Chapter 17: The Search I

The sun was shinning longer than usual, since it's summer it should be expected but I was never a fan of heat. 

          While wiping off the sweat on my forehead, I was focusing on the task in hand. On my right, a bowl of herbs crushed in it. On my left, three tubes with different liquid inside. Ahead of me is a bowl of chicken livers being cooked. 

         Inside this small shack in the middle of a forest, no one should become victims even if I fail. I steel my self and threw everything what I had on hand.

         Half an hour later. 

         "Claudia, what the hell is this?" waiting to eat dinner was my Master, yet what was served was a never before seen green dish with a strange odor. "As you can see, it's liver stew" 

         "Well, because I can't see it that's why I'm asking, beside that, I can't even see this as food. Do you have a grudge against me or something?" 

           "How rude!" I said with my cheeks puffed. In the end, miss Adele dished out her own food after anticipating my failure. After we had dinner a question in mind suddenly popped. "Master, there's something I liked to ask you",

           "What is it?" 

           "Why are we putting up ourselves from being hated by people even though we never done anything to them, why are our powers being hated so much?" 

           Master looked at me with glaring eyes, but I knew it was his usual face when he's being serious. "Then I'll ask you, if someone wished to turn into a devil, would anyone try to understand him, not to mention liking him?"

           I couldn't retort an answer and stayed silent in the end. "If you understand, don't ask ridiculous questions"

          I pouted and murmured words master was able to pick up, "That's not fair, if we're devils, then are people supposed to be angels, judging us by being crueler than us?"

          Master laughed at my words, saying I have a point. "Let's see if I have to retort your words, then aren't devils beings from the heaven that had fallen after disrespecting their Creator? In other words, both devils and angels came from the same place and only the other has fallen, or rather in our case, we choose to fall. It's only natural for those above us to look down and test our fate as we struggle."

          Somehow, I wanted to retort my master's words and wipe off that smug look he had. "However, do they deserved to be called angels when they would steal, con, and kill each other?" Miss Adele gave her own opinion. Unexpectedly, master gave a small lonely smile answered her, "True, in the end, we are neither angels nor devils, we're all just pitiful humans being true to our desires."

                                                                                     #

Four days had passed since Beth told me what happened, ever since then she refused to leave the house, and at times, refused to leave her room. 

           That's why right now, after lying to my parents about a late supplementary lesson. I went toward fifth grade's class 3, searching for the desk belong to Marton. It was an effort of checking every drawer with books that had his name on it. 

          The desk I found was placed at a window seat, two seats from behind. Since this is the second floor, it's a great place to see the foggy mountains from afar and the yard where the Physical Class would use. 

          I rummaged his desk, there were few books and notebooks, mostly filled with scribbles. A jar with crickets inside, stationary, jersey, underwear----I'll pretend I didn't see that. 

          The plan I have in mind, is to use my magic to track down at least the remains of one of the three boys and hopefully finding any clues to the killer's whereabouts. 

           With one's possession, it's possible to track down its owner. However, the success rate is 70/30 chances and it's already been a week since their disappearance.  That's why the ideal item for a search spell is using an item that the owner always or frequently used....

             Among the objects there, when thinking a frequently used object, I made a glance at a certain object used to protect a private part of a boy's body. 

            No, no, no, no, no. 
            There's still the notebooks and stationary, I'm sure they'd be just as helpful. However, the books looks like he barely used them, and if he used newly bought stationary then it'd useless. 

          Again, I glanced at the underwear and heaved a sigh heavier than any before.

           Oh God, do I have to?
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Just got home from searching a dorm, found a good place near campus :)

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Chapter 16: First Witness

"What are you doing here?" I asked with a low tone, "You're asking me what, but what about you? Eavesdropping on the teacher's meeting will get you in trouble you know."

          I don't want to hear that from you!

          "Leaving that aside though, are you going to spread what you've heard before?"

          "Are you joking? I don't want to spread a serial killer is here in the city, people will definitely get paranoid and who knows what that nut job might do next."

            Dale widen his eyes at my answer then smile once more, "That's a wise decision,  if you had intend to tell anyone I would've asked Rick to erase your memory"

            Did this guy just threaten me with that annoying fake smile of his? As I thought, he's a scary guy in many ways more than one. 

             "But Dale, what about you? You even went the trouble hiding here to eavesdrop them, so what are you planning"

            "Nothing really, I'm just curious about the current incident we've been having so I thought I could get some Intel." 

