-Fuck, did I get caught?
Upon sensing the overpowering auras of the two challengers in the room, my mind immediately went into full panic mode.
-Why are there two challengers here?
My absence during the Giant's invasion must have been suspicious, but it does not make sense that they sent two of the strongest challengers to investigate it.
The aura that those two people were excluding was no doubt at the level of Julius' power level... no, their overall power might be even higher than that of Julius...
"Sir this is a government facility, civilians are not allowed here", one of the two addressed me, carrying a soft but intimidating tone in her speech.
-Civilian? Me? There must be some misunderstanding for sure...
Upon closely analyzing the figures of the people in the room I was met with the familiar faces of my two co-workers, the domineering gaze of General Collins, and an inquisitive stare from the unknown woman.
-But why is the Director on the ground?
Suddenly, my senses started to warn me about the woman who was slowly approaching me.
-Wait, where have I seen her before?
Skimming through my memories I tried to recall her face, and that's when it hit me.
-It's her, it's definitely her... the sole survivor of the rift where an entire military squadron was annihilated.
-But... what is she doing?
I could feel her trying to sense the minuscule changes in my aura...
My mind became clouded, for fear of her seeing past my disguise...
-No, it should be impossible for her to see past my cover, my aura is exactly the same as an ordinary civilian's.
-Her senses are good, but she is still far from reaching my level of mastery
-But then why is she so interested in me? It can't be that she is into me..?
"Greetings Jay", Rick spoke with his usual friendly demeanor, interrupting the female sergeant's efforts in trying to analyze my aura.
Rick certainly had a knack for being useful when I least expected him...
"Hi...what is going on Rick?"
"We were having a discussion on the recent events that transpired with the Giants, you must have certainly heard about it right?"
"Ah yes, I did watch the news, but why is the Commander of the Rift Task Force here?"
The room suddenly went silent.
The matter they were discussing must have certainly been a matter of national security, one of which I did not have the proper clearance to inquire about.
-Damn I should have stayed outside and tried to overhear their conversation... this won't get me anywhere
"Hm, I simply came to discuss an important issue with the director, no need to concern yourself, young man", the General was the one to respond to me, effectively ending their meeting.
"We were about to leave either way, it was a pleasure to converse with you, Mister Sullivan"
-Mister Sullivan? Strange...
As Collins was heading for the entrance behind me, he stood still for a moment and glanced at me.
"You have changed since the last time I saw you young man"
"Well I have been working out these past days, you can never be safe in today's world right?".
With a tone of the world's biggest pushover, I jokingly replied to the General's remark over what I assumed to be a compliment for the results of my endurance training.
Hearing my answer, Collins put on a serious expression and with a steadfast voice spoke.
"I am not referring to your physique... your eyes...they...."
His expression and hesitation in his sentence were worrisome... what was he about to say eluded me... and fixing possible flaws in my cover was a matter I had gone to great lengths to hide.
-What is does he mean?
"...nevermind".
"Let's go, Sergeant, we have important matters to discuss back at base."
...
As soon as the sound of their footsteps on the cold floor vanished...the restraints on my behavior snapped.
The fake smile I had on my face disappeared...
The obedience in my posture vanished...
My social persona could not maintain the sudden strain of sinister thoughts...
-He knows something...Kill him?
-....what?
-KILL HIM?
-...no...
-BUT HE KNOWS SOMETHING!?
-...y-yes...
-....
My mind began to drift into the abyss, and my thought process became erratic.
I began to hear the voices of two people, the soft and kind voice of a woman and the reassuring voice of a man.
"Jay?"
They were calling out to me...
Their blurred faces were irrecognisable... yet they felt oddly familiar...
"Jay are you okay?"
"Gasp!!"
The vision stopped, and next to me was Rick shaking me from my shoulders.
Thanks to him, my consciousness returned and all murderous thoughts subsided.
-What I am seeing? Who are you? Why are you in my head?
No answer came...
I realized at that moment that the other entity that lived deep inside the abyss was the cause for my deranged psychological state.
