"Umm... where am I?"

I strangely woke up today on a totally different bed than usual. The softness and plump sensation on my back is one proof of it. I even felt like sleeping again with this kind of comfortable sensation. It took all my effort just to stand up from the luxurious bed.

I take a look at my surroundings. I seemed to be in some kind of royal room. Beautiful ornaments are everywhere, and the design of the wallpapers made it more amazing. However, I can distinctively smell a scent of some kind of incense outside of the wooden door. I wonder if why?

I took a glance at a massive window on the wall. Bright light is poured from outside to within, indicating that it's already around early noon.

I went towards the window and took a peek-

"I advice not to do so sir."

A sudden voice called to me. I turn to see the source and was baffled.

A dignified, tall, and handsome man is beside the open door. He wears a thick black tail coat, black pants and shiny black leather shoes. On his right hand perfectly balanced Is a set of clothes.

To sum it up, there is an actual butler in here right now in this room.

"We are currently around 6 floors above the ground sir. Any person seeing the height would pale and faint at once. Incidents such as people falling have also happened as well in the past. Hereby, I sincerely advice not to take even a glance below."

I am already sitting on the bed. Rather, the moment he mentioned the term '6 floors above', I leapt backwards and sat on the bed as fast as I could.

I'm not really good at heights you know? Especially with this luck of mine and all.

"Good. Here's a change of clothes for you Sir, let me leave it just on the bed..."

The man smiled and placed the set of clothes on the bed.

"T-thanks..."

I said anxiously. All I was met with was a silent gaze.

"How are you sir? How is the wound sir?" He asked to me.

The events that happened before i passed out returned to my mind. I composed my mind just as I was hit with a panic attack. Fortunately, it somehow worked. Albeit barely but otherwise it worked. I hurriedly open the buttons on my shirt and was met with what i expected.

A long string of bandages covered my abdomen.

Now that I remember about it, I did have a wound huh?...

I searched for a mirror around the room and found one on top of the shelf beside the bed. I took a glance on it and was met with a surprise.

My current appearance can be compared to that offense a mummy with the amount of bandages wrapped on me. My face is covered with bruises and cottons filled with anti septic, and my limbs are one way or another covered with a cast.

Translation: I look like a mess.

But what makes this more amazing is that this actually healed so quickly...

"I see that you have healed quite splendidly. Any questions?"

He asked.

"Ummm... f-first is, How long was I out?" I asked him. After all, I am worried for my sister at home. She must be worried sick for me. And to be able to find a good excuse when I really have to.

"Don't worry sir, it has just been a day after you were delivered here. A messenger was already sent to your family, So they will arrive later to get you from here."

"O-oh..." was all I could muster. I mean, what else can I say?

"T-thanks, Mr....?" I mumbled, realizing that he hasn't even introduced himself yet.

"Oh, right. That was rude of me. My name is Tristan, A long-timed servant of house."

"I-I see... T-talking about this h-house, where am I exactly?" I told the question that has been bugging my head ever since I woke up. Tristan coughs and smiles to me.

"You are currently in one of the mansions of the Tao family. A clan dedicated to exorcism, the study of supernatural occurrences, and maintaining the secrecy of the said subject. Anne Rexene Tao, Your 'friend' and the one that brought you here, is the heir of this exact clan. Any more questions?"

"...none."

"Good. Milady is currently below on the 3rd floor, eating her breakfast. She ordered me to come here and call you over to join her. The elevator is on the far end of the Hallway to the right. I do believe you know how to use an elevator, do you?"

"O-of course I do" I stuttered to him as a response.

"Thank goodness. Now I must leave to..." I see his eyes moved to the set of clothes on the bed."

"...leave you in your private matters. Excuse me."

He bowed and left the room afterwards.

I stare at the ceiling. My eyes most likely empty and focused on the mystery ogre tomorrow.

"...what's happening to me?" I complained in the empty room.

=========== =========== =========== =========== ==========

===========

Walking through the halls, I have to say... it's beautiful. You can feel the royalty in every corner and angle here. Shiny ornaments and Wide paintings are stuck on the walls of either side of the corridor. There's even barely any form of dust at all, despite the size of this place. I have to say, I respect the person in charge of cleaning. It must be real tiring after all.

