The Space Between Worlds

Continued from Teeth and Halo

“Joseph,” Francine asked, “what are you doing here?”

“I heard you needed help, so I came,” Joseph said, unwrapping himself from Deb’s embrace.

“And a good thing he did,” Deb added, as Carl and Jessie stepped through the door behind him.

“Mommy!” Heidi cried, racing past Francine and throwing herself into Jessie’s arms.

Jessie dropped to her knees and held her tight. “Heidi, sweetheart…”

Francine turned back to Joseph. “How did you hear we needed help?”

“She told me,” Joseph said, nodding toward Heidi. “She really is quite loud. And persistent.”

Jessie gave a shaky laugh, brushing hair from Heidi’s face.

Francine’s expression hardened. “What happened to Azravael?”

Joseph’s gaze shifted toward the darkened window.

“Not here,” he said quietly. “But he’ll be back. One thing you can be sure of, he doesn’t give up.”

“Neither do I,” Hunter said, stepping forward and placing himself protectively between Francine and Joseph.

“I would hope not,” Joseph replied. “If you did, I doubt Azravael would be having as much trouble as he is.”

“He seems to be doing pretty well,” Sandra said. “I was sure he was going to get in here.”

“But he didn’t,” Joseph said.

“Or maybe he did,” Hunter said evenly.

Joseph’s gaze sharpened. “What do you mean?”

“I mean maybe he never left. It’s pretty convenient you showed up when you did. And just how did you manage to get past Francine’s charms?”

“You think he possessed me?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve been compromised,” Hunter said.

Joseph did not react immediately.

He did not bristle. He did not flare. He simply looked at Hunter.

“No,” he said quietly. “It wouldn’t be.”

The admission hung heavier than denial would have.

Deb’s eyes snapped to him. “Joseph.” Then she turned to Hunter, angry. “Joseph came here to help and you attack his character.”

“No, Deb,” Joseph said. “He is right to question my motives. Because of my weakness, I was compromised before. People died because of me. His wife died because of me.”

Francine stepped closer to Hunter’s side. “He walked through the door without resistance. Our wards didn’t even flicker.”

Joseph turned slowly, taking in the faint shimmer of protective sigils along the walls. “Your wards are woven to repel darkness,” he said. “Not me.”

“And how can we be sure you aren’t part of the darkness?” Sandra asked, flinching at the mention of her sister.

“You can’t,” Joseph said. “But she can.” He nodded toward Heidi. “She is pure. Azravael wants her because of that purity. He also wants her for the power she carries. Her light recognizes what is dark and what is good.”

Jessie instinctively pulled her daughter closer, but Heidi twisted in her arms.

“Mommy, stop,” Heidi protested softly.

Jessie hesitated.

“He’s good,” Heidi said.

Francine crouched slightly so she was closer to the child’s height. “How can you tell, sweetheart?”

Heidi looked at Joseph as if the answer were obvious.

“Because he shines.”

The room stilled.

Sandra swallowed. Hunter did not move.

Heidi continued, searching for the right words.

“Daddy was all shadows,” she said quietly. “It wasn’t always like that. But after the monster got inside him, the shadows grew. They covered everything. He wouldn’t let the light in anymore.”

Jessie’s breath caught.

Heidi pointed gently at Joseph.

“He still has light. It’s not bright.” She frowned slightly. “It flickers. Like when a candle almost goes out. But it’s there.”

Joseph did not look away.

“It glimmers,” she said with certainty. “Shadows can’t make that.”

Silence pressed in around them.

Hunter’s jaw tightened, but this time not in accusation.

“You said his light isn’t bright,” Francine said carefully. “That it flickers. Why?”

Heidi did not look at Francine. She was still watching Joseph.

“Because he’s sad,” she said simply.

Joseph lowered his eyes.

Heidi continued, her voice softer now.

“He can’t go home.”

The words landed heavier than anyone expected.

Francine frowned. “Home?”

Heidi nodded.

“He doesn’t belong here,” she said. “But he doesn’t belong there anymore either.”

A silence settled over the room, deeper than before.

Sandra felt it first. That hollow space between worlds.

"Why not?” Francine pressed gently. “Why doesn’t he belong there?”

Heidi hesitated, as if reaching for something too big to hold.

“Because something broke,” she said at last. “When the shadows touched him. They didn’t win. But they changed him.”

Joseph’s throat worked.

“He’s not dark,” Heidi added quickly. “But he’s not whole.”

Jessie tightened her arms around her daughter.

Hunter’s voice was low. “Is that why it flickers?”

Heidi nodded.

“It’s tired,” she whispered. “It’s been trying to find where it fits.”

Joseph finally looked up.

For the first time since he arrived, there was no defense in his eyes.

Only truth.