Chapter 7 — Let's Go To Sallyville

 "Is it just me? or is the car awfully quiet?" Jason forced out a chuckle.

 Since the trio hit the road after making that stop at AW Pawn Shop, the ride had been heavily ladden with stifling silence. At first Jason didn't mind the silence as he busied himself with observing the azure colored card he was given after submitting the Ghost Ash of the Malevolent he had killed.

 However after training his eyes on the card for a whole hour and counting, Jason's eyes were already starting to water and the immensity of boredom crashed heavily on him.

 "I don't see how that's a problem.. we didn't speak much on the car ride earlier today" Aletta clicked her tongue..

 This time it was Stephen behind the wheels while she scrolled through her phone in a relaxed manner. Jason snickered inwardly. How couldn't he tell the reason for the silence.

 "Somehow I have a feeling that you both are not ready to acknowledge the fact that I can take care of myself. I mean, I killed a Malevolent. And according to Amy it was a rank two Ghost Soldier. No matter how you put it, that's an amazing feat" Jason couldn't understand why he was the only one feeling impressed..

 Even if they were no longer friends, couldn't the siblings at least shower him some praises just to keep on appearances?

 "Heh. That's just beginner luck" Aletta snorted.

 "Don't start having an inflated ego just yet" she added.

 "Although a rank two Ghost Soldier is impressive, it is nothing before the Demon who slaughtered your father" she warned sternly.

 "Tsk" Jason merely clicked his tongue. He obviously didn't take her words seriously.

 Recalling how the Daggers Of Cain had easily killed the Malevolent from earlier, his ego truly became inflated.

 "According to the System, the dagger can kill anything it touches. Once I encounter that demon, I just have to stab it and its dead " Jason comforted himself with these words.

 To him, as long as he possessed the Klypt Daggers, he was invincible as long as the world of the supernatural was involved.

 "So, when am I going to get my reward money any way? thanks to you I didn't leave my signature behind to claim my inheritance" Jason grumbled as he tapped both of his fingers across the surface of the azure card in his palm.

 After he had submitted the Ghost Dust, he had been given the card. According to Amy, this was the identification badge of the Mystique Hunters as well as a special kind of bank card. With it they could cash out on the reward money they get from slaying supernatural creatures.

 "The Ghost Ash has already been sent to the Headquarters in the Country. They'd have to document it first before sending you your payment" Aletta responded.

 "I know. Amy told me that. However how long is that going to take? I need to change my wordrobe thanks to a certain someone who dragged me away without giving me time to pack my stuffs!"

 "Sheesh" Aletta rolled her eyes.

 "I never realized this but you sure whine like a lady" she mumbled underneath her breath.

 "Expect your reward money in two days tops.. However I doubt if it would last half a day in that card " she said the last part in a whispery tone.

 "Shoot!" Aletta suddenly cried out in surprise as excitement flashed past in her eyes..

 "I found a gig that's close to our current location " she explained to her brother when she noticed him giving her a curious look.

 "According to the reports of the locals, there has been seven body counts over the last one week. One each day " Aletta eyes were firmly planted on her phone screen as she read this out..

 "And you think its our kind of gig?" Stephen raised a brow.

 "Remember that our number one priority is to get Jason to Washington DC? We can't afford to let anything come in the way of the assignment" he alluded.

 "You know that I can hear you right?" Jason remarked from behind the siblings.

 Ignoring him, Aletta sighed.

 "But have you forgotten that above everything else we are Mystique Hunters. Seven people have already died and more would die. Don't tell me you are going to just sit back and let that happen?"

 "We are not the only Mystique Hunters in the world. Others would take care of it.. how many times are you going to learn that no matter how much you try, you cannot save anyone?!" Stephen scowled as his fingers clenched tightly around the steering wheels.

 It was like saying this statement brought up bad memories that he didn't want to remember.

 "But we are the ones who are closest. Unlike you I can't just sit back and watch people die while I know I can do something to prevent that!" Aletta pouted stubbornly.

 "Eh.. you can't watch people die if you are not present at the scene so get your grammar right" Jason's voice rang out from behind the siblings.

 "You are helping matters here!" Aletta shot him a glare.

 "Fine. But on a more serious note I think you guys should take the gig" he said in a more serious tone.

 "That's not going to happen" Stephen stubbornly shook his head.

 "Heh. You siblings are Mystique Hunters and from how Aletta put it, what we do help save people's lives "

 "We?" Aletta sneered..

 "Just because you killed one ghost and received that card, that doesn't make you a Mystique Hunter!" she retorted sharply.

 "Tch. Aren't we on the same side?!" Jason's lips twitched. However he continued speaking.

 "I don't want to stand in the way of you both helping people. Not to mention with your both serving as my protectors, I feel like the safest person on earth " 

 "Wow. I never knew you were this selfless. To think you would care about a life that isn't your own " Stephen sounded surprised.

 "Actually you are right. I am only interested in the reward money. According to Amy, it is going to be split among the three of us if we do kill any supernatural creatures" Jason giggled maliciously.

 "Now, that's the J.C I know" Stephen chuckled.

 However what the duo didn't know was that Jason's reasons were far more complex than he made it seem. Only Jason who was the Host of the Mystique Hunting System knew the true reason.

 "So, where is the location?" Stephen asked 

 "Sallyville. It is seven miles away from here" Aletta responded as she took a quick glance at the map on the vehicle dashboard.

 .

.

 Whoosh!

 Soft breeze whooshed past the several moving cars along the road as a silhouette arrived before the entrance of a an alleyway. A few distance away, were broken bottle shards. Although someone took the effort to sweep away the broken vehicle parts, they seemed to have missed the shards of broken bottles.

 "This was where he was last seen" the Silhouette squatted down as they scooped up a palm full of dirt.

 The Silhouette blew softly, blowing away the dirt as a small amount of ghost Ash was revealed.

 "Hunters" the Silhouette said in a whisper, filled with immense hatred.