Walking around in circles, I couldn't decide whether or not I want to go in.
In front of me was a three story building, the place where an occult group I was in decided to have meet up.
'Now that I'm here, I'm starting to have second thoughts...'
I have never liked being around with many people, much less people who I have never met before. And an occult group at that!
They were all people on the internet, not like there's anything wrong with that. The more I think about it, the less my choice made sense. Am I really that desperate?
Yes I am...
Looking down at the plushie on my hand, I felt more bitter. This thing was what brought me here in the first place.
What would a plushie have anything to do with an occult group? Surprisingly a lot. Things like being haunted or cursed. But I'm not sure what's the problem with mine.
For as long as I can remember, this plushie has been with me. It was always there as long as I 'look' for it.
At first it's just there, I can't interact with it. After a while, physical contact become possible. However most people can't see it or more like they subconsciously ignore it. As long as I keep direct a person attention to the plushie they can notice it.
If it's simply that then it would be fine, I wouldn't go out my way to do anything about it. After all, it's just a plushie with some slightly special properties. That is if it doesn't talk! Since my 18th birthday, as long as there's any reflection it could start talking. It doesn't talk like those objects in horror movies but like a friend, welcoming me home and asking about my day.
What's the problem then? I don't need a plushie as my friend! I'm not that lonely ok! Having a plushie that follows me is fine but talking is a no no. I don't want to be looked at like an insane person!
"HEY" (?)
A loud shout snapped me out of my thoughts. Who would be this rude to shout at someone right next to their ears?
"You have been blocking the entrance for a while now, are you going in or not?" [?]
Oh it's my fault.
Standing behind me was a woman of considerable height. She was quite beautiful with slightly crimson eye and long black hair
The fact that's she's here must mean she a member of the group chat? How should I make a good impression. Start a small talk? I have nothing to talk about. Maybe introduce myself...
Ack
"You are here for the meetup too right? Let's go." [?]
Thus she dragged me in with a carefree smile on her face.
* * * * * * * *
Inside the living room, 7 members have already arrived chatting with each other. Noticing our arrival, a man came out to greet us.
He looks like he's in his 50s, evidenced by his grey hair and slightly wrinkled face.
"Welcome to the meetup. I'm the host of this event. I'm Waynes. Please take a seat." [Waynes]
Looking at the spacious sofa I did my best to resist jumping in it. It was probably softer than my bed too...
"Um... are you going to take a seat?" [Waynes]
"Oh yeah, yeah I'm going."
Talk about a bad impression. Well it's probably fine, it's an occult group after all.
"Due to some difficulties, Seeker can't come today. Since everyone is present let's introduce ourselves. As you know my name is Waynes. The man with a large figure is Jack, the prophet is Star. That 3 is a group of college students, the boy is Harold. The younger girl is Lena while the older one is Shina. The nun is Mercy." [Waynes]
The woman who dragged me in greeted others back in a cheerful voice.
"Hello everyone! I'm Salra or Sal in the group chat!" [Sal]
What an unusual group of people. I have my expectations for an occult group and this perfectly meet my expectations. A bit too much in all honesty...
"What about you?" [Waynes]
"Oh? Oh! I'm sorry I was distracted. Name's... eh. Dummy."
Someone chuckled at the name. It was an expected reaction after almost 20 years of living with the name.
"Dummy is it? Do you mind telling you actual-" [Waynes]
"It is my real name."
For a moment the room was silent but soon everybody start to laugh.
First impression: good?
* * * * * * * *
Snacking on the chips and various other food, we started telling stories of supernatural incidences. It was interesting for sure but hard to believe as anything but fiction. I mean mysteriously traveled through continents? Saved by otherworldly force? Man eating... hole?? Who would be stupid enough to believe this? Yet each one of them seemed to stubbornly believe it as real.
Who am I to talk though with my plushie situation and all.
Finally it was my turn. As most people turned to me they seem to also remember my problem.
"Right Dummy, you have a haunted plushie yes?" [Sal]
"Well I'm not sure if it IS haunted. That's why I'm here in the first place. To get rid of the thing."
Waynes nodded in comprehension before taking out a small box imbued in many shiny gems, each carved with complicated patterns.
"Well you can put the thing in this box and the problem will be solved. With that said do you mind showing us the plushie?" [Waynes]
I simply pointed inside the box. The damn thing is already in there. Others gaze at where I pointed before looking back at me with a questioning look. Still can't see huh?
"It's inside the box. The plushie is resting inside the box, it's body leaning against the wall of the box face facing us."
After a bit of focusing a small gasp was heard and several people look grew serious. One could even hear mumble like 'what a powerful cognitive hazard' or something delusional like that.
One thing was for sure though is that the mood of the room turned heavy at once. Apparently many don't like a plushie appearing out of nowhere in their vision. Some even tried to reached for the thing but Waynes closed the box before anyone could do so.
Jack reached out to Waynes solemnly but my consciousness quickly blanked out. The last thing I saw was an explosion.
* * * * * * * *
It was cold and damp like sitting outside on a rainy day. I awoken only to find myself and several others inside a... prison cell?
My back drenched in sweat as I observed my surroundings. The room was quite large with several doors leading to somewhere I couldn't see. 4 beds lay neatly next to each other with 3 of them occupied and one empty. The empty bed is presumably mine. I must have rolled down when asleep which explains why I woke up on the floor.
