Chapter : Frustration And Curse. Part-1

[???] At ???

"P-Please.. spare my life.." 

The silent plea of the man was lost in the stench of blood that permeated the area. His eyes were filled with tears and terror as he begged for his life on his knees, almost kissing the feet of the girl holding a sharp katana. The blade dripped with blood, evidence of its recent use. The whole place stinks with blood scattering around the area.

The female Reaper stared down at the man with crimson eyes as cold as ice. Her mask hid her expression, but the playful smirk on her lips could be heard in her voice as she spoke. "Fearing death now, huh?" The man could not see her amusement, but he could feel the sharp edge of the sword pointed at his neck.

Given how sharp it is! Blood immediately started dripping down. The Reaper tilted her head. Finding the situation amusingly.

He pleaded with her, "P-Please! I beg of you, just this once... Spare my life and I'll vanish, keeping silent for the rest of my life..."

Finding the man's desperation amusing, brought her face close to his. "Tell that to the people you murdered," she said with a cruel grin.

Before he could say anything more, the Reaper swung her katana with a swift motion and slashed his neck. Blood sprayed from the wound as the man's soul and memories were severed from his body, resulting in this human's death. Some of his blood was on her face. She put a lot of force when she did it. The cinematic Record flashed before her eyes, a brief movie depicting the man's life.

[A cinematic Record is a recollection of an individual's memories, depicted like a brief movie.]

Despite the blood on her face, the Reaper wiped her mask with the back of her hand. She spoke into her earpiece, "Mission accomplished, Sir."

The man on the other end of the line responded, praising her work. "You did a great job, ■□■. I'll transfer the money right away to your bank account."

"Thank you, Sir," she said before turning off the earpiece and leaving the crime scene. The cold night air brushed against her skin as she looked at the skies.

The life of a Reaper was not an easy one, as they were tasked with killing both cursed spirits and humans alike. But like the humans she killed, the Reaper was not above dirtying her hands for profit. She bore the weight of many murders and the blood of those who crossed the wrong people. 

One of the perks of being a part of the Reaper society was that you could pretty much get away with any crime in the non-Reaper world. Reaper society had so much power even outside of their little community that governments around the world bent over backward for them, so calling a few people to cover up some 'minor incident' like this was no biggie.

Small curse spirits began to devour the dead body, erasing any evidence of the crime. The Reaper watched, satisfied that no traces remained. It was just another day for her, another soul severed.

                                      ☯︎

[11:30 pm] In the USA 

『 Eᴠᴇʀ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏʀ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ɪs ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ? Iᴛ's ᴀ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ɪɴsᴛɪɴᴄᴛ, ʙᴜɪʟᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴠᴀʀɪᴏᴜs ᴇᴠᴏʟᴜᴛɪᴏɴᴀʀʏ ᴍᴇᴄʜᴀɴɪsᴍs. Tʜɪs ғɪʀsᴛ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴅᴀᴘᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴs ᴡʜɪʟsᴛ ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ ɪɴ ғᴏʀᴇsᴛs ᴏʀ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀʀᴇᴀs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʜɪɢʜ ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴘʀᴇᴅᴀᴛᴏʀs.Bᴇɪɴɢ ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴇɴsᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴜɴᴛᴇʀ, ᴀsɪᴅᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴜsɪɴɢ ᴠɪsɪᴏɴ, sɪɢʜᴛ, ᴏʀ sᴍᴇʟʟ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴍᴇ ɪᴍᴘᴏʀᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀs. I ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғɪᴠᴇ sᴇɴsᴇs, I ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ɪᴛ's ᴀ ᴄʜɪʟᴅɪsʜ ᴡᴀʏ ᴏғ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇxᴘʟᴀɪɴɪɴɢ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀᴡɪsᴇ sᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇx.

I ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴍᴏʀᴇ, ɪɴᴄʟᴜᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ᴘᴇʀᴄᴇᴘᴛɪᴠᴇ sᴇɴsᴇ ᴏғ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʜᴜɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴏʀ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ. Nᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟʟʏ ғᴀʀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴅᴏᴍᴇsᴛɪᴄᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴀs ᴀ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴇs, ᴛʜɪs ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ɴᴏ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ʜᴀs ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴜsᴇғᴜʟ ᴀᴘᴘʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴘʀᴇᴅᴀᴛᴏʀs (ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ᴀ sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ sᴛʀᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ɪɴ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs ᴡᴏᴏᴅs, ғᴏʀ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ, ᴡᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴅᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɪᴛ ɪɴ ᴜs). Bᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs sᴇɴsᴇ ɴᴏᴡ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀʟʟʏ ᴀᴘᴘʟɪᴇs ᴛᴏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴏɴ ᴀɴ ᴀᴠᴇʀᴀɢᴇ, ᴅᴀʏ-ᴛᴏ-ᴅᴀʏ ʙᴀsɪs ғᴏʀ ᴜs. Pᴇʀʜᴀᴘs ғᴏʀ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ, ɪғ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ ɪs ʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ, sᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴏʀ ɪs ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ.

Tʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴅᴏᴇs ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ ᴘʟᴇɴᴛʏ ᴀʟʟ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜs, sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴅᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅᴀʏ. Hᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴏɴʟʏ, ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪᴛ ᴏʀ ɴᴏᴛ, ᴡᴇ ᴀʟsᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ sᴇɴsᴇ ᴏғ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴄᴇs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀᴋᴇᴅ ᴇʏᴇ ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛ. Aɴᴅ ᴛʜɪs ʜᴀs ᴀʟsᴏ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀsᴇ ɪɴ ᴏʟᴅᴇʀ, ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ ᴄɪᴠɪʟɪᴢᴀᴛɪᴏɴs; ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ sʜᴀᴍᴀɴs ᴇxɪsᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ.

Tʜɪs ᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ, ᴏʀ sᴇɴsᴇ, ʜᴀs ᴀʟsᴏ ᴇᴠᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴇᴛʜᴇʀ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴅᴍɪᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏʀ ɴᴏᴛ, ɪᴛ's ɪʀʀᴇʟᴇᴠᴀɴᴛ, ɪᴛ's ᴊᴜsᴛ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴡᴏʀᴋ. Fᴏʀ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ, ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴏғ ᴜs ɴᴏ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ʀɪᴛᴜᴀʟs ᴛᴏ sᴛɪᴍᴜʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ sᴇɴsᴏʀʏ ᴘᴇʀᴄᴇᴘᴛɪᴏɴs, ᴡᴇ sɪᴍᴘʟʏ ғᴇᴇʟ ɪᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ғᴇᴇʟ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ.Tʜɪs sᴇɴsᴇ ᴀʟsᴏ sᴇᴇᴍs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ sᴛʀᴏɴɢᴇʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ, ᴜᴘᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏɴ ᴀᴠᴇʀᴀɢᴇ. Tʜᴇ ʏᴏᴜɴɢᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs, ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ sᴇɴsᴇs ʟɪᴋᴇʟʏ ᴀʀᴇ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ, ɪғ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ.

Mᴀɴʏ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴀʟsᴏ sʜᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢs ᴏᴜᴛ, ᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴍɪɴᴅsᴇᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟɪᴛʏ ᴛʀᴀɪᴛs. Iғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ᴀᴠᴇʀᴀɢᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪᴛs ᴏғ sᴇɴsɪᴛɪᴠɪᴛʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴘᴀᴛʜʏ ᴏʀ ᴀʀᴇ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴏʙsᴇʀᴠᴀɴᴛ, ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴜɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ sᴇɴsᴇs. Yᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ʟᴀʀɢᴇ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴛᴀɢᴇ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀʟʟ ɪᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. Tʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ sʟᴇᴇᴘ, sᴛᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴜᴛᴇʀ, ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴇᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅɪɴɴᴇʀ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ, ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ TV ʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴀᴛ ɴɪɢʜᴛ… ɪᴛs ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴄᴇ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪғ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʀɪʟʏ ғᴇʟᴛ, ɪs ғᴇʟᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ.

