“Something wrong? You haven’t touched your coffee at all. Here I thought you made the most of your breaks?” A fellow coworker was curious on the sudden change of personality from a usually levelheaded, low energy kind of guy who loves his breaks.

Ray swished around the coffee as he rested in the staff only area for his usual break along with one of his coworkers at his part time job.

“No answer? Come on, now I’m curious! What happened? Was it at college? Too many assignments again? Or is it… about your friend..?” Their eyes lit up in the hopes that it was the last one.

“Tch- What nonsense are you spouting, Gabbie?” It was very clear he didn’t want to say anything further.

“Fine! Don’t tell me, but you’ll eventually come running back to me since all the other workers are old geezers. Sometimes I wonder how they run such a modern gaming café...”

He didn’t bat an eye but knew she wasn’t lying about having no one else to talk to, although in his defence, he’s a better listener than a talker.

“That security footage we accessed… was there something I missed? He wanted the footage from the 5th, last Wednesday, I think. But once we got it he shoved me aside to keep watch, while he took photos of the monitor screen. Did something happen on the 5th in the forest for him to go looking for?”

Ray found himself too deep into the mystery of figuring out what the monitor had to show.

“Even the Harts are involved… what the hell is that dumbass thinking?”

He took out his phone and looked up the popular news websites for any information of their city.

“None. Of course, what could this place even have for it to ever be mentioned on news articles? Maybe I should just check the local news...”

While engrossed in his phone and neglecting his work like usual, he finds himself bombarded with various menial issues that did not connect the dots.

At the Hart residence, a figure with a pet carrier rings the doorbell. It was answered but behind him.

The twins bolted infuriated from behind as they noticed him near the front door porch.

“YOU!” Dylan voice went a few decibels lower.

“Okay, I can explain…!” Will put his hands forward in a manner of defence.

“How about we take this inside?” There was an unsettling tone emanating from Demi even though she spoke in her most composed voice.

Inside the house, they took a seat in the living room. William found himself to be seated right in front of the twins, whom at this point were internally set ablaze.

“I’m sorry.” William muttered while Angus was sound asleep on his lap.

“For what exactly?” Dylan questioned.

“Oh, you know, for hanging up during your report… I had my reasons!”

“Well, whatever it was, certainly wasn’t as crazy as ours…” Demi melted in her chair covering her face.

“Your reactions over the phone definitely proved it well enough— even from all the nonsensical screaming— I was able to make some sense of it.”

“We saw the person behind the impersonation…

Turns out they were what we least expected.”

“Mortals…so unpredictable all the time…”

There was a sinister curiosity behind that sentence, it seems Forsyth was very familiar with the ways of humans, partly because she was also once a living, breathing human too—but she hardly recalls those days of her life.

“Those two really are unique aren’t they?” She gently glides her fingers through her familiar’s silky coat. Fittingly it was as menacing as her. A great silver wolf, with ears that flop aimlessly but once the hunt begins they are swift and steady, and accompanied by a long snout bearing pearly sharp fangs.

“How about I pay them another visit? They seemed to like me. I also have to figure out how they can even sense vessels, they might come in handy I suppose..”

“Hm?… Yes, I’m aware. But who says I have to listen to whatever Arthur says? She’s just on top of her head since I’ve lost my vessel and a majority of my abilities are now gone. She couldn’t even lay a finger on me even if she dared..!” She was pleased at herself.

“But stumbling onto the vessel’s owner was unexpected to say the least. Mostly accounting to the fact that he was… mortal… I could fetch some old tricks I used to do. This could most definitely result in something detrimental, I must solve this issue.”

“…Wolf, I do not care of your opinion. Now, move aside, I’ll be gone for quite a bit, don’t wait for me..”

She arose from her seat while her familiar stood obediently beside her observing its owner. She takes off her hat and with a full swing of her arms, the vessel that resembled Will falls to the ground disheveled and disfigured. It appears it is no more useful nor a cause for concern. It soon withered and disintegrated to nothingness.

Back in the Hart residence, the three found themselves in a heated discussion.

“They are magical beings, who are undead and also capable of manipulating the blank humans. And to be specific, magical as in, weird supernatural gimmicks: Teleporting, levitation and voodoo type magic. Is that right?”

Will found himself short of breath afterward.

“Yes… but voodoo, we aren’t exactly sure of that but it is plausible..!” Dylan claimed.

