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lifewithparanormal · 8 months ago

Text

Butterfly effect

Chapter 6: The ugly truth...

Index

Previous chapter

The big picture…..

….It's so easy to judge something only based on puzzle pieces scattered around, people pick the bits they like…trying seek their own image with it.

Sometimes they even force it, even when if it doesn't fit properly...the important is that it fits to their liking, right?

But what does it become when the puzzle's construction follows his own natural way? …..It gets cleared with all the facts……some like it….some don't like it….

….But no matter what the thought is, the picture is printed before their eyes. And it's time for those who have constructed it to really see it for what it's worth.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

August 1958….it's now been two weeks since Navarro was bitten by Willard…..and one week since he was brought back in his human form thanks to the totem of spirit control built by his friends. Needing time to rest, he often received the visit of Harold and Mary separately at his parents's home.

But that day was particular, since it was the first time Hal and Mary were in Navarro's room together. ….To be more precise, Mary was not aware that Harold would come today….even though she seemed to know the reason of his arrival.

Nevertheless, she was more than happy to see him. Navarro looked at the two directly coming to each other: greeting, holding hands and…kissing each other on the lips?

''Whoa! Seems I missed some declaration here!'' Navarro almost hiccuped, smiling while laying on his bed.

Laughing a little, foreheads touching each other for some time, the young couple turned towards Navarro.

''Yeah….we figured enough time has passed to tell you….let's say that after experiencing loss almost two times, we weren't going to…'' Harold hesitated.

''It happened during the time we built your totem…'' Mary revealed, strolling her left fingers on her new boyfriend's shoulder.

''Well felicidades for you two!''

Navarro was really ecstatic while saying that, for once in this span of two weeks: it was good news happening in his life. Even if it was not concerning him personally. He nevertheless regained his serious, with a reassuring smirk.

''But you didn't lose me! And we won't lose Willard either, what we did to him was a temporary setback…..once we manage to find a cure for my situation, then we'll transfer it to him as well!''

Under this commentary, Harold and Mary separated from each other, looking aside…getting gloomier, they took some time before gazing at Navarro, never more serious in their life.

''¿Q-Qué pasa?'' Navarro stuttered.

''Felix….there's…..there's something important we have to tell you!'' Mary grimaced from guilt.

Navarro's eye pupils almost shrinked…..whatever was coming, he seemed to know he was not going to like it.

''We….we wanted to tell you earlier….but it was just….we needed to investigate on our own first.'' Hal fixed, almost afraid.

''Out with it already!'' Felix impatiently ordered.

Hal gulped, Mary went forward.

''You know that Matzarathulu case in past June? With the disappearance of Inspector Kenneth?'' Mary opened, under Navarro's quick nod. ''Well….something weird happened to me….and during our analysis of the goop's DNA at my attic, I took an occasion to talk to Harold about it.''

Felix looked at Harold.

''….But I didn't see you talking to each other alone! And while in the way to Mary's attic in her house, you both said you had to take a ''nature's cal-''.'' Navarro quoted with his fingers, but interrupted himself because of the slow realisation. ''Ooooh…''

''Yep, years of drama class totally not wasted.'' Harold brushed off.

Navarro didn't know what to say since he didn't witness the exact discussion, but in Harold and Mary's head, that scene was clear as day!

-…-

Both said PIs were in the kitchen, close to each other, whispering all this time.

''And you're telling me? Why?'' Hal argued.

''Because I feel safe with you, you…you never judge! I fear Navarro would drop everything just to help me and Willard would just….be Willard.'' Mary turned aside. ''I don't want them to be distracted from the main objective of this case even for their friend.''

''Even so, I have to tell them. For Poe's sake Mary, we need as much ressources as possible, defaillance of powers is dangerous!'' Hal affirmed.

''Wait wait…..I don't know why I told you that in the end…..I mean….anyway, we fought Matzarathulu once and….my powers worked here! I'm sure it will be alright!'' the young woman reassured.

Thinking for some time, Harold put his right hand on his flirt's shoulder.

''……That's weird…..do you know why your telepathy didn't work in only this fraternity house?'' he asked.

''I thought it was first because a nasty spirit was here….but….there was nobody in the end, right? We fought it outside.'' Mary convinced herself.

Getting suddendly worried and silent, Harold backed away.

''You have an explanation?'' Mary noticed.

''N-….No, you're probably right!''

Harold said that with a smile, but as he turned away his face grimaced from confusion and some…anger….as he didn't want to believe something he possibly had in mind. -…-

''You….you both hid this from me and Willard?!'' Felix just blurted out loud.

''And we're sorry, we should have told you….but in the end, I was able to use my telepathy normally for the rest of the case, and all the others after during the month!'' Mary excused.

Harold cleared his throat, hands on the edge of the bed.

