A Light in the Dark Part Eighteen: Hall of Deception

Standing in a hall of mirrors, Victoria walked alongside me with Boomer. Today's job had me sweating bullets, the one relief was that I didn’t have to leave my body. Clowns, I hated every ounce of silk and wigs. My luck landed me with a serial killer who dressed as one. No, it isn’t who I thought of at first. Save the rotting spirits, they said. It will be fun, they said. Sleep evaded me since my baby had been born, her sweetness being part of the reason I was here. That clown found his way into my girl’s room. This was my revenge, and he was going to get it. Grabbing onto his arm last minute landed us in his house of mirrors, my hatred burning in my eyes. A red glove grazed my shoulders, his reflection disappearing into the myriad of mirrors glistening around me. Fighting the fear inside of me, the gears groaned as they shifted around. Sweat dripped off of my brow, the uptick in my heart rate spiking with the fear. Smashing them would be pointless, my hands feeling for a door. Feeling the edges for a breeze, nothing met my fingers. Boomer barked as a mirrored door creaked open, circus music sending chills up my spine. Victoria gripped my shoulder, her gentle gaze meeting mine. A force knocked me through the door, its glass separating us. Tears welled up in my eyes, a hall of dimly lit mirrors led to another swinging door. Boomer and Victoria were on the other side, my voice shaking. 

“Go get Matty to place a new protection spell around the house.” I assured them without confidence, the two of them fading away. Gripping my scythe, the music grew louder. The glass rattled in their frames, a bloody clown had me flattening myself against the mirror. Spinning a spiky club in his palm, his skin wiggled unnaturally. Every breath grew shorter as his club smashed the glass over my head, my boots sprinted towards the door. Skidding in, another bout of glass shattering had me trembling in my spot. This one was a tough one, my heart seconds from beating out of my chest. Sliding all the objects I could in front of the door, horror rounded my eyes as bright lights flickered to life. Ten skeletal remains of reapers had me sinking to my knees, my presence not being the first. The door rattled, ghosts of a circus danced in the mirrors. Haunting laughter had the room spinning. His voice shook me to the core.

“I get to devour you like the rest. My victims died laughing.” He teased cruelly, his wild laughter rattled the glass. "Sink into the madness that consumes a broken soul.” All the breath left my body, the moment the lights flickered out. Struggling to my feet, bells echoed around me. Swinging at the source of the sound, a sense of hopelessness came over me. A familiar hand grabbed my shoulders, Lucifer’s eyes meeting my wet eyes. Yanking me into a bear hug, his warmth did little to ease my nerves. 

“I am here to help you. I won’t let a horrible fate befall you. After this, Death invited me out to dinner with Life.” He comforted me, his arms letting me go. The lights flickered back on, the music roaring to life. Jumping back at my reflection, fresh bags had darkened underneath my eyes. Wiping the tears and sweat off of my face, a horn honked in my ear. Swinging my scythe in his direction, inky bubbles floated around us as he knocked me onto my butt. Disappearing into one of his mirrors, a frustrated scream burst from my lips. Messing with my mind was a new low, my patience wearing as thin. Telling me to strike the closest mirror, the sound of glass shattering rang in my ear. Sparkling on my boots, it all made sense. The mirrors were his powers, dirt crunching underneath my boots. Smashing mirror after mirror, glass soon crunched with each step forward. A door creaked open, the only I could hear was my own heartbeat as we skidded through. Slamming shut behind us, another room of mirrors greeted me. A half-snarl twitched on my lips, the work never ending. Slamming the tip into the ground, bubbles melted the glass. Pooling at our feet, strange symbols glowed to life. Yet the fear grew with each second, my fingers curling around the handle of my scythe with an even stronger grip. The constant changes in the environment had me on edge. Staying by my side, the floor trembled underneath my feet. A trapdoor opened, a darkness bathing me. My father was nowhere to be seen, my heart sinking into my stomach. A knife sank into my shoulder, his rotting face inches from mine. Scrambling back, his grip wouldn’t loosen. A scream burst from my lips as he began to wipe his paint off. His skin joined the peeling paint, maggots plopping onto my chest. Pressing my palm onto the floor, it was hotter than normal. This was the last level before Hell, a plan doing little to ease my nerves. Jamming my elbow into the floor, he howled in pain as we crashed towards Hell. Hot air burned at my cheeks, the two of us landing in a pit of screaming souls. A new level of fear dawned on me, my boot kicking him back into the hands. Every breath grew shorter as everyone I put down here blocked either way out, the clown pulling himself out. Panic set in the lack of a dimension to leap into, my scythe rising into the attack position. Shaking my head, this battle couldn’t be won. Slamming the tip into the ground, the leverage gave me enough air to jump over the smaller crowd. Sprinting towards what looked like a mall, that would have to be my refuge. Skidding in, the glass no longer existed. Snarling echoed down the hall, illusions of their victims lurched towards me. Allowing energy to build around my foot, one kick had me gripping the second floor railing. Pulling myself over, the inky blood staining my shoulder reminded me of my injury. Running until I couldn’t, a fountain covered in moss blocked my path. Climbing into the gross water as my enemies rushed by, this was my last shot. A sigh of relief escaped my lips, my eyes scanning for a way out. My father’s home wasn’t too far in the distance, the bitter sensation of fear returning with a vengeance. Breaking off a piece of the decaying marble, one throw had it rolling into a store in the opposite direction. Flooding into the store, water dripped off of me as I sprinted down my pathway out. A throat clearing stole my attention, the crowd of angry spirits nipping at my heel. Taking in the empty stores, an idea came to mind. Picking the biggest one, my boots clicked into the back. Hiding in the shadows, the sheep chasing after me were in my trap. Using the shadows to escape, threats met my ears as I slammed the metal door into place. Locking it, a horn honking sent chills up my spine. Spinning on my heels, the clown was rushing at me. Running over to the window, hot air lashed at my cheeks the moment I leapt off. Landing clumsily, my boots pounded towards the castle. His honking haunted my ears, balloons blocking my path. Stumbling back, this wasn’t going well. Pushing through the anxiety, popping burst out around me with every swing of my scythe. Finding my way through, a welcome sight of my father had my hope renewed. Noting the clown behind me, bubbles formed around the tip of my scythe. Slamming the tip into the cracking brimstone road, a large crevasse swallowed up the clown. Groaning back together, his fate was sealed. Collapsing to my knees, the amount of power I used hitting me. Silent tears stained my cheeks, the ground crunching as he crouched down to my level. Wiping my tears away, his words of comfort fell on deaf ears. Shook to my core, this last job had me running on fumes. Tearing the blade from my shoulder, inky blood painted his face. Healing my wound, shame caused me to avert my eyes to the cracks underneath my palms. 

