Unsolved Deceptions Chapter 4 Watch Your Back

I stared at the third portal, the symbol was a face of a man it seemed, with a wide unsettling smile and what looked to be those old 1700s style hats. “Now hold on there a second Evans, don’t run into the fire just yet. Did you really think that a pathetic klutz like you could stand on only one speed boost? Why I have more power than that, come here,” Bierce scoffed.

 I scowled at her as I walked over, even when giving powers to help me she still had to be a bitch about it. “Your power please, I’d hardly call the ring pieces you stole from me your power,” Malak grumbled through that door. “Place your hand on the alter,” Bierce instructed, ignoring Malak completely. I placed my hand on the alter.

 I then felt that unnatural electric feeling zip through my body, a feeling I was surprisingly already starting to become used to, I took in Malak’s bitter remark about his power being stolen, and then possibly the most crazy thought slipped into my mind, were Malak and the monsters really the ones in the wrong in this situation? 

I felt like a traitorous lunatic for even daring to think that when they wanted me dead, but when I truly thought about it, it wasn’t like Malak or the monsters were going after me for no reason, I was the one who was breaking into their realms and stealing from them, and while murder is a very cruel response and they were obviously quite sadistic about it.

Truthfully they weren’t doing it for no reason they were trying to protect their power, a power I assume is pretty damn important due to the lengths they’re willing to go to prevent it from being taken. It wasn’t like Bierce was all that innocent either, from what I knew she seemed to have no problem or the slightest bit of remorse for the likely thousands of souls.

Souls that have died under her command to get the soul shards, but I suppose that there was no room for such black and white thinking in a purgatorial place like this, a place right between the holy and pureness of Heaven and the vile and sin of Hell. Nothing was completely dark nor light, it was all one shade of gray, or maybe this place was nothing but evil and it was all one shade of black.

I wouldn’t put it past this place being perfectly honest. I turned to look at Bierce, despite her being the only person with me in this weird ballroom, I knew hardly anything more about her than I did when I first arrived here. I didn’t know why she was here herself, how long she had been here exactly, why she wanted this ring. 

Hell, I didn’t even know for sure if Bierce was even human or some other creature entirely simply wearing a mask of humanity. “So, how long have you been here anyway?” I asked. “Much longer than you,” was all she said. I rolled my eyes, how informative. “Well, are you just gonna stand there? Go on, get to it,” she ordered as she gestured me to the portal.

 I took a deep breath and stepped inside. The sight I was met with was quite the contrast to the burning rundown school I had just escaped from. It was still nighttime but the first thing my eyes caught was quite a pretty looking fountain in an outside area surrounded by neatly cut bushes, small torches gently lighting this area with a fancy gate up ahead. 

I clicked my flashlight on to light up my path before I cautiously moved forward, constantly looking over my shoulder and listening sharp for even the slightest of noises as if the shadows themselves were watching me. The sound was uncanny, it wasn’t like being outside normally, it was dead silent so much so that I could hear my heart rate despite it’s relatively steady pace.

 There was no sound of grasshoppers, no distant sounds of owls or wolves, only the sounds of the grass crunching under my shoes as I walked. A set of spiral staircases with golden elegant hand railings lead to the gates up ahead. In the center stood a stone statute, it’s specific features hard to make out as the harsh blare of my light created rather dark shadows that covered the details.

It had a silhouette of a man adoring a distinct 1700s style with the old school hair, collar ruffles and coat. I thought about how he kinda looked like George Washington as a sort of mildly humorous distraction. In front of the statue was a golden sign with fancy curled designs along the corners, “Beyond These Gates Judgment Awaits.” It read. 

“Bring it on,” I muttered to myself before slowly going up the smooth pristine stone staircase that had not a crack despite this place’s old feel. I walked over to the elegant golden gate, there wasn’t any knobs or handles of any kind so I just gave it a push, but it didn’t budge. “Oh, seems they’re trying to lock the gates this time, gotta give them an A+ for effort right? 

Not to worry, it’s not like I gave you that teleportation for nothing right?” Bierce’s voice in my head nearly gave me a damn heart attack, practically sounded like a gunshot in such a quiet place. I quickly regained my composure a faint warmth of embarrassment appearing in my cheeks. “Right, teleportation…” I muttered to myself before glancing at my tablet. 

