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Continued…

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Heading out into town that day felt like war. I was only going out to enjoy myself and see the sights. But knowing that I was a potential target kept part of my mind on guard. A very big part of my mind. This wouldn’t just be an attack on my body. It would be an attack on my soul. That’s something we soldiers had never prepared ourselves to defend. How exactly did one defend their soul from being captured? 

Barber and Hannah assured me they’d be close by, in case anything happened. But just how close were they? 

I went out to explore the dockland area. Half the place was still under construction, so there wasn’t too much of a crowd here. If the old man and woman were nearby, I couldn’t sense them. Not exactly reassuring. There was a comfort in knowing your squad was at least around the corner, or that support was just a quick call away. But that confidence just wasn’t there. 

That day wasn’t meant to be the day I try to lure her out. The others needed time to prepare everything for the passing ceremony. The manager told me to just go out and enjoy myself. And if I did happen to get a hold of Julie, then invite her for a meal back at the hotel. The staff would be aware to see if I returned with a woman. 

I guess the thought of that was reassuring. Julie wasn’t directly attacking me, nor were we directly attacking her. I was to lure her to the capture point. Non-aggressive action. I would have been safe for most of it. But either way, I couldn’t help but feel that battlefield stress. 

I wasn’t exactly enjoying myself at the dockland area. I would walk about, see whatever looked interesting, then quickly move on. I found myself spending more time checking on people around me, worried I’d find Julie. Even walking along the riverside felt stressful. It made me remember my time by the Dagab River. Then it made me remember Julie’s photo of us. A haunting thought. Knowing the haunting nature of Julie made it clear as to why the photo had changed in my very hands. It made it clear as to why she had such a perfect picture of she and I, still young – if the picture was even real in the first place. 

I didn’t spend much time out that afternoon. There was just too much to think about that day. Far too much to think about. 

I got an announcement the next morning. It seemed that the passing ceremony was ready. And that meant that it was time for me to really become the bait. I can’t say that going out to meet a woman had been the most exciting thing for me lately. 

Barber and Hannah suggested that I roamed the Peetsurg Market. If Julie was to use that same apartment again, it made sense that the market would be the best place to choose her next target. It is where she found me, after all. 

Acting as bait wasn’t the simplest of missions. What exactly was I supposed to do? Parade around, looking like a juicy pig? Was there something I was supposed to do to catch her attention? 

Back at the hotel, Sir Barber tried to lay his hand back on my shoulder. He too, like the manager, would jerk his hand back before finally settling it down. 

“Her presence is still strongly upon you.” Sir Barber winced as he held my shoulder. “You won’t have to do anything. She will find you.” 

I allowed myself to truly see everything in the market. It was more to just keep me occupied, rather than go insane from boredom. From waiting. But it wasn’t as enjoyable as I’d hoped it to be. I was pretty much doing just as I did at the docklands. Walk somewhere to view something but end up checking each person instead to see if Julie was there. 

This went on for quite a while. But no Julie. By midafternoon I had to leave. There was only so much market to see before you got tired of it. 

Back at the hotel, I let the manager know of my lack of success. He told me it was fine. It was never guaranteed that I would instantly draw out Julie, even with her mark upon me. She may have been recovering from our last encounter. That made sense. But the manager also told me something curious. 

“Maybe you’re trying too hard to be found by the Julietta. That might be why she is not coming out.” He smiled. 

I cocked my head, unsure what that even meant. 

“Sometimes trying too hard at something can net the opposite result.” The manager rubbed his chin. “Sometimes letting the flow of nature take over can better bring forth what we desire. Have you ever gone fishing? Many find that once they let nature play its part, that’s most often when the fish bite.” 

“I’m not exactly doing anything to be seen” I explained. “I’m not calling out her name or acting in any noticeable way.  I’m just standing around at different places in the market until Julie notices me.” 

“Well, that’s sort of what I mean” the manager scratched his head. “Even though you are just standing around, not doing much, you’re also too eager to be found. And that’s what…” He saw my face grow more confused. “How about we try this tomorrow. When you go to the market, I want you to buy me several things. I’ll give you a list. All you need to do is buy whatever is on that list and bring it all back here. Don’t think about finding the Julietta, or her finding you. Just buy whatever I list down. I’ll give you coin for it all.” 

“I don’t understand.” 

The hotel manager was still slowly scratching his head. “It’s just important that you focus on getting me all that I list down. Luring out the Julietta won’t work properly unless you bring me all I need. So just don’t worry about finding her.” 

“I can still go right now and get everything” I suggested. “So, it will all be ready tomorrow.” 

“That’s enough for today, Corporal” the manager raised his hand. “You’re still too eager. Leave it for tomorrow. You look like you need more rest.” The hotel manager gave me that silent nod of his. I was dismissed, it said. I at least understood that. 

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The next day I returned to the market. I didn’t see the manager before I set off, but one of the hotel staff called to me when she saw me downstairs. A young woman I often saw at the front desk. She gave me a folded piece of paper. She let me know that the manager said not to open the note until I got to the market. I’m sure it was the shopping list, but why such specific instructions? Maybe there was more to his note. 

Once at the market, I was disappointed to find that the managers note was in fact just a list. A shopping list. I carefully read it to see if there was a hidden meaning or code behind the written list. But such things were not my expertise. All I saw was simple handwriting and a list of items that were clearly for a meal; a fresh house loaf, golden potatoes, two handfuls of cut beef brisket, eastern mint, etc…  

I thought the manager said we needed these items to help capture the Julietta. So, I was expecting some occult sort of items to aid in spellwork, like a widowed rabbit’s foot, or the tooth of cockroach, or some ancient sage or something. Or was I just thinking all this ghost hunting business was how they told it in the old stories? It was already hard enough to believe the elderly couple, and what they said about Julie. But I did feel that something was wrong. Deep inside, there was a strange resistance I could feel at the thought of Julie. That was enough to make me believe in what we needed to do. The passing ceremony. 

I knew where to find all these items listed. I had been to vendors who sold all of these things before. Julie took me to them all. She might have always gotten her supplies from these same sellers. Shopping for these were good to help me find her. 

I went to where the man grilling those skewers was located. He still had his stall set up in the same spot. I let myself enjoy the smell of what he was cooking, hoping that maybe Julie would notice me again. But after several minutes, she never came. And the man grilling noticed me standing there for a while. 

I went to where Julie got her potatoes. Still, no sign of her. 

And for the bread, I waited for just after midday to get a fresh loaf. I visited the same baker we saw the first time. But he didn’t seem to recognize me. And still, no Julie. 

I eventually got hold of everything on the list. It didn’t take that long to get it all. But sadly, I did not get a hold of Julie. I felt disappointed about that, in a heartfelt way. It was almost like going to a party in hopes of bumping into an old friend, but feeling the sorrow of when they never show up. I had to remind myself of what Julie was. I almost felt myself miss her. Not good. It must have been the curse. 

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To be continued…

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(Part 11-20) Hotel Mysteria 016 – Forgotten