Soul Extension

Act 5: Expecting the Unexpected

(@^@)(@^@)(@^@)

Monday, November 22, 2021

(@^@)

“So you invited Alesa with you,” Romani looks at Gene’s classmate expectantly. “If you tell this to your boss, I’ll have to kill you myself.”

“The history of my mother’s family is also my concern,” Alesa glares at the brother of her ancestor. “I also didn’t like what that Mr. 4 did to the mansion and to Gene…”

“Anyway, have a seat.” Romani begins to tell his tale, “During my time, I met a man named Nicolas Dampierre. He and I were so fascinated in history that both of us came upon this certain piece of scroll. The scroll deals with an ancient knowledge allowing 6 people to do the most profane ritual ever… … … and that is to open the gates to the root of the verse, to see the superior-beings. We named it the Hexagonal Project.”

“Did you succeed?” asks Gene.

“Of course not,” Romani blatantly spits out the truth of their failure. “We failed miserably because one of the 6 ran away. During the ritual, Ken, or should I say Mr. 1 backs out and moves away from his spot. He was immediately turned into stone and his soul… maybe it dissolved. On the other hand, we were pushed back from our spots.”

“What happened next?” Alesa gets more interested as the story deepens.

“We were cursed,” Romani sighs. “Half of my soul is gone. Nicolas, on the other hand, lost his capability to age that he never died. He also became numb to touch, pain, heat, cold, and etcetera. He renamed himself as Hexagon.”

“There were six of you,” Gene recounts. “The first one turned into stone, Hexagon loses the sense of touch and became immortal, and you’re the lamest one because you got cut in half…”

“Shut up!” Romani growls like a hound. “I can still feel the other half of my soul somewhere outside this verse. The other three could still be alive at this point…”

“Who were they and where are they now?” Alesa asks again.

“Mr. 1 was Ken Wataru and he turned into stone, Mr. 2 was Morty Pantomime and he turned into a dog, Ms. 3 was Sheena Athena who turned into a baby and that she only ages every leap year, and 4 is cursed for the entire world to forget of his or her existence. I was Mr. 5 and Hexagon is Mr. 6. Probably, Ms. 3 is still a member of Hexagon’s group.”

“Pardon the intrusion guys,” Maledi stops them. “It’s getting late and master has to attend classes tomorrow. You should leave too, Ms. Bach…”

“I understand,” Alesa prepares to leave. “Will you accompany me outside, Gene? The driver is already out there waiting…”

“Uh sure,” Gene carries her bag and leads her outside where her personal driver is waiting for her, “sorry it got this late…”

“It’s alright Gene,” Alesa caresses his face. “I’ll message you when I get home…” she then gets inside the car and it immediately leaves the apartment.

"I kinda like her doing that to me..." Gene sighs, "feels relaxing..."

(@^@)

“We need to find Morty,” Romani approaches Gene. “I forgot that I took him as a pet. He is still probably at the dog house where he died…”

“Romani,” Gene sighs and smacks the perverted ghost’s head. “You need to have a psych evaluation…”

“Why would I?” Romani ponders for a moment. “Maybe you are right…”

“Let us go early in the morning to find the original Mr. 2,” Gene locks the door to his room and gets ready for bed. “What is the profane ritual and how were you cursed anyway?”

“…”

“Romani,” Gene calls him out, “Are you gonna answer?”

"..."

"Romani!!!"

“I’m sorry,” Romani replies, “I forgot what it was about…”

(@^@)

Meanwhile, back at Zasalamel’s place, the antagonist can’t seem to fall asleep.

“My girlfriend,” he looks at his smartphone and starts deleting pictures. “I don’t need any forms of nuisance.”

“You can’t sleep,” R enters his room. “I can’t sleep too, ya know?”

“Get out of my room,” Zasalamel glares at her.

“Whatever you say,” she prepares to leave.

“Wait,” Zasalamel sits up. “Do you think Hexagon or should I say Mr. 6 is doing the right thing?”

“I don’t know,” R sits back down, “but I killed my distractors anyway…”

“I just hope he knows what he is doing,” he looks up at R.

“I only care about the outcome… so… good night…” R phases out of the wall.

(@^@)(@^@)(@^@)

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

(@^@)

The next day, people are talking about Gene and Alesa like they are the newest celebrity couple in town.

“Looks like Gene is getting luckier,” Bianchi chats with Cell in their seats.

“Well,” Cell smirks, “ever since he saved us from that haunted mansion, and took down the dictator of our class, with my help of course, I think his life has changed very well so far.”

“I just found out that his birthday was on the 17th of November,” Bianchi continues. “That was last Wednesday. Hey, isn’t Gene from Den-even village? I heard on the radio this morning about a mass murder that happened there two nights ago.”

“It’s in national television also,” Cell exclaims. “Apparently it prompted our mayor to have a massive night-to-night village patrol.”

“Hey guys,” Gene arrives. “What’s up?”

“Did you see the dead bodies?” Cell asks Gene curiously.

“I saw the severed body parts with my own eyes,” Gene uneasily speaks. “I also heard from the policemen that some body parts were missing due to rat infestation in that area.”

