“What are you doing, really?” Kim giggled, watching Jess recoil in horror just by seeing her holding a knife.“D-Don’t play with me, y-you evil of a w-woman,” Jess yelled. She could have escaped when Kim went to get a knife to peel the apple, but her legs could no longer carry her own body; she’s trembling.“Now that’s too much,” Kim mocked. “Foul words should never come out of a pregnant woman’s mouth. They baby could hear it.” “Yeah? Then I a-appreciate it if you will just leave,” Jess’s voice sounded like she’s about to cry which only amused Kim even more. “Aren’t you appreciating this?” She pointed the apple with the knife. “I’m trying my best to be good here, Jess. Just go along with that before I change my mind.” Jess sucked her lips to stop them from quivering. Maybe, that’s the best thing she could do. It would be a problem if she gets on Kim’s evil side; she might die before Scott or Junel arrives. Seeing that Jess is finally agr
He could tell that it’s the darkest part of the groundfloor the moment he casted his flashlight in the direction and it only ranged for approximately six feet away. Kaiser knew he shouldn’t proceed unarmed, so he stepped back, but stopped athward the entranceway when he spotted something in his peripheral vision. He looked back once again to see something bouncing on the ground. He could have sworn the thing is familiar, so he moved closer to check until it settled down the floor; the only choice he had to make is whether to take a good look to make peace with his confusion or left completely. “Nah,” Kaiser scoffed and choose the latter. He wanted to keep his cool and stay away from the things that could potentially put him into trouble. They have to play safe now that they are already given their last chance to straighten up their plans. He walked back towards the hall to continue with his business with the stain, but it’s no longer there. “I should ha
“S-Sam,” his dozy eyes had gone wide in surprise. “S-Sam, is that y-you?” He repeated, slowly pushing himself up with one arm to face her. His eyes were fast to examine the woman standing before him and there is no denying that she’s, in fact, Samantha. Once again, he felt the same twinging sensation he felt a while ago sailing in his chest. He couln’t believe his eyes that he had to walk closer and placed a hand on her pale face. “It’s you,” Scott’s hands trembled—is it fear? No—it’s guilt—that sheen tears started forming in his eyes. The woman didn’t say a word; she’s looking deeply into his eyes, frowned, and opened her mouth to speak. “You’re not supposed to go upstairs,” she whispered, snapping Scott back into his senses from drowing into mixed emotions. “You must stop before reaching this point of no return.” Scott didn’t catch what she meant; he moved closer, shaking his head. “I’m bringing you back with me, don’t worry
“For the last time,” Kaiser growled, scratching his forehead in vexation. “I was the one who saved and woke you up back there!” Scott realized that he shouldn’t really have to argue with Kaiser regarding the matter; the story is too unrealistic to tell anyways and he do not have the intention to convince him at all. They got none; however, by the looks of it, Kaiser knew something inside Scott had snapped. The emotions he saw in him a while ago proves it all. It may be just confusion, but they’re not risking any chances for Scott to take or their plans won’t get anywhere. “Fine,” Scott heaved a sigh. “Let’s just head over the coffee shop.” “Samantha’s?” Kaiser had to ask and Scott nodded. “Why for?” “I need to talk to her.” A grim line curved on Kaiser’s lips, eyeing his friend who’s already ready to speed away. He walked beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder—that’s when their eyes me
Every single head except for Kathleen turned around, looking at the person who entered the door who shows to be Jess. She’s in tears and her thin and fast breathings sent Junel running outside to fetch her some bottled water. The incident immediately circulated the internet as some of the customers in the coffee shop had uploaded videos of the shooting, so they had to stay in the hospital’s triage room to hide themselves from the media. Every person connected to Samantha’s case are all in one place and are now facing a new one. Jess let out a bawl of mixed anger and pain that everyone froze on their spots doubly. “I-It was y-you, isn’t it?!” Although no name was addressed, it was evident that she was referring to Kathleen who didn’t bother looking at her. She was only sitting down the stall on the corner, still collecting herself from the horrifying scene she experienced moments ago; she didn’t even had the time to wash the blood on her
"I told you he'd snap," Kim glowered, puffing a lungful of smoke in the air. "I've always known he's nothing like his father. Now, you've seen it yourself, what more could he prove for you to believe me?"Elbows leaning against the rusty railings of hospital balcony, Kaiser shrugged. "What a shame. He could be the best leader of the organization.""Hell nah! You really meant what you said before?" Kim caught a breath, brows raising in disbelief. "Mr. Hunt already chose you years ago over his own son. What is there too muzzy for you not to understand?""Scott is like a brother to me. That's what I'm taking into consideration," Kaiser drew himself a chastened sigh. "I was hopeful I could lead him to the path Mr. Hunt wanted him to trail. I was wrong."With a vigorous sniff, Kim rolled her eyes, moved closer, and brushed her lips against Kaiser's. Although he had the urge to respond, his melancholy stopped him. "We're not doing this now, Kimberly," he placed a hand between them both. "Jun
