POV: NOAH WILLIAMS.
Lunch wasn't special at all. The smell of coffee mixed with what seemed like chocolate cake had already spread through the hotel's dining area;
I chose to eat there more out of convenience than desire.
After all, it had both traditional foods as well as the usual fare you'd find anywhere.
The place was a simple hall, further in on the ground floor of the hotel, with several tables outlining the room. a bit like a buffet.
Tables were set simply, the food came with no luxury, and maybe that was exactly what I needed just then: a regular meal, nothing eye-catching, nothing to distract me more than I already was.
With each forkful, however, my mind wandered. The taste got lost amidst the layers of my thoughts.
I cut the meat with an almost automatic gesture, chewed slowly, and my eyes rested on the darkened screen of my communicator lying next to my plate.
I knew I'd get the test results any moment…
'Hope it's good news…'
After investigating the woods and the city entrance, I compiled all the information from both events and sent it to SFR for lab analysis.
Even so, since I was far from the central team in Brasília, it took some time for the report response.
With the info I had, I could piece together a mental sketch of what was happening in the city over the previous months.
And I came to the conclusion that something big was being tested there, not just H's visit looking for the S file, but maybe something connected to the new drug's test.
'Better enjoy my lunch now… I don't think I'll have much time for this soon…'
I kept eating for a bit, watching the hotel's morning routine unfold.
Several people came for a quick lunch then went straight back to their rooms; others just passed through and left hurriedly.
Hotel staff moved about, busy as ants. For many, all the commotion might be bothersome, but for me, I always found it natural.
So I felt a brief moment of peace.
And just as I tried to relax, forcing down a sip of water, I felt my communicator vibrate.
The subtle sound echoed like a gunshot in the quiet room.
I grabbed the device right away and opened the notification. The lab report was finally done.
I scanned the data line by line, feeling the strange tension of someone dismantling a bomb without knowing if they had the right tools.
The samples I'd sent weeks ago came back with results that were both clear and murky.
It was, in fact, some sort of elixir or magical medication. if you could still call it that.
Something altered, manipulated by hands that knew exactly what they were doing.
The symptoms and properties weren't fully understood yet. The analysts were careful in their notes, but there was enough detail to put me on alert.
The substance reacted anomalously when in contact with vital energy and, in some cases, amplified the natural flow of magical circuits to the breaking point.
A real risk, if not a disaster waiting to happen.
The cross-referencing of data was what unsettled me most.
The samples matched other investigations run by SFR.
Cases in Hong Kong, Siberia, and even Brussels had shown the same chemical-magical trace.
It wasn't just an isolated accident.
Someone was spreading this stuff, maybe testing it out, maybe distributing it… and we were only now starting to gather the pieces of the puzzle.
I swallowed hard. Whatever the purpose, there was no doubt, the effects were odd and potentially devastating for anyone who consumed the drug.
I set my cutlery aside and took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
The priority was clear: I needed to find Miguel and fill him in. He knew how to move in certain parts of the city and might already have additional information.
I stood, tied my coat around my waist, checked that I had all my documents, and got ready to leave.
That's when another notification popped up. My communicator vibrated again with recent QP readings.
The fluctuations were coming from the city cemetery. Again.
These readings had occurred for several days now, always at about the same time, always at the same spot.
I closed my eyes for a moment, undecided. Miguel would have to wait.
Investigating this might bring immediate answers, or at least a new lead in the worst case.
If the readings kept happening, it meant it wasn't just a coincidence.
I walked past the hotel's front desk, and there he was, the quiet receptionist, already buried in his books as usual.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Williams!" he said, putting aside the book he'd been reading.
"Good afternoon. Just letting you know I'm heading out now. I'll probably be back in the afternoon as usual, all right?" I answered quickly.
"No problem. We'll have a special coffee tonight, so if possible, don't miss it," he said.
"I won't miss it. Thanks! Have a nice day…"
As I turned toward the door, I remembered seeing him last time with Dostoevsky in his hands, as if he were about to solve the dilemmas of the human soul amid the boredom of his shift.
Now, I was curious what he was reading.
Camus? Tolkien?
I glanced sideways, over his screen, and saw the cover he held was different… Call of the Night.
I shook my head, nearly smiling to myself.
'Peculiar taste… Best not ask what goes on in that man's head…'
I left him behind and headed into the noisy, early afternoon streets.
The sun was starting to climb the horizon, heating things up. I had to hurry since the cemetery was on the other side of town, practically a long walk…
***
The cemetery's iron gate squeaked softly as I pushed it open.
The sound echoed in the open space, as if even the shadows themselves held their breath at my arrival.
I walked in slowly, eyes sharp, taking in every detail.
Tombstones lined up in orderly rows. Some were richly decorated with fresh flowers and marble statues shimmering in the sunlight.
But most had simple decorations, just a cross and a small plaque with names and general info about the deceased.
The landscape said more than anything else…
In that soil, there were no differences, and death's equality pressed on everyone mercilessly.
I walked the central aisle, listening to the wet grass rustling beneath my steps.
The air carried that characteristic earthy smell, but soon something was off, there was a separate odor among the rest.
A strong, bothersome fragrance I didn't recognize at first. Pungent, almost metallic. I chose to follow the scent as I walked.
The magical energy signatures didn't pinpoint where the surges happened. just gave a general idea of where to search.
The many aisles took some time; in most, nothing stood out from what you'd expect…
I stayed alert, especially when the strange smell grew stronger. My eyes swept the little shadows starting to form, the tombstones, every detail nearby.
I reached the furthest part of the cemetery, where the graves were older and less tended. There, the silence was thick, almost suffocating.
That's when I saw it.
A body sprawled on the ground.
The scene froze me for a moment. There was a person who seemed unconscious, lying still in an odd position, as if left in a hurry.
The pale skin showed a complete lack of color, and the chest moved so slowly I had to get close to be certain they were still breathing.
I got closer, it seemed to be a young person's body, dressed in light-colored clothes now filthy with dirt. And reeking of a weird mix of stuff, a nauseating combo.
A hood covered the head, making identification hard.
I felt a pulse. The heartbeat was weak and erratic, and it looked likely they'd been there for hours.
My fists clenched instinctively.
This wasn't random, the energy readings happened, at most, twenty-two hours ago…
I looked around, all my senses on alert.
'Damn… I got here too late again.'
There was no one else. No shadow but those of the stone statues, no movement among the trees.
Yet the feeling of being watched didn't leave me.
I straightened up, breathing deeply, trying to sort out the avalanche of thoughts. I'd have to decide fast: get this person medical help and then sweep the area…
A cold breeze swept through the central corridor, stirring dry leaves.
And in that heavy silence, I had the impression of hearing something else.
I stood and started dialing a number on my communicator when…
A distant whisper, a dry snap, maybe just my imagination. But my instincts said otherwise.
My hair stood on end… Because…
A shockingly strong magical energy surged behind me.
'It's coming from the body…'