The afternoon arrived on the outskirts of Madrid, Aren and Melissa along with the other two men were searching aimlessly for the place described on the paper.
- You don't even know where we should go... seriously that person was your friend? I don't think he even lived here. - Melissa commented a little grumpy.
- This is my first time here...I don't think he lived here either, but....
"I can't tell you that I saw it in that boy's memories ... The only thing I know is that this is the town of his memories, but the important thing is to know where that garden is ... I should be able to find that strange flower that was so much reflected in his mind ... it seemed as if it was as if he wished that flower to be destroyed."
- Ya, come on ... tell me what you think. - Melissa said as she saw Aren's thoughtful face.
- ... Nothing.
The young woman sighed.
Princess Lisbeth's group seemed to be close to Duchess Alison's group; however, neither of them stood in the way of the other, but they still kept an eye on each other.
- Do you think the sources are reliable, Bruno?
- Yes ... they claim to have sighted certain people hanging around near this town ... what really worries me is that you are in danger here.
- Enough of that, I've made up my mind. No use regretting it now.
The ranger sighed.
- We must find at least one of those 'people' ... if what they tell is true, then it will be evidence enough if we capture them.
- My lady, I'll take care of that; I hope you won't do anything rash. - Bruno commented seriously.
- Yes... I know that.
- On the other hand, do you know that boy who came with Count Beltran's daughter?
- Wh-what? - Lisbeth was somewhat surprised by the sudden question.
- I thought I saw that you had met him before ... although perhaps you were only captivated by his appearance ... after all, he is of marriageable age, isn't he? - commented the guardian, who made the princess blush.
The atmosphere of that pair was becoming pleasant as they talked; however, it was not the same with Duchess Alison's group.
- Do you think they will be a nuisance? - asked the duchess with great coldness, but keeping her slight smile and stoic expression.
- I wouldn't know ... it seems as if the Count's daughter was the one following that guy in black ... I feel we are missing relevant information, but that doesn't matter; Ernesto and Luis will inform us if they find anything suspicious about them.
The young duchess sighed.
- On the other hand, what about the specimens ... Do you think they are here?
- Yes, there is no doubt. I have confirmed that both Bruno and I have received similar information about this place. It seems that here was the origin of everything.
- I see. Then, if we should come across one, I'll leave the heavy lifting to you. - Alison said smiling.
- Of course," said Faust with great confidence. - said Faust with great confidence.
Several minutes went by, but as if it were just an excursion, the three groups just wandered around the town without finding anything of interest. However, after the arduous search, one of the groups seemed to have found something of interest.
On the outskirts of one of the dilapidated houses, Aren could see a garden enclosed by grates. Even though the garden was dry and barren, he didn't seem to mind that.
"This place... it's here... this was the house I saw in his memories, but the garden wasn't like this..."
- What about this place, is this where you wanted to get to? - Melissa asked somewhat frightened by the bleak outlook.
- I think so ... but what I'm looking for is inside.
The two men of the duchess looked more and more suspicious of the man's objective, but they did not stop him.
Fortunately, the door of the bars was rusty and open, which allowed the four people to enter. Thus, they all entered the place.
- It has been more than 40 minutes and we haven't found anything. This town is totally abandoned. - said Lisbeth.
- ... I don't think I was fooled, but my informant said he saw two people walking around an abandoned church in this town. We must find that place. - Bruno replied.
- A church? What is this... a horror movie?
- Let's hope ... it doesn't turn out like this.
Checking on his smartphone, a young man was looking for the address of a certain place he had heard inside a room.
- Three ... Chants ... What that place ... A famous town that was abandoned due to oil waste pollution ... It is said that some natives died because of this and the rest were relocated due to lack of waste control. It seems that this happened 20 years ago ... Why would Aren go to a place like that? But more importantly, why is he wanted by that group? What has he gotten himself into?
After thinking about it for a few minutes, Glen came to a conclusion.
- They talked about a woman... Could it be the one Aren brought the last time we saw him... Who is she... This is getting more and more confusing... what should I do...?
Perhaps one could believe that the genuine concern of a friend was what that young man was expressing; however, a mischievous smile was reflected on his face.
- Well ... he's a friend, I can't leave him alone if he's in trouble ... Besides, I'm already tired of that job; it's like being exploited every day on top of the yelling and the bad work environment. It's decided, I'll keep looking for more information about the place ...
Only garbage and waste was what could be seen in the surroundings; the walk was in vain, but still they did not give up in the hope of finding something or, better said, someone.
In front of the pair was a structure of great design; however, it was partially deteriorated and destroyed. Graffiti and signs of vandalism painted its walls: an old church, perhaps the only one in that abandoned town.
- So there was one, huh? - Lisbeth said as she looked around.
- I told you it was a reliable source... so, shall we go in? - asked Bruno.
The princess smiled.
They both entered without saying more. However, they did not notice that a silhouette of a person had been watching them from behind.