Bianchi feels uneasy and tries to change the subject. “Hey, we were just wondering. What’s up with you and Alesa?” she murmurs.

“She is,” Gene smiles, “a good friend actually.”

“Friend…” Cell sighs. “I thought something has been developing between the two of you.”

“You should take it another extra mile,” Bianchi frowns as well, “You could’ve asked her out, you know?”

“I don’t know,” Gene raises his eyebrows, “I really don’t think it would work out and I really don’t think about it…”

“Trust us, Gene… it will.”

While talking with his friends, Gene receives a text message from Alesa. She invites Gene for dinner upon the request of her father that is if it is okay for him to come after class.

(@^@)

Feeling the stress from confronting Mr. 4 the other day, Gene agrees with her offer just to unwind. That night, Gene hesitantly rides with Alesa in her pickup vehicle. At the Bach Residence, Gene finally meets her father, Alazo Bach.

“So this is the man you were with last night,” Alazo approaches him. “You must be Gene Amano. I am Alazo-”

“Pardon the intrusion,” Gene smiles and extends his hand, “I know pretty well who you are and you are quite famous, mayor.”

“He is my boyfriend,” Alesa clutches Gene’s other arm. “Will you allow him to stay for the night?”

Gene is surprised at the sudden turn of events and for the first time he feels very nervous. He starts to sweat profusely.

"I am what?" Gene whispers while trying to hide his nervousness.

“I thought,” Alazo wonders, “Ericus was your boyfriend?”

“He was,” she starts to get mad, “until I found out how immature he was and how ignorant I am to fall for his tactics.”

“Really now,” Alazo chuckles, “I would be so pleased to welcome him then but first,” he continues and opens the other door leading to the dining room, “I want you to meet some of my newfound friends… Mr. Hexagon, Zasalamel, and Elena.”

Gene and Alesa are dumbstruck. They look at each other for a moment then look back at the three people in front of them.

“Mr. 4,” Gene clenches his right fist. “So your name is Zasalamel huh…”

Zasalamel smiles, “Yeah Gene… do you have any problems with that?”

“It sounds awful…”

“At least I don’t sound like a liquor.”

“Looks like the two of you met already.” Alazo smiles at the two of them oblivious of what is truly happening. “The world is truly a tiny one…”

"Mr. Gene, is it?" Mr. Hexagon approaches the two students and gives them a handshake. "You are a peculiar fellow. Zasalamel really took a liking to you."

"More on the hate side of the equation, Mr. Hexagon." Gene grins.

"Ms. Alesa, on the other hand, looks like the mistress. What I mean is the you are as beautiful as your mother."

"Thank you, Mr. Hexagon," Alesa, courteously smiles at him and wanting to escape the inevitable confrontation, suddenly thinks of a plan of her own, “Dad, I would like to have my dinner with Gene upstairs at my room. Would that be okay with everyone?”

“Of course,” Alazo smiles at her. “I have seen Gene and I approve of him.”

“W-wait,” Gene looks at Alazo, “What approve???”

As Alesa and Gene head upstairs, Zasalamel utters, “See you around Gene.”

“Oh yes I will,” Gene nods at him and raises his eyebrows.

(@^@)

In her room, Alesa and Gene have their dinner. Afterwards, Alesa notices Gene disturbed about Zasalamel and decides to calm him.

“You are so agitated,” Alesa caresses his hair. “I’m here for you…”

Gene nods, inhales deeply, exhales with a sigh, until he finally calms down. “You told your father that I am your boyfriend.”

“Yeah,” Alesa holds his shaky hands. “It dawned to me that I have started falling in love with you.”

“…”

“Gene, are you there?”

“…”

“Gene?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry… the blacking out thing of the pervert got contagious suddenly” Gene tries to relax from the sudden revelation. “Will you please repeat what you said again?”

“I love you,” she suddenly blushes and gets embarassed. “Don’t make me repeat it again!!!”

“Since when?” he asks her not knowing what to ask next while he tries to relax.

Alesa looks at him in the eyes nervous. “S-since first year… I guess…”

“I need to be honest,” Gene finally gets his composure as he sighs. “I used to like you a lot but when Ericus came to your life, I lost interest in you. However, when you bowed down to say sorry… it sort of came back. When I found out that you were just like me only more experienced, I was very relieved that we have something in common now. But as soon as I found out that your father and Hexagon is working together, I felt the need to protect you from them.”

Alesa explodes inside, “I-I’m going to sleep. I h-had your bed ready in the guest room. Just open the cabinet and everything is prepared for you.”

“We need to clean up first,” Gene looks at the plates.

“Clean up like take a bath together?” she sort of, kinda, misunderstands him.

“No,” Gene blushes and stares at her. “I meant the plates…”

Alesa runs to her room, picks up the phone and calls the maids to clean up their plates. She then runs back towards Gene, “I-I phoned the maids to clean it up…” she laughs while hiding her shame.

(@^@)(@^@)(@^@)

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

(@^@)

At the stroke of midnight, Alesa visits Gene in the guest room. “Are you asleep?”

