CHAPTER 7 - THE SINISTER CONTRACT
NOVA's eyes widened as he laid eyes upon the lifeless body before him.
The mysterious circumstances surrounding the person's demise piqued his insatiable curiosity, but he found himself at a loss, unsure of where to begin his investigation.
A glimmer of hope flickered within him—a flicker that rested solely upon the shoulders of the deceased's grieving family.
Determined to uncover the truth, NOVA assumed a new identity, shrouding himself in an enigmatic cloak, and set out to uncover the secrets that veiled this peculiar death.
From the humble daily wage earner to the affluent businessmen of the village, NOVA tirelessly probed, seeking answers.
Yet, at every turn, he encountered indifference and apathy, met with dismissive responses of, "I don't know" or "Why should I care?"
Driven to desperation, NOVA delved into the treacherous depths of the coal mines, hoping to unearth a glimmer of information.
Among the toiling workers, he posed his questions, his inquiries echoing through the dimly lit tunnels.
But it was only when he approached the last miner that a glimmer of hope emerged.
With a hint of trepidation, NOVA inquired, "Have you heard of him?"
The miner peered at him, suspicion etched across his weathered face. "Who?"
"Does he owe you any debts?" NOVA pressed, his voice laced with hidden intentions.
A scoff escaped the miner's lips. "A debt? You must be joking. He was no friend, my friend. More likely he owed you something."
"No, not quite like that," NOVA responded, attempting to dispel any lingering doubts.
The miner's eyes narrowed, as he spoke with a mix of uncertainty and revelation. "I don't know where he is. He hasn't shown up for work. He dwells in an old hut, a mile north from here."
Gratitude painted NOVA's features as he murmured, "Thank you." In the blink of an eye, he vanished, leaving the bewildered miner questioning his very perception.
Guided by the miner's revelation, NOVA found himself standing before the dilapidated old hut.
He knocked on its weathered door, anticipation tingling through his veins.
The creaking sound of its hinges heralded the appearance of an elderly woman.
Her voice laced with suspicion, she demanded, "What do you want?"
"I am a friend of Jason," NOVA replied, attempting to establish a semblance of trust.
A surge of anger overcame the elderly woman. "Leave this place at once, or I shall summon the villagers to deal with your insolence."
"No, I assure you, I mean no harm," NOVA pleaded, his desperation echoing through his words. "I have come to repay the debt I owed Jason."
The old lady's gaze softened, suspicion waning. "Enter, then."
Once inside, NOVA probed further, his voice laced with concern. "What has become of him?"
A weary sigh escaped the old lady's lips. "Who knows? He declared he would be absent for days."
"And what of the children?" NOVA inquired, his curiosity growing.
"They ventured into town to seek their fortune, but they never returned," she replied with a hint of sorrow. "On their journeys, they often frequented the northern cave, offering hefty sums of money before vanishing into the unknown."
"I see," NOVA murmured, his mind racing with the pieces of a mysterious puzzle.
Preparing to depart, NOVA found himself wandering through the dense woods, the ambiance shrouded in an eerie stillness.
Suddenly, a haunting sound reverberated through the air, piercing his ears with an otherworldly intensity.
The agony it invoked forced NOVA to his knees, his cries swallowed by the tumultuous echoes.
As he regained consciousness, NOVA discovered his limbs bound, cursed seals etched across his skin—an unexpected twist in this chilling tale.
"How can I escape this torment?" NOVA questioned, his voice laden with desperation.
From the shadows emerged a figure, their face concealed. "You are here simply to meet your demise."
"Why?" NOVA demanded, confusion mingling with fear.
"Merely a contract waiting to be fulfilled," the figure replied, a sinister undertone tainting their words.
"A contract? What kind of contract?" NOVA's voice trembled with apprehension.
The figure chuckled darkly. "Funny, isn't it? A man who had once bargained with death now finds himself in its clutches, a lifeless vessel for a curse."
"A lifeless vessel, What about Jason?" NOVA pressed, desperation clinging to his words.
"Him? I killed him only yesterday. He proved worthless, devoid of any usefulness to me," the figure replied with a chilling detachment.
"Worthless? Then what monstrous fate did you bestow upon him?" NOVA's voice quivered with a mix of anger.
"I transformed him into a formidable creature, a random abomination from my realm, as he refused to comply with my plans, I even tried to control him but he ran away and died in my hands." the figure revealed, a twisted satisfaction seeping into their words.
"And what is it that you desire from me?" NOVA questioned, his voice laced with trepidation.
"I witnessed your presence when Jason met his end. You began to uncover his secrets, didn't you? I know you can find me," the figure replied, a hint of menace underlining their words. "That's why I have taken you captive."
"Please accept this, so I can do my work peacefully." the figure replied.
"What is it," NOVA asked.
"Death." the figure replied with a creepy laugh.
A foreboding silence enveloped the scene before NOVA whispered,
"Sorry, I can't accept it cause I am already dead."
"There's something you should know."
"EVOLVE."
A blinding bolt of lightning cleaved through the darkness, reducing the confines of the cave to rubble.
"I may not possess precise aim, but lightning will strike wherever I stand, regardless of circumstance," NOVA declared, his voice laced with newfound determination. "Let us engage in a long-overdue battle."
Thus, a ferocious clash ensued—a battle between NOVA, an undead man cursed with reincarnation, and the enigmatic figure who had forsaken their humanity for the allure of wealth. Meanwhile, another mysterious entity lurked in the shadows, their intentions shrouded in secrecy.
The bandit who once feared NOVA found himself muttering in disbelief, "Who is he? That single glance sent shivers down my spine."
"I will be the one to end him," he vowed, unaware of the presence that silently observed his every move.
A chilling voice whispered into the bandit's ear, "So, you too seek his demise?"
Startled, the bandit turned around, only to find a spear-like object piercing his chest.
"Apologies, but I've held a grudge against him for years," the voice declared, its tone dripping with malevolence.
"And now, NOVA, it is your turn," the voice continued, emitting spine-chilling laughter that echoed through the night.
The bandit's demise remained a mystery, but one thing was certain—the enigmatic figure harbored an unwavering vendetta against NOVA.
Written By Riteesh