On a sunny day in Meadow City, an elderly man stepped onto the Metro Train. His frail figure, worn coat, and newspaper blended effortlessly with the monotony of the daily commuters. After scanning the carriage, Isaac found an empty seat and sat down. He pulled out his mobile phone, set an alarm for the last stop, and closed his eyes, preparing to doze off during the journey.
As the train reached its final destination, the sharp sound of the alarm jarred Isaac awake. Without missing a beat, he exited the train, purchased a return ticket, and settled back into the same seat, his eyes closing once more as the train began its return trip. This loop continued: a journey lasting an hour and a half each way as the cityscape outside the windows morphed and shifted with each passing mile.
When midday arrived, Isaac decided to buy lunch for his third trip. He purchased two standard meals from a local store near the train station and returned to his familiar seat, setting his alarm before closing his eyes again. Midway through his travel, a subtle yet unsettling shift occurred within the train. The familiar hum of the train's movement felt different, more ominous.
As the train rolled forward, Isaac calmly awoke as an unsettling premonition tugged at his consciousness. In that instant, the entire carriage became empty, as every passenger had vanished into thin air. The eerie stillness was broken only by the sound of the train continuing its journey. The carriage was engulfed in darkness, the familiar clamor of the train fading into silence. He began eating his lunch while maintaining his calm demeanor. Halfway through his meal, he sensed the presence of a shadowy figure materializing next to him, a being composed of pure darkness. Isaac stopped eating and slowly pushed the unopened meal forward, the plastic tray scraping softly against the floor.
The sound of the food being devoured filled the silent carriage, a chilling contrast to the emptiness around them. Maintaining a calm facade, Isaac reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a folded newspaper. With practiced ease, he opened it, the crisp rustle of the pages breaking the oppressive silence. He adjusted his glasses, his eyes scanning the headlines.
The dark creature, a spirit made of hair with glowing eyes and weak arms now clearly visible, continued to devour its meal with unnerving intensity, its hollow eyes casting a menacing glare at the elderly man. Isaac remained unperturbed and continued to read the newspaper. Once the creature finished the meal, Isaac folded the paper he had been reading and started speaking.
"Sorry about the weather. It's part of the setting —I can't change it," Isaac remarked.
He paused, then continued with the same demeanor, "I suppose introductions are in order—my name's Isaac Mulder. I lead a group called the Purgers. We deal with dangerous presences like yourself, protecting the primary realm—our home, and once yours too."
Isaac leaned in slightly, his voice lowering but maintaining its calm. "Now that you're a spirit, leaving you here would only cause trouble. I'm sorry about this."
Having finished its food, the creature began to shift, its form rippling as it prepared to strike. Its intentions were clear, but Isaac remained seated, observing it with a smile. "Well, I hope you had a good meal," he remarked. So, you're a Level-3 spirit, he thought. That explains why you can manifest physically in the Second Realm and even influence the primary realm. Good thing I intercepted you here before you attacked anyone in the primary realm.
Isaac sighed, leaning back into his seat. "I dropped by because I was worried you might be a Level-2 or even Level-1 spirit. That could've been troublesome for me, especially at my age and condition. Megan would never let me hear the end of it if I got a scratch since I always operate alone against her wishes."
The dark creature uttered a piercing scream and lunged at Isaac, but its body remained frozen, trapped by an unseen force. Its negative energy surged, yet it was powerless to strike. Isaac calmly gestured upward. "If you're wondering why you can't move, take a look above your head."
Above its head, a small orb of white light hovered, pulsing softly yet intensely. The light started shedding tiny light particles floating like snowflakes, touching the creature's dark form and causing its hairy body to dissolve with a faint hiss. The creature writhed in desperation, but the relentless light continued stripping away its shadowy figure until nothing remained. As the orb spun faster, its light intensified, and the creature's screams weakened as it flickered out of existence.
The oppressive darkness that had filled the carriage lifted, replaced by the familiar sounds of the train and the murmur of passengers who seemed completely unaware of what had just transpired.
Isaac opened his eyes, sighed softly, and folded his newspaper before dialing a familiar number. "Jenin, it's done. I'm getting off at Hedge Park. Can you arrange a cab for me?"
Jenin's voice crackled through the line, laced with playful admonishment. "It's better for the environment if you use public transport, you know?"
Isaac chuckled as he stepped off the train. "Come on, I've done my good deed for the day. I'm no saint. And what's with these modern phones? Why'd they get rid of the buttons?"
Jenin sighed, clearly exasperated. "Alright, alright. Don't start your ramblings, old man. I've already booked you a cab. Just get home and rest. You've got that doctor's appointment tomorrow."
"Will do," Isaac replied with a smile. "And don't lose focus on our target. This one's crucial for our future."
Jenin's tone grew serious. "Are you sure this person's energy burst happened in my territory?"
"Trust me, kiddo. This one's unique—there is something different about it. I marked their energy with a red flare in the Second Realm. The flares will stay active till the next realm reset. If they use their energy anywhere nearby, you'll know."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it," Jenin replied, his tone lightening. "It happened in Horta territory, so I'll track them down. There's no way I'm letting this one slip. By the way, did you tell Megan I'll make a terrible dad? I hope the doctors shove a big tube up your a.."
Isaac ended the call, chuckling as he hailed the waiting cab. As he settled into the backseat, his thoughts drifted back to two weeks ago—a day that had irrevocably changed the course of his life.