“I owe my life to you, Red Hood,” Reginus continued her open message to me, her ghostly face full of believable sincerity, the edges of her extremely thick eyeliners threatening to streak as tears rolled down her cheeks. She was so overcome with emotions she choked on her words. “And tha-that’s why I be-believe with all my heart…that you’re not evil. No…no…no…You’re different. I also believe…I know…our meeting was fated by the Mother Co—"
I paused the video and rolled my eyes. “Wow, the drama.”
A small group of people, about seven of them, crowded around Reginus to fit in the frame of the camera. The SVS pins they wore on their chests told me they were members of whatchamacallit? Oh yeah, the Silent Vigil Society.
They surprisingly looked ordinary, just wearing regular-people clothes ranging from a department store suit and tie, to a faded sweater, to the black leather getup of Reginus—okay, hers wasn’t so common, but not that weird as it was just her goth-inclined fashion sense. Still, they were very much unlike the image I had in mind of hooded figures practicing occultism and making blood ritual sacrifices deep in a cave. The small signs they weren’t so normal were the mystical trinkets, earrings and amulets they wore; add in the occasional tattoo of some enigmatic symbol.
And the candles. Can’t forget about those.
Each one of them, except Reginus who was operating the camera, held a small glass with a candle inside. It was like those thingies commonly used in memorials or prayer gatherings, and sometimes in night-time protests too. I think those were called vigil candles?
“Oh! Because they’re the Silent Vigil Society,” I said with a snap of my fingers. Very nice commitment to branding, props to them.
And where were they holding this mini vigil? I tapped the forward button a few times to check more of their surroundings as Reginus shifted along with the camera while giving her speech. They seemed to be in a small empty lot, covered by the shadows of old brick buildings to their sides, the only light coming from the camera and the candles.
Forward a couple more minutes and Reginus stood up, again changing the angle of the camera. The people behind her parted a bit, allowing me to spot a tall blocky building with a green logo towering over the silhouette of the squat shops across the road—EFU Medical Center. If I was more familiar with the layout of La Esperanza, I could’ve pinpointed where they were, but they were certainly a comfortable five-minute or so drive to the hospital where Julie was staying—five minutes if there was no traffic.
And no protests.
Were they going to join the protests after whatever this is they were doing in the dark?
I returned to the beginning of the video to listen to Reginus’ message.
After explaining it was destiny she met me, she narrated how I saved her, a very action-packed and embellished tale that would be amazing if made into a movie.
Too bad all of it was a lie.
I didn’t save her at all. I did crash into her store, but I didn’t pay her any mind and immediately went out. As for the snake mutant, my best buddy went nowhere near her. Instead, she was the one who chased us to get a video.
I smiled. If it was fun to take credit for the work of others, it was even better to take credit for something that didn’t happen but everyone else believed did. There was no one who could call her out on her lie unless the BID released the security camera footage of what happened inside Serenade Bazaar to the public. But why would they? They had a lot on their plate than to bother with a seemingly crackpot group of conspiracy theorists, a very small group at that.
On the other hand, Reginus did have the video of my fight with my snake mutant buddy which I suspected would give a lot of credibility to her lie. And just the fact she was brave enough to follow us—or stupid, depending on how one viewed it—meant people were more likely to believe her, equating bravery, or heroism if really pushing it, with trustworthiness.
I scrolled through the comments below the video and confirmed my hunch. Majority of the people watching it did buy her story that I saved her. Along with the actual video of me killing the snake mutant, they were also beginning to believe there were good Adumbrae.
I mean, I wouldn’t call myself good…per se…
“The SVS rejects the lies peddled by these supposed experts,” Reginus burst out, her comrades aggressively nodding their heads. “There is a way to cure those infected by Adumbrae. It’s out there, people! They say that there isn’t, but...We. Should. Not. Give. Up. No matter how slim the chance, we should try to save everyone infected, and not outright execute them. That’s what it means to be human…being part of humanity. We don’t abandon others.”
