MBUS Book II : Nahat Adelaidein Roosevelt

THE VISITORS

WARNING: BRUTAL SCENES, HARSH WORDS, ANGER ISSUES, KILLING, DEATHS AND TRAUMA ARE PARTS OF THIS STORY.

-

'·..➭ chapter twenty eight
⇉ demon march arc

The soft rhythm of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room now.

Jass's breathing had evened out, shallow and steady, her body sinking deeper into the hospital bed's pale sheets. The harsh lines of pain and confusion on her bruised face softened, the fleeting madness in her eyes replaced by a fragile stillness.

Achexen remained seated beside her, fingers lightly brushing the back of Jass's hand before letting it rest gently on the bed. The weight of what had just unfolded lingered heavy in the sterile air — M's voice, the chilling presence lurking beneath Jass's skin, the threat veiled beneath her fractured smile.

For a long moment, Achexen just watched. The pale glow of the fluorescent lights cast long shadows, painting the room with cold, flickering light. Outside, the world continued, unaware of the fragile war raging within these four walls.

Achexen swallowed hard, the knot in her chest tightening. What was happening to her friend? To Jass?

Her mind raced through every detail, every word spoken. This wasn't just a broken soul or a split mind. It was something darker, more dangerous — something that had clawed its way out of the depths, something that claimed a part of Jass.

A shiver ran down Achexen's spine.

This wasn't just illness.

It was war.

Achexen's fingers tightened into a fist, knuckles whitening. She glanced down at Jass's sleeping form, fragile and vulnerable.

Who are you? she whispered, more to herself than to the empty room.

Her voice was soft but determined.

"Hindi ka mawawala sa amin, men," she promised.

Achexen reached for her phone with deliberate calm, the device cool and heavy in her palm. Her thumb hovered, hesitating for only a moment before she pressed Blacksin's name.

The line connected almost immediately.

"Blacksin," she said quietly, voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "We need to talk. Now."

A pause.

Then, his calm, deep voice.

"I'm here."

Achexen took a deep breath.

"This is bigger than we thought."

"Blacksin," she began, voice low, measured, "something's wrong. I mean... more than we expected."

Napatingin si Achexen sa mukha ni Walter na may bitbit na bag ng ice cream na naguguluhan sa sinabi nito.

"What's wrong? Is something wrong with Jass?" Tanong nito.

Si Achexen, hindi niya alam paano ba niya ito sasabihin na hindi siya magmumukhang may tama sa ulo. Dahil sino rin ang maniniwala sa nakita niya? Animong na sa palabas lang siya at sinaniban si Jass bigla ng masamang ilemento.

"Go on," Blacksin's voice came, steady but tense.

Achexen swallowed, gathering her thoughts. "When Jass woke, she wasn't herself. Not really. It was like... like there was someone else inside her. She called herself 'M.'"

Mas lalong naguluhan si Walter, "M?"

"Yeah," Achexen whispered. "She—it—said it's a part of Jass. The side she's buried deep. The angry, broken side. But it's more than just a split personality. It's... dangerous. It knows things, talks about punishing the world, protecting Jass in a way that feels... off."