Stephen heard the whispering voice, and tensed up in terror. He lifted his head, expecting to see the Dementor, and instead found himself staring at a hovering apparition that could have only crept into life from someone’s nightmare. It had paper-thin skin hanging off it like shreds of fabric. It was a skeletal monstrosity.
Eyeless sockets turned to face him, staring into him and through him and Stephen realised that he knew what it was. It was the thing that had whispered strength to him. It was the thing he’d let in out of fear and desperation. “Oh God-“ He whimpered, trying to move back and finding himself frozen in place. The wraith moved down towards him, cocking its head as if regarding him for the first time. It was close enough that he could smell the wet scent of decay radiating from it.
Stephen suddenly found strength. Run! RUN! He pushed back and screamed, and the Wraith plunged its skeletal hand into his mouth. Stephen choked as it climbed inside of him. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t think. His body was so cold it burned. Foam rose on his lips as he seized on the ground beside the fountain. The Wraith struggled to bind his mind to him, clawing at his thoughts, reminding him of his weaknesses and loneliness. It hurt so much that in the end, it was simply easier to give in.