            I gave him a suspicious look, but Dale didn't seem to budge. I let out a sigh and tried to go back to class while forgetting what I heard when Dale voiced out his thoughts. 

          "By the way, I've heard this serial murderer have been going on for 5 years, the first incident in Oklahoma, 45 missing children, all first grader. Second incident in Florida, 34 missing children, all second grader. Third incident , in Washington DC, 27 missing children, all third grader. Fourth incident in Tennessee, 32 missing children, all fourth graders. All of them missing within the period of three months every year, as if the culprit is aiming for one generation."

           I stared at him,  startled, why is telling me this? "I thought if I tell you this, something interesting might happen."

         "What part of me makes you say that?"

        He pondered a bit then shrug, "just a hunch, if nothing happen then that's fine too." Dale left before me, leaving me in my own thoughts from his words. What exactly does he think I'm capable of? 

                                #

Dinner at home went on as usual, Karen sneakily gave Galbraith  leftover food, father complaining about his work and colleagues while joking around with us, mother watching peculiar news she had interest, the only one different was Beth. 

          Unlike her usual loud self, she was eating silently while playing with her food. Mother asked if she didn't have any appetite which she denied. When the news changed about the missing fifth graders from all over schools which total to 22 children. Beth flinched at the news. 

         "This is really scary, I'm glad they had all the fifth graders take a day off, but how are they going to catch the kidnapper."

            "I'm sure the police has a plan, but it won't be safe just because the fifth graders aren't going to school."

            "That's true."

            "I'm going to bed early" Beth got up from her chair, put out the dishes and went back to her room. "Beth is really acting strange." Father pointed out.

            "It can't be helped, probably she knows most of the missing students. Wouldn't it be a shock knowing your friends suddenly disappear. I think it's better to leave her alone until she takes it all in." Karen explained. 

            I get what my sister had meant, but I can't get this feeling out of my mind that she was hiding something. When dinner was over, I knocked Beth's door room to let me come in. "Go away!" She respond. I was taken aback because she never reject me going to her room. As expected, something is wrong. 

              Luckily, Beth forgot to lock the door to her room(as usual) and Went in. "What do you want?" She didn't sound irritated, rather she sound dejected. She was covering herself in her blanket with the room dimly lit. 

            I climbed on her bed and sat beside her. We were silent for a while before Beth herself breaks the ice. "I saw it...."

           Her words intrigued me, I asked what she saw and she began trembling, she held my hand as if scared that the moment she says it, she would be taken away. 

          "Claudy, do you know what kind of ability telekinesis is?"

         I wasn't sure where she was going with this, but in the mean time, I should answer her. "Hmm, if I'm not wrong, it's the ability to bend matter with the power of your mind." Beth nodded at my answer, she then continued. 

          "Few days ago, I had a certain thought of bending light, and after a few experiment, I was able to turn myself invisible."

            What???? She could do that already! Right now, there's still no one with telekinesis  that could do that and you're telling me you made such breakthrough. My sister is really a genius. 

           "I heard rumors there were people from my grade that was bullying you so I thought of pranking them and waited to ambush them at their usual hang out."

          She shuddered for a moment and took a deep breath before she continued, "When I saw them, there was an Asian man following them. I didn't want to prank them in front of people so I only silently followed beside the three."

          "The man called out to them, at first they tried ignoring them but...." Her words began to quiver, but she persist on continuing. "I....it happened so fast, the man turned his hand into a giant sword, he cut away their heads in an instant. Blood was flowing everywhere, and I...I only stood there, I couldn't even say anything, and I let them died."

        Finally Beth break down crying, I couldn't even fathom what it's like being through a traumatized experience all by herself. Wait, unfortunately I could.

        Most of all, no one could have imagine Beth would be the first witness of a serial murder. I snap myself out before I began comforting her."Sis, there was nothing you could do at that time and no one expected you too. I'm just glad the killer didn't notice you."

       Beth choked at her own tears and tried to steady her own breathing. "You're wrong..." She finally said, "by the time he was finished with them, he suddenly turn to where I stood, I was positive my power was active, but he stood looking straight at me for few seconds, and then...."

       I gulped down my own saliva, she looked at me with horrified face and said this, "he smiled." 

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Chapter 15: Fertilizer Kidnapper

Today, I noticed there was a troubling atmosphere in school. The hallways were packed with whispers and gave off an uneasy feeling. “I heard a few students from our school went missing, there were no words from them or those that might kidnap the adults could only bit their lips and wait for any news.” The one who informed me was Eric.

