Page 17 (1/2)

CHAPTER 31

Bliss

"Is it really you? How is this possible?" Bliss asked,at hoell he looked The Dylan she remembered had been skin and bones, but this Dylan looked healthy His cheeks were pink, and his dimples were back

"It’s reallythat turns vah the blood, and so the times that, uh you know"

Bliss nodded The times that the Visitor had been in control, and had sucked Dylan’s blood, she had taken enough of his spirit into her own, so that a shell ie, or a faded version, a piece of his consciousness, lived inside of hers

"So you’re alive?" Bliss asked

"In a way," he said "In that I can think, and I can still feel"

"But you’re not real, are you?" she asked

He shook his head sadly "No I’m not Not in the way that you are I mean, no one else can see me but you"

"Is that bad? Does it feel weird?" she asked

For a while, Dylan merely smiled, and it was his same crooked sad little smile "I don’t kno to explain it, but part of me is here, with you, and another part is somewhere else I don’t know, but I know I am not complete I’m like like a template you know, like a virtual personality trapped in a computer," he explained

He confirmed what she already knew: that there were dozens, possibly hundreds of other souls living within her

"The Croatan are insane because none of the spirits have the body for enough time to make it work They become imbalanced and unpredictable, schizo, as the huinal host spirit loses control to a strong and forceful personality"

She shuddered "Like I have"

"The Visitor Yes But you are aware of the transgression, which means you’ve been able to resist it And there’s so else that’s different about you Do you knohat it is?"

"Not really"

"Your huan Re photo assistant from the Montserrat shoot

"The Red Blood is poison to Croatan, and yet it did not harm you Which means, part of you is still uncorrupted And also, you have me," he said

"What do you uard the wall," he said "that’s the best way I can put it Iine there’s a curtain that stands between your consciousness and the others I’m that curtain"

"So basically all that stands between me and the crazies is you?" she asked

"Yeah" He shrugged "Me"

Bliss cracked a smile Suddenly she didn’t feel so alone anymore She had someone to talk to, and so to her "I like those odds," she said

She was about to say soe, a debilitating, inchoate rage, she felt as if she were frothing at the asped for air, doubled up and clutched her story? Then she realized It was not her anger, this was not her fury She could feel it, but it wasn’t co on?" Bliss whispered "It’s him, isn’t it? The Visitor? He’s upset"

"Yes," Dylan said, looking worried ’try not to feel it so much Push back Do not let his e her teeth, trying to fight back as a garbled le of violent emotions washed over her

ANGER! HATRED! HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE? I SHALL SLIT THEIR THROATS AND DRINK THE BLOOD OF THEIR CHILDREN, THE GATE WAS THERE! WE HAD THE GATEKEEPER IN OUR HANDS! THE PATH WAS WITHIN OUR REACH! FOOLS! FOOLS!

She pushed back, No No Not me Not me Him Shut him out Shut hihts, from my life I am not you I aone," Bliss said, exhaling She opened her eyes She was still in theon the steps across from her

"Good," Dylan said "It’s very important that you keep him away’that you don’t you don’t let him take over"

"I won’t" She told him about how she was able to remain even when the Visitor ca, I think, but I have a feeling it didn’t work out It didn’t happen Sory just now"

"Yes, but I have a feeling it’s not over You , as you say Watch and observe And you ht," Dylan said

"But what if he finds out?"

"I will help you as much as I can I promise"

"And what about you Will you always be here?" she asked him "I can never leave," Dylan said "You’re stuck without her hand She put it up against his, hoping But she felt nothing Air He was shost

He wasn’t real This wasn’t real

"I want to kiss you so bad," she whispered, looking into his dark eyes "But there’s nothing here You’re not really here, are you? I’m just crazy I probably just invented you to feel sane," she said, and before she could help it, she started to sob The tears ca down her cheeks The enormity of her responsibility overwhel to be able to do it It was too much to ask She couldn’t stand up to the Visitor To Lucifer He was too powerful

Dylan put a hand on her shoulder’she could see it but she couldn’t feel it But she could hear his voice "It’s all right, Bliss" His voice was gentle "It’s going to be all right"