''But that's not the end of it…..when Mary said that to me…..I felt conflicted and angry! Because of something I saw, and only myself!''

Harold grasped a part of the bed sheets just thinking about it. Mary rode his mind for some time.

''It's because of what you saw for a brief moment when you teleported in Omega Alpha Pi isn't it?'' Mary revealed.

-…-

That scene in OAP that was already witnessed….who played back in both young grandparent's minds…….

''Ergh, if I knew that was going to happen, I would've brought the psychic amplifier.'' Mary complained in low voice.

''If we had that: good luck being subtle with that fashion failure thing on your head then.'' Willard nonchanlently whispered, right hand behind his back.

Mary was going to answer but suddendly, Harold appeared by teleportation behind them…his gaze suddendly shifted to Willard's back.

Yeah…..when…….when I teleported here….and behind them…..I saw Willard's arm on his back…glowing with an aura! -…-

''You mean he…he used his powers? Here?!'' Navarro leaned forward, eyes darted on Harold.

Hand on his forehead, teeth clenching, Harold hesitantly nodded. Then, he let go of Navarro's bed sheets.

''While that detail got to me, I didn't bought it this much attention, maybe Willard just prepared to defend himself. ...But when Mary told me about her power defaillance…..a scenario that was difficult to process printed in my head…'' Hal scratched his hair.

''Harold told me about what he saw during the week we visited you individually and in alternance. And….all became clear.'' Mary mimicked a mind blown with her hands. ''My powers didn't work in Omega Alpha Pi because……Willard, in secret, reflected my psychic waves so I could not read ANYONE's mind!''

Navarro's mouth trembled, so much he had to just sit on the side of the bed, feet on the ground.

''I don't believe it!'' he said, distressed, almost sweating.

''I didn't want to believe it either!'' Hal revealed, sitting side to Navarro, looking at him with regret. ''….Trust me, Felix, I was glad to have Willard in our team, no matter what I thought of him, but ever since that cursed vision…..theories brainstormed in my head, it made me anxious! I didn't want to break our friendship because of some possible conspiracies!'' Hal revealed, sitting side to Navarro.

Mary went towards both PI's, remaining stood up. Once she stopped in front of them, she spoke.

''When we started to investigate during your convalescence…..the question we first asked ourselves was this: Why Willard did this?!''

''Indeed……and the answer to me was clear: didn't you find this weird he insisted to be with Mary when we splitted our team? Not just proposed, INSISTED!'' Harold told to Navarro.

And indeed Navarro found it weird, now that Will's voice replayed in his head….

Wait……Navarro, go with Harold, I'll go with Mary in Omega Alpha Pi.

''Y-….yeah!'' the cursed leader approved.

''My theory was because: whatever past he had at Omega Alpha Pi, he didn't want anyone of us to know, just in case some old members back when Willard was part of that fraternity were still there…..'' Prune assured.

''…….Wait he….that was the real reason he prefered to HELP someone this time?! Why he really didn't want all of us to go in that dangerous club?''

Under Navarro's question, both approved.

''If my telepathy worked that day, something about Will would probably leak in these minds. He wasn't 100% sure it would happen, but he didn't want to take risks!'' Beyer broke down the theory.

Navarro was so taken back, almost in denial, so much that he was almost on the verge of tears.

''No, no, we all heard what he told us right?! About how an ex-friend of his brought him to Omega Alpha Pi when he was 14 and in another school and then-'' Navarro hesitated, as Willard's voice once again echoed through everyone's head.

-An ex-friend part of Omega Alpha Pi got me here doing some side ''jobs'' - -my memories from it are……far from OK, it was…humiliating-

Harold deeply sighed, as he felt what he was going to say was going to deeply affect everyone, specially Navarro.

''I'm sorry…..but all that sob story….was just one big lie, because I've went to see that ex-friend!'' the young adult with glasses dropped, moving away a little from Navarro.

And he was right to do so. Almost as a reflex, Navarro threw his fists on the bed while remaining in the same sitten down position.

''He-He lied! He…he lied to all of us!'' the poor leader maniacally stuttered with anger. ''…That ex-friend, how did you even get in contact with him?''

''Her…..'' Harold Prune corrected. ''And you would be surprised of the things Willard keep in his house!''

Mary used her telepathy to read Harold's mind….and print his vision in her head.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The scene played is almost like she was in his her friend's body: ransacking Willard's wardrobe.

She, or rather Harold, put out a box, filled with school projects, even school yearbooks. He started with the year 1951-1952, with the school name different from Lugosi Junior High school. The school year Willard was in seventh grade.

While the point of view leafed through the book, Harold's voice was heard.

I tried to find clues about the identity of Willard's ex friend……..and strangely, this was the only school yearbook our teammate kept…..finding something took me time, but once I saw it….my heart almost stopped.

