a whisper of legions

8/7/2019 A Whisper of Legions

1/5

Stephanie Jen

Mrs. Susan Giffone

Creative WritingDecember 21, 2010

A Whisper of Legions

Panting, the teenager ran down the cliff. His eyes were wide with fright as he screamed,

Stay away! I didnt do anything. He slipped and his leg scraped across the boulder as he

galloped faster. He skied down the rest of the cliff, his hands still shielding his face as he glared

maniacally.

No! he wailed. I didnt mean to. No one knows except you! And you are nothing but

a voice in my head! He writhed in agony. Legions. Legions know! But no one else! Only

legions.

Quietly in the hospital room, the young man lay silent on the white bed. His closed eyes

suddenly snapped open as he heard a tapping at the window. The death-like silence was

shattered by a shriek from the boy. Doctors and nurses came running to calm him but the boy

thrashed and strained at the bonds restraining him. Calm down, young man. Theres nothing

there!

No! I didnt mean to! It was an accident! Sean continued.

Finally, in the white, windowless room they placed him, the boy grew calmer and could

think. His mind flashed back to that little girl.

Take good care of Rebecca. She is only four so you have to watch her every second or

she will vanish like smoke!

I will, Mrs. Garner! But he hadnt. He had fallen asleep on the grassy hill where

Rebecca was playing with wildflowers and she had wandered away. When he awoke, the little


2/5

girl with the large black eyes and brown curly hair was gone. Frantic, he began looking

everywhere. Finally, he saw her at the edge of a large cliff near the ocean. Rebecca! he

yelled, crossly. The little girl looked up with a smile that faded as she lost her footing. An

unearthly scream split the sky as she plummeted to her death. Rebecca? Rebecca!

Sean had run. Chased by the demons of his conscience and eaten by guilt, the boy grew

thin and his sanity was close to snapping.

I should have been more careful, he whispered. I should have watched her more

carefully. But its too late. I have to conquer my fear and damn the guilt, he tried to reassure

himself but the whisper of a small breeze in the hall of the blank room brought shivers to his

heart. It wasnt my fault, he whimpered, as he heard something coming closer.

Sean, you just have to face your fears and get on with your life, whispered a voice.

Sean stopped shuddering and slowly lifted his tear-stained face.

Mom? But youre dead. Youve been dead for three years, now, he said in a hollow

voice.

You are useless and stupid. Sean recoiled in shock, with a hurt expression on his face.

Just do what I tell you and perhaps, then, you can become useful, convinced the phantom,

sternly.

A month later, the psychotic-demented boy was released from the mental hospital. His

eyes were wide but no longer blood-shot and his hands were no longer bloody; but in his mind,

his arms were covered with the blood of Rebecca. He wore a white dress shirt, which he stuffed

into his skinny jeans but he had a listlessness about him that swallowed everything around him.


3/5

He slowly shuffled down the uneven concrete sidewalk, aimlessly. People did not pay attention

to him and anyone who did was given a blank stare.

You really should go talk to Mrs. Garner and explain what happened, whispered his

conscience but was quickly silenced by that sly voice of his mother, What are you even

thinking? Mrs. Garner would have you arrested for not taking care of her daughter. You dont

want to go to jail, Sean. You really dont. Besides, you need to earn your usefulness.

I dont? echoed Sean, wearily. He was having a terrible headache from all the voices

in his head. Now, more and more voices began giving their opinion. A few supported his

conscience but most just scoffed at the very idea. Sean, we dont want to go to limbo!

screamed hundreds of voices in his head. Just forget about it and go back to that cliff. You

were a smart kid. You can invent an excuse why Rebecca disappeared. Lets see if youre lousy

brains still work.

The teenager walked quickly. Something began following him. Something was chasing

him! Something wanted to kill him! He ran faster as panic took over his entire being. Run!

Run! Dont look back! Run! His head throbbed. Panting once more, the youths eyes were

wide and staring. A hand fell on his shoulder. Wait, kid, said the friendly man, Where are

you going? He had a friendly smile and his face was kind. But in Seans crazed eyes, the man

was a demon with a leering grin summoned straight from hell.

Leave me alone! Sean screamed. We dont want you here! Run, Run, RUN!

screamed the voices. Sean broke free from the man and once again, began running.

Dont run, it isnt the answer, pleaded the man. Jesus is the answer!

Dont say that name to us, preacher! chorused the voices, using Sean as their

mouthpiece. We dont need an answer! We are the answer to our problems! they roared.


4/5

With that, Sean continued running, this time, unhindered. His legs were weary but he

could not stop. His feet grew bloody blisters but he could not feel the pain. With inhuman

strength, he leapt over a tall fence, landing cat-like on the dewy grass. Everywhere around him

was beauty but his crazed eyes saw none of it. He ran. He wished he could explain to Mrs.

Garner what happened. He truly wanted to but the voices were too strong. They goaded and

coaxed him to continue on his journey to the cliff. Finally, with a strength that was not his own,

Sean managed to bring the reluctant and angry voices to go to Mrs. Garners house first.

As he neared the small brick house, the voices screamed and gibbered, NO! We will not

go in! I must! I have to see how she is doing! argued Sean, in his right mind for one quick

moment. He ran forward, his body twitching and knocked on the door. Mrs. Garner opened the

door. She took one look and Sean and ran back into the house. She grabbed the family Bible on

her fireplace and took it outside. Stay back! screamed the voices. You will not come near.

This boy is ours, croaked Sean.

Sean! What happened? We found Rebecca on a rock shelf. She had a broken leg but

now she is all right. Where have you been? asked Mrs. Garner. She took a step forward and

instantly, Sean began running. Sean!? Stop! Where are you going?

Leave me alone! Sean screamed, again. He ran faster toward the cliff. He could see it

in the distance. In a minute he was there. His thin face was drawn and white, like a skull. His

blue eyes were clouded and bulging as he stood by the tall cliff. For a second, he relaxed. The

voices were silent. Rebecca was all right. She was alive.

What are you waiting for, Sean? whispered the mother in his head. Go! You know

what you should do.

Wait, Sean! Dont do it! screamed a woman.


5/5

Do what? asked Sean, wearily. He was tired of arguing with the voices. Deep inside,

he knew they were demons but he couldnt do anything about it. He felt alone and tired. He

wished it was just a bad dream and pinched himself. He couldnt feel anything. He pinched

againand againbut the feeling of pain was gone. He looked at his arm. There were red

marks where he pinched himself but there was no feeling. Sean! the woman yelled again.

Dont look back, Sean. Just do it. You dont feel fulfilled. You were useless. We will

help you and find a place you where you will be needed. That old woman behind you cant

make a difference in your life. Just jump and you will leave your fears and weariness behind,

soothed the demon.

Sean! Dont jump! You have a future! There is hope for you. You just cant see it

now

Hope? Future? said Sean, bitterly and without the slightest trace of humor. I have no

future. There is no future, only the present. There isno hope. I am useless. His blank face

was solemn with the signs of tears.

Sean half turned as he spoke but he was tired of arguing. The voices were too strong.

With a burst of energy, he turned back toward the cliff and jumped. The demon in his head that

represented his mother cackled and screeched with joy, He is truly ours now! The legions

laughed and jeered at the boy as his weary body plummeted down toward the jagged rocks. Sean

didnt care. He looked up at the retreating figure of Mrs. Garner, staring down at him in horror

and pity. There is no hope.

a whisper of legions

Documents