The Black Heritage

Chapter 17: Discovery - Part 2

"Tell me clearly. How could you say brother died a week ago. Everyone is clearly seeing my brother walking just a while ago. Tell me, how can a dead person move like a living one?" Celix sneered. 

"Moved like a living one?" Ethan smirked. "Was he really moving like a living one? Then you tell me, was he acting normally recently?" 

"This--he- I-" 

"You are living with your brother but you didn't see his changes. Are you not curious why he was acting weird. You are his twins, more or less, the connection and understanding of the two of you at each other is strong." 

"What are you really trying to say?" 

"Don't speak, don't eat, don't sleep, don't drink, don't take a bath. Don't even blink his eyes. The only thing he did is to walk like a robot and stare in the air the whole time. Are those I mentioned what a normally living person does?" 

"How did you know all of that?" 

"Not only those I know. I also know what happened to him before he died." 

"Mr. Hunter, we hope you are telling the truth? Yes, we admire and respect you for your bravery but you can trick us like this just to become famous in this place." The driver last night said. "It's not good to tell lies to people." 

"Mr. Hunter, although what you said about my brother is true, it is still unacceptable to me." Celix said. "You said it, my brother's death is related to her girlfriend. How?" 

Ethan sighed. Instead of answering Celix directly he called Elen because he believed whatever he said, no one would believe unless there's a proof. "Elen, come over here."

"What for?" Elen's face showed  fret. She covered her mouth and nose. "Hunter, don't misunderstand but I am afraid of a dead body. Besides, he stinks so much. I feel like I am going to puke every time I sniff its stench. Can you ask someone else to come over there? Please, consider my child." 

"You wanted to puke smelling the odor of a corpse, then why didn't you feel disgusted with the----" Ethan closed his eyes, "Forget it! Just come over here. It's because you are pregnant, that is why I am asking you here. I just need a small thing from you."

Elen could do nothing but approach Ethan slowly. But fear and disgust were written on her round face.

"Relax. Dead people won't eat you, but alive does." Ethan added. "Hurry please."

"What do you need in a pregnant woman like me? Don't go too far." Elen said teary-eyed.

"I just need your little blood."

"What? No. No. No. I don't want it." Elen said, stepping backwards.

"Just a little drop of blood from your fingertip. Can't we?" Ethan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

- "Elen, hurry up so we find out what really happened to that young man."

- "Yes. It's just a little blood. Don't be stingy."

"Sis Elen, please, can you grant Mr. Hunter's request? I also want to know what he will do with your blood." Please Celix.

- "All right Elen. Just agreed." The surroundings were filled with noise.

"Okay! Okay! Quiet. I will agree, is that okay now?" Elen closed her eyes as she extended her index finger to Ethan. 

"Who has a knife there or anything sharp?" Ethan asked around. 

"I have one here." A young woman's voice came. She was wearing a doctor's uniform. Yes. She was an intern doctor in the clinic but didn't dare to touch the body because of its unendurable smell.

"Can you please lend that to me?" Ethan said and so the doctor tossed the small cutting knife to Ethan. 

Elen twitched as Ethan cut his index finger a little.

"Please squat down so your hand can reach the corpse mouth." Ethan said.

"What? I am going to touch the corpse?" Elen tried to retract her finger but Ethan didn't let it happen. He pulled Elen forcefully but in a secure manner considering that she was pregnant.

Elen did nothing but follow. But she was obviously terrified because she thought she would touch the corpse.

"I'll just put your finger above the mouth of the corpse so that your blood will not be wasted." Ethan explained. "Don't worry. I'm here, nothing bad will happen to you."

Elen nodded at what Ethan said and calmed down as well.

Soon after, Ethan put Elen's wounded finger in the corpse's mouth. But they did not drop the blood straight in its mouth but only on the side of the young man's lips.

Everyone waited a few minutes. No one moved and closed their eyes. They even suppressed their loud breathing. 

After almost five minutes, the young man's stomach heaved and everyone screamed in shock, wonder, fear and curiosity about what was happening and what was inside the young man's stomach.

Gradually the wave of the young man's body ascended to his chest, up to his neck until his mouth opened a little and a throbbing egg covered with sticky saliva and blood came out and rolled towards the drop of Elen's blood and it stuck on it. 

"What is that?" Everyone shouted with eyes popping wide. 

Ethan tore the corpse's clothes a little and wrapped them in the egg and took it. 

"Celix, do you believe it now?" Ethan showed Celix the egg closer.

Celix backed away with his eyes almost wide with fear and panic. "Wha-what is that disgusting thing? Why does it seem to be breathing?"

"This is a monster's blood bead." Ethan answered seriously while folding the torn piece of clothing and closed his hand.

"Wha-what monster's blood bead? Mr. Hunter I'm confused. I don't understand. Didn't you say my brother's girlfriend had something to do with this? Why did you mention the word monster just now? What is it really?" 

"Honestly, I am not aware and sure earlier too but this thing in my hand is indeed the monster's blood bead. It is put inside the stomach of the victim to keep them looking alive. To make it clear, it is the monster's trick .----" Ethan didn't manage to finish explaining when suddenly the edge of his eyes caught an image that was watching along with the crowd of people. An image that he despised the most.

The said image turned around and about to leave the place when Ethan's voice suddenly thundered around. 

"Stop right there!" Ethan stood up and faced the direction of the said image. "The good show isn't yet over, why are you leaving?"

Everyone's eyes followed Ethan's gaze and immediately, those in front of him slowly went to the side to make a passage as if welcoming a VIP guest until no one was left in the direction he was facing except to a woman who looked virtuous and had a fairy-like beauty. A beauty that could make everyone's head turn and starstruck on the spot. 

"Wow, she is so beautiful!" The men's eyes almost jutt out with admiration.

Ethan chortled mockingly.

--"Why are you aughing Mr. Hunter?"  Asked by one of the men in the crowd but Ethan disregarded him. 

Ethan's eyes stuck on the lady not because he was amused to her beauty but because she wasn't a human. "Tsk.Tsk. Tsk. What a meticulous and perfect trick. But it's a pity, it can't fool me."