Henry Neville: The Geist Therapist

The Face in the Window

"I don't know this place. The beauty of this city is ruined behind all this brick," the spectre hissed as he slowly glided down the street away from Hammersmith Bridge. "And metal. So cold and drull," ignoring many of the alarmed Londoners and their protests he continued to scold the architectural structures and the ugliness of the once stone and wooden city.

The spectre had long since given up on trying to figure out why he was back among the living; he decided it was now time to have some fun. He evaporated into nothing drawing loud gasps from those around him.

The spirit reemerged inside a nearby bakery. The stoves shook and the loafs of bread were raised in the air spinning in a circle before being launched at the baker and nearby customers like missiles by an invisible force.

The spectre laughed as he watched the pale ghostly horrified looks on the faces of the living. He flung himself forward and materialised enough to smash the window as he passed out of the bakery and into a florist.

Flowers and plants were being ripped from their pots where to the normal eye looked like they were throwing themselves across the room with great spasms of energy. The ghoul lifted the young flower girl into the air and dropped her into a display of ceramic pots, smashing them on impact. Fortunately the girl was not hurt.

Frustrated by this, the spectre fled through the doorway and pushed a gentleman in a bowler hat into the side of an abandoned carriage. The horse and driver had long evacuated at the sight of the entity.

Looking up into the smog filled sky the spectre smiled, "This city will be reinvigorated and I shall call it home." He raised his arms and bolts of lightning rained down from the smog and straight into his finger tips and out through his feet striking the ground beneath him.

The foundations of the buildings shook vigorously, the plate glass smashed into tiny fragments and the cobbled brick beneath him began to crumble. The street emptied of the residents and locals as they ran with terrified screams in every direction. The carriage, market stalls and any other object not secured down were lifted into the air. When the lightning stopped they were pulled back down to the ground by gravity, destroyed beyond repair on impact.

Several loud whistles distracted his train of thought. There were several uniformed constables surrounding him holding truncheons. He studied them, knowing them to be frightened, "Are you soldiers of the monarch?" He asked.

One man stepped forward, "We are officers of the law. We serve and protect."

"Your protection is not needed here," the spectre clapped his hands together, a shockwave left his fingertips and the seven officers in front of him were pushed backwards, tripping over debris.

"I say, you stop that this instance!" The constable angered, "I will have to-"

The spectre cut him off. "You'll have to what?"

The officer backed down and regrouped with his colleagues.

"The realm of Victoria has made men weak," The spectre said to himself. "Leave this place if you do not wish to die!" He shouted to the uniformed men.

"We will not leave until you tell us what you are and what you want! Are you a servant of God or Satan?"

"I serve only myself. The wills and laws of men do not comply. You could not truly comprehend what I am."

"We demand that you retire quietly or return back to once you came!"

An electrifying spark crossed the spectre's eyes, "You dare to command me?" He glided towards the officer, outstretching his arm as he neared.

The officer could feel himself being pulled forward by the invisible force, "What the Dickens-"

"Goodbye, officer of the law," the spectre hissed, his hand reaching the officers throat.

"I don't like goodbye anymore, it sounds too certain," came a familiar voice.

The officer and the spectre turned their heads to the latter's left. A frown immediately fell upon the spectre's gaunt face, "Doctor," he greeted begrudgingly.

"Release the man immediately and give me a moment please. That was quite a walk."

The spectre let go of the officer who dropped to the floor like a log and began breathing heavily. The ghoul slowly approached Henry, "Why should I give you anything?"

"I am here to help you," Henry gulped as the spectre stopped inches from him. He now appeared larger in size.

"You tried to kill what is already dead. I do not believe I am the one you are trying to help."

"Careful, lad. He has a short temper," the officer said to Henry from the floor.

"Quiet!" The spectre growled and the officer was being dragged by the invisible force back to his fellow officers.

"My intention was not to see you killed. More of a slight push back to the forever beyond where an eternity of peace awaits your return."

The spectre let out a short chuckle, "No peace awaits me in the depths of Hell." He raised his arms and Henry was lifted into the air. He threw the doctor against the door of the pharmacist and laughed again.

