Man of Mystery – 4

The sound of shrieking filled the black shadowed warehouse until it stopped abruptly after a loud slap was heard. “WILL YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP, I CAN’T FUCKING THINK!” Brian roared. 

“You... you... hit me,” Emmett sobbed.

“I slapped you, there’s a difference.” Brian wished he had two things, a cigarette and a more powerful flashlight. “We need to stay calm. The door can’t disappear. This isn’t some movie with special effects. It’s a fucking rundown warehouse.”

Emmett had been clinging to Brian’s arm while the other man shone his small penlight around them. Shadowed shapes of gawd knows what loomed, some close and some far away.  “Wait, stop,” Emmett said, his voice hushed, almost a whisper. “I think I see a lamp over there.” 

“Over where?” Brian asked, the penlight was useless; he couldn’t see a damned thing. The darkness was absolute; no hint of light from any source broke it. 

“Over here,” Emmett pointed and shuffled forward dragging Brian with him. His hands felt around in the darkness and then found the familiar shape of a kerosene lamp. “Do you have a match?” 

“Why in hell would I have a match?” Brian asked. “I’m not a fucking boy scout.”

“You don’t have to get pissy. It was a legitimate question,” Emmett groused as he felt around on the table. He was looking for a small box that could hold matches, after all his granny used to keep them handy next to the lamps. He sighed remembering the decorative wood and metal boxes his grandfather had crafted. “Oh, here you are.” He opened the box and found a heavy wooden match. He bent down and struck it on the underside of the table. Sulfur smell filled the air combined with a flash of yellow and blue flame that settled down quickly. Emmett expertly lit the lamp and turned the wick down. 

“A man of many talents,” Brian drawled. “I commend you.” The lamp allowed them to see more of the room they were in. It appeared to be jam packed with furniture and other things in no particular order. “What is all this stuff?” Brian asked. 

Emmett, being more practical than Brian realized had begun to light other lamps that appeared after the first one had been lit. Soon the room was filled with light. It wasn’t the best quality light and the flicker of the flames encouraged shadows to fade in and out of corners, but it beat the former darkness.  “I don’t know, but... Brian some of this furniture is very old; more than a hundred years.”

“It’s the seven inches of dust on everything,” Brian sneezed. He felt something brush past his face and he jumped back. “What was that?” 

“What was what?” Emmett was across the room examining an open box.

“Nothing.” Brian rubbed his hand over his face. It must have been a cobweb or something. “Emmett did you notice that considering we’re in a warehouse, this room is rather small?” 

“Maybe it’s an office or something.” Emmett held up a heavily laced shirt. “Do you think this is a night shirt?”

“How the fuck do I know?” Brian was getting pissy again as he paced the length and width of the room. There were no visible doors or windows. “Stop snooping, help me find a way out of here.” 

“Oh, look a whole trunk of dresses,” Emmett gushed starting to reach for the dresses when Brian grabbed his arm and led him to a wall. 

“We need to find a way out, NOW!” Brian growled. He began to wonder even more what Craig Taylor had been up to. Maybe he should have researched before breaking into the warehouse. It was too late now for second thoughts.

“Well we could check out the next room.” Emmett stepped over to a set of wide double doors that Brian was sure hadn’t been there a second ago. “I’m sure there has to be a way out. I mean really, the place has obviously been used.” He opened a door and stepped into the dark. The lantern he carried dimmed and he wondered if it was running out of kerosene. “Brian, can you bring another lamp?” he turned to look and not only was Brian not there, neither was the door. “Oh dear,” he whispered. “This can’t be good.” 

Brian had opened one side of the double-door exit. He wasn’t paying any attention to Emmett, other than noticing he seemed calmer than before. He had his penlight which combined with the lantern Emmett carried seemed to provide enough light. He stepped through the door and into a well-lit room. 

 “Hey Em,” he called out and turned to look for the man, only to find he was alone. He turned back and once again there was no door where one had previously been. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” He wanted to scream, but damned if he’d give the pleasure of his panic to whoever or whatever was in charge of this gong show. 

This room rivaled his own offices for modern efficiency. The furniture was contemporary and made from a wood he didn’t recognize, but it was highly polished and beautiful. A laptop computer sat to one side of the desk near a multi-lined phone in a soft grey-blue color. 

“Well it’s about time,” Brian grumbled and walked to the desk and picked up the phone but there wasn’t any dial tone, only the hum of white noise on all the lines. 