"TASTE IT! TASTE IT!" The man in Christian's face said in a wide, horrifying grin; eyes nearly popping out of their sockets—chopping his own hand. Kathleen only watched the entire frightening scene, shrieking in fear. She wanted to run and leave the house, but the idea of him being the real Christian ceased her judgements. He must be a doppelganger. He should be! Yet, what if..."S-Stop!! Please, stop!"Christian only stood there, knife still in hand, still wearing his terrifying grin. Dogs in the neighborhood started howling. Suddenly, the lights went off. Although the sun has begun to explore most parts of the living room, Kathleen still couldn't see him clearly.Disregarding the cold sweat beading her body and the twists and knots of mixed emotions made every breath a strained battle, she forced herself to move closer to him. One step, and one more..."He's listening! He's listening!"Christian's demonic voice made Kathleen's temples throb. "W-Who's listening?" She managed to ask
"Still none?"Theresa responded to Tomoya's question with a regretful nod."Well, we'll surely get something soon," Tomoya shrugged back to the grimoire. "Take your time and I'll take mine. I just know I've read something here on how to counter demons... you know... demons are like humans. They have also, how should I say this... they also have races.""I thought we're taking our time here?" Theresa grimaced."Hmm..." Tomoya cocked a brow. "You're being really mean these days. Calm down, geez! Or, perhaps, are you on your period—AW!" He yelped when the heavy pillow came in contact with his forehead."WHAT'S THAT FOR?!""What's that for my ass!" Theresa growled. "When was I not even mean to you? On top of that, you're giving me hypertension. Can't you see that I don't wanna talk?! I'm an introvert! AND—," she raised a finger in between them. "What's been happening lately made me lose my shit! How am I supposed to stay calm?!"'Twas a long speech, but Tomoya only looked at her in askanc
Theresa’s gaze flickered toward Samantha, her fingers absently tightening around the hem of her sleeve. She sat on the couch across from her, positioned beside Tomoya, but despite their proximity, she felt miles away from the conversation about to unfold. Samantha, for her part, remained unnervingly still. Beside her, Kathleen’s posture was equally rigid, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, as though bracing for the inevitable. No one in the room looked prepared for what was coming. The silence stretched, thick and suffocating, until the sharp chime of the doorbell shattered it. Tomoya sprang up, his movements quick—almost desperate. He didn’t make the same mistake as before. This time, he peered through the peephole, his shoulders visibly relaxing only after confirming the identity of the visitor. With a swift motion, he unlatched the door, revealing Takumi. The moment he stepped inside, all eyes locked onto him. Except for Theresa. She couldn’t bring herself to l
“H-How is she—”Theresa’s voice wavered, her disbelief evident in the tremble of her words.Tomoya didn’t hesitate. In a swift movement, he stepped between her and Samantha, blocking her view as if shielding something fragile, something that shouldn’t exist.But Theresa was quicker.She sidestepped him, her eyes locking onto Samantha before widening in shock.“D-Did you guys really open a portal…?” she whispered, the color draining from her face.Her words sent a chill through the room.Kathleen tensed beside Samantha, her fingers curling into fists. She darted forward, gripping Theresa’s arm with a careful but firm touch.“Theresa,” Kathleen’s voice was soft but urgent. “Come inside.”There was no resistance. Theresa allowed herself to be pulled in, her eyes never leaving Samantha, as if afraid that if she looked away, she would vanish.Tomoya, still on edge, cast a quick glance over his shoulder before shutting the door. He lingered for a moment, scanning the dimly lit hallway, ensu
The morning erupted in chaos before Samantha even had a chance to process where she was. The muffled sound of a ringing phone reverberated through Tomoya’s small apartment, followed by the sharp clatter of something being knocked over. From the kitchen, the scent of burnt coffee mixed with the faint tang of disinfectant, remnants of whatever frantic cleaning had taken place the night before. She sat on the worn-out couch, her fingers curling around the fabric of Tomoya’s blanket draped over her lap. Her mind was sluggish, heavy with exhaustion, yet confusion gnawed at her. Why was she here? Why Tomoya’s apartment, of all places? If Takumi wanted to keep her safe, wouldn’t Kathleen’s home have been a more logical choice? Kathleen would have welcomed her without hesitation. But instead, she had woken up to Tomoya pacing the small living room, muttering to himself, his laptop glowing with lines of code she couldn’t decipher. Samantha’s pulse quickened as she tried to recall the las
