Volume 2 Chapter 16
(Unedited)
…
The darkness in the surroundings feels nyctophobic that it could cause one deep anxiety of the unknown and the void. But what made the darkness eerier is the absence of any sound in the air. One could not even hear the sound of insects buzzing about near the large garbage bins in the corner.
As the eyes of the man roam about he could feel his body paralyzed and he could only move his eyes and mouth.
He could even feel his body breathing the foul stench of the ground as his face is lying flat on it.
Then suddenly, he saw in the darkness a shadow of a figure.
"Who do you work for?" a calm icy voice entered his ears which made his body shiver.
"I… I… don't know… I don't know what you… are… talking about…"
But before the man could say anything else he suddenly feel something pressing on his right hand, then a cracking sound could be heard followed by extreme pain coursing throughout his body.
"Again… lie to me, and I will let you experience more pain…" the voice said in an icy tone.
"Please… I was just… passing… by… please…" the man begged.
"Arrggghhh!!! Stop! Stop!!! Arrrgghhh!!!" the man cried out loud as a series of throbbing pain enters his brain.
The man is wet in beads of sweat as he looks at the man who suddenly squatted near him.
"Again… the same question… Who do you work for?"
This question sent chills running down his spine as the man unconditionally folded. For some unknown reason, the pain he has felt is not normal. It's like the pain is connected to his brain and is being amplified by at least three times.
So he knew that he has encountered someone who is proficient in torture. The man did not want to prolong his agony and immediately confessed and told the man everything he knows.
Suddenly, with a flash of light, his vision vanished and the man fell unconscious.
Not long later, his eyes fluttered and he found himself disoriented as he slowly stood up from the ground. His clothes are dirty with traces of blood, but his body seems fine. There is just some minor aching all over his body, but he could still walk.
But what baffled the man the most is that he did not know what he is doing in this place, or how he got here. In fact, he didn't even know what date it is today.
The man staggered through the darkness and disappears into a corner.
Meanwhile, Curt is already at home preparing his dinner. It was as if nothing has happened and he just calmly did his chores.
While doing so, he thought deeply about the things that he heard from the man. That man was sent to teach him a lesson. In fact, since that guy is carrying a blade and also an esper, he already knew that the command is not just to teach him a lesson but to silence him.
But the man did not know the reason, however, he discovers that this man is a member of a fraternity group. And that fraternity is a very powerful entity within the province, the APE fraternity, and sorority.
The APE fraternity is the biggest organization in Sosage Province in which its members are high ranking politicians and soldiers in the provincial government. The fraternity is active for more than a century and is deeply rooted in every city and town of Sosage Province.
And as a very powerful fraternity, they control a lot of espers at their disposal.
But what baffled Curt is the reason why he was attacked? How could he have offended such a colossal entity? No matter how hard he thinks he could not connect anything towards him and that fraternity.
Then suddenly he thought of the terrorist group.
"Are they involved with the fraternity?" he thought as he mules over the issue in his mind.
But he just shook his head as it is likely possible, this is because the terrorist group would not have known who he is. But of course, he did not neglect the idea and the possibility that such a thing is possible.
"Sigh… anyway, they would just appear and I just have to take care of this mess myself…" he said with resignation.
Not long later, he finished preparing dinner and was about to start eating when he suddenly heard someone knocking outside the door.
Upon hearing this, Curt frowns but suddenly an idea dawned on him. With an excited look on his face, he immediately ran to the door while fixing his hair and checking himself in the mirror by the door before carefully opening it.
"Hey…" outside the door stood Jenny Mae wearing blue jeans, white sneakers, and a loose white shirt.
She still wore her clothes from this morning and it seems that she has not gone home yet. But then Curt saw a black sedan car parked on the side, but did not think deeply into it and just open the door and let her inside the house.
"Have you had dinner yet? I just finished cooking…" Curt said as he suddenly grabs Jenny Mae's hand and then drags her to the table.
Jenny Mae could not deny that she has already gotten used to this scene and just let her be dragged and she carefully sat on the wooden chair. Then her eyes seem to sparkle upon seeing the mouthwatering dishes on the table.
In fact, Curt has started experimenting with the current dishes that are present and famous in this country. And one of the dishes on the table is a dish called a beefsteak.
It is composed of thinly sliced beef marinated in a mixture of soy sauce and lime, fried, and then topped with caramelized onion mixture.
The aroma of the food is the one which is currently wafting in the air which made Jenny Mae's taste buds almost go crazy. She subconsciously swallowed hard after just looking at the dishes on the table.
"Let's dig in…" Curt said with a proud smile on his face.
He is happy to make this proud woman show such expression every now and then. The two had a wonderful dinner and while eating began discussing more their day in school. Curt found that Jenny Mae is also a bit of a chatterbox when she is already comfortable with the one she is talking to.
Just like now, he just listens to her talk about her experiences as a new esper and how she overcomes her tests and how she grows. What made her talk is the expression of Curt who looks like someone who is love-struck and just looks at her like a fool.
Not long later the two finished their dinner but did not finish everything.
After cleaning the dishes, Jenny Mae enters Curt's room and changes her clothes to what she used to wear when she wanted to stay for the night in his place.
She then comfortably snugs on the soft sofa and then watches a movie on the large TV screen.
Meanwhile, Curt prepares some sweets for them to enjoy while watching TV.
The two spend the night while every now and then would comment on the things they see on the screen. Jenny Mae especially would bug Curt to explain to her what is happening in the movie as she wanted to know more about what she is watching.
It's a bit annoying but Curt has somewhat found himself with long patience while he explains the things she wanted to know.
While in the middle of the movie, the two soon heard someone knocking outside the door.
They both look at each other with confusion in their eyes. But Jenny Mae's gaze suddenly turned sour.
This is Curt's house, so whoever is knocking outside the door has something to do with him, so she is a bit suspicious of what is happening right now.
"What?" Curt shrugs his shoulder as he slowly stood up.
"Wait…" Jenny Mae stopped him and stood up from the sofa.
She fixed her clothes and stumps her feet while walking towards the door.
She feels some kind of annoyance coupled with anger and irritation. She really wanted to let off some steam to the person behind that door.
She was enjoying her time with Curt how could this person be so impolite and disturb us? That's what she was saying in her subconscious mind. However, upon realizing this thought, Jenny Mae shakes her head to deny this.
She admits that she is enjoying Curt's company, the way he listens to her, the way he treats her. It's like something that she never felt before. However, she still could not shake the fact that she just got close to him to use him. And of course, there is the presence of her senior Alan Kane.
However, she could not help it. She truly likes being with Curt these days. And now that someone has disturbed their time together she is feeling annoyed.
She suddenly remembers the time when she and her senior brother were very close in that mission in the forest where her senior brother had his mission for the first time. At that time she felt weird and uncomfortable. Thought it was the time that she has been waiting ever since she had first developed a crush on her senior brother.
But that time seems a bit awkward and uncomfortable. She didn't like that feeling at all.
Then before coming closer to the door, she took a glance at Curt who is sitting on the sofa while watching the movie calmly. Her eyes went through his eyes, the shape of his face, his tall nose, and his lips that look soft.
She could not deny that her boyfriend is a very attractive person. As if in a daze, Jenny Mae just stood there watching him… but then another bout of knocking was heard and this time it's a bit forceful.
And this made Jenny Mae frown and an angry expression now overshadowed her face.
She quickly strode through the door and then with a quick twist she opens the knob.
What met her is something that she never would have expected in her whole life. Then complex emotion immediately covered her face as she didn't know how to react at this time upon seeing the person outside the door.