"Thanks for the brief discussion, at least now two heads are at work," Seth said.
Seth and Chase walk out of the café into the streets.
"Well you got your drink now we can go our separate ways" Chase shrug increasing his pace.
Seth halts at his action.
"You don't seem to like me do you".
"Yes Seth" Chase sighs, stopping, he turns to face him with a stern look.
"I don't like you! Because you are like those things".
"You know I never chose to become this way, I explained that to you," Seth said amused.
"Yeah, you did! I think you have already accepted the monster inside of you, that was a big mistake" Chase said.
Seth's smile fades.
"It's a part of me, what do you expect me to do," Seth said, pissed.
It was rare to see a pissed Seth, Chase knew he hit a nerve so he continued.
"I expect you to reflect on yourself, you would have gone through a procedure or treatment to reverse the ghoul gene, If you rated being a ghoul, you would have done that from the very beginning".
Seth looks away.
"But no you didn't, you chose to become this way because you were afraid".
"Stop!" Seth said with clenched teeth. But that didn't stop Chase.
"You hated yourself, to the point you accepted that dark part instead of locking it away, you are human Seth, if you tried you would have stopped the process. But I guess you were too afraid to admit the truth".
"I SAID STOP!" Seth shouts on top of his voice, he took harsh breaths.
Luckily they were in a quiet area, not much crowded.
Chase froze when he saw tears coming down hotly from Seth's eyes.
Chase watched him with pity for how he turned out.
"No matter how you try to hide it Seth" Chase began again.
"You will still be your age, a scared boy who had no choice but to accept the darkness. You may be smiley on the outside but deep down you're a goner" Chase said finally as he turned walking away.
Everything was slow around Seth, he was lost in deep thought. Seth knew very well he had every chance to kill Chase since the day he found out about him, but he didn't. Chase was a man who didn't hide his thoughts about people, he was always upfront with it, which made Seth like him more.
He smiled as he laughed. The laughter halted Chase in his steps, he turned at the laughing boy.
"Really?" Chase said unbelievingly
"You find this amusing?".
Seth shakes his head.
"Oh Chase I just like the kind of man you are", he said, cleaning his tears.
"Self-righteous," he smiled.
"You're sick," Chase said sternly.
"Maybe I am," Seth said slowly walking up to him.
"You see Chase, accepting the monster is the only way, there is no turning back" he stated clearly.
Seth walks past him.
"You're not like me, you won't understand" he walks away.
***
With dark looks, Seth walks the streets of New York alone, the night light reflecting everywhere. He walks past people like he wasn't even there, he walks down to the subway, to take a train.
Inside he was seated all by himself, he heard laughter as he turned. He saw a group of school kids his age as they laughed about a joke, watching something on their smartphone.
Seth looked away putting on his red hood, blocking his ear with his earplugs. Their sounds were annoying to him because that was the life he would have had if he didn't turn out like this but all that was gone now, he was a ghoul killer and he had only one goal and reason for living, he stopped being human the moment he took Barbra's hand.
***
Section Five
Jones Mansion
Seth walks through the gates, heading toward the large mansion.
He walks alone along the long lobby heading upstairs.
In a wide parlor, Barbra was seated there going through some files.
"You and Chase's evening out took some time," Barbra said, her eyes not meeting his.
Seth halt.
"Did it go well?" she asked.
But Seth was silent, his eyes sad as his mind traveled.
***
Six years ago
The Year 2015
Los Angeles G.I Agency (Training Center)
Seth took harsh breaths, after several rounds of training he was left breathless, beads of sweat against his features.
Barbra and a military man watch the scene from a distance.
"His vitals are stable but just like we discussed, he will have to be off the medication to summon his Claw," The man said sternly.
Barbra nods.
A few Minutes Later
Seth was seated in the agency cafeteria, he was all by himself, a bottle of water in his front empty.
Barbra walks into the hall seeing his gloomy expression. She walks toward him.
"Your improvement is good and soon you will be out to hunt ghouls, I hope you are up for it," she said.
"Yes," Seth said.
"You're my weapon Seth, don't let me down," she said sternly about walking away.
"Can I call you mum?" Seth asked, gulping hard. It was a silly request but Seth wanted it, he had no one.
Barbra froze in shock, her look darken as she turned to him.
"No Seth you cannot call me mum, I am not your mum, only your boss, personal feelings are not part of our agreement, never forget that" she walks away.
***
Present Day
Seth smiled.
Barbra's eyes land on him wondering why he was silent.
'I never knew what it meant to have a family' Seth thought. 'Until I met you'.
"Won't you grant me a wish, Barbra?" Seth said amused.
She blinked.
"When I get the black ghoul for you" he adds.
"What is it you want?" Barbra asked, puzzled.
"To call you mum," Seth said, smirking.
Barbra raised an eyebrow.
"Think about it, I will get your answer when you are ready," he said walking away to the other lobby.
Barbra's eyes drift to the fire chamber. She smiled.
***
Section Eleven
The Black Lotus
Riley walked into the room sighing, she didn't know how she could convince Sean to move on.
"What? It didn't go well again" Liam said, taking off his shirt, he was exhausted from today after all the work.
"Yes it didn't, Paige's death took a toll on him," Riley said sitting on the bed.
She turns to him.
"How was your day?" she asked.
Liam smiled sitting beside her.
"The plan is still ongoing. Evan is trying all his best, he's a tough kid" Liam said.
"Yeah, he is," Riley said amused.
"But soon, soon Riley the mission will start," he said, facing her.
"I know and we will do it together," she assured him.
Liam nodded in agreement, she took his hand in hers and brought it close to her chest.
"Together," Riley said.
"Together".
"So" she rises to her feet.
"We are both tired and I think we need a break," she said amused, sitting on his lap.
"You are a walking temptation" Liam commented.
"I know" she giggled, suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her head, she groaned rubbing her forehead.
"Babe are you okay?" Liam asked worriedly.
"Yeah, just a little headache," Riley said, rubbing her forehead wondering where it was coming from.
"Are you sure you are okay?" Liam asked again.
She nods, forcing a smile.
"Yeah, I'm sure," she said, going in for a kiss.