BLOODY LOVE'S
Chapter 58's

When he arrived at the Argent manor, the clock had already shown twelve o'clock at noon. Jose could see through the waiter who was going back and forth through the street to the greenhouse, that his family members must be gathering there to chat while eating a snack. It was a relief because it meant that Nolan did not need to cross paths with Marco.

He took Nolan to his room and handed him copies of the files he had received from his father and uncles. "In a moment," he said, pulling the file again with a regretful face. "I forgot, can you read or not?"

"Little bit" Nolan said lightly. It sits on a soft sofa, this time looking completely like a person from North Bjork. "I can read the alphabet, and a few words. What you want to show me is that book?"

"It's not a book, it's a file." Jose forgot to calculate the possibility of Nolan not being able to read. He sat across from Nolan, then read one by one copies of papers containing the testimonies of people who had seen the Black Ghost.

Nolan listened quietly this time, not cutting or ambushing in the slightest. When Jose finished reciting, the girl put her shoulder to shoulder.

"Similar to what we see. So the point is that the creature has been wandering around for a long time?" ask Nolan. He thought for a moment. "It feels like it's been a long time that I've been shrouded in fog."

Jose rubbed his neck uncomfortably, turning his head towards the door, before whispering in a soft voice at Nolan. “I want to talk about something. Can I lock the door?”

Nolan stared warily, but then nodded slowly. This room was large and spacious, making him not feel confined even though the entrance was locked. After all, there are many items that can be used as weapons if Jose tries anything. Nolan laughed at his own thoughts. If you want anything, Jose would do it with someone like Maria.

“So,” said after the man came back, “You looked serious when you ate the crepes earlier, before we met Miss Garnet. What do you want to tell me exactly?”

Jose didn't want to tell too much, but knowing Nolan was instead visited by the creature made him so wary. What does that figure actually want? Nolan was still alive, not lost or drained of his blood, so there might be something else he wanted other than blood.

“You know, many people are also missing in Bjork south,” starts slowly.

Nolan nodded in response.

“And always at the time the fog comes?” Jose probing.

“Entah about that. Rumors about the mist .. I think it's just, well, one way for parents to keep their kids from going in the dark. I mean, there's a river around our place. There's a kidnapper or something. Children can indeed disappear during fog time at any time.” Nolan frowned, realizing one thing. “You asked about fog, is ...”

“I suspect, there is a connection between the figure and the mist in your place,” Jose said. “I don't know what he's doing in Bjork Forest. As far as I know, the police used to investigate the place to look for missing people, but nothing was found there.”

“I also thought the same,” Nolan interrupted. “I mean, about the relationship between the Black Ghost and the fog. If we go back to the forest and cross the river, will we get anything? Monster has a home, right?”

“Home?” Jose almost laughed. “You think such a person would have a home for what?” He shook his head quickly. “It is better not to go to the forest. Never, Nolan. You should not even fish in the southern border river.”

“Enak only! Where do I eat from? After all, I had also been fishing there a lot. Other people too.”

“The situation is now different,” said Jose, getting impatient. He did not understand why the girl was so stubborn. “Do you usually see that thing? Were you visited by him at night? Obviously he came to you because he wanted to do something! There's something he needs to do!”

“But I'm still there to this day, I'm safe,” Nolan said annoyed. He always hated being pushed and yelled at.

“Yes, I'm grateful for that, believe me. And that's exactly why you should start being careful!”

Jose exhaled. He thought for a long time, then asked carefully to the girl, “Then, what else did you experience?”

“You mean?”

“I mean, when I saw your Black Ghost,” said Jose impatiently. “Do you feel something that is a sign? I mean, the sound of laughter maybe?”

Nolan shuddered. He again imagined the events when the two of them were fishing in the river to the south. Back then, before they felt bad, there was a strange sound of laughter. A real laugh is not like a laugh, it sounds like something is being dragged away. Then there was a sense of horror ambushed, erecting all the fur of Rome, and the long laugh vanished. Jose has pulled him away. It felt like he had just experienced it again. Nolan felt his back cold. He turned to his right and left uncomfortably, like he felt watched.

“Nolan?” insist Jose.

The girl raised her face in shock, then shook her head slowly. “No, time at my house .. time .. I saw it .. I did not hear the sound of laughter or anything. No.”

“So ...”

“But what I saw was indeed the same creature in the river," Nolan said quickly. “Persis same as that one! He is also the same figure as what we see on the South river!”

“Sure, sure,” said Jose hastily. He could see Nolan's face turning red, maybe the girl was afraid she was being considered lying. “I believe you, really. I believe you did tell me the truth.”

Nolan became calmer, although the uncomfortable feeling was still felt. He raised his face, looking at Jose's black eyeballs more sharply. “I feel the same feeling.”

“What feeling?” Jose knew the answer, but asked.

“It feels uncomfortable. I was like being attacked by a wave of horror and a strange vibration, many times. That's how I saw it twice. A crippling horror. And my neck is like a thousand insects. Scary!”

Jose looked into the girl's blue eyes fixedly. There was constancy there, something he rarely saw in others. Krips also have firmness, but look different. The crew feels full of gimmicks, full of layers. His firmness was reinforced with something dirty. No problem for Jose. People like Krip actually have to strengthen the basic foundation with a lot of dirt. But he certainly prefers the firmness of Nolan's blue eyes. Those slightly pale irises of eyes looked sincere. Honesty and obedience are in there, coupled with high self-confidence. Jose likes people like that. The type of person who has a rough mouth but is definitely loyal. A trustworthy person.

“Did you also smell a strange scent?” ask Jose slowly.

“What aroma?”

At first, Jose felt silly every time he thought about the scent he smelled. Dave couldn't smell it, Maria didn't, Krip didn't smell anything either. Could it be that it was all in his head? Could it be true Dave said earlier, that he was just jealous? Maybe he just wasn't happy to see Maria with another guy? If he was just jealous, why would he go to William? Maria has loved it many times, fell in love, even had an arranged marriage with another man. Jose has never been jealous or felt this kind of dislike. No, definitely not jealousy. It's instinct. Hazard sign instinct. And the scent he smelled was definitely not a hallucination either.

“Scent something fragrant, but also rotten.” Jose tell, “Like rose scent.”

“Oh. Rose scent? Yes, I did kiss him. That's not your perfume smell, is it?”

***