Both brothers immediately ran past the door after Xavier opened it. Klaus gave one last final shot. The salt bullet easily pierced through the cursed spirits' forehead.

BAAANG!!!!

She busted into a pile of smoke, vanishing into the endless darkness. She reappeared once again, just a few inches away from the ashen door and a second away from grabbing onto Xavier.

Xavier's breath grew heavy; his heart almost skipped a beat before he recollected himself, immediately slamming onto the door.

The force exerted by him sent the door smashing backward, as it closed with a loud thud!

HUFFF!!!

WHEW!!!

Their breath was heavy as they inhaled and exhaled continuously for a while.

"Too close," Xavier exhaled, leaning heavily against the door.

Klaus's dry laugh broke the tension, "Not really, more like mid-level danger."

"Sure." Xavier didn't argue, but the chill that rab across his spine told a different story entirely.

Xavier closed his eyes for a second there, willing his heartbeat to decline to a steady pace. The cursed spirit's eyes, hollow and fragmented with negative primal emotions, lingered in his mind. He rubbed his chest lightly, trying his best to shake off the intense dread that held onto him.

Klaus clapped him on the shoulder, the usual smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Relax, man. You're still alive. Count that as a win."

That's still worth celebrating on. Klaus sighed inwardly.

Xavier nods at his brother with a forced smile, eliciting a light smirk from Klaus.

Klaus's hand lightly tapped against the side of the torch. He succeeded in turning off the lights before he moved his head towards his brother, "Well on the bright side of things. We not only managed to find out who the mysterious 'Her' is, but we also found out the reason behind the shape-shifter's action."

"Yeah," Xavier nods, "And most importantly, we also know the shape-shifter's next target."

He glanced at the surrounding large trees, the various buildings and the desolate road before they both arrived before the car.

Xavier glanced towards the sky. The endless darkness and the crimson rays showering them in its strange eeriness told him that it was already nighttime.

Turning his head towards his brother.

"But first things first. We should probably find a place to spend the night."

"Yeah," Klaus nods, getting into the car. His hand were on the gears after the car engine roared to life. Xavier also got into the car, placing the guns inside the hidden compartment under the rug beneath his feet.

Klaus added with a light smirk spreading across his face, "And I think I know just the right place."

The car immediately busted forth, rapidly speeding along the road. The car easily passed other cars, which moved at a snail's pace, in Klaus's opinion. He had a wide grin on his face, easily moving into narrow gaps whilst enduring curses from the mild drivers.

Xavier, who was already used to Klaus's reckless driving simply decided to stay silent. Reclining his back against the chair, he did as though he didn't exist.

A desolate silence enveloped the confines of the car. Xavier simply made use of the time to relax a bit, whilst Klaus enjoyed indulging in his cool driving skills.

Klaus's gaze shifted towards his brother for a moment, "So, how was your time in college."

Xavier, who was staring out of the window, seemingly lost in thought was brought back to reality, his gaze shifting towards his brother, whilst a light smile slowly curled up his face.

"Well for most part of it, it was quite fun and thrilling,"

He paused for a second, his brows slightly raised, "Oh and there was also this girl. I think her name is…yes…Maria. Her name is Maria."

"Oh-" Klaus gave a light chuckle, "Seems you were out hunting 'fishes.'

"It seems you haven't forgotten some things after all."

Xavier shook his head with a wry smile, he then let out a light chuckle.

"Out of all things, that would probably be the last thing I could possibly forget."

He gave a light melancholic sigh, "I can still vividly remember those days when you taught me the tricks and various ways to sweet talk a girl, get close to her, and then win over her heart.

"Even to the extent whereby we were on a hunting trip, in hmm Selinsita, I think- whilst hunting a demon. Then you played the villain, whilst I played the hero to win that girl's heart."

Klaus's brows got slightly narrowed before they suddenly brightened up, "Oh, that's true. What's even her name." He paused for a second, one of his hands on the steering wheel whilst the other rubbed against his temples, "Don't remind me, don't. I will definitely remember." I will. He added inwardly, a light smile creeping up his face.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Xavier simply shook his head before chuckling lightly.

Remember, it would probably take you an eternity to remember about a random chick. Xavier lampooned inwardly.

"Yes yes…I finally remember." Klaus muttered, a light smile slowly settling on his face.

"Yeah, you do." Xavier, who obviously didn't take Klaus's words to heart, replied.

"Her name is Jessica. Yeah, that's her name," Klaus replied with a nod.

Um…interesting. Xavier's brows got slightly raised, surprised that his brother could remember the name of a random chick, especially one that wasn't dated by him. Truly fascinating...

"What's with that look?" Klaus questioned, a few seconds after realizing that Xavier was still staring at him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Nothing really," Xavier replied nonchalantly, "Just surprised by how you could remember the name of a random chick."

Oh that- Klaus let out a light chuckle, "How could I forget her name when I made it a mission to hook up with the hot elder chick?"

Um- Xavier's brows got slightly raised, "You mean you hooked up with Melissa."

"Yeah," Klaus nods his head in reply; the car suddenly made a sharp drift, barely scraping past two cars before entering into another street. Rays of light from the crimson moon reflecting onto the various surrounding buildings.

"But I didn't notice anything weird between you guys," Xavier muttered with a slightly narrowed gaze.

Klaus let out a dry, hoarse cough, "The elders have their ways."