“You guys went through all that and here I was shocked to see ME walking around in broad daylight. To be honest, I was more scared of Angus running off on the streets alone…”

“Well, us going through all that still didn’t help us with the problem at hand… Also, I still feel nauseous about them doing weird stuff to me, like how did I wake up after fainting..!”

Dylan was still hung up on the details Demi threw out about how he had woken up after Forsyth’s touch.

“I don’t know, man! She just went and pushed your forehead forcefully and you woke up immediately after!” Demi tried to calm his nerves but ended up panicking more than him.

“Okay, guys, chill…! Calm down and take deep breathes…” Will stepped up as the oldest in the room and tried to ease the tension.

“So, the blank human issue still hasn’t eased and we also cannot assume that there’s only one running amok. I don’t know if it is a good thing that this Forsyth lady has taken my blank human captive but it still doesn’t prove anything about it being sentient just yet. Since we have yet to pursue any other blank humans, we cannot guarantee that they will become sentient just yet…”

He took out a notebook that the twins had yet to see. In the book, he wrote down all the theories and information about those blanks. In one of the paragraphs about their pattern of growth, he proceeded to strike out “Become sentient after development.”and drew question marks instead.

“When did you write all this..?” The twins looked over at the notebook.

“You guys can fill it up with information on those undead folks as well.”

He handed it over in the hopes they would keep it safe and record their findings from here on out. And just as the twins gathered their heads to the tiny book on the coffee table, the cat joined them as well after its well rested nap.

“Anggy, you wanna see too?” Dylan grabbed its tiny body out of the way.

“It’s quite detailed, impressive..!”

“…”

“HUH?!”

The entire room shook from their screams. Their eyes widened and their jaws dropped on seeing the critter…. talk.

“Wha…what..?” William was fumbling for words.

Dylan who was holding onto the cat let go instantly.

The cat without a word jumped on the table in the centre of the commotion.

“Please tell me I’m hallucinating.” Dylan spoke in absolute dismay.

“This is very real, little one..”

“L-Little… one..?” Demi, who was stuck to the wall, gasped audibly on making the connection. “You’re… Forsyth..!”

“FORSYTH?!” Dylan screamed in disbelief, praying it wasn’t true.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

“What the hell did you do to Angus?!” Demi pulled out an umbrella which happened to be the closest thing nearby and pointed it straight at the cat.

“Angus? What a silly name for a pet..! But I do wonder what happened to it.”

“What do you mean..?” William sounded from behind.

“I don’t know? If I can take over bodies, they shouldn’t have a soul to begin with, only then can I take full possession of it.”

The room went silent, but Will quickly understood what she meant and was not pleased.

He gritted his teeth but couldn’t contain his fury.

“WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!” William seemed to have lost it.

The twins turned in fear, not at Forsyth, but at Will.

“My, quite the temper for someone so calm.

I merely jest, the cat’s perfectly alright. I never said I took full possession of it.”

“So, he’s still okay..?” Dylan sounded quietly still not recovering from what just happened.

“Mm-hm…”

“Oh, thank god..!” Demi let out one last time before she sunk to the carpet clenching onto the umbrella.

“Ugh… my heart..!” Dylan placed his hand on his chest as he also sank defeated.

William also calmed down and collapsed on the sofa without a word.

“So? Why are you here?” Demi boldly started the interrogation.

“It seemed like our previous interaction was interrupted very rudely, but there’s no such disturbances here so let’s pick up where we left off…”

The cat is generally grumpy looking on any given day but adding the sinister looks of Forsyth, the cat seemed ready to become the villain of this story.

“Just to set the record straight, you didn’t actually plan of killing us right?” Dylan gulped in anticipation.

“If it is the truth you seek, then yes, I did try to put you into harms way, before I fully understood that you were but mere mortals…”

“Hup-” Dylan gasped.

“Since I know now that you are mortals, fret not, I cannot harm you even if I tried.”

“How can we trust that you won’t harm us?” Demi asserted.

“Without a vessel, you can’t feel my presence, unless you happen to stumble across my fort, like you nosy imps did some time ago. That is also why you were able to see my true form earlier today.”

They still weren’t convinced but there was a light that showed a path for a civil conversation.

“Yet, what I find more astounding is how you two managed to enter my fort… an explanation is due.”

