“Are you sure you want to take this case, Merik?”

Mr. Jackman was giving thorough explanation over the situation and his relationship with his family – needless to say, his face looked awful. Merik glanced at the man and replied to his superior.

“Yeah, I want to show her the ropes and she cannot be picky with the cases. Besides, who else is available right now for such emergency.”

“I understand that. But if what they said is true, I believe this is really dangerous – it might be like biting more than she can chew since she’s a newbie and all.”

“Don’t worry. I will be accompanying her and as much as I’d like to deny it, I am one of the most capable around here and even if the rookie by any chance, screwed up, I’ll be there to fix it.”

“I also meant that if you were to screw up, there will be no backups for you.”

“I know.”

“Suit yourself, then. Just take care of her.”

“Hey, I’m right here too, you know.”

Cora pouted, listening to the two men discussing her own matter, right in front of her!

She knew that she was a rookie here but they didn’t need to underestimate her that much. She was the top officer at her own district, too!

Still, she was excited and slightly anxious at the thought of doing an actual case, and looking at the expressions of her colleagues, she knew that it was not an ordinary one.

Looking at the man in black, she was, at least, reassured. She knew that the aloof and sadistic guy was in fact, reliable and he was quite popular with his efficiencies as well.

Merik gazed at her.

“Or I could just leave her in front of the monster. She would learn so much by then.”

Seeing Landon didn’t correct Merik, Cora couldn’t help but getting second thoughts, though.

_____________________________________________________________________

It was a simple moonlit night. Without its counterparts to imitate its glows, the moon was shining selfishly all over the city and perhaps, the entire existence. It would be enjoyable to doze off under the said moonlight, least to say. Instead, he had to take on the case of this monstrosity while he should be sleeping at home!

Carrying the lantern in his left hand, he softly held his beloved revolver in his right hand, rubbing the handle to ease up the anxiety.

The experienced Merik was feeling a bit anxious, then how much Cora could be feeling?

He glanced at his little junior and saw that her eyes were glistening with such fiery determination with caution written all over her face.

Maybe he didn’t need to worry, huh.

“What do you think about Jackman?”

“What do you mean what do I think about Mr. Jackman?”

Merik stared at her while not slowing down his pace, without saying anything further. Cora contemplated for a while and started giving her deductions.

“I think he’s hiding something. No. I know so.”

“Obviously. Tell me more.”

“I was listening to him talk and he said that he had good relationship with his family members but some facts are not adding up. For example, he said they just came back from a small trip. It’s a beach town. But then, he said that his wife had mental problems in the past and he had to separate the children from her for a while and guess what, they were on a trip a week before! How can you separate them while you’re on a trip? Even if it makes sense, thinking from some angles but I just couldn’t shake off this... weird feeling in my chest.”

“Which is?”

“He never said or showed that he loved his family.”

Merik thought for a bit.

“He could be the kind of guy that doesn’t show his love or affection in public or in front of strangers.”

“Could be but my instinct tells me exactly that. Let’s just say it’s a woman intuition. And it is very powerful, I’ll let you know.”

Merik slightly chuckled.

“Also, he seems nervous rather than worried when asked about his family. I mean his whole family is in danger, unknown we could even save them or not, but he seemed so...”

“Annoyed?”

“Ah, yeah. What a weird feeling for a man whose family is in grave danger if you ask me. And, oh, not properly telling them about that well, too. I mean if you have such a dangerous well in your backyard, you’d at least make some barriers around it, don’t you think?”

Merik smiled, acknowledging his little junior. She knew the basics at least, after all.

“Here, carry this.”

“Uh, wait. This could only be carried by senior officers, right? I am not authorized to carry this lantern. I’m afraid the Head-Captain will scold me.”

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Don’t worry. There is no Head-Captain here to scold you and only, I’m here. And I want you to carry it because I believe in you. I trust you.”

Cora was slightly blushed and felt a grain of satisfaction in her heart. She willingly took the lantern and held it.

It was... surprisingly heavy?

Surely, she could carry it because she was a trained professional, as well but carrying this for long could take a toll on her hand and arm.

She stole a glance at Merik and saw that he was smirking slightly. She took a moment before realization kicked in and Cora was furious.

“You... you are kind of a jerk, huh. Merik. Saying unnecessary bullshits about trusting and believing me but you just didn’t want to hold this right? YOU... YOU...YOU AS..”

Merik laughed.

“Hey, no cursing at your senior officer as it can be punishable by lowering your monthly wagers. For the first time offenders, of course. For second and third, you will have to pay fine while getting your allowance subtracted and fourth and more, you can get kicked out of the organization, itself. What if Landon hears you. You wouldn’t want the first-time offense to be on the day of your first case, would you, young lady?”

Carrying the heavy, faintly glowing, azure lantern was a furious young lady and besides her was a young man in all black with the exception of his crimson eyes.

Merik eased up, glancing at the slightly blushed face of Cora under the moonlight.

“I mean you just have to do it, don’t you? You and your own facade of a gentlemanly manner. No way you will get a girl...”