Anyway, currently I'm wearing a simple t shirt with a piece sign on the front, and a pair of jeans, I'm still wearing the sneakers I used last time, just cleaner this time around. My bandages are still there but at least I am capable of walking normally, or else it would be hard for me.

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"Still though... it's really far isn't?" I mumbled. My legs now feel like noodles with the walk I have been doing so far. It felt like this mansion is a maze. I have been going around and around for the last one hour already, so please give me a break...

I have even started to open each door I encounter, which were actually either guest rooms like I used earlier, or some kind of unique room such as Jacuzzis or closets.

The owner must be real bored to bother adding these useless stuff in the first place...

Finally, hope seemed to have dawned on me as a pleasant scent of pancakes and coffee enveloped the air. I searched for the direction of that smell, which lead me to a room on the center of the entire floor. I stop in front of it and... knocked on it.

"Oh, Hey there, come on in. I have pancakes, Hotdogs, And some eggs here. Take a seat at the front here!"

A familiar voice called out to me. I turned to look at it and saw Anne Rexene Eating pancakes and drinking some coffee like it's just a random Saturday morning.

My fingers started to be fidgety. I took a glance from down to the top at her. She's currently wearing a simple Red T shirt with the words "Rock me up!" and barely visible is her black shorts just below the table. She's still also currently not wearing her glasses and her hair is currently tied up.

If I were to be asked, I would definitely answer that I don't know her at all. That's how different it is. Though her voice is definitely the voice of the Anne I know.

"... Y-You're Miss Anne, Right?" I asked just to be sure.

Just to be "reeeeaaallly" sure.

"What? Oh, of course It's me. Do you want me to even share some of your secrets? Like, You being covered in poop while in C.R. Cleaning duty in 8th grade, Your phone being exposed of your first porn in that same year, and-"

"O-okay, fine you're the Anne I-I know! G-geez..." I interrupted her before my dignity goes down to the drain.

"Good. So, before we talk, Eat up Kyle. I bet you're hungry, right?"

She said to me while gesturing for me to sit.

Now that she mentioned it, My stomach IS grumbling since earlier. The shock just made me not notice it? Considering the order of events at the moment, I have to say that it's plausible

I sit on the opposite end of the LONG table she's eating. I scan the room. It's just like the same with the room earlier. Just as grand and as amazing. A shiny, glittery Chandelier hangs on the ceiling on the center of the room, makes the red ceiling more pleasant to look at. The windows were just as huge, with perhaps leading a small balcony outside.

I take a seat and take a bite at the pancakes in front of me.

So yummy...

The sweetness is just normal and not forced at all... plus, the syrup is so sweet too..

Before I knew it, I became like a dog. I ate and licked anything Tharp was on the plate. I guess this is the effect of not eating for an entire day. All I knew was just that I was hungry, and I need to eat.

Sweets is good you know?

We both ate with silence, My hands only digging to the food like a moron and Anne giggling time to time.

"...T-thank you for the f-food..." I said to her when we both finished.

"Don't worry about it, as long as you enjoyed it." She made half a smile after saying those words.

"T-thanks...U-umm... Ms. Anne... what happened, Why did it happened, and who are you exactly?.." I asked her with complete honesty from my heart. These are questions that have been ringing within my head for a while now.

"I see... of course you would be confused huh?... sorry about that..." she said as she looked downwards, avoiding her gaze towards mine.

I said nothing and simply waited for any follow up. After all, what can I say?

"So, First of all, I would like to reintroduce myself. I am Anne Rexene Tao. The Tao clan is a clan dedicated to the art of exorcism, Same with 5 other major clans. By the way, The tao is at the 3rd of the rankings right now." She explained with some kind of pride.

"Umm... I didn't get a thing though..." I told her. She became flustered immediately afterwards. She coughed and looked at me straight to the eye this time, to continue.

"The world is infested with various monsters named "spirits". These monsters are considerably dangerous to mankind, for they are capable of both destruction and control of human lives. Such is why we, the clans are made. We are supposed to defeat these monsters and hide it in secrecy as much as possible."

