A Most Graceful Life Ch. 02

Finally, he had just the last row to populate. His fingers moved the last symbol, which looked like a lower case letter b, into position, and completed the fifth and final row. Yes! He thought, smiling at himself for figuring out the puzzle. He stared at the completed puzzle for several moments, proud at figuring it out. It had taken the better part of two and half hours, but he had done it.

Putting the completed puzzle on his nightstand, Stephen let out an audible yawn. It was so late, and his tiredness had finally caught up with him. It was all he could do to get his light turned off before his head finally hit the pillow. Stephen was out almost immediately, sound asleep. A good thing, for if he was still awake, he would have noticed his puzzle box was spilling out a light green gas from the two seams. That gas was steadily filling the room, all released from deep within the box.

Stephen, fast asleep as he was, didn't notice the gas slipping inside him. He breathed it deeply, inhaling the ancient fumes, and releasing a spiritual entity that had been caged for more than two thousand years.

For his part, Stephen only slept. It was a night without dreams or nightmares. A deep restful sleep that promised an interesting awakening.