“Shhh, we’re here.”

Cora abruptly stopped complaining and the seriousness once appeared on her face like a firm scripture.

It was a small neighborhood on a small hill with steady stairs that led to higher planes.

This seemingly once populated suburb area was now abandoned due to the horror occurring. Relocating the mundane people to safety wasn’t the job for senior officers of Overseers like Merik but for people like Lenny.

That’s why they could only set out at night despite hearing the news in the noon. Due to limited resources, manpower and even including their secretive nature, they could not complain the cruel situations of the Overseers.

Still, they just had to make do. It was already a miracle with everyone getting out unscathed.

Merik was now staring at one of the houses and Cora followed his line of sight. At first, she couldn’t see anything even if she squinted her eyes hard, but after a while, her eyes adjusted to the pale moonlight and saw a silhouette.

A silhouette of a woman.

She could barely see the woman through the greyish mists covering the entire small hill.

“I think that is the woman we have to rescue. Or take down? But wait, where did these mists come from?”

Cora glanced at her senior’s face while being visibly confused and she saw that Merik was showing an expression of... shock and fear?

“Merik, what’s wrong?”

Merik kept staring intently at the silhouette before answering in a low and serious voice.

“Cora, you have to leave. You have to leave, right now. Leave. Go back.”

A line of shivers ran through her spine wholly that made her throat dry all of a sudden.

“What do you mean, “leave”. No way I’m going to leave after coming this far or leave you alone. What’s happening, Merik? Tell me, what’s going on?”

Merik couldn’t answer for a while; his tightly knitted brows told her everything she needed to know. Merik himself clearly didn’t know.

Then, Merik looked at her with uneasiness in his usually calm and cold yet reliable eyes. Now they were relentless, he couldn’t even hide it.

“No, Cora. I’m not telling you to run away. I’m telling you to retreat and ask for help because this... I don’t know what this is because I have never faced something like this. But my instincts keep warning me that something bad is going to happen.”

“No, Merik. Even Landon said that there won’t be any backup for us tonight, remember?”

“Yes... I remember. Still, I believe this is too dangerous. So, as your senior, I’m commanding you to go back to the garrison to ask for help. Whosever help it is. Even Davies is fine. Just go get them. The situation is still under control so, I will wait here while covering the perimeter and make sure everything doesn’t turn from bad to worse.”

Clearly, Cora was hesitating. She thought that he was trying to make her go back after carrying the heavy lantern for him to take all the credits for himself like he had presumably always done but she realized underneath the unsavory arrogance, Merik was still a reliable man.

So, she knew the weight of this situation even if she didn’t understand what was going on. And that guy was the one who single handedly defeated the dream monster just a day ago.

These moments of indecisiveness somewhat scared her.

At the same time, this was her first job. The job that she had wanted for the longest of time. To prove to everyone back there. To prove herself. To her dad. That she was enough. That she could handle it.

“Cora, I know what you’re feeling right now. And it’s okay. I don’t want anyone hurting or turning Souless on my hand, that’s all. That’s plenty enough. And the guys from our garrison successfully moved the residents from here already so there’s no one in danger. They're safe. We can take our time with this case. Also, I believe this is the best solution considering this situation.”

Merik put his cold yet firm hands on her shoulder and smiled.

“Don’t worry about me. I’m more cautious than anyone could ever be. I wouldn’t needlessly put myself into danger.”

A slight squeeze on her shoulder. And Merik gently took the lantern from her hand.

“Now, go.”

Teardrops started to fall from her eyes. With heavy steps, she started to go back down the hill.

“Stay safe, Merik.”

Whether or not this was a right choice, it was a tough choice that she definitely had to make, not to jeopardize the whole situation.

She was a professional.

But then.

The moment she got passed Merik, she heard a faint screaming of someone. She looked back at the hill and the rural area under the pale moonlight was no longer visible. The silhouette was long gone, seemingly devoured by this cold and ruthless mist. But the screaming was there, and to prove her delusions, Merik was looking at it, too.

“Was someone still here? I thought all of them were already moved to elsewhere?”

She couldn’t make it clear of the screaming and before she realized it, her feet were slowly carrying herself back to the misty hill. The faints screams were starting to become more and more clear.

“...elp. ...lp.”

The voice was small, barely audible, muffled but worst, helpless.

“Cora, what are you still doing here? I .... to go back..., Cora.... ra...”

“....p, elp... help, help, someone, please...”

If someone was still here, she had to save them. She had to save everyone. No one couldn’t get left behind. She definitely mustn’t let the same thing happen again. Never.

Muffled voices were all over the places and lingering around her senses.

While in an Inescapable daze, she was slowly succumbing to this helpless yearning and screaming of a person or even a child in need.

“Help, please help. Help, please help. Help, please help.”

These screaming intensified with Cora’s every moving step towards the thick greyish mists and furthermore, she could no longer care about the mist nor the eerie feeling that she was getting from all of this.

A person was in serious need and she as a capable person had to save them. Simple as that. What’s more to think about?

I’m sorry, Merik. I have to stay and go forward after all.