A new red symbol now accompanied the speed boost symbol. I was so caught up with my suspicions of Bierce back at the ballroom that I had completely forgot to even test out the teleportation, which I should have. “Just focus your gaze on where you want to teleport, simple,” she instructed me. So I focused my gaze right in the gate and pressed the teleportation symbol. 

There was an instant flash of red and next thing I knew, I was outside the gate. I was met with a large and very neat landscape, with a neat gravel path that split off in different directions in this large area. Neatly cut bushes and dimly lit torches lined the gravel path and somewhat far ahead in the dead center of this path stood a single life sized statue.

It looked identical to the one before stood on a podium. My body stiffened ever so slightly at the way it stood there all by itself right in the center, and behind it was another gate. I slowly began to walk towards the thing with my only company being the sounds of the rocks under my steps, the soft crackles of the fire from the torches, and this statue. 

I eventually made it to where I was only a little less than two feet away from it. It stood looking straight ahead making a salute gesture, I bit the inside of my lip slightly before I slowly began to walk past it to reach the gate. I started getting close to the gate but then I could have sworn I had heard a soft puff of a breath, a breath that wasn’t mine.

 I whipped my head around so fast that it was a miracle I didn’t get dizzy from it. The moment my gaze landed on the statue it felt as if ice water had filled my gut. I could’ve seriously sworn it was facing straight ahead as I walked in, but when I looked at it it’s head was turned to look over it’s shoulders, staring dead at me. 

I could’ve sworn that thing was staring straight ahead, I had just looked at it not even a minute ago. I quickly backed away to the gate keeping my eyes dead set on the statue as if I would die if I glanced away for a second. Luckily the gate wasn’t locked this time, I swung the thing open while still keeping my gaze on the statue and slammed it shut.

 I already wanted to leave yet I hadn’t even gotten a single shard yet, the fear and paranoia that started bubbling up in my soul gave me unpleasant memories of an old fear of mine…That was when a wrinkle sound made me jump. I looked down and saw I had stepped on a sheet of paper. I picked up the dirtied and wrinkled paper and was quick to notice a familiar handwriting.

Being completely honest, I’m starting to feel quite surprised that I’ve made it this far, there’s even this small spark of hope that I have that I possibly might survive this after all, but it still feels quite delusional. Part of me feels silly to keep up with this survival guide thing that I feel like no one will ever live to read but I figured what’s the harm? I suppose I should get to the point, the statues, the Gold Watchers, they like to play pretend wearing the mask of an inanimate figure but the moment your back is turned they’ll hunt you down just where you can’t see. They mess with you like that, move just before you can see, taunt you with their footsteps in the gravel, it’s like a twisted game of red light green light. So always watch your back, listen for the sounds and never let your guard down. I almost forgot to mention, it’s not just the Gold Watchers that can kill you, there are traps, both in the maze and within the mansion, so watch where you step. I wish you luck unfortunate soul.

-D. H.

I felt more and more goosebumps prickle across my skin with each word I read. My once seemingly paranoid fueled suspicions were given an unsettling confirmation, the statues were alive. I looked around to see where the gate had led me to and it was a maze of neatly cut bushes twisted in all sorts of directions.

 I honestly could get lost easily here if it weren’t for the tablet guiding me with a map of this area. Speaking of which, I pulled the tablet out and for a moment was surprised, 50 shards? That number was laughable compared to the about 280 shards that I usually deal with. I tried to use that information to my comfort.

 I tried to tell myself that this small number of shards likely meant that not only would this be a lot easier than the past two portals, but also meant that a much smaller number of people died here than the others possibly meaning that these so called Gold Watchers weren’t as dangerous as the past monsters, but my rational side hit me with a wave of doubt and suspicion. 

Part of me knew that this was too easy, far too good to be true, but my thoughts were sharply interrupted by the sounds of footsteps in the gravel, clear and unmistakeable and certainly not mine. For a moment I found myself as still as the statues here, I simply froze and couldn’t bring myself to move, that was until Bierce spoke. 

“You’re not going to collect the shards by standing there, get moving!” Bierce demanded. Her words like a cold splash of water that snapped me out of my fear as I sprinted running without thinking. I made my way fast collecting the shards as they absorbed right into my soul that I honestly couldn’t even feel anymore at all. 

