The eyes remained fixed on me.
The boy lay on his side, his face partly hidden by the end of the blanket. In the faint light coming through the curtains, I could almost make out my own outline reflected in his eyes.
He was awake.
My hand remained against the wall as the bedroom door opened a little farther, the creaking sound louder than ever as my heart pounded against my chest.
"Roy?"
The old woman's voice echoed softly across the room.
"What are you doing awake?"
I pressed myself closer to the wardrobe, keeping my eyes on the child as I reached towards my nodes.
There was still a response.
'Good.'
At least I could get out if—
"Are you having trouble sleeping again?"
The old woman entered.
I could see part of her cardigan through the narrow space beside the wardrobe. She approached the bed without turning on the light, her slippers making a faint sound against the carpet.
Roy didn't answer.
The mattress sank as she sat beside him.
"Come here."
She reached over and brushed his hair away from his forehead. Her fingers moved slowly, smoothing it to one side before resting against his cheek.
But he kept looking at me.
"Your face is cold. You should keep yourself covered."
She pulled the blanket higher.
For a moment, I couldn't see his eyes anymore.
Then his head moved slightly, and they appeared above the end of the blanket again.
"....."
I kept my breathing shallow.
The old woman continued stroking his hair, occasionally adjusting the strands falling down his face.
"I know you're worried about your parents."
My attention moved to her.
"But they're doing well."
She spoke gently, leaning closer to him.
"They'll come back to us. We just need to be patient."
Roy's fingers tightened slightly around the blanket.
"We can't let anyone take them away. You understand that, don't you?"
He didn't answer.
The old woman waited for a moment before continuing.
"I've been told... We need to keep them here. The less people find out, the better. But a... rat has recently made his way to us. For that reason, we may need to move now. I want you to start packing your stuff soon."
'Told...?'
By who?
My fingers pressed harder against the wall.
She was speaking so naturally. Almost as if the entire ordeal beforehand with me was of little importance. Still, it was obvious that she had realised that they needed to move.
"That's why..."
Her hand stopped against his hair.
"If you see any flies, you should tell me."
"....."
Roy's gaze remained on me.
I didn't move.
"They get into places they shouldn't. Even when you're careful."
The old woman leaned closer, her voice growing softer.
"You'll tell me, right...?"
For several seconds, nothing happened.
I could hear her breathing.
Then the faint rustle of the blanket as Roy slowly nodded.
My attention remained on his hands, my back pressing tighter against the wall, ready to react at an given moment.
To be honest, this wasn't a good idea.
I knew and understood this well. And like usual, I was nerfed as well.
But I had to do this in order to fight the thing that was nerfing me. At the same time, it was pretty thrilling.
The fact that I could die because of my own stupidity.
There were certainly many other ways for me to tackle this situation, but sadly, my mind was just not working at the moment. And I knew that I couldn't wait for it to recover.
Thus, I could only go in as a stupid man.
'Stupid, is what I am.'
"Very good."
She smiled and brushed his cheek once more.
"I knew you would."
Her hand lingered on his cheek before she pulled it away and stood. The mattress rose slowly beneath the blanket.
"I'll let you rest for a little bit as I pack up the stuff. We'll be leaving soon, alright?"
Roy gave another small nod.
"That's a good boy."
The old woman turned towards the door.
I pulled my head farther behind the wardrobe, watching the strip of carpet near its base as her shadow passed across it.
Her footsteps stopped.
"Goodnight."
There was no reply.
A moment later, the door slowly closed.
Creeaaaak.
I didn't move.
The muffled sound of her footsteps travelled down the corridor, growing softer until I couldn't hear them anymore.
Even then, I remained where I was. For all I knew, she could be standing just outside, waiting to hear something.
That seemed like something she would do.
I took a slow breath and lowered my gaze.
The shadow beneath my feet wiggled.
A familiar pain formed behind my eyes as the shadow stretched across the carpet, moving along the edge of the wardrobe before slipping beneath the door.
I waited.
'With the Voidwalker acting, I should be able to tell if it's good to go or not.'
My gaze eventually pulled back to the boy. He was still staring back at me.
He didn't seem particularly surprised by the shadow. Then again, he didn't seem particularly surprised by anything.
After a little while, my shadow wiggled once more.
'Nobody?'
It seemed like the area was clear. The old woman was truly packing her stuff.
With the coast clear, I pressed my hand against the wall.
"....."
Roy's eyes followed me.
For a moment, I considered saying something. There were several things that I was curious about but the room was so quiet that it felt as though even a small whisper was enough to alarm the old lady on the other side
I closed my mouth.
There would be time for questions once I understood what was happening.
Hopefully.
Instead, I quietly approached the desk.
Since the boy was only looking at me and not saying anything, I took the liberty to look around to figure out more. At the same time, I had the Void-walker keep a close look on him.
The drawings were still spread across the table, several sheets overlapping near the box of markers. I carefully lifted the corner of the nearest one, trying not to mess with the other papers.
'Two people...'
All the drawings had the same two people.
The man's shirt was coloured so heavily that the paper was starting to wear through. Beside him, the woman sat with her hair resting against the collar of her dress.
Their hands were on their knees.
Their backs were straight.
I looked towards another drawing beside it.
There was no difference.
'They'll come back to us.'
I slowly lowered the paper, the old woman's voice coming back to me.
'Right, of course.'
I'd be an idiot to not understand what was going on.
My lips pressed together.
'But what do you mean by... told?'
Could she be able to talk directly with VILE - 1048? I wasn't certain, but once the idea settled in my mind, it refused to leave.
I glanced towards Roy.
He was still watching, the blanket gathered beneath his chin.
I stared at him for a good moment before I put the drawing where I found it and turned towards the door.
My shadow wiggled once more as I had the Voidwalker look further. When the Voidwalker returned, I knew where the old woman was.
'Okay.'
I looked towards the bedroom door before turning back to the wall.
I pressed my palm against the wall near the window. A sharp tingling spread down my arm as I activated the skill, and I stepped forward before it could grow worse.
The wall passed over my face.
For a brief moment, there was nothing to see.
Then the cold air touched my skin.
I stepped onto the damp ground outside and steadied myself against the fence.
"....."
I waited until the discomfort behind my eyes settled before moving again.
The house remained dark.
Only a faint, changing light reached one of the windows farther ahead, appearing and disappearing as the muffled sound of footsteps echoed from deep within the house.
The ground sloped down towards the boarded room. I moved slowly, placing my feet on the exposed patches of earth where possible.
This time, I was even more careful than before, making sure to not step on any dry leaf.
I continued until the broken window came into view.
'I'm back.'
One of the boards hung at an angle. Another lay against the fence, split through the sheer force of the old lady. Even now, I was impressed by her strength.
I stopped to one side of the opening.
There was no light inside, or scraping sound. It was eerily quiet as the cold wind of the night brushed against me.
I didn't immediately enter the room. Instead, I had the Voidwalker enter first. It didn't take long for it to come back.
'There's still the same two people...? And they're staying completely still?'
I looked towards the broken boards for another moment before taking out my phone. The screen was still dim from earlier.
I held it against my palm and moved towards the wall beside the window.
'Just a look.'
That was all I needed for now. I needed to get a better look for myself.
I pressed my hand against the wall and activated [Trait Transfer]. The familiar pain returned as I passed through the wall.
My shoes touched the floor, and I immediately crouched, trying to make my size as small as possible whilst making the least amount of noise.
Then I lifted the phone slightly.
"....!?"
My heart jumped out of my throat the moment I did so.
Two faces stared back at me.
They were sitting close together, their chairs turned towards the window.
Towards the place where I entered.
The man's eyes were wide open. Beside him, the woman's hair clung to the corners of her mouth, where her lips stretched into a smile.
His mouth was the same.
Both sat upright, their hands resting flat against their thighs.
Neither was blinking.
-x-X-x-
My heart skipped a beat.
I pulled back, my shoulder pressing lower against the floor as my nodes started to stir. A familiar pain spread behind my eyes, but before I could do anything—
'No.'
