.  He stared at the gate, trying not to let Kate’s sobs distract him. 
 
There was nothing.
 
Well not exactly.  The gate was beginning to exert a slight pull.  Not much, but it seemed to be increasing in strength.  He heard footfalls approaching.
 
Oh shit.
 
Anna and Callie rounded the corner.  Lloyd turned to shout as the pull from the gate began to spike.
 
There was a flash of light and the hall was empty.
 
*          *          *
 
The room was huge and full of swirling motes of light.  The dark shapes of crates and boxes were humped up around the edges of the room.  Kate’s eyes adjusted quickly, spotting Lloyd, Anna, and Callie.   Anna and Callie were standing.  Lloyd was lying on the ground, slightly dazed – he’d been sucked through the gate first and had collided with a crate, which now lay splintered around them, along with the contents of the crate, which appeared to be plastic toy wands and top hats.
 
Kate hadn’t noticed the toys, though – her attention was fixed on the dark shape in the center of the room.   The dark shape’s attention appeared to be on the swirling motes of light rising from various of the crates and boxes and rising to whirl about the room.   Every few seconds, the dark shape would reach out in a lightning-fast motion and grab one of the lights.  As it did, the light would disappear and the shape would seem to grow darker.
 
“Geoff’s warehouse…”  said Callie quietly.
 
“Look at all those,” said Anna with a mixture of wonder and horror, gazing at the luminous magical creatures fluttering about, attempting to evade the dark creature.  Occasionally, the release of one of the creatures would result in the collapse of the object in which it was imprisoned.  “I had no idea Geoff could have trapped so many of them.”
 
The dark shape turned to regard them.  It raised an appendage to point at them.
 
GOOD.  YOU HAVE COME.  NOW YOU END.
 
Then it pointed down at Lloyd.
 
Kate didn’t even think.   She just moved, leaping across the space between them, colliding with Lloyd as he struggled to get to his feet, as the magical fire arced toward him.
 
The fire struck them both and Kate saw only bright light.
 
*          *          *
 
Lloyd’s arm was burning.  The magical fire had consumed his left hand and was moving slowly up his wrist.  The pain was horrific. 
 
His pain meant nothing to him.
 
Kate lay on the ground in front of him, burning.
 
Her body had taken the brunt of the blast.  Her arms and legs were gone and her torso was quickly disappearing – she had no inherent magical ability and her body offered no resistance to the flames.
 
“Katie,” he whispered, helpless.
 
Her head turned and she looked at him.
 
She smiled.  “Don’t cry.  I’m right next to your heart.”
 
“But Katie….”
 
“Save her,” she said quietly.  “This isn’t her fault.”
 
The fire raced up her neck as she mouthed:
 
You have the power.  I love you.
 
Then the flames took her and she was gone.
 
Lloyd clutched his heart and screamed.
 
*          *          *
 
Callie and Anna had not had time to fully digest what had become of Kate and Lloyd when the blast knocked them off their feet.
 
THE TOYMAKER HAS FOUND HIS HEART…TOO LATE.
 
Bolt after bolt of magical fire ricocheted off of the spot where Lloyd had been.  That spot was now occupied by a shimmering bubble of force made opaque by the energies washing over it.
 
The twins found themselves on opposite sides of the room.
 
Anna concentrated.  A pearly white orb formed in her hand, glowing with an internal light.  She hefted it at the Grim that had once, very long ago, been Claudia Strickland.
 
You throw like a girl.
 
Shut up.
 
Gotta love a telepathic bond.
 
Nonetheless, the orb connected with its target and shattered, lighting the dark form afire.  The Grim’s attack on Lloyd’s position slackened as it twisted around to extinguish the flames.  Shortly thereafter, an emerald green orb struck home, but was just as quickly extinguished.
 
We have to be in the same spot.  We’re considerably more powerful that way.
 
Agreed.  Can you teleport over here?
 
No more than you can teleport over here.  It’s doing something.  I don’t think either of us could gate out of here either.
 
So we’ll hoof it.
 
And with that, they began to make their way toward each other, despite the fact that it drew them closer to their adversary.
 
*          *          *
 
Lloyd was on his knees, eyes closed, clutching his chest.  It was very quiet.  He sobbed, not caring.
 
The magical fire had claimed his left arm past the elbow.
 
Kate’s last words to him echoed through his head.  He felt empty.  There was nothing for him anymore.
 
He squeezed harder, his fingers digging into his chest.  Then he felt something.
 
An object.
 
All of his charms and amulets were gone, made useless and discarded.  What could possibly be in his pocket?  And why would he care anyway?
 
Numbly, he released his grip and reached into his pocket, pulling out the tiny object.
 
He stared, agog.
 
And then he began to laugh.
 
*          *          *
 
The Grim seemed to be waiting.
 
