First Investigation

"So Felix!?"

"Yes, Leader?"

"What's your specialty?"

"Huh!?"

Perplexed by the sudden question, Felix chuckled awkwardly looking here and there as all his teammates locked their gazes on him with curiosity visible in their eyes. Even, Nick was slightly curious about his specialty.

'No doubt this is an important question. Even, that Nick is looking at me waiting for my answer.

Damn it! What should I say? I fucking don't know,"

Naturally, Felix couldn't say aloud what he was thinking right now, so the only option for him was~ "By specialty you mean?"

"Oh! Let me explain Felix boi." Alex chimed in with a slightly excited tone. "It's like this~ Mike is our leader so he leads the team, deciding on what to do next and what not to do. He's the bravest among all of us. He's also good with those Ouija boards. He uses EMF (electromagnetic field) sensors most of the time."

She explained. "As for me, my sense of awareness is really good. Using an infra-red thermometer and EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) device is my job. I have a certain level of affinity towards spirits so, sometimes I do get very shocking evidence. I'm also the Vice leader of the team.

Nick is the one who operates the thermal camera and also those night-vision cameras. He also has a surveillance camera. He's good with display screen devices.

Paul operates the SLS device. It's a big device so, his job is to get every movement and recordings of our surroundings.

Veronica works with Paramid, geopod, and those flashlights which light up when energy is detected.

Celia is still new for us, she uses ovilus and we still guide her at times. She's good at communication with the spirits, so I and Celia often work together in EVP sessions.

And, this is how we work. So? What's your specialty? What devices do you use Felix boi?"

As she finished her long explanation, beads of sweat could be seen on Felix's face.

'The hell? Devices? I don't have any!! I don't even know how to use them! What the heck is SLS and paramid? I only know very little about EVP, EMF, ovilus, and those freaking Ouija boards. My specialty? I can cook hahaha!! Fuck!! What now!??'

His mouth opened slightly but then closed again, not knowing what to say at all.

"Ahem..." He coughed.

'Wait! Did I just coughed up? Nah! I probably fucked up. Man! This isn't how it was supposed to go.'

"Yeah! I'm... I'm good at scouting!? And... And... Exploring!? Ahahaha!" Sadly his awkward laugh didn't impress anyone. They looked at him with a nonplussed and concerned gaze, except Nick who had a smirk all over his face. He was enjoying the current scene to his heart's content.

"Hahahahahahaha!!! Did you guys hear him? This guy is good in scouting and exploring hahaha!!! For fuck sake Felix, at least be serious at times like this. We aren't going on a hiking trip where we need your scouting skills. We are about to go Ghost Hunting. So, tell me which device you specialize in? Or you don't even use any devices?" Nick yelled as soon as he got the opportunity. He was waiting for this moment ever since Felix made fun of him in the car.

His words were true to some extent. Although Alex didn't like it at all, she couldn't just censure him every time he says anything to Felix because this time he was somewhat correct. And, now if she again favors Felix, that will turn her into a biased person.

Gazing at Felix's face, she saw how confused he looked. She really wanted to help him. She tried opening her mouth but before she could even say anything Veronica's voice resounded,

"Senior Nick!!! Mind your language okay?" Veronica smiled and looked at Nick as if she was telling him ~ 'Don't you dare be rude to Felix.'

"I think, maybe Felix is good at communicating with ghosts too. That is why he doesn't use many devices like me. Maybe he can sense spirits much more efficiently than us? And he knows what to do and how to do it. Mister George won't invite him unless he's really good right?" Celia too noticed the complicated face Felix had so she tried to console him.

"That may be right Celia! I agree with you!" Mike admitted. "How can we forget such an important detail? Felix was invited here. He must be really good. Felix, ignore our previous conversation and just focus on what you do always. Your way of investigating may be different from us but our ultimate goal is to get evidence and purify the place if possible."

He was the leader and as a leader, it was his responsibility to keep the team collected and away from any internal conflicts. Felix was new, one should not judge a book by its cover. Thinking that Mike put his trust in Felix and ended the orientation.

'He really deserves to be the leader of this team,' Felix thought silently glancing at Mike.

After a brief moment, they came out with their backpacks that had all the essentials.

On the reception, Mike notified the receptionist that they'll be going for now and will come in the morning.

