After Chloé had wrapped up her conversation with Amelia, she took her leave, her heels clicking against the pavement until she disappeared from sight. The second she was gone, Ryner stepped forward, a frown tugging at his lips.
"Sis, what was that all about?" he asked, suspicion clear in his voice.
Amelia blinked as if noticing him for the first time. "Oh, it's you, Ryner. It's nothing for you to worry about," she said, waving a hand dismissively.
Ryner crossed his arms. "Well, I was eavesdropping... so yeah, I know it's definitely something important."
Amelia sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I should've expected that from you."
"So that woman... she said she was going to investigate the murder of Rita. And she had a list of people she thinks could be possible suspects, right?" Ryner pressed.
"More or less, yes," Amelia admitted.
"I don't think you should get involved with her and this whole situation," Ryner said, voice firm. "Why would she come to you of all people about this?"
"To be honest, I don't know. She said she trusts me." Amelia's voice grew quieter. "I made Rita come into contact with Chloé... and it ended up triggering a memory. One that wasn't pleasant."
Ryner caught the way her shoulders tensed, how she avoided his gaze. His stomach twisted uneasily.
"I just don't feel like Chloé is truly trying to find out who killed Rita," Amelia finished, voice tight.
"Can I see the list she gave you?" Ryner asked, extending his hand.
"Yeah. Here you go," Amelia said, pulling a folded paper from her pocket and handing it over.
Ryner unfolded it, scanning the names. His heart pounded in his ears.
So these are the people we need to make Rita come in contact with, huh? Ryner thought. I can't tell Amelia what's really going on... not yet.
Based on what Rita had said, it was likely that Chloé herself was a prime suspect. Ryner clenched the paper tighter.
We need to get to the bottom of this.
As the sun rose the next morning, golden light spilled across Ryner's room. Birds chirped outside his window, filling the air with a false sense of peace.
Ryner groaned, rolling over to bury his face into the pillow. But before he could drift back to sleep—
"Wake up, dude!" Thomas's voice echoed, light and teasing.
Ryner startled, bolting upright—and immediately smacked his head against the headboard. "Ow! Damn it, Thomas!" he hissed, rubbing the sore spot.
Thomas floated lazily above his bed, grinning.
"Oh... it's you, Thomas," Ryner muttered, forcing himself to calm down. His heart still hammered from the scare. "Where have you been all this time?"
"You know me," Thomas said breezily, spinning midair. "Always roaming around, trying to gather information."
Ryner narrowed his eyes slightly. He's definitely not telling us everything, Ryner thought. But if I ask too many questions, it'll be too obvious I suspect him.
He shoved the thought aside and threw on his uniform. He had bigger problems today.
Ryner left his house, backpack slung over one shoulder, with Rita and Thomas trailing behind him invisibly. The streets buzzed with the early morning rush — cars honking, people chattering, footsteps quick against the sidewalks.
I wonder how Rita's holding up, Ryner thought, glancing over his shoulder briefly.
Since they'd uncovered what had happened to her, Rita had barely spoken. Her usual bright energy had dulled into something hollow, something broken.
On the way to school, Ryner brushed past a man he hadn't noticed until it was too late.
The man wore straight black clothes, his figure almost blending with the morning shadows. He adjusted his glasses, then slowly removed them—revealing sharp, pale eyes that locked directly onto... Thomas and Rita.
A chill raced down Ryner's spine.
"Is it just me, Ryner, or did that guy just look right at me?" Thomas whispered, floating closer.
"Do you think... he can see us?" Rita asked, her voice trembling.
Before Ryner could respond, the man stepped forward, his black shoes clicking sharply against the concrete.
"Hey, kid. Hold it right there," he said.
Ryner froze, every instinct screaming at him to run. But curiosity rooted him to the spot.
"Do you know you're being followed by ghosts?" the man asked casually, as if discussing the weather.
Wait... he can actually see them?! Ryner thought, stunned.
"What a strange question to ask, sir," Ryner said aloud, forcing a shaky smile. "I don't see any ghosts. So, no, I'm not being followed."
The man tilted his head, studying Ryner with a wolfish sort of patience. "That's funny. Because I could've sworn that male ghost called your name just now. Ryner, wasn't it?"
No way, Ryner thought, panic tightening in his chest. He definitely can see them.
"So you can see ghosts too?" Ryner asked cautiously.
The man slipped his glasses back on, hiding his piercing eyes. "Yes. I can. And I also hunt them."
Ryner's stomach dropped.
"I'm an exorcist," the man continued, voice low and even. "It's my job to hunt down evil spirits. Now... that girl ghost—" he nodded toward Rita "—her soul is pure. Clean. Uncorrupted. So I'll let her go."
Rita whimpered, clutching at Ryner's sleeve even though he couldn't feel it.
"However," the man said, shifting his gaze to Thomas, "this male ghost... his soul is tainted with red. He's committed evil acts while alive. I can't allow him to remain. If I do, he'll eventually become an evil spirit."
Thomas floated back, hands raised defensively. "What the hell is he talking about?!"
Ryner stepped protectively in front of him. "Wait, you've got it all wrong!"
The exorcist ignored him. With a swift, practiced motion, he pulled out a parchment covered in strange symbols.
"I bind you to this spot," he chanted, voice sharp and commanding. "You are now bounded here by the power of my talisman!"
The parchment glowed briefly—and Thomas's body jerked violently.
"I... I can't move!" Thomas cried, struggling against invisible chains. "I'm stuck!"
Rita let out a small scream. "What's happening? What did he do to Thomas?!"
Ryner's heart pounded in his chest. Think, think! He had to do something!
The exorcist pulled out a vial of clear water, whispering something under his breath. "Now, I shall cleanse your soul before sending you to the afterlife. Burning Water of Divine Retribution!"
He hurled the water directly onto the spot where Thomas floated.
"AHHH!!!" Thomas screamed in agony, the sound gut-wrenching. Steam hissed up from his body as if he were being burned alive.
"STOP IT!" Rita sobbed, her small voice breaking apart.
Without thinking, Ryner rushed forward, grabbing the man's wrist to stop him from throwing more water.
"Stop it!" Ryner shouted, eyes blazing with fury.
The exorcist snarled. "Stay out of my way, boy!"
With surprising strength, he shoved Ryner aside, sending him sprawling onto the ground.
Ryner gasped, the wind knocked out of him. Pain flared across his side. He looked up, vision swimming, as the man raised the vial again.
"No..." Rita whispered, terror making her voice crack. What do I do? How can I save Thomas? she thought, tears streaming down her face.
Thomas writhed helplessly, every scream tearing through Rita's spirit like knives.
I have to stop him, Rita thought desperately. But how...?
The morning sun rose higher, but the street felt colder than ever.