Anna and Callie made their way toward one another.  Occasionally one would toss an orb of magical energy at the dark shape.  The Grim would shrug off the damage, but do nothing in return.  Except watch them.
 
Their hands met.  Their minds crashed together again and they felt the power within them surge.  The Grim howled in triumph and sent a massive barrage of destructive energies at them.  They pushed it aside easily, but the Grim persisted.
 
Why had it waited until they were together?  Until they were truly powerful?
 
The answer came with sickening ease.
 
It wished to consume them and add its power to its own.  As it had with the Talisman…and with Geoff…and with many of the other magical creatures released when he died.
 
And with their power, it would be unstoppable.
 
But we could prevail, they thought.  Then we would be unstoppable.  Geoff and Walt, without meaning to, unlocked in us abilities of unprecedented power. If we prevail over this creature, the world can be ours.  We could do anything that we wanted.
 
As we did during our magic show.
 
That made them pause.  They both remembered the chaos and difficulties that their little magic show had sown and tried to imagine the results of such meddling on a worldwide scale.  Their defenses slackened and the Grim’s assault began to be felt – like a dark hard, grasping at their power.
 
We could forebear…and not use the power.
 
No, that is nonsense.  If we have the power, we WILL use the power.
 
I will use the power.  There could be no we after long.
 
This was true.  So long as they shared this power, so long their minds remained connected, they could never be apart…could never be true individuals…could never know peace.
 
We would be messed-up, self-destructive Callie again, but with earth-shattering power.
 
So it’s lose-lose, isn’t it? 
 
If we fight the Grim, yes.  But there is an alternative.
 
It would mean our death.
 
Yes, but we would die well.  And we might be able to take this monster with us when we go.
 
Agreed.  Let us do it.
 
And so they let go.  They let go not just of each other, but also what was shared between them.  They felt the vast well of power slip away, dropping in the Void, never to be retrieved.  It was gone, as was the telepathic link between the two women.
 
They opened their eyes to look at each other.
 
“I love you,” said Callie.  “I love you, too,” said Anna.  And then in unison:
 
“Goodbye.”
 
*          *          *
 
The Grim, knowing what they had done, screamed in fury.  It redoubled its efforts, knowing that its energies would overwhelm their now-diminished defenses in seconds.  It would not have the power that it desired, but it could at least have its vengeance.
 
The women’s defenses buckled and it tasted the first tendrils of their life energies.
 
A PLEASANT APPETIZER it roared. AND AFTER, I SHALL DESTR
 
And then something hit the Grim very, very hard.
 
*          *          *
 
The dark form of the Grim crumpled to the ground, tackled by the pale shape that had just hurtled across the room and collided with it.  The Grim had not expected a direct physical attack – the energies it was releasing should have destroyed any creature that even approached it – and was disoriented.  Its assault on the two women ceased as arcs of magical energy shot randomly across the room, scorching walls and destroying crates.
 
Anna and Callie ran for cover as the Grim attempted to defend itself against its attacker.  Blue fire surrounded the struggling pair and dozens of disjointed, clawed limbs reached out from the dark form towards its pale opponent.  The fire illuminated the attacker and the twins got their first good look at him.
 
It was a man, naked and emaciated.  His long hair and ragged beard were grey and, it seemed, wet.  The fire did not seem to harm him at all as he hacked away at the attacking claws with what appeared to be one of swords from Geoff’s magic act.  He’d gotten a few nasty cuts from the attacking claws, but had succeeded in beating the creature to the ground again. 
 
Severed limbs fell to the left and right as the man continued to swing.  Finally, seeing an opening, he thrust the sword into the depth of the mass.  The magical fire died away and the creature collapsed, motionless.  The man regarded it for a moment, then turned, and began to stagger toward the twins.  It was then they saw his face.
 
Callie stood motionless, dumbfounded.
 
“Walt!” cried Anna, rushing past Callie to embrace him before he fell from exhaustion. 
 
Walt tried to say something, but no words would come out.  Anna kissed him passionately.  Tears ran down both their faces as they held each other tight.
 
Neither of them saw the Grim rise up behind them, its horrid skull visage finally revealed.  Barbed tentacles raced toward the pair....
 
…and bounced off of a wall of invisible force.
 
Callie stared at the Grim, seething with rage.
 
“I…have…had…enough…of…YOU!”  With each word, the wall of force slammed into the Grim, pushing it back, until the last blast punched it into the far wall.  The building shook with the impact.
 
Callie stalked forward, toward the pinned creature.
 
“Time to end this, bitch!”  She raised a clenched fist.
 
“No.”
 
The voice was quiet and compelling.  Callie stopped and turned.
 
It was Lloyd.
 
He was battered and had obviously been crying.  He held a plastic toy wand.  What little remained of his left arm appeared to have been shoved into a plastic top hat.
 
“Your arm,” gasped Callie.
 
