I remained at the hospital for over a month before I was discharged, due to the severity of my injury. According to them, my vitals had barely been missed.
Although I had been impaled, I healed in quite a short amount of time. They had exceptional medical care of course, but it still surprised me how fast my injury closed up.
And so, sooner than I expected, l was ready to leave the hospital.
I still felt pains there but I could manage better now. And so, I returned back to my apartment. But before then, the nurse had passed on a message to me from Mr Ash telling me that I was still free to stop by anytime I wished to.
And while they treated me with extra care, I could tell they all wondered just what my connections were with Mr Ash.
And of course, he did own the hospital. I wondered just how many establishments Mr Ash had in his name.
My apartment was just the way I had left it that day. There was this dampness since I hadn't been there for over a week now but, I hadn't really lost anything. Even my briefcase had been retrieved for me.
I had also received therapy a few times before I was discharged.
And I thought it really helped me a lot as I was able to cope better even with all the flashbacks I occasionally had. As for the ghouls that I had seen that day on the bus, there was only one thing I could do about them.
I sat down on my little sofa and reclined relaxedly, thinking deeply.
'I don't know what exactly is happening right now. Or why they are even happening, but I can't let them get to me' I thought to myself.
I had only met one not that long ago and in such a short time, I already had quite the distasteful experience with them.
I still didn't know why they came after me that way, but whatever it was, I would give them hell before I let them get to me. I folded my fists in affirmation, thinking back on how those people were brutally killed.
'They all had families and friends. And they would never know just what killed them' I thought to myself. 'No one deserves to die that way'
Those ghouls that day were really strong. So strong that they could pluck out metal seats screwed to the floor of a bus. And they did that easily.
Perhaps, that was why they thought they could squash people like bugs. I could sense pure evil from them. The chill I had felt, it had a darkness to it.
I tightened my fists even more and closed my eyes for a while before I relaxed my body. And that was when I made the decision.
---
"This way, this way"
I was courteously escorted. It was a big place. A big mansion and one could easily get lost in it. When I reached out to Mr Ash and he gave me the address, I had expected that we would meet in an office or something. But then, he invited me over to his house. His manor to be precise.
I walked with the escort past garden after garden. He had fountains built here and there with arched pillars connecting different sections of the manor house.
There were different statues of different animals and otherworldly figures placed at different spots and on some of the walls were sculptures of a great eagle.
It was an impressive structure.
I followed the escort all the way through the gardens and passages out to another open. Looking into the distance, I could see only trees, a small stream and a small cottage just across the stream.
"Please follow me" the escort said again, like I had intended to run away or something.
We were heading to the small cottage and I could already tell that we had arrived.
"The master is waiting for you" the escort said, gesturing as he made way for me.
"Fred, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that" Mr Ash said as he surfaced from the cottage.
"My apologies, sir"
"I get that you are still new but go ask Luram and the rest the proper way to address me"
"As you wish sir"
Mr Ash sighed deeply.
"I wonder how young people like you get to feel so obligated all the time. You all should learn to be free. Free to do anything and speak in any manner you wish"
Fred, the escort bowed again. I had studied him a bit and he seemed different from the escorts that accompanied us the other time. A butler perhaps, I thought.
They all had this particular demeanor and from being near them, I could tell they weren't regular attendants.
After he dismissed Fred, i waited a bit before complementing his home.
"You have a nice home, Mr Ash sir" I said. I couldn't help but address him with respect now, not after all the assets I knew he had. He was not your regular business tycoon.
"I'm really sorry you had to go through that, young man" he said with a faint heaviness in his voice. "When I heard about it, I came to see you personally"
"Heh" I simpered inaudibly. "I heard you put me there yourself"
"Yes, I did" Mr Ash said. "And I know you have a lot of questions. I intend to provide all the answers you need but first, we should head inside"
'Ahh, yes' I thought to myself. The manor was mostly impressive on the outside. I could only imagine how exquisite the interior would be so heading inside was something I had looked forward to.
That was until Mr Ash turned about and headed back into the cottage.
"Wh...what?"
"Come on in. I may not look like it but I make very good steaks"