“Surprisingly noble,” I muttered. Whatever was going through in her head, she probably had good intentions. Or she just wanted to scam people. Hard to differentiate between those two at a glance.
“The SVS will not rest until we find the cure!” She shook her fist at the camera. “To start our research on the cure, the SVS is looking for Adumbrae who can help us. Adumbrae…no…humans. The SVS have known for years there are humans who successfully fought back the Adumbrae within them. To find the cure, we have to find them.”
I raised my brow at that. I was already about to close the video and go to sleep, but what was this about? Just a conspiracy theory or did they actually have information about those people? Bianca was also sure there existed a group who mastered their Adumbrae powers without losing their human minds.
Did Reginus know about them too?
I kind of want to meet them.
“And the key,” Reginus said, “is Red Hood.”
“Okaaay,” I sigh. Disappointing. Turned out, they didn’t know anything about the group Bianca was looking for. And what was up with calling me ‘Red Hood?’ I preferred the name Deen gave me. ‘Blanchette’ sounded so much better, ‘Red Hood’ felt like a cartoon character.
“Many people will not believe this,” she empathically said, “but we have proof. Others may call us crazy, but they’re the ones who don’t want to open their eyes to the truth. The authorities are harassing me, making me go through tests—”
Harassing? Or the police simply wanted to test her because she was there at the Serenade Bazaar during an Adumbrae incident? You and me both then.
“—they will not silence us! We are exercising our right to free speech to inform the world that the cure is out there!”
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
I muted the video as Reginus continued to rant. I was on the verge of getting excited that I could find a way to look for the group of Adumbrae Bianca wanted to meet. If I wanted to enjoy my powers while stopping SpookyErind from taking over my body, then those people seemed to be my best bet.
Or the 2Ms, when I came to think about it. But I seriously doubted if they would want to help me out.
Dario’s group might be the best choice if I was looking for a cure. They already have the Suppressor; in a few years, perhaps they might find a permanent solution.
I stared at Reginus’ face while pondering the question: Do I want to be cured?
I turned the laptop off and went to bed.
I’ll answer that next time.
----------------------------------------
“Hi, guys! What are you watching?” Deen asked the hero-wannabe-group crowding around Reo’s phone.
“Hello, everyone.” I meekly waved at them.
We just arrived at Tulip’s Nook, going through the restaurant and exiting to the patio at the back where were going to hold our meeting. This place probably a couple of levels above Cindy’s, a bit fancier family place—they even had a pergola entwined with vines over the al fresco dining area—but also still had a bit of a fast-foody side. I bet they chose this venue in consideration of Deen. And also because there were no other customers here at this hour.
“We’re watching a live news of EFU Medical Center,” Everett explained. “They were releasing patients with minor injuries since there’s no reason to hold them anymore after they passed testing.”
“Just need to return for more testing,” I grumbled.
“There, there,” Deen said, patting my back. “Yours is not for six months. Anyway, Julie is not released yet, is she?”
“Nope, still there. Johann checked this morning.”
“This shit is insane,” Reo exclaimed. He turned up his phone’s volume and showed us what they were watching.
A blockade was setup in front of the hospital manned by the National Guard. Beyond the hospital gates, the concrete barriers, the steel fences wrapped in barbed wires, throngs of protesters were trying to push through. They had multiplied severalfold from the last time I saw them on TV at the police station. Riot vehicles pushed them back with powerful water guns.
It was like those zombie apocalypse movies that were all the fad about five years ago, except this one was crazier. Normal humans behaving like a zombie horde looked more disturbing than actual zombies.
Officer H-Something, you were really, really right. This city is going nuts.
Deen gasped, covering her mouth in shock. “They’re releasing the patients to that?”
“No, no, they’re not that dumb,” said Reo. “They stopped what they were doing when the protesters came…attacked. Some head honcho guy was interviewed, and he said they’re going to freaking fly the patients out of the place instead. A helicopter to a secret location or somewhere. The hell is that plan?”
“What do you suggest they do then?” Everett gestured at the phone showing the riots. “They can’t push away the people there without violence. The BID spokesperson just said they didn’t want to escalate the situation for fear of another seeding outbreak."
