Bridge Jumper Comes Back To Life For Help: The Century Curse

026

The front seats of the car felt more appropriate now that he wasn't feeling ill. Ian imagined how awkward it would've been if Reity had demanded him to get in the back as they approached the car earlier. But now that they were almost at his sister's home, a sense of relaxation took over him. He knew there was going to be lots more to do, but just being able to sit on that couch would be enough for him to mentally reset.

"Ah, this street," Ian pointed at the green sign with white lettering reading 'Brow.'

"Wait, you're not taking us back to your house, are you?" Reity completed the turn, but stopped on the corner.

"I told you I was taking you to meet the girl."

"Ian, that's where I grabbed you from!" The detective let out a sigh of frustration. He wasn't sure if it was directed at him, or the situation, and it was bumming him out. The fact that she hadn't changed out of her relaxing looking home attire made it feel like he'd just let down a friend and not an officer of the law. Ian could do nothing to mend her disappointment, but ponder over the details of the circumstances.

Figuring that every detail she'd filled him in on was concrete, he had to assume he'd been attacked in his residence, sometime after Hanna left. That left him with the undeniable truth that the basement he was bound with Astuo, was his own. But, none of that lined up with the fact that he was well aware that his sister was home, and would never allow for something like that to befall him. None of it made any sense, but even if something had happened to Citrus, while the assailant was targeting him, he knew of one person who'd still be hidden away in the attic.

"Hey Detective, I know this may seem like a terrible idea. But I still believe our best bet to get answers about any of this is to go take a look."

"If you're saying my answers lie with the individual you claim is in that house, then I agree with you. But you're in front. Got it?"

With an accepting nod, they pulled in front of the house, stepped out of the car, and entered through the front door. Everything was just as he'd always known it, the kitchen was in order, and so were the rest of the ground level floors. The only things out of place was an empty sink without at least one used coffee mug from this morning, and the basement door being left open. But Reity reassured him that it was how she'd left it after rescuing him. If that were the case, then he assumed the basement was left the way she described as well.

Returning to the kitchen, Ian guided Reity to one of the kitchen seats, "you're not gonna tell me to sit down, then take off are you?"

Ian pulled the seat out for her, "no, she's just upstairs, I'll yell for her from here if it makes you feel more comfortable."

"Do as you wish," but Ian knew she didn't mean it. He didn't want to upset her or make her anymore uncomfortable than she already was.

Sticking with his suggestion, he leaned out from the kitchen doorway hanging onto the frame like a bird spreading its wings and looked up the stairs. "Diana! It's Ian, could you come down for a minute?"

Even though 11 in the morning was still early for some, he assumed she was awake. Ian had never shouted for Diana like that before, so he wasn't sure what he was expecting when rapid footsteps began stomping down the staircase.

"Are you okay, Nian?!" She shouted, continuing down the stairs, her stomps transitioning to the carpet.

"Yeah, I'm okay, but before you fly down here too fast I have a—" But he started the warning too late. She was already down the steps, her sock covered feet causing her to throw on her human e-brake.

"Who's this?" The white haired girl's cheeks tinted red as she seemed unsatisfied with her appearance during first impressions.

Ian gestured his hands from Diana to the woman sitting at the kitchen table. "Diana, this is detective—"

Puked splashed against the table surface as a violent, "bleh," sent the pair jumping back. Surprisingly, the white top girl didn't get any green liquid on her clothes. But her face seemed as though a second bout was approaching as she stood from the table and dove her head into the kitchen sink.

After many failed regurgitations, it seemed her stomach was finally empty. Ian was already on his sixth washrag, but the discoloration was finally clear from the table and floor. Ian pulled out a tube of sanitizing wipes, and slapped one on the table. Diana took the dirty rags outside in a plastic grocery bag, and returned, the team of cleaners successfully finished cleaning the mess they indirectly created.

Diana raised her fist to Ian, shrugging her shoulders while a too cool for school look resided on her face, "fist bump?"

Ian chuckled a bit, and shrugged his shoulders back as if to tell her, "why not?"

The two proceed to tap each other's knuckles, but suddenly, a shock shot through his hand from the point of contact.

"Ah! What the hell was that?" He shook his hand vigorously, trying to get rid of the surge that was more painful than your typical static shock. "Are you okay?"

He looked at Diana, but her eyes did not meet his, the lids of her visual interpreters were shut. It seemed she lost consciousness, as her body began to descend to the floor. Before he could even react to grab her, she was down laying on the carpeted hallway floor.

"Diana?!"

"Ian!" That was the first time the mellow voice in his head had elevated in any fashion. Astuo's voice didn't strike as any other emotion than mellow, but this time, it seemed like an urgent mellow. "I would advise against touching her again, we will not win this fight. We need to exit the building."

"Why? What's going on, Astuo?!" He spoke to her, panicking too much to speak in his head.

"My fault. I was ill prepared. Death is strong in her. Branded by a master of the craft."

But as he comprehended her sentence, a being different from Diana stood above her.

"Breaking news! This kid has got himself a little friend!" The familiar gameshow voice echoed through the house, the smoky human form directing an invisible crowd's attention towards Ian.

"Step outside. He will not leave his body."

"What about—"

"Only you will be harmed, because I am within!"

Though he felt familiar with Rycklid, judging the true nature of these beings was probably not the best call. Listening to the one within him, he ran for the front door, swinging it open and throwing himself out it. The door slammed against the wall, and Ian tumbled down the few concrete steps that were there.

"I will see you soon, kid!"

Looking back, he saw Rycklid one last time before the door gently swung shut from the force of hitting the wall.