-I can't be having irrational thoughts and hallucinations take place in my mind
Entering the shadow dimension and facing whatever lurked in the abyss was the only way to solve this, but all my instincts were telling me that I was not strong enough to survive another encounter with the monster.
"Is there something wrong?", Rick had noticed my sudden strange behavior and was showing his concern.
"N-no... everything is f-fine, I just need to go to the bathroom"
Without knowing when the sinister thoughts or the hallucinations would resurface, I could not risk having an episode in the middle of the road.
....
~Slam!!
After forcing the door to the washroom shut, I placed my hands on the sink and looked straight at the mirror.
The small droplets in the mirror caused by the humidity blocked my reflection from appearing.
Afraid of what I would see in the mirror, I reluctantly raised my hand and slowly cleaned a part of the mirror's surface.
"Phew, nothing's wrong"
No changes in my appearance were visible, and thanks to that, my fear of being possessed disappeared.
After all, the color of my pupils did not change to purple, unlike the possessed goblin I had previously encountered on my first Rift.
"Did I over-react? Maybe I am just tired from the lack of good sleep"
After all, it's not the first time my thoughts were so sinister...
It's just that my mind was always there to stop me from going through with any of them...
And the visions...it is probably connected to the lack of sleep too.
-Ha ha, that must be it... almost made a fool of myself for no reason
-Better go get some sleep
Relieved that nothing was wrong with my mind, I walked towards the bathroom's exit
~Help me
"Eh? Is there anyone there?"
Upon hearing the sound of a person coming from one of the restrooms, I subconsciously went to check what was wrong.
"Sir? Are you ok in there?"
~Help meeee
The voice of a middle-aged person asking for help resounded throughout the room.
-Wasn't there supposed to be no one inside the building though? Don't tell me he has been stuck in there for hours...
With only 4 restrooms left to check, I started opening each door.
First door...
-Not here
Second door...
-Nor this one
Third door...
-He isn't in the third one either
-Damn 3 out of 4 misses, my luck ain't the best today
At that moment I came to a sudden realization.
-Why am I not able to sense the man's presence? Something is wrong.
~Help meeeee
The sound clearly originated from inside the one remaining restroom, but no aura could be felt inside it.
When faced with an opponent, all living beings have two choices, fight or flee...but I could do neither.
-It has started...it is real...the monster in the abyss is coming for me...
....
[Same time, outside the washroom]
"Director how did she do that to you?", Rick Sullivan questioned James Hawk in his effort to learn more about the abilities of challengers.
"This bitch, all those challengers and whatnots are mere brutes who should be put down".
He found the mere existence of challengers repulsing.
Since, in his mind, all he saw was mindless animals who, thanks to some unworldly powers are now trying to stand on equal footing with the top brass.
"Especially her, Kim Rae Na. They call her the Ice Queen."
"Why is that?"
"Apparently she managed to form a contract with a very strong Spirit which has an excellent affinity with Ice. Add that to her already cold-blooded personality and hence that ridiculous nickname".
"Ah, I see".
Sullivan's curiosity had peaked, and he was about to ask more questions on the matter when a loud thump was heard, originating from the floor above.
"Eh? What's that?", the director was surprised by the sudden noise.
On the other hand, the youngest of the Sullivan family had already realized that there was something wrong with the entire situation and had immediately rushed to the bathrooms on the second floor.
Upon reaching the entrance of the men's bathroom, he tried to open the door, but it didn't work.
"JAY!? WHAT'S WRONG!?"
He pushed as hard as his weak body allowed him to but the door didn't budge.
"JAY OPEN UP!!"
Suddenly, strong vibrations could be felt from the other side of the door.
The absurdity of the situation was making even Rick question his sanity.
When, all of a sudden, everything stopped...
By instinct, Rick opened the door and entered the washroom, only to find Jay lying on the floor unconscious, bleeding profusely from his nose, ears, and eyes.
"What.. what happened here?"
....