Spirit Hunting Union

River nodded in agreement.

Then, they decided to meet up by 5 pm.

Quinn left the basement to get some rest. But the first thing he thought about upon reaching his room was checking his ability.

One thing was remembering. Another was how to call the screen back. And Quinn had no idea.

The thing had already gone off after he had finished reading the message.

Damn.

Anyway, Quinn slept for a while. After some hours, he woke up and took a cold bath. God, how much it stung to do that with bruises all over his body.

He would literally kill himself if he stayed longer. So, he zoomed out quickly.

Quinn then slipped into a loose-fitting shirt and a pair of black trousers.

Now, he was ready to head out.

Just two minutes to 5 o'clock.

But he hesitated at the door.

Quinn rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"Why is this thing not coming out? I mean, how do I summon it?"

But there is no way he could think of.

"Whatever…"

So, he went downstairs. River was already waiting. Thus, they stepped outside.

Quinn instantly grinned, seeing the outside world again. It had been a while since he stepped out… who knows how long?

Oh wow, these people drive a 2024 Escalade? The car had a cream colour, the seats were plush. And the air inside gave a woody, comforting scent.

Well, these folks aren't so outdated after all.

The car revved out of the neighbourhood.

But Quinn noticed River looking back at the house somehow. He wondered what that was for.

While she drove, Quinn inquired,

"Excuse me, how do you even re-summon that screen? The Curse, I mean."

River responded, not taking her eyes off the front,

"Just think of what you want to check. With intent. It knows what is on your mind."

Quinn raised his brows.

"Oh. That simple? Thanks."

"Yeah."

And so, Quinn did as she said. Surprisingly, the screen was right in front of his face.

But the other thing staring back at him? A cringy ability.

Quinn's throat ran dry, eyes stuck on the screen. His lips parted.

'Seriously? This is my ability?'

[New Ability: Dance of Fart 'Skunk'.]

[Description: The power to release offensive odours lies before you.]

Just the kind of description a dumb thing would come up with!

Quinn sighed and stared into the evening sky. The sky was orange. And the city was as beautiful as he remembered them to be.

Good thing he wasn't reborn into some ancient world like in those manhwa. How would he even cope with that?

Finally, they reached Quinn's previous neighbourhood.

The familiar heat scorched his chest painfully as he saw their old house.

Quinn sighed.

Before they even got out, River handed him a white mask.

She instructed quietly,

"Cover your face with this."

Quinn wore it in a second.

And both of them walked closer to the house.

It was a simple building with one storey, one entrance, and a moderate compound. Flower pots were placed here and there, very close to the low wooden fence.

Quinn smiled wryly under the mask.

"Don't tell me she still waters them." because they looked as fresh as he had left them.

He exhaled sharply, releasing the tightness in his chest. But it returned.

A set of clothes was left unfolded on the long bench outside. While his mum wasn't the kind to do that.

She would rather get the clothes inside first if she wasn't folding immediately.

Right then, the entrance door creaked open.

Quinn gasped.

'Rhen!'

He had taken a step closer to the fence when River gave him a look. She was warning him; he knew it.

In the blink of an eye, Quinn's other friend also came out. Ivy.

A hand painfully clawed at his heart.

'You guys…'

Immediately, he could hear Ivy nagging Rhen,

"Get the clothes inside already. Why are you so slow?"

Quinn had thought of Rhen's possible response before the guy even said it:

"Keep it down, will you? That's exactly what I'm out here to do."

Quinn chuckled bitterly.

"Still as silly as ever."

If they still nagged this much that day at the hall, then they're insane. But Quinn bet they didn't. They would have been more concerned about getting both him and themselves out of the fire.

However, for some reason…

Quinn swallowed.

… For some reason, he was pulled back inside while they escaped. The last thing he recalled was Ivy's terrified face half-blocked by the debris closing the entrance. The heat was pulling him back. And he had no power over it.

Maybe not even the heat. It felt more like someone than something.

"Who are you guys?"

Quinn's mind drifted back to the present as he heard Ivy's voice. He locked eyes with his friends. His chest tightened until it hurt to breathe.

Without thinking much about it, he leaned forward. And shouted

"It is…"

"Want to scare them to death?" River whispered, her tone sharp.

Quinn clenched his fists and leaned back slowly.

"If not, then stay back."

That moment, Rhen and Ivy looked at each other. Then, they slowly turned, heading inside. Cautiously.

Quinn gritted his teeth.

If he were already here, he should at least see his mom!

Curse this mask!

He should… he should let her know he's alive.

His breathing firmed.

As though reading his mind, River warned,

"You'll only mess things up further. Don't be impulsive."

Quinn's corneas reddened.

"So be it then…"

… Right as he reached for his mask, someone gently emerged at the entrance. Quinn gasped. He stammered,

"M-mom?"

And it was her.

She was still the same figure. Brought the same warmth to the heart at sight. Hair as elegant as sunset. Smile as gentle as the twilight moon.

But all that was just in Quinn's imagination. Or his past view of her. Now, she was… she was so different. What happened to that smooth skin of hers?

She always said "black" symbolises despair - why was she wearing a black gown?

She never had wrinkles. She always smiled. Her braids were always well-kempt.

But why not anymore? Why? Why?!

Quinn gritted his teeth.

'It's all because of me!'

He couldn't reach out. Just standing there like a statue.

"I am… I…" But his teeth pressed against each other.

Quinn grunted.

…

River frowned.

"Um?"

Something suddenly changed. Everything changed. She could feel it.

In an instant, she gasped. Her hand clasped her temple. And the other clutched the wooden fence, almost snapping it apart.

She grunted to Quinn,

"It's near."

Quinn blinked.

"What is?"

She didn't answer.

She just needed to focus more. Just… a little bit more.

But in a moment, River's eyes widened upon realization. About what she was getting wrong.

Her back straightened instantly. And she looked around.

Then she gasped.

"Huh?"

There at the far corner was the shabbily dressed man from whom all the dark scent was coming from.

Not of anything else. But that of a SPIRIT.

River glanced left when she heard a scratching sound.

Then she saw Quinn's male friend sprawled on the ground, shivering while staring at the man. Same reaction from the girl too.

She glanced forward.

'They recognise him as well.'

And in a second, the Spirit vanished from the corner.

River instructed Quinn,

"Follow me!"

And she went for the chase.

She rounded the corner in the blink of an eye. That was when the man walked quickly into another one.

River smirked and rushed after him. When she caught up close in the narrow walkway, he attempted to run again.

But River disappeared as though she were made of nothing human. And reappeared right before him.

Finally, she threw a solid kick to his torso.

The attack sent his back sliding backwards over the ground.

River exhaled.

The man's hood slowly slipped off his head as he got up.

River exhaled again. It was the same one with a long scar on his face, hovering right above the black ocean whenever she catches the scent.

Hovering above, not half-buried inside.

There was a clear difference.

River affirmed,

"Good job hiding till now."

Then, the asshole took out the purple liquid jar. And showed it to her.

He tilted his head as he asked,

"And why do you think I chose not to, anymore?"

It dawned on River. She gasped.

"Crazy bastard."