Chapter 38: The Mark
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
As Rain was getting ready to conclude her shift and make her way back to the comforting embrace of her dormitory, she was interrupted by a sudden call from Miles. The tone in which he spoke held an undoubted gravity and urgency, something Rain was familiar with when it came to eerie ghostly incidents. This prompted her to immediately switch into her professional mode.
In their unique realm of ghost tamers, receiving a phone call was a rare event and only meant one thing: an impending paranormal crisis was at hand. In such situations, Rain played a vital role, acting as a central hub for communication. Her responsibility was to gather and methodically organize crucial information, assess the degree of paranormal threat, and assist in ensuring that balance and stability were maintained in their region.
The ringing of her phone wasn’t merely a call; it was a summons to her duty. It didn’t matter if she was on the cusp of relaxation; she had to respond. Paying full attention, Rain listened intently as Miles described the eerie event.
She quickly pulled up the detailed file on the former agent Right. As she skimmed through the data, a worried crease appeared on her forehead. Her eyes mirrored the depth of her apprehension.
“So, are you saying that the ghost infant that originated from within Right is now rapidly aging? Just days ago, it was merely a baby, but now it’s showing signs of being a child with newfound powers to alter the ghost domain?” she questioned, trying to grasp the gravity of the situation.
“Exactly,” Miles responded. “Moreover, this ghost child left two distinct palm imprints on a classmate of mine. It seems as if she’s been singled out, marked as its next victim in a manner reminiscent of an old haunting curse. Does the database have any information on such incidents? Or perhaps a way to handle this?”
Tapping into her vast knowledge of past paranormal incidents, Rain responded, “Indeed, we’ve encountered similar phenomena in the past. When a ghost possesses a strong intent to kill, it usually follows a specific pattern which is activated by a certain trigger.”
“For instance, the knocking ghost was set into action by the specific sound of knocking, and it focused its haunting energy on doors as its preferred method of execution. Though there could be other killing methods, in this ghost child’s case, its operation pattern seems to be through consuming its victim, and the trigger is direct physical touch.”
She continued, “Based on our findings, it seems probable that the ghost child will attempt to consume the first individual it makes contact with. This is likely the reason your colleague is now its primary target – she was the one who touched it.”
Miles interjected with a note of confusion, “But I’ve never had any physical contact with this ghost child. Yet, it did attack me.”
He was its first victim.
Rain clarified, “Certain ghosts, when not driven by their trigger, can act on pure impulse, attacking at random. When the ghost child emerged from Right’s belly, you were the first person in its line of sight, making you its chosen target. However, understanding its patterns doesn’t assure safety. Given the unpredictable nature of this ghost, which we’ve categorized as Level B, caution is paramount.”
Miles’s face contorted in discomfort as he began to realize the extent of the predicament. He could now fathom why someone like Jing might resort to extreme measures, making significant sacrifices in a desperate bid for self-preservation.
Rain, noting Miles’s change of tone, added further information. “Regarding the palm print on your classmate, our current hypothesis is that it represents the mark of a ‘ghost slave’.”
Miles raised an eyebrow at this unfamiliar term. “A ghost slave mark? What exactly does that mean? How does it differ from an actual ghost slave?”
Rain took a deep breath, ready to elucidate. “Ghosts with the capability to traverse the ghost domain possess a unique power: the ability to turn those who have passed on into their ghostly subordinates. While these ghost slaves might bear a resemblance to their former living selves, they’re devoid of any individual cognition or reasoning. Essentially, they become empty vessels, completely dominated by their ghostly masters. I’m sure you’ve witnessed this phenomenon before. However, the knocking ghost you mentioned earlier stands out as an anomaly. Its capacity to control a greater number of ghost slaves categorizes it as a Class A entity.”
Miles paled at this revelation. The implications of confronting a Class A ghost were far graver than he had initially surmised.
Rain continued, “Think of the ghost slave mark as a branding or a ‘tag’ of sorts by a dominant ghost, somewhat analogous to a corporate insignia. Even if the person bearing this mark is alive in our realm, they’re already designated as a slave in the ghost domain. The moment they die, they’ll be instantly enslaved. That’s the extent of our understanding as of now.”
Miles struggled to wrap his head around the implications. “So, are you suggesting that this ghost child, despite its recent emergence, is intent on amassing attractive women as part of its ghostly entourage? I was under the assumption that it was relatively harmless, but this revelation paints it in a whole new, more unsettling light.”
Rain quickly interjected, “Ghosts, as we understand them, don’t have human-like desires or preferences. They don’t differentiate between physical attractiveness or any other human attribute. It’s likely that the ghost child viewed your colleague as a more vulnerable target after failing with you, perhaps due to gender-based perceptions of strength. That’s probably the full extent of its rationale.”
Desperation evident in his voice, Miles inquired, “Is there a way to remove or neutralize this mark?”
Rain hesitated briefly before responding, “There isn’t a concrete method, but there exists a theoretical one. However, no ghost tamer has been audacious enough to attempt it.”
Miles, increasingly anxious, pressed on, “Why hasn’t anyone tried?”
“The requirements are daunting,” Rain confessed.