I clenched my teeth and cooled my head immediately as I just barely stopped myself from leaving.
Taking another deep breath, I continued to stare at the two. They were smiling, but neither was moving at all.
After a moment, I decided to move closer to them.
In hindsight, it didn't seem like the greatest of ideas. But I was desperate, and also crazy.
So I just did it.
I moved my phone slightly, moving the dim light across their faces. The woman's eyes remained fixed ahead, even when the light passed directly over them.
Then I noticed the man's chest moving.
'He's breathing.'
His hands stayed flat against his thighs.
"....."
I stopped trying to activate my nodes.
These two...
They weren't conscious.
At least, they didn't seem to be aware of what was happening around them.
But there was no mistaking the way they were seated and their position. It was one I had seen it in the past.
Geneva's brother.
The way he sat on the bed back then, with the same smile.
'Right, this is the same.'
My gaze moved between the two faces.
VILE-1048.
I had no doubt about it before, but I was even more certain now.
The compass had led me the right way.
Even still, this wasn't enough of a clue for me to get closer to the truth behind VILE - 1048.
I slowly drew a breath, trying to calm my heartbeat.
"....."
Lowering the phone a little, I looked around the room.
A narrow bed stood against the wall on my right, its blanket folded near the pillow. There was a small cabinet beside it, and a table farther inside.
The food was still there.
Two bowls, with a spoon resting inside each one. Neither seemed to be touched. A small stain ran down the side of one bowl, stopping where it met the table.
I remembered the old woman telling them to be careful because it was hot.
'It doesn't look like she forced herself to feed them. How are they still alive?'
I looked back at the two.
They didn't seem capable of moving at all.
'How long have you been doing this?'
I wasn't certain I wanted an answer.
Behind me, cold air slipped through the broken window. One of the loose boards moved slightly, making a soft sound as it rubbed against the frame.
I turned slightly, frowning at the sight.
The other wooden planks were fixed across the window at different angles. From inside, I could see the ends of several nails poking through the wood.
It was difficult to tell whether she wanted to stop something from getting in or... getting out.
My attention returned to the two people, their smiles creepy under the dim light. A little saliva gathered beneath the woman's lower lip, drool moving down the edge of her chin.
"....."
'There must be something here.'
The compass brought me to this house for a reason.
'...Right, I'm also sure that I heard something else here.'
A third person.
Or...
I looked at the two of them, my heart feeling heavy.
Creak.
"....!?"
My head immediately lifted as a soft creaking sound echoed from the distance. Immediately, my gaze fell back on the two of them.
Neither moved, both eyes still as wide as before.
I waited for several seconds, listening for movement outside the room.
But...
Nothing.
Only then did I continue, keeping a close watch of the two of them. Up close, the resemblance to the drawings was even more obvious.
From their shirt, to the colour of their hair.
I stopped beside the woman's chair, looking at her face from the side.
For a moment, my hand moved towards my pocket.
The red ball.
Perhaps if I put them under, I could get them to—
'No.'
My hand stopped.
I already tried that with Geneva's brother, and while it worked, I wasn't sure the current me could handle the aftermath. Especially since there was the risk of VILE - 1048 doing something to me like before.
My fingers slowly pulled away from the pocket.
I moved past the chairs and approached the table.
From this side, their backs were towards me. Both sat so straight that I found myself looking at the space between their shoulders and the chair backs.
Neither was resting against anything.
I lowered my gaze to the table.
There were a few papers beside the bowls. Old receipts, an envelope, and a folded cloth. I lifted the edge of the envelope and checked beneath it before putting it back.
'There's nothing useful.'
The cabinet stood beside the bed, close enough that I could reach it without crossing the room.
I crouched and carefully opened the upper drawer but it was just as I expected. Just a bunch of clothes.
I moved the comb aside, checked beneath the clothes, then slowly closed the drawer.
'Come on. There must be—'
"When is your turn?"
My hand stopped.
The voice came from behind me.
It was soft, but I could hear a certain hoarseness to it. The kind you'd expect from someone who hadn't spoken in a very long time. I froze on the spot, the hairs on the back of my hand rising. At the same time, a cold feeling spread down the back of my neck as I slowly turned my head.
The two backs remained facing me.
Neither person was looking in my direction.
"....."
I stared at them, waiting.
Then another voice answered.
"I'm not sure."
It was the woman's voice.
"I've been told to wait. From what I've heard... there's been a special admission."
My fingers tightened against the cabinet. In that moment, I realised something. They weren't speaking to me.
They were speaking to each other.
That's...
'A special admission?'
I looked towards the closed door.
Their voices weren't loud, but the house was quiet. If I could hear them speaking from here, then the old woman might hear them too.
I needed to hide.
Keeping my eyes on the chairs, I lowered myself beside the bed.
There was just enough space beneath it.
I slid my phone into my hand and started recording before carefully pushing myself under, keeping the screen pressed against my chest.
My sleeve brushed the frame as I pulled my legs in and turned onto my side.
From here, I could see the lower parts of the chairs and both pairs of feet.
They were placed neatly together.
Still.
My forehead started feeling hot.
"....."
I closed my eyes for a moment, only to open them again when the floor seemed to tilt beneath me.
'Fuck, not now.'
The bed leg in front of my face became difficult to focus on. I blinked several times, waiting for the feeling to pass, but it only grew worse.
Then my nose started itching.
'Fuck.'
I immediately covered it.
My breath stopped as I pressed my fingers beneath my nose, trying to keep the sneeze from coming.
The silence around me felt louder than ever.
I could hear the faint movement of my sleeve whenever my hand shook.
At the same time, the voices continued to echo.
"...But we've been waiting for so long."
I looked towards his shoes, trying my best to focus on their conversation. .
I kept my hand over my nose, my chest growing tighter as I waited.
Then—
"Yeah, but..."
The woman's voice reached me.
"That's what the doctor said."
My brows rose.
Doctor?
'What—'
CLANK!
The door burst open.
I flinched, pulling the phone tighter against my chest as light spread across the floor.
A pair of slippers stepped into the room.
It was the old woman.
She moved quickly towards the chairs, the hem of her cardigan briefly passing through the narrow space I could see beneath the bed.
My breath stopped completely.
I remained where I was, my hand still pressed against my nose.
"You two..."
Her voice echoed softly across the space.
"...We're moving. I need you to get ready."
-x-X-x-
The old woman moved closer to the chairs, the floor creaking slightly under her steps.
I watched her slippers stop beside the man's feet. A tense silence followed right after. One that felt incredibly suffocating, each little sound heightened around me.
Then the hem of her cardigan moved as she leaned towards them.
"Hm? Were you two talking again?"
There was no answer.
"I know the doctor is coming. Just wait a little longer. When he comes, all of this will pass."
"....."
My fingers stopped pressing against my nose.
'Doctor...'
That word again.
I stared at the slippers, my mind returning to everything that happened before coming here.
The victims feeling unwell.
Them supposedly waiting for someone...
'Doctor's appointment...?'
My chest tightened. Thinking about it, the system did tell me I had already interacted with it. No matter how hard I tried to think about it, I couldn't think of when, but looking back... It was right after I met a certain doctor.
My breath grew heavier.
'...But I even used the sunglasses. There was nothing wrong.'
The thought made my entire body grow cold.
Could it be that the doctors that I saw weren't real people and it was all just in my mind...? In that case, maybe...
Ba... Thump!
My heart struck against my chest.
Ba... Thump!
"Hmm?"
The slippers stopped moving.
I immediately pressed myself closer to the floor.
For a few seconds, I couldn't hear anything besides my heartbeat. It felt so loud that I was certain she could hear it too.
Slowly, the slippers turned my way.
"....."
I slid my phone into my pocket as carefully as possible, then brought my hand closer to my chest.
The old woman didn't approach.
She simply remained there.
Waiting.
I watched her feet, trying to work out whether she was looking at the bed or something else.
Then—
"I see."
My fingers curled.
"I see."
'See what?'
The slippers moved closer.
