"Attack is the best defense!"
That was Jonathan's ideology, who until recently had made the decision to confront any dark entity that stood before him.
The man's attitude had completely changed compared to his previous encounter with outcasts, as he stared indifferently at the forest in the distance.
If he compared his age to that of the students in this academy, he shouldn't be too old to belong to it. But unfortunately, his training had been dedicated to hunting.
If he hadn't taken on this responsibility, what would be known of Jonathan would be his unfortunate death at the hands of an entity he didn't know.
And as for how far he would go, Jonathan was still asking himself that question.
Finishing all this quickly wouldn't solve things; first, he needed to know if Tyler's background—the one responsible for the violent crimes—was not connected to something far more terrifying.
He knew who he was, his kind of inner monster, and his abilities.
"Sir, we have the information." Father Doug approached Jonathan from behind and handed him a tablet with the data.
"How about the town?" Jonathan asked as he took the smart tablet.
Father Doug whispered: "I found a place where they sell good weed, I was running out of resources."
"Smoke that away from me, the smell bothers me."
"Of course."
Jonathan smiled a little; he didn't care about his workers' addictions since they were always facing death day after day in this job, so at least they could enjoy something before each mission.
"[…
CONFIDENTIAL MESSAGE – FOR REGENT BELMONT
SENDER: Dr. Elise Rainier (Medium – Beyond Investigators Network)
Case Galpin – Hyde Manifestation (Level 6)
…
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Name of subject: Tyler Galpin
Age: 17 years
Residence: Jericho, Vermont
Occupation: Barista at the local café Weathervane
Known family:
Donovan Galpin (Father, local Sheriff) – Denies the existence of the supernatural.
Mother (deceased) – Incomplete records, possible carrier of the same Hyde curse.
Background:
Appears to be an ordinary young man, sociable and polite. Maintains cordial relations with the townspeople and shows attraction to students from Nevermore Academy, particularly Wednesday Addams. However, beneath his ordinary appearance lies a hidden mutation: the Hyde, a monstrous entity tied to a dark heritage.
…
CURRENT LOCATION:
He is observed alternating between Jericho's café and the surroundings of Nevermore Academy. He has been registered at scenes of violence that, according to witnesses, involve attacks impossible to attribute to a human being.
…
SUMMARY OF RECENT EVENTS (Last 14 days extracted): Corpses found in forested areas, showing signs of violent dismemberment.
Testimonies of sudden transformations, described as deformed humanoids of great size and strength.
Tyler experiences memory gaps after the attacks, suggesting external control.
Recurring dreams of "whispered orders," a sign of manipulation by a hidden intelligence.
Astral signals indicate the presence of a master-servant bond. The subject does not act on his own will.
…
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT:
[Subject]: Tyler Galpin – Hyde host.
[Threat level]: Critical. His strength surpasses that of any ordinary ghoul. Capable of being used as a living weapon.
[Unknown controller]: There exists a hidden individual manipulating his actions.
The main entity remains unidentified.
Additional notes: There are indications of a broader network behind the master. The Hyde seems to be only one piece on a larger board, possibly connected to ancient cults tied to the blood of Jericho.
…
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Do not eliminate the subject immediately: he could provide information about his controller.
The direct order of The Healing Church is: immediate containment of Tyler Galpin and extermination of the master behind him.
Maintain astral surveillance and protection in all contact.
Investigate connections in Jericho and surrounding areas: the signs suggest that what happened with the Hyde is only the surface of a greater design.
…
SIGNED:
Dr. Elise Rainier
Field Psychic – Order of the Beyond
Emergency contact: Inner frequency channel via The Healing Church.
…]"
Jonathan squeezed the tablet in his hand so tightly that it shattered, surprising Father Doug, who thought: I must be way too high.
"How do they expect us to contain the Hyde without killing him?" Jonathan was upset; the agents' lives were at risk in every mission.
How could they ask for something so absurd?
"Maybe they want the monster. If they can be its master, they would have considerable strength in their ranks." Father Doug's words left Jonathan in silence.
"You're right, you just gave me an idea."