“Like the hat?” asked Lloyd, waggling the truncated limb at her.  There was no humor in his voice.  “Circumstances forced me to improvise.”
 
Anna had been looking frantically around the room.  “Lloyd!!  Where’s Kate?”
 
He turned toward her.  “You don’t have to worry about her.  Everything will be okay.”   Then he nodded to Walt, who nodded tentatively in return.
 
“Callie, could you please release her?”
 
“Huh?”
 
“Could you please release Claudia?   I have some business with her.”
 
“What?  Lloyd, are you insane?  Do you have any idea…”  She stopped.  “Of course you do.  Sorry.  I’ll do it.  Just be careful.”
 
“She can’t hurt me now,” he said.  Then he smiled.  “Besides,” he said, waving the little toy wand in the air, “I have this.”
 
Callie looked at him curiously and then she smiled too.  “You don’t need those things anymore, do you?”
 
“No,” he said, “but magical toys are kind of my thing.”
 
Callie went over to hug Walt and Anna as Lloyd turned toward the Grim.
 
*          *          *
 
Lloyd stood face-to-face with the Grim, peering into its empty-socket eyes, smelling its vile breath.
 
“Claudia,” he said quietly.  “I had a part to play in making you what you are and I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry.”
 
He could feel the hatred emanating from the creature.
 
“I want to do what I can to help you…starting with this.”  He reached toward it and pulled.  Walt’s sword clattered on the floor.
 
It seemed to relax a little.
 
“And now this.”  He raised the little toy wand.  It sparkled faintly.  The Grim reacted violently, trying to shield itself with its remaining limbs, but Lloyd moved too fast.  He plunged his hand, holding the tiny wand, into the dark center of the creature.
 
He closed his eyes.
 
And then something amazing happened.
 
*          *          *
 
Lloyd saw nothing but darkness.
 
This was expected, so close to the now.  He would have to move backwards, backs through the recent hours, past the abuse at the hands of Maya, past the years spent as an unwilling prisoner in an inanimate form.  Back to when Claudia was truly alive…
 
Claudia’s life begins to scroll past him in reverse.
 
He watches Maya trick Claudia into climbing into the Metamorphosis box.   He watches the entire scene, as this is the portion of their fates for which he is culpable.  He no longer feels guilt…just an overwhelming sadness.
 
Should he stop here?  No…he sees her standing on the stage, screaming.  He sees her enter the theatre, sneering at the security guard.  She is already too damaged.  He must not stop.
 
He watches a series of abusive boyfriends drift past.
 
Now Claudia is fifteen.  She has been sent to live with her father and step-mother.  Her father is a stranger, having abandoned her mother before Claudia’s birth.  He is distant and quietly hostile to her, choosing to use his money to keep her at arm’s length.  The step-mother is kindly, but Claudia treats her savagely.
 
Claudia’s mother is in prison.  Moving backwards again…
 
The attack is brutal.  Claudia’s step-father is dead.  Claudia has lost a great deal of blood.  As she passes out, her mother is calling her a dirty whore.  These are the last words her mother will ever say to her.
 
Claudia’s step-father doesn’t have a name.  He is only “sir” to Claudia.  When he touches her, she must call him “sir.”  When she services him, she must call him “sir.”  When he beats her, she must call him “sir.”  After thanking him for it, of course.  She shares his bed.  Claudia’s mother is jealous.  This is the only thing that makes Claudia happy.
 
Lloyd feels sick as he turns back the years faster and faster, trying to find the end of it…or rather the beginning.  For nine years, Claudia is abused by her step-father.  Her mother is initially indifferent, but over time, her hostility grows.
 
When will it end?
 
A funeral.  Claudia is five.  Grandmother has died.  She will miss her grandmother very much.  She is sad. But Claudia’s mommy has come to take her away, just like grandmother always promised.  Mommy is so pretty.  She says she has a special friend who wants to meet Claudia.  Claudia is very excited.
 
Lloyd whispers a quiet prayer and takes one more step backwards.
 
It is a warm summer afternoon.  Claudia has been playing at the pool all day with her friends and now she is home again, drinking lemonade with her grandmother.  They are laughing and telling stories.  Claudia tells her about the pool and about the silly things that Becka and Sandy were doing.  About how she pretended the pool was actually a beach.  With lots of birds.  Grandmother tells Claudia about the yarn store and the funny little man at the dry cleaners.  Claudia wants grandmother to tell her again about her mommy and daddy.  Grandmother says that long ago, mommy and daddy went away on an amazing adventure.  Claudia was too little, so she had to stay with grandmother until they got back.  When they returned, they would take Claudia away to magical place far, far away and everyone would live happily ever after.  Claudia asks if there will be a beach there.  Grandmother says yes and Claudia agrees that yes that would indeed be happily ever after.
 
Lloyd smiles.
 
Here.
 
He opens his eyes.
 
The world is full of glowing butterflies.
 
To Be Continued…