In a Neighboring Town

Ethan didn't take long to join the case that had been assigned to him, where many other agents had failed. He just hoped to finish as quickly as possible since classes were about to start, and he didn't want to be the only teacher absent.

"[...

Squad Captain: Ethan Winchester

Mission in progress: Special investigation and elimination case.

Incident number: 192

Affected entity: 35-year-old man

Occupation: Company employee

Family relationship: married with a daughter.

Contact address: X23-823-Y83

Case type: Possible hidden supernatural entity; no traces of negative energy have been found so far.]"

Looking at the information on his computer, Ethan focused only on the files available and found an audio file that was quite intriguing.

"Let's see what this is about." Ethan pressed the audio file, and it started playing.

"[I mean, things have been very strange during this time we've spent in that house... Everything should have happened three months ago. I mean, it should have started then.] "

Ethan nodded his head, making his first observation. Similar to what a detective would do, he had to conduct a detailed investigation to determine if it was a supernatural incident that required direct intervention.

Unlike non-corporeal dark entities, which are practically easy to find with the new tracking technology, incorporeal entities are becoming more intelligent to avoid being found, and that's why agents of light exist.

But Ethan belonged to the non-select group of the S.G.C. organization, so he had to solve his own cases like everyone else.

Looking back at his computer screen after making some notes, Ethan pressed the button again to continue playing.

"[Three months ago, on the weekend, I bought a pretty old house. We moved to a new community, so I decided to take my family to the park to familiarize them with the surroundings first. The park near our house is pretty incredible. When my daughter found out that she could row a boat on the artificial lake, she insisted that I take her, so I decided to agree as any father would in my situation.]"

"[Everything was normal. Rowing a boat can be very tiring, but this one had an electric motor for people with low stamina, just like me. We went to the middle of the lake. At that point, she wanted to row with the oars, so I turned off the motor to have a more rustic experience. She rowed and sang with joy, but then something hit us... I swear I did nothing; everything is so confusing...]"

Ethan listened to this without showing any expression on his face. Investigation cases are like this: As it cannot be determined in special cases whether it is a dark entity or an accident, field agents gather information and pass it on to those who would contain the threat, as well as determine if it was indeed a dark entity.

"Mr. Mohammed, please tell us sincerely and without fear, what did you find?"

"[Well, at first, I thought it was garbage floating in the lake... I read many news articles on the internet about people throwing garbage in the park, so I assumed that. Wouldn't everyone think like me? There is all kinds of garbage, some very strange and large. At that moment, I really thought it was garbage, so I went to that spot to look.]"

Ethan noticed that the man's voice was breaking. He didn't know what had happened since he was just investigating, so as the story got deeper, the data he was collecting grew.

"Mr. Mohammed, please continue explaining."

"[Oh... Let me think: yes, the garbage... I thought it was garbage, so I looked closely to see if I could take it out of the lake. At that moment, I saw that in the lake, right next to that floating garbage, there was a human head. At that moment, I didn't know it was a human head; its long head floated, and that face was so pale that it could hardly be considered a normal face. I could see it shining under the sun from the reflection of the light. I used the oar to move the head. [I really didn't think it was a human head.]"

"Mr. Mohammed, have a little tea and relax. Speak slowly so we can understand you."

"[A little tea? No, that thing will find me; it would be better not to have water nearby...]"

"Mr. Mohammed, please calm down. Breathe deeply and relax."

"[Hmm, yes, that's exactly what I'm going to do...]"

"Can you continue?"

"[Yes, now I feel much better... At that moment, as I said, I wanted to take a closer look, but then I noticed more boats approaching. Their engines were stirring the water a lot; the sound was too loud, so when I heard a strange noise, I looked up. By the time I wanted to look down again, the human head was nowhere to be seen. It really disappeared, as if it had never been there. I remember rowing a lot, thinking the agitation of the water had pushed the head away, but I found nothing. I was worried, so I called the police. Am I in trouble for that?]"