As I ran I could hear my own footsteps against the rocky gravel accompanied by serval other steps along with the unsettling sound of snobby laughter coming from the distance. Just then, metal spikes nearly as tall as me shot from the ground right into front of my face that would’ve implied me had I had stopped just a second too late.

 My blood ran cold, but as I turned around I was met with a statue just about 2 feet away from me staring right into my soul grasping two golden axes glowing ghostly in the pale moonlight. I felt my heart practically stop as I stood there frozen fear paralyzing every inch of muscle I had. “Just keep looking don’t look away…” I muttered to myself trying to remember that words of the note. 

Just then, I heard a single hushed word escape the golden statue, “Afraid?” The words shook me to my core, I didn’t even think these things could talk, I didn't even know if I had just imagined that. Imaginary or not it was the final straw for me. Adrenalin hit me like a tidal wave and I sprinted as fast as I could not daring to look back.

 Despite the words of the note and the fast footsteps that trailed behind me. By some miracle I had gathered the final shard and dashed out of that horrific maze and gasped for breath just outside the bush walls. This fear I was having was honestly worst than the previous nightmares, but what I hated about this fear the most was how familiar it was.

 My entire life I was always haunted by the uncanny valley. Figures that looked so close to human but had those ever so slight twisted wrong distortions like the most uncanny parody of humanity that never failed to unnerve me. The sight of those Gold Watchers, so close to human faces with slightest cracks of inhuman was a sight I couldn’t bare to linger on for long. 

Even if looking away was a life threatening risk. Embarrassingly this fear had stuck with me for my entire life. When I was younger I remembered my friends wanting to go to a wax museum and I remembered lying saying that I was too busy to go. I just couldn’t bring myself to say that I was just too scared to go and spend hours looking at those horrid things. 

This went for wax figures, particularly realistic dolls, uncanny cracked statues but by far the worst for me were puppets. I honestly would bet that they’re what started this fear of mine altogether. I’m not talking about goofy cloth or silly sock puppets what I especially hate are marionettes, their lifeless glassy eyes, the way their bodies dangle like lifeless corpses on their strings.

How their bodies contort and bend at the pulls of the strings. I absolutely hate them with all my being, I have no idea how a single soul can find enjoyment out of those horrid things. I think it came from the times when I was little at my aunt’s house. I remember she had a lifeless puppet sitting on the shelf in the living room with an old brown suit with an obnoxious red bow tie.

Adorned by black short painted hair, it’s twisted body that slumped on the shelf like a corpse that I felt always had it’s glassy lifeless blue eyes on me with it’s lifeless painted smile and cracked pale skin. My fear of that stupid thing was so strong it spread to basically all puppets and anything too lifelike. I finally snapped out of my dread and looked up ahead.

I found myself at the doorstep at a rather extravagant and large manor. It had a timeless feel with many windows made up stone walls with not a single crack and elegant curled designs along the walls, but I was in no headspace to take in such beauty, all I wanted was to get the hell out of here as soon as possible. I tried the door, locked, thus I teleported straight through it again.

 The sight inside the mansion was even more luxurious and beautiful than it’s outside. Elegant walls of marble with curled pillars of what looked to be pure gold with elegant golden candles on the walls dimly lighting my path of the long hallway ahead of me. I glanced over at the tablet and saw it now read 304 shards. “You gotta be kidding me…” I grumbled, this was gonna take a while. 

“I almost feel bad that you actually thought that was all of them,” Bierce commented smugly. “Shut it,” I hissed. As I left the hall I found myself in a large gorgeous golden area with a golden glowing chandelier, a beautifully designed polished floor, a marble elegant staircase and in the center of the large area stood the ring altar that would form the ring piece once I had the shards.

I suddenly then noticed there was an odd painting that hung on the wall right behind the alter. It depicted what looked to be a Gold Watcher from a first glance it wore an old style black coat with golden accents and ruffles on the wrists, but as I looked closer at it I saw human brown hair and human flesh rather than gold. 