I slowly pulled my knees towards me, making sure nothing was caught beneath the frame. There wasn't much room, but if I pushed towards the foot of the bed...
Her cardigan appeared.
Then her hand.
The fingers rested against the floor beside the bed, one at a time.
"I see you!"
Her face dropped into view.
"....!?"
I pushed myself backwards immediately.
My shoes scraped against the floor as I slid out at the foot of the bed, catching the frame with one hand before pulling myself upright.
The room tilted.
I gripped the mattress, struggling to keep my balance.
Then I looked towards the chairs.
They were empty.
".....!?"
The man and woman were standing.
Both faced me, their arms resting straight against their sides. Their eyes were as wide as before, and neither smile seemed to change when I moved.
I couldn't remember hearing them get up.
The old woman slowly straightened beside the bed.
"You've come back again."
I looked towards the door.
The two stood between me and it.
"You shouldn't have."
My nose started itching.
I tried to lift my hand, but—
"Achoo!"
My head dipped.
The floor seemed to move closer within my vision, and I pressed harder against the mattress.
"Achoo!"
The second sneeze left me struggling to draw a proper breath.
'Fuck.'
I reached towards my nodes.
Good, I could still feel them. But when I tried to use it, the feeling slipped away before I could properly grasp it.
I tried again, but it was just like before...
I couldn't feel them properly.
Fuck.
The man took a step forward.
I immediately moved back.
His foot dragged across the floor as he took a step forward. The woman followed a moment later, her head remaining perfectly straight despite the movement.
Neither looked towards the old woman.
Both of them looked right at me.
"Are you the one the doctor is waiting for?"
Her lips parted as she looked at me. But as I looked back at her, I could see she wasn't truly looking at me.
"You should wait too. That way, we can meet him faster."
"...I'm good."
My voice came out a little hoarse.
The old woman looked at my face and then she smiled.
"No, you aren't."
I couldn't quite argue with that.
Actually, I did need to go see the doctor. But not this doctor.
"You look very unwell."
The man's fingers twitched. I stared at him in silence before looking towards the space beside him.
Not enough.
The woman stood closer to the wall, leaving very little room for me to get past without touching one of them.
"There's room for you here."
The old woman suddenly offered, putting on a kind smile.
"You can stay with us to wait for the doctor. That'll be good. That way, we can all get this done quickly."
"...I'm good."
"No, I insist."
She smiled.
The same warm smile she gave me when she brought the tea.
Only that it felt incredibly unsettling.
My shoulder touched the wall, and I stopped.
"....."
The man moved closer.
His smile was wet near the corners, with a thin line of saliva slipping towards his chin. He didn't wipe it away.
The woman's eyes remained fixed on mine.
Even when she stepped around the edge of the bed, her gaze continued to remain fixed on me.
'Calm down.'
I pressed my palm against the wall and tried to reach my nodes again.
But...
The moment I did so, my head started to spin. My thoughts were becoming difficult to hold onto. Every time I tried to focus, the room tilted, forcing me to concentrate on keeping myself from falling.
"You don't need to be frightened."
The old woman said, her voice gentle.
"We only want you to stay."
The man lifted his hand, prompting me to look at it. But then, my attention turned to the door behind him.
There was a small gap beside the old woman, but reaching it meant getting past the two in front of me.
With my body like this...
'Think.'
The man drew closer.
I moved to the side, keeping my back against the wall as the floor creaked with each one of his steps.
The woman moved with me.
She was making sure there was no space for me to move.
"....."
The old woman watched, her hands resting neatly in front of her cardigan. Sweat trickled down the side of my face as I looked around, struggling to find a way out of this situation.
"There. Just stay still."
Her voice grew more confident as they drew nearer and nearer to me, my stomach flipping as I had the sudden urge to puke.
But not of fear like in the past.
I truly just felt sick.
Still, I wasn't completely hopeless. Reaching for my pocket, I was just about to take something out when a soft creaking sound filtered across the room.
Creaaaak!
The door moved behind her.
At once, everyone stopped.
A small figure stood in the opening.
That's...
With one hand resting against the door, his bare feet visible beneath his trousers, the young boy stared at us in silence.
Eventually, the old woman turned.
"Roy? What are you—"
'Now.'
I moved before she could finish.
My mind was still dizzy, but this was the best opportunity for me to move.
I targeted the woman first, driving my shoulder against her as she was pushed back a couple of steps. A small gap appeared as a result as I immediately made a dash for the old woman. Despite the two of them present, she was the one I was most apprehensive about.
Especially when I thought back to her strength.
Still, with her distracted, I took the moment to drive my shoulder against her as she turned her attention back towards me.
"Huek!"
Her body staggered back a couple of steps as I pushed past her.
At the same time I did that, a hand reached towards my neck, catching the back of my shirt, suffocating me before a soft ripping sound sounded and the back of my shirt ripped.
For a moment, I struggled to breathe.
But I ignored it.
Roy stood just outside the room, staring at all of this in silence.
For a moment, our eyes met.
He was looking straight at me.
There was no surprise on his face.
No confusion either.
He just... stared without a single emotion shown on his face. I understood that there was something special about the boy, but I didn't have time think about him as I moved past him and ran.
"Stop him!"
The old woman's shrill voice rose behind me.
"S-stop him!"
Footsteps followed.
They were quick.
Much quicker than the slow dragging movements inside the room.
I caught the wall as I turned into the corridor of the house, my shoes slipping against the wooden floor. The living room appeared on the left, the lamp still beside the sofa.
I could still see my team from before.
I rushed past it.
The footsteps grew louder.
Something struck the wall behind me.
BANG!
I didn't look.
The front door was right there.
I grabbed the handle, but it didn't open.
Click! Click!
My fingers fumbled against it as a shadow stretched across the floor beside my feet.
'Come on!'
Something clicked.
I pulled the door open and stumbled outside.
Cold air struck my face.
I turned just long enough to grab the door and throw it shut.
BANG!
Something hit it from the other side almost immediately.
The handle jerked.
I was already moving.
My foot caught the edge of the step, sending me forward onto the path. I caught myself with one hand, pain travelling through my wrist as gravel scraped beneath my palm.
'Fuck! And it was healing too!'
Then I pushed myself up and rushed to the main road. Behind me, the front door opened.
I shoved the small gate aside and ran towards the street.
This time, I didn't think about returning back to that place. All I thought about was leaving this darned place.
-x-X-x-
It was just as I instructed him.
Following the main road, I eventually found the Guild's car.
I caught sight of its dark outline farther down the road and immediately changed direction, my shoes slipping against the pavement.
Behind me, I heard the sound of something breaking.
Clank!
I looked back.
The man was the first one to come out, his body breaking the fence apart as he moved. The woman followed, her hair moving across her face as she turned towards me.
Both were still smiling.
"Fuck."
I forced my legs to move faster.
The driver noticed me before I reached the car. His head turned, and I heard the doors unlock just as my hand caught the handle.
I pulled it open and practically fell inside.
"Drive!"
The driver looked at me through the mirror.
"What—"
"Drive! Drive!"
I dragged my legs in and slammed the door.
For a moment, his gaze moved towards the house.
Then the car started moving.
I caught the seat in front of me as we accelerated, a sharp pain running through my wrist. I barely noticed it as I turned towards the rear window.
The two people stood beside the fence.
They weren't running anymore.
The man's arms hung loosely against his sides, while the woman kept one hand resting on the open gate.
Their faces turned with the car.
Watching.
Then⎯
Crack! Crack!
They both reached for their necks, their bodies falling limply onto the floor as the old woman appeared after, her face deranged as she rushed towards them.
"Nooo! Nooo…!"
The last thing I saw was the young boy standing by the door of the house, his dark pupils following me as the car continued to move.
"….."
I kept looking until the road curved and the house disappeared behind the trees.
Only then did I turn back.
"Ha… Haa…"
My breathing filled the back of the car.
I tried to sit properly, but the sweat at the back of my shirt made it impossible for me to feel comfortable. When I moved away from the seat, I felt the cold air against the torn section near my shoulder.
"Where should I take you?"