“You did fine.” He assured me kindly, helping me to my feet. Walking back with him in awkward silence, the staff barely noticed us entering his house. Lowering his hand to the side of my face, a snap of my fingers had us in front of Death’s brick home. Guiding me in, an array of food had my stomach grumbling. Taking a seat across from a casually dressed Death, her cotton t-shirt grazing her body. Life let himself in, his robes grazing the floor. Plopping down next to me, he slid me a box of healing herbs and plants. Pressing his palms together, he blessed the meal with a smile. Something seemed off, the chair groaning as I rose to my feet. The walls wobbled slightly, the image fading away to a hall of mirrors. Letting out a frustrated scream, sobs wracked my body. Feeling my shoulder, a blade grazed the tip of my finger. Wincing in pain, this bastard had tricked me and managed to separate me from my spirit guide. Struggling to my feet, his fate was sealed. Fright melted into determination as I smashed every mirror in my path. 

“Come out, you clown!” I shouted furiously, my scythe rising in the attack position. Crunching through a sea of glass, the circus music became background noise. Pausing in front of a door, fog crept out from underneath the crack. Ignoring it, I needed to find the entry to Hell. Wandering through another mirror, dark tunnels greeted me. Grinning slyly, I was going to beat him at his own game. Repairing the mirror from the other side, the glass fused back together. Following the scent of brimstone, a fiery pit burned brightly in the center of a circus tent. A light blinded me as a basket of healing herbs and water appeared in front of me, a thank you escaping my lips. Crushing the herbs into a paste, the water thinned it into a muddy drink. Biting down on the handle of my scythe, inky blackness painted the walls around me. Gulping down the drink, its bitter drink did not taste any better than last time. Choking it down, relief glistened in my eyes at the wound sealing shut. Tracing the rough scar, a quiet fear replaced my relief. The clown giggled uncontrollably as he lay out trap after trap, his nose squeaking the moment it hit the floor. Scratching at his yellowed skeletal half of his face, the contents of my stomach almost found their way up. Fresh blood soaked his silk suit, a new reaper squirmed in a silver cage. No wonder he was still so strong, the bastard devoured reapers left and right. The dark haired teenage boy shouted for him to give it up, his caramel eyes falling on me. The wrinkled school uniform spoke of his position as the lead reaper of children’s souls, a different type of terror settling into my veins. The news of disappearing reapers had been causing waves. Running through the plans in my head, one of them had to work. Examining the mirrors lining the stands, he would be expecting that. Digging the tip into the dirt, a hole into Hell appeared at my feet. Jumping into Hell, the brimstone and screams were merely in the background . Running towards the gaping hole, the circus music gave its position away. Hovering underneath the bottom, dark energy built around my boot. Slamming the heel on the ground, the force knocked me back into his dimension. Leaping into the air, sparks danced in the air as our blades clashed. Kicking the other reaper into a mirror, his blade cut my cheek. Aiming my foot into his face, his wrist catching my ankle. Wicked laughter rumbled in my throat, I swung my scythe underneath my arm. Surprise rounded his milky eyes the moment the tip squished through his chest with ease, another bout of nausea wracking my body. Landing roughly, one swing over my head had him flying into Hell. Closing the portal, his dimension began to quake. The reaper limped towards me, my arms curling around his waist right before a piece of glass struck his head. Throwing him over my shoulder, my other portal into Hell sealed shut. Sprinting through the halls, his protests fell on deaf ears. Running around the corner, a blast knocked me onto my face. Shards of glass pierced my right arm, a whimper leaving my lips. The door to the diner popped up in front of me. Using what was left of the dimension to get on my feet, the reaper had passed out in the blast. Carrying him through the door, the diner went silent at the sight of me. Taking a seat at the only table available, I sat him down across from me. Ordering him a cup of tea and pancakes, his wild hair bounced as he took in a deep breath. Picking the pieces of glass out of my arm, a waitress set a plate down for me to put them on. 

