At the very heart of Virosiad was a small island with three towers surrounded by a moat. It was only accessible by the red draw bridge, and access was only granted to those with keycards.
A mystic aura had surrounded 'the heart' since forever. A myriad of theories could be found on the internet from it being off limits. The most popular forum ideas ranged from "perhaps a corporation that has so much money that they can afford being invisible?" to "the government is actually performing tests on humans in there, snort".
Even after all these decades, no new evidence came to back up a theory as concrete.
Besides those theories, there was not much excitement. The heart was the background in people's lives – thousands of people passed by everyday; naturally, it didn't take long to get used to it. Usually, a new person would come, be intrigued, ask somebody, be in awe – for a split second – and then they'd go on with their business as usual.
And today, Catheris Orial–some suit infatuated civilian–had business there.
The long-haired man stood still in the alleyway just outside the heart, still very very confused on how he winded up in this whole situation.
It may have only been him, but the timing kind of seemed... oddly convenient? He got help so fast... It'd only been a few days since he met the man. Forget it, he was in no position to refuse.
Awaiting the investigator and his keycard felt like an awkward, stale, nervous excitement. The man had offered him help, and now Catheris was suddenly going to go to arguably the most important place on the island considering it had its own island.
Also, his current dilemma wasn't normal in any way, seriously... possession..? He should've been royally screwed by now. Just how mysterious was the heart?
Huuu.
Still though, it was reassuring to know there was support set up for this sort of thing. It'd been quite mentally taxing on him without anyone to confide in, let alone someone who could help.
He massaged his temple, scrunching his face a bit. He squinted ahead, not looking for anything in particular.
His vision locked onto something in the distance. Weaving through the crowds was a familiar Suit Man surveying the area for Catheris. Except this time it wasn' t a suit–more like some detective get-up with a long coffee-colored trench coat–the complete set.
When they were shoulder to shoulder, their eyes met. A shadow formed on the top of Catheris' face as the other flashed a charismatic fox-like smile.
Catheris: [ >=<] (too bright)
Reena was right, oh so right. Shady man...
The investigator put his hand on Catheris's shoulder with an uncomfortable force. "Shall we go?"
Catheris sighed. "I'd like a bit more background knowledge before I go in. If you couldn't tell, I know absolutely nothing at all."
He switched his tone to a sharp edge "Maybe then I could understand why you acted the way you did."
"Of course."
Between the clacks on the sidewalk was dead silence. The pettiness radiating off of Catheris filled in the awkward quiet. Catheris tried to mask his scorn knowing the other was only doing his job, but he really... really couldn't.
They arrived at a small cubic building just outside the moat, there to divide the bridge from the public. With the confidential nature of their conversation, it was only natural to continue in a private area.
The man had swiped his keycard, and held the door open for Catheris. The room appeared to be a waiting room. Catheris still felt tired and wanted to sit down—but it'd be meaningless. On the other side of the entrance stood another keycard scanner.
Mr. Suit slid the back of his card against the scanner's blue screen, which then lowered the drawbridge with its audible clanging mechanism.
A jingle came on, signalling the bridge was done. When they opened the door, a strong gust of cold wind slammed it and banged it on the poor coil door-stopper incessantly. Whilst tucking his scarf closer, Catheris raised his arm to shield his eyes as he walked onto the bridge.
His breath was stolen away in an instant.
Flocks of birds flew overhead. Some zipped through the slits of the red suspension. The sun peered through the parting clouds to Catheris's left. The sky turned from a cool pink to a sleepy yellow. It was about time the weather had started to clear up; the blaring winds subsided into a soft breeze which gently swirled.
"So, about the things you wanted to know earlier-!" the investigator had to yell.
See, Catheris kept his distance from him. The road was the width of a decent amount of cars, like five lanes?
"The place deals with a lot of stuff, but, anyways, talk to you later!" Mr. Suit sprinted off to the other side.
...
What the fu–
...
Fortunately, he waited for Catheris at the end–who had taken his sweet time. The man did have to play tour guide after all.
