Chapter Four
Quinn followed him outside.
Silas moved through the next narrow corner and then dismounted the stairs. Quinn sighed as he took in the house's structure - it was the same as that of the average buildings he was familiar with.
'Poor yet again.'
They soon entered the small, cosy living room. No digitals. No frames on the wall. Just a couple of couches and a centre table. And a bunch of candles stacked in the corner.
Wait, are these people really living in 2024?
Silas gestured towards the couch behind Quinn.
"Have a seat."
Quinn reluctantly did so. But his eyes couldn't stop moving everywhere. And they both knew what he was thinking about.
Especially when Quinn gazed at the ceiling while blowing air through his mouth.
Quinn asked,
"Don't you lot have one of those? An electric fan?"
Silas replied rather cryptically,
"No, we don't. There's no need for one."
Quinn looked here and there, surprised.
"So, you guys don't feel heat? Wow, you must be so resistant to a lot of things. But remember I still am yet to be like you all. So…"
Silas chuckled at his whining. His lips parted, but he didn't say anything for a while. He just held his gaze at Quinn.
After a deep sigh, he sympathised with a smile,
"You're perfectly nailing it at pretending to be fine. The past members had thrown a tantrum right after we told them everything. But you're different."
Quinn gritted his teeth slightly at the statement. His heart pounded.
A heart that knows the truth when it's said.
But Quinn didn't ponder much on it.
He suddenly stuck his finger at Silas.
"Can I be honest with you, old man?"
Silas raised his brows. But not in an annoyed manner. A sort of 'passive' type, instead.
"Old man? I'm just thirty four, boy."
Boy? Seriously? He's only some years older… Oh, it was actually an eight-year difference. Still!
Quinn sighed.
"Never mind."
A few seconds ticked by.
The next thing Quinn would hear was the crunchy sound of a car's tyre moving over gravel from outside. It seemed like someone had just arrived.
Most probably, the other team members.
Quinn cleared his throat. At that moment, Silas walked over to the window and peeped. And he mumbled something Quinn couldn't hear.
Afterwards, the door to the living room opened. Quinn saw a woman enter and the figure of another person walk away behind her.
… "I will make some coffee."
The tiny, feminine voice faded with that figure.
And now, the woman was inside. Her body seemed to attract all air particles at once, which made it difficult for Quinn to breathe well.
But unexpectedly, she gave him a bright smile immediately when their eyes met.
"Are you the new guy?" Her face showed wrinkles as she smiled like that.
Quinn gently rose from his seat. And something… one thing about her smile made him do the same.
He replied in a warm tone, bowing slightly,
"Hello, ma'am. I am Quinn Vale."
Quinn bowed a second time.
This particular woman was clearly aged. All her Japanese-styled hair and eyebrows had turned grey. She wore burnt rose lipstick. And the ocean-cream blouse and black skirt added to her simple, yet warm appearance.
'I can see her in this woman.'
The "her" was his mother. Who else?
The woman walked closer to Quinn, held one of his arms lightly and sat together on the couch. She further gave him a gentle pat.
Her next question came with concern,
"How are you feeling now?"
Quinn responded with the same energy.
***
Just as they finished talking, the last member entered the room.
It was a girl.
Somewhat around Quinn's age if he guessed it right. Or older.
She had golden hair packed atop with a black hairpin. Her face was a perfect oval. And she had a full-standing slender body tucked in a black gymsuit.
Anyways, she was just the direct opposite of Lady Maya - the kind old woman. Oh heavens, how safe Quinn felt around that soul.
This other girl was so cold-looking for no reason. But other than that, Quinn would say she was pretty. Yes, so pretty.
But it felt strange the first time he thought a girl was attractive was when he had transformed. Maybe this new body is quite a womanizer?
God, hope not…
Now that he has met everyone, Quinn knows his boundaries within the team. He could get along with everyone but the golden-haired girl.
Actually, Quinn thinks someone could teach her some manners. Why would she make coffee for everyone except the newcomer in their house? Not really visitor-friendly.
Anyway, he would rather not worry about that for now.
Because the team seemed to have a more important thing to discuss.
Silas turned to the girl and asked,
"Were you later able to look into that fellow?"
She nodded back. And after some seconds, she replied,
"I did. Located him. But only for a few seconds before he disappeared again."
Lady Maya raised her brows. And breathe out loud.
"We had better catch him soon. Or there will be more people who die." Then, she glanced at the girl. "But… are you sure it's the same vision from that day? The same sensation?"
The girl nodded affirmatively.
"Yes. Same one."
Quinn blinked.
'Uhm…'
Silas looked between his female accomplices.
"Why do you think he was at the scene in the first place? That wasn't just random." He shook his head.
Everyone was silent. And the next thing Quinn would know was that all eyes were on him. All eyes, except that of the girl.
Anyways…
But he didn't budge.
He gently asked,
"Do you need me to do something?"
Silas nodded. And confusingly, he signalled at the girl.
"Could you please handle this, River?".
Of course, she answered.
'Oh, so her name is River? What a strange name, though.'
In the aftermath, she alone led Quinn to the back garden. He had no idea what was going on.
So, he had to inquire,
"Mind explaining what's going on?" His voice cracked at the end.
Again, River took seconds to respond,
"You need to harness your power."
Quinn was dumbfounded.
"How?"
"Follow my lead. Close your eyes."
Quinn hesitated for a while. Because who teaches someone something new with a cold face and robotic statements?
Anyway, he did what she said.
She continued fast afterwards, as though on autopilot.
Quinn breathed out loud. A knot loosened in his abdomen. He let himself drown in the memory of his supposed last moment. From when he rushed to the hall, coming back from cram school. To when something pulled him back into the fire.
He smelled the smoke. He felt the fire burn in his chest. It further appeared in his mind. Just a stroke. And when he focused on it alone, just the fire, something unexpected happened.
Heat surged through his body. But Quinn even forgot to cry. Because of how quick it was to vanish.
… That was where River's instruction ended, he remembers. To focus on what he could see. And he did.
A dimmer light filtered through his eyelids.
'Eyes safe to open now?'
In a matter of seconds, Quinn finally did…
But everywhere had changed. He swallowed, scanning the surroundings immediately.
The sky was orange, with the ground covered in fresh ashes. And all other spaces from left to right? They just stretched to no end.
Embers danced slowly in the air.
Quinn took two deep breaths to calm himself. He had just seen himself gain another body earlier. So, teleporting to another place shouldn't be that surprising anymore.
At least, not "so" frightening.
'Am I harnessing my power by just standing around?'
… As though answering his question, a red screen popped up before him in mid-air. Quinn ground his teeth and read its contents.
[You have successfully contacted your Curse.]
[Welcome to your Cursed Realm, Transformed Quinn.]
[Life or Death?]
Quinn snickered,
"That should be tea or coffee, dumbass. Wait, what?!"