“Where am I?”

Jago pushed himself off the teal floor and studied his surroundings. Around him was an endless void with countless stars and swirling dust clouds. When a groan reached his ears, he found Carrie lying on the same surface. As he approached her, the monk nudged her awake.

She groaned as her eyes flickered. “Jago? Where are we?”

“Not sure.” The monk helped her to her feet. “We must leave.”

A moment later, Carrie screamed and pointed to something behind them.

Jago froze once he turned around. A gargoyle-like creature stood with iron braces on each wrist. A menacing yellow glow shone from its eyes. Its sharp-toothed humanoid-tusked mouth pulled into a sardonic grin.

“Carrie, run!” the monk said as the monster grabbed him.

She ran until a portal materialized from the ether. Several cackling Omens appeared from the gateway and pounced on her.

“Help me! Jago, help me!” Carrie cried as the monk fought to escape the demon’s grip.

Sneering, the creature brought Jago close to its face. Its icy contempt betrayed its tiger-like visage. “Hello. So glad to meet you.”

“Can’t say likewise, Gargos.”

“Come now. I’ve set aside time for us.”

“You can keep it, so let us leave.”

Gargos scoffed. “As if I’d let that happen. I’m pleased you brought your friend.”

“I swear if you hurt Carrie—!” Jago said until the Shadow Lord tightened his hold.

“You are in no position to make threats, boy.” Gargos paused as he shifted glances between his captives, then expressed a faux moment of clarity. “Oh! You care about the child, do you?” He gestured at his minions. With the Omens holding Carrie down, the lead one wrapped its claws around her neck. “In that case, we should begin your next lesson. Now, witness the birth of my strongest fighter.”

“NO!” Jago yelled.

Carrie’s scream echoed as Omen plunged his bare hand into her chest. He ripped her soul from her body, her form wavering in the void. After tossing it into the Abyss, the demon moved into Carrie’s body. Carrie writhed on the ground, her eyes rolling upward. Spittle flew out of her mouth, and her skin turned blue. The Omens cackled with daemonic glee until she stopped moving.

Her irises gleamed electric white when she opened them. As she pushed herself off the floor, ‘Carrie’ cackled a strange double-layered laugh. An evil black aura enveloped her as electric wings sprouted from her back.

Jago glared at Gargos, who laughed, averting his teary eyes from the horror. “You bastard, wh-what… what have you done to her?”

“Don’t worry. Carrie’s in safe hands with me. What about you, hm? Will you join me? If you do, you two will stay together.”

“Like hell, I will!”

“Ha, defiant until the end.” Gargos wrapped Jago’s neck. “I almost feel… sorry for you. After all, you were my favorite student. Well, almost. You still have my thanks for our freedom. Now, Jago, there’s one task left to accomplish for the ‘Tiger Spirit.’”

Out of thin air, another portal appeared, where a sprawling gulf of madness and insane shapes reigned. Jago trembled at what awaited him.

“Nyarlathotep, the Old Ones, and the Outer Gods require your presence. You will be their ideal toy as they feast on your sanity and flesh. May your name, screams, and torture last for eternity,” Gargos said.

Once the Shadow Lord flung him, Jago fell into darkness, screaming.

The monk jolted from his chair, cold sweat covering his body. Looking around, he wasn’t in that strange realm. In a spacious, chair-filled room, people chatted. A team of doctors and nurses rushed back and forth. The overhead lights lit the cream walls adorned with vibrant thangkas. Above the chairs, a clock showed 7:20 p.m.

Just a dream. Jago slowed his breathing, settling into reality.

“Excuse me? Sir?” a voice called. A young woman sat behind a desk, her brows furrowed. “Is everything alright?”

“I’m… I’m fine, miss. Is there any news about Carrie?”

“Not yet. I wouldn’t stress too much. Carrie is in better hands.”

I hope so. Jago strolled to Lhasa with Carrie on his back after receiving help from the nuns. After a while, he reached TAR People’s Hospital. Upon entering, the monk informed the receptionist, who alerted two doctors. He couldn’t forget the girl’s frightened expression when he set her on the rolling stretcher.

“It’ll be alright,” he told her. “I’m here if you need me.”

A few hours have passed since Carrie entered the emergency room. A bald, middle-aged man in white emerged from the ER. “Is someone here for Carrie?”

Jago arose from his seat. “I am.”

“Come with me.”

The monk followed the doctor to a sitting room.

“I should start by saying that the nuns did a splendid job. With antibiotics, the infection should clear up. Now, with that injury she had, she’s lucky to be alive. While examining her, I used a CT scan and discovered a nicked heart.

