Director Jacobs led Kai into a well-equipped assessment room, where other members of The Order were waiting. The room was filled with various instruments and monitors, and Kai couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed.
"Kai, we'll conduct some tests to determine the nature and extent of your curse," the director explained. "This is a standard procedure for all newcomers. It's important for us to understand your abilities so we can help you harness and control them."
"But first we have to ask you a series a questions, questions revolving round the moments leading to your awakening"
" How would you if I am lying?
Kai asked
Director Jacobs smiled reassuringly
"That's where she comes in"
As he said this, a woman entered the room. She had an air of authority about her and carried herself with a quiet confidence. Her sharp eyes seemed to miss nothing. Jacobs introduced her as Dr. Catherine Donovan, the Order's leading expert in curse detection.
Dr. Donovan will assess your responses," Jacobs continued. "Her extensive training and experience make her highly skilled at determining the truth, Kai. You'll find her methods quite reliable".
Dr. Catherine Donovan was a formidable figure in The Order, her presence commanding respect and authority. Her short, auburn hair framed her elegant face She carried herself with confidence, her every movement deliberate and efficient. Her attire was professional, always wearing a crisp white lab coat over neatly tailored clothing.
" Also, Her gifts include the ability to know if someone's lying, it really is an incredible ability".
Director Jacobs added as if hinting something
Kai caught the unspoken message - Don't even think about it
With a resigned sigh, Kai took a seat, ready to cooperate with the assessment. Dr. Donovan, a woman of few pleasantries, began the questioning.
"Let's begin with some basic questions," she started, getting straight to the point. "What's your name?"
"Kai," he replied without hesitation.
"No, what's your full name?.
Kai's response was noticeably different. For the first time in years, he uttered his full name, feeling the weight of memories and loss.
"Malakai, Malakai Blackwell."
Dr. Donovan continued
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen"
Dr. Donovan continued, delving into the circumstances leading to his curse awakening. She was particularly interested in the emotions and details of that pivotal moment. As Kai recounted that fateful night, his emotions welled up, and the memories resurfaced with vivid intensity.
The questions kept coming, each seeking to unravel the specifics of his curse abilities and the encounter with Richard, as well as the subsequent events that unfolded. The assessment was rigorous, leaving no room for evasion or half-truths.
Ever since that day, you haven't been able to summon this shadow?" Dr. Catherine inquired, her voice laced with curiosity.
"No, but..." Kai began, then hesitated.
"But what?" Dr. Catherine pressed after his sudden pause.
Kai's voice trembled as he continued, "I feel like it's always watching me. I can't see it, but I sense its presence constantly."
Dr. Catherine probed further, "Do you feel that presence now?"
Kai nodded slowly, his face etched with a mixture of fear and dread. "Yes, it's as if it's right behind me. At first, I was fine, but now... it's terrifying."
The room hung heavy with Kai's unease as he shared the unsettling sensation that had been haunting him since the incident at the orphanage.
" I see," Dr. Catherine said with a look of understanding.
" I am done questioning; let's move on to the next phase."
Grabbing a small metallic case, Dr. Catherine removed a sleek black watch from the case and placed it on Kai's wrist.
" What's this?" Kai asked
Dr. Catherine explained, "This watch is specially designed to monitor and evaluate your curse energy levels. Once we are done with this assessment, it will also store every piece of information about your abilities.
" Now then, please step into this containment unit," Dr. Catherine instructed.
Kai obediently entered the large containment unit. It was a chamber with thick, transparent, reinforced glass walls, giving it the appearance of a colossal, sturdy tank. The glass was specially treated to be incredibly durable, able to withstand even the most powerful of curses. The chamber had a reassuringly solid presence, promising to keep everything inside safe and secure
"So what's next?" Kai asked, a growing unease settling within the box.
However, Dr. Catherine didn't respond. It was Director Jacobs, who had been silently observing the proceedings, that issued an instruction to one of the lab scientists.
Immediately, a peculiar gas began to fill the containment unit. Kai, feeling the change, started to yell, "Hey, what the hell is going on?"
Director Jacobs reassured him,
"Relax, there's nothing to worry about. Due to the fact that you can't use your ability on your own, this is a way of... forcing it, shall we say."
Kai, feeling the strange effects of the gas, couldn't contain his frustration. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean!!!?". he yelled out, coughing violently.
"The gas is infused with a special property, designed to react with the curse energy within you, Though it is only used for situations such as this"
As the gas began to fill the containment unit, it triggered an initial reaction from Kai. His body tensed, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He started to cough and choke, his eyes beginning to change color from their usual black to a subtle, eerie crimson.
Director Jacobs instructed, "Check the readings." The scientists in the control room hurriedly monitored the readings on their equipment, trying to make sense of the situation.
the scientists monitoring the situation noticed the first change in the curse energy levels. "Curse levels are rising, sir," one of the scientists reported, although the increase was relatively small. It was around a hundred, which caused some concern but didn't set off alarm bells yet.
Curse ranks were determined by curse energy:
Awakened - 1 to 999
Diabolic - 1000 to 1999
Malevolent - 2000 to 2999
Sinister - 3000 to 3999
Wicked - 4000 to 4999
Terror - 5000 to 5999
Fallen - 6000 and beyond
The curse energy levels were closely monitored. "Quickly approaching one thousand ," one scientist reported as the readings continued to rise. The room's tension increased, and Director Jacobs grew more concerned.
"Two thousand."
"three thousand."
As the gas persisted, Kai's pain became more evident. He clutched his head and began to convulse. His screams grew louder, echoing within the containment unit. At this point, his eyes were entirely blood-red, and dark, writhing energy radiated from his body.
"Something's wrong" Director Jacobs exclaimed, deeply concerned, and he quickly ordered the scientist to shut off the gas.
However, the scientist didn't respond. He just stood there, his eyes wide, muttering incomprehensible words.
"What are you doing, Doctor?" Director Jacobs yelled, his patience wearing thin.
Dr. Catherine rushed to the gas control latch but froze, her eyes locked onto the readings.
"Sir, the energy levels... it's... above ten thousand".
Tension and fear gripped the room as the situation escalated beyond their understanding.
Soon Kai passed out, the curse energy started to condense, swirling and merging into a singular entity.
The shadow that has been tormenting him in recent times had returned . The shadow that emerged was a grotesque and nightmarish entity. It had an ethereal, elongated figure that seemed to stretch and warp the boundaries of reality. Its body was shrouded in an inky, writhing mass that emitted a foreboding aura,
Its crimson eyes, previously piercing, now glowed with fiery vigor
The shadow spoke no words but they could tell that it was angry, it's eyes were burning with an eerie, supernatural fire that sent shivers down the spines of anyone who dared to meet it's gaze. The atmosphere became paralyzed, and everyone stood frozen in fear. The only exception was Director Jacobs, who maintained his composure.
In the eerie silence that enveloped the room, the shadow and Director Jacobs engaged in a tense staring contest. The intensity of their silent confrontation hung heavy in the air.
Suddenly, the shadow broke the eye contact with Director Jacobs and began to approach the unconscious Kai. Its crimson eyes glowed with an unnatural light as it extended a hand towards the young boy.
Director Jacobs sensed that something was terribly wrong. With a sense of urgency, he rushed towards the containment unit, but it was too late. The moment the shadow's hand made contact with Kai, both the shadow and the boy vanished into thin air.