Conversation with a Cropse

1

I didn’t want to go there but I had no choice. This was only way to stop it once and for all. I won’t lie that I wasn’t scared in fact I had never been scared so much in my life but I was determined. 2

It all began when I turned down the assignment my boss had given me. He wanted me to make a documentary on a place that had said to be haunted. Naturally I refused; being a strong believer in such forces I didn’t want to mess with them.3

The aftermath of this was completely unexpected and it changed my life forever. I started to see strange images in my dreams a man calling out for my help.4

I saw images of the man trashing in pain calling out for me repeating my name again and again. I would wake up early morning. I consulted a Psychiatrist to help me out of my state, I told him about what I saw. He assured me that it was nothing serious and gave me a few medicines.5

They didn’t help and with time not only did I started to see the same man whenever I closed my eyes but even with my eyes open. First he only appeared when I was alone then he started to come right in front of eyes in public.6

I talked about this to a few friends. Every one of them thought I was losing it. Soon no one wanted to sit with me or talk to me anymore. My life had become a living hell, I would scream in mid of night. I would hit my head against the wall. I would tear my hair but nothing I did work.7

My Girlfriend pitied on me. She was the one who took me to the Physiatrist and when she saw that it didn’t work she tried a different approach.8

She took me to a Gipsy. I wasn’t so sure of her option. I always though they were a pack of phonies. But seeing that she wanted to help me I agreed on accompanying her.9

The Gipsy began the way I had expected her to. She said I was surrounded by a black cloud and that I was in great danger. I was about to lose my interest in it when she suddenly said, “There is no other way my child, you have to meet him or else he will haunt you through your life.”10

I was surprised when my girlfriend had given her the description of my problem she only said that I saw frightening Images. She was the real deal.11

“But madam I can’t, I just can’t bring myself to do it.”12

“Be brave my child. This is the only way to stop it or else neither his nor your soul will ever get peace.”13

My girlfriend saw the whole thing looking flabbergasted. Finally I got up.14

“Then I believe I have no choice I must go to meet him.” I said braver then I felt.15

“Wise decision, son.”16

“But where do I find him?”17

“The next time you see him, ask him.”18

“Alright”19

I went to bed that night with determination. I knew the moment I will close my eye he will appear. He always did. I closed my eyes I saw him his bloody face, his red eyes and his white skin. He was as always trashing in pain. Calling out ‘help me!’ ‘Help me!’20

“How can I help you?” I asked him.21

“Come to me.” He said.22

“Where?”23

“The montogramy street’s church”24

“I will be there. I promise but till then please let me be, alright”25

He gave me a nod and disappeared. After so many restless nights, I finally slept well at that night.26

Tomorrow however when I woke up I was sweating very badly. There was no choice now I had to go there. I got ready and made for my car. My girlfriend wanted to come with me but I didn’t take her. If I was walking towards my death, I didn’t want to take her there.27

After driving for hours I was unable to find any church. I asked resident, he told me that there was an abandoned church just near the graveyard. The same place my boss wanted me to go. Never did I imagine I would have to go there.28

I stopped near the church, took a deep breath and opened the door. It opened with a huge creek that made the hair at my back stand up. The church had a wooden building covered in huge amount of mould. It looked that it had been not used for years now. There was not even a single place which was dirt free. Spider webs had appeared at different places now. There as an old table at the far end of the room. There were several chairs also there.29

“Sit.” A voice said.30

I wasn’t in haste to obey. I asked whose was there but there was no answer. The voice repeated its request. Seeing no way out I made my way to the table and took on of the seats to the far end. 31

Then I saw it, I had expected a ghostly apparition but it was beyond by imagination. It was a body, a body was sure. It face was covered in blood. His head was sort of twisted but still attached to his body. He was covered in all sorts of chains.32

I gripped the arm of my chair tightly. The site was enough to make the bravest of men tremble.33

“Relax, I won’t hurt you.” It said.34

I adjusted myself on the seat, what ever he said I surely couldn’t have relaxed.35

“Why did you want me to come here?” I asked.36

“I need your help.”37

“What sort of help?”38

“I want you to tell the truth.”39

“What truth?”40

“My name is Dander McCoy that is Doctor Dander McCoy. My whole family was murdered by men of a well know politician.”41

“Why?”42

“A case arrived to me. The victim was raped; I took her in my hospital. Soon she started to forget all about it and also she was recovering very well. I started to take a liking for her, she was a school girl. Very young, cute and enthusiastic girl, she told me about her horrifying experience of how she was raped by a well known politician. She took a promise from me that when she will go to court for justice. I will support her fully. She used to have a mental illness but it was gone now. She asked to produce a true report if the need arose. After some day she was killed. I found her dead body in her room.”43

