After I told him everything…
Silence took over.
Not the usual quiet we were used to—but something heavier. Something that pressed against the chest, making even breathing feel difficult.
Haroku didn't move at first.
He just stood there, frozen, as if his mind was trying to piece everything together—and failing.
Past life.
Curse.
Jason.
None of it sounded real.
But the fear in my eyes…
That was real enough.
---
"This… this is insane, bro…" he muttered, running a hand through his hair as he stepped back.
I didn't respond.
My eyes were fixed on the ground.
My fists clenched so tightly they almost hurt.
There was too much inside my head… too much I couldn't control.
---
After a few seconds, I finally spoke.
"Now I'm sure…"
My voice was low.
Steady.
"Jason is that man."
A pause.
"The one who killed my grandfather."
---
The air shifted again.
Heavier.
Colder.
---
Haroku looked at me—this time, not confused… but serious.
"Yeah…" he said slowly. "Then this isn't just another paranormal case anymore."
He exhaled.
"This is personal."
---
I nodded.
There was nothing more to say.
We both understood.
---
This wasn't about shadows anymore.
Or rituals.
Or unknown forces.
---
This was about something deeper.
Something darker.
---
This was about truth.
And revenge.
---
We stopped after that day.
Not because the case was over—
But because I wasn't ready.
---
Days passed.
Quietly.
For the first time in a long while, there were no investigations.
No late-night calls.
No footsteps echoing in empty places.
No whispers crawling through the dark.
---
Everything felt normal.
---
And I hated it.
---
I barely spoke.
Not to Haroku.
Not to anyone.
Even at home, I would just sit there… staring at nothing.
But my mind wasn't empty.
It was repeating the same moments over and over again.
My grandfather.
His voice.
His last breath.
That curse.
And now—
Jason.
---
Sleep didn't come easily either.
Every night, I would wake up suddenly.
Heart racing.
Breathing uneven.
---
Sometimes…
I could hear it.
Faint.
Distant.
But real.
---
Whispers.
---
Calling.
---
On the other hand, Haroku stayed away.
Not completely—but enough.
He knew.
Pushing me right now would only break things further.
---
But even he wasn't at peace.
I could tell.
Questions like that don't disappear.
They grow.
---
Who is Jason?
How strong is he?
And the most dangerous one—
Can we even face him?
---
One week later
The evening was calm.
Too calm.
The sky clear, the air still… as if nothing had ever happened.
---
I stood at our usual spot.
Waiting.
---
I felt different.
Still tired.
Still restless.
But something had changed.
---
This time—
I wasn't running.
---
Haroku arrived a few minutes later, his expression slightly surprised.
"Hello bro… what's up?" I said, trying to sound normal.
He looked at me carefully.
"You tell me," he replied. "You disappeared for a whole week."
I gave a faint smile.
"Yeah… needed some time."
---
A brief silence passed.
Then he got straight to it.
"When are we restarting the case?"
---
I looked away for a moment.
The wind brushed past us—cold, carrying something unspoken with it.
---
"Yeah…" I said quietly. "That's why I called you."
---
He didn't interrupt.
Just waited.
---
I took a deep breath.
"I've been thinking… about everything."
"My past."
"My grandfather."
"Jason."
---
My voice slowed.
But this time—
It didn't shake.
---
"It's okay… if my grandfather couldn't defeat him."
---
I looked straight at him.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
---
"I will."
---
The words didn't sound loud.
But they didn't need to.
---
Because this time—
I meant them.