Chapter 26

They converged on the steps, leading up to the asylum. Rachel, Anita, Mrs Morris and the golden wolf. Galen had already shifted. They'd agreed he would be in his wolf form, in case of an attack. Anita stood with a canister of kerosene and a box of matches. If push came to shove, she would be the one to light the fire. 

"It feels strange,"Rachel said, "knowing this will soon be over. Not that I'm complaining!"

Anita chuckled nervously. "I've never attended one of these before. And hopefully, I never will again."

Rachel gave her a warm smile. "Thanks for being here Anita. I was a bitch to you that day we met, and I'm sorry.Jealousy is definitely not a good look on me."

"No worries,"Anita replied. "Just make Galen happy.He’s been through so much and I really feel you’re the one who can heal his heart and he will do the same for you."

He walked up to Rachel, nudging her with his head. She bent down, staring into his expressive eyes and laying a kiss on his muzzle. "I'll be okay,"she whispered. "Our lives are just beginning, and I can't wait to spend every moment with you. "

He closed his eyes in recognition as she held him to her and when she let him go, he and Anita walked to the grave. She pulled the tarp away and waved to them. 

Rachel and Mrs Morris went in. 

"Do I look allright?"Mrs Morris asked. "I know its strange to ask, but I always try to look my best."

Rachel laughed, taking in the elegant two-piece pants suit, the older woman was wearing. There wasn't exactly a dress code for these things. 

"You look fine,"she said. "Are you ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be, Rachel."

Rachel closed the door behind them, noting the sun was already setting. The building was cloaked in semi-darkness as the wind mourned through all the broken windows. 

It was eerily quiet, as if the building itself knew what was about to take place. 

"Where do we go?"Mrs Morris asked. 

"In there,"Rachel replied, pointing to the room with the shattered door. In her mind, she recalled Galen coming through it, of him lying broken in her lap. She cast the memory aside. She had to focus and be strong. Allison would end her in a moment, if she sensed any weakness. 

When they walked into the room, Mrs Morris reeled and Rachel had to steady her, as the shattered door became whole before their eyes and slammed shut. 

"Don't be frightened,"Rachel said. "It’s an illusion.Either from Allison or the dark filth controlling her."

"Is she here?"Mrs Morris choked out. "Is my mother here?"

"She's hiding, Mrs Morris. Speak to her, tell her what's in your heart. "

"Allison?Are you here?"Mrs Morris began. "If you are, please show yourself to us."

When nothing happened, she looked to Rachel, who put a comforting arm around her shoulder. 

"You're doing fine. Just keep talking to her. She needs to connect to you."

Mrs Morris nodded, clearing her throat. "Allison, all my life, you have been a constant presence in it. I never understood why. I never fully realized your pain and what you were going through. The night you killed David, my world shattered before my eyes and I hated you. . . Now I know, it was your way of showing your love, the only way you knew how."

Rachel felt a drop in temperature, as the night grew darker outside. Her flashlight was in her hand and she flicked its switch, pointing it in all the corners of the room. Wherever Allison was in there, she didn't want to be seen,or worse,the dark spirit was preventing her from being seen.

"Allison,"Rachel said, "this is Rachel. Your daughter is here, to speak to you and make you understand how much you've hurt her. Please, show yourself. You have to cross over into the light and give all the children you kept here, the peace they deserve."

A dark shadow moved against the wall and Rachel felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. This was not Allison. The shadow must be the dark spirit, who Allison made the deal with. It was agitated, but it had no power. If it did, it would have attacked them. Which could mean only one thing. 

Allison had released the souls of the children. It had nothing to feed on and give it strength. Mrs Morris saw it too and she clutched Rachel's hand in a death grip. 

"It can't hurt you, "Rachel said. "Its lost its power. Speak to her again. "

Mrs Morris wiped a tear away. "Mother, please come out."

The paint on the wall peeled as the dark shadow moved in fury across it and for a moment, it seemed the entire building shook with its force. It was trapped, Rachel realized, in its own reality, with no control whatsoever.The innocence it so cavalierly fed on,was gone.

"Nadine?"

Rachel looked questioningly at the other woman. 

"That was the name she chose for me,"Mrs Morris explained. 

"Nadine, I'm scared. . . I didn't mean to do all those things. . . he made me do it. . . "

From the darkest corner of the room, she came. Rachel felt tears well in her eyes, looking at the beautiful young woman before her. Her dark hair hung in loose curls, framing her face and her eyes were the deepest shade of blue she'd ever seen. Her long, white dress fit like a glove, on her slender body. 

"Allison,"Rachel said so softly, it was almost a whisper. "You have a place in the light. Look at your daughter, see how well she is. She doesn't need you anymore and you can go."

"I'll be judged,"Allison said. "For all the evil I've done. I wasn't well, for so long and he made all these promises to me.He said he would give my son back to me if I helped him."

"No,Allison, you won't be. There you will find warmth and love, all the things you never had in this world. You've atoned for your sins, by letting all the children go. The real evil, is him, not you."

Rachel felt a tremor of fear, as in her mind, she heard it scream in a guttural voice, filled with piercing pain and agony. Its darkness was overwhelming, causing bile to rise in her throat. She fought against it, keeping her eyes on it, and watching it contort as the light began to fill the room. 

Mrs Morris cried as Allison came toward her. "I forgive you,"she said. "And I love you, If not for you, I would never have been born."

The dark shadow jumped from wall to wall, snaking along the floor, trying to avoid the cleansing and pure light. The light was hurting it, giving it a taste of the misery it had brought to so many others. 

"Go in peace Allison,"Rachel said, her voice breaking with emotion. "You deserve it, after all this time."

The remnants of the window shattered, and Rachel and Mrs Morris ducked in fear as the dark shadow fled the room. It had no other means of escape. It was well and truly defeated. 

As Allison disappeared, in a golden, warm glow, Rachel gave way to her tears, while the light receded, leaving them in darkness, once more.