The 3 people sleeping in bed was the ones in the occult meeting, specifically Lena, Salra and Shina. They are still in deep sleep and it doesn't seem like they would wake up anytime soon.
Lastly the tightly packed metal bars blocking the front. A classic image of a prison cell in my opinion. In front of the bars is, not surprisingly, another prison cell. There's nothing else that could be seen, no exit, no nothing. Just empty dark corridors that lead to gods know where. Perhaps I should wake up the others first...
"Hey you." [?]
The appearance of the sudden voice shook me a little. I nervously look behind my back searching for where the voice came from.
"Stop being such a scaredy-cat. Look over the other cell." [?]
Feigning ignorance, I 'bravely' turn back, finding a person with big build and a grumpy face. The man was Jack, also a member of the meeting. He was clearly unhappy with the whole situation, evidenced by the huge frown on his face. He properly understand the situation way more than I do.
"Jack right? Can you tell me where are we? Why are we in a cell..."
"We were captured." [Jack]
Well thanks for the obvious. I patiently wait for more explanation yet Jack simply stood there in silence, observing me.
"...can you tell me something more?"
He continued on with the silent look before giving out a lengthy sigh.
"Guess it's true that you're just an ordinary person." [Jack]
What's that supposed to mean?
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Oops, must have slipped out.
"Wake the others, I'll explain." [Jack]
* * * * * * * *
After everyone was woken up and calmed down, Jack started to explain our current predicament.
"In simple terms we've been kidnapped. I and a few others will probably be fine but you all are in tight spot." [Jack]
"Um...Mr.Jack? Can you tell us what you mean by that?" [Sal]
"How much do you know about the extraordinary world?" [Jack]
Salra looked at Jack with a dumbfounded look. I can vaguely guess the reason but it seems too ridiculous to be true.
On second thought maybe it's not so far off after all.
"Our world contains many extraordinary things. Many of those can be found commonly everywhere. From superpower to supernatural phenomenon, myths and legends all hidden in plain sight. This group was created by a stray, an extraordinary being unaffiliated with any organization..." [Jack]
"Wait a minute. If such things are so common why are the general public know nothing about these?" [Shina]
"Because in every incident either the witness belongs to some organization or they ended up dead."
An uncomfortable silence descend upon the room. Following that statistics it's easy to imagine what our end is going to be.
Dead.
"Ok, look. I might have exaggerated a little. Even if you aren't part of any organization as long as you sign a confidential agreement you can still live your life like normal. Still, most supernatural incidents are highly dangerous for the normal people so I suggest you all to not look for them." [Jack]
"You're talking like we would be able to get out of here safely."
"I can guide everyone out of here safely, provided one of you help me get out of my cell." [Jack]
"And how would we do-"
"Actually... I think I can help you. I'm an extraordinary too... but can you keep it a secret?" [Lena]
Jack was slightly taken aback. Whether he accepted it or not he still nod for her to continue.
"I can 'hide' things from others. I can hide you from the bars, letting you pass through. I can only keep it up for 3 minutes at most." [Lena]
Afterwards, under Lena's power Jack crossed through the bars undisturbed. Jack said we should get time to think things through by ourselves.
Shina dragged Lena to a corner while Jack looked around our cells. Me and Sal simply sat in place to relax.
"Hey, do you believe what he is saying? I mean we did see proof from Lena but it just seems so... ridiculous." [Sal]
"Well I have my own reasons to believe him considering the plushie I had."
Salra raised an eyebrow at my words, her expression mixed with surprise and skepticism.
Strange considering I did talk about the plushie a lot in the group chat. Did she just not read it or...
I felt an ominous premonition.
"What... plushie?" [Sal]
"Y-you know, the one I always complain about in the group chat. The one Waynes lock inside the box."
"What? You have never said anything about a plushie before as long as I can remember. Also what box are you talking about?" [Sal]
How could it be possible. It shouldn't be possible! I talked about the plushie almost 60% of the time.
"If not then why did I join the group chat? What did I talk about?"
"You joined because you were interested in the occult duh. And you haven't talk much in the chat, mostly random everyday stuffs. Hey are you ok?" [Sal]
Sal looked at me worriedly but I can't care much about that. The fact is she had forgotten about everything related to the plushie.
My back was drenched with sweat again and I felt a little nauseous. I had dealt with situations when people forget it before but never was it this... bad.
Jack suddenly spoke up, not caring about the internal turmoil happening inside me.
"I found a clue." [Jack]
Everyone surround him in an instant only to find what appears to be a hole with the size of a human fist. I look back at Jack slightly confused.
"What's the clue?"
Jack opened his mouth wanting to explain but was quickly interrupted by Sal.
"Wait. Before you continue with anything do you mind being a little more honest? If we were to trust your words then I presume you're also a member of some organization too right? And to an extent an... extraordinary?" [Sal]
"I assume you want to know what I can do?" [Jack]
Sal gave a nod of approval. Jack gave her a wry smile as a response. Seeing the resolute expression Jack put up his hand.
"Fine fine you got me. I can observe anything to obtain information about it. The amount of information is proportional to the time I spent observing. It's simply but helpful. That's how I found this 'hole', I have been awake for 30 hours now." [Jack]
That's slightly surprising. For someone with a build like him you would think about something more... physical.
"Let me explains the entire situation, it might be a bit long so get yourself comfortable." [Jack]
Thus we spent almost 2 hours listening to Jack about the side of the world we've been oblivious to.