Chapter 45 - Black Lining

Cafeteria

Lorna seats all by herself, she went through some files in a mini transparent iPad. It was given to her by Jesse to help her catch up. She went through the black ghoul biography, it just stated his unique qualities of switching places with his claw, their immerse strength, and fast healing abilities unlike other ghouls nothing about any personal information. Also, the rumor of his black Claw known as 'Ghost' has a mind of his own but no further detail. His organization called the 'Silver lining' simply having one goal to bring down the agency.

She sighs, checking the time on her phone, it read 9:54 pm it was late, tomorrow was another day, she should head home.

Her eyes drift to the registered gun that was given to her as a full agent now. She took it sliding it in her gun pouch.

***

Thirtieth Floor

Barbra was seated facing the wide window in her office, her eyes gaze upon the night lights of New York City. A lot has changed in the past years, the agency was standing tall like never before, resources, informant, money, expansion, they had everything, everything they needed by far but they had one obstacle... Liam O'Brien. Her body tense just by the mere thought of him, as a memory of Seth's body lying on the cold floor in the pool of his blood, haunted her.

Their branches were being taken down by him, piece by piece destroying everything and anyone who stood up to him died, no one escaped his clutches, he was really onto them ever since the death of that ghoul girl. 'Riley'. Barbra thought. It was a twist of fate, she just pulled the trigger to it and it collided and now it was a constant memory. Riley was her niece, it was a secret only she knew about and it must remain buried now that Riley was gone. 'Now'. She thought. 'Everything will be set right'. She closed her eyes, hoping and believing.

The door slide open as Chase walks in. Barbra smiles turning her chair to face him.

***

Outside The Agency

Lorna drove out of the agency, turning to the next block into the busy road, stunning of why it was busy by this time of the night. It would take her hours before she gets home. 

"Oh God, why" Lorna groans placing her head on the steering wheel, it was enough she hasn't had any rest since her arrival to this city and now this. Could it be any worse? she just hoped it won't.

***

Section Three 

Ghoul Investigators Headquarter (GIH) 

"You're amused as ever Barbra," Chase said with a stern look, an amusement that always reminded him of Seth.

"You seem uncomfortable Chase," she said without a doubt.

"It's nothing".

He looks away. She smiles getting his point.

"I understand Chase" she leans close to her table, resting her arms on it. 

"After three years everything has changed, blood being spilled more than we can handle, it's like we pulled a trigger on something that unleashed the very monster we were trying to contain".

"If only the ghoul killer was here," Chase said facing her. even though he wanted to forget a person like Seth, there was still some reason he still hoped for him being here right now, he would have thought of some sort of strategy to stop the attack on their branches all over the world. Seth's intelligence was what Chase acknowledged.

Barbra looks dark. 

"As you said, we are at needlepoint, only time will tell if we will be able to get rid of the black ghoul" he adds. 

"You're sounding like it's impossible, don't tell me you now see the black ghoul having the upper hand now".

Chase forces a smile that didn't reach his eyes. Was there any reason not to, the guy was like a grim reaper himself, he was chaotic and wild than he has been ever since the attack on the agency three years ago.

"Is there any other way to see it?" he said.

*** 

Section Four 

"Come on" Lorna blew her horn but it was pointless, the cars weren't moving from the very beginning, it was probably some slight jamming incident that causes it, what was the road police doing?

"Dammit!" she cursed.

She will get home late at this point.

"Fuck this city" she cursed again.

Ever since her aunt told her about the transfer, she was sad about it, she thought she would serve in Los Angeles after her training but rather there was an immediate transfer for her to this city to join the Fox team, personally signed by her aunt.

She placed her head on the steering once more. She looks down, her eyes shaky, her first thought on this city since her arrival was, she Hated it!.

The hairs at the back of her neck stood up in alert. She gasps raising her head instantly, suddenly something fell hard and fast on a car two lines away from hers, causing a loud crash sound.

Lorna froze where she was as her eyes widen. It was a Claw as it stood fully covered in dark green bandage faded out, it growls deeply, the ghoul wielder beside it, squatting on the car he landed on, he smiles darkly like a maniac, his skin paled, and his ghoul eyes visible. He turns to face the frozen crowd, grinning more at the feast before him.

Lorna was shocked at this, she stares into the ghoul's eyes from the distance she was at.

"ATTACK!" he shouts in amusement.

His Claw roars out deadly.

***

Section Three 

Ghoul Investigators Headquarter (GIH) 

"Come in, come in, sir". Chase comm sounds, catching his and Barbra's attention. Chase pressed the small earplug in his ear.

"Yes!" he answers.

"Sir we just got footage of section four, a hostile ghoul is attacking civilians"

Chase's expression darkens.

"It just came out of nowhere".

"What is it?!" Barbra demands.

"A ghoul attack out in the open" Chase said.

Barbra blinks puzzled.

"Ghouls don't attack randomly," she said certain, they only attacked either they were chased or haunted, aside from the black ghoul organization there wasn't any attacking out of the blue.

"Well, this one seems to" Chase said. 

"Get agents there now," Barbra said. 

"I want that ghoul killed or detained".