Chapter 1 - The Call
I hate to speed on the roads. It is dangerous and in the past, I had too many brushes with death when driving on the streets. As an Onmyoji or Spirit Master, and in cruder terms, an exorcist, my work requires me to communicate and quell dark spirits. That involves unpleasant encounters with spirits that may translate into accidents at all places.
An hour ago, I received a call from my fellow Onmyoji, Kelly Nishimura, that hit me like a lightning bolt. It killed all my fatigue and electrified every cell in me.
Despite my willing spirit, my body protested. After a week of intensive action on another exorcism assignment, I was exhausted. I needed a rest to nourish my soul and replenish my energy. The stuff that a human body needs - supper, warm food, sleep, and quiet meditation. I had plans to take a short break and seek therapy on the beaches of Phuket or the mountains of Indonesia but I guess all that has to be rescheduled now.
Kelly’s mayday call was intriguing. Never in my memory has she behaved in such an unsettled manner.
Instinctively, I dropped everything I was doing and headed over to her rescue! Something was wrong. As I stepped on the car’s accelerator, my mind oscillated back to our earlier conversation.
“Adam?!”
“Kelly, what’s up? I had two missed calls from you…”
“Where are you, Adam?” Kelly sounded urgent.
“I am wrapping up my exorcism assignment and heading home…what’s that background noise?” I asked
“Come and look for me.”
“Fine. You want to have supper?”
“Supper?” There was a long pause
“What’s that noise? Where are you?”
“Adam, come and look for me!”
“Are you running?” I asked as I gauged from her panting.
“Come, Adam. Come...come... quick,” Despite the sound breaking up, I could sense her tension. “Come…Adam”
“Something is wrong! I can't hear you!” I said. I was getting frustrated as Kelly went quiet. However, I heard the background noises - physical exchanges, hurried footsteps and, more worrying, men talking!
"Adam..."
“What is happening?"
Silence. The line had gone dead.
What's next?
Within a second, she called back.
“Kelly? Your location”
“Adam! Sending my position.”
I checked my handphone.
"Got it. Why are ..."
I was interrupted. “Adam, I need help. Help.”
“Help?”
I had known Kelly since we started training as teens at Ten-mon sō and she was never the distressed damsel and asked for help. I dare say Kelly is the epitome of independence and strength. By character, she is self-assured and independent. Physically, she was endowed with agility and strength, being long-legged and broad-shouldered. Her natural powers, or Qi(qihate to speed on the roads. It is dangerous and in the past, I had too many brushes with death when driving on the streets. As an Onmyoji or Spirit Master, and in cruder terms, an exorcist, my work requires me to communicate and quell dark spirits. That involves unpleasant encounters with spirits that may translate into accidents at all places.
An hour ago, I received a call from my fellow Onmyoji, Kelly Nishimura, that hit me like a lightning bolt. It killed all my fatigue and electrified every cell in me.
Despite my willing spirit, my body protested. After a week of intensive action on another exorcism assignment, I was exhausted. I needed a rest to nourish my soul and replenish my energy. The stuff that a human body needs - supper, warm food, sleep, and quiet meditation. I had plans to take a short break and seek therapy on the beaches of Phuket or the mountains of Indonesia but I guess all that has to be rescheduled now.
Kelly’s mayday call was intriguing. Never in my memory has she behaved in such an unsettled manner.
Instinctively, I dropped everything I was doing and headed over to her rescue! Something was wrong. As I stepped on the car’s accelerator, my mind oscillated back to our earlier conversation.
“Adam?!”
“Kelly, what’s up? I had two missed calls from you…”
“Where are you, Adam?” Kelly sounded urgent.
“I am wrapping up my exorcism assignment and heading home…what’s that background noise?” I asked
“Come and look for me.”
“Fine. You want to have supper?”
“Supper?” There was a long pause
“What’s that noise? Where are you?”
“Adam, come and look for me!”
“Are you running?” I asked as I gauged from her panting.
“Come, Adam. Come...come... quick,” Despite the sound breaking up, I could sense her tension. “Come…Adam”
“Something is wrong! I can't hear you!” I said. I was getting frustrated as Kelly went quiet. However, I heard the background noises - physical exchanges, hurried footsteps and, more worrying, men talking!
"Adam..."
“What is happening?"
Silence. The line had gone dead.
What's next?
Within a second, she called back.
“Kelly? Your location”
“Adam! Sending my position.”
