When everyone left. I finished washing the dishes first before talking with my Lola.
She's been living here, all her life. So maybe she knows a few thing or two.
I saw her sitting in the rocking chair, looking ahead.
No nagging, or scolding. Just waiting for me to open up the conversation.
I walked towards her, and pulled out the tiny stool and sat on it.
"Lola...why aren't you asking me more about it?"
"I don't need to. Because....they need your help right?"
My eyes widened in surprise. My mouth was left open. Because...she knows.
She definitely know.
"You...can see them lola?" I asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Anthony. From the moment one of them started following you, yesterday."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
She shifted her position and gestured for me to lean my head on her lap. She started brushing my hair.
It was comfort. It was something I needed but didn't know it until it was given.
"Because, I don't want to interfere. Or cause more problems from my intrusions. Now tell me. Can you see their faces?"
She stopped brushing my hair and waited for my response.
"Yes. I can...." I lifted my head up and meet Lola's gaze. "They're All disfigured lola. Can't you see their faces?" I asked back.
"No. They're all faceless to me. Not even clear. Just a silhouette. Like a blur figure." She ruffled my hair this time.
Her eyes were gentle...and worried. Full of concern. She's been through this as well.
Not exactly like mine. Since this ability was opened through a system. But she had it since birth. A natural ability.
We talked about it. Sharon and Paula was with us. Lola can't hear them but I relayed everything they wanted to say.
Until the topic landed on Uncle Tonyo. I wasn't subtle about it. Since Lola also saw how they're all hovering around Kuya Tonyo.
"Anthony, be careful. This is a serious case. You should be calling the Police. And not taking this on your own." She looked at me with much more worry in her face.
"I won't do anything reckless lola. And I was already planning to report this to the Police. But..." I looked down, restlessness showing. "Will they even believe me?"
Lola Aurora also knew how serious this was. There were victims already. And just like what I'm worried, she's afraid that their will be future ones too. If Kuya Tonyo isn't apprehended.
"Listen to me child. Those missing person cases has never been investigated seriously. And nobody ever suspected Tonyo about it. They're all not residents here. The victims were known to just started living in our little town, or just a passing tourist."
The information lola gave me, helped a lot. And it also matches, the ghosts stories. They only remembered the moment they died, but that was enough to work around with.
Lola was also shocked to know Kuya Tonyo was behind everything. Because he was helpful. Always reliable, and never once got into a fight.
I let lola rest inside her room and closed the front door early.
Inside my own room, I opened the system and there was a feature there that I can unlock with 5 points.
I didn't even knew I already gathered 23 points. So, I unlocked it.
[FEATURE UNLOCKED: DETAIL/INFORMATION ABSORBER.]
[DETAIL: INFORMATION WILL BE FACT CHECKED AND IMMEDIATELY ADDED TO PROFILING.]
[CURRENT PROFILES IN HAND: SEVEN]
Seven? I tapped the arrow down button to check why there's seven of them.
And Kuya Tonyo's profile has been made. All information gathered has been added. But some were missing.
The description Lola gave... They're all tagged as false.
This will be much more useful. And it can level up. Maybe in the future the system would be giving me the details and information on its own.
My communication skill also reached level 3. Sharon and Paula were silent all evening.
I checked things in the system more thoroughly. I still have 18 points to spare. Then I landed on the shop section.
[HOLY ROSARY: 15 POINTS.]
[BLESSED WITH HOLY WATER AND DIVINE ENERGY. WARDS OFF EVIL SPIRITS AND DEMONS.]
I purchased it without hesitation. That's what I needed. Then unlocked a skill with 3 points.
[EXORCISM: PURGE OUT DEMONS FROM A TARGET'S BODY. RECITING PRAYERS IN LATIN.]
There's one thing I noticed with the system. It gives offers skills and items that are currently needed for my tasks.
Business smarts. Can't deny the effectiveness of its marketing strategy.
I'm not somewhat prepared. But... I'm confident I can do something about it. It's just a matter of how I'll execute it.
The other four ghosts never went back to where we are. Seems like they're not leaving Kuya Tonyo alone.
Which made me think. Why now?
[HOST. WITH COMMUNICATION LEVEL RISING, ENTITIES PART OF THE TASK WILL BE ABLE TO FOLLOW YOU AROUND AND THE CONNECTED VARIABLES AVAILABLE.]
Oh.... So that's why. If not for me, they're not able to leave the forest. Where their bodies were buried.
Which was to my advantage, since I won't be searching blindly for their killer. They found him for me.
And not it's my turn to out and end to his crimes.
Eliminate the demon possessing him, and seek justice for all the victims he ended.
By tomorrow, I'll find a way to isolate Kuya Tonyo. Put the holy rosary around his neck and exorcist him.
That's the plan. I hope nothing goes astray.
But I'll make sure, if something unexpected happens, I'm prepared for it too.
This is it Anthony. The first task you're about to tackle head on.