Chereads / Retaliator / Chapter 26 - Aftermath 2

Chapter 26 - Aftermath 2

"Does that really matter", replied Rein, "I saved you isn't that enough".

"More than seventy people died, because you didn't finish off the anomality right off the bat", said Heath in an angry tone standing up throwing his chair to distance slamming both his hands on the table.

"If it wasn't for me a hundred more would have died", countered Rein replicating Heath's tone slightly leaning backward on his chair.

"Calm down Heath!" shouted Haldem, "We are in no position to blame Rein, it was our own subservience that made us to rely on Rein" he added.

"He is right Heath, at least Rein reduced the casualties," said Nord.

Heath was put aback from Nord and Haldem's reaction, he glanced around to find any support from the rest of the elders, but they stayed quiet for they knew Haldem was right.

Realizing his actions were futile Heath sat back down gritting his teeth.

There was a moment of silence breaking which Rein said," Is your sister still in that hut?"

The question was pointed towards Heath, which caught him off guard and before he could answer Adil intervened.

"Yes, she is, and all because of you she is healthy as well," said Adil.

"When was the last time she came out of that dark room, or should I say when was the last time she stepped in the sun?," saying this Rein leaned a bit forward.

On hearing such an out of box question there was relative moment of confusion subsiding which Walt answered," The night she got injured was the last when she came out of that hut".

[Walt - one of the five elders, possessing the ability Translucent speech which enables him to see through arguments or detect truth and lie in one's speech by recognizing the brain wave surrounding the person in question] 

"That isn't your sister Heath", said Rein in a grave tone.

Rein's word surprised everyone present in the meeting, without waiting for the men to grasp the situation Rein continued.

"It's called a..." saying this Rein paused.

[Flashes of past]

Somewhere unknow with rough terrain, dark night, a place surrounded by unusually disoriented trees raising high in the sky.

A woman standing before kid Rein calling his name, "Come here Rein", said the woman in jolly voice.

"Mom!", said Rein as tears rolled down his cheeks. He began to advance towards the woman.

*An unknown voice "Don't trust it kid, it's not a human"

Turning around towards the voice Rein saw a man standing tall smiling holding a long sword. 

"But sh... she looks like my mom", said a Rein in a faint voice.

"Looks can be deceiving!" said the man.

The woman went silent, and, in an instant, she started twitching, her bones started crackling as if breaking at every joint, in fraction of seconds a woman looking completely of human stature turned into an entity of terrifying appearance. 

Rein fells on his back witnessing something so terrifying," What is that", he said terrified.

"Let's call it a shifter", said the man as he sprinted forward.

[Flash back ends]

"It's called a shifter ", said Rein continuing his statement.