"Oh-okay," Xavier replied nonchalantly. To be honest. Talking about some hot chicks was just a balm to get his mind of Ife. Yet the more he tried to cloud the thoughts and memories he has for her. The worse the grip it had on him became.

It was almost as though he was being dragged into a bottomless abyss with no way out.

Yet he knew thinking about her wouldn't help him in anyway. If nothing, it would only affect his state of mind and his longing for her might badly affect his psychology.

He could only let out a deep exhalation, removing the thoughts away from his mind.

I just have to try my best. Hopefully, I find a way to get back.

Unconsciously, even unknown to him, his hand was tightly clenched whilst his eyes blazed with weird illusory flames akin to tempo's and rythms' of love and confidence.

The car rolled to a stop in front of the Pontchartrain Hotel, the crimson moon casting illusory shadows over the building.

Its once grabs façade was worn and slowly fading, ivy crawling up its sides akin to willow branches holding onto their only thread of surviving.

The sign that read- Pontchartrain Hotel flickered faintly, casting dark-green eerie glow over the shattered pavement.

This place...must have seen better days. Xavier thought, a sharp exhalation following forth.

Being from the 3000's, seeing such a bad...ruined architectural building slightly irked him in some invisible ways that he couldn't really place his hands on.

But slowly, he didn't need to be disgusted for a long time as the memories came flooding in, akin to crimson blood erupting forth from a severed neck.

"Oh, the Pontchartrain hotel-," Xavier mutters, before he added with a light chuckle. "Guessed as much."

"Yeah," Klaus nods, a light smile on his face, "Not only is the price affordable. If I recall correctly, it's known for its old-world charm with hmm wasn't it a distinctive southern hospitality."

Xavier had a wry smile slowly creeping up his face, "I am more willing to believe that you came here because of the free food."

Klaus, who had been caught in the act, could only awkwardly scratch his hair, before letting out a dry cough.

Xavier's chest tightened as they crossed the threshold of the hotel. Memories of the spirit's twisted grin followed him. His brother filled in the silence and dread that had gripped onto him, b-ut Xavier couldn't shake the feeling that something darker lingered just behind them- something they had yet to ever come across.

"You okay?" Klaus asked, eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief, but the slight tremor in his voice told a different story.

"Yeah," Xavier lied with a forced smile.

Shifting his gaze away from his brother.

Xavier didn't bother with Klaus anymore. He alighted from the car, the same could be said for Klaus, who alighted, locked the car, and then proceeded to follow Xavier.

Xavier pushed the door open before they both stepped into the hotel. They slowly walked towards the female receptionist who greeted them.

"Good evening sirs. How may I help you?"

Klaus assessed the last before him. She had long dark hair and a voluptuous chest, and he could even faintly see the outline of her backside, which caused him to involuntarily take in a light gulp of saliva.

Wow… Clearly startled, he slowly regained his calmness before he spoke in a hushed tone, "Xavier, this chick is hot."

He emphasized on the hot, causing Xavier to roll his eyes. His mouth slightly twitched, "Yeah… Tell me more about it."

Klaus didn't seem to have any intention of answering his brother. His eyes were still glued on the lady. But of course as an experienced chick hunter. He didn't make it too obvious.

He still had his stoic expression adorning his face in its full glory!

Xavier shook his head, "Hi. I am Detective Hollerein, and this here is my partner, Detective Zander.

"We would like to lodge into a room for the night."

"Oh-Okay sir." The receptionist, who was clearly confused as to why they had taken some time to talk in a hushed tone, was startled for a second before she regained her calmness.

After she finished attending to them, Klaus gave her a slight wink, which she simply forced a smile to. As shameless and flirtatious as he is, one has to say.

Klaus is indeed quite handsome. With a smooth jade like skin and a noble aura to boast of. Most girls would stop at nothing to get him.

A few minutes easily clocked by. Within a dimly lit room, with the rays of the moon seeping in through the opened window. Klaus collapsed onto one of the two beds, before letting out a sharp exhalation.

WHEEEW!!! After spending from the hard stolen, I mean hard-earned money. I should at least enjoy myself and have some moments of respite. Who knows when I will go on a hunting trip and never live to see the next day. Klaus sighed inwardly, forcing a light smirk to creep up his face.

Xavier removed his shoes whilst sitting on the second bed on Klaus's left.

"All right. I guess we should have some rest." He paused for a second, his gaze shifting toward the laying Klaus before he added, "First thing tomorrow morning, we have to

track down the shape-shifter."

Klaus's brows got slightly raised, his mouth twitching slightly.

"And how do you intend to do that."

Xavier finally removed his shoes before his eyes once again shifted towards his brother.

"Probably check a CCTV camera close to the incident location."

He paused for a second, organizing his thoughts before he added.

"Perhaps if we're lucky enough, we might even be able to find its hiding spot."

Um- "Well that sounds like a good idea." Klaus nods his head in acknowledgement.

"Goodnight Xavier," Klaus muttered with a light smile settling on his face.

"Goodnight bro," Xavier replies, a light smile slowly crept up his face before he also laid on his bed to have a few moment of respite.

Within the blink of an eye, both brothers slowly zoomed into the dreamland, the dark hollow grin still reflecting within the depths of Xavier's pupils, refusing to fade away even after he had entered into the peripheries and safety of the land of dreams: a realm where dreams thrive and the illusory becomes reality.