Pedro

Chapter 2:Maria's Mission

Pedro was doing a little shopping today. His fridge was empty this morning, so he went out to buy himself some breakfast. As Pedro walked to the grocery store, he couldn't help but feel something. Across the window was a woman in a sweater and black jeans, with long black hair in a ponytail. She keenly observed Pedro inside the store. Pedro walked out and headed to his house. On cue, the woman followed him. As time went by, they walked into a crowded area. Many people kept blocking her way, and as they continued to walk, she was slowly losing him. The situation started to frustrate her as she passed through the crowd. When she finally got out, there was no sight of him.

"Dang it. I lost him."

"Why are you following me?"

The sudden voice from behind her startled her, and as she looked back, Pedro was standing right in front of her. "I didn't even notice him." She thought. Pedro had an amused expression as he looked at her. "Miss, why are you following me?" Pedro asked again. Composing herself after a few moments, she looked right back at him with a stoic face. "How did you find me?" The woman asked.

"You're not that subtle. Every decent person here could notice you from a mile away."

"Impossible. No one has ever noticed my presence in the years of my profession. But to notice me right away like that..."

"You are Pedro Martinez."

"Indeed I am. Should I be concerned? Are you a police? I swear I didn't break any laws if that's what you're wondering."

"No. Nothing like that. Not here...please follow me."

She led Pedro inside a secluded area. Pedro was still holding his grocery bags as he followed her. Sensing that they were now away from the public, she started. "I saw you last night." She expected at least a reaction, but surprisingly, he just stood there with a blank expression. Taking the silence as a gesture of letting her continue, she proceeded." My name is Maria Lasan. I'm what you call an exorcist. My job is to vanquish evil spirits and preserve order for those unaware of the unnatural. Those two creatures that you defeated so easily are one of the most wanted spirits in history. Please understand that a spirit gets stronger as it kills more. Each person they consume will multiply their strength. They had also lived for nearly a decade and, with the amount of consumption at that period, their strength was something to be wary of. Any normal exorcist would be killed with their enormous strength and power, so imagine my surprise...here you are, a non-exorcist just casually defeating two highly dangerous demons like nothing." She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Who are you?"

He was silent as he continued to look at her. "No one. I'm just a guy minding his own business. If that is all, I'll leave then," Pedro says as he starts to walk out. "Wait." Pedro turns around. "I saw your power last night. Whatever you did, I know you're not just any other guy here. " Maria took out what seemed to be a card and handed it out to Pedro. "You had potential. Please lend us your strength. Join us for the betterment of the people."

"Hey! You are strong. Why don't you join us? Together we could bring peace to this kingdom."

"Just like last time," Pedro thought.

"I'm sorry Ms. Lasan but I would have to decline."

"Any particular reason why? With your power, you could do so many things. There are many of us, but there is only so much we can do. Please think it over." Having said her peace, Maria walked over to the exit as she turned to look at him one last time before continuing.

Pedro was left standing there with a blank look, but his unoccupied hand was clenched tightly. After a few moments, he walks out as well.

At the heart of Luzon, there was a small store that was located there. Maria walked inside facing the store owner. "Hello Ma, am, what would you like to buy?" The seller said. "Babylon," Maria replied. The seller got a serious look at the feedback. "Please go to the back Ma, am." With that, Maria went as instructed and pressed a certain button that opened a small door. She went inside and pressed the number 99 as the door closed. The room moves and seems to go down. As the door opened again, Maria quickly went to her Grand Kapitan's office..

The surrounding place was enormous and painted in white. The style was designed in a futuristic manner with numerous screens and CCTVs around the place. On her left side as she continued to walk by, were numerous office rooms. Above her was the structure of many bridges that were distanced and connected to certain rooms. It was built like a spider if a person either looked down from above or looked upwards from below. It was populated by people wearing white uniforms covered by a robe that only went to their shins. They also wear black boots and each person has a different type of uniform depending on the role they take.

Maria soon reached her destination, standing right in front of a big door that was royally designed. She looked up and right above her was a small circle-shaped CCTV. A green light came out from the device, shining Maria from head to toe before it disappeared. "Maria Lasan, confirmed." A robotic voice stated, and then the door opened. Inside seemed to be an office and at the center was a man in a white uniform without a robe. On his left chest is an insignia with a 4-star design.

"Grand Kapitan," Maria said as she brought her right fist in line with her right shoulder as a gesture of respect. The man looked at her.

"Report."

"I spotted him at the grocery this morning. He was shopping due to food shortages. I followed him using my magic to avoid detection. I monitored him until he finally went out after buying what he needed. I continued to trail him from a faraway distance and was careful enough to remain unnoticed. Unfortunately, we ran into a crowd. As many people continued to flood on our way, I couldn't conjure a tracking system with many people in our midst. The possibility of public eye detection is out of the question, so I push through. By the time I came out, he was already gone."

She remembered it all too clearly. Her fists clenched. The Grand Kapitan took notice of this, but he showed no reaction.

"That's what I would have thought until I heard his voice behind me. I turned around and he was right there. I didn't even notice him. It feels like he just went right there. I sensed no magic energy either."

The Grand Kapitan widened his eyes at this. "No magic, you say?"

"Yes. After that, I led him to a secluded area and tried to recruit him. He declined, but I'm willing to try again."

"Elaborate."

"He declined, but I wish to continue to persuade him."

"Why?"

"He is a mystery. I have known a few candidates that have high magical reserves, but his was enormous. I felt it at that time...It's like I'm in the presence of someone who's beyond. He could be the key to our victory."

"Good, a man of that caliber is only one in a million. Getting him to our cause is vital in our organization."

The Grand Regent took out an envelope and handed it to Maria. She read the file and her face gained a shocked expression.

"They're back?"

"That is left to be foreseen. Strange incidents have been happening in the city of Cagayan. Numerous bodies were found last night with satanic markings on each body. I suspected a ritual had taken place. A few rogue exorcists must have tried to summon something, but it backfired on them... or they succeeded."

"Will I be sent to investigate for further info?"

"No."

"What? But why bother telling me this at all?"

"Because that place was close to Pedro's."

Maria was shaken at this news.

"Don't worry, I've already assigned Monoe to this one. She would make quick work with this. Your mission, however, is still the same. Recruit him. Make him join our cause. With the rising number of these dangerous individuals, we need a greater workforce to combat this threat."

Maria gained a determined look.

"Rest assured. I will not fail."

"I know."