Taken


It must be an asthma attack, I guessed. The air felt heavy, and it was growing more difficult to breathe. My lungs were going to burst if the doctor did not arrive on time, but there was no sign of him. Even swallowing was difficult now. My vision was getting blurry and the room was getting darker.

Mother arrived with a man with a suitcase. The doctor, finally, I thought! The man came nearer, observed my eyes and put his hand on my chest. It felt as if the lungs were reaching out to him for help; they were pushing and crawling. Then the man reached into his coat and took out a cross. He held the cross in front of me. I felt burning inside me, and then I passed out.

The next time I opened my eyes, I found the man looking at me. Now that I could see him properly, he was no doctor. He was a priest. Mother was all in tears on the other side of the bed.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"You're sick son, very sick," said the man.

"What's the illness?" I asked incredulously.

"I don't think you are ready to know yet"

"I'm ready as can be. Please tell me what it is"

"There's a spirit inside you, son, beside the one that is yours"

"What do you mean?"

"There's a spirit, a very strong and sinister one, that has taken refuge inside your heart. It has been siphoning the soul from you. But recently it had been trying to borrow your physical form. That was what caused the seizure that day..."

"That day...?"

"It's been four days, son. You've been waking, talking, eating and sleeping all these days, or rather 'it' has been. I could guess that you wouldn't remember"

"What is going to happen now? How am I going to get rid of it?"

"Listen, son. Some things are inevitable. All you can do is accept them..."

"Tell me straight away!"

"You are not going to get rid of it. It is going to get rid of you. It's just a matter of time. This morning it has taken control of your memory. That is why you are getting back your earlier senses. The evil is inside you son. I'm sorry. Nothing we can do..."

Mother burst into tears.

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