“Then.”44

“I was offered huge bribes for making the case look like a suicide. But how could I do such a despicable thing? I was sure to make a true report. There were signs of strangle on her neck. One produced by the rope that she had been hung on but there was another. Also there were sings of struggle in the room.”45

“So what did you do?”46

“I made a true report. They killed me and changed the report. They said I had disappeared. All my office staff gave false testimony of that I had gone into hiding because I was caught making a false report to blackmail the mayor. My body is here in his graveyard under the name plate of Demin Bradley.”47

“Now what do you want me to do?”48

“You’re an honest man Hassan I know. Please you’re a journalist let everyone know. Only then can my soul attain true peace.”49

“I will Dander.”50

“Promise me Roger you will.”51

“I promise you Dander what happened to you won’t go unnoticed.”52

“Thank you, Roger.”53

And with that he just faded away. I quickly got up and went for my car. The first thing I did once I was back at home was that I wrote the article. I send it to my publisher. It was done now and all would become normal, I thought. I was wrong.54

I slept that night peacefully. No frightening images or concerns for the next day. When I woke up next morning, naturally I got my laptop. I wanted to make sure it was done. I opened my e-mail. There was one from my editor probably the confirmation letter of my article.55

As I read it a couple of time in quick succession a strange fear mounted on me. It wasn’t a confirmation letter. I was my termination letter. I had written many articles blaming politicians but never had one gone unpublished.56

But all was not lost yet. I still had the power. Doctor Dander’s body was still there in that graveyard. With that I immediately called a friend of mine who worked in electronic media. I had no money to challenge a politician in court of law; the power of press was my only option.57

“Hello Hank, Can you get camera men and come with me. I have some very interesting thing to show to you.” I said.58

Naturally Hank came immediately. I told him that I had received a call and repeated the whole story of Doctor Dander.59

“Are you sure that the body’s there?” Hank asked me.60

“Yes Hank I am sure.” I said confidently.61

Together we got enough material to make a documentary out of the stuff. I turned on my TV; the documentary was going to be on air today. Here it was Hank’s show.62

But there was no mention of Doctor Dander or anything. Immediately I called Hank.63

“Hello, Hank what this on your show, what happened to the piece we were working on?”64

“Okay Hassan please don’t take it badly but the offer was real good and no one wouldn’t have let it on air anyways.”65

“What do mean?”66

“I sold it; you won’t imagine how much I got, of course fifty-fifty partner.”67

“What have you done, Hanl!”68

I hung up the phone. There was only one way now. I got in my car, Carren insisted on accompanying me this time. I drove furiously to the church. I got out the car and found the grave with the nameplate Demin Bradley.69

With out thinking much I started to dig it. Carren watched in horror as dug it. It was empty, I was late they had already taken it. There was no way to prove it now.70

That night I saw Doctor Dander for the last time. His bloody face was grim and angry. I tired to explain to him, I tried to plea but he wouldn’t listen.71

After that Carren started to stay ill. She also started to lose her sanity. She would talk about strange things most of the time. At time she would become violent and would hit anything even me.72

I tried to save her I tried everything treatment, medicine and even magic. Nothing worked. Though sometimes she would become normal, she would tell me how much she loved me. She would caress my hair. I would have lived with her like that for eternity but then the doctor said.73

“She doesn’t have time.”74

“What do you mean, Doctor?”75

“Last stage cancer.”76

I cried what had I done wrong? And even more what had Carren done wrong? I tried visiting the church again, no one was there. I called out for him, but no answer came.77

One day when Carren was having one of those period when she stayed normal. She looked really skinny; here were marks all over her face and her body. She had hit herself that was what had caused the marks. There were dark spots under her beautiful eyes.78

Most of her beautiful black hair had fallen as result of the cancer therapy. She stroked me gently.79

“I need to go.” She said.80

“Go where?”81

“They have come to take me.”82

“What are you talking about?”83

“I need to go Hassan.” 84

Tear came into my eyes, “Please don’t leave me.”85

She was in my arms when her body stated to thrash. She was going, she was really going.86

I started to recite Surah Yaseen from the Quran. I wanted to make her departure painless.87

Suddenly she stopped trashing. Her body lay in my arms with no moment at all. Her pupil now stared the in my eyes straight as if she could still see me. I kissed her lip lightly one last time.88

2 months have passed since that incident. I ever never seen Doctor Dander again but I can always feel his presence around me, watching me closely. Carren lay in peace and I know that I am next.89