“No,” Gene looks at her, “I can’t sleep. I feel threatened.”

“Is it okay if we stay up late and chat?” she sits on his bed. “We don’t have classes this morning anyway…”

“Uh sure,” Gene sits down. “Maybe we could figure something out tomorrow…”

(@^@)

Meanwhile, a woman, 21, is rushed in the emergency room of GLU Hospital of the Courageous and is being revived. She was involved in a vehicular accident. Luckily, she is revived and is in stable condition. She is then taken to a private room as per family request. Shockingly, the one who took her to the hospital is Zasalamel. The woman, apparently, is Zasalamel’s girlfriend…

(@^@)

Afternoon came that same day and the group H4 is conducting a pre-visit on the surgical ward where Zasalamel’s girlfriend is in. Gene and Alesa are from H4 of the duty group and Gene is assigned to take a look at the hit and run case.

“Hi,” Gene enters the room after knocking on the door. “I am Gene and I will be your student nurse for tomorrow. May I know your name?”

“Hi Gene,” the patient and her family smiles, “I am Shinshi Logarithm…”

“If you would,” Gene smiles and asks, “May I hear your story of how you got here?”

I was going to meet with my boyfriend

His name is Zasalamel Vestroia

I crossed the highway

The sign says it is okay to cross

A car speeds up and I knew I had to jump

I notice the driver is acting differently

The driver’s eyes were white

Gene clenches his fists as his blood boils…

The driver was dead already

I think it wasn’t an accident

Zasalamel brought me here

I was lucky to have survived

I only suffered some bruises

I am being observed for now

I am also a nurse

Please treat me well

“Relax Gene,” Romani tries to calm himself from exploding from anger. “Take it easy. Hexagon is up to something and he is using that Zasalamel guy…”

“Thank you for giving me a lot of details Ms. Shinshi,” Gene finally calms down. “I will be taking my leave now…”

“Wait,” Shinshi stops him and turns to her parents. “I need to speak with the student privately, is it okay? It is about nursing stuff.”

“Okay,” her father stands up. “We’ll go and buy snacks then…”

When her father and mother leave, she makes Gene come near her and starts weeping, “You do know what’s happening, right?”

Gene nods and touches her in the shoulder.

“Will you protect me?” she looks at Gene tearfully. “They will kill me tomorrow night, I just know…”

“I cannot promise,” Gene holds her hands, “but I will try my best.”

Out of nowhere, she kisses him on the lips.

"Uh thanks?" Gene touches his lips, kind of shocked of the unexpected lip-to-lip. "Why though?"

"This is a protective charm and also a way saying thanks to you. I’m sorry did I take your first kiss?”

“You didn’t take it,” Gene grins happily, “My first kiss was taken in my second year in college.”

"Really now?"

"Yup~"

(@^@)

Meanwhile, Hexagon speaks his concern about Zasalamel’s failure.

“You failed Zas!” Hexagon shows his disappointment. “I thought I heard you said consider it done!”

“She got lucky!” he shouts back at Hexagon. “I’ll kill her for sure tomorrow.”

“No, you are not.” Hexagon slaps him in the face. “Remember who you serve. Elena will do it.”

“I serve myself from the beginning…” Zasalamel just glares at Hexagon and turns away. “She is not even part of it.”

“I’ll take it Zas,” R stands up. “This will be an easy kill.”

“What do you think, Mr. 2?” Hexagon asks Alazo.

“I think it would be for the best,” Alazo nods. “This is indeed for the best…”

(@^@)(@^@)(@^@)

10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 25, 2021

(@^@)

"It’s time to fight,” Gene looks at Romani. “Hexagon is on the move.”

“Maledi’s power is more than meets the odds,” Romani grins. “Call her out. You are his master after all…”

Gene nods and summons her, “Maledi…I summon you...”

Maledi appears in the blink of an eye, “Yes, my dearest master~”

“Your soul extension, Substitute Body,” Gene smiles, “tell me more about it…”

“My power is not only limited to a body of my own,” she explains. “I can create up to three substitute bodies and anyone I copy I gain their knowledge. I can control a copy of you and I can fool anyone and make them believe that it is you. Feel free to use me as you like.”

“Gene,” Romani gives him a crystal watch. “This is to hide your presence as a spirit warrior. Tell us your plans…”

“Alright, so the plan is..."

(@^@)(@^@)(@^@)

FACTS

Nicolas Dampierre “Mr. 6/Hexagon”

 Age: too long to remember; Birthday: I must’ve forgotten about those; Hair color: Yellow; Eye color: Red; Skin tone: Pale; Personality: Apathetic

 Soul Extension: Steel Halos

Alazo Bach

 Age: 48; Birthday: June 2, 1973; Hair color: Light Green; Eye color: Orange; Skin tone: Fair; Personality: Deceptive

 Soul Extension: Monster Scorpion

Shinshi Logarithm

 Age: 24; Birthday: February 9, 1994; Hair color: Pink; Eye color: Yellow; Skin tone: Fairly lighter; Personality: Caring

 Soul Extension: Charm Sorceress

(@^@)(@^@)(@^@)