Instead he wore a golden mask that looked identical to the faces of the statues, but underneath that mask looked like a human. I thought back to the old film of Agatha’s unmarked grave that I saw, and how I questioned if these nightmarish creatures once had humanity themselves, and this painting seemed to confirm that in an odd way. 

The golden mask felt almost symbolic of these beings that wore masks of monsters but underneath lied beings that were once mortal humans. I then heard a chuckle, not one of the Gold Watcher but rather that of Malak. I looked up and for the briefest moment saw a shadowy figure from the top of the stairs above me that disappeared in a puff of black smoke. 

It seemed that Malak was watching and I would likely have to face him soon. I thought about Malak for a moment as the other half of my thoughts lingered on the unmarked grave and this painting. Could it be that maybe my theory applied to Malak as well? Was he once human even? I felt torn by the questions of the identities and origins of Malak.

Or the origins of these creatures and whether him or Bierce should be the ones to trust, all I knew was that there had to be more to this than what was presented. I snapped out of my thoughts as I heard that oh so familiar laughter of the Gold Watcher followed by fast footsteps, the questions had to wait. I took off and did the best I could to get the rest of the shards as quickly as possible.

 All while watching my step to avoid the spiked traps in the ground and even large swinging axes in my path. I did relatively ok until I made my way into what looked to be a lounge room with velvet green couches with elegant golden limbs. I turned and saw three Gold Watchers in the room with me. My heart sank into my stomach.

 I stepped backwards, my back hitting the wall so I couldn’t keep my eyes off a single one, my stare the only way to keep them at bay. My heart was racing as I kept my eyes on the statues, their twisted crackled smiles and the golden axes they held just waiting for the moment I turned away to strike. I couldn’t stay here forever but they were in every direction I was surrounded by them. 

My heart began to race as I tried my best to think of some way out. That’s when it hit me, the teleportation! I held up the tablet with a shaky hand, focussed my gaze on the door out this room and teleported right past the statues and immediately took off running with the speed boost. By some miracle I had finally gathered the rest of the shards and collected the newly formed ring.

Now all I had to do was make it out of here. I dashed out of the manor and made my way through the dark night. “You can’t run forever mortal!” I heard Malak taunt as this shadowy form gave chase. “I was expecting you,” I commented as I ran. There were so much more statues than there were before, frozen as I passed their eyes glowing red.

 The moment my back was turned to them I could hear their footsteps in the gravel right behind me and there chuckles and whispers. As I reached the portal my eyes widened in shock. The statues were completely guarding the portal surrounding it. “Are you serious?!” I exclaimed in shock and frustration. I had enough of this. 

My heart was pounding and Malak plus god knows how many Gold Watchers were right behind me. I have no idea how but in the heat of the moment with adrenaline pumping through my veins I managed to slip through literally sideways past the statues diving into the portal, but I was so close that one of them managed to give me a nasty slice on my back with their axe.

They tried to finish me off there but I just barely managed to get away in time before they could do worse. “Ow, fuck…” I groaned in pain my back felt like it was on fire in pain as I sat there on the ballroom floor with Bierce standing over me. This injury was far worse than the last one. “Is coming from the portal with open wounds going to be a returning thing with you?” Bierce asked tauntingly. 

I clenched my jaw in far too much pain to even register her sassy remark. “Shut the hell up and heal me already…” I groaned through my clenched jaw. Bierce rolled her eyes but got behind me to look at the wound, I couldn’t even see it but I knew it had to be bad, maybe it was better not seen. “My, this ones bad,” Bierce commented before closing up the wound in seconds.

I let out a sigh of relief now that the dreaded pain was gone. “Try to minimize careless injuries like this or else next time you won’t be so lucky to even make it out at all,” Bierce advised. “Oh you won’t make it out,” Malak commented, “not that Bierce cares about you anyway, once she gets the ring she’ll forget all about you.” “Oh so what’s my other option give it to you? 

You’re an eye in a door, you won’t even be able to hold it.” I snapped back, Bierce chuckled. “Oh you think you’re tough I see, where was this during that portal? Don’t think I wasn’t watching, seeing that look of fear in your eyes, how you’d freeze. Do you have a fear of statues by chance? Or, perhaps is it something else?…” he taunted. My face scowled as I turned away.

I didn’t give him the answer that part of me had a feeling in my gut that he already somehow knew.