Chapter 3: Memories: Umbrella Man
“Get in,” the guard ordered.
Jesper wipe the blood from his mouth. He briefly looks at the guard before he step into his single cell. He then turned to face the man with a direct look that made the guard immediately dropped his gaze.
“Lock the cell,” the guard gave the order. The steel door shut close. Jesper stood motionless as he listens as the guard walks away. He turns around wanting to sit down on the single bed. Hearing the scratching sound he looks towards the high small window. Fascinated he watch as two of the crows start to peek against the window. It was clear they are trying to get inside.
“I am curious. What is the intent?” his eyes stayed focused on the birds. The next moment the window starts to crack.
“Well now that’s a surprise,” he managed a brief smile of acknowledgment. The glass dropped into his cell with a rather loud noise. He quietly looks and listens but he hears no approaching footsteps. No guard was coming to check what made that shattering noise. Now sitting on his bed with his back against the wall his attention stayed focused curious what the bird’s intent was going to be. These black feathered things definitely seem to have an obsession with him.
“What now?” he asked allowing his voice to break the silence.
“It really seem a habit of yours, talking to yourself. What are you looking at too?” Gregor has appeared so silently. Jesper managed to control his shock. He turned to look at the man who seemed to have free movement in this prison.
“What do you want now?” Jesper managed to make his question icy.
“I have made arrangements for you.” Gregor said with a snide smile around his lips.
“What are you talking about?” Jesper can hear the annoyance in his voice.
“I have arranged for a demon and a beast to share your cell. I have decided to go against Erick Dawn’s request.” Gregor look briefly at his nails then at him clearly waiting for a response.
“Why,”
“Well if you must know, I found you a rather suitable toy to play with,” Gregor said with satisfaction.
“Why,” Jesper repeat the question.
“Boredom, then again I don’t like being ordered by anyone.” Gregor look at his nails before looking at Jesper. He has noticed the eyes didn’t change since his reappearance.
“I am curious about something.” Jesper asked keeping his focus on Gregor but having the urge to look at the crows too. The birds are surprisingly silent.
“You can ask but it doesn’t mean I am going to answer.”
Jesper slowly get back onto his feet. He now stood in the middle of his cell torn between curiosity about Gregor and the birds.
“Who are you really?” Jesper decided to look at neither Gregor nor the birds. He was starting to get the idea they together yet separately are somehow important in his future. The thought barely settled in his mind when his body was ripped with shock when he heard the whistling tune of the umbrella man heading for the mansion on the hill.
“Does that answer this question?” Gregor asked tauntingly.
Jesper quickly moved to the door his fingers wrapping around the iron bars. Gregor was just gone.
“Jesper…”
He heard his name being called but he can’t seem to open his eyes. His tightly grip fingers can’t seem to let go of the iron bars either. Inhaling deeply while he can still hear the whistling in the distance the umbrella man was calling him.
“Jesper…” he finally managed to open his eyes. The clouds in front of his vision slowly opened his mind. It start to feel like he was waking from a very deep sleep. Afraid to move he stay motionless and just wait.
“Are you coming?”The voice asked with a familiarity in the tone…his voice.
“Where are you?”
“I am with you.” The voice said.
“What do you mean?”
“Calm your heart and allow the silence to become one with you.” The voice advised.
Jesper fights to control the drumming of his heart as it takes much effort to settle him. He can still hear the whistling in the distance, the sound helping him. Once he feels in control of himself he starts to look around, feeling the unfolding of his memories like a piece of paper being carefully opened to reveal what was once written.
“I know this place,” he said very surprise.
“Where is it?” the voice was eager in wanting to know his answer.
Jesper found himself looking into the cloudy skies watching the circling crows who in turn were watching him just as eagerly. His gaze travels away from the birds towards the mansion on the hill.
“The town is Crows Cries, but who is the umbrella man?”
“Aren’t you the umbrella man?” the voice question.
“How can I be? I was a boy age six when I saw him. I thought it was just my imagination.” He challenged with open query in his voice.
“Jesper Strange…know you name. This is your story to tell, I am just part of your compass. Rule number one,”
“I know my name…” he said.
“But you have forgotten your story.” The voice said.
Jesper keeps his eyes on the umbrella man who suddenly split into three beings…
Jesper the human…husband to his wife…hunter for his family…
Jesper the beast…for the taste of blood…
Jesper the demon…
Jesper look back into his past seeing Erick Dawn and feeling his hatred and fear. A boy of six he didn’t understood what he was looking at but he did notice the dual personality of the older boy.
“What must he say when challenged? You know my name not my story,” his present voice mingled with his memory voice.
“Become who you meant to be,”
“Who am I?”
“You are Jesper, you are husband.”
“They tell the tale I am a killer.”
“Do you believe them?”
“I am not sure.”
“What do you desire Jesper?”
“I want my wife,” he said honesty.
“What are you prepared to sacrifice?” the voice was eager in anticipation of his answer.
“What do you require from me?”
The whistling comes closer again. When he opened his eyes and mind eyes he looked directly at Gregor Drake.
“Who are you?”
“I am Jesper Strange,” he repeats his name.
“Rule number one is…”
“I know my name. I have forgotten my past.”
“I hold the key to the door. Are you going to follow me?”
“You are a killer,”
“We all have layers of deception. Follow me on this path and I will reveal a part of your forgotten truth.” Gregor said seriously.
“I am in jail.”
“Sometimes the jail is just our mind. Settle around the silence within you and set yourself free Jesper.” Gregor said.