He opened the computer and it flashed on; a screensaver filled with screaming faces began to fade in and out from one side to the next. Brian attempted to access any program, but nothing but the multi-colored faces filled with horror came up. He slammed the lid down on the computer. “Fucking asshole, you are so dead when I find you,” he muttered. 

The leather chair he was sitting in had molded itself to his body. He’d never felt anything quite so comfortable. His hands idly ran over buttons that had been built into one side of the desk. He pressed one and found himself looking at Emmett as he wandered through a room of ghostly white statues all posed in impossible positions; the faces looking incredibly sad. The image of his friend was in the air before him, not on a television monitor, but actually in the air. Brian swiped his hand through it and when he passed through Emmett, the other man giggled. He brought his hand back quickly; this was more than too weird for him.

 “Emmett, Emmett, can you hear me?” he called but Emmett didn’t acknowledge his voice as he continued to explore the room filled with statues.

Brian hit the same button and the images disappeared. He tried another and a wall near him opened to show a well-stocked bar. Now you’re talking, Brian thought heading for the bar. He poured himself a full glass of scotch downing it quickly. Even the warm burn didn’t stop him from pouring another glass. This time he carried the glass with him while he continued to explore the room. He paced the perimeter estimating the size. It seemed to be a perfect square of perhaps 400 square feet. 

A Persian rug dyed in brilliant colors muted with age was the focal point. It was flanked by a leather sofa and two matching chairs in a leather that was so soft and smooth that Brian didn’t recognize the type. He tried a chair, it felt like a warm body wrapping around him. The texture made him stand up abruptly. Intricately carved marble tables stood between the chairs and the sofa. The marble was flecked with gold and silver. He wondered what part of the world it was from. He leaned down to examine the carving and wished he hadn’t bothered as the carving depicted men, women, and children with their hearts being torn from their bodies.  

“Some sick fuck,” Brian muttered and took another long swallow of scotch.

A painting on the wall caught his attention. It looked like a Van Gogh he’d seen once in the Louvre. He was almost sure this one was the original, but that didn’t make sense.  

It was then he noticed the painting behind the desk he’d been sitting at. It was huge and he couldn’t believe he’d missed it. He stood in the center of the room sipping his scotch and wondering why the woman in the painting looked so familiar. She was young, very young, yet she was dressed in silks and laces that were much too old for her. A diamond and sapphire pendant hung between the mounds of her breasts and matching earrings pulled at her ears.  He could almost feel their weight and he knew instinctively that the young woman hated the jewelry.  

Her hair was piled up in an intricate hairstyle that didn’t suit her in the least. The blond curls that escaped told him she no doubt loved to have it hang loose down her back. It was the deep sapphire blue of her eyes that were haunted with fear that told him who she reminded him of; it was Molly,  but one of another time. He walked over to look closer at the portrait. A golden plaque with an old fashioned script inscribed “Alicia Melinda Taylor – 1775”

“Well pretty lady, you look sad, but you have a young descendent who is as beautiful as you and she’s independent and happy. So some things have worked out.” Brian touched his finger to his lips kissing it and then touching the painted lips of the sad young woman. He thought the sides of her mouth turned up slightly in a glimmer of a smile. “Kinney your imagination tells me you’ve had too much scotch,” he spoke out loud just to hear the sound of his voice. Then he smelled a light, violet based perfume and was sure soft lips touched his cheek. He put his hand up and then shook his head; definitely too much scotch.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Emmett wandered through a forest of statues. Each one just a little bit more grotesque, just a little bit sadder, and he wondered how the artist had managed to convince anyone to pose for them. Apparently, no one posed more than once, because each statue was someone different. As he moved though them all, his hand touching one and then another, he was sure he could hear them crying. Small children sobbed with abandon, the women wailed, men cried silent tears and he could hear the breaking of their hearts. He wiped his own tears from his face. This room was going to break his heart. “I’m sorry that this happened to you,” he whispered to the shadows that floated above the statues. “I wish there was something I could do to help.” A collective sigh filled the room and Emmett knew that the people trapped for all eternity in marble and granite had heard him and had taken some comfort from his words. 

“Brian?” Emmett turned around, sure that he was in the room with him, but no such luck. 

“I have the dirty end of the shit stick as my Auntie Lou would say,” Emmett spoke to the room. “I don’t suppose any of you know how I can get out of here? No, I guess not or you’d be gone,” he sighed and decided to walk the room’s perimeter. 