From the bridge, there was a path leading to a tower up ahead, branching off left and right to the two other towers. The outside as a whole was a neat garden. Neatly trimmed hedges outlined the square center, which had a fountain in the middle.
Catheris didn't have any time to dawdle, and was led to the building on the right. Inside, the ceiling looked like it touched the heavens. A soft glow casted over them from the fog-like dreamy early morning sunlight overhead.
"Would you like to take a guess on who this place operates for?"
"...Private organization or government affairs?"
"Nuh uh." Mr. Suit waved his finger teasingly. "You can only pick one."
"...Why?"
"Because they're the most popular answers."
"And?"
"I want to hear how you narrow it down."
...?
Hm.
"Government." Catheris semi-gambled. "After all, it's been here for ages."
"Virosiad has been in cahoots with other nations for quite a while even before the glow up."
Was he trying to play devil's advocate...?
"No matter what this country has been through, it's the heart of Virosiad after all. I don't think we'd let go of this spot that easily."
That easily meant no, nuh uh, nada: never.
Looking back on it now, "the government" was the clear answer. Handing it over to some foreigners who already had a majority of the economy would arise endless backlash; if it happened, it'd probably still be brought up today.
Actually, if they really did hand it over to some private organization – that'd be a good reason as to why the identity of the island's owner was so elusive.
Nahhh.
For the reason Catheris was here—it may be a bit concerning that it applied—but what other country specialized in the supernatural? Virosiad was made a hot spot by the spiritual expertise of the natives.
"I'm firm on my answer." Catheris nodded
"Are you sure?"
"Uh huh, uh huh." he lazily bobbed his head up and down.
"Well, you'll see soon enough anyways."
White collared workers formed currents moving in a smooth flow, bustling about – it was quite early. However, it was clear the current avoided a certain person like a rock on the ocean's floor. It was a tall pale lady with long black hair wearing a pantsuit. She was surveying the room with a hawk's eye, her irises glossy black. She slouched in the middle of it all.
Catheris didn't notice for a second, but right next to her was a shorter woman who seemed of equal importance. She had fair skin and silver hair that had a purple luster to it. She was also wearing a pantsuit. They were both distinct presences aside from this odd 'rock on the ocean' display, really. The silver-haired woman held a mischievous glint in her narrowed hot pink eyes, and the other woman had a powerful—almost intimidating aura about her.
The investigator noticed how they caught Catheris' eye, and stepped back to observe him. His stare stuck on like molten sugar.
Catheris turned his head to him, yet his eyes were still looking at the women below. "You did promise to fill me in earlier, no?"
"Mn, we deal with all sorts of anomalies. However, Shadow Entities act like a disease for the mind, infectious to the body if it's allowed to get to that state. As for my own question: Bureau of Paranormal Activity." He paused. "Though we do employ private organizations sometimes."
"I see." Catheris went back to watching the workers flow.
'So I was right about it being owned by the government.' He resembled a black cat walking up to its owner for a treat, only to swat away the hand that feeds with its tail later.
Maybe they get his kind a lot – possessed people. That'd explain why the other was acting so usual about it. It was unusual for Catheris to act so worked up over such a trivial matter. Mr. Beo had acted with reason at the end of their first meeting, yet Catheris' mind was relentlessly unforgiving: it was off. Did the man pity him, or was he simply detached? He couldn't read anything by the look behind those yellow eyes.
Catheris bit back his resentment. "So, why'd you bring me here, and what's your fix for possession?"
"So many questions we have today." Mr. Suit put a thumb on his chin, smiling slyly.
To be honest, this was only making his currently skewed view of the investigator even more unwilling to proceed.
'Stop beating around the bush.'
It was Catheris's first deadpan today. "I've counted only three."
"To put it simply, it targets your weakness and watches you fall down from there."
"I'm suspecting it's more complicated."
Mr. Suit thought over it a bit, "It is, a lot. You'll need the roots of its influence weeded out. But-"
Catheris tilted his head at this.
