Free Web NovelChapter 75: Chapter 74 - Monster Extermination(Part 2)
Point-of-View: Zoraiz Rafayet
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"Go on, what is on your mind, young man?" Inquired the priest.
"I’m sorry, I’m just nervous...I’ve never told anyone about this, you see. Here goes...I’ve done some things that I...that I shouldn’t have done. Awful, unspeakable things. I’ve always been very athletic and stronger than most of my peers, and I...I used my gifts to cause despair to those weaker than myself. Um...especially women," I ’confessed’ to him, making it up as I went along, "I’ve come to regret the atrocities I’ve committed, but...but I must admit, I do still get the urge to do those things again, especially whenever I see a woman or child."
If I’m wrong about these people and this whole bad feeling of mine has been nothing more than paranoia, then they’re probably gonna think I’m an absolute monster and a vile human being. But if I’m right...
"Ahh, I see. Yes, I understand...rest easy, young man, you need not agonize, such desires are not uncommon. Violent urges are a part of what make us human, and not everyone can control such urges with ease," Replied the priest, a slight gleam in his eyes...well, now, how about that...he no longer seems annoyed by me being here...
"Is that...is that really true? Thank you, father...hearing that eases the burden on my heart, at least somewhat. But...what am I to do with these urges? I have restrained myself for over a year now, and it feels as though I could snap at any given moment. When I heard about this church, I thought maybe this was the place that could set me on the path I should follow, instead of going astray as I have been for all my life. But will...will God ever forgive me?" I asked him as I put on a worried, conflicted look on my face.
It’s a good thing I’ve been practicing my expressions in the mirror, in an effort to get better at communicating...Inoka happened to catch me doing it, and while he did laugh a bit, he also encouraged me to keep at it. And I’m glad I did...
"Yes, but of course! God is merciful! God is kind! If God was truly displeased with your actions, surely you would have been smited by now! Suffering is a part of being human, and suffering is often caused by humans, and God loves all humans! If not, why do people continue to suffer in this world? Why do those that create such suffering continue to exist and thrive as they do? Because suffering is necessary! It is a necessary evil! In fact...those that cause suffering are God’s most beloved children!" Declared the priest gleefully, as he placed his hands on my shoulders.
A chill ran down my spine as I met his gaze, my body desperately aching to get away from this man...
"Uh, father, perhaps you ought not to say so much...," Whispered one of the guards apprehensively...but I used my Physical Skill to enhance my hearing, so he wasn’t quiet enough...
"Nonsense. This boy has true potential, it may be worth testing him," The priest whispered back, "Have I ever been wrong about my appraisals of our followers?"
"Very well, father, I shall trust your judgment."
Oh, fuck...he’s insane. Damn it, this is some kind of goddamn cult. So unsettling and creepy, my skin is starting to crawl. I wanna leave already. But...I need to keep up the act a little bit longer...
"I see...so, then...God loves me? Yeah, now I get it...that’s why I was gifted with these physical abilities! Is that right? Is it really?" I gasped in awe.
"Yes, it is! You get it! I knew I was right about you! Tell me, how long will you be in this area?" The priest asked me eagerly.
Hm, how to answer... freewebnσvel.cøm
"Oh, well...I was considering moving here, you see, because-," I began to reply.
"Ah, splendid! Very well, we shall contact you soon, then. Now, return to your comrades, young man, they may worry if you take too long. Oh, and I ask that you do not speak of this to them...you see, only a select few can understand and comprehend this matter, the common masses are too simple-minded to see the big picture, that is why we do not just let anyone step foot in our church. Only those who truly comprehend what it means to be God’s humble servants may be given such an honor. Do you understand?" He remarked with a smile.
"Yes, I do. After all, that’s the very reason why I never spoke to anyone about this...I could tell that none of them would ever understand, and I even let the so-called ’common sense’ beliefs of the masses to cloud my thinking and cause me to feel guilt over my actions. But...but now I understand, I’ve been subconsciously carrying out God’s will, haven’t I!?" I responded, mirroring his enthusiasm.
"Yes, you get it! Hahaha, what an auspicious day, to think I would encounter such a pure soul...it must truly be fate! We are certain to meet again soon, I have no doubt!" He grinned, as he patted my shoulder with a nod.
"Yeah, neither do I..."
...
My skin is crawling, my body in a cold sweat, as I headed down the path to the foot of the hill...just thinking of what could be inside that church made me shudder. That priest...he’s seriously fucked up.
"Hey, you finally made it! What took so long?" Mike waved at me, as I reached the bottom.
I don’t think anyone from the church followed me, but better safe than sorry...
"Oh, don’t worry about it, I just got caught up while talking to the priest," I responded in a cheerful tone, before flashing him a pointed look with my eyes.