“You people, the asshole who made you was one bad puppy. I mean really there’s a limit to everything.” He pulled off his shirt and began to dust off the statues he passed by. “At least you can be clean and tidy. Have you been here long? The dust is knee deep. We really should get a better cleaning service in here,” he giggled. Like anyone had ever cleaned in here before today he thought to himself.  

“You know there has to be something we can do to put you’all to rest in peace. If I ever find Brian, he’ll think of something, he’s very good at problem solving you know. 

There’s one thing about Brian that few people know, he has a heart as big as the world. He’ll find a way to release you from your torment,” Emmett continued to prattle, keeping up a steady flow of words as he made his way around the room. The only way he knew he’d completed a circuit was the dust free vignette he’d begun his cleaning spree with. 

“You know this is getting old very, very fast. For one thing I’m tired and cranky and I have to pee. For another thing, all this dust has made me thirsty. I wonder where Brian has found himself?” he sighed and sat down on the floor, resting his back against the twisted back of one of the men carved from marble. As he sat there staring into the center of the room, a staircase appeared from nowhere. It spiraled up to a light filled room. 

“Now this is more like it, though goodness knows it might not be the better choice.” Emmett continued to sit while he thought about ascending the stairway. Finally, he pushed himself up off of the floor and walked over. Unsure he was doing the right thing, he began to climb anyway.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“This is gross.” Gus threw the book he’d been leafing through onto a table. “Whoever wrote that shit is one bad assed dude.” 

Justin lifted his head, he’d been reading through the papers in the bottom drawer. “Do I even want to know what’s in it?” Justin asked. 

“Not if you want to sleep nights,” Gus said and shuddered. “I think I need my brain washed out with bleach.” He looked at the section of books he’d been looking at. “If you want my advice a nice big bonfire would be appropriate.”

“Some of those books look old. They could be valuable,” Molly said.

“Yeah, to freaks and nutbars,” Gus replied, shaking his head. “Don’t you think it’s cool enough for a fire in the fireplace. I have some great kindling,” he nodded at the book on the table.

“I’ve managed to find a couple of insurance policies, but they aren’t for dad. They were on Molly and I with dad as the beneficiary and one big one for mom,  with us as beneficiaries.” He picked up the thick folder labeled insurance. “Which you have to admit is strange.” 

“There isn’t anything about this that isn’t strange,” Gus declared. “What’s Seiji doing?” 

They all looked at their friend who was still in the center of the room, his eyes shut, legs crossed and murmuring a chant. “I don’t know for sure,” Molly said. “He said something about creating a protective circle while we looked at stuff.” 

They all watched him for a couple of minutes to satisfy themselves that he was alright. Then they turned back to continue to look through the office.
A few minutes later, Molly picked up a velvet covered jewel case and opened it. “Hey isn’t this Mrs. Maguire’s necklace and earrings?”  she asked as she held up a thick, diamond encrusted chain and watched the light catch it and flash tiny prisms of light on the ceiling and walls.

“It sure looks like it,” Gus said and walked over. He took the necklace from Molly. “It sure as hell looks like it,” he repeated. “Remember Molly, she was at that charity thing your mother gave last month and we noticed it because that stupid dog of hers had one just like it.” 

“A lot like this one.” Molly held up a smaller version that had been tucked under a flap of the jewel box. 

“I wonder how the stuff got in here?” Gus asked not really expecting an answer. 

“No doubt the same way that painting on the wall and the one over there,” Justin pointed toward it. “ Had managed to find there way into Dad’s study.” He looked around. “I’m beginning to think there was a lot more to dear old dad than we might have suspected.” 

“You mean beside the fact that he was an asshole?” Molly laughed. 

“Yeah, add thief to that,” Justin said, his voice was dry. 

“But why would he steal. He was always telling mom that his family was better than hers. I figured he meant richer.” Molly looked puzzled, “It kind of doesn’t make any sense.”

“Look around Molly, I’m betting that most of this shit is stolen. It’s too diverse a collection not to be,” Justin pointed out and waved his hand.

“Hey, I think I found a safe,” Gus said. He had been walking across to the desk where Justin sat. The floor had felt funny under his feet. He bent down and lifted a small rug. “There is something here.”

Justin and Molly quickly joined Gus. “Maybe we should wait for Seiji. I don’t want the damn thing to explode or hit us with poison gas or anything,” Molly noted and looked over at the man sitting in the middle of the floor.