It was impossible to tell the color of the pictures of course, but on several group classes picture shots and in some clubs, completly in the twelfth grade section, there was a picture of a goth girl. On each of the pictures she was present, her head was circled in red.

It was a long shot, and I wondered why Willard only kept this yearbook when he was not even a finishing student. ….Curious, I looked at the blank section where friends would usually write their comments or phone numbers…..I only found one message...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back to the trio of PIs, Mary in turn sit down side to Harold on the bed.

''Harold called her on one of these contacts, since it was the only hint we had, and we went to see her in person 3 days ago. Here's what we recorded.'' Mary indicated, taking Harold's tape recorder.

The three friends went out of the bed, only with the tape recorder left on it, Harold pressed play, everyone let the conversation went on…..Navarro becoming more and more uneasy as it progressed.

''…Willard…..yeah, I remember him, nicknamed him Willy! In spring 1951 there was a visiting day for students who were going to get into that school after the summer, and that kid was one of the sixth graders.'' Gricelda's voice remembered, nostalgia in her tone.

''Let me guess: you were affiliated to guide him?'' Harold's voice radically asked.

''Yes. No need to say that when he discovered I had the same interests at him in horror books, we bonded for some time, same when he entered seventh grade, we spent time as much as possible together." the witness's voice revealed.

''……..More than your fellow 12th graders?'' Mary's voice hesitated to say for a split second.

''Try to understand: yes I have other friends, but when I first heard of Willy I got told he would marry horror books if he wanted to, nothing else interested him and it scared his classmates. But me….I was the first person he became truly attached to! His teachers were proud of me for making him come out of his shell.'' Strauss's vocals boasted with nevertheless modesty.

If he wasn't so much distressed by all the info piled on him, Navarro would've laughed.

''Willard? Attached to someone?''

Harold and Mary just shushed at their friend.

''Really, he was like the little brother I never had, and he felt the same with me being his big sister. When I finished high school…it was hard, for both of us. ….Yes, we exchanged some phone conversations. But things happen, and….you go into paths you don't expect.'' the interviewee's voice mysteriously hinted.

Mary's voice on the tape cleared her throat.

''So let me decipher it for you: two years later, you were part of Omega Alpha Pi, and this was when Willard called you back.'' the voice indeed deciphered.

''It was very difficult times, for each of us….there was not really any occasion but to see each other in that social club. OAP's leader back then agreed for him to stand around, under pretext that he needed someone to clean the mess every night.'' Gricelda's call expressed with regret.

During all that conversation by tape recorder, Harold felt like he was there again….the scene played in him and Mary's head once again.

-...-

''So that's it, that's the humiliation Willard went through?'' Harold believed badly, taking notes.

In front of him and Mary sit together, Gricelda Strauss, now 23, was quite changed. Not any dress or makeup of black color, her ponytail hair was now brown though the tip of the hairstyle remained a little black. She denied with her head.

''No, at the contrary, it was not exagerrate to say even the young adult members were quite intimidated by this teenager. …..But again, it was the first impression he usually gave off around everyone.'' the changed woman commented.

She paused for some time, looking at her feet moving from nervosity, before saying this again:

''If anything, he's the one that skipped the steps.''

''Pardon?'' Mary one-shotted.

''You told me he was humiliated, but nobody even gave him the fraternity initiation…however………when he wasn't with me, he started to come out with dangerous ideas and experimented them, on official members!'' the ex goth woman revealed.

The young grandfather stormed up from the comfy couch, dropping his notepad, shouting ''No!'' .

''I'm sorry to say that's the truth!'' The woman said with enough confidence to not even having an ounce of emotion anymore.

''OK no, no way a boss of an entire fraternity would let a teenager trying to impose himself!'' Harold Prune argued, moving around, arms flailed.

''Normally yes, but not the one we had back then. I did try to convince him to expulse Willard, but he didn't care.'' Gricelda cleared her throat, then mimicked a bourgeois voice. ''People love extremes, and as generations of adults keep passing by, we need the youngsters to give us ideas!''

Covering his mouth from disgust, Harold didn't even know what to say, so Gricelda continued talking.

''I guess I didn't know Willard for what he truly was, and what the boss was thinking….all of that….it disgusted me to be part of a club who started to have no honor in its rules!'' Gricelda contempted.

''Then…..did you leave the club?'' Harold inquired.

''I started leaving the club the day Willard went.... too far!'' the ex-gothic lifted up her head. ''He coerced two members and all three pulled an initiation stunt on the boss himself….but they weren't aware he had an allergy and he-…..''

She almost groaned, stopping her own mid-sentence, but pulled herself together.

''When medical aid was required, the two others members had regrets of course….but that face of Willard…..it was like the demon incarnate!'' Gric resumed, hand covering one eye, desperate. ''….Our last conversation wasn't pretty!''

