"I believe we have some unfinished business to discuss."
The tension between them was palpable. The joyous winter scene had taken on a new, ominous tone, transforming the atmosphere. The children's innocent play had given way to a moment fraught with uncertainty, one that would undoubtedly alter the course of their lives.
For a fleeting moment, Otto's eyes darted to his true target for the visit, Eddy. Their eyes locked, and in that instant, they gazed into each other's pupils, each seeing the other's true intentions. Eddy, still a child, harbored no hostile thoughts, which was evident in his innocent gaze. Otto, on the other hand, remained enigmatic, his intentions unclear. However, one thing was certain- within Otto's eyes lay a glimmer of malicious deceit.
"May we come in?"
"...Of course." replied Mr. Lawler, gesturing towards the front door.
Mr. Lawler led the way to the door, followed closely by the exorcists, while the rest of the Lawler family remained in their initial positions.
Though brief, Eddy could sense from Otto's demeanor that whatever he had planned was not good. While it could have been mere speculation, Eddy felt uneasy, wishing he knew the reason for Otto's visit.
His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by his mother's voice, pulling him back to reality.
"Eddy, take Maggie to the forest and gather as much wood as you can. You never know when the real cold will come."
One glance at his mother's face revealed a hostile grim expression as she stared intently at the front door. This was clearly a ruse to get him and Maggie away from the house, and more importantly, away from the exorcists. Gathering firewood was usually a chore they performed around noon or just before dusk. This early morning request was suspicious, but as a child, he had no choice but to comply with his mother's wishes.
"Okay."
Grabbing Maggie's arm, he guided her towards the forest, while Mrs. Lawler watched them with a weak, shaky smile.
***
Creak
The finely carpentered, smooth wooden door of Mr. Lawler's study swung open. One by one, Mr. Lawler and the exorcists entered, closing the door behind them.
Mr. Lawler's study was an ordinary yet well-appointed room, featuring a wooden desk and two fine leather chairs placed opposite each other. The walls were adorned with beautiful portrait paintings and a master-class wooden bookshelf, stacked from end to end with medical textbooks, as expected from a devoted doctor. However, their purpose in the study was not academic.
As Mr. Lawler gestured to the leather chair in front of the desk, he walked over to the other side and settled into the second leather chair behind it.
"Please... sit."
"Thank you."
Otto Hargraves released a loud sigh as he lazily threw himself into the offered armchair, wasting no time to make himself comfortable despite being a hostile guest. He took a few moments to glance around, inspecting the spacious room from top to bottom.
"You have a lovely home."
"Thank you, and I intend to keep it that way."
Mr. Lawler's statement quickly caught Otto's attention, who immediately turned his gaze back to him.
"What are you implying, David?"
"I'm implying that whatever brought you here is obviously no good. So, I want no part of it."
"That's not fair. You don't even know what I want."
"Enlighten me."
Otto paused for a moment, sharing a swift glance with Beast, who stood at his right-hand side. Taking a deep breath, he gave Mr. Lawler his reply.
"The Lawler bloodline has been blessed with unlimited power..."
An agitated groan escaped Mr. Lawler's lips as he gently shook his head in annoyance.
"Not only does your bloodline possess immense power as exorcists, but you also have an incredible technique that could greatly benefit the exorcism world."
Pissed off by Otto's speech, Mr. Lawler cut in, giving a frank reply.
"You gave me this choice twenty years ago. My answer then is my answer now. I want nothing to do with you exorcists. My father and grandfather were both commendable exorcists, and where did that get them? I'll tell you—a painful death."
"I'm well aware of your remarks, and I do respect your decision, but I never said I was here to recruit you."
Otto's words immediately sent a chill down Mr. Lawler's spine, nearly causing him to cower in shock. It was now obvious that Otto's intention was to take Eddy away, as Eddy was the only one who had inherited the abilities of an exorcist.
Mr. Lawler was well aware of this. Although Eddy was still a child and his technique or rinn had not yet awakened, Mr. Lawler could feel the immense potential hidden within his son, waiting to be unlocked.
Regardless, he was not about to let his only son join a cult of fanatics that would lead to his death.
"Eddy? My son? He's fourteen."
"He's a Lawler, and an exorcist. We both know age doesn't matter. You can feel it in him, can't you? His potential is unheard of."
"His little sister is faster than him. He can barely carry any load, and like I said, he's a kid. It doesn't matter what potential is hidden in him, he's weak and not ready."
Otto clenched his right fist slightly in frustration but kept his gaze fixed on Mr. Lawler.
"For generations, your ancestors have served the greater good. They fought alongside my ancestors to purify the earth from those possessed monsters."
"And where did that land them? An early grave! Only five percent of recruited exorcists make it to retirement, and sixty percent of them take their lives afterward due to trauma."
"Sacrifices must be made for the greater good."
"Maybe but, not my kid."
Mr. Lawler's mind was made up. Regardless of what Otto said or did, his decision was final. He would not allow his child to suffer a painful death, as any parent would wish. Even if it meant breaking his generational code of exorcism, he would do whatever it took to ensure his children lived long and normal lives.
"I made my decision back then, and I haven't regretted it. So, I guess I'll make the same decision again."
"Hmm." exclaimed Beast, releasing a loud heave of annoyance while glaring daggers at Mr. Lawler. Fortunately, the tension in the room quickly dissipated as Otto responded to Mr. Lawler's statement with an almost prideful smile.
"True, but this isn't your choice to make. The boy will come of age, and sooner or later, he'll come to understand his future, and then his destiny."
Sharply clearing his throat, Otto immediately rose to his feet, wasting only a moment to adjust his uniform.
"Well then, David, I'll be taking my leave. I'll let you get back to your family, but believe me when I say, I won't be the exorcist leader who let two Lawlers slip through my grasp. Goodbye."
In a calm manner, they all exited the study room, leaving Mr. Lawler alone and lost in his thoughts as he stared at the now closed door.
Otto was correct; it wasn't his choice to determine whether or not Eddy could be an exorcist. Nevertheless, it was his duty as a father to guide his child along the right path. However, this was not what worried Mr. Lawler the most. What troubled him was the looming danger fast approaching the Lawler family.