“You and I both know that is plenty.” Ryder crosses his arms and stares down at Psy.
“Maybe it would have been back when ye lived ere, but a lot has changed now. Prices have gone up.” He shrugs his shoulders and looks over at Ryder, who is becoming more annoyed by the minute. “And conveniently around the time ye pulled that wee stunt of yours.”
Ryder storms over to him so quickly that I don’t have time to react. “You twisted—
“Whoa, whoa, whoa… Remember the muscle.” Psy points his bionic finger to the wall again, and Ryder stops himself.
“We don’t have any more money.” Ryder grits his teeth. The tension in the room increasing drastically.
“Well, it’s either that or I tell the Smokies that their very own Venom has returned.” Psy chuckles.
“You do that, and you’ll wish you—
“It’s fine.” I clear my throat. “Here.” I pass Psy the gold coin I took from the pig that paid the ultimate price. He eyes it up and flashes me a gappy smile.
“See, Venom, ye girlfriend has manners. Maybe ye should get her to teach ye some of them.” The sarcasm in his voice makes Ryder snarl. “This should be payment enough.” He pockets the coin and stands to his feet, walking over to the armchair in the corner of the room.
Ryder steps aside, sending him visual daggers as he walks by him. “I just ‘ave to call on the spirits for help deciphering it. Won’t be a moment.” He takes a sip from the mug, then leans his head back in the chair.
A white film covers his lone eye as he calls upon the Other Side.
He’s a Mourna.
He leans up in his seat and tilts his head at us. His movements are unlike his own and make me feel anxious. I stand up and walk over to Ryder, who is a few feet away from Psy.
“What is he doing?” I whisper to him, and he glances at me quickly before regaining his sight on Psy.
“He is channelling the spirits. Psy is one of only a handful of Mourna’s that can do this. He can not only travel between planes, but he can also become a conduit on the Other Side, allowing spirits to talk through him.” He sighs. “That’s why he can get away with charging so much, the greedy fucker.”
The chair creaks as Psy leans forward, his mouth gapes open, and he stares at us intensely with his spectacle. “We’ve been waiting for you.” A woman’s voice feeds out of Psy’s mouth as his body moves unnaturally towards us. The voice is otherworldly and somewhat hoarse. I stumble back, startled by the change in mannerisms.
This is not Psy anymore.
“Ah, yes, the girl in between.” Another deeper voice comes and addresses us. I hold onto Ryder’s robe as if standing next to him will protect me from the unusual circumstance we have found ourselves in. “Asha Calloway… Asha Calloway… Asha Calloway.”
Three different voices say my name aloud. The spirits know who I am. I step forward hesitantly and address them.
“Yes I’m here.” I gulp. Psy’s head tilts in my direction again, he smiles and nods his head before grabbing Ryder’s arm in a flash.
“There’s a sickness in you, boy.” Spirit moans. “Five days, five days until the sickness spreads and the girl dies.” Ryder yanks his hand from his grip and exhales as he steps away from Psy’s inhabited body.
My heart slams against my ribs, cold sweat prickling my neck.
Five days—That’s how long we fucking have.
Psy’s mouth stretches unnaturally wide, the tone of each voice twisting his face into something I barely recognise. It’s like watching him splinter, piece by piece.
“Can you help us?” I ask with newfound desperation.
Five days.
That’s all we have to find the cure, otherwise I’m dead, or he is.
“The world outside is changing. The object you are looking for is the key to restoring the chaos that is unfolding in your world.” The spirit takes its time looking between Ryder and me. It pauses. “Save the boy, save the world.”
“How do I save him?” I call out, my heart thumping in my chest.
“Only the power of a God will cure the sickness.” Psy grabs my shoulder, making me shudder. “Find the crescent gem.” His voice echoes loudly, like it is scraping against the walls of my brain.