Iᴛ's ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴘᴜʀᴇʟʏ ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴀʀʏ, ǫᴜɪᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. Wᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ sᴇɴsᴇs ғᴏʀ ᴀ ʀᴇᴀsᴏɴ. Tʜᴀᴛ ᴇᴠᴏʟᴜᴛɪᴏɴᴀʀʏ ᴛʀᴀɪᴛ ɪs ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀs ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴇɴsᴇ ʀᴜɴ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴘɪɴᴇ, ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙᴏᴅʏ. Yᴏᴜʀ ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴀɴᴅs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ ɪs ᴛʜᴇɴ ɢɪᴠᴇɴ ᴀɴ ᴏᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. Wʜᴇɴ ᴡᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛs ᴏᴜᴛ, ᴛʜɪs sᴇɴsᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇs sᴛʀᴏɴɢᴇʀ, ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀs ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ sᴇɴsᴇs ᴅᴏ. Iᴛ's ɴᴏᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ-ʙᴇʟɪᴇᴠᴇ. Fᴏʀ ᴇxᴀᴍᴘʟᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴠᴇʀʏ ᴘʀɪᴍᴀʟ, ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴏɴ ғᴇᴀʀ ᴏғ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙᴇᴅ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ sʟᴇᴇᴘ ᴅᴏᴇs ɴᴏᴛ sᴛᴇᴍ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ɪᴛ's ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴍᴀɴʏ, ᴍᴀɴʏ ɢᴇɴᴇʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏғ ʜᴜᴍᴀɴs ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴇɴsᴇ ᴏᴄᴄᴜʀs ᴡʜɪʟsᴛ ɪɴ ʙᴇᴅ. Iᴛ's ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ᴄᴏɪɴᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴄᴇ. Tʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ, ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛs ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ.

Tʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴠᴇʀʏ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ, ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴏʀ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀsᴛ sʜᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴏɴ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ. I'ᴍ ᴊᴜsᴛ sᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ɪɴ ᴀ sᴛᴀᴛɪsᴛɪᴄᴀʟ sᴇɴsᴇ, ᴡᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs sᴇɴsᴇ ɢᴏᴇs ᴏғғ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ ᴏғᴛᴇɴ, ᴘᴇʀʜᴀᴘs ᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ʜᴏᴡ ʙᴜsʏ ᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴀʏ ɪs, ᴡʜᴏ ᴇʟsᴇ ɪs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴜs, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴡᴇ ғᴇᴇʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ. Mᴀɴʏ ғᴀᴄᴛᴏʀs ᴛᴏ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ, ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ, ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴛᴜɴᴇ ɪɴᴛᴏ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴇɢʀᴇᴇ.

Iғ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ʜɪɢʜᴇʀ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙɪʟɪᴛʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪs sᴇɴsᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅsᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴏғ ʜᴏᴡ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴡᴇ'ʀᴇ ɪsᴏʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ–ᴡᴇ'ʀᴇ sᴏ ᴅɪғғᴇʀᴇɴᴛ, ᴀʀᴇɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴇ? Iᴛ ɪs ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇss ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴇɴsᴏʀʏ ɪɴᴘᴜᴛ. Yᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀs ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ. Dᴇᴘᴇɴᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴏɴ ᴡʜᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ, ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅ ᴍᴀʏ sʟɪᴘ. Aɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ʙᴇɢɪɴ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴘʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍs.

Tʜᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴜs ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏsᴛɪʟᴇ ɪɴ ᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅs. Tʜᴇ ʙᴏᴅɪᴇs ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴍɪssʜᴀᴘᴇɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇғᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴs ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴅɪsɢᴜsᴛɪɴɢ. Wᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴀʟɪᴄᴇ ɴᴏᴡ, ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴀ sᴘɪʀᴀʟʟɪɴɢ, ᴍᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ, ʜᴀᴛᴇғᴜʟ ɢᴀᴢᴇ. Tʜᴇʏ ɴᴏᴡ ᴇᴍᴇʀɢᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇsᴛ, ᴍᴏsᴛ sᴀᴛᴀɴɪᴄ ʙᴏᴡᴇʟs ᴏғ ᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅs, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴜɴᴅᴏᴜʙᴛᴇᴅʟʏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴏᴍᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟ ᴇsᴛᴀᴛᴇ. Tʜᴇ ᴇɴᴛɪᴛɪᴇs ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴜs, ᴡʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴍᴀʏ ʙᴇ, ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ. Oᴜʀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ғᴇᴀʀs. Wᴇ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. Tʜᴇ ᴡᴇᴀᴋ ʟᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. Dᴏɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇ ᴡᴇᴀᴋ. 』

Mifa sat on her bed, her eyes glued to the screen of her phone as she read articles about paranormal activity. She couldn't shake the feeling that there were dark forces at work, and she was determined to find out what they were. However, each article she read only seemed to raise more questions than answers.