"The Guild."
"Are you injured?"
"Just keep driving."
The driver glanced at me again before returning his attention to the road.
I leaned back, pressing my hand against my forehead.
It was still hot.
But the surroundings were no longer moving as much. I could look at the front seat without feeling as though it was about to fall sideways.
'Doctor…'
The word continued to linger inside of my mind as I looked back to everything that had happened.
My fingers slowly curled against my forehead.
'It was right in front of me.'
The thought made my stomach tighten. Especially when it had all been so obvious.
'I thought I was paranoid, but I wasn't paranoid enough.'
I could remember sitting down for the examinations, and answering each question. Sometimes I'd even go as far as using the glasses on them, but with nothing coming back, I became even more certain that VILE – 1048 was a disease.
But it wasn't.
It had never been like that from the start.
"….."
I lowered my hand and looked towards the window.
The buildings outside passed beneath the streetlights, their windows briefly catching the light before disappearing behind us.
'I need to check.'
Right now, I was still uncertain. Everything pointed towards it, but what if I was being mislead again?
Thankfully, there was a way to find out whether I was wrong.
I sat forward.
"Can you go a little faster?"
*
The car stopped in the underground parking area.
Before the driver could get out, I opened the door and stepped onto the concrete.
My legs felt a little steadier.
Just steady enough that I could walk without needing to hold onto something.
"Do you need me to call someone?"
I turned towards the driver.
He was looking at my shirt. Well, I probably didn't look very good.
I shook my head.
"No, it's fine."
"Is there anything I should report?"
"No. Not right now."
I adjusted my mask before turning away.
He said something else, but I was already moving towards the entrance.
There were a few people near the elevators. One glanced towards me as I passed, his attention stopping briefly on my torn sleeve.
I ignored him.
Instead of going to my room, I held my card against the panel and selected the Containment Department.
The doors closed.
For a moment, I could see my reflection in them.
The disguise was still there.
So was the face mask. Now I truly looked like a sick patient.
'Come on.'
The elevator continued moving.
Ding!
I stepped out before the doors were fully open.
There were still quite a few people working. Screens lit up the desks, and several voices reached me as I made my way through the monitoring area.
I looked towards the rooms beyond it, and searched for a certain figure.
Where was she?
"Crow."
I almost walked past without responding.
Only when someone moved into my path did I stop.
Adrian stood in front of me, a folder held against his side. Marcus was a short distance behind him, speaking with Vera near one of the workstations.
"What do you want?"
His gaze moved over my clothes.
Then his brows drew together.
"Where were you?"
"Where's Liora?"
Adrian's expression tightened.
"Lady Halecrest?"
"Yes. Where is she?"
"Why?"
I looked past his shoulder.
There were several rooms along the other side of the floor. Most of the doors were closed, but one near the end remained open.
A familiar figure sat inside.
I started moving.
Adrian stepped slightly to the side.
"You shouldn't be here. Go back to your room."
"Not now."
I pushed past him, my shoulder brushing against his arm as I headed towards the open door.
"Crow."
I kept walking.
His voice grew sharper.
"Crow!"
Several people looked up.
I could feel their attention following me, but there wasn't much room left in my head to care about that.
The room ahead held a long table, with several people seated around it.
Liora sat near the far end.
Her tablet rested in front of her while one of the people beside her pointed towards something on the screen.
I walked straight in.
The conversation stopped.
Liora looked up.
For a moment, her attention remained on my face. Then it moved towards my shoulder, her brows furrowing slightly.
"I've already asked about the loan. You need to—"
"No. I don't care about the loan right now."
"….."
Someone beside her slowly lowered his hand.
Liora looked back at me.
"What happened?"
"I need access to the cameras. Right now."
Her expression changed.
"What?"
"The recordings."
I stopped beside the table, pressing my hand against it.
"The medical wing… I need to see the recordings from my examinations."
A chair scraped against the floor.
"Hey."
The man seated nearest to me stood.
I didn't look towards him.
Liora's gaze remained on mine.
"Why?"
"I need to check something."
"What?"
I opened my mouth.
Then stopped.
There were too many people in the room.
Too many eyes on me.
I didn't know who was aware of my situation, and I wasn't going to stand here and explain everything before knowing whether I was right.
"It's very important. It's related to the case that I'm investigating."
"Hey!"
The man beside me took a step closer, his face contorting.
"Who are you to make such demands out of nowhere? We have a hierarchy here, and it must be respected!"
I continued looking at Liora, ignoring the shouts around me.
Her fingers rested against the side of the tablet. She wasn't moving, but she was watching me more closely now.
"I need it."
The word came out a little quieter than I intended.
I swallowed and tried again.
"I need to see them."
A hand pressed against my shoulder.
"Step back."
I moved slightly under the pressure, catching the table before I could lose my balance.
Pain travelled down my arm.
For a moment, my jaw tightened.
Usually, I would've found something to say about that.
Right now, I barely looked at him.
Liora's eyes lowered towards the hand against my shoulder.
Then returned to my face.
"Is this about your condition?"
I gave a small nod.
The man started speaking again.
"Do you not hear me? Are you⎯"
"I'm holding myself back."
I stared at Liora, her expression changing slightly.
"My patience is reaching its limits."
The only reason I had yet to do so was because the Guild Master had been kind to me. I didn't trust him, but there was no doubt about it that he had helped me. For that, I held myself back."
"All I need to see is the camera logs. That's all."
"You⎯"
"Stop."
Liora raised her hand, stopping the man from doing anything else as nobody spoke for several seconds.
The man's hand remained against my shoulder, his grip tight. Across the table, another member put down the report he was holding, his attention moving between the two of us.
Liora watched me.
Then⎯
"Let go of him."
The man's expression changed, but upon catching sight of Liora's expression, he could only listen to her as he moved his hand away.
"Alright."
I continued to stare at Liora.
"Lady Halecrest," one of the others said. "Those records aren't something we can simply—"
"I'll be with him."
"But—"
She looked towards him.
He stopped.
Liora moved around the table and passed me, stopping near the door.
"Come."
I followed immediately.
The man beside me stepped out of the way, although the look on his face made it quite clear that he wasn't pleased about the situation.
Neither were the others.
I could feel their eyes on my back as I left the room.
It didn't matter.
None of it mattered at the moment.
-x-X-x-
"This is the surveillance room. Tell me what you need to see."
Liora pulled out a chair and sat in front of one of the monitors. Two people stood beside her, while another remained near the door, occasionally glancing in my direction.
The room was filled with screens.
Most showed corridors and work areas, with people moving through them as though nothing was happening.
I approached Liora's chair.
"The recordings from my medical examinations."
"Your examinations?"
"Yes, the ones that I had when I was here. I'd like to see them."
My hand gripped the back of her chair.
She looked at me for a moment.
There was a question on her face, but she eventually turned towards the man beside her.
"Bring them up."
He leaned forward and entered something into the computer. A list appeared shortly afterwards, with several dates and room numbers beside them.
"The most recent first?" he asked.
I nodded.
"Start there."
Liora selected one of the recordings.
The screen changed.
I recognised the room immediately.
It was one of the rooms I used to get my checkups. The doctor sat across from me while I held out my arm.
It was the examination after returning from the Pool.
"Is there sound?"
"Yes."
The man adjusted something beside the monitor.
A familiar voice filled the room.
⎯You used your node?
I watched myself look up.
⎯…Hmm? Well, just a little.
The doctor stared at me.
I stared back.
"….."
Everything was exactly as I remembered it.
From the questions to the equipment around my arm. Even the look the doctor gave me when I said my usual nonsense. I remained standing behind Liora, watching until he removed the equipment and handed me the bracelet.
I put it on.
He gathered his things, and then he left.
There was nothing unusual about the video. I breathed a sigh of relief.
But it wasn't over.
That wasn't the only time I had been visited.
Liora turned towards me.
"Is that what you wanted to see?"
"The next one."
She studied my face.
"From before this?"
"Yes. There's another one."
I looked towards the list on the side of the screen.