“Do you have a name?” I inquired softly, hoping that I didn’t alarm him. Groaning bitterly to myself, the level of paperwork coming with this was going to drown me alive. Drool dripped from the corner of his lips at the sight of a big pile of pancakes, his sad grin meeting my look of exhaustion. 

“I am Felix Smats and I am in charge of kids and teenagers.” He introduced himself glumly, devouring the pancakes. “Thank you for the save and the meal." Confusion dawned on his face at my finger flicking the wall to make sure this was real. Flashing him my real smile, some color rose to his cheeks.

“He had me in some sort of dream and I woke up. I am willing to bet your master was put in one and killed before it ended.” I informed him with a friendly touch on his hand. Relaxing visibly, he sipped the tea. Setting the cup down, his eyes fell on my arm.  

“I will be fine.” I promised warmly, picking out the last piece of glass. Ignoring the pain, his hand let go of mine. Sobs shook his body, the cushion squeaking as I plopped down next to him. Clutching him close to my chest, his tears soaked my shoulder. Patting his back, the loss of his master had him searching for someone else. 

“Forgive me if I cross the line but do you want to be my partner every now and then.” I asked cautiously, his wet eyes meeting mine. “You can even crash at my place tonight if you wish.” Gripping my arm, something told me that his former master held a special place in his heart. Staring at the empty plate, my real smile couldn’t leave my lips. He reminded me of myself, his quiet yes had me hoping his future could be brighter. Rising to my feet, his hand refused to leave my wrist. Scooping up my scythe, his own was tied to this back. The worn wooden handle contrasted the steel curved blade, the simplicity of it matching him. Guiding him to Death’s house, wonder brightened his eyes as we walked into my house. Dishes clanged in the sink, Boomer barking as he bounced up to me. Matty wandered in with Death on his heels with Selene in his arms, a tender blush rising on my cheeks the moment he pecked my lips. 

“We have a spare room in the basement if you want to crash here after your jobs.” He offered sincerely, Felix stepping back in apprehension. Rushing past him to the basement, the shower was running in minutes. Noting my shoulder, a sigh escaped his lips. 

“You were gone for two days.” He pointed out simply, fresh bruises appearing on my skin. Sitting me down on the bed, Life appeared out of nowhere with a gallon of muddy liquid, my stomach flipping. Lucifer popped up next to me, his arms scooping up Selene. Smothering her in love, Matty poured me a cup. Watching me drink it, the bed sank down as he pulled me onto his lap. Brushing the lips against the nape of my neck, my heart ached for Victoria. 

“I missed you.” He whispered lovingly into my ear, his arm holding me by my smaller waist. “Felix is his name, right?” Glancing back at him with surprise, his crooked grin had my heart skipping a couple of beats. Lifting my chin up with his finger, his lips brushed against mine passionately. Time stopped, his other hand resting on my thigh. Collapsing into his arms, exhaustion weighed heavily on my eyelids. Resting my head on his chest, his patience with me was a godsend. Gripping his fresh t-shirt, it smelled like him. Melting into a puddle, his hand rubbed my back. Guilt ate at me for him running the store all alone, his lips brushing the top of my head. 

“I had fun working the store with my father the past couple of days.” He continued warmly, almost knowing what I was thinking. “You can stay home tomorrow to sleep it all away if you need to.” Shaking my head, I wanted to see my family. Kissing his chest tiredly, his crooked grin returned. Carrying me to bed, he tucked me after changing my clothes for me. Lucifer brought my daughter in, his slender hands laying her down next to me. Smelling her hair, they had given her a bath. Draping my arm over her tiny body, a serenity came over me. Letting sweet slumber steal me away, things were looking up.