The stillness of the Takahashi estate lingered in the air like a suffocating fog, broken only by the hurried footsteps of Anwar and Anthony as they dragged Gerald back inside. The young guard’s face was pale, his wide eyes darting around like a hunted animal. “I… I swear I didn’t mean to wander around,” Gerald stammered. “Something… something pulled me into the garden. I just… got lost.” Takumi’s sharp gaze pierced through him, but he said nothing, gesturing for Anwar and Anthony to continue their investigation. When they reached the surveillance room, the scene before them deepened the mystery. Two guards, barely conscious and bloodied, were slumped against the consoles. Their wounds weren’t life-threatening but told a tale of a brutal struggle. The air in the room was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the faint hum of the untouched monitors. “Junel,” one of the injured guards managed to rasp. “It… it was him. He attacked us out of nowhere… like he was possessed.” Anthon
"J-Junel! What’s going on? What are you doing?" Samantha’s voice cracked as fear tightened its grip on her throat. Her feet stumbled backward as Junel advanced with slow, deliberate steps, his shadow looming larger under the dim light. Samantha’s heart pounded wildly, her eyes flicking between the knife in his trembling hand and his face—blank, emotionless, and eerily pale. His movements were mechanical, devoid of humanity, as if he were a puppet pulled by unseen strings. "C-Cut it out, Junel!" she pleaded, her voice breaking into a desperate groan. "One more step, and I’ll scream! The guards—they’re right outside. I swear, I’ll sue you!" But Junel didn’t stop. His gaze, glassy and unfocused, passed through her as though she weren’t there. He moved with a haunting slowness, each step a deliberate march toward her. Samantha's stomach churned as she realized something was horribly wrong. This wasn’t Junel—at least not the Junel she knew. It was as if a stranger had stepped into
"You need what now?" Zach’s voice was sharp, though he leaned closer as if Takumi’s request was somehow a mistake he had misheard. Takumi sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. The words had been difficult enough to say the first time, but now he had to repeat himself. “Samantha’s belongings. The ones taken from her office and from her home for evidence after the incident.” Zach sat back in his chair, his expression shifting from disbelief to suspicion. “You’re kidding me. That’s highly restricted material. Chain of custody rules. You know I can’t just hand it over.” “I’m not asking you to hand anything over,” Takumi replied evenly. “I just need access. A chance to examine them.” “For what?” Zach asked, his tone laced with doubt. “You think her hairbrush or her diary is going to solve this mess?” “It’s not about the belongings themselves,” Takumi said, his voice calm but firm. “It’s about what they might reveal. Patterns, traces—clues that could explain what’s been happenin
The stillness of the Takahashi estate lingered in the air like a suffocating fog, broken only by the hurried footsteps of Anwar and Anthony as they dragged Gerald back inside. The young guard’s face was pale, his wide eyes darting around like a hunted animal. “I… I swear I didn’t mean to wander around,” Gerald stammered. “Something… something pulled me into the garden. I just… got lost.” Takumi’s sharp gaze pierced through him, but he said nothing, gesturing for Anwar and Anthony to continue their investigation. When they reached the surveillance room, the scene before them deepened the mystery. Two guards, barely conscious and bloodied, were slumped against the consoles. Their wounds weren’t life-threatening but told a tale of a brutal struggle. The air in the room was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the faint hum of the untouched monitors. “Junel,” one of the injured guards managed to rasp. “It… it was him. He attacked us out of nowhere… like he was possessed.” A
Outside, she cast a glance at Takumi’s butler, who stood rigidly by the car. “Not joining us, sir?” she called out with a casual edge.The butler smiled faintly. “I’ll wait here, detective.”Dryzza shrugged and headed into the station. Inside, she spotted Takumi seated at Zach’s desk, his posture deceptively relaxed but his eyes betraying an intensity that made her pause. Across the room, Sai was furiously dialing Zach’s number on the office phone.“Why’d you leave him out there?” Dryzza hissed as she slipped into the chair beside Sai.Sai glanced at her, lowering his voice. “He wasn’t saying much—just sitting there quietly. It’s unnerving.”Dryzza’s lips curved into a sly grin. “Sounds like a golden opportunity.” Without waiting for Sai’s protest, she strolled toward Takumi.She eased into the chair across from him, letting the silence stretch. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Takumi cut her off, his voice steady and deliberate.“I believe I was clear about who I wanted to see,
"Where are you heading this time, Dryz?" Sai's voice cut through the quiet night as he hastily followed Dryzza toward her car, his footsteps echoing against the pavement."Go back inside, Sai," she replied, her tone low and clipped, almost swallowed by the soft hum of the wind. She pulled open the car door with an air of finality, her movements precise and deliberate."Not until you tell me where you're planning to go," Sai groaned, quickly stepping in front of the car, blocking her path with arms spread wide. "Don't tell me you're going to storm into Dr. Takahashi's manor. We're set to search the place again tomorrow. Can't you just wait and stick to the process?"Dryzza's jaw tightened, her knuckles gripping the edge of the car door. "If we stick to the process, every step we take will already be anticipated," she countered, her voice sharp yet calm."And what will that accomplish?" Sai snapped, his frustration bleeding into his words. "Gathering evidence that can't even be used in