Chapter 36

3rd PERSON POV

Hunters' Side

"Wait what?!"

"Did I not hear that wrong?!"

It was finally the day of the big meeting. The day where every single hunter of Oletus Manor would be giving their final verdict on Jack regarding the Red Church incident that had caused a huge strain on Survivor Aesop Carl.

However, a few minutes into the starting time, the whole side is filled with nothing but utter shock.

"What..... is... this?" Hastur muttered to himself, his mind barely able to process what lies before his very eyes.

A sticky note was neatly placed on the work desk the two had always shared as match officials.

It was not the note that had led the Feaster this close to having a breakdown.

It was the thing written on it.

Pinching the bridges of his nose with the attempt of dispelling the headache slowly building in his skull, Hastur sat himself down on one of the chairs, his whole attention on the monitor displaying everything going on in his side of the manor.

"What on earth is he up to now? As if whatever he did wasn't enough to cause burden on us all!" Leo said, his knee kicking on the wall.

"The meeting is about to start. Maybe we can get him to talk about this?" Xie Bi An chimed in.

Hastur sighed. The Ripper might still be on probation and that he definitely is the bad guy on that assault, but never had it crossed his mind that the latter would pull out something barely fathomable as this.

No matter what it is, the Ripper is his best friend. His partner. The only one that is more than willing to hear him out regardless of the circumstances.

"Okay...." the Feaster said, pulling his cloak back on.

"But before that, let me confirm something one more time."

All the hunters stared at him in confusion.

"The survivors will be joining this meeting too. Don't ever think of harming them at all costs."

"Yeah! No harming and attacking!" Joker piped in, his body forming his dashing stance.

"That message was specifically meant for you, Mr. Clown." The White Guard said, much to Joker's dismay.

"Wait a minute." Bane said as he realized one of them is not here.

"Where's Joseph?"

"He took off to the manor's ER a few hours ago. Aesop is officially discharged today and he wants to help clear everything out." Michiko smiled.

"Besides, Aesop will also be in the meeting. That is pretty obvious."

"That Photoboy and that Embalmer really are something, eh?" The Gamekeeper laughed, placing his hook on the table.

"You knew about it all along?" The Geisha asked, the tone of concern making its presence within every word. For all she knew, the Photographer had never told anyone else about the feelings he has for the Embalmer aside from her.

"But how-?"

"I was once a normal human too, Michiko. And I know exactly how he feels."

"In fact, all of us are aware of that." Bi An allowed himself into the conversation.

"Trust me, Geisha. None of us is against that."

Michiko chuckled the moment she heard Bi An's words.

Guess I don't have to worry about anything anymore now. She muttered as Hastur finally stood up from his seat.

"Let's settle this. None of us is against them, yes. But I don't know about Jack. So don't act all relieved and off to the meeting lobby, guys. Now."

Bi An nodded as he had a palm on Joker's lips, trying to strain him from causing another reckless nonsense.

                                ***

JOSEPH

"Jeez, Joseph. I can walk on my own. You don't have to carry me like this."

I let out a huge laugh as I held the Embalmer in my arms, carrying him bridal style. He just got discharged today, and I am more than happy for that.

"Says the one who ended up tripping over while he walks to the door." I teased, earning a pout from him.

He looks cute when he pouts.

"I'm just happy you are finally out of that place. Having to go there and witness you being unconscious and hooked to whatever tubes they got there gave me the creeps. Blegh."

The Embalmer lets out a slight laugh.

"Josephine has lost her chill again."

"Say that one more time and I'll drop you here." I said, trying to act stern, in which it had failed within seconds.

We broke into massive laughters.

However, all the laughters and easiness had taken a dark turn into anxiety and concern, for I noticed Hastur standing before one of the doors leading to my side of the manor.

It is the day.

"Hey there, Hastur." I said awkwardly, the hope of ridding away the intense look on his face playing inside me.

"Joseph." He said, nodding his head.

"And Aesop Carl, it's good to have you back. How are you now?"

"He is fine now." I answered on his behalf.

"But he's not supposed to walk for the time being. He still has difficulties to manage the way he breathes."

"Wow." Hastur sighed.

"I'm so sorry to hear that. I- Jack-"

"It's fine." Aesop said, his hands grabbing into mine.

"Just get everything done now. And is everyone there already?"

The Feaster gave a weak nod as he opened the doors for us to get in.

                                ***

"Good morning to everyone of Oletus Manor. Survivors, hunters, we all welcome you to this very day. I, Xie Bi An, will be the one to commence this very meeting. Oh, and before that, I woud like to say, welcome back, Aesop Carl."

Everyone had their eyes on Aesop, the look of curiousity being drawn all ober their faces. I even noticed Eli clapping his hands in enthusiasm.

I am sure glad that I had sat next to Aesop, for this meeting is starting to strain him.

He keeps on holding into my hand, and even though no words came out of his lips, the look on his eyes was more than enough to let me know that he does not like it.

"Okay. So I'm pretty much aware that everyone of you have known about the assault in the Red Church a few months ago. Regarding this, I know that all of you survivors have questions running inside your minds-"

"Hunters kill survivors! And why is it that the hunters were the ones who organized this meeting?! The audacity!" William yelled from the back door, in which was then given a noogie by the Coordinator.

I laughed.

"Um.. you do have a point there, Mr. Forward.... Okay! Moving on. So in that very match, one of our hunters have carried out an action that is unexpected and is barely believable to all of us..."

My eyes landed on Jack, who had sat right next to Leo and Bane. That was when I cannot help but notice something about him is not right.

He kept his head down, avoiding any eye contact that is given to him. Not to mention instead of going around with his skull mask, he had exposed the side behind the mask he had once shown me.

And his left hand?

He has been hiding it for all I can remember.

I have never seen him so defeated before.

I got snapped out of my trance as I heard Naib interrupting every single word Bi An tries to say.

"Hunters are allowed to hurt survivors in a match. But this is beyond the call of duty! He nearly killed my friend! Don't you hunters ever go easy on him!"

Naib. Michiko had once told me that he and Jack had once been a thing before

But what made them end up this way? I still have no idea.

I had a hard time trying to understand everything that is going on, for Aesop by now was looking really pale, something Emily had told me that it should not happen.

I was about to excuse ourselves when the Ripper stood up, still avoiding everyone's eyes on him.

"I, Jack the Ripper, am aware of the fact that I assaulted Aesop Carl way more than the rules had stated how it should be, and on this very occassion I am letting you know that I deserve punishment. But I still have one more thing to say."

Silence filled the whole room. Everyone was speechless. Flabbergasted.

"I am resigning from my position as an official. That note you guys saw, I really mean it.....

...And I hand my position over to Xie Bi An."