Or so she said. I really feel like that is really dumb for a setting. I had some kind of guess that I might even be kidnapped and that my sister will be asked for ransom! I seriously can't possibly bother her anymore...

What do movie protagonists do when they encounter these situations... oh! They try to gain information against the kidnapper, right? Okay then, let's press a question...

"Ummm.. why did you go to this city and... why be friends with us?, Ms. Anne?" I asked her with hope brimming inside of me this time.

"...I was brought here by my family, specifically by my father, to investigate this city. Apparently, this city was once filled with spirits years ago. Yet it suddenly became almost peaceful after a certain incident. It wasn't really brought into our attention at the past so the investigation was delayed for 10 years..." she looked away after telling me. I sensed that something is interesting with her setting so I pushed forward.

"Eh? Wait, why? Why do that? It's already ten years, right? So why??" I asked 'curiously'

"..I warned to prove myself for my father, Kyle. I wanted to prove that I am worthy for him at least... that even if I'm a girl, I am capable. So I suggested to him that I will investigate a dead case."

"My family already has a mansion here in the past, in which where I stayed at. My butler took care of the papers for me and I took the time to register for the school here. I took my time in the first day, as quiet as I can. But then on my first day, You suddenly fell from the roof of the school auditorium." Anne took a peek at my reaction, to which she giggled a bit.

Oh yeah that happened...

She continued anyways.

"The ruckus was enough for me to ask people about you. They told me that you are the most unluckiest man to ever live."

Hey, hey.

"And that you are doomed to die in the age of 18, just like the devils said."

Wait, they said that?

"And that everyone that gets close to you will be cursed forever."

Wow... now that hurts me to the core.

"Of course, all of these are baseless rumours so I completely ignored them. at first that is. Apparently, you are the only person in the entire school the closest to the class president, which is perhaps a connection I would need to gain information. Such is why, I did 'that'." She looked away once again with guilt.

At first, I didn't get what she meant, but after jogging my memories, I got an answer.

"W-wait, M-ms Anne... are you saying you stabbing me....?"

"I was supposed to make you some kind of love letter like cliche but well... I messed up." Such words were followed up by her taking out her tongue.

...

"Anyway, back to the topic. So, I actually talked with Jeremy a lot about things around the school. To which, he gladly answered. Unfortunately, there wasn't much information I could get so I gave up. The trip to your house, was supposed to be my last break."

"But then, something amazing happened... You actually showed me the answer-"

"Okay that's it, Y-you're completely lunatic Ms. A-Anne." I said to her, this time standing up. I looked at her straight to her confused eyes.

"I-I dont get what you mean Kyle-"

"Y-you're planning to take my body for experiments, right? O-or maybe you have already been doing I-it??! W-what did you p-put inside me? I-I'll call the p-police! I-I'll definitely do it!-"

"Please calm down Kyle. I would never do that. You saw what I went through, So please stop that."

Hearing those words, I remembered what happened that time again. She was humiliated, Hurt and was disgraced thanks to me.

"...sorry.." that was all I can say to her, even saying that alone is difficult. I can't possibly look at her eyes.

".. for now, let me finish. Okay?" I simply nodded. I want to learn of her complete setting first at least.

"Ahem. So, The thing is... a spirit actually possessed you. At first, I stayed vigilant, After all, a random spirit possessing is already commonly known as a threat. They won't stop until they grant whatever goal they have. However, As I was about to step in, you did something more amazing... You controlled it. You stopped it's rampage, completely too. Everyone is safe and breathing. They are all currently in this city's hospital. Other than the man That flew to the other city literally that is. He's on the other hospital, luckily he just fell on a certain ceremony there, so he got saved immediately."

"...why me? Why did I get dragged to all of these?" I asked her.

"Well... why don't you ask it yourself?" She suddenly pointed behind me.

"Huh? What are you talking about-" I said as I turned to look behind. Of course, It surprised the soul out of my body.

"TALK TO ME TOO YOU FREAKING MORON! HOW DARE YOU EVEN IGNORE ME UP TO THIS POINT?!" The familiar red orb of fire spouted to me.

"..."

I fainted.