Henry let out a sigh of relief as he checked the liquid bottles about his waste before immediately looking up to the store's signage, "I will return for something for back pain," he said to the door as he stood up. He flicked a switch and his new silver rod sparked up.

The spectre angrily pointed his fingers towards Henry. The blue aura around him grew brighter and electric bolts could be seen flowing across his body, down his arms and into his hands. When it reached his fingers it burst out of his tips like a burst pipe and straight at Henry.

With no other choice Henry held up the rod for defence and the lightning struck it, pushing Henry back slightly, "That's new," Henry remarked as he watched his rod withstand the electrifying assault. Not only was it holding it's own it also appeared to be absorbing the ghoul's attack.

Henry thrust the rod forward and all the energy it had built up shot right back at the spectre. For the first time, he was the one being pushed back.

"Curse you, Doctor," he hissed.

Before the spectre had time to think Henry sprang forward and swung at him with the stick. The ghoul evaporated just in time and Henry's rod struck nothing.

Henry froze, not because of the demon he was fighting. A familiar face appeared behind a broken window of the florist. A young blonde woman was crouching in the debris of the store, peering out at him as if hiding. She dived for cover again when she realized she had been spotted.

Henry scanned the area for the spectre and once happy he was not going to immediately return Henry stepped over to the open window, "Miss, are you quite alright?"

"Yes, quite, thank you," came a flustered reply. "Do not trouble yourself, sir."

"Nonsense, miss. Come out, it is quite safe," Henry tried to spot her in the dimly lit room. "Are you hurt?"

"I am fine, good sir. Do not trouble yourself. I will be out promptly."

"Are you sure... Lucy?" With Henry's words there followed a crash and a tumble from inside. The woman appeared in the window. "Or do you prefer Luca?"

"How do you know me?" She asked, trying to sound innocent.

"You my dear, are either attracted to danger or a very unfortunate soul. Which is it?"

"You may call me Luca, Doctor."

Henry smiled. "Luca. Henry Neville, at your service."

"Pleasure," Luca replied and extended a hand through the broken window.

Henry took it and shook gently. "The pleasure is mine, miss." He searched through the wreckage behind her. "Are you alone? Come out, we can get you to safety."

"I'm perfectly safe, Dr Neville. I can take care of myself. It is you that might want to leave before that spirit returns. It is frightfully devilish."

"No need to worry, miss. I will take care of him."

Luca let out an unintentional sigh, "Your shaft will not be strong enough against this type of dark energy."

"How so?" Henry asked, perplexed at the statement. What is it that you do, Miss Luca?"

"I work in service for others but my passion lies in the study of earth science."

"Impressive, I didn't expect a-"

"A woman?" Luca responded defensively.

"That's not what I meant. Science just seems a bit ambitious for a servant."

Luca raised an eyebrow, "Do you insult everyone you meet, Dr Neville? Or just those that may threaten your intellect?"

"I'm sorry, miss. Let me start over. Please tell me what you mean about dark energy?"

"It's a term I use to describe what you are up against. I know all about you, Dr Neville."

"Henry, please "

Luca ignored him, "You help class one and class two entities of the paranormal diversive realm. The level two's are the more tricky ones that I'm guessing don't go willingly, correct?"

"You are well learned," replied Henry with admiration.

"I know, Dr Neville," Luca let out a soft smile. Henry saw a innocence to this seemingly independent woman and he adored her. "The ghoul you are facing here is a class four entity. He has a much more physical presence in this world, an attachment that your current electromagnetic restrictions are not capable of tackling."

"I say, you do know a lot about me," Henry was taken aback. He held up the rod for Luca to get a good view. "Would it help you to know I have upgraded recently?"

"Perhaps," Luca replied. "But you still won't be able to take on the ghoul alone."

"Are you offering to help? You have vast knowledge of my field."

Luca retreated back into the darkness of the room. "We were not meant to meet yet, Dr Neville. I have been following your work for sometime. Your research on paranormal phenomena has made great strides."

