The Escapist (10 page)

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Moonlight shone through the dormitory window onto the rows of sleeping faces and all was quiet and still, save for the murmuring or sporadic snoring of the occasional child.   Haunted by the visions of death and decay he had witnessed that day, Oscar slept fleetingly, occasionally trying to call out from his dreams though his voice was lost in the transmission.

With a monumental attempt to break from dream into reality Oscar convulsed forward in a gasp, awaking in the cool air with beads of sweat across his brow.  Yet the movement must have disturbed something, for as Oscar looked wildly around a small form shot out from under his bunk and scurried towards the end of the dorm.  Its light feet quickly tapped against the concrete floor as it ran.  It must have been a mouse or a rat, but this thought sent shivers through the already shaken Oscar, and provided no comfort.

Oscar sat up, not wishing to fall back into the nightmarish world he had come from and dangled his legs over the edge of his bunk.  None of the other children had awoken and the harmonious sounds of snoring and heavy breathing continued.

Though he had frozen in horror as the rodent scuttled away, eventually curiosity overwhelmed Oscar, and, gently edging himself off of the bunk he tiptoed to the end of the dorm.  The door was ajar.  Gently easing it further open to peer out onto the corridor Oscar saw a small form dart into the janitor’s storage room; a dead end. Not wishing to let his mind cripple him in fearful imaginings Oscar took a deep breath and continued in pursuit of the creature, quickly crossing the corridor and edging over to the room.  Again the door was slightly open, leaving a gap just large enough for a small creature to pass through.

Oscar pushed the door open fully and readied himself for anything that might spring out, but nothing came. He surveyed the dark room, unwilling to venture in. The lighting was minimal and he could barely make out the vague outline of the janitor's ladder, let alone any kind of small creature in hiding.  Eventually, impatient, he took a few steps forward into the room but still there was no movement.  His presence had caused no disturbance - there was no sign of the creature that had entered.

Having waited for a minute in the dark closet Oscar felt dumbfounded.  There was nothing there.  Thinking back over his previous apprehensions he now felt silly standing alone in a closet in the middle of the night.  With a shrug of the shoulders and a yawn he turned to leave the room but at that very moment a small tapping noise reached his ears, freezing him in an instant.  It was coming from fairly high up – from one of the shelves – and it sounded distinctly like a small claw tapping against wood.  With his imagination provoked by the noise, Oscar could not throw off the thought of turning to find himself nose to nose with the decayed rat corpse.  A shiver ran through his spine as he forced himself to turn round, braced to see the worst.

“Do not be afraid, I am no enemy.” announced an unknown voice.  Oscar leapt back in a defensive response.

“Who’s there?
” he bravely commanded. Whipping his head back and forth, Oscar frantically tried to peer into the pitch black corners of the room for the source of the voice.

“Why not turn around and have a look for yourself?” The voice responded in a clear and melodic tone.  It sounded like the voice of a young man, charming and full of self confidence.

Oscar whipped around once again but there was no-one there.  He could only stare once again at the shelf he previously heard the tapping sound coming from.  But before he could question the voice again, his fears came true.  Emerging from the shadows into the moonlight was the decayed face of the rat he had seen before, in all its hideous glory.  Yellow toothed, single eyed and with rotten dangling patches of flesh and fur, the creature was viler than his memory could credit.  Oscar gasped and felt once more the stone like grip of his body, unyielding to his mind’s better judgement.

“Now please, I did tell you not to be afraid” The rat said mildly, clearly having read the boys facial expression.  The reanimated corpse rested back slowly onto its decrepit hind legs while turning its front paws out almost humanly, to show there was no threat. “My name...” The rat said gesturing to himself “…is Vergil, and I have come to seek your assistance”

It was uncanny.  Everything about this creature had the underlying trace of humanity to it, the voice, the mannerism and especially the polite use of language.  Despite the strangeness of the situation Oscar’s heart rate dropped to a steadier pace, comforted by this pleasant discovery.  Yet the remains of adrenaline still coursed through his veins causing him to shake slightly.