Mary rode Gricelda's mind once again, to witness the flashbacks she had in her head…. -…- In the witness's point of view, she was in front of Willard wearing a fraternity jacket, both talking, though the 19-year old at the time was very agressive in her tone. The place was close to the back of the house.

''I don't want anything to do with you anymore, you hear me?! I quit this club!'' she screamed. ''Oh come on, you'll really blame me for something I didn't know?'' Will brushed off, calmly. ''…Even if you didn't know, do you realise the consequences? You skipped the steps and wanted too much, you're just a kid Willard! What kid does what you just did without remorse? You're lucky he's gonna recover from it!'' Gricelda pointed agressively at her ex-friend.

Mary witnessed it all in Gricelda's mind……the nonchalence of Willard…if only she could intervene…

''And that's what matters right? I'm still the lil' Willy, Grissy!'' the…..''human'' shrugged, not even flinching in face.

Gricelda backed away from desperation, pupils shaking.

''…Don't even DARE to use our nicknames after what you just did. …….You changed!'' Will's ex friend panted several times. ''Or maybe you were always like this, maybe I didn't know your super natural kind enough! Either way…..I won't let you be reckless for the rest of your life!''

She then backed away a few steps.... "Goodbye, Willard!'' Willard then turned her back on her, going away, she didn't even let his last remark flinch her.

''Exactly like the others of your species….shame that I'm a part of it!'' -…-

Back to Gricelda's talk with Daemona's future grandparents, the former cried just to think of this moment, but she was still able to speak, like she was used to facing this aspect of her past now.

''…..I reported to the director of the school about Willard's actions. You know....I hoped the fraternity would just close. But all it mattered was Willard getting expelled! Go figure why that darn fraternity stayed. After tha...Willard didn't call me again, and I lived my own life.'' the oldest adult let off steam verbally.

Mary was as shocked, if not more, than the ex-gothic woman....

In fact….she was taking some time to speak, she shivered, and Harold didn't get why.

''…..Gricelda, I need you to answer me something important right now!'' Mary roughly seeked, the two companions looking at her. ''Wh…..when you were with Willard, did you see something weird behind him?''

''Y…..I mean…yeah? Word, are you able to transport yourself in my mind or what?'' Strauss threw.

During all this recorded conversation that played as a flashback, Mary and Harold didn't tell anything about their profession, and not even their ''friendship'' with Willard…..just that they heard he was humiliated at Omega Alpha Pi….so really…that remark was just a wild guess.

''You're gonna tell me who arrived first right? It was me…I waited for Willard in that corner on the outside….when he came, we switched positions because he was going to bypass me….but before he even came, yeah, I saw a weird mixture behind the house! ….I had the time to touch it…..it was orange….and hard…like cement!'' Gricelda Strauss described, mildly creeped out.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The recorder tape of all the conversation in Navarro's room stopped right after that moment……

...

The first thing Prune and Beyer did were to look at their leader friend…..who had difficulty to hide his dismay! Looking at Harold, and Mary, he stuttered for a good amount of time.

''N-N….No-no-no-no! ¡Tienes que estar bromeando! Tell me it's not what I think!'' Felix panicked.

...

If it was just about Matzarathalu possibly being there that night…but no, something else made Navarro panic like that. Somehow, with all the info that was revealed to him these last minutes about Willard's past….and his true nature, he got it: the tragic last snow that snowball of conspiracy accumulated among the rest! Attempting to catch Navarro's attention by taking his shoulders with his two arms, Harold interpelled him.

''……Felix…I can see you're thinking like us now…..I never wanted it to come to this……out of all the resolves of our cases…..it was the one conclusion I didn't want to be true…..but as much as it pains you….and all of us…..I have proof! I risked my life to keep this only evidence!'' Harold eerily deployed.

Taking his backpack out of him and ransacking inside, the glassy young adult took out two sheets in two individual evidence bags: the one covered with orange cement he found one month ago when they were all in the netherrealm…..and a clean sheet of a written school project!

''….I've been bothered by it ever since I saw that messy sheet!'' Harold showed the cemented paper on his left hand.

my signal

''What Gricelda revealed to us….I was reminded of that sheet. And I swear the writing was like I saw it somewhere, but didn't remember I've went to see in my own home if there was school projects I kept around…..and the truth hit me….''

While saying that last sentence, Harold showed the cleaner sheet to his friend Navarro….he was so in denial he was afraid to look at the evidence. But at one point, he had no choice….he looked at the sheet, who had a similar writing. Was he really sure? While he checked in details, Mary informed the contents of it.

''Sometimes we would do team projects with Willard……when Harold's doubt began to spread….he compared the two papers for DNA.''

On the other sheet, Navarro noticed one word.

….signal.

He then took Harold's remaining sheet from his hands and looked at it.

my signal

….the same writing.