Seiji seemed to sense he was needed. He rose in one fluid move and turned to look deep into Molly’s eyes before smiling shyly. “There’s nothing tied to that hole in the floor that will hurt you physically. It stinks of evil, but you’re all good and good will triumph over the evil that clings to what’s in there.” 

Seiji spoke while he walked to them. Molly let her body sink into his when he put his arm around her shoulder. Just having him touch her made her feel safe. He leaned down and brushed his lips over her cheek and she almost purred. 

Gus rolled his eyes and reached to pull open the cover. 

“Gus, use this,” Justin offered as he handed him his shirt. “Don’t touch it with your bare hands.” 

“Justin, you have knowledge of this kind of evil?” Seiji asked.

“No, it’s just a feeling I have. Something told me not to touch it without gloves. We don’t have gloves with us.” 

“Wow is this silk?” Gus looked at the deep blue silk tee. “Dad wears cotton tees.” He grinned at Justin, “You are soooooo gay.” 

Now it was Justin’s turn to roll his eyes. “Just open the damn door,” he muttered.

Gus couldn’t stop grinning, but he wrapped the shirt around his right hand and pulled up on the recessed handle. The door was heavier than he thought and he almost reached with his other hand but at the last minute thought better of it. He gave a final pull and the door opened knocking him on his ass. “Fuck,” he gasped. 

Justin, Molly and Seiji were all squatting looking into the hole in the floor. “Wow, look at all the money,” Molly finally said in a whisper. “Do you think it’s real?” 

“Oh I’m sure it’s real,” Justin said. 

“How come there wasn’t any lock on this safe?” Gus asked having joined them. “I mean it looks like a heck of a lot of money. Aren’t those gold coins at the bottom?” he questioned but, no one was making any move to touch the money. 

“It’s weird, but it kind of looks like if we touched it we’d get slimed,” Molly gave a nervous laugh.

“No shit,” Gus shivered. “There’s no way I’m touching it.” 

“Let’s just close this up and forget about it,” Molly said and stood up. 

“We’ll close it, but I doubt we’ll forget about it.” Justin nodded to Gus who lifted the heavy door and slammed it back in place. 

“Want your shirt back?” he asked 

“Not a chance,” Justin replied, shuddering. “That’s one shirt I won’t be wearing again.” 

“There’s another room, do you want to check it out?” Gus asked. “It looks just as creepy.” 

“I feel like we should have that scary music playing. You know when the <i>gang</i> all heads for the room where the axe murderer is hiding,” Molly tried to joke. 

“No shit,” Gus laughed. 

“I’ll check the other room now if you want,” Seiji offered. 

“Why don’t we break for something to eat? We can order pizza. I want to talk to mom.” Justin headed for the door; confident everyone would follow. 

“Hey Justin, I can wash your back if you’re going to shower before changing,” Gus offered. 

“Good try,” Justin laughed. 

“Well don’t take too long in the shower. I want one too.” Molly shivered, “I feel like I’ve been covered in mud.” 

“Maybe we should all shower and change and meet back here in an hour,” Seiji replied. “Water of the earth is a purifier and it can’t hurt to release anything negative we might have picked up.”

“Seiji, that’s a good plan. I’ll drive you home, you too Gus.”

“I have clothes here. I can change into them and Seiji, you can borrow something of mine, you can too Justin.” 

“You have clothes here?” Justin looked at Molly and Gus. “You’re kidding right?” 

“No, Gus stays here a lot. His moms moved to Canada and his dad sometimes has <i>company</i> Gus usually stays here. It’s not like we don’t have the room. He has the room across the hall from mine. Mom wouldn’t let him have yours,” Molly laughed. “Like he hasn’t seen me naked before.” 

“I would prefer he no longer saw you naked,” Seiji smiled. “Though the human body is a beautiful thing.” 

Molly laughed. They were in the hallway now. She kissed Seiji quickly on the lips, then Gus and finally Justin though she kissed his cheek, before running off to her room.

“Gus, I’ll take you up on that offer,” Justin said with a sigh. Things with this group were getting out of hand. Or maybe he was just too damn old to deal with the teens. 

“Wow, I can tell everyone that you’ve been in my pants,” he chortled and Justin swatted him playfully on his arm. The three of them headed for Gus’ room to take turns showering and changing. 

