Master of Time

Hearing that, Lexi has thought I was crazy for a second.

Framed by her shoulder-length auburn brown hair, her dark brown eyes narrow at me suspiciously.

I chuckle and gesture my hand to dismiss the previous comment.

Lexi didn't need to know ghost exists. No one really need to know, to be honest.

I then return to scrutinizing the garden outside, in the backyard. Total silence has returned.

The two ghostly apparitions are gone like they weren't there in the first place. But I do believe in what I had seen. They were there, just a moment ago. My eyes weren't playing trick on me.

And I will get to the bottom of this, eventually.

Ghosts are real. And since they are, they can definitely be captured, contained and studied. Now, who should I call when something this strange happens in the neighbourhood?

Spiderman!

I mean Ghostbusters!

The theme song begins to play in my head, making me smile.

Ah, wonderful nostalgia.

Ghostbusters will definitely be one of the flagship franchises under Terra Entertainment. None of that girl powers toxic shit! This isn't kindergarten anymore! They need to find their own franchises instead of ruining all of our cool boys stuff!

Anyway, I just need to figure out how to build a proton pack to get started.

And when I mean me, I mean Mystic. They are founded for this very reason.

Ghost are magical being, right? I didn't feel any magical energy like those undead, but I do feel spiritual energy lingering in the air, even if it faintly.

I suppose I will label ghosts as supernatural beings for now. Supernatural?

Where is Sam and Dean when I need them?

But instead of the Winchester brothers, I do have a duo virtual intelligence working on this.

Selene and Legion are analysing the recorded videos and audio frequencies.

If something is captured electronically like in those movies, Selene and Legion will find. But so far, they yielded absolutely nothing even with their combined processing power. Well, most of the processing powers come from Legion within my ring of power.

And the total processing power is growing exponentially thanks to infinite space at his disposal.

Regardless, how disappointing.

I guess it is up to me and human ingenuity. A challenge then?

Hunting down ghosts couldn't be more difficult than magic, could it? And once I capture a ghost, I will dissect it to see how it ticks.

This will all be a new territory for me, and it is very exciting to think about it.

Lexi rethinks whether I am crazy or not. She has just seen me staring out the window and then laughing to myself.

My maniacal expression dissuades her from pursuing some of her questions.

"You are curious, Miss Lester. I know. But you won't get any information from my wife no matter how much you ask her. She doesn't know anything about me asides from the facts that I am exceeding rich and powerful and beyond human."

I speak up once I calm my excitement. There is no need to hurry because the supernatural occurrences seem to be contained within the premise.

I will buy out this estate and then take my time investigating the phenomenon.

If a ghost tries to kill me, I will kill it first. This will be the first time I get to torture a ghost.

Wonderful!

Tell me, do they bleed?

"I'm… sorry, but I don't know what you are –

Lexi responses. She assumes that I didn't know what happened once she is left alone with Sandra, who is easily persuaded to become very talkative.

It isn't Sandra's fault in this regard since she has no defence against Lexi's ability.

"Please don't play dumb, Miss Lester. We aren't kids. I can see everything and hear everything in this place."

I pause for a bit.

"I know everything there is to know about you, Lexi Lester, born to Martha Lester and Anthony Lester on the 19th of May 1966. How are your parents lately? It has been about 14 months since you have talked to them last."

Lexi didn't say anything in response.

Her mind reels and tries to figure out how I was able to know that.

Lexi has never mentioned any of her parents at the workplace since she didn't really consider them as her parents in a sense. They are just too normal. And she is anything but normal. She has learnt of this when she reaches puberty.

It is when her ability manifests. Once it did, everyone just gives her whatever she wants, regardless of how outrageous it seems. They all love her unquestionably.

"How did you know that, Mr. Maxwell? No, who are you, really? Your wife tells me a fairy tale, but she cannot lie to me."

I chuckle. It did sound like a fairy tale, to be honest. Being trapped in another world, getting raped and beaten repeatedly by a bunch of Nazis, witnessing a firefight between power rangers and zombie, and seeing people get resurrected and mindwiped – heh.

"So, ego, it must be the truth."

I response with a smile. Sandra tells Lexi everything just because she has asked, but none of that really tells her anything about me.

It only gives her a glimpse into what I can do, which is terrifying enough.

"Yes, it is the truth, Miss Lester. I would have said the same thing if that special ability of yours actually work on me. But do tell, how is it? It must feel very different to hear the undiluted truth since you are unable to turn off your ability. Have you ever wondered why you were given such a gift? And why are no one else like you out there?"

I add.

Lexi is taken back. She believes everything Sandra has told her now.

This is because I just know too many things and things that no one should. I also know that she is trying to find out who her actual parents are, but she is constantly hitting a wall.

That is because her parents are Martha and Anthony, regardless of how much she denies the fact.

"And no, Miss Lester. I don't mind you learning of the facts. If you have been listening to what my wife has told you, I can wipe your mind. I can also torture you to death and then bring you back to do it all over again, and you wouldn't remember any of it. So, ask yourself this, maybe I already did?"

There is that fear. It glimmers in her dark eyes, growing in the back of her mind.

"Who… who are you?"

Lexi utters. She is unconsciously stepping backwards.

"You already know who I am, Miss Lester."

I answer slowly. My cold and unflinching eyes match her gaze.

Her eyes widen. Even as stupid as she is, she isn't completely retarded.

When a superpower being appears in front of her while she is searching for answers about her origin and the reason to why she has this power, her mind could only come to one conclusion.

Lexi also has to ask herself why now? And what do I want exactly?

It obviously isn't a happy family reunion. I could do that in private. No, this is far more sinister.

Lexi feels the coldness wraps around her body, but this chill isn't due to the spiritual energy lingering in the air.

"No… you can't be…"

I chuckle and step forwards, reaching out my hands. I put on my best impression.

The air has chilled rapidly due to my thermal manipulation ability. I basically absorb the heat right out of the air. I should use this more often because it is quite a cool ability, but there aren't many chances to do so.

"Search your feelings. You know it to be true."

I tell her, deeply.

"No! No, you can't be… you can't!"

"Lexi, I am your father."

Hearing that, Lexi immediately turns around and tries to bolt.

However, the corridor stretches into the distance, infinitely.

Her eyes are full of shock. There is no hope of running away, not from me. Even death is not an escape, and Lexi knows that.

"Where are you going, daughter?"

I question from behind her as her body trembles uncontrollably.

Her freedom is slowly being stripped away, bit by bit.

Lexi has always been the one in control thanks to her special ability. But in front of me, she is utterly powerless. She is merely a child before an unfathomable titan.

I place my hands on her shoulder, one on each side and turn her around to face me ever so gently.

There is no need to be forceful, as she cannot escape.

"Let me have a look of you, daughter. My, my, what a big girl you have become. I just want to eat you up."

Lexi is like a puppet now, completely paralyzed with fear.