“My…name’s...Oscar.” He eventually forced out the words, trying for now to ignore the absurdity of talking to a rat and instead focus on addressing the creature as kindly as possible, lest Vergil’s patience turn sour.

“Well, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you Oscar.” Vergil replied, eyeing Oscar curiously. 

“How are you able, I mean how come you can…” Oscar could not quite bring himself to complete the sentence.

“Live? Talk?” Vergil finished. “I will explain that in due time. For now just appreciate that the world you perceive is not necessarily the complete picture of the world as it is.” This struck Oscar as relatively sound advice; after all, the world as we perceive it must be but a fleeting glance of the world that we physically pass through.  But this explanation still did not relieve his curiosity.

“But your body - it’s dead” Oscar observed.

“Ah, yes that is true.  I do apologise for any odour. As for the state of the body, I expect it will not suffice for much longer as a suitable vessel so I shall hurry.” The tempo in Vergil’s silky tone increased as he spoke. “I need your help Oscar. I have been watching you for a while and believe you can assist me.”

“Assist you how?” Oscar asked.

“Ah well. Its hard to describe you see, I need you to come with me to another place.  You might even like to call it another world.”  Vergil winced as he said the last sentence, peering at Oscar out of his one, squinted eye.  But the boy simply returned the stare, a quizzical expression on his face, as though the last thing Vergil said had not registered.  Or that once you start having a conversation with a dead rat, the impact of another world might not be as strong as one might think.

Oscar had definitely lost focus.  His mind had finally lurched into gear and begun throwing up potential explanations for the ridiculous situation he now found himself in.  Talking to a rat, really!  Oscar was forced to consider that perhaps this was nothing more than another particularly lucid dream.  One he had not woken from as first thought.  And yet, the environment seemed so real.  Biting upon his tongue the pain was acute and Oscar was inclined not to distrust his senses, for what else had he to go on but his own experience?  Though he could not know for sure, he felt it to be reality and for now he had no choice but to proceed with this in mind.

“Another –world?” Oscar repeated, dragging his attention back to Vergil.

“Ah yes, well of sorts! Perhaps at this juncture you could place a little trust in me when I say all shall become apparent in due time.”  Oscar’s curiosity rose as his fear declined.  He had an overwhelming urge just to stop analysing and get on with it.  With Vergil as an example resident, who knew what the place could contain. 

“I don’t quite understand, err Vergil.  Why do I need to go?” Oscar enquired forcing himself to speak casually.

“Well it concerns your future too, Oscar.” Vergil said with serious foreboding “Don’t you realise?  You and the others are at risk of a grave peril.”

“Peril, how? I…”  Oscar frantically looked around as though this peril might reveal itself, now that it had been called.  More detailed inspection was interrupted however, by Vergil’s urgent voice.

“Damn.  Look this body won’t last much longer.  Time’s up Oscar.  Sorry but it appears you have no choice.”  The voice was quicker and quieter as it reached the end of the sentence.  Then as if on cue the rat suddenly slumped onto the shelf.  It began to twitch spasmodically and from the nostrils, mouth and eye socket emerged a blue stream of mist that wove through the air towards Oscar’s face.

Recoiling from the mist, Oscar edged backwards towards the door.  He tried to hold his breath but before he could react the mist had engulfed him.  Tendrils shot up his nose and into his ears, gently swirling though his skull, touching, exploring, making connections.  His body felt heavy as though about to collapse, but also like something else within him was being lifted.  Oscar was aware only of a feeling of anxiety as he was pulled into darkness, a feeling that he was losing a much loved possession – one that he might never see again.  And though he tried to fight and hold onto it with all his might, the pull was too strong.  Eventually, abandoning all hope he let himself be torn from the physical world he had once belonged to and be thrown anew into whatever this unknown existence might hold.

Echoing through his mind all the time was the sound of Vergil’s voice, the only thing which endured as he was pulled away.  It was just one sentence endlessly repeated, again and again, resounding around his skull.

