I had no appetite for supper. I took a glass and a full bottle of scotch from the liquor cabinet and sat again by the grandfather clock.

Your phantasm’s voice grew stronger. My name was now spoken with crystal clarity and other words became audible: Sam … you … me, repeated, repeated, repeated. I feared I would be driven insane if I stayed. If I left, I could not shield the world from this… this… fiend. I stayed.

Before I was inebriated, I went to the bedroom and closed the door, hoping to silence your phantasm’s voice, but it carried clearly throughout the house. I called the police to file the missing person report. The officer asked if I could come to the station. No, it was impossible, I told her. She interviewed me over the phone and I described you to her. I wondered that she did not hear the words that your phantasm uttered so distinctly.

I descended the stairs and sat again by the clock. I filled my glass, drained it and refilled it. I watched the demon, sitting on the bench.