I checked my handphone.
"Got it. Why are ..."
I was interrupted. “Adam, I need help. Help.”
“Help?”
I had known Kelly since we started training as teens at Ten-mon sō and she was never the distressed damsel and asked for help. I dare say Kelly is the epitome of independence and strength. By character, she is self-assured and independent. Physically, she was endowed with agility and strength, being long-legged and broad-shouldered. She was also one of the most competent spirit masters, being able to cast and execute spells and mantras.
In my cohort of fellow Onmyoji apprentices, she was regarded as one of the best.
Personally, to me, she is always my trusted sister. At work, we are close companions. At our Headquarters at Otsu City, we had such seamless chemistry that our teacher would always pair us together for assignments.
That was why her final line switched on the klaxons in my senses
“Come and get me, Adam.”
When the line went dead, I sensed something was gravely amiss. Setting aside my fatigue, I bade farewell to my client and quickly jumped on my Land Rover. Once behind the wheel, I raced over to the coordinates she had sent. I quickly checked on Google Maps and confirmed the precise location.
Queenstown Street 9.
It was a location that was alien to me as I seldom visited this part of Singapore. Why was Kelly doing in that part of the island? Driven by anxiety, I rammed on my accelerator. I was thwarted by seven more traffic lights and a couple of road humps before I finally reached the estate.
It took me a good ten minutes before I finally found a carpark slot by the side of the road.
When I got out, I realized the road surface was wet. I looked skywards and judged there must have been a drizzle before I arrived.
The street was a narrow one-way lane that looped around a public housing precinct, with blocks of flats dotting the landscape. Both sides of the road were lined with huge trees, and a bus stop was just ahead of me. About fifty meters from where I parked, off the road, is a construction site with a dumping ground.
I checked my surroundings - the rows of street lights and the silence of the night lent a sense of melancholy. I raised my sword fingers (index and middle finger paired in pointed fashion while the thumb holds down the ring and little finger) and summoned my sensory powers to pre-empt the presence of evil.
A spark of light rose over the fingers, illuminating the surroundings.
The place seemed clean, cleared of evil spirits. Usually, the presence of malicious spirits will leave a mistiness of dark colour - green, grey, purple or black.
As I explored, a sense of discomfort grew in my heart.
This was the most unlikely place to find Kelly. This is only her third time in Singapore, and I thought she was not fully familiar with the roads and landscape of Singapore.
Why is she here in this part of the island?
“Kelly?” I shouted. There was no response
“Kelly!” I cried again, aware my act would invite the wrath of residents. It is nearing 11 pm and the estate looks like it is easing into its slumber.
I ran down the street, checked both sides of the road, and then covered the same distance in the opposite direction. “Kelly, come on, where are you?” I whispered as my eyes roamed over the landscape.
I felt lost and diminished in front of the towering blocks of flats with their lights that seemed to be mocking at me. I checked my handphone. There was no message and suddenly I realized my stupidity.
“Why don't I just call you? Silly Adam.” I whispered angrily.
I dialed her number and instantly heard a tune sailing towards me through the brittle air of the night.
Though faint, it was audible. I swung around and tried to ascertain the location and realized it was coming from the opposite side of the road. I ran over and looked and soon found myself nearing a public dustbin.
“Kelly?”
I called out but I received no reply. I paced closer to the bin, in the steady pose as my heart pounded.”
I raised my fingers in the usual sword formation, ready for potential danger.
As I tread carefully, each step heavy with caution, I held my breath. My senses told me it was safe. I held the cover and took a deep inhale before flipping it open. Much to my surprise, I saw her handphone on top of a pile of trash. I quickly clawed away the bits of trash despite the mild odor of rubbish but Kelly was nowhere in sight. I bent over and picked up the phone, and checked on its condition. It seems perfectly fine with no traces of damage.
I tried to unlock the phone but found it required facial recognition mode, and I am nowhere in resemblance of my fellow Onmyoji. As I was trying, I noticed the reflection on the screen. There was something that was heading my way. I stepped aside in time to avoid a projectile.
Swoosh! It missed me by an inch.
I quickly looked around to ascertain the danger and, very soon, realized the projectile was no object. It returned in no time, carrying a series of shrieks. The familiarity sent a chill through the air and scaled at my skin like an invisible knife.
It was so familiar and yet so odd.
It sure confirmed my suspicion!
Bats!