"I went to the doctor before I went to the Pool. That was the other time I got my check-up."
I gave the exact time and location.
The man beside her scrolled through the records before pointing at one.
"This should be it."
Liora opened the recording.
A different room appeared.
The examination chair stood beside a desk, with a small case placed near the computer. There was a cabinet against the wall and a cuff hanging from the equipment beside the chair.
I remembered all of it.
My grip over the back of Liora's chair tightened.
The door opened, and I entered.
For a moment, the version of me on the screen remained near the entrance, looking towards the desk.
Then I approached the chair.
On the screen, I sat down. Then I placed my hands on my knees.
And⎯
Nothing else.
"….."
The surrounding air suddenly constricted around me as I stared at the image. More precisely, towards myself as I sat there in silence, doing absolutely nothing.
But that position…
I held my breath.
Liora glanced at me.
"Is this the right recording?"
I swallowed.
"Yes."
My voice sounded a little hoarse.
She looked back towards the monitor, taking note of the abnormality that I was showing as her brows furrowed tightly.
The door remained closed behind me, and the equipment beside the chair stayed where it was.
Liora moved her hand towards the mouse.
"Leave it."
Her hand stopped just as I spoke.
"Don't skip anything."
She let go of the mouse.
I continued watching.
My back was straight.
Both hands rested against my knees, my fingers lying flat against the fabric of my trousers.
I wasn't looking around.
I wasn't adjusting my shirt or reaching towards my phone.
I was just… staring at the empty space in front of me. Almost as if I was a statue.
My gaze moved towards the equipment beside the chair.
"….."
A minute passed.
My figure on the screen remained in the same position.
Liora leaned forward slightly.
Her attention moved from my face to my hands, then towards the time in the corner of the recording.
The clock continued to tick. Almost several minutes had passed since I entered, and yet, from start to end, I appeared completely still.
"What are you looking at?"
Her soft voice reached my ears.
But I didn't answer.
I was trying to remember. Remember the entire scenario from back then. From the start, I knew that something like this had never happened. I had never been alone in that room. A doctor had been present.
He asked about the dizziness. Then he entered something into the computer before looking at me again.
Nothing… about the situation felt off to me.
Nothing at all.
"What about an itch around your nose?"
Right, he said something like that. I remember…
And yet⎯
On the recording, both hands remained on my knees.
My mouth didn't open.
I didn't answer anything. I just remained completely still.
The man standing beside Liora stopped fidgeting with the keys.. Even the person near the door moved a little closer, looking past my shoulder towards the screen.
Nobody spoke.
Two minutes passed.
Then three.
I could see my chest moving.
That was about it.
My shoulders remained level, with a small space between my back and the chair. I wasn't resting against it.
I was sitting there in exactly the same position as—
My lips pressed tightly against each other.
When I turned my head, I could see that Liora's brows were now furrowed extremely tightly.
Something about the way she was watching changed. She no longer glanced towards me, and her attention remained fixed on the recording.
Four minutes.
It was starting to become hard for me to keep my expression from changing.
I pulled my hand away from the back of Liora's chair as I leaned closer a bit, keeping myself upright as the examination continued inside my memory.
"….."
The time in the corner reached five minutes.
A shadow passed beneath the door.
My fingers tightened against the chair.
Then—
Clank!
The door opened.
A man entered shortly after that, wearing white robes and carrying a pad.
I recognised him immediately.
That's also the moment the version of me on the screen started moving again, my head turning in the direction of the doctor.
⎯Sorry to keep you waiting.
I looked at the scene in silence as the doctor said something else while placing the pad on the desk, and the version of me in the video answered without any difficulty. Almost as if nothing had ever happened.
The conversation continued normally.
The doctor reached for the equipment, and I held out my arm. All of this… I remembered it clearly.
Liora looked towards me.
I barely noticed.
My attention remained on the man on the screen. I could still recall my thoughts of back then as the other doctor came in.
'Looks like this will take a while.'
Right…
I remembered being annoyed.
But looking back, it made no sense for two doctors to check up on me.
Why…
Why did I never notice?
-x-X-x-
I sat in front of the computer, the light from the computer flashing across my pupils as the recording continued.
Liora went to report the situation to the Guild Master.
As for me…
I was to stay in my room. But that was fine with me.
The room was dark.
The light from the screen reached part of the desk and the empty chair beside it. Everything else remained difficult to see, although I didn't have any interest in looking around me. The only thing I could focus on was the recording in front of me.
I moved the recording back to the beginning.
On the screen, I watched as I entered the examination room and sat down, hands settled against my knees.
Then…
Nothing.
"….."
I watched until the doctor entered.
Then I played it again.
There was nothing different the second time.
Or the third.
But the more I thought about it, the more I was certain that someone had been there. I could remember the entire interaction even now.
And yet⎯
None of it appeared on the recording.
Ding!
My phone lit up beside the keyboard, flashing across the darkness.
I looked down.
[Silver Lantern Guild Master].
There were several files attached to her message.
⎯These are the recordings you requested. I included the ward footage as well.
My hand remained on the mouse for a moment before I reached for my phone and looked through the files she sent me. With everything that had happened, I contacted her to see if the situation repeated back then.
I had visited the doctor quite often lately. For that… I needed to check every interaction with it.
I played the recording.
The first recording showed the room where their Guild member was staying. The one that Joanna and the others had rescued.
I recognised the bed and the room he was in. I also remembered the entire interaction.
Unknowingly, I moved closer to the screen.
Guild Master Maren stood beside the bed while I leaned forward, looking at the man beneath the blanket. A moment later, his eyes opened.
⎯…He does this occasionally.
Maren's voice came through the speakers.
⎯He's not actually awake.
I remembered that.
I also remembered what happened afterwards.
A doctor came inside shortly after. He adjusted the pen in his pocket, checked the chart, and did a few other things that any normal doctor would do.
I waited for the door to open, but…
It never did.
I held my breath.
"….."
⎯Was there anything before this?
My own voice echoed quietly from the speakers.
⎯Any sort of illness, an injury… anything that might explain it?
I watched the empty space where I remembered the doctor standing. That question… It was directed to none other than the doctor.
"Nothing in his history that would account for his current condition."
That was what he told me.
But the speakers remained quiet until Maren answered.
⎯He was usually healthy. Just the occasional fever or cold. Nothing special, though.
The conversation continued.
⎯Usually?
Maren paused.
Then she started explaining how the man mentioned feeling sick before leaving for his mission.
I watched her face.
There was nothing strange about her expression. From start to finish, she spoke as though my questions had been directed at her.
To anyone watching, we were simply having a conversation.
The questions made sense.
So did the answers.
There was no awkward interruption where the doctor was supposed to speak. Maren answered what she could, and I continued asking about the patient.
"….."
I slowly moved the recording back.
Then I watched it again.
In my memory, there were three of us, but on the screen, there were only the two of us. And somehow, the conversation flowed smoothly with neither one of us noticing anything wrong with the situation.
And that was what made it creepy.
For… I knew I was talking to the doctor. Even though he was not present, I could practically see the doctor and I speaking on the screen.
My hand tightened around the mouse.
The recording continued until I started looking through the reports.
I remember feeling sick at this point.
On the screen, my hand caught the table.
⎯Seth?
Maren approached.
⎯Are you okay?
"Lightheaded?"
I could still recall the doctor's words.
But of course, he wasn't there.
⎯I guess I'm… a little lightheaded.
Maren looked towards my hand before suggesting that I get checked.
Again, it sounded normal. And looking at it from an outsider's perspective, it did seem normal, but…
The back of my neck grew cold.
⎯I won't contact them without your permission.
The version of me in the recording nodded.
The conversation continued without a problem.
Eventually, I stood up.
⎯Thank you, floor.
"….."
I would've normally laughed, but nothing came out this time as I watched myself leave alone, no doctor in sight.
My fingers slowly left the mouse.
'All of it… It was fake.'
The realization bothered me.
It… almost felt as though I had imagined the entire thing. But I didn't. I knew that I hadn't.
