The Words Of Darkness

Matthew had been walking non-stop for two days. His feet bled and his muscles ached. The dagger he had stolen from Shade Prison, still red from his own blood. The wound it left on his shoulder was still wet and a small red line trickled down his body.

"Out here or in there, you still can't outrun what you are." A voice said, causing Matthew to look around.

Beside him walked a transparent figure that was about the same height, but a different build. This figure was slender, short cut hair, a shaved face, and was clothed in a black long coat, flat-brim bounty hunter's hat, fingerless gloves, boots, jeans, and shirt. On the figure's back, a curved sword was sheathed and a black and silver revolver rested in it's holster on his belt.

"You are not me." Matthew seethed, turning his eyes forward.

"That's bullshit and you know it." The figure said, "Murderer."

Matthew came to a creek that had plenty of fish swimming in it. He approached a nearby tree and broke off a limb, which he sharpened to a point with the dagger.

"I'm not a murderer." He said, "What happened was an accident. I told you that and you've seen my thoughts."

"You say it was an accident, but you still got off on it."

"I find no pleasure in killing."

Seeing a fish come into range, Matthew quickly threw his makeshift spear. The sharp point penetrated his target and a red mist flowed downstream.

"Hmph, still accurate." He grinned, wading into the water to retrieve his meal.

"If you find no pleasure in killing," the figure said, pointing at Matthew, "then why are you pleased now? You still took a life."

"This is different. I'm hungry and need a wash. What happened back home was self defense. He tried to attack me and her with a knife. What was I supposed to do, let him stab and rob us."

Matthew took the fish off his spear and bit into it. The raw flesh, flaky blue scales, and copper tasting blood covered his lips and teeth.

"Ah, yes." The figure said, standing on the shore, "Her."

Matthew said nothing as he continued eating the fish.

"She was horrified by what you did." The figure said as a grin crossed his face, "She watched you punch his throat and saw him gurgle and sputter as he suffocated in his own blood. You knew she was more afraid of you after that than anyone else. That's why she left you, because she saw what kind of monster you really were."

Matthew responded to that remark by hurtling his spear at the figure, only to have it pass through and penetrate the ground behind him.

"That was useless." The figured mocked, drawing his revolver and firing three bullets at Matthew, only to pass through him unharmed, "As useless as that is. No matter what you try, you're stuck with me. Don't forget, if it wasn't for me, you would've bled out the day you came through that portal to this world. You asked me to help you and said you would pay any price to live, remember."

"Most days, I regret asking for your help then." Matthew groaned, bringing the dagger up to his hair and slicing a handful of strands, "Had I known what you were then, I'd have preferred to die there. You didn't want to help me, you just needed a physical being to keep you tied to this realm. I know that now, since we've been stuck together, Demon."

Demon smiled, revealing sharp black fangs.

"And why do you choose to look like my past self." Matthew asked, finishing his haircut and using his dagger to shave his face, "Why not use your imagination and pick something else?"

"You mean like this?" A feminine and seductive voice said, causing Matthew to look.

On the shore, a beautiful young woman stood where Matthew's past self was. Her light brown hair cascaded down her slender Caucasian body, reaching halfway down her back. Her only articles of clothing were a black bra and panties. She turned around, allowing Matthew to look at her fully.

"Does this suit you better?" She asked with a sultry look in her brown eyes, "Would you prefer to have something you can't touch?"

Matthew looked for a moment, but his expression was plain as he returned to shaving his face.

"If you think that I thought of her that way, then you don't know anything about me." He said, cleaning the blade, "Or her, for that matter."

He splashed water on his face, cleaning it and washing away any excess hair. The sky started to dim as the day turned to night. Deciding he was clean enough, Matthew waded out of the creek and started gathering wood for a fire. He paid no attention as Demon changed back into past Matthew.

"I know enough to know that you think about her almost all the time." He said, taking a seat next to the rock firepit Matthew had made, "Even if you did make it back to your world, do you honestly think she'll still be alive and young enough for you to have a steady relationship? And even if she was, what are the chances she'll still have you? She's probably had her legs wrapped around several guys by now."

"Again, you don't know anything about her." Matthew replied, rubbing two sticks together and causing a spark, "She has far more self respect than that and knows the difference between good and bad people. She knew that I was sorry for what I had done. And, for your information, I'm the one who told her to leave. I was the one to break it off between us, because I didn't want her to be around someone with blood on his hands."

A small fire flickered and burned as the stars illuminated the night sky. Matthew and Demon sat on opposite sides, watching the flames. Out of the pair of them, only Matthew had a shadow behind him, while Demon did not. It reminded Matthew that he was the only one who could see Demon, while others couldn't.

"It's because of you, the princesses hate me." Matthew said, grabbing a burning twig from the fire, "You knew what would happen that day and you used me like a puppet. Even when we were speaking with them a few weeks ago, it was you who chose to do the talking, forcing me to be a prisoner of my own mind."

"I was the one who had the vision." Demon said, "So, in reality, I was the one who had to tell them."

"No, you had the vision and saw it as a way to get under their feathers. I honestly wish Luna had finished us in that cage."

Demon looked at Matthew with a deadpan expression, watching Matthew press the burning ember against the knife wound in his shoulder. He winced and grunted in pain as he sealed the wound.

"No, you don't." Demon said, "You fear death too much."

"After living this long," Matthew groaned, laying down on his back, "death would be a welcome sight."

He looked over at Demon, only to find him gone. But, he knew that Demon had retreated into his mind, until it was time to come back out.

"Just leave me alone." Matthew said as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.