The twins looked at each other both had no clue, all they remember is running around like headless chickens that evening.

“No idea.” Demi shrugged.

“Yeah, we just ended up there somehow.” Dylan added.

“About that construct we met previously in… why were you there?”

“…you mean, our school..?” Dylan was confused by the way she said it.

“School? So that’s what it was…”

“But why were you there?” Dylan interrupted.

“I presume you are already aware of the vessels right? The reason I was present there was because of unnaturally high levels of energy radiating from beneath that school. And the same energy is what strengthens a vessel.”

“Does that mean there are more blanks somewhere under the school?” William jumped up from the sofa.

“But since my abilities are at the lowest yet, I cannot sense the exact position instead I feel it radiating from all directions.”

“So..? What do you want us to do about it?” It was about time a negotiation began and William was ready to hear the stakes.

“Since my true vessel is unavailable at the moment, I need alternatives. But the negotiation doesn’t end there, you will also be benefited by disposing the remnant vessels and also not having to face the uncertainties that will come about you if we let these pests run amok.”

“This sounds… sketchy.” Dylan whispered to William.

“Well, I’ve placed the offer, make use of it if you please or don’t… Although, I’ll be perfectly honest and sincere and tell you that you won’t survive if the onslaught begins… Unless, you assist me in finding a vessel. Once you have understood the dire need, you’ll come rushing back to my side. Whatever it is, you know where to find me..!”

The cat fell back into its slumber, snoozing away without a care in the world while tossing in its sleep.

The three looked at each other with concern all over their faces. Just accepting the deal is easier said than done. They do not know of the dangers they are yet to face. But the foreboding voice they just heard drew them to madness. A decision and a choice that may or may not change their future awaited them. One could only hope, danger doesn’t befall any of them.

“Are we really going to ally with the enemy?” Dylan muttered.

“Making allies with the enemy to root out a common one..” Demi looked up.

“This ‘onslaught’ she mentioned… what could it be? Does she know the future or has this happened before…?” William turned his head away in deep thought.

Demi glanced at William— maybe it was his determination to solve a mystery or the pressure of being the oldest of the bunch— his face was filled with worry. His furrowed eyebrows and frowning lips were clear testimony of his predicament. She felt that they had to step up and also take some responsibility off his shoulders and burden him less with the task of navigating out of this chaos. The notebook fluttered it’s pages and showed his hard work overnight. It was time they produced some strategies as well.

She reached for the notebook and a pencil.

“New Objective: Find the Blanks!”

Dylan watched as she scribbled the title and immediately gave her a reaction of rejection.

“Come on, wasn’t our first objective to seek the blanks anyway?” She reasoned.

“I guess, you are not wrong there… But do you really think we can confront it on our own?”

“No… how about we try to locate it first? I mean it’s somewhere near the school, so we would find more promising results there.”

“Hmm… And it can also be captured on camera, that significantly increases our chances!” Dylan looked up with optimism.

“Guys…

How about you sit this one out? You’ve done enough and I don’t want to...” William was troubled to see them go through so much on their own when it was his own greed to find out the meaning behind this mystery.

“You don’t want to see us get hurt? Yeah, we know. But it was our deal remember, if we went in the forest and you bring us the proof we agreed we’d be on board as well. I don’t want to go back on our word maybe Dylan would but I want to get involved..!”

“Dude, what? I don’t plan on backing out either! I’m sticking with you guys too!”

“Good answer! I wanted that confirmation out of your mouth, you seemed to have been the most afflicted out of all of us. Anyway, don’t faint any time soon, okay?”

“Jeez! It happened once, ONCE! Possibly in my entire life, so don’t hold it against me!”

“Still…” William still wasn’t convinced.

“It will be fine..! As long as we have each other’s backs and face it together...” Dylan spoke with his newfound resolve.

“I didn’t know you were capable of such cringe...” Demi said whilst side-eyeing him.

“Please, shut up.”

William finally let out a soft chuckle while covering his mouth. The two noticed that the tension had finally eased and eagerly awaited his answer.

“Well, with your constant bickering, I guess I have no choice but to tag along so this mission of ours can actually see the light of day.”

He rose with great strength and clasped his palms, “There! You’ve convinced me, shall we decide when we will do this?” He shifted glances at the two excited faces in front of him.

The two triumphed on seeing him back with his usual spark and charm.

“Hell yeah!” They sounded with determination.