My jew clenched as I proceeded to the next recording.
The actual examination room appeared.
The bed stood beside the equipment, with the desk a little farther away. I could see the chair where the doctor was supposed to sit.
It was empty.
I entered shortly afterwards.
After closing the door, I approached the bed and sat down.
My back straightened, and… both hands settled onto my thighs.
"….."
The same position.
Again.
But this time, there was something else.
I leaned closer.
My lips were moving.
For a brief moment, I thought I was finally speaking. That there would at least be something on the recording to match what I remembered.
There wasn't.
The corners of my mouth slowly curled.
My hand stopped beside the keyboard.
"…Oh, shit."
A curse slipped from my lips as I stared at the version of me in the recording, sitting completely still, with a wide smile and straight back.
And this continued for several minutes.
I kept waiting for something to change.
Some words… or anything. But the entire time, I just remained in the same exact position as Roy's parents had been when I had seen them.
My jaw clenched with even more force.
"Are you telling me that I imagined the entire thing?"
The medical checkup?
Five minutes passed.
Then six.
My chest felt increasingly tight as I watched the clock change.
At ten minutes, the door finally opened.
Dr. Bell entered with a tablet.
As if snapping out of it, the version of me in the recording turned towards her.
⎯Mr. Thorne? I'm Dr. Bell. I'll be carrying out your examination.
⎯Seth is fine.
I watched her enter the room as she placed the tablet beside me. Afterward, I was handed a form, which I read through before signing.
Just as I remembered.
Only… the doctor standing beside the desk was missing.
I continued watching. Dr. Bell proceeded with the procedures I remembered, and she finished the scans shortly after and left to collect the remaining results.
The door closed.
That was also the moment my body froze in place, my hands returning to my thighs as my lips curled into the same smile as before.
"….."
I pulled my chair back a little.
A soft scraping sound filled the room, making me look down before I realised it came from me.
For a moment, I couldn't bring myself to look at the screen again.
I knew that even if I looked, nothing else would come from it. My fingers tightened against the armrest.
Ding!
I flinched.
My phone lit up again.
Another message from Guild Master Maren.
⎯Seth, what's going on?
I stared at the message.
She seemed to be watching the recordings too.
My thumb moved towards the screen, but I couldn't quite decide what to tell her. The phone shifted slightly in my hand, and I tightened my grip when I noticed my fingers trembling.
Before I could answer, another message appeared.
Geneva.
⎯We've been wrong the entire time.
I remained still.
A second message followed.
⎯The anomaly was never a plague. It's…
"…A doctor."
The words came out softly from my lips.
-x-X-x-
Kyle stood beside the window, watching the rain.
It wasn't particularly heavy. Small droplets gathered against the glass, joining together before slowly running down towards the frame.
Beyond them, the sky was grey.
The buildings farther away were difficult to make out, their outlines fading behind the drizzle. Down on the road, several cars moved slowly through the traffic, their lights reflecting against the wet ground.
Kyle lifted his coffee and took a sip.
Then he lowered it.
For a while, he remained where he was.
"Still here?"
Zoey's voice came from behind him.
He turned slightly as she approached, her attention moving from the cup in his hand to the window.
"…It's still raining."
"Yes."
She stopped beside him.
Neither said anything for a moment.
A few people hurried across the road below. One held a bag over his head, while another remained beneath an awning, looking up as though waiting for the rain to stop.
Zoey stared at the window before her lips parted.
"…I don't know about this rain, but it seems like it's going to keep going for quite some time."
"I heard."
Kyle took another sip of his coffee.
"I don't like this rain."
"Me neither…"
Zoey folded her arms as her brows furrowed.
"Something about this rain makes me uncomfortable. Feels like some sort of omen."
"…Same."
Kyle continued looking outside.
The rain was soft enough that he could barely hear it through the glass. Occasionally, the wind pushed it against the window, making the droplets scatter before they started running down again.
Zoey took out her phone.
At first, she only glanced at the screen.
Then her expression paused as her thumb moved.
Kyle noticed the change in her reflection before he turned towards her.
"What is it?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she scrolled a little farther, reading something near the bottom of the page.
"Zoey?"
She nudged his arm and held the phone towards him.
"Look."
Kyle lowered his cup.
An article filled the screen. He read the title before moving towards the text beneath it, his expression slowly changing as Zoey scrolled back to the top.
"When was this posted?"
"A little while ago."
He looked at her.
"There are others… I've been noticing them for the entire week"
Zoey added, her thumb moving further down as she skimmed through them.
"….."
Kyle returned his attention to the screen.
For a while, neither spoke.
The rain continued falling outside, blurring the buildings beyond the window. A droplet ran down the glass beside Kyle's reflection, passing over his face before disappearing beneath the frame.
Eventually, Zoey lowered the phone.
Kyle looked outside again.
"…I really don't like this rain."
He brought the cup to his lips and took another sip.
***
I lowered the cup in my hand.
Beyond the window, the sky remained grey.
It was difficult to tell what time it was without looking at my phone. The buildings were there, as were the roads beneath them, but everything seemed a little farther away through the rain.
I watched a car stop at a crossing.
Then another.
Their lights reflected against the road, stretching whenever the water moved.
⎯The rain is expected to continue over Sines for quite some time. Current forecasts suggest at least another week of wet weather, possibly longer.
The news played behind me.
I didn't turn around.
I brought the coffee towards my mouth again, taking a small sip before letting the cup rest near my chest.
⎯There may be brief breaks over the next few days, but residents shouldn't expect conditions to improve significantly.
"….."
I continued looking outside.
There wasn't much to see.
A few people moved along the pavement beneath their umbrellas, occasionally stopping near the entrances of buildings. From here, I couldn't make out their faces.
Nor was I interested in seeing, as I held my breath, holding in the incoming sneeze.
But⎯
"Achoo."
It had gotten to the point where I could no longer hold the symptoms back.
I didn't have much time left.
I could feel it.
⎯A few floor warnings have been given in certain areas of Sines, but all seems to still be under control.
I listened without paying much attention to the words.
Eventually, my eyes stopped following the rain as I stared at the reflection staring back at me.
The light from the television made it easier to see whenever the image behind me changed. I looked at the faint outline for a moment before raising my hand towards the bottom of my eyes.
My eyes looked tired.
More tired than usual.
I didn't get much sleep. All I did was stare at the recordings over and over again, trying to see anything new that I'd missed.
I lowered my hand.
My reflection did the same.
Then I took another sip of coffee.
⎯Meanwhile, a series of articles published by an unidentified source is drawing considerable attention online.
The weather report ended.
I could hear the change in the presenter's voice, but my attention remained on the window.
⎯The articles raise new questions about the Malovia incident, suggesting that the disaster may not have been an entirely spontaneous anomalous event.
My cup stopped near my mouth.
Only for a moment.
Then I finished the sip.
⎯Instead, the writer claims there may be grounds to investigate whether someone deliberately caused, or helped bring about, what happened.
"….."
A short pause followed.
Then another voice joined the first.
⎯To be clear, there is currently no verified evidence establishing human responsibility for the incident. However, the posts have spread rapidly since appearing online, with several of the questions now being repeated across larger news outlets.
I looked slightly to the side.
The television's reflection was faintly visible in the window.
I could see numerous damaged buildings. The image changed before I could look at it for too long.
⎯Much of the attention centres on the sequence of events surrounding the Jester incident. The anonymous writer questions whether the publicly available accounts explain how the situation developed, or whether important details remain undisclosed.
I lowered the cup.
The room was quiet apart from the television.
I watched a thin trail of water work its way down the window before it reached another droplet.
The two joined and continued downwards.
⎯The same source has also published material concerning the Butcher incident in Malia.
My fingers moved slightly around the cup, prompting me to turn my head as another headline appeared beneath the images.
[Malia Aftermath: Unanswered Questions Surround the Butcher Incident]
⎯While the incidents are currently being discussed together online, a connection between them has not been established.
The presenter continued.
⎯The writer stops short of naming anyone responsible. Instead, the articles ask whether both cases should be re-examined with the possibility of human involvement in mind.
