Chapter 18 The Forces Between Us
Lina's POV
The rain hadn't stopped even when I drove into the station's compound. My hand was still trembling on the steering wheel, my chest tight with multiple thoughts I couldn't explain.
I shut down the car engine and remained seated in my car for a second, staring blankly at the blurred reflection of my own wet eyes on the glass.
For a second, I thought I was gonna cry a tank, but then, I wonder how I was able to pull this move—to remain this calm despite everything happening around me now.
First, it was just me struggling with some random missing children case, then suddenly I met four souls that suddenly became a part of the whole story and now I'm forced to find a lost puzzle—something I know nothing about.
I thought this was just some missing children case, but clearly it's now.
At this point, I think I'm entangled in a web of what no one can explain, and for some reason, that same darkness is pulling Father Eron, Dr. Allen, Kate into what seems unexplainable.
Why Kate?
Why is it even hunting her more?
I've never felt this drained…heavy…like something is following me everywhere I go—like a shadow, and it's not mine. It seems like a bigger shadow, way bigger than me.
I swallowed hard and let out a loud exhale of exhaustion, then I pulled the car door open and stepped out smoothly.
I walked straight into the station, and then again, I felt something…someone…like a shadow following me around, but my eyes could see nothing.
“Detective Lina!” Father Eron's voice echoed across the hallway before I even made it to my desk.
He was holding a small brown file, waving it slightly as he hurried towards me.
“You need to see this—” he started to speak, but suddenly stopped mid-sentence when he noticed my expression.
Surely, I might have realized that something was off.
“What’s wrong?” he asked softly, lowering the file.
I didn't answer immediately. I simply walked past him and to my desk, then I dropped my bag on the desk and sank into the chair smoothly, now rubbing my palms together anxiously.
Father Eron took the empty seat opposite me. He didn't speak, he just sat there and continued to stare at me like I was some portrait.
Dr. Allen(the REVEALER) must have noticed the awkwardness of the moment, so she abandoned what she was doing at the end of the room. She walked to my desk and sat down too, she looked between my face and Father Eron’s. She was probably waiting for someone to speak, so I did.
I sighed and looked down, “It's Kate,” I finally said. “I think she's being hunted by something, Father.”
I couldn't help myself so I spoke out of pure guilt. If I hadn't met Kate to join this so called missing children case, then maybe…just maybe things wouldn't have gotten to this point.
Maybe she'd be just fine by now. But look at what I pulled her into?
I made her into this!
I caused all of these!
Father Eron squinted his eyes, “Hunted?” He repeated, brows furrowing. “What do you mean? By who? Or what?” He choked.
I looked up at Father Eron, then at Dr. Allen—she wasn't saying anything still, however her presence was mysteriously calm and slightly unsettling. She seemed so spiritual, and scientific at the same time, blending both logic and her eerily supernatural presence.
Dr. Allen walks closer and gently takes my hands…then she looked up at Father Eron and said, “The question is by what, not who,”
She squeezed my hands closely into hers, they were cold but oddly comforting.
“I think I'll give up on the case. I swear,I can't do this. No, I can't. This is too much for me.” I bawled. I thought the tears were going to drop from my eyes, but I managed to let them hang on my lashes, so I don't have to look too exhausted and drained.
The REVEALER carefully pulled her chair closer to mine, then she tightened her hands around mine and closed her eyes as if she was reading the unseen.
The air suddenly felt heavy as if the room itself was reacting to power.
I've no idea what she was doing, but the moment her fingers closed around mine, I felt an awkwardly strange vibration crawl through my veins.
Shortly after, her eyes suddenly fluttered open, however, her lips didn't stop moving silently.
Then suddenly, she gasped out loud and immediately let go of my hand as if my hands were burning.
She looked at me with pity, then back at Father Eron, then she delivered what seems like a shocking truth.
“There are two forces,” she whispered,her voice trembling slightly. “And they are at war.” She added.
I furrowed my brows and flung Father Eron a quick, confused glance.
Father Eron leaned forward looking just as confused as me, “What forces are you talking about?”
“One wants the five of us together,” she said, eyes flicking back at me, “and the other…will do anything to keep us apart.”
The moment she said this, I felt something in me suddenly shake. Not really me, but maybe the strange shadow that has been following me around since the beginning of this case.
“Forces?” I thought.
What are these forces? And why does one want us together and the other wants us apart?
Father Eron and I slowly exchanged uneasy glances, and it was clear in our eyes that something much bigger than us is happening and we've no idea about it yet.
Even though we were staring at ourselves, neither of us was able to speak. It sounded strange to us that we're slowly rolling into a realm that's not of this earth.
Two forces? Five of us(Father Eron, the REVEALER, Kate, Noel, and me) None of it made sense.
Dr. Allen's gaze suddenly darkened as she whispered to us again, “Now, the question isn't what these forces want, Lina. Now, the question is WHY?” She looked from me to Father Eron, then she added smoothly, “Together—what are we? Apart—what are we? Are we stronger together or apart?”
After she said this, the silence that suddenly followed felt endless. Even the ticking click on the wall stopped for a second, or maybe time itself did.