The Deceitful One

Bryan and Hailey walked side by side along the footpath as they looked around for any suspicious activities. Since it was already past midnight, there weren't any steam cars or carriages around.

It hadn't snowed for the past few days, hence, the streets were clear. However, the bitter cold still remained. And it would only get worse. January was the time when it was the coldest and the following month would be no less.

As Bryan and Hailey were walking, there was an awkward silence between them. It couldn't be blamed on either party though.

Since the both of them barely had any interactions with each other. Hailey almost always stayed at the reception desk. Whereas Bryan spent most of his time in the underground HQ.

Since both of them had to patrol at least half of the city for the rest of the night, Bryan decided to make the atmosphere more easygoing as he struck up a conversation, "So, Hailey… This must be your first time out patrolling at night, yes?"

Hailey smiled faintly and nodded, "Yes. I'm not used to such fieldwork. As you might already know, I'm only a Rank 1 Apprentice."

"Are you nervous?" Bryan asked.

Hailey nodded, "To be honest, yes. A little."

"It's all right." Bryan smiled, "You're already doing much better than I did when I went on night patrol for the first time."

Out of curiosity, Hailey inquired, "Really? What was your first night patrol like?"

Recalling his first time, Bryan chuckled, "My first time out was with Andrew. We patrolled most of the city and fought off a few thugs. And then…"

…

After having waited for a long time, he couldn't hold it in anymore. Thus, with great excitement, Anthony jumped down from the roof of the house right across from Jamie's unit.

"Hehehe, finally! Finally! I can taste the blood of a young maiden." He chuckled in a deranged manner as he licked his lips.

Just the thought of the warm and fresh blood going down his throat got him excited. He quickly approached the entrance to the unit and loudly knocked on the door.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Inside the unit, Ella, Jamie, and the other six little children who were sleeping together on the floor were jolted awake hearing the loud knocks.

The little girl who was lying down beside Ella started to tear up as she held the latter's hand, "Big sister Ella, is it those bad guys again? Will they take you away just like last time?"

Ella knew that the little girl was talking about the people to whom they owed money. There were many instances in the past where she wasn't able to pay the monthly interest and had to resort to selling her body to these moneylenders.

The number of unspoken things that she had had done to her by these people made her cry every time she thought of it. The emotional pain that she had to go through was difficult to overcome.

But she had no choice. How else could she and seven other children stay safe in the slums without someone else's protection?

She had, without hesitation, sacrificed her pride and dignity just so she could keep Jamie and the other kids safe and happy.

Ella smiled at the little girl as she caressed her cheeks, "It's going to be fine, Ava."

She then looked at Jamie and instructed solemnly, "Jamie, take the kids to the corner of the room and stay there until I say otherwise."

Jamie wanted to say something but in the end, he only nodded and took the kids to one corner and made them stand behind him.

…

The duo continued to walk down the empty footpath as Bryan thought back to how Andrew had taken him to the cemetery and scared him from time to time. Thinking of this, his eyebrows couldn't help but twitch.

"And then what?" Hailey probed.

Bryan snapped out of his short reverie and replied, "And then Andrew took me to the cemetery where he played pranks on me time and time again. I was so scared back then that I didn't want anything more but to go back home."

Listening to Bryan, Hailey started to giggle as she covered her mouth.

"That was also the first time I encountered spirits," Bryan added.

Hailey was wide-eyed as she asked enthusiastically, "You came across spirits? What were they like?"

Bryan looked at her strangely and asked, "Usually people are scared at the mention of spirits. Why are you so excited?"

"Uhm." Hailey's cheeks turned a little red as she replied meekly, "That's because I too want to embark on the Death Path, just like Andrew."

'Oh?' Bryan lifted his eyebrow as he thought, 'What's this? Am I sensing a fling? Or is this a one-sided thing? Hmm, considering Andrew's personality, there's definitely something going on between the two.'

He then shook his head as he mocked inwardly, 'Tsk tsk tsk, sleeping with a colleague from the workplace. Kekk, how unprofessional!'

Bryan recounted his experience that night at the Wilmington Cemetery. He went into great detail explaining his and Andrew's encounter with the little schoolgirl's spirit as well as their subsequent battle with the wraith.

Hailey was so enthralled by Bryan's story that she kept asking questions from time to time. But most of them were about Andrew.

And Bryan being the good friend that he was, exaggerated Andrew's performance causing Hailey to be even more amazed.

A little while later, the duo had reached the periphery of the slums. Bryan looked at Hailey and instructed, "From here on out we will have to keep our guards up. The slum is a dangerous place, especially at night."

Hailey also knew that the people they were looking for were very likely to be found in this area. So she looked at Bryan and solemnly nodded, "I will do my best."

…

Ella walked to the door and asked warily, "Who is it?"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Out of fear, she took a step back. Usually, the people who came for her would always answer. However, today, it was different.

She began to think if it was someone else who had come instead. But this made her even more alarmed.

After all, it was the middle of the night. No one was supposed to come to their house at this time.

Ella stammered as she asked again, "W-Who is it?"

However, this time there were no more knocking sounds. Neither did the person outside answer. Right when she was about to ask again, the door had a hole punched through it by a pale fist.

Right after that, the person outside kicked the door open and entered the house. Panic and fear crept into Ella's heart as well as the rest of the children's as they stared at the blond youth with red eyes staring at them like a hungry animal.

Anthony only momentarily glanced at Jamie and the kids behind him before he intently stared at Ella, specifically her neck.

And before the latter knew it, Anthony had already pounced on her as he viciously pinned her to the ground. His canines elongated as he ravenously bit into Ella's neck and began to suck her warm blood.

Ella screamed in pain and tried to get Anthony off of her but it was futile. All she could do was helplessly try to push Anthony away as she felt the vitality seep out of her.

The kids in the corner started to wail loudly as they saw this happen. Jamie was the first to step forward as he grabbed a knife from a nearby shelf and angrily dashed towards Anthony, "Get off of her, you bastard!!"

Seeing his elder sister get assaulted right in their own home ignited a rage in his heart so strong that he wasn't able to think properly as he blindly charged at the assailant, his eyes spewing hatred and wrath.

Anthony didn't pay much heed to Jamie. He simply looked at him sideways, while still biting into Ella's neck, as he swung his right hand and smacked Jamie right in the head before the latter could even attack.

Jamie's head twisted at an unbelievable angle as he was sent flying across the room. He smashed against the wall and fell limply on the ground, his fate uncertain.