Chapter 19: Chapter. 19: Making Decisions

Honestly room descriptions suck fucking dick.

I closed the door behind me. The officer waved at me with a small smile. Unlike the other one that had questioned us, this one was actually receptive to my tales! At first I was slightly skeptical, but to my surprise he never stopped me. Not even once. 

Ash walked next to me as I turned to her. “That was great! I never thought they would never believe me!” Needless to say, I was happy. Though I didn’t mention how my fight went with the tentacle monster⁠— that made me depressed. 

Ash nodded. “Just try to not do it too much or people will think you’re stupid.” 

I paused. “He thinks i am stupid?” Was that why he… He seemed to pause and his emotions were constantly shifting? But the other Officer was happy hearing me ramble in the car… 

“Maybe?” Ash shrugged. “I doubt you’d be able to pretend you don’t know what’s going on.” 

“That⁠—” Well, I suppose it was the safe bet. Though I couldn’t stop myself from feeling a bit annoyed. At the very least it was just two people. 

But I had to admit it. It was useful to know most people wouldn’t buy what I was saying at all! Though it also made me sad. I had to keep it a secret, but a heartache remained even after thinking about it. In the end, I just sighed. 

We walked towards a really tall building. It was a hotel. Apparently our apartment was totally unusable. I was going to miss my⁠— my bag… It was left in the apartment! And⁠— The cheesecake! 

“Ash!” I hurriedly got her attention. “I left my bag full of magical tools in my room!” 

However, to my surprise, she just waved her hand. “Don’t worry about it, your possessions and my possessions⁠— well the little there is left. Are in the process of being retrieved.” 

“Retrieved by whom?” 

She shrugged. “Don’t know, and don’t care. Someone that works for the Hunters I guess.” 

Okay… But that left another issue. “What about the cheesecake?” 

Ash seemed to pause, her emotion suddenly moving towards something distant and cold⁠— sadness? 

“That… Is unfortunate…” She pondered for a second. “How about you buy one! I am sure the room service can get it!” 

“Room service?” What was that? 

“Don’t worry about it.” Ash tapped my back and we went into the hotel’s lobby. 

The white marbled floor reflected the ceiling light from the looming chandeliers, it was as if we walked into a different world. A black and white one with golden touches and dazz⁠— Wasn’t this just like my house!? Wait, no, no… It was still a lobby with places to relax such as leather couches that had a fluffy velvet carpet and a small table; as well as the usual receptionist. 

We made our way there, and I got weird looks from the person sitting behind the desk. It was a lonely man, who had slight wrinkling on his face, and combed hair. From our entire walk he wouldn’t stop staring, though he also looked at Ash weirdly. Well she still wore the black onesie… 

I took a brief look at my phone to see the hour. 02:49 am. I paused. It was late! Weren’t places normally closed at this hour? 

“A room for two, one that has room service.” Ash began speaking before I could panic further. 

“I understand. Name for reservation?” Hearing his voice, Ash turned towards me and urged me further. The man’s face twitched for a second before becoming normal. 

Ash gave me a nudge with her shoulder. “Kaiti Necros…” Why did I have to make the reservation?

Before I could question her, she leaned into my ear. “Sorry, for troubling you.” I almost scoffed. She sounded sincere but her emotions were as flat as always⁠— dead. 

Soon it was time to pay, but when I brought my wallet I realized that⁠— my bills were corroded! I had a slight internal panic before looking at the thing known as a debit card. Was it credit? I did worry a bit as I grabbed it and handed it to the man. 

“Miss, are you alright?” He asked as he received it from my trembling grip. 

“It is…” I answered, unable to voice my concerns of being scammed. 

Soon I had to type some numbers into the numpad, which I had nearly forgotten about, but managed. It was 1212 after-all. Though remembering it didn’t give me joy. And soon I got a paper with my card back, as well as another card and a ticket. Well the other card was taken by Ash and soon we walked into an enclosed square room. 

Shiny circles lined the walls with numbers on it. Ash pressed one of them, and⁠— The room moved?! 

I tensed up from the weird sensation, it felt as if my insides were suspended before being taken over by gravity again. “Why is the room moving?” 

“It’s an elevator?” Ash looked at me incredulously. 

“Right…” I had heard of them before. Ash simply nodded with a weird look. Soon it opened and we were suddenly transported⁠— we were suddenly on a different floor. Lots of doors surrounded us as well as a smaller lobby, though there was no reception desk or anything. 

Thankfully Ash knew what she was doing. So we found our destination soon enough. Just another room, the number next to it reading. ‘310’. Ash passed the card by the front of the door and it unlocked. 

