397 A Missing Important Detail, Locking Down the Living Area (1/2)
Day 67 - 8:02 PM - Maryhill Retreat House, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Dolores, Taytay, Rizal
Walking around the first floor with the Lieutenant, he ran across Case once more. The boy was surprised to see Mark already on the first floor before he and Kaira could even go down the stairs. Mark did not mind the two, and Case did the same. Although they said nothing about this, the two already understood that it was better not to regard each other if there were people around.
It was because it would make other people suspicious, especially when Case was hiding his abilities from the people around him.
On the other hand, 1st Lieutenant Baller following behind Mark had a lot of things on his mind. Without a doubt, what Mark had told him was one of those.
Mark said that he chose this as the resting point, knowing how haunted the place was.
Many people were skeptical about these kinds of things. Spirits, ghosts, demons, and the like, many people did not believe in their existence. Lieutenant Baller also belonged to that camp.
”Isn't it ironic, Lieutenant?”
The Lieutenant suddenly heard Mark ask him a question, which made him confused. However, when he was about to ask what it was, Mark continued.
”Many people deny the existence of ghosts, elementals, and spirits. Saying that there is no way such things exist.”
Lieutenant Baller felt awkward. Then, he heard Mark's next sentence.
”Yet, those very same people believe their gods, angels, and miracles. They believe in the existence of heaven and hell.”
The Lieutenant felt even more awkward.
”Don't worry. I'm not ridiculing you or something.” Mark continued. ”What I'm saying is be a bit more open-minded. You have the lives of your soldiers in your hands. Just because you don't believe about something could cause them to lose their lives. There's nothing bad about being more cautious.”
”I'm sorry, Sir. I'll bore those words in my mind.”
Lieutenant Baller understood what Mark wanted. Mark had no responsibility to protect the soldiers as they should be the ones doing the protecting. However, as the commander, their carelessness would leave dirt in his name.
At the same time, the Lieutenant accepted that Mark was serious about the things he said.
”Sir, is this place really haunted?”
Lieutenant Baller asked.
”You still don't believe me? I have two Sylphs with us. Sylphs exist, why not ghosts? There are also those creatures from Auraboros.”
The Lieutenant scratched his head. He totally neglected the fact that Mark did have two supernatural beings in his group. The individuals from Auroboros were mostly non-humans too.
”But Sir, why did you choose this place if you know that this might happen?”
To that question, Mark contemplated a bit before he decided to tell the soldier.
”It's more of a personal reason. Well, I guess you people will notice this soon.” Mark spoke. ”Not only the mortal world is affected by Mutagen. Even the paranormal world is the same. So, it won't be surprising if we encounter infected supernatural creatures.”
”That's...”
The soldier had a loss for words...
Just infected humans, animals, and insects were already something that the remaining population could not handle. If infected paranormal creatures were added to the mix, it might be better to kiss this world goodbye.
”So, Sir. You wanted to investigate this place?”
”Right. We will stay here for only a night. At least, I want to learn a few things. I've been searching for the ghost since we got here. The woman that screamed had beaten me to it, though.”
It did not take long, and they got to their destination, the room where the frightened woman was being tended by her husband.
”Sir! Lieutenant!”
The young soldier hurriedly saluted after Mark and Lieutenant Baller entered the room.
”How is your wife?”
Lieutenant Baller asked.
”Lieutenant, she had gotten better, but she's still shivering.”
The young soldier replied as he looked at his wife worriedly. As for the wife, she sat on a sofa while hugging her knees. She was trying hard to ease her shivering. Nevertheless, the terror in her eyes was still there. It was already good that they could converse with her to some extent and got the story out of her.
Without saying anything, Mark approached the terrified woman.
”Sir, what are you-”
The young soldier was worried, but the Lieutenant grabbed him and told him to calm down.
Mark looked at the woman in different angles first until he noticed something. He parted the woman's mid-back long hair around her nape. Then, he reached his hand like he was about to grab the woman's neck. His hand was clad in miasma making it look sinister.
It made the young soldier even more worried.
However, before Mark could even touch the woman's neck, he closed his hand as if grabbing on something. He then pulled his hand back with an intense rise in miasma around his hand. At the same time, the woman released a painful moan.
After that moan, her body slumped as if she lost her energy. The young soldier hurriedly grabbed her as she was about to fall off from the sofa.
”Belle, are you okay?”
The soldier asked as he checked on her. He was panicking.
”Sorry... Nel... I made you worried.”
The woman's weak voice was heard. It seemed that aside from being weakened, she already returned to normal. Her complexion also had gotten better.
”Sir, just what happened?”
Nelson, the young soldier asked Mark. Although he was confused. He understood that Mark did something to make his wife recover, at least, mentally. In the tone of his voice, he was obviously grateful.
”Corpse energy,” Mark replied. ”Her body was invaded by energy emitted from a ghost that became a strong evil spirit.”
The other three people would have not believed such magical stuff he was saying if they did not saw what happened with their own eyes. The sudden recovery of the woman was the concrete evidence of what Mark was saying.
As Nelson made his wife lie down on the sofa comfortably, Mark asked the woman.
”I have a question for you about what happened.”
”Sir, I think, she already said everything she saw.”
Nelson tried to intervene as he did not want his wife to force herself to recall such a terrifying experience.