Urgent

Still lying on the floor, I sweep my eyes across the room. Looking for any signs left by that dark shadowy figure. But I found nothing.

"What are you looking for?" Ethan asked.

I sat cross-legged and looked at him but didn't say anything for a while. My head was a tad muddy. I seem to have forgotten something. And I have got this weird premonition that I lost something very important. But I don't know what could it be.

I cocked my head to the side, furrowing my brows. Trying hard to remember. But it was all for naught.

"No, I don't think you're okay."

I stared at Ethan, he stared back at me. Anticipation was written all over his face as if he was expecting me to tell him something.

"What?" We both asked at the same time.

His face contorted in an almost comical way. It didn't take a genius to tell that he was disappointed.

I stood from my position and slumped at the edge of the bed. Through my peripheral, I can see him following me with his eyes — scrutinizing me.

As I sat there, I was racking my brain about the series of events earlier. It couldn't have been a dream, could it? That felt so real. So vivid.

I looked at Ethan again. He raised his brow.

"Did you notice anything in the room before you entered?" I asked.

"Oh? Like what? Like how the window was wide open and you lying on the floor in a spread eagle position?"

"No. I mean, anything other than that." I gave the mahogany wall clock a glance and found out that it was already a quarter past eleven.

"Hmm… No, everything was pretty normal I think. As if something interesting would happen in this boring place. But wait! Why are you asking me that? Did something happened?"

"No. I mean, yes. Err… no."

"Make up your mind, will you? Did something happened or nah?"

"Uhh… I'm not sure."

"Why are you not sure?"

"I don't know."

"Seriously! Just spill it out!" He said with a tinge of annoyance in his voice.

But how can I tell you exactly if I'm confused myself? I'm not even sure if what happened was real or just a fraction of a bizarre dream.

"Nothing big. Just — Just something weird." I told him everything that happened starting from the package until me waking up. As I was doing that, I noticed the subtle shift in his mood. He has become quite serious.

"Mr. Jack, let me ask you again. This dark shadowy figure that you're telling me now has a rotten smell. And before you saw it you heard a bell? Correct?" He asked.

"Exactly," I told him. And just as I said that, he sprung to his feet and throws another question at me.

"And you said that it went inside your body?"

"Uhh… yes?" And with that, he seized me by the arm.

"Let's meet Vlad. Now."

"Huh? Wait! Ethan, wait!"

"We need to go there now. You have no idea about the gravity of the situation you are currently in."

"Then would you be kind enough to at least explain it to me so I would understand?"

"We don't want to delay this matter any further. Any explanation will be given at the castle. Bring the egg Vlad has given you and the paintings," he told me. "And make haste!" he added.

There was a sense of urgency in his voice. I don't think he's trolling by any means. And with the way that he was acting, I understand that the situation was urgent.

And so, I did exactly what he told me. I grabbed the box containing the egg on the table and shoved it in one of my pockets. And albeit hesitantly, took the chest that was wrapped in a blanket by the corner.

"Are we going to the Hankala Inn? You know, just like last time."

"No, we don't have to."

"But how are we going to arrive there?"

"Don't worry about that. The castle has already known you. Here, take this." He shoved a piece of yellowish parchment to me. There were symbols written on it. "Draw that symbol on the door and smear a bit of your blood in the center."