The Dark Other by Stanley G. Weinbaum (new ebook reader .txt) 📕

After a long interval she opened her eyes, and saw the other standing again with clenched fists and contorted countenance. His features were writhing in the intensity of his struggle; a strange low snarl came from his lips. He backed away from her, step by step; he leaned against the bookshelves, and beads of perspiration formed on his scowling face.

He was no longer master! She saw the change; imperceptibly the evil vanished from his features, and suddenly they were no longer his, but the weary, horror-stricken visage of her Nick! The red eyes were no longer satanic, but only the bloodshot, troubled, gentle eyes of her sweetheart, and the lips had lost their grimness, and gasped and quivered and trembled. He reeled against the wall, staggered to the chair at the table, and sank weakly into it.

Pat was far too exhausted, far too dazed, to feel anything but the faintest sensation of relief. She realized only dimly that tears were welling from her eyes, and that sharp sobs were shaking her. She was for the moment unable to stir, and it was not long until the being at the table turned stricken eyes on her that she moved. Then she drew her knees up before her, as if to hide her body behind their slim, chiffon-clad grace.

Nick rose from the table, approaching her with weary, hesitant tread. He seized a cover of some sort that was folded over the foot of the couch, shook it out and cast it over her. She clutched it about her body, sat erect and leaned back against the wall in utter exhaustion. Many minutes passed with no word from either of the occupants of the unholy chamber. It was Nick who broke the long silence.

“Pat,” he murmured in low tones. “Pat⁠—Dear. Are you⁠—all right?”

She stared at him dazedly without answer.

“Honey!” he said. “Honey! Tell me you’re all right!”

“All right?” she repeated uncomprehendingly. “Yes. I guess I’m all right.”

“Then go, Pat! Get away from here before he⁠—before anything happens! Put your clothes on and hurry away!”

“I can’t!” she said, faintly. “I⁠—can’t!”

“You must, Honey!”

“I’m just⁠—not able to. I will soon, Nick⁠—honest. When I⁠—when I get my breath back.”

“Pat!” There was anguish in the cry. “Oh, God⁠—Pat! We mustn’t ever be together again⁠—not ever!”

“No,” she said. A bit of sanity was returning to her; comprehension of her position sent a shudder through her. “No, we mustn’t.”

“I couldn’t bear another night like this⁠—watching! I’d go mad!”

“Oh!” she choked, tears starting. “If you hadn’t come back, Nick!”

“I conquered him,” he said. “I don’t think I could do it again. It was your call that gave me the strength, Pat.” He shook his head as if bewildered. “He thought it was being in love with you that weakened me, but in the end it was that which gave me the strength to subdue him.”

“I’m scared!” said the girl suddenly. “Oh, Nick! I’m frightened!”

“You’d better go. You’d better dress and leave at once, Honey. Here.” He gathered her clothes from the floor, depositing them beside her on the couch. “There are pins in the tray on the table, Pat. Fix yourself up as well as you can, dear⁠—and hurry out of here!”

He turned toward the door as if to leave, and a shock of terror shook her.

“Nick!” she cried. “Don’t go away! I’m more afraid when I can’t see you⁠—afraid that he⁠—” She broke off sobbing.

“All right, Honey. I’ll turn my back.”

She slipped out from under the blanket, found the pins, and repaired her ruined costume. The frock was torn, crushed and bedraggled; she pinned it together at the throat, though her trembling fingers made the task difficult. She pulled it on and took a tentative step toward the door.

“Nick!” she called as a wave of dizziness sent her swaying against the wall.

“What’s the matter, Honey?” He turned anxiously at her cry.

“I’m dizzy,” she moaned. “My head aches, and⁠—I’m scared!”

“Pat, darling! You can’t go out alone like this⁠—and,” he added miserably, “I can’t take you!” He slipped his arm around her tenderly, supporting her to the couch. “Honey, what’ll we do?”

“I’ll be⁠—all right,” she murmured. “I’ll go in a moment.” The dizziness was leaving her; strength was returning.

“You must!” he said dolefully. “What a parting, Pat! Never to see you again, and then having this to remember as farewell!”

“I know, Nick. You see, I love you too.” She turned her dark, troubled eyes on him. “Honey, kiss me goodbye! We’ll have that to remember, anyway!” Tears were again on her cheeks.

“Do I dare?” he asked despondently. “After the things these lips of mine have said, and what these arms have done to you?”

“But you didn’t, Nick! Could I blame you for⁠—that other?”

“God! You’re kind, Pat! Honey, if ever I win out in this battle, if ever I know I’m the final victor, I’ll⁠—No,” he said his tones dropping abruptly. “I’ll never come back to you, Pat. It’s far too dangerous, and⁠—can I ever be certain? Can I?”

“I don’t know, Nick. Can you?”

“I can’t be, Pat! I’ll never be sure that he isn’t just dormant, as he was before, waiting for my weakness to betray me! I’ll never be certain, Honey! It has to be goodbye!”

“Then kiss me!”

She clung to him; the room that had been so recently a chamber of horrors was transformed. As she held him, as her lips were pressed to his, she thought suddenly of the words of the demon, that Heaven and Hell were always the same place. They had taken on a new meaning, those words; she drew away from Nick and turned her tear-bright eyes tenderly on his.

“Honey,” she murmured, “I don’t want you to leave me. I don’t want you to go!”

“Nor do I want to, Pat! But I must.”

“You mustn’t! You’re to stay, and we’ll fight it out together⁠—be married, or any way that permits us to fight it through together.”

“Pat! Do you think I’d consent to that?”

“Nick,” she said. “Nick darling⁠—It’s worth it to me! I’m realizing it now; I thought it