            Eric himself looked very nauseated and had his face facing the table the whole time while groaning from time to time, “I hate rumors, they always give me a headache!”

            I heard from Eric when someone told a lie, there’s a tingling feeling in his head. That’s why, when rumors started spreading around, people tend to exaggerated without meaning to, but to Eric, it felt like an alarm kept ringing in his head.

            “If it’s something big, I’m sure they would announce it on the screen.” added Loranne. We all turned to a transparent board screen, while in class it’s used for our studies at other times it’s used to relay important message and announcement in class. As if on cue, the board screen turned black and white words that said ‘Announcement’ on it written across it along with a BGM for announcement.

            The screen viewed the content next; it said there’s an ongoing kidnapping of espers around the area. The reports stated only fifth graders espers were reported missing and no witness were said to saw any abduction as of late, meaning no clues to the kidnappers. The school strongly suggests all class for both espers and non-espers to be wary of their surrounding and to not get out needlessly alone. The announcement also asked us to report any clues regarding the missing kids.

            The screen shifted and there were 12 names and their class reported missing. “Ah!”  

            “What’s wrong?” asked Eric.

            “There are name of my seniors in the Special Class, Claudia, you know them too.”

            I examined the names from the screen, but none of them rings a bell, then Loranne explained there were three names of the bullies who had cause us problem few days ago.

Carl Haywire Year 5 Class 4

Mortan Adolf Year 5 Class 3

Tailor Frecklin Year 5 Class 4

            He~ so that was their name. I tried not to think about it much, since I barely know them and the memory we have weren’t even pleasant. However, the part the kidnapper only abduct fifth graders worried me most.

            “Oh right, your sister is a fifth grader.” Eric pointed out.

            The announcement also included that all fifth graders will have a temporary break time from school, but that shouldn’t mean the kidnappers would stop from just that. I’m getting a lot more worried.

#

After recess was over, Loranne went back to her class very reluctantly. Class went on like normal, but it kept the lingering air because of the announcement from before. Every teacher that came in kept reminding us not to mind it too much with the police involvement and the fact only fifth graders were missing.

            “Claudia, since you’re on duty today, can you bring this to our history teacher?”

            “Sure!”

            Today, the school was over early. As expected, after that announcement, no one had the vigor to learn or teach. One of the cons of being an esper is that we don’t know when these sort of incident would come at us. At first sight, we the situation looked safe because the government provide us protection, but things are never what they seems.

            By the time I was thinking those, I arrived at the teacher’s lounge. Oddly enough there was no one there, I found it strange since usually there would at least be two teachers standing by.

            I put the stack of home works at the teacher’s desk, on my right, there were boxes stacking up with one another. Curiosity got the best of me and I took a peek on one of the boxes….or so was the plan. I heard numerous footsteps heading closer and in a panic, I hid behind the stacked of boxes and cover my mouth.

            As I expected, the teachers were back and they all had solemn look on their faces. They took a seat at their own desk and the three-left standing was one I was familiar with, Mr. Dalton or my father of my past life, a man with an official looking uniform, and the principal himself. I heard Mr. Dalton is a teacher from the high school section, but why is here?

            “and so I like to confirm once more, to avoid making a commotion I would like all of you to put a tight lip on this matter. I know most of you think it’s best to inform the students and their family and avoid them going to school, but if we only avoid the issue then we won’t be able to make progress on apprehending the culprit, causing more victims later on.” said the official looking person. This is only a guess, but could he be….from the government?

            One of the teachers stood up abruptly, “Then how do we know you are making progress, there are no witness, no clues, no suspects, the culprit kept going places to places kidnapping children as if passing by. How could we entrust our students to you people easily!” Many teachers nodded to his statement.

            I was sweating vigorously in the dark corner, I know I’m not suppose to hear this, and the mater involves the missing students. Aaah~ what should I do?

            “I also have a question, since we know espers are common target for kidnappers, isn’t that why we put the bracelet to them. Not only it recorded their brainwaves 24/7 it also has tracking device embedded into them with the latest technology with almost certain guarantee no one could hide its signal.”

            The other teachers began to murmur, and the government person hold out his hand for silence, and answered. “As you all know, the bracelet we give to espers are specially made with the latest technology which made it impossible to be taken off. Previously all though we kept tracking down the last movement of the missing students, the signal would always disappear in the middle of nowhere. On one lucky occasion at the Tennessee Kidnapping Case, we were able to kept track one signal until we found where it came from.”

