I know I was in for a brutal truth. Sharon floated in front of me.
I'm able to hold their gazes now. Without the disfigured faces, I'm not that scared of them.
"In my case...I was walking alone, late one night. Because of work. Overtime was unexpected that day. And...when I walked the path towards my home, someone covered my mouth with a handkerchief from behind. Making me unconscious. When I opened my eyes, I man was already on top of me....."
I looked down feeling heartbroken and angry for Sharon. Men's uncontrolled lust, or much more, addiction driven, has always been a problem.
"When he was done...he took out a knife and stabbed me...I was still conscious, barely, when he...gouge out my eye."
My stomach protested again. But I held it in.
Then the other followed. And Paula was the last one.
When telling her story, he rage was through the roof.
[WARNING. PAULA IS ENTERING VENGEFUL PHASE.]
I can't let that happen. Not ever. I tried holding her shoulder. Just the gesture of it. Since I couldn't hold her.
"I'll finish this task. Not because the system made me, but because I'll let that man pay for everything he had done. I swear."
Good thing Paula calmed down with my words. And was back to her playfulness.
"You swore, Anthony. Make sure you keep it. Don't worry. We'll help. We won't let you do the heavy lifting alone."
After hearing everyone's experience, I was now exposed to the vileness and evilness of human minds.
Something I can't undo. But I wasn't regretting it. I took out my notebook and wrote their names, their stories, and how they're killed.
They all share the same pattern. How they're disfigured while still conscious and after being forcefully penetrated.
While writing it, I was tearing up.
"How can a human be so evil..."
I wiped off my tears and packed my notebook back into my bag. Then brushed off the dirt, as I stood up.
"Let's go. My Lola Aurora might be worried."
As we walked back to the path we took last night, the rest of the ghosts following behind me was just chatting.
Like, my presence was their comfort zone. Or maybe my skill communication was making them feel like they're alive and normal.
Seeing and hearing them in this borrowed time like this. Was making me feel lighter.
Then.. after walking more than an hour, I saw Lola's house and hurried. It was already 10 AM.
And I was right. Lola Aurora was already worried. Crying, surrounded by neighbors whom she might have asked to search for me.
"Lola! I'm back!" I was running towards her. And everyone was worried about my whereabouts too.
"Anthony! You child! Where have you been?" Lola Aurora was still crying as she pulled me into a tight embrace.
"I went treasure hunting Lola. I'm sorry I snuck out." I lied. A total lie. And I know it wasn't believable but, Lola, surprisingly nodded and accepted my excuse.
"Anthony, where on Earth were you? Manang Aurora went to our house as soon as she woke up, when she noticed you weren't in bed." Ate Martha, our nearest neighbor, was the first one Lola went to.
I said the same lie. Since I'm insisting on it, our neighbors believed it. Adding my muddy jeans and shirt, they have to.
Lola offered everyone who went to search for me food and drinks. I helped... I needed too. To keep them assured I won't be doing it again.
Another lie.
That's when I noticed, the six ghosts that were following me, were silent. And glaring at Ate Martha's husband.
Kuya Tonyo, was seated at the long chair beside Ate Martha. Eating the snacks Lola prepared. With such enthusiasm.
Complimenting how it taste good. And acting like a loving husband to Ate Martha.
And he was oblivious to the fact that six glaring eyes were looking down at him, eating.
Unmoving and still. Encircling him with such fury and anger.
Just from that display, my mind went spiraling. He is the culprit. For sure.
But why?
He was always so gentle with Ate Martha whenever I see them. And looking at Ate Martha... Not that I'm insulting her, but, she's not even average.
The victims were far more beautiful. She wouldn't even compare to the lesser fo the six.
I dropped the plate, as it shattered on the floor. Seeing how they're faces are inching from Kuya Tonyo's. Eyes bloodshot and almost about to bulge out.
If he is the killer. Then, I need more details on the when. The date he lived here, and the victims'.
But I need to do it discreetly to avoid suspicion.
"Anthony, what happened?" Lola Aurora was already beside me picking up the fragments of the broken plate.
That snapped me out.
"Lola, let me. It slipped my hand." I helped her up and lead her to the chair. And started cleaning up the mess I made.
"Why are you so pale, Anthony? Seen some ghost?" Kuya Tonyo laughed from his own joke.
But I wasn't. He didn't know, the ghosts he joked about was just inches from him and his breathing them in.
"It's nothing. Maybe because I lack sleep from my treasure hunting." I didn't even look at him.
Because I couldn't.
I'll just glare at him too. I was shaking not out of fear this time but out of anger.
[HOST, DEMON POSSESSION HAS BEEN DETECTED.]
Demon? Possession?
I looked at Kuya Tonyo this time. Trying to see what the system saw.
But nothing.
[MAIN TASK HAS INITIATED CHAIN TASK. ELIMINATE THE DEMON.]
A chain task. It seems like, moving forward, more tasks will be given.
And for the first time since I've got the system?
I'm looking forward to it.