''Other than Matzarathulu.....…Willard's DNA was found on both of these sheets, check and double-check.'' Harold exposed.

Just letting the school essay drop, Navarro staggered towards his bed…sitting on it, curled up, in a small catatonic state. Getting more sad while looking at his friends, the new couple could only turn their head away.

''I never wanted to believe it….but….'' Mary said, head turned.

''….There was never any danger for Willard in this case………..never!'' Hal clenched his fists.

''….He, he manipulated everything, since-…since the very beginning!'' Navarro finally said, eye twitching. ''….He made a deal with Matzarathulu and did everything he could for that truth to not get exposed, didn't he?!''

And, as he concluded that.....he could only think of something Matzarathulu said in that case back in June..............

....Something that seemed innocent at first approach...

Poor fools, humiliated when they least expect it!

-…-

Outside Navarro's room, her mother Tatiana passed by the closed door….she heard some stomping and punches on soft matters, the heavy noise made her jump. Leaning herself, ear almost glued on that door, she listened.

''¡Maldito sea! I-I TRUSTED HIM, WE ALL DID, AND HE STABBED US IN THE BACK!'' Navarro's voice roared, under the punch noises.

''C-calm do-'' Harold's voice whimpered.

''THIS IS HIS BIRTHDAY GIFT ONE MONTH LATE?!'' Felix's voice interrupted. ''AFTER ALL I'VE JUST LEARNT AND COULDN'T STOP, YOU WANT ME TO CALM DOWN?!''

Tatiana couldn't help but breathing heavily, worrying for her son…..there was no names, but she was not naive. She knew it was about Willard, specially since he was the only one who didn't visit. Fist clenched near her heart while her eyes closed, she could only stay here…..let Navarro has his moment with his friends, shedding some difficult tears.

As she heard muffled cries while steps hit the ground, she stood up and went to call her husband.

Back in her son's room, he was now curled up on the ground, against the bed, his two friends snuggling against him to console him, struggling to hold their own tears.

''Is-is it my fault?! Ha-ha-have I been a bad leader? Have I led him this far astray?!'' Navarro choked, tears rolling down.

''Hey hey hey! None of this is your fault, you hear me?!'' Mary insisted.

''…..Thi….this was not his first rodeo I'm sure! No way someone like that was able to manipulate every detail in his first shot without fail! Even if we tried, not sure it would have changed anything. He was too far gone when he transformed into that…vampire!'' Harold precised, managing to control his tears.

''….Because that would not be the first time he made alliances and that's what turned him into this? Well HOW GOOD TO KNOW!'' Navarro growled, fueled with nothing but revenge.

Leaving his grisp onto Navarro, standing up, Harold Prune was filled with determination.

''Now you understand why we won't find a cure for Willard, he deserves to suffer all eternity for what he did….'' Hal expressed, kneeling down. ''But I promise you this Felix: no matter what will become of the Phantom Investigators, me and Mary are gonna investigate Willard's movements every chance we get, and if we find any dealings he made with any demon, we will brief you about it!" he then seriously promised.

''Yeah! Because then NO ONE will fall for his misdeeds! He may have monsters at his side…..but if somehow there's people out there with powers like us….they'll all be against him!'' Mary assured, arms still around Navarro.

Wiping away his tears, Navarro could only hug Mary back….right now, having what was left of his friends was what mattered to him….way before finding a cure for himself.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And with that….all was finally told.

What was there even left to say to the four children standing in front of Navarro? Who could only express silence.

And given that, in 2003, he was still standing with that same young apperance…only with a soul patch under his mouth. The present PIs could only guess that difficulties happened.

''....Do you see my point Daemona?'' Navarro tried to prove.

Daemona was snapped out of it once her name was heard….that's right….all that story was linked to the argue she had with her friends….and deeply hit Navarro.

''Do you see what can happen when you start to isolate a team without even taking the time to communicate? The path it can lead some to? Your grandparents and I had to lie to everyone and everything! About Willard, how I didn't age, why the PIs disbanded! This path only got worse and we didn't expect ourselves to fall for it....there's a reason your father is oblivious to what your grandparents were, we all chose to put that behind us....how could we even explain that us, the PIs, couldn't even see one of our teammates betraying us?!'' Navarro ranted. ''....All of that...for an argue that could've been avoided if I listened more...to what Hal wanted to say, instead of giving ultimatums!''

There was a long silence from all the kids, who just looked at Navarro breathing from getting this weight out. Daemona suddenly got closer.

''Profes-…..Navarro, ……do you really think ANY of us here is like Willard?!'' She said, with a little tone of deception.

''Don't make me say words out of my mouth!'' Navarro denied. ''I trust your judgment, you're all the most sharpest teenagers I know. I just want you to be aware that if a mentor can make a mistake, then his students can easily make it too! And one day you will grow up….challenges will get in your way!''