"Don't worry Sir! Your keys are with me. Come anytime you want. I'll be here only and if not, then my mother is there too," the receptionist replied politely.

"Thanks, Mira! Alright! Everyone let's go." Saying that Mike immediately deposited all of the keys of their rooms and he strolled out.

Mira was the name of the receptionist. A cheerful young lady. Her mother turned their mansion into a resting lodge. Pay and rest. It was super effective and various visitors used to come regularly to rest or to keep their belongings.

Leaving the mansion they went into Brian's bus again. Seating themselves, they were now ready for their first investigation with another new teammate.

As the bus moved, Felix could feel the cold breeze coming from outside the window making his hair blow.

His wristwatch hitting 6:15 pm as it was already evening.

He closed his eyes, feeling the brumal atmosphere, an image of a certain person formed up in his head. That person was closest to him. In fact, that person was the only family he had.

Now, Felix was here. Away from his home country for the very first time. The unfamiliar, jeopardous atmosphere gave him a feeling of insecurity a bit, combined with his new teammates and magnificent sceneries of this new place. This was really something different for him. He met with his new teammates not long ago and he didn't know yet what kind of person they were exactly but he had a hunch that they might get along very well soon.

He was going through so many different feelings right now~ Excitement, Curiosity, Sadness, Loneliness. So many mixed feelings came upon him as if he was on an emotional ride of a roller coaster.

'I'm finally here. Away from our home. Weren't you the one who wanted me always to explore out the world and I used to ignore you? Always telling you that I don't have any interest in foreign countries. Well! I'm here now! Although you aren't here to see this now but hey! At least I followed your suggestion. You should be happy now old man.

Now that I look at the sceneries here, they aren't actually bad. I quite like it. Although I miss my country, it's okay to spend some time out of your comfort zone. Right!?'

As he submerged in his thoughts, someone tapped his shoulder. Looking beside, he saw that it was Celia this time who sat beside him. Alex was seated behind them with Veronica, while Paul was seated with Nick, and lastly, Mike with Rob and Steve.

"Nervous?" She asked.

"No! I was just thinking about something."

"About what?"

"About someone."

She glanced at him intently and asked in a feeble voice, "And who is that someone? Is it someone special?"

"Yes! Very special."

Hearing him, she looked down at her feet, also stealing glances at him in between.

After a brief pause, she finally asked again, "And that very special person is your girlfriend?"

Her tone was full of anxiousness, her eyes remained fixed on his face especially, his pitch-black eyes which seemed lost as they were busy sightseeing outside the window.

Felix who heard this went dumbfounded. Then he glanced at her as if she just cracked a big joke,

"Pfft! Hahahaha! Miss Celia! What are you talking about? I never had any girlfriend in my entire life."

"Eh???"

His answer not only surprised her but a pleasant feeling also rose inside her heart. She didn't know why she felt happy after hearing that.

Behind them, Alex who pretended to gaze outside, heard each and everything that Celia and Felix were talking about. A smile soon formed upon her face. She previously already had a hunch that Felix didn't have any girlfriend. And now she heard it right from his mouth thus, confirming her intuition.

Celia on the other hand seemingly delighted wanted to know more about him, "But, why? Someone as handsome as you don't have any girlfriend? I don't believe it."

"Huh? You think I'm handsome Miss Celia?"

He asked as he pointed at himself.

Celia just wanted to tease him. But, she didn't have any idea that he would ask something like this too. Her face blushed, as she stared at him. She didn't know what to say at all. Words won't form up in her mouth. Asking such a question, Felix did succeed in catching her off guard.

"You... You don't need to call me Miss... Just... Just call me Celia. I'm only 2 years older than you," She somehow managed to utter few words to divert the topic but it wasn't worth it.

"Okay! Then, Celia!? You think I'm handsome?"

He not only called her by her name but also brought the topic back again turning the already difficult situation much more complicated for her.

As each second passed, her face turned redder and redder. Finally, gathering up her courage she peeked at him and said, "I... I... I do think that... You are very handsome... Felix."

She didn't know how she managed to utter that but right now it was her peak moment of embarrassment and shyness. However, apart from her, now it was Felix who was caught off guard.

Listening to her reply, he blushed a bit. Such a gorgeous lady said that to him. His pulse raced, he didn't know she would say anything like that.

They both exchanged glances and blushed, like a newly happy lovey-dovey couple but there was someone who was staring daggers at them.