That seemed kind of unsafe. I mean I did doubt it was as dumb as swiping any card. However, I didn’t really trust it as a lock. 

Soon we found ourselves in a rather fanciful room. The flooring was made of the same type of white marble, though the ceiling didn’t have chandeliers, just simple lights embedded into it. The jet-black walls contrasted with the white flooring, a black carpet accompanied⁠— Wait was hotel another word for apartment? 

There were two beds, with black and white themed sheets and golden trimmings. But there was also a small black sofa with a carpet that was a mix of black and white, it was fluffy. And a coffee table. The whole thing oversaw a window with closed blinds. No kitchen. But the square layout of the hotel covered; two beds, a small living room, and another room. Bathroom? It had to be the bathroom. 

I nodded to myself, but before I knew it a voice entered my ears. Ash? She held… Oh.

“Yeah, so can I get some⁠— em you people have some chips?” Ash paused. “What? You people don’t sell chips? — No, I don’t want some frozen food, yes I get that the kitchen isn’t open right now. Any type of sweets?” She smiled. “Alright, I want a full chocolate cheesecake! Room 310.” 

Soon she hung up the banana with things at its sides. Was that some type of phone? No⁠— that didn’t matter. 

“What did you do?” I asked, feeling doubtful. I was already worried about getting scammed. 

“Ordered food, of course. What else? Ah don’t worry I’ll pay you back.” Ash reassured as if it was natural⁠— well it was, but…

“How did you pay?” I mean I had paid for the room, but… 

“Well, I don't know how it actually works, but it can be charged to your card.” Ash shrugged. 

“Wait.” That sounded like. It all clicked in my head. At that moment, I just knew.  “Did I just get scammed and you didn’t even tell me?!” How could she…

“No, it’s not a scam. If they were scammers they would’ve gone out of business long ago,” Ash shrugged. “Seriously, how much do you even know about the human world? Sometimes you’re fine, and sometimes you…” She trailed off.

I frowned, feeling slightly attacked. “You… What do you mean, with ‘you…’?” 

“Sometimes you’re quite dumb.” Ash shook her head. “Are the only things you know about this place from training?” It took me a second, but I nodded feeling fearful. Ash sighed. “Alright, I’ll take it upon myself to train you.” 

I raised my brow. “You?” 

“Yes, me.” Ash nodded.

Right. She had been here for much longer, and was an Abyssal Hunter. Though, I still didn’t quite understand what they did. But… I shivered a bit thinking about the monster from earlier. I was weak after all… A slight sigh escaped me remembering my situation. It wasn’t good. 

“Should I worry about more monsters showing up?” I asked with slight hesitation.

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“No? Are you still hung up on that?” I nodded in response, making Ash ponder for a second. “Is it because of what it said as it was about to die?” 

I paused. “Yeah…” 

“That monster was out of your level of expertise, simple as that. You don’t have enough experience.” She shook her head. “I’ll think of something, go take a shower, you’re still covered in your own filth.” 

Right… I twisted my wrist only to feel it wrinkle under dried blood. I had ignored the feeling. But it was quite uncomfortable if not plain disgusting. Though, I remember she was also injured during the battle, so maybe she had to clean herself too. 

“Do you want to join me?” I asked with slight confusion. I mean⁠— well it wasn’t odd. Servants joined me in baths at times. But, Ash’s emotions quickly turned sour, and soon a scoff came my way. 

“I’ll shower after you’re done, we’re not lovers.” 

Lovers? I paused but decided to go to the bathroom without thinking more about it. The conversation had gone awry, so there was no point in continuing⁠— well I did want to wash myself. 

I opened the door and was met with much the same color scheme. Though the tower hanger was made out of silver metal instead of gold which was neat. There was no bathtub, only a shower. I knew what they were, but… 

There was also a mirror and a sink, as well as the toilet, but. Shower? I mean, I sort of understood how to use them, but there was slight adversity. Black towels were ready on a small nightstand in between the sink and the toilet, which was well, nice? 

Well I still had to remove the blood off myself, so… 

◇ ◇ ◇ 

Too hot, too cold. Painfully hot, scalding hot, shivering cold. Agh! 

I grumbled while drying my hair with a second towel. At the same time I just didn’t want to wear my clothes again. Even though they were clean, and not broken anymore, something about the events that happened today made me reluctant. 

In the end, I opted for wrapping a towel around my torso like a dress and called it a day. The shower was mostly uneventful, the soap was nice on my skin and so was the liquid for the hair. But the water? Hell shall spare the maker of this shower. I didn’t think every single one was like that, unless it was a trial of patience that was present in every single living space. In which case: 

The soul of the maker won’t be salvaged. 