I stared at the headline.
⎯Some readers have dismissed the posts as conspiracy theories built around incomplete information. Others are calling for the Bureau to release more details about the investigations.
The screen changed again.
Several excerpts appeared beside each other. Most were questions, with certain words enlarged enough that I could read them from where I stood.
I looked away before the next one appeared.
⎯Our newsroom has requested a response regarding the claims. Until further information is available, viewers should distinguish between confirmed findings and speculation circulating online.
My reflection appeared in the glass again.
Somehow, I looked even more tired than before.
I studied it for a moment before taking another sip.
The coffee seemed to have lost all its head.
I swallowed and lowered the cup, listening as the presenter returned to the photographs from Malovia.
The rain continued falling.
⎯We don't know if these conspiracies are true, but with the passing of time, we can see more and more hints that there might indeed be something more than we're aware.
Trrr!
My phone rang on the table beside me.
I looked down.
For a moment, I remained where I was, the cup still resting in my hand while the sound continued.
Then I set it down.
I reached for the phone and turned it over, looking at the screen.
The rain continued to drizzle, pounding against the glass before me.
-x-X-x-
An article appeared in my notification feed.
My thumb hovered over it before I pressed on it.
The television continued playing in the background, repeating some of the same questions that appeared on the screen.
I ignored all of it as I looked through the article.
The rain continued to drizzle as I scrolled down, reading it slowly.
Then my name appeared.
Seth Thorne.
"….."
My thumb stopped for a moment before continuing.
I could feel my heart skip a beat for a moment. Looking through the article, there wasn't much about me. To some extent, this was good. But I knew… that this was just the start.
I continued reading, my expression remaining mostly unchanged.
After Malovia, there was Malia.
The Butcher.
They even included some of the things written about me afterwards. The praise, the attention, and the way my reputation continued to grow. In fact, even the article praised me at certain parts. Except, looking deeply, I could see questions forming.
I reached the bottom.
And that's where I saw it⎯
'His involvement in the two greatest incidents of the past year is undeniable. Is its a coincidence?'
The first seed of doubt.
For a little while, I simply stared at the sentence.
Then I took a slow breath and placed the phone on the table, pushing it away from me.
"…It looks like they're starting to roll things out."
I knew that from this moment forward, things were going to become even more difficult for me. The Hand was no small organisation.
They weren't releasing everything at once. There was no need for them to do that.
They could wait.
Wait for the articles to spread. Wait for people to start looking at me differently.
And wait for VILE-1048 to make things worse.
'They want to make sure I can never climb back up.'
I took another breath, but I found myself struggling to do so, the air feeling incredibly heavy. For a fleeting moment, I regretted my past actions. I… regretted sending a message. But I quickly shook that thought away.
'That's the only reason I'm still alive.'
This much was true. Had I not done what I did… I would've likely been dead.
But…
That was all I did.
I delayed the inevitable.
My attention moved towards the computer.
The recordings were still playing on repeat.
Drip! Drip!
When I looked out the window, the rain seemed to have become even stronger, each droplet smacking against the window as a thin fog formed across the surroundings.
"Achoo."
Suddenly, the surroundings started to tilt.
My hand immediately pressed against the glass as the floor seemed to move beneath my feet. I remained where I was, my fingers spread against the cold surface as my head started to burn. I could feel myself slowly struggling to breathe.
I could hardly make out the surroundings, the background noise becoming nothing but mumbles as I felt myself growing weaker.
"Hahaha."
Before I knew it, a small laugh escaped my lips.
Slowly…
It felt as though everything was crumbling before my very eyes. I felt trapped from all sides with no way out.
And yet⎯
"Hahaha."
All that did was make me laugh.
This was…
Quite something.
The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous the situation seemed.
Not only was my head not in the right place, but my nodes were also in a terrible state. On top of that, I was infected with some sort of incurable disease, and the only thing I could do was wait for the anomaly to come for me.
As if that wasn't enough, the truth about my past was also beginning to surface.
The room grew quiet.
My laughter slowly faded, leaving only the sound of rain against the window.
For a moment, I stood there with my hand still pressed against the glass.
Then—
Krrr!
My gaze moved towards the desk.
A soft static sound started to envelop the entire room, growing louder before fading beneath the sound of several people speaking.
BANG!
Then something struck a hard surface.
The static stopped for a moment.
Gradually, my lips parted, but no word came out.
The room remained quiet.
But only for a moment, as a voice fell.
⎯I hereby pronounce you guilty!
BANG!
The sound echoed through the room, its sound overtaking everything else.
The sound lingered in the air before my lips curled.
"H-a."
It was louder this time.
"Hahaha."
My laugh.
It was much louder than before.
"Hahahahaha!"
I pressed a hand against my forehead, my shoulders shaking as I leaned forward. My chest hurt, and the sense of suffocation that engulfed me seemed to grow increasingly worse.
But I couldn't quite stop.
The radio returned to static.
The rain kept falling.
And I continued laughing.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
I just couldn't stop.
***
Liora stopped the recording.
For a moment, the Guild Master remained seated without saying anything. His attention stayed on the screen, where Seth sat with his hands resting against his thighs.
A wide smile remained on his face.
"The Silver Lanterns recordings show the same thing."
Liora said, her voice soft.
"It wasn't an isolated incident."
The Guild Master slowly lowered his gaze.
"And he remembers speaking with someone?"
"Yes, that's what he told me."
"Every time?"
"Right…"
Liora placed the tablet on the desk.
"In one of the recordings, Maren Holt was beside him. She didn't notice anything unusual either."
His fingers stopped against the edge of the folder.
"The anomaly was there while she was speaking with him?"
"That's what it appears to be."
"And she couldn't see it."
"No."
The old man looked back towards the paused recording.
There was nothing frightening about the room itself. It was an ordinary examination room, with the same equipment used for other members.
"Where is he now?"
"In his room. I told him to stay there until we decide what to do."
The Guild Master nodded.
Liora watched him for a moment before continuing.
"This needs to be reported to the Bureau."
"I know."
"With these findings, they'll want him returned immediately."
"I know."
Her mouth closed.
Outside the window, rain moved across the glass. The buildings below were barely visible through it.
The Guild Master rested his hands together.
There wasn't much uncertainty about the procedure.
Seth was a confirmed target of an anomaly that could approach him without anyone nearby noticing. Even the people examining him weren't necessarily aware of what was happening.
The sensible decision was to place him somewhere secure.
Bring in the specialists.
Watch him closely.
Then wait for the anomaly to approach again.
His fingers tightened slightly.
Bait.
They could use another word for it, but that wouldn't change what they were asking Seth to be.
'Should I do it?'
If this were another member, he would already be arranging the transfer. Even if they were a major Guild, going against the BUA was no simple matter. In fact, it had already put a large strain on the Guild.
The thought made him uncomfortable.
He was the Guild Master. There were other people in the building, and he couldn't ignore what might happen simply because the person involved was his grandson.
But he could still remember Seth's face when he offered to take him out of the hospital.
The surprise.
The way he asked whether he could really leave that day.
Now he was supposed to send him back.
"Grandfather."
He looked up.
Liora remained standing across from him.
"…Should we just tell him?"
"….."
His attention moved towards the closed door before returning to her.
"Now?"
"You've been dragging it for quite some time. I know you're afraid, but…"
She paused.
"…I feel like he deserves to know."
The old man lowered his eyes.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Liora's expression changed slightly.
"And there's something else."
He looked towards her.
"He asked for money."
"Money?"
"A loan from the Guild. He says he needs quite a lot."
"What for?"
"He didn't tell me."
The Guild Master looked down at the tablet again.
Seth's smile remained frozen on the screen.
Liora turned it off.
"I was going to discuss it with you anyway, but perhaps this would be a good time to tell him."
His brows drew together slightly.
She looked at him before explaining.
"He's willing to borrow money, but its obvious that he's noticed the different treatment that we've been giving him. If you come clean, he'll at least understand instead of being wary of us. I know what you're trying to do, but instead of making him warm up to us, you're making him more cautious."
