A couple of minutes before, after picking the book from the floor, Specter suggested a break in order to let all the information sink in.

Giving a timeframe to allow both detectives to order their ideas and gather questions. They sat tired. In about five minutes, Daniel drank all the coffee in his pot, while Barnes struggled to light his fifth cigarette from the night.

— It's just how you watch in that video, Detectives, or today’s interview with Oliver —

Neither Daniel nor Barnes could speak a word.

— The organization for which I work is in charge of dealing with that type of thing, all across the Nation —

The chat followed as the Agent moved through the room.

— We look into them with one philosophy —

Specter put a friendly hand on both shoulders.

— All Myths Are True, is what we stand for —

Daniel thought about it, how could it be so simple? organized? unheard of? Certainly, if everything was true, there would be more signs. But that question was too difficult to ask, so instead, he voiced off.

— Why All and not just some of them? —

The question referred to the acronym under which the so-called organization for which Specter worked was named. That was a good place to start.

— It was easier to think about it under the belief that everything we had ever thought impossible, could end up being... well, true —

Daniel raised one of his eyebrows. It was absurdly simple.

— That sounds... simplistic—

— Sometimes less is more, it has paid off pretty well, to say the least — Answered Specter

— So, you’re telling me what? that we’re involved in some sort of supernatural affair? —

Claimed Barnes, somehow more nervous than before.

— To be precise, you have stepped into what we call a “Plotline” —

— Plotline? —

Asked Daniel, Specter answered leaning upfront and gathering his hands together.

— Yes, one of the main AMAT tasks is to supervise what we call ‘Plotlines’, event sequences of interest for our government —

Daniel seemed confused.

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— We do this to keep under bay any potential threat to our national security, or of those outside our borders —

Then Daniel remembered the files inside his jacked, reaching them unconsciously with his hand. When he realized, Specter was looking

at him. Of course, he thought, if that book worked the way it had shown before, Specter knew about the files even before they had even met.

— The book —

Daniel managed to ask

— What is that book? —

Specter thought before giving an answer.

— This book, like those of its kind, is the reason why AMAT exists in the first place —

He revealed.

— The way they work it’s complex, and we’ve been investigating, experimenting, and following it for the last few decades, but they work just as it seems.

Opening the book on the table, Specter went through the pages.

— They record plotlines that end up becoming storylines, and what happens inside them are usually stories of this sort — he stopped them, and for a second his tone got darker.

— We are not sure of the nature of these happenings, if they just happen to be recorded by the books, or if they happen because of the book —

Like facing a dilemma, Specter closed the book again.

— But they need to be supervised, and moderated, if not, things get out of control —

Daniel swallowed in his spot.

— So… why us? —

Asked Barnes.

— I can’t tell, why you? why me? or even Oliver? these are the questions AMAT investigates, and there's a lot of groundwork to be covered —

Said Specter, shrugging his shoulders.

— I understand —

Voiced Daniel.

— You’re asking us to help you —

— Even better, I’m here to give you what you were looking for this morning —

Daniel’s face went back into confusion.

Then Specter reached out the sealed box over the table and pulling the cover over it, revealed a translucid box with a floating object inside of it.

— I wanted you to meet someone, Detectives —

Said Specter.

It was Oliver’s severed head.

— This is subject 1197, also known as Oliver’s severed Head —

Instantly, Barnes jumped out of his seat, Daniel? remained allured by the sight of it.

It was impossible, yet there it was, standing in front of them, breathing and even blinking. Somehow it was alive.

— Holly mother of God —

Cursed Barnes.

— It’s alive —

Said Daniel.

— It’s a-fucking-live —

Confirmed Barnes.

— It’s more than alive, Detectives, it’s completely conscious and functional —

Affirmed Specter

— You are witnessing one of the few recorded Dullahanifications in history —

Daniel went closer, and closer.

— This is a one-in-a-million possible outcome after going through a decapitation —

— That has no sense —

Said Barnes.

— Yeah, there’s only one outcome of being decapitated —

— Death —

— Exactly —

— I might be making that state lightly gentlemen, but there’s no doubt it’s rare even for AMAT cases —

Excused Specter

— You said Dullawhat? —

Barnes asked.

— Like in the Sleepy Hollow’s tale, but... backward? — added Daniel, Specter shut his mouth and nodded with a smile. He was about to say the same.

While the three suited men talked, Oliver remained still in his place, hearing and watching them, how they were, how they acted.

One would have thought, that his stillness was due to his present state, that somehow a severed head wouldn’t be as alive as a whole human was. But that wasn’t the case.

He was just listening and understanding, so when he realized that Barnes couldn’t stop himself from looking at him, Oliver gave him a friendly smile.

Barnes instantly jumped in his place.

— Goddamit that thing just smiled at me —

After a brief silence, and a couple of looks, Specter cleared his throat.

— Well, I think it’s about time to do what we came here for —

The man arranged his suit and stood straight next to Oliver.

— Oliver, could you? —

— Sure —

He spoke softly like it was nothing.

— Where should I start? —

Oliver asked, Specter shrugged and looked at the two detectives.

— Where would you? —

Said Specter, looking at Daniel, who went blankly for a second.

— I guess that... from the start? —

With a shaky voice, he answered eventually.

Oliver stopped and thought for a minute that seemed endless. Then, he began to talk.