Hellen mulled over her words before speaking, “Are you a son of some bigshot within the Bureau? Or an illegitimate son even?”
Lucas and Aiden were both completely taken off guard by the reply. The latter was relieved, it would probably not be a topic to worry over if she had the mood to joke about it. Lucas on the other hand was just surprised, not quite understanding where it came from. He simply denied, prompting Hellen to continue,
“The Bureau isn’t such a nice place trust me. And last I contacted them, not like they would tell me but they also weren’t packed full of supers with nothing to do.”
Lucas was still confused but Aiden already had a look of understanding on his face. Hellen continued,
“I meant that there isn’t such a surplus of supers at the Bureau that they would let one act in society. Especially a newbie who hasn’t even told them about his powers. If anything, they would rather send a trusted member of their own to hold the fort in cities rather than let a newbie roam free. Not only were you allowed to choose what you want to do, the Bureau also allocated their resources, agents, to you. They might not be your personal agents but still, just the fact that they give you information and check if you need any help is far, far from normal practice of the Bureau I know.”
When laid bare in front of him, Lucas finally understood what was happening. Aiden asked,
“Is it a bad thing?”
Hellen answered him with an amused expression on her face.
“The Bureau is treating him good for no reason. Don’t you find it weird? Are you not in the right state of mind to have not thought about how his situation is a bit like you? The specter kept helping you too, didn’t you find the situation strange back then?”
Aiden had a thoughtful look on his face as he nodded. “Yea, my bad. I was too worried about him, and didn't really think in that direction.”
“It’s alright. Happens to the best of us.”
Suddenly though, a thought popped up which he couldn’t help but ask, finding it concerning.
“Hey! Could it be that someone in the Bureau is helping Lucas in order to fulfill the condition of their ability? Just like my specter?”
Lucas kept quiet, he was trying to deal with all the information being thrown out rapidly. He was very much out of tune. Not to mention he preferred being the laid back guy of the group. Following what was decided without putting in too much brain.
“Mm.. wait a minute.”
Hellen got up and headed towards the kitchen to throw the empty can and took out another one from the fridge.
After taking a short sip, she seated herself back on the sofa and put down the can before answering,
“Hmm… So where were we? Yea, there is too less of a probability that someone is using their ability on Lucas. For one, what’s targeting you is a specter, their patterns are completely random and you just happened to be targeted. The people at the Bureau have their own proper conscious thought process over using their abilities. Why would they bother targeting Lucas? A newbie at work? Unless of course if Lucas unknowingly had contact with them, or if his parents had some connection to the Bureau.”
Towards the end, Hellen had turned to Lucas with a questioning look on her face, clearly indicating she was expecting some answers. Lucas was startled when Hellen arrived upon such a conclusion. He tried recollecting everything he knew about the Bureau and if he ever came in contact with them. With hesitation, he answered.
“I am not sure if it was the Bureau but I did meet strange people before I got an ability. It was when —”
Aiden butted in as he asked with curiosity on his face, “Wait, you can get abilities? Can anyone explain how the process goes exactly? I thought abilities are within you and they awaken after you grow up. Something uncontrollable.”
Hellen sighed at Aiden’s question but also understood it was normal for him to be curious especially now that his friend had an ability. She answered him.
“The process isn’t clear, the Bureau never mentioned it to us. Nor do they let the supers tell anyone. All the supers I’ve been in contact with refused to tell me anything about acquisition of their ability. Of course, now that Lucas is here with us, we can ask him about the details if he’s willing.”
Towards the end, she redirected Aiden’s focus to Lucas. The latter was willing to share as soon as he heard Hellen. Without even waiting for them to ask, he agreed to let them know and just listen to him.
He took a big gulp from his can and put it down before he began his story.”
“Yea so, you could say I basically got my ability in a dream. It was completely random. I had the same dreams 5 days in a row and boom, I have an ability as soon as I wake up on the 6th day.”
Lucas knew his story was absurd. But he was completely telling the truth. And looking at both of their faces, they found the story equally as, if not more absurd than him.
His process of getting an ability is completely different from mine! What the fuck? Dreaming to get an ability? Does everyone go through a different process?
Aiden furiously processed the information as it was quite important. It would serve as a basis for future when asked about how he had gotten the ability. He couldn’t just say that he saw a scene of murder and he got the ability right? What if something was wrong with the process? What if that was not how he was supposed to get the ability? He would rather be on the safe side and concoct a different but plausible scenario of how he acquired the ability.
Hellen’s brows furrowed as she found it was largely different from what she had in mind. She further questioned him,
“What were the dreams?”
Stolen story; please report.
Lucas hesitated for a second then frowned.
“I… have lost some memories about the dream. I mean, it’s not uncommon is it? Dreams are one thing which are difficult to remember.”
“No worries, just tell us what you remember.”
“I always used to wake up in some kind of ruins. There were no people around, nothing. I remember even less and less now about what I did there but I did remember fighting some animals. That’s all. I’ve forgotten all the minor details. Sorry.”
He genuinely looked sorry in the end, with a downcast expression. Aiden addressed him, temporarily taking a break from his thoughts.
“Hey, It’s alright. Just the fact that you shared this much is a commendable matter. You can continue with what you were saying earlier though.”
Seeing Lucas’ expression, Aiden reminded him, “The one about how you could possibly have come in contact with the Bureau.”
His eyes lit up as he nodded and resumed his earlier recount of his experience, “During those 5 days I told you about when I was having the same dreams, it happened in that period of time. A few men in suits suddenly surrounded me as I was wandering around on a street. They asked me if something strange was happening around.
