Chapter Text
There’s a subtle smell of something sweet and spicy brushing against my scent glands. Everything else feels empty and non-existent, but the smell is pulling my soul back. Then, I begin to hear a high-pitched ringing, like the devilish bells tolling I’d gotten so used to. The ringing becomes louder and more defined. I can hear a droning noise, and an occasional electronic beep, but it soon turns into a cacophony of panicked voices, all asking each other what to do. I hear one voice say,
“This is impossible, it’s been 10 years!” and another says,
“Prayers always work, Doctor.” I hear that word, “prayer”, and my hand jolts to the left. I can now feel the cold metal and plastic of the bed’s side rails. I can now feel the warmth of the old sheets against my every part, and soon I can feel everything. Every little nerve signal up to my muscles contracting and pulling blood through them.
I am alive.
I am alive, and I can now think again. Millions of thoughts rush through in an instant, and it’s all too overwhelming. I try to speak to my discomfort, but can only moan different a scratchy, “aah.”
Now I can see, too, and I see the surrounding, bright room, and about ten faces, all staring in awe. Everything is so overstimulating, and yet I am so glad to finally be able to feel again. When all of my bodily functions have returned, I try to move, but I feel locked in place. There are needles in my arms, and a tube in my mouth, which someone gently pulls out. The pain doesn’t process until a few seconds later, when I finally start breathing on my own, with much difficulty. I finally grab control of my breathing and re-moisturize my mouth. It’s been dry for so long. Then, I start to remember who I am. The man in a long, white coat and dark glasses shines a light into my eyes.
“What is your name?” He asks. I feel my brows furrow and I try to speak, but my throat is burning.
“A-“ I begin, the burning finally stopping slowly. “Az…Aza…zel….” I barely speak, but the man only shakes his head.
“No, that is not your name. His memory seems to have been impaired, Mrs. Gillow.” He turns away from me, towards a sobbing woman.
“Let me try, Doctor.” She says, and walks over to me. Her smile brings a sensation forth, one that pounds against my brain.
“She….Shelia….” I say, but I am unsure what this word means.
“He remembers me!” She sobs over my body, and hugs me. It feels nice. It feels warm. Much warmer than my old home. I’ve never felt so warm. “Oh, Alfred…” She sighs, brushing my hair behind my ear, “I knew you were in there all this time.” I am confused, but her presence calms me for some reason. The doctor, I assume, steps back and ponders.
“It’s just not possible.” He said quietly. That same scent burns my nose again, and I look down to realize the woman has squirted a clear liquid into her hand, and rubs it in. She must have noticed my disgusted face, as she says,
“Oh, dear, I am so sorry.” She steps back and the scent finally disappears. I sigh as best I can, relaxed. I have never felt this feeling before, and it causes a great pain in my heart. Almost as if I was not supposed to feel this sensation. It is warm, soothing and makes me feel like I am melting into the bed. This must be what He described to me as “love.” When I am finally fully here, I can remember everything about where I came from, and everything about this man that I have possessed. Everything about his life is mediocre, and quite boring, but the years he has spent with his wife are… delightful. It makes me feel this “love” again.
I was told not to approach any Earthly beings, but my curiosities took a hold of me. Now I am in this body, and… it doesn’t feel wrong. But it doesn’t feel right. It feels gray, yes, like the color.
I am demonic, I am not supposed to feel all this, nor am I supposed to feel love. So why do I? There is one thing I am sure of, and it is that I am not “Alfred,” or whatever that woman, Sheila, called me.
I am Azazel.