            The teachers were listening intently, thinking it would be a great clue toward the kidnappers. “The place we found was an outskirt farm, we track down the signal only to find the remains of the tracking device. However, after further questioning the locals and investigating the place we found, we were able to found many DNA’s of the missing Tennessee children in the fertilizer they used.”

            It took a moment before the all the teacher’s turned pale and had a sickening look after swallowing his story. Even I tried my best not to groan, I felt puking from listening to the last part. What kind of nut job turned children into fertilizer?!

            “As you know, who we’re dealing is a dangerous and one with loose screws in his brains, I hope everyone’s cooperation to find and apprehend that fiend.”

            The man bowed and left, accompanied by Mr. Dalton and the principal. The room turned silent, I didn’t want to stay there any longer. When I found a window half opened hidden behind the boxes, I thought I could use this and slip outside through it.

            When I reached the ground, I was relieved on getting passed that trial. I looked at my side though, I froze on the spot to find Dale squatting. He looked just as surprised as me, but made a forced smile in the end, “Hey Claudia, what’s up?”

             This guy....to think he had the guts to pretend nothing happened. I'm getting more scared at him.  

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Announcement and changes

Hello loyal readers of Witch Life
right now I'm very happy so I am expressing this in this post.
It may not be a very big deal but I just want to say it.
I GOT IN TO COLLEGE!!!!!!!!!!!!

and not just any college, it's one of the three best college in my country so I feel very bless. Since I am going outside of the city and living in a dorm. I'm busy with packing so I got a delay in chapter 14.

Anyway, I won't be in college until around the end of August and I might not post much then so I want to say this too just in case.

Additionally, I'm revising chapter 1, so i going to make some changes to it.
First the 50% population on earth is esper is change into 0.001%
Second, i'll be adding additional explanation about the 10% brain part.
That'll be all

Chapter 14: Heads Rolling

Praetor Research Institute had design classes according to their ability to observe, research, and strengthening each student’s power. The classes are divided into Passive Class, Active Class, CC Class, Physical Class and Special Class.

            Passive Class is for those who could activate their ability passively, like Eric’s Lie Detection Ability, Perfect Memory Ability (yes, researcher has conclude it’s an ability), Emotion Sensing Ability, etc.

             Active Class, which has the most students so far, requires the espers utmost concentration such as Telekinesis, Fortune Tell Ability, and Mind Reading Ability.

            Crowd Control or CC Class (I don’t know why, they’re using a game term for this one), is for espers that uses ability that effects people or they’re surrounding. The examples are Pheromone Ability, Emotion Modifying Ability, Voice Enchanting Ability, or Hypnosis.

            Physical Class is for espers that has ability that strengthen or change parts of their body; those examples are Super Strength Ability, Clairvoyance, and Acceleration Ability, Shape Shifting Ability. 

            The last, Special Class, are for the chosen espers who has a rare or never before seen ability, it is also a class for those who has trouble controlling their power. Loranne’s Replicate Ability belongs to this class. Additionally, although I have unknown power, I was put in that class while wandering around the other classes as well.

             Today, I’m visiting the CC Class, and offering a pack of lunch with my head bowed. I might look like a gofer, but this is essential if I’m going to ask for his forgiveness, or more like, if I don’t do this much, I’m scared of facing him.

            Rick had an enigmatic look, I don’t know if he’s confused, angry, irritated, or felt weird by me. His eyes scowled and I shuddered, the surrounding people were glancing at us with fear of getting closer. As expected of Master, even after reincarnated you could still cause fear with your awful looking eyes.

            ………..I think I might have thought of something rude so for now, I’ll just apologize to him in my heart.

            “I don’t really hold a grudge or anything so it’s fine,” the tone he was using did not convince me at all though, “but shouldn’t the one apologizing be the blond girl shivering at the corner there?”

            I glance at where he was pointing; Loranne was so nervous that her body was visibly trembling. She was crouching, and was holding back her already wet eyes from tears. "Off course she’ll apologize, but she’s extremely shy so I wanted to apologize on her behalf first, besides, I felt guilty not explaining sooner on what happened, creating a misunderstanding.”

            “You should be” said Rick bluntly.