“I’m sorry Oscar, but they need your help.”

Chapter 9

Oscar opened his eyes, his brain working frantically to tell him where he was.  He half expected to see Vergil, half to see the dormitory ceiling, but neither thought was  right.  All he could see was the sky above him; he was outdoors.  Lifting his head he watched as an amber glow burst over the horizon.  Time seemed to have sped up and he marvelled as the sunrise radiated through his body bringing with it a sense of renewal, a feeling only reinforced by the fresh crisp air surrounding him. 

Rolling onto his side he rested upon one elbow while nudging at the soft fertile grass with his other hand.  It was as though he had awoken from a most deep and comforting sleep only to find himself still dreaming.

Surveying his surroundings Oscar could have missed the sense of déjà vu were it not for the magnificent gothic building that sat some distance to his left.  The familiarity was not this time associated with the Institute he had come from, but the building he dreamt of after being knocked unconscious.  With a shock, the remainder of the jigsaw rapidly fell into place; the intricately decorated gate, the wild waving foliage and far to his right the crater where he had awoken before.  This was not the first time he had been to this world.

His mind reeling with the revelation Oscar tried to think what it might mean.  Though his mind struggled vainly, he was suddenly distracted by a presence that leapt onto his foot.

“Marvellous, you have come round. I was concerned for a second that you might not be able to step the veil.”  Vergil said.

Oscar frowned at the interruption to his train of thought but looked towards the rat, expecting of course to be faced with that gruesome and morbid husk.  Yet Vergil had changed!  Standing before Oscar he was now a most handsome sight –if that were a word to associate with rodents.  Coated with lustrous nut brown fur, Vergil exuded a healthy glow which was much more befitting to the charming voice with which he spoke.

“You’re alive.” Oscar said, his voice a mix of inquisition and astonishment.

“I wouldn’t go that far, but your point is noted for I am not such a sorry sight as I was.  Oh, I do feel much more energetic.”  Vergil added with a bow, before leaping into the air high over Oscar’s head and vanishing in a sudden plume of mist.  “You have seen this place before?” Vergil shouted as he perched upon a ledge positioned just above the main entrance.  The sound carried well, but it took Oscar a while to locate the reappearance of such a small animal.

As he finally spotted Vergil’s vantage point Oscar shouted back.

“Yes, I have.” Getting to his feet he went over to join him. “It was in a dream.  At least that’s what I thought before.  How do you know that anyway?”  he added, suspicious of what the rodent might know.

“Why, it was the first time I saw you.” Vergil replied knowingly.

“What?  So that was real, that actually happened?” Oscar felt uneasy, as though he was somehow being mocked. “Quit riddling with me...Vergil .  How did I get here before”.

“The first time?  Why you died of course Oscar.  Though only very briefly, it must be said” Vergil stated with an air of nonchalance.

Oscar’s train of thought came rushing back upon him at full speed. 

“Died… dead?   Then this must be…”

“The afterlife....”  And with that, once again Vergil turned to mist, a sly smile flashing at Oscar as he vanished.

“I’m going to have to wring the answers out of him.” Oscar grumbled under his breath.

“I would not count on it.” A voice retorted, echoing around the grounds.  Though Oscar cast about again for the location, this time he could not place it and was forced to accept the rat had actually vanished. 

Oscar cast a glance across towards the crater.  Did he really want to stay here?  After all, who knew what kind of terrors this world contained.  The black dog was a threat for a start, and even Vergil was slightly strange.  It was clear he was hiding something.  Somehow it was even less comforting now he knew this world was real, whatever kind of world it was.  Staring uncertainly at the crater for a further minute Oscar finally smiled.  Whatever it was, at least it wasn’t the Institute he despised so much!  And with that thought in mind he turned and strode purposefully towards the gothic building and all that it might contain.