“But I remember it wasn’t just me. They asked all the people in that locality. I remember because talks about it continued for quite some time before disappearing. The local police hadn’t interfered back then, and not even the regional head took action. Instead he appeased the public saying it wasn’t anything against them but simple procedures to keep the city safe.”
“You talk as if the public had an outrage. Didn’t they just ask if anything strange was happening around?”
“They did. But they were also forcing themselves into private properties and searching for stuff. You know how it is right? Even a man with nothing to hide wouldn’t take kindly upon strangers checking the property not once but constantly. They didn’t make one round but kept searching around in the same region. Sometimes they even barged into people’s houses at night and conducted a search.”
“That’s quite intense even for the Bureau. They normally don’t work so… openly.” Hellen muttered as she procured a bag of chips from the table in front of them.
It was one of those kinds which had a storage with a glass top. Aiden suspected there was also a mini fridge but aunt Hellen must’ve already finished all the beverages in there, which is why she went to the big refrigerator in the kitchen to take out those cans.
She cut the packet of chips wide open and offered it to them after she took a piece for herself. Leaning back, she said, “They normally would’ve left this work to supers who have powers related to investigation.”
Aiden took an entire handful of chips and leaned back as he countered, “We don’t know if the supers were there or not. Lucas was an ordinary guy that time, remember? He didn’t have connections to the Bureau to ask them what was happening. How would an ordinary person know if supers were involved in the job?
“Not to mention, even if he was subjected to the power of some super who specializes in investigation, he wouldn’t know right? I assume the Bureau wouldn’t leave traces of it right? For all we know, there might indeed be supers helping with the case. But I also doubt if they ever even approached Lucas. Like, they would instantly know his dreams were fishy if they approached him right? I doubt a common man can resist being investigated by the Bureau itself.”
Hellen was already numb to how good Aiden was at analysis. She nodded her head with a thoughtful look and agreed.
“Now that you put it that way, it does make sense.”
Hellen and Aiden both had a look of contemplation on their faces. After a few seconds of silence, Hellen exaggeratedly stretched and said,
“We talked a lot. Let’s deal with the ghost shall we?”
Aiden informed Lucas about ghosts and specters, about what term to think and speak of in what situations, earning quite a reaction from him. Lucas had a look of urgency on his face as he quickly spoke,
“There’s too much we have to catch up about but I wanted to tell you about Evander. I just remembered!”
Aiden and Hellen were surprised but the former reluctantly suppressed his desire and said, “We have really talked a lot, let’s tackle the ghost first.”
Aiden had enough maturity to get the hint. They ought to deal with the problem first outside of doing necessary things, catching up and everything could come later. He was pretty sure Hellen shifted their attention on dealing with the ghost for the same reason. It was her house after all, every extra second it stayed, it was extra work for her to clean up afterwards. Even if he stayed behind to help, the damage was still done. He didn’t like the feeling of owing another person so much.
He approached the bat he was using yesterday and gripped it firmly. He swung it a few times to get the feel, and also imagined a ghost to hit. Picking up another one from the bundle, he tossed it to Lucas who was looking around the house.
Hellen was done checking up on the cameras in the meantime and was in the process of making sure her gun was in working condition.
“Should be easier this time around with an ability to use right?” Aiden softly muttered as they approached the room where the ghost was hiding this time.
“Nope. Abilities must not be used unless necessary. Why would you make Lucas go through the side effects for no reason when the ghost could be dealt with without it just fine?”
“No no no! I can use my abilities if it means it would make the job easier. Don’t worry about the side effects, it’s not that serious. Why take unnecessary risks? I came here exactly to save you from the dangerous ghost.”
Hellen turned around to face him and reprimanded with a serious tone, “Young man, you listen to me when we are dealing with the ghost. I don’t want someone who has never fought against ghosts to give me advice on how to deal with them.”
Aiden silently put a finger on his lips to indicate Lucas to keep quiet. He knew Lucas was just being eager to help but he also knew Hellen wouldn’t be friendly when it was a matter of ghosts. It was literally a matter of life and death.
Quietly walking up the stairs, they approached the room and Hellen once again instructed Aiden to open the door. He wasn’t as scared as last time but he still took a deep breath and calmed himself before opening the door.
“It’s in the closet again.”
Hellen informed. Aiden just nodded to show he heard her and entered the house followed by Hellen, Lucas entered last while holding a baseball bat in one hand, unlike how Aiden held it with both his hands.
Hellen and Lucas stayed in the back, while Aiden approached the closet. As soon as he entered the range when the ghost attacked him last time through the closet, Hellen’s voice rang out.
“It ran away.”
It contained a hint of annoyance, exactly what Aiden was feeling at the moment. Lucas was clueless but kept quiet nonetheless.
With an irritated frown, Hellen thought for a second and said,
“We’ll chase it like yesterday night. If it can still use its ability after a dozen times then we’ll leave. I’d rather go check on other cases of murders in the town than waste time here.”
Aiden nodded, with Lucas still being clueless. For the next few minutes, he simply followed them, running from room to room in the entire house.
Approximately 5 minutes later, Aiden once again laid panting on the carpet as Hellen checked on her work documents and Lucas sat on the sofa munching on fruits. He rejected another help attempt when the ghost tried to give him a towel for all the sweat he produced from chasing it, explaining to Lucas in the process. He updated him with all the information for the next few minutes as Hellen quietly worked away at her laptop. When he was finally done, she finally stood up and said,
“Let’s go, we’ll look through the other scenes of murder today. Also, I’ll get my specialized phone back today from the repair shop. Hope we’ll have more information to work on then.”