            Honestly, his arrogant tone was enough to tick me, but because of his past life, I can’t help but smile in relieve on hearing that tone from his voice once more. I am aware he is my master and at the same time he is not, but now that fate let us meet, I want to know the present him, what he’s been through, his friends, and his dream. The things he did for me from my past life would take more than a lifetime to repay, that’s why I intend to be someone by his side no matter what and if possible to become his strength as well.

            “Anyway—I don’t know if this will be enough but please take this as compensation!” Rick kept staring silently at the lunch I was holding, it’s not poison you know!

             “That’s soonice of you Claudia, for Rick who had only been eating the dorm’s and the cafeteria’s food, this is the first time he is given a homemade lunch from a gir—” Dale had appeared so suddenly, Rick had to kick him to shut his mouth. Wait, he’s not even in this class, why is he here?

             “If you’re wondering why I’m here, I just happen to hear something interesting so I came.” Wah, don’t tell me he can read mind?

            “There’s also one for you as well, actually, the one who made this is Loranne.”

            “He~ she’s only in second year and she can already cook for herself, that’s admirable.”

             “Right, and her lunch is always delicious!”

             “Th…thank you…”

Me and Dale turned in surprise, Loranne was already standing behind us while fidgeting, since when did she came up behind us? I look back to the two lunchboxes in my hand only to have one missing. Rick had already opened the box, chewing the karaage in his mouth. “It’s not bad.” He claimed.

His words might not mean anything, but for Loranne who barely talk with anyone, she was happy enough to hide her blushed face behind me. 
              Have I told anyone Loranne is cute when she does this? While we were in our own happy go merry world, I barely notice the whispers from the passerby.

             “Hey did you see it, Rick just took that two girls lunchbox.”

             “I know he’s bad, but does he have no shame in picking on little girls?”

            “I feel sorry for those girls, look, one of them is trembling behind her friend, she must be scared.”

              My face was drained of colors, I had only wanted to get closer to him but I had no idea we’d make such a misunderstanding. Bad, this is bad! “Loranne, we should probably go now, thanks again for meeting with us and for the other day.” I drag Loranne outside the class, Dale unexpectedly tries to stop us, but he was too late for that.

            “Wait, what about my lunch!”

             Those last few words of his however, did not reach me.

#

“Damn, we got interrupted but what should we do; do we give up harassing her?”

            “Like hell we do that, why should we let slide some brats from making fun of us, seniors. If we don’t teach them a lesson then they won’t be able to learn respect, especially that Powerless Girl. She cheated her way in when she doesn’t have any ability, how dare she look down on us!”

            “Then what should we do then?”

             The three fifth grade bullies were hanging out in the usual net café. They had just gone out and were ready to go home, FYI those three are coincidentally neighbors so they always get home together.

            “Hehehe, I have a few good plans in mind you guys might be interested.”

            “Really? Don’t you joke on me!”

            “Hurry up and tell us!”

            “Hehehe, so we go like this….”

            “Excuse me.”

             “ “ “!!!!!!!” ” ”

                 When the three were about to discuss their plan, simultaneously they turned to found a white haired man behind them. The man didn’t show an age appropriate to his hair, he had slit eyes that showed his Asian features, he was around 160 cm, and he had that business man smile on him.    “Are you perhaps a fifth grader from the Praetor Academy?”

             “What if we aren’t, excuse us, we’re late for our curfew.” They might be bullies, but like any other kids, they remembered the message from their parents of not talking to strangers.

            “Ah, from your uniform and the blue sword pin on your collar, I guess there’s no mistake.”

             “If you knew then don’t ask us!”

            “Please don’t be wary of a small old man like me, I’m only trying to warn you it’s dangerous walking in a quiet place like this, you might get kidnapped.”

            The three boys laughed at the man’s words, “If they want they should try, we’re from the Special Class after all, in other words we’re special, we won’t be easily kidnapped like normal weak people!”

            “Let’s go guys.” One of the three took the lead on walking away from the weird old man. However, he couldn’t feel the presence of his friends by his side, when he turned, two of his friends were laying on the ground with blood flowing out from their necks. He shifted his feet and felt a bushy feeling tickling his leg like a hair, and saw the spiky blond hair of his friend’s head that had rolled to his side.

He didn’t scream, he didn’t cry, he didn’t move, because the next thing he saw turned blank. 

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I feel bad not naming those bullies after they died, so their name will be revealed on the next chapter. BTW, did the sudden bloody turn out events surprise you?

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