Justin stopped and called a pizza place ordering dinner for them all before joining Seiji and Gus again. It looked like it was going to a long day, but a more interesting day than he’d previously thought. He hated to admit it but these kids were a lot of fun to be around. He hadn’t really had much contact with young people, preferring to stay to himself with the odd night out at a club. It was easier than forming relationships that would only disappoint later. 

It was also interesting watching his sister fall in love. He hoped Seiji wouldn’t hurt her. Something about the young man intrigued him, although he wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe it was the way he spoke of his father with love and affection. Justin couldn’t imagine anyone having a relationship like that with a father.

Rather than wait to shower, Justin took the clothes Gus was lending him and headed to one of the guest bathrooms. He needed time on his own to think and with the kibitzing between the two boys it was hard to concentrate.

Showering quickly, Justin dressed and headed off to his mother’s wing of the house. It was time he had a talk with her. “Hey Mom,” Justin called as he knocked on her door and then stuck his head into her bedroom.

“Justin, what brings you by?” He noted Jennifer was sitting cross-legged on her bed a laptop computer in front of her. She logged off before looking back up at her son.  

“Surfing the net?” he asked as he sat on a sofa. 

“No just chatting with a friend. The internet is a wonderful thing,” she smiled. “To think that just a few years ago a letter could take a week or longer to reach someone and now a few keystrokes are all that’s needed.” 

“I use a computer for work, but I don’t chat with anyone,” Justin said with a shrug. 

“Oh, surely you have friends who you can talk to,” Jennifer replied and looked closely at this son of hers that she really didn’t know. 

“No, I’m not big on friends. I guess I had that kicked out of me at school,” Justin shrugged. “I spent years hating dad for sending me away.” 

“It wasn’t your father, Justin. I wanted you away from this house. I….” she paused and looked away “I didn’t want you to have any contact with..” again she hesitated, “your father while you were in the last years of your childhood.” 

“Why not?” Justin had to ask. The conversation was becoming strange.

“Justin, there are things about Craig Taylor that you don’t know. Things you wouldn’t be able to understand. I barely do and I’ve lived with him for twenty-five years. “

“I’d like to understand,” Justin said, looking at his mother. “But not letting me come home for holidays, for summer vacation.” 

“Justin, I really don’t want to talk about it. Just know that I did it for you. I wanted you safe. I wanted you to live your life and become the man I knew you could be without any influence from your …. , your father.” 

“You didn’t send Molly away. She lived with him.” Justin’s voice was bitter but he couldn’t help it.

“Molly is female. It’s passed through the male side of the family. I didn’t want your father to discover what I knew to be true. I couldn’t let him discover it.” She turned her face away from him. “Justin please go, I don’t want to talk right now. I have a headache coming on.” 

“Mom I have to talk to you. I need to know something about dad. We’ve gotten into his rooms and they’re filled with stuff that has no business being there. Expensive things, things that aren’t even available to the public for any amount of money,” he sighed and looked down at his hands. “Mom there’s a safe in the floor filled with money. Some of it has been out of circulation for years. I mean old money, Mom.” 

“I’m not surprised. Don’t forget that this house has been in your father’s family since the seventeen hundreds. I’m sure that his family has used that safe. He never did trust banks even though he used them.” She smiled and then said something Justin would puzzle about later, “He was the last of the Taylors, may he rest in Hell.” She stood up from her bed and walked to the bedroom door. “Go now Justin, I’ll talk to you later. I really do have a headache. “ 

“Sure Mom,” Justin agreed and stood up. He kissed his mother’s cheek before leaving. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Emmett reached the top stair and he stepped onto a polished marble floor. He looked back and really wasn’t surprised to see that the staircase had disappeared. Unlike the other room, this one was brightly lit, almost like spotlights were roaming the room to light on the various items. As he approached the first looming structure, he was surprised to see it become a spot lit mirror. 
Never one to pass up a chance to look at himself he put his hand up to smooth his hair, only to find himself inside the mirror, reliving a moment of horror that had taken place when he was seven. He watched his uncle approach him in the barn where he was supposed to be gathering eggs. The man touched his hair, smoothing down a cowlick at the front. The words weren’t spoken aloud, but he could hear them as clearly as if they were. 

“You be turning out right pretty, Boy,” the man said, silk in his voice as he touched Emmett’s head. 

Emmett ducked down in embarrassment and pleasure, no one had told him he was pretty before.