“I believe she’s suffering from pericardial effusion. It occurs when a buildup of fluid fills the heart membrane.

“The scary part is that anyone who suffers from it doesn’t show any symptoms. If left untreated, it would lead to cardiac tamponade.”

Jago could not believe the information. “By the Tiger….”

“It’s not something you want to hear,” the doctor said. “It was almost invisible, but we caught it and are treating it. We had to brief her on the situation. Plus, we had to use soothing methods to calm her down because she was terrified. Regardless, I’m confident she’ll recover with the right treatment.”

“That’s good. Still, when I saw Carrie rubbing that area, I asked her if she was okay. Why would she lie?”

“Maybe she did it to keep you from worrying. People keep things to themselves to avoid burdening others with their problems. Tell her you’re in it together, whatever her situation is. Also, there’s something else you should know. I tried to look up your friend’s medical history, but it was blank.

“In addition, I found under-healed fractures caused by a heavy blunt object. I’m worried Carrie might have been a victim of abuse.”

“What?” Despite his mask, Jago shielded his mouth; his face drained of color. Although calm on the outside, he glowed with fury within. “Did you ask Carrie?”

“I did, even about family. She said, and I quote, ‘I do not want to talk about it.’ In my opinion, the fractures, blank medical records, and her anxiety are red flags of abuse. Is there anything you know about her? Any information would be helpful.”

“I’ll be honest with you. I know little about the girl’s past, but she lived a troubled life. Carrie has stayed with me for a month. She avoided me at first, but after a while, she warmed up to me.”

The doctor grew silent. “Well, per policy, I’m compelled to call Social Services and report. However, because she’s grown accustomed to you, I’ll give you the option to take her home and be her guardian. I’ll also provide paperwork and resources to help you. Let me know what you decide.”

“Like a foster parent?” For Jago, it was a simple decision. He was a role model for many children at the Tiger Shrine. “It’ll be an honor. Also, if you’re right about your assumption, that would be more reason to assure her safety. When can I see her?”

Before the doctor answered, a buzz from his phone grabbed his attention. He dipped into his pocket and checked the contents. “I got a text from one of my colleagues. They have finished treating Carrie, but she should remain here.”

“How long?”

“I would say a week or two. That way, we can monitor her and be ready if something happens.” The doctor stood. “Come. I’ll bring you to her.”

Both men strolled through the hall until they approached an elevator. The doctor pressed the third-floor button.

They stepped inside, and once the doors closed, the elevator started its ascent. When they arrived at the intended level, they exited and proceeded down the hallway.

They stopped outside the door labeled 310 with Carrie’s name on it.

“Keep in mind: she may still be under sedation, but a member from my unit gave her Naloxone. Give it about five to ten minutes; she should wake up,” the doctor said.

Jago placed his hands together and bowed. “Does this place have a guest room?”

The doctor rubbed his chin. “I’ll see what I can do. I’ll come by later with the paperwork for you to be Carrie’s foster parent.”

As the doctor left, Jago opened the door. The room was dark except for the fluorescent light attached to the wall. Moonlight permeated the blinds, filling the space. Stepping inside, he moved closer, examining the sleeping girl.

Carrie’s chest rose and fell with each breath she took. Her gown concealed sensors connected to a wired heart monitor.

On her left hand was a taped IV line.

A thin tube was in her upper body, leading to a drainage canister.

The unsettled dream from before plagued his mind, seeing the girl possessed and corrupted. He tossed that dreaded image aside, focusing on the present. The monk found a chair and brought it closer to the bed.

Once seated, he whispered a soft chant to comfort himself and his ward. As minutes passed, he continued his prayer when a moan halted him.

Waking up, Carrie blinked several times before seeing him. “Ja… Jago?”

“Hey. How are you feeling?”

“Groggy.” Her vision landed on the plastic tube. “Wha—What’s this?”

Jago stopped her from reaching for it. “Don’t mess with it. Your heart developed fluid buildup from the laceration. If you pull it out, you could worsen things.”

Carrie swallowed, pulling away. She breathed in as a dull pain crept in. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“For lying to you. Lying is a sin, but I feared telling you about my condition. It was so you wouldn’t worry.”

“Oh, Carrie…” Jago frowned while the girl coughed. She put her palm on her breastbone above the catheter. “Mind if I do something?”

“What is it?”

“Give me your hand.”

“Wha… what are you gonna do?”

“Trust me.”

Carrie stared at the monk’s hand. Omen’s words about Jago’s involvement with dark forces echoed in her mind, but his actions to protect her proved the opposite. After a slight pause, Carrie reached out and grasped his hand.

