Middendorffi was picked up in the afternoon, clutching the sword Eli had left at his house.
He climbed into the car and handed Eli the sword first; Eli took it and put it at his side when the driver turned around and said, "And this is ... Mr Jones' assistant?"
Middendorffi looked at him, a little confused.
"He's the one who's going to 'see' it." Eli glanced at him, taking the rare initiative to answer on his behalf, "He said there was a problem, so I'd deal with it."
"So it's mage too. sorry for the eye candy." The driver looked over at Middendorffi, "I'm President Adams' driver, just call me Mike. Mage, your name?"
Middendorffi said, "I'm Middendorffi."
The driver nodded his head in greeting, "Brown mage."
"No need to call mage."
"Okay, Mr Brown." Driver Mike turned back and started the vehicle, "We're heading over there now; the sanatorium is on the outskirts of town; it'll take an estimated thirty to forty minutes to get there. Anything on the way, you talk."
Middendorffi looked at Eli, "I'm not sure what's going on yet, just that I need to see someone."
Eli said, "I haven't heard much about it, only that the one to see is the survivor of the villa fire the day before yesterday."
Middendorffi remembers watching the news this morning, "Oh, the one that caused the mountain fire? The internet also said that these people had started a cult."
"This ... two of you, this is not good for me to say on your behalf. Later, when we arrive at the sanatorium, someone will explain to you." Driver Mike heard Middendorffi talk about "cult" unapologetically and suddenly felt embarrassed. However, people in high places sometimes are temperamental, and Middendorffi's bluntness didn't seem to be a big deal. Driver Mike had to find something else to change the subject: "You two can rest first. I'll raise the center panel so you can't see the back and lower it when I get there. You two can lower this board in the back, too, if you need anything ..."
He explained a bit about the equipment before raising the flap between the front and back seats, isolating the back seat into a separate space.
Middendorffi hadn't seen this before and approached with some curiosity to study it. Next to him, Eli took his sword and pulled it away slightly to examine it for a couple of seconds. He seemed to find something. But when he closed it back up, he opened his mouth to ask something else: "Have you had lunch?"
Middendorffi looked back at him, "Ate."
"What did you have?"
"Cheeseburger," Middendorffi recalled carefully, "Single-layer."
It was reported as nothing short of a takeaway option, but Eli didn't know much about that yet and just asked, "Single layer, full?"
"Full."
Eli doesn't comment on this response and continues, "What did you do back home?"
Middendorffi, not minding that he cared too much, also continued to answer, "Sleep."
"Just sleep?"
"... Right."
That, but any adult knew that wasn't quite right. Eli surveyed Middendorffi briefly and stopped continuing his interrogation, only to comment on the previous topic again inexplicably.
"It's good to be fed."
***
Middendorffi and Eli end up at a very low-key sanatorium on the outskirts of town.
I say low-key because the place was secluded. Because of a not-so-high signpost on the secondary road outside, no one would have explored where the forked path led. And even if you come in, the appearance of the small white buildings here is quite simple, not like any exceptionally stylish place.
But inside the building, you can see this place is "something else." Not to mention other things, the personnel, reception, and security procedures are rigorous. After a few moments, a middle-aged couple sits with Middendorffi and Eli in the retreat's small conference room.
"Creato is our son, the one you two will see later."
Mrs Addams' voice was a little muffled, and her light makeup couldn't hide her tired look. But she kept her spirits up and narrated, "Now the police are suspecting him of murder and arson, but Crea couldn't even watch a chicken being killed, so how dare he kill all those classmates and friends of his and set such a big fire?"
Middendorffi listened in confusion, "So, it's for us to see if he's the culprit? But that's the job of the police."
"Hey, don't you say any of that crap? Let me do the talking." President Adams said, "Actually, Crea came to this sanitarium to be treated for his burns and, secondly, to treat the mental aspect of his condition. Right now, Crea's mental state is very off, and he's not happy to sleep, saying that if he does, something will happen to him. But other than that, he doesn't say a word about anything else, no matter how he's asked.
"Also, some friends say he's always acting strange lately, like a different person. Occasionally, Crea doesn't remember things he's done or said. The doctor said it might be a split personality when he came here. But because Crea has never shown another personality in him, it hasn't been diagnosed yet."
Middendorffi listened quietly, waiting for President Adams to finish before returning, "But that still sounds like a doctor's job."
President Adams: "... And pushing business out the door?"
Eli has gotten used to Middendorffi's straightforward and somewhat choking performance and lowers his eyes to hide the laughter under his eyes.
Luckily, President Adams still picked up the conversation and somewhat reluctantly said something more to the point: "These symptoms of Crea's are what appeared when he joined that church or whatever it is. He used to be at least willing to talk to us on the phone and talk about his life - although the main purpose was to get some pocket money. But since he's been hanging out with this group of people for this shit, he can't communicate with us any less, and every time he calls, it's just to get money. I even suspect those people are just scamming him out of his money! That's not even a proper church and a cult!"