Stepping through into the main entrance hall Oscar was reassured to see that the place had not changed at all since his last visit.  The décor still glinted in the dim chandelier light that struggled to illuminate the space, and the intricate detail woven all over the furniture was as fine as he could remember.  This time Oscar felt more at ease than on his previous visit; now he knew what to expect, he strode up the staircase in awe that the place was for real.  The novelty had not worn off and on his journey to the end study he could not help but marvel at the illustrious grandeur.

The huge oak door that sat at the end of the hallway was still ajar, and, testing the resistance of the hinges Oscar could tell it had not been used since he had encountered it before.  This conclusion was reinforced as he looked across the footprints still remaining on the dusty floor; they matched exactly to the plimsolls he was wearing now.  What were they, if not evidence that he had genuinely been here before.

Yet venturing further into the room he was shocked to find it not altogether as he might have expected.  Peering behind the heavy door Oscar could see that the rusty old suit of armour had gone.  He could only assume that someone had roused it from sleep so it could be displayed.  Although, given the poor condition it was in perhaps more likely it would be thrown on a rubbish pile or if they were being generous, recycled for scrap.  Regardless of the reason, it had gone, and only a smeared patch in the dust could identify that it had ever been there.  Yet, looking closer in the surrounding greyish dust Oscar spied the mottled gleam of corroded metal. Stooping to pick it up he found it was a piece of the armour.  A metal link, which had been overlooked during the clear out.

Absently placing the link in his coat pocket, Oscar turned to leave the sleepy room wondering absently where Vergil had got to.  Yet as he started to retrace his inward path so as not to not disturb any more dust, he realised something strange.  The only foot prints in the room were his, the set from the time he’d visited as a result of the accident and the set leading in today.  There were absolutely no signs of anyone else having set foot in the study and yet somehow the suit had been moved.  With a final confused glance over the study Oscar shook the thought loose from his mind and continued his way back to the main hall to wait for Vergil to reappear.  It seemed there was a growing list of questions, the answers to which he would just have to prise out of the rat.

Standing alone in the entrance hall, Oscar calmly waited for Vergil.  He had tried entering the kitchen with the giant cauldron, but found it to be locked; and he was reluctant to venture for a second time towards the sleeping quarters of the building, for fear of seeing the harrowing form of the black beast. 

As Oscar sat against a pillar waiting for what seemed like hours, his patience began to run dry.  With every passing moment his anxiety increased and he became fearful that the rat -his only link and indeed way back to a former world- might not show.  It seemed typical that such bad luck might befall upon him and despite his best attempts he could not altogether shrug off the creeping feeling of abandonment.

Yet his common sense was stronger.  It grabbed and wrenched him into the practicality of the situation, for after all Vergil had said he needed him.  Why would he be brought here only to be deserted?  Vergil was bound to show sooner or later.  The logic of the argument consoled him yet the fear which bubbled within still taunted him as a whisper: 'You’re alone'.

Finally overwhelmed by his anxiety Oscar stood up.  He needed to find Vergil and so, despite his better judgement, he entered the cavernous room stacked high with metal bunks.  But again, as in the study something was missing and the room seemed somehow bare.  It was a moment before Oscar realised why.  It wasn’t bare - merely tidy.  The old and broken toys were gone.  They no longer crawled around the concrete floor in a haphazard manner or littered the bunks.  As a matter of fact, there was no sign at all of anything in the room except the numerous rows of metal beds piled ten high up to the ceiling.  Even as he cautiously approached the end of the hall, relief washed over him. The malignant dog was absent too.

Assured by the lack of threat, Oscar set out to explore the grand building and finally locate the elusive Vergil.  He ventured throughout the labyrinth of stairwells and hallways, searching the eclectically tiered complex.  Feeling anew the exhilaration that had captivated him on his first accidental arrival to this dream like world, a sense of adventure coursed though him.  He strutted beside the towers, turrets and walkways further into the belly of the structure.   Avoiding the darkly lit areas he tried to memorize the path he was taking, using the bizarre features as landmarks on the journey.  Unfortunately, many of the paths led to dead ends and many of the doors were held fast by sturdy iron locks.  He knew just by looking that his skill at picking would grant him access to such areas, but alas, in this new world he lacked the tools that were so vital for the task.  Eventually, faced with both physical and mental dead ends Oscar found himself trudging back towards the main entrance hall.