"….."
"In that case, the best approach is to just be truthful."
The old man let out a slow breath.
He understood this all too well.
"If he knew it was his family helping him…"
Liora paused.
"Perhaps it would be different."
"Perhaps."
"That being said, he might still refuse to join us."
The Guild Master gave a small nod.
That was possible too.
There were quite a few things Seth might say once he knew. Not all of them were things the old man wanted to hear.
His hand moved towards the folder before stopping.
Liora waited.
Eventually, he leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment.
"Alright."
When he opened them again, his attention settled on his granddaughter.
"I'll tell him."
-x-X-x-
Tik! Tik⎯
The sound felt repetitive.
It just wouldn't stop, growing louder by the second.
At first, I wasn't certain where it was coming from. It seemed close, but every time I tried to focus on it, my thoughts started drifting.
My head felt heavy.
So did everything else.
I tried opening my eyes a little wider, but it was hard. Something heavy seemed to press at my chest.
"….."
There was a floor beneath me.
Pale tiles, with a dark line running between each one. My shoes rested neatly beside each other, and when I tried to move one, it stayed where it was.
'Hmm…?'
I slowly raised my head.
That simple motion felt a lot more difficult than I expected. Everything felt heavy.
A wall appeared in front of me. Then a door, with a narrow panel of frosted glass near the top.
There was something written beside it.
I blinked, trying to read it.
But it was blurry. I could hardly make out my surroundings.
Tik! Tik!
The only thing that remained constant was the repetitive tick of the clock.
Then my attention slowly moved towards the chair beneath me. A narrow armrest pressed against my elbow, and several identical seats stretched along the wall on either side. They were all fixed to the same metal frame.
'Where…?'
It all felt like a fever dream. I could hardly make out what was happening.
There was a desk farther down the room. Nobody stood behind it, although a small stack of papers rested near the edge.
A light above it hummed quietly.
I could hear that too.
Tik! Tik!
But the tick of the clock overwhelmed everything.
My gaze lowered towards my lap.
Both hands rested against my knees.
The fingers were spread slightly, lying flat against the fabric of my trousers.
"….."
Something about that bothered me.
I tried lifting my hand, but it didn't move.
For a moment, I wasn't even certain whether I was trying properly. I could think about moving it, but the thought never seemed to reach my fingers.
'Come on.'
My thumb moved, albeit barely.
Then it stopped again as my head felt heavier.
I drew a breath, but there didn't seem to be much air in it. The feeling reminded me of being trapped inside of a small room with little to no oxygen left.
It felt suffocating. .
Tik! Tik!
Suddenly, I felt something coming from my right. I noticed it from the corner of my eye and slowly looked to the side.
There was someone sitting a few chairs away.
My expression changed slightly.
I couldn't make out their face, but the outline was there. I could make out their cardigan, and grey pants. The way they were sitting too.
It was just… like mine.
Another head turned.
Then someone on the opposite side of the room did the same.
My fingers pressed faintly against my knees. Before I knew it, more and more people appeared inside of the room.
'Why is…?'
I could hardly finish the thought before my mind grew hazy again.
The people continued looking at me.
Their bodies remained facing the front. Only their heads were turned, and from where I sat, it was difficult to tell whether any of them were breathing.
I looked towards the empty desk.
Then at the main door.
Was I supposed to go there?
I tried leaning forward to no avail. My body simply refused to move.
"Are you waiting?"
Then a voice came from next to me. It was close. Much closer than the person sitting a few chairs away.
I tried turning my head, but it stopped halfway.
"….."
'Waiting for…?'
My lips parted slightly, but no sound came out. I swallowed and tried again, feeling something tighten at the back of my throat.
Still nothing.
Tik! Tik!
The clock continued to tick.
A tense, yet suffocating silence took over the space.
I could feel the people looking at me, although my eyes were fixed on the closed door now. There was a thin strip of light beneath it.
A shadow passed across that strip.
My breath stopped.
Then—
"For the appointment."
The voice echoed next to me once more.
"…Are you not waiting for the appointment?"
*
"Haa—!"
I sat up.
The blanket slipped from my chest as I reached towards my throat, taking a breath that hurt on the way in.
Then another.
"Ha… Haa…"
Hastily, I looked around me.
My room.
I… was in my room.
I turned towards the desk, then the window, struggling to make sense of what I was looking at as the soft light of the computer dimly lit the otherwise dark room.
Nothing was moving besides the rain running down the glass, each tapping feeling loud within the otherwise quite room.
I pressed a hand against my forehead.
'It's hot.'
Very hot.
For several seconds, I remained seated, waiting until my breathing started settling. Only then did I look down.
My shirt clung to my chest.
The blanket beneath my hand was damp, and when I moved, I could feel the wet sheet against my back.
"….."
I pulled the blanket aside.
The bed was soaked.
For a while, I simply stared at it.
Then I slowly rubbed the side of my head and looked towards the window.
The rain was heavier.
It struck the glass constantly, making it difficult to see much beyond the faint outlines of the buildings outside.
'The appointment…'
My hand stopped against my forehead.
That was…
"….."
Subconsciously, I looked towards my hands.
Unlike before, I could feel them now, and they were resting on the bed now. I lifted one, turning it slightly before curling my fingers.
Tik! Tik!
My head turned.
The clock in the room continued moving.
I watched it for several seconds, my fingers slowly tightening against the sheets.
But then, they slowly started to relax. I thought to everything that had happened and realised that I had reached the point where the doctor could now almost summon me.
It wouldn't be long before I went into a coma like the others.
"Hahah."
A laugh escaped my lips before I knew it.
I lowered my head, pressing my palm against my forehead again. The more I thought about the situation, the more amusing I found it.
Tik! Tik!
The clock continued ticking.
"Hahaha."
I laughed again, my shoulders moving slightly as the rain struck the window.
"Hahahahaha."
***
The rain never ceased. It engulfed the entirety of Sines, growing heavier with each passing moment, as though something was approaching, and the skies themselves were warning of its arrival.
"I don't see the rain stopping anytime soon."
"….."
The words were followed by silence.
Amidst the silence, the figure spoke again.
"How long must I wait? Why are we dragging this out?"
Rain tapped against a window, harder this time. The sound continued for a little while before another voice finally answered.
"…Just a little longer."
"But why? What even is the point?"
Something scraped within the darkness.
A chair, perhaps.
"If you give the order, I'll get rid of him this instant. There's no need to keep wasting time over something like this."
"But can you…?"
The movement stopped.
This time, no answer followed.
"You've seen what he's capable of."
"I have, yes."
"…In that case, you must understand why we're waiting."
The reply came a short moment after.
"But I can still get rid of him."
"….."
A faint sound escaped from the darkness.
It was difficult to tell whether it was a sigh or a laugh.
"I'm still certain he's hiding something. There's no point in risking anything when there's no need for us to do so."
There was a short silence.
Then the first voice spoke again.
"He might not last long at this rate."
"Then there's even less reason for you to go."
The rain grew louder for a moment.
Neither voice spoke until it settled.
"And…"
The quieter voice returned, softer than before.
"This is more fun, isn't it?"
"….."
A small chuckle followed.
"He's already starting to fall apart. Why must we dirty our hands when it's unnecessary? He's bitten more than he can chew. Once targeted by VILE – 1048, there's no escaping. He'll continue to be haunted until he'll fall into a coma."
"And you're certain he won't be able to do anything about it?"
"That's why we're here, right?"
The answer came a moment after.
For several seconds, the only sound was the rain against the window.
Then the voice continued.
"We're slowly destroying the small empire he's built. Slowly… people will come to learn of his true nature, and the monster that he truly is. And he won't be able to do anything about it as he slowly falls into a coma."
There was no response.
Then, a chuckle followed.
"…And the moment he falls into a coma, the BUA will directly execute him for his crimes."
The chuckle turned into a laugh.
"That does indeed sound quite entertaining."
"What do you say?"
A brief pause followed.
"This is quite a good return message, isn't it?"