"That's only for the early stages. Your situation has gone too far, like way too far. The other option is far more difficult, but it's very good at keeping your symptoms under wraps—lucrative as well. What do you say Mr. Orial, wanna strike up a deal with us?"
A deal. It wasn't like Catheris was opposed to the idea, but the man's tone was real shady.
"Mr. Beo, Mr. Orial. Have you two been waiting long? I'll guide you two upstairs." A pink-haired woman with curly pig-tails approached from the side. She was swarmed with towers of planners and binders.
Again, the investigator straightened up and acted like nothing happened. Yet his eyes were dubiously narrowed in an angle where only Catheris could see his face "My, he's worthy enough for one of the rooms with windows. And here I thought I'd never see the light of day while working here. It's impressive, really."
Suddenly, the investigator dropped the transatlantic accent. "They really do keep us trapped in the basement here." he whispered quickly. He closed his eyes and smiled whilst that 'all too calm' expression painted over his face.
Catheris swore he saw two little fangs poking out.
'Enough teasing!" The woman smacked the investigator's wrist hard, breaking her perfect worker character. She turned to Catheris with brilliant aquamarine eyes. "Sorry, he's always like this."
***
Gazes pricked his back and followed him as he was escorted down a very important looking hall. What a poor attempt at acting subtle—if his onlookers were even trying.
The woman had entered an elevator and the two men followed behind. The elevator's atmosphere was suffocating. Catheris felt claustrophobic from the amount of people.
"My duty as a guide ends here now, and thus, I'll be taking my leave. Have a wonderful day." The woman bowed down a perfect 90 degrees, and in the split second where he blinked, she was gone.
How punctual.
The other man had brought him down the hall and finally stopped at a door. The investigator opened it for him, but they both noticed the guy inside hadn't noticed them at all.
Catheris didn't want to interrupt, and he inferred the other man was just plain nosy – so they both just watched.
"Well well well, this guy can fill you in on the details of your case now." Mr Suit said.
The person inside was still murmuring what he could only infer to be a paper about himself "-An Orial? Should have the qualifications already, but what about the mentality for it?"
The man inside rambled on for a few seconds, yes, Catheris heard everything perfectly. After a few seconds the person must've looked at the top of the paper again. After the man finally noticed Catheris, their eyes met.
"Maylis-?"
Catheris just stood there blankly, arms folded waiting for it to click in the man's head.
But to his surprise the other jolted, almost knocking his office chair over. His pupils widened with heavy killing intent. His eyes softened as they scanned him up and down, and he composed himself quickly like nothing happened.
"-Oh, oh. Pardon, mistook you for someone else there." he straightened his tie "Mr Beo, get inside."
And what about the sudden nasty look?
Whatever.
"Yes sir~"
Why did it seem like the investigator always spoke with a ~ trailing as well.
As Catheris sat down, the other began to explain,
"Mr. Orial, you're exactly what we've been looking for ever since our project began researching the Shadow Entity phenomena."
Go on.
"So far we only know the symptoms, not its cause nor its cure. Our sample size is very small and we never catch people in time to observe the possession progression. Unfortunately, shadow entities are also sensationalized in the news. As a nation, we understand that panic spreads like wildfire and could ultimately be taken advantage of as well. Currently, the only way we can get our information is performing autopsies, doing investigations, and interviewing patients nearing death."
The sidelined investigator (for a reason) chimed in. "You're really resilient to it. You can even purify it at a sustainable rate. Peculiar hope in these trenches, eh?"
"We'd like to see how you react to different environments and record everything. With you, we could have a breakthrough... so please, cooperate."
Mr. Beo abruptly sat himself down on the desk, awfully close to Catheris. "It'll benefit yourself and others. You'd get good pay, excuses, and the feeling of participating in such a noble cause as well."
"Well, I don't think I'm in a spot to refuse right now."
"Great... actually the whole reason I brought you here so early was because of how long contract talk is. So if you don't mind, it's about time to start laying down the terms and conditions.
Catheris' lips formed a slight strained smile. "I don't mind."