With the most reassuring attempt to smile, Navarro kneeled to face Daemona at the same height.

''Don't let the pride of leading a team isolate your friends like it nearly did with me and your grandparents…….and unfortunately went too far with Willard. I don't want you to go through a path of lies like I did!'' Felix put it simply.

Kira suddendly started laughing, arms crossed.

''Professor, please, I appreciate your concern, but none of us is like Willard.'' she assured.

She stood up, leaving her chair aside and put her hand on Daemona's shoulder, more close to the professor.

''You know…one time I was burned out by the Pis.'' Kira Williams revealed

''….¿Ah sí?'' Navarro's right eyebrow raised.

''Si amiga!'' the dark-skinned girl answered.

''Amigo.'' Navarro corrected.

''Amigo, To the point that I wanted to skidaddle out of it! ……However, not any justification would excuse a situation where I would personally betray my friends for my own DJ interests!''

While saying that, Kira looked at the picture of the 50s PIs, with Navarro and Daemona's grandparents celebrating Willard bringing a book, staring directly at the latter.

''You know what I see when looking at this Plowrong? I see a coward with no will to adapt to any situation, only caring about his own interests and took the easy way out when things didn't go at his tastes!'' she then gazed at Navarro. ''He was your friend so no offense: but who needs enemies with people like that who have no place in a team?!''

Daemona tapped Kira's shoulder, smiling wildly, relieved to learn of her position in this team as things went sour.

''However, Navarro's right: if we don't want to lose each other, we need to communicate about our needs.'' Daemona approved.

She finally turned to Jericho, sitting along with Casey.

''Jay, I'm sorry about the way I acted earlier! Is there something you want to tell us about your concerns these last few days?'' the girl leader asked.

''…….my school year!'' Jericho just spew out.

''….Huh?'' Kira interjected.

''If I don't study more seriously this year…I'm gonna have to restart my eight grade all over again. But this job takes much of my time.... and-……I still like being hanging out with you dudes. …It's just I don't want me being late have a stain over our friendship.'' Jericho moped, taking some time to look at his friends.

While Casey, Daemona and Kira smiled with compassion, Navarro got suddenly hit by that revelation....he tried hard to not express it in front of the students....but it was like....he wanted to laugh.

....That was it?

...That was the reason of this argument between his students?

....Maybe because of his past and all his link with Daemona's grandparents, he saw too much of his own group in the Phantom Investigators of today, and that's what made him laugh: making the situation more dramatic than it actually was. ....How could a fear of doubling a school year could even compare to lies and betrayal?

Despites the great sharpness of these young teenagers almost comparing to finishing students, they really were just kids....

....But that storytelling probably was for a good cause, he told to himself. With that, these four kids seemed more healthy to communicate now, putting all the stress behind them.

....But never again he was going to pretend the worse with a different generation!

...Back to the teenagers's discussion

''…..Of course, we understand! And don't worry, you'll still be the same to us no matter what happens! Even better: we'll help you study.'' Casey reassured.

''You're students too, Jericho…..and I'm sure there's a lot of people with powers like you all! I've been a PI too, so don't hesitate to take a break from supernatural from time to time…I can manage it now that you know my past!'' Felix smiled.

''That's exactly what I was going to say!'' Daemona added.

''…Gang, you rock!'' Jericho stood up.

The spiky-haired kid used his telekinesia to drag his three teammates towards him, into a group high five, under everyone's surprised scream.

''Have we really found a new record about lazyness?!'' Casey remarked with a little tomfoolery, under everyone's laugh.

Laughing as well, Navarro went away.

''I'll let you manage what you'll do about that thing in your soul collector, I have stuff to do.'' he decided.

A long silence ensued while the 63-year old young vampire continued to walk.

''OH RIGHT! OUR CASE'' Daemona screamed, running crazy followed by all her friends. ''GIRL, WAIT FOR US!'' Kira objected, running.

Snickering, Navarro took a plate of feasts in the fridge.....once he closed it, he looked at the calendar....

October 2003.....right now it was the 23th day. Once he turned the page to november, he put his finger on the date of November 1st and 2nd.

El Día de Muertos

Sighing a little, he then went back with the plate of feasts towards the basement.

Even if I'm still under that curse…..and despites everything…

….I'm hopeful.

Because really, keeping my heart has allowed me to still have contacts with the supernatural despites my age…

And with that connection between these two worlds…even with the difficulties….

No one is truly gone, and can only expand!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally getting at the bottom of the basement with that plate of food, Navarro looked at the beautiful art he started preparing.

An ofrenda…..with all the pictures of his own family, with candles that had yet to be lit. On top of one of the steps were a picture of his parents, way older.