"Not at all, Mr. Mohammed; you did a good job. When I look at the water, I clearly remember that familiar scene: the water moving strangely as if something were moving, but it's impossible for it to stir if the water is still. Days passed, and then things started to change. Animals' bodies began to appear in my house's pool. Everyone says they hear the water moving as if someone is swimming in the middle of the night, which is impossible."

"[Yes, we understand everything.]"

"But then I looked again..."

"Mr. Mohammed, what did you see clearly?"

"Can you describe it?"

"[I saw the head again... This time it was upside down, as if it were looking inside the pool.]"

"Can you describe the facial features of that human head?"

"[Uh... It's too complicated to do so. I don't think I can remember. I saw that face in the pool and thought I had really gone crazy, but I want to make it clear that I don't consume any drugs.]"

"What happens after this incident?"

"[I saw that head in the sewer.]"

"Was that some time after seeing it in the pool?"

"[Yes, it appeared in many places as if it were a ghost... Once or twice a week without fail. Sometimes when I was showering, other times in places like fish tanks.]"

"Do you still not remember its facial features?"

"[No...]"

"Has that head always been in the water?"

"[Yes, once it appeared in the toilet. When I flushed, I thought my toilet was clogged, but I saw that head blocking the water. I was so scared that I really wanted to take my own life.]"

"Do you only see it in your house?"

"[At first, I only saw it at home, but then not anymore! I was washing my hands at the company, and something came out of the water pipe.]"

"The head?"

"[No, black hair...]"

Ethan frowned as the field agents' interview continued. He knew they had to ensure that it was indeed a suspicion to know there was a dark entity involved.

"[The water started appearing on my body. My wife thought I was wetting my pants while sleeping, but that's not true. Surely it's that head coming to my room at night.]"

"Very well, Mr. Mohammed, do you have a history of mental illness? Or have you consulted a psychiatrist or sought help from others after these things happened?"

"[No! I'm not crazy! I really saw them! I also wondered if I was crazy. But I really saw them! And I saw them more and more often! I even touched them! That hair—slimy, wet... How disgusting!]"

"Please calm down. This is a routine matter. Many times, supernatural events that people believe are caused by illusions or other reasons turn out to be just caused by drugs, mental illness, or simply a false story to cover a crime. Certainly, your story makes sense. You don't have to cover up any murder, so we thought of mental illness, but it doesn't seem to be the case either."

"[Oh, I understand. I'm really not crazy... I've been to a psychiatrist, but they don't provide any solution to my problem.]"

"So, have you ever been to a temple or other place to seek help?"

"[Yes, I go with my wife to a temple of monks to burn incense.]"

"What was the result?"

"[That day... that day nothing happened, but then it started again. We requested consecrated talismans, but...]"

"But what?"

"[My daughter cut those talismans with scissors.]"

"Have you never returned to the temple to worship?"

"[My wife went there on my behalf and requested Buddhist protective talismans, but it was useless. I went back there later and asked a monk to perform rituals. I felt better for a few days and then started seeing it again. I really couldn't stand it anymore... I kept seeing it all the time. I told my wife, and we even went to the park to burn incense and ask for forgiveness by the lake, but nothing changed.]"

"I understand. First, we will investigate the lake where you first found the head, but now you will use this silver cross, and you must not take it off for anything in the world."

"[Ah? Oh! Thank you! Thank you very much!]"

"There's nothing to thank; also, just to confirm, the head you saw appeared in Lake Taal, right?"

"[Yes! It started from that moment!]"

"The human head you see only has black hair and a white face? From what you mention, there are no facial features. It's impossible to determine the appearance and gender, right?"

"[That's correct!]"

"Aside from you, has your family been in the same situation?"

"[They have never seen the head...]"

"Okay, we will investigate as soon as possible and stay in touch with you at all times. Contact us in time if anything unexpected happens from now on."

"[Yes, thank you very much.]"

Ethan closed the computer, knowing everything he needed to start the close investigation, and began to recall the details.