"Ah, I see...well, then, why don’t we head for an inn or motel to spend the night?" He replied with a grin, though from the look in his eyes, I think he caught on that I want to discuss this in a more secure place.
"Yeah, sounds good. I’m pretty jet-lagged, so I think I’ll go to sleep early tonight," I spoke in a carefree manner.
I don’t usually act like this, that should make him understand that I’m trying to play it cool, just in case he hasn’t already realized that something’s up.
The other two Meta-Humans then guided us to a nearby inn, a cheap but fairly decent-looking place. We booked a couple of adjoining rooms and headed inside the building.
And once we gathered inside one of the rooms, I explained and relayed how my conversation with the priest went, recalling it as accurately as I could.
As I wrapped up my explanation, a grim silence ensued, as they processed what I’d told them... free𝑤ebnovel.com
"So, it would seem that it’s probably malice, and not spirituality, that’s attracting the Monsters here," Frowned Mike, as he clenched his fists, "Still, I have to say...I’m impressed, kid, your social skills have come a long way. I couldn’t have even imagined you pulling this off a few months ago."
Yeah, I realized that too, but right now, I was more concerned about what might be happening inside that creepy church...
"Hey, you live here, right? When was that church built exactly? When did their religion start to gain traction? When did people start disappearing, and what kind of people have disappeared? Oh, and about those that gained approval to step into the church, are they all from this town?" I asked Cyrillus, who lived here.
"Uh, wait, hold on a sec, that was a lot all at once! Right, okay, let’s see...if I remember right, the church was built sometime last year, after which the priest moved here along with three or four others, and the religion began to get popular within a couple of months of that. As for the disappearances, they began about...six or seven months ago, I think? And...it’s mostly been young women and children, with a handful of young men disappearing too. Was that all your questions?"
"No, you missed the one regarding where the church’s so-called ’chosen’ followers are from," I reminded him.
"I’d like to add a couple more questions, actually...how often do people disappear and how many have disappeared in total? And have there been any similar incidents in other nearby areas?" Chimed in Mike, seeming to be on the same page as me.
"Well, about ten or so people have disappeared from this town, I think...and yes, I did hear that some people from other neighboring cities and towns have also disappeared. Oh, that’s right, a couple of months ago, the police force from one of the nearby cities launched an investigation into the disappearances. One of their detectives even managed to get into the church, after meeting with the priest and getting his permission. He apparently searched the whole place, but reported nothing unusual there...yeah, I remember the followers of the church being really unhappy about it afterwards," He recalled, before answering my question, "And as for where the followers are from...actually, only a few, maybe about five or six, are from this town. The rest are from other places."
"Hm, I see...I’ve got more questions, but first, I think we can agree on this much...tonight, we’re sneaking into that church. Agreed?" Stated Mike, as he met each of our gazes one by one.
"Yeah, I agree. If they’re really the ones responsible for all the disappearances, it’s easy to imagine what they might be upto in there. I bet the priest only let that detective in because he decided that the detective was a bird of the same feather...and the fact that the detective reported nothing means that was the case, assuming we’re right about this, that is," I responded grimly.
"Hm, now that I think about it...one of the followers at the church that I met at a bar mentioned that he was a detective in the nearby city’s police force. He might be that same detective," Chimed in Bruno.
"The more we discuss this, the more convinced I am about my hunch," I grimaced, my stomach turning slightly.
"Hey, just so you know, depending what we find there...we might just have to kill those people," Mike warned me.
"I’d rather not have to kill anyone, if I’m being honest, but...if we’re right about them, then they’re not really human, are they?" I replied icily.
"That’s, uh...one way of looking at it, I guess."
"Hm, maybe I’ll release my Aura and attract a bunch of Monsters to kill them..."
"Please, don’t, we’ll be the ones attacked, not them."
When my mother was alive, before she fell ill, she made her living as a prostitute, and...I remember how her customers treated her, as if she was trash. I was made to sit outside our trailer during those times, but I could hear what was going on inside.
It drove me insane, how helpless I was to save my mother from that hell...but I knew that if I tried to lash out at those vile monsters, my mother would’ve been the one to suffer for it. So I kept quiet, doing nothing while my mother went through hell.
People like that, those who enjoy and take pleasure in the suffering of others...I refuse to acknowledge them as human. I refuse to acknowledge that they’re the same species as I am. The same species that my mother was...no, they’re nothing but monsters in human skin.
If the followers of that church really do turn out to be the kind of scum we’re assuming they are, then...they deserve to die. After all, the world would be a much better place without people like that.
If people like that didn’t exist...maybe my mother could have lived a happier life instead of suffering like she did. It’s fitting that this is a Monster extermination mission...yeah, I’ll make sure to exterminate all those monsters...
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