I let go of a sigh, and promptly left the bathroom with my things in arms. The cool air of the room hit me with a chilly breeze, it was relaxing yet slightly weird. After taking a left turn from the door, I saw the window fully open and paused. I was captivated. 

Lights surrounded the vicinity of the view, like little flies of fire⁠— the buildings rose in the distance, filling the barren night sky. The distant dots were not present… Some lights were closer, and others were much further away, grouped up together, all shining in different colors, like a group of gathered wisps. Tiny flames, shining together to bring… Brilliance. 

I snapped from my trance. My body was too relaxed, and slightly sore. I was… tired. Ash was watching the window with⁠— the table had a cake ⁠—missing one slice⁠— a cake that had brown sprinkles and dirt. Cookies littered the top as decorations. 

I sat next to Ash who seemed surprised. There was another plate. Did I even want to eat that? I looked at it with doubt as I sat my clothes next to me, I didn’t really register if it was gross or not since they were very technically clean. 

Soon, Ash cut a slice with surprising precision and put it on the plate that was promptly handed to me. 

“Why are you offering me cake with dirt?” I asked somewhat tiredly. My eyes darted in between the window and the plate. 

“It’s not dirt, it’s chocolate, a kind of sweet. Try it.” Ash didn’t seem to want to elaborate more, though she seemed to be enjoying it.

I took the plate from her hand and the utensil. Then I had a try at it, I was reluctant to put it in my mouth but eventually conceded. Well after I realized it was cheesecake. It was raspy, and sweet⁠—

Holy hell. 

◇ ◇ ◇ 

The cake was devoured as if hounds had pounded on it. It didn’t last long. The chocolate was amazing. Ash had gone to take a shower, and I was drifting away to sleep. Well was. My phone went off like a horn of war, puncturing my ear-drums. I knew I had to pick up the phone when it rang! But I didn’t expect my first call to happen like that.

“Hello?” I asked, feeling my heart rushing. 

“Sorry, you’re Kaiti right? This is Sullivan.” Sullivan? Mr. Sullivan… Card? 

“Yea, is something wrong Mr. Sullivan?” I asked with confusion. There was a brief pause and⁠— oh I couldn’t sense⁠— I almost slapped myself. 

A chuckle came. “I should be the one asking you. Are the both of you alright?” 

Alright? I winced slightly recalling the memories, but I didn’t really want to share that.

“Yeah, is something wrong?” Truth be told, I wasn’t really following what he was saying. 

“Phew. That’s great. It was quite scary to get awoken by the police at my door. Anyway, glad to know that the both of you are alright. Are you available to discuss your housing situation with me tomorrow?” 

I paused. The ruler of the land, lordes the apartment. And, said apartment had been blasted and wrangled. Was this a bad thing? 

“It’s…” I paused. “Nothing bad right?” 

“No? Why would it be?” I got a confused answer back. Phew. 

I nodded before realizing he couldn’t see me. “Alright, I’ll let Ash know.” 

However, at that moment I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked back to see Ash⁠— pink. 

“Give me the phone.” I handed it to her, feeling confused. “Hey Mr. Sullivan, unfortunately Kaiti and I won’t be available tomorrow, maybe the day after?” She paused and nodded. “That sounds fantastic, thank you.” She hung up the phone and handed it to me.

However, I couldn’t move my eyes away from Ash. She wore⁠— A bear. 

“Why are you wearing a pink onesie?” She looked like⁠— well a pink bear? 

Ash grinned seeing my reaction, seemingly satisfied. Was she just wearing different colored ones to get me? 

“That’s not important, I’ve made my decision.” 

“Decision?” I asked in confusion, seeing her face that wouldn’t stop smiling. 

“If being weak concerns you, or rather simply not having fighting experience, then why not join the Abyssal Hunters as my partner? That way you won’t be at death’s door again.” 

My brain skipped over a lot of things. “Join… The Abyssal… Hunters?” 

“Well you don’t need to join if you don’t want to.” Ash gave me a shrug before sitting next to me. “Just an idea so you don’t die in the future.” 

I frowned. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to feel what I felt when being pressed down by the monster. It was terrible… A shiver ran through my spine for a second before I made my decision. I had to be a proper Reaper⁠— Perhaps I wasn’t going to be like everyone else. I still wanted to help people, I still disliked sour emotions, but… 

I wanted to have the experience and strength to deal with future problems. I swallowed, and made my decision.

“I’ll join the hunters…”