As she poured through the information, Mifa felt a throbbing headache begin to form. This wasn't the first time this had happened it had become a regular occurrence. She felt as though she was constantly battling against something, and it was taking a toll on her.

Mifa rose from her bed and made her way to the balcony. She took a deep breath of the evening air, hoping to clear her thoughts. However, the frustration and fear she felt were not so easily dispelled.

A wave of helplessness washed over her as she recounted the events of the day. It had been a particularly trying day, with what seemed like countless reminders of the paranormal lurking around every corner. "Why can't they just leave me alone and go away?" she muttered under her breath.

As she sat on the balcony, Mifa tried to piece together the puzzle of the paranormal activity she was experiencing. With no clear answers, it seemed as though she was facing an insurmountable challenge. However, she refused to give up. She would continue searching until she found the truth about the things that were haunting her.

                                      ☯︎

[2:15 pm] In the USA 

Mifa was walking towards the entrance of the dormitory, her heart heavy with disappointment. She had hoped to slip away unnoticed and clear her mind with a solitary walk. That's what she thought anyway.

However, fate seemed to have different plans. As she approached the exit, a familiar voice called out her name.

Turning around, Mifa saw that it was her friend, Shalu. She hesitated, unsure if she wanted company, but before she could respond, Shalu was already running towards her.

"Mifuuuuuu! There you are!" exclaimed Shalu, breathless from her sprint.

Mifa gave her friend a quick glance, silently hoping that Shalu would take the hint and leave her alone. However, it seemed that Shalu had other plans.

"What are you doing?" Shalu asked.

Mifa mumbled out her reply, "Um...going outside."

"Without me?" questioned Shalu with a hint of hurt in her voice.

Mifa nodded, confirming her intentions.

"Seriously?" Shalu asked, her voice rising in disbelief.

"Yup, Why don't you go to Sapna and Sini then?"

"They are not on campus now. They went home for summer break and Nash is also not here. nobody lov-"

Mifa had to make a quick decision. She knew that if she allowed the conversation to continue, Shalu would never leave her alone. So, she came up with a plan.

"I want to go and take pictures outside," Mifa suddenly said, her voice confident and firm. "Come with me and help."

Shalu's reaction was almost comical. She had been caught off guard and was struggling to comprehend the sudden change of events. However, before her confusion could turn into objections, Mifa had already grabbed her arm and was rushing down the hall.

"Wah. M-Mifa?! Ok, ok just slow down," Shalu stuttered, almost tripping as she tried to keep up with Mifa's pace.

As they exited the dormitory, Mifa breathed a sigh of relief. 'Yes. Distracted her!!!'

She had managed to distract Shalu and avoid any further questions about her solitude. Her plan had worked, and she felt a small sense of pride in her accomplishment.

[a few minutes later]

Shalu and Mifa were waiting for a bus, eagerly anticipating their day trip to Oregon. Once aboard, they settled into their seats, Shalu by the window. Shalu eagerly pressed her face against the glass, "Ooh, I can't wait till this thing starts moving!"

Mifa sorted out her skirt as she seated herself next to her friend and nervously grinned at what she had gotten herself into.

'What on earth Shalu?' 

Mifa then sighed and sat back in her seat. She closed her eyes and took a moment to rest.

Suddenly, Mifa was startled by a strange repeating voice near her ear. "A field trip to Oregon? Kya, omg I can't wait! I want to sunbathe on their beaches. Hahaha."

"A field trip to Oregon? Kya, omg I can't wait! I want to sunbathe on their beaches. Hahaha."

Mifa shifted in her seat. 'What a weirdo keeps repeating themselves.'

"A field trip to Oregon? Kya, omg I can't wait! I want to sunbathe on their beaches. Hahaha."

This time, Mifa gasped as she felt the hot breath in her ear.

She hunched forward before looking over her seat at the back to see a ghostly figure with three heads – two protruding from the woman's cheeks – and a black, smoky aura around her.