The bright twilight faded away as the dim morning sun rose from the east, shining upon Maddenport. It was a beautiful Sunday morning, a Thanksgiving Sunday morning, one truly worth remembering.
The streets of Maddenport were packed with passersby and observers who came to see the popular annual Thanksgiving parade. Unlike any other event, the Thanksgiving parade was a general activity conducted by various department stores that brought all the people of Maddenport —men, women, and children of all backgrounds and races—together to enjoy the giant, popular avatar balloons. Every year, four parades were carried out simultaneously by four different stores on different grounds: east, west, north, and south of Maddenport city. The parade, for the departmental stores, were employed by the departmental stores as a means of enhancing their popularity which in turn aided in their business ventures. However, for the loyal Maddenport citizens, it was a way of escaping their true life crises or whatever problem they were going through, and finding joy in the nostalgic parades.
The parade spectators lined up like ants on the sidewalk, murmuring, chattering, and giggling as the cheerful sun smiled down on the streets, awaiting the commencement of the long-awaited Thanksgiving parade.
***
It had been five weeks since Eddy had been discharged from the hospital—on his own terms, that is. In that time, everyone had returned to their day-to-day activities, living in peace. Although, the peace was short-lived. Not too far from the four parade spots, on top of an apartment building, Eddy sat on the rooftop, dressed in his exorcist gear with his weapon in hand. Despite the five weeks, his injury was still recovering, no surprise given the severity of Jeremy's attack. If anything, he was lucky to be breathing. Beside him sat Damian, similarly dressed, except for his exorcist jacket, which lay next to him. In his hand, he held a perforated beer bottle, and on his face, a look of satisfaction.
Taking a long greedy gulp of his beer, Damian sighed in relief before wiping the droplets from his chin.
"Less than an hour to go before the parade. Do you have any plans?"
"Yeah...." Eddy replied.
"I'm gonna take Maggie out."
As soon as those words left Eddy's mouth, Damian's jolly smile faded, leaving a disappointed expression.
"Again?"
"'Again?'" Eddy echoed, puzzled by the question.
"You have to find a life besides work and being Maggie's brother. She has a social life, a real life, besides her relationship with you. You need the same."
Eddy turned away, uninterested in Damian's suggestion, gazing down at the people walking below the apartment building.
"I'm just saying kiddo." Damian added, taking several greedy gulps of his beer.
"I have the life I need. As long as Maggie is alive, what more do I need?"
"A real—" Damian's phone rang, cutting him off from his speech abruptly.
Sighing once more, almost as if he knew who was calling. He took out his phone and answered it.
"Hello, you've reached Damian."
While Damian's call was ongoing, Eddy's phone rang as well, which startled him slightly as well. Taking out his phone, he answered the call.
"Hello."
After a few moments, both their calls ended simultaneously, leaving them with a tad bit of anger written on their faces as they turned to each other.
"There's a possessed."
Giving a loud groan and sigh of disappointment, Damian lazily got up from the edge of the roof.
"I know. We better get going. Kyona is a long way from here."
Turning to Damian, Eddy hesitated, sensing Damian's possible confusion.
"Kyona? The possessed is at Darvin Avenue. At least that's what the operator told me."
They stared at each other, surprised, if not confused. They had done most of their jobs together for the past year, so it was odd that the operator would give them two different assignments. It was a little strange for the operator to assign to them, who had been partners for the past two years, two different missions at a special occasion.Or perhaps, it was no mistake.
"Maybe... they want to test our solo abilities rather than our team efforts." Damian suggested, trying to clear the confusion. It was possible,although it sounded a bit too sudden to be true. Nevertheless, they were bound by the guild's contract and were tasked to obey whatever command was given by the guild.
"...Maybe, but on Thanksgiving, of all days." Eddy replied.
"Well then, we better make this one quick. The parade won't last long." Damian said, putting on his jacket with a grin.
"Oi, Eddy. How about a bet? Whoever kills his possessed and gets to the parade first gets a free dinner from the loser. What do you say?"
Touching his lips with his index finger, Eddy thought for a brief moment.
"I have always wanted to taste Santino's steak, but it's way too expensive."
"How do I know you can afford it?" he added.
"What makes you think I'll be the one paying?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm gonna win."
Damian stared at Eddy, feeling both insulted and amused by Eddy's arrogance and pride.
"Alright then, Edward. Let's see who's the better man."
***
Deep into Darvin Avenue, Eddy walked, escorted by a police officer as they moved through an alley.
"How much farther, officer?"
"...Right around the corner, sir."
Turning into the alley, Eddy was hardly stunned by what he saw. It was the usual trace of a possessed. Two humans, or at least what remained of them, were scattered across the floor. Their bodies were ripped to pieces, more gruesomely than a grizzly bear could have done.
The walls were artistically and horrifically painted red with the victims' blood, and a continuous footprint trail led away from the alley, revealing the culprit's movements.
The young officer stepped back a few steps, almost gagging from the scene and the pungent odor of death permeating the area. Eddy, on the other hand, stood still, observing the scene. This evil was, without a doubt, the handiwork of a possessed.