In search for a soul

Phoenix came to the church so quickly. Scarmerine was also with him. They hid behind a tree near the church and watched everything. Scarmerine had an excellent vision. He saw John's body was inside the coffin they took out from the vehicle. He confirmed it was John.

Phoenix felt it's unbelievable to think that John is dead. Even though he doesn't understand the full power resides within himself, he was exponential.

Phoenix looked into John's room like he knows where his room stands in that church.

Both of them sneaked into the room. Not even Natasha or Donna saw them getting inside. Scarmerine asked,

"Hey you too. What happened? What was he doing?"

Phoenix stopped him. He scolded scarmerine for his bad manners. Phoenix said,

"I'm sorry, for my brother's rudeness. We are sorry for your loss. But we are in a hurry. Could anyone please explain to us what happened to him?'

Donna wiped her face and asked,

"Who are you?"

Phoenix introduced himself and he introduced scarmerine. Donna didn't understand who they were but when they said they could do something for John's teammates she told them that they have no clue how he died. Some guys from the market found his body on the outskirts of the forest. They brought him to the hospital and he died in the hospital.

Phoenix started thinking. In the middle of that he looked at Priya. He exhaled and pointed his finger towards her. Scarmerine understood what he meant and he walked towards Priya. He slowly pulled out Natasha. Priya falls behind to the bed. Within seconds she woke up. She started asking,

"What? What happened? I feel weird. I feel just like I was at my house yesterday."

She was confused. She looked at Natasha and asked her,

"Natasha, where is John? Why are you not saying anything? What are these people doing here?"

Natasha started crying, but because of her ghost form the eyes didn't. She had no tears to drop. Priya looked at Donna and asked her. She explained most of everything she knew. Priya shaded a drop of tear. For her John was the only hope that's left in the world to find out the truth about what happened to her family.

Phoenix understood that they are in deep stress and pain. He also knew that they knew nothing about what happened to John. He said,

"Do not lose hope. Let us check out things first. Even if we can't bring him back we can at least get justice for him."

That time Natasha came forward and said,

"I'm going to find his soul. I'll search everywhere. I'll break heaven and hell if I have to."

Her voice was determined. She acted so confident at the same time her pain reflected on her face. Phoenix knew she might get hurt in that state. He said,

"Please try to stay calm. We will take care of this. You might have no body but the mental stress you are going through is far greater than any other pain. If you go out in that state you will only end in more pain. Besides, don't think you're not bound to death just because you already died. There are ways to demolish your soul completely. We can find his soul if it is out there. You stay here with them."

Natasha wasn't ready to listen to anyone that time. She disagreed. She started hitting on things. Donna couldn't see or listen to Natasha but she understood that Natasha is in great pain by listening to the reply of Phoenix. Priya walked towards Natasha and tried to convince her. Donna carefully watched what Priya was doing and she listened to what Priya was saying. When she realized that Priya was failing to convince Natasha, she walked towards Priya. Donna said,

"Nat, I know John calls you Nat. He always tried to help everyone. You know that much more than I do. But now you are trying to get revenge. I know that the reason why you are trying to find his soul is to ask him who did this to him. Just don't go that path. It's not good for anyone. And if you are so reckless and want to go anyway then use me. Possess my body and search for him using my body. That way if something happens to you it will happen to me as well. Let's die together."

They all agreed. Donna asked Priya about how she was able to see Natasha. Priya didn't have a clear explanation for that.

Phoenix and scarmerine went out just as the way they came in. They headed towards the place Donna mentioned. On the way scarmerine asked,

"Phee, can't you just try and bring him back alive?"

Phoenix looked at him with a serious face. He said,

"No, I can only bring back humans, animals, birds and insects. I can't bring back an energy being. Besides, it's too risky to try. They are all trained people Standing around where John's body was placed. It must be the work of that evil priest. John was naive; he shouldn't have gone there alone. So we have to find something from that forest."

Scarmerine nodded in agreement and asked,

"So what about his soul?"

Phoenix said,

"I don't sense his soul anymore. Either he's alive or already completely erased from this world. You said it yourself that John was in that coffin and he's dead. So there is no way he's alive. Besides that ghost Natasha, she will go look for him I'm sure. She will not listen to us. There is no point going out searching for something that doesn't exist. Just focus on our mission. John was the key to everything. Now that key is gone so we have no choice but to destroy the lock. Well, let's do what we can right now."

Scarmerine understood what phoenix said. They were running at the speed of light. They finally reached the forest side where Donna told them.

Scarmerine became amazed. He asked,

"Big bro, isn't this…?"

Phoenix nodded as saying 'yes'.

They quickly ran inside the forest. Within seconds they reached the lake. They walked towards the big tree. The ape man was sitting there cooking something. The smell of his cooking came inside their noses. It had a delicious smell. The ape man welcomed them,

"Hello… my friends. It's been a long time. What brings you both here, Phee, Scar? Is it about that kid june."

He said that without turning. He recognised them without seeing them. Phoenix and scarmerine knelt to the ape man. Phoenix said,

"Master, it's about him. He was about to be a teammate of ours. What happened to him? Who killed him? We want to know what happened to him?"

The ape man smiled and he turned. He said,

"Come on, my student's. You came all this way and just asked it right away. Let's enjoy our food and I'll tell you everything."

Scarmerine was looking at the food master cooking. Master understood that and he started serving. They started eating and phoenix was still impatient. He was about to ask the master again, and that time scarmerine ate his food and asked for a second. Phoenix looked at him wondering how he finished so fast. Phoenix didn't even touch his spoon yet. Master smiled and gave him more. He also said eat as much as they want.

Master started explaining,

"Phoenix i know you. You are always so impatient when it comes to the matter of the ones you care about. So I'll tell you. This food you're eating is a gift from June. He came here and asked for my guidance. I gave him a simple test."

Phoenix intervened,

"To capture the golden deer?"

Master nodded in agreement. Phoenix became angry and said,

"Master, what were you thinking? You know how dangerous this jungle is. Still you gave a child like himself such a test."

Master laughed. He said,

"Phee, just because you look older it doesn't mean that you are older. You, Scar and June are all the same age. You were the first one that came out of the bud. June was the last one. Besides, you defeated this deer when you were only seven years old."

Phoenix put down his plate. He didn't even touch the food. Scarmerine saw that and he took that plate too. Phoenix said,

"Master, he was nothing like me. I knew my powers and I learnt it. I earned it. He needs to drink holy water to bring out his powers."

Master said,

"No need to explain to my child. I know everything that I need to know."

Phoenix looked down and said,

"No matter how much we talked about it, it won't change the fact that he's gone. His blood is on your hands master. You killed him for your entertainment and for some meat."

Master smiled and said,

"Everything has a reason, my child."

That time the black and white fur cat was playing with a golden deer and it came towards the master. The deer ran into the forest. Master gave a plate of food to the cat and the cat showed his hand to the master's back. He looked back and saw scarmerine asking for more.