"Is that so? What do you mean we weren't supposed to meet yet?" Henry was confused.

"I will explain in due course but now there is no time. I fear your entity is returning to us right now. I will help you stop him, after that I cannot say what will happen."

"I only have the one inferior rod," Henry replied.

"I do not need weapons of your craft, Doctor. You can keep it," Luca walked out of the broken hinged door and into the street to stand near Henry.

"How do you know he is returning?"

"I can feel the presence of spirits nearby. The one you are facing is not the only one in these parts." Luca stepped out into the street.

A loud cackle filled the air, the spectre had indeed returned. The officers that were once nearby were now gone. Henry and Luca were alone.

"Are you ready, Dr Neville," Luca said casually. She stretched out her arm to the side and cupped her hand. Three class two entities appeared around her and she immediately clasped one by the throat.

Henry who was awestruck for so long suddenly came to his senses, "How are you doing that?"

"No time, Doctor," Luca replied as she thrust the spirit towards Henry. He immediately struck it with the rod and it evaporated.

The two remaining entities were hesitant. They knew living humans could not physically touch them, but this strange young woman somehow could. They were acutely aware of Henry and the power of his weapon but deemed him only a minor threat until the other person appeared. The spectre never told them of the woman when he gathered his force.

More appeared in the street and slowly approached them. There were several now encircling Luca, she swung wildly at them and they were just as surprised as Henry when her attacks made physical contact.

Henry joined the fray and felled three easily with the rod. He attempted to punch one spirit like his companion but found his hand going straight through the entity.

Luca got in a few clean hooks and the unlucky spirits evaporated out of sight with the blow of her fists. "Haha," she called with delight. "We make excellent combatants against paranormal soldiers," she spoke with excitement.

Henry took out a couple more, "This is not how I pictured today panning out."

Luca chuckled, "I haven't had this much fun in a long, long time." She grabbed two ghouls by their ears and bashed their heads together. Startled, they evaporated and retreated away from the ruckus."

Eventually the spirits stopped advancing. With it being increasingly difficult causing any harm to the woman and the man sending them who knows where, they backed off.

The spectre of the Thames now stood alone, undeterred, he expected the weak to fail. He eyed the woman closely, "I know you," was all he said.

Luca lost her concentration and stuttered back, "I- I don't kn- know you."

"Oh I think you do, dear," he grinned broadly.

"What's he talking about, Luca?" Henry asked, a little nervously.

"You were there in the shaft, not three nights ago when I first returned to this awful London."

"You're mistaken," Luca growled aggressively.

"The spectre laughed, "I think not, daughter of evil."

Henry did not know which one to look at, "Daughter of evil?"

"Not now, Doctor," Luca hissed. "Help me end this mess, please!"

"Hahaha," the spectre laughed, "It seems the doctor still does not know what he's up against." Henry knew he was referring to Luca this time. "The daughter of evil is a witch, she should be burnt at the stake."

"How dare you!" Luca screamed clenching her fists. She was getting ready to lunge at him with all her might.

"Don't listen to him, Luca. I don't believe his words," replied Henry

"Witch," the spectre heckled. "Witch, witch."

"Luca, don't do anything stupid," Henry said as a warning and he hoped, a comfort.

"I'm sorry, Doctor. I do know this spirit. It's time I put this saga to a close," a faint luminous light began to form around Luca.

"What's happening, Luca? Talk to me," Henry pleaded.

Luca ignored Henry, not by choice. She was now in her own void, ignorant of her surroundings. Even the spectre was feeling cautious of her next move.

"She is casting a spell," the spectre croaked.

Nonsense," Henry replied. "Luca?"

Luca screamed incomprehensible words and threw herself at the ghoul. She struck the spectre in the centre of his midriff and he let out a hallowed cry as a bright light appeared and enveloped them both. Sparks of electricity exploded from the light.

Henry covered his goggled eyes as the sudden burst of light was too unbearable. It lasted several seconds before showing any sign of fading. Their screams died out first before the electricity. Henry was able to look again but he was aghast at what awaited him as the illumination faded away.

***