Chapter 39 - Different Nights

Teren didn't stop running. With his bag on his right arm, his left arm held his chest tightly.

Thump thump thump*

'What's happening? Am I nervous?'

Teren thought to himself. He didn't stop running, thinking it was just the adrenaline taking over him.

Eventually, he got home after a quarter of an hour or so. He sweated a bit as there were times he ran with all he got.

When he entered his house. It was quiet and dark.

"I'm back, he shouted."

However, no one replied.

After turning the lights on, he went straight to the bathroom where he cleaned his knife and some parts of his clothing.

His mind was filled with Iesa as if he didn't have a fight with someone who can double their power multiple times.

Only when he finished did he snapped out of it. When he got out, he looked and saw his mom, watching the television.

"Hm? Teren... did you already eat? Can you cook something?"

"Sure, sure. Didn't you and Seres already eat?"

"Nah, we were waiting for you to come home and cook."

Teren sighed, "Wait, I'll cook something simple and quick."

While Teren came back to his normal life, others were doing differently.

Nick was talking to his brother on the phone.

"Yes, he said he would do it."

-"Seriously!? I can't believe it, my little brother is now going to be on a higher seat than I am, hahaha!"

"Hahaha... I don't think that's the case."

Catherine and Mike were out of their usual self that their parents and friends became concerned. As the "popular kids", they always have friends to chat with. But now, they were not in the mood for any of that.

The night was long for them. Internally did they have countless dilemmas if should they tell what happened to others. But remembering Teren's soulless stare onto them, they hesitated and stopped these thoughts only for them to come back later.

But in contrast to them, Iesa was like Teren. Enjoying the freedom she had in her new apartment, she finally used the television for herself.

"What should I watch?"

She was coursing through the channels. When the government found that Iesa was one of a kind, they treated her better than other people in the same situation as her. That is why she has the privilege to get her own television and even a cable for that, not to mention the great apartment she got.

After pressing the next button many times, she found something interesting.

-"This show is not for children. This contains explicit content such as..."

Iesa continued to watch.

-"Today, we are going to talk about people with mental disabilities."

....

- "They are called psychopaths to many but there are a lot more to them than most people think of."

After hearing this, Iesa dropped the remote and watched until it was over. She was creeped out and disgusted by the subjects who are psychopaths, interviewed or documented.

However, she only continued to watch until the end when she thought-

'Scary! Does Teren do that?... Wait... hm? Why is it if I imagine Teren doing it, it isn't that scary? Maybe because I know him?'

Only after that did she remember that she had to message Teren.

[Sorry, I was engrossed by what I was watching. I forgot to ask if you're at home now.]

Then an apologetic emoji.

On the other hand, Teren was at his room doing push-ups because he had nothing better to do.

"651... 652... 653..."

He was sweating a little. He was currently topless and his compact muscles were too detailed as if he was sculpted by a master sculptor. If he wore his shirt, he seemed light and thin but underneath, he is actually muscular but slender.

That was when he heard a ding on his phone. In a hurry, he took it and received his long-awaited message.

"I'm such a wimp. I could've messaged first to remind her. But I don't have the resolve if I don't have a good reason to text her..."

While he said that, he replied with a smile.

[It's fine. What were you watching by the way?]

Hoping that will continue the conversation, his hope was satisfied. After that, the two texted each other again until they fell asleep...

...

...

A few hours later, a cold breeze blew and Clade's body shivered. Opening his right eye, everything that happened earlier reoccured within his thoughts.

Clade was filled with fear and thankfulness that he didn't die until became of anger and hatred.

"Damn you, Devil Himself! I know your name! I'm going to report you to the SSDA! I'm going to force others to report you as well! I know this is a shameless move but fuck! I'm so angry!"

Clade was a bit hesitant. Reporting fellow [Aberrants] to the SSDA, an acronym for the [Secret Service for Deposing Aberrance], is seen as a cowardice move.

If other Aberrants learned this, Clade's name would fall to the deepest abyss!

However, the SSDA is aware of this and would keep the one who filed a report anonymous. This is to also ensure that Aberrants are not giving out their own information as well or the SSDA will come for them.

That's why Aberrants don't share their secrets and information except with their close ones.

This not only hides them from the public but also, restrain Aberrants from interacting with each other. Once interactions have been made, either they will be neutral, friends, or enemies.

If enemies, they will not let each other continue living any further. But if one of them lives long enough to know the secret of another, they will report it to the SSDA and then this secret service will do the rest.

In other words, it is the SSDA's ultimate win - Aberrants will not risk themselves by abusing their Spirits in public and there will be a lower chance of Aberrants grouping together to fight the SSDA.

"Good thing, I woke up before sunrise. After a bit of rest, I can move but once the sun is out, the recoil will be so great that I might die. I don't want it but I need to call the ambulance, fuck!"

Clade's anger rose again upon thinking about this. Getting controlled by his emotions, he sent Teren's information to the SSDA. Everything he knows and he will know...

...

At one particular uninteresting building far from Heren City, there was actually a hidden office beneath it.

There, a report was received.