“Did you find much?” Vergil said in a matter of fact kind of way as Oscar entered.  He was lounging on a leather chair near the main door, in a particularly human-like manner.

“No, I’ve been looking for you!” Oscar snapped, irritated by the rat’s casual appearance. “I don’t much appreciate you bringing me here, then disappearing without so much a clue or answer”.  Oscar voice had risen and he clenched a fist by his side in anger.

Vergil looked surprised. 

“I’m sorry” the rat replied, with genuine guilt. “I do not mean to trick you in any manner.  I thought it might be best for you to discover things at your own pace. I’m sorry if my nature is somewhat whimsical.  I have been alone for a long while and I forget how to keep good company.” 

Though Vergil’s eyes were now down turned, Oscar could see the sincerity in both his words and posture.  Maybe he would have to give the creature a little patience, for it seemed as though Vergil had his own issues to resolve.  Cutting through the cloud of silence that now sat heavily on the room Vergil jumped to his feet, snapping out of the sombre state.

“Ahh I forgot, you have yet to meet our new friend Oscar.  Let me make an introduction.”  Vergil made a low gentle purr at the back of his throat and directed Oscar’s attention to high above the main stairwell, to a window ledge.

Perched upon the window sill high above them a small and scruffy cat lay fast asleep.  Its fur was almost tortoiseshell, yet the shades were so much brighter; red, orange and yellow swirled across the surface almost giving the impression the cat was aflame.

Disturbed by the summoning call, the animal turned its head in Oscar’s direction, revealing two bright, green eyes.  Gracefully it pulled itself up and strolled to the edge.  Without the slightest hesitation the animal stepped off the ledge and plummeted the great height towards the ground where they stood.  Oscar’s heart jumped into his mouth, for the descent was large and the animal would surely not survive the impact. Yet before even the slightest noise of protest could leave his lips, the animal unfurled two tremendous wings - a metre each in span - and glided with them to a spot just in front of where Oscar stood.

“Brilliant eh?  Don’t worry, she seems quite friendly” Vergil said.  The cat twined itself around Oscar’s legs by manner of greeting.  Reaching down Oscar stroked her flank and was taken aback by the luxuriously fine and silky fur.  Sudden flashes of children playing in golden fields came to his mind unbidden.  It was so comforting that it took a while before he finally withdrew his hand.

“Does she have a name?” Oscar asked.

“I’m sure she does.” Vergil said in his typical manner. “But I do not know it.  I found her strolling through the grounds and she seemed quite alone.”

“Vergil.” Oscar returned his attention to the rat, who seemed adept at diverting Oscar's enquiries.  “Things are different from when I was here before.”

Vergil eyed Oscar intensely as though trying to read him. “How so?” he said.

“Well things are gone, missing.  There was a black dog here before, but not like any ordinary dog; it was twisted and darkly deformed and it gave off the most horrendous call.  It chased me and I only just got away.” Oscar shivered at the thought, before continuing.  “There were also a load of toys in the dormitory before.  They seemed almost alive and were wandering aimlessly around, but now they’ve disappeared as well.  I guess someone must’ve cleared the house out.”

“Hmm, you could say that.” Vergil echoed darkly, shaking himself.  He looked sidelong at Oscar, before asking.  “Does it seem familiar to you in any way?” Oscar looked at Vergil in surprise, for that was exactly what he had been thinking about this place.  Once again it seemed Vergil knew something more than he was letting on.  Nonetheless, Oscar answered him.

“Yes it seems like a different version of the world I came from.  It's like the Institute only more surreal.  Everything is familiar, yet very different, I just can’t place it all.”  He furrowed his brow and stared at the cat lying at his feet, methodically cleaning her wings with her tongue.  In many ways she seemed a normal cat and yet - aside from the obvious addition of wings – something about her didn’t seem altogether cat-like.