Calm Ride...

"Just go... I'll handle one or two people..."
"... Are you sure?"
"... Yes. I'm... one of them... after all."

That was our last conversation with Hexes. We were currently driving South. We didn't have a geographic guy, so I sacrificed my time to understand the road with GPS. Huh...? Never thought I would have a thing with a map. This was awesome.

"You're done watching that thing?" Tasyah asked as she drove. I was sitting beside her because I was the map guy.

"Sorry. I haven't touched a map app at all in my life."
"Yeah, of course. Why should you?"
"I'm in awe. This is something else."
"Yeah, just be on the map, okay. I also don't know the road very well."
"... This wasn't on your Mind Library?"
"Did you forget? You shook my head, trying to wake me up. It's still buffering currently."

Welp, I didn't mean to do that. I was only informed that you are a heavy sleeper.

... Informed?

"Hey, Tasyah."
"Hmm..."
"We have time... do you..."
"Yeah, sure, let's pour our hearts out. Just don't make me lose focus. It is hard to control already due to my physique."

We had a long conversation. This time, we were talking about what Tasyah knew without the Mind Library. Surprisingly, a lot. I already knew about the Mind Library. What I didn't know was the capability. It was interesting.

Imagine this!
A computer has one of those external disks, right? Usually, you buy a lot of them for work, and change them depending on what files you want to store in them. When I was told about the function by Tasyah, I thought that was it. Apparently, it was a literal meaning. She stored many, but plugged the important one into her brain now.

"So, that means..?"
"Yes, I am currently on a regular mind... Well, not exactly. You wanted to know what's scary about Mind Library?"
"What?"
"They also stored dreams, including nightmares."

Wait... That means...

"You thought about it correctly. I'm still in my dream mind mode."

Whoops.

"Eh... when will you get your Mind Library back?"
"I was exaggerating when you woke me up. In reality, it was not bad. I think one to five hours will do."

Ah, thank goodness.

"I'm still mad you shook my head, though. You had no idea how horrible my brain was when I woke up. I needed to stay put for some seconds to get back to my senses."

Whoops.

"Anyway, after this, we have to turn left." I was trying so hard not to be embarrassed and changed the topic.
"Alright", but I think she didn't mind.

That was a great talk. I was glad to have this conversation. After some time, we finally reached the toll. I asked if Tasyah needed more help. She wasn't and said that her Mind Library was slowly coming back. She told me to go and get some sleep. No... She insisted that I get some sleep. So, I stood up and headed to the back of the RV.

On my way, I looked to the left. Wiwin was sleeping soundly. I kept walking and saw Seize sleeping soundly as well, on the emergency bed. I walked past her and reached the bunk bed.

Harold... I never thought I would have to say this, but jeeze louise, his breath was awful. Not only that, I only knew now that he snored while sleeping.

"Dude, what the heck?" I spoke quietly.

Then I lay on the bed. Hmm... I couldn't believe it. It was softer than my bed back at the apartment. This was so comfortable. I wish Wiwin and Tasyah had this. They would be having the lives of their nights' sleep on this...

I mean... I also... felt like... sta....

I went to sleep and once again got woken up by the loudest sound in my head.

"ZEEEEEEED"
"UWAAAAAA!!!!!"

Everyone was awake, and Tasyah even lost control a little bit.

"Oh, thank goodness you're still alive."
"Jordan, what the heck?"
"Connect with that little monster thingy with Harold. Now."
"His name is Popo."
"Ugh... Just connect it. I have some news."

I did the same thing as I did back at the apartment.

But this time, "Get ready for a jolt."

We were ready.

"What is it now, Jordan?" Harold immediately asked.

And asked he shall receive, "DAD!"
"Narmi! Darling! Are you okay?"

I... would like to leave them to themselves.

"A wise choice, huh, leader?"
"Your turn! What happened?"
"I... kind of forgot that I got power now. And people in the building were trying to separate me from Narmi. That was it."

No! That was not it.

"... Okay. I lied. I ran away from that newly built facility. One of them had Mind Wave, and the other had Teleportation."
"So...?"
"Yeah, they were mad I killed one of them."

I expected as much.

I continued, "How did Narmi get involved?"
"The heroes on that facility and ours are the same people. I didn't know that. You might have heard me called Mrs. Drez, yeah?"
"Eh hmm..."
"She... was different when she came back. She was furious when I got a new power and didn't tell her. She was forcefully asked a couple of heroes to investigate our apartment. I got tied by another hero's String Bending. That was when I called you. Then, when she was back, she was like another person. " 

I didn't think it out loud, but I guessed that Madam Hexes was possessing Mrs. Drez.
I continued, "How so?"
"She stopped your pursuit and asked to go back to work. I was pretty sure she and five other people were convinced that you guys needed to be dead."

Harold heard that and said, "Dead? Why? I thought you were still working with us."
"Come on, big guy, listen carefully. I didn't ask them to kill you. They wanted to kill you."
Harold crossed his arms and asked, "Why?"
"I hate to say it, but somehow they also have the same rule as us."
I asked, "Which?"
"Trust one another."

...

"Look, I know I should come clean and say there isn't any power user in our apartment. But they were already convinced that I betrayed them."
Harold mocked him, "Talk about irony."
"But she came back different. Almost like..."

"Hey guys!"

We all... I mean ALL of us. Including the one that wasn't connected to Popo, jumped at hearing that woman's voice again.

"Ow... ah... Mrs. Drez. How is..?"
"Oh, boy. You forgot about me?"
"... Who?"

I instantly answered, "She was her, Jordan, the one who gave you a calm sensation in the alley."
"... You're bluffing."
Tasyah answered, "Madam Hexes, you can phase through Mrs. Drez's face without waking her up, right? Could you do that for me in front of Jordan?" while driving.

I didn't see it or hear Jordan's reaction, but I was pretty sure I heard a thud.

"Oh, my. He passed away."