(Original drawing by @beatleswings)

Besides…..friend's families are also family to me. Daemona, you have inherited your grandmother's backtalk and passion, your grandfather's sharpness and bravery even if you never knew him!

….I really see both of them in you!

Putting the feast at one empty place of the ofrenda, Navarro then turned to a small table with small food and candles, where there was a picture of Hal and Mary at their oldest age. Comparing the two pictures, Harold's seemingly colorful hair, stubble and mustache told he…..was way younger than Mary.

In a trashcan was a frame of Willard, in the age of 18, his last year as a Phantom Investigator. Surprising even himself, Felix took it for some time, stared at it.

The only one I don't even put here now is, ironically, the one truly dead to me.

Willard….I didn't know you for what you truly were, and it took me time to accept it! I'll probably never forgive you, for all your deceptions….and what you did to me!

….And yet….I can't help but keep asking myself one question.

….In these decades…your connection to Matzarathulu, and your deal….what was it truly?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The year is 1958…more particulary, June 1958 the night following Felix's team argue, in the forest close to Omega Alpha Pi.

Remaining in hiding, Matzarathulu suddendly saw a silouette walking slowly towards him.

''Well well…..if it isn't the oh mighty mortal.'' Matza cockily said.

As the shadow revealed himself, more into Willard Plowright wearing the same disguise as he did when he went with Mary at Omega Alpha PI, only this time he had a coat.

Willard didn't even flinch at the mocking tone.

''How are you feeling? Not inflating yourself too much?!'' the spirit of humiliation remarked, arrogant.

''….The only thing I see inflating here is you! Careful, you'll deflate!'' Willard sassed back with the most disdain he could have.

Matzarathulu growled.

''How dare you speak to an immortal like that?!'' his voice echoed in the area.

''Do you realise all the mess I had to pick up because of your impatience?! I had to stage a fight with my team just so I could see you in private!'' Will raised his voice enough to make his complice shut up.

It's almost like the spirit backed away, judging by the goop left in front of him.

''I told you to throw that message away after reading it! One of my teammates discovered it! If my ''boss'' hasn't intervened, we would both have been in trouble!'' Will grounded, never more menacing in his life.

''Oh…you found it back? And what are you gonna do about it?! You're in no position to intimidate me!''

Immediately under these words, Matza threw his orange goop at Willard, the latter, unimpressed, used his power reflecting to make the matter float and threw it back at his accessory....he received all the goop, and was unable to move.

Under his complaints, Willard moved forward, getting the extreme hair dryer out of his coat then made all the goop around Matzarathulu melt.

''Don't forget, I could destroy you in a snap if I wanted to!'' Will said, pointing at his own glowing arm once all was melted.

The strange creature chuffed, letting Willard have it with his frustration.

''Four years ago, when I met you eering around that fraternity, I wrote you a letter....''

Wait for my signal, when the fraternity will be closed for dangerous activities, I'll contact you, then you'll move in, sign a contract with naive university students and you can have their soul for all eternity, with infinite humiliation as energy to power you up!

Ending his citation, Willard took a deep, menacing breath.

''Why is it that no later than yesterday, I see you moping around that fraternity who is still open and learnt you've been doing this for a week?!'' he then concluded.

''Tsk, I have no time for waiting, there's no guarantee I will find this much people to have their soul, relying on three times the mortals present is quicker even if I have to hide....plus, I can't resist the smell of pizza...'' Matzarathulu justified, keeping his composure.

The corrupted PI took a deep breath, trying really hard to not go berserk for these stupid reasons. He then waved his index, noising with his tongue. Using his power reflector to play with Matza's fresh goop, he formed a portal and a small policemen getting sucked in it.

''And because of your impatience and that portal you created, an inconveniency made it open! People SAW your goop you pizza-face!'' Will insulted. ''If I hadn't reflected my teammate's telepathy to hide any trace of both our presences in this fraternity, you could've said goodbye to all your projects! And despites my actions, you now lost your own house thanks to my team's intervention!''

He got progressively more angry while saying that, Matzarathulu didn't know what to say.

''Have you ever heard of the saying: to lose patience is to lose the battle?'' the powerful investigator inhaled deeply, expiring loudly by the mouth. ''If you would not have done any of that: that missing officer would have done his job right; the fraternity would be closed; and you would got all the time you needed to power yourself up, invisible to others! Now that inspector doesn't even remember why he went there in the first place! You know the time it will take for that social club to close now?!''

Truly, the amateur creature didn't thought of it like that.

''So here's what we're going to do now: you're going to open that portal, erase it from the inside and stay in whatever doghouse you'll find!'' Will ordered like it nothing standing in front of him.

Showing the dryer he kept in hand, the mastermind pursued verbally his list of action.