“I got somethin’ for you boy,” his uncle said. “It’s over here behind Bessy’s stall.” 

“What is it?” Emmett asked, curious as only a seven-year old boy could be. 

“Come over here.” His uncle motioned for him to follow.

Emmett walked behind the stall, hay had been strewn over the floor and he wondered why. It wasn’t usually like this. His uncle had his back to him and he walked over to see what it was. To his horror, the man had his cock out of his pants. It was swollen and red and dripping at the end. He backed away and turned to run, only to have the straps of his overalls grabbed pulling him backwards. The next part had remained a blur for the last twenty years, but it was now being re-enacted in living color as his uncle raped him not once but twice.  

Emmett could feel the pain; he could smell the barn and the sweat of his uncle and the newly mown hay. He could see the dust motes in the air and he could hear himself screaming, first loud and then muffled as his face was shoved into the hay. But this time, from his place in front of the mirror and yet inside as well, he could see the evil on his uncle’s face and the remorse in his eyes, though he continued to pound into that seven year old body. With an effort of strength he never knew he had, Emmett tore his eyes away from the mirror with such an effort he stumbled into another mirror; this one framed in gold.

He stood there panting, his eyes shut, hating the stench of fear-induced sweat that now filled the space. When his breathing calmed, he opened his eyes cautiously. He had to get out of this room. Instead of seeing a way out he saw yet another scene of the hell that had been his past. This time he was older and returning home from school. Emmett had never forgotten that day because it was the day he determined he had to leave the small town he’d grown up in. He was thirteen, tall for his age, and breathtakingly handsome. All the girls were in love with him and all the boys hated his guts with a passion he only assumed came from jealousy. It was years later he realized that it was more fear than jealousy. It was fear of the unknown, of being different, of his talents, and of his beauty. 

Which was all well and good, but now he was once again in the mirror and yet not in it as he watched the gang of boys hiding under the bridge that led to his grandmother’s farm. He was thinking of getting home because he’d promised his mother he’d help her with the sorting of eggs for market the next day. He was also thinking of Chad Mosely, the new boy from up north and how his ass had looked covered in dripping water from the showers after gym class. Chad had smiled at him with a knowing look and Emmett couldn’t help but wonder if the new boy was like him; interested in boys and not girls. 

He was almost at the bridge, his feet making dust clouds in the dirt when a gang of boys rushed him from both sides. He could feel his heart crack when the first one to hit him with a bag of dog shit was Chad. He could hear their taunts and screams of faggot, cock sucker, and more insults than he knew existed as one by one they hit him with the foul smelling bags leaving him crying in the dirt at the side of the road. It was then he vowed to leave Hazelhurst, no matter that his family had lived there since before the civil war. His grandmother was just going to have to accept it. He couldn’t live here any longer. 

Emmett found himself huddled on the floor in front of the mirror, terrified to move on because he knew that each mirror he’d find would show him parts of his past he’d long put behind him. The mirrors seemed to move toward him until they circled closely with no way out. One by one terror filled moments filled the mirrors and he was sucked into each and every one of them over and over and over until he lay face down on the floor screaming in rage and anger at the injustice of his life.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Brian turned from his contemplation of the portrait. He was sure he’d heard Emmett screaming. His heart felt cold and he could feel fear creeping into his body with each sound the other man made. 

“EMMETT, EMMETT!” Brian called out hoping to locate just where the sound was coming from. He walked around the room, but Emmett’s cries were everywhere. It was then he saw the door where there hadn’t been one before. Not hesitating, Brian pushed it open and stepped into a room filled with mirrors. His friend’s screams were now hoarse sobs that he was sure were in the very center of the room. Pushing aside the mirrors, not caring if they fell over and broke, Brian finally found his friend stretched full length on the floor. His hands bloody from pounding against the hard marble. 

“Em, Em,” he called softly as he knelt down and gathered the other man into his arms, offering what comfort he could. “It’s okay, I’m here, we’ll fight this together.”

“We can’t Brian, it’s my fight, it’s my life. I’m alone in this. I was when I was seven and I’m just as alone now,” Emmett sobbed into Brian’s shoulder. “The mirrors, the mirrors show it all.” 

