OJTTEG-Chapter 27: Modern Technology, Kid!

"If Fiona finds out someone is missing tomorrow, I wonder if she'll be surprised," Haunter muses, trying to strike up a conversation to pass the time. Though it's likely this girl won't respond.

Anastasia, as she's called, is always aloof. Not much for chatting.

"She'll probably feel guilty."

Oh, she replied.

"What?"

"She'll regret passing notes for the two of us."

With straws in her fangs, she can draw blood into her body just by sucking, allowing her to mumble a few words.

"Next is Cain. If he finds out about the note you passed, he'll probably suspect Fiona of being the killer herself, thinking she invited me out and I vanished the next day."

"Hmph."

"That's about it. I might be handsome, but I don't have many friends."

"You kicked those guys in the testes; who'd dare befriend you?"

"Honestly, were those troublemakers sent by you?"

"Hmph."

"Why's your mouth curling up?"

"Hmph," Anastasia snorts, her nose adorably tilted.

"So it was you, wasn't it?"

……

"Pop."

An releases her bite, leaving a suspicious trace of liquid at the corner of her mouth and two puncture marks on Haunter's almost shriveled skin.

Huh, it doesn't hurt.

So this is how vampires feed? This world really is a fascinating place.

I wonder if succubi exist. With my insatiable curiosity, I'd love to see how they feed.

Honestly, I'd be more than willing to offer myself as a meal.

"What are you staring at?"

An opens her mouth, her canines unusually long, designed to reach deeper blood vessels. Her teeth are pearly white, and her lips, freshly nourished with blood, are especially rosy, like a perfect cherry, tempting one to take a sip.

Her face is angelic, pure, with eyes that are bright and captivating.

Why has she suddenly become so beautiful?

And why am I thinking this way?

Oh! I get it!

"I'm poisoned," Haunter frowns. "Is there some toxin in your saliva? I don't feel as much pain."

"Probably to prevent prey from struggling during feeding, there might be some calming agent in it to make the prey feel comfortable."

An seems to have regained more mobility, even able to lift her newly restored left hand, though she can't bend her fingers yet.

"Isn't that just like a mosquito?"

"How can vampires and mosquitoes be the same?"

"Mosquitoes also make you feel nothing and leave a bump."

"Can you really compare such lowly creatures?"

"I'm about to die, and you're arguing with me about this," Haunter grumbles. "Fine, I'll die for you."

With that, he dramatically tilts his head and collapses onto An's chest, and he is dead.

...

What on earth.

Is this the end of this fiction?

……

An stares at the guy who suddenly collapsed onto her chest, momentarily bewildered.

Is this how people die, just suddenly dropping like that?

In disbelief, she checks for breath under his nose.

There's still breathing.

"You're fooling no one..."

"Such a flat chest!"

She hears Haunter mumble in a dazed tone.

Then, she feels no breath at all. He seems truly dead now, and through her vampire eyes, she sees his soul beginning to disperse.

Why were those his last words? An feels a vein twitch on her forehead, almost making her laugh in exasperation.

"Never mind, no point in arguing with him."

Her body still hasn't fully recovered, so she uses the nearby phone's light to carefully examine the young man in front of her.

His hair is covered in dust, and he wears a look of disdain, likely because his head rested on some hard object.

The Reed family has excellent genes; she can see traces of Ormond's youthful features in him—high nose bridge, gentle facial features, a slender face, and somewhat coarse short hair.

Perhaps due to the Reed family's history as professional exorcists, some of that lineage might indeed be present.

Haunter's legs are sprawled across her, with one hand supporting himself against the floor behind, forming a triangular space.

An carefully props some nearby debris under the wall panel, cautiously freeing Haunter from his predicament.

An turns her attention back to the messages on the phone beside her.

"The event started 5 minutes ago. If I hurry back now, I might still make it."

Remembering Haunter's recent words, her eyes inexplicably well up with tears, thinking of her mother and friend's deaths.

Though Haunter wasn't exactly a good person, he did save her.

"Is it just my imagination? His gaze... it reminds me of Dilandra..."

The same look of self-sacrifice.

Could he be a fraud? From what she knows, this guy rarely speaks the truth.

But now he's gone.

From what she knows, Haunter always has a backup plan. Even when cornered, he wouldn't die so easily.

Yet, he's truly dead. It's a fact. Without the necessary materials and spells, reincarnation is impossible for him.

But he shouldn't have died like this; he had such a sharp mind.

Even though he was her enemy, his intelligence was undeniable. He shouldn't have died here.

But then again, should he have died at all?

The girl suddenly feels a tightness in her chest, her emotions becoming complicated.

What a frustrating plot twist. In a novel, this would definitely be a sore point!

……

"An! Are you in there?"

Ormond's voice suddenly echoes from outside the ruins, carrying a convincing strength.

What?

No way, why would he be here?

An is startled, her body still weak. She can barely stand, but the nerves in her left hand and foot haven't fully healed, allowing only limited movement.

Wait a minute.

"How could Dad possibly be in this place?"

"An! Hold on, I'm coming in to save you!" The voice outside calls again, mingling with the sound of rain, making it seem almost surreal.

Hold on. Is that really him?

An glances at her phone.

She opens the app, finds Ormond's account, and clicks on the details page.

Real-time location: The affluent district. That's the home address.

Ormond is someone who always has his phone with him, so the person outside using Ormond's voice is clearly an imposter.

A fake.

Ha, An can't help but laugh.

Modern technology, kid!

"...What a troublesome time."

An grits her teeth, fighting exhaustion, as her heart pumps blood, her eyes turning blood-red, and her mind suddenly clears.

"An..."

The voice that had been lingering in her ears becomes sharp and hoarse, revealing its true nature.