"Meanwhile I'll use this and my powers to erase any of your traces and buy time so my team doesn't get you. This time you wait until the fraternity close and I'll contact you''

''And how will you do that if you keep your double agent shtick with the PIs, putrid human?!'' Matzarathulu dared to talk back.

Willard laughed, throwing his gadget aside, getting closer to his accomplice.

''You think this is my first babysitting with your kind? You really want to test me?'' the human scowled with his mouth. ''You know, I just discovered my mere presence can open nethergates like the one you created now, all thanks to my other activities and inflating side of evil! And I've learnt of me and my kind's growing reputation.''

His puppet gasped in surprise while Willard formed a weird shape with the goop…..like a head wearing a judge wig with horns.

''So how about I pay a visit to that ''Judge Psyjaak'' and tell him a simple mortal, a PI no less, have helped a monster like you not straying from his own path? I wonder how humiliating it would be for the spirit of humiliation to be demoted from its own status!'' he spitted at one millimeter of his victim's big eye without fear.

Screaming from bitter, Matzarathulu finally gave up.

''All right all right, say no more, I'll follow your way.'' Matzarathulu winced.

Willard went forwards, shaking one of Matzarathulu's members with his own hand.

''But once I sign my contract, you and I are over, you leave me alone! If you do that, I don't snitch you to your friends!'' Matzarathulu ordered.

''…..I always intended that anyway....And don't worry about me, I already have a plan to hinder my team's activities for a good while!'' Willard backed away, then turned around. ''See you at the end of the social club.''

''Wait!''

Stopping, Plowright turned back to his companion.

''….You're a pretty arrogant mortal, one day it will cost you….but you know what…I can respect your honesty and spiritual armor!'' Matzarathulu complimented despites everything. ''…Can I seek why an human like you is helping monsters like me?''

Taking some time to reflect, Willard sit down.

''Do you know why I'm fascinated by horror books?" Will opened with another question, then answering after a few seconds. ''....Someone like me, spending time in a club of litterature, it's difficult to picture, isn't it?''

''....It's true that you really looks like the black sheep of this group!'' Matzarathulu remarked.

''And I'm fully able to admit it....I'm fascinated by horror novels because: some endings are pretty tragic….sometimes heroes win….sometimes it's ambiguous! All the combination of words human put out of their pen to create an appealing story! But honestly….none of that appealed to me.''

Patting his legs to make the dust go away, Willard pursued his own telling of visions.

''The real thing that gets me about all these books are that: ….entities are pretty stupid and dependent!''

''I beg your pardon?!'' Matzarathulu interrogated.

''They flatter their ego with their master plan, they hurt humans, they despise them…..but what they don't realise…is it's that these same humans that drive them to become anything in the first place!'' Will explained, for a rare time having some passion in his gestures. ''.....All the stories humans invent related to fantasy or monsters....just to make their children believe in fairytales, or discipline them to not stay awake at night! ....Your kind not realising that you're just the results of our decisions is infuriating to me!''

Power reflecting the goop around him, Willard formed Matzarathulu itself, chasing an human.

''Now that you actually exist in our world, it's further proving it. After all, it's one of the human's weaknesses who power you up isn't it?'' Willard smiled.

''…Humiliation!'' his monster ''friend'' quoted.

Willard stood up, opening his arms.

''At the end of the day, I strongly believe it's humans who control monsters's best interests, not the opposite….you're only tools!'' the evil mastermind abhored. ''I couldn't care less if self-proclaimed independants entities dominate the world, one day or another, they're left with nothing as long as humans get used to them and resist! Even lost souls who're not evil and looking for closure are relying on humans to help them!''

Fingers on his chest, he continued his rant.

''….You see? My teammates and the netherrealm entites I made deal with can interpret whatever cliché or absurd backstory they want with me like I'm a fictionnal vilain. But in my opinion, I'm just a guy who'll stop at no end to see the laws of supernatural gets put in its proper place! ....And that's what got me my powers.'' Will revealed, lifting his arm surrounded with purple aura and black sprinkles.

Willard then turned away, digging this last advice in Matzarathulu's head.

''So choke on that when you'll finally get what you want: when you're willing to do anything, amazing things can happen!'' He walked a few steps, then turned around, smiling creepily, index on his mouth. ''Oh and shht, watch out for the bogeyman of your kind this late at night!''

And under these cryptic words, he went away, not even waving at what he helped all this time, only leaving his puppet in complete silence…… …No.....he was so out of it, he said to himself. An human so far gone from reality and so sucked in his hobbies that it consumed him.....Matzarathulu almost felt humiliation himself for being intimidated by…that mortal! How could that even be possible? He was just an human….

…Right?

THE END

#phantom investigators #fanfiction #fanfic #handdrawing #multi-chapter #chapter 6 #butterfly effect #daemona prune #jericho #kira williams #casey #felix navarro #harold prune #mary beyer #mary prune #willard plowright

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