Brian glanced up over Emmett’s head and looked directly into an ornately gilded mirror that stood more than eight feet tall. In it stood his father, his face mottled with drink and rage, holding a belt that was about to descend on a three-year old Brian who glared up at his father. Even at that young age he refused to run, which of course only pissed the old man off even more. He watched dispassionately as the belt hit. He flinched at the contact, the pain was the same now as it had been then and he returned the stare of the man in the mirror, but refused to cry. He saw something in his father’s eyes he hadn’t seen before with the eyes of a three-year old. He saw shame even though the leather belt descended another time. He heard the old man yell, “CRY GOD DAMN IT, CRY!” As if that was going to make the three-year old Brian Kinney who already despised his father cry.

“Do you see? Do you see what they did to me?” Emmett said following Brian’s gaze. For he could see the shame of a thirteen-year old boy while Brian could see the shame of his father.

“Emmett, I don’t see it.” Brian turned away from the mirror only to have his first boyfriend stare back at him from another one. He watched him walk out of his life without even a backward glance leaving a teenage Brian broken hearted. He refused to cry, because real men didn’t cry. He’d learned that at an early age.

The mirrors began to all show parts of Brian’s life that were filled with fear and pain and hurt like they had with Emmett, but unlike his friend, Brian had never forgotten any of those times. He lived with it daily and he learned from them. He’d learned to be better than the bullies in the mirror. He’d learned to love again, to feel again, and to suffer evil hatred by making it work upon itself. Like a back fire lit to put out a forest fire. Two evils turned to one another snuffing each other out. He did what he’d done from the time he was three; he laughed in the face of whatever it was that was trying to hurt him. He laughed and laughed and even though the laughter was tinged with hysteria, it accomplished something he hadn’t planned. Each and every mirror began to shatter. Brian covered Emmett’s body with his own as the glass around them cracked and broke into a million shards of evil and as they hit the floor they all turned to dust leaving only the two men holding each other tight.

“Well I’ll be a son of a bitch,” Brian said looking at the dusty destruction around them. 

“You are, aren’t you?” Emmett replied. He’d met Brian’s mother at his father’s funeral a few years back. 

They looked at each other and the amusement of the situation and words bubbled up until they were both laughing despite the tears that ran down leaving trails on their dusty faces. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Did you talk to mom?” Molly asked before Justin had a chance to sit down. Everyone had decided to gather in the kitchen. Justin smiled a hello to the cook he didn’t know and then joined the trio at the table filled with pizza boxes and empty soda cans.

“Yes,” he answered as he reached for a slice of almost cold pizza. “She was talking about things that don’t make sense. I really didn’t get much out of her. Has she been like this long?” Justin asked his sister.

“Like what?” 

“Kind of vague, talking in riddles.” He was starving and the slice of pizza disappeared quickly. “She said some things I have to think about. Hey did you know that she talks on the computer with someone?” 

“No kidding.” Molly looked at Seiji and Gus and shrugged. “I didn’t even know she had a computer.” 

“Not only does she have one, but she has the best you can buy and it appears that her suite has been wired for high speed.” 

Molly giggled, and Gus said, “Maybe she’s into porn.” 

“Ewwww,” Molly said and hit Gus on the shoulder. “Don’t be gross.” 

“I’m not being gross, my dad looks at porn sites, why shouldn’t your mom. I mean for a lady she is kind of hot,” Gus defended as he rubbed his arm. 

“Gus, I don’t think it’s something that Molly wants to know and that’s her mother’s sex life, real or otherwise,” Seiji chided as he put his hand on Molly’s. 

“Neither do I.” Justin shuddered at the thought. “Immaculate conception comes to mind.”

“Twice?” Gus laughed. “Well, whatever floats your boat.”

“I have a suggestion,” Seiji began. “I know we were going to go back to your dad’s office, but the night really isn’t the time to face what’s in there. Spirits that are evil are stronger in the night. It isn’t just something that the movie industry has perpetuated, but an actual fact, “ he commented and looked from one to another. “I’d like to lead you through some tai chi movements. Gus knows how they can help cleanse your mind and focus your body and soul.”

“I’ve found that myself.” Justin smiled at Seiji, “I agree it’s a good idea. Molly you wanted to learn tai chi, this is a good a time as any to begin.” 

“Is it hard?” she asked.

“No, but you have to focus and you have to concentrate on what you’re doing. With practice it’s almost like a very slow moving dance. We can do it on the back lawn.” Seiji let his hand brush against Molly’s. He was completely taken with her and not sure just how to handle that fact. 

“It’s a form of meditation,” Justin confirmed. “But it’s more than that. You can control aspects of your mind and body that you never realized was possible before with enough practice.”

