"I am sure you got tons of questions, and here I thought you actually wanted to go on a date with me." Yumiko gave an exasperated sigh, then turned toward the donut and chugged it whole into her system.
We were by the side of the road patronizing the fellow local shop owner. Although I had already planned on asking her some questions, she would only answer if I gave her what she wanted.
"So, what was all that?"
"It's simple logic. He was so engulfed with negativity his own soul took a hit, granting him negative energy."
Yumiko's response was brief, which made it somewhat hard to grasp.
So he wasn't being taken over by some sort of supernatural—just a normal guy who was overcome with hate?
"I don't really understand the logic behind it."
Yumiko turned to face me with a grin.
"don't tell me you thought he was possessed or something?"
"…."
No comment.
"Hahahaha, now that's funny," Yumiko laughed her heart out and all I could do was watch.
"The logic is there. Supernaturals can take advantage of humans, but that's only if the humans themselves agree to it."
"Then explain the logic behind it, then."
We began strolling through the town. It wasn't completely empty; despite the curfew they apparently placed here, people didn't pay much attention to the deaths.
"Ages ago—I'm not really sure of the exact date—a particular cult known as the Cult of Arthur came into play with the goal of interacting with other life forms outside of our observable reality."
"This town is called the Town of Arthur. Does this cult have any relation to this town?"
"Not really. The only relation is the name, that's all. Besides, let me finish my story." Yumiko's eyes darted right at me; her stare narrowed, clearly losing interest already.
"Anyways, this cult actually succeeded in whatever they were doing. I don't understand how they did it, especially at a very old time, but they pulled it off. They interacted with other existences outside our reality and dragged them into our own reality."
"And these were supernaturals."
At least that settles the fact they weren't here to begin with. But why create a cult dedicated to such research? I was pretty sure they didn't need to act so secretive about it. At any rate, nothing Yumiko had said made actual sense, but I couldn't try to deny it so far.
"Yes, some supernaturals are powerful and some are weak."
"What divides their strength?"
"The world itself."
"The world itself?"
"There are two types of supernaturals: the ones truly from the other world, and the ones who simply possess negative energy. What categorizes them is— the first one, I believe, actually came from the reality of where they originated from; in other words, the actual threats. Compared to the ones who possess negative energy like me and you—vampires, werewolves, and any other fan-mythology fic are all based on humans who possess negative energy."
"Have you ever seen an actual supernatural then?" I turned to face her as we both laid back on a bench.
"I've seen countless, and they don't think highly of us humans. Although I don't know how we humans attained negative energy."
"I see…"
Then I wouldn't classify myself as a genuine supernatural; I was just a guy who possessed negative energy.
There was only so much Yumiko had an idea of, and despite all this explanation I found it hard to believe some particular things she had said. This Cult of Arthur had always existed for a long time and were apparently the reason why supernaturals came into this world in the first place. Then—were there members of this cult left?
Curious, I pulled out my phone and did a quick Google search. Yumiko, noticing, moved even closer—our cheeks touching—but both of us didn't mind at all.
I scrolled through multiple news reports and websites hoping I could find anything but came up empty.
"Is this Cult of Arthur actually real?"
"Yes, it is," Yumiko sounded so sure of herself I had no choice but to take her word for it.
We continued our stroll down the empty road and I laid eyes on a man who stood by an empty alleyway, his figure floating.
He was a ghost.
"Then does he possess negative energy as well?"
"People aren't always born with this strange power. In most cases, people awaken it due to heightened emotions—mainly through negative instincts. The urge to kill, the feeling of despair—even after death that feeling won't leave you. That's why there are ghosts everywhere."
"I see…"
It must be rough—the thought of not dying, just existing because you clung to a purpose you yourself can't even reach. It's painful, isn't it?
But if it was as Yumiko said, how did I get my power? I couldn't even retrace a single moment to when I got my powers; it had always been like I had it, but at the same time it felt unexpected.
"Then are you the only vampire in your family? I see."
I gave out a sigh. The cold was practically getting to me, and unlike Yumiko, who wore a raincoat, I had nothing but my usual clothes on—not to mention they were soaked in blood.
The people I encountered didn't even react; maybe it was normal for them.
"Telling my parents would be a drag, and besides, they would ruin my whole operation."
"Operation—" Yumiko gave a grin and walked right up to me.
I moved back but she continued tailing me.
"You're a psychic, right?"
"How did… you know that?"
I raised an eyebrow at her.