Intrigued and desperate, Miles asked, “What are these requirements?”
Rain elaborated, “At its core, the method demands that the ghost tamer deeply immerse themselves within the ghost domain. There’s a prevailing academic hypothesis that suggests that if a ghost can create a slave, then a ghost tamer, with their special skills, might be capable of doing the same. In theory, a ghost tamer could supersede and replace the mark of a ghost with their own, effectively freeing the individual from the shackles of the weaker ghost’s control.”
With disbelief evident in his voice, Miles challenged, “So, even after going through all that, the mark persists? How is that remotely logical?”
Rain patiently clarified, “It’s not a straightforward comparison. Remember, while a powerful ghost is a deceased entity, a ghost tamer is still among the living. Even if someone is marked by a ghost tamer, they would remain mentally intact and wouldn’t descend into the same mindless state of a ghost slave. However, should you perish at the hands of a dominant ghost, the ghost residing within you would assert control over your form,” she elaborated, trying to lay out the nuanced differences of the theory.
Miles’s face clouded with concern. It was widely known that ghost tamers had precarious and often short-lived existences. Thus, embracing this solution felt akin to choosing a different kind of suicide. Regardless of the path chosen, mortality’s shadow loomed ominously.
Taking a deep breath, Miles responded, “I understand your point. Let’s table this discussion for a later time.”
As if struck by a sudden realization, Rain quickly said, “Wait a moment.”
Miles raised an eyebrow, “What is it now?”
“In order to offer you more effective assistance down the line, I need to compile a detailed profile on you,” Rain began. “It’s imperative that you have a clear understanding of the ghost residing within you—the scope of its powers, its characteristics, and its manifestations. If you’re not forthright with this information, it may hinder our ability to help you.”
Miles hesitated briefly before conceding, “Fine.”
After a thoughtful pause, he opted to discuss the ghostly presence believed to be residing within his eye.
As Rain diligently captured all the particulars, she continued, “We’ve taken measures to ensure your mother’s well-being. Currently, she’s involved in a legitimate enterprise and is slated to return to Spear City soon. Rest assured, she’s in safe hands. Now, can you shed some light on the matter regarding your father that you brought up during our previous conversation?”
Miles, with a puzzled expression, countered, “My father? He died when I was but a child. What are you alluding to?”
Rain’s eyebrows rose in surprise, “You previously mentioned encountering your father’s presence in your rented accommodations. I had surmised it might be his spirit and hence recommended you relocate.”
Miles’s eyes widened in disbelief, “You’re suggesting that spirit could be my father? I’d appreciate it if you didn’t jump to such baseless conclusions.”
Even as Miles expressed his skepticism, Rain appeared contemplative. From her perspective, Miles genuinely seemed uninformed. Could it be a scenario wherein a ghostly entity had tampered with his memories? And if a ghost possessed such a capability, why was her own recollection unaffected?
She quickly documented this anomaly, intending to share it with their research department for a deeper analysis. Memory manipulation by ghostly entities wasn’t her forte.
Seeking to conclude the conversation, Miles said, “If there’s nothing else pressing, we can reconvene later.”
Rain, sensing an opportunity to address another concern, quickly asked, “Before you disconnect, how have you been feeling mentally?”
Brushing off her query, Miles tersely responded, “I’m in good shape, no concerns,” and promptly ended the call.
Miles took a moment to gather his thoughts before addressing Coral and her family. “The person I was just speaking to is a key operator from the Asian Division of Interpol’s Ghost Tamers Headquarters. She’s not just any officer; when she speaks, people listen. I’ve been entangled in this ghostly web for quite some time now. And since our fates seem intertwined, I think it’s only fair to keep you in the loop. I don’t want to be accused later on of either hiding critical information or being delusional.”
The room was heavy with tension, and an unsettling silence settled over Coral’s family. The magnitude of the revelation left them grappling with myriad emotions.
Catching movement out of the corner of his eye, Miles’s gaze settled on Coral’s wrist. There, faintly etched against her skin, was a subtle red mark. It bore an uncanny resemblance to an eyeball.
Without thinking, Miles impulsively seized Coral’s wrist, demanding, “When did this appear?”
Startled, Coral jerked her hand away, her voice barely above a whisper as she responded, “It surfaced when you held onto me earlier.”
The realization hit Miles like a tidal wave. This was the notorious ghost slave mark!
Cold dread cascaded through him. As the events replayed in his mind, he recalled the moment when he had tightly gripped Coral’s wrist in a bid to rescue her.
Could he have inadvertently marked her?
The pieces of the puzzle began to align in his mind. This might explain why Coral had managed to survive her prolonged encounter with the ghost child. It was potentially his mark that had shielded her. However, with the ghost child’s growing strength, the protective influence of his mark seemed to be waning.
“This mark… it’s a double-edged sword,” Miles murmured, a tumultuous mix of guilt and concern evident on his face. “It can act as a protective barrier, but it can also lead to unimaginable consequences.”
After disconnecting from the call, a new dossier bearing the moniker ‘Ghost Eye Miles’s was promptly added to the central database at Ghost Tamers HQ. The cover of the file carried a distinct notation: ‘Not yet officially recruited’.