“You’ve been practicing for a long time?” Seiji asked.

“I’ve been a tai chi master for years. It was probably the only thing that kept me sane and alive while I was away at school.”

“Justin, what do you mean?” Molly had to ask. She hated to see sadness and pain in her brother’s eyes. 

“It’s a long story Molly. I don’t know it all myself, but I’m learning,” he smiled a crooked smile. “I’m learning,” he repeated not wanting to go any further. His mind was in turmoil. 

“I’m going to call dad and tell him I’m staying over tonight,” Gus said. “We can get an early start tomorrow with an early morning tai chi class.” 

“I don’t know,” Justin paused. “Gus your dad probably wants you home. He wasn’t too happy last night.” He smiled remembering their dance and Brian’s reaction. 

“He’s over it,” Gus replied and shrugged. “Besides, this is too interesting to miss. Your dad’s stuff is…. “ he hesitated.

“Stolen? Freaky?” Molly prompted. “Creepy?” 

“All of that and more. This is so coooool.” Gus and Molly high-fived each other. 

“Will you two grow up,” Justin grumbled and shook his head. “Okay fine, call your father.” 

Gus reached for the telephone on the wall near the kitchen table. He dialed and let it ring until Brian’s voice mail came on. 

“Dad, it’s Gus. I’m staying at Molly’s tonight. I’ll clean up at Babylon at eleven,” he said, looking at everyone. “If we get up early we should be finished by then. Oh sorry dad, call me at Molly’s if you want me,” he said and hung up.

“I don’t think a voice message is good enough,” Justin admonished, looking hard at Gus. “Try him on his cell. I’d like you to actually talk to him.” 

Gus tried Brian’s cell number and it went right to voice mail. “He must have it turned off.” 

Justin looked at his watch. “Where would he be at this time of night? It isn’t late.”

“I don’t know. Maybe the diner or maybe with Uncle Mikey,.” Gus noted. “He doesn’t check in.” 

“Well, we’ll try him again later, “ Justin remarked and stood up. “Let’s clean up this mess. It isn’t fair to leave it for the help.” 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

excerpt from Reginald James journal

<I> During my research into the James family history, I’ve discovered something rather disturbing. Time after time the James family has been entwined with that of the Taylors. Generation after generation there are connections that are disconcerting. It all began so long ago with Alicia James. Now Craig Taylor wants my Jenny. When will it ever end? I’ve agreed to introduce the two of them at Jenny’s coming out ball. I know it’s wrong, but I was powerless to refuse. </I>


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Brian pulled himself up off the floor and then leaned down to offer his hand to Emmett. The two men stood amidst the rubble, both of them turned to take it all in. 

“I hope the cleaning crew can deal with this,.” Emmett half laughed. “I wonder how many years bad luck we’ll have.” 

“None; that’s a superstitious bunch of crap.” Brian kicked aside one of the mirror frames. 

“But you’re Irish, the Irish are known for their superstitions.” 

“I must have missed out on that gene,” Brian said and kicked at a wall. “There has to be a way out of this fucking building.” He began pounding at the walls looking for a different sound that would indicate a door. 

“Uh, Brian, you don’t have to get angry.” Emmett put his hand on Brian’s shoulder. “You’ll hurt yourself.”

“Idiot, I’m looking for a door,” Brian replied as he continued to tap on the wall.

“Well there’s that door over there.” Emmett pointed to a door that appeared to be about two feet tall near the far corner. “I mean it’s short, but we could get through it.” 

Brian stared at the door. “I’m not crawling through some fucking door that small like a bad version of <i>Alice in Wonderland</i>.”

“Oh, I want to be Alice. You can be the rabbit.” Emmett skipped over to the door and looked at it. “It looks smaller from here.” He reached down and twisted the knob. Suddenly the door grew to normal proportions. “Who knew, it’s just like a cock. A little stroking and it grows,” he giggled. “Anything that triples in size can’t be that bad.” He pulled open the door and called, “Come on, I’m waiting for you. We need to do this together.”

“You always were a size queen,” Brian muttered. He looked at the door and then at Emmett. “I don’t suppose you can see anything through there.” 

“No, it pretty much looks darker than a rat’s ass at midnight,” Emmett remarked as he held out his hand to Brian. “Shall we... dahling?”

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Brian muttered as he took Emmett’s hand and stepped through the door.