Chapter 42: The One Who Caught Her

As Leoric sat next to Angel, he observed her countenance closely. Although she still appeared pale, she looked significantly improved compared to when she was entangled in that 'phenomenon.' The night before, what happened to Angel seemed straight out of a scene from the X-Files, a TV series known for its supernatural and paranormal cases.

What caused Angel to be lifted so high in the ground? What was the red halo that surrounded her body? He saw the red mote of light enter her body before she saw her falling and descending too fast. He did not care about her; whether she lived or died had nothing to do with him.

But he felt as if his body was acting on its own as he dashed toward the path of her descent. He sprinted to the spot and reached out his hand to break her fall. Then, everything faded to black. Panic set in as he worried that he might be unable to save Angel since he couldn't see anything.

Thankfully, Angel fell right into his hands. Because of the darkness, he did not move. He lost his sense of direction. He could not tell which way he came, so he did the most plausible thing, which was to stay put.

Leoric stood still for a few minutes, his posture unwavering as he cradled the unconscious Angel. "Why does she always seem to find trouble?" he pondered, tilting his head down to catch a glimpse of her face in the dim light, but it was too dark to make out any of her features.

He stood there for some time, and the woman in his arms seemed to grow heavier and heavier by the minute. He was about to sit down and make himself comfortable when he saw a faint light coming on their way.

"Mr. Graystone, is Angel okay?" Dr. Gavin Reeves asked when the beam of his flashlight hit Leoric's face and caused him to narrow his eyes.

"She is unconscious. We need to bring her back to the vehicle." He said without emotion.

"Okay. I'll lead the way." Dr. Gavin Reeves waited for Leoric, and they walked side by side back to the vehicle.

As they ventured forward, silence enveloped them. Leoric felt an urge to confront the doctor about the peculiar incident that had occurred earlier. He couldn't shake off the feeling that it might have been a hallucination. Despite reading about the potential for desert-induced hallucinations, he and the doctor hadn't reached a point of extreme hunger or thirst. Leoric feared that if he confided in Gavin Reeves, the man would ridicule him and question his sanity.

If the doctor witnessed the same phenomenon as him, then it could not have been a hallucination.

"Did you ... did you.. see what happened?" Dr. Gavin Reeves could not keep the thought to himself, so he blurted it out.

"Hmmm" Leoric hummed his response. He now confirmed that what he saw earlier wasn't an illusion.

"Did you know there was once a movie called The X-Files? It featured abnormal happenings, including the supernatural and paranormal. I remember similar scenes where the guest actress was lifted from the ground and radiated with a golden hue. Afterwards, the female lead will have unimaginable power. I thought I was watching that movie." Leoric continued walking in a leisurely manner.

"I am not familiar with that drama series. But I am certain that Angel is destined to do great things." Dr. Graven Reeves said with conviction. "The moon Mayari anointed her."

Leoric stopped. It was then that Dr. Reeves realized his mistake.

"What did you say?" Leoric asked.

"Oh, it is nothing. I just read an ancient story about a moon that turned red and was called Mayari," Dr. Reeves hurriedly explained.

Leoric did not think much about the doctor's words and continued walking. When they arrived at their vehicle, everyone was still sleeping soundly.

Dr. Reeves pulled the blanket that Leoric used earlier as a mat and placed it beside the vehicle's back entry. Leoric laid down Angel, and Doctor Reeves started examining her.

"What happened to her?" a deep, low voice came from behind them, startling the two men.

"What is wrong with you? Why did you suddenly appear without warning?" Dr. Reeves grumbled.

"The sand is soft. You definitely will not hear footsteps. I am just curious about her. Is she sleeping or unconscious?" Mario Diaz asked, trying to peek at Angel.

Dr. Reeves passed the flashlight to Leoric. He reached out to his medicine kit and took out the stethoscope.

"Except for her body being a little cold, all her vitals are normal. Probably, she has just fallen into a deep sleep." Dr. Reeves returned the stethoscope inside his kit.

Leoric did not say anything. He sat on the edge of the vehicle's floor, dusted the sand off his shoes, and took it off. He swung his long legs over Angel, then gently pulled the blanket and moved it inside so she was protected from the cold breeze. It was very hot during the day, but the temperature suddenly dropped at night.

"I saw what happened earlier. What the hell was that? Was it a kind of magic? She was lifted so high, and then she fell, and everything turned dark. I did not know what happened next." Mario Diaz was a man of few words, but he spoke a lot.

Dr. Reeves cast him a glance that says, 'Don't talk too much.'

"How would we know what happened? This dessert is very strange. First, there was that half-human half-scorpion thing, then those big snakes that we thought were sand dunes, then that stationery whirlwind." Leoric spoke from inside the vehicle. "The sooner we leave this hell of a place, the better it is for us."

"Do you think she was possessed or something?" Mario Diaz asked.

In the dim vehicle, no one could discern Leoric's expression. Dr. Reeves was thinking but did not answer Mario's question.

"Go back to your vehicle and get some rest. We'll depart at the crack of dawn. Dr. Reeves, make sure to save the battery in that flashlight," Leoric commanded with authority.

Both Mario Diaz and Dr. Reeves looked at him with displeasure. After some time, they thought that what he said made sense. Mario left, using his own flashlight to guide his way back to his vehicle while Dr. Reeves settled himself beside Angel.

In the darkness, Leoric glared at him. Even though Gavin couldn't see it, he could sense a cold, penetrating stare. He shut his eyes briefly and ignored the chilly gaze, only to open them again as he sensed the presence of a large, imposing figure beside him.

Leoric carefully repositioned Angel so that she lay against the vehicle's wall. He then positioned himself between Angel and Dr. Reeves, creating a protective barrier.

Gavin Reeves: "..."