- It seems that those two are no longer following us ... I think we can take things seriously now. - commented Faust who was walking with Duchess Alison near the area of that church.
- Well ... let's start with the basement that Ernesto and the rest found. - said the woman.
- Yes, let's start with the basement that Ernesto and the rest found," said the woman.
They both went to a certain large house whose door was destroyed; upon entering, they observed that everything was dusty; however, on the wooden floor they could see recent footprints that led to a passageway that had a staircase leading to the basement.
- They do tend to use basements to hide their experiments, don't they? - Alison commented sarcastically.
- Well, it also helps to keep them under control if they exist.
- Yes, I think so.
Having made it all the way down to the basement, only what you would expect to see was on display. Old artifacts, tools, among other things; it all turned out to be some sort of carpentry shop.
- Where is the entrance?
- According to what they said, it's behind the cabinet where the heavy tools are.
As they both approached one of the pieces of furniture, they could see that it was out of place, giving way to a sort of secret entrance.
Alison smiled with a certain malicious intent.
- Let's go inside ...
Being the four of them gathered inside a room that was inside that house with garden that Aren had seen, the young man took in his hands that paper where an address was written.
"This place ... this was where he lived ... I remember seeing more people ... but if this place is abandoned, how is it possible?"
While the young man was immersed in his thoughts, a man spoke up.
- So ... what do you plan to find here? - said the man who had found Aren and Melissa when they were hiding.
- ... Some ... object ... - answered Melissa unpersuasively.
The distrust among those who followed them only increased.
- Didn't you come looking for something yourself, Lady Melissa? - asked the old man again.
- Uh... yes... I just let him do the work. - answered the young lady as she approached Aren.
Getting close to the long-haired man's ear, the woman murmured.
- Hey, will you stop thinking about nothing and tell me what you're going to do.
Aren, as if he had regained consciousness long ago, simply walked towards the back of the house.
Everyone followed.
Another larger garden was at the back of the house. The place was fenced in and had a small stable for birds and rodents next to the wall.
- Really? ... Another garden? ...
The two males who had escorted them also thought the same as the young woman. Unlike the other time, Aren seemed to be checking the whole place with some intrigue, and when he saw this, the two escorts reacted.
The young man began to walk through that small orchard where there was no life at all. He then went to see where the animal cage was, but seemed somewhat disappointed to find nothing in particular.
"For heaven's sake ... What are you looking for! ... Don't you understand that we are being watched? He won't even tell us anything!" thought Melissa with anger and frustration at not understanding Aren's actions.
- Do you want us to help you? - said one of the escorts, that young-looking man.
- No... it is not necessary. - Aren answered, making it clear that what he was looking for was not here.
- Then what... shall we go? - commented Melissa grumpily.
- ... Yes ... I think so ...
At that moment, moment in which Aren turned around seeing traces on the wall that looked as if they were blood stains left by a small hand, a memory came to him, a nightmare.
The young man's mind was filled with screams and moans coming from children and adults who had lived in that house. But, the most disturbing thing was that, in his mind he saw people; strange people walking in a strange way full of wounds and drooling.
Those people were chasing those who lived inside the house, then a woman's voice was heard screaming terrified. The screams of the children had disturbed the mind of the young man who in a moment could see a somewhat peculiar purple flower that was in the same garden where everyone was present.
- It's all a failure! Take it and take it to a safe place; to the house of the Marquis Gutierrez! Hurry up, Marcellus!
What he then observed was how the hands of a child grabbed that one flower and ran escaping from the house.
As if he were in that child's shoes, the sight was that he was running aimlessly and as more of those strange people who seemed to be drugged began to invade the house and chase him.
The boy's exhausted moaning alerted more of these individuals who were increasing in number behind him.
However, they were slow; therefore, the boy was able to get away from them. However, after looking behind him as he ran, he turned around and saw that one of these people was in front of him.
The only thing he saw next was how that dead-looking person tried to bite him.
- Aren
- Aren!
The screams of a young woman alerted the senses of the young man who had seen all these memories.
As Aren came to, he saw that he was lying on the ground and around him was Melissa and the two males who were concerned about the young man's sudden collapse.
- Hey, are you okay?! - Melissa exclaimed.
- ...
- You ... What happened? - asked the young man who looked puzzled.
Aren did not answer.
Being helped to get up by that pair of escorts, the young man wiped the dirt off his clothes and thanked them for the help trying to make it clear that it was just a non-harmful fainting spell.
- Really ... Why are you here? - asked the old man whose name was Ernesto as he could no longer bear the intrigue of this couple's visit.
The only thing the young man answered was - We must get out of here.
Soon, footsteps were heard from outside the house.
- It seems that our lady or the princess has returned. - said the younger escort named Luis.
- Well, let's go. - Ernesto added.
Outside the house, there were silhouettes of people, but they were not of the two women.
Those silhouettes had their clothes torn and some seemed to have serious wounds, but for some reason, they showed no signs of pain.