Jago glanced at the door, ensuring their solitude. Closing his eyes, he recited the following words. “Tayata Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Radza Samudgate Soha.” A gold glow emitted from his right eye as he repeated the words.

Carrie gasped as a glowing aura surrounded the monk. She prepared herself for something terrible as it reached her. Instead, a surge of warmth embraced her, erasing the discomfort. Just as the energy appeared, it vanished. “What did you do?”

“I invoked the Buddha of Medicine. I only gave you a small portion, but it should be enough.”

“Buddha of Medicine… is this the same person you told me? The prince that became the Buddha?”

“No, this is different. Like Vajrapani, he is a bodhisattva but a patron deity of medicine. People appeal to him for recovery from illness or injury.”

Carrie imagined this individual as someone who aided those in need. “That chant you used earlier… could summon him?”

“Not in a physical sense, but yes. One must recite the mantra to receive spiritual healing. Some say it’s three. For others, it’s seven. Me: I would recite it as many times as possible.”

“Is it possible to apply these mantras to my religion?”

“How come?”

Carrie gazed at the ceiling. “I pray to God each night to heal my wounds, but nothing changes. I’m stuck in this never-ending cycle of pain. It’s like I’m in a void and can’t escape.”

“Then you must trust yourself. Take the time to explore your inner self. As Nima once said, ask questions. Once you do, you may find answers that surprise you,” Jago said. “By the way, you mentioned wounds, plural. So, that stab wound wasn’t the only one?”

Carrie froze, but after weighing her options, she sighed. “My right leg and left arm both have cuts. The man who discovered me patched them up.”

“May I look at your arm?”

Carrie lifted her arm, revealing a faint scar. The stitches had long since melted, leaving a pinkish-white line.

Jago studied the blemish. “How did you get this? The same with your leg?”

The girl shifted her gaze. “A monster. It sought to offer my soul to God.”

“What? Why?”

“To ensure I don’t sin.”

“But… you have done nothing wrong.”

“I did. The Curse of Blood fell upon me. Now that I’m a woman, I have sinned.”

“Curse of Blood? Are you talking about your cycle?”

Carrie covered her face, sniffling. “It’s so embarrassing. I thought I was dying.”

“I’ve never heard of anyone dying from a menstrual cycle, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a natural, albeit difficult, part of life for women. Besides, you should be used to it by now.”

“This is my second.”

“Second? Forgive me if I ask, but how old are you?”

“I’m sixteen. Why? Is anything wrong?”

Jago paused for a while. “Not at all. Still, I’ll ask the doctors if they can run some tests tomorrow. Now, the part where you stated that womanhood is sinful, who told you that?”

“Mama.”

The monk folded his arms while a narrow line formed on his lips. “Turning into a woman isn’t shameful, Carrie. If she has that perception, she must learn to accept herself. The journey to adulthood is scary but not evil.”

“Then, why didn’t she tell me?”

“You already know the answer,” the voice said in Carrie’s head. “You just won’t admit it.”

Jago scratched his head. “What do you mean? Your mother never informed you about your body changes?”

“No. Mama even forbade me from taking a class while I was in school. Something about sex education.”

“Hm. Well, that’s something we’ll have to fix. For now, rest.”

“Would you mind staying with me? I don’t wanna be alone.”

“Of course. Besides, the doctor is looking for a room for me. He also said he’d return with paperwork.”  

“Paperwork?”

“They planned to put you in the system after your hospital stay. They assume you’re an orphan since you didn’t tell them about your family.”

“What?” Carrie’s pulse monitor beeped faster. “No, no!”  

“Calm down. Listen to me. The medical staff did contact Social Services as it’s their policy. However, they suggested I take you in as a foster child, and I agreed.”

Her cardiac monitor returned to normal. “Why?”

“To spare you from the pain. There are decent shelters for orphans, but they are cruel places. It was a risk I couldn’t take.”

The teenager couldn’t bear living there. She wouldn’t survive, given her bullied past. Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m glad you followed their advice. I’d sit up to hug you, but….”

Jago waved. “No need, but something bothers me. In my fight against Omen, your voice resounded in my head. How is that possible?”

The girl’s face turned pale for a moment. “Your mind could be playing tricks on you. Perhaps you imagined it.”

Jago squinted. Carrie’s hiding something, but what? “Hmm, that makes sense. Sleep now.”

With the tension leaving, Carrie moved to a comfortable position. “Jago? Thank you for saving me.”

The outer corners of the monk’s eyes crinkled. Once the girl drifted asleep, he resumed his mellow chant.