I nodded. Officer Herbert or Homer also mentioned something about the psyche of the people of this city.
Myra sighed, shaking her head in disappointment at the human race. “Or they could just keep them there. That’s what they’re already doing with the hospital staff.”
“They’re staying at the hospital?” Deen said.
“Yeah, they’re holed up there,” Reo confirmed. “Several incidents of getting attacked going home. These fucking people are insane for going after the nurses and doctors.”
“And now, the hospital is besieged,” Everett added.
“Poor them,” said Deen. “The patients and the staff. I-I can’t believe this is happening.”
“There was even this guy,” Reo said, “one of the patients supposed to be released today, who got so angry with the protesters that he rushed out and stabbed himself with a ballpen.”
Fascinating how people are behaving. “Didn’t that happen before?” I asked, recalling I saw a similar incident on live TV when I was still in undergrad. “I think an NBA player? Um, who was it again?”
“Ah, I remember that! Big Nate Marshalls. Guy so good he singlehandedly carried his team to snag the rings. There was a buttload of accusations he was an Adumbrae because of his godlike skills, so he stabbed himself after winning the championships to show he was a normal human.”
“Oh, I do hope people won’t harass me," I said. "I got my certificates and all. But that NBA player was also tested and even held several press conferences to show his certificates but people still didn’t believe him.”
Deen hugged me. “Don’t you worry about that,” she said soothingly. “We’ll protect you from those crazy people.”
“In times like this,” Everett said, “people can’t help but accuse each other of being an Adumbrae.” He bowed his head with a somber expression on his face. Everyone else quieted down too.
What was up—? Oh, I remember. His grandparents were killed in the Labor Day Purge. I bet his family was hounded by accusations of being Adumbrae for a long time, maybe even up to this day. I think that was enough for that topic. “By the way, where’s Dario and Johann?”
“They said they’re going to be late a bit,” Everett said, checking his phone. “Some problems at city hall—oh wait, they’re here.” He stood up and looked through the glass doors of the restaurant.
“Dario! Johann!” Reo called, waving his arms at them so they could see him.
“What were they doing at city hall?” I asked Myra just for fun.
She hesitated for a second, but decided to answer me, although she didn’t face me. “They were looking for the plans of the hospital.”
“I see. Thank you,” I said, trying to hold my laughter.
“Hey, guys,” Dario said. “Looks like we’re complete. Sorry for the delay.”
“It took me some time to get the blueprints for EFUMC.” Johann spread a couple rolls of paper on the table. “I got these ones easily enough. I’ve done this before for a couple of missions,” he explained me and Deen. “The problem is that these are old ones, back from the time the McHunters—one of their foundations, to be exact—was still operating the place.”
“The McHunters also own the hospital?” I said. They might’ve been pretty powerful in this city back then.
“Yes, but the government expropriated it after…you know. There have been many renovations since then, and floors were also added to the main building where Julie is. I couldn’t find copies of the new plans. They’re digitized and I can’t hack the system to find them. Uh, not to brag, but I probably can…I just don’t have the time.”
“What’s the big deal, man?” Reo said. “It’s just a hospital. Not like we’re breaking into Fort Knox or the White House.”
“With the guards around the hospital,” Dario said, “it’s quite a secure place at the moment.”
“Oh, right, those fucking protesters. But what’s the rush? Yeah, we need to get to Julie as soon as possible, but we could just wait for Johann to get the new plans then. So far, Julie hasn’t spilled the beans or else Erind would’ve already been arrested.”
“We need to get to Julie tonight.”
“Tonight?”
Dario held up two fingers. “Two reasons. Firstly, a memorial is going to be held for the people who died. The protesters, most of them, will certainly go there to stir things up. Which means, the attention of the police and the National Guard will be shifted there too.
“Secondly, the leader of the protesters made an ultimatum to the mayor that unless he transfers the casualties of the Adumbrae attacks out of the city, they’ll storm the hospital within two days. We have no choice. We have to go tonight.”