Middendorffi, much calmer than President Adams' agitation, asked, "Why didn't you call the police earlier if you suspected it was a cult?"
"Before ... before, he was not abnormal other than these conditions." President Adams said this with a bit of weakness; obviously, he usually may not have much concern for his son. However, the two in front of him didn't care about this aspect of the details, so he could continue, "Anyway, the doctors can't give any conclusions right now, so I'll ask you guys to come and take a look."
"Yeah, to see if he's got a bad spirit in him." Mrs Addams said, "By the way, a few other people have been calling my son's mobile phone after his accident, saying they want to see him. They introduced themselves as my son's friends. But when I asked in detail, I couldn't tell where or how they knew each other. I listened to the tone of voice, which did not sound like any normal person, so I refused them. They threatened me, saying that I couldn't lock up Crea, that Crea was an important member of their group, and so on. I'm worried that they're members of that cult or that they're the ones who did what happened at the villa, and they're going to hurt Crea now."
Middendorffi said: "Didn't call the police?"
"Spoke to the police; these cops have been on our Crea all day; it's about time they found some other suspects ..." Mrs Addams said, sensing that she had overstated her case a little in front of outsiders and changed her tune. "Anyway, the condition of my son is not normal; please take a look at you two."
If anyone else had listened, they might have had to hear what the couple were planning to do. They were looking for a psychiatrist and Lupin to find evidence that it wasn't Creato's fault. As long as one of the two parties can give a statement and further identification, at least a little bit of responsibility can be shared.
Of course, according to them, Creato itself did have a problem. To save the child, the parents will resort to all sorts of methods, including even such suspected "superstitious" means. However, Middendorffi and Eli will refrain from commenting on such plans.
"Is there anything else to say?" Middendorffi mimicked Henry's way of advancing the process and said, "If not, we'll go see Creato now."
"There is one more thing for you two." Mrs Addams said, "Crea is wary of outsiders right now. I'd also like to trouble you both to think of our new doctor ... as a psychiatrist and go and talk to him. Would that be all right?"
"We don't have much knowledge of psychology." Middendorffi said, "If it shows ..."
"That's okay, we'll help talk."
"Anything else?"
"... Not for now." No longer using to push the subject any more profoundly, and with a secret sigh of relief, the couple stood up and said, "Gentlemen, please."
***
Creato's parents entered his hospital room first, and Middendorffi and Eli were welcomed a few minutes later.
Eli, because of his protective duties, entered the door before Middendorffi. His eyes swept over to Creato in his hospital bed, showing little expression, and he let Middendorffi in again.
Middendorffi finally met Creato.
It was a twenty-one-year-old man with a tired face and bloodshot eyes. He still had bandages on various body parts, presumably from the previous fire, but not many.
Creato also looked at the two strangers who had entered warily and did not say a word.
Middendorffi doesn't say a word either, approaching him and observing him.
Creato, who was also quite familiar with the psychiatrist, locked eyes with Middendorffi as if waiting for a question from the other. But Middendorffi didn't say anything for a while, just stared at him. Finally, Creato was stared at first and looked to his parents with some help.
Mrs Addams then asked, "Mr Brown, how about it?"
Middendorffi glanced at Mrs Addams and then at Creato and finally spoke, "Are you not sleeping because you're afraid 'it' will come out?"
Addams family trio:!!!
Mrs Addams couldn't wait to follow up, "Mr Brown, do you see anything?"
Middendorffi doesn't answer her, just raising his hand to signal her to be quiet and staring at the shocked Creato, "Why were you so surprised when I saw it was there? You thought you could hide its existence ..."
"... Stop it!" Creato interrupts Middendorffi abruptly, even swinging at him. Eli yanks on Middendorffi's arm, pulling him two steps away as soon as he's next to him.
"Don't ask, don't listen. There is no 'it,' no one else!" Creato's eyes went round, and he waved his hand desperately, even trying to get out of bed to drive Middendorffi and Eli away, "I'm not going to let you guys know; get out! Get out, all of you!!!"
"Crea!" Mrs Addams jumped in shock when her son went crazy like that and stepped forward, again not daring to approach. On the other hand, President Adams was calmer and hurriedly rang the call bell.
"You can't fight it." Middendorffi stood at Eli's side and back and continued to speak calmly, "The more unstable your sanity is, the more likely it is to take advantage of the situation. Why don't you release it so I can see it."
In response, he was met with an oncoming pillow.
Eli would have been hit by this pillow sooner, but he instantly threw out his sword, and the cushion split in two, sending feathers flying all over the ward.
The paramedics arrive just in time, stunned by the white color of the door, then rush forward to calm Creato. Mrs. Adams finally dares to get close enough to see how her son is doing, looking very worried.
President Adams also went over to Middendorffi and Eli, "Excuse me, gentlemen, but this situation doesn't look like it will go any further.... Let's go outside and have a chat."
Middendorffi looked at Eli, who said, "You decide."
Middendorffi nods and replies to President Adams, "Okay."